A peasant carrying sandals for a minor Japanese lord became the empire's most powerful warlord within 15 years. Michael Stevens reveals how Oda Nobunaga spotted raw talent, broke every rule of medieval politics, and built the foundation for unified Japan through one brilliant promotion that changed history forever. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Nobunaga promoted Toyotomi Hideyoshi from sandal-bearer to general in record time • The "impossible" siege tactics that conquered a 329-foot mountain fortress in just days • How a 20-year alliance with Tokugawa Ieyasu defied every norm of backstabbing Sengoku politics • The brutal castle warfare innovations that gave Nobunaga his unstoppable edge 👤 Perfect for: curious listeners who love underdog stories and want to understand how real power gets built from nothing. This isn't just another samurai tale. It's a masterclass in recognizing talent, forming strategic partnerships, and knowing when to completely ignore conventional wisdom. Nobunaga's methods were ruthless, but his eye for potential created the team that would unite Japan. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Michael Stevens introduces Japan's most unlikely promotion [02:00] From sandal-bearer to general: Hideyoshi's meteoric rise [04:30] The Inabayama Castle siege that shocked Japan [07:00] Why Nobunaga's alliance with Tokugawa lasted two decades [09:30] Castle warfare tactics that changed everything [11:00] How one peasant's promotion shaped Japan's future 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow When Rome Burns on your podcast app and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite historical insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: Oda Nobunaga, Sengoku period, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japanese history, castle sieges

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--------------- Keywords: historical catastrophes, naval warfare, world war 2, historical failures, ancient rome, fall of empires, ned kelly

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