We Lost!

"Hey, you're awake?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo shook his head and slowly opened his eyes.

Where was he?

Before closing his eyes, he had just pressed the reward button. No one had told him that tipping a webnovel author enough to become an Alliance Leader would send him through time; otherwise, he would not have waited until today to go all out supporting an author named Kira Kozukenosuke.

As his vision gradually cleared, Yamauchi Kazutoyo realized that he was on a battlefield.

As far as the eye could see, several thousand samurai and ashigaru clad in Japanese armor faced each other, while sporadic gunfire from matchlocks rang endlessly in his ears.

A cool breeze swept across the plain and burrowed straight down Yamauchi Kazutoyo's neck.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo shivered. At that moment, another person's memories began flashing through his mind like a revolving lantern.

A voice in his heart reminded him that he was no longer Wang Jin, but Yamauchi Kazutoyo—a samurai of Japan's Warring States period.

"Kazutoyo, what is wrong with you today? How can you lose focus on a battlefield?"

"Even if this is your first battle, you should not be this muddleheaded!"

Yamauchi Moritoyo was deeply troubled as he watched his son standing blankly beside him. If necessity had not forced his hand, he would not have dragged Yamauchi Kazutoyo onto the battlefield like a duck being driven onto a perch.

The Yamauchi family had suffered one misfortune after another lately. They truly could not scrape together enough men to fulfill the military service owed to their lord, the Iwakura Oda clan.

Suddenly, a lead bullet flew into their formation and grazed past Yamauchi Kazutoyo's body. Still trapped in shock, he did not react at all.

Seeing his son remain perfectly still, Yamauchi Moritoyo nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, now that looks somewhat like a Yamauchi warrior!"

"When we charge into the enemy formation later, stay close to me. If you can take down an enemy samurai, our lord may even take you on as a page after the battle."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo had regained his senses by then, and his expression gradually returned to normal.

On the battlefield not far away, the cries of killing between the two armies grew ever louder, and both sides steadily committed more troops.

Mokko Crests snapped in the wind. More than a thousand men wielding nearly five-meter spears were locked in a tug-of-war. Seeing this, Yamauchi Kazutoyo breathed a sigh of relief. So he was a samurai of the Oda clan. Then there was nothing to worry about.

Japan was in the midst of its Warring States chaos, with wars breaking out everywhere. Scenes like this played out in different places every day.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo's understanding of Warring States history was limited to a few webnovels he had read and, at most, some related games. He could hardly call himself an expert.

But he recognized the Oda clan's crest, and he also knew well that the Oda clan was unquestionably riding the crest of the wave in this era.

With that thought, the unease in Yamauchi Kazutoyo's heart slowly faded.

Tightening his grip on his spear, Yamauchi Kazutoyo finally began surveying his surroundings.

There was no doubt that he was indeed part of the Oda army on this battlefield; the Mokko Crests all around him could not be faked.

From time to time, mounted samurai burst out of the formations around him, shouting their family names as they charged into the enemy ranks.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo's attention was drawn to a young samurai. The man took the lead, his spear moving like thunder, and in the blink of an eye he skewered an enemy soldier and sent him to the ground.

"The enemy commander has been taken down by Horio Yoshiharu!"

"Oh!" Cheers erupted from the friendly soldiers around them.

Yamauchi Moritoyo withdrew his approving gaze and clicked his tongue at Yamauchi Kazutoyo. "That is Horio Yoshiharu, son of Horio Yasuharu, one of our clan's senior retainers. This is his first time on the battlefield as well, yet he has won the great achievement of taking first blood in his first battle."

Taking first blood meant being the first to claim an enemy samurai's head in battle.

"My son cannot afford to lag behind either. You must show our lord what you can do." Yamauchi Moritoyo turned to look behind them, where the Yamauchi family's lord, Oda Nobukata, sat in the main camp.

At that moment, Yamauchi Kazutoyo suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

His side was Oda, certainly—but why were the enemy troops across from them wearing Oda armor too?

"Father, over there..." Yamauchi Kazutoyo called out instinctively. It seemed that he had already adapted to his new identity.

Thinking that Yamauchi Kazutoyo was worried about the battle, Yamauchi Moritoyo gave a scornful laugh. "There is no need to worry. Oda Nobunaga has only two thousand men. He is no match for our clan!"

"Wait, Father—who did you say is on the other side?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo's heart began pounding wildly.

"Oda Nobunaga!" Yamauchi Moritoyo answered casually. "That famous Great Fool of Owari. He actually dared attack our clan this time. We will make sure he comes and never returns!"

With three thousand men against Oda Nobunaga's two thousand, Yamauchi Moritoyo could not imagine how they could possibly lose.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo was stunned. So this Oda was not that Oda!

As the undisputed number one figure of Japan's Warring States period, Oda Nobunaga had seemed to live life with cheats enabled, invincible wherever he went. And now they were telling him Oda Nobunaga was on the other side?

But if Oda Nobunaga was on the other side, then were they not fighting Oda Nobunaga?

Once he understood the situation, Yamauchi Kazutoyo's face changed again. Silently, he edged everyone in front of himself.

The fact that he did not immediately turn and run already showed remarkable mental fortitude.

"Now!"

"The enemy formation is in disarray! Men of the Yamauchi family, follow me out of the line!"

Yamauchi Moritoyo kicked his horse sharply in the belly and, surrounded by several dozen ashigaru, began charging toward Oda Nobunaga.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo was swept forward with the crowd. Even if he wanted to run now, he had no chance.

This place was called Ukino. It lay not far north of Iwakura Castle in Owari, at the heart of the Iwakura Oda clan's territory.

The Iwakura Oda clan was the deputy military governor family of Owari Province. In terms of status, they were somewhat more distinguished than Oda Nobunaga's family. But in the chaos of the Warring States, a family name could not be eaten for food; in the end, strength was what spoke.

"Ha! That Oda brat cannot withstand a single blow!"

"Charge through and crush the enemy in one stroke!" Yamauchi Moritoyo excitedly increased the speed of his charge.

Amid the crowd, Yamauchi Kazutoyo could not see the battle ahead clearly. He could only sense Oda Nobunaga's forces on the battlefield steadily retreating.

Battle reports could be faked, but the battle line did not lie. Could it be that the advantage was actually ours? Yamauchi Kazutoyo was rather astonished.

At the same time, on the other side of the battlefield, Oda Nobunaga calmly watched the Iwakura Oda army push ever deeper into the field.

"Almost. Almost there!" Oda Nobunaga gripped his spear tightly, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.

This battle was the most crucial battle in his unification of Owari Province. The Iwakura Oda clan was the last hostile force in Owari that he had yet to defeat.

Once he destroyed the Iwakura Oda clan, he could completely eliminate his troubles at home and focus on fighting the Suruga Imagawa clan, which eyed him like a tiger from the east.

"My lord, look!"

"Reinforcements from Lord Oda Nobukiyo of Inuyama Castle have arrived!"

No sooner had the samurai beside him finished speaking than a great army bearing the same Oda Mokko Crests suddenly burst forth from the rear of the battlefield.

Seeing the forces of his brother-in-law, Oda Nobukiyo, enter the battle, Oda Nobunaga's heart settled completely.

He swung his spear forward. Killing intent burst from Oda Nobunaga's eyes. "The reinforcements have arrived. Victory will be decided now!"

"All commanders, vie to be first! Follow me and kill the enemy!"

"Oh!"

As Oda Nobukiyo's reinforcements charged into the battlefield from the flank and rear, the Iwakura Oda side, which had just been pursuing and slaughtering the enemy, instantly fell into disorder.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo had not even figured out where the enemy was when the friendly soldiers around him began to collapse.

"We lost!"

"We lost!"

The panicked friendly troops fleeing in all directions scattered the Yamauchi family's force, leaving Yamauchi Kazutoyo completely disoriented.

Yamauchi Moritoyo came to his senses as well and hurriedly turned his horse around. "Not good—we fell into a trap! Oda Nobunaga actually joined hands with Oda Nobukiyo!"

"Quick, retreat toward the main camp! Protect our lord!"

The joy on Yamauchi Moritoyo's face vanished without a trace, replaced by utter terror.

The situation on a battlefield changed in the blink of an eye. The Iwakura Oda troops, who had been mounting a massive offensive just moments ago, had now scattered like birds and beasts.

Once poorly organized peasant soldiers began to rout, it was very difficult to turn the battle around again.

Now it was a contest of who could run faster!

All across the Ukino battlefield, Iwakura Oda ashigaru ran about like headless flies. The scene was utter chaos.

He had only just crossed through time, and he was already playing a peak match against Oda Nobunaga. Yamauchi Kazutoyo felt awful all over.

Fortunately, several fiercely loyal Yamauchi samurai remained by Yamauchi Kazutoyo's side, preventing him from being scattered by the rout.

In a situation like this, once one became separated from the main force, it was practically a death sentence.

Even if one somehow escaped the battlefield, the fallen-samurai hunters lurking around it would take one's life. Fallen-samurai hunters were mobs or wandering samurai who specialized in killing isolated samurai.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Amid the continuous matchlock fire, the routed Iwakura Oda ashigaru fell one after another.

The Yamauchi force was caught in the very center of the defeated army. Before them were friendly soldiers in hopeless confusion; behind them were pursuers like wolves and tigers. Only one thought remained in Yamauchi Kazutoyo's mind.

Run!

Running did not guarantee survival, but stopping meant certain death!

As long as he ran faster than everyone else, he would not be the one to die.

"Kazutoyo, get on the horse!"

Yamauchi Moritoyo had somehow found a riderless horse and anxiously reached out to Yamauchi Kazutoyo.

Just as Yamauchi Kazutoyo was about to step forward, a samurai suddenly sprang out from the side and beat him to it.

"Lord Yamauchi, lend me this horse. I will repay you handsomely someday!"

"Die!" Yamauchi Moritoyo swung his spear down at the man, but the samurai dodged aside.

"Yashichiro, how dare you!" Yamauchi Moritoyo shouted.

Hayashi Yashichiro threw the longbow in his hand to the ground. Ignoring Yamauchi Moritoyo's angry rebuke, he vaulted onto the horse and fled along an open path.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo stood dumbfounded beside them. It was not because the horse had been stolen, but because the samurai named Hayashi Yashichiro had barely rushed out before someone tackled him from the horse.

Hayashi Yashichiro drew his sword and slashed at the enemy, striking the man's left arm.

The newcomer was a fierce man as well. He endured Hayashi Yashichiro's blade head-on, then pinned Hayashi Yashichiro's head and slit his throat.

"The enemy commander Hayashi Yashichiro has been taken down by Sawaki Yoshiyuki!"

Blood streamed down Sawaki Yoshiyuki's left arm as he raised Hayashi Yashichiro's head high in his right hand and shouted.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo suddenly felt immensely fortunate, the sensation of surviving a calamity washing over his entire body.

More and more enemy soldiers gathered around the Yamauchi force. Among them were many of Oda Nobunaga's horo guards, absolute elites under Oda Nobunaga's command.

Their appearance on the battlefield meant Oda Nobunaga had already begun mopping up.

"Enemy commander, do not flee! Maeda Toshiie is here!"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo had only just recovered from his shock when several mounted samurai wearing horo cloaks sprang out behind him. At their head was Maeda Toshiie, later known as Mataza of the Spear.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo knew that name.

"My lord, take Lord Iemon and go! We will hold off the pursuers!"

Several Yamauchi samurai shoved Yamauchi Kazutoyo toward Yamauchi Moritoyo, then raised their spears and formed a line, ready to block the pursuers.

"Iemon" was Yamauchi Kazutoyo's common name, equivalent to a courtesy name in ancient China.

Seeing his retainers turn resolutely toward certain death, Yamauchi Moritoyo's eyes instantly reddened.

But this was no time for hesitation. Yamauchi Moritoyo shouted at Yamauchi Kazutoyo, "Kazutoyo, keep up!"

"Yes!" Yamauchi Kazutoyo turned to look at the retainers being surrounded on all sides, his heart deeply shaken.

Mixed among the routed soldiers, the father and son of the Yamauchi family fought as they retreated, following miserably behind the horse standard of their clan head, Oda Nobukata.

A horse standard was a special banner. The place where it stood generally marked the position of the supreme commander; it served as a signal on the battlefield.

As time passed, fewer and fewer people remained around Yamauchi Moritoyo and his son, while the outline of a castle ahead grew ever clearer.

They had reached Iwakura Castle.

Clearly, news of the defeat at the front had already spread throughout the castle with the returning rout. All of Iwakura Castle had fallen into chaos. Castle-town residents and the families of samurai living in the castle town fled in every direction.

Yamauchi Moritoyo handed the horse over to a retainer beside him and urgently instructed Yamauchi Kazutoyo, "Though the enemy has won, they will not attack Iwakura Castle in the short term."

"I will speak with our lord and discuss a response. Hurry home and inform your mother. Tell your younger brother and sisters not to run about."

"Also, have your mother pack everything and prepare to hold out in the castle."

Defeat in a field battle did not mean all hope was lost. As long as the clan head's residence castle remained, there was still a chance to turn things around.

Holding out in a castle was the best solution for facing the enemy in this era.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo nodded and ran toward the Yamauchi residence in the direction recalled from his memories.

Having narrowly survived the battlefield, Yamauchi Kazutoyo finally fully assimilated the memories in his mind and gained a clear understanding of his present circumstances.

The current time was the end of Eiroku 1, or 1558.

Oda Nobunaga had just destroyed his "superior," the Kiyosu Oda clan, seized Kiyosu Castle, killed his estranged younger brother Oda Nobukatsu, and consolidated the lower four districts of Owari.

Owari Province was divided into the upper four districts and lower four districts. The Iwakura Oda clan, where Yamauchi Kazutoyo's family served, nominally controlled the upper four districts.

With his great enemy Imagawa Yoshimoto occupied with suppressing rebellions within his own domain and unable to look elsewhere, Oda Nobunaga was eager to unify Owari. Thus, the Iwakura Oda clan had become his target.

The battle that had broken out today was the final step in Oda Nobunaga's unification of Owari. Once he eliminated the Iwakura Oda clan, he would unite all of Owari Province and fully prepare for the powerful Imagawa Yoshimoto to the east.

Drawing on his historical knowledge from before crossing through time, Yamauchi Kazutoyo knew that Oda Nobunaga ultimately achieved his goal. That meant the Iwakura Oda clan was now like a grasshopper after autumn—it would not be hopping for much longer.

Thinking of this, Yamauchi Kazutoyo fell into confusion.

He had come here, but where was he supposed to go from here?

As doubts filled his heart, Yamauchi Kazutoyo arrived at the entrance to the Yamauchi residence.

It was a simple samurai estate. The Yamauchi family had not moved here long ago.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo's father, Yamauchi Moritoyo, was a senior retainer of the Iwakura Oda clan, holding the position of karō. Their original domain had been at Kuroda Castle, northwest of Iwakura Castle and close to the Kiso River.

Last year, the Yamauchi family's residence castle, Kuroda Castle, had been breached by "bandits." Yamauchi Kazutoyo's elder brother, Yamauchi Juro, died in battle, and the Yamauchi clan had moved to live in Iwakura Castle as a result.

"Iemon, how did the battle go?"

The moment Yamauchi Kazutoyo entered, his mother came out after hearing him. With a concerned expression, she looked him over from head to toe.

Having lost two sons in succession, Lady Yamauchi was terrified that something might happen to Yamauchi Kazutoyo as well.

"The front has been thoroughly defeated. Our army has suffered severe casualties."

"We do not know when the Oda army will begin attacking the castle. Mother, you should hurry and pack as well, then enter the castle to take refuge," Yamauchi Kazutoyo said.

Japanese castles had no outer walls; they were military strongholds. As a result, when fighting broke out, castle towns without any protection became the first targets of attack.

Though Yamauchi Kazutoyo knew Iwakura Castle would most likely fall, he had no other options now. He could only take one step at a time.

As for fleeing alone, that was even more absurd. In this era, if one dared venture out alone, one might wake up one day in some mine shaft.

The neighboring Takeda clan's Koshu Heavy Industry Takeda Mining Co., Ltd. was in greatest need of beasts of burden like that.

Lady Yamauchi clutched her chest, anxiety written all over her face. "Where is your father?"

"Father has already entered the castle."

"This Iwakura Castle..." Lady Yamauchi gritted her teeth, clearly not optimistic about the coming siege.

"Never mind. I packed everything long ago."

"Kichisuke, bring your sisters out, quickly!" Lady Yamauchi called into the house.

Before long, a boy of about ten came out, leading two little girls who still had snot running from their noses.

Yamauchi Moritoyo and his wife had four sons and three daughters.

Their eldest son had died young, their second son had been killed in battle last year, and Yamauchi Kazutoyo was the third. Besides him, there was their ten-year-old youngest son, Yamauchi Yasutoyo, who was still called Kichisuke at the time.

Of their three daughters, the eldest, "Tsu," had married into Mino more than ten years ago. The remaining two were seven and five years old.

"Xiaomi, Xiaohe, stay with your brother. Don't run around."

"Okay!" the two little girls answered brightly. Clearly, this sort of situation had already become an everyday occurrence for children so young.

"Kichisuke, keep an eye on your sisters," Yamauchi Kazutoyo instructed his younger brother.

Kichisuke fell silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth. "Brother, you're hurt?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo looked down at the bloodstains soaking his clothes and explained, "It's someone else's blood. Don't worry, Kichisuke."

"Brother is the bravest warrior! How could he possibly be hurt?" Xiaomi said happily, clapping her hands.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo could not help feeling ashamed. His performance in the battle just now could hardly be called brave—it had been downright miserable.

Just then, Lady Yamauchi carried out two chests as well. Yamauchi Kazutoyo hurriedly took them from her and hoisted them onto his shoulders.

Fourteen-year-old Yamauchi Kazutoyo was not particularly tall, but he had a solid build. Reaching one meter seventy should not have been difficult for him.

Just as they were preparing to leave, Yamauchi Moritoyo returned from the castle.

"Father, why have you come back?"

Yamauchi Moritoyo sat down dejectedly and gestured for Lady Yamauchi to take the three underage children inside first.

After everyone had left, Yamauchi Moritoyo let out a long sigh.

"Iemon, the situation is even worse than we expected."

"In the Battle of Ukino, more than half of our army of three thousand was lost. More than a hundred warriors from our household were killed."

"Even our Yamauchi family... lost seventeen men." Yamauchi Moritoyo choked up several times as he spoke.

The seventeen men Yamauchi Moritoyo referred to were the Yamauchi family's retainer warriors. Ordinary ashigaru were not even worthy of mention; these seventeen had been the absolute core strength of the Yamauchi family.

If even the senior Yamauchi clan had suffered so badly, the condition of the other retainers of the Iwakura Oda clan was plain to see.

The intensity of warfare in Japan's Warring States period was not particularly high. A battle with more than a thousand casualties could already be called brutal, let alone the Battle of Ukino, where the total forces on both sides had only numbered six thousand.

Moreover, although the Iwakura Oda clan nominally possessed the "Upper Four Districts," it had in reality already lost control over much of its territory. The fall of Kuroda Castle, the Yamauchi family's residence castle, last year was a vivid example.

The loss of ordinary ashigaru and peasant soldiers in this battle was not too serious. Those beasts of burden at the bottom of society would not affect warrior rule.

What truly wounded the Iwakura Oda clan to the bone was the loss of so many retainer warriors. That was what added frost to snow for the Iwakura Oda clan.

"Father, what do we do now?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo had only just arrived in this world and understood many things only vaguely. He could only place his hopes on Yamauchi Moritoyo.

To have risen to the rank of senior retainer at least proved that Yamauchi Moritoyo was no ordinary man.

Without hesitation, Yamauchi Moritoyo answered, "What else can we do? Of course we live and die with Iwakura Castle!"

Fine, pretend I never asked, Yamauchi Kazutoyo sighed inwardly.

"Of course, though I am resolved to die, this should not be the burial ground of my sons," Yamauchi Moritoyo added.

As he spoke, Yamauchi Moritoyo slowly rose to his feet, a flash of resolve crossing his face.

"Though our Yamauchi family has only been in Owari for a few generations, we have still received the deep favor of the Iwakura Oda clan for generations. At this moment of life and death, I, Yamauchi Moritoyo, cannot commit the act of betraying my lord."

"My sons are still young, and their futures hold great promise. The future of the Yamauchi family rests entirely upon your shoulders."

"Given the current situation, even holding out within the castle may not offer a path to survival. Once Oda Nobunaga leads his army to attack again, the castle's fall will only be a matter of time."

"When that time comes, you mother and sons need only find an opportunity to escape. Leave loyalty to the Oda to me. The Yamauchi family name must not die in my hands!" Yamauchi Moritoyo said earnestly.

Clearly, after learning the full details of the Battle of Ukino, Yamauchi Moritoyo too understood that the Iwakura Oda clan was at death's door.

Yamauchi Moritoyo had resolved to stand or fall with Iwakura Castle, yet he could not bear to see his wife and children die here, nor did he want the Yamauchi family name to end with them.

To a warrior, the family name was greater than heaven.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo opened his mouth, but when the words reached his lips, he did not know where to begin.

He was clearly in Owari, yet he had somehow ended up among Oda Nobunaga's enemies. Yamauchi Kazutoyo had no idea how to break this deadlock.

The Iwakura Oda clan's rotten ship was about to capsize, and it seemed that jumping ship was the only choice left.

Staying meant certain death, but where could they flee to?

"No matter what, as long as you live, there is hope!" Yamauchi Moritoyo placed a hand on Yamauchi Kazutoyo's shoulder and gave it a heavy squeeze.

"Keep these safe. They are the only things I can leave you now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yamauchi Moritoyo took a stack of documents from his robes and stuffed them all into Yamauchi Kazutoyo's hands.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo opened them and glanced through a few. He discovered that they were all letters of commendation the Yamauchi family had received from the Iwakura Oda clan.

A letter of commendation was a "proof of merit" issued by the clan head, recording where and when someone had rendered what service. It was essentially a kind of "certificate of honor."

Whether a warrior or family was worth recruiting and valuing could not be determined merely by words. When the other side did not know you, these letters of commendation became stepping stones to advancement.

Even if the worst came to pass and one became a ronin, these letters could still prove that one had once been a warrior of standing, rather than some peasant who had jumped out of a mountain ravine.

"My lord!"

At that moment, the Yamauchi retainer Goto Joki rushed in, flustered and anxious.

"Oda Nobukiyo of Inuyama Castle is attacking our castles north of Iwakura Castle, while Oda Nobunaga is also capturing the rest of Iwakura Castle's branch castles."

"At this rate, Iwakura Castle will become an isolated castle in no more than ten days." Goto Joki swiftly reported the latest developments.

Yamauchi Moritoyo and Yamauchi Kazutoyo looked at each other, both sensing the bitterness and helplessness in the other's eyes.

Once Iwakura Castle became isolated, the enemy's all-out assault would begin.

In other words, the Yamauchi family did not have much time left.

Battle of Ukino: In 1558 (the first year of Eiroku), Oda Nobunaga led two thousand men into battle against Oda Nobukata's three thousand men in the Ukino region. At the critical moment of the battle, Oda Nobukiyo, lord of Inuyama Castle, arrived at Oda Nobunaga's side with one thousand reinforcements. The situation immediately reversed, and Oda Nobukata's army was utterly defeated.

More than twelve hundred men of Oda Nobukata's army were killed. After the defeat, he was forced to retreat to his residence castle, Iwakura Castle.