For those of you who followed my previous work will know that this is my attempt to redo it as I felt it could be better in more way than one.
#1 Intorduction
In 1567, an alliance was both Oda Nobunaga and Azai Nagamasa claimed the lands of Mino as their own. Azai Nagamasa’s claim to the land was that it was part of his grandfathers territory which has subsequently been lost by his incompetent son. Nagamasa had done much to restore some of his clans’ prestige but this new prentender Nobunaga made it hard.
To go to war with the Oda clan would be disastrous. Although Nagamasa was young, charismatic and handsome he was no tactician. He could rally his own men to the cause with fervour but it was no match for superior tactics. Afterall, Nobunaga had defeated the powerful Imagawa Yoshimoto not so long ago. He was outnumbered ten to one and still came out victorious. Still, there would be honour in just letting Nobunaga having the land. If he just lay down then he could not face his grandfather in the afterlife.
***
Oda Nobunaga faced a similar problem. War with the Azai would not be easy. Nagamasa had an uncanny ability to turn people to his cause. Such ability cannot be ignored. Not only that, but war with the Azai would also bring in his other rivals the Asakura who also happened to be allies with the Azai.
Sure Nobunaga could beat them both if he really put his best mind to it, but the victory would be a hollow one as it would leave him very weak and the Tiger of Kai would be sure to use that weakness and stake his own claim on the capital.
But there was another way, a way that would leave both men thinking they had come out of this dispute the winner. Nobunaga would marry his sister Oichi to Nagamasa making the two brothers and brothers could not go to war. A man such as Nagamasa would be a valuable ally to Nobunaga and vice versa. By being bonded in blood an everlasting peace was guaranteed.
***
Although an alliance in name Azai Nagamasa knew that he was nothing but another vassal to Nobunaga. He did however; marry Oda Nobunaga's sister Oichi, much to the chagrin of Shibata Katsuie. The bond made the two men family and in Oda Nobunaga's eyes his loyalty had been all but assured.
Soon after Oichi bared a son to Azai Nagamasa. They called him Manpukumaru. Seeking an opportunity Nobunaga offered to have his nephew educated by the best teachers Japan could offer. He would learn the ways of war and art. A man of battle and culture Manpukumaru would be.
Nagamasa knew that this was nothing but Nobunaga asking for a guarantee of loyalty. Torn between his duty to honour and to his son he spent the next week of his life making what would be the most important decision of his life. In the end he decided war with Nobunaga would not be wise and afterall he had come to care deeply for his wife Oichi and his new son whom he wished to see grow up. Reluctantly his son was sent to live with his brother. This decision would either make his clan or break it. Only time would tell.
***
That same year, Ashikaga Yoshiaki had sought shelter with the Oda. Not by choice as he had approached the Asakura in Echizen, the Takeda in Wakasa and the Uesugi in Echigo. Of all three, the Asakura were most promising as they had a reasonable amount of strength and they were reasonably close to the capital. However, Yoshikage Asakura had to admit he was unable to help him. In the end he was left with Oda Nobunaga. Afterall, this beggar had no business being a chooser.
Nobunaga accepted Yoshiaki with open arms. Although we know he had his own motive, he made sure no one would see it as he went west to deal with Yoshiaki's would be assassins the Matsunaga and Miyoshi. The Matsunaga did not put up a fight allowing Matsunaga Hisahide to become the daimyo of Yamato. At the same time, the Miyoshi retreated to Settsu. Soon after Nobunaga marched to Kyoto and Yoshiaki was made fifteenth shogun with the Emperors approval. Things it seemed were going from good to better for both Nobunaga and Yoshiaki.
As before all feedback is welcome.
The Rise Of The Samurai Hound
#1 Intorduction
In 1567, an alliance was both Oda Nobunaga and Azai Nagamasa claimed the lands of Mino as their own. Azai Nagamasa’s claim to the land was that it was part of his grandfathers territory which has subsequently been lost by his incompetent son. Nagamasa had done much to restore some of his clans’ prestige but this new prentender Nobunaga made it hard.
To go to war with the Oda clan would be disastrous. Although Nagamasa was young, charismatic and handsome he was no tactician. He could rally his own men to the cause with fervour but it was no match for superior tactics. Afterall, Nobunaga had defeated the powerful Imagawa Yoshimoto not so long ago. He was outnumbered ten to one and still came out victorious. Still, there would be honour in just letting Nobunaga having the land. If he just lay down then he could not face his grandfather in the afterlife.
***
Oda Nobunaga faced a similar problem. War with the Azai would not be easy. Nagamasa had an uncanny ability to turn people to his cause. Such ability cannot be ignored. Not only that, but war with the Azai would also bring in his other rivals the Asakura who also happened to be allies with the Azai.
Sure Nobunaga could beat them both if he really put his best mind to it, but the victory would be a hollow one as it would leave him very weak and the Tiger of Kai would be sure to use that weakness and stake his own claim on the capital.
But there was another way, a way that would leave both men thinking they had come out of this dispute the winner. Nobunaga would marry his sister Oichi to Nagamasa making the two brothers and brothers could not go to war. A man such as Nagamasa would be a valuable ally to Nobunaga and vice versa. By being bonded in blood an everlasting peace was guaranteed.
***
Although an alliance in name Azai Nagamasa knew that he was nothing but another vassal to Nobunaga. He did however; marry Oda Nobunaga's sister Oichi, much to the chagrin of Shibata Katsuie. The bond made the two men family and in Oda Nobunaga's eyes his loyalty had been all but assured.
Soon after Oichi bared a son to Azai Nagamasa. They called him Manpukumaru. Seeking an opportunity Nobunaga offered to have his nephew educated by the best teachers Japan could offer. He would learn the ways of war and art. A man of battle and culture Manpukumaru would be.
Nagamasa knew that this was nothing but Nobunaga asking for a guarantee of loyalty. Torn between his duty to honour and to his son he spent the next week of his life making what would be the most important decision of his life. In the end he decided war with Nobunaga would not be wise and afterall he had come to care deeply for his wife Oichi and his new son whom he wished to see grow up. Reluctantly his son was sent to live with his brother. This decision would either make his clan or break it. Only time would tell.
***
That same year, Ashikaga Yoshiaki had sought shelter with the Oda. Not by choice as he had approached the Asakura in Echizen, the Takeda in Wakasa and the Uesugi in Echigo. Of all three, the Asakura were most promising as they had a reasonable amount of strength and they were reasonably close to the capital. However, Yoshikage Asakura had to admit he was unable to help him. In the end he was left with Oda Nobunaga. Afterall, this beggar had no business being a chooser.
Nobunaga accepted Yoshiaki with open arms. Although we know he had his own motive, he made sure no one would see it as he went west to deal with Yoshiaki's would be assassins the Matsunaga and Miyoshi. The Matsunaga did not put up a fight allowing Matsunaga Hisahide to become the daimyo of Yamato. At the same time, the Miyoshi retreated to Settsu. Soon after Nobunaga marched to Kyoto and Yoshiaki was made fifteenth shogun with the Emperors approval. Things it seemed were going from good to better for both Nobunaga and Yoshiaki.
As before all feedback is welcome.