Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

However, this generous spirit remained consistent throughout. Moreover, Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi were exactly the same at the banquet, both being lavish and unrestrained, as if afraid of not being able to entertain them well.

People are governed by kindness and righteousness, and countless people have died for them.

Looking back at Hideyoshi's house, since Hideyoshi is about to follow Nobunaga to Echizen, he may launch a fierce attack or long siege on Ichijōdani Castle, so he probably won't be able to give birth in time for Nene.

He then invited his mother and sisters' families to his home, instructing them to take good care of Ningning and to ensure that she gave birth to a legitimate son, as the Jiangbei family's 80,000 shi (a unit of grain) estate needed a legitimate son to inherit.

That's right, this is Hideyoshi, addicted to having sons.

The army then set out in stages, with Shichibei also bringing along a small pack animal unit of over two thousand men, as well as Oda Nobuhiro's more than four thousand men, who followed Nobunaga's main force as the rear guard.

Because all the generals in the Kinai region had sent troops to participate in the battle, Shichibei and Nobuhiro did not need to mobilize their full forces and almost escaped with their lives. In short, the 50,000-strong army encountered almost no decent resistance after crossing Shizugatake and entering Tsuruga District in Echizen Province.

Thanks to Mitsuhide's tactics, many local lords and vassals along the way offered no resistance and welcomed Oda's army into their territories. Tomita Nagashige, the general in southern Echizen, was the first to surrender to Nobunaga and even led a thousand men to clear the way for Nobunaga.

The twenty-something Tomita Nagashige was extremely brave. When Asakura Kagetake and Asakura Kagekage led their troops to resist the Oda army's attack, they were directly overwhelmed by Tomita Nagashige's mere seven hundred men charging forward.

Even Nobunaga exclaimed from the battlefield that such a fierce general was comparable to Fan Kuai of the Han Dynasty.

It was precisely because of Tomita Nagashige's fierce attack that the Asakura army was unable to even gather its retainers and allies at Ichijodani Castle for a general siege. Asakura clan retainers such as Uozumi Kageko and Maebami Yoshitsugu sided with the Oda clan, offered hostages, and led their troops to attack the Asakura forces.

With no other option and knowing he was doomed, Asakura Yoshikage fled to Heisenji Temple. There, he handed over his wives, concubines, and his eldest son, Aio-maru, to Asakura Kagekage, and then, with the help of his attendant Torii Kagechika as his second, chose to commit seppuku.

"Present Asakura Kingo's head, what reward do you want?" Nobunaga looked at Asakura Yoshikage's head with amusement.

"I only wish that the Regent will not indiscriminately kill the people of Echizen." Torii Kagechika conveyed Asakura Yoshikage's last wish very directly.

"Oh?"

For example, if Torii Kagechika, a native of Owari, had asked for 5,000 kan of credit, Nobunaga would have immediately agreed. If he were from Mino, he could have received 3,000 kan. Even if he were a native of Echizen, he would have received at least 1,000 kan as a reward.

On the other side of the continent, don't commanders sometimes commit suicide and then have their generals and servants carry their heads to collect a reward? A founding duke is hard to come by, but a thousand pieces of gold are always easy to obtain.

"That's all I wish for." With that, Torii Kagechika left the tent, sat on the ground, and committed seppuku, dying in loyalty to his lord.

Upon hearing of Torii Kagechika's unwavering loyalty, Nobunaga, who might have initially harbored some reservations, immediately composed himself and uttered a few Buddhist chants. He then instructed Shichibei to collect Torii Kagechika's body. He didn't intend for a grand funeral, but at least he wanted to have several dozen monks chant sutras to properly send him off.

It's clear that, whether it's genuine or feigned affection, most feudal lords would show respect and praise when faced with such a loyal and righteous person.

Having just taken a step out, Nobunaga asked Tomita Nagashige and Maebami Yoshitsugu, who were already seated in the main tent, whether Torii Kagechika had any descendants. If so, he instructed them to find them immediately, as Nobunaga intended to employ members of his family.

Maeba Yoshitsugu, being a former subordinate of Asakura Yoshikage and well-versed in the history of Echizen, immediately said that he had it. Nobunaga nodded slightly and ordered Maeba Yoshitsugu to go and find it.

Perfect timing, let's go outside together. Shichibei also glanced at Maeba Yoshitsugu several times; this man, who in history would develop severe cataracts by the end of this year and become blind.

Judging from his age, he probably has age-related cataracts. Forty or fifty years old these days, is that considered old? Maybe not. Oh well, he's going to go blind anyway.

Maebami Yoshitsugu adopted a very humble posture, deliberately giving Shichibei a slight distance between them. Shichibei repeatedly said that it was unnecessary, since they were already serving as fellow courtiers, there was no need for such formalities.

This made Maebami Yoshitsugu feel that Shichibei was quite tolerant, and he secretly began to evaluate the merits and demerits of the Oda clan's senior retainers.

Meanwhile, the war against the Asakura clan continued. It did not end with the death of Asakura Yoshikage himself; Nobunaga ordered a widespread search for Asakura Aiomaru.

The Japanese are quite particular about social etiquette; if you've offended someone, you have to kill their entire family, or at least all the male members. How can they feel at ease unless they wipe out all the male members?

Perhaps seeing no possibility of revival, or perhaps wanting to preserve the flame for future battles, Asakura Kagetake, a key figure in the Asakura clan, led his troops to surrender at Nobunaga's main camp, deciding to change his surname to Asakura and never live under the name of Asakura again.

His attitude was quite respectable, but it was hard to tell if it was genuine. But since he had surrendered, Nobunaga didn't pretend anymore and ordered him to attack Ichijodani by fire, in order to erase all traces of the Asakura clan from Echizen.

Asakura Kagetake was also ruthless, burning the castle without hesitation and killing some of the Asakura clan's remaining forces and the elderly and weak who were ordered to stay behind.

Yoshikage's Makai followers, including Takahashi Kageyoshi, gathered five hundred men at Suwa-kan, a branch castle and annex southwest of Ichijodani Castle, vowing to resist Oda's army's attack to the death.

Perhaps they were unaware of Yoshikage's death, or perhaps they were aware and prepared to die in battle to honor their lord.

The generals of Oda's army had been waiting for this opportunity, and they all volunteered to fight. In addition to ordering Hideyoshi's Koshu troops to fight, Nobunaga also ordered the Koshimi troops of the Mino army to fight together and attack Suwa.

Upon hearing the news, Harahikojiro, a member of the Mino sect, took the lead and charged into battle. Unlike Koyo-ji, a branch castle east of Ichijo-dani, Suwa-kan was a fortification built on a gentle slope on a mountainside. The reason why Takahashi Kageyo chose Suwa-kan instead of the more strategically located Koyo-ji was quite simple: Suwa-kan had the sturdy "Karamon Gate" built by Yoshikage, as well as a tall tower that was meant for sightseeing but now provided a commanding view for shooting arrows.

Hara Hikojiro was only sixteen years old this year, and this was his first battle. His father, Hara Yorifusa, was worried that he was being too reckless, so he was chasing after him.

Unexpectedly, Harahiko Jiro climbed the city wall himself. What does that mean? It means that his two families gave him a push, and he scaled the wall, becoming the first to enter the city defended by hundreds of men.

That's practically suicide!

The Jiangzhou and Nongzhou troops attacking the city from both sides were stunned. They were surprised to find such fierce and reckless men. Was it really necessary to fight so hard to be the first to scale the walls?

There's a specific rule for being the first to scale the walls: you not only have to be the first to scale the walls, but you also have to survive the victory to be recorded as having made a meritorious contribution. If you die in battle, it's just considered a reckless death.

But it must be said that such intensity is indeed quite inspiring. With a leader charging ahead, those behind are also willing to charge forward.

Shortly after Harahikojiro, the Noshu troops' long ladders reached the walls, and Oda's army continued to storm into the Suwa residence. The Goshu troops did the same, each shouting and advancing fiercely.

Before long, the magnificent Tang Gate of Suwakan was smashed open, and the generals bravely charged in, taking heads.

"That Harahikojiro who shouted 'Ichibanjo' is a real brute." Shichibei was standing below the castle watching the battle, while Nobunaga was also watching the battlefield a little ahead.

"No, no, no, Harahikojiro is the smart one." Takenaka Hanbei and Todo Takatora, who were also watching the battle, actually refuted Shichibei at the same time.

"Ah..." Shichibei didn't understand. This is supposed to be smart?

“There’s a tall tower inside the castle. If our troops swarm under the walls, and the enemy has sharpshooters, we’re doomed. It’s better to join the crowd inside the castle and fight our way through.” Todo Takatora glanced at Takenaka Hanbei, who encouraged the younger man to speak first.

"Moreover, our main force is behind us, rolling forward. Although we are the first to scale the walls, it will only be for a short while. Reinforcements are arriving in an endless stream. It may seem extremely dangerous, but in reality, it is not so."

Ah, I get it. Basically, he's relying on his superior skills and daring, along with the sheer number and power of Oda's army, to take a gamble. Winning would be a monumental achievement; losing? There's a chance of losing, but it doesn't seem that high.

“That’s right. Furthermore, the Regent’s Palace is on the front lines right now, and any merits they have earned are obvious to all,” Takenaka Hanbei added.

This is also a key point. They are fighting desperately, and Oda Nobunaga has seen it all. And what kind of person is Nobunaga? Everyone present knows; he is never stingy with rewards.

With that one charge, Hara Hikojiro gained everything that others couldn't earn in ten or eight years. Of course, the prerequisite was that he survived; if he survived, he would have everything.

"The city has been captured..." Tōdō Takatora nodded slightly.

The surrounding crowd cheered a great victory; it was clear that none of the five hundred Asakura soldiers, including Takahashi Kagekage, were going to survive inside the Suwa residence. The Oda army marched out to Echizen, encountering little resistance. Only Tomita Nagashige managed a brief charge, quickly defeating Asakura Kagekage and his men, after which they surrendered.

So, did Hara Hikojiro survive?

Shichibei asked, and Nobunaga asked too. Clearly, Harahikojiro was no fool. Such a brave and resourceful samurai, especially one from Mino, meant he was a member of the core group of interests in Mino, and therefore worth winning over and promoting.

Not long after, they saw Hara Hikojiro running down the mountainside with a severed head in his hand. Needless to say, it was Takahashi Kageyoshi's head.

The military clerk and the former naval officer, Yoshitsugu, both nodded in agreement. Nobunaga, showing no disgust at Harahikojiro's blood-stained body, stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and repeatedly praised him. He then inquired about his family lineage and the number of people in his household.

Upon learning that the Hara family originated from the Toki Genji clan and could also produce twenty or thirty other families, he was overjoyed. He immediately awarded them 2,000 kan of Mino Ota credit as a reward for their merit, along with the head of their heads.

"Shichibei, make Hikojiro your brother-in-law!"

Chapter 295 Echizen's Division and Conferment

Good heavens, everyone knows that the Kawamura family provides a dowry of over a thousand kan when their daughters marry. The wealth that Hara Hikojiro risked his life for has all come to him in an instant: land, money, a beautiful wife, and a mansion—everything he could want.

It's truly a case of fighting to the death for three minutes, then enjoying wealth and glory for twenty years.

But beyond envy, there was mostly admiration, after all, he was truly exceptional. His undeniable military achievements were evident to everyone. His courage in leaping alone into the enemy ranks was immense.

Hara Hikojiro immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Oda Nobunaga, expressing his deep gratitude. After kowtowing to Nobunaga, he kowtowed to Shichibei, his whole body filled with excitement. It was remarkable that he, at only sixteen years old, was able to hold back his laughter.

Hara no Yorifusa, the father of Hara no Hikojiro, who was still outside the tent, was also brought in. Nobunaga continued to announce that he would bestow the character "Naga" from his own name upon Hara no Hikojiro, thus giving him the name Hara no Nagayori.

Ow...

So it's you, kid. Shichibei isn't really in a position to decide who his sister marries right now. But he still hopes she'll marry a good man, and seeing that it's Hara Nagayori, well, that guy's alright.

To what extent? Before his death, Hideyoshi wrote his will, and the famous item Miike was to be given to Hara Nagayori (no need to ask, it was a sword, and it came from the same swordsmith or swordsmith family as Ōdenta Mitsuyo).

For example, Mori Katsunaga received the famous sword Sadama from Fukuoka, Bizen Province. Date Masamune received the short sword Hijikata Toshiro, which is 8.8 inches long, and Tokugawa Hidetada received Mikazuki Munechika.

In any case, those who receive Hideyoshi's gifts are at least people Hideyoshi considers worthy of his attention. It's also a way of reminding Hideyori that he might try to win these people over, be wary of them, or make them his confidants in the future.

Returning to the present situation of Hara Nagayoshi, one can only say that a person's fate is to have both, and also, and also.

Hara no Nagayori, who had been suddenly promoted, was deeply grateful to Nobunaga and vowed never to repay Nobunaga's favor. However, he was just a minor figure in the tent, and after expressing his gratitude, he was led away with his father.

By destroying Suwa-kan, the Asakura clan had completely destroyed Ichijo-dani Castle, a significant symbol of the Asakura clan as the governors of Echizen Province. At the same time, other parts of Ichijo-dani Castle also caught fire, and the once prosperous and magnificent "Little Kyoto" was reduced to ashes in the flames.

But what about Asakura Yoshikage's eldest son, Aiohumaru?

If you say you'll kill Yoshikage's entire family, then you must kill them all, completely intact. Nobunaga immediately asked Yasui Kagetake what was going on. Yasui Kagetake replied that it was possible Asakura Kagekage had fled and gone into hiding. Since the Oda army hadn't found any of Asakura Kagekage's men, this seemed to be the most likely explanation.

Search! Nobunaga has issued an imperial edict: whoever finds or presents Asakura Aiohumaru will receive two thousand kan of new knowledge.

Forever two thousand strings!

It was a vow made by Nobunaga before Heaven and the gods, that he would forever bestow upon this person a territory worth two thousand kan (a unit of currency). As long as this person did not rebel, the legacy of this vow would be passed down through their family forever. Oda Nobunaga guaranteed this legacy with his own honor and life.

Very rarely do people talk about how many koku of rice were produced during the reign of Emperor Yongle, because that easily leads to complacency and a lack of ambition. If you put it in Oda Nobunaga's shoes, it's like saying, "I'm giving you face, letting you be so awesome."

But because they swore an oath to heaven and earth and the gods, they cannot be easily deprived of their rights. In fact, when their line ends, they must actively help find an heir to succeed them.

Finding the person wasn't Shichibei's responsibility. It would have to be done by mobilizing the local strongmen of Echizen; it was just a matter of luck who would get lucky. Shichibei only met with Hara Yorifusa and Hara Nagayori, father and son, to catch up on their kinship.

Suddenly they were in-laws. It wasn't exactly awkward, but they certainly weren't exactly close either. But the matter was settled, so they had to proceed accordingly. Shichibei briefly discussed the matter with the Hara father and son, then sent someone back to Gifu to instruct the young general to prepare for Aki's dowry and wedding.

Everyone should remember that Nobunaga once made a promise to Shichibei: after conquering Echizen, he would grant Shichibei the title of Tsuruga. Not as a deputy governor of Tsuruga, but as the fief of Tsuruga.

Tsuruga has both a port and a castle. Shichibei would have to serve Oda Nobunaga in Gifu for a long time, or oversee the entire Kawamuraya business, so he couldn't stay in Tsuruga Castle for long.

Like Ishida Mitsunari, although he was the lord of Sawayama Castle, he actually spent most of his time away from Sawayama. As Hideyoshi's magistrate, he served Hideyoshi closely. The de facto lords of the castle were his father and his brothers.

Shichibei had no brothers. Although his father had brothers, there were only two. One died young without leaving any descendants, and the other was sent to a temple to become a monk.

It should be noted that the Shichibei family only had a mere sixty kan of rank back then, and was not qualified to split up the family. Even if there were any surviving brothers, they were all sent to other families to be adopted, or sent to temples to become monks.

Only sons who cannot be given away as wives are kept at home as retainers of the legitimate heir. Normally, this situation is avoided at all costs.

Therefore, Shichibei not only had no brothers, but also no cousins. Unless his uncle, who was a monk, had some hobby of taking care of prostitutes or female worshippers.

Since he had no brothers, he could only rely on his brother-in-law. Hara Nagayori was brave and resourceful; if all else failed, Nobunaga would have to assign him to Shichibei as a retainer, and then appoint him as the governor of Tsuruga Castle.

Of course, this is just a preliminary exchange of pleasantries. Nobunaga has made countless promises before; whether he'll deliver on them remains to be seen.

The Hara father and son were still reeling from their sudden rise to power; they were simply overjoyed and would do anything Shichibei said. Hara Yorifusa even declared that he would definitely build a grand house of a thousand tsubo (approximately 667 square meters) near Gifu Castle to welcome the daughter of the Kawamura family.

Good, good, at least the in-laws are quite amicable.

No sooner had they seen the two off than they heard rumors outside that Asakura Kagekage had brought Asakura Yoshikage's family to surrender. Immediately, not only did the Hara father and son run back to their main camp, but Shichibei also rushed there.

Nobunaga wanted to kill the whole family. If you rushed there now, you'd probably still see blood splattered all over your feet.

Unfortunately, we didn't see the blood splattered on the feet. This was because Nobunaga ordered all of Yoshikage's family members to be sent to Kyoto for execution at Rokujo Kawara, regardless of age or gender.

Furthermore, Asakura Aiomaru, the eldest son of the Asakura clan, was sentenced by Nobunaga to the "prison gate" punishment, which meant that after his death, he was not allowed to be buried, his body was exposed to the sun, and his head was specially hung up. One account says that he was displayed on the prison gate, while another says that he was displayed at the street corner.

During the Edo period, it was once displayed directly on Nihonbashi Bridge as a warning to pedestrians and travelers coming to Edo throughout the day.

He's still just a child, but Shichibei has seen a lot. Back then, Saito Tatsuoki's son was dragged into the courtyard and beheaded on the spot; blood really splattered right in front of Shichibei. So, for now, it's just a slight sigh. This Aiohumaru can't blame anyone but his father's incompetence and his encounter with Oda Nobunaga.