8th year of Yongroku, February.

Owari Province, Komaki Yama Castle, Castle Tower.

Kinoshita Toyoshiro knelt respectfully in front of Oda Nobunaga.

At this moment, Oda Nobunaga was ordering tea for Kinoshita Tojiro.

Unlike in the past, Oda Nobunaga dressed as an orthodox samurai when ordering tea, and wore a prince-style upset on his head.

Oda Nobunaga's demeanor when ordering tea is not in a hurry, the breeze blows, like an elegant tea man, and every move exudes a quiet and distant Zen feeling.

This is exactly the same as the wild and uninhibited lord that Kinoshita Toyoshiro usually knows.

Just like when he met with Shotokuji Temple, Oda Nobunaga went to see Saito Michizo, who was dressed extremely rudely, like a reckless commoner, but after entering Shotokuji Temple, he changed into orthodox samurai decorations, and when he met with Saito Michizo, he was meticulous and humble in his words and deeds.

This contrast between before and after shocked Saito Michizo, who is known as a pit viper, and after the meeting, he said that his son Saito Michizo would probably have to tie a horse in front of his son-in-law's door in the future.

Kinoshita Toyoshiro knows very well why Oda Nobunaga did this, and he is so contrasting before and after, just to make it clear that if I want to become a serious samurai, I can also do it, so I can only disdain it.

After thinking of this, Kinoshita Toyoshiro looked at the man who ordered tea for him opposite, and there was a complex emotion in his heart, appreciation, worship, and even a trace of jealousy.

"Monkey, take it."

Oda Nobunaga handed the tea bowl to Kinoshita Toyoshiro.

"Oh."

Kinoshita Tojiro thanked him and drank the tea according to the etiquette.

Oda Nobunaga was obviously in a good mood today, and said, "Monkey, I personally ordered you tea because I am very satisfied with the marriage you have made with the Takeda family this time. ”

Kinoshita Fujiyoshiro sighed, put down the tea bowl, and hurriedly said: "Thank you for the praise of the lord, this matter is mainly done by Lord Oda Sabu, and his subordinates are just doing a little bit of their best on the side." ”

"Oda sweeps, but mediocre and incompetent. He can accomplish anything, so you don't need to be humble, monkey. ”

After Oda Nobunaga finished speaking, he picked up the folding fan and knocked it on Kinoshita Toyoshiro on the shoulder.

This time it was not serious, it was an act of intimacy, but Kinoshita Toyoshiro cracked his mouth and looked very painful.

Oda Nobunaga groaned and asked, "Monkey, are you injured?" ”

Kinoshita Fujiyoshiro sighed and said, "Back to the lord, your subordinates were attacked by ninjas on the way back, and if it weren't for the protection of Lord Besuka, he would have died at the hands of these ninjas, but he was still injured." ”

Oda Nobunaga's eyes showed a look of forest, and he said angrily: "Even the important ministers of my Oda family dare to attack, what kind of force is the ninja?" Who instructed it? ”

Kinoshita Tojiro rubbed his right shoulder and said, "I don't know who instructed it, but Lord Wasuka said that attacking the ninja should be the means of the Wind Demon Clan." ”

Oda Nagasobu pondered for a while, and said, "I'm afraid that you have offended someone by going to the Takeda family this time, so tell me what happened to this mission." ”

"It's my lord."

Then Kinoshita Toyoshiro recounted the process of this mission to the Takeda family.

When Kinoshita Tojiro said that the marriage between Takeda and Oda had been reached, Oda Nobunaga waved the folding fan in his hand and said, "Monkey, you don't have to talk about it anymore, these ninjas were sent by that Li Xiao." ”

Kinoshita Tojiro asked in surprise: "Lord, why do you say Li Xiao?" When he went to the Takeda family, he was not the only one who came into contact with him. ”

Oda Nobunaga snorted, slapped the folding fan on the door of his head, and said: "This is my intuition, there will be no mistake, it is this Li Xiao who did it." ”

Kinoshita Fujiyoshiro showed a thoughtful look and said, "Your Majesty didn't offend him at all, why did this Li Xiao want to kill me?" ”

"It's very simple, Li Xiao is jealous of you," Oda Nobunaga pointed the folding fan at Kinoshita Tojiro's head and said, "In the process of your mission to the Takeda family, you showed your mind and made Li Xiao feel that you are a fierce enemy in the future, so you sent ninjas to assassinate you." ”

"Afraid of me? His subordinates are just a small general, the gap between Li Xiao is more than ten times, why is he jealous of me? Kinoshita Toyoshiro looked incredulous.

Oda Nobunaga said calmly: "If it weren't for your humble background, with your resourcefulness and ability, the monkey's achievements would be far above many people, you know? ”

"Maybe others didn't notice it, but at least in addition to me Nobunaga, Li Xiao also appreciates you very much, monkey, do you understand?"

"Thank you for the compliment." Kinoshita Tojiro bowed and said excitedly.

"Do your best, monkey." Oda Nobunaga nodded, and then said, "But this Li Xiao is afraid of you, and I am not afraid that Takeda Shingen has such a brave general." ”

Then the two monarchs continued to chat.

It is said that it is already falling westward, and it is getting late every day.

However, Oda Nobunaga talked about the excitement and casually mentioned the general trend of the world.

Oda Nobunaga proclaimed: "The shogunate has ruled the world for more than 200 years since the Shogunate held the temple, and after the Onin Rebellion, the authority of the shogunate was lost, and the daimyo rose up from all sides, intending to replace the shogunate and take over the power of the world. ”

"It's a pity that such as Hosokawa Katsumoto, Yamana Chito, Hosokawa Masamoto, Miyoshi Chokei and the like, although they were able to seize Gyeonggi for a while and command the world, but after the death in the blink of an eye, the hegemony disappeared. Although my Oda family is currently condescending to Owari Province, I also have ambitions to go to Raku. But I disdain to be like Hosokawa, and they are in the company of three good things, and they are in charge of the world for a short time. ”

After saying this, Oda Nobunaga took out a tea set, placed it in front of Kinoshita Tojiro, and said, "Monkey, show you a famous thing." ”

Kinoshita Toyoshiro wondered why Oda Nobunaga was halfway through his words, but he still stared at the famous object that Oda Nobunaga had taken out, and looked at it for a long time before he said: "My lord, this shoulder punch used to hold the tea powder seems to be very simple in appearance. ”

Oda Nobunaga nodded, put the tea set on the bottom of his hand and stroked it, and said, "This is not an ordinary shoulder rush, but a new shoulder rush, one of the three shoulder rushes in the world." ”

"Oh, Nitta shoulders," Kinoshita Tojiro's eyes lit up, and his mouth was amazed, "My lord, this is a famous thing." ”

Oda Nobunaga snorted and said proudly: "This shoulder rush was originally owned by the famous tea man Murata Zhuguang, and then it was obtained by me. There is a famous saying in the tea ceremony, eggplant is the world, and shoulder rush is the general. For example, there are three major shoulders in the world, and there are also three major eggplants. Now Nitta, one of the three shoulders in the world, is owned by me. ”

Kinoshita Toyoshiro heard Oda Nobunaga say this, and it was like an old cat crawling in his heart.

Oda Nobunaga saw Kinoshita Toyoshiro like this, and said with a smile: "If you like it, pick it up and watch it." ”

"Thank you, my lord." Kinoshita Toyoshiro said loudly with a happy face, and then carefully picked up his shoulder and rubbed it in his hand, feeling a little in love.

"Monkey, do you know why I like the tea ceremony?"

When Kinoshita Toyoshiro heard this, he remembered what Nobunaga had just said, and asked, "Could it be related to the lord's seizure of the world." ”

"Yes, monkey, you are very clever," Oda Nobunaga said with a laugh, "but why do you know that the tea ceremony has something to do with the seizure of the world?" ”

"This subordinate doesn't know." Kinoshita Toyoshiro replied truthfully.

Oda Nobunaga opened the folding fan, shook it lightly on his chest, and then said in an extremely rare positive color: "Back then, Master Sawahiko Soen once told me that the Zhou metric ceremony was for fun, and the Zhou ceremony was implemented. There are words in the Book of Rites, etiquette distinguishes differences, and music is the same. The purpose is to distinguish between the inferior and the low, the noble and the low, and the upper and lower with the law of etiquette, so that everyone can keep the order and not be confused. After people understand the ceremony, they will use music to harmonize it, so that people of different ranks can enjoy it together. If the whole world can practice this system of ritual and music, then the world of great harmony is not far away. ”

After a pause, Oda Nobunaga continued: "The characters I admire most are King Wen of Zhou, Duke of Zhou, Confucius, King Wen of Zhou founded Zhou, Zhou Gong Zhou ceremony, and Confucius implemented Zhou ceremony. I emulate these three men and realize their ambitions to create a prosperous world like Zhou Tianxia. Therefore, I will conquer the world by force, seek peace and disobedience, reform the old and cloth the new, re-establish order, and finally divide the sixty-six kingdoms of the world. ”

"Divide the sixty-six kingdoms of the world." Kinoshita Toyoshiro's body shook, and although he knew that Oda Nobunaga had great ambitions, he did not expect it to be so ambitious.

"However, it is not enough to re-establish order by force, so that I, Nobunaga, will end up just Hosokawa, Miyoshi, Yamana and the like, far inferior to King Wen of Zhou. Therefore, in addition to using force, order and dignity should be re-established. I also have to promote the tea ceremony in the retainers and up and down the collar. ”

"Is the lord replacing music with a tea ceremony?" Kinoshita Toyoshiro asked.

Oda Nobunaga nodded and said, "Yes, above the tea party, although you and I are each polite, there is no distinction between kings and ministers, the difference is only that I order tea and you drink tea." We enjoy the joy of the tea ceremony. Therefore, the samurai tea ceremony that Nobunaga practiced was different from the tea ceremony in the public house and the temple. ”

"I want to use the tea ceremony to let the retainers and my Nobunaga share the fruits of this world, so that the kings and ministers can be united. Therefore, in Nobunaga's eyes, the tea ceremony is a means to win people's hearts, a means rather than an end. Monkey, he said that if you are addicted to the tea ceremony because of the tea ceremony, and forget the duty of a samurai, then I will kick you out of the Oda family. ”

Kinoshita Toyoshiro listened to what Oda Nobunaga had said, but suddenly his color changed, and he couldn't help sweating profusely behind his back, and hurriedly bowed down and said: "Yes, my lord, my subordinates dare not forget the duty of the samurai." ”

Oda Nobunaga saw that Kinoshita Toyoshiro was subdued, smiled slightly, and said, "Okay, monkey, you are a smart man, you will know what to do." ”

After saying that, Oda Nobunaga stood up and came to the window of the castle tower of Komakiyama Castle, holding a folding fan in his hand, and pointed to the distance, and said in a loud voice: "In front of me is Mino, and the place that cannot be seen further away is Inabayama Castle, the main castle of the Saito family." Now that the alliance with the Takeda family has been reached, and Higashimino is in my hands, and it is possible to capture Inabayama Castle. ”

"After capturing Inabashan City, I should follow the allusion of Fengming, King Wen of Zhou, take a word from Qishan and Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, and rename Inabashan Castle to Gifu, and then go all over the world to do something that has never been done before, unify the sixty-six countries, and create a prosperous era of peace and happiness!"

"And this is how I, Nobunaga, took over the world."

Kai, Huilin Temple.

In the temple, Li Xiao and Takeda Katsuyori were setting up a chess table, playing black and white vertically and horizontally.

Akiyama kinhisa, Shioka Kazuha and other Takeda Katsuyori, Li Xiaojun guarded from afar.

In the last time Takeda Yoshinobu rebelled, Akiyama kinhisa and other guards failed to break through the siege, and half of them were captured by Akabei.

However, Iitomi Toramasa did not kill them, but imprisoned them, and later after the defeat of Takeda Yoshinobu, Akiyama was released again, and now they remain in Takeda Katsuyori as a side officer.

Li Xiao and Takeda Katsuyori are not Go masters.

And Li Xiao is even worse, except for watching the anime chess soul, he knows almost nothing about the way of Go.

However, the two of them are also bored, and playing chess is purely a pastime.

Li Xiao made a white shot, and then said loudly: "Your Highness, in five days, I will return to Beilu." ”

Takeda Katsuyori stopped the sunspot that was about to fall in his hand in mid-air, and asked in surprise, "So fast?" ”

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Yes, I am in the territory of Hida in Yuezhong, and I am surrounded by enemies on all sides, if I return to the territory a little later, I am afraid that there will be several forces ready to move." ”

Takeda Shenglai sighed when he heard this, and said: "I can't get together just yet, and you will return to Yuezhong again, Li Xiao, this time my brother is in chaos, thanks to your assistance and planning for me, if it weren't for you, I would have been seized power now, and even my surname would be difficult to protect." ”

Li Xiao smiled and said: "Your Highness is serious, Li Xiao does have a little strategy, but it is not a grandiose person who can go to the right path, if you want to govern the territory, subdue the people, dominate the retainers, and win the hearts of the people, this is the right way." His Royal Highness can't give up the right path and make small plans, so it is a matter of sacrificing the basics. ”

After a pause, Li Xiao said again: "But the road of His Highness is under his own feet, and he can't rely on other retainers for this, he must go by himself." Now that His Royal Highness Yoshinobu has lost power, and the lord is now seriously ill, the retainers are hesitant because of this turmoil, and the hearts of the people are not solid, and most people are not sure what will happen to my Takeda family in the future. At this time, it is the time for His Royal Highness to take advantage of the situation and take responsibility, and he must not be unable to make up his mind now. ”

Takeda Katsuyori nodded when he heard this, and said, "Li Xiao, you are right, I should be like this." If I can't make up my mind when my father is sick, then the people below don't know what to do. ”

"Now my brother has lost power, but I can't take it lightly, my father has not passed on the throne to anyone. That is to say, everything has not yet been decided, so I have to set an example at this time, so that my father and all the retainers can see my ability, and finally I can take charge of the governor of my family. ”

Li Xiao was very relieved to see that Takeda Katsuyori could say this, and asked, "Does Your Highness understand the position you are in right now?" ”

"Location? How so? ”

Li Xiao smiled, took out a chess piece from the chess box, and said: "If this world is compared to this chessboard, before His Royal Highness Yixin loses his position, His Highness's position is one of the chess pieces in my hand." The chess pieces have the thinking of the chess pieces, they can not be in their position and do not seek their own politics, they don't have to think too long-term, and they can do a good job of the responsibilities of the chess pieces. ”

"And His Highness is different now, His Highness Yoshinobu is close behind Dongguang Temple. His Royal Highness has become the most promising person in the family to succeed His Royal Highness Yoshinobu and take charge of my Takeda family. As a future governor of the Takeda family, he can't have the insight of a chess piece, and His Highness's eyes must jump out of this chessboard, thinking about how to become a chess player who wins the world and competes for the victory, so as to determine the outcome of this game of chess. ”

"Fight for the world? Chess player? Takeda Katsuyori's body was shocked, and he said, "Do you want to look at this situation like your father?" ”

(To be continued)