Chapter 142
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: The Sinking and the Rising
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The Imagawa army's retreat quickly reached the ears of the Matsudaira forces, plunging them into chaos amid the bewilderingly swift turn of events. They had no idea how to respond.
It was only natural.
No matter how prosperous the Matsudaira clan had been in the past, in these times, they were merely a vassal family ruling Mikawa under the Imagawa clan's protection. Of course, if Lord Matsudaira Motoyasu and those who still inwardly refused to bow their heads heard such an assessment, they might sneer—but they couldn't deny the reality.
"W-We must withdraw the army right now!"
"We haven't even heard the extent of the main force's losses yet! If we pull back rashly, we might face the wrath of Lord Imagawa!"
"Then what do you suggest?!"
"You insolent fool! How dare you raise your voice!"
"Then why don't you commit seppuku on our behalf?!"
Thus, infighting among those who professed loyalty to the Imagawa was inevitable.
Whether they were originally devoted to the Imagawa clan or had abandoned the Matsudaira banner to submit, none could afford to act hastily without grasping the full chaotic state of affairs.
Their positions seemed confused at first glance, but the underlying principle guiding their actions was the same for all.
'If the main force has been routed, maintaining this offensive is too burdensome. But if the damage is minor and they quickly regroup and return, who will bear the blame for withdrawing?!'
Of course, there was no rule against using the Matsudaira lord as a scapegoat in such situations—but the problem was that Imagawa Yoshimoto held her in high regard.
Why else would he have assigned his own teacher, Daigen Setsuai, to educate her? The Imagawa might tolerate a certain degree of humiliation toward Motoyasu as a means of taming her, but it was clear that the vassals actively pushing such matters would be the ones cast out.
'Please, someone step forward!'
'Am I insane? I'd rather die!'
Those who had embedded themselves in the Matsudaira under Imagawa Yoshimoto's orders prioritized their own safety above all else. Such people would never take up a cup that might lead to their.
And so, what followed unfolded without any surprises, tightening the noose around their necks.
—Kaboom!
"Wh-What?!"
"Gaaah!"
A group of samurai, accompanied by ninja, burst into the room where the pro-Imagawa vassals, heavyweights, and hatamoto were gathered.
There were samurai trying to hold them off, but blocking a determined onslaught with just a handful of guards was impossible from the start.
"Wh-What is the meaning of this?!"
"You scum! Do you even know where you are?!"
The entire compound was already surrounded. The samurai standing guard outside, unable to hear their conversation, either surrendered or perished under the overwhelming force. Thus, the pro-Imagawa faction was pushed back into the room along with the few remaining samurai, forced to frantically scan the situation while shouting in rage.
'Those are...'
'N-No way?'
But no sooner had they glanced around than they understood their predicament, blinking in despair.
They weren't fools.
In these chaotic times, to cling to even meager power meant not just noble bloodlines but at least some street smarts.
Thus, they suppressed the rising assumptions in their guts—forcing them down their throats—and could only gaze at the encircling samurai with grim eyes.
Please. It can't be true.
If their worst fears came to pass, it wouldn't end with mere death.
—Step.
"We just received a ninja report a moment ago."
And soon, their assumptions turned to certainty. The pro-Imagawa vassals slumped in futility, despair, and exhaustion, staring at the girl emerging through the samurai as she spoke.
"The contents are simple."
Did she relish the gazes fixed upon her?
"They've beheaded Imagawa Yoshimoto. The Oda's Yaksha did it. Not only that, most of the main force is dead or surrendered..."
She curled the corners of her mouth faintly, then recited in her characteristic raccoon-like, gentle-eyed smile.
"Now, let's ask the loyal vassals gathered here."
But—
"Do you have anything to say to me?"
They saw it then.
Beneath her smile—Lady Matsudaira Motoyasu's smile—the seething vengeance long suppressed and a chilling malice that sent shivers down their spines.
Thus, everyone there instinctively knew.
The Imagawa would never ravage Mikawa again. And neither would they leave this place alive.
Seizing the momentum, the Oda clan mobilized every remaining resource to mop up the Imagawa remnants. Leaderless, they fled eastward, scattering in all directions.
"Die, you bastard!"
"W-Wait! Gahk!"
The fleeing samurai were somewhat better off. Most had enough skill or low enough status to fight to the death or at least be taken prisoner. But the ashigaru were different.
"Wh-Where are we?"
"Hungry... So hungry... Ugh."
It was absurd to expect great combat prowess or discipline from peasant farmers who were little more than conscripts. Over half scattered into the mountains during the retreat, and with few even carrying weapons, food was out of the question.
"What are you?!"
"M-Mercy, please! I'll do anything!"
"Anything? From today, your name is Tanaka!"
"Eh? B-But my name is—!"
"Shut up!"
Thus, most wandered the mountains until they starved or followed the smell of cooking rice into villages. Faced with enraged farmers wielding pitchforks upon sight of the Owari invaders, they surrendered instantly.
Of course, not all ashigaru were like that.
"Kill them all!"
"Gaaah!"
"M-Mercy! My children! The children!"
"Come here, you wench!"
Groups of ashigaru and samurai separated from the main force, still armed, pillaged nearby hamlets and villages, committing murder and rape. Their rebellions only heightened the villagers' fears.
"We'll sweep them all away!"
"Waaaaah!"
But in the end, those continuing the pillaging made a fatal mistake.
Unlike the leaderless rout of the Imagawa, the Oda forces were at peak morale, with forces largely intact.
"Worthless vermin not fit to live! Slaughter them all!"
"Gaaaaah!"
"Run! Run away!"
An Oda cavalry charge pierced the plains. A samurai hastily abandoning his rape had his heart impaled on a spear. An ashigaru lured by meager loot, having killed a man, collapsed with half his neck severed, blood spurting, eyes wide open.
"M-Merc—!"
"Worse than hinin scum!"
The Oda samurai and ashigaru, eyes bloodshot, showed no mercy.
Yes, being conscripted into battle might not be their fault.
The war decision and arming them ultimately lay with Imagawa Yoshimoto and her clan.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"However."
Shibata Katsuie, commanding the pursuit, narrowed her brows at the samurai thrusting his sword at her and murmured softly from beneath her mask.
"Pillaging is ultimately the deed of those who've forsaken their humanity."
"Shut your mouth, wench!"
Even as the samurai's blade arced down to behead her in one stroke, Shibata Katsuie stared at him calmly with golden eyes, unshaken.
"...A futile effort."
—Crunch!
"Guhk!"
She didn't bother dodging the sword.
She simply slipped inside his guard and thrust between his armor plates, delivering a fatal strike.
"H-How... Grk!"
Easier said than done—she had precisely targeted the armor's gap in that split second and driven her blade home.
No easy feat.
Yet Shibata Katsuie merely gazed at her dripping blade for a moment before flicking it clean with a shwaak and murmuring.
"...Weak."
It was a thirst.
At the same time, she closed her eyes, recalling the battle between Il-yeong and Imagawa Yoshimoto in the rain-soaked mud just days ago.
"Life-Death Bind."
That memory would linger for quite some time.
"Maintain discipline and withdraw! Don't rush!"
Meanwhile, as the Oda sorted out internal Owari affairs, the Matsudaira army returned to Mikawa without clashing with them.
News of Imagawa Yoshimoto's death had already spread within the Imagawa clan, so anyone hearing of the Matsudaira actions would soon realize what Motoyasu intended.
"Open the gates!"
"The rightful lord has returned!"
"Y-Yes, opening them!"
No one could oppose her, now in full command of the army. Matsudaira Motoyasu immediately began "purging" the clan. Those on her hit list were dragged away without meaningful resistance.
Of course, she didn't act recklessly.
"Pledge loyalty now, and I'll spare you."
"I-I pledge my loyalty!"
"In exchange, surrender some territory. Half, say?"
"H-Half?!"
Those who had sold out the clan to the Imagawa despite surviving under the Matsudaira banner were utterly exterminated, three generations wiped out. But those who changed banners for survival—due to the era's tides or pressure from other clans—received lenient treatment.
'I'd love to kill them all.'
No helping it.
Most people might be stunned by the death of great daimyo Imagawa Yoshimoto and the unexpected stand by Oda Nobunaga, the clan's reputed wastrel. But she wasn't superhuman; she couldn't lead the domain alone.
Thus, now was the time to build strength and gather allies in the same boat.
Her plans were yielding results through her sharp mind and the bold actions of Dorii Tadoyoshi, already committed to her cause.
And while she was consolidating Mikawa, Hanzo's report arrived that the Oda had finished sorting Owari—along with a letter.
「We gratefully received your gift, Lord. When next we meet, I shall bring fitting recompense. -Hirate Hikage-」
"...The Yaksha's recompense. I'm looking forward to it. Heh."
The future founder of the Tokugawa, Tokugawa Ieyasu, simply smiled, gazing at Il-yeong's oddly serious, heavily pressed handwriting.