The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 98 With Mori here, I cannot advance westward.

More flags appeared. Ikeda Tsuneoki, Sakuma Morimasa—armies poured in from the west and north.

For a time, the Takeda army had no idea how many Oda troops had arrived.

Supported by others, Shingen stood in the main camp, watching the Oda army surging in from both sides. He knew that the outcome of the battle was uncertain.

His left hand hung down, and the Suwahoshi no robe on his head was missing its front, making him look bald and somewhat ridiculous.

"Withdraw. Retreat back to Sanhe first."

Yamagata Masakage wanted to say something, but when he met Shingen's gaze, he shut his mouth.

The last time Shingen showed this look was during the most brutal Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima.

A figure darted back to Takeda Shingen's main camp.

"Mori Nagayoshi!" Yamagata Masakage commanded the arquebusiers to fire one last volley at Mori Nagayoshi, but it still couldn't mask his mocking laughter.

"Forty thousand brave men, yet they act like women in the face of battle! Taking Shinano, conquering Kozuke, and invading Mikawa—all were acts of taking advantage of others' misfortunes. Now that my main army has arrived, are we to retreat?"

Takeda Shingen, supporting his arm, forced himself onto his warhorse. He glanced back at Nagayoshi, who was surrounded by red banners.

"With the Mori clan around, it's difficult for me to advance westward."

The Takeda army retreated in an orderly fashion towards Mikawa. The Oda army did not pursue them.

Lin Xiuzhen's army stopped a hundred feet away.

Oda Nobunaga, who had always been at odds with Nagayoshi, watched from afar as the Mori samurai, covered in blood yet still standing tall, stood firm.

When Changqing returned to the main camp, Lin Xiuzhen stepped forward and stopped him.

"Lord Mori, do you know your crime?"

Is this old man here to cause trouble again?

Changqing looked up at him, the murderous intent in his eyes not yet completely dissipated, which made Lin Xiuzhen's hand tremble.

"What crime?"

Lin Xiuzhen forced herself to continue questioning, "You underestimated the enemy and acted rashly! If I hadn't arrived in time, your two thousand men would have been wiped out today!"

To be fair, Lin Xiuzhen's decisive move did indeed surprise Changqing.

Maeda Keiji couldn't hold back any longer; he had never looked down on Hayashi Hsiu-chen.

He even suspected that his father's loss of the family headship was related to this old man.

"Lord Lin, we defeated Oyamada Nobushige, broke into Takeda's main camp, and wounded Takeda Shingen! We had two thousand men against twelve thousand, and we killed at least eight hundred of them! Is this what you call heavy casualties?"

Lin Xiuzhen glanced at him, her gaze as if she were looking at an ignorant junior.

"How many did you kill? A thousand? Two thousand? Takeda still has over ten thousand! So what if you stormed into their main camp? So what if you wounded Shingen? When you're exhausted and Takeda counterattacks, none of you will escape! When Lord Nobunaga asks, what am I supposed to say? That Mori Nagayoshi died a heroic death, killing a thousand Takeda men before he died?"

Lin Xiuzhen talked a lot today, and Changqing was probably in a good mood because he actually laughed while listening.

"Thank you so much, Lord Lin, for saving me. I will remember this kindness and gratitude."

Lin Xiuzhen was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Maoli to be so respectful to her.

As the saying goes, you can't hit a smiling face.

Lin Xiuzhen snorted, "Withdraw the troops and return to the city. Takeda has retreated, and I will report the truth of this battle to the lord."

He didn't finish speaking, but everyone could tell that he didn't mean to complain.

As Sakuma Morimasa watched Hayashi Hideaki leave, he fluttered over like a goose.

He was short and squatting, with wide, staring eyes, like a boy seeing his idol.

As Changqing walked past him, the fifteen-year-old boy suddenly knelt down on one knee and lowered his head.

"Lord Mori!"

Changqing stopped and looked down at him.

"My name is Sakuma Morimasa. Thank you for helping me out of that predicament!"

Changqing paused for a moment, then smiled. He reached out and patted the boy's shoulder, his hand still stained with blood, leaving a bloody handprint on Shengzheng's shoulder armor.

"Ghost Xuanfan," Changqing said, "You're still young. Come find me when you're older."

-

What is Gui Xuanfan? It sounds like a very powerful title.

Morimasa was terrified of Shingen, but now there was someone who gave him confidence.

"Your courage today is something I will never forget! If one day I can fight as bravely as you on the battlefield, I will die without regret!"

Changqing had the ability to take risks, but he really couldn't understand these people's conviction to die.

"Stop with the nonsense, Shengzheng! I want my soldiers to have a hot meal. Do you have any in the city?"

"Of course, I'll go back into the city first to cook. Please come in and enjoy your meal!"

After retreating to Mikawa, Takeda Shingen made no plans to attack for three whole days.

Another day passed, and he agreed to Nobunaga's terms, and the two sides ceased hostilities. Subsequently, the Takeda army left Mikawa and retreated in two routes into Suruga and Shinano.

When Nagayoshi returned to Mino, he happened to meet Akechi Mitsuhide returning from Kiso Valley.

The two met at the Daikoku Shrine outside the city.

"I heard you broke into the main camp."

Changqing sat down next to him, took the bowl of water that Guangxiu handed him, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Hmm, what about you? Judging by all the blood on you, you must have had a tough battle too?"

"I fought in Kiso Valley for three days. Sanada Masateru was very tough. I finally managed to ambush him once, but he was rescued by Baba Nobuharu."

"Well done, Lord Akechi."

"I am truly unworthy of your praise!"

"Would you like to come with me to worship Ōkuninushi?"

Akechi Mitsuhide was familiar with ancient texts and naturally knew the origin of Ōkuninushi-no-Kami, so he readily agreed.

As Changqing led the way, he said devoutly, "Before going into battle, I prayed to the god Ōkuninushi, which is why I was able to defeat Shingen. Hayashi Sado has always been at odds with me, yet he also sent troops to help me; it's all thanks to the gods!"

"Really? Then we should definitely pay our respects!"

"Oh, and please pass on a message to Lord Nobunaga for me!"

"You said?"

"When I prayed, I promised to give the shrine a token of gratitude, but I don't have enough money right now—"

"You tell me yourself, I'm not going to do something that invites criticism."

The two walked with smiles all the way to the shrine. As soon as they passed the torii gate, Nagayoshi became very respectful, and Mitsuhide couldn't help but marvel at Nagayoshi's two faces.

This person sometimes acts like a calculating merchant, but when it comes to war, he becomes like a god of war.

Back in Yancun Town, Changqing looked at his right hand.

There seemed to be a strange tactile sensation remaining on it —

Changqing pushed open the dungeon door of Erdao City, but inexplicably went to see Qiushan Juji first.

"Mori Nagayoshi!" Kikuhime was like a powder keg ready to explode. "When are you going to let us go?"

"Here it comes!" Changqing opened the cell door.

-

"Oda surrendered?"

"Peace talks have been held!"

Kikuhime snorted coldly, "Fine, at least you didn't cause any trouble for nothing!"

"We will send someone to escort you, your father, and Lord Sanada back to Shinano later."

Changqing turned and left.

"etc!"

The lamplight reflected in Kikuhime's eyes like shining stars.

"Thank you for not killing my father."

Her fingers tightened slightly as she gripped her sleeve, barely managing to utter a word of thanks.

"May I ask you a question?"

"explain!"

"If the Oda and Takeda dynasties reconcile, will you return to Shinano, sir?"

Changqing gave a wry smile.

Princess Kiku probably has no idea what she's done. If he really goes to serve as an envoy, he'll probably be shot in the back by the powerful clans of Shinano.

Watching Kikuhime's departing figure, Nagayoshi instructed Maeda Keiji to escort them back to their country.

He would certainly go if given the opportunity. However, it would be during the occupation of Shinano.