CHAPTER 262: CHAPTER 192: AFTER 1 PM, DARK CLOUDS COVER THE SKY

Since mid-May, Imagawa Yoshimoto set out westward from Jumogawa, passing through Enshū, and then arrived at Okazaki Castle in Sanhe for a brief rest, gathering the prominent clans of the entire Sanhe Province to accompany him to Kyoto, and meanwhile leaving part of the Imagawa family’s forces to garrison Okazaki Castle to ensure the security of his rear line.

Soon after, he set out from Okazaki Castle, with Matsudaira Mototaka, Ii Naomasa, and Katsuyama Nobuhide commanding a vanguard of twelve thousand men, officially entering Owari; Yoshimoto himself then lodged at Takagai Castle, preparing a route through Dagao, Nagami, Atsuta, Nagano Castle,, and Qingzhou, before entering Minoh.

On the whole, his battle plan was coming off smoothly. Matsudaira Mototaka had successfully rescued the besieged Dagao City and, following the momentum, took out Marune Stronghold. Ii Naomasa, for his part, succeeded in capturing Jiuzhen Stronghold, and wiped out all nearby forces of the Oda Family.

With both these victories, the road between Dagao City and Nagami Castle was cleared, fully sufficient for a main army to pass through.

Meanwhile, Katsuyama Nobuhide’s "Navy Assault Troop" captured Crab River Castle in Seishi County in one stroke. After a few days of consolidation and further massing of troops, they would soon be able to wreak havoc in the Oda Family’s rear, putting them in a dilemma they could not resolve.

In short, the Oda Family were like turtles in a jar, easy for the taking. The only remaining worry was the Saito family in Minoh...

Imagawa Yoshimoto, half-reclining in his palanquin, gently tapped his thighs with a folding fan, already considering how he should deal with the Saito family.

The Imagawa family also placed great importance on trade; they had always coveted Owari—a vital waypoint on the East Sea Road’s land trade route and home to the maritime commercial ports of Shimazu and Atsuta. In fact, it was the Imagawa who originally developed Atsuta Port, just as they’d built Nagano Castle, so naturally all now ought to be reclaimed.

But Minoh, by contrast, lacked such a mercantile atmosphere. With mountains dominating the north and little of value, perhaps it would suffice to simply control the road along the Nongwei Plain to Kyoto, without forcing everything through martial means.

As the eleventh head of the Imagawa house, forty-three years old, and long guided by such a celebrated teacher as Taiyuan Xuezhai, Yoshimoto was well-versed in strategy. Deep in thought, he was abruptly jarred as the palanquin lurched slightly, instantly breaking his concentration.

Irritated, he tapped the palanquin’s wall with his folding fan, summoned his personal attendant, and asked, "What’s the matter?"

The attendant immediately replied, "Some locals heard the lord was passing through, and have come specifically to offer tribute."

Imagawa Yoshimoto showed interest and asked further, "Are they local samurai?"

The attendant turned and gave an order, and someone quickly ran ahead to inquire. Soon, he returned to report, "My lord, they are villagers from Yufu Temple Village."

"Commoners, then..."

In these times, such scenes of "gladly welcoming the royal army" were commonplace. After all, looting during wartime was the norm, and trafficking in people went without saying. So when a large army passed by, and there was no hope of resisting, many villages would try to make nice—offering something in exchange for mercy, much better than being casually pillaged and razed.

Imagawa Yoshimoto instantly lost interest, waved his fan brusquely to signal the palanquin onward, only to soon spot a large crowd kneeling by the roadside—over a hundred people of all ages, almost all men. This looked like every head of household from the village, bearing copious tribute, their sincerity plain to see.

This truly had a touch of "carrying grain and wine" for the army.

Moved by their earnestness, Imagawa Yoshimoto’s mood improved considerably. He instructed his men to bring the village head forward, intending to respond in proper form—a story suitable for the army records and future generations to recount as a worthy tale.

The village head came at once: in his thirties but prematurely aged, skin rough, back a bit stooped. He dared not even raise his gaze as he approached, dropping flat on the muddy roadside, trembling as he spoke: "This humble one, Fujisawaemon, greets...greets the lord. May the lord’s martial fortune be unending, and the house ever flourish."

"No need for anxiety." Imagawa Yoshimoto wore a kindly smile and asked offhandedly, "Have you come here to make some request?"

"Wouldn’t dare...er, I ask for nothing." Fujisawaemon still didn’t dare raise his head, for one of his station to look directly at Imagawa Yoshimoto would mean instant execution. He could only bury his face deep in the meiyu-season mud and quavered, "I merely heard of the lord’s high status, a man of all Japan, passing by our humble village, so I ventured to offer these gifts."

"A man of all Japan?" Imagawa Yoshimoto gave a wry smile, then sighed, "Such words—being ’a man of all Japan’ is no easy thing..."

Along the way, the Oda, Saito, Asai, and Rokkaku families were nothing, all shivering under his tens of thousands of troops. But in Kyoto, the Ashikaga Family had already lost their grip, the General of Expedition a title in name only, the Emperor and courtiers with minds of their own, and the local daimyo ever ambitious. Unifying the land, restoring the Shogunate’s authority, truly becoming the ’man of all Japan’—these tasks remained full of obstacles.

At best, one could say a hundred miles’ journey had seen but one mile travelled; a heavy burden, a long and hindered road ahead.

Fujisawaemon could more or less understand his sigh, but could not show it, instead burying his face deeper in the mud as he forced out in a trembling voice, "My lord’s renown resounds afar—surely you shall succeed..."

Halfway through, he turned and signaled, and villagers brought forward a tray of "Katsu-guri"—a traditional Japanese sweet, also called kuri-kinmaru, essentially made from mashed chestnut, shaped and named for the word "victory." Preparation methods varied from place to place, with considerable difference in style and ingredients.

Fujisawaemon accepted the meticulously prepared tray of "Katsu-guri" and raised it above his head, continuing: "With this ’Katsu-guri,’ I offer my humble wishes for the lord’s complete success."

"Oh?" Now Imagawa Yoshimoto was truly interested. This was only early summer—still nearly a season before the new chestnuts would be ready—so for commoners to offer "Katsu-guri" could count as a favorable omen, well worth a page in the campaign records.

He ordered a piece of the "Katsu-guri" sweet brought over; of course, he did not eat it, but simply held it to his nose to take in the chestnut’s fragrance. It seemed almost as though some aura of victory clung to it, and he smiled in satisfaction. "You’ve certainly shown thoughtfulness."

"I dare not, I dare not." Fujisawaemon still looked thoroughly frightened, but his responses were measured and appropriate. Turning, he signaled the villagers to bring forward other offerings, saying repeatedly, "Please, my lord—see, there is much ’Katsu-guri,’ and many ’radishes’ as well..."

Daikon (pronounced "daikon" in this era), being able to thrive and grow large in harsh conditions, stood for "success," "longevity," "eventual achievement" and such meanings; the pronunciation was not far off, either. So Fujisawaemon’s words sounded very auspicious indeed—victory in abundance, and success in abundance.

Imagawa Yoshimoto’s spirits lifted even more, and he began to feel as if Heaven itself were sending commoners to grant him heavenly favor, giving him the chance for great achievements. Looking now at Fujisawaemon’s genuine offerings—ten measures of Katsu-guri, a whole stone of chestnut cake, ten baskets of boiled daikon, ten baskets of boiled taro, a measure of rice cake, fifty bundles of kelp, ten barrels of sake.

For wartime gifts of this age, this was truly a bleeding sacrifice, and every item was auspicious, each with its own symbolism—a sincerity that could be felt at a glance.

"Good! Good! Good!" Imagawa Yoshimoto, sitting upright in his palanquin, could not help but tap the cab’s wall three times with his fan, repeating the word "good" and looking at Fujisawaemon with increased approval. Smiling, he said, "Fujisawaemon of Yufu Temple Village, is it? I shall remember you."

Such good, knowing commoners—even if not counted among the nation’s retainers, just a humble country dweller by name—but to bring a favorable omen was merit in itself. Later, once Owari was won, there’d be no harm in granting this little village to him as his fief.

"Thank you, my lord!" Fujisawaemon’s voice now trembled less, as he pressed his head once more into the filth, his tone full of joy.

Imagawa Yoshimoto chuckled. Gazing at the "Katsu-guri," he thought: as long as the attendants found nothing amiss, he should eat this "favorable omen" himself—lest he fail to honor Heaven’s goodwill. It was nearly noon besides, the early summer sun fierce, the air stuffy and hot—it was a good time to rest.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he asked Fujisawaemon, "Is there a shady place nearby where the army might rest?"

Fujisawaemon’s heart pounded in his chest, and he buried his head even lower, speaking in a hoarse voice: "There is indeed, my lord. A little further north lies Mount Okehazama; within it is a shaded valley called Tengaku Daira, perfect for your lordship to halt."

Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly and ordered his personal attendant, "Have the vanguard and rear halts called to stand by; our main force will pause for rest at Mount Okehazama."

......

"Truly mad..." This was the feeling of many.

At noon, Oda Nobunaga received an urgent report from the "Kyodan-shu" at the area of Shonshoji Stronghold, and again ordered everyone to march out. To hide their true intentions, he sent Sasaki Masachika and Chiaki Shiro with 300 of the Lang Faction to launch a feint attack on Nagami Castle on the west—both the Sasaki and Chiaki families were prominent local gentry in Atsuta, and so Sasaki Masachika and Chiaki Shiro weren’t entirely alone; Oda Nobunaga had conveniently roped in their retainers and followers as well.

So now, Oda Nobunaga had given them the task of luring the enemy. At the same time, the Mother’s Robe group was sent to relay orders and serve as military supervisors, while Oda Nobunaga ordered the commander Sasaki Nagamasa of Longquan Temple City north of Nagami Castle, and the commanders Niwa Gensuke and Maeno Kobayashi of Iwakura Castle to the northeast, to immediately abandon their castles and march out in force to attack Nagami Castle.

No need to care about casualties—even if they were all wiped out—what mattered was that by afternoon, Nagami Castle would not be able to turn northward.

For now, Nagami Castle belonged to the Imagawa family, and its commander Okabe Motonobu had over 3,000 direct Imagawa retainers alone—not to mention additional strength drawn from the Yamaguchi Family. The combined forces of the Sasaki Brothers, Niwa Gensuke, and Maeno Kobayashi barely totaled 1,000—this was all but a death sentence.

But bullied and threatened by Oda Nobunaga, bloodshot eyes and all, Sasaki Masachika and the rest had no choice but to set out.

Oda Nobunaga then took the opportunity of Nagami Castle’s distraction to lead over 2,000 men, with various gentry pressed into service, straight south to Nakashima Stronghold.

At this point, it could be said that the Oda Army was now deep in encirclement—Okabe Motonobu’s 4,000 men to the north, the 4,000-plus under Asahina Taicho of Dagao City to the west, the Imagawa vanguard under Asai Shigetomo with over 2,000 to the east, and Matsudaira Mototaka’s 1,000-plus to the south.

Should they be discovered, it meant envelopment on all sides, and Oda Nobunaga along with nearly all the Owari gentry chiefs would surely die there.

Katsuyori Shibata, Lin Xiuzhen, and the other family elders among the nobles were desperate to stop this madness, and launched yet another round of remonstrances. But as mere figureheads with no power left, they were ignored; Oda Nobunaga’s eyes were red, energy feverish, paying them no heed. Instead, he ordered everyone to abandon their horses, make a sharp turn, and head off into the hills east of Nakashima Stronghold.

At this point, a large number of "Kyodan-shu" joined the group, leading these 2,000 men in circles over the hills, across Crown Prince Ridge to Sheng Mountain, up the gully from there and climbing Muro Mountain, mysteriously skirting Imagawa Yoshimoto’s vanguard—never once being discovered.

Harano, who had just followed along to see the excitement, soon found himself climbing to the top of Muro Mountain; from afar, he could now glimpse Mount Okehazama, Imagawa Yoshimoto’s Shogunate camp set up at Tengaku Daira, and could even make out Yoshimoto’s broad, resplendent palanquin.

It was now a little after one in the afternoon, black clouds gathering overhead.