Japan's Sengoku Period: The Sanada Clan's Ambition

Chapter 82 Shigeka Shinfa: Oh no, they're coming for me!
"Since Kiso is so ungrateful, then send someone to Ueno."

"This world isn't just about Kiso Valley raising horses!"

Sanada Nobuyuki initially approached Kiso Yoshimasa because he thought it would be easier to talk to someone "on his own side," but since Kiso Yoshimasa didn't give him face, Sanada Nobuyuki had no choice but to buy from another place.

The Obata clan of Ueno had a large number of horses under their control, and the Obata clan itself was known for its skill in using cavalry. During the reign of Takeda Shingen, Obata Norishige (Obata Nobusada's father) was also a cavalry general active in the Takeda clan.

"I will arrange for someone to go to Ueno to purchase horses immediately." Kasuga noonada nodded hurriedly.

Sanada Nobuyuki bought so many horses mainly because he wanted to establish a "horse-riding system" within his domain.

The horse-transfer system was a system that primarily relied on horses to transport goods.

During Japan's Sengoku period, local daimyo controlled the commercial and trade routes within their territories, and extensively constructed post stations and checkpoints to collect tolls.

The transport horses were those that traveled between various post stations.

In addition, when developing castle towns, the horse-drawn carriage system was relied upon as the main means of transporting supplies, and it could also be used to transport food during wartime.

As the castle town continues to develop and commerce gradually prospers, the demand for the transportation of goods will increase.

A complete horse-transfer system can effectively facilitate the movement of resources within a territory, and most importantly, it can collect taxes!

The agreement that Sanada Nobuyuki had previously reached with the Uesugi family was to exempt them from customs duties and the castle town's building tax and transaction tax, but Sanada Nobuyuki could collect fees by establishing post stations and using these post horses.

Shinano is mountainous, and although the Kiso horse is small, its strong endurance makes it suitable for mountain transport, making it ideal as a transport horse.

This was also a key factor in Sanada Nobuyuki's desire to purchase horses from Kiso Yoshimasa.

For the Hokuriku region to conduct trade with the Kanto and Tokaido regions, it was impractical to use waterways; they would generally choose land routes.

Shinano was an indispensable place for bilateral trade, and caravans from both sides would pass through Shinano.

The construction of post stations and the use of messenger horses were not only for the Uesugi family, but also to provide convenience for all merchants traveling to and from Shinano.

Of course, the Sanada family could also profit from it. In wartime, it could also be used to transport supplies.

After Kasuga no Yoshitada left, Sanada Nobuyuki returned to his residence.

I don't know if it's because the food has improved recently, but Xiaoxing has grown a lot taller and gained some weight since last year.

“Lord Genzaburo, look, Genjiro sent this to me from Kasugayama Castle.” Inside the house, Koyuki presented a belt to Sanada Nobuyuki as if it were a treasure.

Sanada Nobuyuki said in surprise, "Wasn't Genjiro just complaining about being poor? Where did he get the money to buy things?"

Last year, Sanada Nobushige even sent someone to Nakano-kan to borrow money from Sanada Nobuyuki to buy winter clothes, and Sanada Nobuyuki sent someone to give him twenty kan.

"I heard that Genjiro is greatly favored by Lord Uesugi, who bestowed upon him a stipend of 1000 koku." Koyuki happily tied the sash around her waist, her smile growing even wider. Clearly, Koyuki was very pleased with the gift that Sanada Nobushige had sent.

Nobuyuki Sanada nodded. "That kid's got good luck."

The fact that he could earn 1000 koku of salary as a hostage only proves that Sanada Nobushige is quite something. He really shouldn't underestimate his silly younger brother.

As the saying goes, fools are often blessed; even someone as ruthless as Hideyoshi Hashiba treated Nobushige Sanada like his own son.

"Is it pretty?" Xiaoxing pointed to her waist and looked at Sanada Nobuyuki with anticipation.

What could Nobuyuki Sanada say? When a woman asks you if something looks good, even if you're unwilling, you can only answer that it looks good.

"Mother is planning to find a concubine for Genjiro. What do you think of Atsushi?" After pacing back and forth a few times, Koyuki finally calmed down and brought up Sanada Nobushige's marriage again.

Nobuyuki Sanada pointed to Atori outside, who was directing the maids to clear the snow, and Nobuyuki nodded quickly.

"The daughter of the inner palace, she wouldn't be bad as a concubine."

"Does Genjiro know?"

"They probably don't know yet."

"I'm going to Echigo soon anyway, so I'll tell him the news while I'm there."

February, the season of spring warmth and blooming flowers. The snow on the streets of Shinano began to melt slowly, and the roads that had been covered by heavy snow revealed their true appearance.

On February 5, the Sanada clan of Shinano announced that they would send troops to Echigo to assist the Uesugi clan in their campaign against Shigeie Niibata.

Sanada Masayuki ordered Sanada Nobuyuki to send 1000 men from his own territory, Shimazu Tadanao 800 men, Izuura Morikiyo 300 men, and 1500 men each from Ogi and Kōshige counties to fight, bringing the total force to 5100 men.

Sanada Nobuyuki, with his general Yamagami Michiki as the vanguard, led 500 troops to garrison at Iiyama Castle.

With the news of the Sanada clan's deployment of troops spreading, the situation in Shinano instantly became delicate. Meanwhile, Shigeie Niibata, far from Shinano, was also startled and hastily mustered his forces to besiege Niibata Castle, preparing to confront the Uesugi clan's army.

Meanwhile, in Yashiro Castle, Hanishina District, Shinano Province.

Katsunaga Yashiro brought in Masatake Muroga.

"Minister of War, your opportunity has arrived."

“Tokugawa Mikawa-no-kami just sent over a batch of arquebuses a couple of days ago, and now they’ll come in handy,” Yashiro Katsunaga said to Muroga Masatake, eager to see them put to use.

Muroga Masatake replied with a beaming smile, "Awa no Kami has been so cautious for so long, but he has finally revealed a flaw."

"Now that most of the foot soldiers in the Sanada clan's territory have been taken away, it is our chance to take down Toishi Castle in one fell swoop."

"Lord Tokugawa has issued a pledge of peace and promised to grant us the small prefecture after we conquer the Sanada clan."

“This is a great opportunity.” Muroga Masatake stroked his beard, already imagining the scene after he conquered Toishi Castle, with Sanada Masayuki groveling at his feet begging for mercy.

After saying that, Muroga Masatake looked at Yashiro Katsunaga and asked, "What did Kiso say?"

"Kiso Iyo no Kami also agreed to Tokugawa Mikawa no Kami's request. He will send troops to cut off the streets near Uehara Castle and block the connection between the Sanada family and Ina District."

"At that time, the Tokugawa army will march into Shinano from Tōtōmi, Mikawa and other places, and Kai will also cooperate with us."

"Sanada is doomed this time!" Katsunaga Yashiro said confidently.

Last year, when Tokugawa Ieyasu sent someone to contact the two men, hoping that the two families would cooperate with the Tokugawa family to attack Sanada Masayuki, Yashiro Katsunaga and Muroga Masatake agreed to the Tokugawa family's proposal almost immediately.

In particular, Muroga Masatake's territory was also in a small prefecture.

In recent years, the Sanada family's influence in small prefectures has been growing, threatening the rule of the Muroga family.

Muroga Masatake was naturally unwilling to become a retainer of the Sanada family. They were all from small prefectures and counties, so why should he be inferior to Sanada Masayuki?
During the previous Shinano Rebellion (the Tensho-Jingo Rebellion), the temporary alliance with the Sanada clan was merely an attempt to preserve their territory amidst the chaos.

Now that the crisis has been averted, Muroga Masatake and his group have become more active.

Most importantly, the Sanada family gained control of three counties during the Shinano Rebellion, while the local lords only managed to live peacefully within their own territories.

The Sanada family couldn't be allowed to reap all the benefits, so Muroga Masatake, Yashiro Katsunaga, Kiso Yoshimasa, and others quickly reached an agreement.

With the Tokugawa clan backing them up, they have nothing to fear, right?

On February 8th, Sanada Nobuyuki set out from his castle, Nakano Castle, with his 4,000-strong army marching in orderly formation towards Echigo at a rapid pace.

Along the way, the Sanada family's army made a great show of force with gongs and drums.

On February 9th, Nobuyuki Sanada arrived at Iiyama Castle.

On the eleventh day, Sanada's army arrived at Kasugayama Castle.

The following day, Uesugi Kagekatsu issued a mobilization order at Kasugayama Castle, announcing his intention to attack Niihata Shigeie.

　Horse-transfer system: Maximum public loyalty +5.

　　Advantages: Increased diplomatic revenue and improved work efficiency. Increased returns on investments in diplomatic exchanges and entertainment.

　　Disadvantages: Reduced effectiveness of investments in water management and religious beliefs.

　　(Manually added sarcasm, hahaha)

　　Has the player DNA of Nobunaga's Ambition 14 been affected?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)