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

Chapter 99 Ueda Castle Construction, Tokugawa Panicks
Honda Masatsugu was so angry he wanted to point at Sanada Masayuki and start yelling at him.

You look so healthy and radiant, you don't look sick at all. Anyone who didn't know better would think you just took two concubines. Who are you trying to fool?

"What kind of status does our lord have? How dare he condescend to come to Uehara Castle?" Honda Masazumi said angrily.

Sanada Masayuki stroked his mustache and replied calmly, "Could it be that Tokugawa Mikawa-no-kami is the head of the Oda clan?"

"You!" Honda Masazumi was furious, but he had no way to refute it.

“Oh? So that’s not it.” Sanada Masayuki feigned sudden realization, then continued, “I, Sanada Awa-no-kami, am a retainer of the Oda clan. The only person who could command my personal attention is the head of the Oda clan.”

"Since Tokugawa Mikawa-no-kami is not the head of the Oda clan, what right do I have to go to Suruga personally?"

Honda Masazumi took a deep breath, feeling the blood surging up in his lower body as if it were about to rush straight to the top of his head.

“I have come here to discuss the ceasefire. In order to demonstrate the Sanada family’s sincerity, shouldn’t Awa no Kami go to Suruga?” Honda Masazumi said sternly.

Sanada Masayuki crossed his arms and said nonchalantly, "If the Tokugawa family wants to gain the upper hand in words because they lost on the battlefield, then I have to say that the Tokugawa family has the upper hand this time."

"After all, Lord Honda is so young. If it comes to having a loud voice, I really can't beat him."

"Anyone who didn't know better would think that the Tokugawa clan won the Battle of Uehara Castle," Sanada Masayuki said sarcastically.

Honda Masazumi finally lost his temper. "My Tokugawa family is a great daimyo with a million koku of rice in Shikoku. What the hell is your Sanada family?"

Do they really think they can act so arrogantly in front of the Tokugawa clan just because they won a battle by chance?

"presumptuous!"

"Awa no Kami, how dare you disrespect our clan?" Honda Masazumi stood ramrod straight, pointing at Sanada Masayuki and shouting.

boom!
Sanada Masayuki slammed his hand on the table and stood up as well, "You're the one who's being insolent!"

"Although the Sanada clan is not as powerful as the Tokugawa clan, I, Sanada Masayuki, am a daimyo recognized by the Oda clan."

"You are merely a retainer of the Tokugawa family, yet you dare to act so arrogantly in front of me. Are all Tokugawa samurai so ignorant of their place?" Sanada Masayuki had finally gotten his chance to show off, and naturally he was going to put on a good show.

Seeing the two people locked in a fierce confrontation inside the hall, Sanada Nobuyuki, who had been watching the drama unfold for a while, stood up.

Anyway, Sanada Masayuki has already put on an act and vented his anger. If things really end badly, it won't do the Sanada family any good.

After all, the Sanada family was also suffering from the chaos in Shinano, and there were still a lot of things to deal with within their territory.

"Lord Honda, does the Tokugawa clan have any formal documents to request a ceasefire?"

Honda Masanobu turned his head, looked at Sanada Nobuyuki, and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

"My name is Sanada Genzaburo."

"So it's Lord Genzaburo. Of course, I have the documents. Please take a look." Honda Masazumi now had a way out and took out Tokugawa Ieyasu's handwriting from his pocket.

After receiving it, Nobuyuki Sanada quickly handed it to Masayuki Sanada.

Sanada Masayuki glanced at it casually, then sat down again and gave Sanada Nobuyuki a wink.

Sanada Nobuyuki immediately understood and then said, "A ceasefire can certainly be negotiated, but it is really inappropriate for Lord Tokugawa to come to Shinano in person. How about I take charge of going to Suruga to negotiate?"

"I will report this to my lord and then give him a reply."

"We await good news."

"Farewell!"

Honda Masanobu stormed off.

After everyone left, Masayuki Sanada began to smile.

"Gensaburo, did you see that just now? The Tokugawa family didn't even dare to breathe loudly in front of me." Sanada Masayuki felt refreshed and invigorated; he hadn't felt so triumphant in a long time.

"Back when Lord Shingen was alive, how dare the mere Tokugawa clan act so presumptuously?"

Many former retainers of the Takeda clan have never held the Tokugawa clan in high regard.

After all, during the time of Takeda Shingen, the Tokugawa clan was always being suppressed by the Takeda clan. If it weren't for the help of the Oda clan and the sudden death of Takeda Shingen, the Tokugawa clan might have been destroyed by the Takeda clan.

Sanada Masayuki was not the only one with this idea; many samurai of the Takeda clan shared the same sentiment.

Sanada Nobuyuki did not answer; as a person from a later era, he would not underestimate Tokugawa Ieyasu.

“Father, the Tokugawa family must have been forced to stop their attack on Shinano due to pressure from Hashiba Chikuzen-no-kami.”

"We have successfully forced Muroga, Kiso, and others out during this turmoil." "However, the problems within the territory are severe, and the people of the country are filled with anxiety. We must stabilize the situation as soon as possible."

After listening to Nobuyuki Sanada's words, Masayuki Sanada gradually calmed down.

Sanada Masayuki was not an impulsive person; on the contrary, he was very calm. Having just vented his emotions, it was time to seriously consider his relationship with the Tokugawa family.

"Shinano is a place of constant warfare, surrounded by powerful enemies."

"Although our main clan is allied with Uesugi and on good terms with Oda, the Hojo in the east and the Tokugawa in the south remain our greatest threats."

"Judging from the Tokugawa clan's actions in launching an invasion during the Shinano uprising, Tokugawa Mikawa-no-kami's covetousness of Shinano will not easily disappear."

"Once the Tokugawa clan has completely taken control of Suruga and Kai, they will definitely launch another large-scale invasion."

"At that time, we will be facing more than just a few thousand enemy troops."

A look of worry appeared on Sanada Masayuki's face.

After calming down, Masayuki Sanada also felt very worried about the future of the Sanada family.

Shinano is not a prosperous place; arable land is scarce and the population is small. There are also no high-yield crops in the territory, making stable development extremely difficult.

Most importantly, the Sanada family must now strengthen its control over the people of Shinano Province.

Uprisings like those of Muroga and Kiso must not be allowed to happen again, otherwise the Sanada family will face annihilation.

The reason they were able to escape this crisis was twofold: firstly, the Sanada family was well-prepared, and secondly, Sakai Tadatsugu underestimated his opponent. He won't be so lucky next time.

"During this battle of Uehara Castle, I have discovered that most of Uehara Castle's defensive facilities have been destroyed."

"We might be able to fight against an enemy force of similar numbers, but against an enemy force several times larger, we're afraid we'll be outmatched."

"In order to counter the Tokugawa clan, building a new castle is now imperative."

Sanada Nobuyuki was prepared for this, but he still pretended not to understand and asked, "So, does Father already have an answer in his heart?"

As is well known, Japan's Sengoku period had two famous castles: "Ishida Mitsunari's Pleasure Castle" and "Tokugawa Hidetada's Pleasure Castle," and it was the latter that Sanada Masayuki planned to build.

Sanada Masayuki nodded, then took out a sketch from his pocket.

After unfolding the map, Sanada Masayuki pointed to the sketch and said, "I have decided to build a large castle in Uedada-daira, a small prefecture. It will not only have a castle town, but also be equipped with complete castle defense facilities."

"The oars, the exit from the city, and the large and small chutes must all be complete."

Sanada Nobuyuki stared at the sketch for a long time, then said with some concern, "With the current strength of our main clan, I'm afraid..."

“Who said the main family built it themselves?” Sanada Masayuki put away the sketches, a strange smile appearing on his face.

Sanada Nobuyuki snapped out of his daze. "Father, are you planning to involve all the people of Shinano?"

“This is indeed a good way to unite people’s hearts,” Sanada Nobuyuki said to himself.

"With the participation of everyone in Shinano in building such a castle, the people of Shinano will naturally do their best to defend it in the event of an attack by the Tokugawa clan."

Sanada Masayuki gave Sanada Nobuyuki a pleased look, then patted him heavily on the shoulder.

"You always seem to know what I'm thinking, and you can often apply that knowledge to other situations."

"They can also have their own unique insights when faced with certain problems."

"You are very good!" Sanada Masayuki praised sincerely.

His son was so outstanding that it was almost unbelievable.

From the moment the Takeda clan fell, if it weren't for Sanada Nobuyuki's wise advice, Sanada Masayuki wouldn't have dared to imagine what the Sanada clan would be in now.

Perhaps, it has already become a vassal of powerful daimyo like Tokugawa and Uesugi.

"Get ready, let's head to Suruga."

"Hasn't the Tokugawa family given a reply yet?"

"Don't worry, Mikawa-no-kami won't refuse my proposal."

"He's more anxious than I am right now."

(End of this chapter)