The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

May 1st.

At the foot of Tsutsui Castle, Nobunaga convened his first military council.

Shibata Katsuie, along with Tsutsui Junkei, has surrounded the fortress of Kita-Yamato and is trying to persuade the Yamato lords to defect.

"Matsuhisa Hisahide, the strategist of the Miyoshi clan, is a traitor who murdered the shogun. What do you, the generals, think we should do to defeat him?"

Shibata Katsuie immediately stood up: "My lord, I am willing to be the vanguard and launch a strong attack on Tsutsui Castle."

Takikawa Kazumasu also said, "The Ise forces are ready. There are only four thousand enemies in Tsutsui Castle. Our army will definitely be able to break through the castle before Miyoshi arrives."

Nobunaga nodded slightly and looked at Mori Nagayoshi.

Since entering Gifu, Nagayoshi has maintained an extremely low profile. He supervises Nobutada and his subordinates daily, always by his side, but never actively participates in political affairs.

Even during the military council, he simply sat quietly behind Xinzhong, as if he were truly just a teacher who was fulfilling his duties.

Nobunaga suddenly asked, "Nagayoshi, what do you think?"

All the officials in the household looked at Changqing.

At this time, Changqing was known as "Changqing who cuts through the pass," describing his martial prowess as "able to break through the pass with a single stroke."

He already had a plan.

"I have no good plan in mind, but on the way here today, when I mentioned the matter of Miyoshi and Matsunaga to Lord Shinchū, he had some opinions about it."

"Oh? Xinzhong, tell me!"

Xinzhong glanced at the important officials around him, but showed no fear, and spoke according to what Changqing had taught him.

"Father. Matsunaga Hisahide is holding Tsutsui Castle, and the Miyoshi reinforcements have not yet arrived. If we attack now, Hisahide will surely hold out for reinforcements. I have heard that the Miyoshi Triumvirate and Hisahide, though outwardly reconciled after Hisamichi's death in 1864, each harbor their own secrets. Hisahide is a man who values ​​profit over righteousness. If we can grant him enough to preserve his former territory in the Kinai region, we can persuade him to return the former territory of Tsutsui..."

"Surrender? With my massive army of tens of thousands, how can I intimidate the surrounding daimyo without fighting a single battle? If Matsunaga Hisahide isn't terrified by me, how can he obediently serve my clan?"

Nobutada lowered his head and said, "I believe that we can persuade Matsunaga to defect and join us in defeating Miyoshi. Even if we return to Gifu, Matsunaga will be caught up in the struggle with Miyoshi and will find it difficult to rebel."

Changqing dared not utter this prophecy, which was detached from history, so he could only pass it on to Xinzhong.

Firstly, it would help Hidetada consolidate his position, and secondly, even if Matsunaga really rebelled, Nobunaga wouldn't take it seriously.

When Nobunaga hesitated, Sasa Narimasa suggested, "If Matsunaga agrees, then order him to hand over the hostages and launch the first attack on Miyoshi."

"Alright, who can serve as envoy?"

Xinzhong glanced back at Changqing, who nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

"Lord Mitsuhide Akechi. Lord Mitsuhide is well-versed in the affairs of the Kyoto court nobles and samurai families. If Lord Mitsuhide were to go and explain the advantages and disadvantages, perhaps things could be accomplished."

Whispers broke out among the guests.

Akechi Mitsuhide? Could Nobutada really know so much about Oda's retainers?

Nobunaga looked at Nagayoshi with a wicked grin, his eyes seeming to say: You know how to behave.

Akechi Mitsuhide knelt on the seat, his face calm and composed, only glancing at Nagayoshi.

"Hidetada, you're putting Mitsuhide in the eye of the storm."

Xiuzhong, bewildered, could only lower his head and say, "I misspoke!"

"Our lord has asked Lord Hidetada to speak his mind. How can we let Lord Hidetada and our retainers feel awkward?" Nagayoshi said solemnly.

Sasa Narimasa tilted his head back. He hadn't worked with Nagayoshi for several years, but he hadn't expected Nagayoshi to still be so stubborn.

Nobunaga chuckled twice and brushed it off, but his retainers saw it as an admission of wrongdoing.

"Mitsuhide, are you willing to go?"

Mitsuhide bowed deeply: "I will do my utmost to obey your command, my lord."

After the military meeting ended, the generals filed out.

Changqing followed Xinzhong to the garrison, his footsteps echoing softly behind him.

"Lord Mori."

Nagayoshi turned around. Akechi Mitsuhide was standing behind him, the setting sun falling on his thick torso, reflecting almost no light.

It seems that even after the Akechi family was destroyed by Saito Yoshitatsu, they still hid a lot of old things in the castle.

"Why did you recommend me during the military council just now?"

"Lord Mitsuhide, what do you believe Hisahide fears most?"

"Please speak, sir!"

"He murdered the shogun, making him an enemy of the entire land. What he fears is not the swords of the Oda clan, but the day when he has nowhere to go." Nagayoshi spoke calmly, "Sir, you once served Saito, and you and Matsunaga are both well-versed in the affairs of the court and have both experienced the turmoil of your lord's family. I believe Matsunaga will listen to what you say more."

Akechi Mitsuhide is now only a retainer of 1,000 koku, and has only recovered the ancestral property of Akechi Castle, which is far from enough for him.

"Lord Mori, thank you! I hope there's anything I can do for you in the future..."

"If I become rich and powerful, let us not forget each other..."

……

On May 2, the ninth year of Yonglu, it was still dark.

Behind Akechi Mitsuhide was Oda's massive army, and in front of him were the tightly closed city gates and the walls riddled with arrows.

This is a seemingly high-stakes gamble that is guaranteed to win.

Mitsuhide remembered that when Nobunaga took his leave last night, he only said three sentences:

"If Matsunaga Hisahide refuses to surrender, I will attack the castle at noon tomorrow."

"If he surrenders, make him hand over the hostages."

"Also, tell him that if he is willing to defect, I can leave him the original territories of Tamonyama Castle, Shinguiyama Castle, and the Mountain Castle Kingdom."

Oda Nobunaga didn't want Matsunaga's head; he wanted a springboard to Kyoto. To make someone like Matsunaga kneel was simply a matter of overwhelming power, since Matsunaga's knees were practically nonexistent.

The city gates slowly opened at 3:45 AM.

A warrior rode out on horseback.

"Matsunaga Danjo invites the Oda clan's envoy into the castle."

Mitsuhide rode alongside him on horseback.

The city gate slammed shut behind him.

When he was seated in the guest room, Matsunaga Hisahide had already emerged from behind the screen.

The 66-year-old man had graying temples, an elegant demeanor, and no trace of wickedness in his face.

He carried no sword at his waist, yet his gaze was as sharp as a knife.

……

Noon on the third day.

The 10,000 reinforcements of the Sanyo Sanjin finally arrived.

Matsunaga Hisahide left his main force to be arrayed outside Tsutsui Castle.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi rode his horse to the front of the battle line, and looking at Hisahide's main camp banners, a strong sense of unease welled up in his heart.

"Lord Danjo! Where is Oda's army now?"

Jiuxiu came out to greet him.

"The Oda army? They have been waiting for your army in the west of the city for quite some time."

Changyi's expression changed drastically.

Before the words were finished, a plume of smoke rose into the sky from behind the western mountain shadows.

Then came the second and the third rounds.

The sound of the conch shell resounded in all directions.

"Matsuhisa Hisahide!" Miyoshi Nagahisa drew his sword. "How dare you betray me!"

When Jiuxiu looked up, there was a slight smile on her lips.

"Betrayal? Even if I don't betray you, you'll betray me sooner or later!"

He raised his right arm and slowly closed his five fingers.

"Sanhao is past his prime; I only believe in what I have in my hands!"

The eight thousand soldiers shouted in unison, like water bursting its banks, and charged towards the Sanhao Army.

At the same moment, a thunderous volley of cannon fire erupted from the west.

Oda Nobunaga's vanguard, Maeda Toshiie and Hashiba Hideyoshi, launched a surprise attack.

From this moment on, the outcome of the battle was already decided.

Mori Nagayoshi stood on a gentle slope, overlooking the entire battlefield.

Nobunaga's main force fired 400 arquebuses continuously. Although the enemy was not within range when they fired, the dense, booming sound terrified the Miyoshi soldiers.

Changqing's task at this moment was simple: to ensure Xinzhong's safe passage through this war.

"Nobutada-den."

Beside him, an eleven-year-old boy gripped a long sword tightly. The sword was a Bizen no Nakabune that Nobunaga had given him when he came of age, and it was still a bit too long for the boy, but his grip on the sword was a true mastery of the Ashina style.

"Lord Mori."

"Don't worry about how many enemies you kill in the first battle," Changqing said calmly. "Go, I'll go with you."

Xinzhong looked up at him; there was no fear in the boy's eyes.

He spurred his horse forward, protecting Xinzhong by his side.