Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

With the roles of ruler and subject established, all is well.

Only then did Nobunaga announce the start of the feast, telling everyone to have a good meal today, eat their fill, and tomorrow ride tall horses with him to attend the ceremony before the horse's ascent.

Sitting at the table, Shichibei watched as Oda Nobunaga passed his sake dish to Oda Nobukatsu, who then passed it to Hideyoshi. One could only say that the performance was quite contrived.

No matter how contrived the performance, the ritual of presenting the sake cup still had to be followed. In the later Taiga drama "Aoi and Tokugawa Sandai," Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori met, and Ieyasu handed his sake cup to Hideyori, who accepted it and drank the sake. This established the fundamental relationship between ruler and subject.

In neighboring Joseon Dynasty, Hwang Tae-gil stormed Hanyang and then forcibly transported Hongyi cannons to break through Namhansanseong Fortress, all in an effort to capture King Injo of Joseon alive and force him to perform the utmost kowtows and prostrations as a subject to Hwang Tae-gil.

In feudal times, there was a clear distinction between superiors and inferiors, and a hierarchy between superiors and inferiors.

That wine dish—Oda Nobunaga drank from it, then Oda Nobukatsu drank from it, and finally it was handed to Shichibei. He was blind; he just closed his eyes and drank, no picky drinking allowed.

Furthermore, the order of the imperial horses was clearly announced at today's banquet. This was something Shichibei had been paying close attention to, and the result was good.

As planned, the first formation consisted of the western troops. Centered around Hideyoshi and his son Hidekatsu Hashiba, the formation extended from Bessho Nagaharu in Higashiharima to Katsumasa and Naomasa Ikeda in Suo.

By being the first to engage in battle, Oda Nobunaga demonstrated his approval of Hideyoshi's western campaign. This also reflected Hideyoshi's dignity as the chief retainer and military advisor of the Oda clan, showcasing the stability of the household's order.

The second force consisted of the eastern troops led by Oda Nobuhiro. Oda Nobuhiro and Takigawa Kazumasu rode side by side, one being the prime minister of Kai and the other the governor of Kanto, neither being superior to the other.

Originally, Oda Nobuhiro should have been among the first generation of retainers, but because he was also a third-rank councilor, his rank was equal to Oda Nobukatsu's, and his seniority was undoubtedly superior. To highlight Oda Nobukatsu's abilities, Oda Nobuhiro was ultimately chosen instead.

Oda Nobuhiro compromised slightly. Having had a love-hate relationship with Nobunaga for so many years, Oda Nobuhiro naturally prioritized the grand ambitions of the Oda clan and calmly accepted the arrangement.

The third force was the Hokuriku army, led by Niwa Nagahide. The Hokuriku troops, in particular, had recently achieved a brilliant victory at Shiri-darisaka in Etchu. Although they suffered over six thousand casualties, they captured Toyama Castle and severely damaged the Uesugi army's Etchu forces. Such a great achievement deserved a military parade in Kyoto.

Incidentally, there were also Noto Hatakeyama, as well as Hitsuji's Anagokoji, Uchijima, and others among them. These people were considered vassal daimyo, and were also assigned to Niwa Nagahide's forces, going into battle together.

The fourth contingent consisted of the forces of Izumi, Kii, Awaji, and Iga, led by Shichibei, who was known as the governor of two districts in four provinces. Shichibei was also a senior retainer and Ōchikata of the Oda clan. Due to his considerable power, he was listed separately as the fourth contingent and rode out for the review.

Considering that the fifth formation consisted of the Oda clan's main branch and vassal corps led by Oda Nobukatsu, Shichibei's ranking was not inappropriate. He was simply a chief retainer at the very end, which was reasonable.

After that, there was one group of the Three Armies and One Gate, one group of the Courtiers, one group of Oda Nobunaga himself, and the Nomads, Yugi, Ryugi, Tachigi, and Monks who were attached to Nobunaga.

It's reasonable and takes all aspects into consideration.

Like Oda Nobutada in history, Oda Nobukatsu led eighty mounted warriors, each wearing a golden-embroidered haori and riding a red-maned warhorse, displaying great prowess. Nobutaka, Nobusumi, and Nobufusa each had thirty riders, Hidekatsu followed Hideyoshi, and Nobuhira, who was already a daimyo lord, did not participate.

Among them was an unexpected candidate: Hirate Nagamasa, who was punished for abandoning Nobutada at the Nijō Palace. However, he was not executed but instead became a monk named Hirate Yurakusai, appearing alone among the disciples.

Those who remained, such as Nagano Nobukatsu and Oda Nobuhisa, appeared as ten riders. Others, such as the younger ones or those who were not part of the Oda Danjo-chū faction like Oda Nobuharu, rode alone with Yurakusai to participate in the Oma-mae ceremony.

In other words, Hirate Yurakusai had already been classified by Nobunaga as a member outside his own faction. This kind of punishment, well, in some ways, might be even more humiliating than beheading.

The person is alive, but they don't recognize you anymore.

Needless to say, the ceremony before the emperor's horse was grander than ever before, with more than three thousand Oda cavalrymen being reviewed by Emperor Ogimachi at the east gate inside the palace.

One very significant detail is that the beaded curtain in front of Emperor Ōgimachi was lifted and tied with strips of cloth on both sides, rather than being a "curtain."

This was Oda Nobunaga's request, because according to Nobunaga, those who could participate in the procession before the emperor's horse were all "officials." Although, theoretically, even a fifth-rank official like a Daibu was not allowed to see the emperor at all times. Only court nobles of the fourth rank or higher were allowed to see the emperor on a daily basis.

Now Nobunaga wants to break down the barriers between the court nobles and the samurai, promote their integration, and allow the samurai lords to fully integrate into the long-standing court noble system of Yamato, the land of Wa.

As the head of the court nobles and the de facto representative, Emperor Ōgimachi had to make a statement and personally meet with these samurai who had suddenly risen from humble beginnings to become fourth or fifth-rank officials.

During the Genpei War, Minamoto no Yoshitsune was granted the title of Governor of Iyo, a mere Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. He was so excited that he danced with joy, and even his subordinates felt that they could go to Iyo Province and take their respective territories. They were extremely happy.

The official positions like councilor, lieutenant general, and attendant before them were beyond their wildest dreams. They were completely out of reach for ordinary military families; they were best left as mere rumors.

Nobunaga, however, felt this was inappropriate, fearing that the imperial court and military would eventually unite, lording it over the Japanese people. Therefore, the Emperor had to...

They wanted to lift the curtain to see everyone, and also to let those country bumpkins, those warriors who rose from humble beginnings, see the so-called Emperor.

Hideyoshi was a menial laborer, Shichibei was a groom, and Takigawa Kazumasu did dirty mercenary work, so what? Now they've all risen up and succeeded. You're a major general, I'm a court noble, and he's a retainer. We should be treated the same as the old court nobles.

This wasn't the first time Shichibei had seen Emperor Ogimachi; he had seen him lift the curtain in front of Nobunaga before, but most of his retainers had never seen him. People like Todo Takatora, Goto Mototsugu, and Hara Nagayori, who came from small, rural families, theoretically could only watch from afar, let alone the emperor, or even from the perspective of feudal lords.

I was truly excited, thrilled, and flattered.

Those who haven't experienced the baptism of the new era's ideology, once they successfully seize power, will inevitably embrace the old order and system, mingling with feudalism and quickly drawing a class line between themselves and the common people. They not only want to be superior to others, but also want to block the path for the common people to rise.

Therefore, feudal society is bound to have cycles; whether you centralize power or decentralize it, you will eventually die.

However, this was the very beginning of the Oda regime. One after another...

The miracles of these feudal lords inspired those among the common people, telling them there was still a chance to rise. Little did they know that those who had already risen were enthusiastically embracing the dregs of feudalism, preparing to merge with them in a grand process.

Furthermore, the townspeople and citizens of Kyoto, as well as the lower-ranking nobles, felt truly reassured by the sight of the Oda clan's magnificent mounted warriors. The shadow of Akechi Mitsuhide's rebellion last year, his attack on Kyoto, and his subsequent execution of Oda Nobutada had vanished. The Oda clan not only remained unaffected but also quelled the unrest in a short period of time.

From the moment Oda Nobunaga left Kyoto alone to the moment his army returned in force, only a little over ten days had passed. Some of the people of Kyoto had only just heard that the dynasty had changed when Oda's army, carrying large horse emblems bearing Yongle Tongbao coins, returned and quickly quelled the situation throughout the Kinai region.

In the battle at Setabashi Bridge, another major bandit leader, Azai Nagamasa, was defeated, and the rebellion was quelled. Oh, and by the way, Akechi Mitsuhide and Azai Nagamasa, whose bodies had been left to rot for a year, were finally allowed to have their skeletal remains collected and cremated. As for their heads, they are still hanging on Nijo Street.

Only after being sun-dried for three years to achieve the best color can it be used to make gin glasses.

The bodies of figures like Akechi Mitsuyoshi and Asai Terumasa were long ago reduced to ashes, leaving nothing behind. Descendants? There couldn't be any.

All men were killed. Women were either killed or given to the warriors fighting as slaves.

It was only because of this imperial procession that the bodies of Akechi Mitsuhide and Azai Nagamasa were allowed to be laid to rest, to avoid disturbing the public. If it weren't for the procession, their remains would have continued to be exposed to the elements.

The street corner where they were drying their leaves has become so pollinated that it emits a faint stench on rainy days. Hopefully, three months of intense sun this summer will help eliminate the smell.

The ceremony before the horse was successfully completed, and the peaceful reign of the Taira no Nobunaga and his son, the Taira no Shogun and the Taira no Nobukatsu, was ushered in!

"Shichibei." Back at the starting point of the Nijo Palace, everyone was chattering excitedly, their excitement still lingering. Nobunaga waved to Shichibei.

"My lord." Shichibei tossed his Nanban brocade haori to Sanegane Morinao and then trotted up to Nobunaga.

"I have a favor to ask," Nobunaga said with a smile, which certainly didn't seem like a favor to ask.

"Give me your orders!" Shichibei immediately knelt on one knee.

"Why are you still doing this to me after all these years of emptying my pockets?" Shichibei guessed that Nobunaga had some big expense project coming up again, and he was about to empty his pockets again.

.

"A few days ago, Sanke told you about his wish to separate the Ataka branch. What are your thoughts on that?" Shichibei was secretly surprised when Nobunaga finished speaking.

Nobukatsu actually managed to get Nobunaga involved in this kind of thing? While it's not entirely uncommon. For example, Toyotomi Hideyoshi repeatedly brokered the assignments of minor daimyo like Kiso Yoshiyasu and Sanada Masayuki. Ultimately, who gets the assignment is a matter of a high-ranking official like Hideyoshi.

Thus, Kiso Yoshiyasu was ultimately sent to Kanto with an unbelievable meager stipend of 10,000 koku, while Kiso Yoshitoshi also lost that 10,000 koku. Meanwhile, Sanada Masayuki, who turned his back early, luckily bet on both sides, and the Sanada family eventually acquired 100,000 koku of the Matsushiro Domain.

But is Nobukatsu in such a hurry? He sent two private messages a few days ago, wanting the person. Shichibei didn't even reach an agreement with Ataka Kiyoyasu before having Nobunaga come forward to demand him.

The key point is that Nobunaga came to ask for it, so it was truly a forced demand. Shichibei had almost no room to refuse, since Ataka Kiyoyasu was originally given to him by Nobunaga.

"Since my lord has given the order, I will obey." Now that he has spoken, how could Shichibei refuse?

"Alright, then so be it. I will also grant you the fief of 63,000 koku of Ki Province." Nobunaga nodded with a smile. Shichibei was still loyal; as long as he asked, he could get anything done.

"I will never forget the Emperor's grace."

Standing up, Oda Nobuo appeared before Shichibei. Although he appeared quite embarrassed, Shichibei was certain that he saw the smug gleam in his eyes.

How disgusting! How could they do things like that?

"It is only to settle a division of naval forces in Yunzhou that I have requested the troops from Anzai. I earnestly hope that the King of Jingzhao will forgive me." Oda Nobuo's words were grand and his reason seemed quite legitimate.

“I understand, I understand…” Aki and Iyo already have the naval forces of Kurushima Michi, so they don’t need this group of Ataka naval forces at all.

If it's outright robbery, then just rob it outright. Why resort to this kind of tactic?

"Consider this a favor I owe to the King of the Capital. I will repay you handsomely in the future." Oda Nobuo smiled and patted Shichibei on the shoulder, mimicking his father's manner.

"No, no, my lord, it is your decision. How can a subject feign gratitude?" Shichibei simply smiled and gave a perfunctory reply.

"Hahaha, good, good, good!" Oda Nobuo laughed loudly, after taking the picture.

Shichibei left the scene with a smug look on his shoulder.

544. The peaceful era is coming to an end; preparations are underway for the end.

Atakagami Goro's coming-of-age ceremony was jointly presided over by Oda Nobuo and Shichibei. Oda Nobuo placed the cap on him, and Shichibei cut his hair. As was customary, Oda Nobuo bestowed the character "雄" (xiong) upon him, so Atakagami Goro became known as Atakagami Oyasu.

In addition, Shichibei's daughter was also sent to the Ataka family on the second day after Ataka Oyasu's coming-of-age ceremony, with great fanfare and a generous dowry, as Oda Nobuo's adopted daughter.

Shichibei had no objection to this. Our daughter was a good match for Ataka Oyasu, even though the Ataka family was not a daimyo with more than 100,000 koku of rice, they were a major feudal lord who controlled naval forces.

If a marriage alliance with Kuki Yoshitaka is not possible, then a marriage alliance with Atai Kiyoyasu is the only option. Besides, the Atai family is a daimyo with a staggering 20,000 koku of rice, so they are considered a prestigious family.

Unexpectedly, Ataka Osamu ended up becoming Oda Nobuo's son-in-law.

Kiyoyasu Ataka could actually accept being suddenly separated and becoming an independent daimyo again. After all, there was a difference between Nobunaga Naotomi and his subordinates, but he had a close relationship with Shichibei.

He also felt that doing so would be "betraying" Shichibei's kindness in helping him restore the old territory of Awaji.

So overall, Kiyoyasu Ataka and his son still felt somewhat apologetic towards Shichibei. Of course, one has to look forward, and Shichibei couldn't possibly stand in the way of a better future for the Ataka family.

So much so that Shichibei turned around and said nice things to Ata and his son, saying that if they ever went on an expedition to Kyushu and were rewarded with high rank and wealth, they should never forget their brother.

Of course I won't forget, how could I forget? We're all brothers, we'll just call you if anything happens.

As previously agreed, Ataka Takeyasu would succeed as head of the Ataka clan after his coming-of-age ceremony. Ataka Kiyoyasu would only receive provisions from the southern part of the village, while the tens of thousands of koku of rice from Awaji and the ten thousand koku from Aki would become Ataka Takeyasu's territory. The Ataka navy, which had originally been incorporated into the Kawamura navy, would be separated and reassigned to Ataka Takeyasu's command.

Since he relinquished his position as head of the family, Ataka Kiyoyasu, as a hostage, had to remain in Kyoto or Azuchi, which was perfect; he could serve as Oda Nobuo's advisor 24/7.

Like Lady Takaya, even though her eldest son had risen to become the ruler of Nagato Province, she still had to remain in the Kinai region as a hostage. This continued until he married his principal wife and they had a son.

Only then will it be possible to switch his mother back.

It was actually quite difficult to return them. Hideyoshi's mother, O-Naka, and his wife, Nene, were both being held hostage in the Kinai region, and even Hideyoshi's second daughter couldn't accompany him to the army. Only Hashiba Hidekatsu, in order to gradually take over the Hashiba family's army, accompanied Hideyoshi to the front lines.

Shichibei and the young general only had two sons, which was also related to the fact that his wife was being held hostage in the lord's main castle. There was nothing they could do about it; they had been separated for a long time and had no chance to have a son.

By the way, speaking of Lady Takaya, wow, she gave Shichibei a wonderful son.

He's practically Hatakeyama Nobutaka's brother, I wonder what Hatakeyama Nobutaka thinks. Anyway, Shichibei is quite happy and sent a lot of gifts to Lady Takaya. But we can't leave, because Oda Nobuo and Lady Mori's wedding is about to take place.

After witnessing the dazzling ceremonies such as Oda Nobunaga's announcement of his status as prime minister, the New Year's Day shrine visit, and the ceremony before the imperial horse, Mori Terumoto and his two companions were absolutely certain that as long as Nobunaga lived, they should not harbor any ulterior motives.

As long as Nobunaga was alive, the regime was stable.

So Mori Terumoto used Iwami silver to spend lavishly in Kyoto to purchase...

The dowry, including over 20,000 kan and 2,000 silver coins, was carried into the former Nobunaga Mansion, now the residence of the Prime Minister, as part of Princess Komatsu's dowry.

After Nobunaga moved to Nijō Palace, the Right General's Residence was given to Oda Nobukatsu. The wedding was first held at Nijō Palace in the presence of both families, and then the bride was carried to the residence of the Prime Minister of Ōkōchi for the wedding ceremony.

The wedding banquet lasted for three whole days, inviting relatives, court nobles, and retainers. The Oda family's grand and extravagant celebrations, with their lavish displays of flowers and vibrant celebrations, were truly mesmerizing.

No one doubted that Oda Nobunaga would unify the country.

It wasn't until after attending Oda Nobuo and Mori Komatsu's wedding that Shichibei finally had some free time to return to Kishiwada Castle and rest for a few days.

The feudal lords who were stranded in Kyoto due to their busy schedules also left Kyoto and returned to their respective territories. During this time, Shichibei also attended the wedding of Oda Nobuhiro's daughter, Yoshikawa Tsuneyoshi.