Chapter :-52 The Onin War (Part-3)

*Huff*

*Huff*

*Huff*

A young man ran across the corridor, breathing heavily, beads of sweats formed over his forehead, panic and anxiety painting his face as he desperately rushed forward, just to reach his destination and fulfil his job.

*Bang*

The beautiful wooden door was pushed open with considerable force; the young man entered the room and looked around, people everywhere filled the room as they turned towards him with a questioning look.

"Gerard family's soldiers have entered the [Fleur district], about 100,000 soldiers, all on horses, wielding long iron spears and equipped with heavy armour."

"A few canon-units have also been seen with their forces…."

After hearing his words, the whole room burst into a discussion as one of them stood up and spat out the venom.

"Damn those Portuguese bastards!!!, they sold the canon blueprints to the Gerard family!!! Now, what should we do!?…"

"Calm down Rufji-san; we need to know who is leading the Gerard forces!?…."

"It is Kiyohime Gerard!!!, she even has the clearance from the emperor. Together with her army of 100,000 soldiers, she will destroy our forces."

"The Gerard family head herself has come!!!, we only have about 80,000 soldiers and the equipment of our soldiers is nothing compared to theirs, also with the canon units, we won't survive for more than a few weeks."

"What should we do!?…"

The Hosokawa family head was in deep contemplation as he thought about how he could avoid the calamity known as Gerard family.

ᒥ....We came with the preparations of a surprise attack on Yamana family, but somehow the Gerard family caught news of it….ᒧ

ᒥ....They would surely use this opportunity to get rid of both the families at once and with their military power. I fear that we will all fall….ᒧ

ᒥ....There is only one way to maybe come out of this situation, alive….ᒧ

With a deep sigh, he spoke in a bitter tone.

"Send a message to the Yamana family for cooperation, only by fight together would we be able to avoid being exterminated. The forces of [Shogun] has come to deal with both of our families, only together will we survive."

"But clan head we–…."

"We don't have a choice; we must call a truce within the family until we take care of our independent doom."

"Go…"

(At Yamana clan compound)

People gathered at the compound to celebrate New Year's Day. Singing and dancing to express their hopes and appreciation for the incoming new beginning. The festival are usually held for several days.

They wore a specific traditional costume, played music with Taiko(Japanese drum). Fireworks lit up the sky too; there are always fireworks during that matsuri. Japanese festivals are energetic and powerful.

There are lots of Japanese Festivals, but people usually have the traditional ways to celebrate. The procession is one of the most important things during those [Matsuri](Festival) that celebrates shrine's kami(deity).

People carry deity and go around the town. It is the only period that deity leaves the temple in the year. There are entertainments during the festival.

The Japanese Festivals are also held for the four seasons. In Spring, people celebrate the rebirth and awakening of the new life. In summer, people thought it's a bad season that brings humid weather with the epidemic, so they hold a festival to scare the evil spirit away. In autumn, people celebrate sweet foods from the farmer. The celebrations of thanksgiving are held. In winter, people celebrate the new year.

The people of the Yamana clan were busy preparing for the New Year's Day celebration; kids ran across the compound while even the battle-hardened soldiers warmed up and enjoyed the festive spirit.

"Good morning Clan head, all the preparations have been finished. The fireworks and food have been prepared along with wine and lanterns."

The Yamana clan was a Japanese samurai clan which was one of the most powerful of the Muromachi period (1336-1467); at its peak, members of the family held the position of Constable (Shugo) over eleven provinces.

Originally from Kōzuke Province, and later centred in Inaba Province, the clan claimed descendance from the Seiwa Genji line, from Minamoto no Yoshishige in particular. The clan took its name from the village of Yamana in present-day Gunma Prefecture. They have valued retainers under Minamoto no Yoritomo and were counted among his gokenin.

Their relation with the Minamoto family was one of the reasons why Kiyohime was ordered to only kick them out of the capital rather than slaughtering them like pigs.

The current emperor of Japan himself requested Henrik to allow the Yamana clan to survive though he may kick them out of the capital.

Whole Japan knew that the capital was ruled by the Gerard family, even in the royal court and other official positions were all acquired by them. Oda clan, Minamoto clan and Koga clan had an alliance with the Mikaelson family, they had their areas which they ruled, and Kyoto belonged to the Mikaelson family.

"Clan head!!!, Gerard family has arrived near the [Fleur district] with 100,000 soldiers and is heading towards our clan compound!!!"

"What!!!…"

"Quickly stop all the preparation of the festival and get the woman and children out from the capital!!!, the Gerard family will surely attack with no mercy, we must preserve until most of our family has escaped from the capital."

Hearing their clan heads words, the elders gritted their teeth and clenched their fist while cursing at the top of their voices.

"It is all because of those Hosokawa family bastards!!!, Kyoto belongs to the Mikaelson family, and they still forced us to fight within the capital."

"Now the Mikaelson family had sent their branch family to kill us all!!!"

"Clan head!!! The Hosokawa family has sent a message, they are requesting for a truce, they plan to fight the Gerard family together with us…"

"Those bastards are courting death!!!, if we attack the Gerard family then not only will the Minamoto family abandon us but the Oda clan and Koga clan we slaughter the very last person of our family!!!."

"We will not fight them until the Gerard family intents to kill every member of our family; a few sacrifices can be made since it was our fault to gather men within Kyoto."

"And if they do want to kill us all!?…"

The Clan head gritted his teeth as he spoke in a low tone.

"Then we Fight!!!!…."