CH 107

Late December, 1572.

The news of Baba Nobuharu and Yamagata Masakage’s deaths reached Shingen just before Shizuko gave the order to attack the Takeda army. No one understood the facts that the messenger brought. No, their emotions refused to understand. But with time, they had no choice but to accept the situation. It was said that Takeda suffered great losses in this battle.

Baba Nobuharu, who was known as the strongest in the Takeda family, and Yamagata Masakage, who led the Akabie, had spent forty years on the battlefield without receiving a single scratch. With the loss of both of them, Takeda was left without its two main forces.

“My lord! If we don’t retaliate against them, the name of Takeda will be ruined! Give me the order to attack!”

At this point, Takeda had two choices. Either continue the fight or retreat. However, even without their main forces, Takeda’s strength was evenly matched with the combined forces of Oda and Tokugawa. Choosing to retreat while there was still a chance of victory was not acceptable to them. Above all, if they were to retreat here, all the achievements they had gained so far would be in vain, and the sacrifices they had made would be wasted. It was clear that the Takeda clan, who had shown their loyalty to Takeda, would pursue them again in search of a reward for their betrayal. They could endure the humiliation for the sake of honor and wait for the opportunity to rise again. However, a retreat with the entire army without any achievements would cause greater damage than continuing the fight against the combined forces of Oda and Tokugawa.

“Send the third unit. Don’t let them get too confident.”

Shingen, who decided to continue the fight, gave orders to the entire army except for the main camp. The entire army was invigorated by his command. Although the armies of Oyamada Nobumasa, Yamagata Masakage, and Baba Nobuharu were annihilated, Takeda had no shortage of brave warriors. With the addition of Naito Masatoyo, Sanada Nobuyuki and Masayuki, Suwa Katsuyori, Takeda Nobutomo, and Yonekura Tango-no-kami, it seemed easy to push back the advancing combined forces of Oda and Tokugawa.

However, Shingen made a fatal mistake here. He believed that the combined forces of Oda and Tokugawa had attacked the Akabie and Baba’s forces with their entire army and barely managed to kill both of them. What disturbed Shingen’s judgment was the lack of information. The battlefield was in chaos, and the news of the deaths of influential warriors was prioritized over anything else. The threat of new firearms and explosive tubes had not yet reached Shingen. And when Shingen finally realized his mistake, it was too late. An urgent report was delivered before the messenger.

“My lord! Reinforcements… Oda’s reinforcements have arrived! Their number is approximately 8,000!”

“What did you say!”

Shingen raised his voice in response to the reinforcements that appeared at the worst possible timing. Nobunaga should have sent out all the reinforcements he could after cutting down on defenses. It was unthinkable for more reinforcements to appear. If he abandoned Owari and rushed to provide assistance, even if they were to achieve victory here, both Oda and Tokugawa would fall together. Shingen himself couldn’t figure out where they managed to gather 8,000 troops from.

“My lord! The flags of Shibata, Akechi, and Niwa (Niwa Nagahide) can be seen among the reinforcements!”

“My lord! The flags of Sassa, Maeda, Hashiba, and Mori have also been confirmed!”

“My lord! Naito’s army has been annihilated under Oda’s fierce attack! Naito himself is presumed to have been killed in battle!”

“Sanada’s army has also been defeated! Sanada Saemon-no-suke has been killed! No one has seen Muto Kihei (Sanada Masayuki)! He is likely to have been killed in battle!”

“Morimasa Sambae, who had been retreating, has appeared!! The troops are in high spirits and excited!”

Reports of casualties were brought to Shingen one after another. The balance that had been maintained with the appearance of reinforcements was now greatly tilted. The only thing that could be said was that if they continued to sit idly by, Takeda would be defeated.

(What in the world is happening!)

Shingen stopped thinking about the mysterious reinforcements and focused on dealing with the situation at hand. This situation was like a game where both sides had started playing, but only the opponent had hidden many pieces. But the battle had already begun before they could face each other on the battlefield. Shingen, who regretted his lack of understanding of the intricacies, suppressed his agitation and called for Takasaka Shigenobu. Without delay, Takasaka Shigenobu appeared, and Shingen beckoned him to come closer. Wondering what was happening, Takasaka Shigenobu knelt down in front of Shingen. When Shingen whispered something to him, Takasaka Shigenobu widened his eyes in surprise. Shingen nodded firmly.

“My lord… I understand!”

Takasaka Shigenobu closed his eyes as if hesitating about something, then looked back at Shingen and bowed deeply before leaving the place. Shingen silently watched his retreating figure, suppressing his emotions.

Going back a little in time, Keiji and Takatora (Yokichi Toudou) from the Oda side clashed with Naito Masatoyo and the Sanada brothers, Nobuyuki, Masatada, and Masayuki, from the Takeda side. At that time, Keiji had engaged in a one-on-one battle with Sanada Nobuyuki.

“Oryaryaryaryaaa!!”

With a light-hearted shout, Keiji skillfully parried all of Sanada Nobuyuki’s fierce attacks. His martial prowess was unimaginable from his flamboyant appearance on the battlefield. The Sanada army couldn’t hide their unease when Keiji, who was highly regarded by Shingen, fought on par with Sanada Nobuyuki.

“Haha! Your brother was a bit disappointing, but it seems like I can have an interesting match with you.”

The brother he referred to was not Masayuki, but Sanada Masateru. In place of Sanada Masateru, who was defeated by Keiji, it was now his brother, Sanada Nobuyuki, who was fighting Keiji with a one-meter-long Jin-tachi sword forged by the master craftsman, Aoe Sadatsugu.

“You monster… to easily parry my attacks like this.”

“It’s not easy at all. I’m desperate because I can’t afford to miss your attacks.”

Holding his halberd, Keiji praised Sanada Nobuyuki. It was a stroke of luck to encounter such a formidable opponent, and it was a reality that his own strength matched up to it. Keiji couldn’t help but feel excited.

“Do you enjoy dancing on the brink of death? I can’t understand that.”

“You can truly feel alive when faced with death. Isn’t that a good thing?”

It was something that Nobuyuki couldn’t understand, but Keiji was genuinely enjoying this one-on-one battle. There was nothing more interesting than the exchange of life and death in an instant. Seeing Keiji’s smile that seemed to say so, Nobuyuki smiled wryly.

“A dandy… something that a samurai like me can’t understand.”

“It’s simple. You don’t have to understand. Just give me everything you’ve got.”

With the sound of a high-pitched clash, both of them moved apart. The distance between them widened, but if they took one step forward, they would be within striking distance of each other’s blades. The tension-filled stance indicated that the next exchange would determine the outcome. Everyone around them couldn’t help but understand this from the atmosphere between the two. Even Keiji, who had been smiling throughout the battle, and even Shizuko, had never seen such a serious expression on Nobuyuki’s face.

“I want to ask you one thing. You knew this was a losing battle, didn’t you? Why didn’t you try to escape?”

Spitting out the blood that had accumulated in his mouth, Nobuyuki answered.

“Even though I serve the daughter of the Imperial Guard, I don’t want to be a close aide. My lord doesn’t try to restrain me. Of course, I have to fulfill the minimum duties, but as long as I do that, he values my style. I have no bravery, but I can’t help but attract people. I guess I had good chemistry with him.”

They exchanged words between their clashes. It was an extraordinary feat that was beyond the reach of ordinary people. Keiji, who effortlessly performed it, was worthy of admiration, but Nobuyuki, who could keep up with him without any difficulty, was a fearsome warrior.

“Haha! It’s true that from the outside, I may seem like a close aide. But my lord doesn’t try to restrain me, and I won’t leave him even without being restrained. Both sides are contradictory, so our chemistry must be good.”

“Haha! You’re right! A lord who doesn’t restrain his subordinates and subordinates who won’t leave even without being restrained. Both sides are contradictory.”

With the impact of their blades, both of them moved away from each other. The distance between them widened, but if they took one step forward, they would be within striking distance of each other’s blades. It was a tense position. Everyone understood that the next exchange would decide the outcome. Even Keiji, who had been smiling throughout the battle, and even Shizuko, had never seen such a serious expression on Nobuyuki’s face.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. It lifted a piece of cloth that had once been a flag from the ground and danced in the air, flipping its body between the two. When the cloth flipped and concealed both of them, they moved. Both of them closed the distance in one move and swung their weapons at each other. However, Keiji’s halberd and Sanada Nobuyuki’s Jin-tachi sword did not cross paths and were swung away. Both of them had swung their weapons with the momentum of their strikes, but no one could tell how many times they had clashed. The only thing that could be said was that when this sound stopped, it would be the decisive moment.

Silence dominated the battlefield, and no one made a sound. Eventually, Keiji knelt down, and after a short pause, Sanada Nobuyuki fell to the ground.

“Surpassing the peak of my life…”

Using the sword stuck in the ground as a cane, Sanada Nobuyuki stood up. He had been cut diagonally from his left shoulder to his right waist. On the other hand, Keiji’s armor was shattered, and he had a straight blade wound running from his right shoulder to his collarbone, with a slight amount of bleeding.

“Haha! It’s unbearable. Such a feat… if it were to happen, it would be a disgrace to the samurai’s honor.”

Nobuyuki’s footwork and strikes were superior. Keiji moved a beat slower than Nobuyuki. Nobuyuki abandoned evasion and delivered a powerful blow. On the other hand, Keiji evaded the approaching strike and counterattacked. It was not something that Keiji could easily do. Keiji’s extraordinary reaction speed, his astonishing strength that allowed him to handle the heavy halberd like a twig, his instantaneous power to dodge while putting all his strength into it, and his concentration in the extreme state between life and death were all necessary to deliver such a blow. Realizing this from the scars on his body, Nobuyuki smiled satisfied.

“I want to ask you one thing. You knew this was a losing battle, didn’t you? Why didn’t you try to escape?”

Spitting out the blood that had accumulated in his mouth, Nobuyuki answered.,”…I realized it in this battle. The era of firearms is about to begin. Samurai who only have skills in bow, sword, and spear will eventually be swept away by the trend. I couldn’t bear the fact that the skills I honed throughout my life would become useless. That’s why I risked my life to resist!”

In this battle, Sanada Nobutsuna sensed that the nature of warfare was changing and that the number of firearms would determine victory or defeat. He understood that it was the end of the era of samurai where individual bravery was not necessary. He understood it, but he couldn’t accept it. When he thought about his future that couldn’t accept change, he realized that the battlefield of Mikatagahara (here) was his place of death.

“I cannot tolerate dying by firearms! I am a samurai! I want to meet my end in a battle against a man I acknowledge!”

Sanada Nobutsuna coughed violently and blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth. His attendants tried to approach him, but he stopped them with his hand. He himself understood best that there was no way he could be saved.

“If you understand the way of life and death, then you will understand. I have fulfilled my lifelong wish.”

Keiji smiled fearlessly and tightly gripped his halberd.

“Go ahead. We’ll meet again soon. Then, let’s have a drink together.”

“Yes! I’ll watch over your way of life in the afterlife.”

Those were Sanada Nobutsuna’s final words. Keiji beheaded Sanada Nobutsuna with his halberd. Sanada Nobutsuna’s face in death was calm, with a cool expression that seemed to speak of no regrets in this world. Keiji clasped his hands together in front of Sanada Nobutsuna’s head and muttered softly.

“Sanada Saemon-no-suke, a true warrior.”

With the killing of Sanada Masakatsu and now Sanada Nobutsuna, the morale of the Sanada army collapsed. They fell to their knees, dropped their weapons, and mourned their deceased lord.

“Is that alright?”

Pushing through the soldiers, a certain general mounted his horse and stepped forward.

“Are you ready?”

Recognizing from the atmosphere that he was a samurai, Keiji lightly lifted his halberd and asked. But the general shook his head and threw the sword at his waist to the ground.

“I beg for the lives of my two older brothers and the soldiers with my life.”

“…And what is your name?”

“Muto Yoshihei. Although I was adopted into the Muto family, I am the younger brother of Sanada Saemon-no-suke, who was killed by you.”

As Muto Yoshihei, later known as Sanada Masayuki, spoke, he took off his armor. He only wore gauntlets and shin guards, and then he looked at Keiji’s face again. His eyes were asking for a response.

“I understand. I will accept your proposal.”

After thinking for a moment, Keiji nodded. He didn’t really need Sanada’s head in the first place. It would only be a burden to have a higher position than he already had. Even without the head of a general, he was receiving sufficient rewards. But if he were to say that now, it would embarrass Muto Yoshihei, who had risked his life to beg for the lives of the soldiers. Keiji thought it would be enough to take him back to Shizuko and release him at an appropriate time.

“Thank you. Listen well, everyone. This battle is over. Please pay your respects to my older brothers. I’m counting on you.”

“Y-Yes!”

The soldiers of the Sanada clan responded with a strong voice, leaving their tears flowing. Quickly wrapping the heads of Sanada Masakatsu and Sanada Nobutsuna in their surcoats, they showed a commanding presence that didn’t seem like a defeated army and left. Muto Yoshihei, who was satisfied with the soldiers’ movements, watched their retreat with clear eyes, characteristic of someone prepared for death. Eventually, all the soldiers of the Sanada clan left, and in the ensuing emptiness, Keiji called out to Muto Yoshihei.

“Well, about that head… before that, would you like to meet our commander?”

“What do you mean?”

Muto Yoshihei tilted his head in response to Keiji’s strange proposal. But Keiji continued his words without worrying about it.

“It’s more interesting to introduce you to our commander than to kill you, that’s what my intuition whispers to me.”

“And what’s the meaning of that? It would be enough to take my head and present it as proof of your military exploits.”

“Well, well, just humor me for a while.”

“Understood. My life is already entrusted to you. I’ll go along with your amusement.”

“That’s the spirit. Well then, shall we go right away?”

“Wait. Now? You have a battlefield in front of you, and there are opportunities to achieve military exploits everywhere. Is it necessary to abandon all that and do this?”

If it was the retreating Takeda army, they could easily achieve military exploits. Especially if they could take down renowned warriors and strategists, the rewards would be as desired. Shizuko couldn’t understand the meaning of introducing Muto Yoshihei to her while abandoning such opportunities for military exploits.

“In the beginning of this battle, we didn’t know how it would turn out. That’s why it was interesting. But now, as you said, we have the advantage. We can leave the pursuit to the others. I don’t want to do something as petty as collecting heads for rewards. I want to do what I want to do.”

“You’re quite stubborn.”

“I’ve been told that a lot. Well then, soldiers, I’m going back to the main camp. You can do as you please.”

Keiji’s soldiers smiled and shrugged their shoulders.

“General, it’s cruel to leave us behind.”

“Yeah, if the general is going back, we’ll go with you.”

“Besides, if Genroku-ji finds out, he’ll be mad.”

The soldiers burst into laughter. Not a single one of them tried to chase after the Takeda army and achieve military exploits. Keiji made an indescribable expression, then smiled broadly and looked around at the soldiers before raising his voice.

“Alright, you idiots. I’m going back to Shizuko’s side!”

“Oh!”

The soldiers raised their weapons and responded to Keiji’s voice. In this way, the Keiji squad, amidst the enthusiasm of other armies winning battles, boldly returned to the main camp, an action that ordinary people could not understand. Of course, it goes without saying that historians later struggled to understand Keiji’s actions.

While observing the movements of the Takeda army through binoculars, Shizuko felt a strange sense of unease. The third division, which had been deployed, was retreating, and another division from the main camp was about to move forward. Shizuko pondered over the reason for trying to remove Katsuyori, but she immediately realized the reason. Shingen had accepted defeat and was prepared to launch a final attack.

“Advance the gunners! Takeda is launching its final offensive!”

“Yes!”

The signal was given by the sound of the drum, and the gunners advanced. Shizuko lit arrows with firecrackers attached to them and shot them into the sky. The firecrackers exploded in mid-air. If there were someone observing the scene from above, they would see that the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces were changing their formation to a crane wing formation. However, the god-like Takeda army did not confirm the enemy’s movements and prioritized readjusting their own formation. This became a signpost that dulled Takeda’s final blow and led to a decisive defeat.

“Deliver the message to the gunners to switch ammunition! Use Type 2 A and Type 2 B bullets! Distinguish them by the color of the bullet heads and be thorough so as not to make mistakes!”

“Understood! I will relay your orders!”

After the messenger repeated Shizuko’s orders, he immediately rode his horse towards the front lines. Shizuko confirmed the Takeda army through her binoculars and saw that the surrounding forces were gathering. Takeda’s plan was to counterattack by launching a devastating assault after the Takeda vanguard broke through the enemy’s lines, but due to the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces retreating to the rear, their plan fell through. However, there was no change in their strategy, and soon the Takeda vanguard began to move. Following that, the following forces also charged one after another.

“Lord, the ammunition switch is complete.”

“Good work. Now we wait for them to reach the killing zone. Takami, let me know when the Takeda vanguard crosses the marker (…).”

“Yes!”

To confirm the enemy’s movements, a sturdy ladder made of thick wood was set up. The people around supported it, and someone climbed to the top, where they had the task of observing the enemy’s situation with binoculars. This person was Takami. It required not only good eyesight but also a sense of balance that allowed for accurate observation even at high places and the courage to not be afraid of uncertain footing. Takami’s report would determine the assessment of the battle situation, so it was a very important role.

“Lord! The vanguard has crossed the marker!”

“Send the signal! Use Type 2 A bullets for a simultaneous volley to stop the vanguard’s momentum!”

As the signal was given by the sound of the drum, a thousand gunshots rang out, five hundred from each side. The Takeda vanguard, who had been in the killing zone, fell one after another, their wooden shields pierced by the bullets.

“Keep firing! If the shield bearers are gone, switch to Type 2 B bullets to suppress them. Don’t worry about accuracy!”

“Yes!”

The gunners fired one after another. With each shot, Takeda soldiers fell as if it were a game. Unlike the traditional matchlock guns, the new-style guns had superior straight-line performance, so there was no need to gather and shoot in formation. Once loaded, each person could shoot individually, resulting in varying intervals between shots. Normally, a simultaneous volley would have higher suppression power and be more effective, but now the priority was to stop the Takeda’s momentum, so continuous shooting without interruption was more convenient. And to compensate for the decreased density, they used Type 2 B bullets.

The Type 2 bullets were classified as double-loading bullets, similar to modern duplex rounds. Roughly speaking, it was a bullet with two projectiles stacked vertically in the cartridge case. The amount of propellant was increased because two projectiles were fired, making the bullet heavier, so they couldn’t prepare a large number of them. However, the notable feature was its overwhelming penetration capability. The ignited gunpowder first transferred energy to the rear projectile, pushing out the front projectile, and then the rear projectile also flew out, causing the front projectile to enter the hole created by the rear projectile and dig deeper into it. It was a type of bullet specialized in penetration that could easily pierce through wooden shields and the like. That was the Type 2 A bullet, with “A” standing for armor-piercing.,However, while it has high penetration power, its striking power is concentrated in one point, making its suppressive range inferior. To compensate for this, the Type 2 “Sa” bullet was developed. This bullet allows for attacks in two places with a single shot by slightly tilting the rear projectile located behind the double-loaded bullet. Only the front projectile travels straight, while the rear projectile lands slightly off target in different directions. Naturally, as the distance increases, the deviation of the second projectile becomes larger. This resulted in many Takeda soldiers being hit by bullets while evading from the line of fire. By the way, “Sa” in Type 2 “Sa” bullet refers to the scattering of pellets.

These double-loaded bullets were developed around the time of the Vietnam War, but they did not achieve significant results that outweighed the disadvantage of increased weight in modern combat where automatic weapons were the norm. However, the evaluation would change for single-shot firearms. Being able to fire two shots in one action and adapt to both penetration power and attack range were significant advantages. Furthermore, the suppressive power of spreading more bullets than the sound of gunfire was tremendous, and the visible momentum of the Takeda army declined.

“My lord! The momentum of the Takeda army has stopped! The foot soldiers are starting to flee to the rear!”

“My lord! Well done!”

Takami reported excitedly. Upon hearing the report, Genro also exclaimed with joy. However, Shizuko remained unchanged in expression and continued to observe the changes in the battle situation.

“First, obtain victory, then engage in battle. After that, even after winning, tighten the cords of your helmet.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Genro tilted his head in confusion, not understanding the meaning. The others also wore puzzled expressions, not understanding what Shizuko was trying to say.

“Engaging in battle means preparing to defeat the opponent and waiting for the opportunity to win. Only when both conditions are met can you engage in battle and achieve victory. However, the sweet wine of victory is also a poison that breeds arrogance in the victor. Therefore, even after winning, do not let your guard down and tighten the cords of your helmet to prepare for the next battle. That is a proverb. Well, it’s my philosophy of battle, so to speak.”

“I see… Your ability to always see ahead is truly admirable. Even after achieving a major victory against the Takeda, you remain disciplined and prepared for the next battle. But more importantly, could you please explain the outline of the strategy to us so that we can understand?”

Genro praised, but Shizuko only had a subtle expression. Worried that he had offended her, Genro hurriedly changed the topic. Shizuko realized her own failure to sincerely appreciate the praise from her subordinates, so she tightened her expression before answering Genro’s question.

“To put it simply, the strategy I used was to drive the enemy into a state of panic, causing them to lose organized command and gaining the advantage. I pushed them into unexpected situations one after another, overwhelming them with surprise attacks and worsening the situation. When they were driven into a situation where they didn’t understand what was happening and the situation was deteriorating every moment, anyone would fall into a state of confusion. Fear and anxiety spread, and the panicked soldiers increased exponentially. Once they reached a certain point, the soldiers would break away from command and the military chain of command would collapse. Then, it becomes a mere mob with a large number of people.”

“I see… But aren’t there perceptive and courageous individuals among them? Is it really possible for the Takeda army, just because the soldiers are frightened, to collapse?”

Genro tilted his head, unable to fully understand the situation. He threw one question after another at Shizuko.

“Regarding the first question, it doesn’t matter if there are such individuals. How many people can maintain their rationality in a battlefield where lives are at stake? Out of a thousand, it would be enough to count on one hand. They challenged a total war. Even if there were a few dozen intelligent individuals among the thirty thousand strong army, their voices would be drowned out if the majority of the soldiers were in a state of panic. They had the advantage of an elite and unparalleled large army, but this time it became their downfall.”

A large army is often very strong as long as it is winning. However, this time, by using surprise attacks to defeat them in localized victories, their strength was undermined. Once the chain of command collapses, whether the army consists of thirty thousand or a hundred thousand soldiers doesn’t make much difference. In fact, if the panicking soldiers and even the Ashigaru (light foot soldiers) start to flee, the collapse becomes decisive. At that point, it can no longer be called an army, and the warlord must inevitably accept defeat.

“As for the next answer, if it were only a single defeat, the Takeda army would quickly recover and turn the tide. Even the first defeat could be seen as a chance for the Oda army to miraculously win and aim to restore their reputation.”

Shizuko sent her command sword, Kūze, to the battlefield. The outcome was already determined, and there was no group that could be called the Takeda army anywhere on the Mikatagahara Plateau.

“However, they suffered consecutive defeats. The second defeat made it clear that it was not a fluke for the Oda army to win, planting seeds of doubt in the hearts of the Takeda soldiers. If they suffer defeat again without delay, the seeds will sprout and the doubts will bloom into the fear of defeat. The fear of death corrodes the soldiers, weakens their bodies, and eventually breaks their spirits.”

Shizuko’s gaze fell upon the Takeda soldiers fleeing in a pitiful manner. They discarded their armor, threw away the swords at their waists, and ran without looking back. Shizuko’s heart remained calm even as she witnessed their appearance. If she had made one wrong move, it would have been her own figure being exposed. She couldn’t bring herself to laugh at the sight of the Takeda soldiers when she knew that she could be in their position at any moment. She even thought about retiring from the battlefield and spending the rest of her life as a farmer.

“There are not many who can continue to fight even in a broken state of mind. Most value their lives and choose to flee for their own safety. Once the chain of command collapses and the soldiers’ minds are filled with the fear of death, even someone like Shingen himself cannot change the tide.”

When the outcome is clearly visible to everyone, the foot soldiers seek self-preservation. It is a natural thought. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, foot soldiers do not choose to die for their warlords. Foot soldiers driven by fear flee first, and those who witness it also start to flee. If even the foot soldiers follow suit and start to flee, even the Ashigaru (light foot soldiers) will flee, and the collapse becomes decisive. At that point, it can no longer be called an army, and the warlord must inevitably accept defeat.

“I see… Oh! My lord! The Tokugawa army’s flag has appeared behind the Takeda army!”

Suddenly, the 8,000 soldiers of the Tokugawa army, who had been hidden until now, appeared behind the Takeda army. The former Takeda soldiers in the midst of their escape could not hide their agitation. The fact that their only retreat route had been blocked caused their remaining rationality to collapse. The foot soldiers scattered and fled towards the direction with fewer enemy soldiers. Even those who resisted a little gave up everything when the barrels of the new rifles were pointed at them and bullets struck their feet. They surrendered with expressions of resignation.

“It is slightly delayed from the plan, but it is not a problem.”

This was the reason why Shizuko spent a year investigating the terrain of the Mikatagahara Plateau. The time it took for the Tokugawa army to flank the Takeda army from a certain location. Where the Oda army should be positioned to complete the encirclement, and where to lure the Takeda army. This was the purpose of the investigation. Despite seeming mundane for the amount of resources invested, the presence or absence of this encirclement had significant meaning. Therefore, it was an absolutely necessary investigation.

The Oda army deployed the Crane Wing formation, and the Takeda army attempted a breakthrough in the center. The wings of the army were not used, and only the center of the Takeda army was engaged to crush their momentum. When the Takeda army’s advance was halted, the Tokugawa army sealed their only retreat route from behind. From an aerial view, the Takeda army was trapped within an isosceles triangle with the Oda army’s center as the apex. No matter which direction they aimed for, they were blocked by thick enemy soldiers, and escape was no longer possible. Shingen, as a person of his caliber, understood the situation he was in. The Takeda army stopped moving precisely because they realized that there was no future for them to survive.

“Not only the foot soldiers and Ashigaru (light foot soldiers), but the warlords themselves also acknowledged their defeat.”

The Takeda army did not just suffer a repulsion; they experienced their first complete and utter defeat. The fact that Takeda himself admitted defeat would shake the anti-Oda alliance. The calculations of the anti-Oda alliance, who had gathered under the Takeda banner, were completely overturned.

“This is the end. There is no victory for the Takeda army even if they continue to fight. To avoid unnecessary sacrifices, call for Takeda to surrender.”

“Hahaha!”

The camp drums were beaten in a four-beat rhythm. It was a signal that victory was certain and the enemy soldiers should be called to surrender. Some still resisted, but the majority disarmed in response to the suggestion. The group that resisted fiercely had rifles pointed at them, and bullets struck their feet, causing them to surrender with expressions of giving up everything.

“Everyone! Raise your voices! It is our victory!!”

Shizuko shouted in triumph, and the soldiers all around echoed her. The Takeda army dropped their weapons to the ground one after another, without causing much confusion. The famous Battle of Mikatagahara in history had come to an end.

Due to the slight delay in the arrival of the Tokugawa army, Suwa Masayori and Takasaki Masanobu managed to escape. However, since Shingen’s capture was secured, Shizuko concluded that their escape was a trivial matter.

Upon receiving the report of Shingen’s capture, Shizuko had a slight doubt whether the captured person was Takeda Nobukado, the Shingen impersonator. However, the clothes of Takeda Shingen obtained by the spy (Tobi Kato) and the scent of the captured Takeda Shingen matched, confirming that it was indeed Takeda Shingen himself. Shortly after, the impersonator Nobukado was also captured. Since he closely resembled Shingen as depicted in the Kōyō Gunkan, to distinguish him, his arms were bound with colored cloth, and he was moved to a different location from Shingen and his close aides.

In fact, Shizuko couldn’t make a final decision on whether to kill or capture Shingen. This was due to the political considerations of Nobunaga and Ieyasu. Shingen’s invasion was primarily in Totomi, which was Ieyasu’s territory, not Nobunaga’s. If the Oda army were to play a more active role in the conflict between Shingen and Ieyasu, it could lead to dissatisfaction among the Tokugawa vassals. Therefore, it was most appropriate for the Takeda vassals to be killed by the Oda army, but the decision on what to do with Shingen’s head was left to Ieyasu. Until the strategy was conveyed, it was unknown which option Ieyasu would choose.,And the choice Ieyasu made was to capture him. The reason for not killing Shingen and capturing him was also due to political calculations. If they were to kill Shingen as he fled, it would be thought that the real Shingen had escaped. And if the Oda army had prepared the destruction of the Takeda army, Ieyasu could have been seen as a mere accessory to Nobunaga. In order to crush those judgments, it was necessary to capture Shingen alive and make him admit his defeat.

The entire sequence of events leading up to the capture can be argued to have been planned by both the Oda and Tokugawa from the beginning to the end. It may seem that Ieyasu conserved his troops until the very end and only took the best parts, but there is no vassal who would willingly give up such a favorable position. The world will judge that there was enough contribution to take the best parts. Only the winners have the right to weave history. No matter how much the Takeda side protests, it will be dismissed as the howling of a defeated dog.

Therefore, it was not a simple conclusion to just kill Shingen. Various factors such as diplomatic cards and political calculations within the country would inevitably come into play. This is true not only for Shingen, but also for Nobunaga and Ieyasu.

In any case, with Shingen captured, the Takeda clan had almost no fighting power left. Even if Suwa Katsuyori were to succeed the Takeda clan, they would gradually be surrounded and crushed. Above all, Katsuyori would now face a dilemma. To regain the power of the Takeda clan, they needed money. However, due to the excessive levies they had made so far, there was hardly any money left in Kai. Without money, they could not regain their power. But if they were to collect money in a more excessive manner than before, the Takeda clan would collapse. An unavoidable contradiction would now assail Katsuyori.

“Phew, it’s over. It was all a tightrope walk, but somehow it went according to our expectations.”

Shizuko let out a big breath as if releasing her fatigue. It seemed to others that things were going smoothly, but in reality, it was a strategy of tightrope walking from beginning to end.

First and foremost, it was an absolute condition for Takeda to take a position at the entrance of the Shukuda slope. If they had failed to do so, it is highly doubtful that the current situation would have been achieved. After all, the Tokugawa army pretended to march together, but in reality, they moved from Hamamatsu Castle to the exit of the Shukuda slope, and upon Shizuko’s signal, they rushed in. Shizuko and her allies had thoroughly investigated the Tokugawa army’s route of movement and marching time, but if the Tokugawa army arrived at the exit of the Shukuda slope at a different time than when the Oda army confronted the Takeda army, there was a risk of Shingen seeing through their strategy. Therefore, if the Takeda army had been waiting at the exit of the Shukuda slope, the Tokugawa army that appeared so easily would have been quickly scattered, and there was a possibility that Shizuko’s strategy would have been exposed.

If that had happened, Shizuko’s strategy would have been completely overturned. Just to be safe, Shizuko had made the Shukuda slope difficult to traverse, in case Shingen ignored it and advanced. So when she heard the report that the Takeda army had taken a position at the entrance of the Shukuda slope, Shizuko inwardly rejoiced. However, by making the Shukuda slope difficult to traverse, she also caused a failure, which was a slight delay in the arrival of the Tokugawa army.

Next, how did the Oda army’s generals suddenly appear and how were they moved? It was a simple story. Ashimitsu had infiltrated Hamamatsu Castle as an escort guard during the piston transport of supplies before the battle. Afterwards, by replacing the escort guards with the original supply transport guards in Shizuko’s army, the number of people involved appeared to be the same, with only a slight increase or decrease. Moreover, there had been frequent coming and going of people due to the piston transport. It was not easy to notice the difference in the people who came in and went out. In this way, the elite troops of the Oda army secretly took their positions in Hamamatsu Castle.

Of course, they were not called in hastily. Shizuko had been negotiating with them to borrow troops for a long time. However, even Shizuko did not expect warriors like Shibata Katsuie and Akechi Mitsuhide to come out. The first reason for calling them was to surprise the Takeda army. In battle, confusion can sometimes lead to fatal defeat. Especially for someone like Takeda Shingen, who follows the flow of battle not by intuition but by theory, unexpected situations can easily trap their thinking.

Indeed, Shingen was not just being beaten. When the breakthrough failed for Takatsuka Masanobu, he had ordered Suwa Katsuyori to retreat with him. Therefore, the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces failed to capture Katsuyori. Nobunaga’s intention to completely destroy the Takeda clan in the Battle of Mikatagahara could not be achieved, but from then on, it became impossible for the Takeda clan to defeat the Oda clan. However, the downfall of the Takeda clan was Nobunaga’s long-cherished desire, so even if the Takeda clan could only mobilize a small number of troops, they would be completely annihilated.

“Impressive. The strategy worked out beautifully, I never expected it to go so smoothly.”

Takenaka Hanbei, who had finished dealing with the surrendering soldiers, praised Shizuko.

“Well done. By the way, how many casualties are there?”

Shizuko did not know the extent of the casualties in the Takeda army, but she also did not know how many casualties the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces had suffered. After all, they had to execute one plan after another before they could grasp such information. Now that things had calmed down, Takenaka Hanbei had investigated and finally the number of casualties became clear.

“Haha, it’s amazing. We have about a hundred casualties. If we include the Tokugawa forces, it would be around three to four hundred, but this is probably because the resistance from Takatsuka and Suwa was more intense than expected. Nevertheless, to face the total war of the Takeda clan and have this number of casualties is truly surprising.”

Takenaka Hanbei was surprised by the result of the casualties, even though he was a calm person. At the same time, he understood that the new firearms determined the outcome of the battle and increased the number of casualties.

“Hahaha, Takeda running away with his tail between his legs, it’s a sight that we may never see again! A sight that not even Uesugi has witnessed, truly delightful!”

“I agree that it is a sight that may never be seen again, but there is no need to be so vulgar about it.”

“It’s fine. In times like this, making a fuss helps everyone truly feel it.”

Oda’s generals, such as Shibata and Mitsuhide, and Sassa, who had finished cleaning up, returned to Shizuko’s main camp. Mori Yoshinari and Maeda Toshiie returned late. And just as the Tokugawa army that had taken position behind the Takeda clan returned, the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces finally gathered. Nagayoshi and Keiji had returned earlier, but they were not currently with Shizuko as they were calming down Nagayoshi, who was overwhelmed with emotion, after being praised by Mori Yoshinari.

“Well done, Shizuko-dono. First, you saved our Tokugawa from danger, and I am deeply grateful.”

Ieyasu, who had returned, bowed his head in gratitude as soon as he saw Shizuko. Tadakatsu and Hanzo, who were behind him, followed suit. It wasn’t just them. Tokugawa vassals who were not very familiar with Shizuko, their attendants, and even the soldiers, all did the same.

“Please raise your head, Lord Tokugawa. It is not appropriate for someone like me to be bowed to.”

“No, if it is with your head, I will gladly bow.”

Shizuko looked around, but everyone deliberately avoided her gaze. She felt like a traitor and cried inwardly as she waited for Ieyasu to raise his head.

“Lord Tokugawa.”

Finally, when Ieyasu raised his head, Sakuama and Hirate, and Mizuno stepped forward. They took off their helmets and bowed to Ieyasu.

“We apologize for suspecting Takeda of collusion with you, Lord Tokugawa. We apologize for insulting you and your vassals with our shallow understanding. We are willing to accept any punishment according to your judgment.”

“It was unavoidable given the circumstances. All’s well that ends well. Let’s forget about everything.”

“We are grateful for Lord Tokugawa’s generous heart.”

The tension between the Oda and Tokugawa had disappeared, and their alliance had become stronger, Shizuko thought. When she looked up at the sky, it was dyed a deep purple. She suddenly realized that they had been fighting for several hours since the battle started during the day. But Shizuko had another task to do after the battle with the Takeda, but for now, she thought it was time to forget about that and revel in their victory.

“Shall we return to Hamamatsu Castle then?”

“Ah, before that, there is something I would like to discuss.”

Shizuko tilted her head as she wondered what urgent matter needed to be discussed. Tadakatsu was in a state of ecstasy from her unusually cute gesture, but Hanzo and Yasumasa, who had warm expressions, quickly hid it from Shizuko’s view. Unaware of the mysterious struggle taking place behind Ieyasu, Shizuko waited for his next words.

“Shingen, who was captured, is pestering me to let him meet you.”

“Ah, huh? Me?”

“Yes. Since it cannot be decided by our discretion alone, I have come to ask for your judgment.”

According to Ieyasu, Shingen was asking to meet Shizuko even as he spat blood. Shizuko was only a vassal of Nobunaga and could not meet him at Ieyasu’s discretion.,”There is no need to meet. He will only speak of grievances from his defeat. There is no need to entertain such nonsense.”

Before Shizuko could think, Ashimitsu immediately expressed his refusal. Amongst the confusion of everyone’s judgment, it could be said that he quickly came to a conclusion.

“Hmm, I don’t really mind, but wouldn’t it be dishonorable for me to be the last person he meets?”

Shizuko thought about how it would damage Shingen’s honor if it were said that he met with a woman right before his execution. She didn’t want Shingen to become a laughingstock because of her own actions.

“There should be no problem. It is the path he chose. What good is it if he doesn’t accept the consequences himself?”

“Is that so? Well, if he wishes it, then it’s not a problem for me.”

With Shizuko’s words, the meeting was arranged. However, she couldn’t remain as the main participant. While a few people remained for post-processing, most of them became Shizuko’s escorts.

(This is turning into quite a situation.)

Shizuko could only laugh at how tightly guarded her surroundings were. However, even at this point, if she were to act foolishly, it would bring dishonor to others. Although they were moving, they didn’t have to walk a great distance. Shingen, who had been captured, was unable to move due to illness and was temporarily stationed in the Mikatagahara Plateau. Not only him, but his close aides were also captured in the same way.

Considering their positions, Ieyasu was in the center, Tokugawa vassals like Tadakatsu on the left, and Oda vassals like Shizuko, Saizo, Shibata, and Sassa on the right. Once everyone took their designated positions, Ieyasu ordered the soldiers to bring Shingen. After a while, Shingen, bound from behind, was brought by the soldiers.

Shingen was not wearing his trademark armor and helmet, but instead, he wore a simple attire that resembled a monk. His breathing was rough, and it was clear that his condition was not good.

“I apologize for the wait. As you wished, I have brought the daughter of the Konoe family.”

Shingen’s eyes moved and caught Shizuko. His eyes seemed to see through everything, and Shizuko instinctively felt intimidated. But before she could feel intimidated, Ashimitsu stepped forward and hid Shizuko from Shingen.

“If you direct hostility towards her, I won’t show any mercy.”

“No, it’s okay. More importantly, please step back so I can’t see you.”

Ashimitsu stared back at Shingen, but he reluctantly stepped back as Shizuko requested. After he regained his composure, Shizuko stared back at Shingen. They silently stared at each other for a while, and suddenly, Shingen smiled.

“Hmph, so I have been defeated by such a foolish girl. However, I can’t describe the feeling.”

It was a compliment in Shingen’s own way, but Shizuko felt like crying because she was always called foolish whenever she faced someone. She wondered why she was evaluated that way, but she didn’t realize that it was because she lacked the intensity of other warlords and exuded an appearance and atmosphere that could easily be mistaken for weakness.

“The daughter of the Konoe family, what is your name?”

“Um, ah, yes. My name is Shizuko.”

“There is no need to be so formal. You are the one who defeated me. Please be proud and confident, or else my name will be tarnished.”

Shingen said with a smile. He felt pleasant. He had been given his first and last defeat in life by someone like Shizuko. He vaguely thought that he wouldn’t have felt this way with anyone else.

“No, it’s not just me. Everyone came along with me, and I just stood by and said a few things.”

“Hahaha! You don’t boast about defeating the great Takeda. You don’t try to show off no matter what you do. That’s why everyone overlooked you. Even I, with a bad feeling, ignored you. Haha, a complete defeat.”

It was a surprising statement for everyone. Shingen clearly admitted his defeat. And he used the word “complete defeat.” The Oda and Tokugawa generals were more shocked than Shingen himself. Ignoring the astonishment of those around him, Shingen muttered to himself. It seemed like he was reconciling with himself with each word he spoke. Shingen’s expression gradually became resolute.

“Young Tokugawa, hand over the war fan that you stole from me to Lady Shizuko. It is not something someone like you should possess.”

Shingen ordered Ieyasu with a disrespectful attitude. Ieyasu, who was on the winning side, was taken aback by Shingen’s dignified attitude. Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Ieyasu ordered a soldier to bring Shingen’s war fan. After a while, the soldier returned with Shingen’s war fan on a tray.

“Well, there’s no mistake. Hand it over quickly.”

“Um, sorry to interrupt the excitement, but wouldn’t it be better to have the swords like Raikuni and Izuminokami Kanesada instead of the war fan…?”

Shizuko timidly raised her hand and cautiously spoke to Shingen. Raikuni was the sword used by Takeda Shingen. In historical records, after Shingen’s death, it went through various twists and turns and was dedicated to the Eirinji Temple by Yoshitaka Yanagisawa during the Edo period. There was also another sword called Izuminokami Kanesada, which Shingen used. Since Shizuko had no use for Shingen’s war fan, she thought it would be better to be given one of the swords he cherished.

“…Hahaha, so you’re a collector of swords, as rumored. It doesn’t matter, take it. If you possess it, it will be safe.”

It was unclear why Shingen took a liking to Shizuko, but he generously gave her the sword as well. And so, Shingen’s war fan and beloved sword were placed in Shizuko’s possession. For a moment, Shizuko’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the sword, but as soon as she realized where she was, she tightened her expression.

“Let’s settle things in the afterlife.”

Shingen, who had finished what he needed to do in this world, had a calm and composed expression that made it hard to believe he was about to be beheaded.

“I’m tired of this already.”

“Don’t even think about running away. In the afterlife, I will surpass you with my retainers and leave you in awe.”

Shingen laughed at Shizuko’s response, but suddenly, his face contorted, and he started coughing violently. On the third cough, he spat out blood from his mouth. It was said that Shingen suffered from stomach cancer, but the truth was unknown. Thinking that his condition had worsened, Shizuko tried to call for a medic.

“It’s fine, it’s about my body. I know it best.”

After spitting out the blood from his mouth, Shingen regained his breath. With the calmness restored, he stood up, ignoring the astonishment of those around him.

“Let’s meet again.”

Those were Shingen’s final words. Before the sun set, he was beheaded by Tadakatsu. Tadakatsu beheaded Shingen not because he was captured, but because Shingen, without any hesitation, showed a death befitting the strongest warlord of the Sengoku period, which was a tribute from the Oda and Tokugawa alliance generals. Shingen’s head was returned to Kai by his close aides without being exposed to the public eye.

Takeda Shingen, the Tiger of Kai, died in battle at the Battle of Mikatagahara.