Chapter :-51 The Onin War (Part-2)

"Are the preparations ready?"

"Yes, our Gerard family has mobilised about 120,000 soldiers. All are in top condition, fully armoured, elite-soldiers, the opposing forces may have a numbers advantage over our mobilised forces, but our equipment is far superior to theirs."

"Hosokawa family will soon be cornered in the northeast portion of Kyoto around their mansion, while Yamana family has taken control of the south and west. Yamana received 20,000 reinforcements under Ōuchi Masahiro in September.

"However, the Hosokawa family was able to bring minister Hao to the Bakufu from the Emperor's Palace, before Yamana family could isolate the area with 50,000 men."

"Hosokawa family then received Akamatsu troops as reinforcements. On 1 November, Yamana family were able to capture the Shōkoku-Ji after bribing a monk."

"Our ninja's reported that Hosokawa family will attempt to attack the Yamana family on New Years Day, and then again in April, but for the most part the two armies now remain glaring at one another month after month."

"A central trench ten feet deep and twenty feet wide separated the two armies. Several monasteries had been burned, including the Tenryū-Ji."

"Both of the sides have taken a lot of damage, their soldiers are also exhausted, I suggest we should take action once Hosokawa family attacks the Yamana family on New Years Day and take them all out in one scoop."

"I agree, but the western portion of the mansion can be used to retreat in case they are caught in a bad situation."

"I will take care of it…."

"Are you sure, Kojirou-sama? You should take a few soldiers along you…."

"20 thousand soldiers will be enough…."

"Very well, Kojirou-sama…."

"Kiyohime-sama, you must kill their clan head first, the moral of their soldiers will surely fall if you succeed in doing so, even better if you can do so at the beginning of the battle."

"I will keep it in mind, Kojirou-sama…."

"When is the New Year's Day?"

"About 3-days from today…."

"Well then, we should prepare for battle, double the training for tomorrow and let them rest for the next two days."

"It's time we strengthen our authority within [Kyoto].."

(After 3-days)

"Today, we, the Gerard family, the current [Shogunate] family has been challenged, two of the upper-level households dare!!! Endanger the capital. Due to it being an inner-issue, we decided to turn a blind eye to their actions."

"But no more!!! They dare bring army within OUR city!!! They dare destroy the property of OUR city!!! They dare threaten the safety of OUR people!!! We had enough!!!."

"Will you just watch as they destroy our city!!!"

"NO!!!"

"Will you just watch as they threaten our family!!!"

"NO!!!"

"Will you just let them be?!!!"

"NO!!!"

"What will you do!!!"

"WE WILL FIGHT!!!"

"WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE THEM OF DISRUPTING THE PEACE THAT WE ESTABLISHED FOR THE LAST TWO CENTURIES!!!"

"WE GIVE THEM HELL!!!"

"Give them Hell!!!"

"FORWARD SOLDIERS!!! TODAY WE FIGHT FOR HONOR!!! TODAY WE FIGHT FOR FAMILY!!! TODAY WE FIGHT FOR PEACE!!!….."

"WINE FOR ALL OUR WARRIORS!!!, WOMAN FOR OUR SOLDIERS!!!, MONEY FOR THE DEAD!!!, LET US CONQUER!!!"

"MAY THE MAIN FAMILY WATCH OVER US!!!"

"MAY THE MAIN FAMILY WAT—....."

"MAY THE MAIN FA—....."

"..."

The soldiers galloped forward towards the Kinju district, the mansion was burned, and many houses were destroyed, many killed. It was even reported that the Hosokawa's men mass raped the residents living in the area.

The soldiers were furious at the sight of such carnage; they couldn't wait to kill the bastards who destroyed their city. In truth, Kiyohime wanted to take action, the day she received the report that the Hosokawa family was preparing for a war with the other faction, but her master stopped her from doing so.

She was reluctant but had to follow his commands, but not before asking for the reason behind his decision. She clearly remembers what he said at that time.

ᒥ...Don't interfere in their conflict, let the flames of battles engulf the neighbouring places, covertly send some Gerard family elites to make the people living near the area leave until the matter is settled…ᒧ

ᒥ...After they have fought for a few months, take your army and crush them, the surrounding [Shougunate] will inevitably face trouble due to the various powers participating with this 'war'…ᒧ

ᒥ...Few of the active ones would surely try to gain more benefit and attack the weaker [Shogunate], this, in turn, would start unrest with the country as more and more warlords would try to claim more territory and wealth...ᒧ

After hearing his words, she asked him that wouldn't it be bad if that were to happen? He laughed at her, questioned and replied with relative ease.

ᒥ...When such a situation arrives, we will scoop in and unite the whole country as one; China has been putting pressure on our land and being using our resources without any problem, our people are not united, only after someone forcefully unites the whole country will we become strong…ᒧ

After hearing her master's plan, Kiyohime was in deep thoughts. After contemplating his words, she immediately thought of a significant problem in his plan.

«Master, if you want to rule Japan, then you have to show your face and existence to the people of the country, but that is a problem as you are an immortal.»

«People may forget a random person, but they wouldn't forget the unifier of the country. Even with your 70-years forgetting magic, people will surely suspect something is wrong after finding nothing about the unifiers.»

«You will become too great of a person to forget about.»

He once again smiled at her words before countering her with his words.

«I never said that I want to rule the country. I said that I want to unite the people. I already have the perfect candidate to be the unifier; we just need to provide support and deepen our roots within the country.»

Kiyohime clearly understood that her master had a plan; he just wanted to use this conflict to fan the flames of war and unite the country under one banner. Since he couldn't be the leader, then he would be the one to decide, who gets to be the unifier.

This way the Mikaelson clan would continue to grow more and more powerful and influential as the time passes and not before long, they would be the ones who would control the significant aspects of the country including the army and wealth.

It was a well thought out plan which was ultimately in favour of the country as a whole. Kiyohime wouldn't disappoint her master and would finish the task given to her with high efficiency.

"Kojirou-sama, please head towards the western part of the area while we attack from the front."

The long white-haired woman, wearing traditional armour covering her chest, arms, legs, etc.; spoke to the cool samurai from top of her brown horse which looked robust and healthy.

Her crimson eyes had a sharp look while two short sticks tied her long hairs behind her head, a Flintlock and [Honjo Muramasa] hung by her waist. She was beautiful and had a serious expression on her face as she looked towards the samurai.

The samurai swordsman had long indigo hair tied into ponytail and indigo eyes. He wore a traditional light purple umanori hakama and kimono, light purple [tabi] and black [geta] with purple [haori] and [tekkou] and carried his sword, [Monohoshi Zao] on his back.

Even at the battlefield, he wore light clothes which didn't offer much protection and had his eyes closed while riding on the back of a brown horse.

"Very well…."

He replied with his eyes closed and controlled the horse along with 20,000 soldiers to go to the Western part of the area.

Kiyohime watched Sasaki go as she turned her sight towards the burned mansion as she thought to herself.

ᒥ...Let's kill these bastards!!!…ᒧ