Yamauchi Kazutoyo: Watch Me Perform!

Inagi Estate lay five ri southeast of Matsukura Castle. Bordering the Iwakura Road, it was a vital route linking northern and southern Owari.

Goods from Shinano, Mino, Hida, and other regions traveled down the Kiso River to Inuyama Castle, then could follow this road all the way to Kiyosu Castle. As a result, the Iwakura Road was quite prosperous along its length.

Inagi Estate had originally belonged to the Iwakura Oda clan. After the Iwakura Oda clan was destroyed, Oda Nobunaga granted it to Maeno Nagayasu, making this territory a recent acquisition of the Maeno family.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo did not yet know what deal had been struck within the Maeno family, but one thing was certain: his bargain-bin uncle, Maeno Tokiyuki, had become a political sacrifice.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo did not bring Goto Joki on this trip to Inagi Estate, as the man truly was getting on in years and had been unwell lately.

Maeno Tokiyuki generously lent Yamauchi Kazutoyo a horse to ride. Kichibē walked ahead, carrying a spear and leading the reins, while Sobue Kan'emon kept watch at the side.

Though their party consisted of only three men, Yamauchi Kazutoyo finally looked somewhat like a samurai.

Five ri was not far. They arrived after walking at an unhurried pace for a single shichen.

There was no need to worry about fallen-warrior hunts along the way, because the key lay in the words "fallen warrior." These people targeted samurai defeated on the battlefield; they had not yet grown brazen enough to openly attack passersby.

Killing a samurai from the defeated side earned the endorsement of the victors. Openly attacking a passing samurai, on the other hand, was rebellion.

Of course, if you traveled alone at night and ran into someone with no martial virtue, you could only blame yourself for failing to consult the almanac before leaving home.

"My lord, Inagi Estate has six villages. One is called Maeno Village, the ancestral home of the Maeno family."

"I heard the retired lord of the Maeno family is living in seclusion here. Perhaps we could pay him a visit along the way?"

As they walked, Sobue Kan'emon introduced Yamauchi Kazutoyo to the situation in Inagi Estate. The retired lord he mentioned was Maeno Muneyasu, Maeno Tokiyuki's uncle.

Back then, it had been Maeno Muneyasu and Yamauchi Moritoyo who plotted Oda Nobukata's escape. Clearly, however, the Maeno family had harbored no good intentions in the matter.

"You want to use the retired lord of the Maeno family's influence to force those four communal villages into submission?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo asked, bending down.

"That was indeed one consideration," Sobue Kan'emon replied.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo smiled bitterly. "If it were truly that simple, Uncle would not be so troubled over collecting the annual tribute."

"The Maeno family plainly dares not offend Oda Nobukiyo. Caught between three powers, they reek of trying to preserve themselves wisely at every turn. It cannot be easy for them."

Over this period, Yamauchi Kazutoyo had more or less come to understand the Maeno family's circumstances. Put simply, they lived in a land no one governed, wedged between the three powers of Oda Nobunaga, Saito Yoshitatsu, and Oda Nobukiyo.

Relying on river transport along the Kiso River, the Maeno family and several other powerful local clans had formed an ikki known as the Kawanami League. Ikki meant an alliance.

The Maeno family's way of surviving was to follow whoever was strongest without completely throwing in with any side. They had thoroughly mastered the art of being welcome on both left and right.

"But hasn't Maeno Nagayasu of the Maeno family already entered Oda Nobunaga's service? There's no need to fear Inuyama Castle so much, is there?" Sobue Kan'emon continued.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo answered with the calm of an old god, "That is because Oda Nobunaga's attention is no longer here. Think about what the rumors sweeping through Owari lately have been saying."

"My lord means Oda Nobunaga is going to war with the Imagawa clan?" Sobue Kan'emon nodded thoughtfully.

"Indeed, a great number of laborers have recently been conscripted to Odaka Castle and Narumi Castle. I heard Oda Nobunaga has built quite a few forts outside both castles."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo smiled faintly. "Odaka Castle and Narumi Castle were turned by Imagawa Yoshimoto a few years ago. Those two places are only a few ri from Atsuta Shrine, so of course Oda Nobunaga wants to reclaim them."

As everyone knew, Oda Nobunaga had two money bags in Owari. One was Tsushima Harbor, and the other was Atsuta Shrine. These two places provided the Oda clan with a ceaseless stream of income and accounted for half its finances.

To seize Tsushima Harbor back then, Oda Nobunaga had even gone so far as to kill Hirate Masahide. The reason was that the Hirate family served as magistrates of Tsushima Harbor, and Hirate Masahide had not supported Oda Nobunaga's foreign policy at the time.

"Then it seems Oda Nobunaga will not be hopping about for many more days. Once Lord Imagawa Jibu no Taifu of Suruga launches an attack, the Oda clan will have no chance of victory whatsoever," Sobue Kan'emon declared with certainty.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo did not refute him. At this time, even if someone bragged until the heavens burst, no one would believe Oda Nobunaga could defeat Imagawa Yoshimoto.

Imagawa Yoshimoto possessed more than just Suruga, Totomi, and Mikawa. With the support of Nagamashima Honganji, the powerful Hattori League of Kai Sai District in Owari was also resisting Oda Nobunaga. Oda Nobunaga was beset by troubles within and without.

"My lord, look! We're about to enter the village!"

Kichibē's shout pulled Yamauchi Kazutoyo from his thoughts. As he spoke, Inagi Estate had already come into view.

One had to declare one's identity before entering a communal village, otherwise the patrolling young men might mistake them for bandits. The young men were essentially a rural mutual-defense force.

"My lord, they won't let us in!"

Before long, Sobue Kan'emon returned to the village entrance with his head hanging. Seven or eight sturdy young men stood not far behind him, watching them like tigers eyeing prey.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo asked in puzzlement, "Didn't you tell them we were magistrates sent by the Maeno family?"

"That's exactly why they won't let us in..." Sobue Kan'emon spread his hands.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo covered his forehead. They said all things were difficult at the beginning, but if they could not even get through the gate, how were they supposed to proceed with the rest?

"Should we force our way in?"

"I doubt these people would dare lay a hand on us."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo shook his head. "No need. We'll go directly to the next village."

"And don't say we're here to collect annual tribute. Say we've come to discuss an important matter with the otona."

The otona were village representatives chosen from within the communal village, usually respected elders of the village, and there was not necessarily just one. Whenever the communal village had matters to handle, these otona convened a village assembly to negotiate and settle them internally.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo turned his horse around, and the three headed toward the neighboring village.

After crossing a ditch, a wooden sign bearing the words "Yamajiri Village" entered Yamauchi Kazutoyo's sight.

By coincidence, quite a crowd had already gathered at the village entrance. The whole crowd was brimming with festivity, as though some happy occasion were underway.

When they approached and asked, they learned that the son of one of the village's otona was getting married. Since Yamauchi Kazutoyo and his companions were unfamiliar faces, they were mistaken for guests coming to offer congratulations and warmly invited into the village.

"Gentlemen, please come with me. May I ask how you are addressed?"

"I never imagined Chubei had such face that he could invite samurai lords to offer their congratulations." The man guiding them seemed to share in the honor and kept speaking with a cheerful grin.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo introduced himself. "We are samurai of the Maeno family from Matsukura Castle. Having heard of the happy occasion at Chubei's home, we came especially to offer our congratulations."

"So you are samurai of the Maeno family. That explains it!"

"Please, this way! A great figure from the Maeno family has recently moved into Maeno Village beyond the ditch."

The guide continued talking to himself, while Sobue Kan'emon leaned close to Yamauchi Kazutoyo's ear and whispered, "My lord, we don't have an invitation."

"And we don't know this Chubei fellow. Won't we be exposed when the time comes?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo straightened his chest and declared with victory already in his grasp, "Don't worry. I have a plan."

As soon as he finished speaking, they arrived at Chubei's residence.

After exchanging a few words with the guide, a young man warmly came forward and said to Yamauchi Kazutoyo, who was leading the group, "Sir, I don't believe we invited any samurai of the Maeno family."

"May I ask who you—"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo ignored him, walked around him, and headed straight inside. Upon reaching the door, he deliberately raised his voice and shouted, "Yamauchi Iemon of Haguri District, Owari, offers his congratulations! Gift money: ten thousand coins!"

Whoosh!

At once, a huge crowd came rushing out, all of them eager to watch the spectacle.

Everyone wanted to see who was so lavish as to give ten kan in wedding gifts!

But ten kan was ten kan—why call it ten thousand coins?

Still, calling it that did sound pretty stirring!

An old man in his fifties flung his cane aside and came running out with the speed of flying feet.

"I am Chubei. Which honored gentleman has brought a gift of ten thousand coins?"