Chapter Fifteen Rising from the Ashes
Nobunaga
“He’s awake, but he is still weak.” I heard a man say above me. “At the moment he is lapsing in and out of consciousness, and never for more than a few seconds.” I blinked, and I saw a wooden roof above me, well lit. The light hurt my eyes, covering my eyes with my right hand I tried to sit up.
A bandaged stump hit my cheek. My eyes opened wider in shock, and I must have made some sort of sound. For in a moment the healer was before me. “Shhh, Nobunaga-sama. You should not be rising. You are still weak.” The man gently pressed down on me, pushing me back down onto the pillows.
“I’ve lost a hand.” I murmured, still dazed. My eyes could not leave the bandaged stump. How will I fight with this? How will I fight with my left hand? The answer came to me when I saw Himichiro’s stare, his mournful look that he gave my arm. I won’t.
“Himichiro-sensei. Where . . . where are we?” When the men saw me fall, did they retreat? I didn’t know. The duel was blank in my mind, all I remembered was my scream, and the pain. I lost, my uncle won. Heaven decreed he Daimyo of the Oda.
“Nobunaga-sama. We are in the Tenshu of Owari, your old chambers are now used as a library, but we found you some better chambers . . . the chambers of your father, the Daimyo of the Oda.” My friend drew his katana and knelt before me. “We are home, Nobunaga-sama. You have won, for now.”
Absurdly, I felt tears in my eyes. Home! I did it, I brought them home. “We’re home.” I whispered, the words so soft to my ears. “We have come home!” A grin broke out across my face, everything else forgotten. The White Tent, the Battle of Hida, the Massacre of the Uesugi.
The White Tent, Nobuyuki. “Himichiro, there is much to do. Find Ieyasu, find Nobuyuki.” I slumped back into the bed, sighing. “I betrayed them, Himichiro. My victory does not change that.” I hesitated. “I lost my hand, Himichiro, yet I am here, and my uncle is not. Why?”
Himichiro went on to tell me that one of the Oda men, one of them in the service of Nobuyasu, had shot him through the neck before he had killed me. “We still don’t know who it was, or where he is hiding. What will we do when we find him?” Himichiro’s voice was cautious, but even so I heard the anger there. He does not like the way the duel ended, me losing my hand. I should have died.
“I am alive, Himichiro-sensei. Without an arm to battle, yet I still draw breath. If he is found bring him to me immediately, and do not take matters into your own hands. I will deal with the man who killed Nobuyasu personally.” My old friend nodded, his face a grave mask. He turned and left, allowing me to sit back and sigh. “I’m home.” I whispered softly, every other presence in the room forgotten. “I am home.”
Yet that does not end the danger. I have achieved my first goal, but what of the next? The Imagawa must be defeated if the Oda are to ever be safe. But, with what men? I knew the Takeda would follow me for as long as their Lord ordered it, but as soon as Shingen ordered otherwise they would scatter upon the wind. I have no men to command, Owari is destroyed, and my people despise me for abandoning them to the flames.
“Would they follow me? To end the Imagawa threat?” Satashi turned to me, stopping his works. He looked at me, slightly startled by my question. His brow furrowed into a line of thought. “They are your people, Nobunaga-sama, why would they not follow you?”
“Because I abandoned them.” My gaze turned to the man, and he flinched. “Because I let them burn, let their wives be raped and murdered, let their children die by blades and daggers. Because I failed them.” I turned away. What right do I have? What right to ask them to battle for me?
“A few will, mind you, perhaps even more than a few. But, there will be those that have more than the intelligence of a rock. There will be those who will look past that and see what you did, the good that you did. They will see the battles you fought for them, to return to them.” I smiled, it was a light smile, and without much warmth. But I did. .
“You forget, no amount of bloodshed can repay what I have done, I let them burn, Satashi-san. That is something they can never forgive, something they should never forgive.” I shook my head, signalling that the conversation was over. “In any case I will have to address them, I will have to plead with them, for them to fight for me.” Laughing I sat up from the bed. “I believe I know exactly what I need to do.”
The doors opened and a concerned looking Ieyasu strode in, his yari had been placed by the door, but he was still wearing his armour. He nodded towards me, seemingly rooted in place. “Do I look so disfigured, my friend?” The concern vanished from Ieyasu’s eyes, and he stepped forward, nodding slightly once more. I am tired, please make this quick. I stifled a yawn, it would be rude of me to show disinterest. Ieyasu’s eyes seemed fixated on my arm, bandaged from the wrist up.
“You look better than Nobuyasu.” Ieyasu commented, his voice grave and emotionless. How grand, my dead uncle looks worse for wear than myself. “I would hope so.” Ieyasu didn’t smile. “We have much to do, you and I. I am still weak as a babe, but I must speak to the people of Owari.” My people, and I must hope they forgive me for my failures. Satashi tsked several times.
“You won’t be doing that today, Nobunaga-sama. You need to recuperate.” I sighed, and turned towards the man. “Which is exactly why I must do it today. If I’m going to give them the option to kill me, I must not be able to resist, see?” Satashi’s eyes widened, and Ieyasu took a step forward, spluttering.
“What bloody madness are you speaking Nobunaga?” he roared. “You’ve only just returned to Owari and you want to die?” I turned my gaze towards Ieyasu, he lowered his eyes and stepped back. But he did not apologise.
“I do not wish to die, Ieyasu. But, in all honesty, it would be no more than I deserve. Most Daimyos would have committed seppuku in my situation, after having lost their home and having their people put to the sword. I dishonoured myself and my clan by taking the dishonourable route and not ending my life. So I shall give the people of Owari, those that I have wronged most, the chance to execute me. Should they take it I shall die, should they not then I shall rule.”
Ieyasu looked at me, his eyes blazing with rage. “You’re a fool, Nobunaga-san.” I nodded, a smile returning to my lips. “Perhaps, nonetheless we must prepare. For both scenarios. Should I die the Takeda will turn on the people of Owari, they will take the province for the Takeda and it will be the Takeda and the Imagawa who do battle, not the Oda and the Imagawa. That is, unless you stop them. Granted, doing so will not be easy. However, if you challenged the commanding Samurai to a duel, with the terms if you win the Takeda soldiers will obey you, that may work. When you win, you need to rush to Mikawa. There will be an Imagawa warlord stationed there, how many soldiers he will have I do not know, though I estimate it will be around three to five thousand.” I paused. “Obviously you cannot take a castle severely outnumbered, so I need you to draw him out.” I stopped again. Now comes the real test of commitment. “To do so you will need to raid and pillage the villages near Mikawa.” Ieyasu flinched then, and his hands curled into a fist. But he did not interrupt. “He’ll send cavalry divisions after you, ambush them and destroy them, it should not be difficult.”
Ieyasu nodded to this, and sighed. “What then?” he grumbled. Good, so he will obey. I didn’t say anything for the next few moments, contemplating my next words. “He’ll be forced to be drawn out, as it would be dishonourable for him to simply cower before his walls. He will be pressured by his officers and his generals to face you in the field. When he does so you will win.” I spoke firmly. You must win. “What I say next you will not wish to hear, in fact I know you will abhor the idea to the utmost, but it will be the only way to stop Yoshimoto.” Ieyasu nodded, closing his eyes. He already knows, he just does not wish to have to admit it. “Either evacuate Mikawa or do not, evacuating it would take time. Perhaps too much time. Burn Mikawa, nothing but ashes must remain of its defenses, its buildings, and especially its supplies. After that put the entire province to the sword, burn all the crops, every bit of grass, despoil every lake and every drop of water. Then retreat to Owari. By this time the month will be up, and the Takeda will be sent home. I expect Nobushige to be the one to arrive to escort them home. With the impeding threat of the Imagawa you will need to conscript all abled men into the army, in the end the Oda will be able to field a force of possibly four thousand, though I expect around thirty two hundred. Cavalry will be key with this. Yoshimoto will have brought supplies to last him a while, You will have to lead the cavalry yourself, and burn all the supplies you can. By the time Yoshimoto reaches Owari province his men will be exhausted. As soon as his men set foot in Oda land they will begin to die, I want constant raids on them, archers, cavalry raids and ambushes. Yoshimoto’s men need to know fear, they need to hate every moment that they reside within Owari Province. When they come up the main road they must venture through a tight forest, have the main ambush there, with the main target being Yoshimoto. The rainy season will have arrived by this time, so his men will be starving and cold, wet and haggard. Cutting them apart should not prove difficult.” I sighed, letting out a deep breath. “After Yoshimoto is defeated the future of the Oda will reside with you.”
Ieyasu looked at me, his gaze piercing and cold. "Very well, Nobunaga-san. Should you die I shall carry out this plan." He turned and walked out of the door. "But let us hope you do not die." Let us hope indeed, for the plan assumes that nothing could go wrong.
Ieyasu strode away, his stance was sunken and defeated. We will always work, my friend. We can never rest. Our lives are eternally bound in service to our clan, and that is a fate we cannot escape.
It was an hour later when Himichiro returned with Nobuyuki by his side. Himichiro entered first, followed by a grinning Nobuyuki. “Aniki!” He cried as he rushed forward, leaping towards my bedside. Nobuyuki moved to grip my hand, but he flinched when he realised that I no longer had a right hand to hold. His hands went to his sides, and he looked down on me in surprise. His mouth hung open, making an o shape as it did.
Of course, brother, you look to me as the one that can never lose. “I am sorry to have failed you, Nobuyuki-san.” I smiled to him, and leaned over, raising my left hand to grip his hand. “I am not immortal. I can die, you must accept that my death is an inevitability. No man is immortal, everyone dies. I will die, you will die.” Nobuyuki didn’t flinch, but he raised his eyes to meet mind, his eyes held a light to them, but on the fringes of that light was a darkness that threatened to swallow it all.
“I don’t want you to die.” He sobbed, biting his lips to stop himself from crying. “If you die, what will I do? I am not like you, I cannot lead.” His hand gripped mine tightly. My brother’s face was pained, and his eyes were furrowed as tears bubbled in his eyes.
Nobuyuki, you cannot be weak. You cannot cry. “You must be strength, Nobuyuki. Not weakness. Your heroes, Benkei, Minimato and the rest. All of them were strong, all of them had a reason to be strong. You need to find a reason, find something that you will fight for, and that you are willing to die defending. “ For me that is you. You, Himichiro, Ieyasu and the Oda. For all of you I must be strong.
“I must face my fate. Himichiro-sensei . . . remove Nobuyuki from my chambers. I must speak with you alone.” Nobuyuki’s eyes widened at my command, and when Himichiro put his hand upon his shoulder he stepped forward, thrashing out of the hold. For a moment his face was up in a snarl, and his eyes glinted with an anger I had not seen in him.
“You tell me to be strong! You tell me to fight and find a reason! Yet you protect me as if I am a child, as if I can do nothing to defend myself. Make a choice, Aniki. If you want me to be strong than let me, tell me what you intend and allow me to learn.” His hands had clenched into fists, but his head was now bowed and he let our a strangled breath. “Please, Nobunaga-sama.” He fell to his knees, head still bowed.
Himichiro smiled, nodding towards me he stepped away from Nobuyuki. My hand had curled into a fist, I felt my nails stabbing into my palm. The pain was good, it was comforting that I could still feel. Very well, then. I will teach you to be strong, you will see the true face of your brother.
“Get up, Nobuyuki.” He jerked a my command and raised himself from his knees, his eyes locked with mine and it was as if he could not look away, not move or breath. He just stared at me intently. “You may stay, offer no objection and do not interrupt. During tomorrow you will stay within the confines of your chambers, and you will not venture from them until you are called upon. Now, listen.” I turned to Himichiro. His face was grave, and his eyes looked weary. “Tomorrow this all ends. I have no choice but to abide by the wishes of my people. I must claim retribution for my failures as Daimyo.” I nodded, agreeing with my speech. I must make amends for my previous failures.
“Himichiro.” I looked towards my friend, my mentor, and the man who had saved my life countless times. The dip of my head was a lifetime of thanks I should have given him. “”Nobuyuki . . . “ My brother’s eyes pleaded, as he knew what I would say next.
“Today I die.”
Hideyoshi
He sat upon a barrel, legs outstretched and laying atop the barrel beside it. He had to admit, he had been surprised when Nobunaga-sama had ventured from the Palace. What remains of it, at least. He had expected retainers to be meters ahead of him, shoving people aside and barking orders. But, instead the man came out unarmoured, unarmed, and his retainers ordered to stay beside the gate.
Hideyoshi had spied one man, the man looked aged and mournful, his hand was placed upon the hilt of his blade at all times. Hideyoshi noticed he watched everyone like a hawk, stalking backwards and forwards from the gate, as if he wished to rush out and be beside Nobunaga, but was unable to disobey the Daimyo he held so dear. The man’s loyalty has no bounds, he serves, lives, fights and will die for Oda Nobunaga.
A great crowd surrounded the Daimyo, he had ventured out with nothing except a kimo to cover himself. Now he found himself surrounded by a few hundred men, women and children. A few of the more hot tempered ones had asked for his head at once, but they had quickly been shoved away from the crowd by those who wished to listen to what he had to say.
“He’s going to die.” Hideyoshi knew, he felt sad about that. I stuck an arrow in one Oda, just to have the other get himself killed. It almost made him laugh, except the clan would then be in the hands of an eight year old child. Times are tremulous enough, and our survival looks near impossible.
The crowd began to murmur in anticipation. Oda Nobunaga had not spoken a word, and he had been surrounded by the citizens of Owari for a quarter of an hour. They were growing restless. Nobody knows what he will say, what he will do. He is scarcely a boy. But Hideyoshi knew he was more than that. He had seen it in his eyes as Nobunaga fought Nobuyasu. He was cold, merciless and forlorn. Dogged by his failures.
“People of Owari, Oda.” Nobunaga’s voice was loud and commanding, the murmur of the crowd hushed immediately as heads turned and men looked up. Women drew children close and young boys stood to attention at the commanding nature of his voice. He is meant to lead, not to die.
“My name is Nobunaga, of the Oda clan. Half a year ago my father died and I was given the mantle to lead. Within a day my mother and uncle had both been imprisoned, as I assumed that I would be overruled and would have power usurped from me by them. From there things drew worse as I was assailed by an assassin, who wounded me gravely.” From his position on the barrels Hideyoshi saw as Nobunaga revealed a ghastly gash across his side and stomach. “While I was recovering from this wound the Saito struck at Owari, and it was only through Himichiro’s skill and the courage of your brethren that the attack failed and the Saito army was repelled or executed.” He stopped, murmurs followed from the crowd as they wondered to what he was getting at. “It was that same night that I woke to find my Owari under attack by a different foe, one that had found its way within her walls. The Imagawa, under the command of Imagawa Yoshimoto assailed and sieged Owari.” Hideyoshi watched as Nobunaga’s face drew grave. “In my fear I ordered the gates stay locked, giving my men and I enough time to flee Owari, so that I may live.” A man grabbed Nobunaga, throwing him to the ground.
“My daughter died you bastard! My daughter died being cut down by those ers! My wife was raped before my eyes and I could do NOTHING!”” Hideyoshi heard a thump as his fist collided with Nobunaga’s face, one, two, three, four. More people roaring and cursing, telling the man to kill Nobunaga. I can’t let him die. I can’t, he needs to live.
Hideyoshi found himself moving through the crowd, he shoved past one man, and a woman who was crying into her baby’s shoulder, begging for the violence to stop. The man’s roar and cursing intensified when he was grabbed by men. Hideyoshi shoved to the edge of the crowd to find the man he had seen earlier with his hand gripping the throat of Nobunaga’s assailant. All around them retainers seemed to appear, fully armed and fully armoured.
“It was me, you damnable coward!” The man, who Hideyoshi assumed was Himichiro, snarled at the assailant. “IT WAS ME!” He roared to the crowd. “I ordered the gate to remained closed so that we could flee. Nobunaga’s immediate reaction was to order the gates be opened. He roared and bellowed that he would save as many as he could. But, I overruled him and forced him to flee.” He looked at them all, hands curled into fists. “He is the only hope of the Oda, and everything he has done has been for you.”
One of the retainers stepped forward. “He made deals with the Takeda, risked his life multiple times to save you. His only goal, his only mission, was to free you from the traitor.” A second retainer stepped forward. “I survived the Battle of Hida, I survived the Massacre of the White Tent when the Kiso bastard betrayed us. I fought beside Oda Nobunaga-sama at Mino also. He saved my life at the White Tent.” The man drew his blade and stepped beside Nobunaga. “”I will not let him be murdered by my own people!” The other retainers followed suit, drawing their blades and putting themselves between Nobunaga and the crowd. Not because they were ordered to do, but because they love him.
“Stop, all of you, stop.” Nobunaga’s voice was hoarse and when he rose Hideyoshi saw his face was bloodied and blackened on one side. “I failed them.” His voice was a husk, it sounded cold and devoid of emotion, as if he only bore sorrow and malice. “I fled, and I have returned. Everything I have done has been to return and save them. But, a lifetime of repenting cannot change the fact that I left them to burn.” Nobunaga had tears flowing from his cheeks now, unbidden, but unhindered. “I do not deserve mercy. For the failures I have wrought and the deeds I have committed.”
“Shut up!” Hideyoshi roared at him. “I did not put an arrow through your bloody uncle’s bloody neck so that you could stand there and whimper and whine while an Imagawa army prepares to march on us!” He went forward, but the retainers met him with naked steel. Nobunaga’s face, however, looked relieved.
“So, it was you? You who saved my life?” Hideyoshi nodded, suddenly fearful of what the Daimyo would say to the man who had murdered his uncle.
“You have my eternal thanks and gratitude. I apologise that I may not be able to repay you for the debt I owe you.” He turned to Himichiro and his retainers. “Sheathe your blades, all of you.” The sound of steel rasping on leather was grating to the ears. But, the man named Himichiro turned towards Nobunaga. “Nobunaga.” He hissed, his eyes bright with anger. “They’ll kill you.” A smile appeared on Nobunaga’s face as he stepped towards his friend. “I will be met with what fate has decreed for me.”
“I will not ask forgiveness of you, not yet. All I will say is simply this, I can’t win. The Imagawa are stronger than I, Yoshimoto has more men than I, and more money.” He smiled lightly. “Alone I can do nothing.” He walked ahead of his retainers, out of immediate reach if they wished to snatch him backwards if the crowd grew furious. “However, we can win. Together, you and I, we can defeat the Imagawa and avenge those who have fallen. We can make certain that the death of my father, my mother, our brothers and sisters and children and friends was not in vain! I cannot bring back the dead; but, I can grant you vengeance.”
There was a low growl from a man in the crowd. “My daughter died, and you’re asking me to fight with the likes of you? I’d rather kiss the arse of Yoshimoto than lick your boots, scum.” Half a dozen of the retainers roared with fury at his words, two started forward, but Nobunaga’s hand sliced through the hand with a swift precision. “No.”
The two men stood behind him, hands on the hilts of their blades and mouths curled in rage. But they took no more steps towards the man. Nobunaga walked towards the man. “Himichiro, your blade.” Hideyoshi watched as the man grimaced, yet his katan was unsheathed and handed to Nobunaga. He turned back towards the man and held the blade out, dropping it at his feet.
When the man had picked it up Nobunaga fell to his knees. “I cannot bring her back, nor your wife. I do not have that power, I am sorry.” Nobunaga’s voice was grave. “If you truly wish my death than I grant you your wish, do the deed with your own hands.” He bent his head forward, stretching out his neck for the blow to come.
The man looked shocked. “You do not fear death?” He sputtered shakily, his hands gripping the blade were white as they curled around the hilt. Nobunaga smiled at his question.
“I do not fear death, no. What I fear is the darkness that will come. Men live and then they die.” His smile widened as he spoke his words. “So it goes.” |