A tour of Japan's Warring States Period

Now that it has been agreed, nothing will bother the two masters. The chief planner of Yamauchi was sent to Oda as an envoy, and Xiaoping Tai was the second deputy.

Since the heavy snow has not yet melted, it is definitely not possible to walk on Kiso Street. We can only take Ina Street south to Hamamatsu, hire a boat to Ise Bay, and finally disembark at Kanzu to Owari.

Sanhe is in great chaos and it is difficult to get through it for the time being. Only then did he choose to take a boat. Xiaopingta found that the usually calm and composed manager Yamauchi who assisted in political affairs was shaking. As soon as you get on the ship, you shrink into the cabin. It is true that a person cannot have no weaknesses at all.

Oda Nobunaga attaches great importance to the alliance with the Yamauchi family, and arranged manpower in Kanizu in advance to guide the Yamauchi family and his party all the way to Mount Komaki. Moreover, they arranged for the Yamauchi group to stay overnight at Nafuruno [Note 1] and Kiyosu Castle on the way, and prepared a ceremonial banquet. The person in charge of entertaining was Nobunaga's milk brother, Ikeda Hanxing, who had very high standards.

After walking for two days, we entered Komaki Mountain Castle. Although Oda Nobunaga did not go to the city to greet him personally, he asked Shibata Katsuie and Niwa Nagahide to go out of the city to greet him.

Koheita was familiar with the way around Owari, and there were people who greeted him along the way. Even the guards on guard at the gate of the castle tower, and the people serving in the castle tower, were all acquaintances of Koheita.

After only two steps, someone greeted Xiao Pingtai and said hello, and they were all very affectionate.

"Heita-chan, you have a lot of friends in Owari." Chief Yamauchi was in a good mood at the moment and said to Heita-chan with a smile.

"In the past many years, I traveled to Kyoto and passed by Owari many times. First, I met the Kinoshita brothers, and then by chance, I met His Highness Oda Danmasa. Therefore, many samurai in Owari are familiar with each other and have some contacts."

In fact, the main reason was that many years ago, Inahara fought against Koheita and asked for mercy, allowing Oda Nobunaga to exempt all Oda retainers who participated in the rebellion. I don't know how many people agree with him, and since there is no conflict of interest, they are naturally very close to Xiao Pingtai.

"I'm afraid you will be in charge of Oda's diplomacy in the future." Chief Accountant Yamauchi nodded. Koheita also helped Yamauchi Yoshikatsu deliver tachi horses to Oda Nobunaga many times in the past.

"By the way, since you and the Kinoshita brothers are on good terms, you might as well keep in touch. It might be useful in the future."

Yamauchi's chief planner didn't know what he was thinking of, so he gave a special instruction to Xiao Pingtai.

"I know." Xiaoping seemed to be agreeing but not agreeing, but he couldn't help but express something, so he answered like this.

Fortunately, Chief Yamauchi did not say any more, because Oda Nobunaga's room was approaching. The two of them put on their clothes and sat quietly in the corridor, waiting for the announcement inside.

Soon the childish voice came, and Oda Nobunaga came to the palace to receive the envoy of the Yamauchi clan.

Chief Accountant Yamauchi and Koheita stepped into the hall, then took small steps at an even pace, holding their left and right pelvic bones with both hands, suppressing the skirts of their clothes that were fluttering as they walked. When he was three or four meters in front of Oda Nobunaga, he estimated that the distance was about the same.

The two stopped together, knelt down and bowed their heads to Oda Nobunaga.

"Both of you, please get up." Oda Nobunaga rarely changed into a formal suit, and the important ministers slipped on both sides. Tokichiro was still sitting at the end, but in just a few years, he also squatted on the muddy ground outside the door and arrived. Now you can also sit in the front row of the hall.

Chief Accountant Yamauchi forwarded a letter from Taro Yamauchi, which was ghostwritten by Isshiki Miyauchi anyway. They were all nonsense about how the weather was good and the body was safe. The main purpose is to express the warm greetings of the Yamauchi family to Oda Nobunaga and hope to enhance friendship.

Oda Nobunaga pretended to read it and asked kindly, "How is Taro Yamauchi eating every day?" Are you dressed warmly? Owari’s seaweed is delicious, so I’ll send a few kilograms to Taro Yamauchi for his meal.

After finishing the polite nonsense, we got to the point. Oda Nobunaga clapped his hands, and an eight or nine-year-old boy was brought in.

"Chashenmaru, come here, salute to Chief Yamauchi and Zikoji Danzheng." Chashenmaru seemed to be a little afraid of his father, but he did not dare to neglect, and ran forward in small steps.

"Chief-in-chief, Danzheng-san is well on his way!" Chashinmaru bowed his head respectfully, doing a good job.

Chief Yamauchi looked at Oda Chashin Maru up and down carefully. Maybe the child had grown up and no longer looked like Chashin Maru. There is no such thing as a big head and a small body. He inherited the genes of Oda Nobunaga.

It is not a relatively common square face, but a long face with a slight angle. Judging from his current appearance, he is a good-looking little boy. In addition, he is not obese and is tall, so he does have a pretty good body.

The first impression is quite important, and Chief Yamauchi is obviously quite satisfied. Although I don’t know what his character and abilities are, and I don’t know if he can be trained into a qualified samurai, but good looks are always a plus.

Now that the children have been brought out to see them, there is nothing to worry about. Both parties wrote the words "to help each other and a forever alliance" on the pleadings, and signed their monograms.

The Yamauchi-Oda Alliance is officially established!

…

At the banquet in the evening, people were drinking and laughing.

Everyone exchanged cups and cups, it was so lively.

But in the corridor outside the palace, Oda Nobunaga and Koheita did not drink at all. Looking at the courtyard covered with residual snow, the pines and cypresses are still a little green, but there is a dead silence.

"Xiao Ping Tai, how long do you think this covenant will last?"

"Mountains have no permanent shape, and water has no permanent shape!"

"You do this too."

Nobunaga waved his hand and dismissed the attendant.

"The one from Yajima went to Shimokusa."

"Xiacao? Who did the Rokkaku clan welcome?"

"No, it's the one who relies on Hexagon on his own."

Um? Is Ashikaga Yoshiaki so impatient? Putting all your bets on the Rokkaku family so quickly? He went directly to the Rokkaku family's territory.

But the Rokkaku clan is now a weakling. The Omi Sasaki Rokkaku clan, which once dominated the Kinai, was left with only an empty shell due to the "Kanyinji riot".

"Didn't His Highness help that person?"

"Years ago, I asked Shaosuke (Murai Sadakatsu) to send 500 guan to him. Shaosuke reported back that the man is very anxious now."

"The other one from Sakai has been confirmed, and it will probably be announced this year."

Oda Nobunaga seemed to have little respect for the two future generals, not even honorific titles. They just called Ashikaga Yoshie and Ashikaga Yoshiaki after a certain place, and the tone was very bland.

"First, the Lord Prime Minister was in Beijing to work for His Highness Xiacao. Now that the Prime Minister has passed away, there is no longer a loyal minister."

Yamauchi had too much time to take care of himself, and of course he had no time to continue his activities in Kyoto for Ashikaga Yoshiaki. In the end, Ashikaga Yoshie got the better of him. I'm afraid he, the general, would have no chance of running away.

"I'm going to pay a visit to the guy from Sakai." Oda Nobunaga suddenly faced Koheita.

[Note 1]: The author is unaware of something. After the promulgation of the Castle Separation Order in the Edo period, one country, one city was basically established. What remains of the Owari clan today is Nagoya, one of Japan's top 100 famous cities. It is written as Nagoya, but pronounced as Nagoya (Nagoya), so why did he change his name?