The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

In January of the ninth year of Yonglu (1565).

Winter in Iwamura Castle is unusually damp and cold, and only the snow scenery can offer some solace.

This snow is so white...

Changqing stroked Ashi in his arms, secretly pleased that he wouldn't have to go to the Northern Ise campaign this time.

How can we not seize the time to have many children... This era needs many sons and daughters.

Changing your surname means inheriting someone else's business; changing it back means it's all yours.

This time, the Northern Ise campaign will be led by Marume Nagae, with Hattori Haruyasu and Takenaka Shigeharu assisting. There shouldn't be any problems.

Changqing stood up and looked out over the railing.

A group of three hundred people set off in the morning mist, their horses' hooves pounding through the snow, heading west along the mountain path.

Aichi straightened her clothes and stood up, her cheeks flushed.

She knew that although Nobunaga and Nohime were affectionate and didn't pay much attention to the occasion, they wouldn't go so far as to do so much on the top floor of the castle tower.

This place is really high...

As she was thinking, she unconsciously put her hand on the railing, but then she remembered something and quickly hid in the inner room.

……

Kusu Castle in Kita-Ise was situated on a hill, and its fortifications were only about twice the size of Moribe Castle, capable of garrisoning several hundred people. It was an important stronghold for the Kobe family in the north.

With a force of 5,000 men led by Takikawa Kazumasu, and two fierce generals, Maeda Toshiie and Ikeda Tsuneoki, conquering this castle would be easy.

At dawn on the third day, the Mori army arrived at the Takikawa main camp in Owari territory.

In Takigawa Kazumasu's military tent, the general, known for his prudence, was discussing the attack on the castle with Maeda Toshiie and others.

Upon seeing the arrival of reinforcements from Yan Village, he stood up to greet them.

Maeda Toshiie was delighted to learn that Maeda Keiji had joined the Mori clan, so he stood up to greet him.

Ikeda Tsuneoki had conquered Inabayama Castle with the Mori clan, so he naturally gave the Mori family face. Seeing the other two stand up, he also stood up, though he didn't seem particularly eager.

"You three have come from afar; you must be tired. The commander of Kusu Castle is Nagano Ukyo, a fierce general of the Kobe clan. The garrison numbers about five hundred. The castle walls are not high, but the terrain is treacherous. Now that everyone is here, let's begin the assault immediately!"

Marume Nagae naturally agreed.

Five thousand against five hundred, a quick attack, just go for it.

The army then crossed the border and arrived outside Kusu Castle.

Kazumasu Takigawa immediately issued the attack order.

The drums thundered and the conch shells whirred.

The Oda army's foot soldiers roared and, carrying bamboo bundles and makeshift ladders, surged towards Kusu Castle like a tidal wave.

Arrows rained down from the city walls like locusts, occasionally cascading down hot oil-filled stones. The Oda army at the forefront suffered casualties, and their offensive was thwarted.

Maeda Toshiie frowned slightly. Ikeda Tsuneoki gripped the hilt of his sword, preparing to personally lead the charge.

However, at that very moment, the Mori army, which was in charge of the feint attack on the west gate, made its move.

Marume Nagae climbed onto the bamboo ladder, and the foot soldiers carried the ladder forward. Hattori Haruyasu and several of Marume's retainers did the same.

The bamboo ladder was barely lifted and placed under the city wall, then propped up by several people and placed on top of the wall.

The Maori soldiers each did their part; some carried shields to cover those building ladders, while others fired back to suppress the enemy archers.

"What a sight!" Maeda Toshiie's eyes lit up, and he blurted out his praise.

Just as Marume Nagayoshi climbed to the top of the city wall, Hattori Haruyasu was also pushed up.

Perhaps the soldiers were not trained enough, because in the chaos the ladder was flipped over.

Chun'an gripped the bamboo ladder tightly, hanging upside down on it, brandishing his katana and cursing, "Damn it! You've rebelled! Right me!"

However, the soldiers below had already begun their attack, and many had climbed the ladders, making it impossible to move them.

This scene made Ikeda Tsuneoki, who was nearby, chuckle, but when he saw Marume Nagae slaughtering everyone on the city wall, he immediately suppressed his laughter.

Takenaka Shigeharu was in charge of commanding the follow-up troops and the Mori clan's elite archers.

These archers are the elite of the Ashina School, tough men raised on three meals a day.

"Archers, concentrate your fire on that arrow sling! Suppress it!"

"Second group, ladders, please follow!"

Marume Nagae had successfully scaled a section of the wall. He wielded a katana, his movements as agile as a dragon, and wherever his blade flashed, blood splattered. The defenders who tried to surround him were no match for him.

"So this is... the Ashina style?" Ikeda Tsuneoki stared, somewhat stunned. He prided himself on his bravery, but the thought of his vanguard being surrounded made him realize he couldn't do the same.

Hattori Haruyasu also climbed up the city wall at this moment. He carried a five-foot rattan bow on his back and targeted the leaders of the defending troops.

Chun'an and Changhui's elite troops quickly tore a gap in the city wall, and the Mori army's archers also began to scale the wall to suppress the local reinforcements.

A large number of enemies were drawn to the Mori army's side, and Takigawa Kazumasu immediately seized the opportunity.

"Quickly! Attack!" he shouted.

However, Ikeda Tsuneoki had already been urging the attack from the front lines.

He brandished his spear and roared, "Don't just watch others do the work! Charge forward!"

With the rest of the army launching a fierce attack, the pressure on the Mori army was greatly reduced, and the city's defenses were quickly torn apart.

Many enemies were divided and surrounded before they could even retreat to their own city.

The defenses of Kusu Castle began to crumble the moment the Mori army landed.

Nagano Ukyo of the main castle attempted to rally the remaining troops, but was shot in the shoulder by Marume Nagayoshi's arrow and fell to the ground severely wounded.

With their commander seriously wounded, the morale of the defending troops completely collapsed. The remaining battle turned into a one-sided mopping-up operation.

The three hundred men of the Mori army were like they had been injected with chicken blood. In order to expand their gains, their bravery and efficiency made the Takikawa army main force that poured in afterward feel frightened.

When Maeda Toshiie stormed into the castle, corpses were everywhere.

He couldn't help but spit and curse, "What's the point of fighting? We're about to lose all our credit!"

The battle was basically over within half an hour.

The banner with the quince pattern of Takigawa Kazumasu fluttered atop Hisasu Castle, while Hattori secretly planted a banner with the three stars of the Ichimonji clan on the main castle.

While clearing the battlefield and tallying the results, Takigawa Kazumasu looked at the submitted documents and remained silent for a long time.

The casualties were much smaller than he had expected, and the key credit and the greatest victory were all attributed to the Mori army.

Marume Nagae not only captured Nagano Ukyo alive, but also personally took fifteen heads.

Hattori Haruyasu killed nine enemies, but he almost always killed the commanders.

Takenaka Shigeharu's command was effective, and his men shot and killed nearly a hundred men.

In contrast, the main Oda forces under his command, though numerous, achieved very few victories.

In the evening, a post-battle commendation meeting was held inside the military tent.

Takigawa Kazumasu sat in the main seat, with Maeda Toshiie and Ikeda Tsuneoki sitting on his left and right respectively. The three generals of the Mori army and the other nobles who had participated in the campaign sat on several rows of folding stools below.

He first affirmed the entire army's valiant efforts, and then announced the achievements of the generals. Merits needed to be reported to Nobunaga for reward, but he could issue private commendations.

Marume Nagae thanked him expressionlessly, accepted the token of gratitude, and returned to his seat.

When Hattori Haruyasu received the petition, he began to express his feelings.

"We deeply appreciate Lord Takikawa's kindness. However..."

He paused for a moment, seemingly considering how to save face for everyone.

"In this siege, the enemy had only five hundred men, while our army numbered five thousand. Taking the city would have been a piece of cake. My lord often taught us, 'What merit is there in a battle that is easy to win?' In the past, when we followed my lord to invade Mino, we fought against overwhelming odds at Moribe Castle, and when we conquered the three powerful clans, we fought bravely in dire straits. That is how true men are made. Compared to that, today's battle is truly... shameful. If we are to be proud of such a defeat, we will have no face to face our lord when we return to Iwamura Castle, and we will be laughed at by the other retainers."

The tent was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Marume Nagayoshi, the head of the Mori clan, frowned slightly but did not reprimand Haruyasu. He had not participated in the Battle of Moribe and felt he had no right to criticize his colleague.

Takenaka Shigeharu's face turned pale. He had intended to remind his colleague to be careful with his words, but now he couldn't utter a single word.