最上義光歴史館

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

>>CONTENTS

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.

>>CONTENTS

The Surrender of Yatsunuma Castle

　　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

>>CONTENTS

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.


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(1) Sunrise, approximately 6 a.m.

>>CONTENTS

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.


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(1) Retainers whose families had served a lord for many generations

>>CONTENTS