Chapter 130
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Okehazama (1)
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Washizu, Marune, and Nakajima castles were, at their core, not residences but mere fortresses meant to block enemy advances in times of crisis.
And what these fortresses were positioned to halt was, on a grand scale, enemy incursions into Owari Province—but on a smaller one, they guarded the vital approaches to Narumi Castle.
Thus, Imagawa Yoshimoto halted his marching main army, spread out a map, and listened to reports on the state of the battle.
"Washizu and Marune have been taken, but our soldiers are badly fatigued. Lord Matsudaira Motoyasu, who entered Otaka Castle, has also paused her advance due to heavy casualties."
"Hmm. Regrettable, but unavoidable."
He called it regrettable, but a satisfied smile crept across his heavily powdered face.
It was only natural.
Things were going quite well, weren't they?
This was the opportunity he'd barely coaxed out of those arrogant wenches from the Hojo and Takeda clans. Of course, they had their own houses to sort out, so they'd had little choice but to accept...
'This time, I'll gain the most of all.'
After wrapping up the brief meeting, he climbed into his ornate palanquin, brimming with his signature vanity, and mulled it over.
With grunts of effort, the bearers hoisted him into the air, moving the main force to a spot even better suited for surveying the battlefield than their previous camp.
"Hmmm."
Seated in the serene palanquin—far more comfortable than any saddle—Imagawa Yoshimoto stroked his chin and sank into thought. Even if he aped the eccentric ways of Kyoto's nobility, at heart he was still Imagawa Yoshimoto.
"I am Yoshimoto. The greatest warrior of the Tokaido."
He murmured it softly to himself.
Some might call it cringeworthy, arrogant, or vain—but he faced down anyone who dared say so to his face.
He had been born the fifth son of his clan.
With no claim to succession, his fate had been to be handed off to his teacher, Taigen Setsusai, become a monk, shuttle back and forth to Kyoto, and debase himself for the family's sake.
'No chance of that.'
He wasn't some weakling who'd meekly surrender and blame the world. Nor was he a puppet waiting on the emperor or some divine revelation.
Opportunities were made, not waited for.
Better to die than waste away in these chaotic times.
His teacher and loyal retainer, Taigen Setsusai, had shared his vision. And so, the overlooked boy at the bottom of the succession had risen to become clan lord, seizing Totomi, Suruga, and Mikawa to claim dominion over three provinces.
'If I'd been content with that, I'd have been born a pig craving only wealth and glory—gorging on women and riches in idle satisfaction.'
The current Yoshimoto could have done just that.
But was that truly enough?
Did he, Yoshimoto himself, desire it?
"As if!"
His upturned lips revealed blackened teeth, and his sudden bark made the bearers falter mid-climb up the mountain—but Imagawa Yoshimoto paid it no mind.
He simply thought.
Someday—
No, from the moment he'd shed his swaddling clothes and grasped the greatness of what he held, he'd felt an unquenchable thirst.
Even the first thrill of a woman's flesh paled against the ecstasy of becoming lord amid revelry.
He craved power. He hungered for glory.
He'd lived for it, and lived it.
And now, with chaos erupting in Owari, Kyoto—the prize of his dreams—lay within reach.
'Narumi will be easy. The real issue comes after.'
He harbored no delusions of annexing the Oda clan with this single invasion.
His retainers knew it too.
Even dreaming of reaching the capital from this battle alone was pure fantasy.
It was only natural.
Owari was inherently prosperous, with good harbors and bountiful yields. It wasn't for nothing that the previous Oda lord, Oda Nobuhide, had repelled the Imagawa multiple times and even pressured the Matsudaira clan.
'For now, I'll leash them with this campaign. If needed, I'll replace the lord.'
He'd never met Oda Nobunaga in person, but rumors painted her as a handful.
If she were simply incompetent, that would be ideal.
But word was she had some talent for warfare, so pulling her down might be necessary.
Buy time that way.
Then, what to do with that time?
'Tame the Matsudaira.'
In his mind's eye, the face of Matsudaira Motoyasu—doubtless scheming even now—flickered into view.
That raccoon-like little girl was surely agonizing over her next move, as always.
He didn't need to see it to know.
More than anyone, he'd drilled it into her: survival meant playing her part.
"But nothing changes."
Imagawa Yoshimoto chuckled.
'Cripple the Oda power. While they're reeling, fully absorb Mikawa and use that foundation to swallow Owari whole.'
Already, a grand vision of pacifying these chaotic lands was taking shape in his mind, each piece slotting perfectly into place.
—Grunt.
And at that moment.
The bearers, ever careful not to disturb their lord's mood, set down the palanquin with soft groans. Just then, a female samurai from the hatamoto direct guard—who had arrived ahead to set up camp—approached briskly and bowed.
"My lord. We've been awaiting you."
"Good."
No matter how swiftly he traveled by palanquin, he couldn't match the horses moving alongside—so they had gone ahead to prepare.
Imagawa Yoshimoto smiled in satisfaction as he stepped down onto solid ground. At once, the clan's senior retainers waiting for him came forward in welcome.
"Excellent. Splendid."
He murmured it softly as he strode toward the hilltop.
Why had he relocated the main camp?
A simple reason.
He needed terrain where the advancing battle could be taken in at a glance. And the Imagawa clan's ninjas, scouting ahead, had selected the perfect spot.
"Okehazama. What a fine name."
Imagawa Yoshimoto rolled it around his mouth. It clung to the tongue like something fated.
And then, glancing idly at the sky, Imagawa Yoshimoto saw it.
"Tch. Rain?"
The heavens were turning gray.
*
The Matsudaira forces, bearing their family crest, pressed forward swiftly despite the lukewarm stares from the Imagawa side, racking up respectable gains.
"Respectable gains, huh..."
"Hah, what nonsense."
Motoyasu muttered with a wry smile upon hearing the spy's report of the Imagawa's assessment from intercepted letters. Torii Tadayoshi, standing beside her, openly scoffed.
Respectable?
"We've pierced Terabe Castle, not to mention Hirose, Goromo, and Iho castles, and entered Otaka! If that's just 'respectable,' do we have to march on Kyoto itself for real credit?!"
The retainers' gripes weren't unfounded.
Only natural.
Whether assigned by the Imagawa or swayed by Torii Tadayoshi's persuasion to support her, those under the Matsudaira banner had fought hard.
They'd shed precious soldiers' blood, lost many ashigaru who would have labored their fields back home, and even sacrificed no small number of samurai.
Yet the Imagawa messengers reporting their feats dismissed them endlessly—and now diminished their hard-won achievements. Small wonder the retainers seethed.
"Everyone, calm down."
But that lasted only a moment.
The retainers fixed their eyes on the girl who had remained silent until now—their own young lord—as she spoke.
Slightly drooping eyes.
Oddly brown hair and gaze.
And a petite frame.
Just moments ago, they'd underestimated her as she rode horseback swinging spear and blade. Now, they waited in silence for her words.
Torii Tadayoshi and Hattori Hanzo couldn't help feeling a fresh stir of awe at the sight.
At the very least, the two of them knew.
She had a peculiar knack for drawing people in.
'Not that it works on everyone.'
Even blood kin of past lords included plenty who'd sell their guts to the Imagawa.
She knew that too, no doubt.
What would Motoyasu do?
Torii Tadayoshi pondered as he watched her about to speak—
"Nothing changes. We do what we must. We'll claim our due later. Haha."
Her cryptic laugh and words only muddled his thoughts further.
Was backing this gambler the right call?
Handing her the wealth and support... was it wise?
...Who knew.
But one thing was certain.
'We soar together, or crash together.'
The tiger's back offered no retreat.