ベイカー寮221B／Baker House 221B

 On the 9th of September in 1561, the Uesugi Army in Mt. Saijo confronts the Takeda Army in Kaizu Castle. On the day, Kansuke sees falling rain and likens his life to war. He plans to divide the army into two and send one of them to Mt. Saijo to drive the Uesugi Army out to intercept them at Kawanakajima. But O-Fuku, the mysterious old woman who takes care of HARA Toratane goes to Mt. Saijo. She tells USAMI Sadamitsu that Kawanakajima will be covered with a thick fog in exchange for the money whose amount is higher that that of Kansuke. And Kansuke insists that they should go to the front early to avoid the thick fog in the morning and depart for there at unokoku, 6:00 am. On the other hand, Sadamitsu proposes his plan to Masatora that they should climb down Mt. Saijo to baffle their enemy's design.
 
He advises to leave their flags and bale fires to deceive Shingen's vassals. Beside they see the amount of smoke come from cooking is unusually large. They realises the Takeda army will depart for Kawanakajima soon because it means Shingen's soldiers dine to prepare for the battle. The troops of OBU, BABA, KŌSAKA, SANADA and AIKI are ordered to depart for Mt. Saijo. After that an entire army have a meal and Kansuke talks with SANADA Yukitaka and AIKI Ichibei during eating. All of them were the enemies of Shingen before but their destinies were changed by him. As he join the detached force, Yukitaka says there is a possibility that they cannot meet again. And Ichibei says he becomes spirited for the first time since the battle of Unnokuchi Castle.


Shingen and Nobushige dine together and he tells his younger brother not to call him my lord but brother today. Nobushige says that he admonished his son Nobutoyo that he should not betray Shingen but he hopes that the world will be peaceful and such admonition will be unnecessary. Then Shingen tells him to survive to realise it. And he hands Nobushige the robe of O- Fujin on which dharani (*) written by himself and tells his brother that it will protect him at critical moment. The detatched force depart for Mt. Saijo at midnight and the mountain becomes to be covered by the thick fog.

However the force find that their scouts are killed there. And Yukitaka suspects that no one of the Uesugi Army is there. At that moment, Shinome feels uneasy but all she can do is trusting her husband and tells Hazuki it is the battle of woman. The Uesugi Army march to Chikuma River (**) and the main body of the Takeda Army departs for Kawanakajima. Then they use kakuyoku-no-jin, the formation that encloses the enemy but Masatora and his army has never appeared yet. Kansuke says they may be delayed because of the fog but Shingen tells him that it doesn't profit his side only.


Then one of the Mukade-shu informs that some horsemen appear far away. They are Masatora's men and use kurumagakari-no-jin, the formation that attacks enemy that is disadvantageous for Shingen. The detached force learn that Mt. Saijo is quite empty and it needs to gain time until they reach Kawanakajima. Kansuke acknowledges his failure but Shingen says to him to keep calm. He remembers "Be a real strategist", the words of ITAGAKI Nobukata, and protect the headquarter with musketeers but the soldiers become confused.


Nobushige sallies out with his soldiers to gain time. Though he carries horo on his back but he takes off it on his way to Masatora's headquarter. He orders KASUGA Gennojō, one of his vassals to hand it to Nobutoyo (***). He says he has does not regret losing his life but being taken the horo. Nobushige then advances and crosses swords and spears with the soldiers of Masatora and MOROZUMI Torasada catches up with him. Nobushige is finally killed by KAKIZAKI Kageie and Torasada is killed by the Uesugi Army also. Their deaths are informed to Shingen soon.

(*) A kind of Buddhist sutrausually chanted in Sanskrit.
(**) RAI Sanyō, a scholar in Edo period made a poem based on the scene.
(***) It is said that Nobutoyo participated in the Battle of Nagashino carrying the horo on his back.

The images are from the DVD series of "Fūrin Kazan".

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