Chapter 46: Oda Nobunaga (Seeking Collection)

  Passing through the ancient ferry town, we arrived at the area of that ancient wild city. Outside the ancient wild city, by the side of the Zhuang Nei River, we encountered a large group of young people. After a rough count, there were probably around 700 or 800 people. Their leader was a youth with a sun-tanned complexion, his hair tied up in a messy bun with a red ribbon.

  They seemed to have just come out of the river after swimming, sitting barefoot on the riverbank and making a loud noise. A group of people accompanying him were all heavily made up, including a young man who had combed his hair into a messy bun and was wearing a beast skin suit, holding a spear and dancing wildly like a windmill. On the shore, 700 or 800 young people were playing sumo wrestling, some with two or three long wooden sticks fighting each other.

  But in a moment, the frolicking youths stopped and several of them ran to the roadside with long spears to block the way of Kira's army, shouting: "Who are you?"

  "Hahaha!" A burst of laughter came, and several Sanhe F Gongzi also followed their example, tilting their heads up 45 degrees to look at the sky, shouting: "We are people who walk on the main road!"

  "I know you're taking the main road! What are you doing on the main road? Our leader is collecting taxes! Speak quickly!" The several young men impatiently waved their long spears a few times, as if intimidating them.

  "Hahaha... can't take it anymore! This is too awesome!"

  "Hahaha...... really admirable! Can't take it anymore, laughing so hard that my stomach hurts!"

  The three rivers' public servants were rolling on the ground, laughing loudly, and scolding those young men who were scratching their ears and cheeks, shouting: "Don't laugh! No one is allowed to laugh! If you laugh again, I'll take action!"

  "Haha! Come on! I've been waiting for you here!"

  "Damn it! You're asking for trouble!"

  "Stop!" Two voices came at the same time, one from Kiryu Manzoumaru who rushed over from afar and the other was that young leader with a " Pompadour" hairstyle.

  "Pay respects to the master of the mansion!" The samurai from Mikawa, whether they were cold onlookers or direct participants, all bowed down. The Kirishima family's horse-riding samurai formed a circle around Kirishima Mitsu Tomomaru, and his bright red hakama and the crest of the Takeda clan stood out glaringly. Some people immediately felt uncomfortable.

  "Are you people of the Imagawa clan? What kind of person from the Imagawa clan are you? Are you the head of the house or the young master?" The youth looked around at the group of armored samurai with great discomfort, he had never seen such a grand procession before, could it be that the Imagawa clan was really invading their home territory?

  "Before asking for someone's name, one should first announce their own. This is the basic etiquette of the warrior class." Kiryu Manzoumaru ignored the warnings from those around him and rode his horse out in a leisurely manner, carefully sizing up the young man. He noticed that although his attire was somewhat unconventional, his features were actually quite good - thick eyebrows, clear-cut nose and jawline, bright and spirited eyes that seemed to belong to someone with strong convictions.

  The young man curled his lip and retorted: "Then why don't you first announce your own name?"

  "Because my family status is higher than yours, this is also the basic etiquette of the Takeya house." Kirishima Manzamaru couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, this non-mainstream guy has a bit of an unlearned and unsophisticated meaning.

  "Cut! That's it! There's no use talking to you, a stubborn and conservative high-ranking samurai family. Remember my name! I am Oda Nobunaga! In the not-too-distant future, I will become a great man who shakes the world!" Oda Nobunaga looked up at the sky with his head tilted 45 degrees, as if trying to see something from the blue heavens.

  "Ah, so you're Oda Santero Nobunaga! The head of the house is also called Santero, named Kira Santero... Wait a minute! You say your name is Oda Nobunaga?" Kira Manshōmaru couldn't calm down at that moment, and looking at this foolish-looking guy, he asked with some hesitation: "Are you the legitimate son of Owari's Tiger Oda Nobuhide? The Oda Nobunaga who has an older half-brother, the lord of Anjō Castle, Oda Nobuharu?"

  "Yes! How did you know?"

  "Is your childhood name Jifa?"

  "Yes! How did you know?"

  “……I get it! You're the infamous Tails of Owari!” Kiryu Mitsunomaru let out a sigh, feeling that today was truly an unlucky day. He had managed to avoid running into his father's affairs, but instead encountered this unlikely person. "So, that unconventional outfit he's wearing is what they call 'Eccentric' attire, huh? No wonder he's known as the Big Fool of Owari."

  "Fool! You're the fool! Remember my name! I am 'The Tiger of Owari'! The future Tiger of Eastern Sea, destined to be a great man renowned throughout the land!" Oda Nobunaga let out a snort and turned his face away, continuing to gaze up at the sky. Behind him, a group of young boys also looked up at the sky, searching for signs of crows flying overhead.

  Yamamoto Kan no Suketake also rushed over from behind, just now seeing them in a heated discussion without disturbing them, but now jumping out to mediate: "Master of the house, shouldn't we stop and rest for a while first?"

  "It's about time for lunch anyway!" Kiryuu Mantsumaru dismounted his horse and approached Oda Nobunaga, saying "Would you like to come over and have lunch together?"

  "Hmph! Then I won't be polite!" Oda Nobunaga let out a cold snort and walked over, the low-ranking servants of the Kira household had laid out a spread, on top of which was placed a bento box that had been prepared in the morning, containing sea bream, pickled daikon radish, rice balls, miso soup, and other dishes. The richness of the meal exceeded Oda Nobunaga's expectations, and he devoured the portion that had been prepared for Kira Yoshinaka, and then ate half of another hastily prepared portion before finally feeling satisfied and lying down to stretch his waist.

  "The food is really delicious! Thank you, Kira Sanrō! From now on, you're my friend! If anyone in Owari dares to bully you, come straight to me! I'll stand up for you!" Oda Nobunaga was overjoyed and grasped the hand of Kira Manshirōmaru, assuring him that from then on, Kira Sanrō would be a good friend of Oda's.

  "Alright, alright! I remember! If anyone bullies me in the future, I'll definitely come to you!" Kiryu Manzou sighed and thought that this guy was really not reserved at all. He could only accompany him in his antics, and before long, his group of friends came over to play with him again. The retainers of the Kiryu household saw that their master had become friends with this unconventional person and dispersed to enjoy themselves elsewhere.

  Oda Nobunaga burst out laughing and said to him: "As my friend, I can show you my secret weapon!"

  "What secret weapon?" Kiryu Manmaru's face was covered in black lines as he whispered, "Can a secret weapon be spoken of so loudly? It's better to keep it hidden!"

  Nobunaga Oda suddenly pulled out something like a fire poker from somewhere, wrapped in tattered cloth, and said "Look! This is it! An iron cannon!"

  “…iron cannon.” Taking the matchlock gun handed over by Oda Nobunaga, Kira Yoshinaka muttered: “Indeed, it’s the standard attire of a weirdo, tea whisk head, strange clothes and makeup, men dressed as women, bizarre behavior, speaking strangely, especially fond of imported goods, this is Japan's ancient version of non-mainstream! This is black history!”

  "When buying an iron cannon, I tried shooting a few times and it was incredibly powerful, scaring away all the birds in the forest! This iron cannon has never been used before, come on! You try it out!" Oda Nobunaga didn't care whether he was willing or not, half-pushing and half-dragging him to the small woods by the river, pointing at a large tree trunk in the woods and saying: "Let's use that tree trunk as our target!"

  "I won't..."

  "It doesn't matter! I won't either! Let's learn from each other!" Oda Nobunaga encouraged.

  "I was only nine years old..."

  "The samurai do not distinguish between old and young, you are the head of the household, so you must set an example! So I'll give you the first shot!" Oda Nobunaga pushed him forward with a encouraging expression, without caring about Kira Yoshichika's reluctant face. Then one of Oda Nobunaga's attendants came over and briefly explained the structure and firing procedure of the iron cannon, after which everyone retreated to the side, waiting for him to take the first shot.

  "Bastard! Where's my horseback riding samurai? Where are the attendants? Come quickly to protect me, you dead chicken!" The crowd of onlookers seemed to think that the master was having a great time and retreated to the side to rest in the shade. Kirishima Mitsumaru caught sight of Yamamoto Kanbee in the distance, who appeared to be sunbathing with an air of satisfaction. "What's the point of sunbathing on such a hot summer day? Why don't you just die from it!"

  PS: New book, new author, please collect and recommend! Thanks everyone!