The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

The outline of Kiyosu Castle appeared on the horizon, and the Oda clan's quince-patterned banners fluttered on the castle tower.

As Nagayoshi passed through the city gate, the foot soldiers guarding the gate recognized him and immediately straightened their backs and bowed: "Lord Mori is back!"

He nodded in acknowledgment and rode straight towards the citadel.

"Oh! Isn't this Lord Mori?" Maeda Toshiie's eyes lit up, and he quickly came to greet him. "You're back from Odani Castle? I heard you became a kyudo instructor there?"

Nagayoshi smiled slightly: "It's just a temporary measure. Lord Asai is quite enthusiastic about martial arts, so I taught him some archery techniques of the Ashina school."

"Ashina-ryu... so it includes archery..."

Maeda Toshiie stroked his chin. "When will I be able to learn too?"

"You can go find Marume Nagayoshi," Nagayoshi agreed, then asked, "Where is our lord now?"

"They're at the palace in Nido Castle. You've come at the right time; news has come from Mikawa that Lord Matsudaira has already entered eastern Mikawa."

Ieyasu acted swiftly!

Nagayoshi's eyes flickered slightly, and then he bid farewell to Maeda Toshiie.

……

Upon entering the courtyard, Oda Nobunaga was playing with a brand-new katana.

"My lord, I have returned to report!"

"Oh, why did it take so long?"

Nobunaga seemed to be complaining, and after speaking, he drew the sword in his hand and swung it around twice.

"I had a very pleasant conversation with Lord Asai, so I stayed a few more days!"

"That's good. How about a reply?"

Changqing stood up, took out a letter from his bosom, and presented it with both hands.

Nobunaga took the letter, but instead of opening it, he looked at Nagayoshi with great interest: "You've been here so long, haven't you checked on the Asai family's reaction for me?"

"Azai Nagamasa was only sixteen years old and was a wise ruler who brought prosperity to the Azai family. He appeared gentle on the surface, but he was quite opinionated and also very patient. Among the Azai family retainers, Kaihoku Tsunachika was prudent and cautious, while Akao Kiyotsuna was more tactful. They did not reject the overtures that Oda had shown."

"Endurance? Another Takechiyo?"

"Yes, even if he dislikes the suggestions of his retainers, he can back down for the sake of everyone's satisfaction."

"If that's the case, then I'm quite tolerant. It seems I'm a wise ruler after all!"

Changqing couldn't help but lick his lips, thinking: "You can't tolerate that? That's called holding a grudge!" But he still flattered her, saying, "Of course you are a wise ruler!"

Nobunaga chuckled, then opened the letter. After reading half of it, he found it uninteresting and put it aside.

"Lord Mori is truly skilled; he has won the heart of the young master of the Asai family in just ten days."

"Thank you for your praise, my lord," Changqing said, bowing his head.

"You've returned just in time. Good news has come from Mikawa: Ieyasu has captured Nishigun Castle and exchanged his family members who were being held captive by the Imagawa clan. Ieyasu has sent gifts."

Nobunaga tossed the sword he had been playing with to Nagayoshi.

"This is a gift from Ieyasu. He said that this sword is worthy of a valiant general who rendered great service in the Battle of Moribe."

Changqing received the katana with both hands; it felt heavy in his grasp. He slowly drew the blade, a flash of cold light illuminating his eyes. The blade had a beautiful curve, its edge pattern resembling layers of ocean waves, and near the hilt were engraved two characters: Muramasa.

"This is..." Changqing's pupils contracted slightly.

"Ise Muramasa," Nobunaga said calmly. "Ieyasu specifically mentioned that this is one of his family's heirloom swords."

Historically, Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandfather, Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, was killed by his own retainer with a single sword stroke from Senji Muramasa during a battle against the Oda clan.

Then, Tokugawa Ieyasu's father, Matsudaira Hirotada, was slashed in the thigh by a close retainer, who also used a Muramasa sword.

Later, Tokugawa Ieyasu's eldest son, Nobuyasu, was suspected by Oda Nobunaga of colluding with the Takeda clan and committed seppuku, using Muramasa as his weapon.

Later, during the Battle of Sekigahara, it was Tokugawa Ieyasu himself who had his finger cut off by Muramasa. Therefore, Tokugawa Ieyasu harbored extreme hatred for Muramasa, considering him an ominous sign.

Muramasa was a family of swordsmiths in Ise Province, and all the swords they forged were called Muramasa. It is unknown which historical sword this particular one belongs to.

Ieyasu probably doesn't hate Muramasa that much anymore, but his intention in sending such a thing to Nagayoshi is quite intriguing.

"What, you don't like it?" Nobunaga's voice interrupted Nagayoshi's thoughts.

Changqing carefully put the knife away, pretending not to know anything, and replied, "This knife is the work of a master craftsman, and its sharpness is unparalleled. I am simply flattered and do not know what merit I have to receive such a generous gift."

"Hahaha! Takechiyo is indeed cunning, but he's also very pragmatic. He's probably trying to say: If I betray you, sir, then kill me with this sword. The lives of the Matsudaira clan are in the hands of Oda Nobunaga!"

As Nobunaga spoke, he began to imitate Ieyasu's manner of speaking, and his lifelike performance made the retainers lower their heads involuntarily.

It seems Nobunaga knew the origin of this sword... This sword is of the same kind as the one that killed Matsudaira Kiyoyasu and wounded Matsudaira Hirotada; it also symbolizes a vassal killing his lord! What does it mean that he gave it to me?

Is he just being paranoid again?

"My lord is wise," Changqing immediately flattered.

"Speaking of which, Monkey Tsukushiki has returned to report! The Saito family is wary of you, so I plan to appoint you as the acting castle lord."

"yes!"

"How could you just accept it like that? Shouldn't you say 'I'm unworthy of this' and then express your gratitude?"

"Thank you so much!"

"Get out of here! Raise your own military funds!" Nobunaga waved his hand and sent Nagayoshi away.

Although Owari was wealthy, Nobunaga could not control much of the wealth, and his stinginess became increasingly excessive.

Recently, temples and shrines have reduced their annual offerings to Nobunaga, plunging the Oda clan into financial straits once again.

Under such circumstances, they still want to expand their army, which is clearly an attempt to squeeze the income of their own dojo.

It must be said that this was also Nobunaga's way of employing people: give you opportunities, and also give you tests; if you succeed, you will rise to prominence, and if you fail, you will be doomed.

The winner was Hideyoshi, the loser was Sakuma Nobumori.

One repeatedly created miracles and became Oda's right-hand man, even "the ruler of the land"; the other became famous early on, but was exiled after repeatedly failing to conquer Ishiyama Honganji.

Back in his house, Nagayoshi placed the Muramasa sword on the sword rack and gazed at its simple scabbard.

If I were to kill Ieyasu in the future, wouldn't that be an auspicious and precious sword?

Three days later, Mori Nagayoshi, along with Kinoshita Hidenaga and a direct force of less than a hundred men, left Kiyosu Castle and headed east.

Marume Nagae was left in Kiyosu Castle by Nagayoshi to continue serving the public and taking care of the dojo.

The new castle was located in Moribe, and Nobunaga named it "Moribe Castle". The castle walls were still new, and the wood smelled of earth.

Hideyoshi was already waiting outside the city. When he saw Nagayoshi, his shrewd face immediately lit up with a smile.

"Lord Mori! You've finally arrived!" Hideyoshi jogged up to greet him. "Thanks to your foresight during the Battle of Moribe, the timber was plentiful, making the construction of this castle exceptionally easy! Those guys from the Saito clan dare not make any rash moves now. I even praised your wisdom to my lord!"

It turns out that Hideyoshi was secretly pulling strings; no wonder I became the castle lord after just one mission to Asai. As for those wooden pieces, I hadn't planned to go this far.

People like Hideyoshi, who come from humble backgrounds, will reciprocate any respect you show them, and they will never be stingy with their efforts.