The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

In March of the seventh year of Eiroku (1564), the castle of Iwamura in Mino Province had not yet fully awakened from the winter chill.

The Iwamura River, carrying the melting snow from the Kiso Mountains, flows swiftly through the valley, its waters crystal clear and still chilly to the touch.

Cherry blossoms are just beginning to bloom on both sides of the river, their pink and white petals dotting the deep green fir forest.

In Miaomu City, shouts and curses continued to echo from the city's main square.

"Absurd!" "Outrageous!"

Yuanshan Jingren slammed a document heavily onto the tatami mat, his face, nearing forty, flushed red with anger.

"Although Lord Nobunaga has made us his vassals, that scoundrel Mori Nagayoshi has gone too far, daring to try and seize my territory?"

The senior retainer, Watanabe Masashige, seated at the lower end of the table, bowed even more deeply: "My lord, please calm your anger. Lord Mori is, after all, a key retainer of the Oda clan stationed in eastern Mino, and was personally appointed by Lord Nobunaga..."

"A high-ranking official? What kind of high-ranking official is he? He's just someone who rose to power through the ranks of Ma Kaishu!" Jing Ren interrupted, standing up and pacing in the main room. "He's just a nouveau riche from the countryside of Owari, relying on some military achievements! He's only been in Iwamura for half a year, conducted one land survey, kidnapped mountain people, and now he even wants to interfere in the forests of my Toyama family!"

On the document, Mori Nagayoshi's monogram was clearly visible and glaring.

The content concerns the ownership dispute over the area north of Iwamura Castle.

That mountain forest has belonged to the Yuanshan clan since ancient times. It is rich in high-quality timber and is one of the important sources of wealth for the Yuanshan family.

Chokei demanded a re-demarcation of the border under the pretext of "preparing military equipment for the Oda clan," but in reality, he wanted to place the most fertile Sanmai mountain forest under his direct control.

Watanabe Masashige, whether intentionally or not, said, "Recently, he's also set up checkpoints on the roads, and caravans are constantly being harassed..."

"My lord, there is one more thing..." Watanabe Masashige's voice was even lower. "Three days ago, the Mori clan's clerk intercepted a group of merchants at the border and found letters destined for Kai among their goods. Although they were unsigned, the handwriting... some say it belongs to Akiyama Nobutomo."

Jing Ren suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Akiyama Nobuyuki – one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of the Takeda Clan," a renowned general of Kai Province, currently serving as the governor of Ina District, Shinano Province, separated from Mino Province by only one mountain. He is a cunning military strategist, particularly skilled at instigating defections, and is one of the Oda Clan's most feared adversaries on the eastern border.

"Where's the letter?"

"It has been sent to Iwamura Castle for Lord Mori to inspect personally." Watanabe Masashige looked up, a hint of unease flashing in his eyes. "Although it's an imitation, if Lord Mori deems it..."

"Assume what? Assume the Toyama clan is colluding with the Takeda?" Jing Ren turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Masashige, you suspect me too?"

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare!" Watanabe Masashige hurriedly bowed his head. "However... the situation is delicate right now. Mori Nagayoshi has just taken office and needs to establish his authority. If he insists on targeting the Toyama family, a mere 'suspected treason' charge would be enough to mobilize troops to attack."

The sound of orderly footsteps of patrolling soldiers could be heard outside the window.

The Toyama clan was once a powerful and influential family in eastern Mino, at its peak controlling three castles: Iwamura, Naegi, and Akechi, and commanding eighteen villages. However, after his grandfather's defeat in a struggle with Saito Dosan, their territory shrank and their power declined. In order to stabilize Iwamura Castle, Ando Mori married his daughter to Toyama Kagetomo, who gave birth to the current head of the Toyama clan, Kagetomo.

Historically, after the fall of Mino, Iwamura Castle was returned to Toyama Kagetoshi. Nobunaga not only married his aunt, Enhime, to Toyama Kagetoshi, the lord of Iwamura Castle, but also adopted his fifth son to the infertile Toyama Kagetoshi.

Toyama Kagetoshi also had a cousin named Toyama Naoren, who married Nobunaga's sister in his early years. His daughter was the famous Toyama Lady (the principal wife of Takeda Katsuyori) during the Sengoku period of Japan.

Despite his marriage ties with the main family, he remained a local resident struggling to rise in status.

The family business was difficult to restore, and they were still subject to the control of others in every way, which made Jing Ren sigh.

"My lord," Watanabe Masashige spoke again, "how about... we temporarily concede?"

"If we yield once, we'll yield again." Jing Ren's voice was low and somber. "Today we cede mountains, tomorrow we'll take rivers. Once the Yuanshan family's territory is completely lost, how will my father and I face our ancestors?"

He walked back to the head of the table and sat down, rubbing his hands on his knees.

"Besides, do you really think Mori Nagayoshi is only after that little bit of forest?"

Watanabe Masashige was taken aback.

Jing Ren raised his eyes and said coldly, "In the subsequent military campaign to attack Inabayama Castle, he demanded two hundred soldiers, but I only sent one hundred and fifty; last month he proposed to patrol the territory, but I declined on the grounds of 'busy spring planting'... He has long harbored resentment over these things. This conflict in the mountains is nothing more than an excuse to completely subdue my Toyama clan."

"So, what does my lord mean...?"

"If he wants to survey the boundary, let him." Jing Ren's lips curled into a cold smile. "But not a single tree or stone of the Toyama family's forest can be given up. Issue the order: send thirty hunters and twenty foot soldiers to patrol the southern slope of Mount Kuroki. If they encounter any Mori family land inspectors, tell them, 'This is the ancestral property of the Toyama family, and no one may enter without the lord's permission.'"

Watanabe Masashige gasped, "This...this is blatant disobedience!"

"Disobeying orders?" Kagetoshi slowly drew a one-inch blade, its cold light reflecting on his face. "I, Toyama Kagetoshi, am a retainer of the Oda clan, not Mori Nagayoshi. If he wants to provoke me, let him. I want to see if he dares to use force against Lord Nobunaga's in-laws without solid evidence."

Despite his strong words, Jing Ren was not entirely confident.

Watanabe Masashige was right: Mori Nagayoshi needed to establish his authority. And the Toyama clan, which was gradually declining but unwilling to completely submit, was indeed a suitable target.

But Jing Ren had no choice.

If they retreat further, the Toyama clan will be completely reduced to vassalage. If they don't retreat, there might still be a glimmer of hope... At worst, they can submit to the Takeda clan; if it weren't for the Takeda, their father wouldn't have been able to succeed to the throne.

Takeda… This thought startled him.

Although Takeda and Oda are no longer enemies, illicit relations are still a serious crime.

The friendship between the Toyama and Takeda clans existed, but rumors could kill.

If Mori Nagayoshi really wanted to frame someone, this would be an excellent opening.

"Masaru," Jingren suddenly said, "has anyone in your household recently been in contact with Kai?"

Watanabe Masashige's expression changed slightly: "Why do you ask this, my lord?"

I want the truth.

After a moment of silence, Watanabe Masashige said in a low voice, "Three months ago, around the time of the autumn harvest, a traveler who claimed to be a merchant from Shinano passed through Naegi Castle and stayed in the castle town for two days. During that time, he drank with Toshimasa Toyama... Toshimasa has already reported this matter, saying that he was just an ordinary merchant who inquired about the price of grain in Mino."

"Li Zheng," Jing Ren murmured the name.

Toshimasa Toyama was a member of a collateral branch of the family. He was brave but lacked strategy and was not entirely convinced by Jing Ren.

"Is there anything else?"

"Last month, a letter was intercepted at the border post, but the inside was blank. The post commander thought it was a mistake and destroyed it. Besides that... that's all."

Blank letter.

Jing Ren broke out in a cold sweat.

It looks too much like a trap. Was it set by the Takeda clan or the Mori clan?

"Have Toshimasa come to see me tomorrow." Jing Ren stood up. "Also, strengthen the defenses of Naegi Castle. Without my order, no one is allowed to contact merchants coming from the Shinano direction. In particular, anyone claiming to be a retainer or envoy of the Akiyama family should be detained and reported to me immediately."

"yes!"

Watanabe Masashige accepted the order and withdrew.

Jing Ren was the only one left in the room. He walked to the window and pushed open the wooden lattice window.

The lights of Iwamura Castle Town gradually come on, and wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys.

That was the ancestral property of the Yuanshan clan, the mountain forest that his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had protected for generations.

"Mori Nagayoshi..." Jing Ren murmured the name.