The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 137 Initial Settlement of Shinano

Chiyo slipped into Nagayoshi's arms, and Nagayoshi played with the hair on her forehead.

"Since we're now in a cooperative relationship, you should answer my questions properly."

Chiyo wiped the sweat from her face on Nagayoshi's chest, but gave him a disdainful look.

"What a heartless man. We just finished, and he's already talking about business."

She pretended to sit up, but Changqing grabbed her waist.

"It's so cold, be careful not to catch a cold. You're not the only ninja in Shinano, are you?"

Chiyo leaned closer to Nagayoshi, "The Umino clan consists of three families. The Umino clan is the main family, and the other two are the Mochizuki clan and the Mizu clan. The head of the Mizu school is Mizu Nobumasa, who is the lord of Mizu Castle in a small county. He has a close relationship with Sanada Yukitaka. Since you are so generous, Sanada Masayuki and I will make the contact for you. Strictly speaking, we are one family."

"Alright!" Changqing pinched Chiyome's cheek. "Anything else?"

"Haven't the Inazumas already pledged their loyalty to you?"

"Um?"

"Inaya was once the territory of Ogasawara Nagatoki. If it weren't for the help of the Inaya people, you wouldn't have been able to cause such a commotion in Shinano so quickly."

Nagayoshi couldn't help but sigh as he thought of Ogasawara Nagatoki.

"Then there's the Togakushi Clan—they're based at Mount Togakushi, and their leader, Izuura Morikiyo, is said to still be in Kai. His organization is the most tightly knit, and they're on separate lines from us, which is why we didn't have any contact when we were under Shingen-kun."

Changqing sat up and wrapped Chiyoko in the woman's clothes that he was using as a blanket.

"It's almost time, I should go back! Starting tomorrow, you will be the female head of the Wangyue clan, and I will entrust you with 2000 shi of grain near Wangyue City."

The third day of the first month of the third year of Yuangui (1572). This winter was unusually cold, but it also left unusually early.

It has stopped snowing in Katsuo Castle, and perhaps in a few more days the snow in the spring mountain castle will begin to melt.

Changqing had to accelerate its preparations for Shinano.

Shinano originally had more than sixty large and small powerful clans, most of which were related to the Murakami, Ogasawara, and Umino clans, which originated from the Seiwa Genji.

The Murakami clan had already pledged allegiance to the Uesugi clan, but the Uesugi clan failed to help the Murakami clan reclaim their homeland, and the head of the Murakami clan, Murakami Yoshikiyo, became a retainer of the Uesugi clan.

As long as the Ogasawara and Umino clans remain stable, Shinano will be largely stable.

The friendship is enough, but the rules cannot be abolished.

On the sixth day, the Ogasawara and Unno families split up under the Sanada clan and began leading the surrendered noble families to Katsuo Castle to pay homage to Mori Nagayoshi.

The guise of a visit was actually a way to hand over hostages.

Many people came, so Mori Nagayoshi set aside an open space in Erdao City and erected a tent for their reception.

These powerful families sat in three rows on arranged stools, a scene that looked like a military council.

After everyone was seated, Changqing led the Grand Chancellor and Ke'er Caizang to the main seat.

"Sanada-sama, are Genjiro okay?"

With Sanada Masayuki becoming the head of the family and his second son about to inherit the Umino clan, he was naturally overjoyed.

Changqing was the first to ask him a question, which showed him a lot of respect.

"Thanks to Lord Jibu's concern, Genjiro has gone to the Unno family. This is my eldest son, Genzaburo. Please take him in and teach him well!"

After Masayuki finished speaking, he waved his hand, and a child of about six or seven years old walked over from the crowd not far away.

Sanada Genzaburo was taller than most of the children, and his eyes were as bright and piercing as his father's.

He walked over and bowed, saying, "I am Genzaburo, greetings to Lord Jibu."

"Okay! From now on, I'll follow Ishida Sakichi!"

"yes!"

"Umino-sama!"

Upon hearing Nagayoshi's voice, Nobuchika Unno raised his head.

"exist----"

"How is the adoption of Genjiro going?"

Nobuchika's facial muscles twitched slightly, but he forced a smile and said, "Everything went smoothly. The retainers of the Unno family—have no objections."

As he said this, two retainers of the Unno family who were not far away lowered their heads.

"Lord Suwa, I heard that the first thing you did after returning to your territory was to repair the lower shrine of Suwa Taisha?"

Lai Zhong's face immediately showed gratitude, and he bowed deeply: "Lord Mori, you are wise. The Suwa clan has worshipped Takeminakata for generations, and the shrine has been in disrepair for many years, which is truly our fault. Thanks to your generous donation, the worship hall of the lower shrine was able to be completed before the beginning of spring."

"Suwa Taisha is the first shrine of Shinano Province, and its restoration is a matter of course. I will allocate some additional funds to you so that you may build another Ōkuninushi Shrine nearby for me!"

"Yes, sir! My son is not even a year old, so I'm sending my daughter to Lord Takenaka first." Lai Zhong bowed again.

Takenaka Shigeharu was handsome and refined, which made it easy for women to be afraid of him. Therefore, Nagayoshi specially arranged for him to receive the women.

Changqing never expected that Lai Zhong, who was thirty-four or thirty-five years old, would only have a son now.

"How old is your daughter?"

"Eighteen years old————"

"Are you married?"

"She's already married; her husband died in battle in Mino."

"I discussed it with Lord Isono, and we think it's better for a woman to have a stable home!"

Isono Kazumasa is a renowned general and now the lord of a castle. A marriage between the two would better solidify Shinano's power.

"Thank you, Lord Jibu!"

Changqing nodded, his gaze falling on a middle-aged man. The man was burly, with a dark complexion and sharp, shrewd eyes.

"Kiso-sama."

"Lord Jibu—" Yoshimasa lowered his head, "My mother, daughter, and son have already been executed by Takeda—"

"Lord Kiso is also from a prestigious family. Isn't this just causing your family line to end?" Nagayoshi sighed, bowing his head.

"My wife, Princess Mari, has also fled because of this—I can only take my younger brother, Yoshitoyo Kiso, hostage."

"It's truly regrettable, Lord Kiso. Hurry up and have a child! I'll have many children too, and maybe we can even arrange a marriage!"

Changqing's words implied that he had no intention of usurping the Kiso family's power.

"Lord Jibu—thank you!"

After Yoshimasa finished speaking, he waved his hand, and his younger brother, who was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, came over. His appearance was naturally inferior to that of Sanada Genzaburo.

"Serve my clan leader as well. If you can achieve military merit, it wouldn't be bad for the Kiso family to have another branch, right?"

The Kiso brothers quickly bowed in gratitude. This method was far more lenient than that used by Takeda in Shinano.

Changqing looked at Ogasawara Nagataka.

"Lord Ogasawara, thank you for your hard work this time!"

The forty-year-old man raised his head; he had a dignified appearance, much like his father.

"My name is Ogasawara Nagataka, and I greet Lord Jibu."

He has now become Changqing's henchman. According to the rules, he must also hand over the hostages.

Changlong pulled up his third brother, Zhenqing, who was sitting next to him. "The Ogasawara family will never forget your kindness. Please allow my third brother to serve in your army!"

Zhenqing was about twenty-five years old. He was handsome, but not as heroic as his father and brothers.

"Both of your territories need manpower to govern, so you must help me well in times of war—Lord Nagatoki's daughter is already the principal wife of my chief retainer, Hattori Haruyasu, so why take another hostage?"

The deep bond between the Mori and Ogasawara families moved all the noble families present.

Changlong and Changqing even wiped away their tears, a perfect example of the deep affection between master and servant.