December 1489, Chokyo 3, Southern Ezo, Katsuyama Castle.
Even in December, the Tsugaru Strait still showed no sign of freezing over. Vast birch forests spread across the mountains on the northern shore of the strait, their woods covered in a faint layer of white snow. And in a valley among the mountains, a long river flowed quietly west, pouring into the broad sea.
The mountain valley was long, narrow, and flat; here, the continuous mountain forests abruptly opened into empty space. Upon the thin snow appeared a village in the style of the Japanese, along with two Japanese castles tucked among the mountains, usually called "castles." Of course, in this barren, bitterly cold Ezo land, neither of the two small castles had a keep, and their structures were very low, so they could also be called "halls."
The north wind stirred tiny ripples, and the nearshore waters shone clear and bright. Two heavily laden Kan-style ships slowly drew in toward the harbor on the shore. The harbor was very small, a natural fishing port guarded by only four samurai. Their main duty was not guarding the harbor, but collecting catches from the little fishing boats that went out to sea, taking fish as tribute.
Seeing the two Kan-style ships arrive, all four samurai were startled. They examined the small flags on the ships, and only when they saw the familiar leader at the bow did they relax slightly.
"Huh? Kono Kumigashira, why have Yoneya's ships come so early this year? And two Kan-style ships at that?"
"No idea. Sukesaburo, get on the horse and hurry to report to the hall. Yoneya's people are here, and from the looks of it, I'm afraid there's something important."
"Yes!"
After the four spoke a few brief words, one of them immediately mounted the