The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Before Nagayoshi could ask any further questions, Nobunaga looked at Ogasawara Nagatoki.

Nobunaga then looked at Ogasawara Nagatoki: "Would you be willing to serve me?"

Ogasawara Nagatoki took a deep breath and suddenly knelt down: "I am deeply grateful for Lord Nobunaga's kindness, but I have a request that I cannot make."

"explain."

"I have personally witnessed Lord Nagayoshi's martial prowess and admire him greatly. If permitted, I hope to become Lord Nagayoshi's retainer and assist him."

Becoming a direct retainer of Oda Nobunaga was an opportunity many samurai dreamed of, but Ogasawara voluntarily gave it up, willingly choosing to remain a retainer of a household retainer.

Nobunaga narrowed his eyes: "Why?"

Ogasawara raised his head. "In chaotic times, following a wise ruler is important, but following a comrade to whom one can entrust one's life is equally important. Lord Chōkei is not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but also possesses strategic acumen in every battle. I believe that by following him, we can not only revive the Ogasawara family name, but also truly do something for this chaotic world."

Nagayoshi was greatly alarmed, thinking: If you want to kill me, just say so. What kind of person is Nobunaga? When his paranoia kicks in, he'll fabricate a charge of treason against you.

Nobunaga stared at Ogasawara for a long time, then looked at Nagayoshi.

"Interesting. Alright! I approve! Ogasawara Nagatoki, you will serve as a retainer of Mori Nagayoshi." He turned to Nagayoshi, "We're all family anyway, aren't we?"

Now Nagayoshi no longer needs to confirm with Nobunaga.

"What, you don't want to?" Nobunaga asked.

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness. It is the greatest honor of my life to marry Princess Oshi."

Nobunaga nodded in satisfaction: "Good! The marriage will be set for next month! I'll let the whole of Owari know that I've gained an amazing brother-in-law!"

……

Over the next month, the story of Chōkei shooting Matsunaga Hisamichi and acting as the shogun's second resounded throughout Japan like the tale of "Little Boy".

At a tea party in Kyoto, the court nobles whispered among themselves: "I heard that Mori Nagayoshi shot two people with an arrow from a hundred paces away, and Matsunaga Hisamichi died on the spot."

In the daimyo's mansions of Kyushu, samurai argued: "Mikazuki Munechika is now in his hands; this is the shogun's approval!"

Asakura Yoshikage of Echizen wept bitterly before the shogun's severed head, vowing to punish the traitor. Hosokawa Fujitaka then brought the monk Kakukei (Ashikaga Yoshiaki) from Kofuku-ji Temple to Echizen.

However, Asakura delayed sending troops.

The reason was simple: firstly, he had no ambition to go to Kyoto; secondly, the frequent unusual activities of the Echizen Ikko-shu kept him from being distracted.

Samurai come to Iwamura Castle every day to serve.

Among them were down-on-their-luck ronin, and even samurai who had traveled from afar.

"They're all here because of your name," Ogasawara Nagatoki said with a smile.

He has quickly adapted to his new role and, together with Marume Nagayoshi, has trained Nagayoshi's troops in an orderly manner.

Nagayoshi was now feeling the pinch of his salary, so he asked Marume Nagayoshi to help him recruit seven or eight retainers, while he himself only took two.

One was Honda Masanobu. He was about twenty-six years old and was an important strategist for the future Tokugawa Ieyasu. He had left the Matsudaira clan and become a ronin after participating in the earlier Mikawa Ikko-ikki uprising.

One of them is Keiji Maeda.

As for why he came here, it's because history has changed so much.

Maeda Toshiie gained considerable credit for conquering Mino. In contrast, Maeda Toshihisa was frail and sickly, unable to lead troops and establish merit, while Keiji was a "fukai-zai" (a person who behaves strangely and contrary to common sense), which Nobunaga disliked.

Therefore, Nobunaga made Maeda Toshiie the head of the clan and only gave Maeda Keiji and his son two thousand kan for living expenses.

The father and son couldn't just sit around and do nothing, so they went to Changqing for refuge.

It's illogical that Nobunaga, in his youth, was such an oddball, yet now in his old age, he dislikes Keiji. Therefore, some historical accounts suggest that Maeda Toshiie offered slanderous advice in an attempt to seize the headship of the clan.

Maeda Keiji is six years older than Toshiie, and is now almost thirty-two years old. He wields a vermilion spear and rides the famous horse "Matsukaze." His prowess on the battlefield is no less than that of Nagayoshi.

Although this person's behavior was outrageous in various ways, Changqing, as a modern person, thought it was child's play.

Urinating on the battlefield to mock someone? That's nothing compared to the historical Mi Heng beating the drum while completely naked.

……

In the twelfth month of winter in the seventh year of Eiroku (1564), seven days before the wedding, Iwamura Castle began an unprecedented period of activity.

Honda Masanobu stroked his sparse beard and carefully marked on the account book: "My lord, Lord Nobunaga has sent 500 kan of wedding expenses."

After all, he married off a beautiful woman, so he can be a little stingy.

At worst, I can vent all my anger on Oichi. Now I'm considered a member of the sect, at least...

Nagayoshi stood atop the castle tower, overlooking the town below.

That year, he expanded Erdao City into Sandao City, and built several defensive strongholds along the mountain, modeled after Xiaogu City, and dug more wells and reservoirs.

The originally simple castle town is thriving under the planning of Shigeharu Takenaka.

Fortunately, Nobunaga didn't take the bait, otherwise he would have suffered a huge loss.

Changqing watched the busy crowd and leaned comfortably against the railing of the castle tower.

"What's the situation with Princess Oichi?" he asked.

Maeda Keiji leaned against a pillar and chuckled, "I've heard that the princess lives a secluded life in Kiyosu Castle, where her maids teach her the ways of being a wife every day."

Honda Masanobu narrowed his eyes: "She is Lord Nobunaga's most beloved younger sister. By marrying this renowned lord, Lord Nobunaga is binding himself to the greater good."

Indeed, the "Yonglu Incident" gave Changqing's reputation a special political meaning.

……

On the eve of the wedding, Iwamura Castle held a banquet.

Changqing, dressed in Wu-style clothing, sat upright in the main seat. His retainers lined up on both sides, each with a lacquered dining table in front of them.

Katsuie Shibata presided over the ceremony, meticulously following the etiquette of the samurai class, from washing hands and burning incense to reciting congratulatory messages.

He read it haltingly, which gave Changqing a strange sense of joy...

So this is what it feels like when someone else's "white moonlight" marries you...

Should we arrange for her to sleep next door tonight...?

Just as Nagayoshi was about to burst into laughter, Ogasawara Nagatoki raised his sake cup: "Congratulations on your wedding, my lord!"

Everyone responded in unison and drank it all in one gulp.

……

The moon rises above the branches, and a breeze stirs in the courtyard.

Oichi sat quietly on the tatami mat, like a beautiful woman carved from jade.

She already knew what was going to happen from the experienced maids.

The room was chilly in the winter. She gripped the corner of the blanket tightly with her small hands, her shoulders trembling, as if awaiting her final judgment.

Changqing opened the door and walked in. Seeing Ashi's pitiful appearance, he couldn't help but smirk.

From the very first meeting, Oichi possessed an elegant and extraordinary demeanor, much like the calligraphy of a master calligrapher. The idea that Oichi, in this state, would one day give herself to him and then gradually crumble was a source of great amusement for Nagayoshi.

The two drank some wine and then crawled into bed together.

Changqing ripped off the ribbon that tied her hair, and her thick, long hair cascaded down like a waterfall before being neatly spread out on the bed.

Ashi tilted her head and timidly pushed her hand against Changqing's chest, but Changqing gently pressed it down.

"Call me husband!"

"Hmm..." Oichi was a little flustered, and her other hand pushed towards Changqing's chest. However, she seemed to remember the maids' teachings, and her hand slipped and climbed onto Changqing's back.

Changqing found the push and pull of her delicate hand quite charming.

Then, the two of them gasped softly in unison, and their legs involuntarily intertwined...