The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Before dawn.

Chun'an helped Changqing mount his warhorse.

"Can you hold on, my lord?"

"We survived Moribe Castle, how could we not? Let's set off! No need for a forced march, conserve our strength." That was all Changqing said.

Nagae shouted, "Komano Castle! Let's go!"

The procession moved through the morning mist, the sound of horses' hooves shattering the silence of the countryside.

Chun'an drove the carriage, which was loaded with twenty or thirty heads. They rolled around and thrashed against the wooden planks with a dull thud.

As the sun rose, the outline of Komano Castle came into view.

This city is more fortified than Cloudy City.

In the repeated battles between Oda and Saito, Takagi Sadahisa wavered, and his power was the best preserved among the three surrounding powerful clans, with more than two hundred soldiers in the castle.

"stop."

Changqing raised his hand, and the 300-man team stopped in neat formation a hundred feet outside the city.

Archers took their positions on the arrow saddles, long spears stood in rows behind the battlements, and the city gates were tightly closed.

"Spring peace, raise the flag."

A blood-stained flag was raised high; it was the Ichimonji-Sanshin flag of the Owari Mori clan.

At the very front of the procession, Chun'an plunged his bamboo spear heavily into the earth. The two spears carried the heads of Shichihashi Naga'an and Marumo Nagatoshi, respectively.

The terrified expression on the severed head swayed slightly in the morning breeze, causing a stir on the city wall.

"Takagi Sadahisa!" Nagayoshi's voice boomed like thunder, "Come out and see me!"

A moment later, a figure dressed in a dark blue tunic appeared in the center of the city gate.

"Lord Mori," Takagi Sadahisa said, pretending not to have seen anything, "what brings you here with your army at this early morning?"

"What is it?" Nagayoshi laughed loudly. "Lord Takagi, everyone on the castle, did you sleep well last night? You weren't waiting for me all night, were you?"

"I don't know what Lord Mori is talking about."

"You don't know?" Nagayoshi abruptly stopped laughing, his voice turning icy. "When Moribe Castle was besieged, I sent for help! Takagi Sadahisa, you turned a blind eye! Let me ask you, what was the oath you wrote to the Oda clan?"

The morning breeze fluttered the flags, making them rustle.

"That's a misunderstanding." Takagi Sadahisa had no choice but to lie. "I received intelligence that Saito's army has troops operating nearby. It's probably a diversionary tactic, so they dare not leave the city easily."

"fart!"

Changqing roared, and his warhorse reared up as if startled.

Sadahisa, unable to contain his anger, retorted, "Insolence! Mori Nagayoshi, you have been attacking powerful clans without permission, and now you have your army at my castle gates. Is this not a violation of Oda law? Lord Nobunaga would never..."

"Lord Nobunaga will never let you get away with this!"

Someone on the city wall gripped their weapon tightly.

Changqing roared, and his warhorse reared up as if startled. He tightened the reins, steadied his mount, and slammed his sword sheath heavily on the horse's rump, causing it to take three steps forward.

The archers on the city wall immediately aimed at him, but dared not draw their bows.

After all, once he was shot dead, there was no turning back.

"Takagi Sadahisa," Nagayoshi said, emphasizing each word, "look at those two heads."

On the bamboo spear, Marushige Nagateru's empty eyes were pointed directly at the castle tower. In the morning light, his lifeless face seemed to be telling a story.

Takagi Sadao's Adam's apple bobbed.

He was afraid.

Nagayoshi continued his tirade: "Since you've joined the Oda clan, you should have worked with us to defend against the enemy! Where were you when Moribe Castle was besieged?!"

He paused, then his words grew increasingly heated.

"What Lord Nobunaga needs are retainers who can fight, not cunning foxes. The fact that the Ichihashi, Marumochi, and Takagi families betrayed their comrades proves that you will also betray your lord on the battlefield. What use are such retainers to Lord Nobunaga?"

The city walls were deathly silent.

Takagi Sadahisa's forced composure seemed to crack, revealing his true fear.

He can't possibly accept such a huge hat!

"You...you're framing me!" Takagi Sadahisa cried out, nearly hoarse. "My Takagi family is utterly loyal to the Oda family!"

"Then prove it to me! Open the city gates!"

Takagi Teiji remained frozen on the city wall for a long time.

Changqing waited. Let fear ferment, let hesitation take root.

He recalled waiting for reinforcements at Moribe Castle. Now, it was their turn to wait.

"grown ups!"

Chun'an suddenly shouted in a low voice and pointed to the west.

Changqing turned his head and saw dust rising on the horizon... It was cavalry, about thirty riders, galloping towards them.

The leader carried a flag, the Oda family's papaya pattern clearly visible in the morning light.

A soft cry came from the city wall. Takagi Sadahisa straightened his back, as if grasping at a straw.

Thirty riders arrived in an instant, reining in their horses on the flank of the Changqing army.

It turned out that it was Sasa Narimasa who came in person.

He surveyed the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the heads on the bamboo spears, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Mori Nagayoshi. The lord orders you to immediately withdraw your troops and return to Kiyosu Castle to await further instructions."

Changqing nodded slightly: "Lord Zuo Zuo."

"This is the lord's order." Cheng Zheng emphasized, "You have already committed a grave offense by attacking your own colleague. If you attack Komano Castle as well, it will be a blatant disobedience to military orders."

"Is this a colleague?" Changqing couldn't help but laugh.

"Lord Sasa has come at the right time." He turned his head and faced Komano Castle again. "Takagi Sadahisa, did you hear that? Lord Narimasa wants me to withdraw my troops. I can withdraw, as long as you give me an explanation."

As if seizing a chance, Takagi Sadahisa hurriedly said, "Lord Sassa! Mori Nagayoshi has arbitrarily attacked and annihilated two powerful clans; his crime is heinous! Please, sir, arrest him immediately!"

Cheng Zheng did not respond, but just looked at Chang Qing.

"Takagi Sadahisa, I'll give you two choices. First, surrender the castle, bind your hands, and come with me to Kiyosu Castle to confess your sins to our lord. Second..."

Changqing raised his hand, and Chun'an immediately lifted the tattered cloth on the carriage, revealing a dense mass of heads—more than twenty retainers and samurai from the Ichihashi and Marumo families, piled together.

Exclamations of alarm came from the city wall.

"Just like them." Nagayoshi's voice was icy. "When I breached Doun Castle, Marumo Nagateru knelt and begged for mercy, saying he was willing to offer all his wealth. I asked him: When I sent people to ask for help, did you ever imagine this day would come? Takagi Sadahisa, you can beg for mercy now too. But I will not accept it. Every soul that died beneath Moribe Castle will not accept it."

Sassa Narimasa frowned: "Mori Nagayoshi, the lord commands you..."

"I know my lord ordered me to withdraw the troops." Changqing interrupted him, finally turning to Chengzheng. "Lord Zuo Zuo, I only have one question: If you were the one besieged back then, and you sent envoys to ask for help, but all three refused, what would you have done?"

Narimasa remained silent. This samurai, known for his uprightness, was unable to answer the question.

"Spring peace," Changqing ordered, "Hang up all the heads."

Bamboo spears stood upright one by one. The heads of all the retainers of the Ichihashi and Marumo families were tied to these spears. More than thirty heads swayed in the morning breeze, like a string of eerie wind chimes.

Fear spread like a plague through the Takagi family.

"Takagi Sadahisa," Nagayoshi's voice rang out again, "commit seppuku to save the lives of the rest of the Takagi family, or I will take this castle today. After the castle falls, not a single member of the Takagi family will be spared."

After saying that, Nagayoshi held a knife across Sasa Narimasa's neck.

"Please, Lord Sassa, don't interfere! I don't mind adding another charge!"

Sasa Narimasa looked at Nagayoshi's pale face and recalled the tragic state of Moribe Castle. He took a deep breath and made no intention of resisting.

Takagi Sadahisa's hands were trembling.

Mori Nagayoshi, that madman...