Chapter 187: Undercover
A Man’s “Life Preservation Style” unit was very effective. The moment Yuan Ye landed at Old Wanjin, he received Shu Ami’s detailed personal profile.
This person was indeed related to Oda Nobunaga, a result of Oda Nobuhide’s indiscretion during a drunken night in his early years. However, his mother came from an extremely lowly background, being merely a traveling courtesan, so his status was never publicly acknowledged by Oda Nobuhide. He could only be considered Oda Nobuhide’s illegitimate son.
Oda Nobuhide did not pay much attention to this son born by accident, sending him to a temple to become a young monk when he was young. Shu Ami grew up in the temple and learned some skills in reciting poetry and singing. After coming of age, he returned to the Oda Danjō no Chū family and became a *dōbōshū* specializing in “art and entertainment.”
Due to his “bloodline,” he appeared somewhat aloof and arrogant in the Danjō no Chū family’s daily life. He amused himself by teasing others and looked down on other *dōbōshū*. He often barked orders at many of the Oda Danjō no Chū family’s mid-to-lower-ranking vassals without any respect, thus his popularity was extremely poor.
As for close friends… he maintained close relationships with the Owari Local Lords and had a decent relationship with Hayashi Hidesada, Shibata Katsuie, and Sasa Masatsugu, treating these individuals with considerable politeness.
Yuan Ye roughly finished reviewing Shu Ami’s personal information and mused, “So, although he is Oda Nobunaga’s *dōbōshū*, he is actually closer to the Owari Local Lords?”
“That appears to be the case for now,” A Man replied, handing him another document. “This is what happened this morning.”
Yuan Ye took it and glanced at it. He wasn’t too concerned about the conflict between Maeda Toshiie and Shu Ami. It was merely a dispute arising from daily trivialities, leading to a verbal argument. Both sides argued heatedly, and Oda Nobunaga, without regard for the specifics, punished them both. Maeda Toshiie, unable to let it go, argued with Shu Ami again the next day and cut him down with a sword—very decisively, a single blow to kill. According to eyewitnesses, Shu Ami didn’t even react as his abdomen was split open by a diagonal slash, still wearing a mocking smile on his face.
After reading, Yuan Ye returned both pieces of information to A Man, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he said, “Let’s go. We’ll plead for Maeda Toshiie.”
He felt something was slightly off, though he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. However, it didn’t seem to be a conspiracy against him, and this matter was likely unrelated to him.
Then he really had to go and help Maeda Toshiie, and see what was going on.
Maeda Toshiie lived into the era of the Old Turtle in history; theoretically, he shouldn’t die. The more he looked at this, the stranger it became.
…
Saving someone is like putting out a fire. Yuan Ye, with his guards and Mura Hachiro, galloped at full speed towards Kiyosu Castle, heading directly for Oda Nobunaga’s residence.
Maeda Toshiie had good relationships with many people, and more than one person was rushing to save him. Outside Oda Nobunaga’s residence, Yuan Ye encountered Sawaki Yoshizane and Niwa Nagahide.
Both of them had grim expressions. Sawaki Yoshizane, in particular, looked pale and distraught, as if he had just been thoroughly reprimanded by Oda Nobunaga. Upon seeing Yuan Ye arrive with his retinue, Sawaki Yoshizane paused before stepping forward and bowing deeply, his voice thick with emotion as he said, “Lord Yuan Ye, you have worked hard. Thank you for coming.”
As Maeda Toshiie’s biological brother, even though he was already adopted by the Sawaki family, he needed to thank Yuan Ye for coming “a thousand miles to help,” or perhaps Yuan Ye was the one Mura Hachiro had been sent to summon.
“You’re welcome,” Yuan Ye said, helping him up. He then asked with concern, “What is the situation now?”
Sawaki Yoshizane opened his mouth to speak but his throat suddenly constricted. Niwa Nagahide said softly from the side, “It’s very bad. Our Lord had long ago declared that private fights were strictly forbidden among vassals within the residence. Yet, Lord Maeda… openly killed someone. Now, our Lord’s mind is made up; he insists that Maeda must publicly commit seppuku as atonement. No one can persuade him, and even Lord Ikeda was scolded.”
“Is that so…” Yuan Ye sighed, still unable to understand if this was something that had happened in history or some kind of after-effect caused by his disruption of history. It should be something that happened in history, right? He had only killed the Monkey, and the Monkey died without making a ripple; it shouldn’t have affected Maeda Toshiie.
Sawaki Yoshizane finally caught his breath and gripped Yuan Ye’s arms tightly, struggling to maintain his composure as he said, “Lord Yuan Ye, we are counting on you now. Please… please, you must…”
“I will do my best!” Yuan Ye said, and then followed his attendant to find Oda Nobunaga.
Oda Nobunaga was drinking in the hall, his expression displeased but not showing much dejection. Seeing Yuan Ye enter, he raised an eyelid, glanced at him, and asked irritably, “Are you also here to plead for Aken?”
Yuan Ye didn’t mind his attitude, found a place to sit, and even smiled at Ikeda Tsuneoki, thanking him for the tea soup. Then he said to Oda Nobunaga, “Of course. Lord Maeda and I have known each other for many years. I can’t just stand by and watch him die.”
Oda Nobunaga glanced at him sideways and said indifferently, “I didn’t expect they would have such influence as to summon even you. However, your attitude is not one of pleading. Tōhachirō and Manchiyo pleaded with great ceremony, kneeling for more than half an hour.”
Yuan Ye didn’t respond to his remark. He disliked overly forceful people and couldn’t communicate with Oda Nobunaga at all. After thinking for a moment, he said, “It’s meaningless for Lord Maeda to die for nothing. How about letting him atone for his crime with merit?”
“If we set this bad precedent, who won’t dare to draw swords within their residences in the future?” Oda Nobunaga seemed determined to punish Maeda Toshiie. He picked up his wine cup and took a sip, saying indifferently, “Don’t try to persuade me anymore. Save your energy. I have already decided!”
Yuan Ye fell silent for a moment and sighed, “He just got married…”
Oda Nobunaga paused for a moment and slowly nodded, “It’s that child, A Song, isn’t it? That child is indeed good.”
“Yes, her father died early in the battle at Anshō Castle, killed by the Imagawa Family,” Yuan Ye sighed. “Her mother remarried soon after. She was raised as an adopted daughter at Aragiko Castle from a young age. She liked Lord Maeda very much. She didn’t blame him even though he almost caused her to lose her life. When she grew up, she ran to Kiyosu Castle to marry him. Yet, just two months after their marriage, her husband is about to die. It’s truly pitiful.”
Oda Nobunaga slowly put down his wine cup and said thoughtfully, “Why are you telling me this? Are you trying to awaken my mercy? Such a crime cannot be pardoned by mercy alone.”
Yuan Ye looked at him and said calmly, “Not exactly. My point is, if Lord Maeda dies, she will be left alone and helpless—she has no family left behind her.”
He said the last sentence very slowly. Ikeda Tsuneoki listened, bewildered, but Oda Nobunaga quickly reacted. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly stopped himself, finally waving his hand impatiently, “You’re so meddlesome. Hurry back to your Wanjin. You don’t need to concern yourself with this matter!”
“Then please, Your Highness, consider it further!” Yuan Ye said no more, got up, and left. He had asked what he wanted to ask. This matter was indeed not related to him; Oda Nobunaga was not waiting for him.
Oda Nobunaga was willing to tolerate him a bit more, after all, Yuan Ye had real strength, and his resolve was truly ironclad. He waved his hand again, “Alright, alright, I understand. In short, don’t meddle!”
This meant Yuan Ye should keep his mouth shut and not gossip outside. Yuan Ye didn’t mind and turned to leave.
Outside, Sawaki Yoshizane and Niwa Nagahide were still waiting. Seeing him emerge, Sawaki Yoshizane rushed forward and asked nervously, “What did the Lord say?”
Yuan Ye shook his head and sighed. He had indeed kept his mouth shut, as this matter truly didn’t concern him, and Oda Nobunaga wasn’t setting a trap for him.
Sawaki Yoshizane’s face instantly turned ashen, feeling that his closest fourth brother was likely beyond saving this time.
Yuan Ye sighed again, patted his shoulder, and said, “I will try to persuade Lord Kazusa-no-suke again. You should also think of other ways, see if you can invite other influential people to speak on his behalf.”
Sawaki Yoshizane nodded blankly but quickly reacted, bowing to Yuan Ye, “Thank you so much.”
“You don’t need to be so polite. I didn’t help much either,” Yuan Ye said gently. “In any case, let’s all think of more ways. We must save Lord Maeda.”
Sawaki Yoshizane repeatedly agreed. Yuan Ye said no more and, with A Man, A Qing, and others, headed to the separate residence to rest.
…
“Um, should we go visit A Song?” A Man asked regretfully on the way to the separate residence.
Her first encounter with Maeda Toshiie had not been pleasant; they had nearly fought to the death on the spot. However, Maeda Toshiie was very good at making friends and didn’t discriminate against A Man for being a “fake samurai.” As they interacted more, their relationship eased. Maeda Toshiie had even taught A Man the “secret” to tying a tea whisk handle, saving A Man from constantly tying her hair tightly.
Now that Maeda Toshiie was to commit seppuku, A Man, being quite sentimental, wanted to visit his “widow.” Even if she encountered any bullying servants oppressing their master, she would be willing to slap the servants a few times and help A Song through this difficult time.
Yuan Ye was indifferent and casually said, “No need. Maeda Toshiie won’t die.” He didn’t need to hide anything from A Man, but after speaking, he thought for a moment and changed his mind, “Never mind, let’s go there on the way!”
Maeda Toshiie wouldn’t die, but everyone currently thought he was going to die. In that case, Yuan Ye had to show his face anyway, to increase their friendship, so that Maeda Toshiie wouldn’t withhold any gossip about Oda Nobunaga from him in the future.
A Man was slightly surprised, “He won’t die? You didn’t succeed in pleading? Even you couldn’t do it, who else has that much influence?”
Yuan Ye wasn’t entirely sure himself, but he was certain something was amiss. After pondering for a moment, he said, “Most likely Shibata Katsuie, or you could say the entire Owari Local Lords.”
“What does that mean?” A Man didn’t understand and asked confusedly, “Does that old fellow Shibata have that much influence?”
Yuan Ye shook his head. “This has nothing to do with influence. Oda Nobunaga most likely wants Maeda Toshiie to act as a spy among the Local Lords, a nail driven into the heart of the Owari Local Lords.”
“But Maeda himself is from a Local Lord family!”
“He’s just the fourth son of an ordinary Local Lord family without inheritance rights. His most direct identity is still Oda Nobunaga’s attendant vassal, and he is loyal to Oda Nobunaga himself,” Yuan Ye mused. “You watch, as long as Shibata Katsuie pleads, Maeda Toshiie will likely be spared the death penalty but not the punishment. He will be directly expelled from the Oda Danjō no Chū family. Then he will be able to establish a relationship with Shibata Katsuie and be highly trusted.”
A Man was stunned for a moment and hesitantly asked, “How did you figure that out? You’re not just guessing, are you?”
Yuan Ye shook his head again and said softly, “Didn’t you notice? Oda Nobunaga intervened in Maeda Toshiie’s marriage, supporting him in marrying that orphaned girl, A Song. Maeda Toshiie is now the vassal with the fewest marital ties to the Owari Local Lords around Oda Nobunaga. Such a person is most suitable to be a spy.”
