最上義光歴史館
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The Fall of Tendo Castle
The capture of Yatsunuma Castle increased Lord Yoshiaki’s might considerably, and he now controlled most of the land to the west of the Mogami River. He continued, however, to encounter resistance from the leader of the Tendō clan. “For long years,” the Tendō lord declared, “the eight castles of the Shimosuji region have been allied under the leadership of the Tendō clan – why should we be obliged to bow down to Yoshiaki now?” He then proceeded to fortify his castle and entrench himself within, so that even when Lord Yoshiaki led his great army in an assault on Tendō Castle, he found the castle defended by many accomplished warriors and was prevented from taking it easily. Lord Yoshiaki had his troops retreat a short ways to build a siege castle, and it was there that they spent some days. Now, commanding the Tendō force was a man by the name of Nobesawa Noto no Kami who was, it goes without saying, a constitutionally vigorous and powerful warrior who stood head and shoulders above the rest. There is a story told about Noto no Kami when he was a youth of seventeen or eighteen. A group of warriors, young and old, were gathered together and talking of matters related to the art of battle when a young soldier who was responsible for the ringing of signal bells stepped forward to speak. “As all of you know,” he said, “the gold merchant Kichiji Nobutaka built a shrine in these parts that is called the Ryōsho Gongen Shrine, and contained within this shrine is a large bell that requires the strength of some five or six men to move. Not long ago, there was a group of brawny men who thought to demonstrate their superior muscular prowess by lifting the bell in groups of two or three, but they ultimately failed in the challenge they had set themselves. What think you of this, Lord Noto no Kami? You are reputed to possess great strength, but would you be equal to the task of lifting the bell that I speak of unaided?” Noto no Kami smiled. “If I am indeed able to lift this bell alone, will it be mine to do with as I will? “By all means – feel free to take it for yourself. If you succeed in doing so, we will provide the shrine with another bell,” came the bold response from the group. “In that case, if you would be so kind as to bear witness,” said Noto no Kami, and, accompanied by all those present, he made his way to the aforementioned shrine where he grasped the bell and raised it effortlessly, placing it over his head. “It is with many thanks that I accept the gift of this bell,” he said, and it is told that he then took the bell to a place within his domain called Tsuruko, hanging it at an old temple there. Noto no Kami also features in the tale of a certain battle. On this occasion, a great wave of soldiers had poured forth from Tendō Castle, advancing as far as the Senjudō border to do battle, but then quickly turning back. “Make sure that none of the enemy escapes alive,” ordered Lord Yoshiaki when he observed their actions, and his brave young soldiers responded with alacrity. “We will dispatch them with pleasure, your lordship,” they cried as they set upon the enemy at full speed, and the Tendō force turned back in their tracks to face them. Clouds of dust filled the air as the fighting raged for about an hour, but neither side succeeded in gaining the upper hand. It was then that the Mogami troops under the command of Shimura Kurobei and Yagashiwa Sagami no Kami burst forth from the paths between the rice fields to attack the enemy from both flanks. Finding themselves set upon and cut down from all sides, the beleaguered Tendō soldiers broke into a precipitous retreat, but they were pursued by the Mogami army to the castle perimeter, where many of them were slain. When Nobesawa Noto no Kami saw what was happening to his men, he threw open the front gate of the castle and rode out to meet the enemy in single combat. On this day, Noto no Kami was attired in a black-threaded suit of armor worn over chain mail, and he wore an eight-sided hood on his head. He cut a dashing figure astride his palomino steed, wielding the iron baton, a full meter and a half in length, that he always kept upon his person as if it were of no weight at all. Plowing through the ranks of fleeing Mogami soldiers, he plunged unrestrainedly into the midst of the enemy army, swinging his baton left and right and felling all who stood in his path until there were none left willing to confront him head on. Observing this scene was a man by the name of Yasuma who had lived and trained for many years on Mount Haguro, earning a reputation as a powerful warrior. “Those men are taking quite a beating,” he said, “but Noto no Kami is no invincible god. Let me have a try at him, and we’ll see who proves to be the stronger.” With this, he galloped straight out towards his adversary, while Noto no Kami cast a sharp look at the advancing figure. “It appears I have a sole challenger among the many here – does he hasten to me to be struck down by this baton of mine? Very well, let me give him a taste of it.” Closing in on his would-be opponent from the left, Noto no Kami lifted his iron baton straight up in the air and brought it squarely down upon the other man, crushing his head down into his torso and causing his horse to collapse under him. Appalled by the ferocity of this attack, the Mogami troops fled desperately away from Noto no Kami, who now stood, dignified and erect, adjusting the belt of his armor. It was from this retreating mass of Mogami soldiers that a single youth of sixteen or seventeen galloped out to single-handedly challenge Noto no Kami, thrusting his sword threateningly towards the powerful warrior’s hands. Displaying not the slightest bit of emotion, Noto no Kami calmly finished tying his belt and reseated himself upon his horse. It was then that he spoke. “Who are you, and what is your name?” “I am Honma Shichirō, eldest son of Honma Samanosuke, and I am seventeen years of age.” A smile came to Noto no Kami’s lips. “You are a brave young man,” he said. “It would be easy enough to strike you down here and now, but I admire your spirit and will let you live.” With these words, he returned to the castle from whence he had come. Having thus escaped the jaws of certain death, Shichirō made his way back to the Mogami encampment, where he was greeted with the derision of his fellow soldiers. “How could an unseasoned soldier such as yourself ever hope to challenge the likes of Noto no Kami?” they laughed. “Noto no Kami is without doubt an extraordinary warrior,” Shichirō replied, “and I know that my meager abilities could never be a match for his. However, even the strongest man would lose his ability to fight were he to have his arms cut off, and it is thus that I had intended to disable, and then dispatch, my enemy. I was thwarted when he kept his arms close to his body to tie his belt, and I am greatly vexed that my plan came to naught.” “It is said that genius shows itself even from childhood,” said his impressed listeners, “and your noble effort shows this indeed to be so.” It was around the same time that a jesting poem was placed by its anonymous author at a shrine by the wayside. With no Ariji or Sasahara upon the battlefield Noto no Kami to Lord Yoshiaki surely would yield This poem made reference to Ariji Tajima and Sasahara Iwami, two senior retainers of Noto no Kami said to be no less valorous than their master. This now brings us back to Lord Yoshiaki’s current assault upon Tendō, where the standoff between the two sides continued, prompting the following discussion between Lord Yoshiaki and Ujiie Owari no Kami. “Nobesawa Noto no Kami is not only a warrior of courage and might,” his lordship said, “but also a skilled military strategist. It will be difficult for us to take Tendō Castle as long as he defends it, so we must convince him to come over to our side and become a general in our armies.” The next several days were spent in an attempt to determine what manner of approach would most appeal to Noto no Kami, and a letter was subsequently dispatched from Lord Yoshiaki. “Although your reputation as a great warrior precedes you,” the letter said, “your actions on the present field of battle have indeed been marvelous to see. Were you to transfer your loyalties to me and join my army, I would give to your son Matagorō one of my own daughters in marriage, and his position would be no less than that of my own heir Shuri no Daibu Yoshiyasu. I swear to honor that which I have promised, and may the gods strike me down if I speak falsely.” This letter, containing Yoshiaki’s personal oath and written in his own hand, was delivered to Noto no Kami, who underwent an immediate change of heart upon perusing its contents. “It is surely through the intervention of the divine god of war that this letter has come to me in his lordship’s own hand,” he reasoned, promptly sending his son Matagorō to Lord Yoshiaki as a hostage with the assurance that he himself would follow shortly afterwards. Lord Yoshiaki looked forward to his arrival with great pleasure, and Noto no Kami did not keep him waiting long. Upon arriving, he first met with Owari no Kami, and then, leaving his sword with his lordship’s bodyguard, he was granted an audience with Lord Yoshiaki himself. His lordship showered Noto no Kami with many warm words and bestowed upon him a sword crafted by one of the famed Ichimonji smiths. Noto no Kami accepted this gift reverently, clearly humbled by the honor that was shown to him. “Is it your wish that I should proceed with the attack today?” he inquired, but Lord Yoshiaki demurred. “Evening has already fallen, so the assault will begin at daybreak tomorrow,” he said, and this decision was conveyed to the whole of the Mogami army. Meanwhile, the Tendō side had become aware of Noto no Kami’s defection. There was evidently great apprehension as to whether the battle could be won without him, for, that very evening and in great haste, the Tendō force abandoned the castle, fleeing towards Sendai. Quite unaware of this, the assembled Mogami forces moved in on the castle the following morning at the hour of the rabbit(1), raising a fierce battle cry as they closed in on three sides, but the castle remained silent and still. The Mogami soldiers tore apart the outer fence and abatis, entering the castle only to discover that the entire garrison had fled during the night, with not a soul remaining behind. This was reported to Lord Yoshiaki, who summoned Noto no Kami. Telling him that, “It is your allegiance to our side that has enabled this swift conquest of Tendō,” his lordship awarded Noto no Kami twice the amount of territory that was customary as a reward, making him the provisional ruler of Tendō. ―――――――――――――――――――― (1) Sunrise, approximately 6 a.m. >>CONTENTS |
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The Battle of Mount Kashiwagi
Now, also around this same period of time, there was a man named Mitsukane who occupied the region of Kaminoyama. Although married to an aunt of Lord Yoshiaki, he and his lordship were unfavorably disposed towards one another. One day, Mitsukane summoned his retainers Satomi Kuranosuke and Satomi Minbu. “As you know,” he said, “there is bad blood between myself and Yoshiaki. However, Kaminoyama is but a small territory with limited military might, and I cannot hope to challenge Yoshiaki single-handedly. It is for this reason that I have thought of Terumune of the Sendai domain. He is wed to Yoshiaki’s younger sister with two sons, but I have heard it said that he and Yoshiaki are not on good terms and do not associate with each other. If Terumune will lend us his support, I believe that we can defeat Yoshiaki. What is your opinion of this plan?” “Your lordship’s plan is a sound one,” replied the two listening men. “If Lord Terumune will come to our aid with a large force of men, Lord Yoshiaki will undoubtedly lead his own army to Kaminoyama, where the two armies will confront each other. If we have in the meantime stationed our own troops along the mountain ridges and valleys, we can take the enemy by surprise by attacking from unexpected directions, and victory will surely be ours.” Mitsukane was greatly pleased with this response, and he dispatched a messenger to Lord Terumune with the details of his proposal. “Although I myself have long been at odds with Yoshiaki, I have not had the capacity to challenge him alone. If you, Lord Terumune, will join my cause, I will be pleased to lead our forces in battle with a strategy that will propel us to swift victory. This will allow you to obtain the Mogami territories for your own, while I, Mitsukane, ask for but a small corner to claim as my own domain.” Lord Terumune had in fact been privately hoping to find an ally in the Mogami inner circle for some time, and had been exploring ways in which he might take on Yoshiaki. Seeing this development as a fortuitous opportunity to further his plans, he sent a courteous letter to Mitsukane informing him that he would be arriving with his troops presently. However, news of this plot reached the ears of Lord Yoshiaki, and he summoned an elderly warrior named Irago Sōgyū for a consultation. “The branch castle of Narisawa is where the enemy intends to meet us in battle,” said Lord Yoshiaki. “It is my wish that you hasten to Narisawa and join forces with castle lord Narisawa Dōchū to hold the castle. The young garrison soldiers may be impatient to sally forth and do battle, but you are not to let a single one of them beyond the castle perimeter.” So commanded, Irago Sōgyū left for Narisawa Castle. In the meanwhile, Lord Terumune came forth with his large army, and, after convening a war council, proceeded with his men to Karuisawa. There, he summoned a local resident, questioning him in detail about the current situation within Narisawa Castle. It was after this that he spoke with Mitsukane. “Yoshiaki has ordered Dōchū, a long-serving retainer some seventy years of age, to hold the castle, and Sōgyū, who has himself passed his sixtieth year, has been sent to lend him aid. I believe that Yoshiaki has chosen to defend the castle with these two seasoned warriors because he sees the young soldiers of the castle garrison as being inclined to impulsive action, making them vulnerable to enemy ploys and liable to bring defeat upon themselves. For Yoshiaki, this will be a fight upon familiar territory, which will give him the opportunity to hatch all manner of strategy, and I believe that he intends to send his main force to the castle at some unlooked-for moment, allowing those men to unite forces with the castle soldiers in a bid to cut us down. Furthermore, we would do well to remember the folding screen of Takeda Shingen, in the province of Kai, upon which is noted the most celebrated warriors in Japan today. Fourth on this list is the name of Irago Sōgyū, and with a warrior of this caliber holding the castle against us, capturing it will be no easy matter. If the battle goes against us, and if Yoshiaki then arrives with his great legion of soldiers to finish us off from behind, we will surely be doomed.” Mitsukane considered what he had heard, and spoke. “If Yoshiaki would himself come to Kaminoyama, I believed that we could gain the upper hand by concealing our soldiers in the mountains and valleys and ambushing our enemy from unexpected directions. However, Yoshiaki is a cautious man, and will most likely send forth reinforcements to a castle that lies along the route, while himself remaining prudently back. Now, if we had but a small force of men, it might be wise for us to wait for the other side to make the first move, but with a large army of this size, it seems fainthearted for us to spend needless days avoiding battle because we fear the machinations of the enemy. Better that we keep a watchful eye on the castle as we find Yoshiaki’s encampment and assail him there, and once we have triumphed over him, the castle will surely fall on its own.” “Proceed as you see fit,” said Lord Terumune to Mitsukane, “and I will look to you to lead the attack.” Meanwhile, in his own camp, Lord Yoshiaki had also convened a war council with Ujiie Owari no Kami, Nobesawa Noto no Kami, and other kinsmen and vassals. Owari no Kami moved forward to speak. “From what I have gathered,” he said, “it seems that our enemy is mighty in numbers. Moreover, Mitsukane himself will be in command, and it would be unwise for us to venture deep into Kaminoyama to do battle when we have little idea of the enemy’s strategy. The enemy may choose to assail Narisawa Castle, and if this turns into a protracted battle of some five or ten days, this would be to our advantage. By dispatching our reserve army to fight alongside the castle garrison, we could turn the tide of the battle and achieve a quick victory. If the enemy instead decides to blockade the castle and venture hither to give battle, we could shift our camp to the vicinity of Mount Kashiwagi and conceal our soldiers in the woods to launch a surprise attack upon our assailants, another strategy which is sure to bring us success.” Owari no Kami explained both these strategies in clear detail, and when the council elected to proceed with the latter option, the Mogami force marched towards Mount Kashiwagi. Soon afterwards, word arrived that the enemy had blockaded Narisawa Castle and was preparing to march on his lordship’s camp. It was decided that they would await the enemy where they were, with Nobesawa Noto no Kami prepared to lead the vanguard, Ujiie Owari no Kami in charge of the second company, and the remaining men divided into seven units. Meanwhile, Koizumi Kamon and Katō Tarōemon were sent with 200 arquebusiers to lie in ambush on Mount Kashiwagi, under orders to listen for the drum signal that would tell them to fire upon Terumune’s hatamoto guard. After being informed that Lord Terumune had taken up position at the foot of Mount Kashiwagi, Mitsukane led the vanguard in an attack upon Lord Yoshiaki’s encampment, and the initial skirmish between troops of the opposing armies took place in Matsubara. They fought for about an hour, but then both sides pulled back to catch their breath, and it was then that a drum signal sounded from Lord Yoshiaki’s head camp. The soldiers who had been lying in ambush were on their feet in an instant and eagerly rushing down towards the foot of the mountain; there, with the flank of Lord Terumune’s head camp in their sights, they rained a hail of bullets down upon the enemy with their 200 arquebuses. This unexpected attack threw Lord Terumune’s hatamoto retainers into confusion, and the soldiers behind them prepared to flee without any attempt at resistance. Into this melee swooped Nobesawa Noto no Kami, iron baton in hand, with Suda Kojūrō following strongly behind, and Noto no Kami’s men unhesitatingly followed their leader into battle, as did the second company under Ujiie Owari no Kami. Abandoning their battle formations in their eagerness to engage the enemy soldiers, they fought with such raw will and fierce determination that the enemy army was utterly overwhelmed. Soldiers of the van and rear guards fell back in a single mass to flee, only to be pursued and slain by Lord Yoshiaki’s men. So relentless was the Mogami assault that the position of Lord Terumune himself appeared to be in peril, but his long-serving fudai(1) retainers turned back en masse to protect their master, and, with one and then another of them falling in his defense, they finally succeeded in reaching the outermost moat of Kaminoyama Castle. In the midst of these developments, Lord Terumune’s wife also arrived at the castle in a palanquin. “Of late, I had wondered whither you ventured to give battle,” she said to Lord Terumune, “only to learn of this war taking place between brothers. What manner of behavior is this? When my father, Lord Yoshimori, lay on his deathbed, he summoned you, Lord Terumune, to his side and bade you always behave as a friend to Yoshiaki. In time, your young son, Masamune, will come of age, and if our clans remain bound by the closest of familial ties, the Uesugi and Satake families might ally themselves together and seek to overcome us, but we would still have naught to fear. It was but recently that my father called on the Date family and retainers to respect the wishes of Yoshiaki, and on the Mogami side to consider well how their actions might affect you, Terumune, commanding both sides to give due deliberation to the other – but can it be that you have both so quickly forgotten his words and taken up arms against one another? How shameful! I entreat you to withdraw your army at once. If you will not agree, I beg that you strike me down with your sword and kill me now.” Terumune’s wife wept as she appealed to her husband. In his heart, Terumune had been secretly desirous of someone who would compel him to desist and offer him the opportunity to withdraw his forces, and he welcomed the mediation of his wife. “Speak likewise to Yoshiaki,” he said, returning to Yonezawa before dawn the following day. ―――――――――――――――――――― (1) Retainers whose families had served a lord for many generations >>CONTENTS |
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The Death of Mitsukane
After the battle of Mount Kashiwagi, Lord Yoshiaki summoned Ujiie Owari no Kami and Irago Sōgyū. “We are fortunate indeed that the battle has ended and Terumune has withdrawn,” his lordship said, “but is this not the ideal opportunity for us to press on towards Kaminoyama and put an end to Mitsukane? The Kaminoyama force was badly routed at the battle of Mount Kashiwagi, and the loss of Terumune has them disheartened. They have lost their nerve, and it should be easy enough to take them on now.” Ujiie moved forward and spoke. “Your lordship has spoken truly. However, among Mitsukane’s long-serving vassals are Satomi Kuranosuke, Satomi Minbu, and Satomi Echigo – three warriors well-known for their exceptional valor – and among even the ordinary soldiers there are many who have distinguished themselves with manifold feats of heroism, so we cannot expect to overcome the Kaminoyama garrison easily. If enough time passes, Lord Terumune will undoubtedly come to Mitsukane’s aid once again, and this would complicate things for us. I believe that our best option in this case is to employ a scheme that will allow us to take Mitsukane down without the use of military force. There is a man who can help us carry out such a plan – a priest who is the younger brother of one of my most trusted vassals. He maintains a temple in Kaminoyama and is in the habit of frequenting Kuranosuke and Minbu, and when I have asked him in confidence to tell me about the character of these two men, he says that while the elder brother Kuranosuke is a model of unswerving rectitude, the younger brother Minbu – although certainly possessed of skills in battle the likes of which are seldom seem – is a man more interested in furthering his position in the world. If we approach him with a letter that promises him a generous fiefdom, he should not hesitate to join us, and with Minbu on our side, it will be easy enough to deal with Mitsukane.” “It is a wise plan,” said Lord Yoshiaki upon hearing Ujiie’s proposal. “Let us first use this priest to gauge the interest of the Satomi brothers, and we can dispatch a letter subsequently.” “Owari no Kami has proposed a most excellent strategy,” Sōgyū concurred, “one that should bring us success without overmuch difficulty.” With Sōgyū’s approval, Lord Yoshiaki was all the more convinced of the merits of this plan. With the matter thus settled, Owari no Kami summoned the aforementioned priest. With Sōgyū, he carefully instructed the priest in what he was to do, and then instructed him to proceed to Kaminoyama. As the priest was in the habit of associating with the Satomi brothers on a regular basis, he had come to be on friendly terms with them, and the two brothers would often engage him in conversation. One day, the priest spoke to Kuranosuke as follows: “As you know, my elder brother is in the service of Ujiie Owari no Kami, and yesterday, a messenger arrived with news from him that Lord Yoshiaki intends to make an assault upon Kaminoyama. As this will throw the region into turmoil, he warned that ordinary folk like myself should prepare ourselves for this eventuality. Until now, Mitsukane had always turned to Lord Terumune of Sendai in his hour of need, but with the accord that was struck between Lord Yoshiaki and Lord Terumune after the recent battle of Mount Kashiwagi, there are no longer any allies to help defend Kaminoyama if it comes under attack, and the castle is sure to fall. If this were to happen, it would no doubt mean the end of the Satomi clan as well, which would be a most grievous turn of events. Would it not be wise to make arrangements to avoid such a possibility before the enemy arrives?” Kuranosuke listened closely to the priest’s words. “As you have said, it is true that Lord Yoshiaki has been reconciled with Lord Terumune of Sendai, and we now have no allies to come to our aid. In addition, our castle does not have the capacity to withstand the assault of a large force, and it would no doubt fall in a matter of days. However, it would be most ignoble of a warrior to desert the master his family has served for long generations in an attempt to save his own skin. For me, there is no road left but to prepare to die in defense of my duty.” Realizing that there was little chance of convincing a man such as Kuranosuke to change sides, the priest decided to push the matter no further, instead electing to pay a visit to Minbu at the next possible opportunity. He repeated to Minbu that which he had said to Kuranosuke, but unlike Kuranosuke, Minbu did not hesitate to air his grievances over the situation. “Pitted against the great army of Lord Yoshiaki,” he said, “the small force defending Kaminoyama would fall before the end of a single day. Even if Lord Terumune were still willing to come to our aid, we are a considerable distance from his domain, and there would be little he could do for us in the event of a sudden attack. And now that he has allied himself with Lord Yoshiaki, the downfall of the Kaminoyama clan is surely but a matter of time. What is more, Lord Yoshiaki is renowned as a leader who embodies the three virtues of wisdom, benevolence, and courage, and none of the lords of this region would dare challenge him. Knowing this, I have repeatedly urged Mitsukane to submit to Yoshiaki’s rule, but he has consistently refused to listen. To die in vain for such a master would be a humiliating end, but if I were instead to establish myself as an ally of Lord Yoshiaki – which would allow me to raise the reputation of my family and do honor to my ancestors – there would still be none who called me faithful, but instead a dishonorable man who gave himself to the enemy. This too would be unbearable, and there seems no resolution to the predicament in which I find myself.” Minbu unburdened himself in great detail to the priest, who was pleased at what he heard. “Even if Lord Mitsukane is fated to meet his ruin because he fails to heed your counsel,” the priest said, “the perpetuation of the noble Satomi clan would be a source of comfort to all, including ordinary folk like myself. I hope that you will give your options much careful consideration.” With this, the priest took his leave of Minbu. The priest then made his way to Yamagata, where he met with Ujiie Owari no Kami and recounted all that had passed. Owari no Kami received this news with great pleasure, and, leaving the priest at his home, he went forth with Sōgyū to present himself before Lord Yoshiaki. Given a detailed account of the sentiments of the Satomi brothers, his lordship was in no small measure gratified, and he immediately summoned the priest and presented him with ten silver coins as a preliminary reward. His lordship then penned Minbu a courteous letter in his own hand and entrusted it to the priest, who proceeded with all haste to Minbu’s residence. There he spoke to Minbu, saying, “When I informed Owari no Kami in confidence of the matter of which we spoke recently, Lord Yoshiaki, who has heard tell of your valor in battle, was most pleased, and he bade me immediately bring you a letter written in his own hand.” The priest drew out the scroll containing Lord Yoshiaki’s message and handed it to Minbu, who reverently raised the epistle thrice to his head. He then unrolled the scroll to read the message, which ran as follows: “In response to Mitsukane’s attempted act of treason against myself, I have raised an army to exact vengeance upon him. I do not welcome the thought, however, of the ordinary folk of the region being forced to flee their habitations to avoid a battle, and it was as I was considering my path forward that I came to hear of your true feelings towards Mitsukane, news that I welcome with great pleasure. If you will prove yourself a faithful servant to me by slaying Mitsukane forthwith, I will confer upon you the territory ruled by Mitsukane in its entirety.” Minbu rolled up the letter after he had finished his perusal, and he turned to the priest. “It is you alone I have to thank for acquainting Lord Yoshiaki with that which lies within my heart, and for conveying to me this letter in his lordship’s own hand,” he said, presenting the priest with ten rolls of white cloth as a measure of his gratitude. “I will inform my brother Kuranosuke of what I intend to do,” he continued, “and if he refuses to fall in with me, I will slay him with my sword, and then I will kill Mitsukane. To offer me counsel in this endeavor, I hope that Lord Yoshiaki will see fit to dispatch to my side one of his trusted retainers.” The priest returned to Yamagata with Minbu’s request, to which Lord Yoshiaki readily acquiesced. His lordship summoned Yagashiwa Sagami no Kami, who was the son-in-law of Owari no Kami, and explained to him his commission. “Go forth to Kaminoyama and give Minbu the counsel he requires,” his lordship said. “If Mitsukane should happen to hear of Minbu’s defection and attempt to flee, maintain contact with Minbu, and wherever Mitsukane may go, make sure that you find and kill him. We must not allow your true purpose to come to light before this matter is brought to a successful resolution, so let it be known to your associates that you travel to Kaminoyama to treat your ills in the healing waters of the hot springs there.” Sagami no Kami accepted the assignment given him, and, speaking of the matter only with Owari no Kami, he informed his other family members and associates that he had been granted some time to seek a hot-spring cure for an ailment, so none in Yamagata were aware of the plotting of Minbu. Upon his arrival, Sagami no Kami met with Minbu, and the two men took counsel together. They subsequently summoned Kuranosuke to inform him of what Lord Yoshiaki wished them to do, but upon hearing what they had to say, Kuranosuke grew pale with anger. “You may ask me to accept such a commission, but I, Kuranosuke, have no capacity for such treachery,” he retorted as he rose to his feet. In accordance with the arrangements that had been made to deal with this eventuality, a number of powerful young men quickly emerged from the adjacent chamber, confronting Kuranosuke and slaying him with their swords. “If we are slow to act, Mitsukane may hear of what has happened and attempt to escape. Let us steal into his quarters and kill him tonight.” With the two men in agreement, Minbu summoned a samurai by the name of Satake Heinai, a member of Mitsukane’s personal retinue who had regular access to his master’s home. When privately asked for his assistance, Heinai consented without demur, signing an oath that he would not betray his word. After arranging that he would leave the courtyard garden door unlatched that evening, which would allow Minbu and Sagami no Kami to gain entrance into Mitsukane’s quarters and easily slay their target, Heinai was allowed to return to his post. In the dead of night, the two men slipped into Mitsukane’s residence with their men, and they easily slew the man they had come to kill. When day broke and the news of Mitsukane’s death spread, his personal attendants and other vassals were thrown into confusion. It was then that an envoy arrived with a message from Minbu. “Mitsukane dared to rise in revolt against the Mogami clan, and for this it was decreed by Lord Yoshiaki that he would suffer the punishment of death. Kuranosuke was a party to this treachery, and yesterday, he paid for this with his life. It is fortunate, however, that Yagashiwa Sagami no Kami, an emissary of Lord Yoshiaki, has occasion to be at my residence, and I command that all of you surrender to him without delay. Any who resist will be swiftly put to death.” “What choice do we have?” Mitsukane’s men asked each other, and there was much dissent about what should be done. Yet there was no denying that Mitsukane was dead. Kuranosuke – on whom they had depended for everything – was also slain, and Minbu had turned to the other side. With no one to lead them in battle against the Mogami force or help them defend their castle, the soldiers found themselves left with no choice but to hasten to Minbu’s residence to offer themselves in surrender. The matter thus successfully concluded, Sagami no Kami returned to Yamagata Castle to give Lord Yoshiaki a detailed account of all that had passed. Greatly pleased, his lordship summoned Owari no Kami. “In this most recent affair, you have truly outdone yourself,” his lordship said, rewarding Owari no Kami with an increase in his landholdings. Soon afterwards, Minbu also arrived in Yamagata to express his gratitude to Lord Yoshiaki for the opportunity that had been given him, and he was granted his promised reward of Mitsukane’s estate of 18,000 koku. His lordship then commanded him to, “Return to Kaminoyama without delay, and find Kuranosuke’s children and kill them.” Left with no other recourse, Kuranosuke’s wife went into hiding, with a foster sister to attend to her needs, in a small hamlet of the region, where she placed Kuranosuke’s two-year-old son on her knee and mourned day and night for the fallen father of her child. However, when Minbu returned to Kaminoyama, proclaiming the concealment of Kuranosuke’s son a punishable offense and offering a rich reward to anyone with information as to his whereabouts, Kuranosuke’s wife was forced to flee the region entirely, and she sought refuge at the Anyōji Temple in Narisawa. The head priest there was a warm-hearted man who gallantly agreed to help her in her trouble, and he quietly took the child over the mountains and into Sendai, placing the child in the keeping of some kinsfolk there. The years passed, and the child grew into a man determined to seek vengeance for his father’s death. He stealthily entered Yamagata in an attempt to take Minbu’s life, but when he was foiled by Minbu’s vigilance, he sought to appease his disappointment by slaying a large number of those who had colluded with Minbu in the campaign against his father Kuranosuke. He acquitted himself most exceptionally in this exploit, and was subsequently summoned to the service of Lord Date Masamune, taking part in the Siege of Osaka where he performed several valorous feats befitting an officer of rank. However, he later became embroiled in a legal dispute with some farmers, and dismissing the arbitration of the provincial court as unjust, he left the region of Sendai. He went forth to the Kishū domain, where he took the name Satomi Kanshirō and assumed the position of his new master’s flag commissioner. At the time of this writing, he should be in his seventy-fifth or seventy-sixth year. ―――――――――――――――――――― >>CONTENTS |
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The Extraordinary Strength of Nobesawa Noto no Kami
Lord Yoshiaki was well acquainted with the tales told of the uncommon strength of his vassal Nobesawa Noto no Kami, but one day he took it into his head to put this reputation to the test. From among his personal attendants and other retainers, he selected seven or eight of his most powerful men, and, garbed in light kimono, Lord Yoshiaki and this small band of men set off for Noto no Kami’s residence. When word of their approach reached the ears of Noto no Kami, he readied himself and went out alone into the great garden which lay outside a large room of his residence, waiting impatiently for the arrival of his guests. This took place during the seventh month, on the night of the full moon, and the scene was so flooded with moonlight that it seemed brighter even than midday. Reaching their destination, the seven or eight men accompanying Lord Yoshiaki – all of them at the peak of their physical prowess – ran quickly into the garden where Noto no Kami awaited them. When one and then another of them attempted to catch hold of Noto no Kami, he seized them with his hands and tossed them a distance of some thirteen or fourteen meters. Seeing that they were singly no match for him, the remaining four or five men set on Noto no Kami as one, surrounding him on all sides and grappling with him as they attempted to wrestle him to the ground. However, Noto no Kami had not earned his reputation for naught. He used his arms and legs to pull and fling them down easily, and then he turned on Lord Yoshiaki. The scene he had just witnessed left his lordship in no doubt that his own strength would be no match for the other man’s, and he took to his heels without even a single glance behind him. When Noto no Kami overtook him and seized him from behind, his lordship must have been at a loss for what to do, for he grabbed hold of the trunk of a withered cherry tree, some seventy-five centimeters in diameter, and held on for dear life. Noto no Kami mustered all of his strength to pull Lord Yoshiaki away from the tree, but his lordship clung even more tightly. As this powerful struggle continued, the earth surrounding the base of the tree began to give way, and the tree was suddenly wrenched from the soil, roots and all. Not even Noto no Kami had anticipated this outcome, and he released Lord Yoshiaki in his surprise. In a high good humor, his lordship addressed Noto no Kami. “Your strength far surpasses even the tales that are told of it,” his lordship said. “On that occasion when our army attempted to take Tendō while you still defended it, it is hardly surprising that you were able to sweep us up and send us packing on your own!” He bade Noto no Kami accompany him back to his castle, where he bestowed upon him many rich rewards. From that time forth, Noto no Kami was known by all the people in the domain as a man whose strength was indeed second to none. ―――――――――――――――――――― >>CONTENTS |
(C) Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
Entrenched within Yatsunuma Castle, there was a lord called Kishi Mimasaka no Kami. Since this castle lord claimed the surrounding territories as his own and did not submit to the authority of Lord Yoshiaki, his lordship saw fit to lead his great army in an assault upon Mimasaka no Kami’s position. Reaching their destination, the Mogami soldiers quickly surrounded Yatsunuma Castle on all sides and commenced to swarm up the mountainsides towards their target, but with the fortification vigorously defended by Koseki Kazaemon and many other skilled and powerful archers, capturing it proved no easy matter.
Moreover, the Mogami troops had neglected to bring with them many weapons of assault, for they had looked condescendingly upon Yatsunuma as a small castle that would pose them little challenge, and the headlong scramble of the Mogami soldiers to assail the castle resulted in a large number of casualties in the space of but a short time.
“Taking this castle will be more difficult than I had expected,” said Lord Yoshiaki. “Let us first establish a siege camp and have more weapons prepared.” In response to this command, the Mogami soldiers who had penetrated into the castle withdrew from the main castle gate and retreated a short distance. Emboldened by this development, the castle soldiers sallied forth to pursue the Mogami troops to the foot of the mountain.
“It is a stroke of luck for us that our enemies have ventured forth,” said Lord Yoshiaki, turning his horse back. “Let us turn this to our advantage and take the castle.”
It was then that an enemy warrior, attired in a scarlet-threaded suit of armor and wearing a helmet ornamented with a dragon’s head, emerged from the ranks of the enemy mounted upon a sturdy fawn-colored horse with a pole sword held at his side. Fixing his eyes upon this sight, Lord Yoshiaki cried out, “Ah, there is an enemy worth fighting!” and before these words had even left his mouth, he had touched his own horse with his whip and bolted forward.
“Do not demean yourself by crossing swords with an enemy unworthy of your lordship!” cried his attendants in an attempt to stop their master, but Lord Yoshiaki shook off their restraining hands and galloped directly towards the enemy soldier, approaching him from the left and knocking him from his horse with a single blow of his famous iron baton. He then leapt down from his horse and wrenched off his enemy’s head, and Ujiie Owari no Kami galloped up to find his lordship holding the severed head high. Appearing greatly vexed, Owari no Kami berated his master.
“My lord, for whose benefit do you flaunt that head in your hands? How can you forget your exalted rank and condescend to act like a common soldier? Persisting in behavior like this will no doubt doom you to an ignominious death, and can it be that you have forgotten what you yourself so recently said when we slew Hashiba Kanjūrō of Sagae? You derided Kanjūrō for forgetting his high rank and letting his passion and desire for glory propel him into battle in advance of his own men, allowing him to be so easily manipulated and cut down by our side – but what your lordship has done is beneath even this. It is disgraceful, so disgraceful!” Owari no Kami wept as he confronted Lord Yoshiaki, and his lordship received his vassal’s rebuke shamefacedly, holding onto the trophy in his hands for some more minutes. “Here, take it,” he finally said, tossing the head to one of his attendants.
After seeing Lord Yoshiaki himself wield his sword against the enemy, his mounted bodyguard had also hurled themselves furiously into battle, as indeed had all his soldiers down to the humblest pages, slaying the enemy, seizing their belongings, and fighting bravely and heroically. Faced with this onslaught, the castle soldiers began to fall back.
“To me, men – let us stamp the enemy under our feet!” cried his lordship as he once again attempted to ride into the fray, but he was restrained by Owari no Kami. “Have you so quickly forgotten my words to you?” Owari no Kami cried as he galloped straight out, spear in hand, to lead the assault against the enemy. At this, a great clamor broke out among the two thousand some men of the Mogami force, and warriors both young and old cried out, “Do not let Lord Ujiie come to harm!” and “We must protect Owari no Kami!” as they drew their swords and plunged into battle. They broke through the enemy lines and gave chase to the fleeing units, rounding them up and fighting so ferociously that the enemy soldiers found themselves completely overwhelmed, scattering in all directions as they fled back towards the castle.
Determined to maintain this momentum and use the enemy’s retreat as an opportunity to take the castle, Lord Yoshiaki took command. He gave orders with great vigor, and no sooner would his eager young soldiers receive an order than they would dash away on their horses, heedless of the steep mountain sides or precipices, in their relentless pursuit of the fleeing enemy soldiers. Finding their way back to the castle blocked by the wooden gates and abatisses they themselves had constructed, the soldiers of the castle garrison fled in every direction. Some who found themselves with no further route of escape slew themselves with their swords, while others leapt to their deaths on the valley floor below. In the midst of this melee, castle lord Kishi Mimasaka no Kami and a group of twenty-four attendants that included Koseki Kazaemon turned back to do battle at the castle gate, repulsing the attacking Mogami soldiers and managing to entrench themselves in the castle. With no resolution to this standoff in sight, however, the group in the castle proceeded to tender all manner of apologies, and that very evening they surrendered the castle and emerged in defeat. Lord Yoshiaki summoned to his presence four or five members of the castle garrison, including Koseki Kazaemon, whose deeds in defense of their castle had been particularly meritorious, and he appointed them hatamoto(1) retainers in his own service.
The iron baton borne in battle by Lord Yoshiaki was a weapon that he kept upon his person at all times until the resolution of his conflict with Uesugi Kōmon Kagekatsu, but in the peace that followed, his lordship had the baton inlaid with the inscription “Yoshiaki, High General of Mogami” and placed in his storehouse for a descendant who might be deemed worthy of bearing it. This iron baton no doubt remains in the possession of the Mogami family to this day.
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(1) Literally “under the banner”, hatamoto refers to the direct retainers who served as a lord’s closest and most trusted subordinates
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