Stories of the Japanese 01476 [Muromachi/Saigoku/Eve of the Great War] The Chōroku Incident: Infiltration Operations

The era name was changed to 'Chōroku' on September 28, the 6th year of Kyōtoku (1457).
The time has finally come to talk about the Chōroku Incident. In short, the Chōroku Incident was an event in which the surviving retainers of the Akamatsu clan reclaimed the sacred jewel and were granted permission to restore their house.
The main Akamatsu line, headed by Mitsusuke, had been destroyed, and Mitsusuke's nephew, Tokikatsu, had secretly escaped from Harima Province. Tokikatsu's son, Masanori, was only three years old at the time (his childhood name was Jirō Hōshi, but I will use Masanori for simplicity), and the surviving retainers of the Akamatsu clan were waiting for an opportunity to restore their house by supporting the young Masanori. Incidentally, Norinao Akamatsu of a branch family survived the Kakitsu Incident, but he rose in revolt illegally and was destroyed by Sōzen.
The central figure who was acting with the goal of restoring the Akamatsu was a man named Tarōzaemon Iwami. Iwami served the Minister of the Interior, Sanekazu Sanjō (1415–1484), and while serving him diligently, he pleaded for the restoration of the clan, but
“No matter how good your service is, it is not enough to compensate for the atrocities of the Kakitsu Incident.”
he was told.
Desperate, Iwami asked,
“What if we were to reclaim the Shinki (the sacred jewel)?”
and Sanekazu Sanjō negotiated with Emperor Go-Hanazono, drawing out the response,
“If the Shinki is returned, then a pardon for the Akamatsu is possible.”
This was likely an exchange that took place without any consultation with the Shogunate.
Having received the promise that restoration was possible, Iwami immediately consulted with his fellow Akamatsu survivors. This is where a man named Yoshiji Kotani comes into play. Kotani disguised himself as a monk named 'Chūami' and served the Later Southern Court for over a year, working diligently. Once he had sufficiently lowered their guard, he asked the officials of the Later Southern Court,
“Where are the Princes?”
and learned that there were two royal brothers, Prince Jiten (1440?–1457) and Prince Chūgi (?–1457). It was a truly patient infiltration operation.
Prince Jiten and Prince Chūgi are said to be descendants of Emperor Go-Daigo, but their genealogy is completely unknown. All that is known is:
・Prince Jiten: Operated from Kitayama (Kitayama Village, Wakayama Prefecture or Shimokitayama Village, Nara Prefecture) and was also called 'Kitayama-no-Miya'.
・Prince Chūgi: Operated from Kōno (Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture) and was also called 'Kōno-no-Miya'.