Making a God of War (Uesugi: Legednary, Domination)

[Maltz]

When Munechika returns to the towns of Etchu.
To her surprise, there are hundreds of people gathering on the streets.
These people do not look like farmers or anyone who has a respectable career.

"The master of Rizenji has come!"
"She is here!"
Hundreds of people make a circle around Munechika.

Munechika: "What can I do for you?"

"Rizenji master, we hear that you are so charitable that you must help us!"
"We are all unemployed because..."
"... because nobody wants me."
"... because job is hard to find these days."
"... because my last boss was a jerk!"
"Anyway, we have spent all our savings..."
"We are starving!"
"We hear that Toyama Castle is underdefended. We plan to assault the castle! Unless..."

Munechika: "Unless I help you all, right?"

"Yes! If you do not help us, we will sack Toyama Castle and loot it clean!"
"The Ikko-Ikki is coming - why leave the goodies to them?"
"Yes! We loot it first!"

Munechika: "Looting someone else's property? This is so wrong. But I cannot help you indefinitely, either. You have to get proper jobs to feed yourselves. Why don't you go to Echigo and enlist as ashigaru?"

"Echigo? BAH. Too far."
"Listening to orders? Neh."
"I don't want to risk my life."

Munechika sighs quietly. These people are unemployed for a reason. If they do not think differently, nothing is going to help them.

"Please help us... this is the last time!"
"Help us!"

Munechika: "Well, you have probably one thousand here. How can a traveling nun help you all? I have to apply for emergency relief fund from Kasugayama Castle. Nagao clan is not rich, but maybe it can spare 400 koku or so. This is your last chance. Take the money and start your own business."

"400 koku! We can buy weapons and have a serious army!"
"Those samurai in Toyama Castle don't stand a chance!"

Munechika: " Don't use it to harm the others! You can buy some farms or... fishboats. I wonder why nobody does that."

"Sure, sure! Thank you so much!"
"Master from Rizenji is our savior!"
"Rizenji is the best!"

The mob cheer loudly.

Munechika: "Amitabhah (Oh Buddha), it looks like I have made things worse."

Munechika sits quietly under a tree. It is not easy to do good.

"Now these people have a greater appetite for freebies. I wonder who will have to put an end on their greed... I hope Lord Kagetora reach peace with Jinbo quickly, or they are going to be in grave danger."

[Maltz]

A few days later, outside Toyama Castle...

"Jeee--- Jeee--- Jeee---"
The summer Cicada rob their wings rigorously;
The wind blows the warm air on Kagetora's face.
Objects in the distance are distorted just like they are behind a stove,
A section of the road leading to the Toyama Castle look like a mirror - but there is no water on them.

Jinbo Nagazumi: "Nagao Kagetora! Stop all this! You are insane!"
Kagetora: "My patience represents my sincerity! Ishiyama Honganji (headquarter) has issued an attack order on Etchu! We have to talk now!"
Nagazumi: "You cannot be trusted! You... You..."

Nagazumi is short on words. He murmurs and turns back to the castle.

"Not again..." Nomi shrugs.

At least the frequency of Nagazumi's "sally" has reduced greatly over the steaming summer.
This is only the third time in the past month, and Nagazumi only makes the above short statement.
Kagetora's tent is spared for the very first time.

Nomi: "Kagetora, why are you not losing your patience?"
Kagetora: "I don't know... I still see some hope at the end of this."
Nomi: "But Honganji's army is coming. How can there be hope if Jinbo does not see the real threat?"
Kagetora: "Actually I am betting on this, too. Maybe the Ikko-Ikki is the wake-up call..."

Kagetora scratches his head. Jinbo Nagazumi is probably just a few steps away from reconciliation, but there is one last, tall obstacle. Maybe the Ikko-Ikki will be a stepping stone to overcome this obstacle.

Munechika: "Lord Kagetora! Oh, nice. The tent is intact!"
Kagetora: "Yep, Munechika. It looks like that Jinbo has soften. But we are still not there yet."
Munechika: "Please hurry. I cannot control Etchu's mobs much longer. Maybe more than one thousand of them are planning to loot Toyama Castle before the Ikko-Ikki arrives."
Nomi: "Wow. Just like Ikko-Ikki. But it is good that they did not join Ikko-Ikki. Maybe we can pit them against each other?"

Although Ikko-Ikki are technically "religious rebels", many join for the loot.

Munechika: "Maybe it is possible. I have reached the end of my patience. I am not going to help them again."
Kagetora: "Well, if they are capable of working, they are not ending up as mobs. If they cannot feed themselves, they cannot care about moral standards. We should not judge them so harshly."
Nomi: "Kagetora, why have sympathy toward scums? They have to be ruled with laws, not ethics."
Kagetora: "Hm..."

A distant memory suddenly comes to Kagetora's mind.

[Maltz]

(Rizenji, three years ago)

Torachiyo: "Master, the Kasugayama Castle issues a new policy called 'Tough on Crimes'. What does it mean?"

Tenshitsu Koiku: "It means that people who commit crimes will receive harsher penalty. For example, a thief who received whipping will receive amputation from now on, and a raper will lose... you know. This policy hopes to scare away would-be criminals.

Torachiyo: "Hm... master once told me, for those who are too poor to afford food, they will have to steal or rob food to stay alive, or they will starve to death."
Koiku: "Yes. The new policy does not affect them. If they steal now, they live past today. Whipping or amputation next month matters little."
Torachiyo: "I see. So if Kasugayama Castle fails to provide for those in desparate need, the new policy means nothing to them."
Koiku: "Exactly."

Tenshitsu Koiku looks out of the bamboo window. The Kasugayama Castle is directly visible.
But most of the lords cannot see what the common people see.

Torachiyo: "How about for others who do not have to commit crimes? Would the new policy scare them away?"
Koiku: "That's a very good question, Torachiyo. Master cannot say for sure."
Torachiyo: "Why not?"

Koiku: "Criminals are not born to be. Master have seen thousands of Buddhists coming to the Rizenji. Some confess their crimes to master. All of them wish they had not become a criminal, whether they had been caught or not. We have to look at the reasons that make them criminals. If we do not fix these reasons, but only increase penalty, the root of the problem is still there."

Torachiyo: "It is like pulling weeds from our vegetable farm. If the weeds' roots are not pulled off the ground, the weeds grow back quickly even if we step on the new leaves."
Koiku: "Good, good."

Koiku pats Torachiyo on the head.

Torachiyo: "So what are the main reasons of their crimes?"
Koiku: "Hm... master think the most common reason is hatred toward the society."
Torachiyo: "Oh?"

Everybody lives in peace in Rizenji.
Torachiyo had not heard about anti-social behavior or psychopaths.

Koiku: "These people think the society owes them. So they commit crimes as a revenge."
Torachiyo: "Why do they think so?"

Koiku: "Most of them are disadvantaged group of the society. Some of them are not as smart as the others. Some of them are physically disabled. Some of them are simply not very lucky at the time. These disadvantaged people attribute their misfortune to the society. They think the smart, the rich, the able-bodied, the fortunate folks owe them. So stealing from them, even killing them, is actually severing justice."

Torachiyo: "So if we catch all these people and put them to prison, there will be no criminal left, right?"

Koiku: "Haha... now Torachiyo thinks like your brother Harukage."
Torachiyo: "Why is this not a good approach?"

Torachiyo heard that his brother Harukage is not a very capable ruler. But he does not undersatnd why yet.

Koiku: "Being disadvantaged is quite a subjective feeling, only relative to being advantaged. If you randomly pick five monks from Rizenji, you can always rank them from the tallest to the shortest, and maybe from the smartest to the dumbest. There is bound to be one who feels the most disadvantaged."

Torachiyo: "So this last one will think master is unfair, or life is unfair. Actually I heard that one a lot from the pupil who left last month... I heard he went to Hongaji."
Koiku: "Yeah he was not happy with Zen Buddhism and preferred something... simpler. Even if you take this monk away, there will simply be a new victim from the remaining four, who feels the most disadvantaged."
Torachiyo: "But after this guy left for Honganji, everybody was happy.
Koiki: "(Cough) That's because master does a good job treating every one fairly. That guy... let's just say he is paranoid."
Torachiyo: "Oh... right. So unless the leader is very fair, taking the bad one away does not solve the problem."
Koiku: "Yes. What master has to do is to share the resources among the all monks as evenly as possible, so even if objectively there is still one who is the most disadvantaged, this monk does not think so."
Torachiyo: "I see. If the master only punishes the poorest monk, there will simply be a new victim, and another new victim."
Koiki: "Torachiyo, you are very good! But master cannot give you awards or the other monks will be jealous. Indeed, If we simply punish the poorest monk for hating the others, we are only making him more miserable."
Torachiyo: "I see!"

[Maltz]

Munechika: "Amitabha... this is a great story. Too bad I was not around when master told it."
Kagetora: "Actually you sat right beside us, but maybe you were busy preparing for the scripture reciting contest."
Munechika: " And I forgot all the Hindu in the following month... I am truly embarrassed about my negative remarks toward these people."
Kagetora: "In a way, we, the lords, the samurai, the officially-affiliated monks, all the priveleged class contribute to the bottom class' misery. The best thing a ruler can do to them is not to punish them further, but provide them helps."
Munechika: "Fortunately I did just that! But I doubt 400 koku will turn back."
Kagetora: "Some of them may, and that will be worth every koku."
Munechika: "Indeed."

Nomi quietly listens to the two Buddhists chat. While she is a faithful follower of Bishamonten, she has devoted her energy into studying military strategy and tactics. Social policies are beyond her realm.

Kagetora: "Munechika, when you return to Kasugayama Castle, can you ask the Housekeeper to draft some policies that will increase welfare to the poorest?"
Munechika: "Where would the money come from?"
Kagetora: "Taxing the richest more?"
Nomi: "Many clan officers will not be happy about this, Kagetora."
Kagetora: "I can only hope that they understand. Maybe that story helps."
Nomi: "I believe it will. Kagetora, I have full confidence in you in building Nagao into the most respected and loved clan in Japan. You can leave wars and battles to me."
Kagetora: "Thank you, Nomi. I will do my best."
Nomi: "Kagetora..."

All of a sudden, there is a strange sense of awkwardness.

Nomi: "(clears throat) OK... and we heard from Munechika that Takeda has been slowed down by the Housekeeper's effort. So maybe we can call up Echigo's army and fight a good battle with Honganji first?"

Munechika: "AHHHH! I forgot to mention the latest development!"

Nomi: "What is it?"
Munechika: "Hojo! Hojo is readying a large army! Rumor goes that they are coming north!"
Kagetora: "So we will have to be careful about Hojo's ambition. It would be nice that if we have two armies, one for Ikko-Ikki, one for Takeda or Hojo. Echigo covers a lot of space and we simply cannot keep marching back and forth."
Nomi: "Too bad, our second army are ships. It is the intrinsic weakness of Nagao's strategy of developing International Sea Trade. We can only hope that it pays off in the future."

Could Kagetora's strategy actualize one day?

[Maltz]

Another month has passed...

August 13, 1546

Muenechika: "Lord Kagetora! Honganji's vanguard has arrived in Etchu!"
Kagetora: "This fast? Our time is running out..."
Nomi: "We have to talk to Jinbo Nagazumi, now."
Kagetora: "How do we make him believe that the Honganji army is here?"
Nomi: "By asking him to take a look? He cannot come out if we block his front gate."
Kagetora: "Yeah..."

The Ikko-Ikki army knows little order. They loot everything, leaving a path of destruction behind them.
Now, they gather just ten miles west of Toyama castle.
More and more men march to the camp from Kaga and Noto.

The evening sun shines from behind Ikko-Ikki's formidable camp.
Jinbo Nagazumi stares at the sun briefly, temporarily blinded by the light.
He knows that a long darkness will cover Etchu.

Nagazumi quietly falls to his knees.



Jinbo Nagazumi(神保長住)

About the same age as Nagao Kagetora, Nagazumi is the successor of the Jinbo clan, acting guardian of Etchu. Nagazumi really hates the Nagao clan, which contributed to his grandfather Jinbo Yoshimune and father Jinbo Nagamoto's death. But that hatred is insignificant now.

***

Nagazumi: "Too late. This is the end of Jinbo."
Kagetora: "Don't say that. We can still work together. There is hope."

For the first time in a year, Kagetora stands almost side by side with Nagazumi.
Nagazumi has lost all his energy to chase Kagetora, as the Ikko-Ikki's horde will consume everthing in Etchu, including Nagazumi and his painful memories.

Nagazumi: "What hope do we have? Ikko-Ikki has 3000 or 4000 men. Even if I recruit all men from Etchu's castle town now, I can mostly get 300 or 400. How much does Nagao have?"
Munechika: "(Looks like I have overdone it... ) Nagao has about 2000 in Echigo."
Nomi: "Ikko-Ikki may have more men, but their soldiers are not disciplined fighters like Nagao's."
Nagamoto: "How can I watch Nagao 's 2000 protect 400 soldiers of Jinbo?"

Nagazumi looks at his long shadow, which ends by the feet of Kagetora.

"Nagao Kagetora, I am in no position to say this as a Jinbo, because Nagao is my clan's sworn enemy. This comes from Nagazumi persnoally. If I have to choose between Ikko-Ikki and Nagao, I hope it would be Nagao. Now I have a request."

"Yes?"

"If Ikko-Ikki destroys Jinbo this time, can Nagao restore Jinbo one day?"

Kagetora thinks briefly. He knows he has to fulfill his promises, so he cannot give them away liberally.

"Sure. I promise you."

Jinbo Nagazumi stands up and faces Kagetora. He can see the evening sun's brightness in Kagetora's eyes.

"Ok, then."

Suddenly, Jinbo Nagazumi kneels before Kagetora!

"The Jinbo clan is now a vassal of Nagao! We swear our loyalty to Nagao!"

"No, no, no."
Kagetora quickly pulls up Nagazumi.

"I don't want you to become a vassal. There is only one way to resolve the history of our past two generations. We have to treat each other equally. I promise you that Nagao will restore the Jinbo clan in Etchu!"

"You are worthy of your fame, Kagetora!"
Nagazumi opens his arms and give Kagetora, his past sworn enemy, a tight and heartful hug.
Kagetora has gained Nagazumi's respect and trust. If Nagazumi can count on anybody in Sengoku, it is Kagetora.

"Then please allow me to rebuild Jinbo with my own hands! Tell everybody in Toyama Castle to pack up everything valuable! We move to Kasugayama Castle with Nagao!"

[Maltz]

On the Mid Autumn Festival Day of the 15th year of Tenmon (August 15, 1546), Jinbo Nagazumi signed a peace treaty with Nagao Kagetora in Toyama Castle.
The two clans reconcile and remain equal in status.
Jinbo Nagazumi offers all Jinbo's remaining resources to Nagao, while Nagao Kagetora promises to help the Jinbo clan return to Etchu one day.

The peace treaty greatly promoted the fame of Nagao Kagetora, as he accomplished the seemingly impossible - turning a sworn enemy of three generations into a friend. This has never happened before in Sengoku Jidai. Some believe that Nagao Kagetora will eventually end the wars, and restore harmony and trust in Japan.

But Nagao Kagetora never thought that way.
Honganji's Ikko-Ikki now occupies the empty Toyama Castle. Takeda and Hojo is readying an army to expand north. The crisis of Nagao grows every day.

Nomi: "Ha! That covers our entire tent expense plus 6000 koku! I have started admiring you, Kagetora!"
Kagetora:

End of Book One - Nagao Kagetora

[Maltz]

Book One Notes

I wish to make this a serious story that has a long-lasting value instead of a simple after-action report of the game, which as you know has come out for a while. Naturally there will be omissions, modifications, and fabrications in the plot compared to the game. I will try to list all of them at the end of each Book. I will also explain why I did certain things in the game if the reason is not obvious.

(1) Kagetora's Wife and Babies

Although in history Kagetora has no children, in this game I wish to push Kagetora's reproductivity to the limit of the game mechanics just because I believe it is possible. The game randomly decides whether a son/daughter is born only at the beginning of a turn. As a new random seed is generated whenever a new save is loaded, by patiently loading auto-saves of the previous end-turn, it is possible to reach the theoretical reproductive limit of 5 successive children starting on Turn 5, then 9, 13, 17, and 21. As a result, I have to give Kagetora a bride on Turn 1, and the only candidate available is Ashina's daughter. Story-wise, I hope to use Yaya and the babies to balance Sengoku's general lack of femininity and develop the soft sides of Kagetora.

(2) Why Kyushu (Again)

I have done the trade nodes to dry in my other campaigns and stories. But after finishing a Date campaign by holding the east side of Japan and expand westward, I think it is so much better for the meaning of the story if Kagetora attempts something drastically different, with a long and bold vision. Besides, the alternatives are not very good for the plot:

First, since Kagetora HAS to marry Ashina Yaya (see above), going northeast and after the in-laws is no longer an option (although some of us might sometimes think it is a great idea). Second, going after Hongaji (Ikko) would be the default choice of the historical Kagetora, but even as Ikko (mostly depicted in my Guide of Bait Tactics) it was better to go west. So I may as well just go west in the first place. Third, Takeda Shingen is Kagetora's nemesis. Killing him so early would spoil the entire story.

Yet going after Kyushu means that Nagao would be much limited in resources and manpower in the early years.

(3) Why not finish Jinbo off quickly

For the plot I need to allow Kagetora to make a series of "heroic decisions" to boost his fame step by step. In the game, this is a great way to make money, too. The Legendary AI receives very healthy income pre turn. By blocking Jinbo's spending channels, I am able to sign a very fat peace treaty at the latest possible time. It is much more profitable than simply occupying Etchu, which works against the Kyushu campaign plan anyway.

In the real world, fame alone is enough to increase Kagetora's honor and soldier's morale. But in the game I have to find ways to earn honor and experience the hard way. In the game, honor does not matter above 6, but for this campaign I will keep earning honor (and never lose any point of honor no matter what) for the sake of the plot. Holding Jinbo in their castle in total gives me 4 heroic victories - three for Kagetora following one for Nagao Masakage (to level 2). It is omitted in the story for simplicity.

(4) Pace of the story

I am confident that I will be able to eventually finish the story, but it might take a LONG time as commitments return when the summer is over. The Chinese version of the story, which is quite a bit ahead of this English version, is hosted on CLAN Long's TW:S2 forum (http://www.clanlong.com/forum/thread-211760-1-1.html). That's why there are video episodes for Book 4 already uploaded on Youtube.

(5) Feedbacks always welcome!

Eventually I hope to rewrite this into a formal non-profit online novel that is completely independent of the game (while keeping some references only those who played the game will understand). So I would really appreciate your feedback! If you dislike something, please please please help me remove them. If you like something, please also let me know or it might be slashed!

I have started an official website (http://maltzxd.blog.163.com, currently there are just information of characters, video episodes, and some historical studies). At this moment, though, I have no plan to re-write an English version, because obviously I am not a good English writer.

(6) Reportedly, my many typos

I must have dyslexia because I cannot see them as I type. If you are bothered by them, too bad.

[Maltz]

Book Two. Dragon of Echigo

Chapter 13. Enjoying a Drink

The Saken Den's grand opening day is tommorrow. But it is already operational tonight, serving four

important patrons.

"All right! We shall not return home before getting drunk!"
"Cheers!"
"It's been a long time since I could drink like this!"
"Please order anything you like. Let the Kasugayama Castle be the host."

They are Murakami Yoshikiyo, Jinbo Nagazumi, Nagao Masakage, and the clan leader of Nagao, Nagao Kagetora.
Some of them have many bad memories to temporarily forget.

"My lord, there are good sashimi in stock, fresh catch from Naoetsu Port. Would you like some?"
"Of course. The best parts, please."

The server wears all black. He returns to the kitchen and slices the raw fish with a quick blade.
The sashimi is served with very little delay.

"More sake!"
"Certainly!"

The server in black returns to the bar and pours Sake into delicate blue-white china cups.
He and the Sake is back at the table like an autumn breeze.

"OH... I think I cannot drink anymore... ARGH "
"BAH. Little Nagazumi has no capacity for drinks."
"Waitor, would you please clean this up?"
"Right away!"

The server in black quickly mops up the vomit. He then carry the unconscious Jinbo Nagazumi to rest in the

tea room in the back of the Sake Den.

"Haha. You two young ones are pretty good! More!"
"Let's have more!"
"Sure!"

The half moon has climbed up the Sake Den. It is now the wee hours.
There are only two men still sitting by the table.

:on_dizzy: "I... Murakami... Yoshi... Yoshi... Kiyo has lived for 45 years, and have never seen anyone who can drink more than me. You Kagetora is... the first! You... You..."

Murakami Yoshikiyo throws up liberally, and his face falls right back in it.
The server in black quickly returns with the mop.
In a moment, Yoshikiyo and his vomits have been clearned up.

"I didn't know I am this good. Alcohol tastes like water to me."
Kagetora scratches his head. He has taken about five outhouse breaks, but he only feels a little dizzy.
He has never had this much of alcohol in his life. He did not drink any while in Rizenji.
But he has outlasted the other three tonight.

"Lord Kagetora, please forgive me if I tell the truth."
"Madam Yaya ordered me to keep Lord Kagetora healthy. But I did not want to break the mood of you and your guests. So I added water in your Sake. There are less alcohol in three cups of yours than in half a cup of theirs."

The server in black takes away all the stacked dishes as he speaks.

"Oh, no wonder. I know I should not be a good drinker. I have to stay away from it."
"Yes, Lord Kagetora. Don't drink until you pass out. I heard a guy died as he was suffocated by his own vomit."

The table is now wiped clean. Ready for opening day.

[Maltz]

The server in black also serves some steamed towels for Kagetora to wipe his face and hands. It was a nice party, especially if you are the last man sitting.

"You are a very good server. How long have you been here?"
"Lord Kagetora, my name is Naoaki. I have been training here for two months."
"I want to tip you nicely, but I think you deserve a raise to work in the Kasugayama Castle. I know Housekeeper Yamayoshi Maoko can always use some extra hands. What do you say?"
"Lord Kagetora, you have sharp eyes. Actually I am not a server, but a ninja. A ninja of Echigo-style. I am actually assigned to train here by Housekeeper Maoko to become a sushi chef."
"A ninja of Echigo-style?"

Kagetora has never heard of ninja. Literally they are "people who endure". Maybe they are stoics who purposely suffer to raise their spirits?

"My lord, I am a student of Master Usami Sadamitsu. I actually have a few more years of studies to be completed on Biwa Island, but Housekeeper Maoko really needs a spying saboteur right away..."

"A spying saboteur?"
"Or maybe you prefer 'intelligence agent', which appears on my job description."

Kagetora has never heard of "intelligence agent". It sounds very elegant, for a spying saboteur.

"Wait, I thought Usami Sadamitsu is a military strategist and tactician."

"He is. The Echigo Military Doctrine stresses reaching the maxmimal goal with minimal loss. Withuot intelligence from ninja, how does the army know where and when to strike? Our information is critically important."

"I see. Hm... I wonder how come Usami Nomi never mentioned ninja to me."
"That's because she is only the successor of master Sadamitsu's Echigo-style Tactics. I, and a few other school mates, are the successors of master Sadamitsu's Echigo-style Ninjutsu"
"Ninjutsu?"
"The skills of ninja. We defeat the enemy before the war is ever declared. That would be the ultimate mastery of Ninjutsu."
"Wow."

Kagetora can only imagine what an exciting career a ninja has. But he doubts he can ever bear the moral responsibility of stealing information, breaking other's property on purpose, betraying other's trust, and even assassinating an innocent person.

"I have a rude question; I hope you do not mind. How do you justify your actions?"
"It is your orders, my lord. I am not trained to make those hard moral decisions. That responsibility is yours only. I am only your tool."
"I see..."

That actually gives Kagetora some peace in mind. As long as Kagetora does not order Naoaki to kill innocent people, he will not... right?"

"So you will not kill unless I order you to?"
"Actually, I will not kill even if you order me to."
"How come?"

"Because... embarrassingly, I suck at combat. And Echigo-style Ninjutsu prefers not to solve problems with violence - that would be too degrading and insulting for our rich assortment of skills and incredible mental toughness. There is always a risk for using violence, through which we might be hurt or killed. This goes against the spirit of Echigo-style, to minimize loss."

"Makes sense. So what is your specialty, Naoaki?"

"I am an expert of camouflage and costume-playing."
"Camouflage and custome-playing?"

"Yep. I am very good at turning myself into someone else to gather the information I need. My victims never think they are forced to give up information. I never hurt their bodies, damage their feelings, step on their ego, and nor I affect Nagao's fame in any way. My victims are all happily reusable."

"Wow!"
Kagetora likes the Echigo-style Ninjutsu!

"Naoaki, how about I give you a long-term assignment now? Please gather intelligence on Takeda and Hojo, or any of our future enemy. Don't bother with personal information like medical history or marriage problems, though."
"Certainly. I will pack up tonight. How about a travelling merchant? Or a Geisha? "
"How do we get into contact with you?"
"I will contact you when I have the information, Lord Kagetora."
"Good."

Kagetora is quite relieved that the Nagao clan now has ninja at his disposal. Although spying is stealing, Kagetora think it is all right to steal military information as long as his agents try to minimize collateral damage. These clans are at war, anyway.

[Maltz]

A six-month baby cannot crawl yet, but he can hold Kagetora's fingers to stand up.

"Oh-yo! My boy!"
Kagetora holds Umachiyo in his arms and kisses the baby's forehead.

There is a saying that "having a son fulfills all your desires".
Kagetora is overwhelmed by a feeling of love and fortune. He hopes that time freezes right now.

Yaya: "Kagetora, can you stay in Kasugayama for longer this time?"
Kagetora: "I certainly hope so. Now we have promised to help restore Jinbo and Murakami. There will be more battles."
Yaya: "But please return home more frequently. I really missed you."
Kagetora: "I am really sorry that I was not here when Umachiyo was born.

Kagetora promised that he would cherish Yaya throughout his life, but he was away for almost a year in their first year of marriage.

Yaya: "It is OK. You are a clan lord, you have the entire clan to take care of. I have heard much of what you did while stayig in Kasugayama Castle. I know you have very important things to do."
Kagetora: "Thank you."

Kagetora holds Yaya with his other arm. His vision is a little blurred.
But he smells a strange stench that resembles Nagao Masakage's vomit.

"Hm... what is that smell?"
"Umachiyo must have poo-ed. Let me see."

Yaya takes a sneak look from the back of Umachiyo's cloth diaper.
That smell now intensifies to resemble Urakami Yoshikiyo's vomit.

"Oh-oh. It is watery. And there is a lot. Some of it is on your hand."
"I will wash the diapers."
"Kagetora can leave that to the servants."
"But I have never done that before... I want to feel like a father."
"Then why don't Kagetora take a bath with Umachiyo? He likes to play with water. I'll wash the diaper."

***

The baby is now sound asleep. Kagetora watchse the baby with a heartful smile.
No scenary in this world can match his sleeping baby's heavenly peaceful face.

"Yaya, thank you so much. Taking care of Umachiyo is a lot of work."
"Not at all. I am actually very happy every day, watching him growing up! I want to have more babies. Kagetora, how about now? The baby is sleeping~ "
"Er... aren't we going to wake the baby up?"
"He sleeps like Buta(pig)chiyo. Let's go~"

Although Kagetora has an exceptionally low sex drive, he can see that Yaya really love babies.
There is no better way to make Yaya happy...

[Maltz]

Kasugayama Castle's meeting room now feels smaller. Besides clan lord Kagetora, the head of the Ueda Nagao, Masakage, etc. there are now guest generals Murakami Yoshikiyo and Jinbo Nagasumi and their own officers.

"That's it for today. We will keep working on the eventual campaign to Kyushu."
Kagetora bows to the clan officers.

"Oh I am very sorry!"
Maoko the housekeeper interrupted with a blushing face.

"I have left out one item. The port of Naoetsu is now ready to take a sea trade partner. Which clan should we seek?"
"The Honma clan on Sado island has helped my father at his most unfortunate times. Without Honma, there is no Nagao Kagetora. Let's approach Honma for trading, then?"

"Good idea."
"I heard that Honma has a good navy. So their port is not easy for another clan to blockade. It is a safe bet."

"OK!"
The clan officers unanimously approved.

[Maltz]

Chapter 14. Chaos in Hokuriku

Hongaji's army was here only three days after Jinbo evacuated from Toyama Castle.
Seeing hordes of Loan Sword Ashigaru marching on the streets and take whatever they want, even a nun has to be careful.
Rizenji Munechika's order is to stay in Etchu and keep an eye on the Ikko army.
She learned that Honganji is constantly sending new troops to Toyama Castle.

"Hey! Isn't this the master from Rizenji?"

"AH..."
The beggar suddenly holds Munechika's arm.
Perhaps he received some of Kasugayama Castle's koku last time.

"Here is Rizenji's master!"
"It is you!"
"I miss you so much!"

A homeless crowd of hundreds now encircle Munechika.
She wants to run away, but she recalls Kagetora's sympathy toward these people.
She decides to stay.

"What can I do for you?"

"We... have again spent all the koku. We will have to rob Toyama Castle if you don't help us."
"What? I already told you it was the last time."
"Please, master. Buddha's compassion is limitless. Please help us again."
"No. I am only making things worse for you."
"If you don't help us, we will starve to death. Then it would be your fault."
"This karma is created by yourself. I have done my best and I feel no regret."

"Master, you know that Honganji is in charge of Etchu, right? If we give you to Honganji..."

Munechika shivers when she hears that.
Hongaji and Rizenji are not enemies, but Hongaji is known for their lack of compatibility with other Buddhist branches. Would Munechika face religious persecution?

[Maltz]

"What? How can you do this to me? I helped you!"
"We don't want to. But when we are desparate, we can do anything."

Munechika sighs. She quietly prays to Buddha for wisdom.

"Master, are you playing deaf?"
"Give us an answer today."
"Either we take you to Honganji for some koku, or you give us some more."
"I have no more koku with me. I can't really help you."
"Honganji must dislike Rizenji, right? I heard Hongaji is big. They must have torture chambers in the basement."

Suddenly, Munechika has an idea.

"Well, even if you give me to Honganji, general Shimozuma Raishou is a buddy of our Lord Nagao Kagetora! I will be released instantly. I am not scared by you."

The mobs have no idea of who is who. Shimozuma Raishou is the commanding general of Hongaji's army in Hokuriku.
And common sense goes that monks and nuns never lie.

"Oh... then we will rob Toyama castle!"
"Yes! Loot it clean! The Hongaji's army is away, we heard!"
"You are not afraid of Hongaji's revenge?"
"We have no money now... we can't care for that."
"We will take everything and run!"

Munechika knows that Jinbo has packed up everything to go.
But these people do not know.
Munechika also recalls that Usami Nomi once mentioned "pitting the mobs against Honganji".

"All right, there is a secret that I have been keeping to myself."
"What's the secret?"

"Do you know why I have been keeping you away from Toyama castle? I heard this from Jinbo Nagazumi with my own ears - that generations of Jinbo daimyos have kept a great family treasure hidden within Toyama Castle, buried underneath the Tensho. I wanted to save it for Lord Kagetora to unearth it, but now my lord has returned to Echigo. If this treausre can help you one last time, maybe it is better to let you have it."

"Oh? Really?"
"The master heard it with her own ears!"
"Yes! Let's go find the treasure!"
"Kill the guards and take the treausre!"

The mobs disappear from Etchu's street in seconds.
They have probably stashed away some weapons for this day.

"Oh Buddha, I have lied twice in a row today. Is this the right thing to do?"
"I should worry about this later - now I have to inform the Kasugayama Castle about this."

Munechika also disappears from the street.

[Maltz]

The snow falls again on Kasugayama.
But the tensho feels warm as it is packed with people.
In the middle sits Nagao Kagetora, surrounded by Nagao Masakage, Murakami Yoshikiyo, Jinbo Nagazumi, etc. Together there are more than 40 clan officers as they have an important emissary to meet.

"How dare you to come here?!"
Murakami Yoshikiyo stares at the emissary from Takeda.
But the emissary pretends Yoshikiyo does not exist. He has an important proposal to make.

"Lord Kagetora, it is my fortune to meet you in person. I bring the sincere blessing of our lord Takeda Harunobu."
"You are welcome. I heard Takeda has been at war with Kiso and Anegakoji."
"Indeed. Actually Kiso and Anegakoji found another help - Honganji."
"That's quite busy for you..."

The "Realm Divide" for Takeda formed within half a year.
If Nagao turns against Takeda, Takeda will undoubtedly be destroyed.
But Kagetora also wishes to maintain peace with Takeda.

"Lord Kagetora, because of the war, we Takeda wish to not only maintain peace with Nagao, but also to start trading with Nagao."
"WHAT?!" Murakami Yoshikiyo is visibly upset.
"We are not against trading, but we hope Lord Harunobu understand that we aim to restore the Murakami clan in Shinano. So eventually Takeda and Nagao might to go war."
"Lord Kagetora, we can trade until the day that we declare war, if that unfortuante day arrives. By the way, we hope that Nagao can break trades with the Yamanouchi Uesugi and Honma."

"WHAT?" Masakage stands up in shock. What a bold request.
"Did I hear it right?"
"Your Lord Harunobu is not a mistress of Lord Kagetora. Why such jealousy towards the wives?"
Murakami Yoshikiyo recovers a little self-esteem by insulting Takeda.

"Er..."
Takeda's emissary cannot properly respond to the overwhelming hostility.

"Why would Nagao do that? Is this really what Lord Harunobu propose to us?"
"Er... Actually... "
The emissary of Takeda wanted to say something, but swallowed the words.

"Then we are sorry. Nagao promises trust to a trade partner. It is impossible for us to break a trade agreement like this. Please return to Kai."
"Too bad. I hope to meet Lord Kagetora again in the future."

The Takeda emissary politely exited.

"What's Takeda Harunobu thinking?"
"Shameless as usual!"
Murakami Yoshikiyo punches the straw mat with his fists.

Kagetora: "Are you sure Takeda Harunobu is a famous strategist?"
Nomi: "Maybe there is some hidden plot behind this..."
Kagetora: "All right, then. That's it for the clan meeting today. Please come to the Sake Den - all you can eat buffet!"
Clan officers:
That's why they come to the meeting despite the snow.

"WAIT! There is a grave danger coming to Nagao! Can't you see it?"
"Oh?"

Suddenly a bald old man rushed into the meeting room. His white hair floats in the wind from both sides of his head.

"You are back!"
"Who is this crazy old man?"

"Takeda Harunobu knows we would reject this! He is only doing this to show Hojo! Honma is just a distraction!"
The old man yells to the clan officers as his face turns all red.

"Er... guards? Would you please...'
Kagetora has noticed an increasing number of drunk old men since the Sake Den started business. So it is time to call the guards...

Note: You must have noticed an unfortunate reality - Takeda Shingen, the nemesis of Uesugi Kenshin and the default final boss of the story, has been killed by the foolish game AI. For the story's sake, let's pretend Takeda Harunobu lives on. The same privilege will be granted to other important characters. (Murakami Yoshikiyo and Jibno Nagazumi are both technically dead in the game.)

[Maltz]

"The meeting is not adjourned! Nobody exits the room!"
The radical old man blocks the door with his arms.

"Guards~ thank you~"
A few ashigaru show up by the door and hold the old man by his arms...

"What are you doing? Kagetora?"
Nomi takes a large step forward - she is now only taller than Kagetora by 1/4 of her head, but still as menancing as ever.

Kagetora: "Oh?"
Nomi: "You people don't recognize my father? He is only away for a year and half!"
Masakage: "AH... it is master Usami Sadamitsu!"

"THE Usami Sadamitsu who invented Echigo-style Military Doctrine?"
"He does look like an inventor..."
"I thought he was quite normal the year before, what did the trip to Great Ming do to him?"
"Did he eat something wrong?"


Usami Sadamitsu(宇佐美定滿)

Born in 1489. Lord of Echigo's Biwa Island Castle. A legendary military strategist of Sengoku Jidai. He invented the "Echigo-style Military Doctrine", which stress to use all possible and creative means for minimal loss and maximal gain. Due to his devotion in pioneering works in tactics and ninjutsu, Sadamitsu is not actively involved in clan politics and passes the rulership and clan officer duty to his only child, Nomi. Sadamitsu also takes sabbatical leaves to foreign countries every five or six years.

***

"AH... I am so sorry. I did not recognize master Usami."
Kagetora bows politely to the old man, and invites him to take his own seat in the meeting.
Sadamitsu sits at Kagetora's place without hesitation; this raises the eyebrows of some clan officers.

Usami Sadamitsu is actually only 57 years old. But maybe due to his overconsumption of brain power, lack of proper make-up, and frequently loss of sleep due to his inspiring research, he looks 10 to 20 years older than his real age.

Kagetora: "May I ask master Usami to become Echigo's formal advisor, the teacher of the army."
Sadamitsu: "Teacher of the army, Teacher of the country, your teacher, my teacher... it does not matter. I will just say whatever necessary. You have to look seriously at Hojo's threat!"
Kagetora: "Please enlighten us!"

Kagetora bows again, and the other clan officers have to follow.

[Maltz]

Sadamitsu: "Look, cunning fox like 'The Tiger of Kai' Takeda Harunobu would never send an emissary to make a request that would be certainly turned down."
Kagetora: "So why did Takeda Harunobu do it anyway?"

Sadamitsu: "From an educated guess, Hojo has just destroyed the Ogigayatsu Uesugi in Musashi. It is readying an army for another attack. Yamanouchi Uesugi's Ueno, who controls the gateway between Kanto and Echigo, is Hojo's reasonable next target as Uesugi is the weakest clan around. If Hojo is to attack Yamanouchi Uesugi, Hojo would want Takeda to help. But this is definitely not in Takeda's best interest, as if Nagao assist Yamanouchi Uesugi, and Takeda assists Hojo, then Nagao would have to declare war on Takeda. At this moment, Takeda cannot afford to fight Nagao. It is already very busy with Kiso and Anagakoji."

Nomi: "So Takeda sends an emissary to Echigo to show Hojo that 'we have tried to help Hojo by breaking up Uesugi and Nagao, but it failed'?"
Kagetora: "This way, Takeda does not have to be actively involved in the war between Hojo and Nagao-Uesugi..."
Masakage: "And Takeda Harunobu tried to mask his intention by adding Honma into the request, just to make sure that Nagao will refuse?"

Sadamitsu: "Yes, it appears so. But here's the interesting part. Think about it. It is now obvious that Takeda want Nagao to remain trading with Uesugi. Why? Besides, it is impossible for 'the Lion of Sagami', Hojo Ujiyasu, to buy Takeda's stupid excuse. Takeda Harunobu must know that. I believe there is something hidden behind this."

Nomi: "Can it be that Takeda wants Nagao to know Hojo is about to attacking Uesugi?"

Sadamitsu: "Looks like the talent runs in the family! Yes. I believe that Takeda wants to pit Hojo against Nagao, so both are weakened in the resulting war. This will give Takeda more room to expand. That emissary was actually serving a warning of Hojo's imminent attack."

Kagetora: "Why would Takeda Harunobu do that? Hojo Ujiyasu is his ally."
Sadamitsu: "Kagetora, you are a little naive. Most clans in Sengoku treat alliance as a promise that can be easily broken. An enemy yesterday could be a friend tomorow, and vice versa."
Kagetora: "Oh..."

Kagetora really wishes to treat a friend as a friend forever.
But trustworthy friends are probably a rarity in Sengoku.
Maybe he could be an exception. Maybe he could not.

Murakami Yoshikiyo: "Well, now we have confirmed that Hojo is about to attack Uesugi. Do we want to stand and watch, or actually do something?"
Jinbo Nagazumi: "Don't forget that Takeda wants us to fight Hojo..."

Kagetora: "Hm..."

Although Nagao does not have a sworm responsibility to protect Yamanouchi Uesugi (see note below), helping a neighboring clan fighting off an invader seems to be the right thing to do. Besides, Yamanouchi Uesugi's leader, Uesugi Norimasa, is the current Kanto Kanrei (Commander of the Kanto region, which is present-day Tokyo and surroundings). It seems to be Kagetora's responsibility to help the Kanto Commander, even though an the ex-ex-ex-Kanto Kanrei fought his father and died.

Kagetora: "If Uesugi is invaded, we will help them drive of the invader. Doesn't the acting guardian of Echigo has a responsibility to help the Kanto Kanrei?"

Masakage: "Kagetora, the power of Kanto Kanrei has greatly diminished. Don't be bound by the ranks. Your father was good at it. I mean no disrespect. "
Nomi: "But Kagetora is right that if Uesugi is invaded, we should help them fight off the invader. It is simply the right thing to do."
Masakage: "Ok..."

Sadamitsu looks at his daughter with a proud smile. His girl took an oath of life devotion under Bishamonten at the age of seven, and since then she became the voice of righteousness in the family. The path of the righteousness is often much harder to walk on than the path of the crooked. But it provides such an mysterious and powerful mentality to his daughter that Sadamitsu sometimes wonder whether Nomi really has a piece of Bishamonten living in her.

Kagetora: "It would be nice if we have some ninja intelligence..."
Sadamitsu: "Now you mention it! How dare you to steal my best student while I was away? How can 500 koku compensate for my loss? Do you know how much those costumes cost?"
Nomi: "Father, please forgive us. We really need a ninja."
Sadamitsu: "How come you don't practice the art of Ninjutsu? I should have another child after your mother left."
Nomi: "..."

Nomi simply could not tolerate Ninjutsu, even if it could mean to further reduce loss. She likes to have a duel face to face, instead of stabbing an enemy in the back. She would never sabotage someone else's property to advance her purpose. As a result, Nomi's relationship with Sadamitsu has been bumpy at times. Perhaps Sadamitsu goes for the less harmful Echigo-style because of her daughter's insistence.

Masakage: "OK. Forget about the ninja. We have 2000 men now. They can be freed up after spring planting. If Hojo declares war to Uesugi, we march to Ueno and crush Hojo!"
Sadamitsu: "Don't underestimate 'The Lion of Sagami'. He is not worse than 'The Tiger of Kai'!"
Kagetora: "OK. I will personally lead the army."

Kagetora thinks about Yaya and cute Umachiyo for a brief second.
It will be time to say goodbye soon.

Masakage: "I will defend the Kasugayama Castle and develop Echigo!"
Sadamitsu: "BAH. There is nothing else to develop... besides, Naoetsu and Honjo have returned from their vacations. Just leave it to them. Masakage, you should go to Etchu and defend against Hongaji. They are going to declare war on us very soon."
Masakage: "What? By myself?"
Sadamitsu: "Yes. Because Kagetora is going to need all soldiers of Echigo to fight Hojo. You will be left with yourself."
Masakage: "Then how can I defend against Hongaji?"
Sadamitsu: "That Rizenji nun is the army!"

Usami Sadamitsu is visibly impatient.
That's why he dislikes politics, because he does not want to waste time explaining the obvious to the less enlightened.

Kagetora: "Oh? Munechika is the army? Please enlighten us, master..."

Sadamitsu: "Honganji's weakness is in its shaky belief - Jodo Shinshu (pure-land true branch) is just a collection of weak-minded mobs. Defending Hongaji with an army is the stupidest thing. Those mobs can be easily held off by a powerful mind - the same way Jodo Shinshu was born. Masakage, you should restore Jinbo when the Rizenji nun does her job. There is no better time."

The meeting room cools down. Usami Sadamitsu's thinking has reached the stratosphere.

Jinbo Nagazumi: "Please let me go with Lord Masakage! I want to rebuild Jinbo with my own hands!"
Sadamitsu: "Yes, you can show Masakage how."
Nagazumi: "Huh?"
Sadamitsu: "I will give you a big hint, the Toyama Castle is now occupied by mobs, which will dissolve as long as they run out of food. All you need to is to wait outside and prevent them from getting supplies. Sounds familiar, right? Haha. "

Kagetora: "So Honganji is going to declare war on us?..."
Sadamitsu: "Yes. They are not going to be happy with the development in Etchu."
Nomi: "That's why the Housekeeper left in a hurry this morning..."

Note: While the game sets Yanamouchi Uesugi as a vassal of Nagao in 1545, in history this did not happen until later - and it was not really a master-vassalage relationship but more of assylum-refuge. The story now follows the history - Nagao helps Uesugi simply because Kagetora thinks it is the right thing to do.

[Maltz]

(A few days later, at the border of Kaga and Etchu)

Shimotsuma Raishou (下間賴照), the commander-in-chief of Honganji's army in the northern land (Hokuriku), sits on a little folded chair among his Ikko monk generals and captains. They vary a lot in age and sizes, but one thing is common - they are monks, so their heads are all shaved. Maoko the housekeeper can see some of the candles reflections on their head. This strangely brings calm to her mind.

"Commander Shimotsuma." :pushups:
Maoko bows down politely. She always keep the same distance between the floor and her forehead. Being a diplomatic emissary is not just about accomplishing the objectives, but doing it with style.



Shimotsuma Raishou (下間賴照)

Born in 1516. A senior monk official and general in Honganji. In history, Shimotsuma Raishou was assigned to Echizen to lead the Ikko-Ikki there to fight against the expanding Oda clan. The campaigned eventually failed and Raishou was killed.

***

Raishou and his colleagues are surprisingly comfortable about seeing a female emissary.
This is probably because monks are allowed to marry and have kids in Japan, so they do not drool at any woman like boys in all-male schools do.

Maoko: "Lord Raishou. I am here to bring regards from our lord, Nagao Kagetora."
Raishou: "Good. You must be the housekeepr of Kasugayama Castle. I know that you have defeated Jinbo and forced them to surrender. But how come Jinbo abandoned Etchu and return to Echigo with you?"
Maoko: "Lord Raishou, there is no way that Jinbo can defend against Ikko-Ikki's army."
Raishou: "Haha. That's true. So you Nagao is fine with the fact that we Honganji is the new ruler of Etchu, right?"
Maoko: "One should not lie in front of an agent of the Buddha. So please allow me to directly reveal my message to Honganji. Lord Kagetora has promised Jinbo Nagazumi that one day Nagao will see Jinbo restored in Etchu. That's why Jinbo Nagazumi did not do down with the Toyama Castle like a samurai."

"Tse... tse... tse..."
"Amitabhah..."
The monk captains could sense the tension.
Tension can be eased by reciting "Amitabhah" (Buddha).

Raishou: "So... are you here to declare war? We now have an army of 4000 strong. We can easily demolish anything you have in Echigo."
"Amitabhah..."

"Our Lord Kagetora is loved by all his soldiers. He has defeated tough enemies, and is not afraid of war with Honganji. However, Honganji has much to worry about."
"Worry about what? We are allied with the Hattori clan in the west, and we have a stable trade partner Anegakoji in Hida. Now we either attack you or we go after Shinano. If you offer a good price, we will go after Shinano."

Shimotsuma Raishou is confident about Ikko-Ikki's military might.
Their loan sword ashigaru horde is said to be able to cut through any spear wall.

Maoko: "So indeed you have no idea yet. The enemies of Honganji lies within!"
Raishou: "What?"

"One of us is a mole?"
"Amitabhah..."

The monk captains look at each other.
Maybe with the right price, anybody could be suspicious.

[Maltz]

Maoko: "The Zen Buddhists in Kaga has been plotting for a revolt! The remnants of the Jinbo clan has also gathered in Etchu, and is on their way to retake Toyama Castle!"

"Really?"
"How come I never heard of this?"

Maoko: "How about following me and take a look for yourself."

Shimotsuma Raishou and his captains followed Maoko to a small hill. The time is quite late and the sky has mostly turned dark. But as they look east, they see red lights reflected from the dense, dark cloud in the distance. That's the direction of the Toyama Castle. Something must be happening there.

"Amitabhah..."
"We are going to lose Etchu!"
"We have to go back to Toyama Castle!"
"But what about Kaga's revolt?"

The monk captains have just returned from their Etchu campaign and is on their way back to Echizen.
Now their vacation has to be postponed.

Maoko: "Our Lord Nagao Kagetora wishes to relay the following message. We Nagao are always ready to fight against Honganji's invasion. However, we do not wish to take advantage of Honganji when your power is divided. If Hongaji wants a war, come with all your force, and we shall settle this on the battlefield. However, if Honganji shows open hostility to Nagao right away, we will have no other choice but to declare war today."

Raishou: "Hm... looks like Nagao Kagetora is quite a character."
Shimotsuma Raishou has heard quite a lot about Nagao Kagetora recently. Is his confidence based on an illusion or his true ability?

"It will be better if we take care of the revolts and then come back to fight Nagao."
"Yes, obviously."
"Or not fight Nagao."

Maoko: "Come fight us if you wish, but we are willing to enjoy peace if you choose not to. If a temporary peace is desired, my Lord Nagao Kagetora proposes a certain fee in exchange for Nagao's military access. This would be our guarantee of not attacking Honganji in the meantime."

"Hm..."
"It would be a good deal if we can buy peace with a few thousand koku."
"Let's handle our immediate enemies first, then worry about Nagao."

The sky above Toyama Castle is turning to bright red.
The choice seems to be very obvious.

Raishou: "OK then. Honganji is willing to purchase Nagao's military access with a reasonable price. We shall fight each other on a later day, if such day unfortuantely arrives, or not at all."
Maoko: "Certainly."
Raishou: "How much do you ask?"
Maoko: "It depends on how long Honganji wish to maintain peace with Nagao."
Raishou: "How about 2000 koku for two years?"
Maoko: "So Honganji wishes to fight Nagao after just two years? Then we may as well declare war right now."
Raishou: "Oh... 4000 koku for four years?"
Maoko: "Any form of termed deal means a countdown for war. I suggest we make an indefinite deal for just a little bit more, 4600 koku."
Raishou: "Indefinite deal?"
Maoko: "Yes. Honganji decides when to war Nagao. We will be waiting."

"Seems good. This way we have purchased permenant peace from Nagao in the future."
"Yep. Nagao Kagetora seems to be someone we can trust."

Raishou: "OK then, we will pay!"

After securing the east border, the Honganji army can confidently work on the internal problems.

"Now let's split the army up. 1000 go save Etchu. The rest turns to Kaga with me! Kaga is too important to lose!"
"Amitabhah..."

Note: Jodo Shinshu (pure land true branch, the "Ikko") of Buddhism advocates that reciting "Amitabhah" alone is enough for the faithful to enter the paradise. Such simple doctrine makes Ikko very popular in the common folks.

[Maltz]

(Two weeks later... January, 1547)

Shimotsuma Raishou leads his army back to Kaga, but all they can hear is Amitabhah.

"How come I have not seen any rebellion in Kaga?"
"There are certainly protests of various kinds in front of our castle... but this is actually quite normal."

Suddenly, a few messagers rushes in. Their armors are stained with blood!

"My lord! Our army in Etchu was ambushed by the enemies in the Toyama Castle half way! We are the only survivors! "
"My lord, these people are NOT Jinbo clan's remnants! They are mobsters!"

Raishou: "WHAT? 1000 soldiers... just you now?"
Shimotsuma Raishou falls to his little folded chair.

"Somebody must have supplied them with weapons!"
"Some one tipped them off of our plan!"

The monk captains immediately come up with conspiracy theories, which do seem very likely.
And yet another messenger rushes in!

"My lord! There are rebellions appearing in Noto! We have no garrison there! Please go to Noto!"
Raishou: "Noto?"

[Maltz]

Shimotsuma Raishou is quite a smart Ikko monk... in Ikko monk's standard.
So he quickly figured out what's going on.

Raishou: "We are deceived by the Nagao emissary - the real rebellion is in Noto, not Kaga!"

The monk captains have also realized that all dots can be connected to one picture...

"My lord! I remember hearing about a Rizenji nun from Echigo. She has a lot of followers from Etchu! The mobs in Etchu could be following her order!"
"My lord! There are reports that the rebellion in Noto occurred a few months after the nun showed up there!"
"I heard that this nun distribute a considerable amount of koku among the poor! That's why they listen to her!"

Raishou: "Echigo's Rizenji?"
Shimotsuma Raishou paid 4600 koku to Kasugayama Castle, which is just above Kasugayama's Rizenji...
So Rizenji is using Honganji's koku against Honganji!

Raishou stood up, angrily kicking away his folded chair!

"We cannot tolerate Nagao's plot! We declare war to Nagao now! We march to Noto and crush the rebellion, then Etchu, then Echigo! All navies - attack any Nago ship on sight! All Ikko monks - go after this Rizenji Nun and... debate with her! Destroy her reputation!"

[Maltz]

(At the same time, in Echigo...)

Kagetora: "Yaya, I am sorry I will have to be away soon. Hojo has declared war on Yamanouchi Uesugi. We will defend Ueno against the invasion from Sagami."
Yaya: "It is OK, Kagetora. You do what you know is right. How long does it take this time?"
Kagetora: "I am not sure. We'll first march to Ueno to see where the enemy is at the time. Since Takeda and Imagawa did not join Hojo's invasion, the war should be over after just one decisive battle."
Yaya: "Good. Kagetora, there is again something you should know..."
Kagetora: "Yes?"
Yaya: " I am pregnant again! It's been 4 months!"
Kagetora: " So the baby was made just after I returned from Etchu..."

Kagetora notices that Yaya's eyes are filled with joy.
Kagetora is happy for Yaya.

Yaya: "Yes. The baby should be born early summer."
Kagetora: "I hope I could there for you and the baby this time."

Kagetora feels deeply sorry that he missed the chance to witness the birth of Umachiyo.

Kagetora: "How about you come with us to Ueno, and stay there to give birth? Uesugi Norimasa's force is enough to protect you there. And I heard Norimasa is a hospitable person."
Yaya: "Sounds good! Ride with me, don't ride with Nomi!"
Kagetora:

Note: Yamanouchi (山內) is better referred to as Yamanouchi Uesugi (山內上杉), or simply Uesugi, which is their surname.

[Maltz]

When Nagao Masakage and Jinbo Nagazumi looks up, he seems to see hundreds of glowing eyes in the dark.
The defenders of Toyama Castle can easily crush Masakage's 40 cavalry - as long as they do not run away.

Nagao Masakage: "Munechika, is this what advisor Usami calls 'reviving Jinbo with 40 men'?"
Munechika: "Yep. I have arranged the contact of the camping shop for you so you get 20% discount on tent parts. All you need is to talk some sense into those mobs."
Masakage: "How do I do that?"
Munechika: "Nagazumi knows. He is familiar with the road surrounding the castle."
Jinbo Nagazumi: "I see... But it seems that the mobs will not surrender any more easily compared to me..."
Munechika: "Oh, actually we do not need them to surrender. All you need to do is to make them abandon the castle and flee. Then Nagazumi can reclaim the Toyama Castle."
Nagazumi: "I see. So at the end, I have to help myself to revive Jinbo clan..."
Munechika: "If we Nagao do all the work, do you sleep well at night?"
Nagazuzmi: "Master Munechika speaks wisdom. This is where I prefer to be!"
Masakage: "But didn't Ikko-Ikki declare war on us? They can easily march to Etchu..."
Munechika: "Keeping Honganji from coming back is my job. Actually, I am have a debate with an Ikko monk tomorrow."
Masakage: "You can do it, Munechika!"
Nagazumi: "Yes, show them what we've got! May the force... of the Buddha be with you!"
Munechika: "I know there will be risks when I signed up for this. A destruction of one's mind is far more damaging than the destruction of one's body. Wait for my good news!"

[Maltz]

Chapter 15. Last Mind Standing

The debate is about to begin.
Audience pack the streets. This is a fight of wisdom and faith!

Master of Debate: "OK! Please be quiet now. Let's introduce the debators!

"On my left, from the Nagao clan of Echigo - whose charity work has turned into rebellions, whose knowledge of Buddhism puts monks to shame, whose popularity surpasses that of the Hangoji general RI-ZEN-JI, MUNE-CHIKA!"
Crowd: "Yo!"

"On my right, from Ishiyama Honganji - who propelled Honganji to become a contender of Sengoku, who converted millions to search for the pure land, who incited rebellions in his sleep - the grandmaster of Hongaji, the savior of the lost, the Pope of Ikko-Ikki! HON-GAN-JI, SHO-YO!"

"Honganji Shoyo (本願寺証如)?"
"The grandmaster of Honganji is here today?"
Munechika:

Hongaji Shoyo is the 10th grandmaster of Honganji, who carries Hongaji to a new height of power that rivals samurai regimes. Just as the crowd can't believe what they just heard, one of the debate staff passes a little paper slip to the Master of Dabate.

"Ops, sorry. He happens to have the same name as the grandmaster... please welcome... the other HON-GAN-JI, SHO-YO!"

Crowd: "YEAH!"

"The rule is simple. You ask each other a question. Whoever fails to answer three questions properly first loses the debate! You have to ask a question related to Buddhism. You cannot commit personal attacks with your mouth, hands, feet, or anyother body parts. Or you lose immediately. Nagao's Munechika asks the question first!"

Crowd: "Eee-Eee-OH!"

[Maltz]

= ROUND ONE =

Munechika studied hard for this debate. She reviewed a lot of famous stories of Zen Buddhism, so she could use them when the time comes.

Munechika: "OK. Two young monks are hitting each other in the temple. They ask the Zen Buddhist Master to arbitrate and to determine who is right and wrong."

A: "Master, B hit me first. It is B's fault!"
Master: "Yes, you are right."
B: "Master, A swore at me first. It is A's fault!"
Master: "Yes, you are right."
A: "Master, we cannot be both right. One is right, and one is wrong."

Munechika: "Now you are the Zen Master. What should you answer?"
Shoyo: "Er... I say whoever started this wrong! A is wrong!"
Munechika: "No. There is no differentiation in the heart of a Zen Master. The quarrels between the two monks are trivial."

A: "Master, we cannot be both right. One is right, and one is wrong."
Master: "Yes, you are right."

Shoyo: "Yes, you are right..."
Shoyo regrets that he does not understand Zen Buddhism well enough.

"OOOOOH...."
The crowd is very disappointed.

Master of the Debate: "OK! One strike for Honganji! Now it is Shoyo's turn to ask a question!"

[Maltz]

Shoyo: "All right, a young man visits a Master of Jodo Shinshu..."

Man: "Master, I... I... I see dead people. The dead people try to spook me, such as by suddenly show up on my window or in my back when I look into the mirror. It really craps me out. Why me? "
Master: "That's because you do not have a pure heart. When your heart is possessed by unpure thoughts, the ghosts come to trouble you."
Man: "Then if I treat them well, worship them with high-quality food and burning paper cash and house to them, they would not bother me. Right?"

Shoyo: "How would you answer this as a Jodo Shinshu master?"
Munechika: "Er..."

Munechika is confused by the question, because throughout her training in Rizenji, nobody talked about ghosts. She has never seen a ghost, nor have the others in Rizenji. Munechika thinks ghosts are no more than people's imagination. But Shoyo's question already assumse that ghosts exist. How should she describe the behavior of something she think does not exist?

*** two years ago, Rizenji ***

Munechika: "Master, I am not really in a good position to ask about this, but eventually you will retire, and the next master of Rizenji will be selected. Where do you think I should improve in order to become a candidate?"
Tenshitsu Koiku: "It is fine to ask, Munechika. There was never a nun temple master in Japan, but I am not against it, either. A master of the temple is the bridge between the enclosed and the mundane worlds. You have to learn both worlds well."
Munechika: "So I have to leave Rizenji and tour Japan?"
Koiku: "But we are short on budget for that. Speaking of this, there is actually a request from Kasugayama Castle... they require a monk to work for the Nagao clan. This is a risky assignment, and you might be asked to do things against your belief. But it is the best way to learn about the mundane world."
Munechika: "Master, do you think I can do it?"
Koiku: "Only you know whether you can do it. How about I arrnage an interview for you?"
Munechika: "An interview?"
Koiku: "Yes. Maoko the Housekeeper will ask you a series of questions. If you pass the interview, you will be hired."
Munechika: "Yamayoshi Maoko, the maid who frequently visits us?"
Koiku: "Yes. She is promoted by Torachiyo, I mean Kagetora. I hope you did not serve her our cheapest tea bag because she was just a maid."
Munechika: "Are there actually different qualities of tea bags? I just used the tea in the brown bag."
Koiku: "So you did... So she will probably ask you tougher questions."
Munechika: "What if I do not know the answer of a question?"

Master Tenshitsu Koiku responded with a grin.

Koiku: "Then try to overthrow the question."

***

Master of Debate: "Rizenji Munechika, If you do not know the answer..."
Munechika: "I know the answer! I say..."

Man: "Then if I treat them well, worship them with high-quality food and burning paper cash and house to them, they would not bother me. Right?"
Master: "The most important thing of being a faitful Buddhist is not to think about things that we should not think about! The fact you are bothered by the ghost means that you have unecessarily thought about the ghost. The ghosts spook because you think about them! If I do not think about the ghost, the ghost cannot do anything to you. If they show up on your window, you see right through them. They do not even come to your mind."

The audience turns quiet. Wisdom of the Buddha can be difficult to comprehend at times.

Shoyo: "Oh... actually you have a great point. That's exactly how a Jodo Shinshu master answered me before."

Master of Debate: "Rizenji Munechika wins round one!"
Crowd: "YEAH!"

[Maltz]

= ROUND 2 =

Master of Debate: "Now we begin round 2! Honganji asks the question first!"

Shoyo: "Japan is frequently devaststated by tsunami, volcano, and earthquakes. One day... a man visits the Jodo Shinshu Master..."

Man: "Master, obviously, tsunami comes from the sea, volcano lava comes from underground, and earthquake is the ground shaking. But what are the ultimate sources of these disasters? "

Shoyo: "How do you answer?"
Munechika: "Er..."

Munechika is again stunned by the question. This is like asking why is the sky blue, why are the leaves green, and why the sun shines bright. Maybe one day people will know the answers, but not yet.

*** Two years ago, Kasugayama Castle ***

Maoko: "Munechika, are you ready to begin the interview?"
Munechika: "Yes, please."
Maoko: "Okay. Can you tell me why you want to work for the Nagao clan?"
Munechika: "I want to learn more about the world outside Rizenji. I find that an isolated life in the temple does not satisfy my curiosity of the world. I wish to learn as much as possible, and one day return to become a candidate of the next master of Rizenji."
Maoko: "Oh, interesting. If a maid can become the keeper of the clan, who say a nun cannot be the master of a temple? But of course we cannot expect equal pay with men. That time will not come in the next 500 years."
Munechika: "Pay does not matter. Worldly posession only hinders my purpose."
Maoko: "I hope the clan officers see things like you... But just for your information, we will cover all your health benefits but not for your family's - but it does not matter, you are a nun anyway. All your trips are insured."
Munechika: "Good."
Maoko: "OK. Please talk about your curiosity. What interests you the most?"
Munechika: "I want to understand why people have various desires."
Maoko: "Hm. That's a very good topic. Some say these desires promote the survivability of mankind. We exist because we strive for better livings."
Munechika: "But the desires also make so much conflict in the world."
Maoko: "Yep. The desires can do more harm than good if they come into close contact with other individuals'."
Munechika: "I hope to understand these desires better, and pursuade people to give up most of their desires, to make the world a peaceful place."
Maoko: "Interesting. Okay, next question. Today I heard Ikko-Ikki's new propaganda, somebody erects a sign of Namo Amitabhah (Return to Buddha) and the last typhoon turned away. What's your take on this?"
Munechika: "Hm... maybe it is only a conincidence."
Maoko: "Jodo Shinshu (Ikko) advocates that getting rid of desires can turn away natural disasters. "
Munechika: "Yeah... I think they are going too far. The disaster is in our mind."

***

Master of Debate: "Rizenji Munechika, if you do not know the answer, just say it..."
Munechika: "OK, I know the answer!"

Man: "Master, obviously, tsunami comes from the sea, volcano lava comes from underground, and earthquake is the ground shaking. But what are the ultimate sources of these disasters? "

Master: "That's because there are greed, angre, obessession, prejudice, and doubts in people's mind. As long as those thoughts remain in our mind, those disasters will keep occuring to punish these people."

Shoyo: "Exactly..."

Munechika: "There is a Taoism idiom - 'the heaven is not humane; it treats everything like puppies.' In fact, there are earthquakes, volcano, and tsunami happening in uninhabited land. If you insist to associate these natural disasters with people's negative thoughts, you are also obssessed."

Shoyo: " I was wrong!"
Crowd: "YEAH!"

Master of Debate: "Rizenji Munechika correctly answers the question! Now it is Rizenji's turn to ask!"

[Maltz]

Munechika: "Good. There was a famous scholar Su Shi (1037-1101) in Song Dynasty, you must know..."
Shoyo: "Sushi?"
Munechika: "Not Sushi... Su Shi. He was a good friend of a Zen Master Fo Yin (1032-1098)."
Shoyo: "Okay~"
Munechika: "Su Shi thought he knew a lot about Buddhism. One day, he made this poem:

稽首天中天， - As I bury my head into the heaven above skies (a metaphor of Buddhism),
毫光照大千。 - A tiny enlightenment is enough to make the entire world bright.
八風吹不動， - The eight winds (Buddhist terms: praises, ridicules, slanders, honor, gains, losses, suffering, happiness) cannot move me,
端坐紫金蓮。 - As I sit upright on the purple-gold lotus. (like a Buddha)

Munechika: "Su Shi was very happy about his new poem, so he sent it to his Zen Master friend Fo Yin, who lived on the other side of the river. Fo Yin replied with two words."

放屁 - Passing Fart (Bullshit)

Munechika: "Su Shi was very angry, so he hired a boat and crossed the river to argue with Fo Yin. Fo Yin made a modification on the last sentence of Su Shi's poem. What's the modification?"
Shoyo: "Er..."

Shoyo is compeltely defeated on this one. He does not even know who Su Shi and Fo Yin is, although his does like to eat Shishi (Japanese monks can eat animals.) But apparently everybody in Zen Buddhism knows this story.

Shoyo: "The eight wind cannot move me, because I recite Namo Amitabah?"
Munechika: "Nope."

八風吹不動， - The eight winds cannot move you,
一屁打過江。 - But one fart hits you across the river.

Crowd: "Wahahaha..."

Shoyo: "I should have studied more..."
Shoyo's hits his chest with both fists like a drumstick.

Master of Debate: "Rizenji Munechika wins round 2! Be careful, Honganji will lose this debate if you lose one more round!"

[Maltz]

= ROUND 3 =

Master of Debate: "Now we begin round 3! Rizenji asks the question first!"
Shoyo: "Wait! This is not fair! If I cannot answer this question, I do not get the chance to ask my question!"
Master of Debate: "Where is your confidence? But OK, you can ask first."
Shoyo: "Good! So..."

Shoyo: "The temple of Jodo Shinshu is called Honganji (本願寺, "the base wish" temple). What is the base of wish?"
Munechika: "I know!"

Munechika was a good pupil in Rizenji - she was especially good at memorizing Buddhist scriptures.

Munechika: "The is the 18th wish of Amitabhah (Buddha)'s 48 wishes."

《無量壽經》： "The scripture of limitless life"
我成佛時， - When I become Buddha,
十方眾生， - all people around the world,
聞我名號， - as they hear my name,
至心信樂， - they shall find faith and happiness in their hearts,
所有善根， - they shall find all roots of benevolence,
心心回向， - their hearts shall return,
願生我國。 - hope to be born in my kingdom.
乃至十念， - Even if they only have 10 such thoguhts,
若不生者， - and if they have not be born into my kingdom,
不取正覺。 - then I will not be ultimately enlightened.
唯除五逆， - Unless these people commit one of the five utmost sins,
誹謗正法。 - and slander the righteous law.

Munechika: "This is Hon-gan, the base of wishes. Jodo-Shinshu advocates Buddha's compassion to make everyone who holds a benevolent heart to enter his kingdom, the pure land, the western paradise."
Shoyo: "You know more than me..."
Munechika: "But there is a mistake in Jodo branch's interpretation - the doctrine of Honganji states that even those who commit the five sins (such as killing one's mother, killing one's father, attempt to murder Buddha, monks, and disturb their peace) can still go to heaven as long as they recite Namo Amitabahah. But Buddha originally excluded them. In a separate scripture (佛說觀無量壽佛經), we see that exceptions could be made. But those are rare exceptions."
Shoyo: "Really? "
Munechika: "That's why there are so many criminals believe in Jodo and do not change their sinful behavior... because they think they can still get into heaven as long as they repent at the end. It is unfortunate."
Shoyo: "That's why..."

Shoyo looks like a deflated balloon.
Crowd: "OHHH...."

Master of Debate: "OK! Now it is Rizenji Munechika's turn to ask!"

[Maltz]

Munechika wants to finish this early, as she has more important assignments.
She knows that her opponent is especially weak in common Zen knowledge. This is her chance.

Munechika: "I will ask another story that everyone knows. When the 5th grandmaster of Zen Buddhist, Hong Ren (弘忍, 601-674), sought a successor, he asked his pupils to make poems. The top-seated pupil, Shen Shou (神秀), made the following poem."

身是菩提樹， My body is like a Bohdi tree (tree of enlightenment, sacred fig).
心如明鏡台， My mind is like a clear mirror stand.
時時勤拂拭， I clean the mirror frequently,
莫使惹塵埃。 so that it does not catch dusts.

Munechika: "The future 6th grandmaster, Hui Neng (惠能), was at the time a very low-ranked monk. But he also made a poem that deeply impressed the grandmaster. What was it?"

Shoyo: "Er... The sacred fig is a big tree... I don't know!"

Shoyo has learned this story when he was in Honganji.
But they were all too excited about rebellions so they forgot about the story instantly.

Munechika: "Here it is."

菩提本無樹， Bodhi (enlightenment) is originally not a tree,
明鏡亦非台； Neither is a clear mirror is any kind of stand.
本來無一物， If there is nothing that eixsts,
何處惹塵埃。 There is no dust to be cleaned.

Munechika: "This poem deeply matches the spirit of Zen Buddhism. So Hui Neng became the sixth grandmaster of Zen Buddhism - that's hundreds of years before it gets spread to Japan."
Shoyo: "I see..."

Shoyo is crushed by Munechika's words of wisdom.
Shoyo: "The Jodo Shinshu is a superstition for the ignorant! NOOOO~~~"
Shoyo falls to the ground - Blood gushes out from his mouth as he bit his lip on the floor.

Munechika: "Please don't say that. There are 86400 ways to understand Buddha. Every one takes whatever he or she needs. We cannot force everyone to become a scholar. The Jodo Shinshu appears to a large number of people; it certainly has its meaning of existence. There is no limit in Buddhism - why do we distinguish between each other? Zen, Jodo, and all other branches, all as one. Amitabhah."

Crowd: "YEAH!"
As the crowd cheers in the background, Munechika finishes her speech with a namaste gesture.

Master of Debate: "Round three is won by Rizenji! The debate is over - Rizenji wins with a 3 to 0 shutout!"

Crowd: "Rizenji! Rizenji! Rizenji! Yee-Yee-Oh!"

***

Note: In terms of game mechanics, 4-star Munechika easily crushed 2-star Shoyo.

[Maltz]

Chapter 16. Uesugi Norimasa

Kasugayama Castle, March, 1547

Today, the Nagao army plans to begin their march.
From Kasugayama Castle, they'll head south to the province of Ueno.
Their mission - assist the Yamanouchi Uesugi to defend against an invasion from Hojo.

Kagetora: "Everything is ready... but where is Yaya?"
Kagetora promised Yaya to bring her along. But she disappeared after breakfast.

Suddenly, Housekeeper Maoko bursts into the room with sweats all over her face.

Maoko: "My Lord! Come! Madam Yaya's... water is broken! But she is not in labor yet! We have to perform a surgery!"
Kagetora: "A surgery?! Is it dangerous?"
Maoko: "Think about Seppuku minus disembowelment! My lord, you need to be present to give support to Madam Yaya!"
Kagetora: "But... but I need to lead the march today!"
Maoko: "My lord, please - she is your wife!"
Kagetora: "AHHH..."

Kagetora is tortured by guilt. He has never put Yaya to his first priority - everything he did was about his Nagao clan. But on the other hand, Kagetora knows that a daimyo cannot postpone a march due to a family member's illness.

Nomi: "Kagetora, you must go to Yaya. I will wear your armor and lead the march in your place. Take your time with Yaya, and then come to join us."
Maoko: "YES, let's do that!"
Kagetora: "Ok sure. Thank you very much, Nomi!"

Kagetora quickly takes off his armor and joins Maoko.
There are quite a few pieces - now all piled up on the floor.

Nomi: "Hm..."
Actually, there is one thing that Nomi has always wanted.
Ten years ago, she took a vow under Bishamonten to become his faithful follower.
Kagetora is the (self-styled) avatar of Bishamonten.
Wouldn't it be nice if Nomi can pretend to be Bishamonten for a while?



In a few moments, Nomi is in Kagetora's armor.
It fits really well - Kagetora has grown taller, now he and Nomi are about the same size.
Nomi draws the Katana the way Kagetora always does.
All of a sudden, she feels the confidence and power of a deity!

"We begin the march to Ueno!"

"BUUU--- BUUU--- BUUU---"
The longhorn can be heard all over Kasuga Mountain. The Nagao army is on the move!

Note: The picture above is from KOEI's Nobunaga Ambition XIII. In the future I will use more pictures from the game to fill in the blanks of TW:S2.