Tear Bridge: Minbu-no-Taifu's Miscalculation (3)

"--That man, Minbu-sama is being completely taken in by Jibu."
Ando Samanosuke sighed at the conversation between Minbu and Jibu that could be heard from the other side of the sliding paper door. Yasuda Hayato, a senior retainer of the Yabe family, was of the same opinion.
"To think he could come up with excuses so fluently."
The two shook their heads in disbelief. However, their hearts grew heavy when they thought about having to report this outcome to their respective lords. A sharp, gnawing pain welled up from the pit of their stomachs.
"For now, I will report to Mino-no-Kami-sama that 'there is no room to doubt Jibu-dono's rebellious intent.' What will you do?"
Samanosuke stood up with a weary, silent motion. Yasuda pondered for a while, but only replied that he would "keep an eye on things a little longer." He did not know what that Jibu might say next.
"Understood. I will return to the Wada mansion for now. Stop by later."
Having said that, Samanosuke left Sukagawa Castle.
However, the meeting between Minbu and Jibu was still continuing.
"--The reason the land tax for the past two years could not be presented to Kamakura is none other than the fact that the people of the territory were suffering from the fear of famine. In summary, the many actions I have taken as the deputy of the lord were not for the sake of my own self-preservation, but to solidify the defenses within the territory and prepare for the movements of the Tamura and the Ashina of Aizu. I have done nothing to be ashamed of before heaven, nor have I acted against reason or indulged in bribery. I have no selfish motives whatsoever, and the claim that I am governing through intimidation is a complete slander. That is precisely why the Iwase territory has been able to maintain peace until now. Shall we not go to Kamakura promptly and explain for ourselves that I am innocent?"
Before anyone knew it, Jibu had taken control of the conversation. Jibu was busy, sometimes becoming indignant, sometimes lamenting. However, his eloquence was indeed skillful, and his statement was even artistic.
As proof, Minbu, who had been completely won over by Jibu, had softened his expression, a change from when he first arrived, and now even had faint tears in his eyes.
"That this government of Iwase is not a distortion born of your own selfish motives, I, Minbu, am convinced from the bottom of my heart. Once I return to Kamakura, I will explain your innocence and appease everyone."
(No, this is bad.)
Yasuda felt a slight dizziness. It was indeed the right decision for Mino-no-Kami and his own lord, Shimotsuke-no-Kami, to send them separately from Minbu. The problem was how to report this state of affairs to everyone in Kamakura.
Furthermore, Jibu was making a proposal that made Yasuda's dizziness even worse.
"In this way, for the members of the Nikaido to open up to each other is also important for the prosperity of the clan. As a token of our growing closeness, I would like to present a mansion for Minbu-dono."
To think he would build a new mansion for Minbu.
"Hmm. Is there any suitable land?"
"On the banks of the Okuma River, there is a place called Kitazawa. Wouldn't that be a nice, wide-open space?"
They were now completely open with each other, looking more like old friends or brothers. Honestly, what is Minbu doing? It seemed he had completely forgotten that his four heavenly kings were waiting outside--

"--And so, Minbu-no-Taifu-sama was easily taken in by Jibu-no-Taifu."
The voice of Awa-no-Kami, who had explained this much, was bitter.
Zushoryo exchanged glances with Tobee, Hannai, and the others. The color of confusion could not be hidden on their faces.
"It's not just that he had a mansion built for him. Minbu-sama is old, after all. To speak the truth, he must miss his old land. Since he lived in Hamao in Kamakura, he took the name of that land and started calling the area of Kitazawa 'Hamao'."
"Good heavens..."
Zushoryo could not find the words to follow.
"I'll tell you something even more sickening."
Ando Samanosuke, who served Mino-no-Kami, came back with more sake.
"That Minbu-sama married Jibu-no-Taifu's younger sister, the princess, the following spring and made her his wife."
It was a story where one could no longer distinguish whether it was a joke or a tragedy.
"Didn't you say Minbu-sama was old?"
Even Hannai, who liked jokes, seemed unable to keep up with this story.
"Yes. He's just past his fifties. But Jibu-dono's younger sister, Chitose-gozen, should only be twenty or so. They are siblings with a large age gap, but she is apparently a beauty."
Ando snorted.
"It is true that Chitose-gozen is a beauty. Even with light makeup, she is said to be comparable to the ancient beauty Xi Shi."
Awa-no-Kami gave a bitter smile. Apparently, he had seen Chitose-gozen before.
"Minbu-dono had lost his wife a long time ago. If a young wife takes care of him in a land he is not used to, it is natural for affection to grow. Minbu-dono is not made of wood or stone, after all."
"No, no, that's not the problem!"
Zushoryo couldn't help but retort to Awa-no-Kami. What is the point of an elder of the clan being deceived by someone from the enemy side?
"Well, Hamao and Wada are just a stone's throw away. Even though Minbu-dono was deceived by Jibu, he is still the uncle of our lord. We cannot treat him poorly, so Mino-no-Kami-dono is keeping a close watch on Minbu-dono's movements."
At Awa-no-Kami's words, Zushoryo felt a little relieved. Although he seemed stern, Mino-no-Kami certainly seemed to have the backbone to confront even those of the clan. If he was watching him, things would not happen so easily.
"And the real culprit, Jibu...?"
Tobee asked, unable to hide his anger.
"As you can see, he no longer even tries to hide his hostility toward us."
Awa-no-Kami spat out.
Since they had ended up crossing swords so soon after arriving in Sukagawa, it meant they didn't know when the next battle would be.
--Had they really drawn the short straw?
Zushoryo suppressed the urge to sigh again.

Some time after that, the newcomers were given their own "residences" in a corner of Wada. The reason the newcomers were gathered here was that the Suda clan were as powerful in the land as the head of the family.
For a while, this would be his base of operations. It was a world of difference from the Isshiki family mansion he had in Kamakura, but one way or another, he had to make do here for the time being. He couldn't afford to be picky.
The original master of Wada Mansion was Mino-no-Kami, but he had moved his base of operations to Minega Castle, which was surrounded by steeper cliffs. Since this place was less likely to be attacked by enemies, it was decided that Tameuji would also enter Minega Castle to protect his safety.
Also, although the building assigned to Zushoryo was crudely furnished, there was a riding ground and a stable in a corner of the mansion grounds. Since those with the rank of "samurai" were allowed to own horses, Zushoryo spent his last bit of money to acquire one. He had not yet grasped the territory of the Nikaido family, but a horse was a necessity for traveling any distance.
In the Nikaido retainer group, Wada Mino-no-Kami was formally Zushoryo's direct superior. Also, because he was introduced by Ando Tsunayoshi, a senior retainer of the Suda family, and was of a somewhat prestigious lineage, it was decided that one woman would be assigned to take care of Zushoryo's daily needs.
Her name was "Riku." Apparently, she was a niece of Awa-no-Kami. She was eighteen, three years younger than Zushoryo.
She was good-natured, but there was no denying she had a certain simplicity typical of a country girl. She seemed a bit older, but since she was apparently unmarried, she was likely sent to Zushoryo's place to serve as a bride-in-training.
However, he felt no desire for a country girl. Perhaps sensing Zushoryo's mood, Riku would quickly return to Shimotsuke-no-Kami's mansion in Mujinamori once she finished cleaning the house. Shimotsuke-no-Kami, the younger brother of Yabe Awa-no-Kami, had a mansion there commonly known as "Kifune Castle."
For the time being, he had no choice but to live this way.
However, sooner or later, an order from the "Kamakura-fu" to "do something about the rebellion of Nikaido Jibu-no-Taifu" would surely be issued--

>"Ito Sakon's Proposal (1)" continues to

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