Original subtitles

Caught between the two opposing forces of the Ouchi and Amago...

...the Mori were busy helping out in battles.

Every time a battle erupted, the Mori had to read the wind's direction...

...and figure out which side they would take. That was their survival tactic.

But Motonari succeeded in enlarging the Mori rapidly.

Meanwhile, the Ouchi's head, Yoshitaka, was killed by his vassals...

...and Sue Harukata took charge of the clan.

With his overwhelming military power...

...Harukata tried to impose obedience on the Mori as the Ouchi had done previously.

Send the army to the Mori. Trample their Nawashiro fief.

However, the Mori felt humiliated by Harukata's high-handedness.

They finally decided to have an all-out confrontation.

This is not a battle to help someone else out.

This is a battle to make the Mori stand on our own.

Contrary to Sue Harukata's expectations...

...the Mori were about to start a war of independence.

MORI MOTONARI

Episode 39: Outwitting a Plot

Screenplay by: Uchidate Makiko

Original Story by: Nagai Michiko

Music by: Watanabe Toshiyuki

Theme Song Performed by: NHK Symphony Orchestra Music Performed by: Concert Regnie

Title Calligraphy by: Mori Motonari Narration by: Hirano Keiko

CAST

Mori Motonari: Nakamura Hashinosuke

Mori Takamoto: Kamikawa Takaya

Akagawa Motoyasu: Nagashima Toshiyuki

Kodama Naritada: Masuoka Toru

Katsura Motozumi: Tsurumi Shingo

Kikkawa Motoharu: Matsushige Yutaka Kobayakawa Takakage: Megumi Toshiaki

Ko: Akimoto Naomi Sayo: Tanaka Hiroko

Kunishi Motosuke: Sakamoto Akira Awaya Motochika: Shionoya Masayuki

Fukubara Sadatoshi: Ishihama Akira Kosanta: Nasa Kenji

Sue Takafusa: Jinnai Takanori

Era Fusahide: Takaoka Kenji

Hironaka Takakane: Sagawa Mitsuo

Amago Kunihisa: Shimizu Koji

Noda Jiro: Matoba Koji

Kame: Hazuki Riona

Mitsu: Iwasaki Hiromi

Amago Haruhisa: Takashima Masanobu

Shishido Takaie: Kase Taishu/NAko: Fujiyoshi Kumiko

Kawazoe Hisanobu: Uesugi Shozo Murakami Torayoshi: Fujiwara Yoshiaki

Hotate Masanao: Harada Yoshio

Tae: Miyamoto Nobuko

Produced by: Kida Yukinori

English Subtitles: Koala Fansubs

Directed by: Matsuoka Koji

First, capture Sakurao Castle.

Then...

...to Itsukushima.

The Sue are coming from the West.

We'll take on them there.

The problem is after that.

We're no match for them in a head-on confrontation.

How should we attack...

SAYO (Motonari's Second Concubine)

Great Lord.

I, Sayo, am an ignorant woman.

Please teach me.

H... H... Hey...

Er...

The Sue are 10,000.

The Mori are 2,000.

Even if I gather up more, it's...

...they're still five times stronger.

I'm dumb.

Great Lord.

Please teach me.

Oh... what can I say...?

Hey, later.

Let's do it later.

Later, alright?

Oh, Sayo-dono.

Great Lord.

The Sue army is five times stronger than us.

They are 10,000-strong.

If you leave it to younger people, who don't know other things than pushing forward...

...the Mori will be annihilated.

You'll lose everything you've built up.

KO (Motonari's First Concubine) How are you going to fight?

Please tell me.

Please leave.

Great Lord is relaxing with me now.

Women like you, Ko-dono, who anticipate everything...

...make men tired.

Please leave.

Sayo-dono.

Are you doing it again?

"I'm dumb."

Is that what you were saying?

Do you believe all men pet dumb women?

Something is wrong with your brain.

Ko-dono.

Something is wrong with your body.

That's why Great Lord doesn't go to your bedroom.

What?

You keep disturbing him.

H... H... Hey!

Stop it, both of you.

We're going to beat the Sue by all means.

Fortunately, Bingo constables are under the Mori's control.

We can push forward by force now.

I think we should capture Itsukushima first.

If we capture it in a dash, the Sue will be unsettled.

I agree.

Itsukushima is the key to Inland Sea. An important port.

Foreign trade will increase more in the future.

So Itsukushima is an island of treasure that supports the nation.

That's right.

It is not hard for us to take Itsukushima from the Sue now.

However...

...the problem is after that.

Itsukushima is indispensable for the Sue.

They'll try hard to take it back. That'll cause another battle.

The second battle will be an unprecedented major battle for the Mori.

The Sue are 10,000.

The Mori are 2,000.

We'll never stand a chance.

You all know such a battle will happen...

...and you still want to capture Itsukushima?

Yes.

We already made up our minds.

I understand.

Great Lord.

We think this battle against the Sue will be three-phased.

First, we capture Kanayama Castle, Koi Castle, Kusatsu Castle...

...and then, Sakurao Castle.

Secondly, we cross the ocean to capture Itsukushima.

Immediately after that, we return the mainland...

...and counterattack the Sue army invading from the West.

We're expecting to have a showdown battle around Oshikibata.

At Oshikibata, narrow paths open up suddenly.

Its geography is favorable for us.

Favorable?

The Sue will move soldiers right away.

But they'll have to send soldiers without enough preparations.

We can mobilize up to 3,000.

If we counterattack them with our entire force, we're likely to have a chance of winning.

Great Lord.

The last showdown will take place after Oshikibata.

That's when we might fight against the Sue's main army.

I think we should hole up in Sakurao and Kanayama Castles...

...to have a long drawn-out battle.

If we have a long drawn-out battle...

...other constables might side with us...

...because Sue Harukata killed his master.

That's favorable for us.

For now, we must do our best to capture Itsukushima during the first phase.

But there are some concerns.

While our forces gather in Itsukushima...

...the Amago will take the chance to attack us from behind.

My Shishido army will divert the Amago.

Great Lord.

Great Lord!

Great Lord.

All right.

Stay alert to the Amago.

Capture Itsukushima first!

GASSAN-TODA CASTLE (Izumo) Hip, hip, hurray!

There's a rumor that the Mori are going to fight against the Sue.

Is that true?

I have no doubt.

That's what my spies told me.

Now, where are they attacking?

The Mori will probably try to get Itsukushima.

Itsukushima?

The Sue are fighting in Iwami now.

KAWAZOE HISANOBU (Head of Amago Vassals)

So Itsukushima is less guarded. They are likely to take this chance.

What do you think, Kunihisa?

AMAGO KUNIHISA (Shingu Party Head) That's very likely.

First, we should attack the off-guarded Mori from behind.

Sire, I will reinforce my troops on the border with the Mori.

Please return my 1,000 men from Izumo and Iwami...

...and 1,000 men from Inaba.

With other soldiers at my hand, I'll make an army of 3,500 to attack the Mori.

All right.

Father.

Did you want to see us?

Come in.

I'm happy to have...

...such fine sons.

I want to show you to Mii.

I wanted to see you tonight for a reason.

To fight against the Sue to your heart content...

...you must defang the Amago.

To defang the Amago, we have to dispatch our troops.

We cannot afford that.

How would you...?

Takamoto.

Can I have Kodama Naritada and Katsura Motozumi for a while?

The rest of you can go with Takamoto, to fight in full force.

Capture Itsukushima in a dash.

Thank you for your encouragement.

We'll take Itsukushima without fail and counterattack the Sue at Oshikibata.

Please leave it to us!

I'll wear down the Amago's power.

I'll defang the Amago...

...without fail.

Decreasing the enemy's military strength without fighting...

Wise General Motonari was about to begin his plot.

Did you want to see me, sir?

Are these...?

...letters from Amago Kunihisa?

That's right.

Kosanta.

One of them is fake.

Can you tell?

This is it.

We now have a considerable number of Amago spies in our fief.

Yes.

I keep an eye on several spies from Kawazoe Hisanobu.

That's just as well.

Let Kawazoe's spies steal those letters.

It has forged handwritings. It looks like a letter from Kunihisa addressed to me.

"Dear Motonari-dono,"

"I made arrangements to attack Haruhisa."

"As a reward, I, Kunihisa, want Izumo and Hoki."

So you want Kawazoe's spies to secretly deliver this letter to Kawazoe?

In 1554 (Tenbun 23)...

...the Mori army captured Kanayama, Koi and Kusatsu Castles in sequence.

Then, they surrounded Sakurao Castle.

Release!

The Mori captured Sakurao Castle in a day.

They crossed the ocean and occupied Itsukushima.

Itsukushima was taken by a tiny army like the Mori?

What kind of blunder!?

SUE HARUKATA'S MAIN CAMP (Iwami)

That's typical of Motonari, isn't that!?

Stealing Itsukushima while I'm here in Iwami.

That's a typical trick Motonari would use!?

We haven't conquered Iwami yet. And Motonari is going to battle.

But I'm stuck here!!

Please be patient, sire.

Yeah, I'm not being patient.

The Mori and other constables are...

...calling me a rebellious subject who killed my master.

I was going to kill Lord Yoshitaka.

But I wasn't going to kill Prince Kidomaru.

He was Lord Yoshitaka's son.

The Ouchi's heir.

I was going to raise him...

...to make him a fine successor of the Ouchi.

It's now useless to regret your killing of Prince Kidomaru.

Silent!

I raised a rebellion out of my genuine concern about the Ouchi.

To show that to other provinces, I have no other choice than making the Ouchi more powerful.

Until everyone understands my intentions...

...I cannot lose to anyone.

I have no other choice than showing the result!

Fusanaga!

You can have 2,000 soldiers.

Recapture Itsukushima immediately.

Miyagawa Fusanaga is leading about 2,000 soldiers.

He left Iwami five days ago.

SAKURAO CASTLE (Aki Province) How fast are they?

They're having a hard time getting provisions. 3 ri (7.3 miles) a day at most.

Very well.

We do have a chance of winning.

Sire!

What?

Gentlemen.

LADY AKO TAE (Takakage's Wife) (Ako's Maid)

Thank you for your hard work in the hot weather.

We brought something for you.

Those will help you beat the heat.

Ako!

- Tae! - You're looking good, sire.

Thanks for coming. It's been a while.

Women coming to the battlefield to encourage the men? That's unheard of.

Come over here.

Come here.

Please have some.

Go ahead.

- These are called grapes. - Grapes?

You all look great. I'm relieved.

How do you like it?

It's sweet.

Great Lord might get mad. I'm worried.

Yeah, this is unheard of.

Don't worry too much.

Whose...

...idea is this?

This is my idea.

My name is Tae, Lady Ako's maid.

Thanks.

From now on...

...men and women must fight together.

You ladies came here to encourage the men.

That means the women want to fight with the men.

Oh, Great Lord.

Your caliber is as good as I've heard. I'm relieved.

Now, stand up. Yes.

Alright?

Go ahead.

- Great Lord. - What is it?

You're almost winning this battle, aren't you?

That's what my late wife said all the time.

Everyone.

You should drink and have as much fun as you want today.

Hear what he said?

Everything informal today. Let's have fun!

Here, Motoharu.

Oh, Ako.

The fake letter on Kunihisa's betrayal...

...was successfully stolen by Kawazoe's spy.

It'll be delivered to Haruhisa soon.

Good job.

Kosanta.

Let's add a finishing touch.

This is a template of my kao (stylized signature).

Only close aides to Amago Haruhisa know this.

When you find out their secrets...

...write them down here and let Kawazoe spies steal it.

If Amago Haruhisa gets the previous letter...

...he'll be suspicious of Kunihisa.

Kosanata, I want you to use this piece of paper...

...as soon as you find something out.

Then, Haruhisa will surely believe Kunihisa's betrayal.

"...want to have Izumo and Hoki...?"

This is my uncle's handwriting.

My spy stole it from a Mori spy.

Unbelievable.

Recently, Kunihisa-dono is desperately trying to reinforce his army.

I thought he was doing so to attack the Mori, but the truth is...

- To attack me? - That's right.

If this letter is real, he's reinforcing his army not to attack the Mori...

...but to prepare for his rebellion.

In addition to the 3,500 soldiers...

...he sent 700 more soldiers back from Bingo.

He seems to be trying to make an army of 4,200.

4,200?

That's not what I heard.

But, still...

This might be Motonari's plot.

Everyone.

Don't believe this for now.

The 2,000-strong Sue army left Tsuwano...

...and set up camp on Mt. Oshikibata.

But the Mori army took advantage of the narrow landform to surround the Sue army.

They launched a full-scale attack.

Release!

Release!

Keep releasing!

-Release! - Release!

Suffering catastrophic damage by losing the commander Miyagawa Fusanaga...

...the Sue army was defeated.

Finally, the decisive battle with Sue Harukata.

KORIYAMA CASTLE (Aki) He'll probably return from Iwami to regain Itsukushima.

I think he'll land on Itsukushima Island.

He gathered many boats at Iwakuni.

He seems to be preparing for landing on Itsukushima.

To preserve our strength, we should abandon Itsukushima...

...and reinforce our defenses on land. That is better.

True.

With the number of boats we have, we're no match for him.

Sire.

I agree with the idea of abandoning Itsukushima.

Very well.

To fully prepare for our long drawn-out battle on land...

...withdraw our soldiers from Itsukushima.

No.

Defend Itsukushima to the death.

Fight against the 10,000-strong Sue army at Itsukushima.

Great Lord.

Are you out of mind?

It is insane to fight the Sue on the ocean.

Right. The Sue are 5 times larger.

We'll have a 50-50 chance only by having a long drawn-out battle in this particular area.

A long drawn-out battle?

Do you think we have a chance of winning?

Even if we cannot win, we won't lose.

A long drawn-out battle...

It's easier to say, but...

It might take five...

...or ten years.

What if we lose once during the battle?

Most constables we depend on...

...will switch sides to the Sue.

Then, the Mori will be done.

Because we have no chance of winning...

...we can depend only on surprise attacks.

That's possible on Itsukushima, I think.

The island is surrounded by sea. There must be various ways.

True.

We can come up with various ways at sea.

But fighting at sea is too dangerous!

Right.

For now, we must reinforce our defenses at Sakurao, Koi and Kanayama Castles...

...to have a long drawn-out battle.

I agree.

If we get other constables to kill Sue, the rebellious subject...

...we can get a strategic advantage.

The strategic importance lies...

...on Itsukushima.

Don't tell me you've forgotten that.

Itsukushima is a treasure of our nation.

It's the most important port in the Inland Sea.

As long as we occupy Itsukushima...

...we occupy the Inland Sea.

We must protect Itsukushima at all costs.

Then, we'll launch a surprise attack there and destroy the enemy in one blow.

That's the only way we have.

A long drawn-out battle?

We'll have no chance.

Well...

Do everything to lure the 10,000-strong Sue army out to Itsukushima.

Everyone.

Understood?

Since you insist, Great Lord...

...I, Takamoto, will obey your order.

Go to Itsukushima!

However...

...Sue Harukata, who stationed his 10,000-strong grand army in Iwakuni...

SUE HARUKATA'S MAIN CAMP (Iwakuni) ...found out the Mori's movements.

He was trying to conduct an unexpected operation to outsmart Motonari.

The Mori are gathering their soldiers�c

...to reinforce their defenses at Itsukushima.

Itsukushima, huh?

I'm moving the entire army by land...

...to attack Koriyama Castle.

The Mori are probably expecting me to be fixated on Itsukushima.

They must be planning tactics at sea, because they want to fight at sea.

That kind of trick doesn't work on me.

HIRONAKA TAKAKANE (Ouchi Key Vassal) But the road from here to Yoshida...

...has many trying places one after another.

It's not easy to advance our 10,000-strong grand army.

We can win easily at Itsukushima.

Why do you bother outsmarting them?

We can win at Itsukushima any time.

That's why we can fight them there later.

First, we're going to capture Koriyama Castle in a dash.

After losing Koriyama Castle, the Mori will be running away from Itsukushima.

I can visualize them.

To prevent them from running away...

...get the navy and immobilize the Mori.

MURAKAMI NAVY'S CAMP (Innnoshima Island)

I asked Hotate-dono to take me over here, because...

ERA FUSAHIDE (Sue Key Vassal) ...we don't want you to side with the Mori.

But we're not going to ask you to side with the Sue.

We would like you not to make any moves.

Please heed our request.

Ah, the Sue are going to fight against the Mori?

The Mori started this battle.

-We... -Sue-dono banned us from collecting guard fee, our financial base.

How can you dare ask us for a favor.

For that matter...

If you don't make any move...

...he will reconsider the matter of the guard fee.

What a clever tactic.

Go home.

Whether we move or not, we'll make our own decision.

But!

When we move, we won't side with the Sue.

Go home!

Siding with the Mori doesn't bring any advantage to you.

-Please consider well! Go home!

Go home!

For now, the winning possibility is 70% for the Sue and 30% for the Mori.

Motonari-dono has started a bold action.

Torayoshi-dono.

If we can collect guard fee again...

...it might be better if we don't move.

Sue-dono seems to be planning to fight on land.

You're close to the Sue and Mori, Hotate-dono.

Which side are you going to take this time?

I'm a merchant.

I'll decide from a merchant's point of view.

You want to side with the winner? You should side with the Sue.

Side with the Sue.

I'll wait and see for a while.

I'll side with whichever uses their brain better.

Those who use their brains better always win battles.

Kunihisa-dono is here, sire.

No wonder it's been cold. It started snowing.

Sire.

Did you finally decided to attack the Mori from behind?

I decided to kill...

...Kunihisa and the Shingu Party members.

Kunihisa.

You're in communication with Motonari...

...to kill me. How sad.

What are you...?

That's a secret letter from Motonari to you, Kunihisa-dono.

He wrote, "It is dependable of you to reinforce your forces up to 4,200."

4,200...?

Why...?

The size of our army is our top secret.

You reinforced your army more to kill the lord, didn't you?

Sire, this is Motonari's trick.

You said you need 3,500.

In fact, you mobilized 4,200.

Unless you're in communication with him, Motonari wouldn't know that.

Kunihisa.

You're making me sad...

No.

I'm not the one.

-This is Motonari's trick! Kill him!

Sire...

You doubt me that much...?

Father! Father!

Mitsu.

Don't let the Amago clan go down.

Father!!

Father...

Father...

Father!

Father!!

Why!?

You didn't want my father from the beginning!

Let me go!

I'm going to...!

Your Ladyship!

That night, Haruhisa arrested members of the Shingu Party led by his in-law, Amago Kunihisa.

He executed all of them.

Motonari's plan of defanging the opponent without fighting...

...certainly achieved success.

He was setting his next target on...

...Era Fusahide, key vassal on the Sue side.

HATAGAESHI CASTLE (Bingo)

Welcome to your enemy's castle.

You must have very important business, don't you?

-Actually... -I don't need diplomatic niceties.

Let's get down to the business.

Begone.

We are offering a 300-kan fief, Era-dono.

This is an offer from the Great Lord.

What are you talking about?

All the constables in Aki, Bingo, Bitchu and Bizen are now on the Mori's side.

They call Sue-dono "the rebellious subject".

They all hate him.

Era-dono.

Great Lord said...

..."Era-dono is too good to work for the rebellious subject."

Why don't you show your real talent to the Mori clan?

I'm...

...too good to switch side for only 300 kan.

You don't think you will make it back alive, do you?

Go ahead and kill me.

If I don't come back...

...the Mori will seriously attack this castle, you know.

The Mori must protect themselves from the Amago while fighting with the Sue army.

They can't afford capturing this castle.

Great Lord already immobilized the Amago.

What?

The Amago cannot move an inch.

You'll find that out soon.

Wait and see.

Era-dono.

Please let us know whenever you change your mind.

The entire Mori clan is waiting for you.

Go home!

I don't think Era will change sides.

No wonder why Sue relies on him.

I already know what kind of man he is.

Well.

I just wanted you to tell him about 300 kan.

With my offer of 300 kan...

...I'm just making arrangements for Sue to get rid of Era with his own hands.

Why didn't you tell me?

I'm sorry.

People will find out later.

Not long after that.

Era Fusahide was summoned by Sue Harukata in Iwakuni.

Era-dono is here.

I know why you summoned me, sire.

Isn't it about the Shingu Party?

That's definitely caused by Motonari's plot.

I've heard a rumor that Motonari is going to immobilize the Amago.

That's exactly what happened.

Motonari is a scary man.

To devote all his energy to his battle with us...

...he must have wear down the Amago's strength.

So I was right.

You already know about the Mori that much?

It's your gratitude letter for the 300 kan you received.

I never did.

I just made him leave!

That's your handwriting, without a doubt.

The Amago's Shingu Party must have been framed like this.

Sire!!

Sire...

I trusted you...

Nobody understands how I feel...!?

Thus, Motonari removed his enemy's key figures one after another.

Great Lord.

It's an emergency.

Sue Harukata is leading his entire army.

He seems to be heading for Koriyama Castle by land.

Is that true?

I see.

If the Sue army comes by land...

...the Mori has no chance of winning.

He must lure the Sue to Itsukushima at any cost.

Motonari's last operation was about to begin.

End of Episode 39