8. The Siege Network of Nobunaga
Takeda Shingen had a profound understanding of military strategy and was particularly adept at using tactics to defeat the enemy before battle. He trained a renowned elite force, especially noted for the "Red Guards" under the command of General Sanada Masayuki, who were celebrated as the finest cavalry in the world. Many later admirers of Shingen naively believed that if he had advanced to Kyoto first, he would surely have achieved dominion over the realm
At this moment, the "most wicked in the world" Matsunaga Hisahide, having not engaged in rebellion for a long time, felt a stirring in his bones. He incited the Miyoshi clan, using the pretext of quelling internal strife within the family, to mobilize troops to attack the protector of Hanoi, Hatakeyama Akitaka, and besieged Kayo Castle. The Miyoshi, Matsunaga, and Hatakeyama clans were nominally vassals of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, but in reality, they were vassals of Oda Nobunaga. To turn against their peers was tantamount to open treason, especially since Hatakeyama Akitaka was Nobunaga's brother-in-law. Upon receiving the news, Nobunaga immediately dispatched generals Sakuma Nobumori and Shibata Katsuie to quell the rebellion, leading to the surrender of Miyoshi Yasunori and the Matsunaga father and son, Hisahide and Hisamitsu.
As the formation of his side was about to be disrupted by the scattered rocks, Ishikawa Suishou had no choice but to charge forward, aiming to annihilate Yamamoto Nobushige's troops in one fell swoop. Upon seeing the enemy begin to move, Shingen immediately waved his military fan, signaling the entire army to launch a surprise attack. Everywhere, the flags of "Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain" inspired by Sun Tzu were visible, instantly overwhelming the Tokugawa forces.
The Battle of Sanfangyuan was the greatest defeat in Tokugawa Ieyasu's illustrious life, resulting in the instantaneous collapse of his entire army and heavy casualties among the soldiers. Upon seeing the dire situation, Sakuma Nobumori, sent by Oda Nobunaga, immediately turned his horse and fled. In contrast, Hirate Masahide calmly said to Ieyasu: "My lord, on several occasions during this campaign, His Highness Mikawa has sent troops to assist us. Now that His Highness Mikawa is in trouble, how can we stand by and do nothing? Allow me to charge forward and cover His Highness Mikawa's retreat, so that the world may witness the loyalty of the warriors of Owari!" Saying this, he led his troops into battle, only to be overwhelmed by the surging Takeda forces.
Examining the life of Matsunaga Hisahide, one finds a disdain for authority and a craving for power, seemingly harboring a malicious inclination towards rebellion. He is referred to as "the most wicked in the world" partly due to his actions during the conflict with the "Three Good Men" when he set fire to the famous Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji and the nearby residences—an act reminiscent of Oda Nobunaga's burning of Hieizan Enryaku-ji. When Nobunaga advanced to Kyoto, Hisahide, recognizing his inability to resist, hastily presented the renowned tea utensil "Zaku Matsu Eggplant" (also known as "Tsukumo-hatsu Eggplant") as a gesture of submission. Nobunaga realized that this "shogunate authority" would greatly aid his control over the Kinai region. Weighing the pros and cons, he pardoned Hisahide for the grave crime of murdering Shogun Ashikaga Yoshihide and allowed him to join his ranks.
Hirate Masahide, the third son of Hirate Masahide, who was Nobunaga's teacher, met his heroic end in battle
When the Tokugawa army ascended the Sanbangahara Plateau, they suddenly discovered that the Takeda army had turned around and was now fully prepared to face their attack. At this moment, it was too late to consider retreating; any slight disarray in their formation could lead to a complete massacre by the enemy. Tokugawa Ieyasu had no choice but to arrange his troops and prepare to engage in a desperate battle with the formidable Takeda army.
After the Oda army subdued Nijo Castle, they immediately turned their attention to Makishima Castle. In front of the castle lay the surging waters of the Uji River. Nobunaga commanded his troops to cross the river and engage in battle, but the generals hesitated, gazing at the turbulent waters, unwilling to advance. Nobunaga, enraged, plunged into the water at the forefront, prompting the generals to follow suit without daring to lag behind. Thus, the army successfully crossed and swiftly captured the formidable Makishima Castle, apprehending Ashikaga Yoshiaki.
The Azai clan's repeated betrayal of the Asai clan for their own interests serves as a prime example
The Takeda army consisted of 25,000 troops, while the allied forces of Tokugawa and Oda only numbered 11,000, placing them at a significant disadvantage in terms of troop strength. The battle commenced around 4 PM, with Takeda's Yamamoto Nobumasa launching the first attack against the Tokugawa army's vanguard general, Ishikawa Kazumasa.
Fujitaka Hosokawa has been a loyal retainer by Yoshiteru's side since escaping from the Jōshō-in of Kōfuku-ji. Even he has defected to Nobunaga. How can the isolated and abandoned Yoshiteru Shogun possibly endure this situation
The imperial court itself is well aware that, regardless of right or wrong, Nobunaga's power now far surpasses that of Yoshihide. If they were to oppose Nobunaga, it is likely that the court would eventually meet the same fate as Yoshihide. So why should they accompany that oblivious general to his doom?
On March 25, upon receiving news of the Takeda army's request for peace, Nobunaga left Gifu and led his troops once again to Kyoto. When he arrived at the Aisaka area, Yoshihide's direct vassals, Hosokawa Fujitaka and Araki Nobumune, came to meet him to demonstrate their loyalty. Nobunaga immediately rewarded Fujitaka with a fine wakizashi (short sword) and bestowed upon Nobumune a great sword named "Gō Yoshihiro".
Takeda Daizen Dayu Harunobu, also known as Shingen, was a legendary figure during the mid to late Sengoku period. He was the guardian of Kai Province (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture). Kai was a mountainous region with poor land and a fierce populace, which was unified during the era of his father, Nobutora. At the age of 21, Shingen exiled his father to Suruga Province under Imagawa Yoshimoto (who was Nobutora's son-in-law) and ascended to the head of the family. He then vigorously promoted production, improved irrigation, and developed mining. After accumulating strength, he launched an attack on the western region of Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture), advancing with unstoppable momentum.
After the war, Nobunaga captured the two-year-old son of Ashikaga Yoshiaki to use as a hostage, while exiling Yoshiaki to Wakō Castle in Kōzuke Province, assigning Hideyoshi to guard him closely. Thus, the Muromachi Shogunate was destroyed, and Nobunaga truly ushered in his new era
On the afternoon of December 22, on the Sanbanghara Plateau in the northwest of Hamamatsu City in the distant land of Warring States, the Takeda and Tokugawa armies finally engaged in fierce battle. The intention of the Tokugawa army was to closely pursue the Takeda army, aiming to create a pincer movement with the cities of Mikawa and Owari. However, Ieyasu failed to recognize that this was fundamentally a clever trap set by Shingen.
In the "Jia Yang Jun Jian," it is recorded that while on his sickbed, Takeda Shingen said to Sanada Masayuki: "You must ensure that the Takeda banner is planted in Setta (in the Kyoto region)"
Regarding Nobunaga's refusal to accept the position of "Shogun of the Eastern Expedition," that is a matter for another time and shall not be discussed for now. It is said that the Oda army's invasion of Kyoto was fierce, and in order to coerce the Nijo to surrender, they set fire to some nearby houses, causing panic among the citizens of Kyoto. At the request of Murai Sadakatsu, the deputy official responsible for the security of Kyoto, Nobunaga returned to Kyoto immediately after capturing Makishima Castle to handle governmental affairs
In a state of utter helplessness, Ieyasu had no choice but to lead his troops out of the city, thus commencing the Battle of Sanpōhara against the Takeda army.
However, what is destined to happen will still occur. In the third year of the Genki era (1572), in October, the fierce tiger of Kai, Takeda Shingen, took the initiative, mobilizing an army of 30,000, charging towards Kyoto with great momentum
In a state of helplessness, Nobunaga had no choice but to dispatch Sakuma Nobumori, Hirate Masahide, and Mizuno Nobumoto, among others, to lead a force of three thousand men to Tōtōmi. This small contingent, rather than being a reinforcement, was more akin to a supervisory force, tasked with urging the Tokugawa army to fight valiantly and to firmly pin down the Takeda army in Tōtōmi and Mikawa.
To say that Takeda Shingen only thinks about his own small territory and has no ambition to ascend to Kyoto would be an underestimation of him. The reason he chose to tear up the alliance and march south to annex the Suruga province was likely to seize the strategic points along the Tōkaidō, thereby opening a route to Kyoto. However, his geographical position is quite unfavorable, surrounded by powerful forces such as the Uesugi and the Hōjō. Unless these issues are resolved, he will have no opportunity to lead his troops westward.
However, it is impossible to refuse to send reinforcements. I have embarked on multiple expeditions, and Ieyasu has always sent troops to assist me, as if they were his own vassals, coming at my call and leaving at my command. Now that Ieyasu is in danger, I have made no gesture of support. How can I expect his loyalty in the future? How will the people of the world view me, Nobunaga?
What?" Nobunaga was greatly surprised upon hearing this, "Has the mountain finally moved?"
In utter helplessness, Yi Zhao had no choice but to agree to sign a pledge, guaranteeing that he would never again dare to defy the will of Nobunaga. Only then did the Oda army temporarily withdraw their troops
The Takeda army pursued the defeated troops of Tokugawa to the foot of Hamamatsu Castle. Upon witnessing this situation, they did not dare to advance recklessly. Under the command of Shingen, they continued to surge westward, successively capturing several castles, including Noda, from the Tokugawa side. However, Tokugawa Ieyasu had not been completely annihilated and refused to surrender, which ultimately became a significant concern for Shingen. As a result, he was hesitant to advance rapidly into the capital.
The year 1572, the third year of the Genki era, was of great significance for Oda Nobunaga. Firstly, he ordered Murai Sadakatsu and Nisshō Shōnin to oversee the construction of the imperial palace, which was finally completed at the end of the previous year. The palace and the streets of Kyoto, which had suffered from warfare for nearly a century and had almost turned to ashes, were restored to their former glory by Nobunaga. Starting this year, Nobunaga began constructing official residences in Kyoto for the daimyōs who submitted to him, facilitating their audience with the shogun and the emperor—this indicates that Nobunaga was preparing to shift the center of his rule from the Nōbi region to the vicinity of Kyoto.
On April 3, Nobunaga entered Kyoto and surrounded Nijo Castle with his troops. It was only then that Ashikaga Yoshiaki became flustered and hurriedly requested the court to mediate. Nobunaga coldly said to the court envoy: "I have no intention of attacking General Yoshiaki; it was the general who first brandished his sword against me. Previously, I sent someone to request the general to sign a pledge to cease his reckless actions, but the general insisted on refusing, which has led to the current situation."
When the court received funds, it became easier to handle affairs. Thus, on July 28 of that year, shortly after Nobunaga returned to Kyoto, the court convened to discuss changing the era name and sought Nobunaga's opinion. Among the many candidate names, Nobunaga selected the term "Tenshō." The term Tenshō is derived from the words of Laozi: "Purity and tranquility are the right way for the world." It implicitly expresses a beautiful wish for a stable and orderly world. Consequently, a nationwide announcement was made to abolish the old era name "Genki" and replace it with "Tenshō." The term Tenshō is derived from the words of Laozi: "Purity and tranquility are the right way for the world." It implicitly expresses a beautiful wish for a stable and orderly world. Consequently, a nationwide announcement was made to abolish the old era name "Genki" and replace it with "Tenshō."
In this situation, Ashikaga Yoshiteru's predicament was not much better than that of his elder brother Yoshihide, who had once relied on the favor of the Sanada clan. Naturally, he could not endure this and sought to secretly resist. Upon learning that Takeda Shingen had left Kai and was marching towards Kyoto, Yoshiteru believed the time was ripe and immediately sharpened his blades, preparing to publicly sever ties with Nobunaga
Takeda Shingen is known as the "Tiger of Kai" and is the founder of the "Kōshū-ryū Military Strategy". However, this tiger, in terms of both skill and strength, cannot be compared to the likes of Oda Nobuhide, who was famously referred to as the "Tiger of Owari" in his time
On August 8, the general of the Asakura army, Kurobe Yoshitsugu, and his son were swayed by the Oda army. Influenced by this, the following day, Tomita Yairo Nagashige, Toda Yoshitsugu, and others such as Moya Inosuke also successively surrendered to Nobunaga. At this time, Nobunaga had completed his castle construction plan at Toragomori Mountain, allowing him to easily observe the movements of the northern army. Nobunaga dispatched his trusted retainer, Hori Kyutaro Hidemasa, to the Asakura army, requesting to determine a date and location for a decisive battle. However, the already demoralized Asakura army naturally dared not agree.
Many young individuals participated in this campaign, who later became renowned generals under the Oda regime, including: Inaba Ittetsu, Inaba Sadamitsu; Ujiie Hironari, Ujiie Naomitsu; Noda Mitsumitsu, Noda Naomitsu; Marumoto Nagatomo, Marumoto Kanetaka; Hosokawa Fujitaka, Hosokawa Tadaoki; Gamou Yoshihide, Gamou Yoshihide; Yamaoka Kageyasu, Yamaoka Kagesada; as well as Kyogoku Takatsugu and others
This situation is not lost on Nagamasa Asai; however, he finds himself trapped in Koguchi Castle, in a dire predicament. Even if the Asakura clan refrains from sending troops southward and preserves their strength, what significance does that hold for him? Since the Asakura clan has betrayed him multiple times, he might as well employ some cunning tactics. Thus, Nagamasa sent someone to stealthily leave Koguchi Castle and deliver false intelligence to Echizen, along with a document claiming: "The uprisings in Nagashima have disrupted the routes from Nō and Omi to the capital. If His Highness Asakura were to mobilize troops at this moment, he could encircle Nobunaga Oda in Omi and completely annihilate him!"
The first matter he addressed was the appointment of Muraie Sadakatsu as the "Shogun of the Realm." Although Sadakatsu's authority did not expand and he remained responsible solely for the security of Kyoto, this unprecedented title granted personally by Nobunaga served as a public declaration to the world: from now on, all of Japan (the realm) would no longer be governed by the Muromachi Shogunate, but would be ruled by him, Oda Nobunaga.
The fourth year of the Genki era (1573) thus became the first year of the Tenshō era, which can be regarded as a significant turning point in Nobunaga's unification efforts
In a certain sense, Nobunaga and Hisahide share many similarities in their approach to life; both disdain authority, are equally ambitious, and are adept in both political and military strategies. It is said that on one occasion, Nobunaga pointed at Hisahide and said to Tokugawa Ieyasu: "This man has accomplished three things in his life that others dared not do: first, he eliminated his lord's Miyoshi clan; second, he assassinated the shogun; and third, he burned down the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji. He can truly be regarded as a 'remarkable man'!" From the tone, this statement does not seem to be sarcastic, but rather a genuine admiration.
At this time, Tokugawa Ieyasu had already moved his base from Okazaki in Mikawa to Hamamatsu in Totomi. Faced with the surging forces of Takeda, he resolutely refused to retreat, planning to engage the enemy in a direct confrontation once the Oda reinforcements arrived. However, after waiting in vain for the stars and the moon, he ultimately received only a meager number of troops. Ieyasu could not help but look up to the heavens and sigh, "Is heaven trying to destroy me?" He had no choice but to strengthen the castle defenses and prepare for a prolonged siege.
In the fourth year of the Genki era (1573), in February, incited by Yoshihide, the local warlords of Omi, including Yamagata Kōjōin Kageyū and Isobe Shin'emon, gathered forces to rebel near their territories, plotting insurrection at the fortifications in what is now Katada. Nobunaga urgently dispatched four generals: Shibata Katsuie, Akechi Mitsuhide, Niwa Nagahide, and Hachiya Yoriteru, to quell the rebellion, advancing by both land and water, and on the 29th, they suppressed the insurrection. Almost simultaneously, a children's rhyme emerged near Kyoto: "One should think of the parents' nurturing grace, and endure watching the heavy rain destroy the flowers"—the term "flowers" refers to the "Flower Palace," a colloquial name for the Muromachi shogunate, symbolizing the shogun. This children's rhyme was a true reflection of Yoshihide's dissatisfaction with Nobunaga's concentration of power.
At the same time, Nobunaga also propped up the hollow imperial court to constrain and divert the influence of the shogunate. He repaired the imperial palace, contributed gold and silver, and feigned an extremely submissive attitude towards the court. This was to inform the world that the true authority to govern Japan was not solely held by the shogunate, but also by the emperor in Kyoto. The shogunate was merely an executive body of the court, and the real power in the realm had not always been in the hands of the shogunate, nor would it continue for millennia in the hands of the Muromachi shoguns.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru was at odds with Nobunaga, so how could he possibly dig into his own pockets to satisfy Nobunaga's private desires? Thus, he resolutely refused to comply. When Yoshiteru was exiled and Nobunaga returned to Kyoto to handle state affairs, the first thing he did was present the necessary funds for the change of era to the court
Moreover, the honeymoon period of cooperation between the two parties did not last long. Soon, due to Yoshiteru's reckless actions, Nobunaga began to issue documents to restrict his power. In the 13th year of Eiroku (1570), the "Five Articles" (also known as the "Imperial Court Regulations") were drafted. Before Takeda Shingen launched the campaign to Kyoto, he issued the "Seventeen Articles of Dissent" (also known as the "Seventeen Articles of Misgovernance"), which criticized Yoshiteru's lack of virtue, stating that he disrespected the Emperor and exploited the common people, saying, "Even merchants and commoners all know of the shogun's faults"
In the first month of this year, Nobunaga's third son, Nobutaka, held his coming-of-age ceremony. The castle commander of Yokoyama, Kinoshita Hideyoshi, hurriedly prepared gifts and went to Gifu Castle to express his congratulations. Upon learning of Hideyoshi's departure, Azai Nagamasa immediately marched south to attack Yokoyama Castle. On March 5, Oda Nobunaga once again took the field in the northern region, driving back the Azai forces. He then left generals Akechi Mitsuhide, Nakagawa Shigemasa, and Niwa Nagahide to fortify the castle, surrounding the cities of Mito and Tanaka to monitor enemy movements, before the main force moved towards Kyoto
Having eliminated the threats from behind, Takeda Shingen was finally able to unleash his full potential. Thus, in response to the call of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, he gathered a formidable army of thirty thousand men, and tore up the alliance with the Tokugawa clan, marching grandly towards Kyoto—this year, Shingen was already fifty-two years old and in poor health; he likely understood that his days were numbered and that he could no longer afford to wait.
It is precisely because of the aforementioned relationship that the Takeda and Tokugawa clans quickly formed a defensive alliance to jointly attack the Imagawa clan of Suruga. The two clans agreed that after the war, the Tokugawa clan would occupy the province of Tōtōmi, while the Takeda clan would occupy the province of Suruga. Thus, the alliance among the provinces of Kai, Suruga, and Sagami was shattered. The Warring States lord of Sagami, Hojo Ujiyasu (son of Hojo Ujitsuna), dispatched troops to support Suruga, but was instead ambushed by Takeda Shingen at his main castle, Odawara.
The "New Crowd Corps" led by Nobushige Oyamada is a rather unique unit within the Takeda army. Each member carries a pouch filled with stones the size of a fist. As they approach the enemy lines, they do not fire cannons or shoot arrows, but instead hurl stones. The Japanese bow at that time was an outdated longbow, with a short range and poor accuracy, and the firearms were not much better. In contrast, these trained stone throwers unexpectedly inflicted significant damage on the forces of Kazumasa Ishikawa.
Takeda Shingen adhered to the military theories of Sun Wu, inscribing the four phrases from "The Art of War"—"Swift as the Wind, Silent as the Forest, Fierce as Fire, Immovable as a Mountain"—on his military flag, known as the "Four Aspects of Sunzi Flag." When the army moved, Shingen often commanded from the rear of the formation, embodying the principle of "Immovable as a Mountain." Thus, when Nobunaga heard that Shingen was advancing to Kyoto, he exclaimed, "Has the Mountain finally moved?"
On the third day of the tenth month in the second year of the Genki era (1571), the former lord of Sagami Province, the astute Hojo Ujiyasu, passed away. On his deathbed, he advised his son Ujiteru, saying: "That fierce tiger, Shingen, is of no benefit to our clan in battle; it would be better to shake hands and make peace with him, reviving our armor and forming an alliance." Ujiteru heeded his father's dying words, and soon after, indeed reached a peace agreement with Shingen.
After once again subduing Matsukage Yoshihide and temporarily stabilizing the situation in the capital region, Nobunaga then directed all his efforts northward to campaign against the Asai clan. On July 20, he arrived at Yokoyama Castle with his eldest son Nobutada—this was Nobutada's first battle. The next day, he deployed his forces at Toragoshiyama and began the assault on the Asai clan's main castle, Koguchi. Although he set fire to the town below the castle and made repeated challenges, Asai Nagamasa, aware of his lack of chances for victory, remained resolute and did not move, relying solely on the strong castle defenses to await reinforcements.
The standoff continued until September 16, when Nobunaga, realizing that the enemy was powerless, finally lost his patience. He left Hideyoshi Miki to guard Mount Tora, continued the siege of Koganei Castle, and led his main army back to the central castle in Gifu
Although Yoshisada had been exiled, the court did not revoke his title of "Shogun for Subduing the Barbarians," which seems quite incredible. However, from the court's perspective, the long-standing rule of the warrior class had established a precedent; it seemed impossible for the realm to be without a "Shogun for Subduing the Barbarians." If Yoshisada's title were to be stripped away, to whom could it be transferred? Naturally, Nobunaga would be the most suitable candidate, but unlike other daimyōs of the Warring States period, Nobunaga did not seem enthusiastic about such empty titles from the court, having previously declined several official positions bestowed upon him. If the court were to strip Yoshisada of his title while Nobunaga refused to accept it, the court would find itself in a difficult situation. Therefore, the court wished to first hear Nobunaga's opinion and obtain his commitment before issuing the decree to revoke and confer titles.
However, Nobunaga showed no indication of this; he neither petitioned the court to strip Yoshihide of his official position nor accepted the offer when the court proactively suggested it. On one hand, Nobunaga valued substance over mere titles; Yoshihide had already lost all authority and had been exiled by him, so even if he still held the title of shogun, it posed no harm to Nobunaga. On the other hand, Nobunaga aimed to establish a new political entity distinct from the traditional shogunate rule. Accepting the title of "Shogun of the Eastern Expedition" beforehand would undoubtedly bind him with various constraints, making it difficult to implement thorough reforms.
The tragedy of division within the family, caused by internal strife and years of warfare, began to descend upon the prestigious Asakura clan of Echizen at this time
Years later, witnessing the turmoil in the Kinai region, Nobunaga found himself surrounded by enemies on all sides, while Matsuura Yoshihide harbored treasonous intentions. His attack on Hatakeyama Akitaka was merely a small test; if Nobunaga could not spare the resources to subdue him, it would be an opportune moment to expand his own power. Even if he allied with the Asakura and Azai clans to attack Nobunaga, he would have more leverage. Unexpectedly, the Oda forces advanced with such speed that Yoshihide, seeing the unfavorable situation, immediately and decisively offered up the Tōmonzan Castle he had painstakingly managed for many years, along with the renowned sword "Fudō Kunihira," and once again sought to surrender. Nobunaga, surprisingly, granted Yoshihide mercy once more.
To defeat a fierce tiger, one must call upon another fierce tiger. The forces that Ashikaga Yoshiteru had high hopes for at that time were the Takeda and Uesugi clans from Kō and Shin regions, as well as the Mori clan, the dominant power in the Chūgoku region, which refers to the sixteen provinces of the San'in and San'yō regions in western Honshu. These three clans were renowned for their strong military forces and skilled commanders, and their political and economic power was not far behind that of the Oda clan, which controlled a large part of the Kinai region. If these three clans were to take action, the situation that Nobunaga would face would be extremely perilous.
However, the geographical location of Shingen was ultimately too far from Kyoto, and traveling from Shinano Province to Kyoto via the Eastern Mountain Road required crossing numerous high mountains, making large-scale military operations difficult. Moreover, during his northern campaign in Shinano Province, he unexpectedly encountered his lifelong rival, the Warring States daimyo of Echigo Province, Uesugi Kenshin.
Battle of Sanfangyuan
Starting from the eleventh year of the Eiroku era (1568), when Oda Nobunaga supported Ashikaga Yoshiaki's entry into the capital, the political power in the Kinai region exhibited a peculiar duality. Any important documents, such as land grants, would bear the seals of Yoshiaki's "Goshakko" and Nobunaga's "Gojuin". However, in reality, the former seal was merely nominal, while the latter held actual authority
The battle continued into the second year, specifically in the fourth month of the fourth year of the Genki era (1573). The ambitious Takeda Shingen finally faced his last days. Suffering from a severe illness (reportedly a form of gastric cancer), Shingen took the initiative to propose peace talks with Tokugawa Ieyasu. He then passed away on his way back to Kai Province in Shinano, at the age of fifty-three.
Moreover, Hasegawa Kyosuke, Sawaki Tohachiro, Yamaguchi Hidamori, and Kato Yasaburo, who were originally close attendants of Nobunaga, were expelled due to their mistakes. They temporarily took refuge in the Tokugawa household, hoping to achieve military merit and restore their honor in order to return. However, they all perished in this campaign.
The Fierce Tiger of Kai
Thereafter, Hisahide contributed his intelligence to Nobunaga, establishing considerable merit. For instance, during the retreat at Kanazaki, had it not been for Hisahide's presence, Nobunaga might have narrowly escaped with his life, but would certainly have suffered significant losses, making recovery exceedingly difficult. At that time, Hisahide must have thought that if Nobunaga were driven out of the Kinai region, the Asakura and Azai forces would grow stronger, which would be of no benefit to him. Therefore, it would be better to assist Nobunaga for a while longer and see if a better opportunity would arise.
Nobunaga's gaze was fixed on the capital, never leaving the puppet shogun at Nijo Castle. After discerning Ashikaga Yoshihide's schemes, he dispatched three individuals: Nichijo, Shimada Hidemitsu, and Murai Sadakatsu, to meet with Yoshihide, demanding the surrender of hostages and the signing of a pledge to never resort to arms against each other. Naturally, Yoshihide, unable to grasp the situation, was unwilling to comply obediently.
However, the unfortunate General Ashikaga Yoshiteru did not receive timely news of Takeda Shingen's retreat. Encouraged by the great victory at Sanpōgahara, he finally decided to formally confront Nobunaga.
Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Nobunaga is unlikely to kill Hisahide. Perhaps for Nobunaga, Hisahide serves as the best touchstone; if Hisahide were to harbor rebellious thoughts, it would indicate a lapse in his control over the various allied forces, necessitating heightened vigilance. Nobunaga may still harbor a vague thought: "I want to see if I can keep this 'most wicked in the world' firmly in my grasp. If I can subdue Hisahide, I can attain the world; if even the astute Hisahide refuses to bow to me, then what hope is there for my endeavors?"
The greatest characteristic of Takeda Shingen is his ability to utilize people, similar to Nobunaga. He promoted and nurtured many lower and middle-ranking samurai. The legendary "Four Generals of Takeda," aside from Yamamoto Kansuke, originally did not hold high status. It is rumored that Kasuga no Tora (Kōsaka Masanobu) was originally of ashigaru descent. Shingen's main castle—Kōfu Tachi-zaki Castle—is said to have low walls and weak defenses, as Shingen's famous saying goes: "A strong castle cannot be relied upon; only people are the castle, people are the stone walls, people are the moats"
The siege net cast by Ashikaga Yoshiteru against Nobunaga did not merely include the lords of the Kinai and Kinki regions, such as the Miyoshi faction, Asai, Asakura, and Ishiyama Hongan-ji, among others. If Nobunaga is likened to a fierce tiger, then the aforementioned forces are merely various sizes of hunting dogs. Unless these hunting dogs unite with a common purpose, it is impossible for them to kill the tiger. However, with each of these regional powers harboring their own ulterior motives, how could they possibly unite sincerely and confront the enemy together?
In fact, long before the campaign against Ashikaga Yoshihide, Nobunaga had contemplated the idea of changing the era name. He believed that if he could persuade the court to change the era name, his prestige would undoubtedly rise, and the surrounding forces that opposed him would become disheartened, potentially alleviating the political and military pressures he faced. However, at that time, Yoshihide was still stationed at Nijo Castle in Kyoto, serving as the nominal highest leader of the samurai class, and Nobunaga's request had to be presented to the court through him.
Under the protection of his trusted aides, Tokugawa Ieyasu made a hasty escape back to Hamamatsu Castle. His loyal vassals, Natsuki Yoshinobu and Suzuki Hisaburo, disguised themselves as Ieyasu to divert the pursuing Takeda forces, ultimately meeting their demise. It is said that Ieyasu was so frightened that he soiled himself, and it was not until he entered Hamamatsu Castle, took a moment to catch his breath, that his mind suddenly cleared. He ordered the four gates of the castle to be opened and sent his senior retainer, Sakai Tadatsugu, to beat the drums on the castle walls, employing a strategy known as the "Empty Fort Strategy".
Surrounding Xiaogu City
After the princess of the Oda family married into the Takeda family, she gave birth to the legitimate eldest son, Takemaru (later known as Takeda Nobukatsu), for Takeda Katsuyori within a few years, and then passed away. Upon seeing the sudden interruption of the bond between the two families, Nobunaga felt greatly alarmed and immediately sent someone to Kai in the tenth year of Eiroku (1567) to propose a marriage. It was agreed that Shingen's fifth daughter, Matsuhime, would marry his eldest son, Kiyomaru (Nobutada). At that time, Matsuhime was only seven years old, and Kiyomaru was just eleven; both were still very young and not yet able to formally marry.
"General 'Treason'"
The Takeda army launched two offensives. In the direction of the Eastern Mountain Road, a detachment of 5,000 troops crossed the mountains and entered Mino Province, capturing the strategic Yanshan Village Castle to restrain Oda Nobunaga's reinforcements to the southern front. Shingen Takeda himself commanded the main force of approximately 25,000 troops, advancing from the Tokaido direction towards Totomi and Mikawa. In late November, the Takeda army besieged the important town of Futamata Castle in the Totomi Province, which was under the control of the Tokugawa clan.
Tokugawa Ieyasu, aware of his disadvantage, hurriedly sent envoys to Nobunaga for assistance. However, Nobunaga, who had yet to completely resolve the issues in the Kinai region, was unable to dispatch many troops at that moment. His main forces needed to be ready to reinforce Omi at any time to deliver the final blow to the Asai and Asakura clans. If troops were diverted to the eastern front now, the years of effort in northern Omi could very well be in vain. Moreover, Nobunaga understood that Takeda Shingen was certainly coming for Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and that ambitious yet incompetent puppet shogun might make irrational decisions in such a critical moment. What to do? He truly lacked the strength to reinforce Ieyasu.
The Takeda clan of Kai, the Hojo clan of Sagami, and the Imagawa clan of Suruga once formed a tripartite alliance. When Imagawa Yoshimoto advanced to Kyoto, Shingen also dispatched a small contingent of troops to participate in the conflict—though it appeared more akin to today's "military observers." However, Yoshimoto was defeated and killed at the Battle of Okehazama, and his son, Ujizane, neglected state affairs, facing fierce attacks from Tokugawa Ieyasu, resulting in a gradual loss of territory. In the 11th year of Eiroku (1568), Takeda Shingen, who had temporarily halted his struggle for control over northern Shinano against Uesugi Kenshin, brazenly tore up the alliance and joined forces with Tokugawa Ieyasu to launch an attack against Imagawa Ujizane.
However, just two days ago on July 3, believing that Nobunaga had returned to Gifu and would not be able to reach Kyoto in a short time, Ashikaga Yoshiaki could not contain his impatience. He ordered Ise Sadakatsu and Mibu no Fujiwara to defend Nijo Castle, and summoned court nobles such as the Middle Counselor Hino Terukazu and the Councilor Takakura Nagisuke to take command. He himself stealthily went to Makishima Castle to hold a strong defense. The news quickly reached Sawayama Castle, and thus, on the day after the completion of the warship, Nobunaga crossed Lake Biwa with the wind at his back and, on July 9, launched a sudden attack on Nijo Castle. Yoshiaki had originally placed two court nobles, referred to as "Bodhisattvas," in Nijo, intending to make Nobunaga hesitant and reluctant to act aggressively. However, when the Oda army arrived, these two nobles panicked and voluntarily opened the gates to surrender.
Not long after Nobunaga returned to Gifu Castle, in early October, he suddenly received an envoy from Tokugawa Ieyasu. The envoy, with a face full of anxiety, reported: "Takeda Daisuke Daibu has assembled a large army at the beginning of this month and has begun his march to Kyoto. My lord hopes to block him at the borders of Tōtōmi, preventing him from causing trouble for Lord Oda. However, the Takeda army is a formidable force in the realm, and our troops are few and weak; it is feared that we will find it very difficult to resist. We hope that Lord Oda will send reinforcements quickly..." However, the Takeda army is a formidable force in the realm, and our troops are few and weak; it is feared that we will find it very difficult to resist. We hope that Lord Oda will send reinforcements quickly...
Nobunaga's reasoning was: "The era name of Genki and the books are very inauspicious, and I request a prompt change." Such a seemingly plausible reason would normally not be accepted; however, the court was already powerless and eager for an opportunity to issue empty promises, hoping to take advantage of the situation for a substantial gain. Therefore, they did not express opposition but merely raised a request, stating: "According to tradition, the new era name is to be proposed by the Emperor and announced on an auspicious day. However, changing the era requires a sacrificial ceremony, which incurs significant expenses. We ask that Minister Yoshihiro submit this promptly."
Thereafter, the Oda army advanced relentlessly to the borders of Omi and Echizen, setting fire in places such as Yogo and Kinoshita. Nobunaga's actions were clearly a challenge to Asakura Yoshikage: "Your ally, the Asai clan, is heavily surrounded by me and is on the brink of destruction. If you do not take action soon, do you think that by remaining hidden in the Hokuriku region, I will be powerless against you?" He understood that the Asai and Asakura clans, when separated, were no match for him, but if they united, the situation in the northern part of the river could shift. Thus, he intended to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the siege of Koguchi Castle to decisively defeat the main force of the Asakura army.
Nobunaga observed that a prolonged siege might not yield significant results, especially since the Asakura army from Echizen could potentially march south to provide reinforcements at any moment. Therefore, he decided to allocate a portion of his troops to attack north of Koguchi Castle, hoping to cut off the Asakura army's route for reinforcements. On the 22nd, Kinoshita Hideyoshi launched an assault on the Yamamoto Castle, defended by the general Abé Awaji no Kami Sadazane of the Asai faction. He set fire at the foot of the castle, and over a hundred soldiers from the castle charged out to resist him. Hideyoshi managed to slay more than fifty of them and was subsequently rewarded by Nobunaga.
Re-logging in Jiangbei
The prolonged battles between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin in the Chūbu region along the Shinano River are among the most famous conflicts in Japanese history. Due to this constraint, Shingen refrained from directing his attention westward for many years, unwilling to confront the situation in the capital. He seemed like a slumbering tiger on the Tōsan Road, and Oda Nobunaga had long been praying that the tiger would not awaken; otherwise, he would find himself besieged on all sides, which would be exceedingly perilous.
A significant reason is that, after last year's Southern Omi Rebellion suppression campaign, he has basically gained control over the situation in the Kinai region and is prepared to launch a comprehensive counterattack against hostile forces
The second matter is the change of the era name. According to the customs of both China and Japan, a nation may only change its era name in the event of significant occurrences. From another perspective, if a major upheaval such as a change of dynasty occurs, it would indeed be unreasonable not to change the era name. Nobunaga's end of the Muromachi shogunate effectively amounted to a change of dynasty; therefore, he requested the Emperor to issue a decree to redefine the era name
On December 13 of that year, the Takeda army invaded Sunpu Castle and expelled Imagawa Yoshimoto. This occurred three months after Oda Nobunaga's ascent to Kyoto. Nobunaga's Mino Province borders Takeda Shingen's Shinano Province, and thus Nobunaga had long been monitoring the movements of the fierce tiger to the east. He feared that while he was marching to Kyoto, Shingen might suddenly launch an attack from behind, either out of jealousy or coveting the prosperous Mino Province, and assault Gifu Castle from the entrance of Iwa Village. Therefore, as early as the 8th year of Eiroku (1565), Nobunaga took his niece as an adopted daughter and married her to Shingen's fourth son, Katsuyori, thus establishing a familial alliance between the two houses. Subsequently, Nobunaga would occasionally send gifts to Kai to maintain friendly relations. According to the "Kōyō Gunkan," Shingen often reciprocated with local specialties from Kai, such as on one occasion sending Nobunaga three thousand barrels of lacquer.
Nobunaga certainly knew that Yoshihide was not genuinely surrendering. At the slightest sign of trouble, this troublemaker would likely rear his head again. However, he could not afford to lose face in front of the court, nor could he allow himself to appear as if he was acting out of desperation against authority. After leaving Kyoto, Nobunaga's march was slow, and he was unwilling to return to Gifu. On April 7, he arrived at Shumiyama Castle and then turned to attack his old rival, Uemon-dokoro Yoshiharu, the son of Rokkaku Yoshikane, at Narakawa Castle. It was rumored that the nearby Baekje Temple (located near present-day Takashima in Shiga Prefecture) was secretly supporting Narakawa Castle, which infuriated Nobunaga. After all, it was not the first time he had burned down a temple. Therefore, on April 11, he set a great fire, reducing Baekje Temple to ashes.
The cunning Takeda Shingen, however, was unwilling to halt his troops beneath the stronghold of Hamamatsu. After capturing Futamata Castle, he rested his forces for several days. On December 22, he divided his army into two routes and crossed the Tenryu River to march south, meeting at the northern part of Eo Castle. They made a show of force, as if to demonstrate their might, and then turned northwest, directly penetrating into Tokugawa Ieyasu's stronghold in Mikawa Province. This maneuver greatly alarmed Ieyasu, as Mikawa was his homeland. If Mikawa were to be annexed, it would effectively sever his connection with Oda Nobunaga. The Takeda army could use Mikawa as a base to directly attack Owari and Mino, thereby dismantling Nobunaga's regime. Moreover, the isolated castles in the distant province of Eo, such as Hamamatsu, would eventually be easily consumed by the enemy.
The Fall of the Muromachi Shogunate
After the death of Takeda Shingen, the Takeda army gradually retreated to their homeland, and the clouds that loomed over Nobunaga and Ieyasu were instantly cleared. Oda Nobunaga, who let out a long sigh of relief, resolved to resolve the various issues in the Kinai region as quickly as possible—though Shingen was dead, to the east there was Uesugi Kenshin; if he were to initiate some sort of "Shōraku" (the march to the capital), Nobunaga would find himself in a difficult battle again. Only by first stabilizing the capital region could he secure an invulnerable position.
Nobunaga left the four generals, Sakuma Nobumori, Gamō Kiyohide, Niwa Nagahide, and Shibata Katsuie, to continue the assault on Narita Castle, while he slowly returned eastward. On May 22, he entered Sawayama Castle and immediately ordered the construction of enormous warships there. These ships measured seventy meters in length and over ten meters in width, equipped with a hundred oars and numerous arrow towers. By July 5, the construction of the warships was completed, but prior to this, no one knew what Nobunaga intended to do with them.
Deceived, Asakura Yoshisuke immediately dispatched 15,000 troops southward, establishing a formation near Mount Ōgaku on the 29th, confronting the Oda army from a distance. If only he had been able to send such a large force during the Battle of Ichikawa, perhaps the situation in Ōmi would have undergone a dramatic transformation. However, the opportunity has been lost and will not return; today's circumstances and public sentiment are entirely different from those of the past