Chapter 541 3. Jiangbei Eagle Fuji Nagamasa

Gifu Castle was originally named Inabayama Castle, and naturally it was built on Inaba Mountain.

"The world is full of laughter this year, and the fragrance of rice leaves will be even more fragrant next spring!" It is only spring now, so there is naturally no fragrance of rice leaves, but the grandeur of Gifu Castle stands tall and handsome in the spring breeze.

There are tens of thousands of grand troops gathered on and under the city, but they are still amazed by the Yamanouchi-Uesugi coalition forces who came in full dress.

There are few horses on the Nobi Plain, and most of the samurai's war horses are Kiso horses that drift down the Kiso River and are sold. The war horses under the crotch of the Echigo elite cavalry and the Yamanouchi samurai are obviously better. Echigo horses and Shinano horses are well-deserved, and the samurai are riding carefully selected war horses, which makes the Nobi people even more envious.

Not to mention the uniformly painted Guso and the scabbards wrapped in gold and silver, which show the wealth and power of Yamanouchi and Uesugi everywhere.

From the hatamoto to the servants, they were all in high spirits, like the old guards participating in the Victory Day parade. With riding skills far superior to others, five cavalrymen formed a row, divided into hundreds of columns, and advanced like a wall without any disorder. The samurai on horseback obeyed the public silently, and their bright armors were all experienced in hundreds of battles. The neat and uniform ranks added to the momentum.

Although the red and black colors of the infantry in the rear team were not bright, they showed the temperament of the world-famous elite soldiers of the armor in their calmness. Every three-pointed spear and every Yamanouchi barrel had shown their power on the battlefield, and countless powerful enemies were knocked down.

"Gorozu, Prime Minister Yamanouchi is indeed a great man in the world, leaving behind such a powerful army."

"It's a pity that Prime Minister Yamanouchi and Yamanouchi Habayashi are two generations of great men..."

"Do you think that this world's top-ranking samurai, Shimotaro, can have the same tolerance as his grandfather?"

"It's hard to confirm without seeing him once! If he has the tolerance of his father and grandfather, then you should try to get close to him."

Niwa Nagahide and Oda Nobunaga stood on the castle tower of Gifu Castle, watching the nearly 6,000 Yamanouchi and Uesugi coalition forces enter the camp below the castle, and marveled at the arrogant aura of the Shinano Echigo samurai.

"Your Highness, you should go down to the city to welcome them!" Mori Nagayoshi, the side chief who was sitting next to him, reminded him.

"Let's go!"

The troops and horses in the column finally ran out, and countless waving flags appeared. On them were written titles such as Shinano Shugoshi, Shimotsuma, and Gosai-sama, as well as the Minamoto Imperial White Flag carried by Murakami Yoshimitsu himself. Flying and waving, in the sunshine, they tell that the owners of these flags were and are so powerful.

Surrounded by dozens of mounted warriors, Yamauchi Taro sat on his horse. In fact, most of the time before, Yamauchi Taro sat on an ox cart. It was only at this moment that he had to set an example of a samurai daimyo, so he rode on a very docile colt and was led forward by a groom.

Originally prepared to go down to the city to greet him in person, Oda Nobunaga somehow changed his mind temporarily and sent Niwa Nagahide and Sakuma Nobumori to cooperate with Wada Koremasa from the shogunate to greet him outside the city.

After that, he was greeted by Hayashi Hidetada, Shibata Katsuie and Akechi Mitsuhide at Ninomaru, and then went straight to the Honmaru castle tower, where he was greeted by Oda Nobunaga and Hosokawa Fujitaka in person, accompanied by Matsudaira Ieyasu, Kobe Nobutaka and Nagano Nobuyoshi, vassal daimyo of the Oda clan.

The spiral stairs of Gifu Castle have more than 300 steps. The benefits of Yamauchi Taro's daily walk to morning classes were apparent. He didn't need any help, and although he was a little out of breath, he still walked to the castle tower easily.

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

"Taro, come closer, let me see!"

Since the matter was simple and appropriate, there was no bamboo curtain in front of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, so there was no need to bother. Yamauchi Taro stood up from the floor of the corridor according to etiquette, bowed and knelt forward a few steps.

"Come closer!"

Yamauchi Taro bowed his head respectfully, then knelt three steps and walked forward. Even so, he was still about four or five steps away from Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

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

Everyone had different expressions and their thoughts were also very different.

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

Really like him?

Not really!

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

Even if Oda Nobunaga sits in the first seat, it is still the second seat.

On both sides are the shogunate and the daimyo and retainers of the Shangluo families, who sit down in order.

"Taro is so strong, and I am very pleased!" Ashikaga Yoshiaki looked very happy, touching Yamauchi Taro's little head.

"Thank you for your concern, father."

"How is the scenery in Shinano?"

"The people and the people are all concerned about the shogunate, and they all have the ambition to respect the shogunate and fight against the enemy."

"The world is in chaos, and the rebellious and evil people are rampant. The only one who always obeys the shogunate is you, Yamauchi!"

What a kind father and filial son.

Kobayata and Hosokawa Saijo sat at the back, watching the father and son recognize each other, and Oda Nobunaga watching the show with a happy face. Both of them realized that the Shangluo Army was not so united from the beginning.

After that, it was all about recognition, you introduce me, I introduce you, and say a few nonsense words like "I have heard of your name for a long time" to each other. After almost everyone knew each other, the banquet naturally began.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Almost all the elite warriors of the Asai family, including the three generals Kai Akame, as well as Aki, Miyabe, Isono, Nonomura, Endo and others, gathered together. All the Yoshibu hawks came forward to pay homage to Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga. .

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

This Oda Nobunaga is truly a "kind man"!