Chapter 16: The Loser Dog of Owari
Although Yuan Ye mentally cursed A Man as a foul-mouthed brat who spoke without respect, a complete wild child, he still considered her a treasure. Only a “professional” like her could detail the situation of a certain family so thoroughly—the Maeda family controlled three castles and nine villages（, three of which were jointly managed, only yielding partial profits）, and one shrine territory, with a nominal yield of about 5,000 koku, but an actual strength of 7,000-8,000 koku. They had over ten vassal samurai, nearly a hundred followers and family retainers, and could arm over five hundred ashigaru if pressed.
This strength was nothing on a national scale for Japan, but within the Kaito District of Owari Province, it was quite formidable.
He had previously thought the Maeda family was just a minor local clan, but now he realized he had been somewhat presumptuous.
More importantly, he had gathered information about the future “Daimyo of a Million Koku in Kaga,” Maeda Toshiie, who was the fourth son of the Aragiko Maeda family, Maeda Sonshiro Toshiie. This fellow was currently only fifteen or sixteen years old and was likely enjoying his childhood with his cousin, who was also his adopted sister and future wife, A Song, at Aragiko Castle.
This fellow had survived all the way to the Tokugawa Shogunate era without dying. His character, in the treacherous Japanese Warring States period, was passable. At the very least, he was good at playing both sides and adept at choosing the right faction. If he couldn’t return to the modern era, by observing and imitating his course of action, he should be able to avoid many pitfalls.
Yuan Ye wrote these down on paper and then asked A Man expectantly, “What about the Oda family?”
The Oda family of Owari Province was the main event and needed to be understood thoroughly.
“The Oda family is much more complicated. They’ve been in Owari Province for about 150 to 160 years and have had a lot of people,” A Man said, working diligently after eating chicken, gnawing on her fingernails and frowning in thought. “My grandfather said the Oda family used to be local lords in Echizen, similar to the current Maeda family, with a strength of seven to eight thousand koku. However, their family status was higher; they were the Shinto priests of the divine sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi（, possessed by Susanoo-no-Mikoto）, and had always served as manor officials of the Oda Manor, a shrine territory. Including the Oda Manor, they were equivalent to true lords of a castle, with a strength of ten to twenty thousand koku, much stronger than the Maeda family.”
She paused and asked Yuan Ye, “Do you know who the current Shugo Daimyo of Owari Province is?”
“Hmm, it’s Shiba…” Yuan Ye wasn’t entirely sure, only having a vague impression from playing Purple Taikō 2》.
“It’s Shiba Yoshimune,” A Man said for him, disdainfully. “That guy has been a puppet for a long time, worse than a dung beetle. But his ancestor, Shiba Yoshimasa, was quite capable. About 150 to 160 years ago, he held Owari Province concurrently as the Shugo of Echizen.
I heard that at that time, the Shiba family considered Echizen their base, and they had already subdued all the local lords. So, they sent the powerful local lord Oda Tsunemasa to Owari as the Shugodai to manage the territory and collect taxes for him.
Later, when Shiba Yoshimasa went to Kyoto to become Kanrei, Oda Tsunemasa also followed Shiba Yoshimasa to Kyoto. The position of Shugodai was then taken over by his younger brother, Oda Tsunetake, who served as the junior Shugodai, while the Asakura family became the Shugodai in Echizen.”
A Man took a breath, picked up her teacup, and took a big gulp to moisten her throat. She couldn’t help but sigh, “This is tea from the Great Ming, isn’t it? You live quite luxuriously.”
“That’s right, green tea from the Great Ming,” Yuan Ye hadn’t expected green tea to exist in the Ming Dynasty and be sold to Japan. However, he drank tea not for luxury but to supplement vitamins and maintain his digestive system to ensure good health.
A Man emptied the teacup, licked her lips, her eyes darting around, her Dou Dou eyebrows rising and falling.
Originally, she was angry about failing in her righteous black-on-black scheme and being injured by Yuan Ye. She had wanted to retaliate after escaping, perhaps by spreading rumors about Yuan Ye, as she couldn’t let herself suffer a loss for nothing.
But Yuan Ye was so extravagant, no, so generous, with such good food and drink. If there was a freebie, she’d be a fool not to take it. It seemed she could find a way to stay a few more days. Anyway, her grandfather had gone near Narumi Castle, and she didn’t know if the Imagawa or Matsudaira families would attack, or when they would. She wouldn’t be able to return for a while. Staying here, with tea and chicken and rice to eat, was hundreds of times better than performing for alms.
As for gathering information, it seemed Nagoya Castle hadn’t changed much. She figured Shōbata Castle, Furuto Castle, and Suemori Castle would be similar. She could just make up some of the things she knew before to pass the time.
She was hatching a sneaky little plan in her mind, but outwardly continued to speak with a serious expression, “Then, after seventy or eighty years, or maybe a hundred, I’m not too sure, came the Onin War, when the Ashikaga family’s uncle and nephew fought for that dog-shit chair（ of Shogun）. The Three Regental Houses and Four Offices each joined a faction, dividing into Eastern and Western armies and fighting into a mess. The Shiba family also split, with two people vying for inheritance rights. Shiba Yoshimasa joined the Eastern Army, and Shiba Yoshikatsu joined the Western Army, and they also fought.
At that time, the Shugodai of Echizen, Asakura Takakage, followed Shiba Yoshikatsu and joined the Western Army. This person was said to be very capable, and Echizen had considerable depth. Several times, they routed the Eastern Army. Then the Eastern Army bribed Asakura Takakage, seemingly with the condition of appointing the Asakura family as the official Shugo Daimyo of Echizen, making the Asakura family a traitor.”
She sighed at this point, “The Asakura family is different from the Oda family. The Asakura family was a member of the Shiba family, a veteran retainer of the Shiba family, considered their confidant. Yet, just to remove the word ‘deputy’ and become a Daimyo, they unhesitatingly betrayed their lord, Shiba Yoshikatsu, tied him up, attacked Shiba Yoshimasa’s castle, and sent both of them to Kyoto, completely seizing Echizen. It was truly a moral collapse, worse than pigs and dogs—that’s what my grandfather said.”
“Mm, mm, worse than pigs and dogs. Then, tell me about the Oda family.” Echizen was right next to Owari, so it was necessary to understand the situation, but not urgently. Yuan Ye wasn’t concerned about whether the Asakura family was better or worse than pigs and dogs; he wanted to hear about the current state of the Oda family first.
“I used to find my grandfather’s ramblings annoying, just like you. But if I don’t explain these things clearly, you might not understand later. You don’t seem very smart!” A Man retorted first, then honestly continued, “After Shiba Yoshikatsu and Shiba Yoshimasa were betrayed and sent to Kyoto by the Asakura family, due to their status, they weren’t executed. They both fled to Owari, which in turn caused Owari to split into two factions.
Oda Toshihiro（, a descendant of Oda Tsunemasa, with the Tsūna of Ise no Kami）, supported Shiba Yoshikatsu.
Oda Toshisada（, a descendant of Oda Tsunetake, with the Tsūna of Yamato no Kami）, supported Shiba Yoshimasa and his son Shiba Yoshikatsu.
These two factions fought fiercely in Owari. Later, Oda Toshisada, a descendant of Tsunetake, defeated Oda Toshihiro, a descendant of Tsunemasa, expelled Shiba Yoshikatsu from Owari, and also seized the position of ‘Shugodai of Owari Province’ for the Tsunematsu line.
For the next several years, the Tsunematsu and Tsunetake branches of the Oda family, along with the local lords, fought each other in Owari. Only after the Eastern and Western armies ceased hostilities did they reach a peace agreement, dividing the eight districts of Owari equally.
The Oda Ise no Kami family of the Tsunematsu line occupied the Upper Four Districts of Owari, namely Hachirigun, Nakajimagun, Kasugaigun, and Niwagun, with Iwakura Castle as their base.
The Oda Yamato no Kami family of the Tsunetake line occupied the Lower Four Districts of Owari, namely Kaishigun, Kaitogun, Aichigun, and Chitagun, with Kiyosu Castle as their base.
This is the general structure of Owari. Can you understand it?”
At first, A Man was confused listening to her grandfather talk about these old stories, her mind filled with various Oda. It was only later, through continuous study and identification of family crests, that she managed to sort out these family disputes and origins. Now, she doubted if Yuan Ye could grasp it all at once.
If not, for the sake of the chicken from dinner, she could explain it to him again.
Of course, Yuan Ye understood. After all, high school wasn’t for nothing. High school teachers practically crammed three years of curriculum into one and spent the next two years preparing for the college entrance exams. What A Man was saying was nothing.
Besides, he had taken notes. A glance was enough to clarify it. In a nutshell: the Onin War, the great battle between the Eastern and Western armies, the Asakura family betrayed the Shiba family and occupied their stronghold. Two potential heirs of the Shiba family were forced to flee to Owari, causing the Oda family to split into upper and lower branches, each occupying four districts.
He said directly, “Understood. Continue, is it about the Tiger of Owari now?”
A Man looked at him with half-belief, not quite convinced that a spendthrift like him could be so smart, but she continued, “Yes, during the reign of the Tsunetake line in Kiyosu Castle over the Lower Four Districts of Owari, three branch family heads served as Magistrates（ (originally meaning someone who acted on behalf of the superior’s will; here referring to assistants, acting governors not recognized by the court), collectively known as the Three Magistrates of Kiyosu.
Yes, they are the current Oda Inaba no Kami, Oda Tōzaemon, and Oda Danjō no Chū families.
Over the next few decades, these three families gradually gained real power in the Lower Four Districts of Owari. Then, about twenty-three years ago, Oda Nobuhide took over as the head of the Oda Danjō no Chū family and became the lord of Shōbata Castle. He was only sixteen or seventeen years old then. He was the Tiger of Owari.”
Yuan Ye nodded. Judging by the time and Maeda Toshiie’s age, this “Tiger of Owari” was likely the father of the “Big Fool of Owari,” Oda Nobunaga.
He took notes and gestured for A Man to continue.
Speaking of the “Tiger of Owari,” Oda Nobuhide, A Man’s expression became much more cautious. “Oda Nobuhide, while called the Tiger of Owari, was actually the same type of person as Saito Dosan of Mino; both were extremely insidious. They should be collectively called the Twin Serpents of Tōkaidō.”
She first complained, then marked the location of Shōbata Castle on the handmade map, and then frowned. “How should I tell you about this person… Uh, do you know how Nagoya Castle fell into Oda Nobuhide’s hands?”
Yuan Ye remained silent, indicating with his gaze for her to stop being coy.
Only he was a true transmigration. Otherwise, if this were a historical novel on Qidian, even if explaining the background was essential and would be useful in the future, large passages of old history in a five-thousand-character chapter would have every reader cursing.
Since he refused to play along, A Man was somewhat displeased, but for the sake of the chicken, she continued, “Nagoya Castle was built by the Imagawa family. The Imagawa family originated in Suruga Province, then swallowed the neighboring Tōtōmi Province to the west, and then continued to infiltrate westward, occupying Mikawa Province. They even took advantage of the internal strife within the Oda Yamato no Kami family and once advanced to Nagoya in Owari, building a large castle there, which is now Nagoya Castle.
At that time, the head of the Imagawa family, Imagawa Ujichika, stationed his youngest son, Imagawa Ujitoyo, here and forced the nominal Shugo of Owari Province, the Shiba family, to marry a princess to him, intending to swallow Owari slowly like they had swallowed Mikawa.
By then, Oda Nobuhide had subdued his main family, the Kiyosu Oda main family, and the other two Magistrate families. The main family married a daughter to him, and the two sides reconciled. The Iwakura Oda family of the Upper Four Districts also surrendered. Then Oda Nobuhide set his sights on Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Port next to his territory, but he didn’t dare to attack this large castle directly. So, he catered to their tastes and diligently studied renga（, a traditional Japanese literary activity where several or a dozen people compose waka poems one after another）.
Uh, I forgot to mention, Imagawa Ujitoyo was also a spendthrift, fond of renga parties, often getting drunk, and lived a very extravagant life.
Anyway, Oda Nobuhide catered to his tastes, frequently attending Imagawa Ujitoyo’s renga parties and becoming close friends.
Then, about eighteen or nineteen years ago, Oda Nobuhide suffered a stroke while attending a renga party and was on the verge of death. Before dying, he pleaded with Imagawa Ujitoyo to summon his retainers so he could arrange his affairs.
Imagawa Ujitoyo, that fool, softened his heart and agreed. However, Oda Nobuhide was faking illness. That night, he led his retainers to suddenly set fires and kill people within the castle, and sent men to attack the castle gates, letting in his followers and ashigaru from outside. Without much effort, they broke into Imagawa Ujitoyo’s residence. Finally, Imagawa Ujitoyo was captured alive and thrown out of the city.
I heard he was too ashamed to return to Suruga and went to Kyoto. He’s probably dead by now.”
“What happened next?” Yuan Ye listened intently. “Didn’t the Imagawa family try to retake Nagoya Castle?”
“No, Imagawa Ujichika died, and his sons were fighting for succession. The Imagawa family couldn’t manage affairs in Owari, or even in Mikawa. Then Matsudaira Kiyoyasu of Mikawa Province seized power. This person was quite capable and began expanding his territory westward, clashing with Oda Nobuhide again.
Initially, Oda Nobuhide didn’t seem to have the advantage, but for some reason, the Matsudaira family suddenly had internal strife. Matsudaira Kiyoyasu was inexplicably stabbed in the back and died in the chaos. Oda Nobuhide took the opportunity to invade Mikawa and occupied Anshō Castle in Western Mikawa.”
A Man chattered on, recounting how Oda Nobuhide rampaged through Western Mikawa, striking while the iron was hot, launching attacks year after year, and reducing the Matsudaira family to a cowering turtle. Then she continued, “After Oda Nobuhide subdued the local lords of Western Mikawa, he pressed on, preparing to capture the Matsudaira family’s stronghold, Okazaki Castle, and completely occupy Mikawa Province. However, at this time, the succession dispute within the Imagawa family ended. The Matsudaira family was also pushed to the brink. Facing imminent ruin, to gain support from the Imagawa family, they actively sought favor with their enemy, the Imagawa family, by sending their heir as a hostage.
Although it didn’t succeed, as he was abducted halfway, they still managed to gain favor. With the support of the Imagawa family, the Matsudaira family and Oda Nobuhide fought intermittently in Eastern Mikawa for about five or six years. Oda Nobuhide ultimately failed to capture Okazaki Castle. Finally, both sides retreated, reaching a stalemate.
During this period, the Saito family in Mino was also in internal conflict. Oda Nobuhide took the opportunity to expand his territory northward, invading Mino several times and even capturing Ogaki Castle in Mino, seizing a large territory. He was on the verge of attacking Inabayama Castle, the Saito family’s stronghold, and had a great chance of completely occupying the entire province of Mino.
Ah, let me think. I was there then, though very young. It was probably…
It was probably Tenbun 16, yes, September of Tenbun 16, the month I had my first drink. Oda Nobuhide mobilized all his family members, national lords, and local lords, a total of eight thousand men. He also joined forces with some local lords from Mino, totaling over ten thousand people, and attacked the foot of Inabayama Castle. However, Saito Dosan was no pushover. He first played the turtle and refused to come out, then took advantage of the Oda army looting and burning everywhere in the castle town to suddenly sortie from the castle and counterattack. The Oda army was completely unprepared and, upon being charged head-on, cried out in terror, and the entire army collapsed.
Oda Nobuhide’s brother, Oda Nobuyasu, the head of the Oda Inbō no Kami line, Oda… I forgot his name. Oda Nobuhide’s senior retainer Aoyama Yūzaemon, important retainer Chian Kii no Kami, Owari local lords Maeda Heihachirō, Sassa Hyōeemon, and many other Oda retainers and local lords died. The number was too many to count. No family in Owari was spared.
It is said that over a thousand people died on the spot, over a thousand drowned in the Kiso River while fleeing, over two thousand were captured or surrendered, and less than three thousand managed to escape back to Owari. There is still a head mound（ at Kanōguchi, all of them Oda family heads that were cut off. You can see it when you pass by.”
After A Man finished speaking, she kindly marked the location of Kanōguchi on the map, a few miles south of Inabayama Castle, as if preparing for Yuan Ye to see this spectacle in the future. Finally, she summarized, “This is the kind of person Oda Nobuhide was: cunning and deceitful, ambitious, fond of fighting everywhere, he had his moments of glory and also suffered defeats, causing a lot of trouble throughout his life.”
Yuan Ye had no interest in looking at dead men’s heads. Considering A Man had said earlier that Oda Nobuhide was dying, he pressed further, “So, that defeat was a great blow to Oda Nobuhide, and he has been unable to recover since?”
“Of course, it was a big blow. He was forced to seek peace, betrothed his eldest legitimate son, Oda Saburo Nobunaga, to a daughter of the Saito family, and publicly swore never to set foot in Mino again. He was also forced to relinquish all the territory he had previously occupied.” A Man said with a hint of schadenfreude. “Not only that, but his family members and retainers suffered heavy losses. The Kiyosu main family of the Lower Four Districts and the Iwakura family of the Upper Four Districts, who had previously submitted, began to feign compliance. He actually lost control of the eight districts of Owari. The local lords and samurai also suffered heavy casualties and were filled with resentment towards him, cursing him behind his back, wishing he would die quickly.
In Tenbun 17, I believe, the allied forces of Matsudaira and Imagawa gathered troops in Okazaki to recapture Western Mikawa. He called upon his family members, local lords, and retainers to fight, but very few people paid him any mind. In the end, he could only muster less than four thousand men and was heavily defeated again. Not only was Western Mikawa lost, but the Imagawa family also invaded Owari territory, with parts of Niwagun and Kasugaigun being gnawed away. Now, the Matsudaira and Imagawa families are frequently raiding the central part of Aichigun, almost reaching Atsuta Port, which is the lifeline of Oda Nobuhide, that old man. If it’s lost, the Oda Danjō no Chū family will be completely finished.”
At this point, A Man confidently declared, “Therefore, the Tiger of Owari is now finished. I heard he spends his days drinking and indulging in pleasure in Suemori Castle（, the residence of Oda Nobuhide）, to the point of being unrecognizable. He has become the defeated dog of Owari. You don’t need to care so much about him!”
