CH 104

Mid December, 1572.

On December 1st, Nobunaga finally made a move. He gathered his main retainers and loudly declared to them,

“Crush Takeda. Show our power to the world by sending reinforcements to Tokugawa!”

Nobunaga, who had not made his intentions clear until now, finally laid out a clear policy. The retainers showed a spirited demeanor in response to his words, but their thoughts turned to the location that would become the battlefield. Hamamatsu Castle, Ieyasu’s residence, was a huge structure measuring about 500 meters north to south and 450 meters east to west. It adopted a distinctive castle construction style called “teikakushiki” where baileys were lined up in a straight line along the slope of the Mikatahara Plateau. The natural defense line behind the main keep due to the difference in elevation made it a well-defended castle that was difficult to attack and easy to defend.

Therefore, the retainers understood. The siege warfare would be the main focus in the battle against Takeda. Siege warfare has always been tough. It becomes a battle of endurance where the defenders fortify their position and force the enemy to bleed, causing physical and mental exhaustion for both sides. Furthermore, the enemy is the renowned Takeda in the whole country. It was clear from the beginning that it would be a tough battle. The concern of the retainers concentrated on who would be dispatched, and they listened attentively to Nobunaga’s words.

“As for the reinforcements–”

As all the retainers leaned forward, Nobunaga smiled faintly and announced a personnel change that no one had expected.

“Well, it’s surprising, isn’t it?”

On the way back to Yamanaka Castle following Nobunaga’s orders, Hidenaga suddenly spoke up. Hideyoshi and Takenaka Hanbei smiled wryly. Nobunaga’s personnel change was so unexpected. After all, Nobunaga declared that Kimyomaru (Oda Nobutada), who was to be the successor and the commander-in-chief of the reinforcements to be sent to Tokugawa, would lead the army, and assigned Shizuko, Sakuma, Hirate, and Mizuno’s troops under him, organizing a large army of several tens of thousands. It was an excellent force as reinforcements. Not only Hamamatsu Castle, but also Sakuma, Hirate, and Mizuno’s troops were to be stationed in the surrounding castles and assigned as support when Hamamatsu Castle was attacked.

Almost all of Shizuko’s troops, which Nobunaga had not moved until now, were to be sent to Hamamatsu Castle. Sakuma, Hirate, and Mizuno also had troops numbering several thousand, but the main force was Shizuko’s troops. Together with Tokugawa’s 8,000 troops, they would be on par with Takeda in terms of numbers.

“I am also surprised. I never expected Kimyomaru to be appointed as the commander-in-chief. However, let it be clearly known to Tokugawa. The determination that our Lord is putting into this battle. It will be a desperate battle like the one against Imagawa.”

“I was personally praised by our Lord for my work at Yamanaka Castle. Our Lord hasn’t praised me in front of everyone since the battle against Imagawa. That’s why I believe we can win. That’s how I feel.”

There is no basis, but strangely, Hideyoshi did not doubt the victory. It was said that we would surely lose when we clashed with Imagawa. However, in the end, we achieved victory. Hideyoshi couldn’t help but feel that we would definitely win this battle against Takeda.

“But it’s a shame. If we defeat Takeda, our military prowess will resound throughout the country. Everyone will have to acknowledge our military achievements.”

“Enough of that. Focus on securing Asai and Asakura at Yamanaka Castle. It’s an important role.”

“Yes, understood.”

Hideyoshi reprimanded Hidenaga for making light-hearted remarks. Hidenaga’s attitude was two-faced, and Hideyoshi, who was disgusted by his behavior, sighed.

“However, my brother, you must be thinking about it a little, right?”

“W-w-well, yes. That’s why I’ve come up with a plan.”

Hidenaga probes while wearing a faint smile. Hideyoshi clears his throat and tries to hide his agitation, not wanting to let Hidenaga see through his inner thoughts. Hidenaga deepens his smile even more, but Hideyoshi consciously ignores him and urges his horse to move faster.

“Hahaha, my brother has escaped from me.”

“Please don’t tease him too much. Hashiba-sama must also be worried.”

“Not really. Well, we’ll manage somehow. He’s a stubborn one.”

After that conversation, Hidenaga and Takenaka Hanbei increased the speed of their horses to catch up with Hideyoshi.

Shizuko, who was ordered by Nobunaga to be the reinforcements for Tokugawa, gathered not only Keiji but also the unit leaders. It was already known without Shizuko having to say it that they would be dispatched as reinforcements to Tokugawa. However, by announcing it again through Shizuko, they could confirm the direction of the army, so Shizuko decided to declare it here.

“Many of you may already know, but our army has been decided to be dispatched as reinforcements to Tokugawa.”

Some were shaken by Shizuko’s words, but most accepted it with an attitude of “as expected.”

“I won’t waste time with long speeches, so I’ll summarize it concisely. There is no need to be specially prepared just because we are reinforcements. We will march as usual, fight as usual, and win as usual. That’s all.”

Some were anxious about the concise words, but Shizuko did not say anything more and dismissed everyone. Since the general said that we would win as usual, they decided to fulfill their roles as usual and left the place individually. Only Keiji, Saizo, Nagayoshi, Takatora (Yokichi Toudou), and Ashimitsu remained.

“Now, Ashimitsu-ojisan, I leave the logistics to you. The rest of you, continue as usual. I will inform you of the departure date later.”

“Understood.”

The five of them dispersed at Shizuko’s words. For the next week or so, they each carried out their assigned tasks. Nagayoshi, Saizo, and Takatora (Yokichi Toudou) trained, Keiji continued his usual activities while taking care of the spies, and Ashimitsu gathered supplies. Unlike Sakuma and Hirate, Shizuko and the others acted as if nothing was different, causing those around them to become anxious.

And so, three days before the departure, as the battle between the Takeda army, which was struggling to capture Futamata Castle, and the Tokugawa army reached its climax, Shizuko gathered the gunners. The reason was to confirm the results of their training. As ordered by Shizuko, Genro gathered the group that had made the most progress and the group that was the least skilled. Each group was made to shoot at their respective targets. As expected, the top group impressed everyone. They shot without hesitation, and their reloading speed was excellent. On the other hand, the bottom group took time to get into shooting position, resulting in longer intervals between shots.

“Hmm, I was a little worried, but it’s not a problem.”

Shizuko, seeing the results of the bottom group, felt relieved. The top group fired 9 to 10 shots per minute, while the bottom group fired 6 to 7 shots. It was true that there was quite a variation in skill level when looking at the results. However, as long as they didn’t fall below 5 shots per minute, it was not a problem. Shizuko had worried that Genro would say they were so bad that they couldn’t even manage 4 shots per minute, but this result was well within an acceptable range.

“But, the difference is too great, isn’t it?”

When Genro made a suggestion, Shizuko pointed at the targets with her finger.

“The number of shots may be lower, but the shooting accuracy seems to be higher.”

Everyone looked at the targets as they were told. As Shizuko pointed out, the shots from the top group were scattered, but the shots from the bottom group were concentrated around the center.

“Which is better depends on how you use it. So, it’s premature to judge skill solely based on shooting speed. It’s better to find strengths and praise them to improve, rather than blame and make them shrink due to their weaknesses.”

“Y-yes! You’re right, Lord. I am ashamed of my own shortsightedness.”

“There’s no need to be so humble. Now, if we can do precision shooting… I wonder if we can do scoped shooting. But we can’t equip everyone with scopes, so it might be impossible this time.”

Shizuko had been considering using scoped bolt-action rifles for long-range sniping to eliminate messengers. If the messengers were reduced, the command structure would collapse, and the advantage of a large army would not be utilized. In this battle against Takeda, they had prioritized suppressing the enemy with the number of shots rather than shooting accuracy, so they had not anticipated using high-precision sniper rifles. Shizuko regretted it a little, but there was no choice but to give up on something they didn’t have.

“Excessive confidence leads to arrogance, but without confidence, one cannot remain calm. Anyway, there’s no problem with this. Make sure not to neglect training until we depart.”

“Yes!”

Shizuko was satisfied with everyone’s response. After that, she left everything to Genro and left the place.

“Instead of blaming weaknesses and making them shrink, it’s better to find strengths and make them grow, huh?”

Nagamasa, one of the members of the group that had been constantly criticized for being bad, pondered Shizuko’s words. He had never thought of such a way of thinking before. At the same time, he understood why Nobunaga valued Shizuko. Both the top group and the bottom group witnessed their own strengths and weaknesses, and it made them even more motivated.

“And… Nagamasa-sama, what’s the matter?”

Endo, who was curious about Nagamasa standing still, called out to him. Startled by the voice, Nagamasa pushed out all the thoughts in his head.

“It’s nothing. But… we’ll be facing Takeda soon. We must prepare ourselves.”

“Yes. However… can we really defeat Takeda? That girl said it so casually, but honestly, I can’t believe it will turn out that way.”

“Who knows. We can’t see what Shizuko-dono is thinking and what she sees. But she has achieved so much until now. She won’t suddenly say that Takeda was too much for us. Besides, she has prepared these guns.”

As he said that, Nagamasa lightly lifted the new rifles. When he first saw their shooting, everyone was amazed. Even those who were considered gun experts found it difficult to hit targets at such a distance. But the new recruits, who had just finished basic training, were able to hit them. Some thought it was just a coincidence that someone with good marksmanship had shot, but as Nagamasa became proficient in shooting, he understood that the new rifles were terrifying. The reloading speed was simply too fast. Even experienced users of matchlock guns struggled to fire one shot per minute. But even inexperienced soldiers could fire six shots. It was six times the speed, and it was clear that the enemy would become a beehive before they could close the distance.

“That’s true…”,Endo and Mitamura also understood the performance of the new rifle very well. After all, they were part of the gunners.

“Indeed, it is remarkable that it can hit targets at a distance of fifty-five ken (1 ken = 1.8m).”

The two nodded at Mitamura’s words. Fifty-five ken is approximately one hundred meters. Anyone who knows the performance of the new rifle would find it strange. The effective range of the new rifle is eight hundred meters. One hundred meters is not enough to fully utilize its capabilities.

This was Shizuko’s plan. By changing the height and size of the target, she made it appear that the rifle only shot about one hundred meters, while actually training to aim at targets eight hundred meters away. One hundred meters is a distance that can be reached even with the current matchlock rifles. Although the rate of fire was impressive, it did not seem like a weapon that would completely change the nature of warfare.

“There’s no point in complaining now. Let’s train.”

Even the users themselves did not fully understand the performance of the rifle, nor did they realize how skilled they had become. The true value of the new rifle remained unknown to anyone.

Oda sent reinforcements to Tokugawa. The news spread quickly in all directions. The enemy was surprised that they still had the strength to send troops while being surrounded on all sides. However, Shingen had anticipated this from the beginning and had estimated that there were still about 20,000 to 30,000 troops left in Gifu. His prediction was correct, and there were about 20,000 troops left in Owari and Mino for defense.

“Hmm, as expected.”

Upon learning of the reinforcements of the Oda army, Shingen muttered. He decided to destroy the water source of Futamata Castle, as attacking the castle by force would result in heavy losses. They released a large number of rafts into the Tenryu River, which served as the water source for Futamata Castle, and cut off the external water supply. Futamata Castle had no wells, and the rainwater they had stored was not enough to supply water to the soldiers. The castle lord, Nakane Masateru, surrendered to Shingen on the condition of sparing the soldiers.

At the same time, the reinforcements of the Oda army arrived at Hamamatsu Castle. Shizuko’s army consisted of 10,000 troops, while Sakuma, Hirate, and Mizuno each led about 1,500 troops, totaling about 15,000 troops. The reason why Sakuma, Hirate, and Mizuno had fewer troops was because they had divided their forces and stationed them in other castles as well. While defending Hamamatsu Castle, their plan was to attack Takeda’s rear from other castles. In addition, a force of 10,000 troops led by Kimyomaru (Oda Nobutada) was waiting in Shirasu (around present-day Kosei City, Shizuoka Prefecture).

They were turning the tables on Takeda by using the siege tactics that had given them so much trouble before. Their plan was to prevent Takeda from concentrating their forces. It was a passive strategy, but it had the highest chance of success. The problem was that Shingen had already anticipated this strategy from the beginning.

Shizuko arrived at Hamamatsu Castle, but she felt a heavy atmosphere throughout the castle. She thought it would be best not to say anything unnecessary and went with Saizo to meet with Sakuma and the others at Ieyasu’s place.

“Ahem, to be honest, Lord Shizuko, what are the chances of success in your estimation?”

On the way, Sakuma asked the question while covering his mouth with a fan. Hirate and Mizuno pretended not to hear, but they were paying close attention to the conversation between Sakuma and Shizuko.

“Hmm, well, for now, it’s about 80%.”

“…So you mean there’s an 80% chance of losing?”

Sakuma, who became anxious, asked further questions. He wondered why he had to pay so much attention to his own words, but Shizuko answered because she didn’t mind if they knew.

“No, it’s not like that. For now, we can say we have an 80% chance of winning.”

“Huh?”

Sakuma didn’t understand the meaning and was about to question Shizuko further, but he didn’t have the opportunity. Ieyasu, who had noticed their presence, hurriedly composed himself and began speaking.

“I apologize for being lost in thought. I would like to hold a war council immediately. Please gather everyone.”

With those words, Ieyasu left the room. Shizuko and the others entered quietly. The air was heavy. The cause was Ieyasu’s distress. His anxiety and fear spread to his retainers, and they too were distressed, so the whole room was filled with a gloomy atmosphere.

(This seems quite serious…)

A retainer whispered to Ieyasu. It was only now that Sakuma and the others noticed Shizuko and the others. Ieyasu quickly corrected himself and began speaking.

“I apologize for my rudeness. I was lost in thought. I would like to hold a war council as soon as possible. I want everyone to gather.”

After saying that, Ieyasu quickly left the room. Sakuma turned his face towards Shizuko. She hoped he wouldn’t bring up another topic and shrugged her shoulders lightly.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Along with the Tokugawa retainers, Shizuko and the others moved to the war council. The atmosphere was still heavy, but there was a slight sense of relief as they stepped outside.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to explain the current situation in detail. Instead, let’s discuss the reinforcements for Futamata Castle, which is currently being besieged by Takeda.”

In the war council, Ieyasu brought up the reinforcements for Futamata Castle as the first topic. Currently, if they neglect the reinforcements for Futamata Castle, they will not be able to maintain the unity of the Tokugawa retainers. Even though it may be considered reckless, Ieyasu had no choice but to go to the reinforcements for Futamata Castle.

“Lord Tokugawa, in fact, we have been given a plan by our Lord. Please hear the details from Shizuko here.”

“(This is terrible, I’ve been thrown under the bus) Ahem, then I will speak from here on.”

Shizuko was left to explain by Sakuma, but she had no complaints. In fact, she had been wondering when she should join the conversation.

“First of all, we will not send reinforcements to Futamata Castle.”

“That is unacceptable.”

As soon as Shizuko finished speaking, Ieyasu immediately rejected the idea. The Tokugawa retainers also supported Ieyasu’s opinion, causing a stir.

“Please wait, it’s not that we are sending reinforcements to Futamata Castle for no reason. The reason I said we won’t send reinforcements is because Futamata Castle has already fallen.”

Ieyasu couldn’t believe Shizuko’s words and his expression froze. Futamata Castle was the last stronghold defending Hamamatsu Castle. If the formidable Futamata Castle fell, Hamamatsu Castle would be almost defenseless. It was particularly painful for Ieyasu because it seemed like they couldn’t send reinforcements and had abandoned Futamata Castle.

“We will defend Hamamatsu Castle, and if they focus on besieging it, we will attack Takeda’s rear. This is our Lord’s plan to prevent Shingen from concentrating on the siege of the castle.”

“Hmm, if we move our entire army, we will be attacked from behind, so Shingen will definitely leave some troops. If that happens, their forces going to other places will be reduced. This castle won’t fall easily. I see, Shingen will have to allocate a significant portion of his forces.”

Ieyasu reluctantly accepted the plan, but he still had concerns. Whether Shingen would go along with their plan was the question. If Shingen didn’t besiege Hamamatsu Castle, they could attack his rear, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it was seen as abandoning the supporting castle. There was a risk of defection.

“Lord, this is too risky.”

“But if Futamata Castle has already fallen, we have no choice but to rely on this plan.”

As Ieyasu said, the choices available to the Tokugawa family were limited. Among them, the most promising was Nobunaga’s plan. They couldn’t afford to have any higher expectations.

“Therefore, I would like to transport supplies from our army for the defense of the castle. It will take about two days considering the capture of Futamata Castle, so I would like permission to bring in a large amount of supplies during that time.”

“That’s not a problem. I apologize, but our current stockpile is not reassuring. If you can prepare them there, it would be a great offer.”

“Understood. Then, time is of the essence, so I will make the arrangements immediately. (Things are going smoothly so far)”

Shizuko was secretly satisfied with the smooth progress and ordered Saizo to inform Ashimitsu to start the transportation operation. Saizo bowed his head once and quietly left the room.

“Now, let’s discuss any other concerns.”

While waiting for Shingen to come to Mikatagahara Plateau, Shizuko asked if there were any other topics to discuss.

Since there were no other specific topics, the war council ended quickly. Ashimitsu, upon receiving the orders, led his troops out of Hamamatsu Castle and headed for Shirasu, where Kimyomaru (Oda Nobutada) was located. Even before receiving a response from Ieyasu, Shizuko had already stationed supply troops in Shirasu. Now all they had to do was continue the piston transport and bring in as much supplies as possible to Hamamatsu Castle. Ashimitsu acted quickly. Using a field scope and a flag, he contacted the supply unit in Shirasu in just thirty minutes. The supply unit, upon receiving the message, began their march. The supply troops, carrying containers, formed a column and headed towards Hamamatsu Castle. After the supply troops arrived at Hamamatsu Castle, they would place the contents of the containers in the designated location, while the escort troops of the supply unit would perform miscellaneous tasks.

The Tokugawa retainers, who saw the long line of containers from a distance, were astonished by the overwhelming quantity. They thought that with this amount, they would be able to withstand a long siege. However, most of the contents of the containers were military supplies for defeating the Takeda army, not daily necessities for the siege, so there was a slight mismatch in expectations between Shizuko and them.

“What a magnificent sight.”

Hanzo, who was watching from a distance, murmured. The line of containers seemed endless, and they couldn’t even imagine how much more would be brought in. Today was December 21st, and considering the supplies brought in during the two days since the reinforcements arrived, it was understandable why Shizuko was rumored to be on par with other daimyo.

“With this, we can do it, Hanzo!”,”Understood. But don’t pat people on the back. Learn the word ‘moderation’.”

Hanzo complained as Tadakatsu patted his back. The others smiled wryly at Tadakatsu’s excitement.

“He’s ecstatic.”

“Well, if a girl he likes says, ‘The key to victory in this battle lies with Lord Honda,’ it’s no wonder Heihachiro gets carried away.”

“Hahaha! Jealous, are you? Male jealousy is ugly!”

It was annoying, that was the feeling everyone in the room had. Yasumasa, who had asked for a little push, regretted it now. He should have asked for a more indirect way of conveying the message.

“So, where is Lord Ieyasa?”

“It seems that Lord Ieyasa is with Lord Shizuko because he was interested in the beasts she brought.”

“Ah, I see. It was certainly surprising. It can’t be helped if Lord is interested.”

Shizuko had brought the Wittman family to Hamamatsu Castle for a reason. Usually, it was only Kaiser and König, but this time the whole family was there. Even just Kaiser was surprising, but when they were all gathered, it was a mythical sight. And Shizuko, who easily controlled those massive beasts, also inspired a certain amount of awe.

“The outcome of this battle is becoming unclear.”

Yasumasa muttered. He had a hunch, although it was just a gut feeling. The battle with the Takeda clan would not end with just a siege.

Ieyasu was amazed at the sight of the Wittman family gathered together. He had heard that they were big, but he never expected them to be this massive. Ieyasu, as a test of courage, approached the Wittmans. König was the first to react, but the others quickly noticed Ieyasu’s actions. They seemed to be ignoring him, but their ears were turned towards Ieyasu.

“That’s enough.”

If Ieyasu took one more step closer, the Wittman family would move. Ieyasu stopped just before that point. Even if he wasn’t familiar with wolves, his experience in battles told him that he was crossing a dangerous line.

“However, they have magnificent physiques. You can even feel their godliness.”

Shizuko smiled wryly at Ieyasu’s evaluation. To Shizuko, they were always like spoiled children. But she took pride in the high evaluation as their owner.

“I’m sorry. They’re a bit on edge because they’re in an unfamiliar place, so they’re more cautious than usual.”

“Haha, it’s no problem. It’s because of our own lack of familiarity.”

After a little chat, Shizuko and Ieyasu headed to inspect the supplies brought in by Ashimitsu. Due to the two-day time limit, the site was more crowded than imagined. Several cart trolleys were taken out from the containers, and they were loaded onto hand trolleys according to their categories and taken to storage areas. The empty cart trolleys were stored away once all the containers were emptied. The organizers who had to organize the incoming supplies were in a frenzy due to the continuous influx.

The transported supplies were only labeled with identification numbers on the boxes, so it was not immediately clear what was inside. Shizuko knew the meaning of the identification numbers, but for the Tokugawa family, it was completely unclear why they were sorting ordinary wooden boxes.

“What’s wrong, Shizuko? Is there a problem?”

As they inspected without getting in the way of the workers, Ashimitsu, the person in charge, noticed Shizuko and the others.

“I thought you might be inspecting with Lord Tokugawa.”

“I see. There’s nothing to worry about. Everything is going smoothly.”

As he said that, Ashimitsu handed Shizuko a clipboard. When she received it and checked the contents, she could see that the supplies were being transported smoothly. Then Shizuko turned her attention to the flow of guards escorting the supplies. They were entering the castle along with the supplies and leaving quietly as they were being transported out. This was also going smoothly (…).

“No problems.”

Ieyasu, who was left behind, didn’t feel the need to say anything since Shizuko herself said there were no problems. It was still unclear what criteria were being used to determine how much of what was being transported.

“Treat the soldiers to this tonight.”

Ashimitsu understood what Shizuko was pointing at and nodded slightly.

What Shizuko treated the soldiers to was alcohol. Tomorrow would be a day of intense activity. If things went wrong, tonight could be the last night they saw the moon. That’s why she didn’t complain about being stingy and treated them to a lavish dinner. Bottled dishes were opened one after another, filling the soldiers’ stomachs, and empty barrels of sake were scattered around.

“It’s like a festival.”

Hanzo, Tadakatsu, and Yasumasa were surprised by the commotion in Shizuko’s army. At first glance, it looked like a pre-battle feast before facing the Takeda clan, but the three couldn’t think of it that way. They felt that Shizuko and the others had different intentions for this short period of time. They understood that even Ieyasu, their lord, had noticed, as he didn’t say anything about the commotion in Shizuko’s army and even declared that anyone could join in if they wanted. And as soon as he said that, he went straight to join Shizuko’s army himself.

“This is unacceptable… munch munch… Even though tomorrow is the start of the siege, huff huff… it’s too relaxing.”

“Heihachiro, you have no credibility when you say that while eating a mountain of food.”

“You guys also have food in your hands.”

Unable to resist the delicious smell, the three of them walked with their plates in hand. Tadakatsu, for example, spread rice on his plate and piled various side dishes on top. Hanzo and Yasumasa also had several dishes crowded on their plates. Although they didn’t eat much, Ieyasu drank until he was completely drunk, along with Sakei.

“No matter what you say, everyone is anxious. That’s why we need to make noise when we can.”

Everyone understood that the long and difficult siege would begin tomorrow. However, Shizuko and a few others believed that tomorrow would be the day they would defeat Takeda in a single blow. That’s why they had worked hard to prepare for this. They felt sorry for the people who had trained so hard and had been through so much if they didn’t achieve a result where at least the main force of the Takeda clan was annihilated.

“It’s too late to say that now. We’ll do everything we can.”

“Your carefree attitude is comforting now. Relax and enjoy it to the fullest.”

“Hey, don’t treat people so lightly.”

“Is that so?”

“It is!”

Hanzo’s retort was met with Tadakatsu’s rebuttal. But soon, all three burst into laughter. They were just enjoying themselves for this moment, forgetting that the night was getting late and tomorrow was approaching.

Although they were slightly different from the Tokugawa vassals, Shizuko and the others were also having a great time. If the general was anxious at a time like this, it would be like spending a gloomy night like a funeral. The person in charge had to lead the way and show that they were enjoying themselves.

“Yeah!”

In front of a large bonfire, Keiji’s monkey dance, Saizo’s martial arts performance, and dances that were hardly known were performed. The bonfire was also called a campfire or “fire of camaraderie,” and it was perfect for strengthening unity. Everyone gathered around the bonfire and made a lively commotion.

“Oh, I am… what was the continuation?”

“You fool!”

Everyone laughed loudly at the comedy or kabuki-like performance. The sake’s influence was also present, but someone had jumped in front of the bonfire and was doing something incomprehensible.

“You can’t underestimate the power of sake.”

Shizuko, who was caught up in the excitement, was cooling off in the night breeze, a little away from the bonfire. Although she couldn’t drink alcohol, she felt like she was getting drunk just from the atmosphere.

“Water.”

“Thank you.”

Shizuko received the cold water from Ashimitsu. The cold water soothed her overheated body. Taking a deep breath, Shizuko watched the soldiers’ rowdy behavior with a cup in her hand.

“Tomorrow is finally the decisive battle. We need to make noise to ensure that there are no regrets.”

“Don’t say such ominous things. Even if we can’t achieve a bloodless victory, if we can minimize the damage, it will be a splendid propaganda. We will overwhelm them tomorrow.”

Everyone around them thought that the long and arduous siege would begin tomorrow. However, Shizuko and a few others, led by her, believed that tomorrow would be the day they would defeat Takeda in a single blow. That’s why they had worked hard to prepare for this. They felt sorry for the people who had trained so hard and had been through so much if they didn’t achieve a result where at least the main force of the Takeda clan was annihilated.

“We expect about 200 casualties. Be prepared for that.”

“200… I want to reduce it a little more, but if that’s the number we should expect against the Takeda army, then it’s fine.”

“It’s not just fine, it’s unbelievable for anyone who knows Takeda well. Even Kenshin could only manage a draw against Takeda, so the complete collapse of their army is something to consider.”

Shizuko nodded in agreement with Ashimitsu’s words. Everything was ready. Other Oda clan leaders had also agreed to this plan. Each faction had their own intentions, but as long as the goal of defeating Takeda was shared, there was no problem for Shizuko. She had no interest in what privileges or honors would come after this battle. She only hoped that the result of this battle would lead to a reduction in unnecessary conflicts.

“Rest assured. If a force that defeats Takeda is formed, there will be no unnecessary conflicts. I don’t know how Kenshin will react, but he won’t join forces with the Hojo to fight.”

“I hope it turns out that way. It would be troublesome if the country continues to be exhausted by endless battles. Everyone has their own thoughts. But personally, I think the future of the Oda shogunate under Lord’s rule is the best option.”

“There is no future that everyone will agree on. I believe in Shizuko. So walk the path you believe in, even if it turns out to be a mistake. Leave it to future historians to judge whether it was a mistake or the right path.”,”Okay. I’ll do my best. But if it looks like it’s hopeless, please stop me.”

“If that’s what Shizuko wants, I will stop her even if it costs me my life.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary to go to such lengths.”

Shizuko, who thought it was exaggerated, smiled without a care. But Ashimitsu felt a slight unease. Once the battle with Takeda is over, whether she wants it or not, Shizuko will establish herself in the world of politics. And once the danger of Takeda is gone, it is clear that power struggles will begin within the Oda family.

(Defeating Takeda, crushing the Nagashima Ikko-ikki, destroying the Asai, annihilating the Asakura. If that foolish brother is sent to the Mori, Japan will be mostly under the control of the Oda family. In that case, Honganji Temple will have no choice but to submit to the Oda, although it may take time. Nobunaga will stand in a position where he can see the whole country. And then, many weeds will gather, aiming for Shizuko’s power.)

Ashimitsu didn’t know if Shizuko could remain unchanged, being dragged into unwanted power struggles. But even if Shizuko were to change, Ashimitsu’s role would remain the same. To protect Shizuko, to destroy the enemies, Ashimitsu was convinced that was his duty.

“I don’t intend to be high and mighty. Well, let’s put aside the future for now. We should focus on tomorrow.”

“…Yes, tomorrow.”

After drinking the remaining water in the cup, Shizuko looked up at the night sky. Thanks to the clear air, she could see a sky full of stars.

“Tomorrow, history will change greatly.”

Shizuko’s small murmurs didn’t reach even Ashimitsu, who was nearby, and they disappeared into the night sky without reaching anyone. The commotion continued for a while, but as the night grew late, everyone went to sleep in preparation for tomorrow.

December 22nd, the day of destiny arrived.