Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Once the truth is out in the open, and with the help of Shichibei's good reputation and influence, the negative impact of the illegitimate child can be mitigated, and the matter will be about 70-80% resolved.

Chapter 636 Male Descendant Exposed, East and West Shock

Only Narita Ujinaga, the person directly involved, can expose this himself. He'll reveal the affair between his daughter and Nobukatsu, the shameless father and daughter. As for the ministers outside who want to support Nobukatsu's male descendant? They are all loyal retainers, devoted to Oda.

Before he exposed it, none of the ministers, officials, or relatives present knew about this scandal. They were all innocent "ordinary people," truly as clean as could be.

Meeting!

"Gentlemen, there is something I need to say to Narita Saemon, who is near the Tokugen-in Hall." Shichibei, of course, also "did not know," whether he knew or not.

Since Narita Uchinaga was willing to take the lead and be the one to stick his neck out, Shichibei had no objection. As for whether he would endorse the child afterward, Shichibei was still considering it. After all, this was a matter of great importance, and even if Narita Uchinaga revealed himself, it would still require careful investigation and confirmation from the prime ministers, senior retainers, and his family before any further discussion could proceed. In that time, Shichibei would have enough time to come to a conclusion or be bribed.

"Gentlemen." It would be a lie to say that Narita Ujigatsu, who was pushed to the front, was not nervous at all.

But now is a pivotal moment that will determine Japan's future. If he doesn't reveal himself now, once Oda Nobushige ascends to the throne and all the feudal lords submit, it will be too late for him to do so. Therefore, for his own future and for the future of his grandson, he must step forward.

The Narita family only has one chance to rise to prominence; once they miss it, they can only drift through life with their meager 50,000 koku of rice from Kitasho, Echizen, until they die.

"Lord Tokugen-in has a son, born three months ago, currently in Osaka." This simple statement instantly ignited an explosion of excitement throughout the entire Osaka Town Magistrate's Office.

It's like a bombshell. If Xinxiong had a son, what would they be fighting over? Everyone who rolled up their pants and jumped into this mess is now either shocked or panicked.

"What!" Shichibei realized that his acting skills were really lacking. He had recently pretended to be shocked and asked Narita-san if it was actually Mori Terumoto.

Veteran actor.

"Why was there no news before?" Maeda Toshiie slammed his fist on the table, still unable to recall anything about Narita Kaihime.

It was simply assumed that Narita Ujinaga had taken Oda Nobukatsu out to brothels, or perhaps he had taken a fancy to some woman and forced himself on her—anything shameful. Therefore, it was kept secret. As a close aide promoted by Nobukatsu, wasn't his job to clean up Nobukatsu's messes?

Now that Nobuo is dead, if he really has a son, then they'll just have to make it public. Maeda Toshiie shouted, wanting to confirm the child's authenticity.

It's not something that can be recognized just because Mr. Narita opens his mouth and says something casually.

"This matter involves the Great God of the Heavenly Realm, so we dare not act rashly." Narita Ujinaga also tried his best to use certain hints to hope that the people present would not reveal the matter.

The dozens of people present represent the ruling class of Japan. If it's only known to a small circle, then it's fine. As long as it's not leaked out, it's not considered a scandal.

"Tenchō Myōjin?" Nobunaga's reputation was renowned throughout Japan, and his words indeed stunned those who were either surprised or panicked.

"The male offspring was born to the concubine of the Great God of the Heavens, namely my daughter, Kaihime." Seeing that everyone was stunned, Narita Ujinaga finally revealed this news.

With a deafening roar, the entire hall erupted in chaos. The explosive nature of this news was entirely predictable; even Maeda Toshiie, who had been digesting it for half a day, hadn't expected it. Nobuo's son was actually born to his stepmother.

The noise in the hall was so loud that even the guards in the corridor found it unbelievable. These were all the elite people in Japan, yet they could make such a scene without any regard for decorum. It was a very rare sight.

"Silence! Silence!" Shichibei immediately called out, telling everyone to stop making noise.

Since it has already happened, we need to face it, and no matter how we face it, we have to look forward. Narita Kaihime's scandal has been exposed, so be it. At least it was exposed with some reason and cause, which is better than it being exposed purely as a scandal.

"There's no room for falsehood in this matter." Mori Terumoto was still putting on an act, and he was quite the convincing actor.

"Absolutely no exaggeration!" Narita Ujigatsu was now mustering all his courage and giving it his all.

At this point, everyone present suddenly realized that the reason why Narita Uchinaga, a mere captive of a fallen state, had been suddenly appointed lord of Kitasho Castle in Echizen Province just three or four months ago was clearly due to this. Furthermore, the fact that the Nijinsai (honeysuckle festival) which was supposed to be held earlier had been postponed for many days was obviously also waiting for something.

I'm waiting to have a son!

"This is a big deal, a big deal..." Terumoto Mori had already put on a dramatic performance, acting with great emotion, making it seem as if he was at a loss.

"This...this..." The sudden turn of events truly caught Maeda Toshiie off guard.

Despite all the calculations and even suspicions that the child was born from Oda Nobuo's random rape of a nun or village woman, he never imagined that the child was born to his stepmother.

What a beast! What a beast! How could he have gotten involved with his own stepmother? And not only that, he had a son, who was then thrust into the spotlight throughout Japan.

"This matter is of great importance. In my opinion, we should first ascertain the identity of this young man before we discuss it further." Shichibei stepped forward at this moment, able to speak "fairly" and tell everyone not to rush.

“That’s only right.” That was exactly what Takikawa Yutoshi was waiting for, and he immediately seized the opportunity as soon as Shichibei opened his mouth.

"Please also clarify this, Lord Maeda," Hijikata Yuhisa said. It wasn't enough for them to admit it; Owari Fuyo also needed to make a clear admission.

The Owari hereditary system is the foundation of ruling the land, and this child must gain recognition within it. Only with the recognition of the Owari hereditary system can one be qualified to inherit the position of ruler.

"Alright! I want to see for myself." Maeda Toshiie didn't mention Oda Nobushige for the time being; he needed to see Narita Kaihime and the boy with his own eyes.

The first day of the meeting came to an end. Shichibei also instructed everyone that since the matter was not yet settled, they were not allowed to spread the word.

In reality, there was no way to block them. As soon as they left the hall, Dan Tadamasa sent a messenger by fast horse to Oda Nobushige, and Honda Masanobu did the same. The situation had suddenly taken a 180-degree turn, and Ieyasu's waiting-and-see approach needed a complete overhaul.

Whether to continue supporting Oda Nobushige or to observe this so-called illegitimate son of Nobukatsu requires careful consideration. Furthermore, it seems that the de facto chief retainer, Kawamura Nagayoshi, has not yet been able to be kept in check; he has not yet clearly stated his position or attitude.

This Kawamura Nagayoshi is quite the shrewd old fox. No wonder he came from a small-time merchant background; he's probably calculating every move in his head. He's currently weighing who to support and who would bring him the greatest benefit.

However, Honda Masanobu's straightforward demand for a title in the Kanto region seemed to have completely dispelled Shichibei's suspicions about Tokugawa Ieyasu.

At least some progress has been made. At the central level, whether it's Mori Terumoto, Maeda Toshiie, or the three elder statesmen, they are all focused on vying for the throne after Nobukatsu. Now, even Kawamura Nagayoshi has been temporarily appeased; it's time to further win over the hearts and minds of the people.

Ieyasu, who was in Edo, received an urgent letter from Osaka just three days later. Hattori Hanzo, a member of the Iga clan who had suffered a major defeat and was massacred by Hori Hidemasa and others, had played a significant role in secretly building a communication route from Osaka to Edo.

Upon receiving the news, Tokugawa Ieyasu was utterly shocked. His previous plans were now almost entirely overturned.

Nobukatsu has a son, even if he's just a three-month-old infant. As long as the power of the Owari fudai (sons of the Owari clan) remains, he can secure the throne. At worst, before this young child takes over the reins of power, the authority of the realm will be eroded by the senior retainers.

The worst outcome would be the emergence of a powerful regent in the Kamakura Shogunate, with the regent becoming a figurehead. This was the case with the Kamakura Shogunate, as historical records show.

What about Oda Nobushige, who was in Edo and had already reorganized his army, preparing to go to Aizu? To put it bluntly, not only Tokugawa Ieyasu, but also some of the feudal lords who came to participate in the battle, secretly made many dealings with Oda Nobushige, trying to gain the upper hand.

Unlike his other followers, Oda Nobushige did not actively march to Kyoto, partly because he was under military orders to attack Aizu, and partly because he aimed to win over the hearts of the people in the eastern provinces and even gain control of the 120,000-strong army of Taira.

That's what he thought, but the actual effect was still somewhat lacking. After all, he was only fourteen or fifteen years old, and his strength was only 250,000 koku. Before he clearly obtained the right of succession, the friendliness of the Edo generals was still superficial, and they hadn't staked their entire fortunes on him.

That's just how people are. If everyone had the vision and determination to take on less important tasks, wouldn't the world be in chaos? Most people just follow the crowd; otherwise, why would Shichibei be able to hold a meeting whenever he calls it?

Since Shichibei is the most honest and kind-hearted man in Owari, and also the de facto chief retainer, it's just a meeting, so who wouldn't give Shichibei face? As long as most people who haven't taken sides are present, even those who are firmly on the side will choose to attend the meeting.

The moment Ieyasu received news of Nobukatsu's death, he realized the value of Oda Nobushige, who was in the Edo army. While others focused on his position as one of the "Two Lords of the Right" appointed by Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu saw something else that was even more important.

Mingdai!

Oda Nobushige was Oda Nobukatsu's deputy, acting as Nobukatsu's representative to lead troops to subdue the powerful local lords of Aizu. If Nobukatsu were alive, this so-called deputy would simply be the deputy who led the campaign against Aizu, nothing more, and could not be interpreted in any broader sense.

But things are different now. Nobukatsu is dead, and Saburo-hoshi is dead too. With the Meidai card played, Oda Nobushige is now the de facto number one in the land.

Because he was Oda Nobukatsu's publicly appointed Grand Chancellor, he possessed the power and authority to represent Nobukatsu. Given Nobukatsu's death, Oda Nobushige could legitimately and legally assume power in place of the young lord, and even succeed him.

There's no other reason than that Xinxiong appointed you.

The dazzling world is captivating, and everyone, including Oda Nobushige himself, is focused on the throne of Osaka Castle, neglecting this temporary successor.

Ieyasu's brilliance lay in his clear understanding that the Owari clan's fusuke (son of the Oda clan) was incredibly powerful, holding a dominant position in the country. As long as the Owari fusuke remained unshaken, the Oda clan's rule would remain secure. Therefore, any attempt to seize the throne of the Grand Chancellor now would be futile.

No one can become the Grand Chancellor unless their surname is Oda.

While those outsiders were obsessed with appearances, Ieyasu was able to maintain his proper position. His goal was to seize power, either as regent or Hojo Tokumune, and become the de facto ruler of the new realm. He didn't necessarily need the title of Grand Chancellor; wielding real power was sufficient.

On one hand, he dispatched Honda Masanobu to the Kinai region to gather information and make arrangements and take action as needed. On the other hand, he also operated within and outside Edo Castle, trying to win over the feudal lords who were participating in the Aizu campaign.

With Oda Nobushige's legitimate title and righteousness as a pillar, coupled with his status as Oda's son-in-law and a member of the Oda clan, as well as his wealth of over 800,000 koku, his actions were much smoother than Oda Nobushige's.

Nobushige needed the loyalty of the feudal lords, while Ieyasu only needed allies in a united front; the two were worlds apart.

However, the situation has suddenly changed. Nobuo has an illegitimate son. If the central government confirms this illegitimate son, Oda Nobushige's usefulness will be greatly reduced.

How to do?

The world situation is constantly changing, and Ieyasu deeply feels that he cannot always keep a firm grip on it.

Apart from Ieyasu and Nobushige, the other feudal lords who had set out for Aizu received news of the upheaval in Osaka around the same time, with a delay of about two days. They all felt fortunate that they hadn't openly sided with Oda Nobushige, otherwise they would have had no chance to maneuver.

That's all the vision they had. It was only under Oda Nobushige's command that Sanada Masayuki and Sanada Nobuoki, uncle and nephew, hesitated as they fought as members of the Shinano forces.

Sanada Nobuyuki was still young, and he lamented that he had lost the opportunity to rise to prominence as a former member of the Shinano regime. Sanada Masayuki, however, keenly realized that the Osaka central government had been debating the issue of Nobuyuki's successor for almost three months.

Previously, the suppression was temporarily implemented to await the birth of Princess Mori Komatsu. Now that Princess Mori Komatsu has given birth to a princess, an illegitimate son of Nobukatsu has emerged, effectively tearing apart the Owari Fuyoshi (family of descendants of Owari).

Because some of the Owari fudai, led by former Tadashi, have already clearly sided with Oda Nobushige. Given the awkwardness of that illegitimate son's origins, if the vast majority of the Owari fudai do not recognize his identity, then Oda Nobushige will ultimately be the one to succeed him.

Nobushige, as the eldest son of Oda Nobutada and grandson of Oda Nobunaga, was of impeccable bloodline. Moreover, Nobutada enjoyed great favor and trust among the Owari hereditary officials, and many of them had placed their bets on him.

In addition, Sanada Masayuki recently noticed that Tokugawa Ieyasu was actively trying to win over the Heisei army to his own side, and there was already a hint of tension in the air.

Suppose someone incites Owari no Fuyoshi, who has already expressed his support for Nobushige, to continue demanding that Oda Nobushige inherit the throne, what would the world become?

The current peace is over, and a huge storm is brewing, but even Sanada Masayuki can't see how far it will go.

Should we bet on both sides?

Chapter 637 Promises a Bountiful One Million

"You mean, Lord Edo is trying to win over the generals of the Heisei era?"

Upon hearing this news, Shichibei was still somewhat puzzled. But he quickly understood. Tokugawa Ieyasu had openly sent Honda Masanobu to tell him that he only wanted the Kanto region, so what was so strange about him trying to win over the generals of the Heisei era?

Ieyasu clearly wanted to seize this opportunity to bring Kanto and Oshu under his control and become the "King of Kanto".

Such is human nature. When Shichibei convened the meeting, he naturally harbored thoughts of seizing benefits from it. Not long ago, Mori Terumoto explicitly told Shichibei that the matter of the official seals for the opening of the five ports for trade would be entirely entrusted to Kawamura-ya, and would no longer be personally signed by the Grand Chancellor.

Taking advantage of the passing of Oda Nobuo Saburo, the master and disciple, everyone with a chance to sit at the table began vying for the inheritance, some subtly, others brazenly. All of Japan's power and interests were laid out on the table; who wouldn't want a piece of the pie?

"Father said that Lord Edo wishes to form an alliance of offense and defense with the generals." Sanada Nobuyuki received a secret envoy from Sanada Masayuki and came to pay his respects to Shichibei in person.

The brothers Nobuyuki and Nobushige, having been subordinates of Oda Nobunaga, had withdrawn from the inner circle of Oda Nobukatsu's regime. However, they were still serving in the central government, and as the only remaining members of the Sanada family in the central government, they naturally had to work for their clan.

The Sanada family possessed only a small estate of 50,000 koku in one county of Shinano Prefecture. In the face of the overwhelming tides of Japanese history, such a small estate could easily be crushed. To ensure the survival of their family name, they needed keen insight.

"That's not surprising." Maeda Toshiie was still desperately trying to win over Owari Fuyo.

With the sudden death of his chief retainer, Hideyoshi Hashiba, the Owari Fumoyo (son of the Owari clan) has temporarily lost a key figure. This presents a good opportunity for the middle generation of leaders.

"By the way, His Highness Edo also sent people to contact the generals of Noo, Etchū, Kaga, and Hida."

"Have you contacted Lord Maeda?" Shichibei asked with some doubt upon hearing this.

Connecting this to the generals of Noo, as well as Sassa Narimasa of Etchu and Fuwa Naomitsu of Kaga, the scope expands considerably. Judging from Tokugawa Ieyasu's intentions, he seems to want to lead the way in supporting Oda Nobushige. But given that Nobukatsu's illegitimate son has already been exposed, why is he still so proactive?

"I don't know," Sanada Nobuyuki replied readily; after all, he was just his father's mouthpiece.

"Send someone to inform your father immediately and ask him to secretly investigate this matter." Shichibei had no immediate plan, but that didn't stop him from investigating.

If Maeda Toshiie, along with Tokugawa Ieyasu, supports Oda Nobushige, then the voice of Oda Nobushige will be much stronger. They might even be able to suppress the voices of Mori Terumoto and the other three middle-aged men, and continue to support Oda Nobushige.

Ultimately, the final decision rests on the relative strengths of both sides.

and many more!

Shichibei suddenly slammed his fist on the table. This was the first time they'd encountered something like this; they had no experience. Only today, thanks to others' prompting, did they realize that the selection of the heir apparent was not something that could be decided by a simple meeting, but ultimately by the strength of both sides.