Let go of the mother-daughter dispute in the Hojo family and turn your attention back to the nearby land.

After the autumn harvest, Terutora Uesugi's Sano expedition was temporarily calmed down by the intervention of Yoshigan Shiba.

However, the recent Settsu strategy jointly launched by Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga has been overwhelming.

The rate of decline of the Sanhao family is beyond everyone's imagination. As the saying goes, when a tree falls and the monkeys scatter, they all go their separate ways.

Originally, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu's rule in Settsu Kingdom was very unstable.

In the early days, the Hosokawa clan was the guardian of Settsu and controlled the local area. The Miyoshi family rose to power as the head of the Hosokawa clan and gradually became a threat to the Hosokawa clan.

The Hosokawa clan did not sit still and waited for death. They also worked hard to suppress the Miyoshi family and provoked civil strife between Miyoshi Chokei of Awa Province and Miyoshi Prime Minister of Settsu Province.

After Miyoshi Nagakei killed the Prime Minister Miyoshi, he massacred the Hosokawa clan. The four Miyoshi sisters determined to go to Luo to achieve hegemony, and the Settsu Kingdom was transformed into the rule of the Shikoku Miyoshi family.

Miyoshi Changqing's road to Luo was blocked by Shiba Yiyin. Miyoshi and the four sisters died suddenly one by one, and Settsu Kingdom fell into the hands of Miyoshi and three others.

The trio of Miyoshi tried to establish their own business, but they were in trouble. They had no choice but to bow to Miyoshi Yoshitsugu of Shikoku. They were kidnapped to Luo, and were charged with the crime of murdering Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

In the eyes of the world, the three members of the Sanhao Tribe have been killed. The Settsu Clan who followed the three members of the Mihaoshi Tribe also suffered heavy casualties in Sanhao Shangluozhong.

Miyoshi Yoshitsugu took the people of the Miyoshi family in Shikoku and retreated to their home base, leaving only Yasunaga Miyoshi to guard Settsu Country. Yasunaga Miyoshi was not bad at all, but she could not suppress the dissatisfied Settsu people at all.

During this Settsu strategy, Ashikaga Yoshiaki took the moral advantage in the name of revenge for his ancestors.

Oda Nobunaga had many soldiers and generals, and formed a coalition with the shogunate to attack Settsu Province along the Yodo River. How could the Settsu people be willing to fight for the defeated Miyoshi family?

Matsu Nagahide, who was familiar with the domestic situation in Settsu, stepped forward to smoothen the relationship. As a result, local samurai families changed their banners and fell into the arms of the shogunate.

The shogunate army had just entered Higashi Settsu, the Itami family of West Settsu, the Ikeda family of North Settsu, and all the powerful local people from the Hosokawa clan to the Miyoshi family had defected.

The people from the shogunate army have not yet arrived, and the decision has been made to decide between Western Settsu and Northern Settsu. The situation has reached this point, and there is still a war. Miyoshi Yasuo is huddled in the harbor, ready to run back to Shikoku by boat at any time.

At this time, Minato Tsuda also welcomed an unexpected guest.

―――

Nanzhuang, Tennoji House.

Tennojiya's Tsuda is a famous wealthy businessman in Hong Kong. After the Tsuda clan inherited the property, they also gained connections with the Miyoshi family, making Tennojiya even more prosperous.

Hong Kong merchants have a tradition of autonomy. Although the Wu family will set up a card to collect taxes here, the real management of Hong Kong is the Huizhong Nawu Ten People, formed by the joint efforts of the ten strongest local merchants.

Among the ten powerful businessmen, Senke is headed by Sen no Rikyu. Senke is from Kyoto and has a background as a shogunate.

Under Sen no Rikyu, the two people who have the most say are, one is Imai Munehisa, and the other is Tsuda Muneki. The two wealthy businessmen back then were equal opponents, but today it is different.

Imai Munehisa followed the right master. Not only did he have the status of a samurai family,

He also helped the Shiba family build the Houriku Road trade route, and their business prospered even more.

Tsuda Muneki followed the path of Miyoshi Masayasu, one of the three good people. The three good people were executed for regicide, and she was already a bereaved dog.

In the businessman's circle, the most important thing is to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, to praise the high and suppress the low. Naturally, Tsuda Muneji's life is getting worse day by day.

Just when she was in a desperate situation, someone suddenly came to visit her. The visitor was Hashiba Hideyoshi, who had a transaction that year.

The two of them were sitting in the tea room. Hashiba Hideyoshi imitated the gestures of the tea master professor in Beijing, carefully raised his cup to drink tea, and sighed.

"Good tea! Tsuda-hime, long time no see. Your craftsmanship has improved again."

Seeing Hashiba Hideyoshi pretending not to understand, Tsuda Muneki smiled reservedly and continued to demonstrate the tea ceremony.

The three major businessmen in Hong Kong are all masters of tea art. There is no way, the status of businessmen is low, not to mention the Panzhi Wu family, even the intellectuals speak harder than them.

Therefore, the descendants of wealthy merchants studied tea ceremony one after another. On the one hand, they whitewashed themselves as intellectuals, and on the other hand, they also made it easier for them to contact the martial arts family and climb high branches in the future.

After all, the Wu family is hypocritical and greedy. Not only do they want money, they also want to receive it decently.

Every time Miyoshi Masayasu participated in a tea party, Tsuda Muneki would give away hundreds or thousands of guan to gain both face and money. This was the traditional pattern for businessmen to flatter the samurai family.

Looking at Hideyoshi Hashiba who spent a lot of time talking to himself just to buy a few iron cannons, Tsuda Muneki was also filled with emotion.

Kinoshita Hideyoshi, who was inconspicuous at the beginning, has become Hashiba Hideyoshi, the garrison of Kyoto today, and a powerful retainer of the Oda family. But what about himself? He is not as good as he was back then!

Tsuda Soji calmed down his thoughts and smiled politely.

"Master Yu Chai is here, so I naturally want to show off my skills. I can't treat this distinguished guest lightly."

Hashiba Hideyoshi was very impressed by Tsuda Muneki's compliment. Of course she knew that she had only scratched the surface of tea ceremony culture, but the tea master in front of her could only praise herself respectfully.

What is this? This is the dignity and glory that Hideyoshi Hashiba has been searching for!

At that time, she was sent by Oda Nobunaga to work on a nearby cannon. To save money, she bought a few more guns and ran from Kyoto to Hong Kong, where she met Tsuda Muneki.

It's just that the status of the two people back then was not as disparate as it is today.

Hashiba Hideyoshi was just a little country warrior at that time. Although Tsuda Muneki was engaged in business and lowly business, he did not take her seriously.

There was a transaction between the two parties. Hashiba Hideyoshi bought a batch of iron cannons and left. He paid the money and delivered the goods. There was no emotion at all.

But just because of this experience, Hashiba Hideyoshi was able to boast in front of Oda Nobunaga and recommend himself. No one understands Hong Kong businessmen better than me.

Therefore, she was authorized by Oda Nobunaga to become the representative of the Oda family involved in Hong Kong affairs.

At this time, Tsuda Muneji was in the embarrassing situation of having no backer and being ostracized by Hong Kong snobs.

Hashiba Hideyoshi saw this clearly and came to visit, hoping to win over this wealthy Hong Kong businessman, make new contributions to Oda Nobunaga, and improve his status in the Oda family.

After all, this was the first time the two met, and they were wary of each other and wondering about each other's details. After a few polite greetings, they were speechless, and the scene suddenly turned cold.

Tsuda Muneki was indeed in a difficult situation, but at this time, he dared not place a bet easily, lest the situation would get worse.

Hashiba Hideyoshi was actually more anxious than she was, because he had patted his chest in front of Oda Nobunaga and assured him that if he couldn't achieve results, he would definitely not get any good results when he returned.

While the two were sipping tea in silence, a few dog barks suddenly came from outside. Hideyoshi's heart moved, and he looked out the window and said.

"Tsuda-hime also has dogs here?"

Tsuda Muneki's answer.

"Behind the Tennoji Temple is the warehouse. I always keep some to look after my family and protect the courtyard to guard against thieves."

Hideyoshi Hashiba smiled.

"Dogs are great, I really like dogs now.

In fact, when I was young, I was most envious of the cats in the village, who lazily basked in the sun every day, ignored people, and lived free, independent, and equal lives."

Tsuda Soji nodded.

"The cat has a self-centered nature and only has a cooperative relationship with people. People feed the cat and the cat catches the mouse. Each gets what it needs and owes nothing to the other. It is truly free and at ease."

Hashiba Hideyoshi pointed out the window and said.

"But when I grow up, I no longer envy cats. I prefer dogs. Do you know why?"

Tsuda Zongji's eyes flickered and he said respectfully.

"Appreciate further details."

Hideyoshi Hashiba said slowly.

"As you said, humans and cats are equals.

Cats can sometimes be very annoying, always refusing human orders, being neurotic, impulsive, and solitary, just like young people who have never been beaten up by society.

The relationship between humans and dogs is that of master and servant. Dogs cannot do without human care, rely on humans, and obey orders.

When I was young, I was fearless. I liked cooperation and disliked being dominated. I always sympathized with cats and hated running dogs that wagged their tails and begged for mercy.

But now, I hope to become my master’s favorite loyal dog.”

Tsuda Soji was silent for a while and said.

"Although loyal dogs are useful, if they are abandoned by their owners, their fate will be even more miserable, far worse than that of a solitary cat."

Hideyoshi Hashiba chuckled.

"Desolate? The reason why cats can maintain themselves is because they have no worries. But people are different. People live in groups, and dogs also live in groups.

A free girl will eventually be shackled. Maybe it's her aging parents, maybe it's a heavy mortgage, maybe it's her husband and children who are waiting to be fed.

You have been away for half your life and you are still a girl when you come back? Stop dreaming. Young people all want to be cats, but in the end they all end up living like dogs.

As long as the girl is alive, society will find a hundred ways to turn her into a cute dog that sticks out its tongue and begs for food.

Since you are going to be a dog eventually, why not find a good owner for yourself? If you are afraid of being abandoned in the future, you have to be a helpless cat? What about your family? What about Tennojiya’s property?

What’s wrong with being a dog!”

Hashiba Hideyoshi went from speaking softly to speaking fiercely, and finally hit the case with his palm.

The tea splashed everywhere, and Tsuda Soji's body trembled. She raised her head and looked at the opposite side. In front of her was Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was as handsome as a boy, with wild fire rolling in her eyes.

"The Miyoshi family is finished, and the shogunate's army will soon take control of Settsu Country.

Sen no Rikyu is the shogunate's dog, and Imai Munehisa is the Shiba family's dog. Is it possible that you are the only one who still wants to be a free cat?

The Oda family needs a port, and I have brought the grace of the Oda family. I will only ask you once, are you willing to become the dog of the Oda family?"

Tsuda Muneki did not expect that Hashiba Hideyoshi would be so straightforward.

Her lips trembled and she felt humiliated in her heart. Even though Miyoshi Masayasu was greedy for her offerings and begged for a large amount of money, he at least left a layer of dignity for her.
To be continued...