Four, the world is unified under martial power

The news of Yi Yuan's death quickly spread throughout the entire army of Imagawa, causing various divisions to retreat and flee back to the provinces of Shun, Yuan, and San. Only the valiant commander of Nagahama Castle, Okabe Motonobu, resolutely refused to leave, steadfastly defending the castle and causing the attacking Oda forces to abandon their armor and flee in disarray. In the end, Nobunaga, left with no choice, wrote a letter to Motonobu saying: "A solitary castle will eventually be conquered, but your bravery in battle has greatly impressed me. I will order my subordinates to open a path for you, allowing you to return safely to Shunfu. Therefore, please exit the castle."

In the first month of the fifth year of Eiroku (1562), Oda Nobunaga invited Matsudaira Motoyasu to come to Owari and celebrate the New Year at his main castle, Kiyosu. According to custom, the vassal lord was supposed to pay respects to his lord at the New Year’s audience. Despite his retainers' warnings that Nobunaga harbored ulterior motives and might take the opportunity to harm him, Motoyasu, for the sake of his family's well-being, reluctantly decided to go. However, contrary to his expectations, Nobunaga's hospitality was exceedingly warm, treating him as an equal ally rather than the head of a subordinate force. Nobunaga told Motoyasu that he planned to advance north to attack the Saito clan in Mino Province, saying, "As for the east, I leave it to you, Lord Mikawa."

In the ranks of the Imagawa army, there are not many loyal and valiant generals like Takeda Nobuyoshi. The other commanders fled in disarray, among them Matsudaira Motoyasu, who took the opportunity to escape back to his hometown of Mikawa, Okazaki Castle. At this time, the Oda army was pursuing from behind, having already set the flames of war into Mikawa Province, swiftly capturing several castles such as Ibo and Kumomoto. "Oda Nobunaga will soon conquer Mikawa Province and directly advance into Totomi and Suruga!" Various rumors spread like wildfire—however, in reality, Nobunaga, who had just pulled back from the brink of the abyss, did not yet possess such strength and determination.

In fact, Ashikaga Yoshihide had a half-brother, who became a monk at the age of five, with the Dharma name Jōkei. The forces of Matsunaga and Miho sent people to monitor Jōkei, who felt that his life was in danger and was uncertain when he might be harmed by those treacherous ministers. Therefore, he contacted his elder brother Yoshihide's former retainers, Hosokawa Fujitaka and Isshiki Tōchō, and secretly escaped from his residence at Kōfuku-ji's Ichijō-in. The group evaded the pursuit of Matsunaga Yoshihide and took refuge with the powerful Wada Koremasa in Izumi Province. Wada Koremasa was subordinate to the Sengoku daimyō Rokkaku Yoshikatsu of southern Ōmi, so in the eighth year of Eiroku (1565), feeling that his situation was still precarious, Jōkei moved to Ōmi Province and lived in seclusion in the Yajima area by Lake Biwa.

The result was that Nobunaga's eager response stood in stark contrast to Ryoshin's indifference, making Nobunaga feel as if he had pressed a warm face against a cold backside. Not only that, but he had also been dealt a resounding slap in the face by the other party. This was a slight he could not swallow; if he could not find an opportunity to regain his dignity, he would likely become a laughingstock across the land, causing his prestige to plummet. Thus, in August of that year, he once again led his troops to attack Mino Province.

This is truly a headache-inducing matter

Qishan, Qiyang, Qifu

In response to such a perilous situation, in the second year (1563), in February, Nobunaga suddenly decided to build a castle on Mount Ni no Kuni (in present-day Inuyama) and immediately relocated the main castle from Kiyosu to this site. Kiyosu Castle had been the center of Owari Province since the time of Oda Hironobu, with developed transportation and prosperous commerce. Upon hearing the order for relocation, the residents were thrown into chaos, and voices of discontent arose one after another. However, Nobunaga's action had its positive strategic intent; Mount Ni no Kuni is located to the northeast of Kiyosu Castle, essentially at the midpoint between Kiyosu and Inuyama, allowing for a commanding view to thoroughly monitor the movements of Inuyama Castle. This marked Nobunaga's third main castle (the first being Nagoyano, the second Kiyosu), Komaki Castle.

The Alliance of Kiyosu

As for the "Five-Three Paulownia Pattern" and the "Two-Drawn Lines Pattern," these were granted later by the shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, while the "Sixteen-Petal Chrysanthemum Pattern" was bestowed by the imperial court. It is said that the Imagawa clan of Suruga is a relative of the Ashikaga shogunate, and there has always been a saying that "if the shogun's family has no heirs, the Kira family will inherit; if the Kira family has no heirs, the Imagawa family will inherit" (although such a situation has never actually occurred). Therefore, they also used the Two-Drawn Lines Pattern. If Nobunaga had already been granted the use of the Two-Drawn Lines Pattern during the Battle of Okehazama, the situation would have been quite chaotic

After resolving the issue of Inuyama Castle, Nobunaga once again mobilized his troops northward to attack Mino Province. However, at that moment, a ronin named Akechi Mitsuhide suddenly arrived at Komaki Castle.

Firstly, in order to seize the power of the world, Nobunaga altered his origins, claiming to be of noble descent from the Taira clan, and thus adopted the Taira family crest of "butterflies." The ancestors of the Taira were originally of imperial lineage, later descending to the status of vassals, and were granted the surname "Taira." Alongside the closely related Minamoto clan, they were among the most noble surnames within the samurai class. There was a popular saying among the people that "the Minamoto and Taira alternately govern the world." The Ashikaga clan, which ruled the Muromachi shogunate, descended from the Minamoto, and the third shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, even deceived others into believing he held the title of "head of the Minamoto," essentially the patriarch of the Minamoto clan. Nobunaga, wishing to take control of the world from the Muromachi shogunate, naturally found it most justifiable to claim descent from the Taira. Thus, an unverifiable legend emerged.

Nobunaga was very pleased with Mitsuhide's arrival. In his view, this well-dressed and graceful young man was not merely his wife's uncle, but could very well be his guide and vanguard in the campaign against Mino Province. However, when Nobunaga inquired about Mitsuhide's intentions, asking if he had come to seek refuge with him, Mitsuhide replied solemnly, "I am but a messenger of His Highness."

The Muromachi Shogunate, established by the first shogun Ashikaga Takauji, was a loose regime supported by the nominal allegiance of various regional daimyōs. Before the onset of the Warring States period, its actual influence extended only over half of Japan. Following the Onin War, the authority of the shogunate struggled to extend beyond the Kinai region. During the tenures of shoguns Ashikaga Yoshitane, Yoshiharu, and Yoshihide, even the Kinai region fell into division and turmoil, with the shogunate's power resting in the hands of the Hosokawa clan, while the real authority of the Hosokawa was held by their vassals, the Miyoshi clan. Subsequently, a figure emerged known as Matsunaga Hisahide, who was referred to as the "most wicked in the realm."

As for the seal, it was crafted by a renowned artisan after he moved to Gifu. This seal is oval in shape, but a portion is missing from the bottom, leading some to believe it resembles a horseshoe. The inscription on the seal is not his, but rather the four characters "天下布武". "天下布武" signifies the intention to use military force to pacify the chaotic world and seize control of the realm

"Kōbō" originally referred to the esteemed title for the court officials and nobles. For a period, the nobility was called Kōbō, while the upper-tier samurai were referred to as Bujō. By the mid-Muromachi Shogunate, the capable and ambitious shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu quelled the turmoil of the Northern and Southern Courts, unifying Japan, and subsequently received the title of Chancellor from the Emperor—this Chancellor is the leader of the court officials, akin to a Prime Minister. From that point onward, the shoguns of the bakufu were also respectfully referred to as "Kōbō."

Inuyama Battle

Meilun is both a crisis and a hope

Caught between the two major powers of Oda and Imagawa, the Matsudaira clan of Nishimikawa found it difficult to survive solely on their own strength and needed to seek a patron. Observing the weakness of the Imagawa clan, Matsudaira Motoyasu had long contemplated aligning with the Oda faction, but he did not expect Nobunaga to express his intentions first. The Oda clan was large, while the Matsudaira clan was small; thus, it was only natural for the smaller to align with the larger. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately agreed to Nobunaga's request, leading to a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a defensive alliance between the Oda and Tokugawa factions.

Imagawa Yoshimoto was captivated by the decaying culture of the nobility. It is said that he often painted his eyebrows and applied powder, even dyeing his teeth black. Such an eccentric appearance, by contemporary aesthetic standards, might resemble that of a clown. However, in reality, Yoshimoto had fought many battles over the years, achieving more victories than defeats. He was also a renowned statesman, making significant contributions within his territory by reforming the legal system, excavating gold mines, encouraging agriculture, promoting commerce, and developing transportation. Otherwise, he would not have had the strength to lead an army of twenty-five thousand westward.

The family crest of the Taira clan primarily features a "butterfly pattern," with Nobunaga frequently using the side profile image of the "Yōbu Butterfly."

In this era, the shogun must heed the countenance of Sanjō Chōkei, while Chōkei, in turn, must regard the expression of Matsunaga Hisahide in order to survive

Niwa Gorozaemon Nagahide was a high-ranking official who was promoted by Nobunaga. Due to his long-term responsibility for domestic affairs, he was nicknamed "Goroza of Rice." However, this "Goroza of Rice" was not merely skilled in the collection and mobilization of rice; his talents in diplomacy and strategy were also significant.

Facing the province of Owari, Saito Dosan and his son Yoshiharu had arranged their forces like a long snake formation, with Higashiminō as the head and Nishiminō as the tail, while Inabayama Castle served as the body of the snake. No matter from which direction the Owari army attacked, striking the head would prompt a response from the tail, striking the tail would elicit a reaction from the head, and striking the body would invoke a response from both ends, leaving no opportunity for Oda Nobunaga to counter. However, a good strategy also requires a capable commander. As Nobunaga attacked Inabayama, the local lords from the eastern and western regions, representing the head and tail of the snake, rushed to provide assistance. He then shifted his focus to the head, but reinforcements from Saito Ryuuou were delayed in arriving. In fact, when Nobunaga captured the castle at Sekigahara and suppressed Higashiminō, it had already signaled the impending downfall of the Inabayama regime.

Before the second assault on Inuyama Castle, Nobunaga first dispatched Nagahide to divide and weaken the enemy. Through relentless efforts, Nagahide successfully persuaded the enemy lords, Nakajima Bungo no Kami of Hida Castle and Wada Shinjo of Kuroda Castle—these two fortresses were the gateways for Inuyama Castle to resist Nobunaga's attack. With the loss of these gateways, soon after, Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide, and Sakuma Nobumori broke through the nearby Daidoji Fortress. Seeing the situation was dire, Oda Nobukiyo was forced to abandon the castle and flee to Kai Province to seek refuge with Takeda Shingen. Thus, Inuyama Castle was captured by Nobunaga.

Nobunaga furrowed his brow and asked, "It reads quite smoothly; may I inquire about its origin?" Zen Master Zeyan explained, "In ancient China, King Wen of Zhou resided near Mount Qi. Upon hearing the phoenix call from the mountain, he regarded it as an auspicious omen, which is the story of 'The Phoenix Calls at Mount Qi.' Later, King Wen of Zhou, through his virtue, influenced his son, King Wu of Zhou, who overthrew the Yin and Shang dynasties, establishing the Zhou dynasty that lasted for eight hundred years."

The southern region of Mino Province is fertile land, part of the Nōbi Plain that connects to Owari, while the northern part is characterized by high mountains and hills, gradually extending northward to form the Hida Plateau. The center of the Saitō clan's rule is located in the central-southern part of Mino Province, specifically at Inabayama, on the southern bank of the middle reaches of the Nagara River—Inabayama Castle is a renowned impregnable fortress that Saitō Dōsan painstakingly managed.

Saito Ryuuou returned triumphantly to Inabayama Castle, from then on no longer regarding his uncle Nobunaga with any respect. However, after Oda Nobunaga returned to Komaki Castle, he reflected deeply on his past mistakes and decided to abandon the strategy of aggressive attacks, seeking alternative paths. Inabayama Castle is located in the central region of Mino Province, surrounded by hilly areas to the north that are sparsely populated and poor in resources, thus not requiring much consideration. However, if the local lords on the eastern and western sides of Inabayama are not dealt with in advance, any advance on his part would lead to encirclement, as exemplified by the defeat at Kōnodajima.

To the east of Owari lies the Mikawa Province, where we will soon discuss Matsudaira Motoyasu, the most powerful figure in West Mikawa, who quickly became an ally of Nobunaga. The various lords of Mikawa, both large and small, are about to face the fierce Mikawa pacification campaign led by the Matsudaira clan, which poses no threat to Nobunaga's domain. To the west, the Ise Province is filled with numerous warlords, making it impossible for them to advance eastward into Owari. Only in Mino Province has the Saito clan completed its unification, with Saito Yoshitatsu openly claiming to be a descendant of the Toki clan, thereby securing a righteous reputation for himself. This indicates that his ambitions are not small, and he may launch an attack on Owari at any time.

After thorough research, Nobunaga decided to first attack the eastern and western parts of Mino Province to eliminate the influence of Saito Dosan, and then directly assault Inabayama Castle. He initially set his sights on Eastern Mino, dispatching troops to attack Sekiguchi Castle, which was guarded by Nagai Michitoyo. Due to Saito Dosan's inadequate rescue efforts, Sekiguchi Castle was ultimately captured, and Nagai Michitoyo, a loyal vassal under his command, fled to the Hokuriku region.

Returning to the Battle of Okehazama, the Oda forces achieved an unexpected victory. Although Nobunaga did not maneuver around from the mountains in the north but instead advanced directly, he took advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness to strike decisively, which could also be considered a "surprise attack"—the Japanese are perhaps being overly pedantic.

The assassination of Ashikaga Yoshihide does not signify the demise of the Muromachi shogunate. In the absence of sufficient strength and charisma, a mere figurehead shogun can still receive veneration, as no one dares to take the grave risk of completely overthrowing the shogunate. Consequently, Matsunaga Hisahide and the "Three Good Men" supported Yoshihide's cousin, Yoshiyoshi, to assume the position of the 14th Muromachi shogun

Mino needs Owari, and Owari also needs Mino. Mino Province serves as the final barrier for entering the capital via the Tōsandō route. To the east, it connects with Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture) at the narrow and difficult-to-navigate Iwamuraguchi, which is easy to defend but hard to attack. To the north, it links with the mountainous Hida region (present-day northern Gifu Prefecture), effectively closing off the gateway to the Hokuriku route. Only two directions remain open: the flat plains of Omi to the west and Owari to the south, both of which are expansive and level. Throughout history, various powers that rose along the Tōsandō route have defeated the armies controlling Kyoto on the southern plains of Mino Province, subsequently marching triumphantly into the capital. Regardless of whether Nobunaga harbored ambitions to ascend to Kyoto and dominate the realm at this moment, he needed to advance northward to control Mino Province.

Having mastered the territories of the Nō and Tō countries, although his actual control spanned less than one-twentieth of the entire Honshu Island, during the tumultuous Warring States period, he had already become a formidable daimyō, capable of competing with powerful forces such as the Hōjō, Takeda, and Mōri. In order to demonstrate his determination to pacify the chaotic world, he wished to rename Inabayama Castle to something more grandiose; however, despite his contemplation, he could not come up with a suitable name.

Nobunaga Oda placed great importance on the messages and letters brought by Mitsuhide Akechi, as they provided him with a righteous pretext to march towards Kyoto. However, Saito Dosan regarded this matter as a great joke and paid it no heed. He had no intention of expansion and did not wish to leave his stronghold to go to Kyoto. Therefore, negotiating with his archrival Nobunaga while simultaneously offending the powerful Miyoshi and Matsunaga clans in the Kinai region was, in his view, simply not worth the trouble. Moreover, what was Ashikaga Yoshihide in the grand scheme of things? Wasn't the current shogun Ashikaga Yoshihiro?

The Siege of Inaba Mountain Castle

The world is governed by martial power

After defeating Imagawa Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama, Oda Nobunaga completely pacified the province of Owari. Among the sixty-six provinces of Japan, Owari was relatively prosperous. Although due to years of warfare, the annual tribute that could be collected at this time was less than 200,000 koku, it was foreseeable that with time and diligent development of social production, Nobunaga's power would continue to grow stronger. At this moment, the only potential threat to Nobunaga in his vicinity was the northern province of Mino.

However, the "Lord" referred to by Mitsuhide should not be the general Yoshihide whom Nobunaga had met. This is because the 13th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshihide, had already passed away in the 5th year of Eiroku (1562), which was two years prior.

One day, Nobunaga summoned Zen Master Seki Hiko, the abbot of the Hōjō Temple in the province of Owari. This master, well-versed and highly knowledgeable, was surely capable of coming up with a good name. Indeed, after ascending the Inabayama Castle with Nobunaga and gazing at the distant towering mountains and the vast Lake Biwa faintly appearing on the horizon, Zen Master Seki nodded, requested paper and brush, and wrote down three names

Mitsuhide Akechi is believed to have encountered the monk Kyōkei while wandering near Kyoto. Akechi, who harbored great ambitions, was eager to assist this legitimate heir of the Ashikaga clan in achieving a grand enterprise, to pacify the chaotic times and restore the shogunate. Thus, he devoted himself to Kyōkei. The following year, in 1566, Kyōkei renounced his monastic vows and took the name Ashikaga Yoshiharu. He submitted a petition to the court, asserting that he was the legitimate heir of the Muromachi shogunate, while also calling upon the various daimyōs of the warring states to rise against the rebels and restore him to Kyoto.

However, this so-called "secret letter" could not be concealed for long. Soon, Matsunaga Hisahide, having learned of the news, incited the "Three Good Men" (San'ō Masakatsu, San'ō Nagayoshi, and Iwa Seiyū) to invade the Muromachi Shogunate, resulting in the assassination of Shogun Yoshihide. It is said that the "Stubborn Shogun" Ashikaga Yoshihide was highly skilled in martial arts; he fought valiantly with a long sword at the entrance for some time, but ultimately outnumbered, he retreated to his inner chamber and committed suicide by self-immolation.

After subduing Eastern Mino, the next target is Western Mino. Since Mino shares a direct border with Owari, there are numerous intricate connections among the many powerful clans of both countries. During the harmonious era of Dosan and Nobunaga, they even fought side by side. Therefore, Nobunaga attempted to take advantage of this opportunity to internally divide and dismantle the Saito clan. He noticed that the cohesion of the powerful clans in Western Mino towards Inabayama Castle was not as strong as that of Nagai Michitoyo in Eastern Mino. Thus, he decided to abandon a direct assault and instead employ cunning strategies—once again, he would need to trouble "Kome no Gorōza" Niwa Nagahide to take action.

After the death of Imagawa Yoshimoto, brave warriors such as Yamadanishin Uemon and Matsui Gohachiro made a suicidal charge into the enemy ranks, inflicting a heavy blow on the Oda army. Unfortunately, it was too late to turn the tide of defeat, and these warriors, who refused to flee in time and sought to avenge their lord, all perished in battle. Previously, the powerful clan leader Hatamoto Sakyo no Suke Tomoyuki, under the communication of Imagawa Yoshimoto, led his troops and ships into Ise Bay, preparing to ambush and encircle the Oda army besieging Takato Castle, but upon hearing the news, they hurriedly retreated. One day, the dark clouds dispersed, and the province of Owari returned to peace—reportedly, this battle resulted in the deaths of approximately three thousand soldiers of the Imagawa army.

Thus, seizing the opportunity while Takemoto Chūji launched a surprise attack on Inabayama Castle, the Mino region was thrown into chaos, Nobunaga once again dispatched troops to attack Inuyama Castle. This time, due to the efforts of "Kome no Gorōza", he possessed absolute confidence in achieving victory

Yuanxin led his troops out of Minghai City with great swagger, heading east. Upon passing through the narrow valley, he sought out local farmers to inquire about the location where Lord Yiyuan had fallen in battle. After receiving directions from the farmers, he proceeded to pay his respects at that site, then mounted his warhorse and made his way directly to Kiriwa Castle on the border of Ezo and Mikawa. After a fierce battle, Yuanxin captured Kiriwa Castle and killed the defending general, Mizuno Nobuchika, thus avenging his lord's death with tangible action.

The most distinctive symbols of Nobunaga are the military flags and seals. When the general goes into battle, the designs on the military flag mostly directly adopt the family crest, although there are exceptions. Strangely, Nobunaga's military flag features three "Yongle Tongbao" coins. It is said that the Japanese did not mint copper coins but directly imported them from China for use. During the Warring States period, which coincided with the Ming Dynasty in China, the most popular coins were the "Yongle Tongbao" issued by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming. By depicting three coins on his military flag, was Nobunaga trying to convey that "money can buy victory"?

The Battle of Okehazama seems to mark the beginning of Oda Nobunaga's illustrious life, as heaven began to favor this extraordinary young man in a time of chaos. In the following year after the Battle of Okehazama, specifically on May 11, 1561, the year before the Kiyosu Conference, Saito Yoshitatsu also passed away. Dosan misjudged his son; instead of tying his horse at his son-in-law Nobunaga's doorstep, he became a formidable northern enemy that Nobunaga feared and worried about. With Yoshimoto's death, followed by Yoshitatsu's, both prominent lords of Eastern Japan left behind ineffectual heirs: the Imagawa clan of Suruga, led by Imagawa Yoshima, was engrossed in poetry and neglected state affairs, while Saito Ryuuou of Mino was even worse, as the local clans of Mino, previously suppressed by Dosan and his son, began to rise in rebellion.

The sudden rebellion of Nobukiyo caused great panic for Nobunaga, as Inuyama Castle, located on the southern bank of the Kiso River, was originally the gateway to the northern part of Owari Province. Now, it had become a stronghold from which the Saito army could freely enter and exit, directly threatening the heartland of the Oda territory. Thus, in June of that year, Nobunaga led his army to campaign against Nobukiyo, attacking the subordinate castle of Inuyama, Kokuchi Castle.

The ruling structure of the Saito clan belongs to the emerging system of powerful warlords during the Warring States period. Many influential local lords, such as the Bura, Inaba, and Ujiie clans, were not completely annihilated but instead submitted to the Saito clan, retaining a considerable degree of independence. The ability to attract and subvert these powerful families became crucial for Oda Nobunaga's efforts to seize Mino Province. During both the Dosan and Yoshiharu eras, these clans, pressured by the formidable military strength and political influence emanating from Inabayama Castle, dared not entertain any thoughts of defiance. However, the situation changed abruptly with the ascension of Saito Ryuuou. For Nobunaga himself, this shift was also evident: during the Yoshiharu era, he repeatedly attempted to advance north into Mino, only to return empty-handed. Yet, in the Ryuuou era, although it cannot be said that his progress was unstoppable, he did achieve several military victories—Inabayama Castle's glory had faded, and the fate of the Saito clan was nearing its end, which was not mere self-deception.

Thus, the Sanhe warriors quickly gathered around Matsudaira Motoyasu. They not only bravely resisted Nobunaga's invading forces but also frequently ventured deep into enemy territory, harassing cities such as Takagata within Owari. From this perspective, the young Motoyasu bore a striking resemblance to his ancestor Matsudaira Kiyoyasu. Motoyasu also conveyed his sentiments to Sunpu: "If you wish to avenge Lord Yoshimoto, please allow me to continue serving as the vanguard."

Danba Nagahide set his sights on the "Three Lords of Mino," namely Inaba Yoshitomo (Ichitetsu), the lord of Gujō Hachiman Castle, Uesugi Naomoto (Bokuken), the lord of Ōgaki Castle, and Andō Moritomo, the lord of Iwamura Castle. These three individuals were among the most prominent local lords in Mino, possessing strong armies and close familial ties, always advancing and retreating together. Previously, due to the incident where Saitō Ryūki imprisoned Andō Moritomo, the three harbored deep resentment towards the Inabayama regime. When Takenaka Shigeharu launched a surprise attack on Inabayama Castle, Andō Moritomo, upon escaping his predicament, immediately gathered his troops to firmly occupy the castle. However, due to his limited resources, he was compelled to negotiate with Ryūki and withdraw his forces. Since there was already a rift among the enemies, Nagahide thought that by leveraging power, enticing with benefits, and appealing to emotions, it would be quite easy to persuade them.

Not long after, Matsudaira Motoyasu officially severed ties with the Imagawa clan, renouncing the character "Moto" granted by Yoshimoto, and changed his name to Tokugawa, thus becoming known as Tokugawa Ieyasu. The alliance between Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu lasted until Nobunaga's death, spanning a total of twenty years.

In the fifth year of Eiroku (1562), Maho Chokei passed away, leading to turmoil within the Maho family due to the power struggles among the ministers. Unwilling to be manipulated by his vassals, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshihide believed the time had come, and thus began to take frequent actions, secretly contacting powerful daimyos from various regions to march on Kyoto and defeat the Maho clan, in order to restore the former glory of the shogunate—Oda Nobunaga was likely among those who received his correspondence

Even so, to the nobles, the refined Imagawa Yoshimoto, with his outdated cultural habits, was looked down upon by the new generation of samurai like Nobunaga. It is likely that when Nobunaga examined Yoshimoto's severed head and saw that ugly head with black teeth, he felt an overwhelming sense of disgust. However, he did not desecrate Yoshimoto's body in anger; instead, he carefully wrapped the head and belongings and entrusted them to a monk to return to the Imagawa family in Sunpu. Furthermore, he established a tomb for Yoshimoto south of Atsuta and offered a thousand volumes of Buddhist scriptures in tribute—because a dead camel of the Imagawa clan is bigger than a horse, and failing to demonstrate the warrior's spirit at this moment could potentially unite the enemy in hatred and lead to further attacks.

As previously mentioned, Oda Jurozaemon Nobukiyo is the son of Oda Nobukiyo, the second brother of Oda Nobuhide, making him a cousin of Nobunaga. He was stationed at the strategically important Inuyama Castle, which borders the territory of the Saito clan. During the era when the forces of Oda Nobuari and Nobukatsu still existed, Inuyama Castle served as a crucial base for the southern and northern assaults on Iwakura Castle. After Nobuhide's death, Nobukiyo also joined the ranks of dissatisfied retainers against Nobunaga. In an effort to win him over, Nobunaga married his own sister to Nobukiyo (marriage between cousins was not taboo in ancient Japan)—this sister would later be referred to as "Inuyama-dono"—but this did not mend the rift between them. Particularly in the battle in May of the fourth year of Eiroku (1561) against Mino Province, Nobukiyo's brother, Kande Yosuke, was killed in action. Nobukiyo held Nobunaga responsible, believing that it was his reckless attack that led to this tragedy, thus raising the banner of rebellion.

In correspondence and official documents, prominent figures would often sign with a personal seal. Nobunaga Oda frequently used the seal featuring the character "麟," which is said to have been adopted when he unified the Owari Province. The Qilin is a sacred beast from Chinese mythology, and it seems that Nobunaga regarded himself as a sage who would eliminate turmoil.

In this situation, the siege of Inabayama Castle lasted a full month. Saito Ryuuou, exhausted and without reinforcements, could no longer hold out and thus sent envoys to Nobunaga's camp to surrender, requesting only to be granted his life. At this moment, Nobunaga could not foresee that this unworthy and incompetent nephew would continue to cause him trouble in the future, and he readily agreed.

In the month of Yilong's death, Oda Nobunaga mobilized his troops to advance northward, engaging in battle with the generals of Mino, including Nagai Kai-no-kami Toshifusa and Hibino Shimotsuke-no-kami Kiyomasa, at Moribe. He captured the area of Sumikata on the west bank of the Kiso River. Shortly thereafter, he constructed a fortification in this location, serving as a bastion for the invasion of Mino.

Four hundred years ago, the Minamoto and Taira clans vied for supremacy, ultimately resulting in the victory of the Minamoto clan. The leader, Minamoto no Yoritomo, established the first shogunate, known as the Kamakura shogunate, while the Taira clan was nearly annihilated. An important figure of the Taira clan, Komatsu Kōhei Shigemori, is said to have a grandson named Taira no Kiyomori, who, after the defeat, fled to Ōmi Province and lived in seclusion. He later adopted the family name Tsuda. Subsequently, this Tsuda Kiyomori fled to Echizen Province and became the adopted son of the priest of the Oda Kengami Shrine, inheriting the family business—thus, the Oda clan of Owari, as well as its branch, the Katsu Hata Oda clan, are all descendants of the Taira clan. Many of Nobunaga's cousins later reverted to the Tsuda surname to deepen this peculiar sense of identity.

Finally, after repeated efforts by Oda vassals such as Niwa Nagahide and Kinoshita Tōkichirō, in July of the 10th year of Eiroku (1567), they successfully persuaded the Inaba, Ujiie, and Andō clans to switch sides. Upon hearing the news, Nobunaga did not dare to be negligent in the slightest; he immediately reorganized his troops and in August of that year personally led generals such as Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide, Kinoshita Tōkichirō, and Murai Sadakatsu to merge with the forces of these three clans, once again pressing towards Inabayama Castle.

The two armies encountered each other at Kawanoshima in Mino, and soon found themselves in a standoff due to the nearby river flooding, lasting nearly a month until the decisive battle on the 8th day of the intercalary eighth month. Although the number of troops at Inabayama Castle was limited, reinforcements from various regions of Mino gradually arrived, leading to an unprecedented defeat for the Oda army, which had advanced deep into enemy territory. During their retreat, many fell into the river and drowned.

In reference to the horseshoe-shaped seal inscribed with "The World is Governed by Military Might" and the name of the main city, Gifu, it is evident that by this time, Oda Nobunaga had already harbored ambitions for the entire realm. His vision was no longer confined to his own territory and its surrounding lands, nor was it limited to the Kinai region or Kyoto; rather, it extended across the vast Japanese archipelago. This perspective and spirit were qualities that the feudal lords of various regions at the time did not possess, marking the beginning of Oda Nobunaga's transformation from a "Child of the Winds of Owari" into a "Revolutionary" for all of Japan.

In this context, the malicious incident of Takenaka Shigeharu's surprise attack on Inabayama Castle occurred in the 7th year of Eiroku (1564)

If at this moment the lord of Mino were still Saito Yoshitake, he would likely be overjoyed, seizing this rare opportunity to lead his troops southward, uniting with Oda Nobukiyo to deliver a heavy blow to Nobunaga, perhaps even achieving a decisive victory to pacify the province of Owari. However, Yoshitake has already passed away and cannot be revived. His son, Ryukyo, indulges in pleasure and acts sluggishly; although he has promised to support Nobukiyo's request for an alliance, he has yet to dispatch reinforcements.

After Oda Nobunaga occupied Inabayama Castle and Inokuchi Town, he quickly relocated his base from Komakiyama in Owari Province to this location. Inabayama Castle is not only tall and sturdy, but the surrounding environment of Mino is also superior to that of Owari: to the east of Mino lies Shinano Province, controlled by the Takeda clan, but the border between the two provinces is marked by many lofty mountains, making military movements difficult. It is believed that the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen would not resort to such a foolish strategy to attack the Oda clan; to the north of Mino is the barren and perilous Hida Province, which poses no threat; to the south lies his homeland, Owari; and to the west is Omi Province, which surrounds Lake Biwa, providing access to Kyoto. Controlling Mino Province can be considered as opening the last gateway to Kyoto.

Koguchi Castle is located approximately five kilometers southwest of Inuyama Castle, also known as Yukuchi Castle. It is a sturdy fortress with double moats. After the failure to persuade the defending general Nakajima Toyokata to surrender, Nobunaga's army launched a strong assault. Although they temporarily breached the castle walls and entered the castle, they suffered significant losses and were ultimately forced to withdraw without achieving victory

Thus, Saito Tatsuoki left Inabayama Castle and fled by boat to the Nagashima region of Ise Province, while Nobunaga Oda swaggered into the castle—at this time, it had been exactly eleven years since Saito Dosan fell in battle by the banks of the Nagara River, and the prosperous Mino Province had finally surrendered at the feet of Oda Nobunaga

At this time, the territory of the Imagawa clan had descended into chaos, giving rise to major upheavals known as the "Three Provinces Turmoil" and the "Yen Province Panic." Imagawa Yoshimoto had already ceded the position of clan head to his son, Imagawa Ujizane, three years prior in the third year of the Kōji era (1557). It is likely that he intended for Ujizane to govern the provinces of Suruga, Totomi, and Mikawa while he himself went to Kyoto to rule the realm. Ujizane was preoccupied with quelling the disturbances in the provinces of Tōtōmi and Mikawa, rendering him temporarily unable and unwilling to advance eastward for revenge. Matsudaira Motoyasu, unable to secure a chance to fight, began to lose hope in the Imagawa clan as he faced increasingly strong pressure from the Owari side. In this context, an envoy from Oda Nobunaga suddenly arrived at Okazaki Castle, proposing a request for a ceasefire and alliance.

As a result of this event, later generations hailed Takemune Shigeharu as a rare genius and brilliant strategist of a century. However, the event itself merely exposed Saito Ryuuou's lack of political acumen and control, as well as the disunity and moral decay among the Mino clans. After rescuing Andou Moritomo, Takemune Shigeharu returned to Bodai Mountain Castle, where he both reached out to neighboring clans to guard against Ryuuou's punitive forces and submitted a letter of apology, seeking to live in seclusion. Had Ryuuou launched a thunderous attack and annihilated the Takemune clan at that moment, thereby intimidating the Andou clan, his prestige might have risen. Yet, this individual was already content to return to his home at Inabayama and failed to promptly punish Takemune, Andou, and others.

Akechi Mitsuhide, who is said to be the nephew of Saito Dosan, can thus be considered a cousin of Nobunaga's legitimate wife, Nohime. The Akechi clan was originally a powerful family in Mino Province. During the conflict between Saito Dosan and his son Yoshitake, they supported Dosan. Ultimately, Dosan was defeated by his son Yoshitake by the Nagara River, leading to his seppuku. The Akechi clan was also implicated; their castle was besieged, and their territory was confiscated. Consequently, Akechi Mitsuhide had no choice but to flee Mino Province in fear and become a ronin.

Regarding the origins of Matsunaga Hisahide, there are various opinions; he likely came from an obscure lower-ranking samurai family, similar to Saito Dosan. In his twenties, Hisahide became a retainer of the Miyoshi clan leader, Miyoshi Motonaga. After Motonaga was slandered and killed by his lord, the shogunate leader Hosokawa Harumoto, Hisahide assisted Motonaga's son, Nagayoshi, in taking the shogun Ashikaga Yoshihide hostage, defeating Hosokawa Harumoto, and establishing Hosokawa Masamoto as the new leader. Due to this event, Miyoshi Nagayoshi placed great trust in Hisahide, appointing him as the Kyoto magistrate (an official responsible for the security of Kyoto). From that point on, Hisahide's power began to expand. In the third year of Eiroku (1560), he constructed Tamon Castle, effectively controlling the entire Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture), and soon thereafter, he proclaimed himself the shogunate regent, a position similar to that of the leader, which was a title from the first shogunate, the Kamakura Shogunate, becoming tyrannical and arrogant.

First, they subdued the Rui Long Mountain Temple located to the southwest of Inabayama Castle, and then the Oda army set fire to the castle town of Inabayama—this town was named Inokuchi—besieging the castle to the point where not a drop of water could escape. Saito Ryuuou sought assistance from the local feudal lords, but unfortunately, the response was scant. Many feudal lords in Mino had previously sided with the Dosan father and son during their conflict, due to complex familial ties or lingering sentiments from the past. When Yoshiharu easily triumphed, they were compelled to submit to the new Inabayama regime. After Yoshiharu's death, Ryuuou could no longer retain the loyalty of these feudal lords. Under the banner of Nobunaga's righteous cause of 'avenging his father-in-law,' their indecision was already evident, and upon seeing that even the 'Three from West Mino' had surrendered to the Oda clan, they swiftly changed sides and defected.

It is estimated that Master Zeyan advised Nobunaga using the "virtue" of King Wen; however, Nobunaga only heard the phrases "replacing the Yin and Shang" and "eight hundred years of the world." "What a good origin!" he praised loudly, ultimately selecting the term "Gifu" from the three names. "Fu" means high place, as Inabayama Castle is indeed built on a mountain, just as its name suggests.

Takenaka Hanbei Nobuharu was originally the lord of Bodai Mountain Castle in Mino Province. Among the many large and small clans, he belonged to a force that was almost negligible. However, he formed a marital alliance with the renowned Ando clan, one of the "Three Great Clans of West Mino," marrying the daughter of the clan head, Ando Moritomo, thereby securing a powerful backing

It is said that Nobunaga used the Mokuha Fortress as a forward base and personally led his troops to invade Mino Province multiple times. In June of the fourth year of Eiroku (1561), he even advanced to the foot of Inabayama Castle, setting fire to the residences in the castle town. However, he soon suffered a severe defeat and was forced to retreat. The following year (1562), the lord of Inuyama Castle, Oda Nobukiyo, allied with Saito Dosan to raise the banner of rebellion, causing a temporary reversal in the situation.

In this context, Mitsuhide Akechi, as the envoy of the "shogun," arrived at Komaki Castle to meet with Nobunaga Oda. Following the Battle of Okehazama, Nobunaga had become the most renowned and prominent among the daimyos of the Kinki region. Yoshiharu held high hopes for Nobunaga and issued a decree for the Oda and Saito clans to cease hostilities and unite their forces to march towards Kyoto to suppress the rebellious ministers and traitors

This was all because Nobunaga knew that he could not swallow Mikawa in one bite, nor could he take in Totomi and Suruga. Rather than becoming embroiled in a protracted war, it was better to utilize the Matsudaira clan to secure his flank, allowing him to focus all his efforts northward to confront the Saito clan of Mino

However, upon hearing these rumors, the retainers that Imagawa had placed throughout the Nishimikawa region, including Asahina Yasunobu, were utterly terrified and fled the city in droves. When Matsudaira Motoyasu entered Okazaki Castle, he did not see a single person from Suruga; before him stood only the old retainers of the Matsudaira family, left by his father and grandfather. The old retainers wept bitterly, pleading with Motoyasu to stay and protect their homeland and their people

In ancient Japan, each samurai family had its own family crest. The crest of the Oda clan, known as the "five-petal quince pattern," was derived from a cherry blossom that Nobunaga's father, Nobuhide, received from the guardian of the Shiba clan. This five-petal cherry blossom, once stylized, became known as the "five-petal quince pattern" or "Oda quince pattern." Samurai families often possessed more than one family crest; Nobunaga later frequently used the "butterfly pattern," "paulownia pattern," "two pulls pattern," and "chrysanthemum pattern," each with its own origin.

Nobunaga left behind only the famous sword "Munezane Sōmon" worn by Yoshimoto as a memento of this battle. He engraved his name on the tang of the sword, along with the inscription "On the 19th day of the 5th month in the 3rd year of Eiroku, the sword held by Yoshimoto was captured." Thereafter, he pressed on without pause and quickly recaptured the castles of Narumi, Ōdaka, and Takagake, reclaiming the central and southern regions of Owari from the rule of the Imagawa clan.

Saito Ryusei, weak and ineffectual, saw his control over the powerful clans under his command diminish day by day. His strategy was quite simple: to seize upon the mistakes of Ando Moritomo, imprison him, and hope to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, thereby restoring his own authority. Upon learning of his father-in-law's imprisonment, Takenaka Shigeharu secretly infiltrated Inabayama Castle, set fires in various places to incite chaos, and then took advantage of the confusion to rescue him. In his haste, Ryusei was unable to pursue and ultimately abandoned this ancestral castle, fleeing to Chushin.

The Turmoil of Kyoto

Relocating to Gifu Castle demonstrated that Nobunaga was not limited to local feudalism, but rather had the determination to pacify the chaotic times and unify all of Japan. Moreover, his various symbols also reflect his ambitions.