The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

In the Battle of Moribe, which of Oda's generals did not know how brutal it was? In the campaign against the three powerful clans, although they used stratagems, they still achieved the miracle of three castles being breached by three hundred men.

Hearing the person involved say it with a slightly ashamed tone was incredibly impactful.

Hattori Haruyasu's words sounded extremely humble, even self-deprecating, but every word he uttered was a boast about the severe tests that Mori Nagayoshi's troops had undergone and how high their standards were.

Kazumasa Takigawa's facial muscles twitched slightly.

Having been immersed in the affairs of the martial arts family for many years, how could he not hear the sharp edge in this humble remark?

Amidst a hint of annoyance, there was even more shock.

He was shocked not only by the extraordinary fighting power displayed by the Maori army today, but also by the deep-seated pride of its warriors.

He suddenly realized that Lord Nobunaga's move to have Oichi marry Mori Nagayoshi was a sure-fire way to make a profit.

……

"Ah Qiu..."

Changqing sneezed while sitting by the stove.

Since I transmigrated, I haven't caught a cold.

It's just that it's too cold and the wind is too strong at the castle tower.

He glanced at Ashi beside him and couldn't help but admire her physique. No wonder she was able to give birth to three healthy daughters in this era.

From now on, we should stick to indoor activities during the winter... I wonder how Chun'an and the others are doing...

"My lord, Lord Nobunaga's messenger has arrived..." Honda Masanobu called from outside the door.

"Please ask him to come to the main hall; I'll be there right away!"

……

Nobunaga's handwritten order was respectfully presented, the paper exuding the chill of winter.

Changqing unfolded it and took a look. His brows first furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and finally he revealed a look of bewilderment.

Aichi watched anxiously from the side until Changqing handed her the warrant.

"See for yourself, your brother... well, he's very angry." Changqing rubbed his temples.

Ashi took the letter and began to read it.

Nobunaga's handwriting was flamboyant and arrogant, and now it was even more chaotic, making one imagine that he must have been cursing as he wrote the letter.

The gist of the report is as follows: After the Battle of Northern Ise, Takigawa Kazumasu reported on the battle achievements and the words and deeds of the generals. Hattori Haruyasu made outrageous remarks in front of the army. Although it seemed like humble words, it was actually contemptuous of allied forces and arrogant, damaging the face and unity of the Oda generals. Mōri Nagayoshi was ordered to strictly control his retainers and personally write letters to the three generals Takigawa Kazumasu, Ikeda Tsuneoki, and Maeda Toshiie to quell the criticism.

Changqing sighed and looked toward the skylight.

When did I ever say, "What merit is there in winning a battle?"

The phrases "I have no face to face my lord" and "I fear being laughed at by the other retainers" are even more outrageous.

Chun'an's play only deserves an 8.6 out of 10; Changqing feels like he's doomed.

Oichi commented, "That's... quite a stretch. Although Haruyasu said his own standards are high, to Takikawa and Ikeda, it's tantamount to saying that their battles are insignificant and that it's easy for them to gain credit."

"Yeah, that bastard Haruyasu! Why didn't Takenaka Shigeharu stop him!"

Changqing wasn't really angry when he was scolding him.

He sat up straight, spread out the letter paper, picked up the pen but found it difficult to write.

"How do I write an apology letter?"

Changqing's lips were almost twitching.

"If we write too harshly, we'll discourage our own warriors; if we write too lightly, we won't be able to get past Nobunaga, and those three won't be able to resolve their grievances. The key point is, we didn't actually do anything wrong; we just spoke too frankly."

Upon hearing this, Oichi covered the corner of her mouth, looking quite adorable.

"My husband is still a child at heart..."

In the end, Changqing wrote three apology letters with almost identical wording.

In the letter, he characterized Hattori Haruyasu's remarks as "young and impetuous, ignorant of worldly affairs," repeatedly emphasizing his loyalty to Lord Oda and his respect for the three generals. He also claimed that he had strictly ordered Haruyasu to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors (in reality, Haruyasu was still on his way back to the army), and earnestly requested the three lords to be lenient and not to stoop to the level of a "rough and straightforward warrior."

At the end of each letter, he stamped his monogram.

……

Under Nagayoshi's instructions, Takigawa Kazumasu, the commander-in-chief of the Ise campaign, was the first to receive the apology letter.

At the time, he was dealing with the aftermath of the pacification of northern Ise when he saw Mori Nagayoshi's seal and paused for a moment.

After reading it, the veteran's expression was quite interesting.

"A rough and straightforward brute"? "Ignorant of worldly affairs"?

Takigawa Kazumasu recalled the Mori army's fluid and coordinated attacks during the siege, Marume Nagae's ascent of the castle as if it were flat ground, Hattori Haruyasu's ruthlessness in beheading enemy chieftains, and Takenaka Shigeharu's command of the archers to suppress the enemy army so they couldn't raise their heads.

Is the leader of such an army a fool who is "unworldly"? It's not like he doesn't know Hattori Koheita, who was very obsequious when he was a cavalryman.

This apology letter is even more painful to read than Hattori Haruyasu's "outrageous remarks".

Chun'an's words were a proud barb, while this letter was like cotton wrapping a hard stone.

The Mori family's standards are just that high. My retainer was ignorant and said it out loud, and I apologize on his behalf, but the principle remains the same.

Takikawa smiled wryly and picked up his pen to reply.

What could he possibly write? Could he say, "Yes, your family is indeed superior, and we are inferior?"

He could only be more polite, replying, "Lord Hattori is exceptionally brave and outspoken, truly the nature of a samurai. We would never have taken his words to heart. This collaboration has left a deep impression on us regarding your army's strength, and we look forward to working together again in the future."

While the tone was polite, the awkwardness of "Let's not talk about it anymore, it's all in the past" was almost palpable.

When Maeda Toshiie received the letter at Ōgaki Castle, he was drinking with Kinoshita Hideyoshi.

After reading the letter, Toshiie handed it directly to Hideyoshi, laughing and scolding, "Look at what your good brother wrote! Where does that leave me?"

Hideyoshi glanced at it and burst into laughter: "Lord Mori has been forced into this situation by Lord Nobunaga."

Li Jia's smile vanished, and he snatched the letter back.

"The truth hurts the most! Now, with this letter, it makes it seem like we're petty and can't stand others telling the truth!"

His reply was exceptionally earnest, expressing both gratitude for Changqing's apology and approval of Mao Lijun.

At the end of the letter, he did not forget to praise the bravery of the Mori army, and even specifically mentioned "Keijiro is with you and I am grateful for your care", trying to use personal friendship to dilute the awkwardness of official business.

But after he finished writing, he still felt uneasy all over.

The most brilliant performance was by Tsuneoki Ikeda.

This hot-tempered general was already resentful of Chun'an's words, feeling that he had been "looked down upon" by a junior.

After reading Changqing's apology letter, he first snorted, "He knows what's good for him!" But upon closer inspection, something seemed off.

"Mori Nagayoshi is apologizing on the surface, but he's really just protecting his own! His words imply that his retainers are too arrogant and look down on our 'easy victory'!"

He was so angry he wanted to tear the letter up, but in the end, suppressing his anger, he replied with the shortest possible letter: "It's a trivial matter, please don't mention it again."

I don't want to write a single extra word.

After finishing writing and throwing it to the messenger, he grumbled to his deputy, "What kind of mess is this! I get scolded twice for every single one!"

……

The next day, Marume Nagae and his men, along with three hundred Mori soldiers, arrived at Iwamura Castle.

Throughout the journey, Hattori Haruyasu was filled with unease, while Takenaka Shigeharu was even more deeply troubled.

When the two passed through Kiyosu Castle, Haruyasu heard from his former colleagues about Nobunaga's outburst.

"Chongzhi, will the lord really be angry?" Chun'an couldn't help but ask.

"I might not get angry, but I'll definitely reprimand you. Chun'an, what you said was true, but it was quite blunt. Lord Nobunaga values ​​his reputation most and hates internal discord the most. My lord is in a difficult position."

Marume Nagae rode in front on horseback and laughed, "However, you really should think before you speak next time."

Chun'an looked dejected and muttered to herself, "I've thought about it! I've been thinking about it all afternoon!"