The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Oda Nobunaga glanced at the mountain of heads, then looked at Nagayoshi's expectant face.

"Didn't you hear me? I said retreat!"

Changqing reluctantly answered "Yes," and then ordered his troops to carry the spoils of war.

The generals stood on either side of Nobunaga, their faces flushing red and then turning pale. They had never imagined that after all this mobilization, they would not gain even the slightest bit of credit. In particular, Shibata Katsuie and Mori Yoshinari, known for their offensive prowess, could neither laugh nor smile, and were too embarrassed to offer any words of praise.

Four hundred broke six thousand! Although Okehazama claimed to have broken forty thousand with three thousand, in reality, the surprise attack was achieved with two thousand breaking five thousand. The two are completely incomparable.

"Don't all look like you've never seen anything like this before!" Nobunaga yanked the horse's head. "We'll talk about the celebration later. Gonroku (Shibata Katsuie) will lead the vanguard, and Sanzae (Mori Yoshinari) will bring up the rear!"

Nagayoshi was already used to Nobunaga's fickleness.

When Shibata Katsuie passed by Nagayoshi, he deliberately slowed down and, as an elder, said a word of encouragement.

"here you go!"

Nagayoshi still felt sympathy for Shibata Katsuie in history. During the Battle of Shizugatake, if Sakuma Katsumasa hadn't failed to retreat in time and Maeda Toshiie hadn't suddenly fled, Shibata Katsuie wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat.

He then bowed his head in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your praise, Lord Shibata."

By the time the entire army entered Cheongju Castle, Changqing's raiding party had become listless. Like a couple after a night of passion, they only longed for eternal sleep.

Nobunaga pointed his riding crop at the ranks and addressed the troops at the castle gate: "You! Last night, following Mori Nagayoshi, you outnumbered our forces and routed Saito's vanguard, greatly boosting our morale! The greatest credit for this battle belongs to you! All who participated will be richly rewarded! The wounded will receive generous compensation! The families of those who died in battle will be treated with utmost respect!"

The somber atmosphere was broken, and the low morale rebounded at a visible speed, with those tired faces regaining their radiance.

"Now we can cheer!"

……

"My lord is truly..." Maeda Toshiie said, standing beside Nagayoshi.

"Winning people's hearts and minds?" Changqing smiled. "Anyway, they're his army."

Hideyoshi leaned closer and whispered, "But when will we be credited for our contributions...?"

"That's something for our lord and elders to worry about. For such an achievement, they'd probably have to offer us a thousand or two thousand koku to appease us, wouldn't they?" Nagayoshi chuckled softly as he watched Nobunaga's departing figure.

At this time, the Oda clan had a large number of retainers, and although they could barely afford to offer a reward of several thousand koku, they had not gained an inch of Mino land after this victory. Such a lavish reward would only exacerbate the Oda clan's financial burden.

Marume Nagae watched his cheering subordinates fall silent. By this time, many soldiers' families had already arrived at the city gate.

Most of them were all smiles when they saw their loved ones return, while those who did not see their loved ones return were all wailing and crying.

Nobunaga had relief grain distributed on the spot, and people left in twos and threes. Some of the deafening pain from the previous incident was soothed by a few bags of rice.

"Chang Hui!"

"..."

"Nagae! What are you daydreaming about! Come with me to the dojo!"

"yes!"

Chang Hui jogged up to catch up with Chang Qing.

"More than ten people died at our dojo, right?"

"right."

"Let's each contribute some money and have Xiuchang send it to their families. We're master and servants with the same salary, and I still have to support Xiuchang, so let's split it 50/50!"

Marume Nagayoshi, seeing Nagayoshi's "nitpicking" manner, rarely smiled. "Yes, sir!"

A day later, Nobunaga finally issued the certificate of gratitude, and Nagayoshi framed his and Nagayoshi's certificate directly in the dojo as a tribute.

Nagae, a traditional samurai, was clearly somewhat resistant to this, but he only used it as an excuse to go out when he was getting the framed.

The actual reward for the four members of the raiding team did not arrive until the following day.

Inside the assessment room.

Oda Nobunaga was wearing newly bought leather boots, with Hayashi Hideaki, Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide, Mori Yoshinari, Sakuma Nobumori, and others standing on his left and right.

Kneeling in the center are Mori Nagayoshi, Kinoshita Hideyoshi, Maeda Toshiie, and Marume Nagayoshi.

"You did a good job with this surprise attack. You defeated a large enemy force with a small one, captured their general and flag, and greatly enhanced our army's prestige. After this defeat, the Saito clan of Mino will not dare to invade our border again for some time to come."

After Nobunaga finished speaking, he nodded to Hayashi Hideyoshi.

Lin Xiuzhen picked up four documents from the small table beside him. He took the first one on the right and announced loudly, "Rewards for meritorious service. Maeda Toshiie."

"Here!" Li Jia stepped forward.

"You led the charge, killing ten enemies, and your unit killed over a hundred. You are hereby awarded an additional 300 shi (a unit of grain) in reward!"

"Thank you, my lord!" Li Jia accepted the document with both hands.

"Kinoshita Hideyoshi."

"Here!" Hideyoshi's voice was exceptionally loud.

"You disrupted the enemy ranks, beheading two, and your unit killed seventy. You are hereby awarded an additional one hundred shi of grain each in both official rank and salary!"

Hideyoshi's eyes lit up. Although he didn't have territory, there wasn't much difference in reality.

"Marume Nagae".

Chang Hui stepped forward in silence.

"You killed twenty-three men in battle, protected your commander, and displayed extraordinary martial prowess. Since you are a retainer of Mori Nagayoshi, your lord shall reward you!"

Nobunaga had already heard the strange story of Nagayoshi and Nagae serving as master and servant, so he directly attributed the credit to Nagayoshi, thus saving some rewards.

"Yes!" Compared to the two people before her, Changhui seemed much calmer.

Finally, Lin Xiuzhen's gaze fell on Changqing.

"Mori Nagayoshi".

"exist."

"As the commander-in-chief, you made decisive decisions and commanded skillfully, beheading twenty enemies, and your troops beheaded over two hundred, capturing two enemy generals. This is the greatest achievement in this battle. You are hereby awarded a reward of six hundred shi of grain and promoted to Attendant General."

With this additional 600 shi (a unit of grain), Changqing is now a high-ranking retainer, and not far from becoming a city lord.

This rapid rise was rare even within the Oda clan and throughout the entire Sengoku period.

"Thank you, my lord!" Changqing calmly accepted the document.

"Alright, you may leave." Nobunaga waved his hand. "Train the troops well; there are still many battles to fight."

The four bowed and left.

Stepping out of the assessment room, Hideyoshi almost jumped up: "Six hundred koku! Lord Nagayoshi..."

"Shh." Changqing made a shushing gesture. "Let's go back first."

He noticed that at the corner of the corridor, several men in black were gathered together and talking in hushed tones, and Sasa Narimasa's face was all too familiar.

……

That very night, news of the reward spread throughout the taverns of the castle town. Nagayoshi's name was repeatedly mentioned in every corner of Kiyosu Castle.

"It's just good luck."

"To defeat six thousand with four hundred? I think that's an exaggeration."

"I heard they violated the code of samurai and killed the enemy general who should have been released..."

The sound came from Mino at some unknown time.

The next morning, a fast horse from the direction of Mino rushed into Kiyosu Castle, bringing Nobunaga the latest intelligence.

The Saito family is loudly proclaiming the treacherous and atrocious acts of the Oda army.

The news spread like wildfire...

"Have you heard? That Mori Nagayoshi broke the agreement and ordered a massacre!"

"A samurai's promise is like his life; such a person..."

"How could Lord Nobunaga appoint such an unrighteous person?"

The room on the top floor of the castle tower.

Hayashi Hideaki, with a serious expression, addressed Nobunaga: "My lord, this matter is of utmost importance. The way of the samurai is based on integrity and righteousness. Although Mori Nagayoshi won a battle, he lost the greater good. Now the Saito clan of Mino is spreading rumors, and the surrounding noble clans are discussing it extensively. If this matter is not handled properly, it may damage the reputation of our Oda clan."

Nobunaga nodded earnestly. "That's well said! So, what's your opinion?"

"The rewards bestowed upon Mori Nagayoshi and others should be reduced!"

"You mean you want me to punish the subordinate who just made a great contribution, right?" Nobunaga asked, feigning a genuine desire for guidance.

"It's not punishment, but..." Lin Xiuzhen was about to explain when a voice came from outside the door announcing something.

"My lord, Mori Nagayoshi has arrived."

Nobunaga overturned the table in front of him, startling Lin Xiuzhen so much that she shrank back.

"Let that bastard in!"