Prologue

After passing through the ancient wild city and turning right, Nobunaga stopped in front of a mansion.

Having wasted many years, my temperament is still inferior to that of my younger brother. Even if I am still unable to bear offspring, the Hirate family can still be considered to have a successor

Nobunaga raised his head, and his gaze had returned to its usual indifference and languor

Interestingly, there are still people who truly regard the lord as a fool

A long time.

The sparse murmurs seemed to possess a certain kind of magic. In this moment, Inukichiyo gently lowered his right hand, which had been gripping the hilt of the sword, while Mankichiyo and Katsusaburo had already bowed their heads, and Hisahide's expression also calmed down. At this time, Jinsaburo appeared like a novice monk holding a relic of the Buddha, making it difficult for others to look directly at him

"How outrageous!" Goro anxiously tried to cover his brother's mouth, while Inuchiyo, who had followed Nobunaga, furrowed his brow and quietly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Even though he did not enjoy reading, he knew that Taira no Munemori was a powerless figure captured by Minamoto no Yoritomo. The lord's worries and the minister's disgrace are intolerable, and even as the son of Taira no Motomitsu, such an insult is absolutely unacceptable.

The only one who can ensure calmness under the protection of the Buddha is probably the one referred to as the Demon King

Hehe..." A twisted and cruel smile appeared on Nobunaga's face, "What else?"

The cold wind howls, and the snow falls in flurries. Beneath the azure sky lies an endless expanse of white, reminiscent of a world plunged into the realm of Asura, where direction is obscured. At the entrance of the mansion within the city, bamboo branches are still inserted, not yet faded from the joy of the New Year; however, the low houses in the town creak in the wind and snow, as if lamenting the discontent with the new city lord

The bright red robe is clearly a decoration of the Wu family, yet the collar has been pulled down to the chest, exposing the warrior's strong chest. The hair is tied up at the very top of the head, straight but of uneven lengths. The four-foot-long saber at the waist sways continuously with the jolting of the mount, and numerous strips of cloth are loosely tied around the legs, the origin of which is unknown.

... ...

Before me lies a corpse clad entirely in white garments. The face of the old warrior, marked by the passage of time, is streaked with tears, and not a trace of black can be found in his neatly arranged hair. Although he has already departed for the Western Paradise, his eyes remain half-open, filled with worry and sorrow. The abdomen bears a standard cross-shaped incision, with blood having congealed into a dark hue, lightly splattered on the floor. In front of him stands an old yet clean writing desk, with scrolls neatly stacked to one side, and in the center lies a thick legal document. The abdomen bears a standard cross-shaped incision, with blood having congealed into a dark hue, lightly splattered on the floor. In front of him stands an old yet clean writing desk, with scrolls neatly stacked to one side, and in the center lies a thick legal document.

In the evening, my father seemed quite pleased and invited us brothers to drink tea together. He also opened the window and said that up to now, he had only been considering some minor issues

The soldier named Tōkichirō does not appear to be a fool, nor is he ostracized by his colleagues due to being new. The reason he stands guard in the wind and snow while almost everyone else slacks off is entirely due to his personal habits—not out of fear or a desire to curry favor with superiors, but from genuine enthusiasm. Even he himself is unaware that such thoughts are quite different from those of ordinary people

Jiu Xiu's state of mind had yet to settle. Witnessing his brother's generosity, he felt a mix of emotions... astonishment, fear, pride... and even a hint of guilt

Inu Chiyo and Katsu Saburo exchanged puzzled glances, ultimately refraining from saying more. Man Chiyo, however, shook his head in disbelief. To dare to openly express hatred in front of the lord while simultaneously pledging loyalty, it was likely that he was the first among the left. ... And the lord who could tolerate such a vassal ... . ... Man Chiyo tilted his head slightly, fearing that in all of Japan, there was only that "Owari big fool".

"Read it to me!" Nobunaga pointed to the left, his face twisted in a manner reminiscent of a man-eating beast

He said that spring had come to entice him, and he remarked that both the flowers and the yellow orioles were exceedingly beautiful Later, my brothers and I went out

Is there nothing left

Although he dreamed all day of being recognized by adults and becoming a noble samurai, when he actually encountered such a lord, Tokichiro found himself too nervous to speak. In fact, no one paid attention to this little gatekeeper, and Nobunaga and his entourage hurried into the castle without stopping. It was only after they disappeared around the corner that Tokichiro lost his composure and fell to the ground, his heart still unable to calm down.

"Tell me everything that just happened, in detail." Nobunaga, having calmed down, could not hide the chill in his words

This is the residence of Hirate Nakaemon, the chief advisor of the Oda family.

The memorial left by my late father is here. He then picked up the document on the desk.

Goro hung his head in despair, his eyes filled with despondency. Due to his refusal to offer his horse to Nobunaga, the eldest son of Masahide, Goro Uemon Hisahide, began to establish contact with Shibata and Hayashi, who were opposed to Nobunaga. He believed this was the reason for his father's seppuku

Yes. Under the immense pressure akin to that of a mountain, I instead became even more composed.

Outside the window, the snow has stopped, yet the sky remains overcast, with the morning sun hidden behind dark clouds, unable to dispel even a trace of chill

You have not yet reached adulthood, have you

The date for the coming-of-age ceremony has been set for this year. It seems that he is worried about Nobunaga's dissatisfaction with Masazumi's disrespect, so Hisahide quickly added.

The Owari Plain, located at the intersection of several countries, was once a battleground. However, during the harsh winter, it is unlikely that any daimyō would mobilize troops here. Even along the borders of Mikawa and Mino, there would be few guards. Moreover, the small Nagoya Castle has gradually fallen into decline since the young lord Nobunaga inherited the throne and moved to Kōdo. On the vast city walls, there is only one soldier, looking weary, huddled next to a flickering torch, straining to open his bleary eyes in an attempt to find any noteworthy clues amidst the white expanse of the world.

Grandfather Hirate... are you also going to leave me..." Nobunaga stood at the door with his head lowered, tears streaming down his face. Even at his father's funeral, he had not shed a single tear. The attendants stood behind him, trembling with fear, exchanging glances, none daring to make a sound. Only the youngest, Zenzo, silently walked into the house, as if Nobunaga did not exist at all.

This strange giant ... Oh dear, Tengujiro slapped his forehead and hurriedly opened the city gate

The night was growing increasingly thick, while the heavy snow swirling in the sky showed no signs of letting up. The squatting soldier looked up at the sky and, shivering, took out the strong liquor he usually refrained from drinking. The warm liquid flowed down his throat and spread throughout his lungs, invigorating Fujikuro, whose sharp-nosed, monkey-faced countenance revealed a rare toughness. Satisfied, he smacked his lips and reattached the liquor pouch to his waist. When he looked up again, several glaring black dots had already appeared in the distant horizon where the earth met the sky.

Hahaha... Nobunaga crazily patted Zhenzuo's shoulder, "If you want to kill me, draw your katana like a samurai and let me see if you are worthy of being the son of Heito Grandpa!"

"How could there be none?" A tender voice emerged from his throat, and although his arms were still trembling, his voice was remarkably calm. "Father sighed softly, asking his subjects for a renowned steed, an act that only the head of the Taira clan, Munemori, would dare to undertake"

"Enemy attack ... ... or something else ... ..." Although hesitating in words, the hand unhesitatingly grasped the long spear—only to helplessly put it down again. The gradually approaching dark spot was clearly coming from the southwest direction, which was the direction of Lord Nobunaga's palace and Lord Nobushige's residence.

First, please become a useful person, a towering tree that can also shelter others

The grand door has long been wide open, yet no one is there to greet at the entrance

As soon as the words fell, before anyone could respond, Nobunaga turned and left the room, mounting his horse and galloping away

Shen Zuo slowly raised his right hand, pointing his middle finger to the sky, as if taking an oath, "My late father lived a life of loyalty and righteousness, dedicating himself to the Oda family until his death. Although I, Heita Shen Zuoemon, may be unworthy, I would never commit an act of rebellion that would dishonor my late father"

The admonition was not lengthy, and it was quickly read through by Nobunaga. The letter pointed out almost all of Nobunaga's shortcomings, from the need to avoid wearing extravagant clothing to the necessity of patiently listening to the opinions of his vassals, and it indeed delivered a thorough reprimand.

Shen Zuo slowly raised his head, his eye sockets had unknowingly turned red, and his face was pale to the point of having no color. "My late father died to admonish me, all due to the unruly behavior of the lord. How could Shen Zuo not harbor resentment in his heart? However..."

I see... After you come of age, come to my side and serve as my guard! And that soldier on night watch, who remains dutiful while others abandon their posts, must also be a person of talent!

Tōkichirō bowed slightly, his gaze quietly sweeping across the room. The sullen young samurai on Nobunaga's left was none other than the young master Zenshō of the Hirate family in this city, while the several young men on his right were unfamiliar to him. They were likely the prominent figures from the city of Kōdō.

To the right of the house stands a red pine, while to the left is a plum blossom. The branches are covered with a thick layer of white snow, yet the trunk remains perfectly straight. Through the snow, faint glimpses of varying shades of rosy red can be seen. Apart from this, there are no other decorations.

Lord Nobunaga—The unworthy minister Masahide, who often advised you to no avail, has already committed seppuku. If you feel pity for the death of this fool, please confirm the following items one by one

Secondly, please refrain from wearing bizarre clothing, and do not tie humorous items such as hanging cords around your waist. Additionally, do not casually drape revealing garments when visiting other places, as these actions are sufficient to bring shame to the nation of Owari

I am not talking to you! Nobunaga continued to stare at Munezō, not even turning his head.

My lord! Both Inuchiyo and Katsusaburo were taken aback, drawing their swords simultaneously

Only Nobunaga can be dressed as such a warrior in all of Japan... But... why is his face filled with grief and indignation? Did not everyone say that Nobunaga "smiles like a fox all day long"?

My lord, it is just... ..." Jiu Xiu swallowed hard, unable to utter a word.

This ... ...

Having not waited for the long-anticipated opportunity, Tōkichirō could not help but feel a bit disappointed; however, he did not remain dejected for long and soon gathered his spirits to prepare for the arrival of prominent figures from other cities

Goro's face immediately turned pale. While his father's last wishes should not be violated, he feared even more that Nobunaga would take out his anger on the family after reading the memorial. He never expected that his usually serious and unsmiling younger brother would possess such courage.

Continue speaking! Nobunaga's face involuntarily twitched.

Yes. He bowed slightly and replied, his youthful face showing neither joy nor sorrow

Stay right where you are! Nobunaga shouted sternly

The statements do not reflect the careful consideration of words typical of Zheng Xiu Gong; instead, they are straightforward and colloquial, much like Zheng Xiu Gong's usual reminders to Nobunaga.

"His Highness has arrived." When Gorō came out to greet upon hearing the call, Nobunaga had already suppressed his tears. Without waiting for his host to lead the way, he directly kicked open the door to the study.

The seemingly long distance was, in fact, not far at all; in an instant, a group of several riders arrived at the foot of the city. Tōkichirō quietly glanced at the tall samurai leading the group, but was taken aback in his heart.

is ... ...