Chapter 172 Undermining

The Heavenly Venerate is here; if all living beings do not extinguish the evil obstacles in their hearts, they cannot leave the world where the Heavenly Venerate resides. It is like drawing a circle on the ground and making it a prison, forcing you to comprehend and awaken. If you cannot comprehend, you will be trapped forever beneath the Heavenly Venerate’s seat.

Uesugi Kagekatsu’s lips moved. His expression had already turned ashen as he smiled bitterly at Date Masamune and said,

"Today, the two of us probably won't be able to escape. We will either be hacked to death by random blades or captured by this person. If you can surrender and provide information, he might let you continue living."

Date Masamune’s face was uncertain. "What are you saying, Uesugi-sensei? Although I am less than a vengeful spirit, I am not the kind to cling to life and fear death. I just finished scolding the Shimazu brat, and now I surrender? Wouldn't that be humiliating myself?"

"Uesugi-sensei, there's no need to be so pessimistic. Since the overall situation is set, why not make one last stand?"

His eyes showed a hint of madness, deciding to seek death. But Uesugi Kagekatsu knew that this would be futile. He actually dropped the Ama-no-Mukai (Heavenly Deer Bow) in front of him.

Date Masamune was stunned, then greatly angered. "Uesugi Kagekatsu, are you surrendering?! You actually threw away the divine weapon like this..."

His tone was unwilling. The Ming divine generals surrounded them, encircling them tightly.

"Since you won't fight back, then I will..."

Date Masamune reached out to pick up the divine bow, attempting a final resistance. However, a black shadow suddenly appeared on the battlefield. Immediately afterward, the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Sword of Kusanagi) struck him hard from behind!

With one strike, divine power scattered in all directions, and a divine light was cut out of his body. Date Masamune instantly lost strength and fell to the ground!

His eyes looked in disbelief at the "person" standing in front of him!

He couldn't distinguish between a real person and a shadow soldier, so at least at this moment, what he saw was their Western Army's supreme commander, "Kobayakawa Hideaki"!

"Baka! Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi! Hideaki, you good-for-nothing, you dare... Damn it!"

Date Masamune struggled to stand up, but then a dose of sleeping powder was smeared on his face, and he immediately fell unconscious, collapsing to the ground.

Uesugi Kagekatsu's pupils also widened, looking incredulously at the few people who appeared.

"Katagiri, Nabeshima... the few of you... So that's it. The reason the Ming army was able to enter Wangjing as if it were an uninhabited land is because of you guys stirring up trouble from within?"

"And Shimazu Tadatsune, Hayashi Dori... I really don't understand. We clearly crossed the sea from Japan together, setting foot on this land to achieve merits and establish a career. Your betrayal at this time, is it a pledge of allegiance to the Ming Dynasty?"

"Was it that the land promised to you by Kanpaku (chief advisor to the Emperor) was not enough, or that the rewards and wealth given to you were not generous enough, or did you simply not have the word loyalty in your hearts from the beginning?"

"Truly... incomprehensible."

Several shadow soldiers didn't intend to expose their identities, so they pretended to still be those people and said to Uesugi Kagekatsu,

"The Ming Dynasty promised us that after counterattacking Japan, they would divide the land there among us and reward us handsomely for the merits we established in the war."

They used this reason to deceive him for the time being, and Uesugi Kagekatsu surprisingly believed it. After all, this was the most plausible reason for these teammates' sudden betrayal.

Gekokujo (overthrowing one's superiors) was, after all, a Japanese tradition. A sudden betrayal coupled with a suitable reason, and the ambition to overthrow Toyotomi Hideyoshi and become the boss themselves, or rather, only those with such ambitions could make a name for themselves in the world.

In addition... the chaotic Sengoku period (Warring States period), where everyone fought for themselves, had only just ended not long ago. Those daimyo (feudal lords) still harbored their own ambitions. As for these warlords, although their loyalty was given to their daimyo, if there were any benefits that exceeded their loyalty, then a slight betrayal was not unacceptable.

"I understand. Loyalists still exist, but certainly not among you..."

Uesugi Kagekatsu seemed to accept these people's explanation, but just before he resigned himself to fate, he still wanted to say a few sarcastic words, but at this moment...

The appearance of one person greatly shook his spirit!

"Yoshihiro?!"

Shimazu Yoshihiro appeared in front of Uesugi Kagekatsu, and in the posture of a defeated man, he tried to persuade him,

"There's no need to be so loyal to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. We have a better direction to serve."

The shadow of this "Shimazu Yoshihiro" swayed slightly, clearly a shadow soldier transformed. But for Uesugi Kagekatsu, he truly saw the situation of "Shimazu Yoshihiro" betraying, and in that instant, he imagined a certain result.

"No wonder that brat Tadatsune would defect to the Ming army and incite Hayashi Dori and the others to betray."

"So the Shimazu family had already betrayed! Perhaps the deaths of the Sword Saint and Koui Tokudai Onmyoji (Great Diviner) are also related to you..."

The "Shimazu Yoshihiro" transformed from a shadow soldier also played his role very dutifully, raising an eyebrow and saying arrogantly,

"They should feel honored to have become stepping stones for my ambitions."

"And if they didn't die, how could we provide a suitable pledge of allegiance?"

...

With the recapture of Wangjing, the national prestige also gradually increased in the following days. At the same time, many corps commanders of the Japanese army heard the news of the great defeat at Yuanshan, the interruption of the Kaesong battle, and the fall of Wangjing, including those who were killed and captured as claimed by the Ming army, all of whom were important generals on the east and west fronts.

Upon hearing this news, Kuroda Nagamasa, the chief commander, nearly fainted from anger.

The other big shots, Mori Hidemoto, Todo Takatora, and others also looked extremely grim.

"In just one month of fighting, the losses have been so severe! Tens of thousands of troops have vanished, two xianren (immortals) have disappeared, and as many as eleven corps commanders have died in battle or been captured. The supreme commander of the Western Front, Kobayakawa Hideaki, and the supreme commander of the Eastern Front, Shimazu Yoshihiro, have both defected! Have they gone mad? Don't they think about their family businesses in Japan?"

"A large number of swords, Gaki-zoshi (scrolls of hungry ghosts), Kwangmu Golden Seal, Ama-no-Mukai (Heavenly Deer Bow), Ama-no-Hagayu (Heavenly Feather Arrow), Raikiri (Lightning Cutter), Kagehide, the three demon blades... How many divine weapons and treasures have fallen into their hands! If these weapons are used by the enemy, how severe will the blow be to our army!"

Todo Takatora, the chief commander of the navy, was furious and smashed the tables and chairs in the hall to pieces with a punch.

"What's wrong? Why are you all so angry? It's just some people dying and defecting, not enough to get so worked up."

As the door was pushed open, Tokugawa Ieyasu walked in.

"Great General."

The three greeted Tokugawa Ieyasu. At the same time, Todo Takatora's tone was very cold. "With such huge losses, does the Great General think it's not enough to be angry and furious? Could it be that you have some brilliant plan to repel the enemy?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu was a big shot from the Eastern country, while the majority of those who died in battle and were captured on the front lines were corps commanders from the Western country. Therefore, Todo Takatora and other Western country corps commanders felt very puzzled and dissatisfied with Toyotomi Hideyoshi's recent appointment of Tokugawa Ieyasu as Great General above the chief commander.

It was acceptable for Eastern country generals like Date Masamune to go to the front lines and serve as corps commanders, but the position of Great General...

The war had dragged on to this point. Originally, it was the Western country's army that entered Korea, wanting to conquer Korea and then plot against the Ming Dynasty. But the war had reached a stalemate, and the Western country's army had suffered too severe losses. That's why the Eastern country's army was sent to the battlefield as reinforcements not long ago.

The reason for Todo Takatora and others' dissatisfaction was... after the Eastern country's army entered Korea, if the war was won, they would definitely receive many rewards. Even if Toyotomi Hideyoshi favored his Western country direct descendants, if he didn't grant high positions and generous salaries to the Eastern country's army that had established merits, they might launch a rebellion. This was something that Toyotomi Hideyoshi absolutely didn't want to see.

"I wouldn't call it a brilliant plan, but I do have a way to defeat the enemy. Right now, I have already appointed Mogami Yoshiaki as the supreme commander of the Western Front, and Honda Tadakatsu as the assistant to the Western Front to establish a defense line. These two will execute my next tactical orders very well."

"Although Kobayakawa and Shimazu's betrayal has caused heavy losses on our front lines, it has not shaken the foundation. As long as the foundation is still there, with a sufficient supply of nutrients, the branches and leaves can grow out quickly."

"Isn't there still the Kishindo (Way of the Oni Gods)? As long as the wishes are still there, the army will be endless. The more people who die, the more our fighting power will increase."

"There's no need to worry."

Kuroda Nagamasa couldn't help but retort, seeing Tokugawa Ieyasu's calm and collected demeanor. "We are not distressed about the destruction of those armies. There are as many armies as we need! It is true that the dead will turn into vengeful spirits and return, and all the places we pass through will be invaded by the power of the Oni Gods, but that is indeed correct."

"But what's important is the loss of divine weapons and the death of the xianren, the betrayal of the corps commanders... They will bring important information about us to the Ming army! Tokugawa-sensei, think about it. If they know about our techniques for controlling the Oni Gods, will they not be prepared and targeted?"

"If that's the case, won't Kanpaku-sama blame us!"

After listening to Kuroda Nagamasa's stern rebuttal, Tokugawa Ieyasu still said calmly, "The source of the Kishindo, the foundation of all wish-granting techniques, lies in the *Kino Gyokuto Shu (Golden Crow and Jade Rabbit Collection)*. This classic is in Kanpaku-sama's hands, tens of thousands of miles away from here. Even if the Ming army is prepared and targeted, what can they do? Do they dare to step onto the Japanese mainland? Can they kill Kanpaku-sama?"

"The place where Emperor Jinmu resides is a place even true immortals must avoid. I don't believe that just one xianren dares to cross the sea and personally delve into the enemy's ranks. That would be no different from a moth flying into a flame, seeking its own death. Vast national prestige is enough to crush him into dust. Whether he is a mortal or an immortal, there is only one outcome, and that is death."

"I said, as long as there is a sufficient supply of nutrients, the branches and leaves can grow out quickly."

Tokugawa Ieyasu clapped his hands. At this moment, someone walked in from outside the hall. And when this person appeared, the faces of the three present changed dramatically in an instant, constantly flickering between Tokugawa Ieyasu and the person who had entered!

"This, what's going on? Tokugawa, explain quickly, why is this person exactly like you?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu laughed loudly. "Are you scared by this?"

And the other Tokugawa Ieyasu who came in also said, "This is just a spell. I wonder if you remember the word 'kagemusha (shadow warrior)'?"

Kagemusha actually meant a double, but at this moment, Tokugawa Ieyasu told the others that the earliest kagemusha actually had a great background. It was just that those who came later couldn't reproduce the "kagemusha technique," so they used doubles to replace their existence, using them as kagemusha.

In ancient Japanese history, there were four great vengeful spirits. The kagemusha technique and kagemusha originated from one of the four great vengeful spirits, Taira no Masakado.

He was also the only one in Japanese history to openly rebel against the Emperor's court in Kyoto and establish himself as Emperor. Legend says that his mother was a large mother serpent about to transform into a dragon. The world revered her as the Dragon Mother, and this Dragon Mother licked all parts of his body, making him indestructible, except for the temples... Similar myths exist all over the world, and without exception, they never cover the entire body, always leaving a weakness.

And Taira no Masakado, during his lifetime, learned a secret technique from his great serpent mother to defend against assassination.

This secret technique could divide himself into six identical clones as "kagemusha." Moreover, these six clones were exactly the same as the original and could not be distinguished at all.

"It is said that this is a technique from Great Tang, the Shadow Stepping Technique."

The two Tokugawa Ieyasu spoke to each other. Kuroda Nagamasa, Mori Terumoto, and Todo Takatora were amazed and praised this technique. The three of them also knew what Tokugawa Ieyasu was going to do.

"Could it be that you want to use this technique to transform into the enemy's people, and then..." Mori Terumoto asked tentatively.

"That's right," Tokugawa Ieyasu nodded, chuckling, "Espionage is a tactic that never goes out of style. Since we are going to use spells, we must have the appearance of magical warfare."

"The art of transformation has been rare since ancient times. Once you master the art of transformation, you can easily become the other party's appearance, and then sneak into the other party's headquarters. And those people will absolutely not think that the main general within the headquarters is actually transformed by our spells."

"Of course, there are also flaws, and that is that at least you have to let the other party's main general leave the headquarters for a period of time, otherwise, you will easily be exposed."

"Therefore, I need to create a local battle, and let the people involved lose, a continuous defeat, creating the appearance of a major rout, so that they will easily fall into the trap and then divide their troops to pursue."

"After dividing the troops, attacking the few with the many, don't you all know how to do it? If not, you can always deploy formations. Please point out monks, summon some demons, and call a few Shinto priests and onmyoji or the like to trap him for two or three days, and that will be enough."

The three corps commanders were overjoyed. At this time, they also respected Tokugawa Ieyasu, "To actually have such a method, Tokugawa-sensei is indeed a real person who doesn't show his true colors."

"However..." Todo Takatora frowned at this time, thinking of some unpleasant things in his heart, and suddenly stared at Tokugawa Ieyasu with a strange look. "Forgive my rudeness, but if Tokugawa-sensei's transformation technique can be imitated by anyone, wouldn't that include even Kanpaku-sama..."

Tokugawa Ieyasu smiled softly. "Kanpaku-sama governs mortals. Even if I obtain the highest power of mortals, so what?"

"Above Kanpaku-sama, there is still Emperor Jinmu. How could my little trick deceive him? But he really doesn't know that I know this technique."

"I will never use this technique on Kanpaku-sama, after all, there is a risk of being discovered and dying. Although this transformation technique has been rare since ancient times, it is not very useful without strong strength as a support. What's more, these kagemusha cannot fight. All they can imitate is the appearance."

"But please keep this a secret, after all, Kanpaku-sama will eventually ascend to immortality. Who will rule the world after that?"

"I hope the three of you will take care of me in the future."

The three looked at each other and smiled in unison. For a time, the place was filled with a happy atmosphere.

However, behind the screen in the hall, in the flickering lamplight, a shadow heard everything clearly.