Chapter 33: The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

  On August 10, the news that the Imagawa family had marched into Mikawa Province had already spread, and the Oda family, which had been slow to react, finally took action. The lord of Anjo Castle, Oda Nobukane, sent a message to his vassals, asking them to contact the Kira family and request their assistance in defending Anjo Castle once again.

  However, the Oda family will definitely be disappointed this time. Nakahara no Tsunetada, as the guardian of Kira Yoshinaka's heir, Kira Umanosuke, and as the chief retainer of the Kira family, blocked the messenger with a ridiculous reason: "the autumn harvest is not yet over". The autumn harvest of the Kira family has not ended, and even after the grain is harvested, it needs to be dried, threshed, and stored in the warehouse.

  It is said that at the time, the messenger of the Oda family turned pale and stood there for half a day without anyone paying attention to him. He eventually cursed and rode his horse back with his head hung low. In short, the Oda family probably also knew that the Kira family had intentions to mock them. As for making a secret pact with the Imagawa family, the Oda family thought this was unlikely, after all, the Kira family valued their reputation more than life itself.

  Everyone in the Kira family knew that Yamamoto Kansuke was a highly trusted vassal of Kira Yoshinaka, serving as his chief aide and receiving an annual stipend of 500 kanmon without holding any fiefdom. It was well-known that he would follow Kira Yoshinaka to Kyoto, so the appointment was quickly passed, with Yamamoto Kansuke being appointed as a senior vassal to assist Kira Yoshinaka in his duties in Kyoto and handle all preparations for their trip.

  The decision to appoint was good, but the matter was not easy to do. Especially when Kira Yoshinaka handed over the task, he didn't ask anything, and Yamamoto Kansuke had to run into the castle to search for precedents in the Kira family. As a result, he found that the preparation for going up to Kyoto was very complicated. First, they had to submit a memorial to the shogunate, then specify what items to prepare and what gifts to bring, the route to take on the way to Kyoto, where to rest, etc., which made people's eyes dizzy with complexity.

  And the most absurd thing is that these preparations had to be done half a year in advance. When Kira Yoshinaka appointed him as a junior councilor, it was already early August, and Kira Yoshinaka had promised to go up to Kyoto on August 28th. How could they do this so hastily? It almost drove Yamamoto Kansuke to desperation.

  The Sengoku period's famous general was different from others, he immediately decided to simplify everything and arranged for a large portion of the preparations to be cut off with one stroke of his brush. All matters were compressed into fifteen days, and as a result, the vassals within Saigō Castle were in trouble. The Hōkō-shū were summoned to help, and the Mawari samurai were also called upon. Later, feeling that these guys were really getting in the way, they were sent back again. Then, he went to the Jitō-shū's place to grab able-bodied men, and the Jitō-shū was tossed about until they were on the verge of collapse. Wherever this Sengoku period's general passed through, it was a scene of chaos, making people turn pale at the mere mention of it.

  August 15th, the Mid-Autumn Festival in the lunar calendar, is also known as Tsukimi (Moon Viewing) in Japan. It is said to have originated from the legend of the Moon Viewing Festival on the fifteenth night of autumn. During the Heian period, the imperial court and nobles enjoyed boating on rivers and lakes, hosting grand banquets with reed grass decorations, and engaging in activities such as reciting waka poetry, playing games like sugoroku, and dancing to the accompaniment of shirabyoshi music. The banquet also featured foods made from glutinous rice, such as tsukimi dango (moon-viewing dumplings), satsumaimo (sweet potatoes), edamame (boiled soybeans), and chestnuts. Additionally, sacred sake was served during this time.

  On the night of Mid-Autumn, there are many tanka poems with moon appreciation as their theme. The changes in the moon's appearance on that night have also led to various names, such as "No Moon" when clouds rise and the moon is hidden, and "Rainy Moon" when autumn rain falls. In haikai, the nights of August 14th, 15th, and 16th are respectively referred to as "Waiting for Night", "Sixteenth Night", showing affectionate names for the famous moon before and after.

  This year's Mid-Autumn Festival night, only Akane accompanied him to admire the moon, feeling even more lonely. Yamamoto Kan no Suke was busy all day and couldn't be seen, Yamagata Zenjirō was still indulged in the world of martial arts, Honda Yaejiro was also taken away by Yamamoto Kan no Suke to do things, and Kira Yoshichika let the small surname who didn't take his shift go home to reunite with his family, making the entire Honmaru empty.

  "Ah Ju, we're going to Luoyang, are you happy?"

  "Ah! Akane is so happy! Akane wants to thank you, Your Highness!" This question had been repeatedly asked by Yoshirou Kirishima many times, and every time the answer was always similar. Akane was like a considerate sister who would appear at any time as long as Yoshirou Kirishima needed her.

  "Akane is really happy, Your Highness should prepare a gift for Chuuin." Akane suddenly pulls out a small jar filled with one thousand paper cranes. She picks up one of the cranes and gently pulls its head and wings, her eyes shining with a happy smile: "Your Highness's folded paper crane, I finally learned how to do it! I've made one thousand and one cranes this time! I want to give these paper cranes to Your Highness."

  "Huh? Are you going to give it to me? But the meaning of the thousand paper cranes and all that..." Kirishima Manzoumaru's mind wandered a bit unintentionally. He had folded the thousand paper cranes out of sheer boredom, medieval Japan was too stifling, if he didn't find some way to have fun he'd die, and then somehow Akane discovered him and pestered him into teaching her how to fold them. As for why they were called "thousand feathered birds" he wasn't quite sure, nor did he know if the nickname "pair of wings bird" he came up with had been accepted.

  "Wishing you good health and success! I'm sure you're thinking the same, Your Highness!" Akane's smile grew even brighter, making Kira Matsuomaru feel a chill run down his spine. He rubbed his head and yawned: "Come to think of it, I'm getting a bit sleepy... Anyway, let's get some rest early!"

  "Let's go!" Kira Mimasaka Maru dropped the two words and ran away decisively, even forgetting to take the small can.

  The bright moon of Mid-Autumn will sprinkle silver light on her, making her look more like a witch praying under the moon. Ah-ju gazed thoughtfully at the small figure fleeing in disarray, and a knowing smile spread across her face: "Your Highness, hurry up and grow up! There are many beautiful women waiting for you in Kyoto!"

  The Mid-Autumn Festival was spent in a dull manner, and the next day, an envoy from Tōjō Castle arrived. Tomonaga Munemori himself came to visit with a letter from Yoshida Kiyosada. In the great hall of Nishijō Castle, Kirishima Manzaburou read through the short letter in one glance, and a faint smile spread across his face: "Has my brother already decided to defect to the Imagawa clan?"

  "Yes! Because the people of Hōjō's country switched to the side of Imagawa, our lord made a decision. Before coming down, our lord wished for your presence in this matter and I, Tomohiro Fujiwara, representing the lower house of Kira, have come to ask for your assistance!" Tomohiro Fujiwara bowed deeply and didn't lift his head, as if he had made up his mind that he wouldn't get up until Kira Mimasaka answered.

  "Fu Nagaya is indeed a frank person! Since that's the case, let our house take care of passing on the information!" Kiriyama Mantsumaru replied with a hint of resignation. With the errand settled so easily, the delighted steward of the lower Kiriyama family bowed repeatedly and hurried back to Tōjō Castle with the good news.

  "It's supposed to be my wish, so why does it feel so awkward?" Kiriyama Mantarō smiled wryly and shook his head, then took out paper and pen and wrote a few lines. He also attached the letter from Kiriyama Yoshian and called for Yamagata Zentarō, instructing him to deliver the letter to ōkusa no Taigen Sessai at Okazaki Castle.

  Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mikawa Province was hit by a large-scale rainstorm. To make a big show of it, Yoshida Matsuomaru specially ordered Maekawa samurai to play the role of messengers and sent dozens of letters to Mikawa Province, inviting the Mikawa vassals to go up to Kyoto together to serve as escorts for the shogun.