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

Chapter 9 Ueno Gathering: A Gathering of Talented Individuals

The 20th day of the fourth month in the tenth year of Tianzheng.

After staying in Ueno for several days, Oda Nobutada also began his journey back to Kyoto.

After defeating the Takeda clan, the Oda clan's attention was no longer focused on the east.

The Mori clan in the west, the Chosokabe clan in Shikoku, and even further into Kyushu are the Oda clan's next main targets for attack.

With the departure of Oda Nobunaga and his son Oda Nobutada, the dark clouds hanging over the people of the Konobu region finally dissipated, and they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Correspondingly, private contacts also began to increase frequently.

Time quickly comes to May.

After assigning his retainers to various regions to serve as castle lords and taking control of their respective domains, Takigawa Kazumasu also left Minowa Castle and moved his residence to Masahashi Castle in southern Ueno.

The location of Masahashi Castle, being closer to the heart of the Kanto region, made it easier for Takigawa Kazumasu to exercise his power and "appease" the daimyo population in the Kanto area.

Today, Takigawa Kazumasu can be said to be in high spirits, possessing the lands of two countries and ruling over the eight provinces of Kanto.

His duties included not only suppressing the Kanto region, but also suppressing and consolidating the former territories of the Takeda clan in Kai-no-Shinobu, and overseeing the offensive against the Uesugi clan in Echigo. He was a true regional governor with immense power.

The daimyo of Hojo, Satake, Satomi, and even Date and Ashina in Oshu all sent envoys to congratulate Takigawa Kazumasu and present him with gifts.

"Kanto is so boring."

"If it weren't for my lord, I really wouldn't want to come to a place like this." Sitting in his residence in Masahashi Castle, Takikawa Kazumasu couldn't help but grumble.

Waving his palm-leaf fan, Takikawa Kazumasu crossed his legs and asked, "Has the problem with Gion Castle been resolved?"

“The Hojo clan has already agreed to return Gion Castle to the Koyama clan. Even a powerful clan like the Hojo has no choice but to submit to our clan,” said Kanai Hidekage with a smile.

Kanai Hidekage is a member of the Kokujū (national lord) in western Ueno, also known as the Kuragano Kokujū, and is a powerful Kokujū in the Ueno region.

After Kazumasu Takigawa took up residence in Ueno, Hidekage Kanai actively sought to align himself with him.

As a local vassal, the Kanai clan had served the Yamauchi Uesugi, Echigo Uesugi (referring to Uesugi Kenshin), and Kai Takeda clans, and were very familiar with the Kanto region.

With the assistance of Kanai Hidekage, Takigawa Kazumasu was able to quickly take control of Kozuke Province and intervene in Kanto affairs. As a result, Kanai Hidekage gained Takigawa Kazumasu's trust and, together with Sano Fusatsuna, a retainer of the Sano family, became Takigawa Kazumasu's right-hand men.

"I am looking forward to further enhancing the Oda clan's prestige in the Kanto region. Do you have any good ideas?" Takigawa Kazumasu continued to ask.

Kanai Hidekage thought for a moment and quickly replied, "The people of Ueno Province love Noh, so why not hold a grand Noh performance of unprecedented scale at Masahashi Castle?"

"Summon everyone together and demonstrate the authority of the Oda clan to the world?"

Takigawa Kazumasu's eyes lit up immediately.

Noh plays were just a pretext; the real purpose was to demonstrate the Oda clan's influence to the daimyo of the Masakazuki and Kanto regions.

When all the people of the country obeyed the order and came to the capital, it proved the strength of the Oda clan, or rather, Takigawa Kazumasu's control over the Ueno region.

“Very well, then so be it. In addition to the Kokujū (Nationalist Party members) in Ueno, invitations will also be extended to the Kokujū in the Kanto and Shinano regions!”

"If we're going to do it, we should do it big!"

"what!"

After Kanai Hidekage left, Takigawa Kazumasu began to review the letters that had been collected over the past two days.

After a quick glance, Takigawa Kazumasu opened a letter from Kaizu Castle in Shinano Province.

This was sent by Mori Nagayoshi, who reported the battle plan for Shinano to Takigawa Kazumasu and hoped that Takigawa Kazumasu could send troops from Ueno to assist Mori Nagayoshi in attacking Echigo.

Kazumasu Takigawa put the letter down and found a map.

After examining it carefully, Takigawa Kazumasu summoned Takigawa Masushige.

"Yitafu, the Kaijin Castle will soon send troops to attack Echigo. I plan to have you lead the troops to attack Echigo from the Mikuni Pass (pass: mountain ridge, pass).

"The Three Kingdoms Pass?" Takigawa Masushige said. "It's located north of Numata Castle. Should we request the Sanada clan's assistance in sending troops?"

Takigawa Kazumasu thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The Sanada clan has already joined the Shinano army, which is the main direction of this attack on Echigo. We only need to send a small number of troops to harass them in the Ueno region."

"Make preparations, take two thousand people, and set off tomorrow."

"Yes!" Takigawa Masushige was Takigawa Kazumasu's nephew, a person he could absolutely trust.

The news that Takigawa Kazumasu was going to hold a grand Noh performance at Masahashi Castle quickly spread throughout Ueno and the surrounding areas, and the Sanada family was naturally among those invited.

Sanada Masayuki then left Toishi Castle and set off for Ueno, stopping along the way to visit Sanada Nobushige and Kyouun-in at Minowa Castle.

When Sanada Masayuki arrived at Masahashi Castle, it was already May 28th.

The other members of the kokumin who lived nearby had arrived long ago; Sanada Masayuki was considered to be one of the later ones.

As soon as he entered, a samurai rushed over and said, "Father-in-law, you've arrived too."

"Oh, it's Shiro!"

The visitor was none other than Masamitsu Hoshina, the son-in-law of Masayuki Sanada.

Just as they were wondering where to sit, Sanada Masayuki was led to a corner by Hoshina Masamitsu.

“I’ve taken an extra spot. It’s a bit out of the way, but the view is excellent, with an unobstructed view of the stage,” Masamitsu Hoshina said with a smile.

Sanada Masayuki laughed and said, "Not bad, Jinshiro, you've got a good idea."

"Where's your father?"

“My father is unwell, so he sent his son-in-law,” Hoshina Masamitsu said hastily.

Sanada Masayuki nodded, then leaned close to Hoshina Masamitsu's ear and whispered, "We found Hoshina Danjo-dono in Shinano and have brought him to Toishi Castle."

"If you have time, you can have your father come to Dishi City."

Masamitsu Hoshina immediately stood up excitedly, about to shout, but quickly realized that there were too many people around, so he quickly sat down.

"Is Grandpa alright?" Hoshina Masamitsu asked in a low voice.

Masayuki Sanada nodded. "His health is still pretty good, but his spirits are a bit low."

"Right now, my Hoshina family... well, let's not talk about it." Hoshina Masamitsu shook his head helplessly.

While serving under the Takeda clan, the Hoshina clan was a powerful local force in southern Shinano. When the Oda clan attacked Shinano, Hoshina Masamitsu and his father, Hoshina Masanao, assisted Nishina Morinobu in defending Takato Castle in Shinano.

The Hoshina clan originally intended to surrender to the Oda clan through the connections of the Ogasawara clan, but Takato Castle fell too quickly, and the two sides did not have time to negotiate.

After the war, the Hoshina clan's territory was confiscated, and the Hoshina brothers, Masamitsu and Masamitsu, had no choice but to travel to Ueno and seek refuge with Takigawa Kazumasu.

"Oh!"

“Awa no Kami, you’re here too!” Just then, another figure sat down next to Sanada Masayuki.

Sanada Masayuki turned his head and saw an old acquaintance.

"It's Obata Kazusuke. It's so nice to see him here."

How have you been lately?

Obata Nobusada immediately started talking, pulling Sanada Masayuki aside to tell him about his recent situation.

The Obata clan is a member of the nation west of Ueno and the lord of Kunamine Castle.

He was originally a retainer of the Yamanouchi-Kamiyama family, and later joined the Takeda clan. As a cavalry general, he was one of the few Takeda generals who survived the Battle of Nagashino.

After catching up for a while, Sanada Masayuki suddenly pointed ahead and said, "Look, the Noh play is starting."

As soon as he finished speaking, Takigawa Kazumasu and his two sons, Takigawa Kazutada and Takigawa Kazutoshi, appeared on the stage together.

The father and his two sons even took to the stage to perform the "Jade Vine Dance," which immediately drew cheers from the audience.

　Masamitsu Hoshina: Shinano Kunizu is the son-in-law of Sanada Masayuki.

　　Historically, he served the Tokugawa family and even raised Tokugawa Hidetada's illegitimate son, Hoshina Masayuki (Tokugawa Hidetada was afraid of his wife).

　　Based on this relationship, Tokugawa Hidetada valued Hoshina Masamitsu highly, and Hoshina Masayuki later became the lord of the Aizu Domain.

　　Some say that Masayuki Hoshina insisted on using Hoshina as his surname because he was grateful to Masamitsu Hoshina for raising him.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)