Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 436

436. The Night of Betrayal – The Beginning of Chaos (4)

Yoshinori’s power reached its zenith as he dealt with Mochiuji and his sons, who were vying for control.

The power of the shogunate and the shogun’s direct rule, which successive shoguns had desired, were now established. Yoshinori took further steps to completely solidify this system.

One such step was directly interfering in the selection of the heir (*katoku*, 家督, the person to inherit the family leadership) of influential *Shugo Daimyo* (守護大名, great lords).

* * *

The most prominent example was the designation of Ouchi Mochiyo (大內持世) as the heir to succeed Ouchi Morimi.

This was Yoshinori’s calculated move.

Ouchi Mochiyo was the posthumous son of Ouchi Yoshihiro (大内義弘), the previous lord of Ouchi. This appointment was sure to displease Morimi’s children, and if that happened, Mochiyo would have no choice but to rely on Yoshinori himself.

However, Ouchi Morimi chose an unexpected approach.

He accepted Yoshinori’s proposal, handed over the heirship to Mochiyo, and adopted his own son, Norihiro (敎弘), as Mochiyo’s adopted son.

Hyang, upon receiving this report, shook his head and muttered.

“What kind of convoluted family tree is this…”

* * *

In addition to meddling in the selection of heirs, Yoshinori also appointed his confidants as *daimyo* in vacant positions created by suppressing various rebellions.

Naturally, some of the existing *Shugo Daimyo* rebelled.

When *daimyo* appointed by the previous shogun rebelled, Yoshinori responded with force.

Isshiki Yoshitsura (一色義貫) and Toki Mochiyori (土岐持頼), prominent figures of the opposition, were assassinated.

“This is a truly unfortunate incident, and we will do our best to investigate,” Yoshinori announced after hearing about the incident, but none of the *daimyo* present at the meeting believed him.

“He’s telling us to shut up and obey him.”

“We should have followed Ouchi, who feigned illness and fled early.”

The *daimyo* who returned to their residences were filled with regret, but they had no choice but to watch Yoshinori’s every move.

As Yoshinori’s reign of terror continued, with his power firmly in his grasp, the residents of Kyoto, regardless of their status, had to endure each day.

* * *

Among those filled with anxiety was Akamatsu Mitsusuke (赤松満祐).

Everyone was in the same situation, watching Yoshinori’s every move, but Mitsusuke felt the pressure particularly acutely.

The reason for Mitsusuke’s heightened unease was the rumors that had been circulating for several years.

“The shogun is planning to subdue Akamatsu Mitsusuke!”

Mitsusuke couldn’t dismiss this as mere rumor because Yoshinori was very fond of Akamatsu Sadamura (赤松貞村), a member of a collateral branch of the Akamatsu family.

And when Isshiki Yoshitsura (一色義貫) and Toki Mochiyori (土岐持頼) were assassinated, Mitsusuke realized that his own life was also in danger.

“It is said that striking first is essential to victory (*sen te hisshō*, 先手必勝).”

In the end, Mitsusuke made up his mind and secretly ordered his confidant.

“You must immediately…”

* * *

October of the 21st year of King Sejong (1439, Year of the Goat).

Mitsusuke invited Yoshinori to his residence.

“I would like to hold a celebratory banquet in honor of your successful suppression of the rebellion. Please do me the honor of attending.”

When Mitsusuke personally requested his presence at the celebratory banquet, Yoshinori nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Of course! I must attend!”

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”

As Mitsusuke stepped back after paying his respects politely, Yoshinori chuckled and muttered.

“Hmph! He knows that now is the time to lie low. He should have done that from the beginning.”

Yoshinori harbored resentment towards the Akamatsu family.

During the Nanboku-chō period [period when Japan was divided into the Northern and Southern Courts], the Akamatsu family was among the first to answer Emperor Godaigo’s call to arms. In recognition of their contribution, they became a *Shugo Daimyo* family.

The shogunate had always regarded them warily.

Therefore, Yoshinori had been contemplating how to deal with the Akamatsu family.

Yoshinori felt a sense of satisfaction at seeing the head of such a family bowing so low before him.

* * *

On the day of the promised banquet.

Yoshinori arrived at Mitsusuke’s residence with a contingent of guards.

Mitsusuke, who was waiting for Yoshinori at the entrance, greeted him with the utmost courtesy.

Guided by Mitsusuke, Yoshinori entered the banquet hall and was led to the seat of honor.

The banquet hall was filled with *daimyo* and lords staying in Kyoto. With Yoshinori’s arrival, the banquet commenced, and soon, drinks and food were brought in one after another.

Yoshinori and the other attendees enjoyed the drinks and food while watching *Sarugaku* (猿樂, a form of early Japanese theater).

Mitsusuke, seated at a distance from Yoshinori, calmly assessed the atmosphere.

After confirming that the attendees were completely relaxed, Mitsusuke subtly signaled to his subordinate standing at the door. The subordinate, acknowledging the signal, quietly disappeared.

After a while.

Thud!

A heavy sound echoed from outside.

“What’s that sound?”

When Yoshinori voiced his curiosity at the sudden noise, Okimachi Sanjo Sanemasa (正親町三条 実雅), seated next to him, dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

“Perhaps it’s thunder?”

“Thunder?”

As Yoshinori expressed his doubt, the sliding doors burst open, and warriors in armor stormed into the banquet hall.

“Kill the tyrant (暴君斬殺)!”

As the warriors rushed in, shouting “Kill the tyrant!”, Yoshinori’s guards moved to protect him.

At that moment, a group of people emerged from among the attacking warriors and pointed long tubes at Yoshinori’s guards.

Tatatang!

With a deafening roar, dozens of lead bullets ripped through the guards, and the warriors who had stood in front of Yoshinori collapsed, covered in blood.

The *hwachas* [Korean rocket launchers] secured by Mitsusuke’s confidant, who had secretly contacted the Shoni family who had taken refuge on Tsushima Island, had been revealed.

With his guards falling in an instant, Yoshinori was left completely exposed.

“Die, tyrant!”

With a ferocious cry, Mitsusuke’s warrior swung his sword, and Yoshinori’s head was severed.

* * *

Chaos erupted simultaneously inside and outside the banquet hall. Mitsusuke’s subordinates and Yoshinori’s guards clashed, while the *daimyo* attending the banquet and their guards desperately tried to escape.

“Those guys are in on it too!”

The *daimyo* and their guards, mistakenly attacked by both Yoshinori’s guards and Mitsusuke’s warriors, frantically sought a way out.

Mitsusuke’s residence became a scene of carnage as Yoshinori’s guards and Mitsusuke’s subordinates fought each other, while the *daimyo* scrambled to escape over the walls.

* * *

The chaos began to subside when Yoshinori’s guards were subdued and Mitsusuke’s vassal stepped forward to address the crowd.

“This is a rebellion against the tyrant who tried to assassinate my lord! We have no intention of harming other *daimyo*!”

The commotion gradually died down at the vassal’s words. As promised not to harm them, Mitsusuke’s soldiers stepped back, and the *daimyo* were able to safely flee Mitsusuke’s residence.

* * *

The assassination of the tyrant Yoshinori marked the beginning of chaos.

“Lock the gates tightly!”

Mitsusuke’s subordinates, having seen the *daimyo* off, closed the gates and prepared for the worst.

With the shogun dead, it was certain that the shogunate forces would retaliate. That’s why everyone, starting with Mitsusuke, prepared for a final stand.

“Why is it so quiet?”

However, the shogunate forces showed no sign of movement, even late into the night. In response, Mitsusuke sent out soldiers to scout the surrounding area.

“There is no movement from the shogunate.”

“The residences of the *daimyo* and *Kanrei* [shogunal deputies] are all tightly shut!”

Mitsusuke, who had been quietly preparing for suicide, rose from his seat upon hearing his subordinates’ reports.

“Return to the territory! It’s a war of resistance (抗戰)!”

“Hah!”

The vassals, loudly repeating Mitsusuke’s order, led their subordinates and prepared to retreat.

“It’s a homecoming! It’s a war of resistance!”

“It’s a war of resistance!”

“Pack your bags!”

* * *

“Preparation is complete!”

“I have prepared the horses!”

Mitsusuke, already clad in Joseon-style *Dujeong* armor [a type of Korean lamellar armor], emerged from the room at the vassal’s report and issued his order.

“Set it on fire! There is nothing to leave for the shogunate bastards!”

“Hah! Set it on fire!”

Mitsusuke, mounted on his horse, watched as the warriors with torches set fire to everything. He then looked back at his vassals and subordinates.

“Then let’s go.”

“Hah!”

Mitsusuke’s party, led by a soldier carrying a spear with Yoshinori’s head impaled upon it, began their departure from Kyoto.

* * *

The reason why the shogunate couldn’t immediately mobilize troops despite the death of Shogun Yoshinori was due to a specific line of thinking.

The core figures of the shogunate, including Hosokawa Mochiyuki (細川持之), reasoned as follows:

“This tragedy cannot be a solo act! Surely other *daimyo* are involved! If we move rashly, we will be ambushed!”

Because of this, they focused on preparing for future contingencies rather than taking immediate action.

The same was true for the *daimyo*.

“This kind of thing cannot be done alone! There must be accomplices! We must not act rashly!”

While the *daimyo* and the shogunate were cautiously observing each other, Akamatsu Mitsusuke was able to escape Kyoto and gain an opportunity to resist.

* * *

When the report arrived that Mitsusuke had escaped Kyoto, Hosokawa Mochiyuki wore a troubled expression.

“Was it a solo act?”

Mochiyuki looked back at the heads of the Shiba (斯波) and Hatakeyama (畠山) families, who, along with his own, comprised the *Sangwanryeong* (三管領) [the three most powerful families who held the position of *Kanrei*], and continued.

“It seems that our judgment was incorrect.”

“Oh dear…”

“Tsk!”

The three, expressing their regret, quickly regained their composure and resumed their discussion.

“Let’s forget about the fish we’ve already missed. What should we do now?”

“Shouldn’t we first enthrone the next shogun?”

“The Shogun’s legitimate son, Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, is only five years old!”

“First of all, suppressing the traitor is the priority!”

After much debate, they decided to prioritize the suppression of Akamatsu.

* * *

As soon as the matter was settled, Hosokawa Mochiyuki immediately rushed to the Imperial Court.

“Please issue a *Yunji* (綸旨, the Emperor’s order) to suppress the traitor!”

Despite Hosokawa Mochiyuki’s plea, the response from the court, including Emperor Gohananjo, was lukewarm.

“The shogun’s affairs are unfortunate, but… Isn’t Akamatsu Mitsusuke’s situation also unfortunate?”

“Yes?”

“Was the shogun so harsh? Why else would the saying ‘terror to all’ have circulated?”

“Why would a *daimyo* who has been loyal for generations do such a thing?”

Contrary to Hosokawa’s expectations, the *Yunji* was not issued easily.

While the Emperor and the court were procrastinating, Mitsusuke was able to prepare more thoroughly.

“To think that they are putting up resistance with only a name left!”

Hosokawa gnashed his teeth, but the Emperor also harbored considerable resentment towards Yoshinori.

* * *

Author’s words.

When developing the situation in Japan, it is described from the Japanese perspective.

Therefore, please understand that the word Emperor is used instead of the word King of Japan.