Yasushi Inoue - The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan

“Both Generals Amari and Yokota are facing danger.”

“How can you see their formations from here?”

“I can see both of their formations from here.”

When Kansuke said this to his lord, his repulsiveness disappeared and he showed brilliance with an aura of divinity over him.

It was about one hour later that they heard the news of the deaths of both Amari and Yokota. Almost at the same time, both of their respective formations suddenly fell apart. The offensive team at Koseki Castle was gravely influenced by the news and began to waver. Harunobu tried to reform the troops, but it was almost useless. Imminent defeat seemed inevitable. Harunobu suggested the idea that he would send messages to both Oyamada’s and Morozumi’s formations and have the entire army attack the Murakami army together in a full frontal charge tactic.

Harunobu was overly desperate at this point and was willing to lead the entire army himself.

“Do you think it is right for the commander-in-chief himself to lead our army?” Kansuke demanded of Harunobu.

“Is there any other way at this point?”

“You are prepared to die on the field of battle then?”

Harunobu did not reply to this. To Kansuke, Harunobu looked extremely young in his moment of indecision. Kansuke said very calmly, “Yes, it is vital to have a final victory by risking your life. However, you are upset now since large numbers of your warriors have lost their lives. When people are angry, they often act impetuously.”

Harunobu looked down at the small figure of Kansuke from his position astride his horse. It was hard to tell whether Kansuke was stupid or brilliant, and he looked so unbelievably ugly and yet so unbelievably calm. In spite of that, Harunobu felt he could trust Kansuke more than anybody else.

“Do you have other ideas for a counterattack?”

“Yes, I have!”

“Is it possible to get through this mess?”

“There is only one strategy that can lead us to victory. Please give me fifty horsemen.” Kansuke said.

As soon as he had gathered them, he made a U-turn and dashed at full speed about two miles and came out behind the Murakami army. There he yelled out his orders to the horsemen, “I would like all of you to gallop at full speed through the Murakami army at the risk of your lives. All you have to do is gallop at full speed. There is no need to kill anybody. I shall take the lead.”

The horsemen all galloped straight through Murakami’s army from the rear, dividing it into two. They galloped with great speed, not once losing their straight line through the formations.

Kansuke believed all he had to do was to destroy the war formation of the enemy. If he could succeed in doing that, the bright young Harunobu would be able to reform his own partially broken formation.

Leading his fifty warriors, Kansuke was galloping at full speed. His body was bent in half, and he was waving his sword back and forth. His strategy was to harass the enemy to induce them to break formation. Harunobu would not miss his chance to regain the offensive by taking advantage of the disorder that Kansuke would cause.

He looked back as he hit the midpoint of the enemy formation.

Fifty horsemen followed him just like a black stream.

Suddenly, Kansuke heard a war cry. He realized that the formation he was galloping through was in disarray, much like a hornet’s nest knocked from its perch. Further away on the hilltop, the huge blue flag over the Takeda’s headquarters was billowing and floating in the wind. He did not know what time it was, but the gold characters of the flags were glittering under the setting sun.

The war cry came from the Takeda army. Kansuke galloped through the entire formation of the enemy and made another U-turn and galloped back into the fray at full speed. It was not necessary to attack any of the enemy; all he had to do was just cut down any samurai who were in his way. War cries and the sound of conch shells and drums were heard from every direction. The boom of the guns were heard above all the noise.

Suddenly, Kansuke was thrown from his horse. It had apparently hit a big root sticking out of a pine tree. Blood coursed from his forehead and ran down his eyes. He tried to raise his right arm, but it would not move. Although he had no idea when he had received them, his body was covered with wounds.

Taking advantage of Kansuke’s strategy, the Takeda’s forces had shifted from defense to offense. The Takeda’s cavalry squadron attacked and harassed the scattered Murakami enemy force, and finally the enemy began to retreat. During this battle, the Takeda force lost 720 warriors. The enemy’s head count was 193 losses. Although the Takeda’s losses were far greater, the shouts of victory now rose from the Takeda’s headquarters.

Kansuke was awarded 800 kan 38and he was promoted to the rank, leading seventy-five foot soldiers.

A month and a half after the battle of Toishi Castle, Princess Yuu gave birth to a male child. In those days she had her own residence halfway down the mountain behind the castle. Kansuke visited her residence as soon as he heard the news. Nobody but Kansuke had paid her a visit yet.

He was taken to her bedroom. Princess Yuu was lying quietly on her back. Without giving him any chance to congratulate her, the princess said, “Following your orders, a male child was born who holds both the blood of the Takeda and the Suwa. Who knows what kind of destiny he has in store for him, but he is sleeping peacefully here now.”

Kansuke uttered a short laugh and said, “Now the Lord of Suwa has been born. This is a very happy occasion. Congratulations.”

But the princess responded accusingly, “It was you who planned the surprise attack against my father. And yet, you are happy about this birth?”

“Yes,” Kansuke had difficulty in continuing his sentence. She was absolutely right. He had no idea until now that Princess Yuu had known that it was he who planned to kill her father. Kansuke was thrown off guard.

The princess continued, “I simply mentioned it; I bear no grudge against you. You do not have to worry about that. What I really wanted to ask you is would you please take care of this child?” Princess Yuu turned her face to Kansuke.

“Yes,” Kansuke answered.

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“I beg your pardon?” With the weight of this responsibility, Kansuke felt his body trembling. His knees were visibly shaking, and he could see that his hands on his knees were also trembling.

“In the future I would like this child to be the heir of the Takeda Clan,” Princess Yuu stated her desire fearlessly. Kansuke was startled by her openness and looked around him with alarm.

“I let my life be under your control. You told me to live; therefore I lived. You told me to come to Kai; so I did. You told me to be his concubine; so I did. You told me to have his child; so I did.” Briefly she stopped talking. Then she continued:

“Please look after this child.”

After Kansuke left the residence of Princess Yuu, he descended the slope of the hill and came out on the east side of the castle. The opposite side of the rice field was filled with azalea blossoms. It looked as if the entire mountain was covered with beautiful flames. A warm wind was blowing from the west to the east. This rare battleless month was just about approaching its end.

That day, Kansuke visited Harunobu to congratulate him on the birth of his son. He said to Harunobu, “The birth of your son will soften the hatred of people of Suwa. The best thing for you to do is to make this child the lord of the extensive territory of Ina and Suwa Provinces as soon as possible.”

Kansuke felt that it was vital for the Takeda to place Princess Yuu’s child in the Ina and Suwa area for the safety of the child as well as to settle the uneasiness and hostility of the people of the area.