Silencing Witnesses

Niwa District, Maeda Village.

This was the birthplace of the Maeno family. After Maeno Muneyasu retired, he returned to Maeno Village to live out his old age.

He left Matsukura Castle's lands to his younger brother Maeno Tokiuji as a foundation, gave his son Maeno Nagayasu the opportunity to join Oda Nobunaga, while he himself cast lingering glances at Oda Nobukiyo.

Only by placing bets on several sides could the Maeno family ensure its survival in this age of chaos. This was also the way of survival for the vast majority of provincial warrior bands during the Warring States period.

"The Han Emperor prized beauty and dreamed of a beauty who could topple a realm; for many years he ruled the world, yet could not find one..."

Amid the clear recitations of several children, Maeno Muneyasu hunched over and slowly pushed open the door.

At over seventy years of age, his only pleasure was teaching the clan's children Chinese learning. The Maeno family had always maintained a tradition of studying Chinese classics, enough to be called a family legacy.

"Not bad. Has anyone memorized it?" Maeno Muneyasu looked at the children with a kindly expression.

The oldest boy among them gathered his courage and stood up. "Lord Jikan, this Chinese poem is far too long. Can't we memorize something simpler?"

Maeno Muneyasu could not help but smile. "Even Bai Juyi's poems are difficult?"

"This is one of the easiest Chinese poems to learn! I could recite it when I was nine!"

"Come, let me test you! Who does the Han Emperor in the first line refer to?" Maeno Muneyasu asked with great interest.

"I know—Emperor Xuanzong!" One child rose onto his tiptoes and raised both hands high.

Maeno Muneyasu nodded with a smile. "Then do you know why Bai Juyi wrote this poem?"

The children all shook their heads.

Just as Maeno Muneyasu was about to show off his knowledge before them, a young attendant came in from the doorway. "Lord Jikan, someone seeks an audience."

"Can't you see I am teaching Chinese learning?"

His mood ruined, Maeno Muneyasu grumbled irritably before casually asking, "Who is it?"

"He claims to be the son of the late Lord Yamauchi of Tajima."

"Yamauchi Moritoyo's son?" Maeno Muneyasu rose slightly. "Yamauchi Iemon?"

"Yes, that is the name."

Maeno Muneyasu nodded lightly to show that he understood, and the attendant immediately turned back.

Before long, Yamauchi Kazutoyo was brought before Maeno Muneyasu.

"Greetings, Lord Jikan!"

After retiring, Maeno Muneyasu had taken the name "Nansōan Jikan," his Dharma name after entering religious life. For example, Uesugi Kenshin was "Fushikian Kenshin," while Takeda Shingen was "Tokueiken Shingen."

"Iemon, I heard you went to Matsukura Castle. What brings you here?" Maeno Muneyasu asked.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo replied, "I came to Inagi Estate on my uncle's orders to collect this year's annual tribute."

"You collected annual tribute all the way to Maeno Village?" Maeno Muneyasu asked expressionlessly.

"I heard that Lord Jikan was living in retirement here, so I came especially to pay my respects. After all, you and my late father were both senior retainers of the Iwakura Oda clan. When I was able to withdraw from Iwakura Castle back then, it was also thanks to Lord Jikan sending men to escort us."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo put heavy emphasis on the word "escort," and Maeno Muneyasu's gaze sharpened.

Yet Maeno Muneyasu soon smiled. "You brat, you truly are just like your father!"

"Enough. This old man has no time for nonsense. If you have something to say, say it."

"To be frank, I do have a favor to ask."

"For collecting the annual tribute?" Maeno Muneyasu asked offhandedly. Of course, he knew how difficult it was to collect tribute from Inagi Estate, because Oda Nobukiyo of Inuyama Castle had always coveted those lands.

Oda Nobunaga and Oda Nobukiyo had nearly come to blows over the former lands of Iwakura Castle. Oda Nobunaga had not bestowed Inagi Estate upon the Maeno family out of any good intentions, so Maeno Muneyasu and his son had selectively ignored the estate.

More importantly, Oda Nobunaga's attention was currently fixed on Narumi Castle and Odaka Castle. Without Oda Nobunaga backing him, Maeno Muneyasu naturally had no desire to offend Oda Nobukiyo.

"Not at all!" Yamauchi Kazutoyo flatly denied it. "I seek something else."

"Oh?" Maeno Muneyasu suddenly became interested. Could it be that Yamauchi Kazutoyo could actually snatch food from a tiger's mouth without relying on the Maeno family and take it from Oda Nobukiyo?

"Let's hear it!"

"I wish to kill someone!" Yamauchi Kazutoyo's words were startling.

Maeno Muneyasu frowned slightly. "If you have formed a grudge with a warrior of the household, you may bring suit before Maeno Tokiuji, lord of Matsukura Castle."

"If you have fallen out with another warrior in the province, you may report it to Lord Kazusa no Suke at Kiyosu Castle. How can you simply kill someone at will?"

"The person I wish to kill is not a warrior," Yamauchi Kazutoyo continued.

Maeno Muneyasu's expression stiffened. Not a warrior?

Then why the hell had he come to him over such a trifling matter? Did killing a lowborn commoner require his help?

"Please allow me to explain, Lord Jikan. When my family fled Iwakura Castle, we were attacked on the road during a straggler hunt, and some of my household died as a result."

"I happened to encounter that man at Inagi Estate, and I wish to avenge my household. But he has considerable prestige in the village. I fear that killing him may spark an uprising, so I came specifically to inform Lord Jikan."

To stir up trouble, he needed someone to endorse him. No matter what, Inagi Estate was land Oda Nobunaga had granted to the Maeno family. As the clan head of the Maeno clan, Maeno Muneyasu's support was especially crucial to Yamauchi Kazutoyo.

Maeno Muneyasu was slightly taken aback, then an imperceptible smile appeared in his eyes. "Iemon, and you still claim this is not about the annual tribute? Do you truly think I have gone senile?"

"Killing a man is easy. Silencing witnesses is hard."

"I do not care what benefits you promised the villagers, nor do I care how you collect the annual tribute. But this matter must never be connected to me in any way."

"So forgive me for refusing this favor."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo silently cursed the old fox. It seemed the little tricks he knew were merely things the old man had played with long ago.

Seeing that he could not hide it from Maeno Muneyasu, Yamauchi Kazutoyo simply laid his cards on the table. "Lord Jikan, since we have already spoken this far, I will stop pretending."

"I will definitely collect Inagi Estate's annual tribute, and I will kill that man as well."

"But I can guarantee that once it is done, the Maeno family will never be implicated."

"Ridiculous!" Maeno Muneyasu glared at Yamauchi Kazutoyo. "How will you guarantee that?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo answered without hesitation. "First, once this is done, I will immediately leave Matsukura Castle and no longer serve as Inagi Estate's magistrate."

"Second, I will personally deal with everyone who knows the truth. I will leave no one alive. After all, dead men do not talk."

"Third, Inagi Estate is land Lord Kazusa no Suke granted to the Maeno family. If no annual tribute is collected, then once word reaches Kiyosu Castle, how will Sobue Kan'emon, who is serving under Lord Takigawa, be able to face it?"

Sobue Kan'emon was Maeno Nagayasu. Because of his superb horsemanship, Oda Nobunaga had bestowed upon him the name "Komaemon."

"In short, I collect the tribute, I kill the man. If anything truly goes wrong, Lord Jikan may place all blame on me. It will have nothing whatsoever to do with the Maeno family."

Maeno Muneyasu looked at Yamauchi Kazutoyo in surprise. "Iemon, what are you risking your life for?"

"To avenge my household members who died unjustly!" Yamauchi Kazutoyo spoke with heartfelt sincerity. At the same time, it was for money. He desperately needed it.

"The late Goto's wife was like a mother to me. If I do not avenge this hatred, I, Yamauchi Kazutoyo, swear I am not a man!"

When Yamauchi Kazutoyo finished speaking, Kichibē and Sobue Kan'emon behind him immediately reddened around the eyes. Kichibē in particular dropped straight to his knees before Yamauchi Kazutoyo.

Maeno Muneyasu swept his gaze over those behind Yamauchi Kazutoyo, and a trace of appreciation flashed through his eyes.

He had collected the annual tribute while winning over people's hearts as well. This Yamauchi Kazutoyo was truly extraordinary for one so young.

"Lord Tajima gave birth to a fine son!" Maeno Muneyasu let out a long sigh.

"I, Maeno Muneyasu, will help you with this!"

Maeno Muneyasu had no reason to refuse. Just as Yamauchi Kazutoyo had said, the Maeno family did indeed need to give Oda Nobunaga at Kiyosu Castle an account.

Only yesterday, Maeno Nagayasu had sent a letter saying that he was being excluded everywhere in Kiyosu Castle and was in a very difficult position.

"However, there is one point. The three of you alone certainly do not have enough hands. The main family will not send anyone to appear openly, so you will have to find the men you need yourselves," Maeno Muneyasu continued.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo immediately understood. "Then I ask Lord Jikan to point me toward a path."

"There is a Miyago Village nearby. It is land belonging to Oda Nobukiyo of Inuyama Castle. You can find people there," Maeno Muneyasu said calmly.

This left Yamauchi Kazutoyo completely baffled. Maeno Muneyasu was telling him to find men on Oda Nobukiyo's territory—was that not walking straight into a trap?

Seeing Yamauchi Kazutoyo's hesitant expression, Maeno Muneyasu sighed softly. "You boy, if one calls you foolish, you can be quite clever; but if one calls you clever, you become muddle-headed."

"I merely said Miyago Village is Oda Nobukiyo's land. I never said the people there belong to Oda Nobukiyo."

"Understand?"

"I understand!"

"Do you really understand?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo nodded vigorously. No wonder they said old ginger was spicier.

Sure enough, he could not underestimate anyone in this era. Not one person who had survived this Warring States chaos was simple.

"Then whom should I seek out once I reach Miyago Village?"

Maeno Muneyasu closed his eyes and slowly spoke a name.

"Hachisuka Koroku!"