Chapter 1675: Hearts Divided

As the Han army advanced, news of the shogunate's crushing defeat at Himeji Castle swiftly spread to every corner of Japan, shaking every region. Those loyal to the shogunate were deeply grieved, some even sinking into constant dread, while those discontented with the shogunate cheered and leaped with joy.

As for those who had always appeared unmoved on the surface but had in truth been watching for their moment, they felt an even sharper urgency. They wanted to act quickly to seize advantage amid the violently shifting situation, or at the very least preserve their own vested interests.

Now that the shogunate's rule was tottering on the brink, the obstacles hindering their actions had grown smaller and smaller. And as the Han army pushed deeper and deeper into Honshu, they too would soon face the agonizing dilemma of whether to resist the Han.

The Maeda family of Kaga Domain found itself in precisely such circumstances.

The founding patriarch of Kaga Domain, Maeda Toshiie, was of humble origin, originally no more than a minor samurai of Owari Province. He began his rise because he became Oda Nobunaga's page from a young age and enjoyed Oda Nobunaga's deep trust. Over the course of many years, he slowly rose through the ranks of the Oda clan's army, campaigning across the land at Oda Nobunaga's side and rendering great service all along the way, until finally Oda Nobunaga appointed him a commanding general and granted him a fief of 230,000 koku in Noto Province.

However, what truly made Maeda Toshiie illustrious was not merely his strategic acumen and courage in battle. Time and again amid the turbulent circumstances of the late Warring States period, he chose sides — and always stood with the victors. This became the chief reason for his rise — and, even more so, the chief reason the Maeda family was able to preserve its wealth and status rather than being destroyed by the turbulent times like so many other daimyo families.

After Oda Nobunaga died in the Honno-ji Incident, the great generals of the Oda clan began to contend over the succession to his legacy. The two main rivals were Shibata Katsuie and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Maeda Toshiie initially supported Shibata Katsuie, but later, after carefully weighing the situation, he judged that Shibata Katsuie was no match for Toyotomi Hideyoshi and promptly switched his allegiance to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The defection of a daimyo holding over 200,000 koku naturally gave Toyotomi Hideyoshi tremendous help. Later, at the Battle of Shizugatake, he decisively crushed Shibata Katsuie and drove him to suicide. Thus Toyotomi Hideyoshi became the second man after Oda Nobunaga to hold sway over the realm, and also became Maeda Toshiie's new lord.

To reward Maeda Toshiie, Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted him additional territories, bestowing upon him Kaga Province and Etchu Province, which bordered Noto Province. The territories of these three provinces became the Maeda family's foundation and the source of its wealth. Maeda Toshiie wept tears of gratitude toward Toyotomi Hideyoshi and became one of the Five Great Elders of the Toyotomi clan, ranking alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu, and also enjoyed Tokugawa Ieyasu's deep respect.

But the chaos of the Warring States period was not yet over. Soon, with the death of the Taiko Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Toyotomi clan's regime also began to totter. Just as he had over a decade earlier, Maeda Toshiie once again found himself in a situation where he had to make a choice.

Maeda Toshiie was deeply grateful for the Taiko's kindness to him, but he had no desire to enter into full-scale confrontation with Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was beginning to show signs of seizing power. Instead, he chose to deal with Ieyasu in a moderate manner. Not long after, Maeda Toshiie died, and his son Maeda Toshinaga succeeded him as family head.

By this time, Tokugawa Ieyasu, now fully fledged, was more aggressive than ever, clearly intent on seizing the opportunity to inherit the undertakings of Nobunaga and Hideyoshi and become the new ruler of the realm. Under these circumstances, a tremendous conflict arose between Tokugawa Ieyasu and a faction of Toyotomi's old retainers, and a major armed clash seemed imminent.

At this juncture, the Maeda family, with its vast territory and power, became a key target of Ieyasu's efforts to win over allies. He used both threats and inducements, hoping the Maeda family would support him. Maeda Toshinaga judged that the system left behind by the Toyotomi clan could no longer be sustained. After much deliberation and several moments of hesitation, he ultimately threw his support behind Tokugawa Ieyasu, intending by this means to preserve the Maeda family amid the chaos of the age.

Like his father, his bet proved correct once again. At the Battle of Sekigahara, Maeda Toshinaga served as a general of the Eastern Army. Though he fought half-heartedly and was blocked several times by the Western Army, he was nonetheless counted among the victors. Moreover, to consolidate his victory, Tokugawa Ieyasu deliberately sought to win over the Maeda family.

Thus, at his behest, the Maeda family's territory was further expanded, ultimately becoming a great domain of 1,200,000 koku — the largest territory of any daimyo outside the shogunate itself.

Of course, this by no means implied that the Maeda family enjoyed smooth sailing under Tokugawa rule. In fact, as former opposition with a long record of shifting allegiances, and on top of that possessing a million-koku territory, the Tokugawa house was deeply suspicious of the Maeda family and repeatedly used various methods to suppress them and weaken their strength.

After Tokugawa Hidetada succeeded to the position of shogun, he was extremely suspicious of Maeda Toshinaga, even believing that Maeda Toshinaga had once attempted to assassinate Tokugawa Ieyasu and the shogunate's senior retainer Honda Masanobu. Faced with such an accusation, Maeda Toshinaga naturally defended himself in every way possible, doing all he could to dispel the shogun's misgivings, and even sent his own younger brother to Edo as a hostage before the matter was finally settled.

From this it is evident that, despite its outward generosity, the shogunate's suspicion and wariness toward the Maeda family was not the slightest bit diminished.

In the upheavals of the age, the Maeda family had chosen the correct side time and again, and through this method had acquired territories that others could not gain even by fighting to the death — truly serving as a footnote to that era of ceaseless flux. And this style of conduct, this habit of betting on the winning side, was destined to be passed down as a family tradition, becoming instinct for the descendants of the Maeda family.

Twenty years ago, Maeda Toshinaga had already passed away. The one who succeeded him as family head and ruled the entire Kaga Domain as its lord was his adopted son, Maeda Toshitsune. Maeda Toshitsune was originally Maeda Toshiie's youngest son, but because his eldest brother Maeda Toshinaga had no heir, he had been adopted by Maeda Toshinaga at a very young age to serve as the domain's successor. Such an arrangement seems contrary to ethics, but it was quite common during the Warring States period.

At the same time, in order to win over the Maeda family and control this million-koku great domain, the shogunate also arranged a marriage alliance with Maeda Toshitsune. He married Tokugawa Hidetada's daughter Tamahime, and Tamahime was the elder sister of the current Empress Dowager Kazuko — so in fact, he and the Cloistered Emperor were also brothers-in-law.

Maeda Toshitsune was still quite young, now only forty years of age. Although in his youth he had once led 20,000 troops to participate in Tokugawa Ieyasu's siege of Osaka Castle, he had, truth be told, little military experience. And now, the most difficult trial of all had been laid upon his desk.

Like his father and his brother, he knew that he and his family had arrived at a new fork in the road. A single misstep would mean utter ruin beyond redemption, and he could only summon his courage, muster every ounce of his spirit, and find a path among the branching ways that belonged to the Maeda family.

Fortunately, however, Kaga Province was situated in the north-central part of Honshu. Its geographical position afforded him time and space to buffer, while the domain's vast territory also gave him ample capital, allowing him to remain calm and unmoving for the time being amid the chaotic and perilous situation, and to make the most prudent judgment possible.

Upon learning of the fall of Himeji Castle, the shogunate's inability to resist the allied forces of the Han and domains like the Mori, and the chaos engulfing the Kinai region, he immediately summoned the Maeda family's most core group of family members and the domain's senior retainers to discuss the current situation and the Maeda family's next course of action.

The castle town of the Maeda family's Kaga Domain was Kanazawa Castle in Ishikawa District. Kaga Domain was a great domain of a million koku, and the Maeda family had deliberately cultivated their domain's castle town, so although Kanazawa Castle was located in a remote area, it was still a sizable castle. While it could not compare to places like Edo or Osaka, its scale was not small.

However, due to the recent warfare, the atmosphere in Kanazawa Castle had now become much more grim. Martial law was enforced throughout the castle, and the usual bustle was nowhere to be seen.

Matching the atmosphere in the castle, the assembled Maeda family members and domain senior retainers all wore solemn expressions.

Some were anxious about the Maeda family's future, some were fearful at the approaching edge of the Han army's blade, and some were agonizing over their plans for what came next... but not a single one was grieving over the shogunate's defeat.

Although the shogunate outwardly treated the Maeda family very favorably, and the Tokugawa house was even related by marriage to the domain lord, the Maeda family bore no great affection for the shogunate. On the contrary, they harbored resentment over the shogunate's constant suppression. So when they saw the Tokugawa house locked in battle with the Han and suffering defeat after defeat, no one worried for the shogunate; some even took malicious pleasure in its misfortune.

Were it not for the fear that the Han might also regard Kaga Domain as an enemy, or at least threaten the Maeda family's interests, many would likely already be cheering in delight.

After summoning everyone, Maeda Toshitsune explained the latest intelligence to these domain retainers in detail, emphasizing the chaotic state of the Kinai region and the shogunate.

"Yesterday, this domain received an order from the shogun himself, demanding that we quickly muster our troops and march south to the Kinai to assist the shogunate's great army in resisting the Han invaders." After speaking, he looked toward this group of retainers, then said, "In your view, what should this domain do now? Should we obey the shogun's instructions, or should we make other plans?"

After the shogunate's disastrous defeat at Himeji Castle, the Kansai region was already in chaos. Moreover, because the force led by Itakura Shigemune to intercept the Han army had been nearly annihilated under their pursuit, the shogunate's troop strength in the capital was now extremely depleted and in desperate need of reinforcements.

At the same time, the shogunate also needed large numbers of troops to hold its own territory in the Kanto region, resulting in a predicament of insufficient manpower. After weighing the pros and cons, Tokugawa Iemitsu finally set aside his previous prejudices and decided to have powerful domains like the Maeda march south to assist the shogunate in resisting the Han invaders. However, he also knew that the Maeda family would not be easily commanded, so in his letter he also promised substantial rewards.

Yet after receiving this letter, Maeda Toshitsune did not, as Tokugawa Iemitsu had hoped, immediately raise troops and march south. Instead, he summoned the domain's senior retainers to deliberate.

After Maeda Toshitsune posed this question, these senior retainers all looked at one another for a moment, none speaking up. For they all understood that what they were about to discuss was a matter concerning the very survival of the Maeda family and Kaga Domain, a matter that absolutely permitted not the slightest negligence.

But this silence, ultimately, could not last.

"My lord, I believe we must not break with the Han!" Amid the stillness, a voice full of vigor suddenly rang out.

His voice was loud and sounded utterly resolute.

Maeda Toshitsune looked up and saw that the speaker was his younger half-brother by a different mother, Maeda Toshitaka.

Because his own mother was of low birth and his elder brother, the previous domain lord Maeda Toshinaga, had been very overbearing in his conduct, Maeda Toshitsune had been mild-mannered since childhood. After becoming domain lord, he had also been very careful to maintain good relations with his various brothers.

It was precisely because of his status as a younger brother that Maeda Toshitaka dared to be the first to speak at such an important council.

"Why do you say so?" Hearing Maeda Toshitaka's words, Maeda Toshitsune did not appear particularly surprised, but still pressed in a low voice.

"How the shogunate has treated our Maeda family in the past is plain for all to see. They have schemed relentlessly against us, seeking to weaken our strength and seize our territory. Since they have treated us so, why should we go and throw our lives away for them?" Maeda Toshitaka declared boldly under the gaze of all present. "Moreover, the fact that they are begging us for aid shows that the Han army's blade is simply too sharp for them to withstand... If even the shogunate's army cannot withstand it, why must we make an enemy of the Han?"

"But... the Han are ruthlessly militaristic... and even more savage by nature. Even if we do not make an enemy of them, will they simply let us be? I fear that if the lips are gone, the teeth will grow cold." Maeda Toshitsune shook his head, seeming not quite to agree with his younger brother's opinion. "If we must make an enemy of the Han, then we need all the more to aid the shogunate."

"Though the Han are savage, judging by their conduct over these recent months, they are not merely mindlessly bloodthirsty. On the contrary, they place great importance on righteous cause and moral justification, and even more so on winning the support of the various domain lords and powerful clans. They previously issued a proclamation stating only that they would eliminate the shogunate and certain domain lords who abet them; they did not regard us as enemies." Maeda Toshitaka lowered his head and continued to elaborate his thoughts. "Look at the examples of the Shimazu and Mori families — look even at the example of the Imperial Court — and you will understand."

"But that is merely our own thinking. No one can be certain." Maeda Toshitsune still hesitated somewhat. "The Han's movements are inscrutable, and their methods are overbearing. They may not necessarily tolerate us."

"Right now it is only that they may not tolerate us, but if we join the shogunate in fighting them, then they will certainly not tolerate us!" Maeda Toshitaka grew somewhat agitated. "My lord, if we persist in suspicion, we will only miss the opportune moment and become the shogunate's puppet, never to escape calamity!"

His anxious manner stirred Maeda Toshitsune slightly.

"My lord, I also believe that now is not the time to directly engage the Han in battle." Just then, another person spoke up. "In my humble view, the best course now is to send an envoy to make contact with the Han, see what terms they can offer us, and then make our decision without delay. If we rashly answer the shogun's call and go to war with the Han, it would be tantamount to cutting off our own retreat... I fear it would be detrimental to the Maeda family's foundation. My lord, the Shimazu and Mori families were both able to assess the situation and seek amicable relations with the Han army — why can our Maeda family not do the same?"

The speaker this time was Maeda Toshitoyo, also a younger half-brother of Maeda Toshitsune by a different mother. Due to their blood ties, he also held considerable sway within the domain.

After these two retainers, the ones closest by blood to the domain lord, had spoken, the atmosphere in the chamber grew rather peculiar. Though the expressions of the others varied, no one stepped forward to refute the opinions of these two.

Indeed, if the Han merely wished to oppose the shogunate and had no intention of targeting the Maeda family, then the Maeda family truly had no reason to fight to the death against the fearsome Han invaders.

And the fact that the domain lord's two younger brothers had spoken also indicated that a powerful faction already existed within the domain opposing obedience to the shogunate's orders and a death struggle against the Han — a faction the domain lord could not afford to ignore.

Maeda Toshitsune furrowed his brow slightly, then swept his gaze around the room, carefully scrutinizing the attitudes of the others. At last, he made up his mind.

"Then we shall dispatch an envoy to negotiate with the Han. Until the negotiations yield a result, we shall keep our troops in place for the time being."

"My lord is wise!" Maeda Toshitaka was overjoyed and promptly kowtowed in salute to the domain lord. "I volunteer to go and negotiate with the Han. I beg my lord's permission!"

Maeda Toshitaka had previously been sent to Edo as a hostage when Maeda Toshinaga was suspected of plotting to assassinate Tokugawa Ieyasu, and had spent his entire childhood there. As a result, his attitude toward the shogunate was extremely poor, and he had always harbored lingering resentment. Before, with no opportunity for revenge, he could only endure in secret, but now, at this moment, he had finally waited for the time to strike a counterblow against the shogunate.

"Very well, very well. Since you are the one strongly advocating this, I shall leave it to you to handle." After considering for a moment, Maeda Toshitsune nodded and agreed to his proposal. "The situation is urgent and we cannot afford to waste time, so you will set out tomorrow."

"Yes!" Maeda Toshitaka immediately accepted the order.

After Maeda Toshitsune issued this command, the other domain vassals suddenly came to a realization.

The domain lord has always been cautious in his approach — why did he agree to his younger brother's proposal so quickly today, and make a decision so swiftly? Moreover, those who strongly advocated holding the troops and negotiating with Great Han today were also his own blood brothers.

From this, it was clear that the domain lord had already discussed and settled this decision with his two most trusted younger brothers beforehand. Today's vassal council was merely a means to let Maeda Toshitaka shoulder the responsibility, while incidentally observing everyone else's reactions.

Realizing this, the vassals all secretly congratulated themselves for not voicing any objections earlier — otherwise, they feared, things would not have ended well for them.

After making this initial decision, Maeda Toshitsune's expression remained unchanged. He turned to the other vassals. "In truth... the letter I received yesterday was not the only one. The Date family of Sendai Domain also sent an envoy to us."

"Sendai Domain?" The vassals exchanged bewildered glances once more.