CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 190: GOING TO AMBUSH IMAGAWA YOSHIMOTO

In this world, everyone has their own selfishness, thus a thousand people, a thousand faces.

Imagawa Yoshimoto was leading his "one hundred thousand-strong army" straight for Owari. The Oda Family’s elders, senior retainers, and the heads of the powerful clan vassals were all gathered to discuss how to respond—giving Yuan Ye quite the eye-opening experience.

Some spoke with great passion, brimming with hot-blooded fervor, insisting on fighting the Imagawa family to the bitter end, even if it meant holding up in the castle for three years—they’d never surrender;

Some tactfully suggested that the Imagawa family’s standing was far higher and its might much greater; lowering one’s head for a while wasn’t so shameful. Better to take a step back and submit—after all, as long as the green hills last, firewood will never run out;

Some glanced around evasively, swinging left and right, constantly testing the waters with others;

Some stood dumb as chickens, not uttering a single word, seemingly content to leave everything to fate;

Some looked deeply troubled, unable to part with all the bottles and jars back home—afraid to fight, but not daring to admit it;

Some wore sly, shifty expressions, incessantly whispering with those nearby—who knows what schemes they were plotting.

The meeting began at dusk, and the bickering went on and on. The pro-war and pro-surrender factions refused to yield, the argument never stopping, just like someone walking the night road—always needing to make noise to bolster their own courage.

Oda Nobunaga simply sat there the whole time, slowly sipping his wine, without saying a word.

It wasn’t until around nine at night that the main hall finally began to quiet down. Everyone’s eyes turned to him—Oda Nobunaga still sat there, drinking, showing no reaction at all.

After a while, Oda Family’s most prominent elder, Katsuyori Shibata, couldn’t help it anymore and quietly asked, "My Lord?"

Only then did Oda Nobunaga sweep his hawk-like gaze over those beneath the steps, and said blandly, "Why ask me? War or surrender, keep debating until you reach a conclusion."

With that, he set his wine cup down on the table. Without another glance at anyone, he simply stood and strode to the rear as everyone stared, stunned—as if he too couldn’t make up his mind, or perhaps was just giving up entirely and resigning himself to fate.

The whispers among the clan vassals grew even louder, and the close attendants like Niwa Nagahide and Sawaki Ryoji hurried after Oda Nobunaga toward the back, apparently planning to try persuading him in private, urging him to make a quick decision.

Yuan Ye didn’t bother getting in on that mess, but after sitting so long his butt had gone numb, so he left the main hall too, stretching his legs a bit.

Ah Man quickly came over, propping her sword and tilting her head, asking concernedly, "Lord, how’s Oda Family’s discussion going? What are they planning to do?"

Yuan Ye took a breath of fresh air and answered offhandedly, "Been arguing all night—accomplished nothing. Oda Nobunaga’s younger retainers want to fight, the old guard and clan heads want to surrender. Nobody can convince anyone else. Oda Nobunaga is letting them go on bickering."

Ah Man wasn’t surprised. With Imagawa Yoshimoto coming at them with twenty or thirty thousand troops, if Wanjin were in the way, she’d be panicking too. After a moment’s contemplation, she said, "The enemy’s already at the gates and their hearts aren’t united. Looks like things are turning bad for them. What do we do, if it comes to that?"

"No rush, let’s wait and see." Yuan Ye couldn’t very well spill the details of history, so he casually brushed her off, simply waiting for Oda Nobunaga to start his act. Only once Oda Nobunaga finished, and the Imagawa Family went fleeing back to Jumogawa, would he have fulfilled his oath and could then boldly snatch up territory on Chita Peninsula.

Ah Man opened her mouth to banter a bit more, but then noticed a few figures coming out of the hall, moving briskly, quickly disappearing into the darkness through the courtyard.

Her eyes were sharp—she immediately said, "Those are the heads of the Hirae Family, Kintobashi Family, and Qingtian Family from Kasugai County."

Yuan Ye turned to look, and then another person hurried out of the hall, just as quickly vanishing into the dark.

Ah Man raised her bean-like brows, continuing her introduction: "That’s the head of the Shinshiji Family in Aichi County."

She’d barely finished speaking before yet more people left the hall—over a dozen in total, one after another.

Yuan Ye simply watched them without a word, but Ah Man had already put two and two together—some of the powerful clans couldn’t hold back anymore and were clearly weighing the option of switching allegiance, leaving Oda Nobunaga’s residence under various pretexts, not wanting to die with the Oda Family.

And these were just the clans closest to the Bai Chuan Pass line. The ones farther away—whose eyebrows weren’t yet singed—were probably also wavering, just less pressed for time.

She couldn’t help but widen her eyes in a whisper of astonishment, "It’s not just bad for the Oda Family—they’re doomed..."

If the clan vassals scattered, the Oda Family could scrape together maybe three or five thousand of their own men at best—hardly a match for Imagawa Yoshimoto’s vast army. The Owari clans might even help Imagawa Yoshimoto finish off the Oda Family. That... meant New Wanjin needed to start making preparations as well.

Her mind working fast, she recalled that the Imagawa family elder, Toya Hongtong, seemed to admire Yuan Ye and had hinted at a marriage alliance. Maybe they ought to send Princess Dog off to a convent and let the Nozawa family get a new matron—such things were normal in the Warring States Era; which Daimyo or great clan didn’t go through three or five wives?

If the Oda Family got destroyed, Princess Dog would be worthless anyway, and if they could get her a bowl of rice in some temple, it would be enough to say the Nozawa family were considerate.

Yuan Ye hadn’t expected Ah Man’s mind to turn so quickly—much less that her principles index was so low, already scheming to get him a new wife. He just said indifferently, "It’s too early to call it over. I already said—wait and see."

Oda Nobunaga surely has something prepared—he probably doesn’t care about these fence-sitting clan vassals, which is why he lets them leave; maybe it’s even intentional. After all, Nobunaga had wanted to purge the Owari clans for ages. Once this Battle of Okehazama is over, those clans are sure to be called to account, and with an excuse for defecting at the last minute, even if Nobunaga slaughters them all, nobody else could say a word.

He paused a moment, no longer having the patience to go back to the main hall to listen to the quarrels, so he found a side wing to rest.

The Battle of Okehazama would be tomorrow or the next day—he needed to rest up and watch carefully.

......

Yuan Ye was at ease, unafraid that the Oda Family would perish and take him with them. He brought Ah Qing and Ah Man to bed, but had barely slept half the night before Ah Man woke him again.

Ah Man hadn’t slept at all. After waking him, she immediately reported, "The front has engaged!"

Yuan Ye took the hot towel Ah Qing handed over, asking, "Is it at the Bai Chuan Pass line?"

"Yes, and at Dagao City—both fronts have engaged," Ah Man relayed the urgent report she’d just received. "The Imagawa vanguard led by Ii Naomasa is attacking the Jiuzhen Stronghold, while Matsudaira Mototaka of the Matsudaira family is assaulting the Marune Stronghold—about three or four thousand on one side, over a thousand on the other."

Yuan Ye rubbed his face hard with the hot towel to wake himself up, and then heard Ah Man continue: "Haixi County’s also under attack; the Imagawa navy took Kanie Castle during the day."

Yuan Ye’s hand, about to toss the towel, froze, and he asked in surprise, "Imagawa’s navy?"

"That’s right, Imagawa’s navy," said Ah Man confidently. She was certain the "Life-saving Group" would never get intel wrong within Owari: "Some forty-odd boats, over two thousand men, but it’s unclear if they’re Imagawa’s own navy or hired water thieves."

Yuan Ye nodded slowly. Ii Naomasa leading five thousand as the vanguard to attack Bai Chuan Pass and Dagao City was normal enough. Matsudaira Mototaka opening the road for Imagawa Yoshimoto, he could also understand. But he really hadn’t expected Imagawa Yoshimoto to send his navy around so early to cut off Oda Nobunaga’s rear—Shimazu also had a navy, plus that area was a bay, easy to defend and hard to attack. Imagawa’s navy might not take it head-on, but Kanie Castle was near Shimazu. From there, they could strike Shimazu by land in no time.

Imagawa Yoshimoto really wanted to finish off Oda Nobunaga—going straight for his vitals.

Imagawa Yoshimoto truly wasn’t a soft touch. In history, he got chopped down by Oda Nobunaga like a joke, making him look like a clown and the Imagawa family like a bunch of weaklings. But that’s the same kind of stereotype as "Zhao Kuo"—Imagawa Yoshimoto wasn’t stupid, nor was the Imagawa family’s strength weak.

The truth was, Yuan Ye didn’t really know the true course of the Battle of Okehazama, at least not the part where Imagawa even sent a navy to conduct amphibious operations for such a ruthless strike. He immediately asked, "Has Oda Nobunaga gotten the report? How’s he reacting?"

"He should have heard already, these are all urgent reports delivered by fast horse. Couldn’t be much lag," Ah Man replied. "But as for his reaction—still unclear. He hasn’t appeared yet, but I saw even more Owari clan vassals sneaking away. Looks like everyone thinks the Oda are finished."

Yuan Ye glanced once towards Oda Nobunaga’s inner quarters, wondering if Nobunaga was there now, dancing with his folding fan to the tune of "Atsumori," or singing: "Fifty years of human life, things of the world, like a dream, a phantom. Since we are born, what can escape death?"—Not that he could barge in to check; as the brother-in-law, it would be improper to loiter in Nobunaga’s private quarters in the middle of the night.

He stood up and said directly, "Let’s get ready, and also get the horses. We’ll go with Oda Nobunaga."

Ah Man froze, puzzled. "Go with Oda Nobunaga? But where are we going?"

"To raid Imagawa Yoshimoto."

Yuan Ye was sure—the Battle of Okehazama was happening today. The enemy vanguard was in place, pulling out the nails along the road; Imagawa Yoshimoto was likely less than a day’s march away. Oda Nobunaga couldn’t possibly wait any longer.

......

Ah Man was utterly baffled by Yuan Ye’s thinking, but Yuan Ye’s head had always been like someone kicked it by a donkey—whatever idea hit him, he’d run off and do it, always a mess. She was quite used to it by now and didn’t bother questioning, just sent someone to prepare the horses and rations.

Yuan Ye also donned armor and threw on a haori, ready to depart at any moment. He had tea-rice prepared, scarfed down three big bowls, and had barely set his chopsticks down before the faint sound of a Dharma conch reached his ears.

Ah Man was also eating hard—she’d never lag behind in matters of food. Hearing the conch, she cocked her head to listen, then said in surprise, "Two long, one short—he’s really going out to battle?"

Yuan Ye ignored her and stood up: "Let’s go!"

"Oda Nobunaga’s really going to raid Imagawa Yoshimoto?!" Ah Man still couldn’t believe it. "You mean, strike right for the enemy Grand General in the midst of tens of thousands? A country bumpkin like him is going to kill a relative of the General of Expedition?"

Yuan Ye led Ah Qing straight out the door, replying blandly, "He won’t be a country bumpkin for long."

Ah Man gaped, threw down her bowl, and hurried after, still muttering, "He’s crazy, isn’t he? Can he really pull this off? And we have to go along too—isn’t that a bit too dangerous..."

Yuan Ye didn’t reply. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk—he got Ah Qing and Ah Man on their horses and rode straight to the gates. Along the way, Oda Family’s Lang Faction and household retainers were in a panic, dashing around in utter confusion, completely clueless about what was happening. Many of the Oda’s heavyweights and visiting clan heads were mixed among them, equally at a loss at the sound of the battle conch.

Yuan Ye ignored all of them, not responding even if someone greeted him, and hurried straight to the main gate. He had barely arrived when Oda Nobunaga, clad in bright red armor, galloped up with Sawaki Ryoji, Nagatagawa Hashisuke, Hattori Misaburo, and two more personal attendants.

The sky was just turning pale, still dim, and Oda Nobunaga, riding up close, spotted Yuan Ye—was momentarily startled, then dismissed it instantly. However Yuan Ye had known, it no longer mattered—there was no point keeping secrets now.

Without pausing his horse, Oda simply waved and called, "Follow me!" as he charged on ahead.

They’d been preparing for so long—the planning phase was done. Now, there was only one path left: fight with everything they had!

Today, either he dies or Imagawa Yoshimoto dies!