June 2, 1582 Akechi Mitsuhide attacks Nobunaga Oda, who is staying at Honnoji Temple, and drives himself into suicide. This is generally known [ Honnoji Incident 】is.
Until now, various theories have been cited as the biggest mystery of Mitsuhide's rebellion during the Warring States period. This time, I would like to consider the motive of Akechi Mitsuhide's change in Honnoji.
Current situation at the time of the Honnoji Incident
First, check the current situation ...
Nobunaga held a tea ceremony at Honnoji Temple in Kyoto and stayed with a few hands. His mastermind, Mitsuhide, was ordered to support Hideyoshi Hashiba, who is attacking China, and was at Kameyama Castle near Kyoto with 13,000 soldiers.
Hideyoshi Hashiba, Katsuie Shibata, Nagahide Niwa, Kazumasu Takigawa The Oda clan Shigeomi and others stuck to the front line far away from Kyoto. On the other hand, Ieyasu Tokugawa was in the middle of a small vassal and Sakai tour after being invited to Azuchi in response to the effort to subdue Takeda.
Nobunaga's firstborn, Nobutada, was planning to go to Sakai as an entertainer for Ieyasu, but when he heard Nobunaga's move to Tokyo, he changed his schedule and stayed in Kyoto with hundreds of hands.
For Mitsuhide, this is a great opportunity to beat Nobunaga and Nobutada's parents and children.
Was this situation just a coincidence? Or was someone working on it?
The mystery just deepens.
Akechi Mitsuhide's motive
What I recognized as the motive for the Honnoji Incident was the grudge theory . is.
Grudge theory
May 1582 Nobunaga invited Ieyasu Tokugawa to entertain him. It was Akechi Mitsuhide who was appointed as an entertainer at that time. However, Nobunaga attaches a fate to the fish served at the time of the entertainment meal, dismisses the entertainment role on the way, and orders him to rescue Hideyoshi Hashiba.
The Oda clan at that time destroyed the Takeda clan and faced Hideyoshi with the next target as Mouri. Hideyoshi was besieging Bichu Takamatsu Castle, but lacked troops and asked Nobunaga for reinforcements. That is the reason why Mitsuhide was removed from the entertainment role. In addition to Mitsuhide, Tadaoki Hosokawa, Tsuneoki Ikeda, Junkei Tsutsui, Kiyohide Nakagawa, Shigetomo Takayama Mitsuhide wasn't the only one heading for reinforcements, as he was also ordered to go out.
Here, Mitsuhide decides to rebel because of the neglect of the entertainment role, the fact that he was called Kinka head and continued to be humiliated, and the resentment that his hostage mother was killed. ..
So Mitsuhide did not leave under Hideyoshi, but on June 1st, he said, " Go to Kyo to show Nobunaga-sama a lineup of warriors. I will head to Honnoji Temple.
Then, on June 2, 1582, " the enemy is in Honnoji! "Takes the soldiers and rebels against Nobunaga.
Isn't the above an episode of the generally known Honnoji Incident?
Contradictions in the grudge theory
However, this theory has some contradictions.
In the case of the dismissal of the entertainer, " fish is rotten However, there is a story that Nobunaga himself examined the ingredients for Ieyasu's entertainment, and it raises a question as to whether the fish was really rotten.
In addition, it is said that he was accused of being a Kinka head, but I think this was a sign of Nobunaga's familiarity. In fact, Hideyoshi also said, " Monkey And " Bald Mouse It may have been an expression of affection that only those who can understand from the fact that it was called.
Regarding the murder of her mother, Mitsuhide's mother was held hostage at Yagami Castle in Tanba at that time. However, there is a story that Nobunaga attacked the castle and an angry vassal killed Mitsuhide's mother.
From the above, it is said that this grudge theory may be a narrative one created at a later date.
There are various other theories.
Ambition theory
Akechi Mitsuhide is also a military commander who has lived in the Warring States period. He must also have the right to aim for the world.
If the family is inspired by the prestigious Toki clan, I think they had even higher pride and ambitions like this.
It was a neurose
Akechi Mitsuhide was a human resource who was not only in politics but also in war. However, when it comes to the Honnoji Incident, I have the impression that it was attacked only by the momentum. Perhaps he acted on his own initiative, both his plans and actions are full of holes. For Mitsuhide, various rough parts stand out. From such a thing, it is said that he may have been mentally ill.
Sakuma Nobumori / Nobumori Father and Son , a senior vassal who has served Nobunaga for many years, saying that he did not make any achievements in the capture of Ishiyama Hongan-ji while serving. Was banished, and also a senior vassal Hayashi Hidesada However, he was banished for having disobeyed Nobunaga more than 20 years ago.
It is possible that Mitsuhide decided to rebel because he was afraid of the anxiety of Nobunaga's method of being defeated even if it could be used by Oda Nobunaga for a long time.
Mastermind theory
It is this mastermind theory that has been said recently.
Yoshiaki Ashikaga, Imperial Court, Emperor, Hideyoshi, Ieyasu There is no end to the list.
Today, I will write Hideyoshi's mastermind theory. I will write the rest in another article that will be long.
Hideyoshi mastermind theory
If you think of the person who made the most profit after the Honnoji Incident, the motive is sufficient.
Hideyoshi, who was attacking China, requested reinforcements. If there was no request for reinforcements by Hideyoshi, it would mean that there was no change in Honnoji.
There is a mysterious thing about this request for reinforcements.
As a reinforcement, " The water attack on Bichu Takamatsu Castle was proceeding smoothly, but there is information that a large army of Mori will come to support, so there is a possibility that the situation will reverse ... > There was a tatemae saying.
This letter requesting reinforcements arrived on May 15 . .. Then, Motoharu Kikkawa and Takakage Kobayakawa arrived at the reinforcements to save Takamatsu Castle on May 21 . However, by that time, the embankment had been completed, and it seems that he could not move in front of the lake built by Hideyoshi.
Was it necessary to request reinforcements for such a castle on the verge of falling?
According to one theory, this request for reinforcements is also viewed as Hideyoshi's Gomasuri. After Hideyoshi is ready, Nobunaga will do the final closing and he will be in a good mood. However, at this point, it is not only Mouri that is hostile, but also Hokuriku Uesugi, Kanto Hojo, etc. are engaged in battle, so it should not be necessary for Hideyoshi to have flowers alone.
Moreover, even though he wasn't attacking Mouri's hometown ...
With that in mind, this request for reinforcements is puzzling.
Also, the main reason why Hideyoshi seems to be a mastermind is the dexterity of Chugoku Otsuka.
June 3 June 6 after hearing the obituary of "Nobunaga's death" on that night From Bizen / Numajo, which arrived on the night of the 6th after starting the withdrawal, when the big return starts, the preparation period is only 2 days on June 4th and 5th. It means that.
A torch is set up along the way, preparing meals, and preparing a replacement horse ...
Approximately 90km from Takamatsu Castle to Himeji Castle 30,000 people, whose roads were not paved, ran through in just one and a half days. Is it something that can be prepared in just two days?
It is said that the necessary supplies were carried by sea, but if the goods were transported by ship, could the goods be brought in from the arrangement of the ship in two days?
It is also worrisome that Mouri, who learned of Nobunaga's death, did not pursue Hideyoshi immediately after the peace talks at Takamatsu Castle were concluded. At this time, his brother Kikkawa Motoharu Insisted on Hideyoshi's pursuit, but his younger brother Takakage Kobayakawa was said to have stopped it. And Takakage Kobayakawa It is really mysterious that these two people are also selected.
This is said to be the Hideyoshi mastermind theory of the Honnoji Incident.
There are various theories in the strange mastermind theory of this mystery Honnoji, the biggest in the Warring States period ...
Ieyasu Tokugawa
Chosokabe Bushi
Emperor / Imperial Court Theory
Ashikaga Yoshiaki theory
Etc. are said, and I will write it in another article.