The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Nijo Castle was destroyed during the Eiroku Incident.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki had no choice but to hold a victory celebration for Oda Nobunaga at the Honbonji Temple.

To demonstrate the shogun's majesty, he requested Nobunaga to provide sufficient support and to build a new castle.

However, Nobunaga refused, claiming that the country was not yet at peace and it was not advisable to undertake large-scale construction projects.

At that time, temples were protected by monk soldiers, and most temples were built like fortresses. Ashikaga Yoshiaki lived here, and with the garrison of Hosokawa Fujitaka and Akechi Mitsuhide, it was relatively safe.

In the temple of this country.

Yoshiaki sat in the main seat, while Nobunaga sat at the head of the table.

Nobunaga placed his sake cup on his knee, rested his chin on one hand, and listened as several elderly retainers of the shogunate talked about their various ideas for the "restoration of the Muromachi shogunate".

Changqing sat in the second seat, diagonally opposite Matsunaga Hisahide.

He hadn't expected Nobunaga to invite Hisahide, and Hisahide had readily agreed.

He had a blood feud with both Yoshiaki and Nagayoshi.

Nobunaga suddenly spoke, interrupting the public's endless chatter.

"Lord Matsunaga, now that you're here, you'd better explain yourself!"

Matsunaga Hisahide lowered his head and said, "I don't know what needs to be explained?"

Nobunaga slammed his hand on the table, his voice suddenly rising: "Of course it's about the murder of the former shogun! Shouldn't he explain this to his own blood relative, the current shogun?"

Matsunaga Hisahide seemed to suddenly realize something, and immediately bowed deeply to Yoshiaki.

"My son was ignorant and was tricked by Miyoshi into participating in the attack on the former general. It is my fault for not disciplining him properly!"

Changqing couldn't help but sneer.

They've been picked so cleanly!

Nobunaga sighed to Yoshiaki, "Lord Matsunaga was also deceived. Now that he is in Yamashiro Province, he will surely protect the Shogun and atone for his sins!"

Yoshiaki nodded with a forced smile, then personally went down to help Matsunaga Hisahide up.

"Killing my brother was not your fault. Please serve the shogunate from now on!"

He wished he could kill Hisahide right now. If Hosokawa Fujitaka hadn't saved him, he probably would have died at Matsunaga's hands too.

But Nobunaga had already given instructions, and Hisahide was a meritorious official who had led the advance to Kyoto, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

Nobunaga looked at him with disdain, but became enthusiastic when Yoshiaki looked at him.

Yoshiaki returned to his seat, but his tone carried a deliberately stern air.

This disappointed Hosokawa Fujitaka and Akechi Mitsuhide.

"The Shogunate will remember the merits of Owari no Kami during this campaign to Kyoto. My mind is made up, and I intend to petition the Imperial Court to appoint you as the successor to the Shiba family and to serve as the Vice-Shogun..."

"No need."

Nobunaga refused too decisively.

Yoshiaki's words came to an abrupt halt.

All eyes in the hall were focused on Oda Nobunaga.

"I am but a humble warrior from Owari, unworthy of such a high position as vice-general."

These words, spoken lightly, were like a slap in the face, a resounding blow to the face of the general's family, which had stood for three hundred years.

Yoshiaki clenched his fist tightly inside his sleeve.

Several elderly members of the Feng Gong clan behind him were trembling with anger, but none of them dared to utter a word in rebuttal.

Changqing picked up his wine cup and covered half of his face.

"Since that's the case..." Yoshiaki managed to keep his voice steady, "Since Lord Danjo-chū is unwilling to accept the position of Vice-Shogun, I dare not force him. I only hope that Your Highness will continue to support the Shogunate and suppress the rebels..."

"That's natural."

"Since I have been entrusted with this task by the General, I will naturally share the General's burdens."

Nobunaga looked at his retainers; some were astonished, some sighed, and some gloated...

Mori Nagayoshi was actually watching the show with a smile?

They should at least play along with my act!

"Changqing!"

"exist!"

"Shouldn't you have some explanation?"

Nobunaga is using the same old trick again!

"Matsunaga Danjo's son died at your hands. Shouldn't you apologize to him?"

Nagayoshi was stunned. Had Nobunaga lost his mind again? Matsunaga Hisahide was a traitor. Why should he bow down to him?

He said solemnly, "What wrong have I done by executing a traitor?"

Matsunaga Hisahide immediately retorted, "Lord Mori is right. Although Matsunaga Hisamichi is my son, he should first and foremost be a retainer of the shogunate. His rebellious and immoral behavior is entirely his own fault..."

After saying that, he pretended to wipe away tears, putting on a heartbroken look.

After a performance about the mere revenge for killing one's brother, another performance about the mere revenge for killing one's son has come up.

What a show! From the general to the lord, everyone from top to bottom was able to bend and stretch.

……

At the beginning of midnight, the public servants were helped down to rest.

Only Nobunaga, Yoshiaki, and a few other important retainers remained in the palace.

Nobunaga slammed his sake cup down, then suddenly changed his expression.

"Now that the general has returned to Luoyang, the military discipline of the realm should be restored to the dignity of the shogunate."

Yi Zhao was slightly taken aback, then sat up straight. He had been waiting for these words for far too long.

"Therefore!" Nobunaga surveyed the hall, his gaze sharp as a knife, "All daimyo should immediately go to Kyoto and pay their respects to the Shogun."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Hosokawa Fujitaka lowered his eyelids, Akechi Mitsuhide remained expressionless, Matsunaga Hisahide still had that submissive look, only Nagayoshi's hand holding the wine cup froze in mid-air.

Nobunaga made it sound so easy. But this order was not a declaration of "respect for the Shogun" at all, but a display of his own authority and an excuse to expand his territory.

Nobunaga counted on his fingers and said, "Lord Ieyasu, Lord Nagamasa, and Lord Yoritsuna have already expressed their willingness to march on Kyoto. As for the Muto clan of Wakasa, the Isshiki clan of Tango, and the Tayama clan of Kawachi... once they submit, the shogun must ensure the preservation of their original territories."

He paused, then looked at Yoshiaki meaningfully.

Yoshiaki could only nod: "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Tanjō-chū..."

Changqing, seated in the second seat, witnessed the entire scene.

The development is too fast; perhaps the Nobunaga encirclement will begin soon.

The current Oda no Uchiha clan is not as strong as it was in history, and they may not be able to withstand it.

"Changqing".

Nobunaga's voice suddenly reached my ears.

"What are you thinking about?"

Changqing put down his wine cup and pondered for a moment.

"I am thinking of Ise."

Several gazes fell upon him in the hall. Nobunaga raised an eyebrow but did not interrupt.

"My lord has pacified Yamato and Yamashiro; although the Miyoshi forces have suffered heavy losses, they have not yet submitted, and with the addition of Kitabatake in Ise and Asakura in Echizen, they probably won't come..."

Asakura Yoshikage was the first person Ashikaga Yoshiaki joined. Before Yoshiaki marched to Kyoto, he repeatedly requested the Asakura family to send troops, but the Asakura family always stood by and did nothing.

Now that the general has entered the capital, if Asakura were to go to Luoyang now, it would be tantamount to making a fool of himself.

The Kitada clan is still putting up a stubborn resistance. As a swordsman, Kitada Tokunori will not give in so quickly.

"Therefore, we should launch an attack on Ise within the year, otherwise things may change over time."

Nobunaga smiled and nodded.

"After the autumn harvest, once the rice in the fields is stored, I will send out my troops."

He paused, then looked at Yoshiaki.

"At that time, the general will be stationed in the capital, and the righteous cause will be used to punish the rebels, which will be perfectly justified."

Yi Zhao smiled and nodded in agreement.

……

In June, Nobunaga issued an order for him to go to Kyoto to meet the Shogun.

The Kinai region was shaken. Daimyo and powerful clans from Tango, Wakasa, Kawachi, and Settsu successively sent envoys to Kyoto.

Hosokawa Fujitaka privately remarked to Chōkei, "Kyoto hasn't been this lively in decades."

After the brief excitement came silence.

Asakura Yoshikage of Echizen remained completely still.

The envoy made three trips, but the Asakura family declined each time, citing "instability in the country." Nobunaga's letters piled up at Tsuruga Castle, covered in dust.

Kitada Tomonori in Ise also showed no reaction, let alone the daimyo in more distant regions.

At the end of the month, Nobunaga led his main force back to Gifu.

Before leaving, he appointed Mori Nagayoshi as the magistrate of Kyoto, with Hashiba Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide assisting him in handling Kyoto's political affairs and protecting the shogun's safety.