Chapter 243 17. Yamauchi’s 16 Divine Generals

Life is not all about war, but war is part of life.

This year, the weather in Shinano was slightly dry, and it seemed that all the rain fell on Imagawa Yoshimoto, who died in Okehazama. After May, the weather was always sunny, and the rain was less than in previous years.

Fortunately, the water from the Lianchuan River, which the Yamanouchi area relied on, was maintained due to the complete set of water conservancy projects that had been operated for many years, as well as the water storage and water conservation prepared in advance. At least the rice yield of the paddy fields along the river was still somewhat preserved.

At least it was not affected by the large-scale reduction in production like many places in northern Shinano, but Takeda Harunobu in Kai was the least affected. For more than ten years, Takeda Harunobu has been continuously preparing water conservancy projects on both sides of the Kamashi River and the Fuefuki River.

The world-famous "Shingen Dam" is now quite large, and with the water storage pond and the water-retaining terrain of the Kai Basin itself, Kai's autumn harvest this year is very gratifying. Compared with the reduction in production caused by drought in various parts of the East, the mountainous country of Kai actually has some spare capacity to transport rice to rescue the good grandson of Suruga and the good son-in-law of Sagami.

The retainers of the Imagawa clan, who were originally dissatisfied with the Takeda clan riding on their heads as the retired emperor, were relatively satisfied with Takeda Harunobu this time. After all, the mouth is soft when eating someone's food, and the hand is short when taking someone's food. Suruga's grain production decreased due to war and drought. Takeda Harunobu was still conscientious and transported some grain to solve the food shortage in Suruga and stabilized the local grain prices.

At least now many people in Suruga think that the Takeda family looks good. Although it is not as good as Imagawa Yoshimoto at that time, it seems not much worse. According to the Paradox game, the local resistance has greatly decreased, whether it is nobles or civilians.

Takeda Harunobu swallowed most of Suruga this year. Although he gave up a grandson, he was so happy with such a large territory that he could eat three more bowls of soaked rice. So, it was rare that they did not resort to war after the autumn, but actively tried to digest Suruga and pull Imagawa Yoshimoto's legacy into their own chariot.

It also happened that a group of people died in the Suruga samurai group during the Okehazama, and Takeda Harunobu was working hard on various adopted sons to inherit and revive the family. The samurai from Kai were placed in the Suruga samurai group.

Unlike the Takeda family, the Yamauchi family will definitely beat the Kiso family this year. This is not only due to the political need to consolidate Yamauchi Yoshikatsu's position as the guardian of Shinano, but also due to the practical need to go out and grab a handful of grain due to a slightly poor harvest.

As agreed before, Yamauchi Yoshiharu will not go out this time. The general general was handed over to Yamauchi Yoshikatsu, who had a legitimate reason. After all, this was his first battle since he became the guardian of Shinano, how could he be inferior to others?

As expected, Hosokawa Saijo also began to mobilize the soldiers of the Yamanouchi family in Ina and Suwa. As for the Yamanouchi main force, half of them were regular soldiers and hatamoto soldiers, and part of them were military service soldiers. In this way, more than 6,000 troops were mobilized.

As for Totomi, it cannot be moved this year or even in the first half of next year. After all, the land has just been inspected, and people's hearts are unsettled. At the beginning of the year, Kobayata attacked Imagawa and exhausted the people's strength to recruit soldiers on a large scale. Even many old and weak people joined the battle and served as soldiers. This year, it is impossible to persuade the military service soldiers to mobilize.

However, the Kiso family only has a few thousand kan of territory. Even if the peasants are mobilized into the city, the whole army will not exceed 2,000 people. In fact, they have nothing to rely on except the Fukushima Castle built between many fortresses and mountains.

As for Murakami Yoshikiyo in Shinano? I'm sorry, Takanari Masahiro joined the Shimazu clan to fight against Murakami Yoshikiyo again. There was a fire in Murakami Yoshikiyo's backyard, and there was chaos in the Iiyama area. He had already sent troops to suppress it. If he didn't succeed before the snow, this war would definitely be delayed until next year. It would be convenient for the Yamanouchi family, and they could slowly deal with him later.

Because the previous preparations were very sufficient, Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu was not in a hurry to go out this time. In order to show his position as a guardian of Shinano, he even presented a petition to the Kitashin Zenkoji Temple, one of the most important dojo in the eastern country.

At the same time, he also presented a pair of swords, a collar, 100 taels of gold, 200 stones of rice, 200 steamed buns, and 200 pairs of salted fish. I pray that this war against the Kiso family will go smoothly and succeed quickly.

As a father, Yamanouchi Yoshiharu must come forward. So he wrote a petition of more than 2,000 words, and asked some of the Yamanouchi family's important officials to sign and seal it together to show that the Yamanouchi family was of one mind and one heart, and united against the outside world.

Kobayata was of high enough status that he obviously asked to be listed together, so everyone named their names in order of status.

As follows:

My son Shinano no Kami (young master, Yamanouchi Shinano no Kami Yoshikatsu)

My uncle Izumo no Kami (the elder of the family, Yamanouchi Izumo no Kami Motoyoshi)

Hosokawa no Daifu (former chief family elder, Hosokawa Harumiya no Daifu Michiaki)

Isshiki Shosuke (current chief family elder, Isshiki Miyasu no Kami Akiyoshi)

My younger brother Shukei (the chief of the family, Hachioji Castle Lord, Yamanouchi Shukei Yoshisada)

My son Totomi no Kami (the guardian of Totomi, Imagawa Totomi no Kami Yoshikin)

My son Taromaru (Lord of Kakegawa Castle, head of the Asahina clan, Taro Asahina, who was only four years old)

Kitabatake University (Second family elder, head of Kitabatake University)

Konishihara Saemon (Lord of Ejiri Castle, Konishihara Saemon Taifu, governor)

Oishi Saburobei (Uchida County Lord, Gofudai Family Elders, Oishi Saburobei Haruhide)

Hosokawa Saione (Lord of Iida Castle, Ina County Lord, Hosokawa Saione Masamisaka)

Zikouji Dansho (Current head of the Hatamoto clan, Zikouji Dansho, Otada Tsuna)

Zikouji Zuowei (Toyota County Magistrate, Futamata Castle Lord, Zikouji Zaemon Taikan Tsunayoshi)

Ataka Shintaro (Hatamoto clan, Funafushi general, Ataka Shintaro Kiyoyasu)

Matsushita Gagaku (Totomi Senta clan chief, Toudaji Castle Lord, Soto-Kunijin clan elder, Matsushita Gagaku Suke Kazuma)

Iwase Tojiro (Hatamoto clan, Attendant General, Takatenjin Castle Magistrate, Iwase Tojiro Motomasa)

Coincidentally, sixteen people signed together to pray for Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu's victory.

Originally, this was just an ordinary pre-war petition, but after all, it was a precious document signed by famous samurai. I'm sure Zenkoji Temple would treasure it and keep it well.

This made Koheita think that if this document was discovered three or five hundred years later, or if it was made public by a collector, it would be known to the public.

Then, will there be rumors about why there are 16 generals in Yamauchi, or 16 guns in Yamauchi?

Thinking about it this way, it's so wonderful! Isn't it possible that when An Rong releases a game in the future, Takeda has 24 generals, and we in Yamauchi can also have 16 generals in Yamauchi.

Maybe, he can replace the 16 generals in Tokugawa? Oh! I dare not think about it! I dare not think about it!