Chapter 28: The Fierce and Mad National People

  The people of Mikawa, like all the people of this era, have the genes of their lord's unruliness deeply ingrained in them. Even among those who are generally obedient, there are many with secret calculations and ambitions, such as the ōiuchi family in western Mikawa, who are local snakes. If they were not always loyal to the Kira family, they might have become a powerful force or even a shugo daimyō. The ōiuchi clan's influence is deeply entrenched not only in western Mikawa but also in eastern Mikawa, Tōtōmi, and Owari.

  The ōkōchi family's ancestors had also served as the jito of the Kira family in the distant province of Mikawa, at a place called Ikkanzaka-sho. This Ikkanzaka-sho was later rebuilt by the Imagawa family into Ikkanzaka Castle, also known as Ikuma Castle or Hikuma Castle. Several years later it was rebuilt again by a certain raccoon dog and became Hamamatsu Castle, because the ōkōchi family was a famous and powerful clan in Mikawa Province at that time.

  Moreover, their family has been famous for generations for producing cultured people. These rough men from Mikawa Province most revered were cultured people, and the ōi River household was different from the Kira household, often appearing in Mikawa Province, making them easier to approach than the reclusive Kira household, and naturally more prestigious. To the people of the country, the Kira household was unapproachable, like a Buddha statue in a temple, while the ōi River household was the real deal among military families.

  Not to mention the former Onryo King, the current god of learning Sugawara no Michizane, this is a big figure, even among the current martial arts families who can be called cultured people are few, most martial families are not very familiar with Chinese studies, and those who can make oil poems are even fewer. There is a legend on the Tokaido that a witty remark from a cultured person can make an evil person put down his butcher knife and reform, and can make a brave warrior who is usually fearless unable to hold his sword, so these Mikawa country bumpkins do not dare to provoke this Daimyo of the Nagai family who is well-versed in poetry.

  These rumors had also reached the ears of Kira Yoshinaka, but at that time he did not take it seriously. The books stored in the Kira family were incredibly rich, more than ten times those of the Okuda family. They included gifts from emperors, nobles, and merchants from Ming China, as well as purchases from Sakai Town.

  "It seems I was wrong again! This is the Warring States period, a system that relies on the prestige of the family head and personal charm to maintain the family name. It's not too dependent on the monarch or too dependent on the vassals' hereditary succession, completely relying on their character and ability to determine the future direction of the house. Even if there was no crisis in the Imagawa family, could our house really be passed down safely?"

  Kira Mansaburou reflected on his own heart, continuing to stay at home was indeed not a good choice. The Kiras' family lineage was too strong and too stable, with them around, there's no need to think about revolution, let alone that he didn't have the courage of Oda Nobunaga who despised authority and trampled on traditional institutions. What could be done after killing Imagawa Ujizane? With a small turtle in front and a big lineage behind, his days would only become more suffocating.

  "But without innovation, how can we survive! If I don't become a powerful daimyo, I will surely be abandoned. If I want to remain a vassal forever, why should I leave my home and run to Kyoto to serve Lord Shogun? Wouldn't the nearby Suruga Imagawa family or Owari Oda family be more suitable? Whether it's taking advantage of Imagawa Ujizane's death to steal Mikawa or following the Oda family to conquer the world, I will always be a vassal. What benefit is this to the reputation of my House of Kira? After losing our noble name, who will still fear my House of Kira?"

  Kirishima Manzumaru's eyes flashed with insight as he seemed to grasp Yamamoto Kansuke's ultimate intention: "Master must also understand the family's chronic illness, but he never reminded me, was it for me to realize myself? In this Warring States era, is it a fierce battle to conquer or a surrender to follow the trend? If I choose to conquer, Kyoto will be the first stop. If I choose to surrender, Mikawa would be more suitable than going to Kyoto!"

  Some people just don't know what respect is, even when they're seated, their mouths still won't stop talking, like a swarm of buzzing bees. The retainers of the Kira family were secretly wiping away cold sweat from their foreheads, thinking to themselves that it was fortunate those rough men from Mikawa Province were seated far away; if this group of rough men were to rush at the imperial carriage, it would be disastrous.

  It wasn't until now that people with sharp minds noticed that Yoshirō, the head of the Kira family, had been sitting there all along, motionless and silent, without any signs of surprise or panic, looking as if he were an outsider watching a group of country bumpkins making a ruckus, with a detached air, like someone watching a monkey show.

  "Would such a family head be a coward?" Except for some ignorant people, those who are slightly more intelligent have begun to think about this not-so-complicated question. Whether in China or abroad, ancient people always had a bit of superstitious thinking, believing that only those who were fearless in the face of danger could become leaders. Apparently, the Kiryū family was no exception.

  The vassals of the Kira family also discovered this strange phenomenon, and in the past, no one had ever dared to draw their swords at a council meeting. This was also an unexpected event for the Kira family, and it was somewhat surprising that Kira Yoshinaka, as the head of the house, was able to calm things down. Earlier, many vassals hadn't even thought about taking care of this underage lord.

  Just now it was like a bustling vegetable market, but in an instant it became as quiet as death. Except for a few farmers from Sanhe who stuck their heads out to look around, most people sat still and silent, the room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

  After sitting for a while, Kirishima Manzanmaru slowly unfolded his folding fan, revealing the surface of the fan with cherry blossoms in full bloom. On it was written in Kosen-in's own handwriting, a famous phrase from the Song Dao Sheng Zhe Ji Guan: "Mountain cherry blossoms are scattered and hazy, fragrance is hidden between mist and haze; The most sentimental thing is to see vaguely, even if it's just a glance, it moves people."

  In a strict sense, this is a bat-shaped fan, which was given by Kosen-in to the second head of the Kirishima family, Ryumonji-den Kirishima Toshitsune, and has been preserved as a valuable item. Originally, Kirishima Toshitsune served as the chief of the bakufu's tsuke-gashira-sho, but this position was abolished by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, after which Kirishima Toshitsune became the chief of the musha-bugyō-sho, a precursor to the hatamoto.

  This bat-shaped fan was a favorite of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, painted by the imperial court painter Kano school, with a poem written by Emperor Gokōgon. On important occasions, he would often hold this fan in his hand. When Ashikaga Yoshimitsu felt sorry for the Kira family, he gave this bat-shaped fan to the Kira family. Later, this bat-shaped fan became a symbol of the identity of the head of the Kira family, and only the head of the Kira family could hold it in his hand, representing the name of the leader of the Kira family.

  When this bat fan was opened, it immediately caught everyone's attention. The Kira family, as the honorary family of the Ashikaga shoguns, had been bestowed numerous treasures by the Emperor and the Shogun over the generations, and this bat fan was one of the more famous ones. This folding fan was a treasured item passed down through the generations of the Kira family heads, so people from Mikawa Province knew something about it.

  Legend has it that before the ōnin War, Kanrei no Suketsune wanted to buy this fan with 200 ryo of gold but was unable to get it. For generations, the head of the Kira family would carry this fan regardless of the season, partly to show off and partly to intimidate the rough and uncouth local lords of Mikawa Province.

  Kiriyama Manzaburou said in a pure Kyoto accent, slowly and calmly: "The main house follows the family's rules, generation after generation, the head of the household must go to Rakuyo to serve Gongfang Dianxia, this is the law of the shogunate, don't you know? Serving Gongfang Dianxia is the greatest honor for the main house, since all of you have arrived, the main house hereby announces that the day of going to Rakuyo will be August 28th, and the position of Saigoku Daikan will be taken over by Nobusada."

  Kira Kōzuke-no-Suke raised the ancestral banner of the law, and suddenly everyone's voices fell silent. The Kira family has served generations as vassals to the Tokugawa clan, this is a principle that even farmers in Mikawa Province know, what reason do they have to stop it?

  "Yes!" Matters had come to this, and Nagisa didn't have any extra words to say, she could only nod her head in agreement.

  A national with an ulterior motive asked, "Your Excellency! Serving the Crown Prince doesn't require such haste, does it? The master of the residence is still young and hasn't come of age yet; waiting a few more years won't be too late, will it?"

  The Kiryū family's vassal immediately retorted, "Fool! That's exactly why! The master is going to Kyoto! In this Mikawa region, who else can preside over the genpuku ceremony for the master? Are you, a mere villager, going to do it?"