Volume 1: Kawajiri Island Storm Chapter 25: The Young Man of the Sanada Family

  In Japan's Warring States period, when it comes to the pinnacle of swordsmanship, three people must be mentioned: Tsukahara Bokuden, Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, and Miyamoto Musashi.

  Later generations often have ideas about Tsukahara Bokuden and Sasaki Kojirō, discussing who is the number one in Japan's Warring States period. However, Tsukahara Bokuden was 19 years older than Sasaki Kojirō, while Sasaki Kojirō was 76 years older than Miyamoto Musashi. Tsukahara Bokuden's era was in the mid-to-late Warring States period, Sasaki Kojirō rose to fame during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and Miyamoto Musashi didn't appear until the late Warring States period, close to the early Edo period.

  It is said that Miyamoto Musashi had a lifelong regret of "I was born when you were already old, and I am still young" and couldn't fight against the two predecessors at the same time. And now Li Xiao is facing the challenge of Tsukahara Bokuden's proud disciple, Shioka Kazue.

  Morioka Isuke was born into the famous Tsuchiya clan, and from a young age followed his father Morioka Tsuneyoshi to learn the Katori Shinto-ryu. After their main house was destroyed, he wandered around and later studied under Tsukahara Bokuden, learning the Kashima Shin-ryu. Now 29 years old, Morioka Isuke is in the prime of his life, with many years of combat experience from competing against famous houses across the land, and his sword skills are genuine transmissions from Tsukahara Bokuden.

  At this moment, he has not yet merged the sword techniques of Kōtō-ryū and Shinkage-ryū to create a new style called Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, but his mastery of the sword is already close to its peak.

  Li Xiao understood that Baokou Zhengjun was being kind, wanting to let himself understand what kind of opponent he was facing, and gave up competing with Shigekuni no Ue. But Li Xiao being Li Xiao, this didn't mean he would back down, having come to Japan as a joke, Li Xiao represented Mingguo, if he were to retreat at the last minute, how would others view him?

  Hokō Masatoshi saw that he couldn't dispel Li Xiao's intention to engage in a martial arts match, and let out a sigh.

  "Li Xiao, if you really want to compete with Shioka Ibuki, you must truly understand the new style of Kashima Shinryu. I know someone who can help you."

  "Who is it?" Li Xiao hastily asked.

  "Mr. Yamamoto."

  Yamamoto Kan no suke? No way.

  "Not bad, back then our lord hired Tsukahara Bokuden to teach sword techniques to the generals of the Takeda clan. Among them, the most outstanding one was indeed Yamamoto Kansuke-sama. Tsukahara Bokuden even praised Yamamoto-sama, saying that if it weren't for his own teacher's sake, he would have said that Yamamoto's sword technique is the best in the Takeda clan. If he were willing to teach you the secrets of Kashima Shinden-ryū, your chances of winning against Sengoku Iori would greatly increase."

  Li Xiao suddenly had a feeling of being struck by lightning. This disabled but determined Yamamoto Kan no So, actually the first in swordsmanship of the Takeda family. This really didn't show on his face, indeed an old fox hiding his true nature. However, that day when facing off against Shioka Ikkō, wasn't it also pointed out that Yamamoto Kan no So had studied the Kashima Shinden ryū style of swordsmanship?

  Hearing Hoshikawa Masatoshi say that, Li Xiao thought to himself, it seems like he needs to come up with some sort of plan, and swindle the secret technique from Yamamoto Kanzuke.

  The next day, Li Xiao and Bao Kezheng rode horses back to Gao Yuan City together with their brothers.

  Li Xiao arrived in the city and saw a team of cavalrymen, these armored warriors wore armor, behind them flags pointed to objects with patterns, which were painted with copper coins similar to Yongle Tongbao, arranged in two rows, three on top and bottom, a total of six.

  The six coins of the Qian family, Li Xiao naturally knew that this famous family crest in the Warring States period had replaced the already extinct main house Takeda's family crest. It can be imagined that the cavalry team with the six coins on their backs will appear under Osaka Castle 54 years later, and their fierce charge will cause Tokugawa Ieyasu's 15,000-strong vanguard to collapse, forcing him to abandon his horse印 and retreat in disarray.

  "Has anyone from the Sanada family arrived?" Li Xiao asked a samurai who had come over.

  "Yes, Teacher. The visitor is the third son of Sanada Yukimura, the head of the Sanada family. In addition to that, he is also the lord of the small castle of Moro and the head of the Mochizuki family."

  "I understand."

  "Hey." The warrior bowed again to Li Xiao and stepped back.

  Alright, alright, Li Xiao muttered to himself. The third son of Toda Ujikane, wasn't it Sanada Yukimura who, after the fall of the Takeda clan, changed masters four times in six months? He fully demonstrated the excellent quality of a turncoat, and was later called a "person with two faces" by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

  Here is the translation:

  It must be admitted that Taiko's old man, although with a low level of cultural attainment, was not weak in terms of language expression. As for whether Sanada Yukimura was truly a repeat offender, there is no definitive conclusion, but all those who can be called heroes are complex characters and cannot be easily guessed.

  Li Xiao saw not only the six-coin crest of the Rokuro family, but also warriors with the nine-yao bat crest of the Mochizuki family. The Mochizuki family was originally a local powerful clan in Shinano like the Suwa family, and later surrendered to Takeda Shingen's invasion, and their current head is also from the Takeda family by adoption, just like the Suwa family.

  At this time, the current head of the Mochizuki family was Mochizuki Shigenaga, the third son of Takeda Nobushige. His mother's side also originated from the Mochizuki family, and due to his relationship, the Mochizuki family was also incorporated as a branch of the Takeda family.

  As for the lord of Koyama Castle, it must be Takeda Nobukatsu without a doubt. After the Battle of Kawahara Island, Takeda Nobushige retired and secluded himself from the world, so his eldest son Takeda Nobukatsu succeeded him as the head of the family, and naturally inherited the fiefdom of Koyama Castle which originally belonged to Nobushige.

  Takeda Nobuyuki and Mōri Shigenaga have both been promoted to the position of Karō in the Takeda household. These two, who were still trailing behind me just a month ago during the Battle of Kawanakajima, are now both Karō.

  Li Xiao and the two brothers of Bao Ke rode their horses all the way to Benmaru, and after entering the Tengoku Pavilion, Li Xiao saw Takeda Katsuyori sitting cross-legged with his hands around his knees in the main seat, chatting and laughing with Takeda Nobuyuki and Mōri Terumoto, without any appearance of a castle owner's family elder. And below Mōri Terumoto sat a fourteen or fifteen year old youth who had just come of age.

  Although the other party was young, he looked mature everywhere, sitting upright with his body straight, listening quietly to Takeda Shingen and others chatting, without saying a word. When he heard Li Xiao and others taking off their shoes and walking into the hall, he turned his head to look over.

  Li Xiao locked eyes with him, thinking that this little boy was indeed Sanada Yukimura. He couldn't see the old fox's appearance in the future at such a young age. Li Xiao immediately gave Sanada Yukimura a brilliant smile, then turned his head and walked straight into the hall.

  Takeda Nobutoyo and Mochizuki Nobunaga stood up together when they saw Li Xiao arrive, saying: "Mr. Li Xiao."

  Li Xiao used to teach them Chinese, so they always addressed him with such respect. Li Xiao chuckled and walked up to them, patting their shoulders and said: "Hmm, not bad, not bad, your Chinese has improved!"

  Takeda Nobukatsu smiled and replied, "We have been studying all along. You often told us that learning is a matter of constant practice, reviewing the old to understand the new principles, so we dare not slack off."

  Compared to the other two brothers, Takeda Shingen and Li Xiao have a relationship that is both like teacher and friend, often joking around, while Mochizuki Shin'ei is more respectful and reserved.

  Masayuki Sanada, who was sitting next to him, was already stunned. He had never seen a vassal like this before, who didn't kneel down when meeting the lord of the castle, and instead went forward with a shoulder hook, calling each other brothers. The two Hōjō brothers, who were following behind Li Xiao, had already knelt down in front of Takeda Katsuyori.

  Sanada Masayuki looked left and right, then refocused on Li Xiao, with a look of being deeply hurt.

  What kind of person is this? Sanada Yukiyuki asked in his heart.