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

Chapter 143 Cha Cha: I was here first!

Sanada Nobushige opened his mouth wide and pointed ahead. On the vast, boundless plain, a massive and magnificent city appeared in everyone's sight.

"This castle tower is really beautiful. It looks like it must have at least five layers of castle towers, right?"

"Wow, there's even gold leaf on the outside!" Sanada Nobushige felt his neck was aching from looking so long, but he still looked on with great interest.

"You like it?" Nobuyuki Sanada asked, turning his head as he rode his horse.

Sanada Nobushige nodded quickly, "I'll have Father build a grand city like this someday!"

"Then you'll probably kill your father," Sanada Nobuyuki thought to himself, laughing wildly. This kind of castle was beyond the Sanada family's means to build, but sooner or later it would belong to the Sanada family!
At this time, Osaka Castle was only in its initial stages of construction, with the rest of the castle area still under construction, but even so, it was still quite impressive.

After navigating through the maze-like castle town, the group finally arrived near the main citadel of Osaka Castle.

Sanada Nobuyuki immediately identified himself to the samurai at the gate and presented Hideyoshi's handwritten letter. The samurai dared not receive him and quickly reported this to his superiors. Soon, a refined-looking man dressed in samurai attire emerged.

"Are you Lord Sanada Hyogo?"

“It is I.” Nobuyuki Sanada nodded quickly.

"Seeing is believing, indeed. You are a truly formidable samurai. Now I'm starting to believe that Lord Hyogo was able to charge in and out seven times during the Battle of Nagakute," the man said with admiration.

etc???

What do you mean by "seven in and seven out"?
Could it be that news of the Nagakute battle has reached Osaka and taken on a completely new version?
Seeing that Sanada Nobuyuki looked confused, the man slapped his forehead, thinking that Sanada Nobuyuki did not recognize him.

"I forgot to introduce myself. I am Asano Nehei, and I am currently the General Magistrate of Osaka Castle."

"I don't know who Madam Ningning is."

"It is indeed my elder sister." Asano Nagamasa smiled slightly and readily revealed his relationship with Nene.

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly bowed, "So it's Lord Asano, please take care of me."

Asano Nagamasa and Nene were the adopted son and daughter of Asano Nagakatsu, a samurai from Owari. Although they were not directly related by blood, they were still "half-siblings".

"Lord Sanada, are you here to see the lord?"

"Exactly."

"Then Lord Sanada has come to the wrong place. Our lord is outside the city, not inside."

Sanada Nobuyuki asked, puzzled, "Why is that?"

"Because the citadel is being painted," Asano Nagamasa quickly explained.

The walls of Osaka Castle were constructed using bamboo and wooden strips as supports, with mortar poured on top. The exterior was coated with a layer of lime made from a mixture of seashells, paste, and paper, giving it an overall white appearance.

However, because this layer of lime is not waterproof, a layer of wooden boards must be pasted on the outside and painted to be waterproof. Currently, large-scale painting is underway inside Osaka Castle.

Large-scale painting would produce an unpleasant odor, so Hideyoshi Hashiba lived outside the castle.

Under the guidance of Asano Nagamasa, Sanada Nobuyuki finally met Hashiba Hideyoshi.

"Gensaburo, you've arrived?"

Compared to their last meeting, Hideyoshi Hashiba looked noticeably more haggard today.

"How is it? Osaka Castle is quite well built, isn't it?" Perhaps not wanting to reveal his embarrassment, Hideyoshi Hashiba quickly brought up Osaka Castle.

This castle, built by dozens of daimyo and hundreds of thousands of laborers, was indeed one of the things that Hideyoshi Hashiba was most proud of.

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly flattered, "With the appearance of this Osaka Castle, even the Odawara Castle of the Hojo clan pales in comparison to Osaka Castle."

"Lord Hashiba's illustrious name shall surely resound throughout the world!"

"Hahaha!" Hideyoshi Hashiba enjoyed the praise. "Gensaburo, you always make me happy. You're right."

"This city is the result of my hard work and will one day become the center of all Japan. I will make everyone kneel at my feet, Hideyoshi!"

When he said this, Hideyoshi Hashiba was very emotional. It seems that he still couldn't forget his defeat at Nagakute and could only vent his frustration with empty words.

After saying that, Hideyoshi Hashiba continued, "The reason I summoned Genzaburo this time is because I have carefully selected a wife for you."

"Lord Hashiba is so busy with his affairs of state, yet he still took the time to consider my needs. I am truly flattered."

"Well, your mother is busy searching all over Osaka Castle for a noblewoman to marry you."

"What's so good about the daughters of high-ranking officials?"

"A samurai's daughter is a better match for a samurai!" Hideyoshi Hashiba declared confidently.

Now Sanada Nobuyuki finally understood why Hashiba Hideyoshi wanted to find him a wife.

It turns out it was because of Yamate-dono.

The Sanada family's standing in Hideyoshi Hashiba's eyes rose sharply, and Hideyoshi Hashiba naturally wouldn't let such an opportunity slip away to the court nobles of Kyoto.

Establishing closer ties with the Sanada family would also help Hideyoshi Hashiba control the country.

"I wonder which princess Lord Hashiba arranged for me?" Sanada Nobuyuki asked curiously.

Hideyoshi Hashiba immediately gave him a "you've hit the jackpot" look and said mysteriously, "This is a marriage that the Sanada family could never have dreamed of."

"Princess of the Oda family! How about it, haven't I treated you well?" Hashiba Hideyoshi said with a beaming smile.

Sanada Nobuyuki was immediately flattered and replied, "What merit do I have to marry the princess of the Oda family?"

"Eh!" Hideyoshi Hashiba waved his hand. "With Genzaburo's abilities, how could he not be worthy?"

"Besides, don't you still have me?"

"If I, Hideyoshi, give the word, which princess can't you marry?" Hideyoshi's words revealed a hint of domineering arrogance; he had now begun to consider himself the ruler of the world.

Although Oda Nobukatsu has not yet been dealt with, in Hashiba Hideyoshi's view, it is only a matter of time.

"Aren't you curious about which princess of the Oda clan she is?" Hideyoshi Hashiba suddenly asked.

Sanada Nobuyuki immediately prostrated himself on the ground, "Since it was personally chosen by Lord Hashiba, she must be a young lady of outstanding talent and beauty. I will obey Lord Hashiba's wishes."

What's the point of asking? You can't exactly marry Chacha to me, can you?

Anyway, as long as it's not one of Hideyoshi Hashiba's sisters, Nobuyuki Sanada says he can accept it. He doesn't want to live with a humanoid creature all the time.

It's easy to feel ashamed and unable to lift one's head.

"Come, follow me!"

"what!"

Following behind Hideyoshi Hashiba, they stumbled and turned until they arrived at a small courtyard. Hideyoshi Hashiba grinned and pointed to the gate, saying, "The person is inside."

"However, there are other women inside. Please allow me to go in first, and you wait here."

"clear."

After watching Hideyoshi Hashiba enter the courtyard, Nobuyuki Sanada looked around and found a stone step to sit down.

This area belongs to the Ninomaru district, but it has clearly just been planned. Apart from a very few houses, the rest of the area is still under construction.

I just don't know where the Sanada family residence is; I haven't even had a chance to visit Lord Yamate yet.

Just as Sanada Nobuyuki was feeling bored, a toe suddenly appeared in front of him. Sanada Nobuyuki quickly looked up and met the eyes of a woman.

"Miss Chacha?"

"Lord Sanada, what are you doing here?"

When Chacha saw that the person sitting on the steps was Nobuyuki Sanada, a look of joy immediately appeared on her face.

That's wonderful. Every time Chacha sees Nobuyuki Sanada, the image of Nagamasa Asai always comes to mind, as if her father had never left her.

"It was Lord Hashiba who sent me here."

"Here?"

"Yes, Lord Hashiba intends to marry me to a princess of the Oda clan."

"Speaking of which, Miss Chacha seems to..."

Unexpectedly, before Nobuyuki Sanada could finish speaking, Chacha covered her blushing face and ran away. "Miss Chacha?" Nobuyuki Sanada was completely bewildered as he watched Chacha's departing figure.

Wait, could she have misunderstood something?

When Sanada Nobuyuki saw that Chacha had entered the same room that Hashiba Hideyoshi had just gone into, he immediately understood.

Did Hideyoshi really choose the "Asai Sisters" for himself?
First, let's rule out Chacha, since she was Hideyoshi's concubine. So, is it Asai Go or Asai Hajime?
At the same time, Cha Cha ran into the house with flushed cheeks, locked herself behind the door, and gasped for breath while clutching her chest.

"Hideyoshi Hashiba wants to marry Lord Sanada to a princess from the Oda clan, and he brought him here."

“Since Xiao Du has already married into the Saji family, and my aunt intends to marry A Chu to the little monk (Kyogoku Takatsugu), I’m the only one left in this courtyard.”

"Wait, didn't Hideyoshi always think I had to go see for myself?"

From initial shyness, excitement, and hesitation to calmness, Cha Cha's emotions went through a rollercoaster ride in just fifteen minutes.

But when Chacha thought about Hideyoshi Hashiba's obvious feelings for her, she was a little unsure.

Is it really me?
Chacha couldn't say whether she liked Sanada Nobuyuki or simply saw him as a substitute for Asai Nagamasa.

Anyway, Chacha always feels especially at ease whenever she sees Nobuyuki Sanada.

With mixed feelings, Cha Cha quietly went behind the screen in the main house.

This courtyard was the residence of Kyogoku Tatsuko, and served as a side chamber for Hashiba Hideyoshi. The house was quite large. The three Asai sisters were placed here and cared for by Kyogoku Tatsuko.

Listen closely, and from the other side of the screen, Hideyoshi Hashiba's voice rang out.

“I have made my decision, it is Sanada Genzaburo.”

"Is that Sanada Genzaburo really as good as my lord says?" It was Kyogoku Ryuko who said this.

“Gensaburo is definitely one of the best young samurai. I, Hideyoshi, rarely misjudge people.”

“Fukushima, Kuroda, Kato, Hosokawa and others are all loyal and righteous people, but they are still slightly inferior to Genzaburo in terms of both ability and loyalty.”

"When the Shinano army withdrew, he escorted Musashi no Kami alone, and when the Shinano uprising occurred, he did his best to protect the Oda clan's territory."

"In the Battle of Nagakute, he single-handedly retrieved Musashi's body, and the Toyama Ikki achieved a victory against overwhelming odds."

"These incidents, one by one, are enough to prove that Genzaburo is a trustworthy and reliable person."

“Ajiang will not make a mistake marrying him.”

Behind the screen, Chacha felt a sweet warmth in her heart as she listened to Hideyoshi Hashiba praising Nobuyuki Sanada. She couldn't suppress the smile on her face, and two round dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her look incredibly cute.

Wait, who was Hideyoshi Hashiba talking about just now?

Ah Jiang?

Cha Cha's expression changed drastically, her heart leaped into her throat, and she quickly pressed her face against the screen to continue eavesdropping.

You must have misheard me, you must have.

"But hasn't the young master already entered into a marriage agreement with the George family?"

"The Saji family?" Hideyoshi's voice rang out again. "Saji and Kuro have already been expelled from their castle by their retainers, and in this battle, he dared to stand against me. He's courting death!"

"As for the engagement, it naturally doesn't count."

"That's settled then. Considering Ajiang's age, let's send him to Shinano in two years."

"You've been taking care of me all this time."

"Yes, my lord."

pain!
It hurts so much!
Cha Cha felt like she couldn't breathe.

Why?

Why must it be Ajiang?
I was the one who met Lord Sanada first.

Cha Cha couldn't listen to anything more that followed.

Chacha walked out of the courtyard, looking dejected. Nobuyuki Sanada was still at the door.

Seeing Chacha return, Nobuyuki Sanada quickly asked, "Miss Chacha, have you finished talking inside?"

Chacha's eyes revealed a complex expression, and she replied with a forlorn look, "Congratulations, Lord Sanada."

“From now on, I should call you brother-in-law,” Cha Cha said emotionlessly.

In that short fifteen minutes, Chacha thought about many things. Rather than saying she wanted to marry Sanada Nobuyuki, it would be more accurate to say she wanted to escape the cage that was Osaka Castle.

Whenever she sees Hideyoshi Hashiba's repulsive face, she can't help but recall Odani Castle from back then.

Her last ray of light in this world is about to go out.
This feeling was just like when Odani Castle fell and Azai Nagamasa died. Chacha's feelings at this moment were almost exactly the same as back then; she was reliving the pain of losing her father.

Fortunately, at least her beloved younger sister, Xiao Du, can get rid of all this. But why is she so envious?

She longed to escape the cage that was Osaka Castle; she didn't want to see that hateful, ugly face every day.

Sanada Nobuyuki clearly sensed that Chacha was not in a good mood, and quickly whispered, "Miss Chacha, are you alright?"

Nobuyuki Sanada didn't have any particular feelings for Chacha. When they met in Kyoto, he only felt sorry for her because of her background.

Most normal men would feel some compassion for a little girl who has lost both parents and has no one to rely on.

Moreover, even if others didn't know how Hideyoshi Hashiba felt about Chacha, didn't he?

Faced with the choice between power and beauty, only a foolish ruler would choose the latter.

I, Nobuyuki Sanada, am a man of great ambition. It would be completely not worth it for me to stand against Hideyoshi Hashiba for the sake of Chacha.

Once I seize the throne, won't all the women in the world be mine?
"Lord Sanada, please take good care of the young master from now on."

"please."

Little Supervisor?

Asai River?
Sanada Nobuyuki's heart tightened; this woman was no pushover. Historically, Tokugawa Hidetada, that simpleton, was completely under Asai Go's thumb, and he was also quite jealous, unable to tolerate other women.

Although he had never seen it and it might not be as rumored in history, Sanada Nobuyuki still couldn't help but feel a little worried.

If I marry her and she's really like that, won't my backyard be in flames every day?

But it doesn't seem to matter; a real man has to tame a wild horse to truly enjoy himself.

"Has it been decided yet?" Nobuyuki Sanada asked expressionlessly.

Cha Cha nodded gently, "Yes, it's settled."

Just as they were about to say something, a samurai suddenly appeared and walked towards them, and Asai Chacha immediately shut her mouth.

The samurai walked up to the two of them, first bowing to Chacha, then looking at Sanada Nobuyuki beside him, "Miss Chacha, who is this?"

"I am Sanada Hyogo-no-kami," Sanada Nobuyuki answered first.

"So it's Lord Sanada," the samurai said with a smile. "I am Inoue Gonjiro, your servant, Makai."

"What's going on between you and Miss Chacha?" Inoue Kenjiro gave Sanada Nobuyuki a meaningful look.

Oh no, I shouldn't have gotten so close to this woman.

Chacha and Sanada Nobuyuki were standing very close together. If they looked from the direction this person had come from, something bad was likely to happen!
Sanada Nobuyuki was startled. Although there was nothing between the two of them, if Hashiba Hideyoshi found out, it would inevitably cause trouble.

"Lord Sanada and I met by chance, what's wrong?"

"Can't I even say a word?" Chacha was already full of resentment and had nowhere to vent it. Wasn't Inoue Kenjiro just walking into the line of fire?

"No, no, Miss Chacha and Lord Sanada, please continue. I'll take my leave now." With that, Inoue Kenjiro turned and left.

Seeing Inoue Kenjiro constantly turning around to look at him, Sanada Nobuyuki's face darkened, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

This person must not be allowed to live.

(End of this chapter)