Great name!

Chapter 303 Mingzhi, why do you keep getting beaten?
The news that Nobutora had abdicated and followed Oda Nobunaga spread quickly. This was undoubtedly a bombshell. Many people associated it with the exile of Hayashi Hidetada, and many old ministers felt panic-stricken.

Now that the Takeda clan had been destroyed, Nobunaga felt that no one could threaten the Oda clan, and his behavior became even more outrageous.

Shibata Katsuie's war in Hokuriku was progressing slowly, so Nobunaga sent people to scold him directly, and even threatened that if he could not resolve the issues in Hokuriku, he would make Shibata Katsuie pay.

Shibata Katsuie was also shocked. He remembered that Sakuma Nobumori was exiled because of his unfavorable war situation at the same time, and Hayashi Hidetsune was exiled for participating in treason after her past was exposed.

Tsuda Nobutora, who had made great contributions to the Oda family, had also retired and was put aside. He felt unprecedented terror.

Shibata Katsuie didn't dare to imagine his own end, and he had no intention of rebelling. In the face of Oda Nobunaga, all he had left was fear.

Having been forced into a corner, Shibata Katsuie had no choice but to act decisively and forcibly clear out the Ikko clan's forces in Hokuriku. In April, Hokuriku was filled with casualties!
Now it's not just Shibata Katsuie, others as well. An uprising broke out in the Koshin region, and Kawajiri Hidetaka, as Nobunaga's most loyal confidant, was scolded.

At the same time, Nobunaga also sent people to reprimand Hashiba Hideyoshi and asked him to speed up the advancement. Even Oda Nobunaga was scolded.

In short, basically everyone working outside was named by Nobunaga.

A few days later, Akechi Mitsuhide was called again, and Oda Nobunaga asked: "Akechi, what is the attitude of the Chosokabe family in Shikoku!"

Facing such a stern Nobunaga, Akechi Mitsuhide's heart instantly rose to his throat. He gritted his teeth and said, "Reporting to Lord Nobunaga, I just wrote a letter to Lord Chosokabe, and Lord Chosokabe needs some time to convince others."

Nobunaga stood up and kicked Akechi Mitsuhide over, yelling, "You idiot, what are you doing? Why are you wasting my time?"

He stepped forward, grabbed the panicked Akechi Mitsuhide, shoved him in the face, and said viciously: "Bald, whatever I say is what you mean. If you dare to have your own ideas again, I will make you like Sakuma, Hayashi Hidetada and the others."

Akechi Mitsuhide was so frightened that his face turned pale and he was unable to speak.

Oda Nobunaga stared at Akechi Mitsuhide's terrified eyes and said word by word: "Akechi, do you understand?"

"I understand, I understand!"

Akechi Mitsuhide quickly replied.

Oda Nobunaga then pushed Akechi Mitsuhide away, causing him to fall heavily.

Nobunaga sat back in his seat and said indifferently: "Since the Chosokabe family is so ungrateful, let's prepare to send troops to destroy them."

He looked at Tsuda Nobutora standing beside him and asked, "How about this? Let Nagatobu be the general this time?"

Nobunaga naturally knew what Nobunaga meant. He shook his head and said, "Nobunaga is not yet capable of being the commander of an army. Even if he is in charge of a special forces unit, it would be a stretch.

Didn’t we agree before that Lord Niwa would be the commander? I think Lord Niwa is very suitable.”

Nobunaga turned around and looked at Akechi Mitsuhide and said, "You baldhead, go back to Tamba. I will call you back when the time comes."

When Akechi Mitsuhide heard this, he felt as if he had been reborn. He did not dare to stay for a moment and hurriedly left Honmaru.

Nobutora looked at the embarrassed figure of Akechi Mitsuhide and said with a smile: "Nobunaga-dono, you humiliated a daimyo like this, aren't you afraid that he will rebel?"

Hearing this, Nobunaga laughed and said, "If even you, Nobunaga, didn't rebel, who would dare to rebel?"

"Hahaha, what Nobunaga-dono said is true."

Nobutora smiled and said, "You, Nobunaga, are really getting carried away. Am I not planning this? Besides, it would be stupid to rebel openly!"

Why be a pawn when you have cards in your hand?

"Alright, Nobunaga-dono, just take care of it yourself. I'm leaving now."

Xinhu immediately stood up and walked out.

Nobunaga looked at Nobutora's back and frowned slightly, but he had some things to discuss with Nobutora today, so he did not force Nobutora to stay. Nobunaga was right under his nose anyway, so what else could he do?

As Nobutora walked out of Honmaru, he saw the somewhat hunched-over Akechi Mitsuhide. He quickly stepped forward and asked, "Lord Akechi, are you okay?"

Mitsuhide Akechi said with red eyes: "Master Jibu, I am fine, just a little tired."

Nobutora and Akechi Mitsuhide walked side by side, and said with a smile: "I understand that Lord Akechi wants to make progress, but the world is about to be unified, and Nobunaga has his own ideas. You just do what he says, why bother yourself with trouble?
Besides, what's the point of you being so ambitious? Will you accompany Nobunaga-dono with me when the time comes?"

He patted Akechi Mitsuhide's shoulder meaningfully, then turned and left.

As for Akechi Mitsuhide, he stood there in a daze, at a loss as to what to do.

These words were a real blow to him. If he didn't do well, he would end up being exiled like Sakuma and Hayashi Hidetsugu. He couldn't accept such an outcome.

He is already 54 years old and alone. How can he have time to fight?
Naturally, he could not bear to see his more than ten years of hard work in the Oda family go to waste.

But if he does well, he will be like Tsuda Jibu, whose power will be taken away and he can only be an ordinary old man following Nobunaga, which will make his life miserable.

His many years of living experience in Echizen taught him that a real man cannot live without power for a day!

He really couldn't imagine how Tsuda Nobutora could endure it.

If this continues, where should I go?
Akechi Mitsuhide was a little confused. At this moment, he could only go to Saito Kicho. After all, it was Miss Kicho who told him the way to deal with Tamba. He hoped that Miss Kicho could give him a choice.

Saito Kicho saw Akechi Mitsuhide who looked a little depressed and frowned and asked, "Now that the Oda family is thriving, you, a senior official, are frowning instead. How strange."

Akechi Mitsuhide said with some shame: "Mino-dono, you should have heard that Tsuda Osamu lived in seclusion and stayed by Nobunaga-dono's side. What do you think he was doing?"

Saito Kicho said with a smile: "Isn't this what Tsuda Nobutora deserves? He actually worked for someone like Oda Nobunaga.

You've already seen it, and you still come to ask me why, do you think I can still persuade him like before?"

Akechi Mitsuhide looked dejected, he felt that his future was hopeless.

Saito Kicho was so angry that he cursed, "Why are you getting dumber as you get older?"

When Akechi Mitsuhide heard this, it seemed that Miss Guidie had a solution?

He bowed and said, "Please enlighten me, Lord Mino."

Saito Kicho said immediately: "Tsuda Nobutora fought for the Oda family for more than 20 years, and was ordered to help Nobunaga overcome difficulties many times. He was such a meritorious official, but he could not escape the fate of the birds flying away and the good bows being hidden. Do you think he has no resentment?

Please wait for a while, I will talk to Tsuda Shintora, as long as we join forces, sideline Nobunaga, let Nobutada take the throne, all problems will be solved. "

Upon hearing this, Akechi Mitsuhide was deeply moved, thinking that Miss Kicho was indeed the daughter of Mino Viper!

……

A few days later, Adong sent a message asking Nobutora to go over. Nobutora thought that since Adong took the initiative to invite him, it seemed that there was something going on, and it was Saito Kicho who wanted to see him.

At the agreed time, Nobutora entered the Honmaru and went to Oda Nobutada's courtyard. Adong took Nobutora to a side room where Saito Kicho was sitting there waiting.

Saito Kicho pointed to a seat at one side and said, "Please forgive Tsuda Jibu for meeting me in this kind of situation."

Xinhu sat down calmly and asked with a smile: "I wonder what advice Mino-dono has?" Adong had already walked outside to see the situation.

Saito Kicho took a look, came back to his senses, and said: "Now Nobunaga wants to dominate the Oda family, and he will eliminate anyone who threatens the Oda family.

You also saw that after Sakuma, Hayashi Hidetada and others were exiled, their territories were divided among the Oda family. Tell me, isn't this obvious?

Tsuda Jibe, you are in danger too."

Nobutora was unmoved: "Minodono, are you trying to make me anxious and panic? This may work for ordinary people, but not for me."

When Saito Kicho saw the proud Nobutora, he was a little bit unbelievable for a moment. Is this still the introverted Tsuda Nobutora? How come Nobunaga is arrogant, and you are arrogant too?

She asked back: "Isn't what I said the truth?"

Xinhu smiled and said, "Okay, Mino-dono, you and I know it very well. As long as I behave myself, Nagatoshi's position will not be shaken. He can follow the head of the family. What danger will my Tsuda family face?

As for me, I have been fighting for more than 20 years and I am already tired. Now I feel relaxed and comfortable. "

Saito Kicho didn't expect Nobutora to speak so calmly.

She still asked: "Are you really willing?"

Xinhu nodded seriously and said, "Of course."

Although Nobutora was sincere in what he said, in reality, he was blocking the way for Nobunaga to become a figurehead.

Nobutora was determined to let Akechi Mitsuhide take the blame. If he got involved, Akechi Mitsuhide would have a way out. Only a fool would do that.

Nobutora stood up and said, "Minodono, let's stop here."

Saito Kicho looked at Nobutora leaving and didn't know what to say for a moment, but she had to face this situation.

In the end, she wrote a letter to Akechi Mitsuhide, asking him to be patient for a few more years and wait until Oda Nobutada truly took power.

When Akechi Mitsuhide saw the letter, he instantly lost all his energy and spirit.

Is this the end of my Mingzhi family?

No matter what Akechi Mitsuhide's condition was, Oda Nobunaga did not give him any extra time, and he was soon called to Kyoto to do business.

This time, Oda Nobunaga wanted to entertain Tokugawa Ieyasu and Anayama Nobukuni who came from afar, so he asked Akechi Mitsuhide to be in charge of the banquet.

Akechi Mitsuhide was extremely nervous and he arranged all the details himself for fear of making any mistakes.

However, Akechi Mitsuhide overlooked one point: Tokugawa Ieyasu was not used to the diet he arranged, so he ate less at the banquet.

Oda Nobunaga immediately looked at Akechi Mitsuhide who was sitting in the seat below and shouted, "Akechi, what's going on? Why is the meal you prepared not to the taste of Mikawa-no-kami? What are you doing?"

Akechi Mitsuhide quickly stepped forward and said, "I am so sorry, it was my negligence."

Nobunaga was furious and said, "Akechi, can't you even do such a small thing? Have you forgotten what happened to Lin Xiuzhen and the others? Bastard!"

After Nobunaga finished scolding, he started punching and kicking Akechi Mitsuhide. This sudden change frightened Tokugawa Ieyasu so much that he dared not speak.

Seeing that Akechi Mitsuhide was beaten to a bloody pulp, Nobutora said, "Nobunaga-dono, if you keep fighting, you might as well just kill Akechi-sama."

Nobunaga stopped when he heard this and kicked Akechi Mitsuhide: "Get out!"

After taking a breath, Nobunaga looked at Nobutora and said with a smile, "It would be great if every one of them could do things as beautifully as you do, Nobutora, so that I could save some trouble.

Mikawa-sama, let's continue. Someone, quickly give Mikawa-sama a replacement."

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall became much more relaxed.

Only the injured Akechi Mitsuhide staggered back to treat his injuries, then returned to Honmaru and stayed until the end of the banquet.

Nobunaga saw Akechi Mitsuhide wrapped in gauze and said coldly: "Go back and prepare the army. When the time comes, you will support Goroza and take down Shikoku together. Akechi, you bald head, you are disappointing me. You know the consequences."

Akechi Mitsuhide bowed with great fear and trepidation, and did not dare to stand up until Nobunaga had left for a long time.

Akechi Mitsuhide first went to Tamba and then to Sakamoto to recruit troops.

On May 28, Akechi Mitsuhide went to Atago Shrine. He looked at the beautiful scenery and felt a little melancholy. He was so depressed that he was inspired to write a poem: "Today is the season, and it is May with drizzling rain."

When the scholars and scholars around heard this, they all laughed and said, "Why is Lord Hyuga Mamoru so sad?"

"We will soon be sending troops to Shikoku, so Lord Hyuga-no-Mori will definitely be promoted."

"Let us congratulate Lord Hinata first."

Akechi Mitsuhide looked at everyone and was speechless.

He couldn't tell anyone else.

……

"It's already the 28th."

Xinhu calculated the days, the day after tomorrow is June 1st, and the day after that is June 2nd!
The day is coming, and it’s time for me to start the final preparations.

He immediately called Fujibayashi Masayoshi and Tarohiko Mitsutoshi and ordered them, "Mitsutoshi, take this secret letter of mine and make sure to give it to Naganobu.

Zheng Bao, you take the letter and go to Shanyin immediately, find Xinlong, and give him the letter. "

As long as the letter is delivered, the Tsuda family can be invincible according to his arrangements.

On June 1st, Akechi Mitsuhide officially led his troops to Kyoto, and Oda Nobunaga held a tea party in Kyoto on that day.

Mitsuhide Akechi, who was thinking about marching to Kyoto, saw his men running over and asked, "What's wrong?"

The retainer said excitedly: "Master, I just received top-secret information that there are no troops stationed in Kyoto, only Nobunaga-dono with more than a hundred attendants."

"what?"

Akechi Mitsuhide was a little bit unbelievable. Oda Nobunaga only had more than a hundred people around him. If I sent troops...

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Tsuda Nobutora should be by Oda Nobunaga's side. If we capture him, we can win over the Tsuda family and have a chance of winning against other members of the Oda family!

When Akechi Mitsuhide thought of this, he could no longer suppress his excitement and his face turned red.

Kill Oda Nobunaga!

(End of this chapter)