Original subtitles

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

Underage smoking is prohibited.

Year 60 of the Yamato era. Spring.

Acting on Fuji III's orders,

Tonotsugu Taira, Denki Taira's legitimate heir, set out for Kanazawa

with Right Lieutenant General Goh Sugoh of the Borderland General Corps,

leading 30,000 soldiers and 1,000 reinforcements.

Commanding a central force of 1,000,

Left Lieutenant General Shiryo Nagamine was posted in Daishoji,

while Borderland General Mitsuhide Ryumon and strategist Yasuaki Kaku,

leading a rear force of 3,000, had reached Fukui.

SEII - KAGA

Reporting!

Borderland General Ryumon's Corps has entered Fukui Reihoku Castle.

SEII COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OHGA WAJIMA

The transport unit led by Tonotsugu Taira has already entered Kaga.

Thank you for the report.

Please get some rest until further instructions.

Yes, ma'am!

SO PRECIOUS!

SEII - BUO

Papa, the time has come.

NIPPON SANGOKU: THE THREE NATIONS OF THE CRIMSON SUN

KAGA - KANAZAWA CASTLE

Two hundred and five!

Two hundred and six!

Two hundred and seven!

Two hundred and eight!

GOVERNOR OF KAGA MUUTON NAGAO

Two hundred and nine!

Brutal.

BASASHI HATTA - JUNICHI TAMAKI

Seriously brutal. - Quiet, messenger.

If they find out Yamato's people are here, all our heads will roll.

He's fainted!

If he faints, what are Commander Wajima's orders?

EPISODE 6: EVE OF WAR

If he loses consciousness or has a seizure,

I've been instructed to reschedule for another day.

Commander Wajima is merciful.

Very well, that concludes today's interrogation.

Dismissed! - Yes, sir!

That was seriously brutal. - I said keep quiet!

ONE HOUR LATER

DOCTOR

Chief Negotiator Nagao!

Messenger from Yamato.

You seriously think this is some self-injury stratagem?

No, this is no joke. It's brutal. Seriously brutal.

Over 200 lashes? That's insane.

Yeah, it is.

On a good day, I can go 400, easy.

Hey, don't talk about it like it's a workout routine!

Anyway, jokes aside…

That was a joke?

Seii's

new regime is

completely unhinged, as you can see.

But even if we wanted to resist them, we don't have enough soldiers or food.

No, please, just lie down.

Yeah, but…

Kaga may be hanging by a thread, but it's still under my jurisdiction.

So, messenger,

I need you to act fast

and annex Kaga.

Chief Negotiator Nagao!

Completely understood.

I'll bring the transport unit at once.

TWO HOURS LATER

TEDORI RIVER

Reporting!

We had our scouts survey Kanazawa.

They found only 2,000 regular soldiers, with no signs of an ambush.

TONOTSUGU TAIRA

Good work.

BORDERLAND GENERAL CORPS RIGHT LIEUTENANT GENERAL - GOH SUGOH

Looks like there really aren't any hidden soldiers in Kanazawa.

And the Seii forces we passed in Daishoji, Komatsu,

and here in Nomi were all really thin on numbers.

I doubt they would bother setting an ambush in Hakusan either,

since we won't pass it.

Which means, this proves Muuton Nagao's surrender was legit.

What? He's ignoring me?

They say he's a grim, hard-line general, so taciturn, no one's ever seen him smile.

And yeah, the only words I've heard out of him these past few days are…

Got it.

Fine.

One sugar cube, please.

That's all he said.

Well, whatever.

Once I pull off the historic annexation of Kaga

and the Emperor grants me the post of Borderland General,

I'll fire this gloomy old man in a heartbeat.

So, shall we continue on to Kanazawa?

Grand Archivist Taira! Deputy Archivist Tamaki, reporting back!

Good work, Tama.

How's the situation with Chief Negotiator Nagao?

It's brutal. Like, really brutal!

I'm telling you it's seriously brutal!

That's bad. Then we'd better hurry.

Very well. I'll lead the way.

Preparations for the banquet are underway as well.

Wait.

What's wrong?

The river.

Once we cross the Tedori River,

there will be no escape.

Even if Kanazawa itself is empty,

there could be soldiers in neighboring Noto or Etchu.

We also haven't surveyed Hakusan.

If a large Seii force is waiting there,

we'll be caught in a pincer attack, and that will be the end.

I'm sure

even a kid could figure that out.

We will make camp here

and rendezvous with the 1,000 soldiers led by Left Lieutenant General Nagamine,

and the rear force of 3,000 led by Borderland General Ryumon.

In the meantime, we will send scouts to the areas we haven't surveyed yet.

We can cross the river after that.

Well, well, Right Lieutenant General Sugoh.

You've gotten awfully talkative.

Let me ask you this, then. The central force is one thing,

but how many days until the rear force led by the Borderland General arrives?

Won't that take a heck of a long time?

And how many days will it take to finish surveying Hakusan?

It took 1,000 soldiers two full days just to scout Kanazawa.

If Chief Negotiator Nagao is executed or dismissed in the meantime,

wouldn't that really be the end for us?

And what excuse do you plan to give His Majesty

when we return empty-handed, after wasting time and manpower?

Like Baldy-mon-- Oh, my bad.

Like Borderland General Ryumon,

will you fall to your knees and make a fool of yourself?

How disrespectful.

Shut up, dumbass.

You are the disrespectful one.

Arrest Right Lieutenant General Sugoh! - Yes, sir!

Listen up, old man.

I'm the commanding officer here.

Cross me again

and I'll tell my father.

He will slaughter your entire clan.

All right, let's go.

Grand Archivist Taira is on his way to Kanazawa,

leading the transport unit!

What, seriously?

Seriously!

Yes! Yes! Yes! All right!

Man, seriously!

I wasn't sure this deception would work,

but good thing Yamato's commanding officer is an idiot!

Hurry, hurry, send a messenger to Commander Wajima!

Send one immediately!

Yes, sir!

Oh man, Commander Wajima's gonna sing my praises for this. Damn.

VICTORY SECURED

Now then.

Let's give you all a grand welcome,

people of Yamato.

KOMATSU AIRPORT

KOMATSU WARD - 23:20

What? A banquet at Kanazawa Castle?

MITSUHIDE RYUMON

Yes, sir. Grand Archivist Taira says,

"We will start the banquet now."

"Once Borderland General Ryumon arrives,

we will kick off the after-party so get here quick."

STRATEGIST YASUAKI KAKU

So that means Grand Archivist Taira is already at Kanazawa Castle?

Yes, sir!

Then that means they have already crossed the Tedori River?

What? Yes, that would be correct.

Did anyone try to stop Grand Archivist Taira from crossing the river?

What? Well, I didn't see anything.

You sure?

What? Come to think of it,

Right Lieutenant General Sugoh tried to stop him,

but he got tied up with ropes

and forced to-- - Enough. Understood.

We are not going to Kanazawa.

Wait, what?

If we head to Kanazawa too and it's an enemy trap, we are finished.

Sir, wait-- - Tell that to Grand Archivist Taira.

Well, that will be all.

What? What? What?

TAKE A LEAP! WARP TO OKINAWA!

General Ryumon.

You are late.

Yes. I had to relay a message to General Nagamine.

Kaku, how do you read the situation?

It's no ordinary banquet, that much is certain.

A banquet is the perfect setting for poison or an ambush,

all the more so on one's own territory.

So Sugoh and the others are in danger, you think?

That said,

the Seii army's previously unclear movements are starting to come into focus.

General Ryumon, I believe we should pull back to Fukui

and consolidate our position.

To Fukui?

If we return to Fukui now,

we will be too late if anything happens in Kanazawa.

Do we have a fighting chance?

That's precisely why we do the unexpected.

BANQUET COURSE MEAL

SEII, KAGA - KANAZAWA CASTLE

GEISHA TROUPE IDOL STAR

So this is Seii's geisha troupe, Idol Star!

I love the outfits and hairstyles. They have that late Japan era vibe!

As of today, Kaga belongs to Yamato.

Honestly, I don't even know how to thank you enough.

His Imperial Majesty of Yamato is incredibly generous.

You endured brutal interrogation and kept your silence, Lord Nagao.

There's no reason not to reward such loyalty.

On the other hand,

the ones who suspected your surrender was a ruse

will likely be dismissed.

Isn't that right, Right Lieutenant General Sugoh?

Hey, by the way, why is Right Lieutenant General Sugoh tied up?

That's just a hobby of his.

What an unusual hobby.

I would love to hear more about it!

Anyway,

I told you we would feed you,

so why aren't you eating anything?

That's rude to Lord Nagao.

If there's something you don't like, I'll have another dish prepared.

Then, I'll have one sugar cube.

What? A sugar cube?

Sure, but why?

If I'm gonna die anyway, better to die eating something I like.

Someone bring Right Lieutenant General Sugoh a sugar cube.

Yes, sir!

Right Lieutenant General Goh Sugoh,

you are the only one who still seems to doubt me.

And the fact that Tonotsugu himself is keeping watch over you

means he doesn't trust his own soldiers at all.

That alone speaks volumes

about the Borderland General Corps'

overwhelming reputation in military matters.

Either way, the situation is favorable.

Even if the real strategy were somehow exposed…

Delicious.

Looks like you believe me now

that there's no poison.

OSAKA - SAME TIME YOSHITSUNE'S RESIDENCE

Won't that turn Kanazawa into a battlefield?

That's a very real possibility.

Indeed, the most reliable move for Seii

would be to launch a pincer attack on the Yamato forces at Kanazawa.

For them, it's the perfect chance to wipe out Yamato's main force.

I get that much.

But what you mustn't forget

is that Kanazawa is Seii's own territory.

If two large armies clash in Kanazawa,

Seii won't come away unscathed.

The land would be ravaged, poverty would spread,

and they wouldn't even be able to grant

land to the soldiers who distinguish themselves in battle.

With Seii still unstable after a regime change,

I think they would want to avoid fighting on their own soil.

In other words, while keeping the Yamato army tied down in Kanazawa,

they plan to invade Yamato instead?

Exactly.

If they make a move, it will be from Fukui.

But, Misumi, if the Seii army advances normally…

KING - PROMOTED ROOK

…wouldn't they run straight into the Yamato forces heading for Kanazawa?

In my view,

this is the most likely point.

Fukui District in Okuetsu Prefecture.

What? Okuetsu?

As you say, Mr. Tsune, a direct advance would lead to a head-on clash.

Which means, for the Seii army to invade…

KAGA, OKUETSU PREFECTURE, FUKUI DISTRICT

…they would have to cross Hakusan and strike at Okuetsu.

There's no other way.

Hold on a sec.

Seii's Hakusan region is mountainous and prone to disasters.

And since the end of the Japan era,

the roads haven't been maintained properly, or so my mom once told me.

Even if a small elite force managed to cross Hakusan and take down Fukui,

they would need at least 50,000 soldiers to hold it.

But at present, they can't even muster 10,000 soldiers.

That would have been true up until a month ago.

This is an intelligence report

on the domestic policies of Seii's new administration.

It says this.

"On the military front, the Farmer-soldiers policy will be expanded."

"Farmer-soldiers, in addition to farming and combat duties,

will also be tasked with developing and repairing roads and waterways,

constructing and maintaining bases,

and assisting with disaster relief."

What if this…

was all preparation for the coming war?

No way.

TANI TUNNEL - LENGTH 1462M

Year 60 of the Yamato era. Spring.

From the northern land of Seii, Ohga Wajima departed Hakusan

and marched west at the head of her army,

resolved to settle the conflict with Yamato.

Heave-ho!

The war begins.

The Seii army broke through the Tani Tunnel

linking the two countries and invaded Okuetsu.

OKUETSU - KUZURYU CASTLE YAMATO - KATSUYAMA CASTLE - ONO CASTLE

As they advanced, they set towns ablaze and closed in on Kuzuryu Castle.

Kuzuryu Castle had just 2,000 defenders,

facing the Seii army's total force of 70,000.

Hold the line! Fire!

Kuzuryu Castle, main keep.

What's the current situation?

We are badly outnumbered.

DEPUTY CASTELLAN HINA HIRAIZUMI

The situation is dire.

KUZURYU CASTLE CASTELLAN YOSHINAGA SATO

What about reinforcements from the other castles?

With Kanazawa's regular soldiers tied up in transport,

we can't count on reinforcements.

Castellan Sato, we should send a messenger

to Osaka at once to request reinforcements.

Hiraizumi, if reinforcements were to come,

who do you think would command them?

Could it be…

It would be Denki Taira, Lord of Home Affairs.

If he defeats Seii,

Borderland General Ryumon will be stripped of his command, and Taira will take it.

That must be avoided at all costs.

But what about this castle?

We have word that Borderland General Ryumon is turning back from Kaga.

If so, he could reach Okuetsu as early as tonight.

We just need to hold out until then.

Emergency report!

Seii forces have breached the castle!

They are closing in on the main keep!

Listen up, you Yamato nobodies!

I'm Aterui Kura.

By order of Seii's Commander, I've come to take down

the Yamato bandits overrunning this castle.

Our main force under Commander Wajima

is already moving on Katsuyama Castle and Ono Castle.

But I don't enjoy picking on the weak.

So here's my proposal.

Just one head.

If you hand over the head of this castle's castellan right now

and surrender the castle,

I'll let everyone here walk away.

But if you refuse,

I'll bite off every finger and toe you have,

and shove them down your throats, choking you all to death.

I don't lie!

Now choose, you nobodies!

Hiraizumi,

after you hand over my head,

take the soldiers and civilians

and rendezvous with Borderland General Ryumon's Corps.

What?

We will have to hand over the castle's food stores.

But thanks to that new auditor everyone's talking about,

Fukui has plenty of provisions stockpiled.

The rest is up to you.

Trust me and go.

Hurry!

Forget that.

I'm straight up ignoring that order.

What, ignoring it?

We young folk have followed you all this way.

General Ryumon put you in charge of Kuzuryu Castle.

You didn't serve all these years

as castellan for nothing, did you?

It's obvious we have no chance of winning.

But if we sacrifice you and run away,

we could never face the people who looked up to you, or those who fell here today.

So…

we are defending this castle together!

Agreed!

We stand united!

I hear you.

I, Yoshinaga Sato, accept your resolve.

All right, you lot, let's go.

We are ready to lay down our lives

to defend this castle!

I am Yoshinaga Sato, Castellan of Kuzuryu Castle!

If you want my head, come take it yourself!

Got some nerve for a nobody, picking a fight with me.

Don't know who you are, but if you want to beat me, bring someone strong.

Someone like Ryumon.

True, I am a nobody in Yamato,

and you are well-known in Yamato.

Starting with the Kura gang,

the Ginzan Security Troop, the anti-surrender faction,

to now the Seii military chief.

That's quite the resume.

But you were also a nobody once, weren't you?

"Nobodies, nobodies, nobodies."

You keep calling us that,

but could you have said that to yourself back when you were nobody?

As a proud samurai of this land,

can you say that openly, without shame?

You are not worth bothering Borderland General Ryumon over.

Just remember this.

When you die, the last face you see

will be this nameless castellan's.

I like you!

You are an entertaining bunch of nobodies!

All soldiers, follow Castellan Sato!

Don't break formation!

All right, listen up.

Anyone who fights these guys like a coward, I'll kill you myself!

Follow me!

THE WAR BEGINS

SEII WEST EXPEDITION