The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 117 Legion Commander Mitsuhide Akechi

On March 25, 1571, Nobunaga had been trapped in Gifu for ten days.

Hideyoshi Hashiba and Mitsuhide Akechi had already amassed 14000 men at the foot of Sawayama Castle.

Upon hearing that Lord Nobunaga and Nagayoshi were besieged, Hattori Haruyasu led 300 men from Sawayama Castle to join Hideyoshi's forces.

Just as the army was about to set off, Nobumori Sakuma and Kazumasu Takigawa arrived.

Of the tens of thousands of troops that Sakuma Nobumori had led to the attack on Ishiyama Honganji Temple, only 4000 remained, almost all of them his own main force and Oda Yorimitsu. Marume Nagayoshi was also among them, but he only had 300 men.

Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide were highly valued by Nobunaga, but in terms of their status within the Oda clan, they did not surpass those of Sakuma and Takikawa.

Before departing, at the military council meeting, Hideyoshi approached Mitsuhide.

"When the three armies are mobilized, naturally one person must give the order. Lord Akechi, you have the largest force, and I, Hideyoshi, would like to recommend you as the commander-in-chief!"

Mitsuhide was naturally eager to claim the credit, but knowing the vast difference in status between himself and Saku, he smiled and said, "Lord Hashiba also has a considerable force, and is a former retainer of Owari. I, Mitsuhide, would also like to recommend you as the commander-in-chief."

Both men nominated the other, but neither suggested making the defeated Sakuma Nobumori the captain.

Hideyoshi then frankly stated, "Lord Sakuma has just suffered a defeat, his morale is low, and his forces are few. It's not that I, Hideyoshi, am cunning! If I were to appoint him as the commander-in-chief, we would have to divide our attention to protect our main camp. Facing an enemy like Shingen, such an action would be disloyal to Lord Nobunaga."

Mitsuhide nodded and said, "I agree, but I'm worried that Lord Sakuma might disagree. If we develop grudges before the war even begins, how can we fight?"

"Therefore, at the military council meeting, we must insist that you, sir, assume the position of commander-in-chief!"

"Why aren't you the commander-in-chief?"

"Those two esteemed officials are too senior to look down on my humble origins."

Seeing Hideyoshi's frankness, Akechi Mitsuhide sighed, "It's not that I'm unwilling to be the supreme commander—"

Upon seeing this, Hideyoshi immediately stood up. "I have a plan that will allow you to secure your position as Commander-in-Chief!"

"Oh, tell me about it!"

On March 26, Akechi Mitsuhide, as the general of the Oda forces, led his army into Mino Kita Castle and joined forces with Ando Morishige.

When Takeda Shingen learned that Oda had sent reinforcements again, he summoned his generals together that very night to discuss the military situation.

The tent was filled with many large candles, making it incredibly hot, and everyone's faces were shiny with oil.

Shingen coughed twice, and Naito Masatoyo, one of the "Four Great Retainers of Takeda" and Shingen's lieutenant, spoke on his behalf: "My lord has decided—"

"We are determined to fight a decisive battle with Oda's army here. I invite all generals to speak freely."

Nobuharu Baba said, "We should continue the standoff and not launch a preemptive strike!"

Yamagata Kagemasa and Oyamada Nobushige share the same view.

In their view, as long as the standoff continues, the Oda army will be at a loss.

Katsuyori Takeda summoned Katsuyuki Atobe, a staunch advocate of war who was highly favored by him.

Atobe Katsuyuki was a retainer of the Ogasawara clan in Shinano Province, and therefore was constantly suppressed by the old retainers of Takeda.

"I have just received a secret report from Shingoro Amari, who has infiltrated the Oda clan!"

Seeing that Shingen had started coughing again, Katsuyori immediately urged, "Speak quickly!"

Shengzi nodded exaggeratedly, then glanced at the old ministers like Machang, his eyes almost treating them as passive old stubborns.

"That's how it is. Oda's general, Sakuma Nobumori, has been persuaded by Amari to submit to Takeda. He says he will defect on the day the war begins and asks his lord to grant him half of Mino Province."

"The price they'll ask for won't be low! Sakuma Nobumori is a former retainer of Oda Nobunaga, would he really serve us?" Naito Masatoyo was somewhat skeptical.

"That's right!" Katsuyuki nodded heavily, took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Masahiro. "The letter says that Nobunaga has a quick temper and verbally abused him severely during the attack on Asakura, leaving him with no face whatsoever. Now, after the disastrous attack on Ishiyama Hongan-ji, and with Akechi and Hashiba stealing credit and power, even if he saves Nobunaga, he won't gain much merit. It would be better for him to abandon the darkness and embrace the light."

Shingen covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed twice. "Is that really so?"

Changfeng considerately read the letter aloud: "The current commander-in-chief of the Oda army, Akechi Mitsuhide, ostensibly came to rescue his lord, but in reality, he is wary of the Takeda army. To seize power, Mitsuhide sent Takigawa Kazumasu alone to Ise, making me his vanguard—clearly an attempt to kill me. If Takeda attacks now, Nobumori will surely find an opportunity to provide support—"

Shingen raised his hand, indicating that Changfeng didn't need to read any more of those "promises" and "requirements".

"Ignore him, continue the standoff—"

Katsurai said urgently, "Father, this is a great opportunity for victory, we cannot miss it!"

"Stop talking! Cough—Nobuharu, how's Uesugi?"

"We are currently negotiating with Anekōji Yoritsuna and have no plans to attack the castle."

"What about Hojo?"

"It seems they are also negotiating with Ieyasu."

"It seems everyone wants to gain an advantage without bloodshed—" Shingen coughed, feeling as if his brain was shaking inside his skull. "If the standoff continues, Nobunaga and Mitsuhide should be more anxious than I am."

March 28th, night.

Nagayoshi of Iwamura Castle could no longer sit still; the inability to obtain information from the outside world was simply agonizing.

"Gentlemen, the battle has dragged on for so long; something extraordinary must have happened. I intend to break out alone and head to Qingzhou to investigate. I urge you all to hold out for a few more days. If I have not returned by the eighth day of the fourth month, you may decide for yourselves whether to surrender—"

Ōnojo said urgently, "My lord! There are nearly ten thousand Takeda soldiers outside the city, surrounding it like an iron barrel. How can we possibly get out?"

"Therefore, I need your cooperation. Tonight, you, Cai Zang, and Gao Hu will accompany me on a night raid, while the rest of you will stay and guard the city."

Takatora Todo asked doubtfully, "The enemy has a large force, and with Masanobu Kosaka in command, we'll have to retreat after one strike. Going out is easy, but how will we get back?"

"Use baskets! Put us down one by one, and then pull you up when you come back."

"Keijiro!"

"exist!"

"Your behavior may be strange, but I trust your abilities. While I'm away, you will be in charge of the city. If I unfortunately perish in battle, please find a good way out for everyone!"

Seeing that his lord was determined to die, Maeda Keiji laughed and said, "My lord, rest assured, the Maeda family will not lack me. If you die, I will set myself on fire in the castle tower."

Changqing laughed, "Even in your most desperate attempts, you have so many tricks up your sleeve!"

"Gao Hu, Cai Zang, each of you select fifty elite soldiers, who must be bold, meticulous, and agile. Assemble at midnight tonight in the south of the city."

The southern part of the castle is the highest point of the mountain castle. Although Takeda surrounded Iwamura, their defenses against the forest leading into Owari were much weaker.

The Mori army's surprise attack was quickly met with a counterattack from Takeda.

The Mori army suffered several casualties and immediately retreated.

However, during this brief commotion, Mori secretly found a bush and lay down.

As night fell, the Takeda army lowered their guard, and Mori then headed south along the foothills.

March 30th, Nagoya City.

When Nagayoshi arrived in Nagoya alone, Shiroshiro Sakuma Morimasa could hardly believe his eyes.

"Lord Mori? What brings you here!"

"They fought their way out of Iwamura Castle. How many reinforcements does Owari still have to mobilize?"

Sheng Zheng couldn't help but smile bitterly, "My lord, you may not know this, but Lord Lin suffered a great defeat in Mino in the middle of the month and barely escaped with his life. Now, apart from the cities of Kono, Kiyosu, and Narumi, which still have a few hundred garrison troops, the rest of Mino is almost a ghost town."

How much do you have?

"Eight hundred —"

"Eight hundred it is!"