Strategist Kanbe Episode 7

"A leader with just cause will become ruler"

In September of 1573, Azai and Asakura were destroyed by the Nobunaga army after battling for over 4 years.

During this time, Nobunaga promoted his vassal Kinoshita Tokichiro to a Lord and granted North Omi, the former fief of Azai to him. With Nobunaga's permission, Tokichiro also changed his name to Hashiba Hideyoshi. He came up with this name by combining kanji characters from two of Nobunaga's key vassals Niwa Nagahide and Shibata Katsuie. He has risen from a 'sandal bearer' to a Castle Lord.

Meanwhile, Kanbei brought a young boy home named Matabe, whose father served the Lord of Gochaku (Kodera Masamoto), who was the Lord that the Kuroda clan was serving. The boy lost his parents and had nowhere to go, so Kanbei asked for the Lord's permission to bring him home. He asked Teru to help him take care of Matabe. From what I felt in this episode, I think the young boy would become close friends or brothers with Kanbei's son, Shojumaru.

Teru's older sister and brother visited her, and tried to use her to convince Kanbei to side with the Mouri clan in the battle with the Oda clan, using Teru as a pawn to manipulate him into their plans. Teru and Kanbei also got pressure from the others, as Teru only gave birth to Shojumaru during 8 years.

- "The Oda or the Mouri? You'll be forced to choose someday". - said Kanbei's father.
- "I now know the burden you carried. My decision will decide everyone's future."
- "That's what it means to be a Lord."

Nobunaga’s wife confronted him for blazing Mount Hiei. While he tried to destroy corrupt priests at Mount Hiei, he also killed thousands of children and women living there. He did it because he was worried that someday those children and women might strike back at him. Noh-hime was scared because his actions were too brutal and someday Nobunaga might have to pay for what he had done. However, as expected, Nobunaga didn’t believe in retributive justice or karma. I already knew what would happen to him later on, so I’m also scared.

Kanbei’s vassals were discussing which clan should they side with between the Oda and the Mouri. It was a survival question. The Mouri was a safer choice as they were upright and loyal, while the Oda’s strength was too strong to be defeated. The clan might go down with the Mouri if they had to fight the Oda. The only problem with the Oda was their leader, Oda Nobunaga. He was too scary and couldn’t be figured out, which showed through all of his overbearing and intense actions.

The Mouri clan’s leader didn’t pay much attention to the Kuroda clan because they were small, but there’s a great quote to learn from one of their vassals: “A little leak will sink a ship”.

Overall, there are two big lessons from this episode:

1) From Kanbei’s father: “Don’t be afraid of failing.”
- Kanbei: “If my prediction is wrong, we will lose everything, everything that Grandfather and you have built.”
- Kanbei’s father: “Don’t be afraid of failing. You are to think and decide. It’s all for the sake of survival.”

2) From Kanbei himself, following Mencius (Mengzi)’s Confucian philosophical concept of the mandate of heaven or the consent of the governed: “A leader with just cause will become ruler.”

In this philosophical concept of Mengzi, a true ruler is achieved through benevolence and righteousness, by having a just cause rooted in the moral support and well-being of the people. It means that the people are the most important factor in a state, and true authority to rule is also conferred by Heaven.

When applied to the situation between the Oda and the Mouri, the Oda’s momentum could not be stopped. They had great strength and administration. Oda Nobunaga strengthened the people to strengthen his provinces. People in his provinces were prospering incredibly. He also promoted people regardless of their family, social rank or status, so he had topnotch vassals by his side. Therefore, Oda Nobunaga had the valour and wisdom to become the ruler. That’s why Kanbei tried to convince his Lord to not miss the chance to side with him, because a wrong move could result in demise in that situation.

At the end of this episode, finally, Kuroda Kanbei and Oda Nobunaga met. It would be a great milestone.

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