Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

From then on, all those around Gifu Castle were his foster brothers; from the very first day of his life, his path was already wide open. Look at Ikeda Tsuneoki; because Nobunaga shared the same mother with him, even without much ability, he was still a wealthy lord of a castle. Although he usually did the duties of guarding the main camp and castle, it didn't hinder his ambition.

As for us small business owners, we believe in harmony for making money. We're all like brothers, how could we not be harmonious? Taking the child from his mother, he was indeed well-fed and chubby, showing no signs of wanting to be hungry.

"This child's achievements will surely be no less than mine in the future." Shichibei firmly believed this in his heart, and there was a good reason for it.

"What did you say?" the junior general asked, noticing Shichibei muttering something.

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Shichibei smiled and casually touched the child's back; there was no sweat.

That means the child wasn't dressed in too many layers, and the room had a brazier and ventilation, so it was quite warm.

“He probably ate it.” The young general touched the child’s palm and felt its temperature.

"I can eat well..."

Of course, let's return the child to the young admiral. Now that Shichibei's family is quite wealthy, they have many maids. The young admiral even brought a few with him when he got married. While the child is still, the couple can talk to each other.

When we don't have kids, we chat about everyday things; when we have kids, we talk about kids. What else is there to talk about?

There hasn't been much gossip around the castle lately. Ever since Nobunaga's summer harvest in June and his campaign north of the river, defeating Asakura Yoshikage, the Oda clan has been engaged in a constant series of battles. These include the burning of Mount Hiei, Iwanari Tomomichi's rebellion, the Battle of Tatsuichi Castle, Mori Yoshinari's entry into the country, and Miyoshi Yoshitsugu's defection.

Although it seems like a long time, it's actually been a little over two months. Everything is in chaos, and Nobunaga will probably find it difficult to spare the energy and time to return to Gifu Castle for the rest of the year.

Perhaps around this time, Nobunaga began to consider moving his main castle to the south of the Yangtze River to better respond to affairs in Kyoto and the entire Kinai region. After all, it takes a day and a half by fast horse and three days by normal journey from Gifu to Kyoto, making it difficult to react immediately.

Take, for example, the Battle of Shirai-gawara, fought by Wada Koremasa. It actually lasted most of the day. Araki Murashige first lured out Wada Koremasa's 500 cavalry before launching the siege. Two thousand five hundred men besieging five hundred took two hours. If a mobile force had responded when Wada Koremasa left the castle, he wouldn't have been killed in battle.

Hey, speaking of the Mobile Corps, where's Kazumasu Takigawa?

He is currently in a state of having his territory destroyed and fleeing back to Owari. Logically, he should automatically become a Ōkami-shu under Nobunaga, fighting everywhere as a guerrilla force.

Previously, Nobunaga had asked Shichibei to hire a few people from him to go to Kai to inquire about Shingen's condition. At that time, Takigawa Kazumasu himself was not seen; it was one of his retainers who came to make contact.

With this thought in mind, Shichibei summoned Inase Yoshinari and asked if there were any rumors about Takigawa Kazumasu at Gifu Castle.

Yes, Takigawa Kazumasu was in charge of winning over the people of northern Ise Province who had sided with the Nagashima Ganshoji Temple. Nobunaga was currently unable to attack the Nagashima Ikko-ikki, so he adopted a strategy of winning hearts and minds, sending Takigawa Kazumasu to northern Ise to develop his network.

Based on this, Takikawa Kazumasu even sent people posing as employees of the Kawamura-ya Yasunozu branch to roam around. It's just unknown how far they've gotten, or if they've achieved anything yet.

Well, Shichibei is destined to be a busybody. Let's send someone to Kanie Castle to inquire. After all, Shichibei still holds a valuable card in Kita-Ise; perhaps it will come in handy later.

Seeing that Shichibei was preoccupied, the junior officer withdrew, not wanting to disturb Shichibei and Inase Yoshinari's conversation. After all, she was a samurai woman; when her husband discussed military matters, she very tactfully left.

Only after inviting Takigawa Kazumasu's family members who were staying at Gifu Castle to inquire further did they learn that Takigawa Kazumasu himself was in Kyoto. Nobunaga had begun to stay in Kyoto for extended periods, residing at Honno-ji or Myokaku-ji temples, which he found inconvenient.

Through the joint efforts of the shogunate and the court nobles, the residence of court noble Tokudaiji Kinori in Mushakoji, Kamikyo, was ceded to Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga then ordered Takigawa Kazumasu to take the lead, with Shimada Hidemitsu assisting and Murai Sadakatsu responding, to construct a residence that could serve as a defensive structure if necessary.

tsk...

What's going on? Takigawa Kazumasu has even joined the magistrate's faction, building villas for Nobunaga. Without territory, he's lost the support of many powerful figures, and he can't even maintain his own standing army. He's just doing these errands for Nobunaga now, but as long as he can stay in Nobunaga's sights, there's always a chance for him to rise again.

Okay, let's ask him when he gets back.

"Boss, boss, something big has happened!" Before the two men could even get up, the Flying Kick team outside had already run all the way to the eaves.

"Where!" Shichibei immediately stood up and took the secret letter.

"Kafi."

"Hmm?" Shichibei unfolded the document and understood.

As expected, the relationship between the ministers was now harmonious, and Takeda Shingen's many concerns on the Kanto side disappeared. There was another matter, which was of paramount importance.

Hojo Ujiyasu has passed away!

This year, Mori Motonari and Hojo Ujiyasu, two prominent figures of Japan's Sengoku period, passed away. One was the commander of the Itsukushima Raid, and the other was the commander of the Kawagoe Raid. Their deaths mark the end of an era of legends. The stage they left behind is now for the younger generation.

Even Mori Motonari and Hojo Ujiyasu have passed away. How much longer does Takeda Shingen, a hero of the previous era, have left?

The large number of defensive forces that were originally stationed in Kai County, east of Suruga River, and Minowa in Ueno were now freed up and able to shift their military focus back to Takeda Shingen's main castle, Tsutsuzaki Castle.

Leaving aside the fact that Echigo Uesugi Kenshin could never achieve harmony, Shingen was now in a state of "friends on all sides." Up to this point, his relationship with the Oda clan could be described as harmonious.

It's coming soon; I reckon Shingen will make his move soon.

What about Shingen's condition? Shingen was no longer staying at Tsutsuzaki-no-kan, perhaps because his health was starting to fluctuate or even worsen. After sending Princess Matsuhime off to her wedding, he went to Kaiyu-mura onsen to recuperate.

Although the renowned doctor Tokumoto Nagata is treating the cancer, what good treatment options are there these days?

To say something that might be controversial, doctors in general hospitals often see that a patient has little hope of a surgical cure, but telling the family to give up, just wait for them to die, and go home to prepare for their funeral would be too hurtful. Therefore, at this stage, they usually recommend seeing a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for conservative treatment.

Shingen's colon cancer had already started to develop, and if he still wanted to see Nagata Tokumoto, it wouldn't be much different from suggesting conservative treatment.

After soaking in hot springs and recuperating for a few months, my condition seems to have stabilized, most likely because the deterioration hasn't been as significant. Also, the reduced workload has helped restore some of my energy.

This is also important information. Normally, people wouldn't spend months recuperating in hot springs. The fact that Takeda Shingen is soaking in hot springs and won't leave clearly indicates that his health is failing.

Immediately, write a secret letter to Nobunaga and have the Hikatsu-shu deliver it. As for the investigation in Kai, it must continue without pause; no detail, no matter how small, of Shingen's information should be overlooked.

Perhaps the day Shingen emerges from the hot spring will be the signal that he is about to launch an attack on Oda Tokugawa.

"The governor of Takeda is seriously ill?" Even Inase Yoshinari could tell, so Nobunaga would surely understand the situation.

"Perhaps." Shichibei sat down again and began drafting a secret letter to Nobunaga.

"But I've heard that my lord's son-in-law, Suwa Shiro, is also a brave and strong general." Inase Yoshinari was, after all, a small merchant, and with merchants from the coastal region gathering in Gifu Castle Town, he must have heard some things about him.

"His bravery is no less than his father's." This is definitely true, Shichibei also admits.

Katsuyori Takeda, or rather, Yoshiyori Takeda in this world, was a strong, honest, and courageous general. However, he had never been groomed as the young lord of the Takeda clan and did not have deep connections among the veteran retainers of the Takeda clan in Kai Province.

Perhaps Takeda Shingen's early vision for Takeda Yoshiyori was to become the next Nobunaga's Aide-de-Camp Nobushige. In the chaotic Sengoku period, almost no one could be completely trusted. By comparison, blood brothers were a relatively reliable relationship.

There was a time when Takeda Shingen may have imagined a scene where Takeda Yoshinobu led the Kai forces and Suwa Katsuyori led the Shinano forces, one on the Tokaido and the other on the Nakasendo, brothers united in their march to Kyoto.

But fate played a cruel trick; in the end, Suwa Katsuyori became the head of the clan, while Nishina Morinobu became a devoted younger brother. When the Takeda clan collapsed, only Nishina Morinobu led 5,000 troops to defend Takato Castle for a single day.

“Then, when you, my lord, are to act in the eastern country…” Inase Yoshinari probably initially thought of something like the Oda and Takeda forces working together.

"Hmph." Shichibei put down his pen and gave a soft hum.

"No...no way!" Even Yoshiaki Inase had clearly thought of that.

"If the two sides are on good terms, and Echigo has been fighting for a long time without success, what would you choose?" Shichibei immediately summoned the Hikatsu-kun and sealed the bag with sealing wax.

"But, but..." Inase Yoshinari was not a samurai after all, and had never imagined such a thing. He suddenly guessed it and was unable to give an answer for a moment.

"Alright, alright, what I said goes into your ears, understand?" If you can guess, you can guess; don't reveal things that haven't happened.

Nobunaga, far away in Kyoto, received the secret letter a day and a half later. He was greatly relieved to learn that Shingen had become a critically ill patient at Yumura Onsen.

Although we still can't pinpoint Shingen's specific illness, would a normal person soak in a hot spring for months? Even the most passionate Japanese people probably wouldn't have that kind of patience.

With Shingen dead, it would take the Takeda clan at least two or three years to stabilize their homeland. Just like the Mori clan next door, with Motonari's death, they immediately withdrew their forces, which freed up Shinohara Nagafusa to go ashore and support Miyoshi Nagayoshi.

Feeling relieved, Nobunaga felt more confident even in the face of the current chaotic situation in the southern region. He could completely consider Asakura Yoshikage dead; Nagashima had always been a traitor who held the sway over the capital, and the main threats were concentrated in Kyoto and the southern region.

With only one side to deal with and a large rear area, any commander would feel relieved.

Then, just as Hideyoshi had predicted, Matsunaga Hisahide, who had been oppressed by Nobunaga, despite being severely weakened, did not hesitate to raise the banner of rebellion against Nobunaga. He was unwilling to be completely oppressed into becoming a retainer of the Oda clan, and he could not accept the bitterness of returning to square one after forty years of struggle.

Chapter 243 Dragon Rising and Shingen's Grand Collaboration

Good riddance! Rebel at this crucial moment, let Nobunaga suffer more, and Nobunaga will hate you even more. He'll surely send your whole family to the afterlife, and split all the earthworms in your house in two.

Because Oda Nobutada had returned, Oda Nobumasa, who had been serving as the commander-in-chief of the garrison, withdrew from the castle and handed over the defense of the Totani Residence below the castle to Nobutada.

The young man was quite honest. If it were Oda Nobuhiro or Oda Nobunaga, Nobuhiro would have had to stir up trouble several times before finally submitting to Nobunaga after confirming that he was indeed no match for him.

It should be noted that Oda Nobumasa's maternal uncle was Hanawa Naomasa, a proper legion commander with a force of three thousand men under his command. He had long followed Nobunaga in battles throughout the Kinai region and, along with Niwa Nagahide, was considered Nobunaga's right-hand man, often leading the vanguard for him.

In terms of resources, he is far superior to Nobuhiro, who back then had to rely on Isshiki Yoshitatsu as an outsider, resulting in poor coordination between the two sides and being discovered by Nobunaga on the spot.

All I can say is that Oda Nobumasa is an honest kid.

After we leave the castle, I'll visit Shichibei again to learn about the situation in the Kinai region and the details of the burning of Mount Hiei. Most of the news from the battlefield is vague, so it's best to ask Shichibei, who was directly involved.

The burning of Mount Hiei? Ask your Uncle Ota. Ota Gyuichi is currently writing furiously, trying to record this entire historical event. Since the Oda clan doesn't have an official historian, he, a samurai who came from Nobunaga's right pen, is now considered a historian.

Even though the Nobunaga Chronicle has many controversial parts, it does not prevent it from becoming a primary source for later generations to study the history of Japan's Sengoku period, and most of it is treated as reliable history.

Ota Gyuichi even came to check with Shichibei to see how many bodies were recovered in the end, and whether the entire temple and pagoda had been burned down. He didn't seem to care about the reputation of the revered figure; Nobunaga's actions couldn't be called burning, could they? The matter between the samurai and the temples and shrines wasn't just about burning; it was about thorough communication and interaction, but unfortunately, no consensus was reached.

Without this awareness, what Ota Gyuichi said to Oda Nobumasa would be nothing but the bloody reality.

Shichibei didn't want to listen, so he sat down on the other side and held the child. There wasn't just one child in the family; there was also Saito Tatsuoki's daughter. The girl was a little older, almost weaned, and was currently being held in the arms of a maid, watching Ota Gyuichi and Oda Nobumasa's heated argument with a scrutinizing gaze.

No one said anything about arranging a marriage. Ryūō is still alive. Who knows what the outcome will be if Nobunaga thinks of this girl one day?

Lady Nohime had previously suggested simply renaming the child and sending her to some lower-ranking samurai families to be raised like a cat or dog. Shichibei did show a sliver of compassion; if it were a boy, there would be nothing he could do, but it was just a girl, and Nobunaga probably wouldn't investigate too severely.

However, her name has indeed been changed; she's now called Mitsuru, a name given to her by Lady Nohime. Shichibei never asked what it meant. The once-proud princess of Mino, who served as a protector of the Saito family, is now only known as Kawamura Mitsuru, raised like a merchant's child.

Two people on one side were chatting enthusiastically, while two children on the other side were having a peaceful and harmonious time.

Just as they were talking about cuddling the baby, a servant led a member of the Flying Kick faction into the corridor. It was clear that there was news to report, but Shichibei didn't make a sound. He simply took the report and told the Flying Kick to go and rest.

Those who deserve a reward should receive a reward of money, and those who deserve a gift of wine should receive a gift of wine.

Upon unfolding the secret report, the news turned out to be related to those present: Saito Tatsuoki, who had previously fled to Nagashima to become a Kōikō-kō, had appeared at the gates of Kai Tsutsuzaki Castle.

When Inase Yoshinari last went to Kai, he said he vaguely saw a retainer of the Saito family. Now, he has not only seen a retainer, but he has actually seen Ryuko himself.

It's just unclear whether Ryuko has completely sided with Takeda, or what.

Of course, he didn't completely surrender to Takeda; to put it bluntly, Tatsuoki joined Takeda. We've always called Tatsuoki Saito, but in the current legal and formal system of the Muromachi Shogunate, Tatsuoki's daimyo should be Minamoto no Asomi, a member of the Shogunate's Imperial Household Department, Mino Province, and Yoshisuke Isshiki, the Governor-General of the Isshiki Shogunate.

Simply put, it's all about the same character, Gisuke.

His rank was above that of the various daimyo and on par with the four major families. He was personally acknowledged by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru and also received imperial edicts from the Imperial Court.

Ryūō, now fleeing to the Takeda clan, wasn't alone; he brought with him several hundred retainers who had followed him from Kiyosu Castle. Nagashima Ganshōji provided him with funds and provisions to support these men.

However, Ryūshō astutely observed that Nagashima Ganshōji Temple lacked ambition and showed no signs of achieving anything significant. After seizing northern Ise, it was single-mindedly focused on building its so-called Buddhist kingdom on earth. Meanwhile, Ganshōji Temple had already begun a covert struggle with the returning powerful local clans of northern Ise.

Before the great cause is even accomplished, internal discord has already occurred. Such a force is doomed to failure and will never have the last laugh.

Ryūjō, whose sole focus was on reviving his family's fortunes, initially sought refuge with the Miyoshi Triumvirate. However, the leader of the Miyoshi Triumvirate at the time, the so-called Kanrei (regent) Hosokawa clan head Hosokawa Akimoto, fled to Ashikaga Yoshiaki. The Miyoshi Triumvirate immediately lost their legitimacy and authority, and many scattered like birds and beasts, with even some from Shikoku joining Yoshiaki's side.

Seeing this, Longxing turned and left. He probably sensed that the Sanhao Trio was gradually declining and had lost the imposing momentum they once had in the capital region.

Who he ultimately sided with is common knowledge. He fought alongside Asakura Yoshikage until his death.

Now, the historical event of Hosokawa Akimoto's escape has occurred, and even more shockingly, Miyoshi Yasunaga, who served as an intermediary between Miyoshi Yoshitsugu and the regent, has also absconded. Even more outrageous, Iwanari Tomomichi has directly defected. The Miyoshi Triumvirate can now only be referred to as the Miyoshi Two-Man Army.

Having lost their leader, Hosokawa Akimoto, the people gathered in this area were somewhat lost and disoriented.

Perhaps Ryūō was already preparing to surrender to Asakura Yoshikage, but then news of the Second Battle of Anegawa arrived. The news of the Asakura clan's devastating defeat and their near-death experience spread far and wide.