The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 90 The Righteousness of Mori

As the sun began to set, the Zichuan River turned a deep crimson.

Blood flowed into the clear Biwa Lake, making it seem as if three red suns were shining in the sky. Isono Kazumasa, with more than a thousand remaining soldiers, had broken through the blockade of Mori Yoshinari and Shibata Katsuie.

Sawayama Castle is right in front of us.

However, the road ahead was blocked.

Dozens of flags, white with black stripes, fluttered in the wind outside the city.

Isono Kazumasa slowed down the march and sighed deeply.

Ichimonji, Sange, Mori Nagayoshi —

What followed was another tough battle.

Despite facing a thousand opponents, Isono Kazumasa lacked confidence.

"Report!"

The scout galloped to Yuan Chang's side.

"My lord, the Oda army has caught up from the rear, and the vanguard is led by Maeda Toshiie!"

Another formidable general—there's no other way.

He stared at the black and white flag in the distance.

"Prepare for attack!"

The Isono army gripped their weapons tightly. From attacking the main camp to breaking through, if their commander could break through thirteen formations, he could break through fourteen.

"oh!"

The Isono army roared and began to speed up their march.

However, at that moment, the Maori army on the opposite side suddenly parted the road.

Changqing stood with his spear at the ready, but there was no one beside him.

"Lord Isono, how have you been?" he shouted.

"What is Lord Mori doing?"

"Asai has the meaning of 'asai,' and Mori has the meaning of 'mori'! Please approve!"

Yuan Chang's grip on the gun tightened slightly.

He got it.

Changqing deliberately came here to repay the kindness of his own temple.

"Lord Mori!" Yuan Chang said in a deep voice, "You're colluding with the enemy!"

"Know."

As the two drew closer, their voices gradually grew softer.

"If Lord Nobunaga finds out about this, how will you explain it?"

"That's my business."

The two horses stood side by side, and Isono Kazumasa slightly turned to the side.

"Lord Mori, I will certainly repay this kindness!"

"Lord Isono, our debts of gratitude have been settled. It may not be so easy for us to meet again next time."

"If I can die by your blade, I will have no regrets in this life!" Isono Kazumasa shouted, raising his spear. "Everyone, put away your weapons and return to the city!"

Having said that, he cracked his whip, and the army surged into the passage like a tide, heading towards Sōwayama Castle.

"My lord, this—"

Ōnojo had just joined the Mōri clan, and seeing Nagayoshi in this state, he couldn't help but worry about his lord's safety.

"rest assured----"

Nobunaga had not yet experienced his brother-in-law's betrayal, nor had he faced the extreme pressure of the "Oda encirclement." He was far less ruthless than he would become later.

In this chaotic world, what are the values ​​of morality and ethics? He wanted to give it a try.

After the Battle of Anegawa, Nobunaga immediately returned to Azuchi, where the Sando Castle had not yet been built.

The military council also convened on the second day.

Inside the Great Hall.

-

The battle reports have already been compiled.

The Oda-Tokugawa allied forces beheaded over a thousand men, the Asakura army was routed, and the Asai army retreated to Odani Castle and Sawayama Castle.

This was undoubtedly a great victory, but Nobunaga's expression was not good.

"Isono Kazumasa." He slowly uttered the name, his gaze sweeping over the generals present.

"Three thousand men broke through seven of my main formations, then broke through seven more during their breakout attempt, and in the end, they all escaped unscathed! Can anyone tell me why?"

This was an internal matter of the Oda clan, and Tokugawa Ieyasu gave his retainers a signal, telling them not to speak out of turn.

Hideyoshi Hashiba stared at the ground, seemingly counting ants.

Nobunaga's gaze slowly moved, finally landing on Mori Nagayoshi, who was sitting upright in the corner.

"Changqing!"

"exist."

Where were you when Isano Kazumasa retreated?

"Outside Sawayama Castle."

"What are you doing outside Sawayama Castle?"

"Set up the formation."

"Formation? Then tell me, why was Isono Kazumasa able to pass through your lines and retreat back to Sawayama Castle unscathed?"

The breathing in the hall suddenly stopped, and everyone's eyes were focused on Changqing.

Tokugawa Ieyasu frowned slightly. The Tokugawa family's achievements were inseparable from Nagayoshi's help, but at this moment he didn't know whether he should speak up for Nagayoshi.

Nagayoshi looked directly into Nobunaga's eyes.

"Reporting back to Lord Nobunaga, Isono Kazumasa passed in front of my battle lines because I cleared the way for him."

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Shibata Katsuie abruptly stood up: "Mori Nagayoshi! What do you mean by this?!"

Lin Xiuzhen also stood up: "Releasing an enemy general without authorization is tantamount to colluding with the enemy!"

Only Mitsuhide Akechi remained seated, but his current status in the household was low, making it inconvenient for him to defend Nagayoshi.

"Changqing, I need an explanation."

Nobunaga slapped the floor impatiently, but Nagayoshi was used to this and wasn't bothered by the pressure at all.

"Last year, during the incident at the Honbonji Temple, the Shogun, Lord Hosokawa, Lord Akechi, Lord Hashiba, and I were trapped in Kyoto."

"If it weren't for Asai Nagamasa and Isono Kazumasa coming to our rescue, we would all be dead by now."

As soon as Nagayoshi spoke, Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi immediately nodded in agreement.

"If I were to annihilate Isono Kazumasa's isolated breakout today, I would be ungrateful."

Lin Xiuzhen, who was in charge of allocating supplies, sneered, "Moribe kills people, Anegawa lives them; Lord Mori really is a gentleman who can turn into a leopard!"

"I hate it when people talk nonsense in front of me."

Nobunaga slowly rose and took the "Hasebe" sword from the page beside him; it was his favorite weapon.

He placed the knife on Changqing's shoulder.

"Asai Nagamasa also valued principles. But didn't he also fall to me?"

Nagayoshi and Nobunaga looked at each other without offering any explanation.

At this point, discussing grand principles like "duty" would only make Nobunaga more obsessive.

Silence fell over the hall, everyone waiting to see if the sword would fall.

Tokugawa Ieyasu finally couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Please, Lord Nobunaga, forgive Lord Mori. Lord Mori has rendered meritorious service in this battle, and now that we are surrounded by powerful enemies, we cannot kill a general without authorization!"

"Hmph! If it weren't for Lord Ieyasu pleading for you—"

Nobunaga sheathed his sword.

He never intended to kill Changqing. It was already humiliating enough that his formations had been broken thirteen times in a row. If he were to kill Changqing as well, wouldn't that just give others something to criticize him for?

What we need is for Ieyasu to plead for mercy; only allies can say such things.

He suddenly pointed at Shibata Katsuie: "Katsuie, what do you think should be done?"

"Report back to Lord Nobunaga, that he may be punished leniently."

Although Katsuie was simple-minded, he had long been tamed by Nobunaga.

"Hideyoshi, speak."

Hideyoshi scratched his head: "Let Lord Mori redeem himself by taking Sawayama Castle next time?"

"Merits and demerits cancel each other out? You've got a good point! What about Mitsuhide?"

Nobunaga's order of questioning clearly indicated that he was looking for a way to save face.

"Lord Nobunaga, you are wise. Lord Mori received orders to support Tokugawa, not to obstruct Isono. I believe that merits and demerits should be considered equal!"

Nobunaga nodded thoughtfully, then turned his gaze to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

"Lord Ieyasu, should I do this?"

"This is an Oda family matter, how could I possibly interfere?"

"I miss Matsunaga Hisahide especially at times like this, don't I?"

"Matsunaga is a fickle and despicable man, yet Lord Nobunaga still remembered his good qualities. He was indeed a benevolent lord."

Nobunaga couldn't help but smile.

"Alright! Then our merits and demerits cancel each other out! From this day forward, your grudges with Asai are settled!"

"I understand. I will give it my all when we meet on the battlefield next time."

At the same time, inside the Sawayama Castle Castle Tower.

Before Isono Kazumasa was an envoy of Asai Nagamasa.

"My lord said that Lord Isono's breakthrough in the frontal battle was a great achievement. Sawayama Castle is the pillar of northern Omi. Please defend it well. If we defeat Oda one day, he can give you 100,000 koku of southern Omi."

Yuan Chang nodded without saying anything.

"Lord Nagamasa also said that the Mori clan has already repaid the Asai clan's kindness, and asked that you need not show any mercy in the future."

"Understood! Please trust me, Lord Nagamasa!"

After the envoy left, Yuan Chang began to worry.

Gratitude is something that can't be repaid so easily.

Lord Changzheng is worried that I won't do my best in the future, so he specially sent an envoy to inquire about me!