Shiba Yiyin also felt strange.

Asai Nagamasa suddenly sent an envoy to Ban, hoping that he could go to Otani Castle to meet. The sudden incident made him inevitably have his thoughts wandering around.

The strategy for Shangluo this time has been clear, and there is no need to meet again for discussion. The details of the specific tactics were originally to be arranged after the army gathered in Zuohe Mountain City.

At this point in time, it was really inappropriate for Asai Nagamasa to leave behind Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu and other Kamiro daimyo and invite Yoshigan Shiba to Odani Castle for a secret meeting.

The most important thing in forming a coalition is trust. Abandoning allies and meeting alone in secret will only increase mutual doubts.

Moreover, Yoshihiro Shiba was a direct descendant of the Kawachi Genji family, the imperial office of the Ashikaga shogun, and his status was much higher than that of Nagamasa Asai, who was appointed as the guardian of Kitaomi. In doing so, she was suspected of violating the rules of etiquette.

But just because of this unusualness, Shiba Yiyin became interested in Otani Castle and decided to accept the invitation.

He arranged for Shiba's army to continue to Sawayama Castle, and he took the Kamao clan and the concentric troops of the Konoe and rode to Otani Castle.

But Yoshigan didn't know that Oda Nobunaga, who also felt something was wrong, would follow closely behind and ride towards Otani Castle.

From a bird's-eye view, the distance between the two is only one day.

———

In the northern Omi area, the Ibuki Mountain Range in the east and the Nosaka Mountain Range in the west sandwich Lake Biwa in the center, forming a figure-eight mountain topography.

The junction line between the two mountainous areas is the mountain route from Kita Omi to Tsuruga County in Echizen Province, facing the Futian area in the southern part of Tsuruga County.

The Futian area has one of the three passes that divides Kanto and Kansai in a broad sense, Aifa Pass.

In a broad sense, the geographical line dividing Kansai and Kanto is Omi Province. Aifa Pass in the north, Fuwa Pass in the center, and Suzuka Pass in the south can all enter and leave Omi Province.

Therefore, Omi Province is also called the eastern gateway of Omi.

The Omi Basin is surrounded by mountains, and Lake Biwa in the middle is the largest lake in Japan.

The economy along Lake Biwa is developed and there are many rivers. Not only are there a large number of fertile alluvial plains, but there are also fish products and water transport trade routes in Lake Biwa.

In particular, the east coast of Lake Biwa has more plains and a gentle lake shoreline than the west coast, which is closer to the mountainous lake shoreline, making it more suitable for the development of port and commercial towns.

A section of hills extending westward from the east bank of Lake Biwa and the Suzuka Mountains divides the east bank Omi in the middle, which is the natural dividing line between the north and south Omi. Sawayama Castle is located in this section of hills.

The Otani Castle that Yoshigan Shiba went to was a mountain town that stood further north on the edge of the Ibuki Mountains. It was the base that three generations of the Asai family had worked hard to manage.

Yiyin had also been to Xiaogu City back then, and the road was quite familiar. Before he even approached the mountain city, a group of Ji warriors were waiting on the roadside.

Shiba Yiyin rode his horse forward and saw Asai Nagamasa from a distance. He dismounted with a smile, handed the reins to the fellow soldiers behind him, and strode away.

"Asai-hime, you are fine."

When Asai Nagamasa saw Shiba Yoshigan, he lost his mind for a moment.

After not seeing each other for two years, he has become more and more handsome, with a giant-like figure, more than a head taller than him. Coupled with his vaguely holy temperament, he feels quite otherworldly.

Asai Nagamasa originally thought that the Shiba Yoshigan he missed was almost perfect, but when he saw the real person, he realized that he had thought him ugly.

She was already harboring fantasies, but now she was filled with thoughts and regrets. Unfortunately, the two of them were not destined to be together, so she could only regret it.

Asai Nagamasa stared blankly at Yoshigan, which was really rude. Akao Kiyosuna, who was coming to greet her behind her, couldn't look past her and coughed heavily.

This time, Asai Nagamasa was awakened, his cheeks were filled with clouds, and he was extremely ashamed.

Sibo Yiyin didn't care. This time when he came back, everyone who met him back then was so gloomy.

Two years ago, Shiba Yoshigan was as beautiful as a monster and was called Tamamo-mae Reincarnation, but it was not as exaggerated as it is now.

During his two years in Kanto, Yoshigami was used to being a high-ranking Odaisho. The majesty of a person in a position of authority was combined with the system-given career-free special effects, and the effect of maximizing the charm value was superimposed.

Who can stand up to this?

At that time in Gifu Castle, Hosokawa Fujitaka's gaze was more direct, as if he wanted to eat someone, and he couldn't hide it.

It's just that Yoshigan is angry that Hosokawa Mibuchi's family is acting as a wall, hedging their bets, and doesn't want to talk to her.

Asai Nagamasa is already very ladylike at this level.

Yoshigan didn't want to embarrass her, so he greeted Akao Kiyosuna with a smile and changed the subject.

"Lord Akao, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

Akao Kiyosuna was older and didn't have the petty thoughts of Asai Nagamasa about loving children. Although he was also shocked by Yoshigan Shiba's peerless appearance, at least he was not rude.

Back then, Yoshigan Shiba was ambushed by the Rokkaku family and boarded a ship to Kitaomi to seek unity with the Asai family. The person who came to receive him was Akao Kiyozuna, the main militant faction of the Asai family.

The two were old acquaintances, Akao Kiyosuna bowed respectfully, and Yoshigan smiled and recalled a few past events with her.

After a moment of greetings, Asai Nagamasa had already adjusted himself, interrupted with a smile, and said.

"At the Imperial Palace, the wind is strong at the foot of the mountain. Please move to Xiaogu City and let us catch the wind and wash away the dust for you."

Yiyin nodded and said.

"Now that the war is going on, let's keep everything simple. Why did you invite me to Xiaodani City?"

Yoshihiro was really curious, but Asai Nagamasa's expression froze, and then he laughed dryly.

"Please enter the city first."

Yoshihiro didn't continue to ask. There were so many people here, Asai Nagamasa might not be able to talk. Now that you're here, let's settle down first.

———

Otani Castle, castle tower.

After a simple welcome ceremony, Yoshigan sat in a side room to rest, accompanied by Asai Nagamasa and Akao Kiyosuna.

Asai Nagamasa said respectfully.

"The residence has been cleaned, and you will be invited to move in later. The conditions in the mountain city are simple, and I hope the imperial palace will take care of it."

Yoshihiro frowned slightly and wasted most of the day. Asai Nagamasa still refused to get to the point. Why did she ask herself to come this time?

The matter of Shangluo is complicated, with political sorting out, military arrangements, personal connections, and countless things waiting for Yiyin to handle.

Asai Nagamasa had already committed an act of disobedience by calling him in private. What does it mean that he is still a mother-in-law at this moment?

Asai Nagamasa didn't say anything when he saw Yoshigage, he just looked at him with displeasure and a headache.

She discussed it with Akao Kiyosuna for a long time, and found out to her embarrassment that there was really nothing that warranted Yoshigan Shiba's personal trip to Kotani Castle.

With Sibo Yiyin's current status, some small matters are left to the people below to handle, and he is responsible for controlling the general direction.

She couldn't even think of what Asai Nagamasa could use to excuse this meeting.

Finally, Akao Kiyosuna, who was still on the side, sighed, stepped out of the queue and bowed.

"Will the Godaisuo, Miyoshi and Luo, and the chaos in Kyoto affect the revenue from the Hokurikudo trade route this year?"

Akao Kiyosuna's method of rescuing the siege was impossible, and the Hokuriku Road trade route was also an important matter that the Asai family cared about very much.

The main body of the Houriku Dou trade route is divided into Sakai Port, various countries along the way, and Naoetsu.

Sakai Port and Naoejin are the commodity markets at both ends of the Hokuriku Road trade route. Until now, Sakai Port has mainly shipped goods and Naoejin has received goods.

But starting from this year, due to the endless war on the Tokaido Road, many merchants in Kanto also began to try to use the Hokuriku Road trade route, further opening up the Hokuriku Road business.

The Asai family was a partner of the countries along the Hokuriku Road trade route, and they participated in it and reaped huge business profits.

At that time, Yoshihiro Shiba wanted to open up the Hokurikudo trade route. Asai Nagamasa just wanted to give him a favor, but he did not expect that this trade route would become so prosperous.

As the gateway to Kanto and Kansai, the Omi Basin is a core area that cannot be bypassed by commodity logistics in Kanto and Kansai.

In the past, the main body of commodity logistics was to pass through Suzuka Pass on the southern route, then take North Ise to enter the Tokaido. It is very convenient whether taking the land route from Owari Province or boarding the ship in Ise Bay.

If you don't pass the border on the middle route, you have to go through Mino Country and take Shinano Country. The road in the Koshino Mountains of Nakasendo Road is rugged, which is not conducive to large-scale shipments.

As for the Aifoseki on the northern route, because Kaga Country has become the land Buddhist kingdom of the Ichikai Sect, it has been exporting Buddhism. As a result, the Ichikiku in the surrounding neighboring countries have occurred frequently, and the Hokurikudo has never been favored by merchants.

Therefore, the main body of commercial logistics in Kanto and Kansai in recent years has always been along the Tokaido, which is the Suzuka Pass at the junction of Minami Omi and Kitai Ise.

The Rokkaku family previously occupied the Suzuka Pass, and then surrendered to the Kitaisei samurai family. They took the lion's share of the commercial profits, and the Asai family could not share much of the benefits.

But in the past two years, the situation has changed drastically.

First, Shiba Yoshigan connected Nanao Port and Naoetsu via Tsuruga Port, opening up the maritime transport of the Hokuriku Dou trade route.

The cost of sea transportation is far lower than that of land transportation. For the first time, Hokurikudo has the basis to compete with Tokaido in logistics costs.

Second, Imagawa Yoshimoto died in Oda Nobunaga's Okehazama surprise attack. In less than three years, the powerful Imagawa family of Tokaido had collapsed.

The rise of the Tokugawa family and the move of the Takeda family to the south disrupted the original order of the Tokaido trade route.

In the end, Sunpu Castle was robbed by the Kai clan of the Takeda family, which completely destroyed the merchants' confidence in the Tokaido trade route.

Third, the Rokkaku family was defeated several times, the North Ise Land and the Suzuka Pass were both taken by the Oda family, and the key to the southern trade route changed hands.

Having lost its dominance over the trade route, the Rokkaku family's business profits were greatly reduced, so they lost interest in the increasingly depressed Tokaido trade route and allowed it to decline.

Compared with the decline of the Tokaido trade route, the Hokurikudo trade route has shown great vitality, and the Asai family has unexpectedly received a lot of benefits.

To go from Sakai Port to Hokurikudo, you need to transport water from the Yodogawa River in Settsu Province, pass through the Seta River south of Kyoto, enter Lake Biwa, and then disembark at Kitaomi River to go to Tsuruga Port.

The Asai family, which occupies Kita Omi, has made a lot of money in the past two years. It has quickly recovered its previously damaged vitality and its power has greatly increased.

Asai Nagamasa dared to take advantage of this trip to Luoyang to show off his sword against the Rokkaku family. The commercial profits of the Hokuriku Road trade route played an important role in strengthening the Asai family's wealth.

Yoshihiro frowned slightly. The Hokuriku Road trade route was indeed important, but it was not so important that he needed to be invited to Odani City to discuss it in person.
To be continued...