広岡冷水伝話『金澤古蹟志』巻26 城西宮腰口第10編 現代語・English　

『前田創業記』には次のように記されている。

天正十二年（1584年）九月六日、佐々成政が兵を率いて富山城を出陣。九月十一日、能登の吾妻野に進軍し、末森城を急襲しようとした。成政は天神山に陣を敷き、甜屋町に放火した。その日の午後、末森城から飛脚が金沢城へと走り、金沢城でも同日午後に螺（ほら）を吹いて兵を召集した。

このとき、末森城の兵はすでに水が尽き、渇きに苦しんでいた。そこで「廣岡の名水を汲んでこい。それを城兵に飲ませよう」と命じたという。

この話は世間でも広く知られていたようで、『湯浅元禄の常山紀談』にも、天正十二年九月末の援軍について記されている。その記述によれば、末森城は水を求め、廣岡の水を汲んで兵に届けるよう指示し、急ぎ出陣したという。また、「この水を後の土産にしよう」とまで命じたと記されている。

高島定延の『背君雑録』には、「当時、足軽の多くは宮口にいたためである」と述べられている。また、『越登賀三州志・鞬櫜余考』では、「年譜によれば、前田利家は末森城の水不足を事前に察知し、出陣の際に廣岡の水を竹筒に入れて持たせ、奥村永福らに届けさせた。城兵はこれを得て大いに喜び、士気が倍増した」と記されている。

確かに、戦の際に水を持たせることは不自然ではない。しかし、廣岡から末森城まで水を運ぶのは現実的ではなく、非常に遠回りである。そのため、この伝説は信じるに足らないとも言われている。

English Version

According to The Maeda Founding Chronicles:

On September 6, 1584 (Tenshō 12), Sassa Narimasa led his troops out of Toyama Castle. By September 11, they had advanced to Azumano in Noto Province and prepared for a sudden assault on Suemori Castle. Narimasa stationed his forces on Tenjin Mountain and set fire to Tema Town. That afternoon, a messenger rushed from Suemori Castle to Kanazawa Castle, and the Kanazawa forces responded by blowing conch shells to summon troops.

At this time, the soldiers defending Suemori Castle were already suffering from a severe shortage of water. It was then ordered, “Draw water from the famous Kōka spring and give it to the castle troops to drink.”

This story was well-known among the people, and Yuasagenroku’s Jōzan Kidan also records an account of the reinforcement operation in late September of Tenshō 12. According to this record, Suemori Castle desperately needed water, so orders were given to fetch water from Kōka and deliver it to the soldiers before quickly launching an attack. It was even said that this water was to be kept as a “souvenir of war.”

Takashima Sadatsune’s Haikun Zatsuroku states that “at the time, many foot soldiers were stationed in Miyaguchi, which explains this event.” Additionally, Etsutouga Sanshūshi: Kengō Yokaō records, “The annals state that Maeda Toshiie had anticipated the water shortage at Suemori Castle and, upon departing for battle, had water from Kōka placed in bamboo tubes to be carried by his troops. He ordered this to be delivered to Okumura Nagafuku and others, who then brought it to the castle. The castle soldiers, upon receiving the water, were overjoyed and their morale increased significantly.”

Indeed, carrying water during a military campaign is not an unreasonable act. However, transporting water all the way from Kōka to Suemori Castle would have been a considerable detour, making it highly impractical. Because of this, some believe that this legend is not credible.