Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Upon seeing that Takeda Shingen insisted on arranging a marriage between Shichibei and Yamagata Masakage, he immediately realized that Shingen was making preparations.

Given the close, almost platonic relationship between Shichibei and Oda Nobunaga, it's highly unlikely that Shichibei would betray Nobunaga. However, if the Takeda clan were to invade Owari and capture Kiyosu Castle, forcing the Oda army to withdraw from Shimo-Owari, what choice would Shichibei make?

Haha, everyone has their own unique path.

It's pointless to say anything definitive now; Inuyama Tessai is just waiting to see what happens. In the future, he'll become the deputy governor of Owari, and Shichibei will become the deputy governor of Shimotsu Owari—they'll be working together in the same palace.

"This..." Shichibei isn't exactly stupid, but why can't he understand what Inuyama Tessai is saying?

After all, Shichibei never intended to betray Oda Nobunaga, so he wouldn't naturally think in that direction. Moreover, Takeda Shingen didn't offer any conditions for the peace of the four lower districts of Owari, or even mention them; he just chatted casually with Shichibei.

We're not the kind of people who have a rebellious streak, whose minds are filled with nothing but betrayal, betrayal, and more betrayal.

"I was indeed presumptuous; let's pretend I never heard of it." Inuyama Tessai smiled meaningfully and strolled away.

"Lord Inuyama?" Shichibei reached out to stop him, but Inuyama Tessai simply walked away.

Just then, Toyama Kageto returned by another route, saying that he had prepared the gift for Princess Matsukime and that they could ascend the castle again.

Sigh, alright, Shichibei could only shake his head and go and expedite the marriage between Oda Mystic Maru and Takeda Matsuhime. This time, Toyama Kagetoshi also went up the castle with Shichibei. With Shichibei's personal promise, Shingen readily agreed, saying he would immediately fulfill the marriage agreement made years ago.

Then, Takeda Matsuhime was brought out to pay her respects to Shichibei and Toyama Kagetoshi, and to express her hope that Kawamura-dono would take good care of her on her journey to Gifu.

No problem, no problem. If Oda Myojomaru successfully ascends to the throne, then Princess Matsuhime will be Shichibei's mistress.

Whether he was happy or not, Takeda Shingen didn't even mention betrothal gifts. It was Atobe Katsuyuki who stepped forward and said that it would be the same as when Lady Toyama married into the family.

Five thousand strings of cash!

I understand. Buying a few years of peace with the Takeda clan, five thousand kan is a reasonable price. Shichibei didn't pretend and immediately started settling accounts with Atobe Katsuyuki, discussing the price of each gift and the cash payment.

Anyway, when Takeda Matsuhime marries into Gifu, a dowry will have to be prepared. Of course, for couples with pre-existing betrothals, the dowry is usually prepared and increased every year. For example, new clothes are purchased every year. Hair ornaments and clothing are expensive items these days; even a tortoiseshell hairpin costs a fortune.

Finally, they all went with the princess to get married, bringing with them a dowry that was estimated to be two or three thousand kan. In this instance, Shingen could barely be considered to have not profited from the Oda clan.

Upon leaving the inn, Shichibei immediately dispatched a messenger on horseback to Gifu to inform Nobunaga that Shingen had agreed to Princess Matsuhime's marriage and that his own sister was to be betrothed to Yamagata Genshiro, the eldest son of the Yamagata family.

Let me warn you in advance: I risked my own sister for you, and we'll settle this score later.

Having accomplished this, Shichibei felt a huge weight lifted from his heart. The Takeda clan, however, insisted that preparations for Princess Matsuhime still needed to be made. This princess shared the same mother as the future Nishina Morinobu, and marrying at only twelve years old was no easy feat. A few days were necessary for her to say goodbye to her parents.

Furthermore, following the custom of Japan's Sengoku period, several samurai families would be selected as attendants to Princess Matsuhime, accompanying her to the Oda clan as part of her dowry. According to Yonekura Nobutsugu, these were generally chosen from loyal, experienced samurai without any significant background. In any case, it wouldn't be Yonekura Nobutsugu, the head of the Takekawa clan, himself.

Speaking of this, Shichibei asked whether Takeda Shingen's own close retainers would be sent out.

Muto Kihei.

He was someone I knew; he'd come to class with Yonekura Nobutsugu back then. In other words, he'd be Sanada Masayuki. If Muto Kibei had come to marry into the Oda family, Shichibei would have taken him under her wing no matter what.

Unfortunately, Yonekura Nobutsugu waved his hand dismissively. Muto Kihei was already one of the six close retainers of the Takeda clan. How could he possibly be sent to serve Princess Matsuhime? These were all young men promoted by Shingen, destined to become foot soldiers in the future.

It's pointless. I thought I could earn some interest from the Takeda family.

Because the negotiations between the two sides were successful, the Takeda clan treated the Oda delegation very well during the period of waiting for Princess Matsuhime to be married. Shingen not only provided Oda soldiers with food and drink, but also hosted a banquet for Shichibei and others.

Although only the mountains of Kai are still in bloom, the early summer scenery within the castle is quite beautiful. Tsutsuzaki Castle is primarily a residential castle with more defensive features, boasting courtyards and woodlands. Shingen even invited a band to perform acrobatics for Shichibei as a gesture of welcome and goodwill.

Indeed, it's much better than Noh.

In Shichibei's opinion, these acrobatic performances were second only to the hunting events he had seen at Gifu Castle. They were more entertaining than the sumo wrestling he had seen in Kyoto. Many people couldn't accept sumo, seeing it as two lumps of flesh pushing each other around, but at least it had some competitive element.

Performances with a competitive element are far more entertaining than those with a competitive element. Later, when Russian President Putin visited Japan, the imaginative Abe invited him to see a performance of some so-called Japanese ancient martial arts style, which lacked any competitive element, leaving Putin completely bewildered.

The acrobats below were performing on stilts, and Toyama Kageto watched with great interest, while Shichibei was also enjoying himself. However, Shichibei, being a small merchant by trade, was good at reading people and would occasionally glance at Takeda Shingen.

It turned out that Takeda Shingen seemed to be feeling unwell; he not only did not raise his cup to drink with those around him, but also seemed to be suppressing some kind of pain.

hiss……

Later accounts claim that Takeda Shingen was fatally wounded by a gunner inside Noda Castle during the siege, but this account is not very credible. Sugitani Zenjubo couldn't kill Nobunaga by sniping him from 20-30 meters away in broad daylight; how could this nameless gunner from Noda Castle have hit Shingen at night?

It should be noted that Takeda Shingen was a seasoned and experienced general, and he knew perfectly well the range of arquebuses. Even if he was captivated by the so-called flute music, surely he wouldn't have advanced to within twenty or thirty meters of the castle walls?

The more plausible cause of death is likely tuberculosis or esophageal cancer.

When I met with Shingen earlier, I didn't notice any coughing or wheezing symptoms. Why is Shingen suddenly suppressing his pain now?

Could it be that it's already in the middle or late stages of cancer?

To avoid arousing suspicion, Shichibei didn't look at Takeda Shingen much. Takeda Shingen was also patient, and only left as usual after the acrobatic performance ended. He even smiled and greeted Shichibei.

However, in Shichibei's preconceived notions, Takeda Shingen's smile seemed somewhat forced. Of course, this could just be Shichibei's overthinking, since Shichibei hadn't actually taken Shingen's pulse.

Actually, pulse diagnosis isn't always accurate. If there were a T-machine or a blood testing machine, it would be much more convenient to give Shin-hye a proper diagnosis.

Seeing that Toyama Kagetoko might not have noticed anything, Shichibei remained silent. After leaving the residence, he pretended that the weather was getting hot and he had an upset stomach, and sent someone to find Yonekura Nobutsugu to inquire if there were any famous doctors near the castle.

Just an excuse...

Yonekura Nobutsugu's reply arrived quickly, containing only one sentence: the renowned physician Nagata Tokumoto is in the city, and we can invite him to provide treatment later.

really!

At this point, regardless of what kind of cancer or inflammation Shingen has, it's definitely starting to show signs of illness. Perhaps it's not very serious yet, but his age is undeniable. Coupled with years of warfare and his fondness for women, illness will surely strike like a landslide.

Shichibei didn't probe Nagata Tokumoto about Shingen's illness, only saying that he had come to him on Yonekura Nobutsugu's recommendation. As for diarrhea, it's simple; just drink more ice water or eat more melons, and getting diarrhea symptoms is easy enough.

Nagata Tokumoto took Shichibei's pulse and said frankly that it was not a serious illness and that he did not even need to take medicine; he could recover after a day or two of rest.

Shichibei then took the opportunity to express his gratitude, saying that Dr. Nagata had just finished seeing patients in the castle and rushed to Inuyama-yashiki immediately, which was really too much trouble. He took a silver coin and gave it to Nagata Tokumoto, who said it was no trouble at all, as he was just passing by since he was coming from the castle.

good good!

He really did come from inside the city. Although it's possible he wasn't there to treat Shingen, there's definitely a chance. Given Shichibei's foresight, Shingen might actually be showing early symptoms right now.

The living Shingen was frightening, after all, he was a daimyo who was quite brave and capable in battle. But what was there to fear about the dead Shingen? No matter how powerful a samurai is, once he dies, all that's left is a mound of earth.

Chapter 234 Marriage is a Journey of Deep Worries

With Shingen personally seeing her off, Takeda Matsuhime departed from Tsutsuzaki-no-kan in Kai Province, preparing to travel to Gifu Castle to marry her fiancé, Oda Kyokumaru.

Many senior retainers and elders of the Kai Takeda clan offered gifts and blessings. Of course, they also came to see the "Oda army," namely Shichibei's 3,500 men, which they could see with their own eyes.

Kosaka Masanobu, who came from Kita Shinkaizu Castle, and Naito Masatoyo, who came from Nishi Ueno Minowa Castle, both carefully examined the army before them. They exchanged glances with Baba Nobuharu, who came from Minami Shinshi Castle, and it was clear that all three of them shared the same view.

Not to be underestimated!

The Oda army was indeed a powerful force that had swept across the Kinai region and successfully stormed Kyoto. Its men were numerous and highly skilled. The samurai foot soldiers within the ranks were not only in high spirits but also well-equipped. The vast majority of them were not peasant soldiers conscripted from feudal agricultural territories, but rather regular troops supported by Shichibei with Yongle Tongbao coins and annual tribute rice.

Their sheer spirit and energy far surpass those of the unmotivated peasant soldiers who are mainly responsible for shouting "666".

Even if the mountain people of Kai and Shinano are hard-working and brave fighters, they might only be able to fight to a draw against soldiers who spend a lot of time preparing for war, whose daily duties are just general guard and training, and who don't have to worry about making a living.

Actually, they were wrong. The quality of Shichibei's troops was actually among the top tier of the major samurai generals and commanders in Oda's army.

Firstly, the army was formed early. Starting with the personal involvement of Oda Nobunaga in setting up a dedicated small pack animal team for the Oda army, the Kawamura army was able to form an army and send troops out year after year, engaging in long-term campaigns.

Secondly, their income was plentiful. Unlike other Oda samurai generals, Shichibei's income did not depend on annual land tributes, but rather on commercial operations. In addition to their usual land holdings, most of Kawamura's troops had extra income, resulting in ample funds and provisions, and high morale among the soldiers.

Finally, there was the elite Rokkaku clan, whose forces had been defeated. They simply gave Shichibei their best soldiers, skilled in both the Hioki and Ogasawara schools of archery and horsemanship. Admittedly, this was related to the situation at the time, but regardless, hundreds of elite Rokkaku-ryu archers joined Shichibei's ranks.

In addition, there were many samurai from the northern Ise powerful clans who had sought refuge with Shichibei before the fall of Ōkōchi Castle. There were also samurai retainers of the Saitō family who were forced into exile after the fall of Inabayama Castle. These samurai, who had lost their lands or lords for various reasons, successively sought refuge with the Kawamura family, who provided them with shelter.

Although back when Shichibei first started out, it was often said that anyone in Owari with even the smallest talent, like a firefly's tail, would flock to Nobunaga to try and secure a place in the fold, the Kawamura family still managed to amass a large force after years of fighting.

So much so that now, in the eyes of the elders of the Takeda clan, it is truly extraordinary.

Although the Takeda and Oda clans have been allied for many years, unlike the Imagawa or Hojo clans of the past, they have not fought side by side in numerous battles, and both sides have an assessment of each other's combat strength.

The rare opportunity to witness a large-scale, organized Oda army caused the senior Takeda members to worry about their future with the Oda clan. While minor figures like Yonekura Nobutsugu were unaware of Takeda Shingen's thoughts, the senior members were well aware of them.

Shingen couldn't kill Uesugi Kenshin, nor could he kill Hojo Ujiyasu. The key point is that Ujiyasu had already sent people to restore peace between Kai and the Minister of War. Therefore, the Takeda clan's next target could only be the Oda-Tokugawa army.

During Japan's Sengoku period, the actions of the feudal lords were like rowing against the current; if you didn't advance, you would fall behind. If you didn't expand outwards, not only would internal conflicts remain unresolved, but you would also be surpassed by other feudal lords.

Especially a power like the Takeda clan, which has always relied on external expansion to unify the various branches of the ambitious Takeda clan in Kai Province. Without the benefits of new territories, these branches would definitely turn their attention to the position of lord of Kai.

Whether it was Iitomi Toramasa, who had already committed suicide, or Anayama Nobukichi, Shingen's son-in-law, which one of them hadn't rebelled against the Takeda clan? Oyamada Nobushige and Kiso Yoshimasa are now subservient to the Takeda clan, but if the Takeda clan declines, how long can their loyalty be maintained?

The situation was truly troubling for them. The Oda army looked quite formidable, while the Takeda clan had to fight outwards in order to acquire new territories to pacify their internal territories.

To advance or to retreat?

It's really hard to explain.

Yoshiyori, however, didn't have such thoughts. Although it was his first meeting with Shichibei, Shichibei had facilitated his connection, introducing him to the city and establishing his position as the governor of Shinano. Since no war had broken out yet, they were friends, not enemies. As instructed by Shingen, the Takeda army would escort Princess Matsuhime all the way to the Suruga border.

Takeda Yoshiyori was quite curious about what kind of person Oda Kyokumaru was. Kyokumaru was not only his brother-in-law, but also the future head of the Oda family. It was always necessary to learn about him in advance.

In truth, Oda Nobunaga was absolutely capable of maintaining Nobunaga's legacy. While he might not have been as talented as Nobunaga, he had no weaknesses in any area and was equally capable of conquering the land. It was the third generation, Oda Hidenori, who was indeed less capable, lacking decisiveness in choosing sides and failing to have keen insight, ultimately leading to his complete downfall.

However, there's not much to say about Shichibei right now. All I can say is that Oda Mystic Maru is a spitting image of his father. Let's just say that sons resemble their fathers; it's only natural.

The two chatted and laughed as they crossed the Suruga border. Takeda Yoshiyori even invited Shichibei to visit Kai sometime, saying he would send someone to find him a good horse.

Hey, my friend, if you can avoid using a strainer and a wine glass, I'll be thankful.

As for your horse? Forget it, we'll meet again someday. I just hope that next time we meet, it won't be in the form of some food utensils.

When passing through Hamamatsu Castle, Ieyasu warmly entertained Shichibei. Shichibei hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to warn Tokugawa Ieyasu beforehand, but ultimately refrained. Warning Ieyasu now would only alert him, which would be counterproductive.

"It's better to die for others than for myself," the saying goes. The annihilation of the Tokugawa clan has nothing to do with Shichibei. Nobunaga specifically courted the Tokugawa clan to create a buffer zone to the east. And since it's a buffer zone, one must be prepared to withstand the iron fist of the enemy.

Besides, Shingen only brought 25,000 men to Kyoto. Ieyasu himself could mobilize an army of over 20,000; if they couldn't win, they'd be easy prey.

Practice makes perfect!

Or rather, Ieyasu himself couldn't unite the Totomi and Mikawa clans, making them even more vulnerable. Getting a beating might actually improve the cohesion of his clan.

Upon their return to Gifu, the Oda and Takeda families held a grand wedding, with Atobe Katsuyuki and Katsuyama Nobusada escorting Princess Matsuhime. Nobunaga organized the wedding with an exceptionally grand scale, ensuring that the Takeda family could find no fault with it.

Having married, Oda Kyokumaru naturally held a coming-of-age ceremony and was given the name Oda Nobutada (or Oda Nobushige, according to another account). Nobunaga did not seek an official position from the imperial court, nor did he ask the shogun for a name, but he did have the former shogun, now the great lord Ashikaga Yoshihide, cut Oda Nobutada's hair, which was a rather enigmatic gesture.

However, these are now considered minor details; the most important thing is to temporarily solidify the marriage alliance between the Takeda and Oda families.

At this time, the Takeda clan was a daimyo with a rice yield of over 1.2 million koku, while Nobunaga was a ruler with a rice yield of over 2 million. If subordinate forces and feudal lords who obeyed the shogunate are included, Nobunaga had a rice yield of 4 million.

If Takeda Shingen were to launch an attack on Nobunaga tomorrow, the outcome would be uncertain, and the victor would not be certain. However, once Nobunaga had pacified the Kinai region, defeated the Miyoshi Triumvirate, and recaptured Araki Village in Settsu, the Takeda clan would completely lose its economic advantage and would be worn down and killed by the Oda clan.

In any case, Nobunaga was happy, very happy. He frequently raised his cup with Atobe Katsuyuki and Katsuyama Nobusada, and they even made a pact.

The Oda retainers on either side were also pleased that the alliance between the two families was becoming more solid. Clearly, they hadn't yet guessed that Shingen was already plotting to kill Nobunaga.

After everyone had left, Shichibei lingered for a moment, ostensibly to report to Nobunaga about his marriage proposal to Yamagata Masakage, but secretly to discuss Takeda Shingen's illness.

When everyone heard that Shichibei's sister was about to return to Kai with Atobe Katsuyuki, they congratulated her. What's there to congratulate? She's marrying a scoundrel.

However, Shichibei still feigned delight and thanked those around him. It wasn't until everyone had left, and Nobunaga had freshened up and changed his clothes, that the lord and his subjects were finally able to sit down together.