Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era

Late August, 1570.

Shizuko couldn’t help but think that cultivating pepper was much more difficult than expected. And she keenly felt how fortunate the modern era was.

When Shizuko purchased 90 pepper seedlings and 100 seeds and transported them to Owari, she ended up with 45 seedlings and 70 seeds. Out of those, only 12 seedlings grew. As for the seeds, only 6 germinated, resulting in a dismal outcome. Furthermore, two of the seedlings withered along the way, and two germinated seeds changed color and rotted within a few days.

After about two months of cultivation, there were only 10 healthy seedlings and 4 seeds that continued to grow. The fact that there were any grown peppers at all felt like a miracle, but there was still one major obstacle remaining. They couldn’t survive the winter in Japan in their current state. As a countermeasure, they urgently started the construction of a vinyl greenhouse. However, it wasn’t an ordinary greenhouse; it required additional facilities, so it took some time to build.

While struggling with pepper cultivation, Shizuko had a meeting with Frois. The purpose was to obtain more crops. Since she couldn’t have plant hunters, she had no choice but to rely on the Jesuits like Frois to obtain crops from overseas. Perhaps the incident with scurvy had been quite shocking, as there were several young monks standing behind Frois, instead of just Lorenzo who usually accompanied him. They were all young people between the ages of 15 and 17, but Shizuko was inwardly surprised to see that there was one nun among them.

(Could nuns even go abroad in this era?)

She wondered about it, but she decided to think that perhaps a wealthy young lady had been dispatched as a nun.

In the medieval Catholic Church, anyone could become a nun, but there were differences in treatment. Girls from noble families often entered with appropriate donations and received decent treatment even within the convent. They were assigned light tasks, learned to read and write, and studied God’s teachings from various books. On the other hand, nuns from the common people were assigned heavy labor such as cooking, laundry, cleaning, and farming. From that perspective, the nun who came to Japan must have been the daughter of a high-ranking person.

(Or maybe she came to escape witch hunts…?)

“I apologize, but these individuals are people who wish to train under me. I thought it was presumptuous to teach others while still in training, but I accepted it as God’s will.”

Whether they noticed Shizuko’s gaze or not, Frois smiled wryly and explained about the monks. After being introduced, they turned their faces towards Shizuko and bowed slightly. Shizuko also bowed her head, influenced by them.

“I have come today with a request for a new crop. Of course, I have prepared the funds corresponding to the request.”

Along with his words, Shizuko called a pageboy. A large wooden box and documents were placed on a tray in front of Frois, and the pageboys bowed and left. Frois took the documents and looked through them. After finishing reading everything, he smiled kindly and spoke.

“Lord Head Minister, do you have an interest not only in animals but also in plants?”

“…Our country is constantly plagued by battles and disasters, and the people are always hungry and suffering. It is impossible to unify Japan if the people are starving. Therefore, it is urgent to study a variety of crops.”

“I see. However, there are truly a wide variety of crops. Bananas, cocoa, coffee, mangosteen, lychee, rambutan, dragon fruit, mango, fig. There are many fruits, and there are many names I’ve never heard before.”

“Indeed. When I came to this country (…), I ate various fruits in different places. The crops to pay attention to would be cocoa, which is monopolized by the Spanish Empire, and coffee, which is monopolized by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. It may be a bit troublesome, but if it’s impossible, it’s fine. The opportunity will come eventually.”

“(When he says ‘came to this country’… Did he originally come with Japan as his goal?) I heard from my colleagues that coffee is a drink of infidels. Personally, I do not recommend it.”

After being officially recognized for consumption by the general public in 1454, coffee spread throughout the Middle East and the Islamic world. When coffee was introduced to Europe, the coffee craze quickly spread. However, at that time, coffee beans were a monopoly of Turkey. They were boiled once to prevent germination, and the secret was guarded by specialized craftsmen. Cocoa was also similar, protected by Spain’s strict secrecy, and for over 100 years, cocoa beans were thought to be mere sheep droppings by neighboring countries.

There was a big loophole here. The Aztec people knew about cocoa beans, but few people knew about cocoa pots in detail. And while Turkey took care to ensure the germination of coffee beans, they didn’t know that coffee trees could be propagated by cuttings. This was a smuggling method that took advantage of the fact that there were few people who knew about these items other than as prohibited goods due to excessive secrecy. It wasn’t a particularly commendable method, but without resorting to such measures, it was impossible to import crops from overseas. Shizuko herself didn’t particularly need cocoa and coffee, but she had become interested in them after easily giving her chocolate to Nobunaga during the time slip and teaching him that soy coffee was a substitute. Just thinking about it gave her a headache, but she couldn’t refuse Nobunaga, who was filled with anticipation. And so, she ended up negotiating with Frois to obtain cocoa and coffee seedlings.

“Is it because coffee is a drink of Islam?”

“Did you know that? In that case, I think you can understand why I would answer that way.”

“Yes, I understand. However, can’t we think of it this way as well? It is unacceptable for the devil to monopolize a delicious drink like coffee. Let’s baptize it and take it away from them. It may be the idle talk of infidels, but that’s how I would think.”

Frois was speechless at Shizuko’s response. Not only Frois, but Lorenzo and the monks standing behind him were also the same. However, once Frois caught up with the understanding, he burst into laughter, contrary to Shizuko’s expectations.

“I apologize. I was a little taken aback by your unexpected thoughts. Indeed, as Lord Head Minister said, baptizing coffee, which can become the devil’s power, and preventing their monopoly would be in accordance with God’s will.”

After laughing for a while, Frois quickly put on a refreshing smile.

“I understand about the crops. Since I will be searching based on the illustrations in the materials, please allow me some time.”

“I am aware that it will take time. Well then, please take care of it.”

The meeting with Frois ended smoothly. While it was difficult to obtain coffee and cocoa, she had provided them with funds appropriate for the job. Therefore, whether they could obtain them or not depended on their skills. Shizuko relied on the Jesuits like Frois to request the acquisition of seeds and seedlings because of their influence. Common items such as purple cabbage, heading cabbage, green beans, olives, Ningbo kumquats, goats, and sheep could be obtained from Portuguese merchants with a little money.

Goats and sheep were not only useful for their meat and wool but also excellent for grazing animals. Goats were good for weeding on sloping land, while sheep were good for weeding on flat land. Although each had their strengths and weaknesses, they would take care of weeding with just a little effort. Both goats and sheep had little waste, as their hair, skin, meat, and milk were all useful. Especially their wool was excellent as winter clothing. Therefore, she imported many varieties such as the Saanen and Cashmere breeds of goats and the Shetland and Southdown breeds of sheep (Old Southdown). The most famous breed of sheep was Spanish Merino. However, during the Spanish War of Independence in the 18th century, various countries intervened, and the Spanish Merino, a treasure of the Ashikaga family, was taken away as spoils of war, making it a secret breed that was no longer exclusive.

“Green beans, cabbage, purple cabbage, bok choy, Ningbo kumquats, and olives are being multiplied from seeds. Although they are potted, we are also cultivating olives. Goats and sheep are entrusted to Mitsuo-san. Hmm, this might be the limit for Portuguese merchants.”

When it came to crops that were difficult to obtain, merchants suddenly became hesitant. However, it was different for missionaries. They considered the hardships as trials and accepted them without difficulty. Because of this difference in mental strength, Shizuko decided to rely on the Jesuits. Of course, there were drawbacks to the strong Christian values, but it was still cheaper than organizing and dispatching plant hunters.

“I will import Nanban swords and iron ingots for materials. I will request Christianity for fruit seeds. Really, Shizuchi is quite busy. I’m looking forward to the taste of fruits I’ve never heard of.”

“Are Nanban swords referring to Damascus knives?”

Upon hearing Keiji’s words, Shizuko touched the short sword hanging from her waist. It had a total length of 450mm, a blade length of 295mm, a blade thickness of 5mm, and the layer structure was unknown. As for the material of the handle, Shizuko thought it was made of water buffalo horn due to its origin in India. The sheath was made of thick cowhide, which looked sturdy and robust. Overall, it was well-made, and the craftsmanship could be felt. Some parts, such as the fastener, used brass from India. In the 12th century, India used cotton as a reducing agent to refine metallic zinc and produce brass. This technology spread to China in the 16th century, and since then, China has also produced metallic zinc and brass.

“However, what kind of change in mindset could it be? You were collecting famous swords, and suddenly you bestowed a sword upon us and sought a Nanban sword. I, Saizo, feel somewhat skeptical about it.”

“There were some circumstances that arose.”

After the Battle of Anegawa, Ashimitsu officially became Shizuko’s retainer. However, trouble arose because he possessed one of the Five Great Swords of the Land, “Mikazuki Munechika.” Shizuko had been actively collecting the Five Great Swords, but she had not given any of them to anyone yet. She thought it was bad for appearances that Ashimitsu was the only one who had one. Therefore, to balance things out, she gave “Doyou Kuniyuki” to Keiji and “Onimaru Kunitsuna” to Saizo. She hadn’t been able to give one to Nagayoshi yet, but she made a promise to give him “Taikou Koutetsu” or “Juzumaru Tsunetsugu” when she obtained them.

After the Battle of Anegawa, it is unknown what kind of negotiations Nobunaga had with the Ashikaga family, but he brought back “Daishou Koutetsu Mitsuhide” which was highly valued by the Ashikaga family. Judging from the fact that he also brought back other valuable swords of the Ashikaga family such as “Fujishiro Yoshirou” and “Daihannya Nagamitsu,” it was speculated that they had engaged in political transactions regarding the secret documents.

However, despite being stored at the Kunouji Temple on Mt. Minobu as one of Nichiren Shonin’s three relics, how does he plan to obtain it?

Shizuko couldn’t think of anything even after thinking about it, so she decided to stop thinking about it. She thought that if she thought deeply, she would see some kind of unfavorable result.

“But still, meeting with Mr. Frois, collecting the contents of the suggestion box, and constantly moving around for work.”

Shizuko complained while massaging her shoulders. Shizuko planned to import a new variety during the meeting with Frois, but that’s not the only purpose. There is also the important task of checking the contents of the suggestion box.

It is said that the suggestion box was established by Tokugawa Yoshimune in 1721 (Kyoho 6th year), but there were also those who implemented the system of suggestion boxes during the Sengoku period, such as the Hojo clan of Sagami Province and the Takeda clan of Kai. By the way, the suggestion in the suggestion box refers to a petition, and in the Edo period, it was simply called a box. The change from box to suggestion box occurred in the Meiji period and later.

Initially, various submissions were allowed, but soon strict rules were applied. First, only two types of submissions were allowed: “opinions useful for politics” and “reports on the misconduct and corruption of officials,” just like in the Edo period. Other submissions were considered irrelevant but filed and managed. The address (name of the village) and name must be clearly stated. The voting day was once every two months, only from 9 am to 2 pm.

Despite these detailed regulations, many submissions were received each time. There were many dubious and difficult-to-confirm complaints, but there were also valuable information that could be effectively utilized in politics. Of course, not all complaints could be fulfilled, and there were also low-priority contents. However, there have been many policies realized based on the opinions in the suggestion box, such as conducting new land development based on suggestions for land that can be developed, building child welfare facilities for children in need of protection, conducting subjugation based on reports of bandits, and mediating river utilization.

“There must be a lot of submissions this time too.”

“Because the suggestion box has become so popular, it has become a custom to give alcohol to the soldiers in charge of managing it.”

The contents of the suggestion box are a box prepared to please the people and resolve dissatisfaction. It must not have any flaws, so while the box is placed, several guards are stationed. However, if it’s winter, they are made to stand in the snow without any heating. If it’s summer, they stand under the scorching sun without entering the shade. There are no shifts, and they serve as guards in harsh conditions. To show compassion for the guards, Shizuko gave them a bottle of sake from her own sake brewery. However, this led to an increase in people who volunteered to be guards for the sake, and it became a struggle to select them every time.

Sake is an indispensable tool when talking about the Sengoku period, and at the same time, it brings immense wealth. Until the Edo period, high-quality sake referred to the sake brewed in large temples and monasteries. Therefore, Nobunaga considered their sake as a rival force and sent spies to the large temples to ruin their reputation. Of course, the large temples also sent spies to Nobunaga’s brewing town, but most of them were detected by the watchdogs and eliminated without anyone knowing.

“Oh, here they come… Oh, I’m sorry! Good work!?”

When they arrived at the place where the suggestion box was placed, the soldiers saw Shizuko and jumped for joy. But as soon as they noticed Saizo’s gaze, they quickly changed their attitude.

“I apologize for the interruption. Since it’s the scheduled time, the installation of the suggestion box is complete. After reporting to the unit leader, you are free to disperse. Since I’ve sent you sake, it’s good to drink with your colleagues later. That’s all, any questions?”

“No, none!”

“…Well, fine. Good job. I’ll take it from here.”

Shizuko felt half amazed at the soldier’s absent-minded state, but she thought it would be bad to keep them any longer and pretended not to notice. While feeling intimidated by Saizo’s increasingly stern face, the soldiers hurriedly left the scene.

“Oh, it’s quite heavy this time too.”

As Shizuko held the suggestion box, she felt its weight. However, it wasn’t as heavy as to make her legs weak, as it only contained paper.

“If it’s alright with you…”

Shizuko tied the suggestion box to the horse and was about to mount the horse when a voice came from behind. She took her foot off the stirrup and turned her face towards the direction of the voice. A wandering monk was looking at Shizuko. He raised his hat to reveal his face and bowed deeply.

“Excuse me, I am Fushikian. I have a few questions about that box. May I ask you about it now?”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I will answer to the best of my ability.”

Shizuko, with a kind smile, turned her body towards the monk. Saizo got off the horse, and Keiji remained on the horse, but they carefully observed Fushikian. Without words, they moved in perfect harmony, ready to act if something happened. If anything were to occur, Keiji would immediately carry Shizuko and flee, while Saizo would wield his spear as their protector. Without saying a word, the two of them showed a slight reaction to Fushikian, but quickly put on a smile and asked Shizuko a question.

“I heard that the box you have is a box for the people to submit their opinions. I apologize for my rudeness, but I don’t understand the reason for soliciting opinions from the people. Why do you seek opinions from the people?”

“Just as those who rule have something to say to those who are ruled, those who are ruled also have something to say to those who rule. If those who rule do not listen to the voices of those who are ruled, and at the same time, those who are ruled do not listen to the voices of those who rule, the country will head in a bad direction.”

Fushikian was surprised by Shizuko’s words. His surprise was understandable. In a chaotic era where everyone seeks only their own interests, there are no opinions that benefit both sides like Shizuko’s. Furthermore, she doesn’t just talk about ideals, but actually puts them into practice. It is not an easy thing to do, and Fushikian understood that. He smiled softly and nodded a few times.

“You have noble thoughts, and you are not just talking about dreams.”

“I don’t think of it as something noble. Besides, it may sound good, but in the end, it’s for my own benefit. I want to receive reports on land that can be developed from the people and conduct land reclamation to ultimately increase taxes.”

Building free training facilities is for the purpose of maintaining the people as a labor force. Developing land that can be reclaimed through public projects is to increase the taxes that can be collected. While the suggestion box may sound like a policy to listen to the people’s dissatisfaction, it cannot be denied that it is primarily driven by the interests of the Oda family. In fact, even if policies were formulated based on the opinions in the suggestion box, those that benefit the Oda family were prioritized and those of lower priority were often put on hold.

“It’s easy to say but difficult to do. Look at the faces of the people. They all have good expressions.”

Shizuko looked at the faces of the people passing by as prompted by Fushikian. Those who lived in the chaotic era all had smiles on their faces. It was a smile that didn’t show any signs of feeling that they might die tomorrow.

“The results of the lord’s governance are reflected in the faces of the people. Even if you calculate your own interests and govern, if the people are smiling, you can take it as a sign that they are grateful for your governance.”

“Oh, um… Thank you. It’s embarrassing to be told that directly.”

Shizuko felt embarrassed by Fushikian’s praise and lightly scratched her cheek to hide her embarrassment. Seeing her reaction as innocent, Fushikian smiled kindly.

“I’m sorry, but I have a promise with a friend, so I must take my leave.”

“Oh, yes. Take care on your way.”

After adjusting the strings of his hat, Fushikian deeply bowed his head to Shizuko. In response, Shizuko also bowed her head. When Fushikian raised his head, he smiled faintly and then left.

“He was an unusual person, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah… that’s right.”

When Fushikian’s back disappeared from view, Shizuko mounted the horse and spoke to the two of them. She was puzzled by Keiji’s vague response and turned her face towards him. Keiji had a serious expression on his face that she rarely saw. However, when he noticed Shizuko’s gaze, he immediately put on his usual carefree smile.

“I was just reminiscing about the past. Well, let’s stop with the gloomy talk. Let’s hurry back.”

“Uh, yeah. Right, let’s go back quickly.”

As soon as he said that, Shizuko manipulated the reins of the horse and set off on the return journey. Saizo and Keiji lined up behind her, and they whispered words that only the two of them could hear.

“(How many were there?)”

“(At least… no less than forty.)”

“(There was nothing, but there were people positioned without any gaps. Is that monk someone important?)”

At the same time, Keiji let out a deep sigh. Shizuko didn’t notice, but the two of them sensed the presence of guards around Fushikian and quickly realized that they were all in a state of readiness.

“(We don’t understand, but we need to be cautious. Should we send a spy?)”

“(It’s pointless. They will soon be detected and eliminated if we send a spy. Let’s just withdraw this time.)”

After reaching a conclusion, the two of them pushed Fushikian to the back of their minds and put on their usual faces. It was their consideration to not worry Shizuko unnecessarily. Keiji took out a smoking pipe from his pocket, lit it, and smoked tobacco.

“(However, Saizo seems to be quite infatuated with Shizuko, unconsciously prepared to face death. Hmph, of course, I am too.)”

At first, I was only half interested. Even though it was Nobunaga’s command, it sounded like they were making fun of me for becoming a female retainer. That’s why Keiji became very interested. He wanted to understand why Nobunaga gave Shizuko the position of a retainer. The answer came immediately.

Shizuko was unpredictable in her actions, and she was someone you couldn’t take your eyes off of. One day, she would be dressed in fancy clothes and meeting with Nobunaga, and the next day, she would be in work clothes, working in the fields. Sometimes, she would obey Nobunaga, but other times, she would argue with him directly. You couldn’t leave her alone because you never knew what she would do. That was Keiji’s evaluation of Shizuko. And he believed that this thinking was not limited to just himself, but also to Saizo, Nagayoshi, and the other soldiers.

(To conquer the famine and unify the country. Shizuko’s dream of barking at a different kind of unification than the lord of the Oda clan… It’s a great dream, deep and profound, and a dream that is not afraid of death.)

After taking a puff of his pipe, Keiji looked at Shizuko’s back. People follow others based on the depth of their dreams. The deeper and bigger the dream, the lower-ranked individuals will stand up no matter how many times they lose, and once they enter a battle, they become warriors who are willing to sacrifice their lives. Considering that, Keiji thought that Shizuko’s dream was so deep that he couldn’t see the bottom, and it was bigger than the sea.

“(The unification of this country is a process. True unification is creating a country where everyone can eat. The final enemy is the heavens themselves… It’s an overly reckless story. But that’s good. It’s such a big dream, so it’s good! Shizuchi, what’s for dinner tonight?”

Suppressing his passionate feelings in his chest, Keiji smiled and asked Shizuko about dinner. When Shizuko was asked the question, she put her hand on her chin and thought about the menu. Then, Saizo, who had been silent until now, cleared his throat lightly.

“The other day, the rice and soup that Mitsu-o made… It was delicious.”

“Hey, Saizo, don’t secretly make requests. In that case, I want a Oyakodon bowl.”

“You’re free to say whatever you want, but don’t forget that Aya-chan is the one who actually cooks.”

Shizuko sighed in exasperation at the requests of the two. However, she didn’t seem to be genuinely annoyed, but rather, she seemed to be enjoying thinking about dinner.

“So, how much sake do you want after dinner?”

Keiji and Saizo looked at each other’s faces and nodded, then smiled brightly as they answered.

“One shō (1.8 liters).”

“No. Just be satisfied with four gō (720 milliliters).”

The two were disappointed that their request was not granted. Seeing the two like that, Shizuko smiled and continued speaking.

“However, if you help me, I don’t mind granting permission for up to 7 gō (1.2 liters) per person. So, what is your answer?”

The two immediately accepted Shizuko’s proposal.

On July 21st, with the cooperation of Miyoshi Trio’s lord, Miyoshi Yasunaga, who was the lord of Iwakura Castle in Awa Province, and Shinohara Nagafusa, who was a retainer of the Miyoshi clan and the lord of Kamizakura Castle in Awa Province, the Miyoshi Trio forces, who had once ruled the Kinai region, crossed the sea from Awa Province to Izumi Province. After landing on July 27th, they immediately advanced and set up their camp at Temmangū Mori in Settsu Province. The Miyoshi Trio forces, led by Miyoshi Yasunaga, who was the head of the Kanrei family, had a force of about 13,000 soldiers. Among their forces were the Iga clan led by Iga Magobei (Suzuki Shigehide), who would later assist the Honganji Temple and cause trouble for Nobunaga, and Saito Ryuko, who had fled to Nagashima in northern Ise Province.

Even in August, the Miyoshi Trio forces continued their advance and reclaimed their former territories. They then attacked Itami Castle, the lord of which was Itami Chikaoki, in Ikeda, Settsu Province, in order to use it as a foothold for invading Kyoto. They also built fortresses in Noda and Fukushima, which were close to Ishiyama Honganji Temple, and Anzai Nobuyasu, a member of the Miyoshi clan from Awaji Province, rushed to Amagasaki and took up a position there. In Izumisano Castle, the lord of which was Ikeda Katsumasa, he was expelled from the castle by Araki Murashige, a retainer who had been deceived by the Miyoshi Trio forces, and Ikeda Tomomasa (the eldest son of Ikeda Nagamasa). Araki Murashige, who had married Ikeda Nagamasa’s daughter and become a member of the Ikeda clan, took advantage of the chaos to take control of the Ikeda clan.

Seeing this situation as serious, the shogun Yoshiaki contacted Nobunaga and issued an order to the guardians of the Kinai region to pursue and defeat the Miyoshi Trio forces. The guardians of Kawachi Province, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, and the lower half of Kawachi Province, Hatakeyama Akitaka, responded to Yoshiaki’s order and tried to stop the invasion of the Miyoshi Trio forces at Furuhashi Castle in Kawachi Province. However, they were unable to stop their advance, and Furuhashi Castle fell.

The guardian of Yamato Province, Matsunaga Hisahide, also moved to Shingisan Castle, located on the border between Yamato and Kawachi Provinces, and established a defensive position against the Miyoshi Trio forces. However, there was a possibility that the local samurai such as Tsutsui and Hashio, who were behind him, would become restless, so he couldn’t actively engage in combat against the Miyoshi Trio forces.

Nobunaga was furious at the advance of the Miyoshi Trio forces and replenished his depleted soldiers. On August 20th, he left Gifu and arrived at Honnoji Temple in Kyoto, his lodging place, on the 23rd. After resting for two days, he resumed his advance on the 25th and set up his main camp at Tennoji, about 5 kilometers south of Noda and Fukushima. Nobunaga deployed vanguard units at various locations such as Temma, Kawaguchi, Watanabe, Kamisaki, and Namba, and surrounded the Miyoshi Trio forces entrenched in Noda and Fukushima from a distance. There is no trace of the present-day Osaka, but in the Sengoku period, Noda and Fukushima were strategic strongholds surrounded by rivers.

The guardians of the Kinai region, who were in a disadvantageous position, became lively with the arrival of Nobunaga’s 40,000 troops, while the Miyoshi Trio forces chose not to send out their troops and adopted a defensive stance. The damage from the Battle of Anegawa had not yet healed for Nobunaga, so he couldn’t forcefully attack and instead began a strategy of gradually tightening the encirclement. Furthermore, on August 30th, Nobunaga strongly urged Yoshiaki to take the field, and Yoshiaki complied, moving to the residence of Hosokawa Fujitaka in Nakajima, Settsu Province, on September 3rd.

The battle between Nobunaga and the Miyoshi Trio forces in Noda and Fukushima was said to be the first gun battle in Japanese history, and both sides were engaged in intense exchanges of gunfire. In the midst of this, Ashimitsu, along with 40 mounted archers and 100 soldiers as escorts, were moving between different positions.

“Is this the place?”

Ashimitsu and his 20 mounted archers, along with 50 soldiers as escorts, arrived at one of the places where the Oda forces and the Miyoshi Trio forces were engaged in a gun battle. The soldiers, who had probably heard the plan in advance, stood up straight and answered.

“We’ve been waiting for you! The Miyoshi soldiers are over there!”

Ashimitsu looked through his binoculars in the direction pointed by the soldiers, and as the soldiers had said, he could see the Miyoshi soldiers using natural barriers and self-made walls as cover, preparing their matchlock guns.

“Infantry, prepare the staff slings.”

As soon as the order was given, the infantry loaded bricks into their staff slings, and the mounted archers nocked their arrows. When the Miyoshi soldiers exposed their faces to fire their matchlock guns, the mounted archers released their arrows. A total of 21 arrows, and 19 of them hit enemy soldiers, resulting in an accuracy rate of over 90%. The infantry, who confirmed that the enemy was in disarray, swung their staff slings and threw bricks. The bricks were only sun-dried, but even so, a brick with a width and length of 10 cm and a thickness of 5 cm was a deadly weapon that could kill a person. As expected, some of the soldiers were hit in the head and fell to the ground.

“Alright, that’s enough. Let’s move to another location.”

With that, Ashimitsu and the others left the current scene and repeated the same strategy in another location.

Ashimitsu and his team’s job was to minimize the number of soldiers using matchlock guns. In this mission, rapid-fire capability was not necessary, so Ashimitsu had increased the power of the compound bows. As a result, the range had increased. The killing range of matchlock guns was about 200 meters, but the distance at which they could penetrate armor was about 50 meters. 100 meters was more than enough to kill or injure the enemy. So, after shooting their arrows, they would immediately move back out of the range of the matchlock guns, and during that time, the soldiers with staff slings would throw bricks.

It would be easy to wipe them all out with capsaicin bombs. However, Ashimitsu believed that capsaicin bombs should only be used against the Iga gunners.

(The Iga gunners had developed their own tactics that allowed for rapid-fire with matchlock guns. In other words, the Iga gunners, who often moved in a more compact formation than others, would be more susceptible to the effects of capsaicin bombs.)

Ashimitsu prioritized crushing the Iga gunners. That’s why the Oda forces were avoiding places where they were at a disadvantage in gun battles. And the opportunity came unexpectedly early. Ashimitsu found several places where the Oda forces were struggling.

“Is this the place? Follow the procedure as planned.”

In order to execute the operation against the Iga gunners, Ashimitsu nocked an arrow on his compound bow.

While the Oda forces and the Miyoshi Trio forces were engaged in battle in Noda and Fukushima, Shizuko, along with Keiji, Saizo, Nagayoshi, and 7,500 soldiers, were in Owari Province. Although they received orders from Nobunaga to accompany the army, Shizuko did not comply with that order. She explained the reasons why she couldn’t accompany the army properly and conveyed to Nobunaga why she couldn’t do so.

“Well… I have to tell them that we’re going to a death trap.”

Shizuko lined up the entire army and climbed onto a hastily made platform. From the top of the platform, she looked at the soldiers. There were superiors, subordinates, promising young men, men with wives and children, men who used to be of higher status than her, men who followed her just for food, and men who thought of her as a great person and admired her. It was an army made up of various types of people. Shizuko thought about how difficult it was to declare to them that they were going to die from now on. But there was no permission to escape. If they didn’t win this battle, everything would start to go wrong. They were not allowed to even consider running away in order to destroy the gears of fate.

“We are heading to Usayama Castle from here.”

The soldiers murmured at Shizuko’s words. Usa-yama Castle was built by Nobunaga in the Shiga District of Omi Province, on the orders of Mori Yoshinari, to prepare for the southern advance of Asakura Yoshikage and Asai Hisamasa, and to secure control over Lake Biwa and the Hokkoku Kaido. Currently, Nobunaga is fighting in Settsu Province, which is too far for us to move.

“After comparing various pieces of information, I concluded that Asai and Asakura are plotting something sinister. Therefore, we will become the rear guard and prevent Oda’s main army from being caught in a pincer attack. We will become sacrificial lambs at Usa-yama Castle to stop their southern advance.”

The soldiers remained silent. But Shizuko continued speaking without hesitation.

“There is no preparation at Usa-yama Castle to confront the Asai and Asakura allied forces. If Usa-yama Castle falls, they will boldly take control of Kyoto. If that happens, the remaining Oda forces in Settsu Province will lose their retreat and eventually be defeated. In other words, Usa-yama Castle is the last castle that can stop the enemy.”

“……”

“If the Oda clan is destroyed, many people will be massacred. Those who survive will be stripped of everything and become slaves. To stop that from happening, we have no choice but to shed blood and risk our lives to stop the enemy’s southern advance. I will say it again. If we can’t stop the enemy at Usa-yama Castle, this country will be destroyed.”

Silence filled the room. Not a single person spoke up. They simply looked straight at Shizuko, waiting for her next words.

“I ask you all. Our lives are built on the blood and lives sacrificed by our ancestors. If… if you have something you want to protect in your hearts, please lend your strength to protect our country.”

Shizuko thought that she had never felt such a heavy silence before. From the first word, the soldiers listened silently without uttering a single word.

“My lord.”

In the heavy silence, one Ashigaru (light foot soldier) stepped forward. His name was Genro. He regarded Shizuko as an important person and addressed her as “my lord.” He took a few steps forward and smiled cheerfully.

“There’s no need for complicated words. You just need to order us to ‘go and die.'”

“Genro… grandpa.”

“As always, I can’t take my eyes off you, my lord. Whether there is meaning in fighting or not, such things don’t matter. The matter is simple. Now, please give us your orders. We will head to the death ground.”

Shizuko felt tears welling up at Genro’s words and quickly wiped her eyes. If they were to head to Usa-yama Castle now, much blood would be shed and countless lives would be lost.

(Everything up until now was for the sake of the lord… but Usa-yama Castle is for me. I am just a young girl who has no dazzling charm like a great general, just someone who played with dirt. Is it really my wish for them to sacrifice their lives for someone like me?!)

While lamenting in her heart, Shizuko released her hands from her eyes and clenched her fists. Her shoulders felt heavy as if they were about to be crushed. However, Shizuko gritted her teeth and thrust her fists up as high as she could.

“Understood, my lord.”

Amidst her doubts, struggles, and pain, Shizuko was convinced that the answer she came up with after much thought was the path she should take. Therefore, she had no hesitation now and couldn’t see any other path. Focusing on the path she should take, Shizuko continued speaking.

“(I won’t think about going back to the modern era or anything like that anymore. I will live in this era with my beloved family.) We will head to Usa-yama Castle. But remember, even if a battle breaks out at Usa-yama Castle, our names will not be recorded in history.”

“――Yes!”

“However! Our blood and lives will connect the future of this country to peace! Everyone, lift your heads! Take up your weapons! Let us show our pride and determination to the enemy!”

In an instant, the soldiers raised their fists high and shouted with vigor. Keiji, Saizo, and Nagayoshi, who could feel their passion, unconsciously got goosebumps. The same was true for Tobikato, who had been watching Shizuko from afar.

(What passion… I can’t help but get excited for the battle, regardless of my age.)

Tobikato had been subtly observing Shizuko, curious about her intense dedication. She was someone who captivated him, whether in a positive or negative way. Realizing that he had been unconsciously following her every move with his eyes, Tobikato smiled faintly.

(Until the end of my life, I will keep watching your every move, Lady Shizuko.)

The Oda forces in Noda and Fukushima, who were unaware of the whereabouts of Shizuko’s unit, felt a slight unease.

“Don’t worry. They are currently engaged in another task.”

Without specifying the details, Nobunaga simply replied with “they are on a mission.” By repeating simple words endlessly, he tried to dispel the anxiety of his retainers. And it worked, as the Oda retainers breathed a sigh of relief.

Shizuko’s main army, which was the center of attention, was with the Sakamoto garrison under the command of Mori Yoshinari, the lord of Usa-yama Castle. However, inside the castle, there were only Shizuko, Keiji, Saizo, Nagayoshi, and a few soldiers. The rest of the soldiers were setting up booby traps in Usa-yama. The reason for setting up booby traps was because when Shizuko and the others arrived at Usa-yama, they were attacked by the warrior monks of Enryakuji Temple.

They managed to drive them away and safely entered Usa-yama Castle, only to realize that Mori Yoshinari and the others were unaware of the presence of the warrior monks of Enryakuji Temple. Not knowing how many there were, the mere existence of the warrior monks became a psychological burden, so Shizuko took measures to stress them out instead.

The measure was to set up booby traps that had a high psychological impact. Booby traps were one of the guerrilla tactics that took advantage of the terrain or exploited psychological blind spots. Despite the difficulty in understanding the purpose of booby traps, which was to disable the soldiers, the soldiers who were setting them up understood it all too well. From the moment they saw some of the warrior monks trembling and cowering, mentally distressed by the traps, the soldiers stopped questioning the purpose.

While Shizuko was dealing with the warrior monks of Enryakuji Temple, a major historical event finally occurred. On the midnight of September 12th, the head of Ishiyama Honganji Temple, Kennyo, rose in rebellion and joined the battle in Noda and Fukushima. However, they sided with the Miyoshi Trio faction, not the Oda forces. From this day on, the long battle between Nobunaga and Kennyo, known as the “Ishiyama Battle,” began.

There were several reasons why Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had maintained a neutral stance in the power struggle between the shogunate (Oda) forces and the Miyoshi Trio faction, rose in rebellion. First, they felt a sense of crisis that their own territory would be taken away after Nobunaga seized the mountain gate territory of Enryakuji Temple. Second, the voices of the hardliners who advocated for the conquest of Nobunaga as an enemy of Buddhism, such as Kyonyo and Shoi, became impossible to ignore. Lastly, Nobunaga’s formation surrounded Ishiyama Honganji Temple, and they felt anxious that they would be the next target. Looking at Nobunaga’s previous actions, they believed that they would be targeted next, so Kennyo finally decided to rise in rebellion.

However, due to Shizuko’s undercover work, Kennyo only began considering rebellion in September, and because they saw rebellion as a last resort, they did not have enough time to prepare. However, it was only a matter of time. If Ishiyama Honganji Temple rose up, various forces in the Kinai region would rise up against Nobunaga. Understanding this, Nobunaga, who had been sitting at his desk until just now, kicked it away and shouted.

“Retreat!”

Originally, on the tenth day, information had already reached Nobunaga that Honganji Temple was showing signs of unrest. Therefore, Nobunaga moved his main camp from Temmamori to Ebisue, which was about 10 cho north of Noda and Fukushima. Temmamori was located in a problematic position, being in the middle between Ishiyama Honganji Temple and Noda and Fukushima, with the risk of being sandwiched from both sides. However, even in Ebisue, although there were some differences, they were still in a situation where they were sandwiched from both sides.

Nobunaga’s own position would also be precarious if Yoshiaki, who was the shogun, died. Understanding this, Nobunaga withdrew the troops deployed in the battle of Noda and Fukushima, and decided to accompany Yoshiaki to Nakajima. This time, due to the need for reliable communication, Nobunaga released multiple messenger dogs. The idea of using dogs for communication was not something that the Honganji Temple faction had, so the messenger dogs reached their destination without being targeted. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the military commanders in each camp immediately began the withdrawal operation.

However, by the thirteenth day, the Ishiyama Honganji Temple faction had already started firing guns at the Oda forces and entered into a state of conflict. The Oda forces, who had been on the offensive in the morning, were pushed into a defensive position in the afternoon. On the fourteenth day, the Honganji Temple faction advanced from Ishiyama to Temmamori. In response, Nobunaga also sent out troops, and the two forces clashed at the Yodogawa Embankment. The first line of defense for the Oda forces was led by Sassa Narimasa, but he was injured and had to retreat. Maeda Toshiie took his place and advanced along the embankment, launching a simultaneous attack on the enemy from both sides. This led to a chaotic melee. Although the Oda forces had the upper hand in the morning, they were on the defensive in the afternoon, and Numata Etchu-no-kami was killed. Finally, at the embankment of the Yodogawa River, where the Miyoshi Trio faction cut off the Oda forces, Nobunaga’s camp was flooded, resulting in a disastrous outcome.

The situation worsened further. The Miyoshi Trio faction rejected any attempts at reconciliation, and they were joined by reinforcements from the Negoro faction, the Iga faction, the Yugawa faction, and the Kii Province Okugori faction, totaling about 20,000 troops. They set up their camps in Sumiyoshi and Tennoji and fired 3,000 guns at the Oda forces. If the battle of Noda and Fukushima was the first gun battle in Japanese history, this battle was the first battle where guns took center stage.

In this unfavorable situation, the archer cavalry led by Ashimitsu demonstrated their prowess. They dismissed the enemy’s words of cowardice or fair play as nonsense and mercilessly killed them with arrows before conducting a feigned retreat. Although Ashimitsu had been killing gunners until now, he switched to producing wounded soldiers from this point on. Their arrowheads were covered in dangerous bacteria and mold for humans. However, they appeared to be ordinary arrowheads, so they wouldn’t die immediately upon being pierced. They would simply die from infection. If the infection spread, there would be a slight chance of victory for the Oda forces.

However, there was a severe shortage of arrows. To make matters worse, Yoshiaki, who is like a younger brother to Ashimitsu, and his retainers were present, so Ashimitsu’s field of vision was poor because he had to hide my face. Although he usually boasted a high accuracy rate, he was somewhat off target with his arrows.

(I need to return to Shizuko as soon as possible…!)

Ashimitsu was getting impatient, but the situation was not improving. The battle with Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been going on since the thirteenth, continued to result in a draw or defeat. Feeling at a disadvantage, Nobunaga called for a temporary ceasefire on the sixteenth and entered into peace negotiations with Ishiyama Honganji Temple.

However, it could be said that the heavens had abandoned Nobunaga, as on the seventeenth, the worst news reached his camp.

It was reported that a combined army of 30,000 from the Asai, Asakura, and Enryakuji Temple was advancing southward to Omi Province and pushing towards Sakamoto.

On September 13th, news arrived that the combined forces of the Asai and Asakura had advanced southward to Usayama Castle. With the assistance of Nobunaga’s brother, Nobuji, who was in charge of Nofu Castle, the Sakamoto garrison had swelled to 10,000 soldiers.

“Everyone, we are in a situation like this now, so put aside any unnecessary personal matters. Now, Lady Shizuko, your army has 7,500 soldiers, more than anyone else here. I allow you to participate in this war council.”

The Sakamoto garrison held a war council, and Shizuko, Keiji, Saizo, and Nagayoshi were allowed to participate. While some other retainers expressed opposition to Shizuko’s participation, Yoshinari Mori dismissed their objections.

“Hahaha… I understand everyone’s disgust. However, in the current crisis of the Oda clan, I, as a young and inexperienced person, will participate in this war council.”

Now, murmuring to herself, Shizuko spread out a map of the Usayama Castle area. The map was simple but large in size. Although there was no detailed information, the location was clearly marked for easy understanding.

“I will report the information I gathered here. First, the invasion of Settsu Province by the Miyoshi Trio is a diversion to keep Lady Shizuko focused on Settsu Province. However, the Miyoshi Trio alone is not enough. I believed that some huge force was moving. It was only after being attacked by the warrior monks of Enryakuji Temple that I finally became convinced of who was behind it.”

“You mean the forces of Honganji Temple?”

Perhaps having a premonition, Yoshinari Mori added to Shizuko’s words.

“Yes. And the Asai, Asakura, and Enryakuji Temple have formed an alliance and are advancing southward to Omi Province as a combined army. It is likely that the Ikko sect of Honganji Temple is also involved. We can assume their numbers to be around 30,000 to 40,000.”

“30,000! We only have 10,000…”

Yoshinari Mori’s retainers were shaken. It was clear that if they continued as they were, they would be overwhelmed by the combined army.

“…We have no choice but to fight.”

“Please wait. It is too early to fight. When outnumbered, there is an effective strategy.”

“Do you mean the strategy of attacking at dawn and night?”

Shaking her head at Yoshinari Mori’s words, Shizuko raised her index finger and said this.

“It’s guerrilla warfare.”

Guerrilla warfare is a tactic that involves using small irregular forces to conduct surprise attacks, ambushes, disruption of rear support, and other acts of disturbance or attack without predetermined targets. Guerrilla warfare has existed since ancient times, but the term “guerrilla” originated in 1808 during the Spanish War of Independence when the Spanish army and civilians referred to the operations they conducted against the French army as “small war” in Spanish. It can impose mental damage through attrition warfare and psychological warfare against a superior enemy. However, on the other hand, it is difficult to inflict decisive military damage through guerrilla warfare alone.

“Fortunately, my army is in a state of ‘nonexistence.’ If we allocate about 1,000 soldiers, we can expect significant results.”

“That’s all well and good, but what specifically do you plan to do?”

While attacking at dawn and night can also be considered guerrilla tactics, what Shizuko is about to do can be called an “unscrupulous” tactic. Shizuko crossed her arms and pondered whether they would accept it.

“Hmm. I can tell you the details… but it’s not a pleasant story. In short, we will engage in ‘unscrupulous’ acts.”

“I don’t mind. We don’t have the luxury of worrying about minor details. Lady Shizuko also mentioned it. No matter how gracefully we are defeated, if we lose, everything will be seen as evil deeds. To protect our own pride, we have no choice but to win. Therefore, I am prepared to use any means necessary.”

Although Yoshinari Mori had made up his mind, there was a slight hesitation that could be seen.

“Understood. As an example, pouring boiling oil, setting fire to the enemy’s camp, contaminating their food supplies with dirty water, and so on. There are other methods, but it’s probably best to stop there. Everyone seems to be feeling sick.”

As Shizuko said, some of Yoshinari Mori’s retainers looked pale. With their vivid imagination, they understood the fear of guerrilla warfare.

“Please don’t worry, everyone. We are an army that ‘does not exist.’ Even if something happens to the Asai and Asakura forces, we can pretend not to know.”

“…Be careful.”

Understanding that Yoshinari Mori’s words were a go signal, Shizuko nodded slightly.