Nobushige didn't know what he had expected.
When Lord Hideyori declared the charge, and they rode out to meet the enemy for one last strike, perhaps he thought that they were giving up their lives with honour. The aim was to slay Ieyasu and break the will of the enemy, but after so many months of fighting it seemed closer to a final stand rather than a last resort. A glorious death, rather than victory, might have been the purpose of their attack.
Looking around, all that he could see was the corpses of the fallen. Some fell during the charge, with the proud banner of the Toyotomi covering part of their corpse, and others had been clinging onto life before passing. Only an hour or so had passed since the invaders retreated from Osaka, and the ronin had moved to take the heads of their enemies, in an attempt to gain glory and victory. The rush of the charge blinded them to the true extent of their injuries.
Dying just as they began to hope to display the fruits of their bravery. Nobushige wondered if it was a tragedy or an inspiration for others. These were men who had been cast aside by the Tokugawa, robbed of their land and belongings for the crime of standing loyal to the Toyotomi against treachery and deceit. Hideaki's divine punishment for his betrayal was proof enough that Ieyasu's actions were villainous.
Now his empire was collapsing around him. Daimyo were rising up against the Tokugawa, loyalties to the Toyotomi were either renewed or recalled, and the Lord Hideyori would soon take his rightful place as leader of Japan.
The months after he fled Koyasan had reminded Nobushige of the horrors of war. Bodies littered across the floor, from samurai to ashigaru to even the horses themselves, to the point where they almost became a new ground. It was a dark reminder that victory had come at a cost, one that was almost too high to even call a triumph over the enemy.
He wondered if Kiyomasa felt this way during the campaign in Korea, as they were driven away from the shores and forced back into Japan. Asking the man was now impossible, with his passing just three months ago, but even then Nobushige doubted that he would gain an answer. By the time that Kiyomasa left for Kyushu to prepare for war, recognising the choice between Lord Hideyori and Ieyasu, Nobushige had yet to arrive at Osaka.
"Nobushige!" It took him a second to recognise that voice. Turning his head leftwards was not even necessary as Goto Mototsugu rushed to stand by his comrade's side. He moved from his horse, much different to the one he rode out in, and ran to Nobushige, whose own horse had been left with a soldier with instructions to wait for his return. Goto gave what sounded like similar instructions.
Formalities were skipped, as Nobushige went to continue his search. A smile still came to his face. "Some of the men were getting worried, Goto." He started, recognising the path ahead. "They say you were struck by a stray bullet from one of Date's men. Unable to even stand."
"It would take more than a bullet to stop me from thrashing that blowhard fool." Goto scoffed. "My armour managed to withstand the blow. Had it not been for your strike..." The words ended there. Neither of them wanted to contemplate such.
To die in battle is a great honour. An honour that he had been thankfully denied for now. Nobushige had little doubt that things would not have turned out as they did, without Goto by his side. The two were a fine team, both in battle and in political matters.
It seemed so long ago, when the Osaka commanders all sat down and tried to form a plan that would bring about a true victory. Some hoped to simply wait things out, allow the Tokugawa forces to starve outside, and make an arrangement. Nobushige knew better, however. This was a fight to the death, and the Tokugawa knew it. If they wanted victory, they would have to go on the offensive and seize it.
Lord Hideyori had lacked the steel he had now, back then. It had only been Kiyomasa's letter advising Nobushige and Goto's plan that pushed the young master into endorsing their campaign, alongside naming the two of them as chief commanders of the Osaka Siege. In theory, only answerable to Hideyori himself, although in practice Lady Yodogami's words came from his mouth.
The fruits of their initiative quickly grew fruit. Goto secured the Nara plains, and Nobushige burst through towards Kyoto itself, past Seta, Fushimi Castle, before making it to the imperial city. In truth, there was merit to those who claimed that they would be stretched too far, or that the ronin would not (and still had trouble with) obey orders when the chance to loot and pillage was right there for the picking.
We still held Kyoto. An entire week that destroyed the enemy's plans entirely. He reminded himself. With the Tokugawa declared rebels, their crimes made official, they went from the offensive to the defensive. Any hope of smashing down the walls of Osaka and ending the uprising died with the Imperial Edict's announcement.
Of course, once they moved back to Osaka Castle, the Edict was reversed and new one came out, but that did not matter. It was a reactive move, a rebel denying their accusation by accusing their enemy of that very crime. Only those who were loyal dogs openly supported such. Those Daimyo who were wavering, however, remained silent.
From there, the siege truly began. They readied themselves, using the extra time to gather supplies such as food, weapons, and ammunition to their advantage. When the Tokugawa forces took the surrounding villages, the Toyotomi were ready, especially Nobushige himself. His reports allowed him ample time to ready himself for any strike on the Sanada-maru.
Matsudaira Tadanao and Maeda Toshitsune marched to strike at him, the former trying to avenge his early failings to his grandfather, and both men fell to the ferocity of the Sanada's forces musket-fire. Not even a man such as Naotaka Il, a true son of his great father, could overcome their defences. It was a necessary tragedy that a man such as Naotaka had to fall in that battle, struck by a bullet and only an hour to linger and fight on.
A true warrior to the end, he kept on fighting. Naotaka's body was recovered and given to the Tokugawa to bury with full honours, as was Toshitsune's, while Tadanao's was left. A punishment for costing Ieyasu an ally and a fine subordinate? Either way spirits were high, not even Lord Hideyori's performance during the head-viewing ceremony had been able to impact morale.
Nobushige's lips pursed. "Did you come across Lord Hideyori, on the way to me?"
"He seemed eager to enter the castle once more. Almost as if there was nowhere else he'd rather be, if you wanted my opinion." Goto said with a similar look of concern. They were nearing Nobushige's destination, where there would be too many to speak freely as they could now. "Ever since the bombardment, he has gained steel, but how much of that was more blind anger? You know what the early days were like, and we cannot have that now."
"Lady Yodogami's death did bring out something within him." No one could doubt that something changed. Before he could barely muster inspiration, and rarely contributed ideas to war-meetings, leaving it to his mother. "We lost maidens in armour, and gained a man who had the fury of ten armies. It's no surprise that his anger would die down over time."
"Maybe. Let's at least hope that some of that passion and drive remains." Goto stopped walking, as did Nobushige. Both of them were dangerously close to the Tokugawa camp, now in ruins and tatters, ransacked except for what was strictly kept under-guard. By the time of their charge, while there were enough supplies to last, they would need everything they could find for the battles ahead.
There are also some things that must be respected. The last thing Nobushige wanted to deal with was arguments over who had slain who, which would then devolve into duels at best and drunken murder plots at worst. His best men, of those still remaining alive and uninjured, were ordered to keep order and prevent riots. Even then, risks cannot be taken. We've won a victory, don't let thoughts of future defeat get into their minds.
"Many despise the Tokugawa for robbing them of their wealth, or were simply offended by their actions. The men are unlikely to abandon us now. Not when we stand on the cusp of total victory." Goto said, the Tokugawa camp easily in sight. They did not take one step, for fear of their words being heard.
"Our scouts say that both Hidetada and Tadateru took the Tokaido back to Edo. Other than that, nothing more than bickering and retreat. They're not even moving to hold Kyoto." Nobushige added, not sure whether to smile or not. "If they do not divide, and Tadateru is bought off to obey Hidetada as Shogun-"
"Then we fight as always, Nobushige. They could have taken the Nakasendo, so perhaps some Daimyo are readying to rise up for Lord Hideyori."
"Or they took the more convenient route, where they do not need to fear any more Sanadas." Nobushige added, prompting Goto to laugh. It was likely that the Tokugawa had had their fill of Sanadas by now.
He wondered how Nobuyuki was. Married to an adopted daughter of the Tokugawa, fought for the Eastern Army, and was known as a Tokugawa loyalist even during the Siege of Osaka, and yet Nobushige still was thankful that his brother lived. Without him, both Nobushige and their father would have been killed, rather than exiled, and his wife had been upstanding in caring for Father in those twilight years.
Would Nobushige have to do the same for his own brother? Hideyori would hopefully take after his father, in granting mercy to the retainers of defeated enemies, rather than the late Nobunaga Oda. He might have been more helpful than his great-grandson had been, having his consorts beat sleeping sentries with a stick, but he was not a merciful man. It was an unlikely fate, but one Nobushige feared for his brother nonetheless.
"Regardless, we must discuss our next move." Nobushige boldly moved forward, Goto easily keeping pace. At that, the Sanada general winced as he felt his left arm protest the vigorous movement, which got his fellow general's attention. "A cut on the arm. The doctor asked to look at it again, after the head-viewing ceremony for today."
Goto nodded at that. "We move back to Kyoto, secure it again, and make our proclamations." They entered the former Tokugawa camp, a once dignified and fortified place, now filled with ronin and soldiers taking what they could, whether heads or valuables left behind. Still, it was the centre where Nobushige planned to stop and handle his business.
Daisuke had moved to secure the area and direct efforts to sort who killed who, and had done the best he could. Nobushige's worst fears were chaos, and it seemed like a false fear.
"The son takes after his father," Goto mused. "You should be proud. He's shown more courage and skill than many men twice his age, and ten times his fame. Lord Hideyori was even impressed with his conduct."
"I am content that he has managed to survive this long, to tell you the truth. We will need men like him to keep discipline in the ranks, if we have to move to finish off the Tokugawa. Hidetada's paranoia and Tadateru's ambition may be our best hope at bringing peace to the land quickly."
"Perhaps if Lord Hideyori offers a pardon to those who take up arms against Hidetada? Date will be the main backer for Tadateru, and if he swings towards us-"
"We will be right back where we started. Holding the West against an East that is hoping for an opportunity to expand their power once more." Nobushige sighed, wondering when he became so tired. "The Maeda Clan hold great wealth thanks to the Tokugawa, and they had to find a new Clan leader because of Toshitsune's death. I doubt they will accept any large reduction in land, the same goes for the Date. Meanwhile, we have an army that will be demanding the restoration of what they lost after Sekigahara."
"An enemy we cannot compromise with, and an army that may be demanding its prize. Almost makes you miss the days of getting attacked by those foreign cannons."
"Didn't have to think yourself into a box."
The two smiled at that joke, dark as it was. Both men turned serious, however, when Daisuke and the rest of the assigned guard came into view, their armour as tattered and worn as Nobushige and Goto's. The customary exchange between commander and subordinate were given, before Nobushige and Daisuke became father and son again.
"We've organised the head-count, nearly everyone was satisfied with what happened, but some are complaining that their kills were too messy. Some had enough of an injury that I doubt the spike will be enough." His son reported, adding another issue to Nobushige's thoughts. "Your heads are by the centre, we've placed them according to identified rank."
If that were true, it would be one head on a floor of the others. Being honest, Nobushige had mostly killed regular soldiers except for the one on top. Seeing the three piles of heads, a few dozen in number, the front pile was the only one that caught his attention. Of all of them, this head was the most valued of the entire army, one that many a soldier bragged to their friends of being the one to attain.
Now it was Nobushige's to claim as the result of his efforts, both in planning and actual combat.
Ieyasu Tokugawa looked as if he died as he lived. Solemn, dignified, and with a stout sense of direction, although his age clearly showed. Nobushige remembered something far different, a look of horror and surprise, and an attempt to move away and flee before the spear hit its target. Guards screamed, some making a charge to avenge their lord, others fleeing at the realisation that their master was dead.
The Tokugawa forces had already broken down into panic, and were barely being kept in line by their commanders. The death of Ieyasu, however, spread like wildfire, as did the chaos of a sudden retreat. It almost seemed planned, in Nobushige's eyes, as if someone heard it and decided that the day was lost.
Did Hidetada fear that his brother would claim the title of Shogun? Did Tadateru hope to use the panic to sneak back to Edo and establish himself? Or was it one of their respective retainers, making themselves useful early on? Either way, with Ieyasu's death came the death of the Siege of Osaka.
"For all his patience, his sacrifices, and his victories, it all turns to nothing." Nobushige said, letting his thoughts turn into words. He looked to the side to see empty sacks placed next to the heads. "Gather the heads into the sacks. Daisuke, Goto, we'll take the heads back to Osaka and claim them as mine, unless you need to gather your own."
"I already did mine before coming here." Goto replied.
"Mine are already stored and ready to be taken back." Daisuke said, standing tall.
"Good. Tell the men to head back to Osaka. The Tokugawa are unlikely to be making a return, and we will need to prepare ourselves for what comes next." He turned to face them. "We march to Kyoto tomorrow morning! All shall know of the traitor's death, and the restoration of the Toyotomi to their rightful place! Hideyori Toyotomi shall be named Kampaku, and the commanders of the Tokugawa forces must travel to Kyoto to await judgement."
A cheer came from Nobushige, Goto, Daisuke, and the guards, as those in other sections of the area began to join in, the sound flooding the camp. It was what he expected, even as it managed to raise his own spirits. His orders moved to be carried out, as he and Goto went to go back and collect their horses again.
Leaving the camp, he allowed himself one final look back at the head of Ieyasu Tokugawa. The man who went from a hostage to Shogun and now laid dead in a battle he thought would be a last obstacle to total rule. What were his last moments like? Was he lamenting his misfortune? Cursing the day he moved to take power? Or was his spirit now finding peace in the thought of his sons rallying under Hidetada to fight the Toyotomi another day?
What would you do, if you were in my position, facing the trials that may come ahead? Nobushige wondered, before paying it no further mind. Now was not the time to think of what others would do, or what he would like things to be. Now was the time to take pride in victory, celebrate survival and good fortune, and embrace the future ahead.
Tomorrow would be a day to prepare for war once more.