Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Just then, Ningning came in, adding charcoal to the brazier and carrying several bottles of wine. With his sister-in-law here, he couldn't smile anymore. Even Xiuji, in front of Ningning, behaved himself properly, immediately withdrawing his hands and putting on a composed and dignified demeanor.

"Drinking is fine, but fighting is not." Ningning was holding her daughter's hand.

Hideyoshi saw his daughter and immediately picked her up. This daughter only saw Hideyoshi for two months a year at most, and was terrified by her own father, bursting into tears. Nene, seeing this, slapped Hideyoshi's arm, saying he'd scared the child. Shichibei and the others, watching the young couple's display of affection, were practically frozen in embarrassment.

"..." Hideyoshi refused, babbling incoherently and making faces to amuse the child.

After all, he was his own father, and perhaps he was also amused by Hideyoshi's "bald rat" appearance, so the child finally stopped crying and even held his finger in his mouth, watching Hideyoshi amuse himself.

"It all smells of alcohol." Ningning muttered a complaint to Xiuji, then gently took the child from him.

He was also asking Hidenaga about Aji's pregnancy. Aji was also a child of the Kinoshita family, so it was natural to ask. Hideyoshi was getting old and still didn't have a child. If he didn't have one in two years, Nobunaga would think it was bad enough, so he even gave his own illegitimate son to Hideyoshi and made him raise him as his legitimate son.

Nene has quite the air of the matriarch of the Kinoshita family, and she's also concerned about the inheritance of the Kinoshita family. Hideyoshi's 6,000 kan estate can't function without male heirs.

How could Xiuchang be sure about this? Let's just leave it to fate.

The group chatted idly, enjoying a rare moment of leisure. Even Shichibei was practically always busy, year-round. He had to be there when there was fighting, and even when there wasn't, he had various errands to run. Earlier, Ashikaga Yoshihide had sent someone to tell Shichibei what Kyoto and Tang Dynasty goods he needed, asking Shichibei to procure them for him.

Since His Highness the Great had given the order, Shichibei had no choice but to run errands for him. Sakuma Nobumori then came and asked for another 5,000 kan, saying that he would first buy timber and copper materials to prepare for the construction of the Great Buddha Hall.

It was all a matter of fact. Although Nobunaga's gold store was not managed by Shichibei, the account for Nobunaga's annual tribute rice was with Shichibei. Whenever there was any extra expenditure, someone would come to Shichibei to settle the bill.

Hideyoshi smacked his lips and asked Shichibei if he wanted to exchange some silver for copper coins. He had some silver and wanted to exchange it for cash. Although silver was good, it wasn't something you'd need in everyday life. If you went out to buy a fish, it cost four coins, and you pulled out a silver coin, the fishmonger wouldn't be able to make change.

You really struck it rich, kid...

Without batting an eye, Shichibei immediately offered to exchange it, even tens of thousands of kan (a unit of currency), explaining that he kept large sums of cash in his storehouse and money box on Tsushima. He believed that Hideyoshi's ability to convert it into silver would make it easier for Shichibei to preserve it.

He gave Hideyoshi a couple of winks, and Hideyoshi understood, indicating that he would discuss the matter in detail at the Kawamura-ya shop the next day. After all, there was a lot of silver seized, all in the shape of ingots.

The ash-blowing method involves refining silver in a crucible. The silver sinks to the bottom, forming a silver ingot. Since it's used by weight, there's no specific standard for silver content or coin value.

They kept drinking. It was freezing cold, and there wasn't much entertainment, so they just gathered together and chatted. Shichibei even had the leisure to grill rice cakes over the brazier. He put a wire mesh over the fire, grilled small pieces of rice cake until golden brown, brushed them with soy sauce, and ate them—it actually tasted quite good.

The others were staggering from their drinking, but Shichibei was a bit better. He stood up and pushed open the door. The room smelled a bit unpleasant, and as he was about to take a breath, he saw snow falling from the sky.

With the heavy snowfall, the Chinese New Year is just around the corner.

As he muttered this, a muffled sound suddenly came from the wind and snow. The wind was so strong in the valley that it was quite indistinct. Scratching his head, Shichibei thought he'd had a few too many drinks and his mind was fogging up.

It was the sound of bells summoning important officials to the city walls!

159. Rushing to Kyoto day and night.

Shichibei shuddered and immediately turned to pat Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi was a high-ranking retainer and a powerful general; Oda Nobunaga had summoned him, and he had to go to the castle to see him immediately.

But Hideyoshi was so drunk he was like a dead man, and he didn't respond even after being called several times. At this moment, Nene also rushed over, and seeing Hideyoshi's state, she showed some anxiety and pinched Hideyoshi's waist.

Hideyoshi squinted his eyes in pain and cried out, but he still didn't wake up. Now Shichibei was not polite. Just a moment ago, the cold wind blew, the bells rang urgently, and seven out of ten drunkenness disappeared, and the remaining three out of ten was gone.

After saying "Excuse me" to Ningning, Shichibei swung his sword and slapped Hideyoshi twice across the face. Hideyoshi's face immediately swelled up, and he finally got up, groaning in pain.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? What's wrong?"

Startled awake, Hideyoshi flailed his arms wildly, completely unaware of what had happened. Shichibei pretended to slap him again. This time, Hideyoshi's eyes snapped open. Hearing the bells outside, he jumped up, asking himself, "Where's my armor? My sword? My helmet?"

War is coming! War is coming! He has to lead his beloved Lord Nobunaga to the battlefield.

Good grief, you're dreaming about reliving the Battle of Okehazama, aren't you?

"Sister-in-law." Shichibei pointed to Hidenaga and Koroku, who were Hideyoshi's main retainers. If a war broke out in the castle, these people would also have to go out and fight.

So Shichibei asked Nene to wake up all the others as well, so as not to delay Nobunaga's important business. Nene, being a very dignified samurai woman, immediately nodded in agreement.

At this moment, two of Hideyoshi's followers who were putting on their clothes came running in from outside. Shichibei asked them to immediately hold Hideyoshi on both sides and run to the Lindenya Residence. They must reach the Lindenya Residence before the bell stopped.

As for Shichibei himself, he didn't hesitate at all. He took the reins from the servant, mounted his horse, and charged forward. There was no need for the servant to hold a lantern to light the way. Shichibei had traveled this road to Titonoya countless times. He could walk it blindfolded and wouldn't get lost.

When they arrived at the entrance of the residence, bonfires had already been lit on both sides of the gate. Whether from their beds or from the dinner table, Oda clan retainers came to the gate in an endless stream. They handed their horses to their servants or the Oda foot soldiers guarding the gate and hurried inside.

Nobunaga was only wearing his pajamas at the time, and he didn't feel cold even in the dead of winter. He just stood in the corridor listening to the reports from several envoys.

The envoys did not come from the same place; some were sent by Ikeda Katsumasa, some by Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, and some by Kyoto. All the reports pointed to the Miyoshi Triumvirate landing at Settsu and Izumi, and they were advancing rapidly with light troops towards Kyoto. If nothing unexpected happened, something unexpected was about to occur.

Its target is very clear: Ashikaga Yoshiaki!

If not for assassinating the current shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, why would the Miyoshi Triumvirate suddenly launch an attack on the capital during the New Year holiday when everyone is relaxed and at ease?

The envoy who was reporting at this time was sent by Miyoshi Yoshitsugu. Yoshitsugu said that he had already led 300 soldiers to Kyoto to protect Ashikaga Yoshiaki. He asked Oda Nobunaga to send a large army to Kyoto as soon as possible, saying that the Shogun and Kyoto were in danger.

In the wind and snow, Nobunaga did not look overly anxious, but his clenched fists still showed his anger at the news.

I haven't even come looking for you yet, and you've already come to my doom.

One after another, Oda clan retainers arrived at the corridor, and most of them had heard the messenger's report. Sakuma Nobumori immediately demanded that troops be dispatched to Kyoto. Ashikaga Yoshiaki was the current shogun, and Nobunaga had not yet fully integrated and reformed the old order; this reputation could not be lost.

Oda Nobuhiro, who took off his own cloak and draped it over Nobunaga, immediately expressed a different opinion. A large army of several thousand to tens of thousands would normally need three days to march to Kyoto. Now, with the heavy snow in Gifu and the streets covered in snow, it would take at least five days to reach Kyoto.

Five days? The daylilies will be too cold by then.

Even if Ashikaga Yoshiaki led the public servants and foot soldiers to retreat to the Shogun Mountain Castle and called on the nearby mountain gate officials to defend the city, there would be at most a thousand people. The number of the three Miyoshi people is unknown, but according to the reports of these envoys, there must be at least 8,000 people.

If we attack a city with ten times the troops, it might take two or three days, but five days?

The point is, it would take almost two days for the envoys to arrive, and by then Ashikaga Yoshiaki might have been surrounded in Shogunyama Castle. He might even have been killed in battle, and the Miyoshi Three would have regained control of Kyoto.

If this bad outcome happened, the remaining Rokkaku clan in southern Omi would surely rise up in force. They would then attack the Oda army rushing to Kyoto for support, and the Miyoshi trio would then deploy near the Seta River, waiting for the Oda army to tire out.

If the Oda army was defeated, the world would immediately be in chaos. Even though the guardians of Kinai were appointed by Nobunaga, if they did not take advantage of the situation, it would be a gesture of respect for Nobunaga.

It’s the truth, absolutely correct.

Nobunaga glanced at his brother. His brother wasn't actually stupid; frankly, Nobunaga's brilliance was simply too overwhelming. Anyone standing next to Nobunaga, considering his achievements, would appear insignificant.

"That's true, but the government must be saved!" Nobunaga himself was still inclined to save them, and of course, Nobuhiro didn't say no.

"How should we arrange our troops!" Since Nobunaga wanted to rescue him, Nobuhiro didn't mince words and immediately prepared to raise an army.

"I will lead the Makai and the Xiaoxing people to march out first, and my brother and Gorozu, Sanzu, Gonroku, and Katsuzaburo will organize the troops at the back." Nobunaga flicked his cloak, looking very imposing and his voice was loud.

"Heh heh." The senior retainers of Oda in the courtyard responded in unison.

"Shichibei, how many horses do you have at Gifu Castle?" The servants on either side rose to help Nobunaga change his armor, and Nobunaga noticed Shichibei standing behind the elders.

"Seven hundred." Shichibei was actually prepared and responded very loudly.

"I'll borrow it for a bit." Nobunaga didn't stand on ceremony and offered to take it all, as much as he could get.

Inside the city, whistles and drums blared loudly. When the drums had just been beaten to gather the troops, everyone below had already stood up to watch. Now, with the military order, they moved as swiftly as ants.

According to Nobunaga's order, all the horsemen, the lesser-known ones, and the samurai directly under Nobunaga, who could ride horses, were to immediately don armor and go into battle. Counting them, there were probably several hundred of them.

The remaining infantry, organized under the leadership of Oda Nobuhiro and Sakuma Nobumori, followed behind the cavalry and were also ready to depart. The peasant soldiers mobilized by the senior retainers were not needed; they only needed to bring the standing troops from Gifu Castle and their personal retainers who could be deployed immediately.

Hayashi Hideaki assisted Oda Kyokumaru in remaining at the main town of Gifu Castle, while the reinforcements of local strongmen were mobilized to assist in the defense of the castle. The Mino Triumvirate and Kiyosu Saito Tatsuoki, among others, were not mobilized.

At the moment of mobilization, all the women of the military families below the city rose to wash rice and steam it. By the time more than a thousand cavalrymen had lined up below the city, enough rice balls for two days' worth of food were wrapped in reed leaves and distributed.

It was around four in the morning. Although the sky was still dark, visibility was no longer so poor. The snow had even lessened, and it wasn't all ice particles anymore.

They were all seasoned veterans, so there was no need for much explanation. Nobunaga waved to Oda Nobuhiro, Sakuma Nobumori, and the others, then spurred his horse and set off. Oda Kyokumaru was also surrounded by people seeing Nobunaga off at the castle. How come Nobunaga knew to make arrangements for his eldest son before going to war?

Forget it, there was no time to dwell on this. Shichibei also grabbed his horse and followed Nobunaga's group. Nobunaga and the other samurai had horses, no doubt about that; many even had two. With the seven hundred pack horses Nobunaga had borrowed from Shichibei, they could easily have ridden two horses and galloped into the capital.

But now the roads are covered in snow and difficult to travel, so the horsepower will definitely be consumed more, and Shichibei was prepared and naturally had to keep up.

Another reason was that all the staff had gone home for the New Year holidays, and the head steward and others were also absent. To use the horses from the various stations in southern Omi, Shichibei had to personally intervene and show his influence. Otherwise, the branch office staff might not dare to lend all of the thousands of horses to Nobunaga.

Seeing Shichibei and several other servants following behind on horseback, Nobunaga didn't think much of it. He simply waved his horse's reins and galloped towards Kyoto through the snow.

By the time they reached Ōgaki, it was already broad daylight. Kawamura's stables at the foot of the castle immediately brought out two hundred horses to join the cavalry. They rode from station to station, and by the time they reached Sawayama Castle, they had changed to their third horse. All the horses were provided by Kawamura's stables, while the earliest horses, which had already exhausted themselves, were left at the stables and post stations behind, where Kawamura's stables would take care of them.

At this point, Nobunaga realized how wonderful it would be to have a complete post horse system.

But this is not the time to praise Shichibei. The military situation is critical, and if we are even a moment late, Ashikaga Yoshiaki could be killed by the Miyoshi Triumvirate.

By evening, several dozen men had fallen behind, mostly from horses that had stumbled and fallen. With broken hooves, the horses were essentially useless; they were dragged to the roadside ditch, where unscrupulous people would naturally come to collect them. The samurai took them to nearby stables to rest, ensuring they wouldn't be left to freeze to death in the wild.

The largest branch store, Kawamura-ya, located below Kannonji Castle, housed over a thousand horses. The main force led the way, and on the fourth change of horses, Nobunaga also dismounted to eat rice balls to replenish his strength.

After riding for ten hours starting at five in the morning, Shichibei's face was completely stiff. His legs were shaking as he dismounted, but he still had to get up immediately to boil water for Nobunaga and prepare his rice.

Sassa Narimasa, Maeda Toshiie, Kanamori Nagachika, and others fared no better, but this wasn't the first time they'd faced Nobunaga's onslaught. The last time, Nobunaga had set out from Kiyosu Castle at midnight, reached Atsuta Shrine in the early morning, and attacked Imagawa Yoshimoto in the afternoon. Many had to run dozens of kilometers, but now, at least they had horses to ride.

There was matcha powder in the branch shop. Shichibei, shivering, poured it into the iron pot, accidentally adding too much. Maeda Toshiie, who was standing nearby, saw this but didn't care at all. He then threw in a dozen or so frozen rice balls, stirred them together, and the group of people grabbed spoons and started eating around the pot.

The rice balls were smeared with salt, and the matcha soup was bitter; the taste was hardly appealing. But people were hungry. They could eat anything, and in no time, the whole pot of soup and rice was gone.

Nobunaga ate better than them; he sat on a haystack and at least had a pair of chopsticks to eat with.

"Shichibei, if this operation succeeds, you will be credited with the greatest merit!" Nobunaga said directly, holding his bowl.

"It's just my job." Shichibei certainly wouldn't say that he had started managing the horses two months ago; everything seemed very natural.

"You did a good job." After finishing the last bite, Nobunaga placed the bowl and chopsticks on the haystack beside him.

As soon as he stood up, the others, without eating or resting, also got up and changed into Kawamura-ya's horses. They galloped towards Otsu, for once they reached Otsu, they had essentially touched the edge of Kyoto.

It's getting dark. We've arrived at Otsu. What do you think?

When the Otsu garrison saw Nobunaga and Shichibei, they all sent people to offer their greetings, bringing them wine and food. This wasn't to welcome the Oda army, but rather because they feared that the Oda army, arriving overnight, would directly enter the town and plunder the area.

Stopping a man, Shichibei asked directly if the Miyoshi Triumvirate had already invaded Kyoto. The man looked familiar; he was probably a high-ranking member of the Ōtsu clan. Stopped by Shichibei, he frankly said he had heard news of the Miyoshi Triumvirate's advance yesterday, but there seemed to be no fighting in Kyoto, and no further news had come.

No news is actually good news.

If Ashikaga Yoshiaki were to escape or be killed, the Miyoshi Triumvirate would certainly publicize it extensively. Judging from the current situation, it's highly probable that Akechi Mitsuhide or Hosokawa Fujitaka advised Yoshiaki that Honkoku-ji Temple within the castle was not an armed stronghold and had no defensive capabilities. Then, the group would flee to Shogun's Castle.

In other words, the battle at General Mountain City has only just begun and the outcome is still undecided.

Shichibei turned and glanced at Nobunaga. Their eyes met, and they seemed to be thinking the same thing. Nobunaga then asked the man if he had any information about the size of the Miyoshi Triumvirate's forces.

Some say, according to rumors, that there were over ten thousand people. But this isn't very accurate; it's what townspeople who fled Kyoto to Ōtsu said. This number isn't far off from the numbers reported by Katsumasa Ikeda and Yoshitsugu Miyoshi, so it might be correct.

What should we do now?

It was already dark. Ōtsu certainly had horses, but riding in the dark could easily result in a fatal fall. "It would be better to wait the night and strike directly at Shogun's Mountain tomorrow morning," Maeda Toshiie suggested. However, Sasa Narimasa argued that Shogun's Mountain Castle was surrounded by ten times the enemy's strength and could fall at any moment; they couldn't wait even a second longer.

Even if it meant running at night with a torch, exhausting all the horses, they had to reach General Mountain to provide aid.

"Shichibei, what do you think?" Nobunaga subconsciously looked at Shichibei.

"Once the lord's banner arrives, the Miyoshi gang will surely collapse!" Shichibei answered immediately without the slightest hesitation.

If Nobunaga's large horse emblem appears behind the Miyoshi Triumvirate besieging the castle, their morale will surely collapse, given their fear of Nobunaga's forces. A fierce attack would then be launched, and they would likely win seven or eight out of ten times.