vncnus Page 67
Page 67
Yueshan City thus became an isolated army suspended on a mountaintop, unable to receive supplies.
Of course, the garrison inside the city could still fire from their high vantage points or fight uphill as needed, so Shinzaburo couldn't immediately advance along this road into the Utsu family's territory. He could only have his soldiers huddle in three strongholds and implement a siege tactic.
But that's enough.
Based on intelligence, after losing about ten villages near Hosono Castle, the Utsu clan's territory comprised slightly more than 40% of the entire Kuwata District, with a maximum mobilization capacity of only about a thousand men. Judging from the previous probing attacks, there were estimated to be three to four hundred men inside Yasuyama Castle, all of whom were relatively elite soldiers.
In addition, two branch cities and a pass were submerged, and there were also previous sporadic losses, resulting in at least a hundred casualties.
That means the Utsu clan can only muster a maximum of five hundred soldiers whose combat effectiveness is questionable. They are unlikely to be able to coordinate an attack from within and without to lift the siege.
Yueshan City is located on the highest peak of Heiwei Mountain. It is surrounded by barren rocks, and although the terrain is dangerous, it is impossible to get water or food.
There may still be some reserves of military rations, but drinking water is completely unavailable.
From May to July, we might be able to get through the months by collecting rainwater.
Starting in August, the weather will become drier and rainfall will decrease sharply, at which point the defending troops will be unable to hold out.
Of course, if the war dragged into the autumn harvest season, Shinzaburo would have to provide some compensation to appease the troops.
That's worth it.
If the three or four hundred men in Yueshan Castle are eliminated or persuaded to surrender, the fighting strength of the Utsu clan's army will be greatly reduced, and there will no longer be such treacherous terrain to hold, and their morale will be close to collapse.
At that time, it will be an unstoppable force.
Next, the defenders of Yueshan City turned around and launched "fire arrows" at the two branch cities that had been captured by the attackers and the pass at Renwei Pass.
However, the two outlying cities were very well constructed by the villagers themselves, using a large amount of earth and stone, and could not be shaken by two thirty-eye cannons of fire arrows.
The gatehouse on the ridge was made entirely of wood, but it couldn't withstand the test and was eventually set on fire, burning part of it. Inatomi Shigenobu and Oi Shigeie had no choice but to evacuate.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ikeda Nagamasa finally built a firing position on the high slope on the northwest side.
This position is 300 paces from Yueshan City, but with a height difference of less than 100 feet. With the help of five of our own fire arrows, we can overcome the terrain disadvantage by sheer numbers and suppress the enemy's space to move.
Thus, the perfect encirclement was finally achieved.
On May 17th and 19th, the Utsu clan launched two offensives from their territory, attempting to recapture the two branch cities and lift the siege of Yueshan City.
However, Nara Takashi and Yamamoto Hisamasa had 500 elite soldiers who calmly fought back, relying on their fortifications.
Upon learning the news, Shinzaburo immediately ordered his soldiers to prepare for an attack on the city, thus tying down the defenders inside Yueshan Castle and preventing the enemy from rashly descending the mountain to launch a pincer attack.
Ultimately, after suffering some losses outside the walls of the two branch castles, the Utsu family was unable to continue fighting and had to retreat.
On May 24th, Yue Shancheng sent a fearless messenger with a letter.
The paper read: "Lord Kubo Genban is renowned for his martial prowess, known as 'Tanba Zhong Kui.' His use of tactics that cut off both inside and outside the battle is beneath his dignity. If he is truly a hero, please allow a day of truce to replenish our water and food supplies, after which we can have a fair duel."
After watching it, even with Shinzaburo's composure, he couldn't hold back and laughed for a full fifteen minutes, almost rolling on the ground in laughter.
In fact, since the start of the war, the commander defending Yueshan City has performed quite well and is a competent commander.
However, he acted far too unrealistically today.
Shinzaburo passed the letter around to those around him, and everyone burst into laughter.
Even the most stubborn Harumi Shigao hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and saying, "If you agree to this condition, it's not a fair duel, it's foolish."
However, the two overseas visitors offered a completely new perspective.
The Frankish man, Wiegard Garcia, raised an eyebrow and said with a grin, "If the garrison is willing to pay several times the price, I think we can sell them some food and water."
Former eunuch Meng Peiyu shook his head and said calmly, "At this time, the focus should not be on money. We should poison the food and water and then send them into the city."
Upon hearing this, the Japanese warriors in the tent looked at each other, lamenting that they couldn't keep up with the way of thinking of outsiders.
Shinzaburo did not heed the two men's advice and simply drove the messenger away.
Wiegand Garcia's money-making plan was unnecessary. After all, the main expenses of this war were being covered by their financial backer, Imai Munehisa. Meng Peiyu's plan, on the other hand, was difficult to execute. To inject large quantities of food and water with deadly poison required advanced chemical knowledge.
Two days later, the defending troops, who had been refused entry, launched a breakout attempt, but were swiftly and decisively repelled by Shinzaburo's soldiers.
……
May passed quickly.
In other words, the campaign to conquer the Utsu family of Kuwata County has been underway for three months.
During this period, Matsunaga Nagayori and Akai Naomasa fought in various places and clashed four times in a row, with each side winning and losing, and neither side gaining the upper hand.
However, from a broader perspective, the fact that several powerful clans in Amada and Hero counties had pledged allegiance to Hosokawa Ujitsuna and indirectly joined the Miyoshi regime was an outcome that could not be changed.
In the future, Matsunaga Nagayori can gradually strengthen his rule under the guise of "acting governor," while Akai Naomasa's disadvantage will increase as time goes on.
As is customary, when neither side can gain the upper hand on the battlefield, they come to the negotiating table to prepare for peace talks.
Matsunaga Nagayori, holding a strategic advantage, made exorbitant demands, only allowing Akai Naomasa to retain Hikami District, while demanding that Akai cease his "illegal occupation" of southern Amada District and break his alliance with the Hatano family.
Akai Naomasa wanted to maintain the existing borders, which meant continuing to control the southern part of Hikami District and Amada District. At the same time, he firmly stated that the Hatano family were his beloved relatives, friends, and brothers, and that he must not betray them.
Judging from this situation, their bottom lines are quite clear.
It is estimated that after a few more months of verbal sparring, both sides will back down. Matsunaga Nagayasu will stop worrying about the ownership of southern Amada District, while Akai Naomasa will break his long-standing alliance with the Hatano family.
The legally recognized owners in southern Amada District were the Adachi and Ashida families. Since they had been nearly wiped out, Matsunaga Nagayori had no reason to intervene and seek justice.
The Akai and Hatano families were indeed long-time allies, supporting each other and maintaining a very close relationship. However, allies in the chaotic Sengoku period were often betrayed.
Shinsaburo was at the front lines when he heard the news from a merchant.
He thought that the wars never yielded a clear victor, and always ended in negotiations, which prevented the centralization of power. However, given Japan's unique geographical conditions and political inertia, being too forceful might not be advisable.
Just then, another powerful family in Kuwata County, the Kawakatsu family, who were neighbors to the north of the Utsu family, sent a messenger to the military camp with a letter to Shinzaburo.
The above states that they wish to communicate regarding the current war situation and hope that an envoy can be sent to the castle of the Kawakatsu family to discuss the matter.
Although not explicitly stated, the implication is that they are trying to make peace.
When Shinzaburo first received the mission, he asked a monk from the Rinzai sect to contact Kawakatsuie, but he never received a positive response.
Now, having besieged Yueshan City and defeated several attempts to break out, just when victory seemed within reach, Kawakatsu stepped forward.
They're clearly up to no good!
But we can't ignore it.
The peace talks between Matsunaga Nagayori and Akai Naomasa are unlikely to yield results in the short term. Therefore, the army remains tied down.
The Kawakatsu family occupies half of northern Kuwata County and is estimated to be able to mobilize 1,200 to 1,300 men. If they send troops to support the Utsu family, things will become complicated.
We need to send at least one envoy over to find out what's going on with them.
126 Araki Murashige’s Ambition
Araki Murashige never expected that he would suddenly gain the favor of "Tanba Zhong Kui" Yoshiaki Kubo and have the opportunity to become famous overnight.
Although I have always believed that I am no less skilled in martial arts or in intelligence than others, the difference in social status is ultimately an insurmountable hurdle.
From a young age, he told himself that he couldn't rely on others to pave the way; he had to rely on himself for every step.
Going back three generations, Araki Murashige's ancestors were brewers in the town of Ikeda Castle. Moreover, his father was not the heir to the family business. After receiving a portion of the property, he bought more than a dozen plots of land in a nearby village, becoming a so-called "virtuous man in the underworld." He also married the daughter of a wealthy farmer from the next village and started a small family.
Later, when the Ikeda family expanded its military service, they registered this "underground person" in the roster and included him in the ranks of retainers.
It has only been a little over ten years since then.
However, Araki was born clever and quick-witted. While his peers were still clueless, he had already learned to flatter and fawn, becoming a servant to the young master of the Ikeda family. Starting from carrying bags, feeding horses, and carrying straw sandals, he naturally became a trusted confidant.
In recent years, the old lord Ikeda Nagamasa has grown old and frail, gradually becoming unable to manage the trivial affairs of the household, while the young lord Ikeda Katsumasa has always been reckless and straightforward, and his words and actions often arouse the dissatisfaction of the hereditary retainers.
Araki Murashige, having witnessed the full spectrum of human emotions since childhood, is adept at reading people and is not afraid to humble himself. He often acts as a mediator, calming the emotions of all parties involved.
Over time, he was regarded as an indispensable mood-maker for the Ikeda family, and was highly praised by everyone from top to bottom. He gradually took on grassroots work in various aspects of finance, taxation, military and politics.
Now he even has the opportunity to participate in high-level military discussions, which shows that he is highly valued.
However, as a traditional samurai family, the Ikeda clan had a relatively conservative political structure. There was no strict hierarchy among clan members, and the head of the clan was closer to the concept of a "clan head" than an autocratic "ruler".
Araki Murashige knew perfectly well that merely gaining the favor of the young lord, Ikeda Katsumasa, was not enough to make him complacent. He still needed to demonstrate various abilities, establish merit and prestige, and forge relationships with his colleagues based on shared interests before he could be said to have truly grasped power.
Knowing this, he didn't say a word during the military council chaired by Yoshiaki Kubo, even though he had some thoughts.
An unknown person who boasts in public will naturally lose face if their flaws are pointed out. Even if they offer excellent strategies, others may not immediately admire them. Instead, they might even be resented.
It's much safer to report it secretly and privately afterward.
Whether or not the ideas are adopted is irrelevant; it doesn't matter if the bigwigs embezzle the results of our thinking; in short, there will be no negative impact.
Unexpectedly, Yoshiaki Kubo had already considered everything comprehensively and did not need to be reminded by others.
At that time, in the military tent, Araki Murashige was very surprised. He thought to himself that this Tanba Zhong Kui was indeed a rare general. No wonder he had become an outstanding samurai in just three years, from the son of an underground man.
At that moment, he felt a complex mix of emotions, awe mixed with a hint of resentment. He couldn't help but put himself in the other person's shoes and probe their ambitions.
As a result, I ran into a wall.
Upon returning, Araki Murashige felt regretful, believing that he had slightly offended Lord Kubo Genban and would not have the chance to show his skills in this battle. Even if he made some progress, he might still be annexed.
For the next few weeks, he temporarily suppressed his ambitions and fought methodically alongside the other soldiers of the Ikeda clan. As the water attack plan proceeded smoothly, the Utsu clan was completely on the defensive, while he himself gained no credit.
Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better in June.
The Kawakatsu family in northern Kuwata County had previously feigned neutrality and remained indifferent to the war. Now, however, the Utsu family's Gakuyama Castle is on the verge of falling, yet they've suddenly stepped in to mediate.
At this point, it is certainly necessary to send a worldly-wise and experienced messenger to test the waters and gauge their attitude.
To everyone's surprise, Yoshiaki Kubo personally named Araki Murashige, a retainer of the Ikeda family.
……
As is well known, diplomatic envoys are the easiest positions to accumulate seniority.
Kubo Yoshiaki had previously captured the Twin Demons in Tanba and discovered a silver mine in Tada, but it was not until he personally experienced the Battle of Itsukushima of the Mori clan during his mission to the western provinces that he truly gained the attention of Miyoshi Nagayoshi.
If we can persuade the Kawakatsu family in northern Kuwata County to assist in the campaign, or at least maintain a neutral stance, our return will be a great achievement.
Even if diplomatic communication fails, it is still commendable to be able to probe the other side's strength and weaknesses and allow our army to make preparations in advance.
Araki Murashige originally thought that such a good opportunity would definitely fall to the retainers of the Kubo family.
Based on observations over this period, Inafumi, Oi, Harumi, and others are all too straightforward, not to mention the Portuguese and Chinese. However, the taciturn Takemura and the fat-headed monk Jōjō should be suitable to serve as envoys.
However, on that day, Kubo Yoshiaki sat in the main seat, looked around for a moment, and then said in an unquestionable manner: "Among our troops, the most suitable person to be sent as an envoy to the Kawakatsu family is none other than Araki Juro of the Ikeda family."
Upon hearing this, the people in the military tent remained silent, some even somewhat doubtful, as if they did not particularly agree.
However, Araki Murashige himself was both excited and shocked.
He also felt that he was more capable than everyone present except for Kubo Yoshiaki in this temporary allied force. He might not be as tall as Miyoshi Yoshioki's close attendant Nara in some aspects, but that was only due to a lack of experience.
However, this confidence was well hidden and never publicly revealed.
He was naturally happy to suddenly gain the favor of a renowned general like Yoshiaki Kubo, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy, thinking about how he had lost his composure during his last private report.
Is it because they all come from humble backgrounds that they are given special treatment?
It felt like my thoughts had been completely seen through, which was a little frightening. On the other hand, I also had a strong urge to repay the kindness shown to me as soon as possible.
Araki Murashige immediately bowed without hesitation, expressing his determination to complete the mission in a firm and resolute tone.
After the military council concluded and the generals departed, he immediately approached Yoshiaki Kubo privately and requested to brush up on his knowledge of Kawakatsu before taking up his post again.
As a resident of the developed Settsu region, Araki Murashige naturally didn't know much about the people and things in the remote mountain valleys of Kuwata District, Tanba Province.
During the war, I learned some things through hearsay, which were far from detailed.
He believed that someone like "Tanba Zhong Kui" would definitely place great importance on intelligence gathering beforehand.
As expected, Yoshiaki Kubo had already read through dozens of historical documents left by local monks and cultural figures, making thorough preparations.
After a well-balanced introduction, Araki Murashige quickly grasped several key points.
First, the Kawakatsu family was of humble origin, initially considered "virtuous men from the underworld." Decades ago, after receiving the title of "servant of the public" from the shogunate, they were extremely proud and diligently maintained good relations with the shogun's family. The Utsu family, on the other hand, was very close to Hosokawa Harumoto. Previously, when Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Hosokawa Harumoto were vying for power, the Kawakatsu and Utsu families were constantly at odds. Later, when Miyoshi Nagayoshi rose to prominence, Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Hosokawa Harumoto were forced to retreat to Kuchiki Valley in Omi Province to seek refuge, and the situation changed.
Secondly, from Shimoda-sho in Kuwata-gun, the birthplace of the Kawakatsu family, heading north via Horikoshi Pass and over Mount Tofun, a two-day walk would reach the bustling Kohama Bay wharf, the only trade route between Tanba and Wakasa. The Kawakatsu family actively developed trade, enthusiastically cultivated relationships with merchants, and established a sizable trading market from which they profited considerably. Compared to land output, commercial revenue was likely more important to them.
Third, despite the improved relations between the two sides, the Kawakatsu and Utsu clans have still clashed several times in the past few years over border disputes, each time ending with the Kawakatsu clan yielding. While the Utsu clan also relies on timber and sweetfish exports for revenue, as a resource provider, they are not overly concerned about temporary road closures. The Kawakatsu clan, on the other hand, has few distinctive products within its territory and relies on constant trade to generate income, thus they tend to avoid violence.
127 High-level diplomacy, simple and unpretentious
Having learned this information, Araki Murashige felt more confident and knew how to bring it up with the other party.
The next day, he took a few soldiers and set off with Kawakatsu's messenger.
After two days of traveling through the mountains, we arrived at the main city of the island.