Chapter Fifty: Three People, Eight Hundred Schemes

“My lord, this is a great opportunity!”

The same words, bearing the same meaning, echoed simultaneously in different places.

Before Uesugi Kenshin’s small cavalry, Akechi Mitsuhide and Takeda Nobushige almost spoke in unison, shouting to their respective lords.

Hearing this, Hōjō Akitoshi and Takeda Shingen exchanged grave looks as they observed Uesugi Kenshin, who seemed intent on conversing at the front lines.

First, Takeda Shingen instinctively turned his gaze toward the Hōjō army positioned not far behind him, close enough to spur their horses into a charge.

He silently calculated Hōjō Akitoshi’s intentions.

If they were to directly command their troops to advance, Shingen’s eyes flickered with careful scrutiny.

Uesugi Kenshin was indeed a formidable adversary—a true leviathan.

Of course, the others were no less formidable.

As for Hōjō Akitoshi?

At this moment, he shared the exact same mindset as Takeda Shingen, observing the movements of the “Tiger of Kai” with equal vigilance.

Both men awaited the other’s signal before deciding on their own strategy.

“My lord.”

This time, the voice did not come from the Hōjō or Takeda troops, but from one of the cavalrymen advancing with Uesugi Kenshin under his banner.

Nagao Masakage, both a relative and staunch supporter of Uesugi Kenshin, spoke up.

“Is this not too reckless? You ride ahead with only a handful of horsemen,” he cautioned.

“If the Tiger and the Kirin seize this chance to launch an assault upon you, it would be greatly disadvantageous to our already battered Uesugi forces.”

“Fear not.”

Kenshin, riding forward, revealed a faint smile beneath his veil.

It was a smile born both from the concern of his subordinate and from the fact that the unfolding situation was precisely as he had anticipated.

Pointing forward with a gloved hand, his voice deliberately lowered but still carrying a somewhat androgynous tone, Kenshin declared:

“The Tiger of Kai has suffered a heavy blow from the Hōjō army. With his current forces, he will not act as a vanguard for the Hōjō.”

“If he truly drives his troops forward to attack us, we need only turn our horses about; the Takeda army will find it nearly impossible to catch us in the short term.”

“And what would be the result?”

“Our forces, which could have been reinforcements to Takeda, would instantly turn to strike the battered Takeda troops.”

“Seeing this, the Hōjō army would surely seize the moment to attack Takeda as well.”

“Caught between assaults from both sides, Takeda Shingen would perish here unless he grew wings.”

“Do you believe Takeda Shingen would act thus?”

“No.”

Nagao Masakage shook his head, knowing without a doubt that no fool in the world would do such a thing.

No fool deserved the name “Tiger of Kai.”

“But…”

“What if the Hōjō army strikes our forces first? Would Takeda Shingen join in the attack?”

“Neither.”

With soaring confidence, Uesugi Kenshin answered his trusted retainer’s question.

“Putting aside whether the Hōjō army has the stamina to pursue through the night, whether their horses can endure such a chase is another matter.”

“Moreover, there is still the Takeda army positioned between us and the Hōjō.”

“If the Hōjō launch an assault on the front, would Takeda see it as an attack on themselves or on us?”

“Furthermore, regarding distance—if Takeda attacks us, we can retreat with composure.”

“But the Hōjō, farther away than Takeda, how could they strike us suddenly?”

“My lord, your foresight is truly comprehensive. I, your humble servant, have failed to perceive your grand vision.”

Hearing this, Nagao Masakage bowed his head slightly in admiration as he rode, acknowledging Kenshin’s far-reaching calculations.

Yet, a question lingered heavily in his heart, unspoken.

Why, with such a splendid opportunity, did Uesugi Kenshin not take the initiative to charge and overwhelm the two enemy armies before him?

Such a victory would clear the path for Uesugi dominance across all of Kanto.

But considering the prior reasoning, Masakage felt that pressing the issue further might sour his lord’s opinion of him, so he closed his mouth and abandoned the thought.

In any case, he resolved to follow the lord who bore the aura of a war god.

“Mitsuhide, let us advance.”

After a moment’s pause, Hōjō Akitoshi finally made his decision and spoke to Akechi Mitsuhide.

“Yes, all troops, prepare to obey…”

Akechi Mitsuhide immediately raised his sword, ready to command a full-scale assault.

“Wait. I mean, only you and I will advance on horseback. And yes, we must shed the excess armor from our horses.”

Thanks to Hōjō Akitoshi’s quick reflexes, Mitsuhide was stopped before finishing his sentence.

Had he spoken fully, the situation would have become untenable.

“What?”

All the Hōjō troops, including Mitsuhide, were stunned. Their lord was not ordering a charge but a light cavalry advance?

To converse with Uesugi Kenshin at the front lines?

“Lord Akitoshi!”

Despite his unwillingness, Akechi Mitsuhide, concerned for his lord’s safety, protested:

“This is far too dangerous, my lord!”

“Uesugi’s cavalry consists of only a few horsemen. If we launch a sudden attack, the enemy will be unable to aid the Takeda.”

“Even if we do not strike the Takeda, I believe Uesugi’s forces will accomplish what we leave unfinished.”

“Do you intend to let Uesugi claim the glory of slaying the Tiger of Kai?”

Waving to summon several soldiers, Akitoshi ordered them to help shed most of his armor and to remove the barding from his horse.

Smiling wryly, he questioned:

“Besides, can you be certain that once we retreat, Uesugi will attack Takeda?”

“Could they not instead collude with Takeda, using this chance to form an alliance and turn their weapons against us?”

“After all, if Takeda Shingen dies here, who gains the most? Us.”

“Is that so?”

Mitsuhide shook his head, pondering deeply. He dared not guarantee such an outcome.

“Then we could attack the Uesugi directly!”

“I wager Kenshin is among those few horsemen. If we strike them, Takeda Shingen will surely follow.”

“Are you sure?”

Fixing his gaze on Mitsuhide, who was still removing his armor and growing increasingly resentful, Akitoshi grinned.

“Whether or not we can defeat Uesugi’s army, if we manage to kill Kenshin here, the greatest beneficiary will be our Hōjō clan.”

“Takeda Shingen, weakened as he is, counts on Kenshin to share the burden.”

“How could the Tiger possibly aid us? Believe me, if our forces show an intent to attack Uesugi, the first to strike us will be Takeda Shingen.”

“Damn it.”

After repeatedly running through Akitoshi’s predictions in his mind, Mitsuhide clenched his fists, staring forward.

No matter how unwilling he felt, it seemed everything was as his lord had said.

Opposite them, Uesugi Kenshin was truly a master at seizing the moment and reading men’s hearts, considering every detail without oversight.

Yet…

Riding behind Hōjō Akitoshi, Mitsuhide’s eyes were full of admiration.

Though Kenshin was formidable, their lord was a match for him.

Though they appeared to suffer a setback, the main objective had been achieved; Uesugi’s maneuvering was merely taking advantage of the situation.

At worst, they were little more than thieves, and thus not to be feared.

“Ah, the Kirin and the Dragon.”

Turning his stiff neck, Takeda Shingen finally let out a long sigh.

He had once held onto a glimmer of hope, but seeing Hōjō Akitoshi fully prepared to advance lightly armored, Shingen’s face showed traces of age and resignation.

“Lord Shingen?”

Takeda Nobushige, puzzled but concerned, asked.

“Let us go meet the Kirin and the Dragon.”

Realizing his schemes had no further chance, Shingen waved his hand with a sense of melancholy.

In truth, as Hōjō Akitoshi had said, Takeda Shingen had once hoped their opponents might lose their wits.

Yet both the Dragon and the Kirin had chosen wisely.

Within this small Kanto region lay the Dragon, the Tiger, and the Kirin—all forces to be reckoned with.

“Fate, fate.”

“The final victor shall surely become the future ruler of the realm.”

Uttering this admiration, Takeda Shingen adjusted his mood and urged his horse forward.

He was to meet these two formidable rivals in this turbulent land.