The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Four thousand soldiers assembled at Hineno Castle.

This military force was almost overwhelming for the small Moribe Castle.

Changqing had already received the news and sent Xiuchang to Qingzhou City to ask for help.

Nobunaga's gathering also takes time, so I can only try to delay it.

With low city walls, defending the front would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock; the only option was to launch harassment attacks to delay the enemy's advance.

"Yes." Changqing nodded. "Remember, the main objective is harassment, strike and retreat. The goal is to delay them, to keep them busy, not to annihilate them. Our lord needs time, and so do we."

"clear!"

Changqing now has forty horses, and he has divided his cavalry into two teams.

One team, led by Chun'an, circled around to the enemy's left flank; another team, personally led by him, attacked the right flank.

They only carried bows and arrows; their mobility was their only advantage.

Just as Ando's army had marched ten miles out of the city, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly echoed from the mountains on their left. Haruyasu, leading twenty riders, charged out like a whirlwind, unleashing a hail of arrows upon Ando's army.

After a chaotic scene of men and horses falling over each other, Chun'an did not linger in the fight. With a whistle, he led his team to turn around and run away, disappearing into the woods in the blink of an eye.

As soon as Chun'an withdrew, Changqing led his team to do the same thing, reaping more than a dozen lives before leaving triumphantly.

The vanguard of Ando's army stirred. Hiroshi Hineno, who was in charge of commanding the vanguard, was furious and immediately dispatched a mixed infantry and cavalry force of two hundred men to pursue Haruyasu's troops.

However, Chun'an knew the surrounding terrain like the back of his hand. He led the pursuers in several circles among the hills and streams, successfully shaking them off.

This repeated harassment successfully delayed the enemy's advance by half a day.

In the advancing Saito army.

Hiroshi Hineno tapped the saddle with his whip, his face displeased, and said, "Mori Nagayoshi is indeed as cunning as rumored. He dares not engage in direct combat and only resorts to cowardly sneak attacks."

Ando Morinari was nearly sixty years old, with a lean face but vigorous spirit. He was the "head of the Mino Triumvirate," following three generations of Ando family heads, and was the lord of Kita Castle and Iwamura Castle.

He stroked his beard and looked at his son-in-law, who had remained silent beside him. Takenaka Shigeharu was only seventeen years old at the time, but he had already shown extraordinary intelligence.

"Hanbei, what do you think?"

Takenaka Shigeharu bowed slightly: "Father-in-law, Lord Hineno. Mori Nagayoshi's move is intended to delay. His castle is small and his soldiers are few, unable to hold it, and he will surely send someone to Owari for help. Nobunaga will surely come to his aid once he receives the news. Right now, the Mino governor (Saito Tatsuoki) has not sent troops to distract Oda Nobunaga, so we can only fight a quick battle."

"Then how should we deal with it?" Hineno asked.

"Our army should advance with overwhelming force, straight to the castle. Lord Hineno has set up camp on the south side of the Nagara River, preventing Nobunaga from crossing rashly. In just one day, our army will surely raze this castle to the ground!"

Ando Morinari, who had always supported his son-in-law, nodded in approval, saying, "That's right. Hiroki, what do you think?"

Hiroshi Hineno thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Hanbei is quite right. Let's proceed with this plan."

As expected, Ando's army changed its strategy shortly after noon. Faced with the renewed harassment from Nagayoshi and Haruyasu, they only retaliated with arrows to disperse them, while the main force accelerated its advance towards Moribe, intending to seize the riverbank.

Changqing immediately sensed the other party's intention, and his heart sank.

He reined in his horse. "We can't harass them anymore. Let's retreat!"

"My lord, what should we do next?" Chun'an asked.

Changqing hesitated for a moment, then decisively said, "The entire army should return to the city and hold it. Chun'an, you set off immediately on the fastest horse to borrow troops from the powerful clans of Xinmei Nong!"

Chun'an was taken aback: "My lord, they... they were already reluctant to lend us horses before, and now that Ando's army is pressing in, why would they bother to stand up for us?"

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate. Appeal to their emotions, reason with them, and explain the consequences. Tell them that if Moribe Castle falls, Ando Mori's next target will be these 'fence-sitters.' They should understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' At the very least, get them to make a show of restraint and distract Ando's army. Go now!"

"Yes!" Chun'an no longer hesitated, turned his horse around, and headed southwest like an arrow released from a bow.

Changqing led his troops back to Moribu Castle, ordered the city gates to be closed, and mobilized one hundred men from nearby villages. Everyone began to reinforce the city's defenses, collect wood and stones, and prepare for the impending siege.

Chun'an traveled non-stop, visiting three cities in half a day.

He first went to the nearest castle, Komano Castle, where Takagi Sadahisa received him at the palace.

Despite Chun'an's best efforts, Zhenji shook his head and said, "What Lord Chun'an says may be reasonable, but the risk is too great. Ando's army is far too powerful for my Komano Castle to withstand. Please return and convey my apologies to Lord Mori."

Chun'an felt a chill in his heart, knowing that further words would be of no use. After bowing, he hurriedly took his leave and headed to Fukuzuka Castle.

Lord Ichihashi Nagaan of Fukuzuka Castle reacted in the same way as Takagi Sadahisa, and even more directly: "Lord Haruyasu, there's no need for further words. We dare not send troops to help for the sake of our family business."

The last stop was Cloudy City. Marushige Nagamori, who was nearly sixty years old, listened patiently to Haruyasu's account, but he had a blood feud with Nagayoshi and naturally refused to help.

"If Lord Mori is afraid, then abandon the castle and leave. I will not take advantage of your misfortune."

The setting sun was like blood, and the crows flew towards the northwest mountains and forests.

Chun'an, his back hunched, was carried into Moribu Castle like a corpse.

Upon hearing the three families' refusal, Changqing was furious.

The three families who joined the Oda clan submitted written commitments promising to serve, yet they are now failing to come and offer their support.

Ando's army had by then reached the north bank of Moribe.

That night, dark clouds obscured the moon, and Ando Mamoru set up camp on the opposite bank of the river, deploying scouts along the riverbank, planning to launch an attack early the next morning.

Meanwhile, Hiroshi Hineno led a force of two thousand men to set up camp on the east bank of the Nagara River, in preparation for the arrival of Oda reinforcements.

Moribe Castle has become an isolated island.

Once the city is abandoned, the gates of the newly occupied western Mino will be opened, and if these three powerful families then side with the Ando family, I will surely be held accountable.

His hard work was about to be destroyed, and the severity of Nobunaga's punishment was unpredictable.

On the city wall, Changqing looked at the faces in his city that were looking up at him, and then at the familiar camp on the other side of the river.

A ceremony, similar to a religious ritual, was being held there, and Ando Jun appeared to be paying tribute to the two generals who had died in battle.

Similarly, it also expresses determination.

"My lord, now we..." Chun'an asked from beside him.

It is a common saying that one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand, so how could I possibly have the thought of backing down at this time?

If we can hold out until tomorrow, Nobunaga's reinforcements will surely arrive!

Fortune favors the bold!

Changqing gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "Defend! Find a way to hold out for one more day!"

"Since our lord has made his decision, I will certainly not back down. But how can we defend it?"

"First step! Bring out all the best wine and meat! Ten strings of cash for the living! Five strings of cash as a condolence payment for the dead!"

"My lord, are you saying it backwards?" Chun'an was stunned for a moment, thinking that his lord had become confused in his anxiety.

Nagayoshi, mimicking Nobunaga, cursed, "Fool! This is a time to cherish life! Go start a fire and cook; I'll think of a solution while we eat!"

……

The campfire illuminated Changqing's face as he munched on a roasted sweet potato, his mind already replaying every city defense battle he knew.

Your opponent is Takenaka Hanbei (Shigeharu), right? He's known as the "Modern Zhuge Liang," isn't he?

Then I'll test your quality.

Taking advantage of his drunkenness, Changqing began issuing strange orders:

"Spring peace, take the brothers out for a stroll after their meal, ride around on horseback for a bit, and then come back!"

"Oh, and remember to fetch plenty of water from the river!"

"Make a bigger fire, make sure it's blazing, and roast the fish and meat. Ideally, the aroma should waft all the way to the other side!"

"Brothers, get the pots and pans banging! Does anyone understand the Xi'nan accent?"

"Sing! Sing songs from your hometown, and the best singer will get a tip!"