Honnō-ji Incident 1582 Episode 192: 16 Mitsuhide's Period of Obscurity 4 Shichibei Hattori. On June 2, 1582, Akechi Mitsuhide struck down Oda Nobunaga. At that time, Hideyoshi was confronting the Mōri at Bitchū Takamatsu, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was heading from Sakai to Kyoto. The Takeda of Kai had been extinguished. Japan was in the Sengoku period, and the world was in the Age of Discovery. The time is now. The mystery of history. Investigating its causes and motives. 'Mitsuhide-ki'

Episode 192: 16 Mitsuhide's Period of Obscurity 4 Shichibei Hattori

←Introduction　←Table of Contents　←Previous　Episode 191　

Nobunaga was at Kitanosho.

Nobunaga decided on the division of Echizen Province.

　On the same day (September 2).
　Nobunaga announced the division of Echizen at Kitanosho.
　In other words, the rewarding of merit.

Nobunaga stationed Shibata Katsuie in Echizen.

Nobunaga appointed Shibata Katsuie as the commander-in-chief of the Hokurikudō Army.

　This is the Nobunaga style.
　He possessed a sharp eye for people.
　He carefully observed the abilities, character, and personality of his vassals.
　Shibata Katsuie was one of the highest-ranking senior vassals in the Oda family.
　He was a figure on par with Sakuma Nobumori.
　However, this was not based on the magnitude of their achievements.
　If you read the 'Shinchō Kōki', you will understand.
　If anything, it had a strong element of seniority.

　　Echizen Province, eight districts were granted to Shibata Shuri (Katsuie),
　
　　Within Ōno District,
　　two-thirds were ordered to be given to Kanamori Gorō(naga)hachi(chika),
　　and one-third was granted to Hara Hikojirō (Masashige), who is stationed in Ōno District.
　
　　Establishing a foothold in Fuchū,
　　Fuwa Hikozō (Naomitsu), Sassa Kura(nosuke) (Narimasa), and Maeda Matazaemon (Toshiie),
　　these two or three people were granted two districts and are stationed there.

　　One, Tsuruga District, is where Mutō Sōemon (Shunhide) is stationed.

The person with the greatest achievement in Echizen was Akechi Mitsuhide.

　This is something everyone agrees on.
　There is no way senior vassals like Shibata Katsuie would have any objections.
　I think so based on the 'Shinchō Kōki' and other historical materials.

Next, Nobunaga turned his attention to the west.

　West of Kyoto.
　'Eventually'
　That time will come.
　One, the San'indō.
　One, the San'yōdō.
　One, the sea route.
　If so, ...
　'Strike first'

Nobunaga appointed Mitsuhide as the commander-in-chief of the San'indō Army.

　This was Nobunaga's true intention.
　In other words, his grand design.
　Mitsuhide sensed this.

　Nobunaga gave Mitsuhide a reward.
　That was the preparation for the west.
　He was the commander-in-chief of the San'indō Area Army (provisional name).
　This, too, was a promotion based on merit.

Nobunaga ordered Mitsuhide to depart for Tango and Tanba.

　Mitsuhide was eager.
　Everything depended on his own ability.
　'A daimyo holding a province'
　It was finally becoming a reality.

　　Koreto Hyūga no Kami is ordered to immediately take action toward Tango.　

　The purpose of the deployment is as follows.

　　One, Tango Province is to be given to Lord Isshiki.
　　One, Tanba Province, Kuwada District and Funai District, are to be given to Lord Hosokawa.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　('Shinchō Kōki')

　'Tango' is a province where the Isshiki clan were the governors.
　This is to be given to Isshiki Yoshimichi.

　Similarly, 'Tanba' is the Hosokawa Keichō family.
　This is to be given to Hosokawa Nobuyoshi.
　He intends to take them back.
　It says 'Lord Hosokawa'.
　It has the honorific 'Lord'.
　This is not Hosokawa Fujitaka.
　Around this time, Fujitaka was using the surname 'Nagaoka'.

　This is unexpected.
　Nobunaga was conservative.
　'Restoration of the old order'
　This must have been his basic way of thinking.

Nobunaga was optimistic.

Mitsuhide, likewise.

Perhaps he thought it would be settled in a short period of time.
"Nagashino Effect"
"Echizen Effect"
Truly, the momentum of a rising dragon.
That was in Mitsuhide's background.

Nobunaga's eyes were looking to the west.
"Achieve merit."
He was saying that to Mitsuhide.

Nobunaga had a plan.
Shiga District in Omi, Kitayama Castle.
And, Tango and Tanba.
With this, an army of four provinces would be formed.
If so, ten thousand.
No, fifteen thousand.
The commander-in-chief is Koreto Hyuga-no-kami Mitsuhide.
With this, head west along the San'in Road.
Nobunaga's anti-Mori strategy began to move.

Hideyoshi was watching this.

Two years after this.
That is, October 1577, the fifth year of Tensho.
Hideyoshi departs for Harima.

These will be described later.

⇒ Continue to next Episode 193 16 Mitsuhide's Period of Dormancy 4 Shichibei Hattori