Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Having already finished their lunchboxes, the Tsutsui army immediately dispatched a contingent to launch a rapid attack on Azai Nagamasa's main force. Azai Nagamasa was focused solely on defeating the Kawamura army in front of him and hadn't anticipated that Tsutsui Junkei truly lacked any morals.

Not contributing is already considered quite immoral, but because it was the Warring States period, no one thought much of it. But at least ten thousand people were brought here; once they arrived, Nobunaga had to divide his forces to guard against them—that's the value.

However, Tsutsui Junkei's betrayal of his friend at the last minute is truly despicable.

Asai Nagamasa's fierce attack on Kawamura's army was met with a fierce assault by Shima Sakon, causing chaos in his rear. Tsutsui Junkei encircled the Asai army from the east bank of the Seta River, while Oda Nobunaga simultaneously launched an attack from the west bank of the Seta River, quickly transforming the battlefield into a situation resembling (1-1). The Asai army was almost completely split in two, with the Seta Bridge in between.

The army was defeated like a landslide, surrounded by dangerous waters on all sides. They cried out to heaven and earth in vain, with no way to live and no way to die.

With enemy forces on both sides, Asai Nagamasa didn't even have time to berate Tsutsui Junkei before he witnessed his army crumble. One by one, the reserve units were destroyed, and flags fluttered in the wind.

The world spun around, and mountains collapsed and seas overturned.

Asai Masamoto fought his way through the chaotic troops, pinning down Asai Nagamasa and trying to force him to disarm and flee. But where could he run? He was trapped on two sides, with a bridge in the middle, unless he jumped into the river. But it was the dead of winter, and jumping directly into Lake Biwa would be a death sentence.

Winter swimming has certainly become a relatively common sport in later generations. But with war raging on all sides and people in a state of panic, where could they escape to if they jumped into the water?

It should be noted that in order to surround Sakamoto Castle on the water, Shichibei mobilized both the Otsu and Makishima forces. Although there weren't many large ships on the water, the densely packed small boats completely blocked the waterway.

Even if you jump into the river, you won't survive!

There was no time for Asai Nagamasa to hesitate or waver. The already overburdened Seta Bridge, which had been hastily repaired, collapsed under the repeated trampling. Hundreds of Asai soldiers, who were caught in a dilemma on the bridge, fell directly into the water. As the troops on both sides pushed and shoved, another hundred or so fell into the water.

In this way, the Asai forces were separated and completely disintegrated.

The key point is that Azai Nagamasa was on the west bank of the Seta River at this time, not on the east bank where the Tsutsui army launched their attack. It was Shima Sakon who routed Azai Nagamasa's main force of Makai troops, even killing Nagamasa's Makai general, Yano Tadashi.

However, they still couldn't find any trace of Asai Nagamasa.

This is bad.

"Where is the head of the traitor Nagamasa?" Nobunaga sat in the center of the battlefield, surrounded by the fallen Asai soldiers and the cheering Oda soldiers.

"If I cannot kill him, I am willing to offer up Mount Tamon." Tsutsui Junkei still gritted his teeth and crossed the Seta River to pay his respects to Oda Nobunaga.

After Nobunaga defeated the main forces of Akechi Mitsuhide and Azai Nagamasa, the riots, which lasted for less than a month, were basically quelled, and the rest was just a matter of finishing up.

Under these circumstances, Tsutsui Junkei dared not disobey Oda Nobunaga's orders. Nobunaga caught his breath again, especially since he knew that Nobunaga had already mobilized 30,000 cavalry from Shikoku to the scene.

I only found out last night, and it was because of this that I rushed to the scene today to participate in the attack on Asai Nagamasa.

Because Tsutsui Junkei was very certain that the Asai army, with only 20,000 men, could not possibly contend with the Oda army, which numbered 50,000 to 60,000. He was even glad that his decision to defect again had saved his family's reputation.

The head of Azai Nagamasa, which he failed to capture, was obtained by Shibata Nagakatsu in Kawamura's army. Shibata Nagakatsu's move was truly...

He was going to revive the family business of his father, Shibata Katsuie. But that's a story for another time. In any case, Azai Nagamasa's head was obtained by the Oda army themselves, and had nothing to do with Tsutsui Junkei.

You say there's a connection? So, do you have Nagamasa's ass? Or Nagamasa's legs? If all else fails, even a finger will count.

Unfortunately, they didn't get a single hair. Asai Nagamasa and his younger brother Asai Masamoto were caught up in the chaos and tried to escape to Lake Biwa in hopes of survival.

There was absolutely no chance of survival; even seeking death was difficult. While Nobunaga intended to kill Azai Nagamasa himself, and all men of the Azai lineage, he did not prohibit his soldiers from capturing Azai soldiers.

More than 20,000 Asai soldiers, all slaughtered? Nobunaga has killed that many people before, but he doesn't have time for that now; he only cares about Nagamasa's head. Besides, Kawamura's army has already started binding people; whether they redeem themselves or sell them to the mines, it's all money.

We just pulled over 5,000 prisoners of war from the Tada Copper Mine. Now, we can send in another 5,000 or 8,000 to ensure the mine's operation.

So the result was that the Oda army repeatedly drove away the Asai soldiers, walking them like dogs until they were all exhausted on the ground, and finally found Asai Nagamasa who was caught up in the chaos.

Nagamasa, unwilling to suffer humiliation, slit his throat with a sword. He knew he was too late for seppuku; sometimes, seppuku was slow, and one could struggle for over ten hours before dying. If he were rescued by Oda's army, he would be taken to Kyoto to be subjected to further humiliation before being executed.

It would be better to just slit my throat and die a quick and painless death.

Naturally, the head was obtained by Shibata Nagakatsu, who caught up with him. In a short while, it was delivered to Nobunaga. Nobunaga naturally recognized Shibata Nagakatsu, who had come from a servant background, and patted Shibata Nagakatsu on the shoulder, saying that Gonroku had a fine son.

How to bestow rewards is a matter for the future; for now, let's talk about Tsutsui Junkei.

"Humph."

In the past, Nobunaga would have simply executed such a treacherous official without further explanation. But now, with the power reshuffle in the Kinai region, a large amount of territory had suddenly become available, and there would be plenty of ways to torment Tsutsui Junkei in the future. For now, he at least had to make a gesture of surrender without being killed.

"Please punish me." Tsutsui Junkei could only kowtow.

"Failure to obtain the head of the traitor Nagamasa is a serious crime, and the sentence is to be commuted!" Nobunaga announced his final decision.

"..." Tsutsui Junkei was struck dumb, frozen in place, not knowing what to do for a moment.

"My lord, Yang Shunfang has rebellious intentions, but it can still be saved." Shichibei hurriedly stepped forward to "mediate," as if putting on a show.

If you tell everyone to tear down the roof, they'll be willing to sit down and talk to you about opening windows. But if you tell Tsutsui Junkei to change his status, strip him of all his land, and finally give him a meager 5,000 koku to live on, then Tsutsui Junkei will really get angry. At that point, it'll be much easier for him to accept being transferred to another place.

Anyway, Tsutsui Junkei had already completed the transformation of Kofuku-ji Temple into a warrior-monk vassal state of Yamato. No, his father's generation had basically completed the transformation into a daimyo. It was just a matter of leaving Yamato and leaving Kofuku-ji Temple, the head temple of the Hossō sect.

In fact, this also aligns with Nobunaga's political principle of dismantling religious forces. The Tendai sect was defeated, the Jodo Shinshu sect was defeated, and at Mount Koya, all 30,000 monks laid down their arms, leaving not a single man among them.

As the head temple of the Hossō sect, Kofuku-ji Temple in Yamato would not be allowed by Nobunaga to maintain a closely connected armed military group. Historically, Hideyoshi directly ordered Tsutsui Sadatsugu to be transferred to a fiefdom, and Sadatsugu didn't dare to utter a word, obediently going to Ueno Castle in Iga.

"Then I will transfer 100,000 koku to Tanba and Kameyama." Nobunaga clapped his hands again.

Ordered.

"Yes, yes, yes..." Tsutsui Junkei, somewhat dazed, quickly agreed.

With only ten thousand men, he was as fragile as a piece of Japanese tofu compared to the fifty or sixty thousand Oda troops who had just won a victory. A soft body, a fragile torso.

"That's enough." Shichibei quickly went to help Tsutsui Junkei up, telling him to stop while he was ahead.

None of the people present uttered a word about the fact that Tanba Kameyama Castle was still being defended by Akechi Mitsutada and others, and that it was necessary to send troops to attack it.

Whether you can take it or not is Tsutsui Junkei's problem. Anyway, Oda Nobunaga has already secured 100,000 koku. The territory is right in front of you, who can you blame if you can't take it?

After sending Tsutsui Junkei away, Nobunaga immediately ordered men to capture Azuchi Castle. There should only be a few hundred Asai soldiers remaining in Azuchi Castle; while there was no possibility of resistance, they might set the entire castle ablaze.

This castle was built at a tremendous cost; it's a symbol of Nobunaga's ambition to unify Japan. It's not just a matter of money; it's also a testament to Nobunaga's own...

A symbol of human rights.

He could demolish the city and build an even more luxurious and magnificent one. But if it were destroyed by someone else, it would damage his prestige.

The task was not difficult, and Nobunaga immediately made his assignments: Miyoshi Nobutaka was to take Azuchi; Kagawa Nobuzumi was to escort Tsutsui Junkei to take Yamato-Koriyama; and Chosokabe Nobuchika was to take Gifu. After taking Gifu, they joined forces with Kita-Tomi Nobuo to restore and pacify Owari.

Oda Nobuharu sent 10,000 cavalry to capture Nagahama, and then restored Wakasa and Echizen Tsuruga. As for the Echizen stronghold, they would make further arrangements after the snow melted in the spring.

Shichibei, along with Takayama Shigetomo, Ikeda Tsuneoki, Nakagawa Kiyohide, and others, led a total of 20,000 cavalry to besiege Sakamoto. The entire Akechi family inside Sakamoto Castle was to be killed, and Nobunaga personally oversaw the battle.

"My lord." Shichibei suddenly remembered Lady Oichi in Azuchi Castle, as well as Azai Nagamasa's sons and daughters.

"Hmm?" Nobunaga leaned back on the armrest, looking slightly tired.

"Nonsense, I misspoke." Shichibei held back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

We have absolutely no illusions about Lady Oichi, and besides, there's no need for us to bring it up. Nobunaga sending Nobutaka means he has something to say about it.

The meaning is to protect Mrs. Oichi.

Historically, it was Nobutaka who acted as the middleman, arranging for Lady Oichi to marry Shibata Katsuie. Shibata Katsuie was overjoyed; he practically jumped for joy.

"Alright, go and arrange things for Sakamoto." Nobunaga was indeed tired and didn't want to say anything more.

"Yes." Shichibei rubbed his hands together. There was really nothing to say. Since Nobunaga had given the order, then they would just besiege Sakamoto.

But to kill 5,000 of Kawamura's men? Don't even think about it. Let Ikeda Tsuneoki go first. After Ikeda, there's Nakagawa Kiyohide. Slaughter them off little by little. Once they've been killed enough, then Kawamura's army can go in.

"Urgent report!" Before he could even finish rubbing his hands together, a messenger ran up to Nobunaga.

He was stopped by Sanada Nobushige, and only after several servants searched him was he able to approach Nobunaga and present him with an urgent report from Kita-tomi Nobuo that he had contacted not long ago.

"Damn it! Damn it!" Nobunaga unfolded the letter, read it for a short while, and then crumpled the entire letter into a ball.

"The Grand Chamberlain of Okawachi?" Shichibei quickly turned around and helped Nobunaga up.

Could it be that Nobuo has done something terrible again? If he's truly hopeless, then his inheritance rights might be revoked.

“Okazaki has rebelled…” Nobunaga said through gritted teeth.

"Huh?" Shichibei was also quite surprised to hear this.

But considering the already opposing forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Matsudaira Nobuyasu, and the current chaos in the Kinai region, which prevented them from intervening in the internal strife within the Tokugawa clan, it was indeed a good opportunity for the gekoto (younger brother) to overthrow the shogun.

The scale of this rebellion was unprecedented. The flames of war engulfed most of the Oda clan's territories, with more than a dozen sub-provinces rising up from east to west. Among those rebelling were high-ranking officials, brothers-in-law, and sons-in-law, all of whom were causing Nobunaga immense distress.

511. Which son do you think should succeed you?

If that's the case, it's understandable that Kita-Tomi Nobuo didn't immediately launch an attack. Owari was ravaged by the remnants of Azai Nagamasa's army, and Mikawa's Okazaki Matsudaira Nobuyasu had rebelled. Kita-Ise's forces were all with Takigawa Kazumasu in Ueno, and with only 8,000 cavalry, he was indeed unable to deal with all sides simultaneously.

Especially since Yamato Province lies to his west, and Tsutsui Junkei of Yamato is openly plotting a rebellion. Even the local populace of Iga Province has been misled by Azai Nagamasa and has launched an attack on Azuchi and Gifu. Kita-Tomi Nobuo, caught in the raging storm, truly has no choice but to defend his territory.

Well, we can only let Chōsokabe Nobuchika take Gifu first, and then we can talk about other things.

Shichibei also has another job: to step in and assist Nobunaga's remaining Moi-shu generals in regrouping the direct mobile units that were defeated by Azai Nagamasa and either went into hiding or fled.

At that time, there were about 16,000 to 17,000 people at the foot of Azuchi Castle. Taking advantage of the situation, Azai Nagamasa launched an attack, setting fire to and beating the town below the castle. The disorganized Oda army certainly suffered heavy losses, but it was by no means all of them were killed.

If Azai Nagamasa had been given time, he might have gradually captured and subjugated these Oda soldiers. But Azai Nagamasa didn't have that time, so...

Many of those people should still be alive, even if they were wiped out. If they were to raise the Yongle Tongbao horse emblem, they could still be called back.

Nobunaga's direct forces are currently very weak, and he needs these people to return. Didn't you see he even brought out twelve-year-old Sanada Nobushige? His most beloved Mori Ranmaru's substitute died, so now he can only pamper Sanada Nobushige.

News kept pouring in from all directions, and Hosokawa Fujitaka and his son Hosokawa Tadaoki finally raised an army and launched a fierce attack on Tanba. Meanwhile, Tsutsui Junkei, who had been stripped of Yamato-Koriyama Castle, led his 10,000 men to attack Tanba-Kameyama Castle.

After Miyoshi Nobutaka captured Azuchi, he joined forces with Oda Nobuharu to capture Nagahama. Although Azai Masayuki within Nagahama Castle intended to resist, the entire castle collapsed upon the appearance of Azai Nagamasa's head, and the peasants recruited from north of the river fled in disarray. Azai Masayuki even considered fleeing back to Kitasho Castle to assist Azai Terumasa, Nagamasa's eldest son.

Halfway there, he was beheaded by Jiangbei peasant soldiers who had escaped the city and transformed into a rogue hunter, who presented his head to Miyoshi Nobutaka.

Soon, Takeda Motoaki, Kyogoku Takatsugu, and others who had defected to Akechi Mitsuhide in an attempt to fight again were all arrested and brought before Nobunaga. Unlike Tsutsui Junkei, who at least temporarily spared their lives, Nobunaga, without saying a word, immediately beheaded them.

Even Kyogoku Takatsugu's younger brother, who was not yet of marriageable age and would become Kyogoku Takatomo, was brought in and beheaded along with all male rebels. Heads were driven out of Kyoto, one every few dozen meters. Oda Nobuharu also captured Abe no Sadayoshi and his son, who had fled after their defeat at the Battle of Akutagawa, and sentenced them both to death.

With the loss of two renowned commanders, Akechi Mitsuhide and Azai Nagamasa, the feudal lords and powerful figures who had participated in the rebellion against Oda Nobunaga crumbled like ice melting, fleeing in disarray, with no chance of survival left.

Niwa Nagahide, who was trapped in Inaba Tottori Castle, was finally able to lead his troops back to his home territory and join the fight against the rebels after learning that Oda Nobuharu had attacked Wakasa.

Tanba's remaining troops, caught between Tsutsui Junkei and Hosokawa Fujitaka, were utterly unable to defend themselves and were quickly annihilated.

Meanwhile, Ando Morinari, Akao Kiyofuyu, and others who were holding out in Mino were locked in fierce combat with Chosokabe Nobuchika, who had stormed into Mino, and refused to give up easily. Inaba Sadamichi, Kawajiri Hidenaga, Sakuma Nobue, and others who had escaped all gathered under Nobuchika's command and joined the offensive against Gifu Castle.

Thanks to Ando Morinari, several thousand cavalrymen from the Mino region were mobilized. After all, this fellow had accumulated power and influence in western Mino over generations, and with the assistance of Azai Nagamasa, he had killed Inaba Ittetsu in battle, further enhancing his reputation as a warrior.

It's not difficult to gather three to five thousand people and form them into a fully combat-ready force.

I reckon Mino will have to linger for a while longer.

Returning to the battle of Sakamoto Castle, Akechi Mitsuyoshi, Yamazaki Naganori, Fujita Shōshō, and others inside the castle knew they were doomed and resisted fiercely. Ikeda Tsuneoki, Nakagawa Kiyohide, and others who attacked the castle were also fighting with their lives on the line.

While Nakagawa Kiyohide possessed a certain traitorous quality, his martial prowess was undeniable. Historically, during the Battle of Shizugatake, he almost single-handedly faced the fierce attack of 8,000 cavalrymen under Sakuma Morimasa, holding off the Shibata army for eight hours. This bought Hideyoshi invaluable time for his return from Mino.

They launched a fierce attack on Sakamoto from the outer wing, while Shichibei commanded the Otsu and Makishima troops to use large cannons to bombard the Sakamoto Castle keep, which was merely built on an earthen platform, from the lake.