The collapse crisis of Guanbazhou was finally stabilized by Yiyin.

Externally, the daimyo from all over Kanhachishu could not understand the soft-knife gameplay of the Samurai Giri Promotion Association, but they were frightened by Yoshigami's busy sharpening of knives and became cautious and respectful.

In particular, Sano Masatsuna's death was so painful that many people who were ready to move stood back and watched, not daring to move again.

Internally, Teru Uesugi and Takeo Shimakatsu, who were put to sleep by Yoshigan, chose to remain silent. The tacit understanding between the two parties to maintain cooperation and stabilize the overall situation of Kanto was based on their love for Yoshigan.

Maybe one day in the future, a distant butterfly flapping its wings will set off a violent storm in Kanto, completely shattering this fragile balance.

But no matter what, at least now Yiyin endured his uneasy conscience and finally suppressed all the thorns inside and outside, which is a very good skill with Ni Ni.

———

Winter turns to spring, the earth wakes up, and the war at the western end of Tokaido begins again.

Unlike Yoshigan, who would feel guilty, he had already fed his conscience to dogs, and Oda Nobunaga, who never knew what a debt was, embarked on a journey again.

Taking advantage of the separation of farmers and soldiers, the Oda family's army entered Northern Ise again before spring plowing and launched anti-season operations.

It was too late for the Kitaise samurai family, who had been incited by Ashikaga Yoshiaki, to regret it. They had been writing letters to Gifu Castle all winter to express their loyalty, but they still could not escape this disaster.

Oda Nobunaga was determined to solve the hidden dangers to avoid recurrence in the rear when he used all his strength to deal with Ashikaga Yoshiaki in the future.

The most important spring plowing of the year is approaching, and the Kitaise samurai family's last remaining efforts to fight against the Oda family were completely shattered by the Oda army who fought out of season, and they surrendered one after another to avoid missing their own spring plowing.

Kobe Tomori was dragged out by Oda Nobunaga to kill chickens to scare the monkeys, and was chased and expelled on the grounds of inciting rebellion. The Kitaise samurai family were all frightened, and no one dared to come out and say a word to her.

After quickly suppressing Northern Ise, Oda Nobunaga turned to accuse the Kitahata family of Southern Ise.

It was clearly Ashikaga Yoshiaki who incited the Ise samurai family to rebel, and wrote imperial letters to both the northern and southern Ise samurai families, hinting that they wanted to turn to the shogunate.

But Oda Nobunaga confused right and wrong and put the blame for inciting the commotion among the North Ise samurai family on the Minami Ise Kitahata family.

What can Kitahata Tomokyo say? Could it be that she proved that she was wronged by taking out Ashikaga Yoshiaki's Imperial Letter?

Will Ashikaga Yoshiaki admit it? If she had the courage to confront Oda Nobunaga head-on, why would she secretly trick the local samurai family into causing trouble?

Will Oda Nobunaga admit it? Now is not the time to fall out with Ashikaga Yoshiaki, not to mention there must be a justifiable reason for going south to attack the Kitahata family.

Since neither Ashikaga Yoshiaki nor Oda Nobunaga will admit it, Kitahata Goto will have to bear the blame even if they don't want to.

In desperation, Kitahata Kōkō could only mobilize the army to defend the branch castles with Okouchi Castle as the core. He hoped that after Oda's army was frustrated, he could negotiate terms with Oda Nobunaga before surrendering.

But at this time, spring plowing and farming had already begun, and the local samurai families were unwilling to miss the season, so the Kitahata family's mobilization became very reluctant.

Oda's army was already approaching the city, but Kitahata Tomoko could only hold on with one-eighth of Oda's army and struggled to hold on.

Oda Nobunaga had a large number of people, so he calmly mobilized his troops and generals, and sent people from all walks of life to first uproot the seven branch cities outside Ogauchi Castle one by one.

———

At the foot of Asaka Castle, Hashiba Hideyoshi is in the main formation.

"It hurts, it hurts!"

Hideyoshi Hashiba was sitting on a folding stool, sweating profusely. The hem of her clothes was lifted up, revealing her white lotus-like left leg. A doctor was carefully applying medicine to her.

In front of her, her subordinates Takenaka Shigeharu, Hidena Hashiba, Kato Kiyomasa, Fukushima Masanori, Asano Nagamasa and others were all present and serving beside her.

This time Oda Nobunaga mobilized a large army to conquer Ise country, Hashiba Hideyoshi did not need to participate. As a garrison of Kyoto, her duties were in recent days.

But since I have returned to Gifu City to report on my work, I can't go back empty-handed. In terms of military achievements, no one wants too little.

The Oda family is already a 2 million-koku daimyo, and Kitaise has long been reduced to a tributary.

In this expedition, Oda Nobunaga used shameless off-season tactics. The Ise samurai family simply did not have the strength to compete with the Oda family for food.

A loyal king cannot live up to the demands of farming and eating, so the Ise samurai family must kneel down. How could Hideyoshi Hashiba miss this sure-fire conquest?

She begged Oda Nobunaga for a chance, and Niwa Nagahide and others helped to intercede. Oda Nobunaga asked her to follow him to fight before returning to Konki.

The Oda army marched forward with great success. From North Ise to South Ise, most of the local samurai surrendered without a fight. However, Hideyoshi Hashiba was unlucky and encountered a tough opponent.

The Kitahata family faced an overwhelming offensive from the Oda family, and the retainers were unwilling to delay spring plowing. Even the entire Kitahata family and relatives were wavering and surrendering.

However, the Omiya family of Asaka Castle put up a stubborn resistance. Hashiba Hideyoshi did not expect to encounter such stubborn resistance. He accidentally received an arrow in his left leg. Fortunately, it did not damage the arteries and muscles, but only the flesh.

After the doctor finished bandaging and bowed before leaving, Hashiba Hideyoshi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and sighed.

"What bad luck."

Takenaka Shigeharu advised.

"My lord, my current status is different. You should stay in the formation to command and dispatch during the war."

Hideyoshi Hashiba smiled bitterly.

"What's the difference? The difference between one thousand shi and two thousand shi? If the master hadn't assigned men to me, it would be difficult for me to gather fifty ashigaru by myself.

Now the Minami Ise samurai family is defeated like a mountain, and all the samurai families in the army are busy trying to grab the credit. It's good for me, I got an arrow in vain, and I will be laughed at by Shibata-sama and the others when I get back."

Takenaka Shigeharu was still about to speak, but Masakatsu Hoshiga came in from outside the curtain and bowed to Hideyoshi Hashiba.

Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded and asked softly.

"Did something happen?"

Takenaka Shigeharu and Hachisuga Masakatsu were sent to Hashiba Hideyoshi by Oda Nobunaga, and their identities were different from those of Hashiba Hideyoshi's own relatives.

As the governor of the Hachisuga family, Hachisuga Masakatsu had a deep relationship with the Shimobari old samurai family and was of great use to Hashiba Hideyoshi. With Hashiba Hideyoshi's character, he had always been very polite and courteous to her.

After seeing the ceremony, Hazusuka Masakatsu said solemnly.

"Lord Takigawa Ichimasu is here, with the order from the main hall, requesting to take over the defense of Asaka Castle."

Hashiba Hideyoshi frowned.

"What does the main hall mean? I finally captured Asaka City, but before I even finished cleaning the battlefield, someone came to take over the defense?"

Takenaka Shigeharu guessed.

"Kitahata Tokyo probably can't hold on any longer. During the busy farming season, the Kitahata retainers' group's will to resist is very weak.

Everyone understands that the Kitahata family is no match for the Oda family, so why should they ruin their spring plowing plans for a meaningless war.

Ogauchi Castle has been besieged for more than a month, and most of the seven surrounding branch cities have been eradicated. If Kitahata Goji doesn't surrender, there will be no leverage to negotiate terms."

Hachisuka Masakatsu nodded.

"I heard some rumors. It seems that the main hall intends to put Mr. Takigawa Kazumasu in charge of the management of Northern Ise, and will also temporarily take over the defense of the important towns in Southern Ise."

Hideyoshi Hashiba was not surprised that Takigawa Kazumasushi was reused.

Takigawa Kazumasu is a good friend of Ikeda Tsuneaki. He was recommended to join Oda Nobunaga's maiden to take on important responsibilities and has a bright future.

The Mother Clothes were the confidants in Oda Nobunaga's pocket, and Takigawa Kazumasu, who had been trained there, was naturally someone Oda Nobunaga could trust.

Oda Nobunaga now has too many things to deal with. It is no longer possible for her to cultivate as intensively as she did when she first conquered Owari and Mino, and waste too much time in Ise Country.

Having already stepped onto the stage of the world, her eyes are focused on the near future, in the world.

Takigawa Kazumasu is just the first one. In the future, Oda Nobunaga may choose to hand over the responsibilities to his ministers to share the responsibilities of a country and a place, while he will control the overall situation.

Hashiba Hideyoshi's eyes moved, he caught a word in Hachisuka Masakatsu's words, and asked.

"For now? What about after that? Who will Minami Ise be responsible for?"

Hachisuka Masakatsu said in a low voice.

"I heard that the main hall intends to let His Highness Oda Shinbao join the Kitahata family."

Hashiba Hideyoshi's eyes widened, and his gaze subconsciously turned to Takenaka Shigeharu, who nodded slightly. The two of them actually talked about some taboo topics.

Oda Nobunaga has not slept with Nobunaga in the past two years, so naturally no heir will be born, and there has been some criticism among Oda's retainers.

It's just that everyone was intimidated by Oda Nobunaga's strong and domineering attitude, and no one dared to point the finger at her. They had no choice but to let Nogun, the poor husband, take the blame and be ridiculed as a loser who couldn't produce rice.

Because the family governor has no heirs, the issue of heirs has been vaguely mentioned.

The most likely successors are the two people closest to Oda Nobunaga, his younger sister Oda Nobunaga and his niece Oda Nobsumi.

Oda Nobunaga will not let Kitahata Gujiao pass easily. Once she surrenders, she will be forced to retire and no longer serve as the governor of the Kitahata family.

If Oda Shinbo succeeds the Kitahata family, he can succeed as governor of the Kitahata family as Kitahata Shinbashi, and he can legitimately manage the Minami Ise territory.

At the same time, Kitahata Shinbao naturally lost the right to inherit the Oda family and was no longer an alternative to the Oda retainers group.

As for Oda Nobsumi, she is the child of Oda Nobunaga's second sister, Oda Nobuyuki.

Oda Nobuyuki competed with Oda Nobunaga for the position of family governor, but was killed by Oda Nobunaga himself. How could Oda Nobunaga allow her daughter to become the heir of the Oda family?

Therefore, there is a high probability that Oda Nobsumi will be sent out to succeed another samurai family and lose the right to inherit the Oda family.

Hideyoshi Hashiba couldn't help but think.

Oda Nobunaga was still in his youth, and the issue of inheriting the Oda family business was suppressed for the time being. But as time goes by, this issue will eventually come to the fore.

So, what does Oda Nobunaga want to do? She has left the position of heir vacant for the time being. Who is she planning to leave it to?

In other words, who does she want to have a child with and become the heir to the Oda family?

In Hashiba Hideyoshi's mind, the peerless face of Shiba Yoshigan appeared, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

———
To be continued...