最上義光歴史館

The Downfall of the Ignoble Lord

　　Following Lord Yoshiaki’s return from the battle of Kaneyama, he summoned Kusakari Bizen no Kami to his sleeping quarters one evening and remained in counsel with him throughout the night.
　　The following spring, Bizen no Kami went forth to a mountain where the slaying of birds or animals was strictly prohibited, and he commenced to hunt deer and birds and commit other lawless acts. Lord Yoshiaki was greatly incensed when news of this reached his ears. “Only a scoundrel of the lowest order would dare to perpetrate such atrocities on this mountain, upon which lies the grave of Lord Yoshimori, and where the taking of any life is expressly forbidden. However, in consideration of his sacrifice of his son Takeda Hyōgo, who fell last year in battle at Kaneyama, I shall spare him the punishment of death.”
　　And so it was that Bizen no Kami was banished from the Mogami domain. Left with no other recourse, he made his way to Shōnai, where he placed himself at the mercy of the Ignoble Lord and was allowed to take up residence.
　　Upon hearing the details of Bizen no Kami’s crime, Mitsuyasu deemed him a man who would never be allowed to return to Yamagata and immediately made him a member of his personal retinue. Being a man of considerable acumen, Bizen no Kami was soon in Mitsuyasu’s good graces, and within the space of three months he found himself the recipient of a most generous fiefdom and a trusted retainer of his new master. Now, amongst the long-serving vassals of the Ignoble Lord there was a man by the name of Nakatsukasa, who was some sixty years of age. Nakatsukasa had a twelve-year-old son who had for some time served at Lord Mitsuyasu’s side, but when the boy one day committed some trifling offense, his unforgiving master pulled him close and slew him with his own sword. The grief of the elderly Nakatsukasa was quite beyond the capacity of words to convey, and in his keen anguish, he began to harbor a deep grudge against Mitsuyasu. “Although he may have been guilty of some small infraction,” Nakatsukasa grieved, “my son was but a lad of twelve, a boy who could still not tell his left from his right. I myself have fought honorably for my lord in many battles, and now that I have reached my sixtieth year, why do I deserve to be treated so heartlessly? How can my lord be so cruel?”
　　Pleading illness, Nakatsukasa retreated to his fiefdom of Takasaka, where he mourned his lost child day and night. The other retainers looked upon him with sympathy. “The bitterness Nakatsukasa feels against our lord is no more than just,” they said. “If even a man such as he, who is conspicuous in his faithful and meritorious service, can be subjected to such cruelty, there is no telling what fate may befall the rest of us.” It was in the midst of this muttering that one of them made the following observation:
　　“Lord Yoshiaki of Yamagata is known to say that a commanding general and his soldiers are like a folding fan. The general is the pivot, the captains the ribs, and the body of soldiers the paper covering, and each of these elements is indispensable to victory in battle. Moreover, Lord Yoshiaki has been heard to say that he feels towards his soldiers as he does towards his own children.”
　　“He speaks truly,” said those who were listening, “and no soldier would begrudge his life to serve a general who feels such as this. In the case of the Ignoble Lord, who loves war and acts without mercy, fear of his lordship’s wrath may bring outward obedience, but there are none who truly feel loyal to him.”
　　Though one and all were in agreement on this, they feared that Lord Mitsuyasu would hear of any visits they paid to Nakatsukasa, and none dared make the attempt.
　　Bizen no Kami, however, had a secret agenda, and in the dead of night, when all were asleep, he would slip out to visit the elderly retainer. He would recount tales that would soothe the other man’s heart, or join him in mourning his son, and it was at these times that Nakatsukasa would unburden himself to his guest. “Not even the colleagues with whom I have shared long friendships will come to see me, for they all fear his lordship, while you – who have but recently joined us here – uncomplainingly make the long nightly journey to visit me and comfort me in my sorrow, and for this I am most deeply grateful.”
　　On one of these nights, with the rain falling outside and a mournful feel in the air, Bizen no Kami arrived with a servant laden with a small cask of sake and other supplies. Nakatsukasa welcomed him warmly, saying, “I had been feeling particularly lonely on this rainy evening – it is good of you to have come,” and the two men spent the night talking of the daimyo and lords of the various provinces.
　　“I know not whether to believe,” said Nakatsukasa, “the reports that Lord Yoshiaki of Yamagata is a man of great compassion who is merciful to all his people. Is this indeed true?”
“In recent years,” replied Bizen no Kami, “Lord Yoshiaki has conquered much of the region with his sword, making some in the neighboring provinces view him as a fierce god of sorts, but at heart he is a man of great mercy. He looks upon all his subjects as his children, and his care even extends to the old and infirm, who are granted stipends and looked after well.”
　　Upon hearing Bizen no Kami’s response, Nakatsukasa moved to his side and spoke in an undertone. “Although it shames me to say so, I find myself unable to forgive my lord for his recent treatment of me. In truth, when the Ignoble Lord was but a boy of twelve, it was I who orchestrated an unprecedented coup in the Murakami domain of Echigo province, along with a series of subsequent military victories, which enabled him to become ruler of Shōnai. Are these not verily the acts of a faithful servant? However, the resentment I feel towards him is not mine alone, for as you yourself have seen and heard, his lordship is mighty only in battle, and has not the slightest whit of compassion for others. Those who are willing to listen to reason and strive for the good of the land find themselves stripped of their positions, while only flatterers and sycophants rise in the ranks, insolent in their snug proximity to his lordship. With these men increasingly given to evil ways, there are none in the land who can breathe easily, and it is for the sake of these people that I have resolved to offer my allegiance to Lord Yoshiaki. I will help to lead the conquest of the Shōnai domain, and if I join the Mogami side, I believe that most of Lord Mitsuyasu’s other retainers will follow me. Your presence here at this particular time is most fortuitous – take yourself quickly to Yamagata and inform Lord Yoshiaki of my proposal, and if he agrees, I will flee to Yamagata without delay. If his lordship is appraised of the situation, he will surely pardon you for any past misdeeds.” It was in this way that Nakatsukasa made his intentions quite clear to his guest.
　　In truth, Bizen no Kami had come forth to Shōnai and spent several years dwelling in the region precisely in order to bring about the downfall of the Ignoble Lord. He had attempted to gauge the interest of a variety of persons, but with so much at stake he was sorely troubled as to his best course of action, which made Nakatsukasa’s proposal a most felicitous turn of events.
　　“What you suggest is entirely justified,” Bizen no Kami told Nakatsukasa, “for what other choice do you have? The gods themselves could hardly fail to recognize the justice of your desire to overthrow a wicked lord and relieve the distress of the multitudes. However, fleeing to the distant region of Yamagata will not be enough to bring you success in this scheme. You should remain here and secretly hold counsel with those who will stand by your side, and if you then make your intentions known to Lord Yoshiaki, he will no doubt advance on Shōnai with his army at the earliest opportunity. Lord Mitsuyasu will likely go with his troops to the Shōnai-Mogami border to meet the enemy army, and if you take that opportunity to set fire to his castle and attack him from behind, Mitsuyasu will find himself set upon from both sides and – fierce general that he may be – will no doubt be overcome quickly.” Bizen no Kami clearly outlined the steps of his strategy, and Nakatsukasa listened attentively.
　　“You speak most wisely,” he said. “I will seek out those who will ally themselves with me.” From that time on, Nakatsukasa organized clandestine meetings with his colleagues, informing them of what he had resolved to do for the sake of the people and encouraging them to join him. Without exception, all those he approached had grown so disgusted with their master that they welcomed his proposal wholeheartedly, enthusiastically falling in with his plans. It was decided that they would draw up a written pledge, and late one night, when all were asleep, they assembled at Nakatsukasa’s residence. Bizen no Kami had prepared the document containing their oath, and to this they affixed their seals. The pledge was entrusted to Bizen no Kami, and a war council was held to seal their compact.
　　When Bizen no Kami sent word of these developments to Yamagata, Lord Yoshiaki was exceedingly pleased. “The problem of the Ignoble Lord is one that has long weighed on my mind, but this success in turning his entire body of retainers to our side is no small testament to the fidelity of Bizen no Kami.” Without delay, Lord Yoshiaki departed Yamagata at the head of his army, and the vanguard had soon passed the high peaks of Mount Gassan, advancing as far as the Kurokawa-Matsune region.
　　News of these movements reached the ears of the Ignoble Lord. “Lord Yoshiaki’s reputation in recent years has him as a fierce god of sorts, which will make him a worthy adversary for one such as myself. Let us take to the field and give him a real fight.” With this, Lord Mitsuyasu set forth from his castle with his army.
　　While he and his men took up their position on the other side of the river that separated them from the Mogami vanguard, Nakatsukasa proceeded to carry out the prearranged plan of entering Lord Mitsuyasu’s castle and setting fire to the main bailey. “What is the meaning of this?” demanded Mitsuyasu and his attendants when they saw the black smoke drifting up to the heavens, and they were plunged into immediate confusion.
　　Lord Mitsuyasu and his hatamoto guard struggled to regroup, but in the next moment they found themselves under attack by the very retainers who had until then formed a defensive barrier around them, but who now rained arrows and musket balls in their direction.
　　Witnessing this scene from their position across the river, the soldiers of the Mogami vanguard, led by Honjō Buzen no Kami, took no heed of the deep river waters as they charged across and set upon the enemy with their swords. The hatamoto guard crumbled under this fierce onslaught, fleeing without a single glance behind, but the Mogami force pursued and slew the fleeing soldiers one by one.
　　Lord Mitsuyasu and his personal guard of twenty-four or five warriors managed to flee a distance of some six hundred meters or so, but Mitsuyasu’s hereditary vassals had without exception turned on their master, and they used their knowledge of the lay of the land to cut off all avenues of escape. Faced with an enemy at every corner, Lord Mitsuyasu abandoned all hope of escape and turned his horse around once more.
　　“This is a bitter end indeed,” he rued. “Lord Yoshiaki’s recent wrath towards Kusakari Bizen, leading to his supposed flight to Shōnai, was but a ruse to achieve this intended outcome. And I allowed myself to be taken in so easily – even placing this deceiver in my own service. All that is left for me to do now is to launch myself with all speed upon Yoshiaki’s hatamoto guard and die honorably in battle.” He made as if to gallop off immediately, but his attendants restrained him.
　　“The position of Yoshiaki’s hatamoto guard is some four kilometers distant,” they said, “and it is doubtful whether you will reach your destination. Rather than allowing yourself to meet your death at the hands of some common soldier along the way, would it not be better to take your own life here and now? We will defend you with our arrows and keep the enemy away.” Barely had they finished speaking, however, when a stray arrow struck Mitsuyasu, plunging deeply into his left side. Realizing that all was lost, Lord Mitsuyasu called out to his men. “Do not let them find me after I am dead!” he said, and, pulling off his armor from his position astride his horse, he slashed open his own belly and fell dead.
　　It cannot be denied that Mitsuyasu had been a powerful leader, but with his propensity for cruelty that had turned even his long-serving retainers against him, he had brought himself to a quick, and miserable, end.
　　Bizen no Kami presently came forth, bearing the head of Lord Mitsuyasu, to the head encampment where Lord Yoshiaki was waiting, and he detailed the outcome of the battle. Lord Yoshiaki was highly pleased, telling Bizen no Kami, “It is thanks to your staunch devotion that we have succeeded in overthrowing Mitsuyasu so quickly,” and later bestowing upon him a generous fiefdom in addition to a formal letter of commendation. Led by Bizen no Kami, Lord Yoshiaki thereupon made his victorious entry into Shōnai. Nakatsukasa and the others who had allied themselves with the Mogami side presented themselves before his lordship to proffer their gratitude, and one and all were given his lordship’s assurance that they would be allowed to retain their fiefs. In addition to his own fiefdom, Nakatsukasa was also granted all the property and possessions that had belonged to the Ignoble Lord, and Lord Yoshiaki told him, “I now consider you one of my own hereditary retainers.”
　　However, Nakatsukasa declined this offer. “I could not be more grateful,” he told Lord Yoshiaki, “but I am past my sixtieth year, with no child to carry on my name, and I have no interest in pursuing prosperity for myself. I joined your lordship’s side in order to ease the suffering of the many, and all I ask in return is that you kindly allow me to take my leave.” With this earnest entreaty, Nakatsukasa left the Shōnai domain forthwith, retiring to the Kinbusen area of Yamato province where he became a Buddhist monk, and subsequently passing away at the age of eighty.
　　Some time afterwards, Lord Yoshiaki issued the following command: “Mitsuyasu was a ruler of note in these lands, and a temple should be constructed for the repose of his soul.” Erected near the port of Kamo, this sanctuary was given the name “Kōan-ji(16) Temple” and endowed with a generous tract of land.


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(16)Kōan is an alternative reading of the characters that comprise the name ‘Mitsuyasu’

>>CONTENTS

The Battle of Jugorigahara

　　Upon gaining control of Shōnai, Lord Yoshiaki placed Tōzenji Umanokami in Oura Castle to serve as administrator of the district, and sent his close advisor Nakayama Genba to act as Umanokami’s deputy. These two men occupied the castle and ran the affairs of the district for a number of years, but they apparently engaged in a self-serving agenda that earned them the enmity of the lower-ranking officers and general people.
　　“Lord Uesugi of the Echigo province would be far more compassionate than either of these two,” the people said, “and we should offer him our allegiance and ask that he send his troops here.” Talk did not quickly lead to action, however, and many fruitless days were spent doing nothing more than convening councils of one sort or another.
　　“If we allow things to drag on like this,” they lamented, “news of our planning will reach the ears of those two in the castle, and we will feel their wrath. We must make our wishes known to Lord Uesugi at once.” They swore their fidelity in a written pledge which was delivered to Echigo, and Lord Uesugi received their request with great pleasure. He sent a force of several thousand mounted samurai, led by a stalwart general by the name of Honjō Shigenaga, to come to the aid of these men, and when these developments became known to Umanokami and Genba, they immediately dispatched a swift steed to convey the news to Lord Yoshiaki. In response, his lordship sent Kusaoka Toranosuke with reinforcements from Yamagata, and it was decided that Lord Yoshiaki would himself bring up the rear guard. Accompanied by only his personal attendants and mounted bodyguard, his lordship left Yamagata, letting it be known that the various Mogami detachments were to rendezvous at the Shōnai border.
　　When Toranosuke arrived at Oura Castle, he met with Umanokami and Genba, and the three men convened a war council.
　　“We are preparing to do battle with a large army,” said Umanokami, “and with all of the lower-ranking officers turned against us, many of the ordinary garrison soldiers will no doubt go over to the enemy’s side as well, which will make it impossible for us to hold the castle. Rather than allowing the castle to be taken easily, I would prefer that we charge forth when the enemy strikes, allowing us to die gloriously in battle and do honor to our names. However, we must not let the women and children within the castle be captured by the Echigo force, for this would allow the enemy to make a spectacle of the wives and mothers of our men. Genba, you must take these women and children and see them safely to the Mogami border. The inhabitants of the mountain hamlets along your way will undoubtedly attempt to rise up against you, so it is imperative that you leave at the soonest possible time.”
　　However, Genba was fiercely resistant to this plan. “I myself have served in this castle for some years, and if I abandon the both of you during this time of trouble and leave the castle with our womenfolk and children, people will say that Genba was a coward who used woman and children as a pretext to make his own escape. I will become a laughingstock, and I could never bear the disgrace of this.”
　　It was here that Toranosuke interceded. “Please collect yourself and listen closely to what I have to say,” he told Genba. “You are well aware that Umanokami is the commander of this castle, and that my men and I have been designated by Lord Yoshiaki to act as his reinforcements. You are Umanokami’s deputy, and your position is not the same as ours. Furthermore, many of the women and children in the castle come from illustrious families, and by keeping them from the hands of the enemy and seeing them safely to the Mogami domain, you will be doing Lord Yoshiaki a far greater service than merely allowing yourself to die in battle here. It would be unworthy of you to allow your fear of ridicule to take precedence over true fidelity to your master. Moreover, if the women and children remain at the castle, concern for them will distract us and prevent us from waging the battle that we wish to give. For your lord, for the good of the people, and for the sake of the two of us who remain here, concern yourself not with what the world may say of you, but quickly take these women and children to safety.”
　　Genba could not deny the justice of this argument. “I will do as you bid me,” he said, accepting his commission.
It was thus that Genba departed the castle with the entire body of women and children, but he returned momentarily to speak once more with the two men remaining behind.
　　“I beg of you to defend this castle with all your might,” he said, “and I pray that you will stand firm. Once I have seen those in my charge safely to Yamagata, I will accompany Lord Yoshiaki back here at once to fight by your side.”
　　And so the group set forth, with the women and children in front and Genba and his men following protectively behind them. The party had scaled the heights of Mount Gassan and had just passed the peak of Mount Yudono when they were threatened by a great band of local dwellers, who swarmed up towards them from the valleys below with warlike cries of “Eiya, eiya!”
　　Observing their approach, Genba turned to his men and spoke. “If we attempt to fight off an enemy that attacks us from all sides, our ranks may be penetrated by these assailants, and if any women or children are taken in the confusion, our names will be sullied for all eternity. Let us make haste to that mountain which lies yonder, for it has but a single branchless road. There the enemy will be unable to divide into parties to attack us, and will have no choice but to pursue us in a body. If we allow them to draw near, then suddenly turn back and launch a fierce counterassault upon them, they will be disinclined to trouble us any further.”
　　After Genba’s orders were given, the group paid no heed to the assailing bands which attempted to close in on them from all directions, but instead quickened their pace to the next mountain. Once they had begun their ascent, the path narrowed to the single road they had been expecting, and their attackers were forced to follow them in a single line.
　　“The time is right,” said Genba upon observing this. “Let us turn back and finish them off.” Brandishing a large pole sword, he charged straight at the enemy, while his men, not to be outdone, slashed their way mercilessly through the thronging assailants. Finding themselves attacked from all sides, the enemy was easily forced off the road, and they fell down to the bottom of the ravines, fleeing helter-skelter in all directions. The heads of these lowly attackers were hardly worth taking as trophies, so Genba’s men overtook and slew them, leaving them where they fell, until the scene was littered with corpses too many to count. Flushed with victory, the soldiers were preparing to continue their pursuit when Genba restrained them.
　　“The mountain paths here are precarious,” he said, “and we do not want to embark on a long chase.” With that, he collected his group together, and the party halted for a time to await any further developments. Fortunately, no bands of assailants dared approach them again, so they heaved a deep sigh of relief, allowing themselves some rest, and went on to safely deliver the group of women and children to Yamagata with no further mishap.
　　Meanwhile, back in Shōnai, Honjō Shigenaga of Echigo was advancing on Oura Castle with several thousand mounted soldiers.
　　Inside the fortification, castle commander Tōzenji Umanokami turned to Kusaoka Toranosuke and spoke. “As we discussed earlier, there will be no glory for us if we remain within this castle. I would prefer that we leave the castle forthwith and challenge our enemy on the field, where we may fight and die with honor. I hope that you will follow me.”
　　“It will be my pleasure to do so,” responded Toranosuke.
　　With that, the two men advanced to the battlefield of Jūgorigahara, where they first thought to meet the enemy as two parties. However, back at the castle a traitor within had set fire to the main bailey, and, seeing that there was no longer anything to be gained by dividing their force, the men had no choice but to take on the enemy together. They routed the vanguard of Honjō Shigenaga’s army and were preparing to charge the second company when Toranosuke’s horse was struck by a bullet and reared up uncontrollably. Finding himself forced to do battle on foot, Toranosuke faced the enemy squarely, fighting tenaciously until he had sustained grave wounds over his entire body. Realizing that he would soon be overcome, Toranosuke made his decision. “I have done all I can – I will wait for you to follow me, Lord Umanokami,” he cried, and with that, he cut open his belly as he stood there straight and tall. Planting his sword in the ground, he then fixed a fierce eye on the enemy and died in his upright position. A burial mound was later erected on this site where Toranosuke perished. Given the name the ‘Grassy Mound’, it is said to exist to this day.
　　Now we return to Umanokami, who had slipped in among the enemy soldiers and, with the head of one of his own men in his left hand and his bloodstained sword across his shoulder, forded the Chiyasu River on his horse. Dismounting, he proceeded to Shigenaga’s main encampment on foot and addressed those assembled in a loud voice. “I fought in today’s battle,” he proclaimed, “as a member of the advance guard. I slew castle commander Umanokami in battle by the river, and have come hither with all speed to present his head for your inspection.” All those present praised this meritorious feat, opening up a path for him to pass through. Shigenaga had already seated himself upon his camp stool, and Umanokami advanced forward until he was but a distance of four or five meters from the other man. Then, suddenly flinging the head in his hand at the seated general, he sprung forward and struck Shigenaga in the center of his helmet with his drawn sword. Though Shigenaga was wearing a solid, bullet-tested helmet, Umanokami’s stroke succeeded in shaving off four of the helmet ribs, narrowly missing his left ear. The general’s startled bodyguards quickly surrounded Umanokami and slashed at him with their swords, and with that, his body rent with many wounds, the valiant Umanokami perished.
　　Shigenaga subsequently brought forth the heads of the two enemy generals, along with Umanokami’s sword, to present to Lord Uesugi Kagekatsu at the formal viewing ceremony, and Lord Kagekatsu could not have been more pleased. It was some time later that Lord Kagekatsu had occasion to make a gift of this sword to Lord Ieyasu. The sword was shortened from its original length of 82 cm to approximately 76 cm, and, given the name “Umanokami”, was kept as a prized possession. It is said that it was later given to the keeping of the Kishū Tokugawa clan.
　　Meanwhile, Lord Yoshiaki had advanced as far as the Shōnai border when he received word that Oura Castle had fallen, and that Umanokami and Toranosuke had perished with all of their men, which caused him to become quite frantic with rage.
　　“I could not have imagined a more grievous outcome. We must meet the enemy quickly, and avenge these fallen men in battle,” he said, but Ujiie Owari no Kami and his other retainers restrained him. “We had but little time to prepare for this battle,” they said, “and our contingents from the distant parts of our domain have yet to reach us. We have a smaller army than usual, and from what we have heard, not only is our enemy a large one, but the lower-ranking Shōnai officers have all rallied to their side as well. It would be perilous to embark on a battle that would take us through dangerous terrain, and we urge your lordship to withdraw for now, and to return with a large army at some later date.” Faced with the earnest entreaty of his senior councilors, Lord Yoshiaki heeded their counsel and proceeded to turn back.
　　In the time that followed, the land was unified and became peaceful, and private wars between daimyo were forbidden. For that reason, the region remained in the hands of the Uesugi clan for some time, to Lord Yoshiaki’s great vexation, but when the area again fell into turbulence with the Battle of Sekigahara, Lord Yoshiaki finally succeeded in taking back the three districts of Shōnai and giving vent to the resentment that had troubled him for so long.


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>>CONTENTS

Foreword　　

　　My family had been in the service of the Mogami clan for some seven generations when it came to pass that the senior retainers became embroiled in a dispute precipitated by the extreme youth of Yoshitoshi, the new lord of the Mogami domain. Matsune Bizen no Kami lodged a petition with the Edo shogunate alleging an attempted coup by Yamanobe Uemon no Daibu and Sakenobe Echizen no Kami, but when his accusations were judged to be without merit, Matsune was given to the custody of Tachibana Hida no Kami. In the time which followed, Shimada Danjō and Yonekitsu Kanbei, emissaries of the shogunate, repeatedly impressed upon the senior councilors their duty to unite in support of the young Gengorō(1), but Yamanobe Uemon no Daibu had other intentions, and, allying himself with Sakenobe Echizen no Kami, he resisted these orders until the very end. In response to this, the shogunate ordered that the Mogami domain be forfeited, granting Yoshitoshi a small fiefdom of a combined 10,000 koku(2) in Gōshū(3) and Sanshū(4) in its place.
　　Finding myself cast adrift in the world, I retired with my family to the rural district of Kasai in the Musashi province, and the years passed by. There was a masterless rōnin from Aizu who also lived in the area, and having both been through similar circumstances, we fell naturally into conversation when we met day or night, commiserating at length over the decline of the families we had served. It was this rōnin who said the following to me:
　　“As you suffer increasingly from the maladies brought on by old age, I worry how much time is left for you upon this earth, and it also concerns me that you will be leaving behind many descendants who know nothing of the faithful service rendered by Lord Yoshiaki and Lord Iechika to the noble Tokugawa family. Would it not be wise to commit the memories of all you have seen and heard to paper, leaving this record as an enduring gift for your children and their children after them?”
　　I realized the justice of his words, and resolved to do that which had been suggested to me. During the autumn nights when I had a tendency to be wakeful, I reached back into my memory, recording all I could remember of the old tales, which I leave in this manuscript for my descendants.
　　I am afraid that I can offer but poorly written accounts lacking in coherence or clarity, and I hope that the reader will forgive this work for its shortcomings.


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(1) Yoshitoshi
(2) A traditional unit of rice that was used to denominate the size of landholdings and the income of samurai
(3) Ōmi province, present-day Shiga prefecture
(4) Mikawa province, present-day Aichi prefecture

>>CONTENTS

The Passing of Lord Yoshimori

　　Tracing the lineage of the Mogami clan far back in time to its progenitor, it was Lord Shuri no Daibu Kaneyori, descended from the Seiwa Genji line, who entered the domain of Yamagata in the Mogami district of Dewa as provincial inspector(1) of the region on the 6th day of the eighth month of Enbun 1(2), the year of the monkey. Kaneyori passed away on the 8th day of the sixth month of Kōryaku 1(3), but the family line has continued uninterrupted for many long years since then, with Lord Yoshiaki eighth in the line of Mogami lords(4).
　　When Lord Yoshiaki was in his sixteenth year, he accompanied hisfather Lord Yoshimori to the village of Takayu to bathe in the healing waters of the local hot springs. There father and son spent a few pleasant days hunting deer and birds, but one evening a group of several dozen local thieves launched a night raid on their place of lodging. Lord Yoshimori’s personal attendants emerged to fight and rout these bandits, and Lord Yoshiaki also dashed unhesitatingly into the fray, wounding two bandits and grappling with and slaying another with his sword. Lord Yoshimori was deeply proud of the valor his son had displayed before his very eyes, and the following day he brought forth his famed sword Sasagatana(5), which had been forged by the swordsmith Sadaie and passed down through the Mogami family. “The sword you see before you,” he told his son, “was presented to me in my seventeenth year on the battlefield at the entrance to Narage, when I distinguished myself in battle there. As your actions here have shown your valiance to be no less than mine, I hereby bestow this sword upon you.”
　　Filled with an immeasurable joy, Yoshiaki accepted the sword given him, and he and his father subsequently made their return to Yamagata Castle. It was many years hence, from the middle of the third month of Tenshō 18(6), that Lord Yoshimori declined in health and became confined to his bed. Lord Yoshiaki attempted many medical remedies, but all were without effect, and on the 17th day of the fifth month, Lord Yoshimori passed away at the age of 70. After his death, he was given the Buddhist name of Eirin, and the funeral ceremonies held at Ryūmonji Temple, constructed by Lord Yoshimori in advance of his passing, were the grandest that had ever been seen.


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(1)This position was comparable to that of a commanding officer or governor
(2) 1356
(3) 1379
(4) Yoshiaki was in fact the 11th lord of the Mogami clan
(5) Also known as ‘Sasakiri’
(6) 1590

>>CONTENTS

The Slaying of Shirotori Juro

　　In those days, in the Yachi region of Dewa province, there was a daimyo by the name of Shirotori Jūrō. Jūrō had it in his mind to subjugate Lord Yoshiaki and himself become the ruler of Dewa, and he initially sought to avail himself of the power of the central authority. He sent Lord Nobunaga the gifts of a great hawk and a horse from his own stable, falsely representing himself as “the Lord of Mogami in the Dewa province”. Being quite unacquainted with the affairs of this region so far from the capital, it was said that Lord Nobunaga took Jūrō at his word and sent him a courteous letter of reply.
　　News of this incident reached the ears of Lord Yoshiaki, who sent Shimura Kurobei, later to become Shimura Izu no Kami, to Lord Nobunaga with the official lineage chart of the Mogami family, along with the gifts of a great white hawk, one of his lordship’s own horses, and ten long spears forged by the master swordsmith Gassan. As this was a time of great unrest within the country, Kurobei found himself unable to proceed by the route originally planned, and approached the capital by way of the Echigo province. Lodging at the residence of Yamamoto Hikosaburō, he waited until Lord Nobunaga was ready to see him.
　　Announced as “an emissary from a distant region”, Shimura Kurobei was summoned to the palace courtyard with his entire accompanying retinue, down to the humblest attendants. After Lord Nobunaga had presented his guest with ceremonial gifts, he personally questioned Kurobei with regards to the circumstances giving rise to his visit.
　　Upon hearing the explanation offered by Kurobei and examining the chart tracing the lineage of the Mogami family, Lord Nobunaga immediately drafted a letter recognizing “Mogami Dewa no Kami”, or “Lord Mogami of Dewa”.
　　Lord Yoshiaki remained nonetheless determined to put an end to Shirotori Jūrō, who had attempted to usurp the position of the Mogami clan. He consulted with his vassal Ujiie Owari no Kami, who subsequently dispatched a messenger to Jūrō with the following proposal: “This disharmony between neighboring lords is an impediment to passage between our lands, which is a burden upon the people, and my master Lord Yoshiaki wishes to reconcile with your lordship. With your approval, we propose a marriage between your daughter and his lordship’s eldest son Shuri no Daibu Yoshiyasu to ensure good relations between the two families.”
　　Jūrō considered this proposal carefully, and through his mind ran the following thoughts: “Yoshiaki’s reputation for valor in recent years is great, and contending with him over the long term may be difficult. It might be to my advantage to use this intermediation of Ujiie Owari no Kami to make peace with Lord Yoshiaki. Allied together, we will expand our dominion over the neighboring lands, and when my own power has grown mighty, I will assuredly find some means of subduing him.”
　　Having thus settled the matter in his mind, he spoke. “It is agreed. Let there be peace between Lord Yoshiaki and myself.”
　　Following this, there was some coming and going of messengers from both sides, but, ever cautious, Jūrō had yet to present himself at Yamagata Castle in person.
　　After another consultation with Owari no Kami, an envoy was sent to Jūrō with the following message from Lord Yoshiaki:
　　“Of late, I find myself much impaired in health. I desire to see Lord Jūrō, and to place the ruling of this domain in his hands. And until my son and successor Shuri no Daibu achieves maturity, I wish to entrust to Lord Jūrō’s care the lineage chart of the Mogami family.”
　　Thus commanded, it seemed to Jūrō as if his very prayers had been answered, and he sent a reply saying that he would “present himself a few days hence”. In the intervening time, the Mogami side devised their schemes and bided their time.
　　When Jūrō arrived in Yamagata on the appointed day, what sight did meet his eyes but that of several generations of Mogami retainers, not a single man missing, lined up in defense outside the castle, a seeming indication of the seriousness of their master’s condition. In a writing room of the castle, a high priest of the Jōjuin Temple had set out a sacred altar over which he was offering prayers, and many Mogami family members were in attendance in the room adjacent to the chamber where Lord Yoshiaki lay on his sickbed. There was also much coming and going of physicians and diviners, and the condition of his lordship appeared to be grave indeed.
　　Although habitually a man of caution, Jūrō appeared moved by Lord Yoshiaki’s plight, and tears came to his eyes. Urged to “make haste to his lordship’s bedchamber”, he ventured to the bedside of Lord Yoshiaki and spoke to him respectfully. “Knowing not the full gravity of your lordship’s illness, I have been slow in coming to your side, and I offer my humble apologies. May it now please your lordship to command me as you will.”
　　At this, Lord Yoshiaki pulled himself into a sitting position and spoke. “It is with great joy that I greet this, our final meeting. If this is indeed the end for me, the daimyo of the other domains will no doubt seek to intrude themselves upon our affairs after I am gone, and I look to you to attend to this eventuality. And until my son and successor Shuri no Daibu comes of age, I place the lineage chart of the Mogami family in your keeping.”
　　So saying, he produced a single scroll, which Jūrō accepted. Thrice he raised it reverently to his head, and while the words, “With this, I become lord of Dewa,” did not actually pass Jūrō’s lips, his face plainly betrayed the thought. It was then that Lord Yoshiaki pretended to shift, pulling from under his bed a sword that had earlier been placed there, and in a single movement he slashed at his enemy. The suddenness of this attack took even the valiant Jūrō unawares, and, mortally wounded, he collapsed to the ground.
　　The attendants of Lord Jūrō had been placed in a large hall under the pretext that they were to be given a meal, but upon the signal of a drum beat which sounded in the interior of the castle, a contingent of young samurai who had been lying in wait emerged to surround Lord Jūrō’s men on three sides, cutting them down until none were left alive. Immediately thereupon, the blowing of a conch shell trumpet sounded the call to battle.
　　Kumazawa Chikaranosuke took to the field with a force of fifty ashigaru(1) foot soldiers, and as Takahashi Kazue, Shimura Tōemon, and the other Mogami generals followed with their men, Lord Yoshiaki pulled his horse near and mounted it gracefully. Selected from the 300-strong unit of spearmen and armed with long spears forged by Gassan himself, the “Chosen Thirty”, a group of men so powerful they were designated with the names of fierce beasts, surrounded his lordship, who was accompanied by a mounted bodyguard made up of such valiant warriors as Takahashi Sezaemon, Ōnuma Hachibei, Hosoya Takuminosuke, and Hosoya Gon’emon. With the lust for battle coursing through their veins, the Mogami force launched its assault on the Yachi domain.


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(1)Common foot soldiers

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The Conquest of Sagae

　　Pressing on with its attack, the Mogami force next attempted to push into Sagae, which lay close to Yachi. However, ruling Sagae was a young man of unparalleled physical strength by the name of Hashiba Kanjūrō. Gathering to his side the retainers of Shirotori Jūrō who had survived the battle at Yamagata, Kanjūrō commanded a large force of men who fought so valiantly that it was impossible to engage them directly. In battle after battle, Kanjūrō would invariably ride out at the head of his army, cutting into the enemy force furiously, and once again the first wave of Mogami attackers would be repulsed, and then the second.
　　One day, however, word that Kanjūrō was advancing upon the branch castle of Nakano reached the ears of Lord Yoshiaki.
　　“It is only to be expected of a scoundrel like him. Had I been of a mind to slay him, I could have done so in any number of ways, but his valor and my hope to make him a general in our armies had until now stayed my hand. He has consistently refused to recognize my many efforts to seek peace with him, and he now dares to penetrate deep into my own domain. There is no option left but to put an end to him.”
　　So spoke Lord Yoshiaki, and a punitive force was dispatched to deal with Kanjūrō and his men. Upon espying the great army of Lord Yoshiaki, even the staunch Kanjūrō did not hesitate to retreat to the moat newly dug by his men. When the last man of his army had crossed the moat, Kanjūrō caught sight of Sakusami Toneri, a youth of sixteen or seventeen, who hesitated to make the crossing and still lingered irresolutely on the side.
　　“What poor excuse for a man cannot cross a moat such as this? Come, let me help you across.”
　　So saying, Kanjūrō clasped Toneri to his side and used his pole sword to easily vault over this moat that was some three or four meters wide, and he and his men then retreated to the Sukawa River. There they were confronted by the rising river waters, but Kanjūrō easily pushed back into the river a ferryboat that had been hoisted by the Mogami soldiers onto higher ground. Loading his men onto the boat, Kanjūrō propelled the laden boat into the current with a great cry of “Ei!”, and then he quickly jumped on board himself. The waters of the river were fast-flowing, but Kanjūrō and his men succeeded in reaching the opposite shore, where they quickly took up position. Shoving the ferryboat into the river to be swept away, Kanjūrō addressed his enemy in a loud voice.
　　“If Lord Yoshiaki would like a fight, let him come over here and challenge us.”
　　The Mogami vanguard reached the riverbank, but finding themselves unable to cross a river so deep and fast-flowing without the aid of a boat, the soldiers were forced to return to their encampment. There, Lord Yoshiaki conferred with Ujiie Owari no Kami.
　　“Tomorrow, we will use our wits to put an end to Kanjūrō,” his lordship said. “What I suggest is this: when we have crossed the river, we may be certain that Kanjūrō will ride out to meet us in battle, and in anticipation of this, we will conceal an ambush of twenty skilled marksmen in the fields of high grass to either side of our vanguard. Once battle is enjoined, our vanguard will pretend to retreat, and Kanjūrō, being the hot-blooded and youthful warrior that he is, will no doubt ride brashly out at the front of his army in his usual manner. With twenty guns bearing down upon him, we will surely not miss our mark.”
　　“It is a wise plan,” responded Owari no Kami, “and preparations may begin at once.” It was thus that twenty skilled marksmen, so accurate that they would not miss a bird flying in the sky, were selected from the various Mogami forces, and the details of his lordship’s plan were carefully explained to them.
　　“Firing too hastily may cause you to miss the target, so it is better to fire as one,” they were told, and the signal on which their weapons would be fired in unison was agreed upon.
　　The next morning at the hour of the rabbit(1), the Mogami army sallied forth, crossing the Sukawa River and skirmishing with the soldiers they encountered, and when Kanjūrō took to the field, battle was enjoined. It was then that the Mogami vanguard, as previously arranged, feigned its retreat. Brandishing a large pole sword with metal plates affixed along the length of its shaft, Kanjūrō led his army in victorious pursuit of the retreating soldiers, as had been expected, and the Mogami marksmen closed in on him, firing in unison at the prearranged signal. It appeared that Kanjūrō had been hit, for his horse reared wildly and he was no longer able to stand up in his saddle, but he managed to reseat himself and ride away. Witnessing this, Lord Yoshiaki berated the group of marksmen. “How could you miss an enemy at such close range?” he demanded of them angrily, and a soldier by the name of Urano Magoemon stepped forward to respond. “We took careful aim before firing,” he said, “and there is no doubt but that we hit our target.” His words were proven true, for Kanjūrō had been struck by a bullet that had passed through his saddlebow and exited from his lower back, and it was around 4 p.m., at the hour of the monkey, that he breathed his last.
　　“This was an unfortunate young man,” Lord Yoshiaki said when he heard the news. “If he had challenged us from his stronghold of Sagae and fought a defensive battle keeping the Mogami River before him, he would not have been so easily vanquished. His rashness made him unable to recognize a strategy for victory, allowing him to be easily taken in by our ruse and cut down.”
　　Lord Yoshiaki thereupon divided his army into several divisions in preparation for battle, and launched the attack upon Sagae.


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(1) Sunrise, approximately 6 a.m.

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