"Explore it we shall then!" Gengyo proclaimed, pouring Nobunaga another drink from the jug of wine. He brushed his stool out of the way, and shuffled closer to the fire, where the mud had all but dried out, glad of the opportunity to be able to sit back on his hands. "So, Shinano? It borders your Owari. It would be a useful province for an ambitious man to take hold of. You wouldn't say no to its acquisition, would you?"
"No," Nobunaga began carefully, taking care not to spill the wine from his cup though his hand shook rather fiercely. "I wouldn't. However, what is it you ask for in return?"
"Oh, that's the crux of the matter, isn't? You made a rather poor showing today on the battlefield – if I might be so bold as to say – but that's fine. That was not the limit of your capacity. I have four enemies that will be raising their sword against me, and I require allies of my own."
Nobunaga barely flinched at the blatant insult, for he most definitely agreed with it. They'd done nothing. "Four? The Imagawa remnants, the Takeda remnants, the Uesugi and who..? The Hojo? They're not involved yet. How can you be so confident in marking them an enemy?"
"Because that is certainly who Imagawa Ujizune has scurried to, in looking for a way to overthrow me. The Hojo will have only been too willing. They'll have their banners raised in assistance, and when the time comes, Ujizune will be cast aside, and the Hojo hold will be unshakeable."
"I see," young Nobunaga mused, carefully sipping on his wine. That was quite the many enemies. Could he not use that to his advantage, and push this Miura into a wall? But what then? When the elephants of the Uesugi and Hojo came knocking, he would struggle to respond. He had a look in his eyes as he thought it over, and from that look Gengyo could tell numerous calculations were running through his head. He wanted to know whether he'd be cheated in accepting the request that was to come. "And so, if I ally myself with you, who is to say you will not fall? What becomes of my people then? Through the alliance, your enemies become my enemies. I am not convinced."
Gengyo smiled at that. 'I am far from immortal,' he thought to himself."Oh, broadly speaking, I will definitely fall. One day, at least. Though I do not think it will be any time soon." He reached into the folds of kimono and drew a scroll, laying it out on the stool he'd just vacated. It was a simplified version of a map he kept back in his tent, and was drawn in the black ink of his own brush. "We," he traced his finger from Mikawa and headed eastwards into Shinano, "will campaign through into Shinano and seize control of more men and resources before Takeda Yoshinobu gets wind of his father's death and begins rallying an army."
Nobunaga was shaking his head, entirely dissatisfied with that answer. "You'd leave Mikawa defenceless? Hojo will march up easily from the south with Imagawa as their figurehead, they'll sack Mikawa and then they'll plunge straight into Owari. What am I to do then, when I am off fighting your battles? And what of the Uesugi? You have not mentioned dealing with them at all. Shinano is tainted whilst The Dragon still roams."
"Ah." Gengyo paused a moment, as though he'd made a critical oversight. He turned to Matsudaira before voicing his answer. "I did say earlier, didn't I? We're partners in this, my friend. I will have you take what is yours and sit in the seat of Daimyo, ruling Mikawa in my absence, and readying yourself for the Hojo invasion."
To this request – that surprised all listeners present – Matsudaira reacted with the utmost grace. Akiko had her delicate lips parted in surprise, staring at her husband wondering why he'd give up the power he'd only just acquired. Rin had to bite her tongue not to say anything. With them, the recently promoted Generals were shuffling uncomfortably. "Your vassal? It would be my greatest honour." He bowed his head low, his heart flushed with pride. "I will not merely defend Mikawa, I will conquer Totomi and Suruga in your name."
"Wait… Wait just a moment, Miura. Where would that leave you?" Jikouji asked that critical question, his wrinkled forehead creased in a frown.
"Oh, I'm glad you asked." Instead of resting his eyes on Jikouji to give a direct response, Gengyo stood up, and welcome some blood back into his legs. "We stand here, barely a few thousand in number, yet I will dare to voice my goal. Shinano, Kai, Mikawa. They're the scraps that we're distracted with fighting over. Yet who is it that claims to hold true power in this nation of ours?"
"Not the emperor..?" Togashi asked hestitantly.
"No, not the emperor. He's a puppet without true power. I speak of the Shogunate. I need not own every scrap of land personally, I need to make use of this momentum and continue to conquer, with allies that I can trust stopping the enemies from attacking me at all fronts."
Nobunaga could barely believe his ears. Before the words left his mouth, he needed a moment of respite, a brief clarification."Wait… Miura-dono, you can't mean…?"
"Indeed. I will overthrow the Shogunate, and end this era of warlords. I will unify these lands under my banner, and quell the bloodshed. Do you believe me incapable?" He saddled the young Oda Lord with an immensely heavy gaze. Eyes full of confidence and intelligence.
'He's mad…' Oda realized, unable to stop himself from grinning. 'This is all mad. The chaos that will follow his actions… it will set the precedent for the truly capable to take the reigns.' "No… I do not. If you will help me put the Uesugi to rest, and deliver on your promise, then you'll have my sword."