The Battle of Okehazama - The Viper of Mino Perishes - Update 16
Dosan Saito, the Viper of Mino, was in conflict with his heir, Yoshitatsu. No one quite knew why. Some say they were simply made not to see eye to eye, while others whispered that they were not related by blood… Some say Yoshitatsu smelled danger as his father’s interest in Nobunaga Oda grew. And then, finally…
Dosan Saito:
What is going on?!
Soldier:
An emergency, my lord! Your retainers have banded together in rebellion! Reports say they have slain your other children and are on their way here!
Dosan Saito:
…So, what scoundrel is trying to take my life?
Soldier:
It is believed to be your heir, Lord Yoshitatsu!
Dosan Saito:
Yoshitatsu…
His resolve gathered, Dosan hurriedly wrote a letter to Nobunaga and sent a courier running towards Owari. Then, gathering up what men he could, he made his last stand against Yoshitatsu’s army. However, he was outnumbered. Yoshitatsu’s overwhelming numbers forced him into submission.
Dosan Saito:
So, this is it… Well, Yoshitatsu… I’ll be watching just how well you do against the fool of Owari from the next world.
Dosan was slain by his son. The man who clawed his way to the top met a grand end at the hands of his own blood, doing the same.
This report reached Nobunaga, who was on the verge of sending Dosan reinforcements.
Nobunaga Oda:
So…the Viper is dead, is he? Well, if it’s come to this…
Soldier:
Will we disarm the men, my lord?
Nobunaga Oda:
No, continue preparations. …We take Mino.
Soldier:
Yes, my… lord? But, Lord Dosan was your uncle, my lord. Is now not the time to mourn rather than fight…?
Nobunaga Oda:
Right now is the perfect opportunity. In the letter that came a few days ago was the Viper’s will. He said that he gives Mino to me. Though I don’t know what the man was after…we have the perfect justification to attack Mino. We can’t let this chance slip by. I will bring it under my control – first, Mino, then this nation.
A few days later, Yoshitatsu, having slain his father, announced cutting ties with the Oda. Nobunaga told the world of Dosan’s last words, “I give you Mino”, and fashioned himself the rightful heir to the land. Thus began the Oda’s invasion of Mino.
After defeating Yoshimoto Imagawa at Okehazama and ridding itself of pressing danger, the Oda clan built up its strength. On the other hand, the nearby country of Mino had kept up its hostility towards the Oda since the death of its former leader, Dosan Saito. However, the Saito clan was an organization Dosan built up in a single generation. Its decline due to his death was clear to all.
Nobunaga Oda:
…This is the perfect chance. Mino is fertile and bountiful, a land Dosan was as far as to deceive his liege to steal. It would be a waste to have ti under the lead of a talentless youth. We take Mino. Mino – that is the next step on the path I must take.
The Conquest of Mino(Quest)
“I concede Mino” were the Viper’s last words before the flames consumed him. Caring not for the intent behind the words, Nobunaga advanced into Mino.
Bring the Azai Clan’s trust to 100.
Bring the Matsudaira Clan’s Trust to 100.
Capture Inabayama Castle.
Historical Tidbits
It is not really known what prompted Yoshitatsu to kill Dosan Saito, and whether or not they were really related by blood is also unknown. Nobunaga claimed that the Viper ceded Mino to him but again there are a lot of unknowns here. It is both possible and unknown if he really did.