life into the earth. The year before, the foxes had feasted on the bodies of these men, growing fat for the winter so an unusually large number of them survived the snows and lived to breed.
All the abundant life around him came from death.
Sekigahara was astride the Nakasendo Road and only a short march from the Tokaido Road. Whoever controlled this areacould control the movement between Kyoto, the ancient capital, and Ieyasu’s domains around Edo.
The forces opposing the Tokugawas had covered the hills, and Ieyasu had marched his army into the middle of the valley. In addition, Ieyasu had decided not to await the arrival of his son, who had a third of the Tokugawa army. The son was diverted besieging a castle, and Ieyasu was furious at his tardiness. If Ieyasu won at Sekigahara, the stubborn castle captured by his son would have no meaning.
Normally, Ieyasu’s battle plan would have been disastrous. His smaller army could be crushed on both flanks by the superior forces sitting on the hills on either side of him. But Ieyasu had bribed the commanders on the flanks to either stay neutral or to attack their supposed allies. Of all the forces loyal to Hideyoshi’s heir that were bribed, the key was the men of Kobayakawa Hideaki, who sat on a hill and anchored the right flank of the army opposing Ieyasu. Kobayakawa was an adopted son of Hideyoshi, so his treachery was especially surprising and odious.
Survivors of the battle told Kaze that the night before, it had rained heavily, and during the early morning, the entire valley was covered with a dense fog. It was impossible to see either friend or foe. Kaze had been in several battles, and he could imagine what it must have been like.
Through the cold, damp fog, the thunder of the
taiko
war drums was heard. The deep sound of the drums, some as tall as a man, shook the earth if you stood next to them. Some of the drums had arrowheads inside them, to give them the mystic power to penetrate men’s souls. The powerful drumming quickened the blood and put men into the mood to kill or be killed.
The battle was desperate, with both sides winning alternating advantage as the fighting surged back and forth. The opposing general, Ishida Mitsunari, was neither skilled nor a great leader,but he should have prevailed, based on sheer numbers and superior position. Instead, lord after lord refused his orders to attack Ieyasu’s forces. At first, Kobayakawa simply refused to fight, too, but Ieyasu had a warning volley of musket fire sent his way, and Kobayakawa fell on the flank of his own army. By early afternoon, the hour of the Ram, the battle was lost.
And afterward?
Many committed suicide, because their cause was lost. Some fought to the last man. That’s what Kaze’s Lord did, along with his men. It is what Kaze would have done, had he been at Sekigahara. Others fled.
After Ieyasu won, it was time to count fallen comrades and view the severed heads of the enemy. At Sekigahara, Ieyasu viewed heads for hours, commenting on the various foes he had defeated. He knew most of them. Some were former allies, and others were longtime enemies.
Ishida ran from the battlefield, but after three days of starving and exposure in the area around Mount Ibuki, he was captured and handed over to Ieyasu. When he was given food and medicine, Ishida declared he would put Ieyasu to the trouble of killing him, instead of committing suicide. Ieyasu obliged.
While on his way to the execution grounds, Ishida was offered a persimmon, which he refused, he said, because it might upset his digestion. When someone expressed surprise at Ishida’s concern for his digestion, considering the circumstances, Ishida said, “That shows how little you understand. You can’t know how things will turn out, so while you are still breathing, you should take care of your body!” Ishida should have enjoyed the persimmon, Kaze thought, because his head was detached from his body just minutes later.
Kaze knew his
All the abundant life around him came from death.
Sekigahara was astride the Nakasendo Road and only a short march from the Tokaido Road. Whoever controlled this areacould control the movement between Kyoto, the ancient capital, and Ieyasu’s domains around Edo.
The forces opposing the Tokugawas had covered the hills, and Ieyasu had marched his army into the middle of the valley. In addition, Ieyasu had decided not to await the arrival of his son, who had a third of the Tokugawa army. The son was diverted besieging a castle, and Ieyasu was furious at his tardiness. If Ieyasu won at Sekigahara, the stubborn castle captured by his son would have no meaning.
Normally, Ieyasu’s battle plan would have been disastrous. His smaller army could be crushed on both flanks by the superior forces sitting on the hills on either side of him. But Ieyasu had bribed the commanders on the flanks to either stay neutral or to attack their supposed allies. Of all the forces loyal to Hideyoshi’s heir that were bribed, the key was the men of Kobayakawa Hideaki, who sat on a hill and anchored the right flank of the army opposing Ieyasu. Kobayakawa was an adopted son of Hideyoshi, so his treachery was especially surprising and odious.
Survivors of the battle told Kaze that the night before, it had rained heavily, and during the early morning, the entire valley was covered with a dense fog. It was impossible to see either friend or foe. Kaze had been in several battles, and he could imagine what it must have been like.
Through the cold, damp fog, the thunder of the
taiko
war drums was heard. The deep sound of the drums, some as tall as a man, shook the earth if you stood next to them. Some of the drums had arrowheads inside them, to give them the mystic power to penetrate men’s souls. The powerful drumming quickened the blood and put men into the mood to kill or be killed.
The battle was desperate, with both sides winning alternating advantage as the fighting surged back and forth. The opposing general, Ishida Mitsunari, was neither skilled nor a great leader,but he should have prevailed, based on sheer numbers and superior position. Instead, lord after lord refused his orders to attack Ieyasu’s forces. At first, Kobayakawa simply refused to fight, too, but Ieyasu had a warning volley of musket fire sent his way, and Kobayakawa fell on the flank of his own army. By early afternoon, the hour of the Ram, the battle was lost.
And afterward?
Many committed suicide, because their cause was lost. Some fought to the last man. That’s what Kaze’s Lord did, along with his men. It is what Kaze would have done, had he been at Sekigahara. Others fled.
After Ieyasu won, it was time to count fallen comrades and view the severed heads of the enemy. At Sekigahara, Ieyasu viewed heads for hours, commenting on the various foes he had defeated. He knew most of them. Some were former allies, and others were longtime enemies.
Ishida ran from the battlefield, but after three days of starving and exposure in the area around Mount Ibuki, he was captured and handed over to Ieyasu. When he was given food and medicine, Ishida declared he would put Ieyasu to the trouble of killing him, instead of committing suicide. Ieyasu obliged.
While on his way to the execution grounds, Ishida was offered a persimmon, which he refused, he said, because it might upset his digestion. When someone expressed surprise at Ishida’s concern for his digestion, considering the circumstances, Ishida said, “That shows how little you understand. You can’t know how things will turn out, so while you are still breathing, you should take care of your body!” Ishida should have enjoyed the persimmon, Kaze thought, because his head was detached from his body just minutes later.
Kaze knew his
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