Three, the narrow space of the sorrowful wind barrel

Firstly, as the Imagawa army pressed in, the Oda forces were divided in their strategies and defenses, and Nobunaga himself was filled with contradictions, unable to make a decision for several days. Although he leaned towards fighting outside the city, he had no effective plans in mind, and thus failed to organize a viable defense system. "When fate reaches its end, the mirror of wisdom is also covered in dust and grime" should not be seen as mocking his retainers, but rather as a self-deprecating reflection of his near-desperate state of mind at that time

Strangely, however, Nakajima Fort is only 2 kilometers away from Yawatsutsu Fort, while it is 5 kilometers distant from桶狭间. The Oda army moved under the very nose of Asahina Yasuasa, yet their flank was surprisingly not attacked. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the Imagawa army's vanguard had just achieved a local battlefield victory, returning to the fort to rest, leading to a state of complacency.

On the following day, Nobunaga returned to Kiyosu Castle to inspect the heads he had collected and to confer rewards for merit. During the Warring States period, achieving the first merit was referred to as "Ichiban Tsubaki," and the first merit was always heavily rewarded, standing apart from the merits of others. That day, the vassals all believed that the first merit belonged to Mōri Yoshikatsu, who had beheaded Imagawa Yoshimoto, while Hattori Hidetada, who had first wounded Yoshimoto with a spear, should be awarded second merit. However, to everyone's astonishment, Nobunaga first called out, "Ryōden Uemon, step forward to receive your reward!"

Nobunaga turned east, whether in hopes of bypassing the tide to continue southward to rescue the fortresses such as Marune, or to take this opportunity to circumvent the vanguard of the Imagawa army and seek a chance for a decisive battle with the main force, is uncertain. Perhaps even Nobunaga himself found it difficult to discern his true intentions in the midst of hesitation. However, the outcome was that the vanguard of the Oda army, led by Sasaki Hayato Masakatsu, encountered the vanguard of the main force of Yoshimoto in the mountains and sounded the battle horn first

The assertions of Masayuki Fujimoto have now become mainstream in the field of Japanese historiography. Therefore, let us reinterpret the Battle of Okehazama based on the perspective of "orthodox methods"

Masayuki Fujimoto has verified that the concept of surprise attack was first mentioned by the Confucian physician Koze Hōan during the early Edo period. In his work "Chronicles of Nobunaga," he essentially completed the basic narrative of the famous surprise attack at the Battle of Okehazama, which has been passed down through generations. However, another book of greater historical value, "Chronicles of Lord Nobunaga," records an entirely different story

It was perhaps at this moment that Nobunaga received intelligence regarding Imagawa Yoshimoto's encampment and defenses at the narrow pass of桶狭间. The god of opportunity seemed to flash before him, and his ability to accurately seize the moment of battle was indeed Nobunaga's exceptional talent. He immediately ordered his troops to advance eastward, charging towards桶狭间. It was estimated that by this time, aside from Yoshimoto's main force, the other troops had already departed from the Tōkaidō and were en route to Ōdaka Castle. Therefore, the Oda army surged straight towards桶狭间, encountering no enemy forces along the way, which prevented any battle from breaking out.

During the examination of the corpse, Kumagaya Naomasa discovered a brocade pouch hanging from the youth's waist, containing a flute. He could not help but feel even more sorrowful: "Consider that my army has tens of thousands, yet not a single one among them carries a flute. This youth is indeed a person of refinement; it is truly lamentable." It was only later revealed that this youth was the son of the physician Hirakawa Kiyomori, named Atsumori, who was merely seventeen years old

After finishing a song, Nobunaga commanded, "Bring the armor and sound the conch shell." He then donned the armor, stood up to eat a bowl of rice soaked in soup, and hurriedly mounted his warhorse to leave Kiyosu Castle, racing towards the front lines. At this moment, only five mounted samurai accompanied him: Iwamuro Nagamori, Hasegawa Kyosuke, Sato Tohachi, Yamaguchi Hidamori, and Gato Yasaburo, along with two hundred ashigaru.

Based on the constraints of the two aforementioned factors, the duration of wars is generally not long, with instances exceeding one month being quite rare. Historically recorded protracted wars often involve intermittent fighting; in many cases, they do not truly consist of long-term engagements or standoffs. Taking siege warfare as an example, in most cases, it is a swift assault, with the siege lasting at most ten to fifteen days. Beyond this period, the depletion of resources may lead to the bankruptcy of the besieging forces. While long-term sieges are not nonexistent, they typically involve the attacking side rapidly destroying the defensive structures outside the city, burning down the town below the walls, and then constructing a "sub-city" nearby to monitor and blockade the target fortress. A small contingent is left to garrison the sub-city, remaining vigilant to movements within the city, while the main forces disband and return home, only to regroup when the time is ripe to launch a decisive assault on the fortress.

Tianle Narrow Mountain is a small hill with an elevation of 56 meters. The nearby roads are narrow, hence it is also known as Tianle Narrow Interval. Its shape resembles a barrel, which is why it is also referred to as Barrel Narrow Interval. It is said that when Yiyuan arrived at this location, the local elders were busy attending to the new lord, bringing food and drink to reward the "royal army." Yiyuan was greatly pleased, and due to the hot weather, he ordered a rest to eat on the spot, while also inspecting the heads of Sakuma Moritomo and others sent from the front lines, planning to continue after the heat had passed.

After Nobunaga passed through the Danxia Fort and arrived at the Zenchoji Fort, he listened to reports regarding the frontline situation—this occurred at 10:00 AM. Similarly, around the same time, the Marune and Wataru forts fell one after the other. Subsequently, he did not turn northeast, nor did he take a detour southeast to directly attack Uesugi's main camp, as he likely did not know the exact location of Uesugi's main camp at that time (the speculation of sending local elders to obstruct Uesugi's advance is utterly unfounded; it would have been merely coincidental if Uesugi had indeed stopped there). Instead, he headed south to Nakajima Fort and then turned eastward. That day coincided with high tide, making the coastal roads difficult to traverse. The Imagawa army seized this opportunity to launch an attack on the Marune and other forts, believing that Oda's reinforcements would be unable to arrive quickly.

Where did these elders, who obstruct the actions of the righteous and the progress of literature, come from? Did they come of their own accord? Those who deify Nobunaga believe that it was either Nobunaga himself or Masakazu Hayashi who specifically sent them.

However, the lord of Nagahama Castle was replaced by the Imagawa clan's vassal, Okabe Motonobu, instead of Yamaguchi Kyo. This is undoubtedly correct. Furthermore, in the southwest of Nagahama Castle, Imagawa Yoshimoto also appointed his trusted retainer, Tsurudono Nagachika, as the castle's defender. These are two nails deeply embedded in Owari Province, causing great unrest for Oda Nobunaga

Before the mid-Warring States period, most wars were relatively small in scale and of short duration. The limited scale was due to the fact that the centralized rule of the Warring States lords had not yet been fully established, coupled with the fact that many factions controlled territories of only a few villages or a single county, resulting in very limited mobilization capacity. It was common for battles to involve only three to five hundred men. The short duration of these conflicts was fundamentally constrained by the following two factors:

Nobunaga was well aware of this, and thus, on the eve of his imminent conquest of Iwakura Castle and the near unification of the Owari Province, he intended to bring gifts to Kyoto to pay respects to the Ashikaga shogun Yoshihide of the Muromachi shogunate, seeking the promise of being granted the position of guardian of Owari—wasn't that Sakai Daizen fleeing to Suruga? He might very well think that the guardian's deputy would seek revenge in his name, inciting Imagawa Yoshimoto to attack him. If he were to obtain the position of guardian of Owari, then the likes of Sakai would have no justification for their actions.

The young Junyi, in an instant transformed into a wandering soul, indeed reflects the unpredictability of human affairs, akin to a fleeting dream, with the pains of birth, aging, illness, and death being numerous. It is said that when Kumagai Naozane contemplated these matters, he could not help but feel utterly despondent, and from then on, he renounced the world and became a monk, taking the Dharma name Ren-sheng. This story has since been adapted into various forms of performing arts and widely sung, and it is fortunate that this particular rendition is also one of the favorites of Oda Nobunaga.

The two stories, aside from the unfortunate fact that the names of the victims differ, are almost identical. It is hard to believe that Imagawa Yoshimoto, a figure renowned for both wisdom and bravery as the "greatest warrior of the Tōkaidō," would fall into the same trap set by Oda Nobunaga on two separate occasions. This is likely a narrative embellishment by later generations, aiming to cast Nobunaga in a glorious light, suggesting that he had made thorough preparations before the decisive battle, thus fabricating this account. In reality, such a scenario was entirely impossible

In the early morning of May 19, Nobunaga suddenly jumped out of bed and headed straight for Atsuta Shrine, having seemingly resolved to fight to the end against Imagawa Yoshimoto. Of course, with only three to four thousand troops at his disposal, and needing to allocate a significant number to garrison various castles while also guarding against the Saito clan from Mino in the north, it seemed that without adopting a surprise attack strategy, success was unlikely. However, it was not until noon that Imagawa Yoshimoto's main force would arrive at Tanagase, something Nobunaga had no reason to anticipate beforehand.

Nobunaga received the news and immediately led his troops to maneuver through the back roads. Around one o'clock in the afternoon, he suddenly approached Yoshimoto's main force. Yoshimoto, caught off guard, hastily prepared for battle. At that moment, the heavens also lent a hand; dark clouds gathered, and torrential rain poured down. The Imagawa forces stood against the wind, making it difficult to even open their eyes, let alone wield their weapons in combat. Nobunaga raised his spear to the sky and shouted loudly, prompting his entire army to charge directly at Yoshimoto's formation. By around two o'clock, the Imagawa forces were on the brink of collapse, and Yoshimoto retreated, surrounded by three hundred mounted samurai from his direct vassals.

The Imagawa army attacked two forts near Takagojō, while Sakuma Morishige emerged from the fort to engage in battle. In contrast, Oda Hidetomi and his son Iino Sadamune remained inside the fort, resolutely defending it. Although the two forts were less than one kilometer apart, they adopted completely different strategies in response, illustrating that the Oda clan at that time lacked unified command, with both upper and lower ranks acting independently, resulting in chaos.

Like a dream

In the first year of Eiroku (1558), in March, Nobunaga shifted his focus to the northern route and besieged Shinano Castle, which was allied with the Imagawa clan. The defending general, Matsudaira Ietada, launched a surprise attack from the castle, resulting in the Oda army suffering over fifty casualties and facing a significant defeat. Following this, there were years of fierce battles, and it was not until January of the third year of Eiroku (1560) that Nobunaga finally captured Shinano Castle, driving the Imagawa forces out of the northeastern region of Owari.

Upon learning of Sasaki Katsutaka's death in battle, the Oda forces fell into deeper despair; however, their morale did not wane but rather increased, intent on fighting to the last. In contrast, Uesugi Kenshin, upon receiving the news, became even more dismissive of the enemy, laughing and saying, "Even if demons and gods come, what can they do?!" showing no signs of preparation. According to the "Chronicles of Nobunaga," when Katsutaka fell in battle, Nobunaga himself had not yet departed from the Shanzenji fortress. Upon hearing the news, he headed south to Nakajima fortress, where a senior retainer held his horse's reins to advise him against proceeding. Nobunaga shouted, "The Imagawa forces transported supplies to Otagawa last night, and they have already been fighting for half a day; they must be extremely fatigued. Our forces will wait for them to tire, and victory is within reach!" From this account, it seems that Nobunaga's initial destination was Otagawa Castle, rather than桶狭间.

There is another legend that the lord of Kubo Castle in Owari Province, Kubo Shinzaemon, also defected to Imagawa Yoshimoto in a certain year. Nobunaga collected the letters that Shinzaemon had written to him over the years, forged his handwriting, and created a false letter. The gist of the letter was: "Defecting to Yoshimoto is not my true intention. I believe that Yoshimoto will eventually launch a large-scale attack on Owari Province, and at that time, I will turn against him on the battlefield and return to the camp of Lord Oda. If we attack from both sides, the Imagawa army will surely be defeated." Nobunaga sent his retainers disguised as merchants to deliberately deliver this fake letter to Imagawa Yoshimoto, which led Yoshimoto to kill Kubo Shinzaemon.

This storm seems to be a matter of fate, as it arrived suddenly and lasted no more than about ten minutes. For several days, the sun had been blazing with no signs of rain; otherwise, Yi Yuan would not have stationed his troops in such a narrow place just to seek shade. However, summer thunderstorms are inherently unpredictable, coming and going in an instant. Although the rain was unexpected, it was nonetheless within the realm of reason.

Following the Battle of Chishan Chizuka, in the first month of the 23rd year of Tenmon (1554), the Imagawa army launched a large-scale attack on the territory of Shidō-gun, targeting Nobumoto Mizuya. Nobumoto sought assistance from Nobunaga, who then allied with his uncle Nobuhikari. Braving a storm, they crossed the sea to provide reinforcements. In this battle, the Oda forces achieved a minor victory, repelling the Imagawa army and capturing the Muraki fortress. However, they also suffered significant casualties.

Nobunaga, upon seeing Yigen's banner in the torrential rain, immediately abandoned the remaining enemies and hastened to pursue. By the time he caught up with Yigen, this so-called "the foremost warrior of the Tōkaidō" had fewer than fifty riders left by his side. Nobunaga's retainer, Hatamoto Kohei Taira Ichida, wielded a spear and charged directly at Yigen, who drew his sword and injured Ichida's knee. Another retainer, Mōri Shinsuke Yoshikatsu, rushed forward to assist, and the two managed to overpower Yigen, ultimately severing his head.

Imagawa Yoshimoto departed from Junfu on May 12 and arrived at Kakegawa Castle in the province of Totomi on the 13th, where he convened the first military conference. Since the Mikawa soldiers under his command were the most valiant and capable of battle, he appointed the great general Ii Naomori and Matsudaira Motoyasu, the lord of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa, to lead the Mikawa troops as the vanguard, directly attacking Owari.

In this context, Imagawa Yoshimoto's ability to personally lead tens of thousands of troops, aiming to break through numerous obstacles and march grandly towards Kyoto, which is over 200 kilometers away in a straight line, is undoubtedly a testament to his unparalleled strength

The remnants of the Maeda army and Sasaki Katsutomo from Arakiz城 gradually joined forces with Nobunaga's troops. At 1 PM, Nobunaga deployed his forces directly in front of Yigen's main unit, preparing to launch a desperate assault. In the "Chronicles of Nobunaga," it is noted that when the two armies first clashed, it did not mention rain, but rather stated that "the sky was clear." Perhaps the wind and rain descended suddenly amidst the fierce battle.

Upon receiving the news of the Imagawa army's mobilization, Oda Nobunaga suddenly jumped out of bed in Kiyosu Castle, commanding his young attendant to beat the drums in accompaniment, while he himself held a folding fan, singing and dancing.

The victors write history. Oda Nobunaga later achieved great success, and thus his famous victory at the Battle of Okehazama was naturally mythologized. It seems that from the fierce battles at Marune and Tachi, to Imagawa Yoshimoto's encampment at Okehazama, and even the divine intervention of a violent storm, all of this was part of Nobunaga's elaborate scheme. It appears that from the moment Imagawa Yoshimoto left Takagamine Castle, he had stepped into the grand trap meticulously laid by Nobunaga.

However, a series of actions taken by Oda Nobunaga prior to this, including the conquest of Hinokuni Castle, the siege of Nagahama Castle and Odaka Castle, as well as the expedition to the Kira region in Mikawa Province, clearly expressed to his retainers his unwillingness to surrender and his determination to fight to the end. Knowing Nobunaga's volatile temperament and the possibility of punishing his subordinates at any moment, no one dared to mention the word "surrender" again.

In addition to Imagawa Yoshimoto's main camp, the Imagawa forces were scattered from桶狭间 to the direction of Ōtakajō. Therefore, shortly after Oda's vanguard, Sasa Katsutomo, left Nakajima Fort, he encountered a contingent of Imagawa troops on the Tōkaidō, leading to a fierce battle. The Sasa unit consisted of only about 300 men, while the enemy forces were estimated to be nearly 1,000. After the battle, over 50 renowned warriors, including Katsutomo, were killed. According to records, Katsutomo's actions were not ordered by Nobunaga; it is likely that, upon understanding the commander’s intent for a suicidal charge, he deliberately set an example of glorious death for the entire army.

The greatest power on the Chita Peninsula is the lord of Kiyokawa Castle, Mizuno Tōshichirō Nobumoto, who is subordinate to the Oda clan. However, after Yamaguchi Kyōki defected to the Imagawa clan from Narumi Castle, he used threats and inducements to draw away Takagake, Ōdaka, and other castles, nearly connecting them into one cohesive force, completely severing the Chita Peninsula from the heartland of Owari. It is foreseeable that once the Imagawa forces completely block the northern part of the Chita Peninsula, even if Mizuno Nobumoto is an unparalleled loyal subject, he will inevitably be forced to side with the Imagawa for the safety of his family, resulting in Oda Nobunaga losing nearly one-third of his territory!

Upon hearing the news of the general's deployment, the various commanders of the Oda faction hurriedly left their homes to gather their troops in a rush. By the time Nobunaga arrived at Atsuta Shrine, he had only mustered a sparse force of around 2,000 men. He then entered the shrine to pray and read the proclamation for the campaign against Imagawa Yoshimoto. It is said that Nobunaga received an auspicious omen before the deity, which greatly boosted the morale of his troops

In fact, by examining Nobunaga's tactical maneuvers in the attacks on Mino Province both before and after, one can draw entirely different conclusions. Heroes are gradually forged over time; at the age of twenty-seven, Nobunaga was resilient and brave, yet he did not possess extraordinary intelligence or meticulous thought. There are many discrepancies and doubts regarding the details recorded in the Battle of Okehazama. Nobunaga's victory may indeed have been due to divine favor and a series of fortunate coincidences, rather than purely human strategy

In April and May of the same year, Nobunaga once again deployed troops in Yamada County, sending his senior retainer Sakuma Nobumori to besiege Nagoyajō, while Sakuma Morishige attacked Ōtakajō. Under these circumstances, Imagawa Yoshimoto left his base at Sunpu on May 12, gathering a large army to march westward—thus commencing the famous Battle of Okehazama.

the most significant achievement

Liang Tianzhenggang received the "first handle" for reporting the location of Yiyuan's main camp, and was granted the most substantial reward—perhaps it was at this moment that Nobunaga began to recognize the importance of intelligence warfare

However, the concept of the "Battle of Okehazama" has lingered in the hearts of the Japanese for over a thousand years, resonating everywhere and stirring their emotions and admiration. Yet, in 1982, military historian Masayuki Fujimoto made a groundbreaking assertion, suggesting that the so-called "Battle of Okehazama" may have been entirely fabricated as a myth by later generations

Fifty years in the human world

However, Oda Nobunaga allowed his generals to discuss among themselves, yet he remained silent throughout. The discussion continued late into the night, and the senior officials repeatedly bowed and requested Nobunaga to make a decision soon: "Even if Your Highness is unwilling to adopt our suggestions and wishes to engage in battle outside the city, please issue your orders quickly, as time is of the essence and we cannot afford to hesitate any longer!" Nobunaga, however, still refused to express his stance. Finally, he stood up and casually said, "It is late; everyone should return and rest. I too need to sleep." He then turned and walked towards the inner chamber, and it seemed that someone heard him utter a mocking remark, saying: "When fate reaches its end, even the mirror of wisdom gathers dust."

Matsudaira Motoyasu left home at the age of six, first serving as a hostage in Owari and then in Suruga as the young lord of the Matsudaira family, Takechiyo. Imagawa Yoshimoto held this young man in high regard and, after his coming-of-age ceremony, bestowed upon him the character "Moto" from his own name, renaming him Matsudaira Motonobu (later changed to Motoyasu). He also married his niece to him. At that time, receiving permission from one's lord to use a character from their name, known as "Ichiji Hairyo," was an unparalleled honor and a sign of deep favor. However, despite this favor, Yoshimoto had kept Motoyasu by his side and was unwilling to allow him to return to his homeland of Mikawa, Okazaki—perhaps Yoshimoto had already discerned that this child was not one to remain content in a subordinate position for long.

After neutralizing the threat from the flanks, Imagawa Yoshimoto's only direction for development was westward, either invading Mino or annexing Owari. However, the western part of Mino is mountainous, which is not conducive to the movement of large armies, and moreover, the confrontations between the Imagawa and Saito clans were not frequent. In contrast, Owari is the hub of the Tokaido, characterized by flat terrain and developed transportation, allowing for the deployment of large forces. Furthermore, the conflict between Suruga and Owari had already persisted for over twenty years since the time of Nobuhide. Imagawa Yoshimoto's ambitions towards Owari were well known throughout the land. Owari is the hub of the Tokaido, characterized by flat terrain and developed transportation, allowing for the deployment of large forces. Furthermore, the conflict between Suruga and Owari had already persisted for over twenty years since the time of Nobuhide. Imagawa Yoshimoto's ambitions towards Owari were well known throughout the land

Moreover, some high-ranking officials suggested that with Imagawa Yoshimoto advancing with an army of 25,000 westward, if they were to remain encamped for an extended period beneath the stronghold of Kiyosu, their supplies would inevitably run low. At that time, if they were to break out of the city, it would be possible to completely defeat the enemy forces, and any lost territory could be reclaimed. Therefore, the best strategy would be to defend the city. They urged Nobunaga to abandon the frontline forts of Danshita, Zenchoji, and Watarase, to contract the defensive line, and to concentrate troops to guard Kiyosu and the nearby castles.

The commanders of Nakajima Fort were Chikuchu Kichu and Sasasa Katsutomi. Nobunaga used their troops as the vanguard, advancing directly along the Tokaido after leaving Nakajima Fort and penetrating into the narrow valley. Yoshimoto's main force of 5,000 men camped at the narrow valley, unexpectedly not adopting the usual defensive posture. Instead, each legion formed a line extending in the northwest and southeast directions, almost parallel to the road. This was partly due to the narrow terrain, but it also indicated that Yoshimoto, having achieved victory, had become complacent and overly careless. If the astute Taiyuan Sekizai had been present, he certainly would not have made such a basic mistake; unfortunately, Sekizai had passed away several years prior.

Thus, there are only two remaining courses of action: one is to dispatch troops to rescue Marune and the Danxia Forts, engaging in a fierce battle with the Imagawa army; the other is to strengthen defenses and wait for the opportunity to counterattack. Most of the retainers, led by the elder Lin Xiuzhen, advocate for the second option, to hold firm at Nagoya Castle. Lin Xiuzhen stated: "To the east of Nagoya, there are five rivers serving as natural barriers, and the walls of Nagoya Castle are solid and densely fortified with arrow towers. Even if Imagawa Yoshimoto were a deity descended from the heavens, it would be impossible to capture it in a short time. Moreover, there are strongholds nearby such as Iwakura, Nakono, Katsuhana, Moriyama, and Suemori, which form a mutual defense. As long as we defend properly, we can ensure our safety." Lin Xiuzhen reiterated: "To the east of Nagoya, there are five rivers serving as natural barriers, and the walls of Nagoya Castle are solid and densely fortified with arrow towers. Even if Imagawa Yoshimoto were a deity descended from the heavens, it would be impossible to capture it in a short time. Moreover, there are strongholds nearby such as Iwakura, Nakono, Katsuhana, Moriyama, and Suemori, which form a mutual defense. As long as we defend properly, we can ensure our safety."

The combined forces of the Yamaguchi army and the Imagawa army totaled 1,500 men, with the overall commander being Kyoju's son, Jurojiro. After several hours of fierce battle, both sides experienced victories and defeats, ultimately retreating. Realizing that military force could not conquer the Yamaguchi clan, Oda Nobunaga resorted to underhanded tactics. It is said that he sent spies to the Suruga Province to spread rumors, claiming that "Yamaguchi Kyoju had feigned surrender and had been secretly corresponding with Oda Nobunaga." Imagawa Yoshimoto, believing this rumor, summoned Kyoju to the main castle of Sunpu, beheaded him, and then dispatched the general Okabe Motonobu to guard Nagahama Castle.

Although it was a direct confrontation, the Imagawa army, due to complacency and being in a state of rest, was not at all prepared for battle, and the vanguard was quickly defeated. The main formation of Yoshimoto was affected, leading to low morale, and he found himself locked in a fierce struggle against the Oda army, which was only half his size. It is said that Yoshimoto, a seasoned general who had fought on the battlefield for many years, could not ride due to his obesity. There is a saying that when he was deploying troops in Suruga, he suddenly fell from his horse, and his ministers claimed this was an ominous sign, which is why he abandoned his horse for a palanquin. When the Oda army approached, Yoshimoto abandoned the palanquin and, under the protection of his retainers, attempted to retreat on horseback, but his movements were hindered by the muddy roads. Furthermore, the Imagawa army was lined up in a single file, unable to gather their effective forces to halt Nobunaga's advance. Consequently, Yoshimoto was caught up with and lost his life—he was 42 years old.

Firstly, the small and weak territories led to many warlords facing financial difficulties. Although they often imposed heavy taxes on the people within their domains, with over 60% of the annual agricultural yield required to be paid to the lord, it remained challenging to sustain a protracted war. Secondly, there was a significant presence of the populace, referred to as "land retainers," as they were inseparable from the land. Some of these individuals participated in agricultural production; even if they did not work the fields themselves, the military conscription primarily involved farmers. When these farmers were conscripted for war, agricultural activities would be delayed, leading to the land becoming fallow. Consequently, wars typically erupted during the off-season for farming, and when the busy farming season arrived, everyone would think of withdrawing their troops to return home and cultivate the land.

Zhi Shi jumped off his horse and subdued the defeated opponent. Just as he was about to behead him, he lifted the helmet and discovered that the opponent was merely a youth, remarkably handsome and still bearing the innocence of youth. Zhi Shi could not bring himself to strike, so he inquired about the youth's name. The youth replied, "If you take my head back, someone will surely recognize me." Zhi Shi turned to look back, and his own troops were already surging forward. With tears in his eyes, he said, "I had intended to spare your life, but my army has already arrived, and you will certainly die at the hands of others. It would be better for me to kill you, so that you may be honored and worshipped later." He then beheaded the youth.

On May 17, Ii Naomori and Matsudaira Motoyasu led the vanguard of the Imagawa army across the Kyougawa River, entering the territory of Owari. At this time, the Owari troops had not yet succeeded in capturing the castles of Narumi and Okazaki. They constructed three fortifications—Dan-shita, Zencho-ji, and Nakajima—near Narumi Castle as auxiliary forts, and five fortifications—Watarai, Marune, Shokou-ji, Mukoyama, and Hyougasan—near Okazaki Castle as auxiliary forts, with the intention of laying a long-term siege.

It is reported that the Yi Yuan is about to deploy troops, and Nobunaga hurriedly led his forces to the Kira region of Mikawa to hinder the enemy's troops from assembling on time. The Owari soldiers set fires everywhere and even burned down the famous temple, Shitsukyo-ji. However, all of this was to no avail, as the Imagawa army successfully departed from Sunpu on the 12th. Nobunaga had no choice but to retreat to his base in Owari, Kiyosu, to devise another strategy

The Tōkaidō is not only the name of an administrative region but also the name of the main road that directly connects this region to Kyoto. This road runs from east to west, extending from Mikawa Province into Owari Province, bending northward west of Nakajima Fort, passing through Narumi Castle and the eastern side of Tange Fort, and then directing towards Atsuta Shrine. Additionally, to the north of this section of the Tōkaidō, there is another major road, the Kamakura Highway, which passes north of Zenshōji Fort and intersects with the Tōkaidō near Tange Fort. In order to support Ōdaka Castle, Imagawa Yoshimoto, after departing from Kutsukake Castle, turned southwest along the Tōkaidō and then turned northwest near the area of桶狭间. If he had taken the northern Kamakura Highway, he could have more conveniently attacked Narumi Castle. It is believed that when Nobunaga had just set out from Kiyosu Castle, he could not have anticipated which route Yoshimoto would take.

This is the historically renowned alliance of the three kingdoms: Jia, Jun, and Xiang

The Owari army advanced, and the commanders of the two cities hurriedly sought help from Sunpu. Just then, Imagawa Yoshimoto also believed the time was ripe, so he gathered troops from various routes within his domain, along with small reinforcements from his allies, the Takeda and Hojo clans. They set out in grand fashion from Sunpu, heading towards Owari. However, to him, Owari was merely a small stone obstructing his path of attack; he believed he could easily kick aside this small stone and then march straight ahead to Kyoto to seize control of the entire realm

According to contemporary field investigations, Nobunaga did not visit Atsuta Shrine, but merely came to the vicinity of the Atsuta Branch Shrine, known as Kamishima Shrine (located in the present-day Atsuta Ward of Nagoya). At that time, the number of people gathering around him was likely no more than a mere thousand. From this location, he gazed southward and saw the smoke of fierce battles arising from the vicinity of Takadate Castle, prompting him to hastily march south for reinforcements. Among all credible historical sources, there is no record of him praying for good fortune at Atsuta Shrine.

Indeed, in times of chaos, the so-called "righteous cause" is merely an excuse for military action. Even without any justification, wars that need to be fought will still be fought. Imagawa Yoshimoto would not overly concern himself with the moral judgments of the world; otherwise, he would not have become a formidable warlord. Nobunaga understood that ultimately, strength speaks for itself. With troops and provisions, there is justification. Therefore, he hastily dispatched forces to attack the cities of Nagahama and Okazaki, aiming to take the initiative and block Yoshimoto's westward advance.

Kose Sōan was born in the 7th year of Eiroku (1564), which means four years after the Battle of Okehazama, so it is unlikely that he had firsthand information about this battle. In contrast, the author of "Chronicles of Nobunaga," Ota Gyūichi, was born in the 7th year of Daiei (1527), making him seven years older than Nobunaga. He served Nobunaga early on and held the position of "Yumi-mono," or bow warrior, and it is very likely that he personally participated in the Battle of Okehazama. According to Ota Gyūichi's account, Fujimoto Masayuki proposed that in the Battle of Okehazama, Oda Nobunaga employed a direct attack strategy rather than a surprise assault

The basic shape of Owari Province resembles an inverted comma (,) with the small hook bending towards the east referred to as "Chita Peninsula". Most of it falls under the jurisdiction of Chita County, while the northern end belongs to Aichi County. Imagawa Yoshimoto, by persuading Yamaguchi to surrender, seized a large territory from the northern part of Chita County and the southeastern part of Aichi County, merging them into what is called "Yamada County"

Mirror of Wisdom

Marune Fort is located to the east of Takakō Castle, while Wajitsu Fort is situated to the northeast of Takakō Castle. By capturing these two forts, it would be possible to sever the connection between the southern temples of Shōkō-ji, Kōzan, and other forts with the center of Oda rule. The Chita Peninsula could thus be taken without a fight. It must be acknowledged that Yoshimoto's vision was quite sharp; this strategy was formulated with considerable accuracy and prudence

Is there not a principle of immortality?

In fact, among the generals of the Oda faction, many were greatly intimidated by the Imagawa army, which claimed to have mobilized 25,000 troops. At this moment, Oda Nobunaga could muster no more than 5,000 soldiers from his territory, making it a daunting task to face an enemy with a ratio of one to five. Of course, if farmers aged sixteen to sixty were all armed with bamboo spears and took to the battlefield, it might be possible to gather over ten thousand men, as there are precedents for this in the Warring States period. However, using these farmers to confront the seasoned and battle-hardened troops of the Imagawa, who were known for their capability and experience, would likely result in even lower chances of victory, as there would be few inexperienced and land-loving old and weak farmers among them.

However, at that moment, Nobunaga received valuable intelligence from the powerful clan of Ryotan, led by Uesugi Masakazu: it turned out that Imagawa Yoshimoto, due to his corpulence and his long upper body and short lower body, was unable to ride a horse and instead commanded his troops from a palanquin, causing his force of five thousand to move sluggishly; on that day at noon, Yoshimoto arrived at Tanaka Sakan, where he came to a halt.

At this time, gathering the troops from Danxia, Shanzhao Temple, Nakajima, and other fortifications, the Oda army should exceed two thousand. They passed by the east of Nagahama Castle at close range, yet the castle's commander, Okabe Motonobu, remained indifferent, which is indeed a strange occurrence. Therefore, later generations speculate that Nobunaga would likely send two to three hundred men to restrain the Imagawa forces within Nagahama Castle.

In the early morning of May 19, 1560, in the third year of the Eiroku era, the vanguard of the Imagawa army launched an assault on the Oda forces besieging Takato Castle. At the Chōhina Fort, Chōhina Yasuasa and others attacked the five hundred men led by Oda Genba Hidemoto and Iio Ōmi no Kami Sadamune. At the Marune Fort, Matsudaira Motoyasu faced off against the four hundred men led by Sakuma Morishige. The Imagawa side held an absolute advantage.

Imagawa Yoshimoto's domain was in the province of Suruga, with its main city in Sunpu. Later, he annexed the provinces of Totomi and Mikawa, leaving the larger neighboring powers he could engage with as the Hojo clan of Sagami, the Takeda clan of Kai, the Saito clan of Mino, and the Oda clan of Owari. The Imagawa, Takeda, and Hojo clans had long been embroiled in fierce battles, with no clear victor. In the twenty-first year of the Tenbun era (1551), the same year that Oda Nobuhide passed away, Yoshimoto married his daughter to Takeda Shingen's legitimate heir, Takeda Yoshinobu, thus forming a marital alliance between Kai and Suruga. Two years later (1553), under the strategy of his military advisor, Taihara Yuki, Takeda Shingen married his daughter to the legitimate heir of the Hojo clan of Sagami, Hojo Ujiyasu, while Ujiyasu also married his daughter to Imagawa Yoshimoto's legitimate heir, Imagawa Yoshimune, creating a tightly-knit alliance through intermarriage.

The Truth of桶狭间

On that evening, the Oda general Sakuma Morishige, stationed at Marune Fort, dispatched a swift horse to Kiyosu to report: "Our forces have just thwarted the Imagawa army's attempt to transport supplies to Odaka Castle, but it is estimated that the Imagawa forces will launch a full-scale attack on us tomorrow morning." In response to this latest development, Nobunaga convened a meeting with the generals to discuss countermeasures.

a survivor

The traditional view of the Battle of Nagashino is as follows

Before the death of Oda Nobuhide, many lands in the eastern region of Owari Province had already fallen into the hands of the Imagawa clan. As soon as Nobuhide passed away, Imagawa Yoshimoto immediately lured Yamamoto Samakatsu, the lord of Nagahama Castle in Chita County, to break away from the control of the Oda clan and join his side. At the same time, he also established maritime connections with various local powers in Ise Province, encroaching upon small lordships in the southwestern part of Owari Province, and constructed fortifications such as Kiryufu to defend and govern the area.

The Surprise Attack at Okehazama

With the death of the commander, the Imagawa army completely collapsed, and even the unharmed vanguard led by Asai Tadao and others hastily retreated from Owari, fleeing back to Mikawa. This marks one of the most famous battles in Japanese history where a small force defeated a larger one: the Battle of Okehazama. In this battle, Oda Nobunaga killed Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had the power to seize the world, and his fame resounded throughout Japan

compared to the lower heavens, which in Buddhist mythology refers to the lowest layer of the celestial realm, where one day and night is said to equal fifty years in the human world

This was a segment from a popular form of traditional performance art known as "Xingruowu," titled "Dunsheng." The theme reflects on the brevity of life and the impermanence of worldly affairs. According to legend, four hundred years ago during the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans, the renowned general Minamoto no Yoshitsune launched a surprise attack at Ichinotani, decisively defeating the Taira forces. Minamoto commander Kumagai Naozane pursued the fleeing remnants of the enemy towards their ships by the sea. From a distance, he spotted a general adorned in splendid attire and shouted, "Is it not shameful to flee in battle? Why not turn back and face me?" Upon hearing this, the general indeed turned his horse back to the shore, brandished his sword, and prepared to fight, but was easily unseated by Kumagai Naozane.

At this time, the two forts had completely fallen. After approximately six to seven hours of fierce battle, Oda Hidemoto, Sakuma Moritomo, and others had all perished. The commander of the Imagawa forces at Odaka Castle, Ideno Nagachika, took up residence at Marune Fort, while Asahina Yasuhiro defended Yatsutsu Fort. Matsudaira Motoyasu's troops entered Odaka Castle to rest. At this moment, the Imagawa vanguard held the advantage of terrain, with an army of three thousand. If Nobunaga were to arrive hastily, he would likely suffer a disastrous defeat, or even the complete annihilation of his forces.

On May 18, Imagawa Yoshimoto's main force entered the vicinity of Tagakajo in the eastern region of Owari Province, where he gathered the generals once again to convene a military meeting. After carefully analyzing the situation, he ordered the vanguard troops to split into two routes: Matsudaira Motoyasu was to lead one thousand men to attack Marune Fort, while Asahina Yasuasa and Ii Naomori were to lead two thousand men to assault Watarai Fort, in order to relieve the siege of Otagakijo.

Prologue to War

Subsequently, Nobunaga descended south to the Danxia Fort, guarded by Tada Mitsumitsu and Yamaguchi Moritaka, and then to the Zenchoji Fort, defended by Sakuama Nobumori—both forts were constructed for the purpose of attacking Imagawa's Narumi Castle. He ordered the two generals to abandon the forts and lead all their subordinates to follow him, then continued to race southward, seemingly preparing to provide support to the Marune and Wataru forts

The betrayal of Yamaguchi Kyoju occurred in the month of March in the 20th year of the Tenmon era (1551), which was also the month of Oda Nobuhide's death. Nobuhide did not designate a successor, and most of the local nobles did not have a favorable view of the "Owari fool." Therefore, it is understandable that Kyoju would betray his new lord immediately after the death of his former master. Oda Nobunaga was greatly angered by Yamaguchi Kyoju's betrayal and led an army to attack in April of the following year (1552), with both sides clashing at the site of Sanzan Akatsuka.