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

Chapter 85 As long as the Tokugawa clan launches an attack, everything will be alright.

Ise, the main camp of Hashiba Hideyoshi.

At this point, the situation within the Oda clan was very clear, and the Oda clan's retainers began to choose sides around Hideyoshi Hashiba and Katsuie Shibata.

On the other hand, Hideyoshi Hashiba had won over Ikeda Tsuneoki, Niwa Nagahide, and others, making his influence formidable.

Originally, Hideyoshi Hashiba planned to launch a direct attack on Shibata Katsuie in Omi Province, but just before the troops were about to be dispatched, Takigawa Kazumasu jumped out and launched a rebellion in Ise Province.

Kazumasu Takigawa defeated Morio Seki and others, took control of Kita-Ise, and began to coordinate with Katsuie Shibata of Echizen.

With no other option, Hideyoshi Hashiba had to deal with Kazumasu Takigawa before Katsuie Shibata could send out his troops.

"A letter from the Tokugawa family?"

Inside the main camp, Hideyoshi Hashiba received the letter from Ujisato Gamo with a puzzled expression.

"It was just delivered from Suruga," Gamo Ujisato confirmed.

Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded, then opened the letter. After reading its contents, his expression turned somewhat grim.

"What did the letter say?" Gamo Ujisato asked curiously. For Hashiba Hideyoshi to show such an expression, the contents of the letter were clearly not good news.

"Tokugawa Mikawa-no-kami hopes his clan will allow him to attack Shinano," Hashiba Hideyoshi said slowly.

"Shinano?" Gamo Ujisato also looked puzzled. "Hasn't Shinano already been granted to the Sanada family?"

"The local uprising has broken out in Shinano. Lord Tokugawa hopes to send troops to suppress the uprising, which is why he has come to request permission from our clan." Clearly, Tokugawa Ieyasu's letter makes no mention of the true situation of the Sanada clan, and is obviously trying to deceive the Oda clan.

Gamo Ujisato suddenly realized, "I see. But Mikawa no Kami did choose a good time."

"Now that they've proposed attacking Shinano, our clan really can't refuse."

Yes, Hideyoshi Hashiba was also filled with helplessness.

War with Shibata Katsuie was imminent, but now it was being held back by Takigawa Kazumasu. Hashiba Hideyoshi was unwilling to offend Tokugawa Ieyasu again because of the Shinano affair; if Tokugawa Ieyasu sided with Shibata Katsuie, things would be very bad.

But even Hideyoshi Hashiba hesitated. The Sanada family had expressed their willingness to submit to him last year.

If the Tokugawa clan is allowed to attack Shinano, the Sanada clan will be in a precarious situation.

Despite the Hojo clan's massive invasion, the Sanada clan preserved their territory in Shinano and, together with the local lords of Ueno, drove the Hojo out of Ueno.

Through this battle, the Sanada family's capabilities have earned the recognition of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

However, if the Tokugawa clan were to be compared, Toyotomi Hideyoshi would undoubtedly choose Tokugawa over Sanada. Or perhaps he needed Tokugawa Ieyasu to keep from stabbing him in the back during his battle with Shibata Katsuie.

"Let's try to delay our reply for a few days. I hope that the Sanada rebellion can be quelled as soon as possible. That would be the best I can do for the Sanada."

How to choose between Tokugawa and Sanada?
It looks like a multiple-choice question, but it's actually a fill-in-the-blank question.

At this time, in Hideyoshi Hashiba's eyes, the support of the Tokugawa clan was clearly greater than the loyalty of the Sanada clan.

"Genzaburo, all I can say is I'm sorry."

"If the Sanada family can survive this, I, Hideyoshi, will not treat you unfairly."

Peishi City.

Katsuhiro Yashiro and Masatake Muro were staring at each other.

"Where is Sanada Awa-no-kami?"

"What about the families of the people of Shinano Province?"

"Why is there no one?"

After capturing Toshii Castle and Sanada House, the two suddenly realized that things were not as they had expected.
"Minister of War, are you sure you didn't let any members of the Sanada family escape?"

Muroga Masatake was almost in tears. "After the main family entered the small county, they immediately surrounded Toishi Castle and Sanada House. We really didn't see any members of the Sanada family come out."

"This place is completely deserted; we've been tricked!" Katsunaga Yashiro was the first to realize.

Immediately, a new question arose in their minds—where did the Sanada family go?

Shinano, Hanshina County, Kaijin Castle.

Kasuga Nobutatsu, seeing the Sanada army suddenly appear at the city gate, was relieved but quickly opened the gate to let Sanada Nobuyuki and his party into the city.

"Lord Genzaburo, you've returned from Echigo so quickly?" Kasuga Nobutatsu swallowed hard, then quickly added, "Our family has absolutely no connection with the Muroga clan and the others, so please rest assured, Sanada family."

Seeing the anxious Kasuga Nobutatsu, Sanada Nobuyuki quickly reassured him, "Lord Kasuga, please don't worry. If I didn't trust you, how could I dare to enter this Kaizu Castle?"

"I wonder what Kasuga-sama's plans are next?" Sanada Nobuyuki asked, his gaze drifting intentionally or unintentionally toward the hundreds of Kasuga family foot soldiers in the castle.

Kasuga Nobutatsu immediately stood up straight, puffed out his chest, and said loudly, "Naturally, it's to follow Lord Genzaburo in suppressing the rebellious Muroga and Yashiro. Those two are absolutely wicked!"

"It's absolutely awful!" Kasuga Nobutatsu emphasized at the end.

The implication was clear: I'm a good person. "Very good!" Sanada Nobuyuki was clearly satisfied with Kasuga Nobutatsu's attitude. "We are very pleased that Lord Kasuga has this kind of heart."

"In that case, let Lord Kasuga lead the vanguard to attack Yashiro Castle."

Kasuga no Yoshitada's heart skipped a beat, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "Ha!"

Nobuyuki Sanada never listens to what others say, but rather observes what they do.

You, Chunri Xinda, want to show your loyalty, right?
you can!

Let's prove it with actions.

"Oh, by the way, after the matter is settled, our family will select a suitable fiefdom from among the territories of Yashiro and Muroga and bestow it upon Lord Kasuga," Sanada Nobuyuki added at the end.

Chunri Xinda's eyes lit up. "Why didn't you say so sooner!"
If you had put that sentence at the beginning, I, Chunri Xinda, would have been disrespectful to Zhixingdi if I had hesitated for even a second.

I really want to improve!
Soon, Kasuga Nobutatsu led 600 troops out of Kaizu Castle and headed straight for Yashiro Katsunaga's castle, Yashiro Castle, which was temporarily taken over by Sanada Nobuyuki.

When Katsunaga Yashiro and Masatake Muroga, who were still at a loss in Toishi Castle, received this news, they were immediately struck by a heavy blow.

"trap!"

"This was a treacherous scheme by Awa no Kami; we really fell for it," Yashiro Katsunaga exclaimed, feeling cheated.

However, Masatake Muroga refused to believe it, saying, "So what if that's the case?"

"We have already captured Toshiki Castle, and Kiso is also launching a fierce attack on Uehara Castle."

"As long as we hold firm, everything will be alright once the Tokugawa army arrives."

Katsunaga Yashiro nodded. "That's the only way."

"Let's go back to Yashiro Castle. As long as we hold the line between Yashiro Castle and Arashi Castle, the Sanada army won't be able to get through."

Yashiro Castle is a mountain castle located on the banks of the Chikuma River. It was built during the reign of Yoshikiyo Murakami.

Later, with the establishment of Kaizu Castle and Naganuma Castle, the strategic importance of Yashiro Castle declined sharply and it was abandoned for a time.

After Katsunaga Yashiro succeeded to the throne, he carried out simple repairs, preserving the castle walls and necessary defensive facilities.

When Kasuga no Nobutatsu besieged Yashiro Castle, there were still more than a hundred samurai and foot soldiers of the Yashiro family inside the castle.

With Nobuyuki Sanada personally overseeing the battle from the rear, Nobutatsu Kasuga had no choice but to launch an immediate attack.

More than 20 foot soldiers, each carrying a wooden shield, led the way. Upon approaching the castle walls, they began to set up defensive structures on the spot, providing protection for the arquebusiers and archer foot soldiers behind them.

Subsequently, the arquebusiers and archer foot soldiers quickly took their positions and began to suppress the defenders on the city walls.

Upon seeing this, Kasuga Nobutatsu was about to order his troops to begin the attack on the city, but he was stopped by an envoy sent by Sanada Nobuyuki.

"Lord Kasuga, our camp requests that the Kasuga clan besieged but not attacked."

"Why?" Kasuga Nobuta asked, puzzled.

In his view, the city's garrison was small, and if a fierce attack was launched, the city could be captured in two days at most.

The envoy shrugged, then pointed behind him, "Why don't you go ask him yourself, Lord Kasuga?"

"I understand." Kasuga Nobutatsu nodded.

After speaking, Kasuga Nobutatsu noticed that the Sanada family's envoy did not leave after delivering the order, but instead watched the Kasuga family's troop deployment with great interest.

Kasuga Nobutatsu couldn't help but ask, "May I ask who you are?"

"Oh! My apologies."

“I forgot to introduce myself. I am Sanada Genjiro. Greetings, Lord Kasuga,” Sanada Nobushige said, grinning.

Kasuga Nobutatsu quickly returned the greeting, "So it's Lord Genjiro. I heard you're in Echigo?"

"Oh, Lord Uesugi heard about the incident in Shinano, so he specifically asked me to return to Shinano to assist the main family."

Upon hearing this, Kasuga Nobutatsu was also moved, never expecting that the relationship between the Sanada and Uesugi families had become so good.

"I wonder if the Uesugi family has sent reinforcements?" Kasuga Nobutatsu then asked.

Sanada Nobushige nodded immediately, while Kasuga Nobutatsu asked impatiently, "Where are the reinforcements?"

Under Kasuga Nobutatsu's expectant gaze, Sanada Nobushige straightened his chest and pointed to himself, "I am the reinforcement!"

"My elder brother once said that I, Sanada Genjiro, am worth a thousand soldiers!"

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(End of this chapter)