V. Ascend to Luoyang

It is evident that the content of this document is akin to a father instructing a child, telling Yoshiteru what actions are permissible and what are not. The underlying message is quite simple: "As long as you obediently comply, all will be well; should you dare to act recklessly, I will surely punish you severely!" Such strict limitations on the power of the shogun inevitably infuriated Yoshiteru. Although he was already aware of Nobunaga's great ambitions, he had previously held onto a glimmer of hope that Nobunaga would not only nominally acknowledge his status as lord but also genuinely confer upon him the true authority of a shogun. Since matters had reached this point, Yoshiteru was utterly disheartened. He began to secretly write letters to powerful daimyos across the land, urging them to come to the capital to campaign against Nobunaga and rescue him from his dire predicament.

Nobunaga's intentions are quite clear; to pacify the chaotic world, he cannot rely on the long-diminished Ashikaga shogunate, but must depend on his own Gifu regime, akin to a "wartime dictatorship." He will only return power to General Yoshiteru once the world is at peace—of course, by that time, no one would believe that he would genuinely relinquish power.

Nobunaga set out from Gifu to Kyoto, and the most convenient route was through the territory of the Rokkaku clan. Rokkaku Yoshikatsu had always maintained good relations with the Miyoshi and Matsunaga families, so it was unlikely that he would yield easily, making a fierce battle inevitable. It was a reasonable idea to preemptively contact and unite with the Rokkaku clan's archrival, the Azai clan, to defeat them. Moreover, it was heard that the young Azai Nagamasa was brave in battle and bore a striking resemblance to his ancestor, Ryozai, making him quite formidable. Therefore, Nobunaga decided to leverage a marital alliance to join forces with him, aiming to suppress the Kinai region and ultimately seize control of the realm. It was a reasonable idea to preemptively contact and unite with the Rokkaku clan's archrival, the Azai clan, to defeat them. Moreover, it was heard that the young Azai Nagamasa was brave in battle and bore a striking resemblance to his ancestor, Ryozai, making him quite formidable. Therefore, Nobunaga decided to leverage a marital alliance to join forces with him, aiming to suppress the Kinai region and ultimately seize control of the realm

In the Ise Province (now the central and northern part of Mie Prefecture), various factions were prominent. Before the invasion of the Oda army, the political landscape of the region was roughly as follows: In northern Ise, there were three main powers. The northernmost regions of Kuwana, Uenbe, Asake, and Mie were controlled by the local uprising forces known as the "Forty-Eight Houses of Northern Ise." The Kōbe clan occupied the Kawakuchi and Suzuka districts, while the Nagano clan held sway over the Amae and Anō districts. The southern Ise regions of Shima, Iitaka, Iino, Taki, and Tsu were governed by the hereditary provincial governors of the Kitabatake clan since the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The northernmost regions of Kuwana, Uenbe, Asake, and Mie were controlled by the local uprising forces known as the "Forty-Eight Houses of Northern Ise." The Kōbe clan occupied the Kawakuchi and Suzuka districts, while the Nagano clan held sway over the Amae and Anō districts. The southern Ise regions of Shima, Iitaka, Iino, Taki, and Tsu were governed by the hereditary provincial governors of the Kitabatake clan since the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The provincial governors were court officials, not positions within the shogunate. At that time, those who held the title of provincial governor while still wielding actual power and growing into powerful daimyōs included the Ise Kitabatake clan, the Tosa Ichijō clan, and the Hida Anō clan, collectively referred to as the "Three Provincial Governors." The provincial governors were court officials, not positions within the shogunate. At that time, those who held the title of provincial governor while still wielding actual power and growing into powerful daimyōs included the Ise Kitabatake clan, the Tosa Ichijō clan, and the Hida Anō clan, collectively referred to as the "Three Provincial Governors."

The downfall of the Kitabatake clan was extremely tragic. After pacifying Ise, Oda Nobunaga arranged for the defector former retainers of the Kitabatake clan, Takigawa Yoshikatsu and Tsuge Saburozaemon, among others, to assist his second son, Nobuhiro. He also stationed generals Takigawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobukiyo to guard the northern and southern Ise. In order to win the support of the local populace and develop trade, he removed the numerous checkpoints established by various powerful clans—this directly triggered dissatisfaction among the local clans, leading to unrest in Ise, with peasant uprisings occurring one after another.

Thus, Mitsuhide served under Oda Nobunaga. After Nobunaga invaded Kyoto and supported Ashikaga Yoshiaki as the shogun, he appointed Mitsuhide and Kinoshita Hideyoshi as the magistrates of Kyoto, responsible for maintaining public order in the city as well as managing relations and negotiations with the imperial court. Although they held the same position, Mitsuhide, with his noble lineage and profound knowledge, was clearly much more competent than the countryside-born Hideyoshi.

What kind of process was the so-called conquest of southern Ise? To begin with, radiating outward from Kyoto, the first circle encompasses the five provinces of the Kinai region, followed by the neighboring provinces of Omi, Owari, Mino, Ise, Echizen, Wakasa, and Tanba. Since Oda Nobunaga had already established basic control over the Kinai region and Omi, he aimed to expand his influence outward. He first targeted the weakest power, the Kitabatake clan of southern Ise.

It was originally in the ninth year of Eiroku (1566) that Ashikaga Yoshihisa submitted a memorial to the court, asserting that he was the legitimate heir of the Muromachi shogunate. Afterward, he sought allies to help him return to Kyoto, but immediately faced the resentment of the actual ruler of his place of refuge, Rokkaku Yoshikatsu. Yoshikatsu allied with the Miyoshi and Matsunaga clans to launch a surprise attack on Yoshihisa's hideout in the Yajima area. Realizing he had no chance of victory, Yoshihisa hurriedly fled to Wakasa Province (now the eastern part of Fukui Prefecture) and soon moved on to Echizen.

Due to the ample food supply within the city and the effective defense strategies employed by the loyal retainer of the Kitabatake clan, Toriyaoi Ishikatsu, the Oda army, despite their numerous clever tactics, was unable to gain any advantage. Ultimately, Nobunaga had no choice but to feign negotiations to buy time, and then he incited the loyal retainers of the Kitabatake clan within the city to defect, which finally forced the Kitabatake army to surrender on October 27. Kitabatake Kiyomasa was compelled to abdicate in favor of his son Kiyofusa and became a monk, while his daughter, Yukihime, was married to Nobunaga's second son, Chasenkamaru, who was established as the next heir. In the third year of Genki (1572), Chasenkamaru came of age and was named Kitabatake Sanke Kiyofuyu. Thus, following the conquest of Mino Province, Oda Nobunaga successfully annexed the entire Ise Province.

Based on this reason, Nobunaga first allowed Sanman Sanichimaru to inherit the Kobe family, thus establishing the prominent name of Kobe (Oda) Sanichirō Nobutaka. Subsequently, he conquered the southern part of Ise and arranged for his second son, Chasenmaru, to marry the daughter of the provincial governor Kitabatake Akinobu, thereby inheriting the Kitabatake family in both a son-in-law and adopted son capacity, taking the name Kitabatake Akinotaka, later changed to Kitabatake (Oda) Sanke Nobuhiro

At that time, commerce and handicrafts across Japan were largely controlled by commercial guilds known as "za." The emergence of the za was beneficial in protecting the commodity economy, uniting various affiliated businesses to cope with the heavy taxation imposed by the daimyōs during the Warring States period. However, it also increasingly led to tendencies of monopoly and egalitarianism. In order to counter the za, the daimyōs often employed various policies to attract free merchants and industrialists to develop within their territories, leading to the establishment of what is referred to in maps and texts as "jokamachi," where the primary residents were these merchants and the "bushi" serving the public.

The Conflict between the Overlord and the General

Even the powerful regent Matsunaga Hisahide, who once held sway, bowed before him. Nobunaga, filled with ambition and satisfaction, believed that the Kinai region was already under his control. On October 18, Nobunaga officially received the imperial decree from the Emperor, appointing Ashikaga Yoshiaki as the new shogun. Overjoyed, Yoshiaki was naturally grateful to Nobunaga. On the 28th, he hosted a banquet for Nobunaga to watch traditional Japanese performing arts—Noh. During the banquet, he expressed his hope that Nobunaga would take on the role of shogunate regent. After being politely declined, he straightforwardly offered a 'largest denomination check,' saying, 'I will appoint you as vice shogun, how about that?'

The title of Deputy General, as a formal position, has never existed before. However, whether it is the Deputy General or the Shogunate's chief advisor, Yoshikiyo's motives are quite clear: he aims to fully incorporate Oda Nobunaga into the Shogunate's management system, making him a right-hand man in his quest to restore the glory of the Muromachi period. Nobunaga is certainly aware of this, but his ambition is to seize the world, not to assist in the revival of the Muromachi Shogunate. Yoshikiyo is merely a tool for him; how could he suddenly become his legitimate superior? Therefore, he immediately declined the title of Deputy General and quickly left Kyoto, returning to Gifu Castle, leaving behind his loyal vassals Sakuma Nobumori, Niwa Nagahide, and Kinoshita Hideyoshi (Toyotomi Hideyoshi) to manage the defense of the capital.

On the 7th, troops were dispatched, and on the 26th, they entered Luoyang. The entire process took less than twenty days, and such a swift pace, like a gale, left the surrounding daimyōs and powerful clans trembling with fear, while also earning the admiration of Ashikaga Yoshiteru and his subordinates, such as Hosokawa Fujitaka and Akechi Mitsuhide. After entering Luoyang, Nobunaga divided his forces to attack the territories of the "San'yo Sanjin" in Settsu and Kawachi (both now part of Osaka Prefecture), successively capturing castles such as Seiryuji, Akegawa, Koshimizu, Takiyama, and Ikeda. The "San'yo Sanjin" were forced to flee westward to Shikoku for refuge. Seeing the situation was dire, Matsunaga Hisahide, who was still engaged in battle with them, encouraged the head of the Miyoshi clan, Miyoshi Yoshitake, to voluntarily submit to Nobunaga.

Kyoto, Japan, was established in the 12th year of the Enryaku era (793 AD) and was named Heian-kyo. The following year, the capital was officially moved here from Nagaokakyo. Heian-kyo measures approximately 4.7 kilometers from north to south and about 4.5 kilometers from east to west, with its basic layout modeled after the Tang dynasty capital of Chang'an in China. The city is square in shape, with the imperial palace located in the central northern part. The city is divided into the left and right capitals by the Suzaku Avenue running north to south, and further subdivided into dozens of blocks by several straight horizontal and vertical streets.

Yizhao's expectations were not in vain. By September of that year, which was the second month after he took residence at Ritsuseiji Temple in Gifu, after failing to entice the father and son of the Rokkaku clan, Yoshikatsu and Yoshiharu, Oda Nobunaga indeed launched his western campaign, marking the beginning of his journey to "unify the realm through military force"

After the ceremony of coming of age, Kiyomaru took the name Kanjuurou Nobutada. Nobutada was intelligent and honest, and as the eldest son, he was the most favored candidate for succession by Nobunaga. To avoid causing disputes, Nobunaga decided to adopt his second and third sons out to become the sons of others. In the Warring States period, it was not uncommon for adopted sons to become heirs of a family; in a certain sense, this was to demonstrate complete submission to the family from which the adopted son originated, thus merging the two families into one and maintaining a strong lord-vassal relationship for generations. The Japanese have always placed more importance on family lineage than on blood relations; as long as the family name remains unchanged, the family can continue, and it is acceptable to pass on the position to non-direct blood relatives or even completely unrelated individuals.

The Commitment in Lize Temple

Oda Nobunaga was determined to win this battle, consolidating the troops from the Kinai region, Owari, and Mino, leading generals such as Kinoshita Hideyoshi, Mori Hideyoshi, Sasa Narimasa, and Hachiya Yoritaka, with a grand army reportedly numbering 70,000. As the two armies first engaged, Kitabatake Kiyomasa's brother, Kizaki Kiyomasa, unexpectedly raised the banner of rebellion and voluntarily surrendered to Nobunaga. On August 26, after discussions with Kizaki Kiyomasa, Nobunaga's forces advanced towards Hatta Castle. During the assault on Asaka Castle near Hatta Castle, the general Kinoshita Hideyoshi was struck by an arrow in the groin, nearly losing his life. On August 26, after discussions with Kizaki Kiyomasa, Nobunaga's forces advanced towards Hatta Castle. During the assault on Asaka Castle near Hatta Castle, the general Kinoshita Hideyoshi was struck by an arrow in the groin, nearly losing his life

Secondly, since the assassination of General Ashikaga Yoshihide, the long-standing conflicts between the "Sanho Sanrenzhong" and Matsunaga Hisahide finally erupted in a total explosion, with both sides brandishing their weapons and engaging in fierce battles. The two sides were evenly matched, unable to overpower one another. Once they grew weary of fighting, they would shake hands and reconcile, uniting against external threats, making it exceedingly difficult for Nobunaga to advance into Kyoto again

Faced with the formidable Oda army, the powerful clans of Ise were terrified and began to surrender one after another. The first to submit was the Kōbe clan, whose head, Kōbe Tomoyoshi (also known as Tomosuke), agreed to adopt Oda Nobunaga's third son, Sanemarū, as his heir—this would later become Kōbe (Oda) Nobutaka. Following this, the Nagano, Kudō, and Seki clans also surrendered. Oda Nobukane entered Ueno Castle and inherited the Nagano family. Thus, with the exception of the Nagashima area, which was occupied by a peasant uprising, northern Ise was essentially pacified.

Seeing this treasure that nearly flew away circle back to him, Nobunaga could not help but feel overjoyed. Although the Ashikaga Shogunate had lost its power, it remained, in name, the overlord of all samurai. Supporting and upholding the shogun was no different from the principle of 'using the emperor to command the feudal lords.' Therefore, Nobunaga wrote to Yoshikatsu, earnestly hoping that he would leave Echizen and come to Mino, promising that he would certainly deal with the wicked rebel Matsunaga Hisahide and the new leader of the Miyoshi clan, Miyoshi Yoshitake, and send him back to the Muromachi Shogunate.

In December of the fourth year of Tenshō (1576), due to rumors that many uprisings among the people were secretly coordinated with the recluse Kitabatake Chikyo, under the strategy of Nobukatsu Sanada, the Oda army launched a surprise attack on the Sanze Palace where Chikyo resided. Chikyo fought fiercely, killing nineteen men with his sword and severely wounding over a hundred before finally leaping onto a seven-foot-high stone wall to commit seppuku, at the age of forty-nine. Following this, Nobukatsu attacked the Takigawa Palace where Kitabatake Chikuhō was in hiding; except for Chikuhō himself, the entire Kitabatake clan was nearly exterminated.

The first item is to form an alliance through marriage with the Azai clan of the Northern Omi Warring States, thereby opening the road to Kyoto

The Battle of Shangluo

Nobunaga completed the encirclement of the Rokkaku clan in southern Omi through his marriage alliance with the Asai clan and the pacification of northern Ise. In the tenth year of Eiroku (1567), he implemented the "music market" in places such as Kana and gradually abolished the numerous checkpoints within his territory, vigorously promoting commerce. The purpose of this was not only to accumulate funds but also to suppress the merchants of the Honnō-ji, who were in the service of the Rokkaku clan. While implementing these policies, Nobunaga was also searching everywhere for a legitimate pretext to enter Kyoto—where has that Akechi Mitsuhide, along with his backer Ashikaga Yoshiharu, gone now?

Yizhao asked Nobunaga with great anticipation: "When will you send troops to take me to Kyoto? In a year? In two years? As long as you take concrete action, I can wait." Nobunaga replied without hesitation: "Everything is ready; I will dispatch troops in two months."

After suppressing the southern region of Omi and the demise of the Hōkō clan, Nobunaga Oda marched into the Yamashiro Province, where Kyoto is located (now the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture). Not long before, the 14th shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshihiro, had already passed away. Due to the disputes between the "Three Good Men" of the Miyoshi clan and Matsunaga Hisahide, the number of soldiers stationed by the Miyoshi clan at various strategic points in Yamashiro Province was limited, and they were quickly defeated one by one by Nobunaga with overwhelming force. On the 26th, Nobunaga Oda and Asai Nagamasa entered Kyoto together and subsequently welcomed Ashikaga Yoshiteru from the Ritsumeikan Temple in Mino.

1. All important documents issued by the general must be co-signed by the Chancellor in order to take effect

Unfortunately, Nobunaga had anticipated such a move, and thus, on one hand, he vigorously sought to win over the confidants of Yoshihide, increasingly sidelining the shogun, while on the other hand, he appointed retainers such as Kinoshita Hideyoshi to remain in Kyoto, monitoring Yoshihide's movements at all times. Under these circumstances, first Akechi Mitsuhide, and then Hosokawa Fujitaka, both left Yoshihide's camp and aligned themselves with Nobunaga

After Yoshihide took residence in Nijo Castle, Nobunaga once again presented him with a great sword and a fine horse as a gesture of congratulations. Yoshihide was overjoyed and also bestowed a golden cup and a ceremonial sword. [The Japanese sword is commonly referred to as a katana, but in its true sense, a sword refers to the double-edged straight sword modeled after the Tang dynasty, which predates the shogunate era.] Of course, this harmonious display of courtly etiquette between the lord and vassal was merely superficial; both harbored deep-seated suspicions and ulterior motives. Furthermore, during the construction of Nijo Castle, Nobunaga also took the opportunity to renovate the imperial palace, which immediately elevated his status in the eyes of the court.

Especially at this moment, it is the best opportunity to advance to the capital, fleeting and not to be missed. Firstly, in the sixth year of Eiroku (1563), Rokkaku Yoshikatsu ceded the position of family head to his son Yoshiharu. Yoshiharu, fearing the overwhelming power of the influential minister Gotō Kiyotaka, sought to set a trap to assassinate Kiyotaka, but the conspiracy was exposed, leading to chaos within the family. It was not until the tenth year of Eiroku (1567), through the mediation of the elder statesman Gamō Sadahide, that both sides finally reached a truce. Subsequently, Yoshikatsu and Yoshiharu, father and son, established the "Rokkaku Clan Regulations," which outlined the order and obligations that the retainers were to follow. With the internal strife of the Rokkaku clan initially settled, if one does not take the opportunity to launch a vigorous attack now, waiting a few years for them to stabilize completely will make it much more difficult to engage them.

Preparation for Entering Beijing

To facilitate the development of future narratives, let us first briefly introduce the family situation of Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga's primary wife was Nohime, but they had no children. Therefore, he took several concubines, including the Ikoma, Saka, Hijikata, and Akamatsu clans, resulting in a total of seven sons and eight daughters. His eldest daughter married into the Gamō clan, while his second daughter married Tokugawa Ieyasu's eldest son, Nobuyasu—she was only nine years old at the time of her marriage. Following them were his three most notable sons: Kimiomaru, Chasennmaru, and Sananmaru. Kimiomaru and Chasennmaru shared the same mother, Yoshino from the Ikoma clan, and were only a year apart in age. Sananmaru was born of a daughter from the Saka clan and was born in the same year as Chasennmaru. Since Nobunaga had no legitimate son, these three eldest illegitimate sons became the main contenders for the position of heir to the Oda family.

4. In matters of state affairs, Nobunaga may handle them independently without going through the shogun

Numerous powerful clans, including the Bansho clan, sought refuge under Nobunaga's banner. As a result, the Rokaku clan, which had ruled southern Omi for four generations, completely collapsed. The father and son, Yoshikatsu and Yoshiharu, fled in haste from the besieged Kannonji Castle and wandered to Iga Province (now the northwestern part of Mie Prefecture)

Nobunaga's sister-in-law, named Ichihime, was said to be an unparalleled beauty. Although Nagamasa was not only brave and skilled in battle but also a well-known handsome man (despite the surviving portraits not reflecting this), this marriage appeared, on the surface, to be a match made in heaven, with talent and beauty complementing each other. However, despite the couple's harmonious relationship, many high-ranking officials of the Asai clan were not impressed. In their view, the Oda family was merely a nouveau riche clan from the countryside; the union could only serve to enhance Nobunaga's reputation and help him gain access to the capital, offering no real benefit to the Asai family. Only Nagamasa recognized that Nobunaga was not an ordinary person and secretly resolved to join forces with him to create great achievements.

On September 7, 1568, in the 11th year of the Eiroku era, a grand army bearing the five-petal papaya patterned flag departed from Gifu Castle in Mino Province, heading westward. This military action is referred to as "Shōraku," meaning to advance towards the capital, and similar endeavors have been undertaken by several powerful daimyōs since the Warring States period. However, they either returned defeated midway, or met with a tragic end (such as Imagawa Yoshimoto), or entered Kyoto but failed to command the realm, soon being expelled. What will be the outcome of Oda Nobunaga's campaign to Shōraku this time?

After Oda Nobunaga led his army back to Mino Gifu Castle, the Kinki region suddenly fell into chaos again—ultimately, despite his swift movements and the majority of the enemy being defeated, the situation remained unstable. On the morning of January 5, 1569, the "Miyoshi Three" who had fled to Shikoku, along with the remnants of various factions defeated by Nobunaga, suddenly landed at Sakai Port in Izumi Province (now the southern part of Osaka Prefecture) and marched back, surrounding the residence of Ashikaga Yoshiaki—Kyoto's Rokujō Hongan-ji. Yoshiaki's direct subordinates, as well as the samurai left by Nobunaga to monitor Yoshiaki's actions, including Hosokawa Norikata, Oda Sakan, Akechi Mitsuhide, Tsuda Samajō, and Mori Yagohachi, fought valiantly but were gradually pushed back due to being outnumbered.

During the Warring States period, two prominent clans emerged in Omi Province, both originating from the noble warrior family of the Sasaki clan. The northern branch was the Kyogoku clan, while the southern branch was the legitimate line of the Rokaku clan. By the time of Nobunaga's birth, the actual power of the Kyogoku clan had already been usurped by the Asai clan, with its lord, Asai Ryoma, being a formidable hero capable of shaking the very foundations of central Japan.

Through a series of measures such as the promotion of the market economy, Nobunaga became even wealthier, accumulating more Yongle Tongbao and other types of currency. He began to prepare for his assault on Kyoto and primarily implemented two effective steps.

Oda Nobunaga protected Ashikaga Yoshihide's entry into the capital, and Hosokawa Fujitaka was granted the title of lord of Seiryuji Castle and protector of Yamashiro Province. Due to the originally perceived difficulties of the journey to the capital, Nobunaga managed to open the route in just twenty days, which greatly impressed Fujitaka. When Ashikaga Yoshihide and Nobunaga fell out, Fujitaka decisively abandoned Yoshihide and sided with Nobunaga

The earliest creator of the Rakushi system was the Warring States daimyo Rokaku Sadayori of the southern Omi Province. In the 18th year of the Tenbun era (1549), he established the castle town of Ishidera Shinichi and began to implement the Rakushi system—during that year, Nobunaga was sixteen years old. Subsequently, this new policy was emulated by many Warring States daimyo; it is said that Nobunaga's father-in-law, Saito Dosan, had also implemented it in certain regions.

Oda Nobunaga gathered troops from Owari, Mino, and northern Ise, along with reinforcements from Tokugawa Ieyasu and Asai Nagamasa, amassing a total force of 60,000, a military strength unmatched even by the formidable Imagawa Yoshimoto of that time. The allied forces advanced towards southern Omi, with the objective of capturing the main castle of Hōkō-ji held by Hōkō Yoshiharu.

After the occupation of Kizakajo, Nobunaga did not rest and led his army directly towards Kannonji Castle. Around the time of the attack on Kannonji Castle, a tale circulated that a handsome young man, destined to become famous throughout the world, suddenly appeared before Nobunaga. This young man was Katsu Chiyo, the son of Gamou Yoshihide, a prominent minister of the Rokkaku clan and the lord of Hinoe Castle.

Takigawa Kazumasu successively captured the castles of Mofuku, Akihori, and Kusu, demonstrating an unstoppable momentum. However, he was later compelled to retreat due to rumors that Takeda Shingen of Kai Province was planning a surprise attack on Mino. In the following year, February 1568, Nobunaga ordered Takigawa Kazumasu, Oda Sanjuro Nobukata (Nobunaga's younger brother), and Tsuda Sōbu no Sukune Yasu to lead troops to attack Takaoka Castle, which was defended by the Kōbe clan under the command of Yamaji Kii no Kami. The Oda forces set fire to the area below the castle, and the flames raged for a full six days, turning markets and villages into scorched earth, leading to the fall of Takaoka Castle.

Mitsuhide Akechi was originally a retainer of Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Due to his exceptional literary and martial skills, he garnered considerable admiration from Nobunaga. When Yoshiteru arrived at the Seigan-ji Temple in Mino, Nobunaga indicated to Yoshiteru his desire for Mitsuhide to become his direct vassal. Yoshiteru, who was in need of Nobunaga's support, readily agreed.

5. After the world is pacified, all rituals and regulations shall be implemented by the general

Hosokawa Fujitaka (Yūsai) was originally from the Sanzen clan, but later became an adopted son of Hosokawa Mototsune. He served as a direct retainer to the 13th shōgun Ashikaga Yoshihide and was a renowned poet and scholar of his time. After Yoshihide's suicide, Fujitaka and others protected Ashikaga Yoshitake as he escaped from Kōfuku-ji's Ichijō-in, wandering for a time before finally settling at Ritsusei Temple outside Gifu Castle

Shogun Ashikaga Yoshihide once wrote to Kitabatake Akinobu, requesting him to march to Kyoto to subdue the Miyoshi clan. Consequently, Akinobu launched the Ise unification campaign, but returned defeated after fierce resistance from the powerful Nagano clan. In August of the twelfth year of Eiroku (1569), six months after the Battle of Honkoku-ji, Nobunaga first conquered the Nagano clan and then launched a large-scale attack on southern Ise. Kitabatake Akinobu immediately summoned troops from various regions, claiming a total of 16,000 soldiers, and fortified himself in castles such as Hatta, preparing for battle.

Similar to the offensive against the Mino Kingdom, Nobunaga dispatched numerous envoys this time to persuade the various feudal lords under the Hokke clan to surrender. When the envoys arrived at Hinoe Castle, the lord Gamou Yoshihide and his reclusive father Sadahide were filled with anxiety. With two formidable figures in contention, who would ultimately prevail? For the sake of the family's continuation, should they continue to support the Hokke clan, or should they timely shift their allegiance to the Oda clan? Just as they were in a state of indecision, thirteen-year-old Tsuruchiyo stepped forward and said, "Please allow me to serve as a return envoy to meet His Highness Oda Sozuke."

They were unaware that Nobunaga had long begun various preparations for his ascent to Kyoto after seizing Inabayama Castle. At this moment, everything was in place, only lacking the east wind. Who is the east wind? It is Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who possesses great righteousness and reputation. Now that Yoshiaki has fallen into his grasp, what does Nobunaga have to worry about?

Kitabatake Nobunori, the governor of Ise Province, was a renowned swordsman during the Warring States period. He received the true teachings of the "Sword Saint" Tsukahara Bokuden's "Ichinotachi" and even defeated the founder of the "Yagyu Shinkage-ryu," Yagyu Sekishusai Munenori. He combined Tsukahara Bokuden's "Shintō-ryū" and Uesugi Nobutaka's "Shinkage-ryū" to create his own school of swordsmanship called "Ise Shintō-ryū." Additionally, it is said that he was also well-versed in waka poetry, making him a distinguished general skilled in both martial and literary arts.

It is precisely based on these considerations that Nobunaga believed this was the right moment to enter the capital. Thus, he boldly declared to Yoshihide, "In two months, I will send troops to escort you back to Kyoto." Yoshihide nodded in tentative approval.

It is said that Oda Nobunaga, while stationed at Gifu Castle, was sharpening his troops and horses, awaiting the opportunity to advance eastward and seize Kyoto. It was around this time that he began to implement the "Rakuichi" system on a large scale.

Nobunaga often acted in ways that surprised others; he had a fondness for novelty and frequently appeared indifferent to matters of tradition. This was evident in his participation in his father's funeral and in naming his sons. It is said that after the birth of his first son, he went to look after the infant and exclaimed, "Ah, so this is how it is, marvelous, truly marvelous!" Thus, he named him "Marvelous Maru." As for his second son, he was unsure how to react but thought the baby's head resembled a tea whisk, which is a bamboo tool used for matcha, shaped somewhat like a modern whisk. Consequently, he named him Tea Whisk Maru. The oddly named San-Shichi Maru is also said to have been created in a similarly whimsical manner.

Nobunaga once again declined the offer, and in the following year (1570), he presented the "Five Articles" to Yoshihide, the essential content of which was as follows

The warlord Asakura Yoshikage of Echizen Province warmly welcomed the arrival of Ashikaga Yoshihide, but this was fundamentally constructed upon the conflict between Yoshikage and the Rokkaku clan, as well as his deep appreciation for Kyoto culture. He had neither the intention nor the strength to assist Yoshihide. In the summer of the 11th year of Eiroku (1568), Yoshihide, having reached the peak of his disappointment and despair with Asakura Yoshikage, sent Akechi Mitsuhide once again to deliver a message, requesting Nobunaga's assistance.

Through continuous refinement, Akechi Mitsuhide gradually grew to become Nobunaga's right-hand man and a top general of the Oda clan. As for his eventual role as the executioner who killed Nobunaga, that was a matter for many years later, something that no one could foresee at this moment

After two months of construction, Nobunaga fortified the new palace of Ashikaga Yoshiaki on Nijo Street, naming it Nijo Castle

The rejected Yoshizawa was filled with anxiety. On one hand, he referred to Nobunaga in his letter as "My Lord Oda Danjō no Chū" (Nobunaga had recently been promoted to the position of Danjō no Chū), while on the other hand, he began to appoint various provincial governors in the Kinai region in his capacity as shogun: the governors of Settsu were jointly held by Wada Koremasa, Ikeda Katsumasa, and Itami Chikō; the governor of Kawachi was Miyoshi Yoshitsugu and Hatakeyama Takamasa; the governor of Yamashiro was Hosokawa Fujitaka; and the governor of Yamato was Matsunaga Hisahide. Among these individuals, half were former retainers who had followed him in his wanderings, while the other half were daimyōs and powerful clans who had submitted to him in the Kinai region. None of these appointments had received Nobunaga's consent, which naturally led to his extreme dissatisfaction.

In order to advance towards Kyoto, Nobunaga's second step was to dispatch troops to Northern Ise, thereby encircling the southern Omi territory of the Rokkaku clan from the side

On the 28th, the Oda army bypassed several enemy strongholds that refused to surrender and advanced directly to the main castle of the Kitabatake clan, Okouchi Castle (now Okouchi Town, Matsusaka City), where they established their main camp at Mount Katsurase. This offensive and defensive battle was extremely fierce, lasting for two months. During this period, Oda's generals, including Ikeda Tsuneoki, Niwa Nagahide, and Inaba Ittetsu, attempted night raids but suffered devastating defeats, with the reinforcements from the Asai army also incurring heavy losses.

The Emperor of Japan had long lost his power, possessing only the authority to conduct rituals, akin to the highest priest in the nation. During the shogunate era, although the shogunate imposed many restrictions on the imperial court, it essentially maintained this hollow structure, ensuring a life of comfort. When the shogunate lost its power, the imperial court also fell into poverty, with countless court nobles displaced. Even the Emperor at one point relied on selling calligraphy and paintings for sustenance. Local daimyos, in order to attain higher official ranks or to paint themselves in the noble light of "respecting the Emperor," often presented tributes to the court, but these were merely drops in the bucket, unable to fill the bottomless pit of this vast bureaucratic system lacking a source of livelihood. Nobunaga's recent order to begin renovations of the imperial palace deeply moved the Emperor, and under the encouragement of Ashikaga Yoshihide, the Emperor personally issued a decree to appoint Nobunaga as vice shogun.

On July 25 of that year, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, under the protection of his retainers such as Hosokawa Fujitaka and Akechi Mitsuhide, traveled a long distance from Echizen to Gifu Castle in Mino, temporarily residing at Ritsuseiji Temple outside the castle. Two days later, Nobunaga personally visited Yoshiaki, presenting him with a thousand ryo in gold, as well as a great sword, armor, horses, and other items to express his respect for Yoshiaki

On the sixth day, news reached Gifu, and on the tenth day, Nobunaga led a dozen riders back to Kyoto, braving the wind and snow. To prevent similar incidents from occurring again, he decided to expand and fortify the residence of Yoshihide—this was his tool for seizing the world, and what would happen if it were taken by someone else

In a critical moment, the various guardians appointed by Yoshinobu, including Sanho Yoshiaki, Hosokawa Fujitaka, and Ikeda Katsumasa, finally led their troops to the scene and engaged in fierce combat with the enemy forces along the banks of the Katsuragawa River in Kyoto, resulting in the defeat and retreat of the "Three Good Men"

Ise Heisei War

3. The rewards and favors for subordinates are fully entrusted to Nobunaga for handling

Mitsuhide Akechi was the mastermind behind the assassination of General Yoshihide. Yoshihide Ashikaga harbored a deep-seated hatred for him and demanded that Nobunaga immediately behead this great villain. However, Nobunaga believed that Mitsuhide's influence in the Kinai region was deeply entrenched, and if he were to kill him, the local lords would rise in rebellion. At this moment, the only prudent course of action was to appease. How could Yoshihide dare to oppose Nobunaga's wishes? He could only nod in agreement.

In the central region of Honshu Island, Japan, there lies a lake with an area of 670 square kilometers, known as Lake Biwa, which is the largest inland lake in Japan. Among all freshwater lakes in the world, Lake Biwa ranks 129th, and if saltwater lakes are included, it ranks 188th. The administrative region surrounding Lake Biwa is referred to as "Omi Province," while Kyoto is located in the southwestern part of Omi Province, within Yamashiro Province. Therefore, although Omi Province is not one of the five capitals, its political significance is even greater, serving as the eastern gateway that protects Kyoto.

This statement left Yi Zhao utterly astonished, and even the ministers beside him were taken aback. "Your Highness, are you joking?" asked Hosokawa Tadaoki and others, "Do not forget, the enemies you face include the Sanmitsu and the Rokaku. Without thorough preparations, how can one hastily engage in battle?"

Although it is named Heian-kyo, modeled after our Chang'an, this capital is commonly referred to as "Rakuchu." This is because the formal contact between the Japanese archipelago and China began in the late Eastern Han period, during which the Eastern Han and subsequent dynasties such as Wei and Jin established their capitals in Luoyang. In other words, "Rakuchu" can be considered an abbreviation for the capital. The Japanese, following this example, also referred to their capital as "Rakuchu," with the area surrounding the capital being known as "Rakuchu."

Thus, he commanded his vassals Murai Sadakatsu and Shimada Hidesuke to act as overseers, summoning craftsmen from the fourteen provinces of the Five Capitals, including Owari, Mino, Omi, Ise, Mikawa, Wakasa, Tango, Tanba, and Harima, to gather in Kyoto to construct a new official residence for Ashikaga Yoshihide along the Nijo Road. This residence was akin to a castle, surrounded by high stone walls, with moats dug outside, and arrow towers and wooden houses for samurai erected throughout the interior. Kyoto was originally built in the style of the Tang capital, Chang'an, with its intersecting streets and considerable prosperity, yet it lacked the capacity to resist external attacks; this new inner city was entirely different.

The political structure of the Asai family adopted a "council of senior vassals" system, where powerful vassals such as Isoya and Kaibe would discuss and decide matters, often leaving even the head of the family unable to oppose their decisions. Regarding Asai Hisamasa's submission to the policies of the Rokkaku clan, the senior vassals unanimously expressed their opposition, advocating for an alliance with the Asakura clan of northern Echizen to resist the incursions of the Rokkaku clan. Amidst the rising tide of voices, Hisamasa was forced to step down and retire, passing the position to his son Yoshimasa.

It is said that the Asai clan harbored longstanding grievances against the Rokkaku clan. Consequently, the vassals did not hesitate to follow their lord, Asai Nagamasa, into battle, joining forces with the Oda army. Soon, the large army surrounded the key stronghold of Minakatsu Castle, which was under the jurisdiction of the Rokkaku clan. On the afternoon of September 12, they launched a full-scale assault and captured the castle before nightfall.

All edicts previously issued by the general are rendered null and void

In August of the 10th year of Eiroku (1567), during the siege of Inabayama Castle, the Oda army first invaded Northern Ise, led by Takigawa Kazumasu. Takigawa Hisasuke Kazumasu was not a hereditary retainer of the Oda clan; he originally hailed from a family of Koga ninjas, was well-versed in military strategy, and excelled in the use of firearms. He entered the service of Oda Nobunaga at an early age and, due to his numerous achievements, was not discriminated against for coming from another domain. On the contrary, he gained unanimous recognition from the household retainers and became a formidable general on par with Shibata Katsuie.

Thus, the brief honeymoon period of mutual exploitation between Oda Nobunaga and Ashikaga Yoshiaki came to an end in just a few months

What exactly is a "Raku-ichi"? In fact, Raku-ichi refers to the abolition of the privileges of guilds, the exemption of market taxes and commercial taxes in the castle towns, thereby attracting more free merchants and businesspeople to settle and operate. Nobunaga first implemented Raku-ichi in the castle town of Gifu and quickly promoted it throughout his territories. This, along with the complete abolition of guilds in certain areas later known as the "Raku-za" system, is collectively referred to as "Raku-ichi Raku-za"

It is this cruel San Nan Xin Xiong, and there are many more stories about him worth narrating in the future

After the death of Asai Ryozai, his son Hisamasa inherited the position of head of the family. This individual was significantly less capable than his father, repeatedly facing attacks from the Rokkaku clan of southern Omi, ultimately submitting to the military authority of Rokkaku Yoshikatsu (Shōgen). Yoshikatsu also bestowed a name upon Asai Hisamasa's son, naming him Asai Yoshimasa.

Thus, Tsuruchiyo approached Nobunaga and the first words he spoke were: "My family wishes to become the vanguard for your lordship's journey to the capital, and I have come specifically to serve as a hostage of goodwill." Nobunaga greatly admired the demeanor of this child, and in the following year (1569), he married his twelve-year-old daughter to him—Tsuruchiyo later became a renowned military commander and one of the "Seven Philosophers of Rikyū," known as Gamō Tadao.

After Ashikaga Yoshimasa ascended to the throne, he immediately severed ties with Rokkaku Yoshiharu, even removing the character "Yoshi" from his name and renaming himself as Ashikaga Nagamasa. In the third year of Eiroku (1560), following Oda Nobunaga's significant victory over Imagawa Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama, Ashikaga Nagamasa also achieved a great victory in Norata, Omi, severely damaging the Rokkaku clan, gaining fame, and maintaining the independent status of his family