Chapter 52: The Beginning of the Journey Toward Strength

Thus, the grand three-way meeting came to an abrupt halt due to Hojo Akitoki’s premature departure.

Uesugi Kenshin had never intended to ignite the flames of war here anyway, mainly because there were no tangible benefits to be gained. Since there would be plenty of opportunities to cross paths in the future, Kenshin smoothly became the second to take his leave.

Glancing at the dragon and the Qilin departing one after another, feeling utterly troubled and convinced he was the one who had suffered the greatest loss, Takeda Shingen could only let out a long sigh and sulkily return to his decimated Takeda army. He then led his increasingly disorganized troops back to his stronghold in Kai to lick his wounds.

Yet, throughout the journey, a persistent question hovered at the forefront of his mind: What on earth was the meaning behind the poem Hojo Akitoki had recited and the hairpin he had tossed away?

A hairpin?

A flash of inspiration struck his mind. Pushing the poem aside for the moment, Takeda Shingen drew in a sharp breath. In traditional culture, especially the culture of the Eastern Lands, if a man hands a hairpin to another person...

Clicking his tongue incessantly, a chill ran down Takeda Shingen’s spine. Hojo Akitoki’s appearance could undoubtedly be described as that of an exceptionally handsome young gentleman. And although Uesugi Kenshin had never revealed his true face, rumors held that he, too, belonged to the exquisitely attractive faction!

Rubbing his heavily bearded face—being nothing more than a rough-hewn man—Takeda Shingen shook his head frantically. The social mores in these eastern islands were relatively liberal, but to go so far for the sake of dominating the realm...

This Hojo Akitoki was truly terrifying! And Uesugi Kenshin possessed a similarly boundless capacity!

The force with which Takeda Shingen lashed his horse suddenly redoubled; he needed to hurry back to Kai and make preparations. First, he had to organize the defense of his domains. Second, he needed to scour his territories for handsome young youths, lest Hojo Akitoki use his youthful beauty to utterly bewitch that Uesugi Kenshin!

On the other side, tightly clutching the hairpin tossed by Hojo Akitoki, the face beneath Uesugi Kenshin’s veil was exceptionally grave. She was pondering certain matters while carefully recalling Hojo Akitoki’s countenance.

She had to admit that among all the known daimyo of equal social standing, the man’s appearance, military prowess, and achievements were all of the highest caliber. If she were to... it wouldn't be an ill match after all...

At this thought, a faint blush quietly crept across a face that no one else could see. Without realizing it, Uesugi Kenshin developed a profound, overwhelming curiosity toward Hojo Akitoki.

"Lord Master."

Suddenly, the voice of Nagao Masakage at her side shattered Uesugi Kenshin’s train of thought. Because of her close vassal’s words, Uesugi Kenshin—who had been lost in reverie—blushed even more intensely. She felt exceptionally embarrassed and ashamed, as if caught indulging in inappropriate daydreams.

"What is it, Masakage?"

Seated upright in the saddle, Uesugi Kenshin shook her head as though to shake off the wild thoughts tumbling about in her mind.

Looking strangely at her lord’s abnormal demeanor, Nagao Masakage naturally assumed that she was mentally exhausted from exchanging verbal jabs with the other two heroes. He did not think too deeply into it, and besides, compared to his lord’s recent odd behavior, Nagao Masakage was fretting over another far more fatal issue.

After all, he was no fool; whatever Takeda Shingen had figured out on his return journey, Nagao Masakage had figured out as well. Still, being Uesugi Kenshin’s loyal vassal, he did not directly link Hojo Akitoki and Uesugi Kenshin together in that manner. Should he praise Uesugi Kenshin for keeping her true identity so well hidden, or was it simply her consistent work ethic and overwhelming career obsession? To the extent that...

"Does Hojo Akitoki wish to forge a marriage alliance with our Uesugi house?"

After weighing his words carefully, Nagao Masakage asked out of lingering anxiety. "However, given the standing of his Hojo clan and our Uesugi house, we truly cannot find anyone of matching status among our collateral branches or fiefs. If an alliance must be forged, the most appropriate choice would be..."

At this point, Nagao Masakage genuinely did not know how to continue. Because the most suitable candidate was none other than Uesugi Kenshin’s elder sister, Sentoin.

Yet this presented another problem: Sentoin was his own wife. Although remarriage for women was commonplace in these eastern islands, he was neither dead nor magnanimous enough to hand over his own wife for the sake of the Uesugi house’s grand enterprise!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Nagao Masakage truly wanted to curse that Qilin of Sagami to his face. *You treacherous villain! Why must you bring up a sore subject?*

Hearing this, Uesugi Kenshin’s heart skipped a beat, and she shot a sideways glare at her greatest supporter. Opening her mouth, she could hardly confess outright that Hojo Akitoki had seen through her disguise and tossed the hairpin as a probe, could she?

"The Uesugi house will commit no such unrighteous acts, nor shall I, Uesugi Kenshin, force my vassal and his wife to separate for the sake of grand ambitions!"

Irritated, exasperated, and unable to speak the plain truth, Uesugi Kenshin finally offered a definitive reassurance amidst Nagao Masakage’s anxious waiting, somewhat easing her retainers' turbulent hearts.

Immediately afterward, seemingly afraid that Nagao Masakage might ask more indefensible questions, Uesugi Kenshin spurred her horse into a faster gallop. She intended to lead her main army back to Echigo. On one hand, she prepared to absorb the lingering influence of the other completely collapsed branch of the Uesugi family; on the other, she needed to purposefully gather intelligence on the Hojo clan to prepare for future confrontations.

The Kanto region was simply too small to accommodate three heroes!

Leaving aside the tiger and the dragon who were left unsettled by a single hairpin, Hojo Akitoki had returned to his own military camp, leading his troops back to the spot where the Takeda coalition had pitched their tents the night before.

In the past, this place had echoed with the neighing of warhorses and the shouts of samurai. Yet, after a single night, the scene was filled with shattered eaves and broken walls, unquinguished fires casting a glow over scattered corpses everywhere.

The wailing cries of the defeated Takeda coalition mingled with the triumphant cheers of the Hojo samurai. Everywhere one looked, victorious Hojo troops were driving and berating the Takeda prisoners of war.

Observing this from his saddle, Hojo Akitoki felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

"Lord Master, shall we proceed with the usual routine?"

Quietly allowing his lord to savor the prestige of victory, Akechi Mitsuhide—who had also labored through the entire night—steeled his fatigue and approached Hojo Akitoki to murmur softly.

"Mhm."

Hojo Akitoki nodded, signaling that they would follow the established routine, and then promptly departed the scene, seemingly reluctant to witness the carnage that was about to unfold.

Watching his lord leave, Akechi Mitsuhide waited a moment until Hojo Akitoki’s figure had completely vanished. He drew his sword and revealed a grim smile.

"All the wounded who cannot survive for long—be good Samaritans and send them on their final journey."

"Those maimed and lacking labor value—give them simple bandages, hand them a few rice balls, and chase them back to their hometowns."

"Those who are unscathed and obedient—round them up and prepare to take them back to till our fields and herd our horses."

"Anyone who tries to shirk or play tricks—send them straight to the mines and workshops; the people there will teach them the consequences of disobedience."

"As for the named samurai—those willing to swear fealty to my lord need not be mentioned; for those who refuse, notify their families to bring ransom!"

"Understood!"

The surrounding samurai roared in unison, each wearing a smug smile. Charging on horseback into the ruined encampment of the Takeda coalition, these samurai—having followed their lord through countless campaigns over the years—were thoroughly familiar with the post-battle procedure. They efficiently sorted the captives into the useful and the useless, driving away the maimed to spread the terror of the Hojo military might while simultaneously crushing the morale and spirit of the enemy territories.

Whatever remained was harvested for profit. In short, everyone within Hojo territory would get a taste of the spoils.

As the saying went, insiders and outsiders were treated differently; which of their own people would not praise their lord as benevolent and righteous because of this?

Without a doubt, the spoils of war tasted exceptionally sweet!

Instantly, the chaotic battlefield echoed with the piercing wails of the Takeda coalition, resembling an authentic Buddhist purgatory.

As for Hojo Akitoki, who had long since departed—what was he doing at this moment?

"The Heavenly Maiden’s Raiment and the Blade of Qian from the Cosmos Naginata."

Gazing at the two items retrieved from the Hojo family treasury, Hojo Akitoki remained motionless for a long while, looking like a statue carved from stone.