Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Anyway, no action was seen from the Shimazu army. Shiga Chikatsugu is currently hiding in the mountains and forests, and has sent people to Kuma District, south of Yatsushiro District, to find out the movements of the Sagara clan.

The Sagara clan has effectively become an ally of Shimazu Yoshihiro. If Shimazu Yoshihiro were to launch a military campaign, Inudou Yoriyasu, Fukami Nagatomo, Akaike Nagatomo, Okamoto Yoriya, and others would certainly be deployed. They would be the perfect cannon fodder, and fighting the Tsuri-no-fumi requires sacrificing men.

Drive the Yoshinobu Sagara to attack first, use the Yoshinobu's head to hang the enemy troops, and when the Yoshinobu collapses and the enemy troops come after them, they will just enter the Shimazu army's ambush.

We should use smarter locals like these as scouts. Of course, Shichibei also sent one of his own men with Shiga Chikaji. One of them returned with the messenger and, after confirming that what he said was true, went on to continue.

lurking.

Okay, it seems that Shimazu has shifted his main focus to the Hyuga side, specifically to Oda Nobuo's main force.

Originally, Shichibei would have had to go through a lot of trouble to clear out the Ryūzōji clan's influence in northern and central Higo, and it would have been impossible for him to launch an attack on the three southern Higo districts in a short period of time.

"We can send someone to Iwao to test the waters." Several elders of the Kawamura family shared this view, suggesting they try recruiting Kai Chikahide with a 5,000 koku of rice.

"Alright!" Shichibei agreed.

If trading 5,000 koku could lead to the collapse of the Aso clan, which would have at least 60,000 to 70,000 koku, then it would be a worthwhile deal. The vast territory of Higo, with its 500,000 koku, offers ample room for maneuver.

"Lord Ōtomo, it seems there hasn't been any news for several days, has there?" Hara no Nagayori asked curiously as he rode up.

"The fourth day," Tōdō Takatora replied.

Four days is enough time to walk back and forth between the north and south of Higo. After all, in the Edo period, the flying kick could cover the entire distance from Edo to Osaka in five to seven days.

Four days is considered slow, as it only requires traveling between northern and southern Higo. So what was Ōtomo Yoshitomo doing? Did he actually try to persuade Aso?

The only option is to surrender.

Of course, they advised him. Ōtomo Yoshitomo personally went to Tsumori Castle to meet with the assembled generals of the Aso clan. Aso Koremasa himself was terrified and almost lost all composure. The Ryūzōji army had collapsed, the Oda army had arrived, and the Shimazu army was eyeing them covetously from the south. The Aso clan was now in a precarious situation.

Under such circumstances, Kai Muneun, lord of Mifune Castle; Mitsunaga Sōfu, lord of Tsumori Castle; Nagano Korehisa, lord of Nango Castle; Nakamura Korefuyu, lord of Michigami Castle; and Asō Koretane, lord of Kenshida Castle, were also at a loss as to what to do.

The rapidly changing situation was overwhelming them, and the pressure of impending doom was almost crushing them. To make matters worse, Asuwei still had no idea what to do, making their situation even more difficult.

Kai Muneun had also heard some rumors spread by the Shimazu army. One thing he was very clear about was that the Oda army came to seize territory, and the Aso family's small estate of 100,000 koku was absolutely doomed to perish.

For Oda's army, the only option was resistance.

How could they resist? Even with their combined strength, the Aso clan could only muster a few thousand men, and they were missing Takamori Korechika. In the end, they decided to fight to the death, using their respective castles as branch castles and Mifune Castle as their main castle. They would then wage war.

Mifune Castle was a famous castle in Higo Province. Prince Kaneyoshi once resided here temporarily and commanded his generals in battle. Later, it also served as the main castle of the Aso clan. As a hilltop castle built on a hill, it was the best choice at the time, as it could both accommodate soldiers and provisions and defend against attacks.

Moreover, everyone knew Kai Muneun's abilities, so they all agreed. Aso Korechika also agreed and led his troops into Mifune Castle, preparing to besiege the castle and defend it to the death.

Upon learning that the Aso clan was prepared to fight to the death, Takamori Koreyuka sighed deeply, but there was nothing he could do. He could only return to his camp with Otomo Yoshitomo and prepare to report the military situation to Shichibei, initiating the siege.

The two had barely returned to their camp when they heard that Kazuchika, from Kazuchi District to the north, had already raised an army and openly raised the banner of the Shimazu clan. If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad; the people of Higo Province were in a state of chaos and blindly taking sides, which was understandable.

To everyone's surprise, Nakamura Yuifu, who had been speaking eloquently during the meeting, also raised the banner of the Shimazu clan, indicating that he had voted for Shimazu.

Now the Ōtomo army was in a hopeless situation. However, out of respect for the Ōtomo family's long-standing prestige, these people did not dare to attack Ōtomo Yoshitomo immediately, clearly implying that he should run away as soon as possible.

Ōtomo Yoshitomo refused

565. The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light; the situation has changed (Zhu Xiucai's Three-Jin Crown)

Kai Chikahide didn't attend the meeting; he and his father didn't get along. Besides, if his father went, he basically wouldn't have a chance to speak, so going would have been pointless.

Kai Chikahide had already heard the news of the Ryuzoji army's crushing defeat at Dazaifu. He had also heard the Shimazu clan's rumors that the Oda army would kill the entire Aso family after entering the pass. He didn't feel anything particularly profound; he was simply wondering what the fate of his own family should be.

The Kai clan was not a collateral branch of the Aso clan, but rather a collateral branch of the prestigious Kikuchi clan, the governor of Higo Province, and had not been separated from the main family for very long. They lived in Takachihohara, an area bordering Higo and Hyuga, forming the Takachiho party, and had close ties with the Tsuchimachi family of Hyuga.

The Tsuchimachi family is already finished, and the Kai family may follow in the footsteps of their old friend, being crushed by the tide of the Warring States period and disappearing without a trace.

How to do?

If I give you five thousand shi of grain for your livelihood, would you dare to do it?

Just as Kai Chikahide was feeling lost, Shiga Chikaji personally entered Iwao Castle to persuade Kai Chikahide. If nothing unexpected happened, the new...

Lord Kawamura Kyōchō-dono of Higo Province is a tolerant and benevolent ruler. If you surrender your city, you will be able to live peacefully with your 5,000 koku of rice.

So what were the conditions? Kai Chikahide remained calm and collected, surrendering the castle in exchange for the lives of the soldiers, which was normal. After Shimizu Muneharu surrendered Takamatsu Castle in Bitchu, he committed seppuku to uphold the loyalty of the samurai, and the lives of all 5,000 soldiers in the castle were indeed saved; Hideyoshi did not kill them.

Conditions? The condition, of course, is that Iwao Castle is captured by the Oda army, Kai Chikahide has nowhere to go, and can only retreat to Mifune Castle and request to be taken in.

I don't need to teach you what to do next. If you achieve great merit in capturing Mifune Castle, or even directly defeat Aso no Korechika, then it's not entirely impossible to be awarded an additional 5,000 koku.

You ask what will happen to Kai Muneyoshi? Asking that is impolite. Not only did Shiga Chikaji refuse to mention it, but Kai Chikahide did too. With war breaking out, life and death are uncertain; who can know who will succeed?

Even renowned ministers and generals, how many have died on the battlefield? How did Tao Qingxian, the previous peerless general of the Western Kingdom, die? The next peerless general of the Western Kingdom was almost trampled to death by Li Rusong's horse in Korea.

To go further back, Imagawa Yoshimoto sent out over 20,000 men to face only...

Oda Nobunaga, with two or three thousand cavalry, still died a complete straggler. That's how it is on the battlefield; everything is preordained.

To lower or not to lower?

After a fierce internal struggle, Kai Chikahide made a decision: surrender was acceptable, but Shichibei had to be given as a hostage, and a hostage of sufficient importance. He would be to impersonate a servant and stay by his side, never leaving his side.

Anyway, his father and he had been at odds for several years, and all the servants around him had been replaced. When the "defeated soldiers" numbered several hundred and fled to the Imperial Ship City, it would be perfectly normal for a few unfamiliar servants to be among them.

Ideally, he should be Shichibei's biological son, preferably a legitimate son. If not, then he should be the legitimate son of the highest-ranking retainer or chief retainer in the household.

After all, Kai Chikahide didn't know Shichibei at all, so he could only ask for a high price. If he could get a legitimate son or a senior retainer, he probably wouldn't have been sold off.

This put Shiga Chikaji in a difficult position. He couldn't agree, but said he could ask Shichibei immediately. So Kai Chikahide gave Shiga Chikaji two days to handle this matter.

"Hostages?" Shichibei looked around; this was truly a difficult situation.

what.

We came from a distant sea expedition, and most of us are not very old. This has resulted in Shichibei, Hara Nagayori, and Takenaka Hanbei not having their wives and children by their side, and some of their children are still crawling around. Todo Takatora is even worse; he doesn't even want to find a wife, insisting on waiting until he has achieved fame and success, becoming the lord of a province and a castle, before marrying a daughter of someone of Oda Nobunaga's or Nobukatsu's caliber.

It's not that they don't want to send their eldest son out, it's just that they don't have one, and the other is too young. Shichibei's offer to surrender to Kai Chikahide was genuine. Now, what are they going to do?

"My lord..." Just as everyone was struggling to make arrangements, Saegusa Morinaka called out softly.

Actually, I'm considered your son too.

"Hiss..." It's true, Shichibei and his stepmother not only sleep very well, but they've also had a little sister.

“The explanation for the three branches is indeed valid.” The high-ranking officials around him clapped their hands, because it was indeed true.

Although Shichibei and Saegusa Morinao were not related by blood, his paternal mother had indeed slept with him. Just as Hideyoshi slept with Ooka-dono, Ukita Hachiro thus became his...

It's like an adopted son. In Japan, this is permissible, as long as the original parent agrees.

“Kankai is just like my own son, he really is!” Shichibei stood up and patted Sane no Morinaka, “You’re so brave, I’ll remember this.”

Seeing that everyone agreed, Shichibei also approved and immediately changed Saegusa Morinaka's name to Kawamura Naokichi. As for the Saegusa family? Anyway, most of the retainers of the Saegusa family had died, and Saegusa Morinaka and Ii's sister-in-law had two sons, one to inherit Ii's mantle and the other to inherit Saegusa's mantle, so there was no problem at all.

In fact, Shichibei also wanted to suggest that Kawamura Naokichi marry the daughter he had with Ii's sister-in-law, so that they would be a perfectly legitimate family, and the child would carry Shichibei's bloodline. However, considering the age difference between the two, Shichibei ultimately didn't say it aloud.

So, Kawamura Naokichi was taken hostage and sent to join Kai Chikahide. In addition to him, Shichibei also gave him five skilled fighters to take with him. Although they might not be of great use, it was better for six people to fight together when necessary than to fight alone.

With the hostages in hand, everything became easier. That very night, Kai Chikahide was "attacked" and "scattered" out of the castle. In reality, Iwao Castle was handed over to his grandson, Kiyama Nobuyuki. Kai Chikahide, in his forties, was not yet...

She didn't lay any eggs, but had one daughter. She married Kiyama Korehisa, a top student of the lyricist Rinzomura.

Kiyama Nobuhisa cared little for samurai, family business, or the world; his only passion in life was linked verse. Therefore, he fled to Kyoto to serve Satomura Shōba. The Higo family business was left to Kiyama Nobuhisa, making him essentially Kai Chikahide's heir. Leaving him at Iwao Castle was also a way of keeping him as a hostage for Shichibei.

He didn't have a real son to give away, which was very frustrating.

Even in noble families, not having a son is truly not having a son. Besides, this isn't an era of monogamy; one can easily take a concubine. Kai Chikahide still couldn't have a son, which only proves that what is destined to be will be, and what is not, cannot be forced.

Since he had been "defeated" and forced to retreat, it was natural that Shichibei was able to successfully occupy Iwao Castle. With a castle to rely on, everything was safe and sound, and Shichibei felt a great sense of relief.

At this point, there has been no news from Yoshitomo Ōtomo for five days? Even if it requires going around valleys and plateaus, it should be possible to reach it in two days. What exactly is Yoshitomo Ōtomo doing?

According to Kai Chikahide, the Aso family definitely did not launch an attack on Ōtomo Yoshitomo. He had not received any summons or mobilization orders. Although the local lords and their followers rushed to Tsumori Castle...

Yes, but it's just me attending the meeting.

Even if Yoshitomo Otomo was incompetent, he still had a force of ten thousand men. The Aso family couldn't raise ten thousand men even if they sold everything they owned. If they were to fight, they would fight with all their might; how could they not conscript peasant soldiers?

Then the question arises: what was Yoshitomo Otomo doing?

On the way to attack Mifune Castle, in the village of Yufune.

As one of the branch castles of Mifune Castle, Michigami Castle was considered a fortified castle. However, the castle's garrison, which was originally going to fight to the death for the Aso clan, suddenly changed direction and surrendered to the Shimazu, causing a minor commotion.

To be fair, Ōtomo Yoshitomo's ideas weren't particularly radical. He felt that although Aso Korechika's abilities were mediocre, he had been the head of the Aso clan for many years. He had prestige and hadn't made any major mistakes. Moreover, he had the assistance of the renowned retainer Kai Muneun, so there shouldn't be many people single-mindedly plotting to rebel against Aso Korechika.

To be so determined to be the first to rebel is truly something only a select few can do. Most people are simply opportunists, swaying whichever way the wind blows. If the Shimazu ultimately conquer Mifune Castle, then they will submit to the Shimazu. If Mifune Castle stands, then they will be loyal retainers of Aso.

Just like most people are neither completely bad nor completely evil.

Like good people, they all walk between black and white.

By decisively defeating the Nakamura brothers, Koreyu and Koreyu, at Daoshang Castle, the Shimazu clan, eager to make their move, was greatly deterred (at this point, Ōtomo Yoshitomo was still unaware that the Shimazu were about to storm in). At the same time, by intimidating Aso Koremasa with martial prowess, he ultimately forced Aso Koremasa to surrender and open the castle gates.

I can't say for sure about anything else, but my life is guaranteed. The position of Grand Priest of Aso won't be lost; it will still be passed down to the Aso family. Just like how the Takeda family killed Suwa Yorishige, but the position of Grand Priest of Suwa was still inherited by Suwa Yoritada.

It was just that the territory and the priesthood were separated. The priesthood had no military deterrent power, so the new conquerors were more likely to let it go. The territory of Suwa County was granted by Takeda Shingen to his own son, Suwa Katsuyori.

Nakamura Koreyu dared to rebel within the castle for two reasons: first, Kazuchika to the north had rebelled, blocking Ōtomo Yoshitomo's retreat route back to Aso Valley. Under normal circumstances, Ōtomo Yoshitomo should have been forced to retreat hastily.

Secondly, Shimazu Yoshihiro promised that he would only need to wait five days at most for the reinforcements from the Sagara clan of Higo-Kuma to arrive. Within seven days, the Shimazu clan's "30,000-strong army" would also arrive in Higo to jointly attack Mifune Castle.

Last year, the Shimazu clan had over 20,000 men confronting the Ryuzoji clan's 43,000 men along the Takase River. Nakamura Yuifu felt that Shimazu Yoshihiro should...

It wasn't a scam; they genuinely wanted to seize Higo.

So he brazenly rebelled, echoing the sentiments of his own men. Then, the very next day, he was met with a crushing defeat by Ōtomo Yoshitomo. While the Ōtomo army could not defeat the Shimazu army, they were adept at dealing with the powerful local lords of Kyushu.

Even though the Hojo clan couldn't defeat Uesugi Kenshin, he was incredibly brave and valiant when he was dealing with the piracy in Kanto.

After only two days of fierce attack on Michigami Castle, the castle began to falter. Ōtomo Yoshitomo, believing victory was assured, became arrogant and retreated to his main camp to warm himself by the fire instead of standing on the front lines.

The main castle of Kumamoto Castle, which had already submitted to the Shimazu clan, launched a fierce attack on the Ōtomo army. The Ōtomo army, caught off guard, was thrown into chaos. Fortunately, the soldiers of Fuyuki Castle were far less skilled than the Shimazu and had not learned the Monkey Cry attack technique. After repelling the Ōtomo army, they withdrew to their camp.

As a result, Ōtomo Yoshitomo was forced to retreat to the area between Mifune Castle and Tsumori Castle. Mitsunaga Sōhō of Tsumori Castle, remembering their past relationship, sent a message to Ōtomo Yoshitomo, offering to clear the way so that he could retreat to Asō Valley and then return to Bungo.

But then, an unbelievable situation unfolded before Ōtomo Yoshitomo's eyes. Kai Chikahide "retreated" from Iwao Castle to Mifune Castle, where Iwao Castle had been captured by the vanguard of the Oda army.

In other words, the Oda army had already established a foothold a little further to the south and no longer needed to retreat to Bungo. Upon hearing the news, Ōtomo Yoshitomo immediately sent someone to Iwao Castle to find Shichibei, to inform the Aso troops that some had defected to the Shimazu, and that he himself was deploying his forces north of Mifune Castle, awaiting the arrival of Kawamura's central army.

When Shichibei asked why there hadn't been any news from Ōtomo Yoshitō for five days, Ōtomo Yoshitō's envoy appeared before Shichibei.

"what!"

Everyone in the tent exclaimed in surprise. Just two days ago, Shiga Chikaji had clearly reported that there was no sign of the Shimazu army in Yatsushiro County being mobilized, and that the generals of Sagara County were all in the countryside.

In reality, Kazuki Chikayuki, Nakamura Koreyu, and Shiro Fuyuki had already rebelled and joined the Shimazu clan. This means that the Shimazu army was definitely going to try their luck in Higo, and it was highly likely that Shimazu Yoshihiro would come in person.

“Aso is an enemy, not a friend, and Shimazu is definitely an enemy. I am in a very serious situation.” Takenaka Hanbei did not expect the situation to change so suddenly.