The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

In 1565, Nobunaga had already launched two military campaigns, and his main force was exhausted.

In October, Kitada Tomonori took advantage of Nobunaga's failed march to Kyoto and launched a counterattack on northern Ise with an army of over 10,000.

The Kitada clan of Ise, along with the Ichijo clan of Tosa and the Anekoji clan of Hida, are collectively known as the three rulers of the Sengoku period.

After Kitada Tomonori succeeded as the eighth head of the family, he gradually unified southern Ise. Two years ago, he passed the headship of the family to his eldest son, Kitada Tomofa, but still retains real power in the family.

He studied under the sword saint Tsukahara Bokuden and learned the secret technique of the Kashima Shinto-ryu school, "Ichijitachi" (One-Character Sword). He was also a famous great swordsman.

To prevent unrest among the powerful clans of northern Ise, Kobe Nobumasa and Takigawa Kazumasu immediately sought help from Nobunaga.

Nobunaga Nobunaga, lord of Iwamura Castle, Mori Nagayoshi, lord of Kanayama Castle, Mori Yoshinari, and lord of Inuyama Castle, Ikeda Tsuneoki, went to provide support.

Ieyasu also offered his full support, dispatching Sakai Tadatsugu with 3000 reinforcements. Nobunaga even expressed his gratitude to Ieyasu for this.

With Nobunaga himself stationed in Mino, Nagayoshi left only Marume Nagayoshi, Takenaka Shigeharu, and 300 soldiers at Iwamura Castle.

Nagayoshi then led the remaining retainers and powerful clansmen such as Toyama and Sato, with a combined force of one thousand men, to provide support.

October 15th.

Kitada and Oda lined up their troops outside Kameyama Castle in Ise.

Kameyama Castle in Ise was a bridgehead into southern Ise. The castle lord, Seki Nobumori, had only sided with Oda a few months earlier, and Nobunaga ordered Takigawa Kazumasu not to abandon the castle.

Both sides have a force of just over 10,000 in the field, with little difference between them.

Whoever wins now, Guan Xinsheng might side with them.

At noon, the two sides clashed, and the shouts of more than 20,000 people shook the heavens and the earth.

Kitada's army, relying on the terrain and the support of the nobushi (warriors), slowly advanced.

On the right wing, the 2000 men led by Kitada Kazuma and Kitada Chikashige of the Kitada clan were fighting against the Ikeda Tsuneoki's army of Oda. On the left wing, the nearly 3000 men of Kitada Kazuma's army were fiercely attacking Mori Yoshinari. In the center, the main force of 6000 men was personally commanded by Kitada Kazunobu.

At this time, Takigawa Kazumasu and Sakai Tadatsugu's 6000 men were suppressed by Kitada Tokunori.

"Lord Mori's side won't hold out for long!" Hattori Haruyasu shouted, pointing to the left wing.

Looking out from his horse, Mori Nagayoshi saw Mori Yoshinari's lines slowly retreating. The black flags of Mori's troops appeared and disappeared amidst the chaotic crowd, and Kitada Tomofa's forces were advancing like a whirlwind, having already forced Mori's army back more than a hundred paces.

With fewer than 2000 troops, Mori Yoshinari was already struggling to hold off the enemy's elite forces.

"Where is Lord Ikeda?"

"Lord Ikeda has defeated the enemy's Hioki Daizen and Ieki Shusui teams and is about to support Lord Mori, but he is being held back by Kizuki Tomomasa!"

Nagayoshi immediately ordered: "Send word! The entire army will maneuver to the right flank, first defeat Kizuki Tomomasa, and establish contact with Ikeda's army!"

"Yes!" The messenger rode off.

Changqing raised the cross-shaped spear with one hand, the spearhead gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"Gentlemen!" Nagayoshi shouted, "The outcome of this battle concerns the foundation of our lord's power in Kita-Ise! Follow me and defeat the enemy!"

"Whoa!" the soldiers responded in unison.

Changqing took the lead and charged towards the right flank with his troops.

The Oda army was now at a complete disadvantage.

Kitada Tokunori fought bravely, and Kobe Nobumasa and Nagano Nobukatsu, who were the vanguard of Takigawa Kazumasu, had already been defeated. If Sakai Tadatsugu had not decisively joined the fight, Takigawa Kazumasu's main force might have been defeated by his own troops.

The wooden ware manufacturing unit was engaged in fierce fighting with Ikeda Tsuneoki when they saw the Chōkei army attacking from the flank, and they hurriedly divided their forces to defend against them.

"Well done!" Muzoguchi fearlessly turned his gun to meet the attack.

The two armies clashed, and the sounds of weapons clashing filled the air.

"Follow my lord!" Maeda Keiji brandished his crimson spear, piercing two enemy soldiers with a single thrust, and laughed heartily, "That was exhilarating! Now this is what fighting is all about!"

Hattori Haruyasu commanded the Mori elites and the foot soldiers of the noble clans to begin their advance.

When the wooden formation was disrupted, he personally led his own troops to intercept them.

He was the third son of Kitada Tomonori. He studied military strategy from a young age and wielded the Ichimonji-ya (one-line spear) with great skill and power.

"Who is the enemy general? I'll have a go at you!" Ju Jung shouted.

Changqing sneered and charged forward with his spear.

"If you survive my bullet, you'll become famous!"

"presumptuous!"

Mori thrust his spear straight at him, but Gu Zheng parried it with his own. Just as he was about to retaliate, he saw Chang Qing draw his sword.

"Prepare to die!"

A flash of light, and Gu Zheng's spear was broken; his heart seemed to feel the air rushing in. His body now hung like two tattered rags.

One-Sword... the Sword Saint Mori Nagayoshi...

He had been exposed to his father's swordsmanship since childhood, and now that he had experienced it deeply, he had no time to comprehend even a fraction of it.

Ju Zheng then dismounted and tilted his head behind Chang Qing.

Only then did he see the fluttering flag.

Ichimonji Sange... I should have known...

His eyes trembled a few times before finally closing.

Changqing was focused on rescuing his allies and had no intention of cutting off his head.

"Congratulations, host, on acquiring the skill [Flying Bird]. This is the Hozoin-ryu spear technique, a powerful and unrestrained style, the ultimate technique for dealing with multiple opponents..."

Is this an invitation for me to unleash my full power?

He raised his gun and urged the following troops to move forward.

"Don't waste time, no need to pursue, follow me and charge into the enemy's main force!"

……

Before long, the wooden-armed troops had already retreated.

"Lord Mori!" Ikeda Tsuneoki, covered in blood, exclaimed, "You've come just in time! I've repelled Kitada Chikane. Now, what do we do?"

"Please go and support Lord Mori! I will continue the assault on the enemy's main camp to buy Lord Takikawa time to regroup!"

Once the commander-in-chief's main force is defeated, the victories of the other troops become insignificant.

"But you only have a thousand people!"

Changqing wasn't being arrogant; 200 of his 1000 men were professional soldiers, and veterans at that.

"Given the current state of the battle, there's no time to worry about anything else!"

Ikeda Tsuneoki nodded emphatically and led his troops to Mori Yoshinari's aid.

Changqing continued his advance towards the enemy's main camp.

"My lord, it's too dangerous for us to venture deep into enemy territory alone!" Honda Masanobu urged his horse forward to dissuade him.

"It's precisely because it's dangerous that we have to do it!"

The reason why Nagayoshi was willing to take this gamble was because Nobunaga's attempt to march on Kyoto had failed.

If the Oda clan doesn't grow powerful, it will be difficult for me to grow powerful as well.

Even if the military strategy proposed in Shangluo last time didn't result in any rewards, what about this time? What about next time?

If genuine merits are not rewarded, it will discourage the other retainers.

Once Nobunaga dies, only fiefdoms will be reliable. Even if it makes Nobunaga wary, we must strive to gain them now.

……

At 3:45 PM, the Changqing army stormed into Kitada's main camp as if it were empty.

However, as they penetrated deeper into enemy territory, the resistance grew stronger.

The local lords near Kitada's main camp began to encircle the Chōkei army, with enemy troops constantly pouring in from both sides.

"My lord, Toyama Naoren and Sato Tadayoshi are surrounded!" Hattori Haruyasu said breathlessly as he felled an enemy soldier.

Although the Mori army was brave, they had been fighting for too long, and even the elite veterans suffered casualties.

"We can't stop!" Changqing gritted his teeth. "If we stop, we'll surely die! Keep moving forward and take Kitada Tokugyo's main camp! Spring peace!"

"exist!"

"Take your troops and go rescue our friendly forces! Tell them they have done their moral duty and can withdraw!"

If you really use up all your strength, it will be difficult to talk to each other when you meet again.

Chun'an quickly tried to dissuade him. Changqing, however, remained unmoved, staring at the Kitada family's horse seal not far away.

"Keij! Do you dare come with me?" Nagayoshi shouted.

"Let's go!" Keiji responded without hesitation.

Just then, a force of about two hundred men arrived from the direction of Kitada Main Camp, carrying the banner of the Omiya family, a powerful clan in southern Ise.

"Why is there a reserve team?" Keiji tilted his head.

"Are you scared?" Changqing grabbed Chun'an's bow, spurred his horse, and leaped off first.

Keiji immediately spurred his horse and followed.