Inside the enclosure of Sawayama Castle, fires were raging, crackling loudly.篝火Bonfire
Unlike modern society, nights in the Sengoku period were deep and intense.
The Rokkaku army besieging Sawayama Castle could clearly see the fires burning all over the castle and were probably thinking, “A night attack will be difficult…”
Or perhaps some of the Rokkaku soldiers will be drawn in by that passion.
January nights are too cold to sleep without any windbreak.
“By morning, the troops gathered at Odani Castle will arrive as reinforcements, fully prepared.”
While I addressed the more than 1,200 soldiers holed up in Sawayama Castle, I ordered Kazumasa to serve them a generous portion of hot rice porridge.胡桃walnut
The purpose was to ensure that the soldiers defending Sawayama Castle were thoroughly warmed.
I gazed intently at the faces of each soldier, each holding a bowl, illuminated by the orange light.
“Don’t think this is where you’ll die.
Just as I married a woman from the Oda family, some of you may have wives and children.
Even if you don’t have a wife, you must have a father or mother.
Or, if not, you must have someone who raised you like a parent.”
I continued walking slowly among the guards.
“I won’t tell you to win tomorrow’s battle.
But don’t die for the sake of those waiting for you.
You can send the enemy to hell as much as you want, but you must cling on no matter what.”此世This
Unrest was evident among the soldiers.
Not only the soldiers, but also the generals such as Yuan Chang and Naotsune.
In the Warring States period, it was common to be ordered to “win the battle at all costs.”
And in order to “win,” men were almost always forced to choose a path where “death was the only option,” even if they “wanted to live.”
However, they, who were supposed to be forcing me down that “death is the only option” path, not only told me, “You don’t have to win,” but to top it all off, they told me, “Don’t die.”
It was inevitable that I would be shaken.
“You all come with me too.”
I said that to the soldiers.
“We, the people of Asai, must all move forward together as one unit towards tomorrow.
We must not live for the present, but always for tomorrow.
We must live desperately in the present in order to make tomorrow better.
Otherwise, there is no meaning to life.
Otherwise, we will not understand why we exist in this world.”生まれ落ちたのか・・・・・・・・・
Every soldier’s face was filled with surprise and awe.
It was, in a sense, only natural.
When the defenders heard the news that a massive army of 32,000 men, led by the head of the Rokkaku clan, was advancing on Sawayama Castle, which was defended by only 1,200 soldiers, they must have thought, “This is the end for us…”
In the midst of all this, the head of the Asai family, with only 40 cavalrymen, riled up the enemy lines and entered Sawayama Castle.
Moreover, he did not “die,” but instead said, “Live together.”
It is impossible to know how much influence that had in the turbulent Sengoku period, a time of extreme social stratification.
In any era, in any country, in any region, nameless soldiers did not resolve to die “for their country.” That was merely a pretense.
The soldiers fought and lost their lives for the families they loved, or for the superior officers they admired and were willing to risk their lives for.
“First, eat.”
I sat between Naotsune and Kazumasa, holding up the bowl of rice porridge so the guards could see it.
“Eat, build up your strength, and gain vitality.
Tomorrow may be tough, but the day after tomorrow, things will surely be better.”
As I said that and began slurping my rice porridge, Naotsune and Kazumasa followed suit, and gradually the guards also began to eat.
I, a figure far above the soldiers, am sitting around the same fire, slurping down rice porridge.
They had been eating in silence out of consideration for others, but after being chilled to the bone in the cold weather, they couldn’t keep quiet any longer.
Food is essential for humans.
Eating cold, unappetizing food makes us gloomy, while eating warm, delicious food makes us cheerful.
In Sengoku-era Japan, where food supplies were scarce, a warm bowl of rice porridge with walnuts was truly a “delicacy” for soldiers.
Gradually, the soldiers’ voices grew louder, and they began chatting and engaging in friendly conversation.
A smile was visible on every face, and from an outsider’s perspective, it would be hard to believe they were surrounded by an army more than twenty times their size.
I saw an opportune moment, took Naotsune and Kazumasa with me, and left the area, heading towards the main keep.
Sawayama Castle is a mountain castle, and you have to walk quite a distance to reach the main keep.
“Even so, I’m surprised.”
Yuan Chang said to me and Naotsune:
“When Lord Nagamasa and Lord Naotsune passed through the castle gate, unmanned horses followed them.
Kazumasa couldn’t believe his eyes.”
“ah…”
I decided to nod for the time being.
It seems that, after all, it’s “impossible” for a horse, freed from its “master,” a warlord, to return to human control.
“And what’s more, some of the horses that followed today weren’t even the ones ridden by the Asai cavalryman who lost his life.
It really is a strange thing…”
Naotsune sighed.
Six of the Asai family’s cavalry lost their lives in the daytime battle.
However, we had about a dozen horses following us.
The numbers clearly didn’t add up.
“…It might be Indra’s crescent moon .
After that horse started neighing, the other horses came closer.”所為because of
“law…”
Naotsune said with interest.
“The horse that Lord Ryomasa, who built up the Asai family’s power in the northern part of Lake Biwa…
in the Kohoku region, was Taishakutsukige.
Perhaps it was a special kind of horse…”
“No, it might be surprisingly simple.”
I answered, recalling the fact that all the horses that had accompanied me were black…
in other words, they were all stallions.
“Those horses might have fallen in love with Taishakutsukige.”
“Falling in love…
I never imagined something like that could happen.”
Yuan Chang laughed as if he found it amusing.
“If it were a human, I could understand, but a horse involved in a love affair…
My, Lord Nagamasa, you’ve certainly got a good sense of humor.
The only monsters that indulge in love affairs are foxes, known for their debauchery, that transform into humans and store up the vital energy of males…
I can’t believe anything else would do such a thing…”糧Kate
“No, Lord Yuan Chang.
You might be right.
If we were returning from battle and saw a beautiful woman, wouldn’t we want to protect her with our own hands at all costs?
Men are beings who have been given by heaven to be attracted to women.
Perhaps horses are the same.”性Saga
“Well, well, Lord Naotsune.
You too are such a person…”
“Well, that’s fine.”
I asked Yuan Chang, who was beaming with a joyful expression.
“By the way…
Leaving Taishakutsukige aside, what about the other horses?”
“Regarding that, we provide them with food and water at the horse tethering area of Sawayama Castle, and lay down straw bedding for them to rest.”
“I see.”
I’m worried about the origins of the horse that came from the Rokkaku family, but I wonder if everything will be alright.
When I told Naotsune and Yuan Chang about it, they began to groan, “Indeed…”, so I asked Yuan Chang to guide me and we headed back to the stables.
Then, on the way,
“Y-Yuan Chang-sama!
And, my lord…”
“Never mind, what’s wrong?! Visit g.com for the full chapter.
What happened?!”
I came across a soldier who seemed quite flustered, so I asked him that question.
Then he pointed to the corner of the enclosure with his finger—
“In the stables up ahead…
your horse is with the other horses…!”
“–what!?”
I drew the famous Ishiwari Kanemitsu sword, a family heirloom of the Asai clan that Hikobe had given me, from its sheath and ran off as fast as I could.
The worst-case scenario comes to mind.
Hikobei said that monsters can only kill other monsters.
He also said that horses don’t kill each other.
But—why did I take those words at face value?
Even though there’s absolutely no such thing as 100% correctness in this world…
“Indra Moon Hair!”
As I turned the corner of the enclosure and immediately leaped into the horse tethering area—
“…What is this?”
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
In the circular tethering area, a large number of black horses lay sprawled on the ground, twitching and convulsing.
And then, near the middle of the horse tethering area.
There, lying elegantly on a bed of straw, was Taishakutsukimo, yawning and looking at me in a relaxed manner.
But what’s more problematic than the fallen black stallions is—
(What is this pungent, squid-like smell…!)
That was exactly it.
However, the reason soon became clear.
As I approached Taishakutsukimo, her eyes were somehow dreamy…like the eyes of a woman after a lovemaking session…and I understood everything.
“You…
you ate them all?
All of these stallions…”
“Kyuuuuun”
Taishakutsukimo cried out in a voice filled with lust, unlike anything I had ever heard before.
Looking around, I noticed that the horses trembling around weren’t just the magnificent, muscular ones, but also some small, boyish-looking horses.
It was a reverse harem with plenty to choose from.
“Did you come out to the battlefield to hunt for men…?”
“Kyuuuuun”
I had to change my perspective.
Taishakutsukimo was not a virtuous horse that followed Ryosei’s orders and refused to be touched by men.
Perhaps he simply didn’t like any “people” other than Ryosei and Hikobei.
She was an extremely lustful, sex-crazed mare, especially towards her own kind.
Indeed, that neighing sound was something that “tempted” the stallions who had lost their riders on the battlefield and were contemplating their future.
If she were a human, Taishakutsukimo would be the epitome of a seemingly innocent but secretly lewd bitch.
The shock I felt when I finally understood that was immense.
It’s like when you were little and you peeked in on your beloved widowed neighbor, surrounded by lots of men night after night, happily devouring their penises.
It’s a common experience in life.
However, if Taishakutsukige’s beauty could persuade the enemy stallions to lend her to the Asai army, then there would be no problem at all.誑Tabura
…Honestly, I couldn’t keep going if I didn’t think that way.
“Kyuuuuun”
With the sound of Taishakutsukimo’s “Goodnight, see you tomorrow”-like cries echoing behind me, I retraced my steps, agonizing over how to tell Naotsune and Yunchang the truth.
◇
As dawn broke after the shocking night in which they learned Taishakutsukimo’s true nature, some of the guards rushed out of the castle to scout.
Most of the defenders of Sawayama Castle had gathered in the enclosures where the Rokkaku army’s attack was anticipated, either climbing towers and aiming their bows, or holding long spears to knock down enemy soldiers attempting to climb the castle walls.
Even from an outsider’s perspective, their fighting spirit was tremendous, and you could sense their overwhelming determination to “survive together…”
As I peered at them from the main castle tower, I felt a little pleased, thinking, “My encouragement was worthwhile.”
However, there is still no sign of reinforcements from Odani Castle.
–Now is the perfect opportunity, since there are no reinforcements.
That must have been their conclusion.
From the distant enemy camp, the sound of conch horns and war cries announcing the start of battle could be heard.
At that moment, Sawayama Castle was shaken violently.
It literally trembled.
“Hey, hey!” “Yeah!!” “Hey, hey!!” “Yeah!!!”
The battle cries of the soldiers defending Sawayama Castle echoed from the lower enclosure.
Perhaps startled by the vibrations created by the sound, the birds that had been perched on the trees of Sawayama, where the castle was built, all took flight into the sky at once.
“The cavalry are coming!!”
“I don’t care!
Just shoot them with lead bullets and arrows!!”
From the watchtower, matchlock guns fired with a loud bang, or arrows rained down like shooting stars.
Horses never die.
However, the generals on horseback were not invincible, and one after another they fell from their horses and tumbled to the ground.
Some cavalrymen, fortunate enough to weave through the storm of bullets and arrows, reach the castle gate and damage it with the sharp horns of their horses, but they too fall prey to the defenders who atop the gate, wielding their long spears.
As I watched the scene, I thought to myself.
Cavalry are certainly strong in open field battles.
But they are far too vulnerable in siege warfare.
It was clear that this tactic, while perhaps effective against flatland castles, would not be effective against mountain castles.
But the enemy isn’t just cavalry.
The foot soldiers are slowly but surely advancing towards the foot of Mount Sawayama.
Below Sawayama Castle, conch shells were blown and the sound of battle bells echoed.
Countless battle flags and banners bearing the Rokkaku family crest, the “Yotsume-yui,” fluttered in the wind, and the tremendous sound of enemy soldiers treading on the grass and gravel could be heard.
“Hey, hey!!” “Yeah!!!”
The spearmen of Sawayama Castle let out a war cry and thrust and struck down the Rokkaku soldiers advancing from the bottom of the cliff.
However, no matter how many times we attacked, the number of enemies did not decrease at all; on the contrary, their density increased even more.
“Shirouemon!”
I felt like I heard a scream like that.
A foot soldier with a long spear thrust out by another foot soldier was grabbed by a hexagonal soldier, causing him to lose his balance and tumble down the cliff of Sawayama.
There’s no way to save them now.
“Damn it!
Shiroemon!!”
“Damn it!
Use a log!
Run over those filthy bastards with a log!!”
Several of the guards picked up logs that were propped up in the enclosure and threw them down the cliff.
Immediately, screams rang out from the Rokkaku forces, and their offensive was thwarted.
“Push, push, push!
We will not let this Sawayama Castle fall into enemy hands!!”
“We must protect our lord at all costs!!”
“There’s no way we, who are loyal to our lord, could lose to those weaklings of the Rokkaku clan!!”
Gunfire roared from the hexagonal side below the cliff, and several defenders who had been fighting valiantly on the castle walls with their long spears fell and tumbled down.
Each time a gunshot rang out, the defenders would throw logs in the direction of the sound, “run over” the foot soldiers with guns.
Outnumbered.
There’s no way our vast army could be defeated by a mere 1200 soldiers—
Such arrogance must have existed within the Rokkaku army.
The unexpected resistance at Sawayama Castle had completely dampened their spirits.
The Rokkaku family had, to begin with, been in a state of division, including having previously expelled its head of the family.
Yoshikata and his son wanted to capture Sawayama Castle not only because they “could not overlook the Asai,” but also to regain their influence within the clan.
Neither the Rokkaku clan’s generals nor their soldiers had any sense of “we must capture Sawayama Castle at all costs.” In contrast, the defenders of Sawayama Castle were burning with determination: “we must all survive at all costs.”
And finally, from the main keep, I was able to silently watch as the Asai army, having departed from Odani Castle, advanced, raising clouds of dust.
(It’s about time.)
I urged Naotsune and Kazumasa to run towards the stables.
Presumably, after that, the horse handlers at Sawayama Castle worked desperately to care for the horse.
The stallions, who had been squeezed dry by Taishakutsuki and were twitching on the ground, were now wearing their tack, though their faces still looked exhausted.
Incidentally, I was the one who ended up putting the tack on Taishakutsukige this morning.
Apparently, he didn’t want anyone else to touch him.
I jump onto the back of the “lady” who had been indulging in an orgy last night.
I’m probably the only one in this Warring States period who can tame this innocent-looking, slutty bitch horse.
When I think about it that way, I feel a sense of pride as a man.
“Open the castle gates!
We’ll push back the Rokkaku army!”
Once the castle gates were opened, I, along with the mounted cavalry including Naotsune and Kazumasa, swiftly launched an attack and stormed out of the city.
There is only one objective: a surprise attack on the Rokkaku main camp, which is likely to be in disarray.
“Hey, hey!!!” “Yeah!!!!”
The guards of Sawayama also immediately raised a war cry, raised their long spears, and charged out the gate.
They formed a line and, calling out in unison, pursued the fleeing Rokkaku soldiers down the mountain path with precision.
Sawayama is stained with blood, and the military banners bearing the Rokkaku family crest are scattered haphazardly.
◇
“Lord Nagamasa, you seem to be quite troubled…”
After the victory celebration ended, as I was gazing at Ishiwari Kanemitsu in Ichihime’s room, she gently placed her hand on my knee and said that.
“I hear you achieved a great victory in the battle against the Rokkaku family, so is there something you’re worried about…?”
“no…”
I almost denied it, but shook my head.
I am certainly worried.
I’m concerned about Ishiwari Kanemitsu.
Although there were hardly any opportunities to use them in this battle against the Rokkaku family, it’s definitely a good idea to have some fluorite armor on hand that can fight against monsters.
However, this was something that Hikobei had borrowed without Hisamasa’s permission.
As a result, he was killed, and while I was away, he disappeared from my life without me even noticing.
I won’t let his feelings go to waste.
I will never forget him, who, thinking of me, sacrificed Ishiwari Kanemitsu with the resolve to die for me.
I have no intention of telling Hisamasa what happened.
If you tell them, you’ll have to create a “record.”
If I were to create a “record,” it would become “historical fact” among later historians, and would be “established as the norm” without considering Hikobei’s true feelings.
Therefore, keep quiet.
From two perspectives—the practical benefit of possessing the fluorite, and my determination not to let Hikobei’s feelings go to waste—I will absolutely keep it a secret and remain silent.
That’s why, as a practical matter, I had to figure out how to deal with Hisamasa.
Hisamasa will eventually realize that Ishiwari Kanemitsu’s destination is Nagamasa.
Before that, I have to somehow get rid of this famous sword, but discarding the precious fluorite gemstones is out of the question.
Nevertheless, I have to do something.
That was precisely my problem.
“Is that sword…the source of Lord Nagamasa’s troubles?”
Meanwhile, my clever Princess Ichi seemed to have sensed my troubles.
Well, I doubt Ichihime would ever betray him to Hisamasa—so I decided to tell him the whole story.
Then she smiled and clapped her hands together.
“In that case, wouldn’t it be best to consult with your older brother?”
And that’s what he said.
“Your brother owns several swords made of fluorite.
If you’d like, I can write a letter to inform him of this…”
This is exactly what you’d call a godsend.
I’ll hand over Ishiwari Kanemitsu to Nobunaga and exchange it for other weapons made of fluorite…
It’s almost like a rags-to-riches story, but being able to carry around fluorite armor without fearing Hisamasa’s gaze is a huge advantage.
“Thank you, City.
That’s a great help.”
“What are you saying, Lord Nagamasa?”
As she said this, Ichihime murmured, her cheeks faintly flushed.
“Ichi…is Lord Nagamasa’s wife…so it’s only natural that she would want to help her husband, isn’t it…?”
Well, that’s not normal, is it?
But I think my wife is quite an amazing woman for being able to confidently say that she’s just “normal.”
Thanks to Ichihime, my worries about handling Ishiwari Kanemitsu had lessened, so I took her hand and intertwined our fingertips.
Then my beloved wife looked at me with a slightly embarrassed expression, her eyes filled with anticipation.
“Hey, Ichi”
“Yes…!
What is it, Lord Nagamasa?”
When I called out to her, Ichihime responded without hiding her expectant expression.
She was so cute that I think it’s understandable that I’d want to tease her a little.
“I’m tired today.”
“…Ah, that’s right…”
He casually utters a line that would likely be the number one reason a husband would refuse his wife’s advances in modern society , and Ichihime instantly becomes dejected.
Damn, she’s so cute.燦然three thousand
I flopped down onto the futon that Ichihime had already laid out, and beckoned to her, saying:
“So, I want to ask you for a favor today.
I didn’t relieve myself at all yesterday, so to be honest, I’m really horny.”
“Ah…!”
As I lay on my back and made Big Sun get hard, she let out a cute shriek and covered her eyes with both hands.
However, the gap between her hands was unusually wide, and it was obvious that Ichihime’s gaze was firmly fixed on my son through that gap.
So I’ve decided to try selling a play.
“Ichi, it hurts.
When I think of you, my son ends up like this, and it hurts so much I feel like I’m going to burst.”
“W-w-w…”
“Please, City, do something…”
“Uh…
uhh…”
During the Sengoku period (Warring States period), it was taboo for a woman to seek out a man in the bedroom.
And for Ichihime, taking the initiative in sexual activity is an unacceptable taboo.
Women in the Sengoku period had to remain passive and only act according to men’s demands…that was their role in the bedroom.
but–
“Lord Nagamasa…”
“what up?”
“Lord Nagamasa, you must be tired, right?
But…
you’re in a lot of pain and it’s really difficult for you, isn’t it?”所為because of
“ah…”
“Well, um…
a wife’s role is to help her husband, so…
um…”
“…”
“Well, comforting Lord Nagamasa is also an important part of being his wife, isn’t it?”
“Okay…
I’ll leave it to you.”
“…Yes!”
Ichihime sat down next to me as I lay there, said “Excuse me,” and slowly reached out her hand.
Recalling the feeling of Ichihime’s soft hands, my expectations caused Big Sun to swell even further.