A tour of Japan's Warring States Period

Gifu Castle was originally called Inabayama Castle, and it was naturally built on Mount Inaba.

"The world is full of laughter this year, and you will especially smell the fragrance of rice leaves when spring comes!" Now that spring has just begun, there is naturally no fragrance of rice leaves, but the magnificence of Gifu Castle stands tall and handsome in the spring breeze.

Tens of thousands of powerful troops gathered above and below the city, but they were still amazed by the Yamauchi-Uesugi coalition troops who came in full regalia.

There are many horses in the Nobi plains, and most of the samurai's war horses are Kiso horses that drift down the Kiso River and are sold. The horses under the crotch of the Echigo Seiki and the Yamauchi samurai are obviously much better. Echigo horses and Shinano horses are well-deserved, and the warriors are riding on carefully selected war horses, making them even more enviable by the people of Nobi.

Not to mention the unified painting and the gold and silver scabbard, which everywhere shows the wealth and power of Yamauchi and Uesugi.

From the flags to the handymen, they all looked impressive, just like the Old Guards participating in the Victory Day military parade. With their riding skills far superior to others, the five cavalrymen formed a line, divided into hundreds of columns, and advanced like a wall without any disorder. The warriors on horseback were silent in public, their armors were bright and each had experienced many battles, and the uniform formation added to the momentum.

Although the red and black colors of the infantrymen in the rear group are not bright, their calmness reveals the temperament of the world-famous Jiaxin elite soldiers. Each of the three spears and each of the mountain barrels has shown its power on the battlefield, and countless powerful enemies have been thrown down.

"Wu Lang Zuo, Prime Minister Shanuchi is really a man of great talent in the world, leaving behind such a powerful army."

"It's a pity that Prime Minister Yamauchi and Habayashi Yamauchi are two generations of outstanding people..."

"Do you think that the most famous martial artist in the world, His Highness Taro Mataro, has the same magnanimity as my grandfather?"

"It's difficult to confirm without seeing him! If he has the magnanimity of his father and ancestors, then His Highness should try to get close to him."

Niwa Nagahide and Oda Nobunaga stood on the castle keep of Gifu Castle, watching nearly six thousand Yamauchi-Uesugi coalition troops enter the camp below the city, and marveled at the aura of arrogance shown by the Shinano Echigo samurai.

"Your Highness, you should go down to the city to greet him!" Banto Morinagako, who was sitting nearby, reminded him.

"Walk!"

The troops in the queue were finally gone, and countless waving flags appeared. On it are written the titles of Shinano Guardian, Dismounted Horsemen, and Imperial Affiliates, as well as the Genji Imperial White Flag carried by Murakami Yoshimitsu himself. Flying, swaggering, and telling in the sun that the owners of these flags were and are so powerful.

Surrounded by dozens of knights on horseback, Taro Yamauchi sat on his horse. In fact, Taro Yamauchi spent most of the time sitting on an ox cart. It was only at this moment that he wanted to show off the role of a famous martial artist, so he rode on a very docile horse and was led by the groom.

Oda Nobunaga, who was originally planning to go down to the city to greet him in person, suddenly changed his mind for some reason and sent Niwa Nagahide and Sakuma Nobumori to cooperate with Wada Weimasa from the shogunate to greet him outside the city.

Later, he was greeted by Hayashi Xiuzhen, Shibata Katsuie and Akechi Mitsuhide in Ninomaru, and went straight to Honmaru Castle Tower, where he was personally greeted by Oda Nobunaga and Hosokawa Fujitaka, accompanied by Matsudaira Ieyasu, Kobe Nobutaka, Nagano Nobura, etc. The vassal daimyo of the Oda clan.

There are more than 300 steps spiraling up Gifu Castle. The advantage of Taro Yamauchi who used to walk to morning classes every day became apparent. He did not need any assistance. Although he was a little out of breath, he still walked to the castle tower easily.

Welcoming Yamauchi Taro into the palace, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was already sitting on the high couch in the palace.

"Taro, come closer and let me take a look!"

Things were kept simple, and there was no bamboo curtain in front of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, so there was no need to bother. Yamauchi Taro followed etiquette and stood up from the floor in the corridor, bowed and took a few steps forward.

"Closer!"

Upon hearing this, Taro Yamauchi bowed his head respectfully and saluted, then took three steps on his knees and stepped forward. Even so, he was still about four or five steps away from Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki still seemed to be unable to see clearly, and actually stood up, hugged Yamauchi Taro into his arms, and then returned to the high couch.

Everyone has different looks and thoughts in their hearts.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki met Yamauchi Taro for the first time, and he actually liked him so much.

Really love it?

Not quite!

The rest of the people then entered the hall and sat down in order. Oda Nobunaga is now known as the "leader" of the Joseon Army, but he can still only sit in second place, because the first Taro Yamauchi and Ashikaga Yoshiaki are sitting together.

Even if Oda Nobunaga is sitting in the first seat, he is still the second seat.

On both sides were the shogunate and the lords and retainers of various Shangluo families, taking their seats in order.

"Taro is so strong, I am very happy as a father!" Touching Taro Yamauchi's little head, Ashikaga Yoshiaki looked very happy.

"I'm thinking of you, my father."

"How's the scenery in Shinano?"

"The scholars and the people all have their hearts set on the shogunate, and they all have the ambition to respect the shogunate and fight against thieves."

"The world is in chaos, and there are many rebellious and evil-doing people. Weier Shannai, the one who always obeys the shogunate!"

He looks like a loving father and a filial son.

Koheita and Hosokawa Saime sat relatively back, watching the father and son recognize each other above, and Oda Nobunaga's cheerful expression as he watched the play. Both of them realized that the Luo army was not working together from the beginning.

What follows is all a drama of acquaintance, you introduce me, I introduce you, exchanging a few nonsense words such as "I have admired my name for a long time". After almost everyone got to know each other, the banquet naturally started.

Changing cups and cups, if Ashikaga Yoshiaki hadn't been here, everyone might have been more presumptuous. After all, everyone here is a samurai from the countryside. Regardless of his current appearance, in the eyes of Kinai daimyo, he is just a nouveau riche.

In any case, the atmosphere in the Shangluo Army today is still good, and on the surface it is still sincere and united.

On the fifth day of March, the Shangluo Army set out as scheduled. Crossing the Mieiji River, we met with the "Eagle of the North" Asai Nagamasa.

Like Matsudaira Ieyasu, Asai Nagamasa was a short, round little fat man. His appearance was not majestic, and even the kindness that should not appear on the daimyo's face was faintly visible on his face.

Asai Nagamasa was very dedicated to the group fight against Rokkaku Yoshihide, named Shangluo, but in reality he was taking advantage of the east wind of Shangluo to fight to the south of the Yangtze River.

Not to mention anything else, just from the number of 12,000 Jiangbei troops, we know the hard work of the Asai clan. The ministers gathered together and found out that the local gangsters in the Jiangbei Lords Alliance were willing to mobilize so hard, which shows their expectations for the overthrow of Liu Jiao Yixian.

Almost all the elite samurai from the Asai family, including the three generals Kai Akame, Aki, Miyabe, Isono, Nonomura, Endo and others, gathered together. Each Yoshibu Takayoshi came forward to pay homage to Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga. .

Leaving aside Ashikaga Yoshiaki, Oda Nobunaga cordially received his adopted brother and promised on the spot to secure the two counties south of the Yangtze River. After hearing this, all the lords under Asai Nagamasa looked happy. Sure enough, it was not in vain.

This Oda Nobunaga is truly a "kind man"!