Battle of Okehazama - The Shogun Assassinated, and Conquering Mino - Update 23
The 13th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Yoshiteru Ashikaga, did everything he could in an attempt to reverse the decline of the shogunate’s power brought on by the Onin war.
Eventually, Yoshiteru’s actons could no longer go unnoticed by Hisahide Matsunaga of Miyoshi, a clan which aimed to manipulate the shogunate while expanding its own power in central Japan.
However, an incident finally brooke out. Hisahide led troops to surround the Imperial Palace in an effort to slay Yoshiteru.
Soldier:
Lord Yoshiteru Ashikaga! Forgive me, I must take your life!
Yoshiteru Ashikaga:
Hasahide… To think he would resort to such treachery. I suppose he can’t stand letting my actions go any longer. So be it… But my life does not come cheap.
Yoshiteru pulled out the number swords of note passed down from shogun to shogun and jammed them into the tatami mats around him.
Yoshiteru Ashikaga:
Rejoice in your fortune, mercenaries… My blade is the blade of the shogun, the leader of the warrior class. My style is that passed on by my master, Bokuden Tsukahara, Ichi no Tachi! Die by this sword and boast to the demons in hell!
The Miyoshi soldiers charging at Yoshiteru were cut down one after the other. Whenever his blade dulled, he pulled another sword from the tatami and kept on fighting.
Meanwhile, at the camp surrounding the palace.
Hisahide Matsunaga:
It s not I who will kill Yoshiteru, oh no. It was Yoshiteru himself, paying no mind to the motions of the world, acting in futility only to fulfill his own ambitions. Neither the shogunate nor swords will be needed in the world to come. All that awaits one who fails to notice that is death. He he… But one must wonder just how many daimyo realize the coming of this new world!
Soldier:
Reporting, my lord! Yoshiteru Ashkaga has fallen.
Hisahide Matsunaga:
Finally dead, is he? How did he meet his end?
Soldier:
Our men surrounded him with tatami as shields, then slew him.
Hisahide Matsunaga:
He was more stubborn than I thought… Yet, the image of such a master being overwhelmed by mere grunts before dying… What a fitting death for that fool! Hahahaha!
And so, the 13th shogun, who had worked so hard to restore the shogunate power, Yoshiteru Ashikaga, died. The shogunate became a puppet of the Miyoshi clan and lost its independence.
Hisahide Matsunaga, however, the man behind the incident, ended up defeated in a battle for authority within the Miyoshi clan and disappeared. The capital and its surroundings fell into chaos.
Captured Inabayama Castle!
Nabayama Castle, Mino.
Soon Takugen:
Congratulations, Lord Nobunaga.
Nobunaga Oda:
Ah, Takugen… I’ve finally taken it. Mino, this land the Viper left to me, is finally mine.
Soon Takugen:
Now, Lord Nobunaga, you possess the twin fertle lands of Owari and Mino. Our country, and your might as a daimyo, will only increase from here.
Nobunaga Oda:
Mm… Yet, it is still too early to throw any celebrations. To get what I truly want, I must ride even further. Takugen. From this land, I will move this nation.
Soon Takugen:
Oh? What would you mean by that?
Nobunaga Oda:
First, I will move people and goods through business in Owari and Mino. Goods make us richer, people make us stronger, larger. The flow of coin moves goods and people, it changes countries. And this will change the form of our world. Unification through arms. A world where warriors – where I control the flow of all things is what I aim for.
Soon Takugen:
Unification through arms… You have put quite a lot of thought into this, my lord. In that case, unworthy though it may be, might I give you a small suggestion? How about naming this land “Gifu”?
Nobunaga Oda:
Gifu… A message to take after King Wen of Zhou, who began his conquest at Qishan – with their “Qi” being our “Gi”?
Soon Takugen:
Indeed. This Inabayama Castle will become the foundation of Lord Nobunaga’s great work. With that in mind, perhaps you may want to emulate the greats of old and grant it a good name.
Nobunaga Oda:
Mm, a good idea. This land is now Gifu. And my work of unification through arms, my ambition, begins here.
The Conquest of Mino(Quest)
Accomplished!
Historical Tidbits
Soon Takugen, also known as Shoun Takugen, is a figure I can find very little about. He is some form of Buddhist priest who was on close terms with the Oda clan and even suggested the name Nobunaga for Nobunaga Oda.
Yoshiteru was assassinated in 1565. He fought like a warrior and according to accounts his gay lover also fought beside him. When he died his lover committed suicide. Yoshiteru as far as I know was only interested in other men.