Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Now that they have crossed the Kiso River and entered Nakano, they have entered enemy territory. Sakuma Nobumori, now Nobunaga's chief retainer, also needs to inspect all the camps and fill any gaps for Nobunaga, in order to prevent a surprise attack or raid by Ryūō.

What can I be busy with? My job is simply to bring over Nobunaga's rations and weapons. Speaking of which, to ensure the logistics aren't attacked, the rations and weapons are currently stored in Inuyama Castle. The lord of Inuyama Castle has been replaced by Nobunaga's close friend, Ikeda Tsuneoki. When it comes to the rear, it's up to your brother who shares your blood to defend it.

Nobunaga and Ikeda Tsuneoki had a good relationship, but Tsuneoki's abilities seemed to be slightly inferior. Nobunaga was unable to independently become a legion commander during his lifetime, climbing the ranks even slower than Takigawa Kazumasu.

It should be noted that after Nobunaga conquered Mino, he marched on Kyoto almost without stopping, and in a short period of time, his territory expanded to more than two million koku. At this time, Ikeda Tsuneoki was already the daimyo lord of Inuyama with 10,000 kan, and was a prominent figure in the Oda clan.

However, his development thereafter was very slow. It wasn't until the Koshu campaign that, as the governor of Settsu and the Kinai region, he was granted 120,000 koku of rice from Osaka, Amagasaki, and Hyogo. It was only after supporting Hideyoshi that Hideyoshi increased his rice supply to 130,000 koku in Mino.

Xiao Mu, with a single, devastating blow, was wiped out, his life and spirit extinguished.

This person's position within the Oda group was probably one of being loyal but lacking in ability, yet someone Nobunaga could confidently entrust to his home base and future.

“It’s so good to be rich…” Hideyoshi came over after seeing Nobumori leave.

"You also want to fight such a rich war?" Shichibei could guess Hideyoshi's general idea.

"Who wouldn't want that?" Hideyoshi readily admitted. If he had 4,400 kan, he might have already persuaded Ujiie Bokuzen to bring Ōgaki Castle to join Nobunaga.

Everyone has a price tag, right? Dear friends and family, brothers and sisters, just add money.

"What a pity, I don't have any money either." Shichibei is only well-off outside, his home is just so-so.

"You will have it." Hideyoshi's answer surprised Shichibei.

I don't think so, what do you think? Turning to look at Hideyoshi, who was still bald, his eyes were quite pure, with a hint of encouragement.

"Lend your auspicious words."

"One day I will become the lord of a country and a city. At that time, you will be my head merchant, and I will hand over all the commercial rights and towns to you to manage." Hideyoshi actually started making promises to Shichibei.

Fine, fine. You're a mere general with 500 strings of cash, and I'm just a county magistrate with 260 strings. What are you talking about, being the ruler of a country or a city? You're living in a dream, bro.

"Does your brother drink this much during the day too?" Shichibei asked Hideyoshi, jutting his head out from behind him.

"Hehe, I didn't drink, I didn't drink..." Xiu Chang saw his brother-in-law, bowed his head to greet him, and explained on behalf of his brother.

"I thought I'd drunk three bottles, hahaha." Let's go, Nobunaga is starting to plan the attacks on Dodo, Seki, and Kajita. We need to pay attention to all of them.

(It's quite strange. Checking the map of the entire country in 1828 (the eleventh year of Bunsei in the Edo period), Mino Province still had Seki Castle and Kajita Village. However, after Dodo Castle was abandoned, not even a settlement remained. Checking the map of the entire country in 1925 (the fourteenth year of Taisho), Seki had become Seki-cho, and Kajita Village had further declined into a village group under the jurisdiction of the village. Perhaps the rumors of Nobunaga burning and massacring Dodo Castle are not unfounded.)

Military affairs were of utmost importance, so Hideyoshi stopped pretentious and empty promises and immediately set off to organize the camp. Shichibei, who had a slightly less demanding job, simply followed Nobunaga's main camp and awaited orders.

Several of Nobunaga's foot soldiers, each leading their own foot soldiers, surrounded Nobunaga with their personal guards. These troops were Nobunaga's standing army, and Nobunaga was responsible for providing them with their weaponry. When it came to battle, Nobunaga would provide them with armor, and he would also help transport and equip them with bows, arrows, and arquebuses.

Specifically, Shichibei distributed the military equipment from the Komakiyama Castle armory to these foot soldiers generals, following Nobunaga's instructions.

These are all figures who will have some influence in the future: Mori Hideyori, son of Shiba Yoshitomo, the former governor of Owari Province, and Kanamori Nagachika. Once Nobunaga conquers Mino and forms a larger Hatamoto Akago-shu (Hall of Red Robes), they will all be promoted to Horiguchi (Hall of Red Robes) for their meritorious service.

When everyone saw Shichibei arrive with military supplies and rations, they were all quite polite. This wasn't the kind of politeness you'd show to someone you'd just met; it was the kind of politeness where people knew you were useful to their superiors, so they flattered each other.

They were all soldiers who fought and died for Nobunaga, so they were all accomplices and naturally acted this way.

Shichibei, who came from a humble background as a small-time merchant, was quite perceptive to these kinds of emotions, but he didn't find it strange. Humans, after all, revolve around power and wealth, and wealth revolves around power; ultimately, everyone is focused on power.

Given this, Shichibei, standing on the fringes of power, naturally receives a lot of goodwill. Those appearing in Shichibei's world are now all good people, and everyone is very friendly.

By the time Nobunaga returned to his main camp, the senior retainers' military council should have already concluded, and Nobunaga was deep in thought, staring at the map.

The three castles of Seki, Kajita, and Dodo are about 25 cho (2500 meters) apart, forming an equilateral triangle. Attacking any one of them could lead to the other two castles coming to their aid.

Although Nobunaga has 15,000 to 16,000 men, if all three castles are besieged and guarded, each castle can only be defended by about 5,000 men. Now that Ryūshō's main force has not yet appeared, if 5,000 men are suddenly attacked by Ryūshō, there will be great chaos.

If Sato Tadakatsu surrenders, then things will be easier. But we also need to be prepared for the possibility that he might not surrender.

"Shichibei? Have all the arquebuses been distributed to the various units?" Nobunaga raised his head, saw it was Shichibei, and then continued to look down at the map, deep in thought.

"The distribution is complete. Lead bullets, matchlocks, and gunpowder have also been distributed in three-day rations," Shichibei reported to Nobunaga, kneeling on one knee.

"The collection of Tsushima Yasen was very quick last time," Nobunaga casually remarked, probably indicating that Shichibei was about to take his leave.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation." Shichibei stuck out his rear end, preparing to leave.

"Please sit down." Nobunaga did not let Shichibei leave, but made Shichibei sit down at the end.

With no other option, Shichibei sat down. The shogunate was quite quiet, except for the sound of Nobunaga's knuckles tapping on the wooden board. After a few taps, Nobunaga pushed the map aside and looked at Shichibei.

"What are you thinking?"

"Huh?" Shichibei was just sitting and waiting, not thinking about anything.

"I know you're not good at military affairs, but you're out of options right now, so feel free to say whatever you want." Nobunaga was probably tired of thinking, so he wanted to hear a joke.

"If Kajita's men can instigate us from within, then I think we shouldn't let him cut them off immediately." Helpless, Shichibei could only tell Nobunaga his joke.

Once Sato Tadayoshi was informed, Nobunaga immediately accepted, and then made an agreement with him that the Oda army would feign an attack on the castle. He then tricked Kishi Nobuchika and his son Kishi Nobufusa, the foremost warriors of Mino, as well as Nagai Michitoshi, a staunch supporter of Ryūkō.

Whether they manage to lure the leaders themselves or their troops, it's all acceptable. Once they arrive at Kajita, Nobunaga will launch an attack, and Sato Tadayoshi will also launch an attack, thus attacking these two forces that are most supportive of the Ryūshō movement in the Nakano region.

If these two forces can be completely annihilated, the defenses of Seokseong and Tangdong will be greatly reduced, and it is even possible that they will lose their defenses altogether.

Of course, this plan has a huge flaw: what if Saito Tatsuoki is lured here?

Nagai Michitoshi and Kishi Nobuchika could mobilize at most two thousand men (they would need to send men to garrison the castle). Nobunaga had fifteen or sixteen thousand men, plus the Kajita clan, enough to easily defeat the reinforcements and capture them in one battle.

But what if we lure away five or six thousand of Ryūshō's main force, plus four or five thousand of the three men from Nishinō? Not only would we not be completely confident of defeating Saitō's army, but we might also lose this battle, causing Nobunaga to suffer a hundred days of serious injury.

"Go on," Nobunaga said, listening to Shichibei's mutterings without giving a clear answer.

"Therefore, we need to divide our forces: 10,000 men to Xinong and 6,000 men to Zhongnong." Anyone can talk the talk, walk the walk.

Sending 10,000 men to attack Ōgaki Castle would make it absolutely impossible for the Nishimino Triumvirate to send troops. Ryūshō's main force would also hesitate, choosing between rescuing Ōgaki Castle and rescuing Kajita Castle.

By taking advantage of the time difference, and betting that Nagai Michitoshi and Kishi Nobuchika are truly loyal and willing to risk their lives for the Saito family, they can send troops to rescue Kajida Castle first.

With 6,000 men plus over 1,000 more from Kajita, you could easily defeat over 2,000 reinforcements. If you lose, Nobunaga, you might as well slit your throat.

Moreover, this gamble is quite convincing. Since the three main figures of Nishimino and Tatsuoki have essentially formed an awkward relationship of obeying orders but not decrees, if Ōgaki Castle were to face a fierce attack from Nobunaga, would Ujiie Bokuzen surrender?

Logically speaking, Ujiie Bokuzen shouldn't surrender. As we've already discussed, the three members of the Western Mino clan were practically independent vassal states within the Saito family; siding with Nobunaga wouldn't bring them better treatment.

Realistically speaking, Nagai Michitoshi and Kishi Nobuchika were staunch supporters, but the three members of the Nishi-Mino trio might not have been. If we add the factor that Nobunaga himself appeared at the gates of Ōgaki Castle and the main attack was directed at Ōgaki, then Tatsuoki would indeed most likely rush to the rescue of Ōgaki, leaving Kajita to hold out.

At that time, based on the principle of mutual dependence, Nagai Michitoshi and Kishi Nobuchika will definitely send troops to rescue Kajida Castle.

That concludes my comments.

Nobunaga, holding his riding whip, kept banging it on the table. After a while, he started laughing. Sigh, as expected, this PowerPoint presentation wasn't done well; the boss started laughing at me in front of my colleagues.

Fortunately, Shichibei has a relatively strong mentality. Having been a slave in his previous life, he wasn't so easily broken down by his boss's mockery. He's not falling for his boss's manipulative tactics. As long as he's willing to just get by and get medical insurance every month, he'll keep doing it.

"Alright, you may leave." Nobunaga finished laughing, then lightly tapped Shichibei on the head with his riding whip, signaling Shichibei to get lost.

Unable to get what he wanted, Shichibei got up and ran. He said, "I don't know how to fight, I don't know how to fight, but you insisted I tell you. And then you laughed at me. This boss is really infuriating."

After Shichibei left, Nobunaga turned around and summoned his elder brother Oda Nobuhiro, as well as his younger brothers Oda Nobuteru and Oda Nobukatsu. After repeatedly confirming their identities, they reached a conclusion.

None of them are as handsome as me!

So he looked at Maeda Toshiie and Ikeda Tsuneoki again, and finally felt that Ikeda Tsuneoki resembled him more. After all, they were raised by the same mother, and it makes sense that they would grow to resemble each other more and more as they were raised together.

As Nobunaga pondered this, he somehow managed to pin his own ideas on Ikeda Tsuneoki. Ikeda Tsuneoki, still oblivious, started nodding after Nobunaga told him to take a few steps, even if he wasn't really sick.

Very good, very good. Ikeda Tsuneoki is indeed like me, only a little bit worse.

62. Half the strategy, half the reward

After being mocked by his boss, Shichibei, carefree and cheerful, returned to Inuyama. His main responsibility was to supervise the female retainers of Ikeda Tsuneoki's family within the castle as they produced lead bullets.

How wonderful! Working with a group of women who are at least not village girls must be much better than being on the front lines.

The Ikeda family had received protection from Oda Nobuhide in the past, and although their retainers weren't very large, they had gradually recovered in the last two years. From the eldest daughter to the youngest, there were seventy or eighty retainers, and with the maids, the number exceeded one hundred. They sat around Shichibei, listening to him explain the process of dripping lead bullets.

Then everyone jostled and pushed their way to the crucible to watch the lead ingots melt. Although listening to a bunch of women chattering was quite annoying, it was at least better than listening to a group of men arguing.

Tsuneoki's wife came from the Arao family; her father was Arao Zenji. Arao Zenji's father was Saji Tamesada, the lord of Ōno Castle in Chita District, Owari Province. The Saji family was a powerful local tycoon in Owari Province, which had been courted by both Nobuhide and Nobunaga for generations. The fact that Tsuneoki was able to marry a daughter who was, in effect, from the Saji family speaks volumes about his status.

According to current custom, Shichibei addressed this lady as Lady Kida (Arao Zenji was the lord of Kida Castle in Chita District). She was quite good-looking, and at this moment she was not wearing a wide-sleeved robe, but only a simple blouse, with the sleeves tied at the shoulders, giving her the appearance of a capable samurai woman.

Lady Kida greeted Shichibei upon seeing him. Of course, she knew that Shichibei was currently betrothed to Oda Nobuhisa's adopted daughter, so she didn't ask any questions about the marriage or anything else, but instead inquired about Shichibei's family background.

Upon learning that Shichibei's eldest sister had married the younger brother of Inase Sukeemon, Nobunaga's head servant, and that his second sister had married the younger brother of Kinoshita Hideyoshi, the castle lord of Sunomata, Lady Kida nodded repeatedly.

The daughters of the Ooji clan retainers should be circulated in this way.

The women around her were not as reserved. Upon learning that Shichibei was still unmarried, they immediately started pulling and tugging at him. They were laughing as they pulled; these old women just loved teasing young virgins like Shichibei.

In the end, it was Lady Kida who stepped in to resolve the situation, quickly producing five thousand lead bullets. Lord Odate is at war up ahead; what are you all doing playing with these virgins?

Finally freed from the group of old women, Shichibei felt drenched in sweat. He was also covered in all sorts of perfume powder – truly "fragrant sweat."

Despite their laughter, the women of the samurai families prioritized the battles in Mino over the well-being of their husbands and children. After Shichibei finished his instruction, they all got to work. With many hands making light work, the lead bullets they produced quickly filled the ash-filled plates.

No need to count, just weigh it. Since the dripping opening is fixed, the lead bullets that drip down will not be too big or too small.

"Young Shichibei, why don't you stay at Inuyama Castle tonight?" An old woman, having finished her work, came up to ask Shichibei.

"No, no, I have to get these lead bullets to the front lines." Shichibei was afraid that if he slept in Inuyama tonight, he would be devoured alive by the demons.

"It's already dark, how can you get to the front lines at Uminuma Castle?" another woman asked Shichibei. Even if there was a pontoon bridge under Inuyama Castle, traveling at night would still be very troublesome.

"Hmm..." That's a good point.

The streets and post stations from Komakiyama to Inuyama were built with Shichibei's help, and he knew them very well. While saying he could walk them blindfolded would be an exaggeration, he could certainly manage at night. However, once he crossed the Kiso River, it was enemy territory. Shichibei was truly in complete darkness then. During the day, looking towards Inuyama Castle, the route was quite easy, but at night, it was uncertain.

"Yes, Shichibei, why don't you rest here for the night? We already delivered three days' worth of medicine across the river this morning," Lady Kida said after a moment's thought.

The lead bullets and gunpowder for the previous three days were a regular supply at Komakiyama Castle, but now they need to be made in Inuyama just before the battle. Having stockpiles before the battle means there's no rush.

Alright then, I'll do it reluctantly.

"What's so difficult for you? Hahahaha..." The group of old women left laughing and joking, each going home.

Since Shichibei was a mid-ranking samurai and the governor of Kaito County, Lady Kida invited him to dine in the castle. She also arranged a room for him to rest. Inuyama Castle had been well preserved after Inuyama Tessai fled to Kai, so the castle buildings remained as they were.

Then came the exciting bathing scene. Although Shichibei had no expectations, since he was already there, he still had to take a look.

Congratulations!

He was still a virgin the next day.

After attaching the lead bullets, made by the women of the Ikeda family, to their horses, Shichibei, along with a few men and porters, hurried towards Unuma Castle. It wasn't far; the journey wouldn't take long. Last night, they hadn't dared to wander aimlessly because of the darkness. Now, in broad daylight, they could see the various plumes of smoke and black smoke rising from the chimneys below Unuma Castle.

The cooking smoke was naturally from the soldiers cooking in the field, while the black smoke was a warning signal released from Uminuma Castle towards the rear of Sekijo Castle. Regardless of whether Nagai Michitoshi came to the rescue, the notification had to be delivered.