Chapter 153: Can Also Be a Brother-in-Law
As dawn broke, the first rays of light cautiously pierced through the thin clouds, gently falling upon Kiyosu Castle, cloaking everything in a hazy golden veil. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, harmonizing with the crisp chirping of birds to compose nature’s morning melody.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth, mingled with a faint floral fragrance, making every breath refreshing.
Ikeda Tsuneoki strode quickly through the corridors, but he wasn’t thinking about the scenery; he just wanted to wake Oda Nobunaga up as soon as possible.
He passed through the outer and inner corridors and sliding doors, entering the main hall, and then through various small partitioned rooms within the halls—Kiyosu Castle was built quite early, over a hundred years ago, and did not adopt the emerging shoin-zukuri architectural style, but rather a compartmentalized living environment within the halls.
Ikeda Tsuneoki finally knelt before Oda Nobunaga’s bedchamber and called out in a slightly loud voice, “Your Highness, Shinshu Maru has an urgent report.”
There was no movement from the bedchamber, so Ikeda Tsuneoki repeated himself.
This time, there was a reaction from within. Oda Nobunaga let out a “hmm,” and Ikeda Tsuneoki, still kneeling, opened the door and moved inside. He saw his lord already sitting up, painfully pressing his temples—Oda Nobunaga had recently moved to Kiyosu Castle and had recently accepted a large number of local lords. To appease them, he had drunk too much at last night’s banquet, and now his head ached.
Ikeda Tsuneoki quickly fetched a fur coat for him to wear, lest he catch a chill, and ordered a maidservant to quickly prepare tea soup. After a bit of fuss, Oda Nobunaga finally became a little more alert and asked, “What happened now?”
Ikeda Tsuneoki quickly handed over the secret letter. This was an urgent dispatch from Shinshu Maru’s Kyōdan-shū, which was Oda Nobunaga’s “ninja” unit reorganized from mountain bandits and river pirates, sent from the frontline at Shirakawa Entrance.
Oda Nobunaga first instinctively glanced at the mud-sealed insignia. Seeing that it was in order, he took out the letter and read it. He hadn’t read two lines before he angrily crumpled the paper into a ball and slammed it onto the tatami, making a muffled sound like a fart. Ikeda Tsuneoki quickly picked up the letter, smoothed it out, and glanced at it, a look of surprise flashing across his face. However, he quickly went to fetch an iron box, placed the letter inside, and offered no comment, though his mind churned with thoughts.
The main force of the Imagawa Family stationed at the Shirakawa Entrance line had returned the day before yesterday, with considerable losses. Further intelligence gathered by the Kyōdan-shū indicated that Yuan Ye had withstood the fierce assault of the Imagawa Family. A peace treaty had been reached about ten days ago, and Yuan Ye had successfully established a foothold on the central section of the west coast of Chita District, becoming an independent force from now on.
This was somewhat unbelievable. Originally, according to most people’s views, Yuan Ye should have been in grave danger. After all, no power would allow an outsider to establish territory in their “heartland”; such a person would undoubtedly be killed. Moreover, with Wanjin’s small scale, three to five hundred followers, crossing the sea to a wilderness and engaging in battle with a powerful daimyo who controlled the Three Provinces, it seemed like a suicidal act. Even the Oda Danjō no Chū family couldn’t afford to offend the Imagawa Family now. Even if Chita District was lost and a quarter of Kasugai District was taken, Oda Nobunaga, with his temperament, had endured it, only defending and not attacking, which was a testament to the situation.
In any case, Ikeda Tsuneoki asked himself if he would ever be so reckless.
However, he dared not speak. Yuan Ye, taking advantage of Nagoya Castle’s full-scale invasion of Kiyosu Castle, left without a word, taking his entire family to the Chita Peninsula. When he was discovered, Oda Nobunaga became furious, kicked over the low table on the spot, and immediately sent someone to tell him to get back, threatening to punish him severely. However, Yuan Ye directly refused, even writing back a nonsensical letter stating he wanted to move to the Chita Peninsula to live. This further enraged Oda Nobunaga, who kicked over another low table and remained sullen for seven or eight days.
During this period, Yuan Ye’s name even became taboo in Kiyosu Castle; no one dared to mention it.
Ikeda Tsuneoki knelt there, silently awaiting Oda Nobunaga’s orders. Oda Nobunaga, wrapped in his fur coat, paced back and forth in the room angrily a few times, then stood by the window gazing into the distance for a long time. Only then did he slowly calm down, turn, and say to him with a gloomy expression, “Summon Manchiyo and Aken!”
These attendant vassals lived with Oda Nobunaga, so it wasn’t difficult to find them even though it was still very early at dawn. Before long, Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie arrived one after another.
Once together, the two paid their respects at the entrance and entered the bedchamber. Oda Nobunaga’s face now showed no trace of anger. Upon seeing them, he ordered, “You two are quite familiar with that Yuan Ye fellow. Prepare yourselves and go to Chita District.”
Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie were puzzled and bewildered.
Oda Nobunaga waved to Ikeda Tsuneoki, who immediately took out the crumpled intelligence report and showed it to the two of them. After reading it, both were astonished, especially Maeda Toshiie, whose mouth hung open in surprise. He had already prepared to plead for Yuan Ye if he had been defeated and fled back, hoping to get Oda Nobunaga to forgive his “defection.”
After all, even when a large number of vassals like Hayashi Hidesada, Oda Nobuyuki, and Shibata Katsuie rebelled, they were not executed. Yuan Ye was only half “one of us.” Even if he had “defected,” it would only have hurt feelings, and his cause was just. He should have been given a chance to repent and reform.
As it turned out, all his thoughts were in vain. Facing the Imagawa Family, who had pushed Oda Danjō no Chū’s forces from Western Mikawa to central Owari, Yuan Ye had not lost and had actually held his ground.
Niwa Nagahide also couldn’t understand how Yuan Ye had managed it. Just over a year ago, Yuan Ye was still under the protection of Takeuchi Manor, was beaten so badly that he lost everything, and had to be carried away, nearly meeting his end. Now, he had merely borrowed a piece of land to regroup and could face a powerful daimyo who controlled the Three Provinces head-on?
How could the local lords of Kasugai District compare? Those fellows were now facing the Imagawa Family and the Matsudaira Family across the river. Even though it wasn’t the main attack direction, they were in constant fear, either contemplating surrender or wishing they could move their homes to the west of Kiyosu Castle or Nagoya Castle. They were simply incomparable to the Yuan Ye Family, like people from different worlds.
After reading the intelligence, the two were each surprised in their own way. After a moment, Niwa Nagahide tentatively asked, “Does Your Lordship wish for us to persuade Lord Yuan Ye to return… or do you want us to find out what happened?”
If it was the latter, it would be easier. With their old friendship, there would be no problem. But if it was the former…
He was eloquent, but he didn’t think he could accomplish such a difficult task. Yuan Ye had taken his entire family to the peninsula to fight for their lives, clearly showing his resolute will to leave the Danjō no Chū family. How could he possibly return?
Oda Nobunaga remained silent for a moment, tilting his head to gaze at the painted ceiling of the bedchamber for a while longer. After a long pause, he looked at the two and said, “No, I plan to marry Aton to him.”
Niwa Nagahide, Maeda Toshiie, and Ikeda Tsuneoki were all startled. Oda Nobunaga had already made up his mind and would not allow them to object. With a wave of his hand, he declared, “My decision is made. Let it be so!”
The three exchanged glances for a moment. Ikeda Tsuneoki cautiously reminded him, “Your Highness, Princess Ton has already been betrothed to Lord Tomofuku Hizaemon…”
“Is that so?” Oda Nobunaga blinked, then remembered. This was a decision made not long ago. The situation in Kasugai District was also not good, with many local powerful families wavering. Therefore, Oda Nobunaga decided to form a marriage alliance with a powerful local lord in Kasugai District to strengthen ties there. He had been too preoccupied with being angry at Yuan Ye and had forgotten about this matter. He believed he had treated Yuan Ye quite well, considering him an equal, and had been very lenient even when he refused to be a page. He had even granted him a fief, intending for him to become a local lord once he built his castle and settle in Owari for generations. Yet, this fellow had left without a word.
He couldn’t help but be angry, but…
He changed his tune, “Then it shall be Aken. I plan to betroth Aken to him. You two go and handle this matter.”
Princess Ken had not yet been betrothed, so marrying her off would be no problem. However, Niwa Nagahide and the other two exchanged glances again. Niwa Nagahide cautiously asked, “Your Highness, should we not consult with others and ask Lady Tsuchida’s opinion?”
Marriage alliances were major family affairs. Niwa Nagahide estimated that once the news of Yuan Ye’s “defection” success spread, the old guard vassals would surely call for his head. After all, these people had disliked Yuan Ye for a long time, believing that an outsider, a wandering samurai who ran a business without any decorum, who had stolen their fiefs, deserved to die.
Moreover, the saltpeter business was indeed tempting. Several magistrates had subtly suggested to him that the saltpeter workshop should be brought back under direct management. After all, only those who achieved great merit or extraordinary deeds were worthy of receiving fiefs. It was inappropriate for Yuan Ye to receive one directly, as it violated tradition. Only by handing over the saltpeter workshop could this be rectified and legitimized.
Of course, this was not for the Oda Danjō no Chū family, but for themselves.
As far as Niwa Nagahide knew, the families behind several individuals had already sent people to sea to search for the strange stones that could produce saltpeter. However, they couldn’t obtain the “Yuan Ye Family’s secret recipe for saltpeter production.” They hoped to obtain it with Oda Nobunaga’s help, so they too could earn money easily. A pound of saltpeter cost several kan of money, equivalent to the yield of two or three tan of paddy fields. Who wouldn’t be envious?
Now, it was all gone. Such a large sum of money was lost. Those people would surely be furious. If a marriage alliance were to be formed, there would be widespread criticism. Furthermore, Oda Nobunaga’s mother was not dead, merely confined by Oda Nobunaga. For such an important matter concerning his daughter’s marriage, he should at least consult with her first.
In short, this matter was quite complicated. Niwa Nagahide, as the chief administrator, had many concerns. However, Oda Nobunaga had never paid attention to those old vassals and directly said, “No need. Just do it! Use your existing relationship to ensure this matter is accomplished, no matter what!”
Although his thinking was often unconventional, he was actually a very pragmatic person who understood the art of political compromise and did not resort to constant killing. Now that Yuan Ye’s independent status was settled, being angry was useless. He could only quickly find a way to compensate. And uniting with an independent small force, there was nothing more reliable or faster than a marriage alliance.
If Yuan Ye refused to be his vassal or attendant vassal, that was fine. He could become his brother-in-law!
