Biographies CXXXVII: The Shogunal Retainers, Part XX

Akamatsu Norimura

¶Akamatsu Norimura was at first called Jirō (Note: the sources are the Akamatsu Keizu and the Taiheiki). His father was named Shigenori (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu writes the "nori" character differently, as 範), and he was a descendant of Prince Tomohira (Note: according to one text of the Akamatsu Keizu, Shigenori was granted Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, became Saemon-no-suke, Assistant Captain of the Left Gate Guards, was called Jirō Saemon, and was appointed Harima-no-kami, Governor of Harima). The family lived in Harima for generation after generation. His grandfather Hisanori was Saemon-no-jō, Third-Class Officer of the Left Gate Guards, and was the first to take Akamatsu as the family name (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku. One account in the Akamatsu Keizu says that Ienori, the fifth ancestor, first called himself Akamatsu; the Akamatsu Ryakufu says that the eighth ancestor, Jijū Suefusa, became Governor of Harima and took the name Akamatsu). From an early age Norimura revered the teachings of Zen; he shaved his head and took the Buddhist name Enshin (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu). He was of an open and unrestrained nature and held great ambitions, and had no wish to remain in a position beneath others. At the time of the Genkō disturbance, when his son Norisuke (則祐) arrived bearing the prince's edict from Prince Moriyoshi, Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs, Norimura counted it a deep honor. He built a castle on Mount Nawashiro in the Sayo estate in his home province of Harima and raised his standard; more than a thousand men hurried to join him. He sent troops to hold the village on Mount Sugisaka and cut off the two roads of San'yō and San'in. In the spring of the third year of Genkō (1333), when the troops of the western provinces set out to relieve Rokuhara, Norimura ordered his son Sadanori to block them at Mount Funasaka (Note: the account of Sadanori follows the Akamatsu Keizu). They captured more than twenty men, including Itō Koretomo, but spared them all from death and treated them generously. Koretomo and the others, grateful for this kindness, went back to Mount Mitsuishi, made it their base, and held it for Norimura. As a result his military strength grew ever greater; he advanced and pacified the surrounding districts and built and garrisoned a castle on Mount Maya. Hōjō Tokimasu sent five thousand troops to attack him, but Norimura lured the enemy into a difficult position and had Norisuke and others shoot down at them in volleys from the heights. Taking advantage of the enemy's wavering, he loosed his troops in a charge and defeated them utterly. Hōjō Nakatoki and Tokimasu again dispatched ten thousand troops to attack him. Norimura meant to leave the castle and meet them, and, estimating beforehand the enemy's line of march, he said: "They should arrive tomorrow." Just then a sudden rain fell, and he went into a farmhouse to shelter from it. The enemy troops, however, arrived without warning. Norimura dashed out and fought a bloody battle, but he had only some fifty men and the odds were against him; his men were cut down one after another until only six horsemen remained. Norimura then wrapped up his hat to make it a mark and mingled among the enemy soldiers (Note: the Taiheiki). He happened to see an enemy commander about to mount his horse, and, pretending to be a man of low rank, he dismounted and made as if to help the commander into the saddle; the commander did not notice. Then he mounted again, and, making a show of riding off to fight against his own side, deceived the enemy, galloped back and rejoined his main force (Note: the various texts of the Taiheiki). The next day he advanced and attacked the enemy at Segawa, defeated them utterly, and killed or captured several hundred. Exploiting his victory, he set out for the capital that same night, setting fire to houses so that their light would guide his march. Separately he sent Saemon-no-suke Fujiwara-no-Tadatoshi (Note: the account of Tadatoshi follows the Konshōin text) toward Shichijō. The next day Norimura advanced as far as the Katsura River, where twenty thousand enemy troops had drawn up on the opposite bank. Norisuke crossed alone on horseback in the lead, and Norimura then led his whole army across. The enemy's spirit was broken and they fled without fighting. Norimura marched a long distance and entered the capital. Tadatoshi went ahead and set fire to houses. The Kōgon-in took refuge in Rokuhara. By then the day had already ended, and because Norimura's troops were few and tired, he halted the army and did not press on. Suddenly the enemy, on horseback, struck at his rear from both sides, and our army was badly defeated. He re-formed his line and fought again, but was again beaten, and in the end fled to Yamazaki. He then gathered once more the soldiers who had scattered. He falsely proclaimed Sakon'e-no-chūjō Minamoto-no-Sadahira, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, to be Prince Shōgoin, set up camps on Otokoyama and at Yamazaki, and held the routes by land and water. When Hōjō Nakatoki and Hōjō Tokimasu sent troops to attack him, Norimura heard of it, led his men out ahead, and, at a spot about three ri from the capital, placed ambushes at three points along the road. When the enemy came, the first ambush appeared, holding up shields and shooting arrows, but the enemy passed by without fighting. The second ambush appeared and charged back and forth. When the third ambush moved to cut off the enemy's rear, the enemy turned back in alarm and fell into great disorder. Soon afterward, together with Minamoto-no-Sadahira and the priest Ryōchū, he attacked Rokuhara, but without success. At this time the emperor had gone on progress to Mount Senjō, and commanded Sakon'e-no-chūjō Minamoto-no-Tadaaki, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, to lead troops to help Norimura. Hōjō Takatoki in turn sent Ashikaga Takauji and Nagoe Takaie to reinforce the defenders. Before long Takauji submitted to the imperial court, and Norimura fought Takaie at Koganawate; Norimura's retainer Sayo Noriie shot Takaie dead, and the enemy army collapsed. Norimura moved his camp to Tōji, Minamoto-no-Tadaaki went to Takeda, and Ashikaga Takauji set up camp at the Jingikan, so that they pressed in from three directions. The enemy had dug deep moats and lined them with palisades; their camps stood in unbroken rows and the defense was extremely strong. Norimura's retainer Mega Tsunemune, a man of great strength, leaped across the moat, trampled down the earthworks, and filled in the ditch. Norimura then directed his troops in a desperate fight and broke the enemy's outer line. (Note: according to the Zenrin Shosoden, Norimura's banner bore the tomoe design and the Hōjō banner bore the fish-scale design. That day a children's song went around the army, to the effect that both the fish scale and the tomoe belong to water, so that water was set against water and neither side could win, but that adding a dragon would bring victory. Norimura followed this saying and painted a dragon on his banner, and, it is said, won a great victory in the battle. This account is not adopted here.) Norimura pressed on and, together with Minamoto-no-Tadaaki and Ashikaga Takauji, besieged Rokuhara. Hōjō Nakatoki and Hōjō Tokimasu, escorting the Kōgon-in, fled east, but all were put to death on the way; in this achievement Norimura's merit was the greatest. He therefore led his sons to receive the imperial carriage at Hyōgo; the emperor halted his palanquin, praised him in person, saying: "The recovery of the realm is the fruit of your loyalty," bestowed on him a brocade hitatare, and he accompanied the emperor into the capital (Note: the bestowal of the brocade hitatare follows the Akamatsu Keizu). At that time Prince Moriyoshi was at Mount Shiki, and Norimura went there to follow him. When Prince Moriyoshi was appointed Seii Taishōgun and entered the capital at the head of the armies, Norimura commanded a thousand men as the vanguard. At that time the court was fixing the ranks and fiefs of the meritorious retainers; differing opinions were mixed together and there was no consistent standard for rewards and punishments. Norimura's merit was recognized, and he was granted the post of shugo, Military Governor, of Harima, but before long it was taken away from him without cause, and he was left holding only the Sayo estate (Note: the Taiheiki. According to the Akamatsu Ryakufu, Fujiwara-no-Motokiyo and Tada slandered Norimura and had his office taken away). Norimura was therefore greatly dissatisfied and was constantly uneasy in mind (Note: the Akamatsu Ryakufu). When Ashikaga Takauji marched east, his son Sadanori followed him. As Takauji's signs of rebellion gradually became plain, Norimura secretly sided with him; just then troops rose in Tanba and attacked the shugo, Usui Morikage. Morikage asked for reinforcements, but Norimura did not respond, and in the end, declaring it to be Takauji's order, he called up the troops of the neighboring districts (Note: the Taiheiki).

¶In the first year of Engen (1336), when Takauji pressed on the capital, Norimura and Norisuke (範資), leading their troops, joined forces with Hosokawa Jōzen (Note: following the Baishōron and the Taiheiki). Takauji gave Norimura the post of shugo of Harima (Note: the Tenshō-bon Taiheiki). Norimura and Norisuke (範資), together with Jōzen, utterly defeated the imperial army at Yamazaki (Note: following the Baishōron and the Taiheiki) and pursued it as far as the capital. When Takauji was defeated and fled to Hyōgo, Norimura privately advised him: "The soldiers are exhausted and nothing can be accomplished now. Let us withdraw for the time being to Tsukushi, rest and restore our spirits, and plan a fresh rising at leisure. The Hosokawa clan can govern Shikoku, and I will hold Harima and keep the Chūgoku region in check. In Chinzei there is Shōni Sadatsune, and Ōtomo Sadamune is also with the army. If we join our strength and turn east to subdue the enemy, within a few months we shall be watering our horses in the Rakusui, the river of the capital. As I read the timing of Heaven, the advantage lies with the commander-in-chief who holds a base in the west. Moreover, battles are marked by banners. The imperial army now carries brocade banners, while we cannot raise one, and how can we escape a bad name? Since the fall of the Kamakura shogunate, the Retired Emperor of the Jimyōin line has felt dissatisfaction in his heart. If we ask for his retired emperor's edict and command under the brocade banner, there will be no soldier in the realm who does not follow. This is the best plan now." Takauji followed all of it (Note: the Baishōron). Norimura then built a castle on Shirahata-no-mine, but before it was finished he fought Eda Yukiyoshi and Ōdachi Ujiaki at Muroyama and fared badly. When Nitta Yoshisada reached the post station of Ikaruga, Norimura sent an envoy to say falsely: "At the founding of the Genkō restoration, Norimura repeatedly broke great enemies and exerted some small strength. But on the day when merit was assessed, the reward was extremely meager, and this is the reason I have resented the court. Yet Norimura has long received the special favor of the Prince, Hyōbu-kyō, and will not forget it even in death. If the court does not hold my fault against me and, by an imperial rescript, restores me as shugo of Harima, I wish to show once more what I can do in days to come." Yoshisada believed this, hurried to the capital and reported it, and the round trip took more than ten days. In the meantime Norimura finished repairing the castle walls, and then replied to Yoshisada: "The shugo post of my home province has already been granted to me by the Shogun. There is no need now to trouble ourselves with a rescript that would reverse it." Yoshisada was enraged and besieged and attacked the castle for more than a month. Norimura secretly sent Norisuke (則祐) and Tokuhira Hidemitsu to Tsukushi to persuade Takauji, saying: "Yoshisada has divided his forces to attack the castles of Bizen, Bitchū, Harima and Mimasaka, but has long been unable to take them; his army is tired and his provisions are exhausted. If he hears that the Shogun has arrived, he will certainly scatter at the mere sight of the wind of your coming. Now Shirahata Castle has been besieged for dozens of days and the food in the castle is scarce (Note: the statement that food in the castle was scarce follows the Baishōron), and its fall is imminent. If Shirahata falls, the other castles cannot hold out either. Every strategic point in the Chūgoku region will fall into enemy hands. Even if the Shogun commands a million troops, they will then be of no use to the cause." Takauji thereupon set out at the head of his army. When Yoshisada heard of it, he hurriedly lifted the siege and left. Kojima Norinaga hurried to join Yoshisada's army, but Norimura met and struck him at Nawa, and Norinaga killed himself (Note: the Taiheiki). Norimura joined Takauji at Murotsu, followed Ashikaga Tadayoshi, and fought and defeated Kusunoki Masashige at Minatogawa (Note: the Baishōron). In the fifth year of Shōhei (1350) Norimura died, at the age of seventy-four (Note: the Jōrakuki and the Akamatsu Keizu). His posthumous name was Hōun-ji (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu). His sons were Norisuke (範資), Sadanori, Norisuke (則祐) and Ujinori (Note: the Taiheiki and the Akamatsu Keizu). Ujinori has a separate biography.

Akamatsu Norisuke (範資)

¶Akamatsu Norisuke (範資) followed Norimura and fought hard at his side from the time he first raised troops, and for his merit became Shinano-no-kami, Governor of Shinano. In the first year of Engen (1336), when Ashikaga Takauji turned against the court, Norisuke was in the capital; he tried to escape back to Harima, led the provincial troops to respond to Takauji's rising, and on the way met Hosokawa Jōzen. Jōzen was delighted and, following the precedent of Norimura's entry into the capital in the Genkō years, asked that Norisuke be made the vanguard (Note: the Baishōron says that Norimura led troops and met Jōzen; which is correct is not known), and they encamped at Akutagawa. Takauji had already reached Yamazaki, but the imperial army blocked him and he could not advance. Norisuke's younger brother Sadanori was with Takauji's army, so Norisuke sent a letter telling him the situation, agreed with him to strike the imperial army with combined strength, and fixed a time for the battle; Takauji was overjoyed. The next day Takauji advanced and joined Norisuke and the others, attacked Wakiya Yoshisuke and put him to flight. With this the imperial army was wholly defeated, and Takauji advanced and took the capital. Later, following Hosokawa Akiuji and Kō-no-Moronao, he fought Kusunoki Masatsura at Konda and Shijōnawate. Before long Takauji fell out with his younger brother Tadayoshi and they took up arms; Takauji was defeated and fled to Harima, where he shut himself up in Matsuoka Castle. Norisuke, Kō-no-Moronao, Moroyasu and others, only some five hundred men in all, followed him, and when matters were settled they returned (Note: the Taiheiki). He was appointed shugo of Settsu. Later he shaved his head and took the Buddhist name Sehan, and was known in his day as the Shichijō Akamatsu. His sons were Mitsunori, Naoyori, Norizane and Noriharu (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu; the account of Norizane follows the Taiheiki). Mitsunori was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, became Kebiishi, Police Commissioner, and Shinano-no-kami, and inherited the post of shugo of Settsu (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku). During the Shōhei years (1346-1370) he followed Ashikaga Yoshiakira in an attack on Yoshino, but after returning he was slandered by Sasaki Takauji and dismissed from his post of shugo. Later, together with Hosokawa Kiyouji, he defended against the imperial army at Konda. Naoyori, Norizane and Noriharu were all brought up by their uncle Norisuke (則祐) (Note: the account of Norimura follows the Akamatsu Keizu). When Naoyori was thirteen he was with his father in Matsuoka Castle. When Ashikaga Takauji held a drinking party as a farewell for this life, Norisuke (範資) admonished Naoyori: "I am now about to die for the Shogun. You are still young, and Norisuke (則祐) has long wished to adopt you, so go back to your home country and serve your uncle as you would serve me. Otherwise become a priest and pray for my repose." Naoyori's expression changed, and he answered: "I too have already a fair understanding of right and wrong in the world. How could I bear to watch a grown man die and return alive?" He would not obey the command at all, and his spirit was truly valiant. When matters were settled he returned with his father. When Yamana Moroyoshi entered Harima, Naoyori blocked the Ōyama road and held him off. Moroyoshi could not advance and turned toward Tanba. Naoyori later became Kamon-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Housekeeping. Norizane was called Hikogorō; he followed Ashikaga Yoshiakira in the attack on Yoshino and, together with Hosokawa Kiyouji, went in the vanguard and took Ryūsen Castle. Later he went over to the imperial side and attacked Yoshiakira together with Kiyouji, but, summoned back by Norisuke (則祐), he returned and again served Yoshiakira (Note: the Taiheiki). Noriharu became Ōmi-no-kami, Governor of Ōmi (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Akamatsu Sadanori

¶Akamatsu Sadanori became Chikuzen-no-kami, Governor of Chikuzen. In the second year of Kenmu (1335) he followed Ashikaga Takauji east to attack Hōjō Tokiyuki. When Tokiyuki's army was defeated and shut itself up on Mizunomi Ridge in Hakone, Sadanori charged without regard for the steep terrain and broke it. Tokiyuki withdrew and drew up his troops across the Sagami River, but Sadanori, with the other armies, crossed the river secretly by night, attacked him and put him to flight. Next he followed Takauji and defended against the imperial army at Takenoshita. Later he became shugo of Mimasaka (Note: the Taiheiki). He shaved his head and changed his name to Setei (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu). When Yamana Tokiuji entered Mimasaka, Sadanori and his younger brother Norisuke (則祐) and others defended against him but could not win (Note: the Taiheiki). His son Akinori was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and became governor of Dewa, Echizen, Izu and other provinces, and Nakatsukasa-shōyū, Junior Assistant Vice-Minister of the Center (Note: following the various texts of the Akamatsu Keizu).

Akamatsu Norisuke (則祐)

¶Akamatsu Norisuke (則祐) first became a monk, lived at Enryakuji and served Prince Moriyoshi (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu), and was appointed Gon-no-risshi, Provisional Master of the Discipline (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu and the Shinshūishū). He was called Sochi-no-risshi and took the name Myōzen; he is also said to have been called Jiten (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku). At the time of the Genkō disturbance, Prince Moriyoshi led warrior-monks to defend against the rebels, but the warrior-monks soon turned against him, so the prince fled to Yamato, and Norisuke followed him together with Murakami Yoshiteru, Hiraga Saburō and others. They lay hidden in Totsukawa for about half a year, then followed the prince again in his flight to Yoshino; on the way the enemy blocked their path, but Norisuke and the others supported the prince with all their hearts and at last managed to break out. The prince was greatly pleased and named him, together with Yoshiteru and Saburō, the Three Heroes. When the prince built a castle at Yoshino and gathered friendly troops, Norisuke also asked for an imperial edict and returned to Harima, urged Norimura to raise troops, and together they held Maya Castle. When the rebels attacked, Norimura met and defeated them and was about to withdraw his troops into the castle. Norisuke said: "The rebels have come to fight with their whole force and are now returning beaten; their soldiers are weary and their horses weak. If we pursue them while our momentum lasts, who can stop us? We can take Rokuhara in an instant." Norimura thought this right, and so advanced as far as the Katsura River, where fresh rebel troops, twenty thousand strong, were drawn up on the far bank. Norisuke spurred his horse to cross, but Norimura stopped him, saying: "Ashikaga Tadatsuna and Sasaki Moritsuna were able to cross at Uji and Fujito because they knew beforehand where the water was deep and where shallow. Now the snow upstream has melted and the current has swollen fiercely, and no horse could stand it. Even if the horse were strong and got across, how could one man go alone and face ten thousand enemies?" Norisuke would not listen, saying: "The enemy are many and we are few; our advantage lies in a swift attack." He crossed the stream alone on horseback and advanced at the very front. When Norimura's three thousand troops followed, the rebels, frightened by their momentum, broke and fled. Norisuke and Sadanori, with four horsemen, chased the fleeing enemy and went straight to the west gate of Rokuhara, where they waited for the troops behind them (Note: the west gate follows the various variant texts). By then the day had ended and the rebel troops were gathering from all sides. Norisuke and Sadanori removed their identifying marks and mingled among the rebels, but the rebels noticed them and gave the order: "The Akamatsu troops crossed the river, so seize and kill everyone whose armor and horse are wet." Realizing that they could not escape, Norisuke and his companions fought with loud cries, but the horsemen who followed them were all killed, and he was separated from Sadanori as well. Norisuke broke out alone, returned to the main army, gathered the scattered troops again and fought at Shichijō, but was beaten once more. Soon afterward he rose in revolt together with Ashikaga Takauji (Note: the Taiheiki). When Norimura died he inherited the post of shugo of Harima, and at the same time held the shugo posts of Bizen and Mimasaka (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

¶In the sixth year of Shōhei (1351) he followed Kō-no-Moronao in the attack on Kōmyōji Castle. Hearing that troops had risen in Mimasaka, he returned to Shirahata Castle and held it. Before long he went over to the imperial side and, offering to serve Prince Moriyoshi's son Mutsunaga, asked leave to attack Takauji. The next year he turned again, surrendered to Ashikaga Yoshiakira, and confined Mutsunaga in the capital. Mutsunaga escaped, entered Kōzanji Castle, and gathered troops to attack Norisuke. Norisuke met and defeated him at Kabutoyama. In the tenth year of Shōhei (1355), together with Sasaki Takauji, he followed Yoshiakira and defended against Yamana Tokiuji at Kōnan (Note: the Taiheiki). Yoshiakira's army was defeated and he was about to kill himself, but Norisuke and Takauji remonstrated and stopped him. When Tokiuji, pressing his victory, advanced with his men vying to be first, Norisuke at once stood up, raised the curtain of the command post, and ordered his troops: "Fight with all your strength, repay your lord with your deaths, and leave your names in history." The troops fought desperately, each trying to be first, and utterly defeated Tokiuji. For this merit he was additionally granted Fukuoka in Bizen. In the sixteenth year of Shōhei (1361), Tokiuji led three thousand troops, took the castles of Mimasaka one after another, and was about to attack Kuragake Castle. Norisuke, together with Sadanori and others, led two thousand troops to relieve Kuragake. Yamana Moroyoshi had separately detached eight hundred horsemen and was lying in wait; Norisuke and his men saw that his force was small and were about to advance and attack, when Abo Shinzen and others happened to go over to the imperial side and tried to strike Harima. Norisuke built five castles, including Hokkesan, and held them. He sent an envoy to Sanuki to ask Hosokawa Yoriyuki for reinforcements (Note: the original text reads "Yorimune" here, but it has now been corrected from the context). Yoriyuki came as far as Bizen, but because his troops were few he did not advance, and the castles fell. Later Norisuke, together with the other commanders, helped build Yoshiakira's mansion at Madenokōji, and for this merit one of the estates that had been taken from him was returned (Note: the Taiheiki). In the twenty-fourth year of Shōhei (1369), leading his nephew Mitsunori and others, he attacked his younger brother Ujinori at Tennōji and put him to flight (Note: the Kaei Sandaiki). In the second year of Kentoku (1371) he died at Dairyūan in Kenninji (Note: the Jōrakuki). His sons were Yoshinori, Yoshisuke, Masanori, Moronori and Tomonori (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Taiheiki; the sources differ on Norisuke's sons, and not all the variants are noted here).

¶Yoshinori was a grandson by the female line of Sasaki Takauji and was a favorite of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. On Norisuke's death he inherited the shugo posts of Harima and Bizen, and after serving as Sakon'e-no-shōgen, Third-Class Officer of the Left Palace Guards, Kazusa-no-suke and Hyōbu-no-shō, he rose to Daizen-no-daibu, Master of the Palace Table, Junior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu). Yoshimitsu made the Akamatsu, the Yamana, the Isshiki and the Kyōgoku heads of the Samurai-dokoro, the Board of Retainers, to sit in the capital and decide lawsuits and criminal cases, and for this they were called the Shishiki, the Four Offices (Note: the Buke Bunin). During the Genchū years (1384-1392) he fought Yamana Ujikiyo in the capital and defeated him, and for this merit the shugo post of Mimasaka was added to his holdings. Because Mimasaka would not submit, he led troops and pacified it (Note: the Meitokuki). He shaved his head and changed his name to Shōshō. Yoshisuke held the village of Arima in Settsu, took the name Arima from it, and became Dewa-no-kami, Governor of Dewa. Masanori became Sama-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Left Stable Office (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku). During the Genchū years (1384-1392) he fought Yamana Ujikiyo at Uchino, was defeated and died (Note: the Meitokuki and the Akamatsu Keizu). Moronori became Mimasaka-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Mimasaka, and Ōmi-no-kami (Note: the Akamatsu Keizu). Tomonori became Hizen-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Hizen. At the battle of Kōnan, when he followed his father and his side was the first to be routed on the west flank of the line, Tomonori was deeply ashamed; he wished to kill one enemy commander and die by stabbing himself together with him, and secretly aimed at Yamana Moroyoshi and attacked him, but was wounded by Moroyoshi's attendants, grew dizzy and fell. The enemy stabbed him in the throat, left him for dead and went away; but when the battle was over he finally revived and returned alive (Note: the Taiheiki).