An Age of War and Tea by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2023-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

Look after the lady Masako, for both you and she are the same. What did she mean by that?

Back at Tsutsujigasaki Yakata Palace, Yoshino rose the following morning at dawn in the early hours of the hare and stepped outside into the garden to watch the sun begin its ascent. The sky was a brilliant hue of orange and red, indicating another warm day ahead. She heard voices in the courtyard just beyond the gardens and walked over to see soldiers taking advantage of the early cool air to practice their martial skills. It surprised her to see Masako, who in the centre of the courtyard was wielding a practice Naginata against several soldiers. Yoshino watched as Masako skilfully swung her bamboo bladed Naginata at six opponents armed with bamboo Shinai swords. Masako struck the body of five of her opponents and disarmed them, but on the sixth one, her strike broke the Naginata shaft. Upon seeing Yoshino, Masako bowed to her opponents, signalling the end of practice, and walked over to Yoshino.

“You are very skilled, Masako,” Yoshino complimented.

“Thank you. I have trained in this for as long as I can remember. It is a woman’s weapon; one that can counter the advantage of a man’s strength in close-quarter combat.”

I wonder if you possess other martial skills, thought Yoshino.

“Maybe, one day you would teach me,” Yoshino asked. Angling for a way to test her out.

“It would honour me, Yoshino. Now come, let us have refreshments.” Yoshino and Masako breakfasted on fried bean curd with abalone and rice in another one of the palace’s living rooms. Today, Masako seemed agitated and explained to Yoshino that her husband Katsuyori is soon expected.

“Why does this upset you? Or is its lustful anticipation?” Yoshino asked, grinning.

“No, it’s just that I am reminded I have failed in my duty as a wife to produce an heir. His first wife, Toyoma Fujin, died while giving birth to their only son, Nobukatsu. Did you know she was the adopted daughter of our enemy, Nobunaga?”

“You are young Masako and have plenty of time,” Yoshino tried to reassure her.

“I fear losing Katsuyori. He has taken unnecessary risks lately to prove himself as a worthy successor to Shingen. He has already achieved what his father failed to do by capturing Ieyasu’s impenetrable castle, Take Tenjin in Totomi.” Yoshino knew while the Takeda held the eastern mountain provinces of Kai and Shinano, the road to controlling Japan lay through Kyoto, with the Tokugawa standing in the way. Shingen’s victory over Ieyasu at Mikatagahara had reignited Katsuyori’s ambition to complete his father’s task and rule Japan.

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