The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 104 He Becomes a Demon When It Rains

After the Asai and Asakura forces retreated, the Asai army retreated into Odani Castle, while the Asakura army deployed at the foot of Mount Tagami, northwest of Odani Castle, and sent out 3,000 vanguard men to build fortifications in the valley north of Odani Castle.

Upon learning of this situation, Mori Nagayoshi immediately convened a military council.

He issued the order without consulting his generals.

"Leave Takigawa Kazumasu, who has suffered heavy losses in battle, to defend Sawayama Castle. Lord Hashiba, come with me to Yamadayama and stand between Asakura and Asai."

This action was met with opposition from the generals, as it was not in accordance with military strategy.

Mori laughed and said, "Our troops will advance first, with Lord Nobunaga following behind. What is there to fear? Besides, the enemy currently believes we are resting and is completely unprepared!"

Only Hideyoshi Hashiba agreed, saying, "Lord Mori is right. I am willing to be the vanguard. With the rainy season approaching, once we establish our camp, Asakura will be unable to take it!"

"Then let it be arranged this way. Lord Sakuma and the others, set up fortifications along our army's marching route."

The Mori and Hashiba armies moved with astonishing speed, quickly advancing into the Tagami mountain.

When Oda Nobunaga's main camp arrived at Sawayama Castle, he only saw Takigawa Kazumasu, and was furious.

"Didn't I tell Changqing to wait for me?"

"Lord Mori told me to wait here for the lord, as the military situation is urgent and he has no choice but to advance ahead of schedule?"

"Show me where it's urgent!"

Kazumasu Takigawa spread out a map, on which the positions of both sides were marked.

After reading it, Nobunaga looked up at Takigawa Kazumasu and asked, "Have you rested enough?"

"Enough—enough!"

"I'll leave 500 men to guard the city; you'll come with me."

When Nobunaga arrived two miles west of Odani Castle, Akechi Mitsuhide and Sakuma Nobumori had already built the fortress.

A light rain had begun to fall from the sky. Nobunaga stood outside the tent, spreading out his hands to feel the rain.

"Okehazama, ah—"

He felt a moment of dizziness, as if he could see the enemy's flags askew and their horses' hooves stuck in the mud.

Just as Akechi Mitsuhide was about to advise Nobunaga to take shelter from the rain, the sound of scouts' hooves approached.

"Any new developments?"

-

"Lord Mori and Lord Hashiba launched a surprise attack on the valley north of Odani Castle, and the Asakura army began to flee! Lord Mori ordered—"

"Gentlemen, do not wait for our lord, attack Tian Shang Mountain immediately!"

He comes up with whatever comes to mind; he truly is my subordinate.

"What do you mean by 'don't wait for me'!"

Mitsuhide Akechi explained, "Lord Mori doesn't know that our lord has arrived yet—"

Nobunaga didn't have time to blame him; at least Nagayoshi hadn't missed a crucial opportunity.

Nobunaga immediately mounted his horse, which pounded its hooves anxiously in the rain.

"Asakura Yoshikage must be scared. Follow me and chase after him!"

Mitsuhide Akechi pulled on the reins. "Please wait, my lord. We need time to assemble!"

"I'm afraid the rain will stop! Haha! Quick!" Nobunaga snatched the reins and rushed off.

"Follow the lord!" Akechi Mitsuhide shouted, taking the horse handed to him by the hatamoto.

Sakuma Nobumori had just arrived and had no idea what was going on.

"Does the lord have any military orders?"

Akechi Mitsuhide cracked his whip and shouted, "Follow the lord!"

Is this a military order?

Nobunaga's main camp moved in disarray, leaving all of Oda's retainers in a sorry state.

The bannermen and envoys traveled to various cities and fortresses, only able to convey the bewildering military order of "follow the lord."

Some of Oda's retainers and powerful clans didn't even know the terrain of Omi Province and could only follow along blindly.

Nobunaga led his elite troops, including a thousand men, northwards in the rain.

Rainwater mixed with mud flowed down the mountain, and the troops struggled to move forward through the mud.

"Hurry! Hurry!" Nobunaga shouted in the rain, "Asakura Yoshikage is up ahead! Drag him out!"

This frantic pursuit felt all too familiar to the Oda army.

Ever since Okehazama, rain has seemed to be a good omen for their lord.

At this time, Yoshikage Asakura learned that Nobunaga's 20,000-strong main force had arrived in Omi Province and that his forward fortress had been attacked by Mori, so he planned to return to Echizen Province.

It wouldn't be difficult for Odani Castle to defend for half a year. It would be safest for him to come to the rescue as soon as other daimyo launched an attack.

However, he was unaware that Nobunaga had caught up with him.

He was nearly forty years old and had been the head of the family for over twenty years. The Asakura family was very wealthy, and he had even transformed Ichijoya into a "mini Kyoto". However, since the death of "Echizen War God" Asakura Sōteki, they had hardly won any battles.

The rain outside the tent grew louder and louder. The curtain was torn open, and Asakura Kageyuki, a member of the "One Gate Clan," walked in.

"My lord, you should retreat first. I will cover the rear."

Asakura's 20,000-strong army slowly retreated in the rain, with supplies, wounded soldiers, and laborers haphazardly crammed onto the mountain road.

The rain was getting heavier, visibility was getting worse, and the scouts were getting slower and slower in bringing back news.

Nobunaga was completely obsessed with pursuing him.

Along the way, soldiers of the Asakura army who had fallen behind were constantly overtaken. In despair, they raised their weapons in the rain and were then cut down by the blades of the Oda army.

Nobunaga didn't even glance at them, and just kept charging north.

"Where is Asakura Yoshikage!" He held a knife to the prisoner's neck.

The prisoner trembled, pointing north: "They've retreated—the whole army has retreated—"

Nobunaga released his grip, and the man fell into the mud.

Akechi Mitsuhide, soaking wet and pale, caught up: "My lord! We can't keep chasing! The main force hasn't caught up yet!"

"Mitsuhide, do we really need to wait for reinforcements to pursue an enemy who has become fearful?"

Nobunaga did not wait for his reply and continued the pursuit with Maki.

"Asakura Yoshikage is just ahead. The faster he runs, the more afraid he is. The more afraid he is, the more I must chase him. I will chase him until he can't run anymore."

Outside Xiaogu City, the rain fell like a curtain.

When Asai Nagamasa learned that the Oda army had abandoned the fortifications they were building and was practically "fleeing" northward, he was still somewhat confused.

But he soon realized that something had happened to Asakura.

He ordered the three generals of "Hai Chi Yu" to lead a total of 6,000 men out of the city to harass Oda's army, while he himself guarded Odani Castle.

"The Asai army has actually left the city!" Hattori Haruyasu exclaimed with delight.

"Since he has personally led the troops out to attack, I cannot let him pass." Changqing laughed twice.

The gates of Xiaogu City were wide open.

More than three thousand people stood in a dense, dark mass below the city.

-

The three riders in the lead were Kaihoku Tsunachika, Amemori Yahei, and Akao Kiyotsuna.

The Asai army had only gone a mile when they were stopped by the Mori army.

Kaihoku Tsunachika and Akao Kiyotsuna's expressions changed instantly upon seeing Mori Nagayoshi.

The incredible military tactics employed by Mori in Odani Castle back then still amaze the two of them to this day.

Are we really going to go to war?

While the two were hesitating, Mori Nagayoshi arrived at the front of the battle.

"Lords Kaihoku and Akao, how long will you continue to mislead our lord? The Asakura clan is destined for destruction, and the Asai family is doomed because of you old fogies. Aren't you ashamed?"

The two were understandably alarmed by this questioning.

"Asakura may be incompetent, but he's still better than Oda no-righteous!" Amemori Yabei shouted.

He didn't know Mori and didn't give Mori any face.

"Having fulfilled your duty, have you also fulfilled your loyalty?"

Amemori Yabei sneered, "Of course we are loyal subjects!"

"Your loyalty is to coerce your lord into making the wrong choice, plunging your family into annihilation!" Nagayoshi raised his greatsword with one hand, pointing at Yabei. "To prevent the Asai family name from ending, I have no choice but to use your heads today!"