TOKUGAWA IEYASU
Episode 15: The Conspiracy
In the summer of 1572,
Okazaki Saburo Nobuyasu was ordered to go to war.
His destination was Asuke, one of the paths to Okazaki.
A Kai general, Shimojo Isu was in the castle.
Oga Yashiro is in charge of the supplies.
We shall wait for your instructions.
Yashiro... we're only attacking Izu. We won't trouble you.
We'll defeat them and use their supplies.
What bravery! As soon as we hear of the fall of Asuka castle,
I'll go over with my supplies.
Young lord!
I'm going off to war!
Take care and bear me a fine child!
Yes. I shall pray from your victory.
You look so handsome like a painting of a brave warrior.
Please don't get wounded.
Don't worry, mother. Expect a heroic deed from me.
I'll wait for good news.
My lord? The generals have gathered together.
Okay.
Nagashino was one of the entry ways for Takeda Katsuyori,
and a point of great conflict for both armies.
Ieyasu's strategy was to send Noboyasu to war
so that the Takeda's army would have to be divided.
Oga Yashiro was entrusted with the provisions.
He had to come to see Ieyasu off a Okazaki castle.
What's so funny?
Don't blame me. That vixen's son said something funny.
My sides ache. I laughed so hard.
Vixen's son? You mean the young heir?
You don't like that?
Even walls have ears, they say.
Better be careful.
Even if we talk of the Tokugawa or Matsudaira clans,
they're just men like us.
I rose to my present status as one of the lords from being a foot soldier.
The founder of the Matsudaira clan was a mere vagabond.
He found the Mastudaira's rich landowner's daughter,
killed her people, and gained power.
Our lord and his kid has that blood in them.
Do you think that young heir can defeat Shimojo Izu?
You have laid a trap for him?
He'll win there.
He has to win there. Shimojo would abandon his castle.
What?
Overconfident, he'll go on to Busetsu castle.
While he's fighting the war, the Koshu army will enter this Okazaki castle.
Power will change hands, then.
What about our young lord then?
He can't come back and cry for his castle, can he.
If he does cry about it...
he won't make it back alive.
We'll have to discuss with our colleagues.
It's your job to inform the men in Kotani castle.
Understand.
Excuse me.
Lord Nobuyasu has arrived in Asuke
and is currently engaged in battle!
What? Once Asuke is defeated, we'll set off to Nagashino.
The Yamasa Sanpo clans are divided.
Some feel they should follow the Tokugawa,
yet some want to survive with the Takeda clan.
One of them, Okudaira Mimasaka,
has surrendered the main wing of his castle to the Takeda,
yet at heard, he is displeased with Takeda Shingen.
He has a grudge against them for taking his castle.
We have experienced that.
Fine... send a messenger to Mimasaka.
Yes.
The day has come for our dream to come true.
I need one of you to carry a message to Busetsu castle.
Our colleague, Dr. Genkei is there.
Have Dr. Genkei take you to Shimojo Izu.
What's the message?
Have a drink first.
I'll write a letter.
Take that with you and exchange it with Katsuyori's oath.
Katsuyori's oath?
An oath stating that once they defeat the Tokugawa Ieyasu clan,
they would grant us the Okazaki castle
and its territories.
Okazaki castle and its territories...
I'll become Okazaki's lord
and I'll give you the smaller castles.
Then, we'll make plans for the future.
Who will be that emissary?
Who should it be?
It's a big job.
Whether one can be a castle lord
or be a measly taxpayer forever, depends on this.
We'll draw lots.
That's fair.
Each take one.
It's me!
I'm counting on you.
Understand?
Yamada Hachizo was assigned to the emissary's task.
I'm celebrating tonight.
You come sit with me.
I'll pour the sake.
You'll ruin your health if you drink any more.
You've been successful but don't die young.
Successful?
That's funny!
What're you saying in your drunkenness?
You'd be punished if you forget your place.
It saddens me to see you who know your place too well.
What would you do,
if you became a lady?
Stop this daydreaming.
A dream, is it?
My dream will come true, though.
It's a prophecy!
On July 20th...
Ieyasu burned the main wing of Nagashino castle.
The time was ripe for his full scale attack.
Just then, a secret visitor came to see Ieyasu.
It was an emissary from Okudaira Mimasaka,
who, in appearance, had submitted to the Koshu army.
I'm Natsume Gorozemon Harusada of the Okudaira clan.
You're about to launch an attack on Nagashino castle.
So, we were ordered by our general
to attack from behind you in order to trap you.
Trap us?
So, that's their strategy after all?
My lord Okudaira feels that they're trying to separate
the Hamamatsu, Yoshida, and Okazaki castle first.
Then they'll launch an attack.
Your lord must have a strategy. Tell me.
I'd like to ask you something first.
What is it?
In the event of your victory, we'd like to keep out lands.
Don't worry. The residents are pleased with your control.
Secondly, we'd like our heir Sadamasa to marry your daughter.
Kame? Marry Sadamasa?
If you would agree to those two conditions,
my lord Okudaira Mimasaka, would give you his life
in order to let you win this war.
And his strategy?
We'll spread rumours that my lord is rebelling against the Takeda.
Then, the Takeda's can't move freely from our castle.
That's your chance to do what you need to do.
I see.
So, Mimasaka is giving me his life...
Giving my girl won't be enough. I'll give him 3,000 kan.
I appreciate that.
What about Mimasaka's people...
the ones he sent as hostages to the Takeda?
She is Ofu, our heir Sadamasa's wife.
I see.
We're not asking for your girl just to take her place...
But if you become our ally, the Takeda's would kill her.
She was wife only in name. She's prepared to be killed.
Who is her father?
Ofu is my daughter.
War is cruel.
She comforted her crying mother
saying she's honored to help her clan.
Kazumasa! Bring some paper!
To Sena, Nobuyasu's first war
was merely a step he had to take before going to Koshu.
Sena believed in Yashiro and was waiting for that day.
My Lady.
I brought Kino, my sister serves Princess Toku.
Thank you. How is the Oda princess doing?
She received good news from Asuke.
A letter from Asuke?
Yes. The news is that our young lord has defeated Shimojo Izu
and entered the Asuke castle yesterday.
How courageous!
Just as expected of a descendent of the Imagawa clan!
He'll return the day after tomorrow,
so I must be prepared, too.
What a happy occasion!
I'll have to greet him at the main gate.
It seems he won't return just yet. I'll have to greet him at the main gate.
What? Is he going further?
Yes.
The elders recommended he return, but
he is now continuing on to the Busetsu castle.
I see... he should show them his strength now.
What did the Oda Princess say?
She has been encouraged by the good news?
I see.
Any news to her from Hamamatsu?
Yes. Lady Oman has conceived.
She is due around the same time my lady is due.
What? Oman conceived again?
Our lord was happy. He'll have a new baby to hold when he returns.
Kino.
Go to Hamamatsu.
To congratulate her?
What a good idea.
Pretend you're there to congratulate her.
When you see her, stab Oman in her breast!
Lady Oman?!
What's the expression?
Oman was my servant.
But she seduced my lord...
and betrayed me!
The sooner the better.
She won't bear her child!
Princess Toku?
Kame?
What are you doing here?
You said you weren't feeling well, mother,
so I came in your place to congratulate her.
That's right.
Princess Toku, congratulations!
My lord asked me to bear him a strong child.
He's always so kind.
Would you let me send Kino to Hamamatsu castle?
Yes.
Sir Honda?
Our young heir has ordered me to bring provisions to Busetsu.
Why does he take his father's advice so lightly?
That was just a sham and the real goal lies elsewhere.
I should have gone with him.
I received subsequent reports.
You go tell young heir that his war isn't the only one.
Yes, I will.
What was our lord's report?
That the enemy is preparing to attack Hamamatsu
while our lord is off to Nagashino.
Then Hamamatsu will be a battlefield.
So as soon as our young lord returns,
I'll go to Hamamatsu. We're prepared to stay and fight.
The Hamamatsu castle is in danger?
I'm sure the enemy would penetrate into Totomi.
So, make sure our young lord returns as soon as possible.
Or else the Okazaki castle would be in danger, too.
Yes, Sir.
In the future, too...
you must control our young lord's willfulness.
Yes.
I'll leave early tomorrow morning.
I held my breath when I saw that ogre coming.
What if he had examined our bundles here?
Fate has abandoned this Okazaki castle
and is smiling at me.
Guard these well.
Sir Oga has come to the garden.
I heard you asked for me often.
Sir Yashiro?
I need to talk to you in private.
Koto, don't let anyone through.
Sir Yashiro.
Thank you for all your efforts.
Are we prepared now?
When will they come to fetch me from Koshu?
Sir Yashiro, why are you staring at me?
You were so smooth.
I'm sure our lord will be hurt to see that you left him.
This is all due to your efforts.
As stated in the oath, our young heir would receive
Lord Ieyasu's territory and
part of Lord Oda Nobunaga's territories.
I'll make sure you get your share.
My, Sir Yashiro, what's so funny?
We're lucky with everything, so, I'm happy.
Really... will they come tomorrow or the day after?
Right...
the young heir is waiting for me.
I can't wait!
Well, well.
Can you please let me know a half a day in advance?
What're you going to do?
Before I leave this castle, I have one more thing to do.
What is it?
I must avenge my uncle's death
and kill Toku, the daughter of Nobunaga, my uncle's killer.
You fool! I forbid you!
Sir Yashiro.
I'm your lord's wife.
I can't let you call me a "fool."
You are a fool!
How dare you insult me twice!
I have modesty in front of others
but you're nothing when you're alone.
Yashiro?
I am after my lord's head.
You bear a grudge against your husband.
We're colleagues, you're not my boss or anything!
You claim that you're not my retainer?
Of course not!
I'm your colleague and lover.
I won't let you act selfishly and kill Princess Toku!
What?
Talk about a woman's stupidity...
If we kill Toku, the Oda army would flood into our castle!
Why can't you let her bear a child and hold them hostage?
Princess... a hostage?
She's a valuable hostage
with whom we can control the Oda's.
How can we lose her?
You keep in mind the neither myself nor Lord Katsuyori
would allow you to be so selfish!
Understand?!
Yes.
We're facing a crucial time.
If I should make a mistake,
then be prepared that not only you but your son would die, also!
I'm going now.
Understand?
Yes.
Ieyasu, who was at Nagashino,
waited for the reply from Okudaira Mimasaka.
Let's go!
Yashiro, pretending to transport provisions,
he set out with enough weapons to defeat Nobuyasu.
Kino, with orders from Lady Tsukiyama, arrived in Hamamatsu.
I'm Kino, from Okazaki.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
The Lady was happy that you came with many gifts.
Her bedroom is small but she would like to see you there.
Then, please escort me there.
This way, please.
Come in.
Forgive me for greeting you, the Lady's messenger, in such a room.
How is the Princess?
Yes...
Our young heir has very few relatives so she felt lonely.
But now that you are pregnant,
she wants to be friends with you, she said.
Please stay there.
I can't sit here.
You'd better not make any noise!
Please be quiet, my Lady.
Sir Honda, it's over now. Please take care of the rest.
That's enough.
Let her go.
You're Lord Fujikawa Kyubei's niece.
I know who your parents are so dying would do no good.
What a problem...
What did she do?
I'll explain later. Come to my room.
Have sympathy! Kill me! Don't ask me anything!
No!
Who ordered you to kill our Lady?
You're not the type who can kill.
Yet, the one who ordered you couldn't have been the Princess.
I passed you on your way here.
I saw your tense expression
and remembered your sister worked for Lady Tsukiyama.
That's when I knew that you were out to cause trouble.
Tell the person who ordered you that when you arrived...
Oman was already in labour!
You couldn't see her and left the gifts with me.
That's what you're going to do.
Then...
I can kill you...
but your family would be executed, too.
What a stupid girl!
Listen...
Someone call Oai and Lady Oman!
Our lord in engaged in a once in a lifetime battle
and he hasn't removed his armour for a month.
We can't let him know of this...
so I'll take Oman with me.
Where to?
I don't want this to happen again
so I'll take you away.
Please agree to that.
I have a dear child in me.
Do what you think is best.
How deeply Lady Tsukiyama must hate me!
Their destination was the home of Nakamura Genzaemon.
Sakuza did this to prevent the enemy from taking Oman
hostage in case Hamamatsu castle was attacked.
Wipe your tears and tell me about Okazaki.
Why were you assigned to this task?
Yes...
I was ordered by her to serve Princess Toku.
What?
Yes. She is the Princess of the Oda clan.
Lady Tsukiyama, an Imagawa by blood, is her enemy.
So, I was told to watch Princess Toku.
why does Lady Tsukiyama hate Toku so much?
She invited a mountain monk
to pray that a girl would be born instead of an heir.
Let's sleep next to each other tonight.
And one more thing.
Don't tell anyone about the monk.
Yes.
If the Lord of the Oda clan should find out,
it would cause trouble for our young heir.
Yes.
And...
once you return to Okazaki, dedicate yourself to protecting Princess Toku.
This is you debt to repay for having your family spared.
Yes.
Let's go!
Ieyasu, who felt the time was ripe,
proceeded with a full-scale attack on the Takeda.
The Takeda clan tried to find out the Okudaira's intentions.
An urgent message from the Takeda clan!
Spill it.
They ordered you to attack Kurose!
So it came...
That's not all, is it?
They also want Senmaru as hostage!
What? Senmaru?!
The Takeda's are cautious.
Send Sanmaru ahead with Kuroya Kinkuro.
That hostage would be killed
together with Ofu!
Lord Ieyasu's 3,000 kan was in exchange for Senmaru's life.
Lord.
Bring Kuroya and Senmaru here!
Father, how can you send him to die?
Everyone makes sacrifices.
For the first time in my life,
I submitted to the Takeda clan against my will.
I'm mortified! Understand?
I must make amends for my future descendants.
We will welcome the Tokugawa's daughter in marriage.
We won't be their retainers but their relatives.
I'm helping them out...
so I can tolerate this embarrassment.
Even if I'm killed...
once Nagashino falls, our goal will be accomplished.
If I die, the Takeda's can't leave this castle,
and they can't send aid to Nagashino.
I shall escort you to battle.
If I die, that's a signal.
If I return, that's another signal.
Yes.
You're Lord Tokugawa's future son-in-law.
What you do now will affect you future.
Lord, I brought Senmaru.
Father, brother, good morning!
Thirteen year old Senmaru was the apple of Mimasaka's eye.
He sent Senmaru out as hostage and went to see the Takeda's.
Attack!
The full scale attack on Nagashino began.
But the Takeda's reinforcement was busy with Mimasaka,
and couldn't render aid to Nagashino.
Ieyasu and Mimasaka's strategy was about to succeed.
- Father. - It went well.
They didn't suspect us one bit for leaning toward the Tokugawa.
You're ready?
I am!
Very well!
My armour, sword, and spear!
Lord...
- What about Senmaru? - I don't know.
I fooled the Takeda's so he's still alive.
Once they discover our ties with the Tokugawa,
Ofu and Senmaru would be tortured to death.
I'll show them how I fight!
Aim the guns at the main wing!
Take aim!
Fire!
Caught unexpectedly, there was total confusion.
The Okudaira clansmen left the castle.
Fight! Don't let Mimasaka's efforts go to waste!
September 10th, 1572
Ieyasu conquered Nagashono castle and realized his long-cherished desire.
To be continued.