The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 105 Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

Mori Nagayoshi stood with his sword drawn, rain dripping from the edge of his pocket.

He saw the anger in Amemori Yabei's eyes, the slight trembling of Kaihoku Tsuna's wrist, and the hesitation of Akao Kiyotsuna as he gripped his sword.

"Fight if you want, surrender if you want! You've made a mistake, why are you still hesitating?"

Amemori Yabei was the first to rush out.

"Mori Nagayoshi, prepare to die!"

The spear came flying through the air. Amemori Yabei's spear skills were inherited from the master Echizen, and he wielded the cross spear with great skill.

Changqing didn't even draw his sword; he simply used his arm armor to deflect the spear.

This requires absolute timing and confidence.

"Respecting you as a long-time retainer of Asai, I'll spare your life in three moves!"

Enraged, Amemori Yabei swung his gun horizontally.

With a flick of his wrist, Changqing revealed half a foot of white blade, effectively deflecting the powerful attack.

The warhorse also staggered several steps as a result.

"Two moves have been made! You still have a chance; turn back before it's too late!"

Amemori Yabei sheathed his gun and shouted to the other two generals, "Let's swarm him and kill him!"

Haibei Gangqin gritted his teeth and rushed forward.

He raised his katana high and slashed down, a strike even more ruthless than Amemori Yabei's spear.

"What right do you have to lecture Mibei!" he roared.

Changqing swung his sword to parry. The two katanas clashed in the rain, splashing water everywhere.

"Lord Kaibei, the conditions I offered Lord Amemori also apply to you, so please cherish them!"

Tsuna stabbed again, then shouted, "Kiyotsuna, what are you waiting for! Are you scared?"

Mibei charged forward with his spear, but Nagayoshi, fighting two opponents at once, gained the upper hand.

In the blink of an eye, three moves had passed. Nagayoshi forced Tsuna back and slashed at Mibei with his sword. Mibei was caught off guard, and Akao Kiyotsuna's spear came to his rescue just in time. The water splashed from the blade and the spear tip stung Mibei's eyes.

Akao Kiyotsuna, unable to bear seeing his comrade die in battle, finally intervened.

"You've made a move too!"

The rain is getting heavier.

Taking advantage of an opening, Amemori Yabei desperately thrust out his third spear, aiming straight for Nagayoshi's throat.

Changqing turned to the side, the tip of the spear grazing his neck. He didn't even blink.

With a flash of light, the rain curtain seemed to be cleaved in two.

Amemori Yabei felt a chill on his wrists, and his hands, which were holding the gun, fell into the mud along with the cross-shaped gun.

"what!"

The screams were so loud that the Asai army couldn't help but retreat, and some soldiers were even so frightened that they dropped their weapons.

Amemori Yabei fainted; such an injury was tantamount to death in the rain.

"This strike is for the lord you have wronged."

Gang watched helplessly as his colleague fell, his eyes brimming with tears.

Nagayoshi stepped forward, and the two katana clashed again. This time, his sword forcefully pushed Tsunachika's sword down, and Tsunachika watched as the blade gradually approached, until finally the cold blade touched his face.

"You've already exhausted your three moves!"

"Qinggang! Aren't you going to help?"

Akao Kiyotsuna's three moves had already passed, and he was timid, unable to even hold his gun steadily.

The blade gradually sank into Tsuna's cheek, the immense pain forcing him to clench his teeth, but the blade continued to advance, almost getting stuck in his jaw.

Changqing suddenly withdrew his strength, and the knife slid down along the opponent's blade.

Just as Tsuna was exhausted and panting for breath, "Chiyo Tsurutaro" suddenly rose up and pierced through the gap in the groin under his armpit.

Nagayoshi drew his sword, and Tsuna's body fell from his horse, splashing mud and water onto Tsuna's pale face.

The rain washed over the blade, cleaning away the bloodstains.

Akao Kiyotsuna lowered his weapon; he even forgot to run away.

"Lord Akao, it seems you've come to your senses. Please collect the bodies of the two lords and go to persuade Lord Nagamasa!"

Changqing reined in his horse, turned around, and led his troops to retreat.

"Tell Lord Nagamasa that the Asakura clan is doomed. If the Asai clan insists on holding on, their lineage will be wiped out. If they surrender before the Asakura clan falls, it is not too late."

Otani Castle, Honmaru Palace.

Asai Nagamasa examined the bodies of the two senior retainers.

Kiyotsuna Akao knelt below, soaked to the bone, his forehead pressed against the floor, motionless.

"How did you manage to come back alive?"

Qinggang kowtowed, sobbing uncontrollably, ashamed of his cowardice.

"Did Changqing let you come back?" Changzheng continued to press.

"Yes."

The sound of rain outside the window was like a waterfall, a lament.

"What did he say?"

Qinggang looked up, raindrops dripping down his cheeks.

"He said—the Asakura clan will surely perish, and if the Asai clan continues to hold out, their lineage will be wiped out. He told me to come back and tell my lord that he is waiting for my lord's reply outside the castle."

Footsteps sounded outside the hall, and Hisamasa walked in absentmindedly.

"A complete rout! The incompetent Yoshikage!"

This was the first time Jiuzheng had cursed his ally.

"Oda Nobunaga and his retainers are pursuing relentlessly, and Asakura's rearguard has already collapsed. Our forces are destined to suffer heavy losses!"

"My lord, Lord Hermit." Akao Kiyotsuna crawled forward on his knees. "Mori Nagayoshi's words—please reconsider, my lord."

"You want me to surrender?" Hisamasa spat. "Impossible. Even if the Asakura clan loses, they won't be wiped out so quickly. There's still the Takeda clan, and the Mori clan—"

"Enough—Father! Oda has already won." Nagamasa interrupted Hisamasa's self-consolation.

This was the first time Hisamasa had ever heard Nagamasa talk back to him, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Kiyoshi, send Lady Yukihime out of the city first!"

Yukihime was the daughter of Hayashi Hidesada and the adopted daughter of Oda Nobunaga. She was personally delivered to the Asai family by Mori Nagayoshi.

Nagamasa's affection for his wife is consistent with historical records.

"You're showing weakness!" Jiuzheng rebuked.

"I am the head of the family! Qinggang, do it immediately! As for surrendering—let's see how the situation changes first."

On the morning of April 20th, the rain gradually subsided.

Changqing is practicing his newly acquired profound techniques in the city fortress.

Amemori Yabei was the head of the Asai family, and Kaihoku Tsunachika was the chief retainer of the Asai family. The reward for killing these two could be described as divine skill.

【Niten Ichiryu】: The technique of using two swords.

【Swallow Return】: High-speed combo attack, can increase the blocking of arrows.

The clouds parted in several places, and the sunlight shone like beams of light.

"My lord, people from Xiaogucheng have arrived," Chun'an reminded him.

Not far away, Akao Kiyotsuna rode slowly, followed by an oxcart. Arrangements had been made between the two sides a few days prior regarding Yukihime's matter.

Changqing put down his sword and led his men to meet them.

"Lord Mori, regarding the matter of surrender—Lord Nagamasa is still discussing it with Lord Hermit."

"Tell Lord Nagamasa that time is of the essence—"

Changqing lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a pale yet beautiful face. Xueji's eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying, and she was holding a boy in her arms.

"Lord Mori, it's been so many years. I never imagined that it would be you who brought me here and saw me off—"

This seemingly reproachful sigh made Changqing feel a little apologetic.

"Your Highness, Lord Changzheng sent you out of the city hoping for your safety. Now that our army is about to besiege the city, I will arrange for someone to send you back to Qingzhou first. Lord Lin will surely be very happy to see you."

"I don't want peace. I want to die with my husband."

Yukihime's tears flowed freely, and she bit her lip tightly to keep herself from crying out loud.

Changqing dismounted and walked to the oxcart.

"I, Mori Nagayoshi, swear here that I will reunite you and your husband. Please believe me, and believe in Lord Nagamasa."

Changqing watched the oxcart disappear into the distance, realizing he couldn't waste any more time arguing with Changzheng.

"Good morning! Inform Lord Hashiba that we need to speed things up!"

In May, Xiaogucheng was already completely surrounded by countless fortified villages.

Asakura Yoshikage was constantly on the run, but wherever he went, the local commander would surrender.

He has now fled to the Ōno district of the traitor Asakura Kagekage.

Historically, he also died in that place.

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