"I'm not criticizing you for being rash when I ask for a little more deliberation," Hideyoshi said. "But the position of shogun is granted by the Imperial Court, so we cannot treat the matter lighdy. And it will give the anti-n.o.bunaga forces an excuse to call for justice against the man who killed his rightful lord, the shogun."

"I suppose you're right," n.o.bunaga replied.

"Happily, Yoshiaki is so weak that though he is trapped, he'll neither kill himself nor come out to fight. He's just going to lock up the gates of his palace and rely on the water in his moat to keep rising from all this rain."

"So, what is your plan?" n.o.bunaga asked.

"We purposely open one part of our encirclement and provide a way for the shogun to escape."

"Won't he become a nuisance in the future? He might be used to strengthen the ambitions of some other province."

"No," Hideyoshi said, "I think that people have gradually become disgusted with Yoshiaki's character. I suspect that they would understand even if Yoshiaki were driven from the capital, and they would be satisfied that your punishment was fitting."

That evening the besieging army created an opening and made an obvious display of a shortage of soldiers. Inside the palace, the shogun's men seemed to suspect that this was some sort of trick, and by midnight they had still made no move to leave. But during a lull in the rain near dawn, a corps of mounted men suddenly crossed the moat and fled from the capital.

When n.o.bunaga was told that it was certain that Yoshiaki had escaped, he addressed his troops. "The house is empty! There's not much benefit in attacking an empty house, but the shogunate that has lasted fourteen generations has brought about its own downfall. Attack and raise your victory cries! This will be the funeral service for the evil government of the Ashikaga shoguns."

The Nijo Palace was destroyed in one attack. Almost all the retainers in the palace surrendered. Even the two n.o.bles, Hino and Takaoka, came out and apologized to n.o.bunaga. But one man, Mibuchi Yamato, and more than sixty of his retainers fought to the very end without submitting. Not one of them fled and not one of them yielded. All were cut down in battle and died gloriously as samurai.

Yoshiaki fled Kyoto and entrenched himself in Uji. Reckless as always, he had with him only a small defeated force. When, not long afterward, n.o.bunaga's troops closed in on his headquarters at the Byodoin Temple, Yoshiaki surrendered without a struggle.

"Everyone leave," n.o.bunaga ordered.

n.o.bunaga sat a little straighter and looked directly at Yoshiaki.

"I suppose you've not forgotten that you once said you thought of me as your father. It was a happy day when you were sitting in the palace I had rebuilt for you." Yoshiaki was silent. "Do you remember?"

"Lord n.o.bunaga, I have not forgotten. Why are you talking of those days now?"

"You're a coward, my lord. I'm not thinking of taking your life, even after things have come to this. Why are you still telling lies?"

"Forgive me. I was wrong."

"I'm happy to hear it. But you certainly are in trouble-even though you were born to the position of shogun."

"I want to die. Lord n.o.bunaga... I... won't you... a.s.sist me in committing seppuku?"

"Please stop!" n.o.bunaga laughed. "Excuse my rudeness, but I suspect you don't even know the proper way of cutting open your own stomach. I've never really felt inclined to hate you. It's just that you never stop playing with fire, and the sparks keep flying to other provinces."

"I understand now."

"Well, I think it might be better if you retired somewhere quietly. I'll keep your son and bring him up, so you won't need to worry about his future."

Yoshiaki was released and told that he was free to go-into exile.

Guarded by Hideyoshi, Yoshiaki's son was taken to Wakae Castle. This arrangement was really a case of malice rewarded with favor, but Yoshiaki took it with his usual jaundiced view and could only feel that his son had been politely taken hostage. Miyoshi Yos.h.i.tsugu was governor of Wakae Castle, and later Yoshiaki too found shelter with him.

Not wanting to play host to a bothersome, defeated aristocrat, however, Yos.h.i.tsugu soon made him feel uneasy, saying, "I think you're going to be in danger if you stay here much longer. n.o.bunaga could change his mind at the slightest provocation and have your head cut off."

Yoshiaki left in a hurry and went to Kii, where he tried to incite the warrior-monks of k.u.mano and Saiga to rebel, promising them grandiose favors in return for striking n.o.bunaga down. Using the name and dignity of his office, he did nothing more than bring down upon himself the derision and laughter of the people. It was rumored that he did not stay long in Kii, but soon crossed into Bizen and became a dependent of the Ukita clan.

And with this, a new era started. It could be said that the destruction of the shogunate was a sudden opening in the thick clouds that had covered the sky. Now a small portion of blue could be seen. There is nothing more frightening than a period of aimless national government administered by rulers in name only. The samurai ruled in every province, protecting their privileges; the clergy acquired wealth and strengthened its authority. The n.o.bles were changed to mice in the Imperial Court, one day relying on the warriors, the next imploring the clergy, and then abusing the government for their own defense. Thus the Empire was sundered into four nations-the nation of priests, the nation of samurai, the nation of the court, and the nation of the shogunate-each of which fought its private wars.

The eyes of the people were opened wide at n.o.bunaga's actions. But even though they looked up at the deep blue sky, all the thick clouds had not yet dispersed. n.o.body could guess what would happen next. During the past two or three years, several key men had pa.s.sed away. Two years before both Mori Motonari, the lord of the largest domain in western j.a.pan, and Hojo Ujiyasu, the master of eastern j.a.pan, had died. But for n.o.bunaga these events did not carry nearly as great a significance as the death of Takeda Shingen and the exile of Yoshiaki. To n.o.bunaga, it was especially the death of Shingen-who had constantly threatened him from the north-that left him free to concentrate his strength in one direction, a direction that made more fighting and chaos almost inevitable. There was certainly no doubt that, after the demise of the shogunate, the warrior clans in every province would raise their banners and compete to be the first to enter the field.

"n.o.bunaga has burned down Mount Hiei and overthrown the shogun. Such lawlessness must be punished!" This would be their battle cry.

n.o.bunaga knew that he would have to steal the initiative and defeat his rivals before they were able to form an alliance against him. "Hideyoshi, you hurry back first. I'll probably come visit you at Yokoyama Castle soon."

"I'll be waiting for you." Hideyoshi seemed to have grasped the direction of events, and after accompanying Yoshiaki's son to Wakae, he quickly returned to his castle at Yokoyama.

It was the end of the Seventh Month when n.o.bunaga returned to Gifu. At the beginning of the next month, an urgent letter written in Hideyoshi's own poor hand arrived m Yokoyama: "The opportunity is ripe. Let's move!"

In the lingering heat of the Eighth Month, n.o.bunaga's army left Yanagase and crossed into Echizen. Opposing it was the army of Asakura Yoshikage of Ichijogadani. At the end of the Seventh Month, Yoshikage had received an urgent message from Odani, from Asai Hisamasa and his son, Nagamasa, his allies in northern Omi: The Oda army is coming north. Send reinforcements quickly. If help is slow in coming, we will be lost.

There were those in the war councils who doubted that this could be true, but the Asai were allies, so ten thousand soldiers were hastily dispatched. And when this vanguard had marched as far as Mount Tagami, they realized that the Oda attack was a fact. Once the reality was understood, a rear guard of more than twenty thousand men was sent. Asakura Yoshikage considered the crisis grave enough to lead the army in person. Any fighting in northern Omi was obviously extremely alarming to the Asakura, because the Asai formed the first line of defense for their own province.

Both the Asai father and son were at Odani Castle; about three leagues away stood Yokoyama Castle, in which Hideyoshi had entrenched himself, keeping watch on the Asai like a hawk for n.o.bunaga.

By autumn, n.o.bunaga was already attacking the Asai. He struck Kinomoto in a surprise attack against the army of Echizen. Over two thousand eight hundred heads were taken by the Oda. They pressed on against the enemy, now fleeing from Yanagase, running them down and blackening the dry early-autumn gra.s.ses with blood.

The Echizen warriors lamented the weakness of their army. But the fierce generals and brave warriors who turned back to fight were struck down in battle. Why were they so weak? And why were they unable to strike at the Oda? In anyone's fall, there is an acc.u.mulation of factors, and natural collapse comes in an instant. But when this particular instant came, both ally and enemy wondered at its suddenness and magnitude. The rise and fall of provinces, however, are always based on natural phenomena, and here, too, there was really nothing miraculous or strange. The weakness of the Asakura could be understood simply by looking at the behavior of their commander-in-chief, Yoshikage. Caught in the stampede of his men fleeing from Yanagase, Yoshikage had already lost his head.

"It's all over! We can't even flee! Both my horse and I are exhausted. To the mountains!" he cried.

He had neither a plan for a counterattack nor any spirit left to fight. Thinking only of himself, he quickly abandoned his horse and tried to find a hiding place.

"What are you doing!" Scolding him with tears in his eyes, his chief retainer, Tak.u.ma Mimasaka, pulled him back by his sash, forced him onto his horse, and pushed him off toward Echizen. Then, standing his ground in order to give his lord time to escape, he took over a thousand soldiers and fought against the Oda army as long as he could.

It is hardly necessary to say that Tak.u.ma and all his men died, suffering a wretched and complete annihilation. While such loyal retainers were being sacrificed, Yoshikage shut himself up in his main castle at Ichijogadani. But he did not even have the spirit to put up a stubborn defense of the land of his ancestors.

Soon after his return to the castle, he took his wife and children and fled to a temple in the Ono district. He reasoned that if they had been inside the castle, when worst came to worst, he would have had no escape route. With their lord demonstrating such a lack of resolve, all of his generals and soldiers deserted.

Autumn was at its fullest. n.o.bunaga returned to his camp on Mount Toragoze, from which point he had already surrounded Odani. From the time he arrived, he had seemed extraordinarily composed, as though he were simply waiting for the castle to fall. With the precipitous collapse of Echizen, he had immediately returned while the ashes of Ichijogadani were still smoldering. Now he was giving out orders.

Maenami Yos.h.i.tsugu, the surrendering general of Echizen, was given Toyohara Castle, similarly, Asakura Kageaki was commanded to defend Ino Castle, and Toda Yarokuro was ordered to the castle at Fuchu. Thus n.o.bunaga employed a large number of Asakura retainers who were familiar with the conditions of the province. Finally, Akechi Mitsuhide was left in charge as their overseer.

In all likelihood there could not have been anyone better suited for this responsibility than Mitsuhide. During his unsettled days as a wanderer, he had been a retainer of the Asakura clan and lived in the castle town of Ichijogadani, suffering the cold glances of his colleagues. Now, in a completely reversed situation, he was keeping watch over his former masters.

Considerable pride and a stream of other emotions must have pa.s.sed through Mitsuhide's breast. Furthermore, Mitsuhide's intelligence and ability had been recognized on a number of occasions, and he was now one of n.o.bunaga's favorite retainers. In his observation of others, Mitsuhide was far more intelligent than most men, and after a number of years of battles and daily service, he understood n.o.bunaga's character quite well. He knew his master's expressions, words, and looks-even at a distance-just as well as he did his own.

Mitsuhide dispatched riders from Echizen many times a day. He did not make even the smallest decision on his own, but asked for n.o.bunaga's instructions in every situation, n.o.bunaga made his decisions while looking at these notes and letters in his camp on Mount Toragoze.

Mountains in full autumn colors lined the cloudless blue sky, which in turn was reflected in the bright blue lake below. The chattering of birds invited a yawn here and here.

Hideyoshi quickly crossed the mountains from Yokoyama. Joking with his men on the way, his teeth shone white as he laughed in the autumn sun. As he approached, he greeted everyone around him. This was the man who had built the castle at Sunomata and later had been put in charge of Yokoyama Castle. His responsibilities and position among the generals of the Oda army had very quickly become prominent, and yet he was he same as he had always been.

When other generals compared his behavior with their own solemn ways, there were some who judged him to be frivolous and indiscreet, but others saw him in a different light, saying, "He's worthy of his rank. He hasn't changed from what he was before, even though his stipend's increased. First he was a servant, then a samurai, and then suddenly he was governing a castle. But he's still the same. I imagine he's going to earn an even larger domain."

Hideyoshi had just before then leisurely shown his face in camp before luring n.o.bunaga away with a few simple words, and they were both climbing up toward the mountains.

"How impertinent!" Shibata Katsuie exclaimed as he and Sak.u.ma n.o.b.u.mori went out beyond the barracks.

"That is why he's so disliked, even when he doesn't have to be. There's nothing more unpleasant than listening to someone who rattles on about his own cleverness." Almost spitting out their words, they watched the figure of Hideyoshi thread his way through the far-off marsh in the company of n.o.bunaga.

"He doesn't tell us anything-doesn't consult with us at all."

"First of all, isn't that awfully dangerous? It may be broad daylight, but the enemy could be lurking anywhere in these mountains. What would happen if they started shooting at him?"

"Well, His Lordship is His Lordship."

"No, it's Hideyoshi who's at fault. Even if a large crowd accompanies His Lordship, Hideyoshi fawns all over him until he catches his eye."

There were other commanders besides Katsuie and n.o.b.u.mori who were unhappy with the situation. Most of them a.s.sumed that Hideyoshi was off with n.o.bunaga in the mountains, planning some battle strategy with his usual glib tongue. This was the primary source of their discomfort.

"He's ignoring us -the inner circle of his generals."

Whether Hideyoshi did not understand such inner workings of human nature or simply chose to ignore them, he led n.o.bunaga off into the mountains, occasionally laughing with a voice that would have been more fitting for a holiday excursion. With his and n.o.bunaga's retainers combined, their small force was made up of no more than twenty or thirty men.

"A man really sweats when he climbs mountains. Shall I give you a hand, my lord?"

"Don't be insulting."

"It's just a little farther."

"I haven't climbed enough. Aren't there any mountains higher than this?"

"Unfortunately no, not in this area. But this is pretty high!"

Wiping the sweat from his face, n.o.bunaga looked down into the neighboring valleys. He saw that Hideyoshi's troops were hiding among the trees, standing guard.

"The men accompanying us should stay here. It wouldn't be good for us to go in a large group past this point." This said, Hideyoshi and n.o.bunaga walked thirty or forty paces the crest of the hill.

There were no longer any trees. Tender grains and gra.s.ses that would have made good fodder stretched along the surface of the mountain. Chinese balloon flowers rustled among the pampas gra.s.s. Blooms of beggar's purse clung to the scabbards of their swords. The two of them advanced in silence. It was as though they were looking out to sea, with nothing before them.

"Stoop down, my lord."

"Like this?"

"Hide yourself in the gra.s.s." As they crawled to the edge of the precipice, a castle appeared in the valley right beneath them.

"That's Odani," Hideyoshi said softly as he pointed toward the castle.

n.o.bunaga nodded and looked on silently. His eyes were shrouded in some deep emotion. It was not simply that he was looking at the enemy's main castle. Inside this castle that was now besieged by his own army lived his younger sister, Oichi, who had already borne four children since becoming the wife of the castle's lord.

Both lord and retainer sat down. The flowers and the ears of the autumn gra.s.ses came up to their shoulders. n.o.bunaga stared unblinkingly at the castle beneath them, and then turned toward Hideyoshi.

"I daresay my sister is angry with me. I was the one who married her into the Asai clan without even letting her speak her own mind. She was told to sacrifice herself for the good of the clan, and that the match was necessary to protect the province. Hideyoshi, I feel as though I can still see that scene today."

"I remember it well myself," Hideyoshi said. "She had an enormous amount of baggage and a beautiful palanquin, and she was surrounded by attendants and decorated horrses. It was a splendid event, the day she went off to be married north of Lake Biwa."

"Oichi was only an innocent girl of fourteen."

"She was such a small, pretty bride."

"Hideyoshi."

"Yes?"

"You understand, don't you? How painful this is for me..."

"For that very reason, it's hard for me too."

n.o.bunaga motioned toward the castle with his chin. "There is no difficulty in the decision to destroy this castle, but when I think about trying to get Oichi out of there without her getting hurt..."

"When you ordered me to spy out the lay of the land around Odani Castle, I guessed that you were planning a campaign against the Asakura and the Asai. I probably sound as though I'm flattering myself again, but if you'll allow me to speak frankly, I think you're somewhat reserved about showing your natural feelings, and certainly the cause of your distress, my lord. It's rude of me to say this, but I think I've discovered one more of your iter qualities."

"You're the only one." n.o.bunaga clicked his tongue. "Katsuie, n.o.b.u.mori, and the others look at me as though I've been wasting my time for the last ten days. Their faces show that they don't understand me at all. It seems that Katsuie especially is laughing at me behind my back."

'That's because, my lord, you are still confused about which way to go."

"I can't help but be confused. If we were to pulverize the enemy bit by bit, there's no doubt that Asai Nagamasa and his father would drag Oichi down with them to the bottom of the flames."

"That's probably the way it would be."

"Hideyoshi, you say you've felt the same way I do from the very beginning, but you're listening to this with extraordinary composure. Don't you have some sort of plan?"

"I'm not without one."

"Well, why don't you hurry up and put my mind to rest?"

"I've been doing my best not to make recommendations recently."

"Why?"

"Because there are a lot of other people in the staff headquarters."

"Are you afraid of other people's jealousy? That's annoying, too. But the main thing is that I am the one who decides everything. Tell me your plan right away."

"Look over there, my lord." Hideyoshi pointed at Odani Castle. "What makes this castle special is that the three enclosures are more distinct and independent than in most other castles. Lord Hisamasa lives in the first enclosure; and his son, Nagamasa, and Lady Oichi and her children live in the third."

"Over there?"

"Yes, my lord. Now, the area you see between the first and third enclosures is called the Kyogoku enclosure, and that's where the senior retainers, Asai Genba, Mitamura Uemondayu, and Onogi Tosa are quartered. So, in order to capture Odani, rather than hitting the tail or striking the head, if we can first get our hands on the Kyogoku enclosure, the other two will be cut off."

"I see. You're saying that our next move is to attack the Kyogoku."

"No, if we storm the Kyogoku, the first and third enclosures will send reinforcements. Our men will be attacked on both flanks, and a fierce battle will ensue. In that case, would we try to break our way through or retreat? Either way, we cannot be sure of Lady Oichi's fate inside the castle."