Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era

1571, late April

It was not only the Shizuko army that demonstrated the strength of the soldiers and the tactical acumen of the generals supported by the Oda family. The Akechi army and the Shibata army, who also participated, overwhelmed others with a different kind of strength than the Shizuko army. In terms of destructive power, the Shibata army, the strongest general in the Oda family, was unrivaled. Their military tactics scattered the enemy army without moving their main camp, causing fear among the local lords in the Kinai region. On the other hand, the Akechi army demonstrated a versatile and ever-changing military strategy. The spectators who could see the whole picture could understand how the Akechi army was moving, but they were unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood in their deceptive tactics. Moreover, their limited field of vision and the chaotic battle situation made it unexpected for the enemy to be attacked from unexpected directions, and if they focused on defense, they would be flanked, and if they gathered their forces, they would be divided from the main unit. Without realizing it, their main unit was scattered, and before they knew it, their general’s flag had been taken. The warlords who faced the Akechi army were trembling with an indescribable fear, always being put at a disadvantage and forced into defeat without being able to grasp the situation.

Some understood that it was not just a test of strength, but a demonstration of the Oda army’s power. However, even if they said so, it would not change anything, and if they were to say it, they would be seen as cowards. As long as the conditions were the same, they had to show that they could thwart the Oda family’s plans, or they would be ridiculed as barking dogs. Therefore, they had no choice but to remain silent to protect their pride. At the point where they were blinded by the prize money, their fate had already been decided. The question was whether they would be defeated head-on by the Shibata army, which would crush them with its overwhelming strength, or whether they would be manipulated by the Akechi army’s cunning tactics. Each battle would determine who would be cooked by the Shizuko army, which embodied adaptability and flexibility. In the end, the test of strength became a competition among the three Oda armies. Even the remaining army was easily defeated by the Akechi army. Shizuko ended up facing the Shibata army, and the winner would face the Akechi army.

“Let’s stop with the petty tricks. They have a lot of experience in battles. It’s clear that our makeshift strategies won’t work against them. Everyone, they are seasoned elite soldiers and, above all, they have the luck to have survived until today.”

The soldiers tightened their faces at Shizuko’s words. The pressure was so heavy that it seemed like they would collapse just by facing it. This was not the same kind of army as before. They understood that it was a true force, even the lowest-ranking soldiers.

“This time it’s simple. We will launch a full-scale assault from the front in a way that surprises the enemy who thinks we will use clever tactics. It will be a melee battle where friend and foe are mixed, but they lack momentum, and on the contrary, we can charge into the enemy’s midst while maintaining our momentum. To be honest, I don’t think there is any other tactic that can be used against the Shibata army.”

Keiji and the others had the same thoughts. They simulated various tactics against the Shibata army, but they couldn’t find a winning strategy no matter what. Even though they were all part of the Oda army, it was rare for them to work together. Therefore, Shizuko and the others only knew about the Shibata army’s fighting style through hearsay. Furthermore, the policies Shizuko had implemented so far were not just about making the Shizuko army stronger. The entire Oda army had been elevated. They willingly accepted training from other armies as well.

(I’m done for. It’s surprising to see the results of my actions like this.)

Shizuko could only smile wryly at this.

“Both armies, prepare!”

The voice of the emcee echoed around. Following the voice, both armies took their positions. All that was left was to wait for the signal to start, and then Shizuko would give the signal for the charge.

“Let the battle begin!”

As soon as the signal to start reached their ears, Shizuko gave the signal for the charge.

“Charge!”

But that voice was not the only one. The Shibata army, which had not moved its main army until now, also launched a full-scale charge just like the Shizuko army. This slight surprise caused a momentary disturbance in the Shizuko army. This slight disturbance became their downfall. The momentum of the charge favored the Shibata army, and in the initial clash, the Shizuko army lost its momentum. Once this happened, it was difficult to regain momentum. Furthermore, it was a chaotic melee where it was difficult to distinguish between friend and foe. They couldn’t retreat to the rear and launch another charge. In addition, due to the chaos, Keiji, Saizo, Nagayoshi, and Shizuko were separated.

“Your rear is vulnerable, Shizuko-sama!”

Just as Shizuko was about to try to regroup, Shibata and his elite soldiers launched a surprise attack from behind.

(I never expected that the main army’s charge itself was a decoy! To launch a surprise attack from behind in the chaos of melee, Shibata-sama, who prefers to defeat the enemy head-on, took such a tactic!!)

Shibata’s close combat skills were a bad match for Shizuko, who excelled in long-range weapons such as bows and matchlock guns and had to move the army from the rear.

“(If it comes to this…) Uoooh!”

However, Shizuko, who quickly realized that if she fled now, the army would completely collapse, launched a charge towards Shibata, despite her fear.

“Don’t interfere, others!!”

Shizuko’s charge seemed to catch Shibata off guard for a moment, as he momentarily showed a bewildered expression. But in an instant, he regained his composure, and he countered Shizuko’s attack.

(Foolish, she must know that horseback spear fighting makes it easy to lose control of the horse!)

“Cheiya!”

“Hmph… Not bad!”

The attacks were monotonous, and Shibata easily defended against them. Normally, after that, the horse’s posture would become unstable and uncontrollable. However, Shizuko controlled the horse even without holding the reins and quickly regained her balance, launching another attack on Shibata. However, even though she could fight to some extent, her makeshift martial arts could not be effective against Shibata, a seasoned veteran. They exchanged blows only about five times, but Shibata saw through everything Shizuko had. From then on, Shizuko could only focus on defending against Shibata’s attacks.

(Ugh! His strikes are heavy!! I won’t last long like this.)

While she endured, she defeated the Shibata soldiers around her and isolated him. It was a gamble with a disadvantage, but it was Shizuko’s last resort. However, the opponent was an elite among elites, and it was not easy to defeat him so easily.

In the end, Shizuko held on for about two minutes and couldn’t withstand Shibata’s attacks, falling off her horse. With no strength left in her hands, Shizuko couldn’t resist, and Shibata quickly dismounted and effortlessly took her general’s flag.

“The winner is the Shibata army!”

In the test of strength, the outcome was determined by capturing the opponent’s general’s flag. The emcee announced the victory of the Shibata army from the tower. Upon hearing the announcement, Shibata let out a small sigh. At first glance, it seemed like Shibata’s lightning-fast tactics had completely crushed the Shizuko army, but in reality, it was a dangerous gamble. Shibata positioned his elite soldiers around himself and deployed the rest of the troops to restrain Keiji, Saizo, and Nagayoshi. The Shibata soldiers had lower training than Keiji and the others, so it was clear that they would collapse if they engaged in a prolonged battle. Therefore, Shibata and his elite soldiers made a wide detour and launched a surprise attack on Shizuko from behind. Shibata had expected that Shizuko, who commanded from the rear, would always be in the army’s rear. His prediction was correct, and as soon as he found Shizuko, he ignored everything around him and charged straight at her. In the end, luck played a part, but Shibata defeated Shizuko and successfully took her general’s flag.

(But why didn’t she retreat to the rear?)

Shibata had expected Shizuko to send troops forward and shoot arrows from the rear. However, in reality, Shizuko launched a one-on-one attack on Shibata. Shibata was troubled for a while, but suddenly, he saw the Shizuko army in his field of vision and the answer came to his mind.

(I see. If the general doesn’t protect her followers, they won’t follow her. And if the followers don’t feel any loyalty or need to protect the general, they won’t protect her.)

In the Sengoku period, unless there was a compelling reason, when a castle was attacked, the local lords had an obligation to send reinforcements. If they didn’t send reinforcements, the people in the castle would lose trust in the local lords and either defect to the enemy or abandon the castle. This phenomenon would not be limited to the attacked castle but would spread to other castles in a chain reaction. Therefore, the local lords always sent reinforcements to prevent the capture of their castles and to maintain the trust of their vassals.

The same could be said for the army. If the overall commander did not take action in a situation where they should, the soldiers would lose trust in the commander. They might only focus on saving their own lives and, in the worst case, become deserters. If Shizuko hadn’t charged at Shibata at that moment, the Shizuko army would have completely collapsed, and it would have been impossible to recover. That’s why Shizuko made the reckless charge. And depending on the time and situation, Shizuko showed that she was willing to step forward, showing those around her that she had the resolve to do so. That was Shibata’s conclusion.

(It’s a typical action for them to seek efficiency. However, it’s not a bad thing. It’s not a bad thing, Shizuko-sama.)

After laughing in his mind for a while, Shibata switched his focus to the final battle.

The final battle was between the Shibata army and the Akechi army. Both had their strengths and weaknesses, and Shibata compensated for his lack of tactics with sheer power, while Akechi made up for his lack of power with strategy. They engaged in a back-and-forth battle. In the end, the Shibata army defeated the main army of the Akechi army due to their superior stamina, and Shibata successfully took the general’s flag from Mitsuhide.,”Do not be satisfied with the result of this time, but strive even harder.”

Nobunaga said to Shibata, who was kneeling, with a completely normal expression. For him, it was a certainty that someone from the Oda army would win. This trial battle only served to make that known to those around him.

As for second place, Shizuko easily withdrew, making it Akechi’s. Shizuko’s army no longer had the strength to fight against Akechi’s army. If they acted recklessly now, there could be casualties. Besides, with the Oda army taking the top three spots, there was no point for Shizuko to fight. However, Akechi’s army was in the same situation, lacking in strength. In fact, it was abnormal that Shibata’s army still had enough stamina to fight two battles.

“To retreat when one should retreat, it seems easy but it is difficult. Pride, honor, disgrace, criticism and mockery from others… these cloud one’s judgment. But you understand all of that and still made the decision to retreat. You have grown once again.”

Nobunaga, having achieved his initial goal, considered the damage to his own army as a negative and accepted Shizuko’s withdrawal. And at the end, he uttered a proverb-like phrase to counteract the negative image.

Shizuko received the reward for third place, but she couldn’t think of a use for the money. After putting a small amount of money in a small bag, she handed the rest to Saizo and ordered him to distribute it to the soldiers. If she couldn’t think of a use for it, she would let others use it. The soldiers were excited about the unexpected bonus, but Saizo silently exerted pressure when handing it out, so none of the soldiers acted out of line.

“Kyoto has calmed down quite a bit. There is no sign of the extreme chaos when we first arrived.”

“There were dead bodies scattered everywhere, and insects were swarming. There were piles of dead bodies at every intersection… and even wild dogs and bears appeared to prey on the corpses. It’s amazing how we have recovered from that state in just a few years.”

When Nobunaga arrived in Kyoto, it was in a terrible state. For a hundred years since the Onin War, the traces of destruction had not been repaired, and those responsible for maintaining public order had fled to the countryside. As a result, there were dead bodies lying around in Kyoto, and due to their decomposition, flies and maggots were breeding, filling the air with a terrible stench. There were piles of dead bodies even at the intersections, which corresponded to modern-day crossroads. Carrion-eating crows, wild dogs, and even boars appeared in the town. Public order was almost non-existent, and thieves, burglars, and ronin freely attacked merchants and the wealthy.

After taking control of Kyoto upon his arrival, Nobunaga’s actions were focused on disposing of the dead bodies, maintaining public order, and cleaning up the city. He used force to eliminate thieves and robbers, carried the neglected corpses out of the city for burial, and made it known to everyone that he was keeping a close eye on the city by cleaning up every corner. He also had the public order maintenance team patrol on foot and crack down on even minor crimes. In addition, he placed orphans in orphanages to educate them and prevent them from becoming thieves or robbers.

At first glance, it may not seem beneficial to Nobunaga, but it was a well-thought-out action that would promote economic activity in the Kinai region, which was one of the goals of his arrival in Kyoto. However, no one understood his vision of revitalizing economic activity through circulation, that’s all. Nobunaga’s actions at this time would truly be understood hundreds of years later, long after he arrived in Kyoto. In other words, Nobunaga’s vision was ahead of its time.

“Lord, a messenger has come and informed us that Wada-sama and Fróis-sama would like to visit tomorrow.”

While chatting with Saizo and organizing documents, Genro reported from outside the sliding door.

“Oh, if it were Fróis-sama, I would understand, but it’s unusual for Wada-sama to join as well. Since there’s no particular problem, I will allow their visit tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

(I wonder what their purpose is)

Shizuko wondered, but she had no way of understanding Wada’s thoughts, as they had no connection. She would have to see how they would approach the situation.

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today, despite your busy schedule.”

Everyone, including Fróis, bowed deeply. Shizuko couldn’t understand why they had come to see her instead of Nobunaga, and she had no choice but to observe their actions.

“Please raise your heads. Now, what can I do for you?”

“Then, let me begin.”

With Wada’s words, a servant brought in a tray. Shizuko looked down at the tray and saw a carefully wrapped letter placed on it. After glancing at Wada’s face, Shizuko opened the letter on the tray and read it. After reading it carefully, Shizuko let out a small sigh and folded the letter, placing it back on the tray.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot agree with the contents of the letter.”

With her words, Shizuko pushed the tray towards Wada. Keiji and the others’ expressions changed as Shizuko, who rarely refused anything, clearly showed her intention to reject it. They didn’t know the contents of the letter, but they thought that something bad must have been written.

“Please stop. They probably don’t know the contents of the letter either. I will refrain from giving details, but it was probably the sender’s own decision. If they knew, people around them would have stopped them.”

Shizuko gestured to Nagayoshi, who was looking puzzled, to stop. As Shizuko expected, Wada had only been ordered to deliver the letter to her, without being informed of its contents.

“(She has diplomatic power, but her political sense is lacking, and her strengths are not fully utilized) If I were to talk about the contents of the letter, Wada-dono would be troubled. It would be best for both parties if we simply let it go and not say anything. Let’s hear Wada-dono’s opinion.”

Wada was at a loss for words when asked. She didn’t know the contents of the letter, but if the contents were not good, her position would be in jeopardy. The other party was a prominent figure in the Oda family, and she could even have her fief confiscated again. After putting the letter away in her pocket, Wada cleared her throat.

“As you say, I am unaware of the contents. But if you say so, it would be best for both of us to remain ignorant.”

Just as Wada was about to leave, a sound of someone falling was heard. The three of them moved to protect Shizuko in response to the sound, but what reached their ears was a groan. They all searched for the source of the voice. The location was quickly determined. Fróis was groaning at Wada’s feet. Everyone’s attention was focused on Wada, so they noticed his collapse late.

“Fróis-sama!”

Lorenzo and the young monks helped Fróis up. Without reacting to being helped up, Fróis was breathing heavily through his shoulders. Even Shizuko, who was watching from a distance, could clearly see that he was suffering from a state of confusion. At first, Shizuko thought it might be a cold, but considering the timing, she had a bad feeling.

“Excuse me.”

Shizuko pushed through the people around her and moved to Fróis’s side, examining his fever and the condition of his eyes. Fróis’s body temperature was burning hot, and his eyes were showing signs of conjunctivitis. And there were rashes on his face.

“I have a question. Has Fróis-sama been bedridden with a high fever for the past few days? Has he been coughing severely during that time?”

“Huh? Oh, yes… Fróis-sama has indeed been bedridden for the past few days.”

“I see.”

Shizuko let out a deep sigh. It was beyond doubt that Fróis was suffering from a certain disease, and Shizuko began to formulate her plan for the future in her mind.

“What kind of disease does he have?”

“Fróis-sama has contracted measles. It is probably the rash phase… the fever will continue for four days.”

Wada’s expression stiffened at the mention of measles. Measles, also known as rubella in modern times, along with smallpox and chickenpox, was a feared disease. Especially during the Sengoku period, smallpox and measles were the most prevalent. Even in the Edo period, outbreaks occurred frequently due to malnutrition, and many people died from the disease. Shizuko, Keiji, Saizo, Nagayoshi, and their soldiers had antibodies against measles, but it was uncertain whether Wada and the young monks had antibodies.

“Get someone here!”

“Do you need me, Lord?”

Genro quickly rushed in response to Shizuko’s angry voice. He took one look at the room and realized that it was a serious situation.

“There is a high possibility that measles will spread in Kyoto. Send a fast horse to inform Akechi-sama and urge them to take immediate measures. Prepare a quarantine ward with those who are available. Prepare for 15, but be prepared to make 30.”

“Yes!”

After bowing respectfully, Genro quickly left the room. His command immediately echoed, and Shizuko’s residence was filled with tension. Within a short time, five medical soldiers rushed into the room, pushing aside the bewildered young monks, and examined Fróis. The result was the same as Shizuko’s.

“As expected, it is measles, Lord. It is likely that the bacteria have spread throughout Kyoto…”,”We need to isolate the infected individuals urgently. We must cooperate with Lord Akechi and the Kyoto Security Maintenance Patrol to contain the disease. Otherwise, many more people will fall ill. I know it will be a burden for all of you, but please do your best.”

The medical soldiers smiled and shook their heads as they bowed to Shizuko.

“Please raise your head, my lord. If it weren’t for you, we would all be dead. If we can repay your great kindness, then the busyness from now on is nothing.”

Placing Frois on a stretcher, the medical soldiers quickly left the room to transport him to the quarantine ward.

“Unfortunately, there is a high probability that all of you are also infected. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please follow their instructions.”

Lorenzo and the others finally understood the situation, but before they could take any action, new medical soldiers entered the room and forcibly took them away. Shizuko declared to them, though it was unclear whether they heard her. It was unreasonable to think that they, who had been acting alongside Frois, were not infected. Since the monks, along with the other Christians, were likely to have been in contact with more infected individuals, there was no other option but to isolate those who had contracted the highly contagious disease.

“We will do our part as well.”

The three of them tightened their expressions and nodded at Shizuko’s words.

The news of a potential measles outbreak in Kyoto shocked not only Akechi, but also Nobunaga, who had returned to Gifu. Some of Nobunaga’s retainers had been in Kyoto until a few days ago, but there had been no signs of such an outbreak. The fact that the situation could change so drastically in just a few days made them realize once again the terrifying nature of the disease. The disorder in Kyoto’s security would lead to a stagnation of commercial activities and the possibility of enemy forces inciting riots. On the other hand, if the Oda clan could prevent the spread of the epidemic, it would demonstrate their power to those around them. Nobunaga believed that containing the measles outbreak would benefit the Oda clan in the future, so he ordered Mitsuhide and the local daimyo in Kinai to follow Shizuko’s instructions.

“It’s easy to say, but it’s tiring to be in disguise for so long.”

Mitsuhide and the local daimyo acted swiftly. As soon as they received orders from Nobunaga, they visited Shizuko the next day to greet her and ask for instructions. The epidemic did not discriminate. Whether they were local daimyo, the imperial court, or temples and shrines, it spread its devastation indiscriminately. The local daimyo in Kinai were well aware of its terrifying nature.

Shizuko’s instructions to them were very simple. She asked Hosokawa and Mitsuhide to handle the response from the imperial court and the shogunate, respectively. For the rest, anyone suspected of being infected should be isolated in the quarantine ward (nagaya). They would be provided with designated meals. They would be released after four days from the recovery period. Only those who had contracted measles and had antibodies within the past ten years were allowed to handle the response.

Five days after Frois’ measles infection was discovered, people began to show symptoms of measles in a chain reaction, and the number of patients increased exponentially. From the situation, it could be assumed that Kyoto had been exposed to the measles virus for about three weeks.

“My lord. Messengers from Shibata-sama, Niwa-sama, Takigawa Kazumasu-sama, Kinoshita-sama, Mori-sama, and Sassa-sama have arrived.”

“Messengers…? Ah, indeed, we are losing many people, so I am concerned about maintaining security. Please inform them that I appreciate their offer.”

They couldn’t neglect maintaining security in Kyoto while dealing with the measles response. Shizuko thought that they had foreseen this and thanked them.

“Yes.”

The messenger quickly left after bowing. However, another messenger arrived as if to replace him.

“My lord, a messenger from the shogunate has arrived…”

“Let them go to Lord Hosokawa. I have entrusted all matters regarding the shogunate to Lord Hosokawa. The same goes for those from the imperial court. We don’t have the capacity to deal with them right now.”

“Yes.”

Shizuko couldn’t afford to deal with the imperial court or the shogunate, especially with the constant influx of information in the past few days.

“(Why do they always do unnecessary things when I’m busy? I wish they would be more composed.) Are the medical troops still not here?”

“They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning.”

“Keiji-san, Katsuzo-kun. Divide the reinforcements and take charge of maintaining security in Kyoto. Saizo-san, you will be my escort… Since we can’t predict the movements of the anti-Oda alliance, please be vigilant in your duties. If our opponents are aiming for a deterioration of security, you can use force if necessary.”

“Understood.”

After each of them took their weapons, the two of them left the room. There was a high possibility that bloodshed would occur in a different sense, but a firm attitude was necessary to maintain security. If they neglected that, their opponents would take advantage of their weakness. After dealing with about 20 messengers per hour and having a simple lunch, Shizuko visited the 8th quarantine ward where Frois was located.

“It’s about time for the fever to subside. How is Frois’ condition?”

“Yes. His consciousness has become clear this morning, and he has been able to respond clearly to our questions. He should be able to be discharged in about three days.”

When Shizuko caught one of the medical soldiers in charge of Frois and asked for an update, she was told that he was recovering well. However, measles still had infectious potential even during the recovery period, so they needed to observe him for a few more days.

“Thank you. By the way, the number of people here has increased significantly.”

“Yes. This is the 8th quarantine ward, but it has already reached its capacity.”

“We are rushing to prepare the 18th and 19th quarantine wards, but they may reach their capacity soon as well.”

“The infectious power of measles is formidable. In just a few days, so many people have been brought here. This can be called a battle against the disease. Of course, we have no intention of losing.”

The medical soldier clenched his fist to show his determination. He had lost his parents to smallpox and his siblings and child to measles. He was not alone. Many medical soldiers had lost their families to diseases. In modern times, these diseases would be considered minor enough to go to a hospital. The regret of losing loved ones had become their driving force, and they willingly took on the often ridiculed job of medical soldiers, becoming a source of strength.

“(They will become the future healers.) If we strive here, the country will be at peace. However, we must not push ourselves to the point of collapse.”

“Yes! I will keep your words in mind! I will take my leave now.”

After standing upright and bowing deeply, the medical soldier quickly left. Shizuko thought that they needed to further strengthen the medical troops. To do that, they needed more military achievements. There was no other way to strengthen the army.

“Excuse me. How is Frois’ condition?”

When one is sick, even trivial matters can escalate into conflicts. To avoid unnecessary chaos, Frois had been moved to a private room unlike the other patients. Shizuko and Saizo entered the room together.

“The Hooded Prime Minister (Shizuko), cough cough… I apologize for this appearance.”

“Please don’t worry about it. Please rest. (I’ve been wondering, why am I being called Hooded Prime Minister? I feel like it’s too late to ask now… Maybe it’s because I didn’t introduce myself. But Lord told me to wear this, so is it okay to reveal my identity?)”

“Cough cough… The cough is still ongoing, but the runny nose has subsided. The rash will disappear more cleanly in a little while. I apologize for causing you trouble during this difficult time.”

Whether he received information involuntarily while in Kyoto or was informed of the Oda clan’s situation by Wada, Frois apologized with a remorseful expression.

“There is no need to apologize. You contracted the disease, and I want to prevent the spread of the epidemic. That’s all.”

“Still, I would like to express my gratitude… cough cough… I was on the brink of death, and you saved me. Thank you very much.”

While Christians pray to God when they are sick, he was familiar with Japanese culture. Therefore, he believed that expressing gratitude was important in Japan.

“If that’s the case, you should be able to start eating solid food tomorrow. It may be cramped for a few more days, but I ask for your understanding.”

“Yes, that’s not a problem. More importantly, I feel sorry for all the trouble you’ve gone through.”

“Whether they are Christians or Buddhist monks, for medical soldiers, patients are just patients. It is the medical soldiers’ duty to help the patients. I am merely coordinating them. If you want to express your gratitude, please show it to them.”

After saying that, Shizuko turned her back to Frois. However, as she was about to leave the room, she turned back to face Frois and bowed deeply.,”It seems that the monk who accompanied you has also contracted measles. We will isolate him in this ward, but please rest assured that we will take all necessary measures to respond.”

Along with her words, Saizo closed the door to the room.

The measles epidemic was severe, and within a week of Frois’ infection being discovered, there were over 3,000 infected people. It was unclear whether the infection spread from Frois’ contact with the Catal period or if there were already infected individuals and Frois got infected from one of them. What was known was that it was impossible to stop the spread of measles, and it had spread not only throughout the Kinai region but also to the Chugoku, Chubu, and even Kanto regions. Fortunately, thanks to Nobunaga and the imperial court and shogunate’s appropriate response to measles, there were no opportunistic individuals taking advantage of this situation. Additionally, thanks to Shizuko’s efforts in implementing measures against the epidemic, although there were small outbreaks in Owari and Mino, they were quickly contained and did not lead to a major epidemic.

This measles outbreak could be attributed to the improvement in transportation. In modern times, one can travel around the world by plane or ship, but this has become the cause of spreading diseases that were originally endemic. Similarly, when Nobunaga tried to promote Japan’s commercial activities and developed the transportation network in Owari, Mino, and Kinai, merchants and those employed by them began to move actively. This led to diseases that were limited to a very specific region spreading to various places. As there were no tools to test for diseases, improving transportation had to be accepted despite the drawback of aiding the spread of epidemics.

“Please give me a situation report.”

“Yes. Currently, we have deployed 300 medics to 20 isolation wards to treat measles. However, the measles epidemic is severe, and the number of patients in the Kyoto area alone is reaching tens of thousands. It is likely that the non-cooperative attitude of temples and shrines is affecting the spread of the infection.”

Two weeks after Frois’ infection was discovered, Shizuko received the usual situation report, but it was not good news. The prevention measures were progressing slowly due to the trend of praying to gods and buddhas when falling ill and the non-cooperative attitude of temple and shrine powers. It was not only the temple and shrine powers. The samurai in the anti-Oda alliance were also passive in their response to prevention measures. Due to the political considerations of each faction, the extent to which Shizuko and her team could implement prevention measures was limited to the Kyoto area. As a result, in Kyoto, there were only a few deaths from measles, mainly those who developed complications, but in some parts of Kinai, over 1,000 people had already died from measles. The situation in areas outside Kinai where investigation was not possible could only be speculated, but according to reports from merchants with antibodies, it was a dire situation beyond words. Some commercial cities had turned into cities of death.

Of course, there were also cooperative individuals. The Hosokawa family and influential people in Kyoto gladly accepted the Oda family’s offer and provided land for building isolation wards and various relief supplies. The Jesuit order also volunteered to cooperate after Frois was treated, and as a result, the Christians were cooperative with Shizuko and her team. There were also cooperative temples and shrines. Kinai and Nagashima were non-cooperative, but the Honganji Temple in Mino and Owari was cooperative with Nobunaga.

“…There’s no helping it. Please obtain the number of infected and deceased in the areas under our jurisdiction, as well as in other places. Make it visible to the people and let them see the difference, and they will listen to our words.”

If there was a difference in the number of deaths between the Oda family and others, Shizuko believed that the people who could sense the clear signs of death would come to the Oda family rather than the temples and shrines. Nevertheless, if they had to rely on the temples and shrines, there was no other choice but to accept it. There was no spare capacity to save someone who resented being saved.

“Yes, understood.”

“If there is anything, please report it immediately. If there are not enough messengers, you can request four more.”

There were six messengers dedicated to reporting in each isolation ward. Even minor details needed to be reported to prevent small human errors from leading to major accidents. However, it was meaningless to have messengers if they couldn’t easily report in their environment. Therefore, Shizuko used some soldiers to ensure that reports were submitted one by one, creating an atmosphere in the isolation wards where it was easy to report. Once the information smoothly reached the isolation wards, Shizuko and her soldiers at the headquarters would carefully examine it and find solutions to the problems. Finally, a document summarizing the solutions would be sent to the isolation wards. Of course, some issues could be resolved on-site, but the reporting obligation even after the fact was imposed to consider the possibility of using the response methods in other isolation wards. In this way, the accumulated knowledge was organized and finally reported to Nobunaga. It could be said that this accumulated knowledge was one of Nobunaga’s trump cards.

“Yes!”

After finishing the report, the soldier bowed and left the room. In addition to listening to other reports, Shizuko prepared a report to be sent to Mitsuhide. Due to her position, Shizuko couldn’t easily move around, so the only way to inform Mitsuhide of the situation was through the report. She didn’t use a scribe to write the report, so there was no loss of time or differences in understanding, but Shizuko had to write everything herself. While receiving reports, she summarized them into a report to be sent to Mitsuhide, and her duties for the day were completed.

“Hmm! It’s tiring to just deal with administrative work. Wittman and the others will arrive tomorrow, so I guess I’ll have to wait for another two weeks.”

Although Wittman and the others were not brought along because they would return in a few days, considering the current situation where they needed to stay in Kyoto for a few weeks, it was more efficient to call them. Having them as escorts would be a great reassurance. Keiji and Nagayoshi were working to maintain public order, and although Saizo was by her side, it was still necessary to be cautious.

Shizuko’s worries were justified. Intruders had infiltrated her residence, taking advantage of the frequent comings and goings of people. However, no infiltrator had been able to extract important information from Shizuko, who had a strong guard on her information despite her appearance. Nevertheless, if they were intelligent, they could infer the core information from the information flowing to the periphery. As much as possible, precautions were taken to prevent information leaks. At the same time, measures were taken to minimize the damage in case of information leaks.

Without any significant problems, Wittman and the others arrived at Shizuko’s place the next day. From then on, it became difficult for infiltrators to approach Shizuko in a way that she did not anticipate. With Wittman and the others surrounding her all the time, and with them immediately noticing any attempt to enter the place where the documents were stored, it became difficult to infiltrate.

There were other reasons for calling Wittman and the others. Measles would be cured within 10 to 14 days if there were no complications. It had been about 15 days since Frois’ infection was confirmed, so the patients who were taken to the isolation wards in the early stages were recovering and being released one by one. As far as she knew, about 12,500 people were patients in the Kinai region, where Nobunaga had influence. Among them, there were about 60 children and 30 adults who died from complications or malnutrition, and about 120 people over 60 years old. In other words, as more people recovered from measles, there was a possibility that more personnel would be needed. To avoid causing anxiety about security during this time, Shizuko called Wittman and the others.

In areas where the Oda family had no influence, the number of infected people continued to increase, and 80% of them died from the disease. In contrast, the number of deaths in relation to the number of infected people in the Kyoto area was abnormally low. The reason was the administration of vitamin A, which is proven in modern times to reduce the mortality rate if administered to individuals at high risk of measles infection. However, there were no factories to extract and concentrate vitamin A in large quantities, so Shizuko made sure to include mugwort, komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach), and egg yolks in the meals for oral intake of vitamin A. Vitamin A is produced in the liver and is restricted from being generated excessively, so there was no need to worry about excessive intake. Mugwort and komatsuna were easy to cultivate and readily available crops. It was possible to administer them to many patients.

Shizuko had prepared for the surrounding security, including the guards, but a few days later, personnel were allocated in a way that she did not expect. Except for those who developed complications or those whose resistance enhancement did not catch up in time, patients with measles were able to recover from the disease without dying. And those who had recovered from measles visited Shizuko’s residence to express their gratitude and pray, creating a crowd around the residence. As a result, it became difficult for infiltrators to sneak in amidst the crowd of people coming and going.

As the number of patients gradually decreased and more people flocked to the residence, Shizuko and her team deployed soldiers to ensure that the area around the residence was not chaotic. It was difficult to infiltrate the interior of the residence, as they had to bypass the soldiers’ gaze and the gaze of the people. Even if they tried to infiltrate disguised as messengers, they would be asked by the gatekeepers about their affiliation and messenger number, and infiltrators who didn’t know the answers would be captured on the spot.

“It’s no use, everywhere is crowded with people. It’s impossible to sneak in like this.”,Four spies secretly gathered in a narrow path with little pedestrian traffic. When there was heavy traffic, they weighed the risk of confirming their affiliation and messenger number against the loss and the risk of infiltrating. However, since the number of patients had started to decrease, there was no need to consider the loss. Therefore, they started confirming their affiliation and messenger number, and spies who didn’t know this information were suddenly asked a mysterious question and couldn’t answer, which made the guards suspicious and they were captured.

“What should we do? It can’t go on like this…”

The lives of spies were expendable. If they couldn’t obtain valuable information, they would be demoted at best, and if things went badly, they would be executed to take responsibility. Knowing that their lives were expendable, the spies were anxious because they couldn’t obtain crucial information.

“Found you.”

That’s why they didn’t notice the danger creeping up on them. At the moment a chill ran down their spines, three of the spies who were present jumped back, but the last one stood there dumbfounded. At the same time as the sound of air being torn, there was the sound of flesh being crushed and the sound of something moist splattering. The head of the spy who was standing there dumbfounded was crushed, and his appearance changed to a gruesome one.

“So you guys were the rats that have been sneaking around people since yesterday.”

Nagayoshi, who had killed one of the spies with his bardiche, looked at the remaining spies and spoke. The sudden appearance of Nagayoshi caused the spies to be unsettled, but they quickly regained their composure and faced Nagayoshi with weapons in hand. Even though it was a 3-on-1 situation, which would normally be disadvantageous, Nagayoshi didn’t lose his cheerful smile. Licking his lips, Nagayoshi raised his bardiche as if to intimidate the spies. The spies hesitated for a moment when they saw the blade of the meaty bardiche, but Nagayoshi didn’t miss that slight opening. He quickly closed the distance between him and the spies and struck the head of the spy in front with his bardiche. The skull shattered, and brain matter splattered along with brain fluid. Trying to avoid the scattered droplets, the spy instinctively raised his hand. Taking advantage of the spy’s vulnerable state, Nagayoshi’s bardiche plunged into the spy’s side. The spy, whose torso was cut halfway, couldn’t take any defensive action and was slammed against the earthen wall. In an instant, the 3-on-1 situation became a 1-on-1, leaving the remaining spy in shock.

“I’ll give you credit for not running away. Now, would you prefer to have your head crushed or your body split in two? I’ll let you choose your favorite way to die.”

It was an arrogant remark, but considering the difference in strength, it was only natural. The spy wasn’t surviving, he was being kept alive by Nagayoshi. If he decided to, Nagayoshi could make his life disappear. Understanding this, the spy broke out in a cold sweat. He searched for a way to survive this situation, but it was futile. Without asking the spy any questions, Nagayoshi swung his bardiche without warning. The heavy blade accelerated with centrifugal force. The spy’s legs couldn’t withstand it, and one leg was torn off, while the other leg had its knee bone crushed.

“Aaahh!!”

The pain that surged through the spy’s body was so intense that he momentarily lost consciousness. But before he could even scream, Nagayoshi switched from his bardiche to a morning star and delivered a powerful blow to the spy’s right shoulder. It wasn’t just the right shoulder, but also the left shoulder, elbow, abdomen, and chin. Nagayoshi silently, yet with a smile, continued to punch the spy. The torn flesh of the spy stuck to the walls and floor, staining them with blood and fat. Eventually, the spy became a lifeless corpse, and Nagayoshi looked down at him with his usual expression, speaking.

“Honestly, what a waste of time. Ahh, I feel a little refreshed now.”

After kicking the spy’s corpse aside, Nagayoshi called over the waiting soldiers. Some of the soldiers felt nauseous at the gruesome sight, but they forced themselves to swallow it, knowing what would happen if they vomited.

“They probably don’t have anything valuable. Dig a hole and bury them.”

Nagayoshi was confident that there was nothing to prove the spy’s identity. That’s why he disposed of them without asking any questions. Nagayoshi was not the only one secretly disposing of spies. The captains of the Shizuko army were also conducting similar spy hunts. They were eliminating one spy after another in Kyoto. It was enough content to teach the surviving spies that they were next. The spies who sensed the danger scattered like spiders. Only two types of spies remained: those left by the Oda family and those who had completely assimilated.