Original subtitles

Fictional work. Any similarity to real names or events is coincidental.

Underage smoking is prohibited.

Year 51 of the Seiki era. Spring.

A coup breaks out in Seiro, the capital of Seii.

ANTI-SURRENDER FACTION CAPTAIN MUUTON NAGAO

Wait, please! Hold on--

ANTI-SURRENDER FACTION CAPTAIN ATERUI KURA

PRO-SURRENDER FACTION PRESIDENT HARUICHI AZAMI

Ohga founds a new government, declaring her resolve nationwide.

She quickly wins the people's hearts

thanks to her character and political prowess.

HARUICHI AZAMI - DECEASED

Within Seii, a campaign against Yamato gains momentum.

Meanwhile, in Yamato's capital, Osaka…

Move it, move it! Out of the way!

I'm running so late! Sorry!

Hey, hold on! - Huh?

This is the Borderland General's Bureau. Civilians are not permitted inside.

Idiot!

I'm the Borderland General Corps secret officer assigned to Seii!

SECRET OFFICER SHINZO HARANISHI

I need to see the Borderland General at once!

NIPPON SANGOKU: THE THREE NATIONS OF THE CRIMSON SUN

EPISODE 5: THE BORDERLAND GENERAL CORPS MARCHES OUT

What did you say, Ryumon? A coup in Seii?

BORDERLAND GENERAL MITSUHIDE RYUMON

That's right, Your Majesty. According to our secret officer's report,

one month ago, the new Seii government took complete control of state affairs

effectively establishing a dictatorship.

LORD OF HOME AFFAIRS DENKI TAIRA

A campaign against Yamato is gaining momentum across Seii,

and there is a possibility that they may invade our country soon.

THIRD EMPEROR OF YAMATO FUJI III

What? That's bad, really bad, isn't it?

SWEAT SWEAT

Please rest assured. I will travel at once to Fukui, on our border with Seii,

and make preparations in anticipation of Seii's western campaign.

Your Majesty, permission to deploy to the front at once.

If I leave it to Ryumon, he'll probably manage to sort things out.

Very well, Ryumon! I grant you permission to deploy--

No!

No, no, no!

That won't do, Your Majesty.

You mustn't approve the deployment of Ryumon's forces.

HUH?

What, why?

Right.

Your Majesty, Seii is merely trying to provoke us.

According to this report,

the new Seii government cut unemployment to less than half in just one month,

but running a nation isn't that simple.

Even if people found work,

most of them probably aren't eating properly.

Come to think of it, that's true.

Besides, Seii's soldiers and food reserves don't even come close to our levels.

For them to invade our nation…

We might as well expect steam to rise from cold rice.

So then, Your Majesty,

why is Ryumon asking permission to deploy his forces?

Why has the secret officer's return been delayed for so long?

How did Ryumon foresee the rise of a dictator in Seii?

Since Your Majesty is wise, I'm sure you already know.

His face is way too close!

No way… I mean, I don't even want to think about it, but…

Perhaps Ryumon's in contact with Seii… Is that what this means?

But, Lord of Home Affairs, the report says the officer's delay

was due to the new Seii government's tightened security at their checkpoints…

Reports like that can easily be tampered with.

Your Majesty!

An official from the Archive Bureau is requesting an audience!

What?

Can't you see His Majesty is in the middle of something important?

Come back later.

But we've received an urgent dispatch from Seii.

What? What did you say?

Let them through!

At once!

Grand Archivist Tonotsugu Taira

humbly requests an audience with His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Yamato.

HEIR TO DENKI TAIRA - GRAND ARCHIVIST

TONOTSUGU TAIRA

Your Majesty, if my son offends you, cut me down in his stead.

What, your son?

Your Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Yamato,

I bring you a report from the Archive Bureau.

A man by the name of Muuton Nagao,

Seii's Chief Negotiator and Governor of Kaga Province,

has expressed his intent to defect to Yamato,

along with Kaga's soldiers and territory.

This is good news, right?

Also, his name's "Muuton"? Seii really does have some peculiar names.

Right.

According to the secret officer's report,

Nagao is one of the closest aides to Seii's Commander.

For someone like him to defect to Yamato… Right.

That's great news, isn't it?

Yes, Father!

They say that since Nagao never took much interest in the coup,

he was suspected of treason and reassigned to the border province of Kaga.

On top of that, Seii's Commander…

Ouch!

…made groundless accusations against him

and had him flogged.

Flogged?

I sent a messenger to Kaga to verify whether the dispatch was genuine.

The messenger returned a short while ago

and said, "Nagao's wounds were so icky and oozy

that I couldn't even bear to look at them."

Those were his exact words.

Icky… Oozy…

This is what they call "seizing the moment"!

We should send soldiers, food, and supplies to Kaga at once

and get everything set up on the ground.

That is all.

PHEW

All right.

Then we must send transport units to Kaga at once--

If I may, Your Majesty,

I would urge you to proceed with caution here.

What?

This is clearly a Seii ruse,

likely from the Thirty-Six Stratagems, number 34, the "Self-injury Stratagem."

"Self-injury Stratagem"?

When you deliberately injure yourself or an ally,

exploiting the human tendency to trust those who are wounded,

to deceive the enemy.

Flogged on purpose? Is he a masochist?

Seii tried the same stratagem on Yamato 12 years ago.

Strategist Kaku, who was newly enlisted at the time,

was able to see through Seii's deceptive plan beforehand.

Because of this, we managed to defeat Seii's Commander-in-Chief and win.

That commander's name was Wajima.

And Seii's current Commander-in-Chief is also a Wajima.

Your Majesty, please use your wise judgement.

Ryumon's got a point.

Wait, so what am I supposed to do?

Your Majesty!

You mustn't trust this baldy!

Baldy?

Baldy? What?

If I may, Your Majesty.

If we miss this opportunity, our northern campaign will become far more difficult.

My information is reliable.

Your Majesty, I urge you to decide wisely.

Why the heck… No…

I don't know what to do!

Your Majesty.

Have you already forgotten what I said earlier?

Your Majesty's only allies are…

the Tairas alone.

I am issuing an imperial order!

Grand Archivist Tonotsugu Taira,

send 30,000 regular soldiers from Fukui to Kaga!

At once!

Borderland General Mitsuhide Ryumon!

I want you to lead 5,000 soldiers and support Grand Archivist Taira!

What?

THUD - BANG

Well, I'm counting on you! You're dismissed!

Please wait, Your Majesty!

If this is a ruse by Seii, we will lose a vast part of our army!

Please rescind the imperial order!

PITTER PATTER

Baldy, baldy.

Tonotsugu may not look like it, but he's still a child.

Take good care of him, yeah?

You know what will happen if my son dies, don't you?

The "Self-injury Stratagem" from external enemies,

and the "Alienation Stratagem" from the enemies within.

Jeez.

STRATEGIST YASUAKI KAKU

You're really in a bind, Mr. Ryumon.

Were you able to hear us from out here?

Oh? So I was right?

I said that on a hunch.

Kaku,

how do you read the situation?

It's bad. Really bad.

From Seii's standpoint, it's the perfect chance to strike Yamato.

From that fat bastard's standpoint,

it's the perfect chance to seize full control of your command.

Still, it's not like we're out of options.

I thought you might also have something in mind.

Meaning you do too, Mr. Ryumon?

Yes.

Tomorrow at noon, we'll convene a meeting.

Gather the Borderland General Corps at the bureau.

Got it. Everyone?

Yeah. We'll need the rookies to step up too.

Ten days remain until Seii's western expedition.

SECRET OFFICER'S REPORT BACK

YAMATO YEAR 60, SPRING

The next day, in Dotonbori.

What?

AUDITOR AOTERU MISUMI

They're sending 30,000 regular soldiers from Fukui to Kaga?

DEPUTY MASTER OF ARMS YOSHITSUNE ASAMA

They suspect a ruse,

yet they're sending transport units right into Seii's territory.

That's nothing short of walking willingly into a trap!

Has the Emperor been so taken in by Denki Taira's empty rhetoric

that he would let the last three years of Farmer-soldiers policy go up in smoke?

As the ruler of this nation,

does he not care about the lives of soldiers and civilians?

Same goes for Borderland General Ryumon!

For over 20 years,

this country has been weakened by the Tairas' tyranny,

yet Borderland General Ryumon, as supreme commander,

risked his life defending it against invasions from two nations!

For him to allow Taira's son to take command so easily…

It's outrageous!

All right, I've made up my mind.

I will admonish Borderland General Ryumon before the council!

Hold on.

Here.

Don't be impatient, Misumi.

Right now, this is still an information war.

Meaning, we don't know who's right yet.

Besides, you said it yourself, didn't you?

History is made up entirely of exceptions.

We can't change the fact that Borderland General Ryumon lost command.

TAIRA

However, with the right strategy, we can still turn the situation around.

RYUMON

Yes. As they say,

"Judge matters by merit, judge action by its timing."

Thank you, Mr. Tsune.

It's nothing.

I managed to get through to that hardheaded Misumi.

Man, I really am something!

NOON

Now then.

Here in Kanazawa is where we rendezvous with Muuton Nagao.

Kanazawa still has plenty of Japan-era buildings,

so it's practically a fortress.

It's ideal for laying an ambush, with the Tedori River at our backs.

Once we advance to Kanazawa, there's nowhere to run.

If Nagao's surrender is a lie, our army will be wiped out.

The Tedori River is one of Japan's fastest-flowing rivers.

With the snow melting, it could be flooding.

If we're ambushed at the crossing,

there's a 90% probability that our unit will be wiped out.

And if Taira's son ends up dead, Mr. Ryumon's command…

no, even his life will be in danger.

Right Lieutenant General Sugoh and Left Lieutenant General Nagamine

have left Osaka with Grand Archivist Taira

leading the vanguard and the main force, respectively.

We'll be heading to Kaga as well.

That's all.

Hold down the fort while we're gone.

What? Hold down the fort?

Strategist Kaku.

Chief Strategist of the Borderland General Corps.

Three years ago, at the Battle of Nagashino,

they say he predicted the Buo army's position

and succeeded in ambushing them with just 20 men.

He's racked up numerous achievements, and the soldiers all say the same thing.

"Kaku never fails."

That said…

DEEP THOUGHT

…why share the current situation with those of us staying behind?

What the heck? They totally need me!

ANGER

Leaving me out? No, this is messed up! I'll tell him. I'll set him straight!

If I may!

Borderland General Ryumon, permission to speak, sir.

CHIEF CLERK KINTA MORIYAMA

Chief Clerk Moriyama, you may speak.

Thank you, sir.

Given the circumstances, it may be wise to align ourselves with Seii!

Let's hear your reasoning first.

At present, Seii is inferior to us in military strength,

and their reserves are also insufficient.

However, Seii's Commander, Ohga Wajima,

is said to be benevolent to a righteous cause.

She's also easy on the eyes, and has a good reputation among the people.

Really? - That's right!

Meanwhile in Yamato,

the Taira clan amasses more power,

and the Emperor's authority has already been lost.

Frankly, there is no hope for Yamato's future!

That's true.

He's got a point. - True.

To achieve peace across the land, we should abandon Yamato

and swear allegiance to Seii's Commander, who is benevolent to a righteous cause!

I beg you to consider this as well.

As do I! Please swear allegiance to Seii!

Swear allegiance to Seii! - Swear allegiance!

I ask this as well!

Strategist Kaku! What's so funny?

Well, I mean…

seeing how completely brainwashed you are, I couldn't help it.

What?

Kaku, do you have something to say?

Oh, yes.

Then let me ask you, Chief Clerk Moriyama.

What is this "benevolence" of Commander Wajima?

It's this!

She hands out porridge to people in need, and saved the people with her reforms!

That's benevolence!

Oh?

Well, hold on. The rice used to make that porridge

came from the land tax the people had overpaid to the old Seii regime.

In other words, their own money.

Isn't it only right to return the money from those taxes back to the people?

Wajima never told the people any of that,

and instead acted as if she had given them the porridge herself.

Then she pushed through reckless reforms and, with her eloquent speeches,

led her people not toward peaceful lives but down the path of war.

That is not true benevolence.

PEACE ACROSS THE LAND

But…

Exactly!

Well… figures.

And what of Wajima's so-called righteous cause?

To… to protect Seii loyalists in Fukui,

and subjugate Yamato, the very land that gave rise to Seii!

That is a righteous cause!

You have it backward.

Backward! Backward?

Seii only began clearly proclaiming a righteous cause

after Ohga Wajima became Commander-in-Chief.

You can also think of it this way.

She's not seeking to conquer Yamato because of some righteous cause.

Rather, she's proclaiming a righteous cause to hide her true motive.

Her true motive…

Revenge for her late father, or something along those lines… How dumb.

Throughout history, dictators have waged war under seemingly noble banners.

Driven by revenge, she deceives the people,

drags them into conflict,

and seeks not peace across the land, but only the conquest of Yamato.

That is no righteous cause.

Ohga Wajima is nothing but a foolish dictator

masquerading as a virtuous leader.

She is unfit to rule the world!

How can you be so sure?

I have good instincts.

RUSTLE RUSTLE

SLIP

OHGA WAJIMA

What's this?

Isn't this from the secret officer's report?

That's…

"Commander Wajima's totally my type. She seems nice, too."

"Maybe I'll defect to Seii!"

Get a grip.

No, but I mean, at least compared to the Tairas…

We, the Borderland General Corps,

have never fought for the prosperity of the Tairas.

We fight to bring peace to the land. A far greater cause.

To serve in the Borderland General's forces

without grasping something so basic…

Utterly laughable.

Auditor Misumi.

Yes, sir.

What is his offense under military law?

With your permission.

Chief Clerk Moriyama incited disloyalty among the ranks during the council,

undermining morale.

Under military law, three years of exile would be a proper punishment.

And what about those who sided with Moriyama?

All responsibility lies with Moriyama, who incited the others.

I believe those who sided with him should be pardoned.

Very well. I sentence Moriyama to exile and pardon those who sided with him.

Take him away.

War is fast approaching.

Any reckless talk in the bureau will be punished under military law.

All right then. Hold down the fort while we're gone.

Yes, sir!

OSAKA - YAMATO YEAR 60, SPRING 16:21, 12 DEGREES CELSIUS

It's finally happening.

Yeah.

If everything goes as planned,

they'll send 30,000 regular soldiers to Kaga and that's that.

Still, between Denki Taira's son

and the possibility that Muuton Nagao's surrender is a ruse,

there's plenty of cause for concern.

Mr. Tsune, from what we saw at the council,

I think it's safe to assume those of us staying behind have a role to play.

What role?

That I don't know.

You don't say.

That said, some things don't add up at the moment.

First, the fact that they held a council

and briefed those staying behind on the situation.

As you know,

only Borderland General Ryumon can deploy soldiers by imperial order.

Sharing the situation casually with those of us who have no authority

would only stir anxiety and confusion.

So you think there's something else going on?

Yes. Second,

Right Lieutenant General Sugoh and Left Lieutenant General Nagamine

were sent ahead with Taira's son as the advance party.

And third,

there's that.

Is that Chief Clerk Moriyama?

What about him?

He's just being sent into exile, isn't he?

Yes. He's being exiled to Oda in Fukui-Echizen.

It goes without saying Echizen crab is delicious.

It's known for its connection to Oda Nobunaga,

the warlord to implement the soldiers, farmers separation.

Nobunaga's statue is in Oda, built in the first year of the Heisei…

Back to the main point, Misumi.

Right. What's worth noting is the number of escort soldiers.

Roughly 200, I'd say.

Seems a bit excessive,

but I guess it'd be bad if he escaped and passed information to Seii?

That's certainly possible.

But what you just said, Mr. Tsune,

could also be seen as a justification after the fact.

Then why the extra soldiers?

That I don't know.

You don't say.

What if Moriyama's suggestion to swear allegiance to Seii and his exile

was all orchestrated by Borderland General Ryumon

and Strategist Kaku to serve some sort of purpose.

What?

But if that were true,

it doesn't add up that I wasn't told beforehand.

Unless they somehow anticipated that I'd sentence Moriyama to exile.

No, even if that were true,

Chief Clerk Moriyama's acting was far too convincing!

You can't sweat that much just by acting.

Could it be that those two even anticipated

Moriyama would suggest defecting to Seii?

SWISH - CLACK CLACK CLACK

Though there are many tadpoles under the sun,

only a rare few become frogs.

Lie on firewood and persuade the heavens.

Therein lies the key that determines victory.

PAT PAT

YAMATO

For you to leave parting advice, Kaku, you must see great potential in Misumi.

Whether he remains merely gifted, or becomes a true prodigy…

I simply chose to bet on the latter.

Year 60 of the Yamato era. Spring.

Aoteru Misumi was but 18 at the time.

The course of the world is set into motion.

LIE UPON FIREWOOD AND PERSUADE THE HEAVENS TO CLAIM VICTORY