Chapter 42: How to Face the Ancestors a Century Later

On the normal timeline where Hojo Akitoki does not exist, the Battle of Kawagoe is recorded as one of the three great surprise attacks of Japan's Sengoku period.

The cause was simple: after Hojo Ujiyasu, the designated head of the Hojo clan, succeeded to the position, he continued his father's strategy of expanding his sphere of influence toward the Kanto region.

Consequently, he clashed with the Imagawa clan—hailed as the foremost bowmen of the Tokaido—over the territory of Hantokun.

Seizing this opportunity, Uesugi Norimasa, the head of the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan and Kanto Kanrei, allied with Uesugi Tomosada and Kanto Kubo Ashikaga Haruuji.

These three parties assembled a massive force claimed to be eighty thousand strong, besieging Kawagoe Castle, which was defended by a mere three thousand Hojo troops.

After all, how could anyone tolerate a fierce tiger sleeping peacefully beside their couch? Since the Hojo clan had made their ambitions to swallow up the territories of the Kanto region crystal clear, these vested interests could hardly turn a blind eye.

Furthermore, the Uesugi clan, holding the post of Kanto Kanrei, shared ancestral roots with Uesugi Kenshin, who was known as the Dragon of Echigo.

This only fueled the unyielding pride of the Kanto Uesugi clan.

Yet, in this world of Inuyasha where Hojo Akitoki existed, the situation facing the Hojo clan at the Kawagoe Battle was, to be honest, quite tense.

For instance, on the original normal timeline, Takeda Shingen had actually played the role of an opportunistic fence-sitter.

Had Takeda Shingen not mediated behind the scenes during the Battle of Kawagoe, even if Hojo Ujiyasu had promised to abandon the Hantokun territory and cease competing with the Imagawa clan, Imagawa Yoshimoto—who harbored equally ambitious designs—would likely not have let go easily when faced with a Hojo clan besieged from both front and rear.

Had that been the case, Hojo Ujiyasu's brilliant surprise attack would never have taken place.

There would have been no scenario where Ujiyasu personally led eight thousand troops to the relief of Kawagoe Castle, launching a night raid in coordination with garrison commander Hojo Tsunanari, routing the demoralized Ashikaga-Uesugi coalition army in a single stroke, slaying Uesugi Tomosada, and ultimately driving the Ogigayatsu Uesugi clan to extinction through a lack of heirs.

Therefore, while the presence of Hojo Akitoki undoubtedly strengthened the Hojo clan's power, it also brought down the Tiger of Kai, Takeda Shingen, directly onto the battlefield.

Moreover, a leading figure of the Uesugi surname—Uesugi Kenshin—was also quietly biding his time and gathering momentum just beyond the edges of the battlefield.

Thus, it was difficult to define whether this outcome was ultimately good or bad.

"Elder brother, the army of the Tiger of Kai is retreating."

Inside the Hojo camp on the Musashino Plain, having once again repulsed an offensive by the coalition forces led by Takeda Shingen, Ujishige—Hojo Ujiyasu's younger brother, who had just returned from the frontline—took off his sweat-drenched helmet and spoke to his older brother.

"Hmm."

Nodding as he looked at his younger brother, who had fought for so long, and observing the blood splattered across his armor, Ujiyasu felt a deep surge of emotion. Yet, clearly, this was not an opportune moment to coddle his sibling.

Because ever since the Imagawa army had been nearly annihilated by a passing greater yokai two days prior, their immediate adversary, Takeda Shingen, had acted as though he had lost his mind.

Shingen had continuously led the main Takeda army and the newly relocated Uesugi forces in relentless, ferocious assaults against their positions.

He bore the fierce determination of a man who would not stop until he achieved his goal, seemingly utterly unconcerned with military casualties.

He was willing to throw caution to the wind and cast aside all future prospects, all to devour the Hojo army!

"If you ask me!"

Throwing down his helmet, Ujishige scooped a bowl of raw water from a nearby urn and drank it down.

Wiping his mouth afterward, Ujishige complained with resentment, "The head of the Hojo clan should be you, Elder brother. What right does that collateral branch nobody, Hojo Akitoki, have to be our clan leader?"

"Elder brother, isn't he the very reason we're in this mess right now?!"

"Leaving something as massive as the Battle of Kawagoe to take care of itself—and to think he's supposed to be the next family head! Where on earth did he run off to?"

"If you ask me, it's precisely because the Takeda found out he slipped away that the Tiger is clinging to us here with such fatal tenacity."

"Silence!"

Hearing this, although Ujiyasu had just been deeply moved by Ujishige's valor, his expression instantly turned fierce at those words.

Glancing around at the trusted generals and samurai who should have been his confidants, Ujiyasu's anger showed no sign of subsiding.

"The Hojo clan is a family built on unity. Have you forgotten our house precepts?"

"Besides, in our development over recent years, which aspect of it hasn't relied heavily on Lord Akitoki's contributions?"

"Tch, Elder brother, we're all our own people here. Do you really need to put on that front?"

Utterly dismissive of his elder brother's words, Ujishige showed not a shred of fear.

Finding a camp stool, he sat down carelessly and stared at his brother, demanding, "Do you honestly have no resentment? The previous family head was our father."

"Yet the position of next head was handed to Hojo Akitoki. To say nothing of the rest, quite a few of the old Hojo samurai are deeply dissatisfied."

"And besides, you know what the situation is like outside."

"The Uesugi coalition claims to have eighty thousand men, and with the Tiger of Kai, Takeda Shingen, added to the mix, that number is probably approaching one hundred thousand."

"Who is holding them back?"

At this, Ujishige lifted his chin, pointing his thumb first at himself, then at the surrounding men and Ujiyasu.

"It is I, Ujishige! It is the Hojo army right here, and it is you, Elder brother!"

"What about Hojo Akitoki? He claimed he discovered a matter of utmost importance, dropped a single sentence, and dumped this entire burden on you."

"Heaven knows if he was just terrified and used that as an excuse to run away!"

Drawing a deep, heavy sigh, Ujiyasu's gaze grew increasingly stern as he stared at the brazen Ujishige.

He couldn't even tell whether his brother was simply voicing foolish discontent to defend him or harboring other, darker motives.

Would Hojo Akitoki ever fear Takeda Shingen?

That joke wasn't funny in the least. He was a man who earned the title of the Kirin of Sagami at the tender age of nineteen.

He was publicly recognized by the world as an equal to Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin.

Did they really think Hojo Akitoki, a man of collateral descent, was made of clay?

Never mind his constant preaching of benevolence and righteousness, always keeping such pleasant words on his lips.

If anyone actually believed those hypocritical platitudes of his, the grass on their graves would already be growing tall.

Furthermore, did their father not want to pass the position of Hojo clan head to him?

It wasn't that he didn't want to; he simply couldn't!

My foolish brother Ujishige, can't you see that the very Hojo Akitoki you hold in such contempt...

Already possessed the strength back then to overthrow the main Hojo family line from below?!

Thank heavens our lord father handled the situation properly, or the main Hojo house would have been utterly annihilated in an instant.

In the end, that Hojo Akitoki would have shed at most a few crocodile tears and merely punished a few rogue subordinates!

"Elder brother, why aren't you saying anything?"

Rendered momentarily speechless by his younger brother's reckless words, Ujiyasu remained silent, prompting Ujishige to lean in closer.

"I heard it was because of some yokai business that Hojo Akitoki rushed off in such a panic."

"Heh, fellows from collateral branches are always like that; lacking the heritage of the main family, they can't even access the main family's priests."

"How could he possibly understand certain matters?"

"For all we know, he might already be dead at the hands of those yokai. Elder brother, shouldn't we consider—?"

His eyebrows dancing with dark intent, the hidden meaning behind Ujishige's words was glaringly obvious.

"Bastard!"

With things having escalated to this point, if Ujiyasu had still failed to react, it would have seemed entirely too fake.

However, contrary to what Ujishige hoped, Ujiyasu had no intention of turning against Hojo Akitoki.

Instead, he grabbed a riding crop from nearby and lashed out furiously across the face of Ujishige, who had just rendered distinguished military service.

"You reckless fool! Lord Akitoki has exhausted himself body and soul for the prosperity of our Hojo clan."

"No true member of the Hojo family could ever utter such words. What is it you're trying to do?"

"Launch a rebellion from below? Look at your sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced appearance—you're hardly fit to be a ruler. Forget about overthrowing Lord Akitoki."

"If you were actually placed in that seat, could you hold it? Could you manage it well?"

Howling under his older brother's fierce whipping, Ujishige's mind was entirely blank.

*Wait, when did I ever say I wanted to sit in that seat myself?*

*Wasn't I doing this for your sake, Elder brother?*

*Besides, we're brothers! You say I'm sharp-mouthed and unfit to rule—*

*What does that make you?*

Clutching his head, Ujishige's temper flared as well. With a sudden bound, he leaped up, snatched the riding crop from his brother's hand, and roared,

"We are the main family of the Hojo! What did I do wrong? The leadership of the clan has fallen into the hands of a collateral branch!"

"When we pass on a hundred years from now, how are we supposed to face our ancestors?"

"Such bold words—as if you're the only one named Hojo and I'm not!"

Before Ujiyasu could continue his furious reprimand, the curtain of the main tent was suddenly lifted, and Hojo Akitoki strode inside, leading a group of men.