I have been given keys and pass-codes that allow me to raise and lower the flags and banners on the castle walls. I will, of course, be quite sure not to misuse such power.

This will be an important part of my latest project at Clan Tenya, which is clearing supply lines through the forests that allow us easy access to certain of our allies. The first is a direct route to Kotobasatsuki. You may remember that I have previous experience operating in that town; it seems my knowledge was one of the reasons Yutaka wanted to add me to the clan.

It is good to be appreciated for one's knowledge and skills.

Clearing this route has involved disposing of a few members of the large and loose-knit Seibun-gumi, which is spread through many strategic areas across the forests and hills of Ōmi Province. I am learning that group's tactics, and will be better equipped to face them in the future, when I clear additional pathways for our allies. Clan Gironfuttō is next.

Anyway, being able to send up signals on the castle's flagpoles will be an important part of allowing our messengers — and those from allied clans and gumis operating in Kotobasatsuki — to communicate with us at a distance while they're on the road.

It seems like a small thing, but it will help our overall strategy. Yutaka supports this venture.
A busy morning at the Yaneura-gumi's headquarters. The armies of Saiongaso have won a resounding victory over their foes — a victory which we were instrumental in making possible for them. In the meantime, Haruo is busy assisting two Nichiren priestesses with their negotiations with Clan Mōfō over how to proceed into the final stages of their campaign. They are all very concerned with how much we can accomplish; they do not want to promise anything we can't actually provide.

The elder priestess, Romi, is constantly sending messages back and forth to the Mōfō clan leaders. The younger one, Mariko, often comes to ask Teruyoshi and I questions like, "If we station you in a mountain pass like such-and-so, how many enemies could you hold that pass against? What if they had spearmen, not just swordsmen?" or "How many foot soldiers of Ayamari can you take down in a frontal attack on a wide-open city street?" or "If you had to hold an eight-foot-wide gate against any number of enemies for 6 hours, what weapons and supplies would you require?"

Truly, they are trying to plan for every contingency. Teruyoshi and I stay in the courtyard at Yaneura HQ, sparring and waiting for Mariko to come with interesting and imagination-firing questions. Sometimes, we are sent on brief sorties, but I think they want us to conserve our strength.

In the evenings, I try to stop by Kusatsu on my way home, and learn more of its byways. It turns out that Jō staff fighting needs some strange adaptations to work properly there, and I am still trying to accustom myself to the proper ways.
I have been very diligent in my visits to the town of Seinikki, where I have been stealthily observing the underworld operatives who are causing troubles. It seems there are 31 of them, a most inauspicious number. Each one will require special techniques to defeat with my manrikigusari. So far, I am nearly ready to deal with three of them, and I have singled out two others for special study.

These five are likely to be the most difficult of all. If I can take them down, the others should be much easier.

In the meantime, I have also made my first visit, under the cover of darkness, to the town of Kusatsu, at the intersection of the Tōkaidō and the Nakasendō. Kusatsu is a tightly guarded town, where no swords or staffs may be brought. Peasants' tools, such as the kama, are no problem, and it is very easy to slip a manrikigusari past their guards.

I think it would be to my great credit if I could get a representative from Clan Saezuri installed in a place of power in Kusatsu. (Of course, the large numbers of operatives from Clan Toyotomi in Kusatsu won't make that easy... I'd rather see clan Te-no-hira grow in power in Kusatsu, but they are only recently arrived there, and will have their work cut out for them.)

There is much work to be done, and Kusatsu is in the other direction from Yagyū, where I must go often to seek for employment.
 
Arrived bright and early at Castle Nettobuku this morning. Captain Tomo was here even earlier.

The abbess Jīya has selected a variety of targets to begin the Hitotsu Goko campaign with. An increasing number are from the Ayamari-gumi, a gumi who serve no useful purpose that I can find. They exist merely to make others' lives more difficult. They are the dregs of society, and no matter how many of them we slay, there seem to always be more ready to take their place.

But there is also reconnaissance to be performed on the Meisabokkusu mercenaries, so I can analyze their weaknesses. And we warriors need to have some discussions about strategy and tactical planning. We hope we can find time for such a meeting today. It may not be easy, because Bunmei has to leave soon to travel to his far-away home.
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