The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 128

Besides being tall, Saito Yoshitatsu was also very robust, with broad shoulders, a square face, wide ears, and a thick beard. Even with his proper long, straight hair, a tall eboshi hat, and a folding fan, he didn't look like a cultured person; he seemed more like a wild spirit who had infiltrated human society.

For the first time in many years, Shinzaburo felt the pressure of someone's size when sitting and talking with them.

The other party's attitude was particularly subtle. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he burst into a cryptic laugh, shaking his head and saying, "I never expected that even now, the Miyoshi family would still contact me. Isn't Hyuga no Kami (Miyayoshi Nagayoshi) furious?"

The implication is that he was quite proud of his previous behavior of taking benefits and then denying them.

His shameless remarks, coupled with his giant-like physique, instantly made Shinzaburo feel as if a brutal and treacherous orc chieftain from a fantasy game had come to the real world.

For a moment, I didn't know how to reply.

Seeing this, Saito Yoshitatsu became even more arrogant, slapping his thigh and laughing even louder: "It seems that although I am a liar, disgraced, and shameless scoundrel, I am still of some use. I wonder what the Miyoshi family wants me to do this time?"

This is indeed the first time I've seen this kind of communication.

In diplomatic situations, ordinary people either frantically pile on layers of armor, spouting vague and rambling statements for fear of being held responsible for a single wrong word; or they deliberately adopt a frank demeanor, putting on an act in the hope of impressing the other party and gaining their trust.

But Saito Yoshitatsu's immediate self-deprecating remark that he was a shameless scoundrel was quite unexpected.

Even though Shinzaburo was a seasoned veteran who had seen it all, he still couldn't react quickly enough.

Fortunately, I had previously had in-depth communication with Saito Toshizo and learned that the Saito family of Mino's diplomatic approach was based on the principle of "aggression".

So after careful consideration, I wasn't actually intimidated.

Ultimately, it's just a tactic of feigning retreat to advance, manipulating emotions. And it's particularly suitable for Yoshitatsu Saito to use.

After all, he was a ruthless man who killed his own father. No matter how much he talked about morality and shame to outsiders, he would only appear ridiculous. It would be better for him to directly admit his despicable nature, which would make him seem more profound and unfathomable.

In modern parlance, it means: "I have no morals, so I cannot be morally blackmailed."

Coincidentally, using "righteousness for the greater good" as a form of moral blackmail is the most common diplomatic debate technique of our time.

Saito Yoshitatsu's approach essentially puts him in an invincible position from the start. If someone unfamiliar with this tactic were to encounter it, it might be quite difficult to counter.

But I, a seasoned keyboard warrior of the 21st century internet, a veteran troll who fought my way from Tianya to Zhihu, am I afraid of this?

Shinzaburo quickly composed himself and decided to give them a taste of their own medicine, calmly replying, "Put the interests of the Miyoshi family aside for now. My primary purpose in coming here is to enhance my own reputation."

Saito Yoshitatsu was taken aback by what he heard, and immediately retorted: "If Lord Repair (Miyoshi Nagayoshi) and Lord Chikuzen (Miyoshi Yoshioki) heard this, it probably wouldn't be very pleasant."

"There's no need to worry about that." Shinzaburo's expression remained unchanged, as steady as a mountain. "Since you are a person who 'goes back on his word and has a bad reputation,' what credibility do your words have?"

Now it was Saito Yoshitatsu's turn to be speechless.

Shinzaburo's ability to use his sharp tongue and witty arguments was something the ignorant 16th-century natives could not have imagined.

But Saito Yoshitatsu was no ordinary man. He quickly recovered and then laughed loudly, his shoulders shaking as he looked up at the sky: "Wonderful, wonderful! I thought I would have to deal with a hypocrite like Miyoshi Hyuga no Kami (Miyoshi Nagayoshi), but I have unexpectedly met a hero who is not bound by conventions."

“Indeed.” Shinzaburo nodded decisively without hesitation. “Under the protection of the Miyoshi family, although I have achieved some minor success and have been able to guard a country, I am still of humble origin. If I want to continue to obtain important positions, the only way is to make friends with heroes from all directions.”

"I see." A sly look flashed across Saito Yoshitatsu's burly face, as if he understood something. "You mean you don't care whether my Mino Isshiki family can really help, as long as we can achieve a pincer movement against Omi Rokkaku. Is that right?"

"Isn't that enough to prove that my talent surpasses that of Miyoshi Hyuga (Miyoshi Nagayoshi)?" Shinzaburo said casually and calmly, as if he were speaking with a clear conscience. "You should have heard that the Echizen Asakura family has promised to give up their support for the Toki family, the former lords of Mino. So, in the future, we will be able to attack the Omi Rokkaku family from both sides. Wouldn't that be good for everyone?"

"Lord Sasaki Sado, how could you actually turn enemies into friends with Echizen Asakura?" Saito Yoshitatsu feigned surprise. "Two years ago, your troops were still fighting them to the death."

“Times change.” Shinzaburo said dismissively. “Lord Isshiki Shikibu, you don’t seem like the kind of person who would be bound by old grudges.”

“That makes sense.” Saito Yoshitatsu nodded, then his eyes flashed and he grinned. “However, since you were able to reach an agreement with Echizen Asakura, then even without Mino Isshiki, you can still successfully launch a pincer attack on Omi Rokkaku, right?”

This is another example of using a retreat-to-advance tactic.

Saito Yoshitatsu is a really difficult person to deal with.

Shinzaburo, however, played along, nodding: "That's right, so the Mino Isshiki family isn't needed after all. My efforts to forge this alliance are primarily to elevate my own status. Besides that, there's another purpose..."

At this point, Shinzaburo feigned hesitation.

At this moment, Saito Yoshitatsu's curiosity was piqued, and he asked, seemingly casually, "Why do you not finish your sentence?"

Although the exchange was brief, the initiative quietly shifted in their favor.

Shinzaburo remained silent for a while before reluctantly speaking, "The Rokkaku family of Omi is not a formidable enemy and is not a cause for concern. I have come to you only in the hope that the Saito family of Mino... cough, the Isshiki family of Mino can also gain some benefits when dividing up the Rokkaku family's territory, so as not to be unable to deal with the increasingly powerful Oda family of Owari in the future."

"Owari Oda..." Upon hearing these words, Saito Yoshitatsu's expression darkened, and his smile became somewhat stiff. "It seems you value Owari Oda very much."

“Indeed.” Shinzaburo nodded solemnly. “In my opinion, Oda Nobunaga’s power will only grow stronger now that he has defeated Imagawa Nobunaga of Suruga. If Oda Kazusa (Nobunaga) were to venture into Mino and Ise and then plot against the provinces in the Kinai region, it would be a great threat to the Miyoshi clan and would be very inconvenient for me as well.”

Saito Yoshitatsu stopped laughing completely.

He frowned, his eyes fixed on me, a hint of displeasure in them. This expression, combined with his massive physique, made him resemble a gorilla ready to unleash its fury at any moment.

Shinzaburo, however, was not worried.

The previous mention of the potential threat posed by the Oda clan likely touched on their core vulnerability.

Therefore, Shinzaburo remained calm and composed, instead looking around and appreciating the design and furnishings of the Nagashima Ganshoji Temple building—and soon discovered that the aesthetics of Jodo Shinshu were far inferior to those of Zen Buddhism, and there was nothing to see.

After a moment, Saito Yoshitatsu spoke again, his voice hoarse and strained, as if only now revealing his true voice: "What if Miyoshi and Asakura do not actually attack the Rokkaku family of Omi, but instead my Mino Isshiki is in trouble, and then Owari Oda attacks Mino? What should we do then?"

“There’s something that Isshiki Shikibu should have noticed by now.” Shinzaburo decided to throw out another piece of information. “You’ve always been on good terms with the Asai family of Odani Castle in northern Omi. Haven’t you noticed that Echizen Asakura is secretly supporting the Asai family against Rokkaku? I think war between them is about to break out soon. At that time, Mino Saito can act according to the situation and will not be in trouble no matter what.”

Upon hearing this, Saito Yoshitatsu lowered his head and remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "On that day, you will also lead your troops from Wakasa to invade Takashima and Shiga districts and seize the Rokkaku family's territory, won't you?"

Shinzaburo smiled without saying a word, neither confirming nor denying.

Saito Yoshitatsu stared at it for a while, then finally the corners of his mouth curved into a half-smile, and he said quietly, "Even if Echizen Asakura supports Asai, Omi Rokkaku might not be at a disadvantage. But with your forces added, the situation becomes even more complicated... Can the Rokkaku family hold on?"

"Lord Isshiki Shikibu, you seem to have overestimated Rokkaku Omi," Shinzaburo promptly reminded him. "Don't forget, you attempted to arrange a marriage between him and Rokkaku, and the young head of the family had already accepted, only to have the reclusive old lord stop it. Isn't this a sign of disloyalty between father and son?"

These words made Saito Yoshitatsu catch his breath again.

After all, no one understands the issue of "father and son not being on good terms" better than him.

Many of Shinzaburo's remarks just now might have been considered impolite probing in a normal diplomatic setting. However, they were perfectly appropriate in the face of Saito Yoshitatsu, who was all bark and no bite and who was just trying to be mysterious.

After another oppressive silence, the six-foot-five-inch giant of Mino, Saito Yoshitatsu, finally nodded slowly: "I understand. Since Omi Rokkaku has stood in front of Lord Sasaki Sado, it would be unwise to continue associating with him."

244 Takeda Yoshito returns to Wakasa

In the autumn of 1560, the situation in Omi Province did not deviate from the "original history". The Asai family of Odani Castle raised an army and declared independence, challenging their former lord, the Rokkaku family.

Previous events, such as the annulment of the engagement, had already strained relations between the two sides. This tense atmosphere had persisted for several months, and now it finally erupted.

At this time, the Asai clan only controlled two or three districts, with a total of no more than 150,000 koku of land. However, they had amassed a force of over 10,000 men, many of whom were ronin of unknown origin.

It is obvious that someone is secretly providing financial and military supplies; otherwise, even if the Asai family could muster so many men, they would absolutely not be able to sustain a long-term war.

Who else could be behind this besides Echizen Asakura?

As for the Rokkaku family, in addition to controlling most of Omi Province, they have also ventured into Iga and Ise, with a total territory of over 500,000 koku. They also enjoy the benefits of trade and horse transport, so organizing 25,000 troops at their doorstep is not difficult.

However, the war was triggered by the sudden rebellion of Hidetaka Takano, the lord of Hida Castle in Aichi District, southern Omi Province, which led to the Rokkaku clan's siege. The Asai clan seized this opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

Therefore, the Hexagonal family had to both keep people to besiege the city and divide their forces to fight, so their numerical advantage could not be fully utilized.

In the original history, it was at this time that Saito Yoshitatsu of Mino abandoned the Asai family, with whom he had a marriage relationship, and instead supported the seemingly powerful Rokkaku family.

In the long run, this was a diplomatic blunder. It wasn't apparent in the short term, but a few years later, the "Kannonji Incident" occurred, and the Rokkaku family suffered a devastating blow. The Saito family's investments were all lost, leaving them isolated and helpless.

Fortunately, Shinzaburo exists in this world, and after some persuasion from him, Saito Yoshitatsu's attitude changed.

Therefore, this six-foot-five-inch giant from Mino did not completely side with either side, but instead adopted a strategy of diversified investment.

Takenaka Shigemoto of Bodhiyama Castle, representing the Saito family, assisted the Rokkaku family in attacking the rebel Hida Castle, while Fuwa Mitsuharu of Nishiho Castle also supported the Asai family's attack under the Saito family's banner.

When this news spread, those who understood the situation exclaimed in amazement.

The Saito family's weakness was its lack of tight control over its retainers. But now, Saito Yoshitatsu has cleverly exploited this weakness to pull off a little trick.

In this battle, the sixteen-year-old young lord of the Asai family, Asai Kensei (who had not yet changed his name to Nagamasa), displayed great prowess, personally leading his troops into battle and achieving victory, killing nearly a thousand enemies and greatly enhancing the prestige of the Asai family.

Immediately afterward, Saito Yoshitatsu announced that Fuwa Mitsuharu, who supported the Asai family, was acting under orders and should be rewarded; while Takenaka Shigemoto, who assisted the Rokkaku family, was acting without authorization and should be punished.

Then, the 60-year-old Takenaka Shigemoto was sentenced to become a monk and live in seclusion, and was placed under the care of his relative and friend Ando Mori. The position of head of the family was handed over to his son Takenaka Shigeharu.

That's right, it was merely a period of seclusion as a monk; there was neither exile nor beheading, and he was even placed under the care of relatives and friends—essentially a vacation. This means that if Saito Yoshitatsu wanted to change his stance again in the future, he only needed to bring out Takenaka Shigemoto and restore his reputation.

Nevertheless, they still adopted a hostile stance towards the Rokkaku family, which others could not deny.

As agreed, Echizen Asakura relinquished his support for the Toki family, the former garrison commander of Mino Province, sent the relevant personnel to a temple, and acknowledged Saito Yoshitatsu as a descendant of the Isshiki family. Meanwhile, the Miyoshi family intervened, attempting to secure a higher official rank for Saito Yoshitatsu.

Then Shinzaburo's diplomatic activities can be considered a success.

Therefore, his request was granted, and Miyoshi Yoshioki made a verbal promise to persuade the shogunate to grant him the title of "San'in Totsuki" at the appropriate time.

All was well that way.

For Shinzaburo, the only regret was that the war between the Asai and Rokkaku families ended too quickly and did not cause enough damage. In the end, the political significance outweighed the practical significance, and he did not have time to reach out to the Takashima and Shiga districts in western Omi.

I can only console myself that once a war begins, it won't end easily, and there will be plenty of opportunities to come.

Then I finally returned to Wakasa and began to deal with a problem that was not difficult to handle, but very unpleasant.

That was the nominal return of Wakasa Guardian, and the return of Takeda Yoshitomo.

……

Objectively speaking, the Takeda clan's foundation in Wakasa was relatively solid. However, several generations of incompetent head of the clan emerged, and the cohesion that had been painstakingly built up was gradually lost in repeated internal strife.

The previous ruler, Takeda Nobutoyo, faced opposition from his eldest, second, and third sons due to his eccentric behavior. Although he made a comeback with the support of the Miyoshi regime, his fourth and fifth sons, weary of the endless uprisings, both expressed their unwillingness to inherit the position. As a result, disheartened, Takeda Nobutoyo went to a temple to become a monk.

And what about Takeda Yoshitomo, the eldest son of Takeda Nobutoyo?

That guy doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic about politics. He was just forced into it by Echizen Asakura and coerced by his retainers who were against Miyoshi Ichiro, so he had no choice but to stand up and become a human statue.

When peace was negotiated, it was indeed agreed that Takeda Yoshitomo would succeed Wakasa as governor in the future.

Now that the Asakura family is truly willing to send the person back, Shinzaburo, as a virtuous gentleman who upholds righteousness, will naturally also dare to go and receive him.

On that day, Shinzaburo led his troops to Kuniyoshi Castle, located at the border of Wakasa and Echizen, and openly welcomed Takeda Yoshitomo, the legitimate protector, back to his homeland.

What happened next was rather intriguing.

The number of people escorting the "Guardian" back to the country was not small, with no fewer than 150 attendants and guards, about a third of whom had mounts. They marched in a large procession, banners fluttering, creating a rather imposing sight. However, from a battle-ready perspective, it was clear from afar that the members of the group were exhausted, their steps unsteady, and although their armor and weapons were neat, their movements lacked any sense of purpose.

In the middle was a brightly colored sedan chair, carried by several burly men; it was naturally the palanquin of Takeda Yoshitomo.

It's proper for a samurai of the Guardian rank to ride in a palanquin, but it does seem somewhat out of touch with the common people.

To demonstrate their martial prowess and gain the support of the lower-ranking samurai, even if they were not skilled in martial arts, they would pretend to be skilled riders. How could they possibly abandon their horses and ride in sedan chairs?

This is pure surrender.

Upon seeing this, Shinzaburo stepped forward and loudly proclaimed, "Kubo Shinzaburo Yoshiaki is here to welcome Lord Takeda Osamu!"

These words caused a slight tremor in the group of 150 people ahead. Some whispered among themselves, while others frequently looked back, muttering things like, "This is Tanba Zhong Kui."

Clearly, many of them were members of the Wakasa clan who had been driven away by Shinzaburo.

However, a few calm and composed individuals quietly followed along without making a sound.

Then, Takeda Yoshitomo slowly stepped out of the palanquin.

He was dressed in a blue robe with a black crown on his head, looking quite dashing and well-dressed. However, his eyes were unfocused, his steps were unsteady, and he looked like a walking corpse, with obvious signs of drunkenness on his face.

"This is the current guardian of Wakasa, the head of the Takeda family?" Oi Shigeie, standing next to Shinzaburo, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Or rather, a prisoner of the Asakura family."

Shinzaburo glared at his rude subordinate, then stepped forward, bowed, and said gently, "Lord Takeda Osamu, it's been many years. You still have the same charm as before, which is truly admirable."

"Ah, ah, it's Lord Kubo Sado!" Takeda Yoshitomo seemed to have some effort in digging out the person's title from his memory. "I was able to return home thanks to your magistrate's leniency. It's really... really..." He paused for a long time, as if he had forgotten his lines, then let out a burp and chuckled awkwardly.

Looking back, although Takeda Yoshitomo had no other skills, his level of culture and etiquette was quite good. How could he have fallen into a situation where he couldn't even speak politely?

What is happening before our eyes is truly bizarre.

Shinzaburo, unperturbed, remained courteous and filled in the gaps, saying, "This is truly a joyous occasion. The return of Wakasa to Wakasa is perfectly legitimate. I have already prepared Koseyama Castle; you are welcome to move in and take over the administration at any time."

"Ah, government affairs...yes..." Takeda Yoshitomo nodded blankly, then awkwardly shrank back, glancing at his attendants and guards on either side, before stammering, "I am of limited talent and virtue, how could I know anything about governing a country? Fortunately...fortunately, I brought some capable men from Echizen today..."

Before Shinzaburo could respond, Katsuhisa Awaya, unable to contain himself any longer, stepped forward, his face ashen, and said, "The matter of Wakasa is to be handled by the Wakasa samurai. Why trouble our distinguished guest from Echizen?"

Takeda Yoshitomo stared blankly, as if he hadn't heard anything, and had no idea how to answer.

At this moment, a tall and imposing young samurai standing near the palanquin chuckled and said with exaggerated intonation, "That's not quite right. Lord Kubo Sado may not have come from Wakasa, but his importance to Wakasa is common knowledge. Surely Lord Awaya Ukyo (Katsuhisa) can't be unaware of that?"

Upon hearing this, Katsuhisa Awaya was greatly embarrassed and enraged, and he turned away without saying a word.

Shinzaburo simply smiled and asked the tall, imposing young samurai, "May I ask how you are addressed?"

The man, neither humble nor arrogant, bowed and replied, "My name is Tomita Nagashige, originally from Izumo Province. Ten years ago, I moved to Echizen with my father, but I was unable to secure an important position in the Asakura family. Now, I only hope to gain a future under Takeda Osamu (Yoshitomo)."

“Not bad, not bad…” Shinzaburo carefully examined the other party, a satisfied smile on his face, and said to his close retainers, “It is an honor for me, as the deputy governor, to have such a valiant outsider willingly come to serve the Wakasa governor’s family, Takeda. You should all share in the joy.”

Ooi Shigeie gave a forced smile: "Indeed, we should share the joy. This Lord Tomita Nagashige, since he is so robust, his martial arts skills must be quite remarkable. Would you be willing to have a friendly spar?"

"Lord Ooi, you are mistaken," Katsuhisa Awaya immediately chimed in sarcastically. "Here comes a guest; what if you were to injure him?"