Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Nobumori, being a man of principle, didn't dare to grin foolishly at Nobunaga. He quickly lowered his head, indicating that he was of limited ability and feared he was not up to the task. He urged Nobunaga to find someone more capable.

Everyone around him avoided Nobunaga. In the end, those present were all local tyrants from the four lower districts of Owari Province. Their previous generation had only been village chiefs, and no matter how educated they were, that was about it.

Let's listen to Abbot Zeyan instead.

The monk, on the other hand, had a kind face and must have seen through the group of uncultured, roughnecks long ago. He first wrote "天下附武" (meaning "Unification of the Realm by Force") on a piece of paper; it was the core idea Nobunaga had discussed with him the previous night.

The slogan was quite catchy, and Nobunaga even said he would create a monogram that reflected the idea of ​​"unifying the world by force." He would then change his monogram to "unifying the world by force" and put it into practice.

It does echo the monogram of a certain "Unrivaled One" next door, except that the guy next door ended up wearing animal skins in the Five Kingdoms City, and it didn't turn out very well.

Sigh, Nobunaga eating barbecue at Honnoji Temple in the end is no different from wearing an animal skin.

He showed everyone the paper with the words "Unify the world with force" written on it, and then asked them if they had any ideas. Everyone just shook their heads; if they had any, they would have already done so, instead of just sitting there.

"The Ming Kingdom was established during the reign of King Wen of Zhou, and its territory was located in Qishan..." Helpless, the head monk could only start teaching a group of students who had graduated from prenatal education with an average level of literacy.

A few individuals may have even dropped out of prenatal education programs...

Alright, enough chit-chat, let's hear the monk's display of culture first. After the Venerable Zeyan gave his long explanation, the senior retainers of the Oda clan finally understood. King Wen of Zhou established his military power in Qishan, and ultimately his son, King Wu of Zhou, conquered the Shang dynasty and seized control of the land.

Since the Zhou dynasty seized power at Qishan, it was possible to emulate King Wen of Zhou's wisdom in naming the mountain and rename Inabayama to "Qishan".

Alternatively, "Gifu" and "Giyang" can also be considered, as they are both auspicious names that can reflect the story of "When the Duke of Zhou attacked the King of Yin, he served as prime minister in Qiyang, where he ruled for more than 860 years."

(One theory suggests that Inabayama Castle was originally called Gifu Castle, meaning the castle within Tokifu, or simply Gifu. After Nobunaga entered the castle, the name was mistakenly passed down and continued to be called Gifu. However, this is purely fictional and not entirely based on historical fact.)

Good, good, as long as someone comes up with the name "Gifu", it will be fine. Shichibei breathed a sigh of relief. At least in the future, Japanese elementary school students will not need to learn "Daikobubu" anymore, but "Gifububu".

As Nobunaga sat on the tatami mat, he tapped his tattered folding fan, naturally pondering which name would be more resounding and better reflect his ambition to unify the land by force.

"I'll choose Gifu!"

With a resounding "smack," Nobunaga's folding fan slammed heavily onto the tatami mat, effectively sealing the deal. The naming-challenged folks immediately bowed their heads in obedience, saying, "As long as I'm not the one naming you, call me whatever you want."

"May our lord enjoy lasting military success!" Sakuma Nobumori led the chant of "666!"

"May our lord enjoy long and prosperous military campaigns." With the elder leading the way, everyone else naturally followed suit and cheered, "666!"

Nobunaga was indeed pleased to hear this, as it relieved him of a worry. He opened his folding fan and started fanning himself, laughing as he did so.

We have to have a banquet today.

Oh, right, seeing the smiling monk Zehiko, Shichibei remembered what Nobunaga had told him before about learning more about culture. It doesn't matter now that he's a country bumpkin, but what if he ever ends up in Kyoto?

Tea ceremony, Japanese songs, connected poems, Cuju...

Shichibei should learn one or two skills, lest he lack presentable social and entertainment skills in the future. Although the tea ceremony is the most popular, Shichibei finds it a bit off-putting, so he'll deal with it later.

First, ask the head monk if he possesses any genuine artistic skills. If so, Shichibei is willing to pay to learn. It's just a tuition fee, right? Even Confucius, who taught without discrimination, still accepted cured meat as payment. If we come to learn, we'll definitely be sensible.

Whether it's gold or silver, it's all easy to handle.

Taking advantage of the banquet, Shichibei went to ask the monk Sawahiko. The monk had just glanced at Shichibei a few times, because in his memory, there was no such person as Kawamura Shichibei among the hereditary retainers of the Oda clan. Moreover, Shichibei's appearance did not match those deceased Oda retainers.

However, as Nobunaga's career began, he promoted a group of people, and the monk Zehiko did not take them lightly, so he drank a cup with Shichibei.

Seeing that the monk was quite easy to talk to, Shichibei immediately stated his request. Owari no longer had any court nobles who came as guests, nor was it like in *Nobunaga's Ambition XI*, where cultured people would visit every month to learn various skills.

We finally managed to get hold of a cultured monk, so we have to try and make some money out of him.

To be honest, Abbot Zeyan was quite polite. He said that he mainly studied Buddhist scriptures and literature, and only occasionally studied Confucianism. He didn't know anything about tea ceremony, archery, horsemanship, or football, but he had the Kokin Wakashū and Manyōshū, and if Shichibei didn't mind, he could take them and make a copy first.

Whether to teach or not is another matter. Shichibei can copy it and read it through first, and if he can memorize most of the poems and songs, then we can study together.

The saying "If you read 300 Tang poems carefully, you will be able to recite them even if you can't write poems" probably means this.

It's unrealistic to expect to start learning without any prior knowledge. You need to have some basic foundation, at least enough to get a general idea, before moving on to more advanced topics.

After the monk's words, Shichibei nodded quickly, agreeing that he was absolutely right. It was indeed necessary to build a foundation first before learning anything else. Just like learning pinyin, you need to master pinyin before learning Chinese characters.

Nobunaga noticed that Shichibei was dedicated to his studies and even praised him, saying that although he was a bit ugly, he was quick-witted.

Hey boss, you really know how to compliment people.

Shichibei then sent someone to Seishuji Temple to borrow the *Kokin Wakashū* and *Manyoshū* from the monk Sawahiko. However, there's no time to copy them now; they'll do it after the demolition of Komakiyama Castle is complete and they move to Inabayama Castle. Anyway, the head monk didn't say when he'd return the books, so we can just return them with a gift.

Or, if all else fails, he can move the temple to Mino with Nobunaga, and Shichibei can donate a large gate to the temple.

The gate of Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo was donated by Konosuke Matsushita. There was some controversy at the time, with people saying Matsushita was stingy; he could have bought the appropriate timber from Indonesia or Brazil, but he didn't want to spend the money and simply built a gate with cement and steel.

However, since Nobunaga will definitely foot the bill for Seishuji Temple, Shichibei should donate some temple property afterward. For example, he could open a ryokan (a type of business) and let Seishuji Temple take a share.

Having acquired a new name for his castle, Nobunaga finally stopped wandering aimlessly around Komakiyama Castle, chatting with people idly, and rode off to Inabayama Castle to check on the construction progress.

According to Shichibei's understanding, although the new Gifu Castle would have a magnificent four-tiered, five-story keep, it was purely to show off Nobunaga's wealth and power. Nobunaga not only did not intend to live in the keep, but he didn't even intend to live in the citadel.

He has chosen a valley at the foot of the mountain to build a residence with a huge pond, which will serve as his actual residence in Gifu Castle. The design is said to be based on the castle of another "Oda"—Oda Castle. It also has a huge pond and pavilions, and its residential function far outweighs its military function.

His Highness, the "Phoenix of Kanto," after all, has the blood of the Muromachi Shogunate's shogunate, so his taste must be quite refined. As for warfare, one can only say he's repeatedly defeated but never given up.

In addition, the construction of the residence with its vast garden also served to entertain envoys from Kyoto in the future. As we have mentioned, Nobunaga's background was that of a complete country bumpkin, with no noble family background whatsoever. Therefore, he artificially inflated the prestige of the Imperial Court to make himself appear more prestigious and powerful.

It was probably from this time that Nobunaga had already begun to think about winning over the court officials. Otherwise, there would be no need to build a huge landscaped building just for his own comfort.

He's not stingy when it comes to money that should be spent, but if it's something he shouldn't spend, you won't get a single penny out of him.

There must have been a purpose behind his order to dig ponds and build pavilions and waterside terraces that had no military significance.

However, it was tough on Sakuma Nobumori and Shichibei, who were in Komakiyama. Sakuma Nobumori was going to relocate the main castle residence exactly as it was, while Shichibei received orders to go with Hideyoshi to procure timber from the Kiso River.

Since all the people along the Kiso River had come under Hideyoshi's control, Nobunaga needed to build a large-scale garden residence, so timber was essential and was all cut down from the upper reaches of the Kiso River and transported by water.

Once the raw timber reached the riverbank, the final leg of the journey had to be handled by Shichibei. Already stretched thin with limited transport capacity, Shichibei was even busier than usual, constantly on the go to move such a large quantity of timber.

The construction of Gifu Castle was on a tight schedule, and Nobunaga had long been itching to cause trouble in the Kinai region; his mind was probably already wandering to Kyoto. He simply packed his bags and left, leaving the laborers to suffer.

Perhaps out of a pang of conscience, Nobunaga, anticipating the shortage of transport capacity, sent Mori Nagahide with 100 kan to find Shichibei. With additional transport costs, whether by hiring men or leading oxen, all the timber had to be transported to Linden Valley.

It's the same old routine: I've got the money, the rest is up to you guys to use your initiative.

Mori Nagahide, as Nobunaga's heir, was reassuring Shichibei. "Do your job well. His Highness won't forget your contributions." Shichibei, of course, agreed readily. What could he say to his elder brother, a member of the Shiba clan?

However, speaking of which, this older brother will be quite famous in the future, because his name will be Hashiba Hideyori, which is coincidentally the same as Hideyoshi's eldest son.

95. It was just in time to rely on Yoshiaki's strength

"The Owari no Kami truly has a magnificent spirit!"

Wada Koremasa, who came from Ashikaga Yoshiaki to visit Oda Nobunaga, couldn't help but feel emotional when he saw the large-scale excavation of the Linden Valley Pond.

"It's just an ordinary residence," Nobunaga replied casually, but from Wada Koremasa's words, he sensed something that displeased him.

He was no longer just the lord of Owari Province, but also the lord of Mino Province. To still hold the official post of Owari Governor was truly unworthy of him. Even Tokugawa Ieyasu next door had risen to the rank of Fifth-Rank Governor of Mikawa Province; for him to hold the same post as Owari Governor was simply too humiliating.

Look at Ryūō; thanks to his father's connections in the shogunate and Kyoto, he managed to rise to the position of Kōbō Daifu (Minister of Justice). Yoshitatsu was even more impressive, directly becoming Kyoto Daifu (Minister of the Capital Region).

The official rank of Kyoto Daifu was generally awarded to strong supporters of the shogunate or important allies of the Kanrei (chief advisor to the governor). Clearly, Yoshitatsu, who changed his name to Ishiki, was a definite supporter of the shogunate.

The process of granting various official positions within the samurai class generally follows certain rules. For example, the Ōuchi family, in order to obtain the position of Junior Grand Chancellor and thus better control northern Kyushu, reportedly both fiercely attacked the Junior Grand Chancellor's family and showered the imperial court with gifts. Only after the imperial court was satisfied did the Ōuchi family finally receive the position.

In theory, Ōuchi Yoshitaka's Dazai Shōni is considered to be of the third rank.

Nobunaga's former master, Shiba Yoshitaka, held the position of Left Guard Commander, a post that could be inherited for four generations. This was a career path that conformed to the three Kanrei families of the Muromachi Shogunate, and even Shiba Yoshitaka, who was in exile, could have served as Left Guard Commander.

It was a symbol of hierarchy under the old feudal system. Normally, it would be fine if it wasn't mentioned, but now that it was being brought up, it made Oda Nobunaga feel uncomfortable.

"Now that you hold sway over two vast territories, command an army of 100,000, and have the ambition to annex neighboring countries, and are expected to attract countless visitors from afar, does the Owari governor not wish to advance further?" Wada Koremasa certainly did not come here for nothing.

Previously, Ashikaga Yoshiaki had hoped that Nobunaga and Tatsuoki would join forces to cease hostilities, and then support Nobunaga to march on Kyoto and inherit the title of Shogun. However, Nobunaga prioritized the conquest of Mino and did not heed Ashikaga Yoshiaki's advice.

Of course, it was also related to the fact that someone told him at the time that he wasn't even qualified to jump into the capital region to stir up trouble.

Therefore, Ashikaga Yoshiaki eagerly went to seek refuge with the Wakasa Takeda clan, and subsequently settled in Ichijodani, where he received the protection of Asakura Yoshikage. The Asakura clan was a powerful daimyo with 750,000 koku of rice, and naturally had the strength to support Ashikaga Yoshiaki's journey to Kyoto.

Unlike Asakura Yoshikage, who remained inactive, Ashikaga Yoshihide, supported by the Miyoshi Triumvirate, was the first to obtain the position of Left Horse Head, which greatly alarmed Yoshiaki.

What could he do in such a desperate situation? Ashikaga Yoshiaki only had a few hundred retainers. Although he had many followers from various samurai families and officials of the shogunate, it was impossible to expect these few hundred men to storm Kyoto.

Upon hearing that Nobunaga had captured Inabayama Castle, taken control of Mino, and subdued the three leaders of western Mino, Ashikaga Yoshiaki immediately dispatched Wada Koremasa to visit Nobunaga and inquire about his intentions.

Perhaps at that point, Nobunaga would be willing to support him in going to Kyoto.

"Of course, of course..." Nobunaga did not reply, but instead asked Niwa Nagahide to arrange for Wada Koremasa to stay.

Since Ashikaga Yoshiaki has already been sidelined for over a year, a few more days won't make a difference. Nobunaga does indeed want to go to Kyoto to cause trouble, but he hasn't decided on the specific day to do so.

Moreover, the wealth of both Nobi and Nobi provinces is now concentrated in Inabayama Castle. Nobunaga intends to use the annual tribute from the autumn harvest to build himself a unique castle, in order to enhance his prestige of "unifying the land by force".

To be a decent person, one must have the dignity of a decent person. These days, the level of Japanese horses is such that even BMWs can't make a big difference. A more expensive horse costs 100 or 200 kan at most, and that's already a "dragon colt" with a shoulder height of over 1.45 meters.

If you want to show off your power and influence, then all you can do is work on your castle.

Wada Koremasa knew that it was impossible to settle everything on the first meeting, so he decided to stay and wait it out with Nobunaga. He figured he could get something out of Nobunaga eventually.

Whether it's the promise to go to Kyoto or the donation of several hundred kan, the amount must be revealed by Nobunaga.

Nobunaga left Niwa Nagahide to continue entertaining Wada Koremasa, while he rode back to Komakiyama to discuss matters with his senior retainers, who were still outside Komakiyama Castle. How should he respond to Wada Koremasa's request? How should he reply to Ashikaga Yoshiaki?

Upon hearing this question, Shichibei knew that Nobunaga had already made a presupposition.

If they didn't want to deal with Ashikaga Yoshiaki, they could simply say they were busy and have Niwa Nagahide entertain them. Wada Koremasa would wait ten days or so, and when he realized Nobunaga wasn't looking for him, he'd give up. Everyone was a decent person; no one would try to kick Wada Koremasa out. When Wada left, Niwa Nagahide would even have to give him a horse and some money.

Now, not only have they received Wada Koremasa, but they've also come back to Owari to seek advice. This means they're actually trying to guess what their senior retainers are thinking.

After all, if they were to actually march on Kyoto, they would definitely have to bring all their troops. The Miyoshi family alone, from the Shinohara family alone, had 20,000 men to support Ashikaga Yoshihide. If you add in Ataka Nobuyasu of Awaji and the Miyoshi Triumvirate of Setsugawa, the total number would be well over 50,000.

Without bringing 50,000 people with them, they don't even have the strength to compete with the Miyoshi family.

As the dominant force in the Kinai region for the past two or three decades, the Miyoshi clan's soldiers were undeniably skilled in battle. Many of them were veterans, their fighting prowess unmatched. Miyoshi Nagayoshi once led them to defeat Ashikaga, Hosokawa, and Hatakeyama, regarding them as mere chickens and Rokkaku as earthenware dogs, killing anyone who stood in their way.

Ashikaga Yoshiharu was driven away by him, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru was also driven away by him. He was incredibly powerful.

Nobunaga surveyed the entire scene and first called out Sakuma Nobumori. Sakuma Nobumori stated that the friendship with Ashikaga Yoshiaki should be restored, but he was not in a hurry to support Yoshiaki's march to Kyoto. After all, the Oda clan was also preoccupied with its own affairs; Mino was not yet fully consolidated, and the relocation of the castle was only halfway complete, leaving them no time to spare.

"How can we restore our friendship?" Nobunaga nodded slightly and asked this crucial question.

“Send someone to deliver five hundred kan,” Sakuma Nobumori replied readily, indicating that it was easy.

Many daimyo did the same thing, and just gave Ashikaga Yoshiaki a few small gifts. I've already given you money, isn't friendship enough?

That wasn't quite enough; Shichibei could probably guess at Nobunaga's intentions. He didn't just want to cooperate with Ashikaga Yoshiaki; he also hoped to build some mutual trust between the two sides.

What does this mean? It means that in the eyes of the Kyoto court nobles and the Emperor, Nobunaga was still a bumpkin from the Tokaido region. After marching on Kyoto, he wanted to use the Imperial Court's authority to "revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians," but he lacked a bridge.

The Muromachi Shogunate was actually a very good bridge, but how to get the Muromachi Shogunate to willingly act as a go-between for Nobunaga and the Imperial Court was a mystery at the moment.