The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 146 The Storm Is Brewing

In June, the weather was hot.

Changqing sat by the well, tending to his famous sword.

The Ise Muramasa is a katana given to Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was the katana that accompanied Nagayoshi the longest, but Nagayoshi only used it during the conquest of Ise.

Mikazuki Munechika is a tachi (long sword) given to him by the shogun and is one of the "Five Great Swords of the Realm". Although this sword is exquisite and tough, even the best swords are bound to be damaged in battle. In addition, since it was given to the shogun as a second, it has extraordinary political significance. Nagayoshi only used it in a few battles.

The nameless Ichimonji, also a tachi, was taken from Kenshin, and Nagayoshi had a new scabbard forged for him. He found the sword easy to use and planned to keep it with him for a long time.

Chiyo Tsurutaro had a nick cut in the sword by the nameless Ichimonji, rendering it unusable. So he gave the sword to Ogasawara Nagataka, placing it with Ogasawara Nagatoki's Tsurutaro.

Pressing down Hasebe — Nagayoshi picked up this famous sword, a katana, bestowed upon him by Nobunaga.

I really don't know what Nobunaga was thinking. This man seems to have always loved sharpening his swords and his retainers.

Historically, this sword and the Left Three Monk were originally tachi, but Nobunaga sharpened them into tachi.

Thinking of the text of the Left Three Sect, Nagayoshi suddenly thought of Marume Nagayoshi, wondering what this former retainer was doing now.

I remember that Nagae was Sakuma Nobumori's confidant, so I guess he didn't have an easy time either.

"My lord! Lord Sanada and Lord Suwa have arrived!" Sakichi announced from outside the courtyard.

"Let them talk here!"

"Lord Jibu, you seem to be enjoying yourself. Did I disturb your admiration of your weapons?" Masayuki led Yoritada in, and the two sat down next to Nagayoshi.

"I've called you here for two things—"

"Lord Jibu, please speak!"

Nagayoshi picked up the "Ise Muramasa" and handed it to Masayuki.

Since Tokugawa shogunate considered this sword an ominous object in history, it's better to hand it over to a suitable person. After all, this katana isn't very useful on the battlefield.

"This knife is for you!"

Masayuki quickly accepted the sword with both hands, saying, "Thank you, Lord Jibu, for the sword!"

"Masayuki, I plan to hand over Kuzuo Castle to Takenaka Shigeharu————"

Takenaka only had a small territory in Shinano and no castle to reside in, so he lived in Katsuo Castle. Meanwhile, all the castles in Shinano already had lords.

"I understand. May I ask where Lord Jibu plans to build his castle?"

It's always easier to talk to smart people.

"Lord Nobunaga will soon send me to conquer Ueno or Kai, so I plan to build a castle in Higashinobu."

"Does Lord Jibu intend to rebuild Toishi Castle?"

"Yes, Toishi Castle was originally your territory. This matter is entrusted to you. Shigeharu and Takatora's men will assist you. Later, when we conquer Ueno, I will exchange 10,000 koku of Iwato Castle for you."

Nagayoshi started making empty promises, just like Nobunaga, but these promises were indeed quite large.

Lai Zhongxin thought that Masayuki would be very unhappy after being taken advantage of, but to his surprise, Masayuki agreed immediately.

I really don't know if this person is bewitched.

Ueno is still in the hands of Takeda. Hojo might give Shinano a perfunctory attack, but Ueno, which is guarding Kanto, will definitely do its best.

Lai Zhong couldn't help but become wary, wondering what kind of trouble Chang Qing would cause him this time.

"Lord Suwa—the Suwa Shrine has been well repaired. I'm entrusting the construction of the Okuni Shrine to you. Here are the funds for you."

Changqing had Zuoji bring over a box containing fifty taels of gold.

"Sir, this—" Lai Zhong scratched his head, "There's just too much."

"I had Takatora Todo inspect it, and it was done very well. Those who put in the effort deserve to be rewarded. Thank you for your hard work!"

Changqing was noticeably more polite to Lai Zhong.

"Not at all! Thank you, Lord Jibu!"

Lai Zhong smiled and accepted the box.

"It's just a small matter, yet I've made the trip for you both. I just wanted to get to know you better. We'll probably be heading out on a campaign this autumn, so I hope you'll both give us your support!"

Why is this man becoming more and more like a kind and honest elder? Lai Zhong clearly remembers how this man was unusually domineering towards the powerful clans in Owari.

Nagayoshi and the other man had lunch together, and then headed to the castle town of Katsuo Castle.

At the end of Katsuo Castle Town, what was once an abandoned samurai residence has now been fenced off.

How could the Ashina school not be promoted in his territory?

Changqing stood under a big tree, fanning himself, watching the bustling scene before him.

Omiya Dainojo, who was in charge of supervising the construction, ran out of the construction site covered in sweat and wood dust.

"My lord, why have you come in person?"

"It's fine, I'll just check on the progress. I've been pretty bored lately anyway."

Currently, there are six dojos under construction in Shinano Province, and Nagayoshi plans to have Ōnojo select soldiers under the guise of teaching the "Ashina School".

After Nobunaga's three-pronged eastward advance failed, he realized that there was a problem with the quality of his soldiers, and the system of "separation of soldiers and farmers" began to be promoted in various places.

"Can it be completed by the end of June?" Changqing asked.

"Yes!" Ōmiya Ōnosuke patted his chest and guaranteed.

Nagayoshi nodded. Foot soldiers were already training in the open space outside the dojo. Those people were all foot soldier captains who had survived from the Mino period, and were the backbone of the Mori army.

"Thrust! Sheathe your weapon! Thrust! Sheathe your weapon!"

The veterans are selecting peasant soldiers from their former ranks.

After watching for a while, Changqing said to Zuoji beside him, "Tell the kitchen to send two buckets of mung bean soup to the dojo every day starting today, so that no one gets heatstroke."

"Yes, my lord."

After making his way around, Changqing was about to return to the city when he saw a fast horse galloping towards him from afar.

His attire clearly identified him as an envoy from Antu.

I really don't know what new tricks Nobunaga is going to pull this time.

"Lord Jibu! Lord Azuchi Castle has new instructions!"

Changqing took the letter, unfolded it, and was dumbfounded.

Shinano had been pacified for less than half a year when Nobunaga wanted him to send troops again.

In his letter, Nobunaga wrote: "Junior Assistant Nagayoshi must attack Kozuke in September. Shibata Katsuie will attack Echigo, while Right General, Niwa, and Takigawa will attack Kai along the Nakasendo. Tokugawa will attack Suruga from the Tokaido. With four routes attacking simultaneously, I know your forces are insufficient. Mori Nagayoshi and Marume Nagayoshi will assist you. Make preparations quickly."

Marume Nagayoshi was truly pitiful; after following Sakuma for two years, he was still only a castle lord with a 10,000 koku of rice.

As for Mori Nagayoshi, this child is only fourteen or fifteen years old, right? After Mori Yoshinari died in battle, he succeeded him as head of the family and controlled 100,000 koku of Mino and Omi provinces.

It is said that this child had a bad temper, was prone to threatening to kill people, and often disregarded orders from his superiors, but Nobunaga usually only gave him verbal warnings and never punished him.

Nobunaga certainly applied double standards to those he liked.

With these two men, Shinano could muster an army of about 15,000 men if they mobilized all their forces.

However, they were all once Sakuma's allies, and now that Nobunaga is drawing away Sakuma's men everywhere, it seems that he has truly lost faith in Sakuma.

Perhaps because he accelerated the course of history, Nobunaga's patience was much less than in history.

In September, the daimyo of various countries finished their autumn harvest, and Mori Nagayoshi and Marume Nagae also arrived at Katsuo Castle.

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