The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 118 Lin Xiuzhen also bets on both sides

"My lord, we must not act rashly against the garrison at Furuya! Even when Lord Nobunaga led his troops, he did not divert any troops from this castle. Lord Akechi is currently in a standoff with Takeda in Mino, and he has also advised Lord Hayashi and me not to act rashly."

Nagoya and Narumi are the eastern barrier of Owari. Nobunaga did not withdraw troops from these areas because he was worried about the war between the Hojo and Tokugawa.

As for Mitsuhide Akechi's actions, Nagayoshi could understand them.

It's already quite an achievement for Mitsuhide to be able to maintain morale among his troops. With the Takeda army between him and Owari, he naturally doesn't want the small fry of Owari to go and die.

"You idiot! With Lord Nobunaga gone, the Oda clan is finished! Take your men and come with me!"

Sakuma Morimasa was scolded, but he didn't dare to talk back in front of the "God of War".

"Let's go to Cheongju first, then find some reinforcements!"

Mori Nagayoshi galloped away on his horse, followed by Sakuma Morimasa's eight hundred soldiers.

The foot soldiers guarding the walls of Kiyosu Castle spotted the group from afar and immediately sounded the alarm.

Lin Xiuzhen had barely slept for the past few days. Upon hearing the alarm, she hurriedly climbed the city wall.

"It's Lord Sakuma!" A sharp-eyed soldier recognized the banner.

Lin Xiuzhen's heart skipped a beat. Wasn't he supposed to have Sakuma guard Nagoya?

As the group approached, Lin Xiuzhen recognized Changqing.

Changqing escaped Yan Village alone, without wearing the "Great Power Armor".

"Lord Hayashi!" Nagayoshi shouted from below the castle, skipping even the pleasantries, "Lord Nobunaga has been trapped in Gifu for almost half a month! Lord Hayashi, quickly send troops with me to rescue Lord Nobunaga!"

Lin Xiuzhen lowered her old face in shame, "I only brought back about two hundred people to Qingzhou."

"Two hundred it is! Come with me. The Hojo and Tokugawa are still locked in a stalemate and won't start fighting anytime soon. But Lord Nobunaga is in Gifu, and every moment is torture for him."

A rapid sound of horses' hooves came from outside the city.

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of people rushing towards Qingzhou City. The leaders were two young men, one in his early twenties and the other around thirty.

"It's Erlang!" Lin Xiuzhen exclaimed with delight.

The visitors were Lin Xiuzhen's son, Lin Xinjilang Tongzheng, and his son-in-law, Lin Tongzhen, both of whom were supporters of Takikawa Kazumasu.

"What brings you two here? Where is Lord Takikawa?"

Changqing sensed something was amiss, and when he looked at Lin Xiuzhen again, the expression on her old face was rather subtle.

This old bastard probably has ulterior motives!

"Does Lord Lin intend to defect to the enemy?" Changqing said calmly, but his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.

Lin Xiuzhen chuckled dryly: "Lord Mori is joking. Kiyosu Castle has few soldiers and generals, and is truly unable to launch an expedition. Moreover—moreover, Lord Akechi has ordered that the castles of Owari should not be moved lightly."

This is tantamount to admitting betrayal.

Nobunaga had been distancing himself from Hayashi Hidesada for some time. This time, Hayashi Hidesada suffered a crushing defeat, directly leading to Nobunaga's entrapment in Gifu and making him vulnerable to post-war retribution.

Lin Xiuzhen must have felt that rather than sitting and waiting to die, she might as well take the risk.

He saw Lin Tongzheng looking up at his father-in-law on the city wall.

This warrior, known as "Gunner," was Lin Xiuzhen's adopted son-in-law, and was in his early thirties.

Historically, he was responsible for covering the rear during the Long Island Ikko-ikki uprising and died in battle to rescue his comrades, so he should be considered a loyal and righteous person.

Changqing suspected that he might have been tricked into coming back.

The city gates slowly opened, and the Lin brothers entered the city.

Changqing wanted to go in too, but was stopped by the soldiers guarding the city.

"Lord Mori, Kiyosu Castle is too small to accommodate so many troops. You and Lord Sakuma should camp outside the castle."

Lin Xiuzhen dared not break off relations, so Changqing was certain that Lin Tongzheng was unaware of the situation.

"Lin Tongzheng!"

Changqing suddenly roared.

Lin Tongzheng was about to enter the city when he turned back in surprise.

Lin Xiuzhen's old face suddenly turned deathly pale, and her fingers clenched unconsciously.

"What advice does Lord Mori have for me?" Lin Tongzheng turned around.

Changqing spurred his horse forward two steps until the horse's head was almost touching the city gate before looking up at Lin Xiuzhen on the city wall.

"Do you think I can't see what you and your son are up to?"

Lin Xiuzhen grew anxious and shouted sternly, "Maori Nagayoshi! Don't push your luck!"

"Tongzheng, your adoptive father is about to betray us! You mustn't make a mistake!"

Lin Tongzheng was shocked. He had always thought that Xiuzhen had sent him to guard Owari.

"Father-in-law—is what Lord Mori said true?"

"Nonsense!" Lin Xiuzhen interrupted first. "Brother, don't listen to him! This man is always outspoken and dares to contradict even Lord Nobunaga. How can you trust what he says?"

Nagayoshi ignored the words of the traitorous father and son, his eyes fixed solely on Michimasa: "Now I'm going to rescue Lord Nobunaga, are you coming or not?"

Lin Xiuzhen originally wanted to resort to force, but he was wary of Changqing's reputation and Sakuma Morimasa's eight hundred men.

Who is Sakuma Morimasa? He is Sakuma Nobumori's nephew and Shibata Katsuie's nephew. If a fight were to break out, he would definitely not compromise.

But if Mori really rescues Nobunaga, the Hayashi clan will face annihilation.

Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back—a dilemma of advancing or retreating.

Lin Tongzheng had already seen through his adoptive father's thoughts and quickly advised, "Father—let's go together to rescue Lord Nobunaga; that way, there's still room for maneuver."

"It's gone! Tongzheng!" Hayashi Hideshō shouted frantically, "Lord Nobunaga will never let me go!"

Lin Tongzhen was also anxious: "Tongzheng! Akechi Mitsuhide cannot defeat Takeda Shingen. No one can defeat Takeda's cavalry on the plains!"

"Come with me into the city!"

Changqing saw this and knew that the time was right.

"Lord Lin, everyone has their own ambitions. Let Lin Tongzheng come with me! This will also benefit the Lin family!"

Lin Tongzhen's expression changed drastically: "No way!"

"Shut up! Do you really want the Lin family name to be wiped out?"

Lin Xiuzhen understood; Mao Li Changqing was leaving him a way out.

If Lin Tongzheng had gone to rescue Nobunaga, the Lin family would have survived regardless of the outcome of the battle.

It's better to bet on both sides than to gamble everything now.

Lin Xiuzhen hesitated for a long time before calling out, "Tongzheng—"

"exist!"

"You—go with Lord Mori."

Lin Xiuzhen closed her eyes and waved her hand.

After leaving Kiyosu Castle, Nagayoshi chose to go to the castle town of Kiyosu first.

Sakuma Morimasa asked suspiciously, "Where are you going, sir?"

"Send a soldier to deliver a message: Mori Nagayoshi of the Ashina School is recruiting soldiers!"

What happened next was something even Mori Nagayoshi himself hadn't expected.

Within two hours of the news spreading, a few ronin began to arrive.

The leader was a one-eyed man who looked to be almost fifty years old, and Changqing felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

"I didn't expect to be following you into battle again, sir?"

"Who are you?"

"My lord, have you forgotten that I followed you back then to slaughter three powerful clans?"

"It's you! I can't believe you've gotten so old—" Changqing couldn't help but sigh at the passage of time.

"Sir, do you remember me? My name is Ichisuke!" a young man interjected, then looked at the one-eyed man, "Brother, I didn't expect to run into you again!"

"Sir, is it still the same price?"

"Yes, call more people! You've done a good job, so you'll follow me from now on. I'll take you to Omi; I've heard the land there is very productive!"

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