With the first snowfall of winter, a rare peace has been restored recently.

Oda Nobunaga's military campaigns in the north and south quickly extinguished the flames between Nagashima and Echizen, allowing the anti-Oda forces that were about to move to calm down again.

Everyone is waiting for the strong confrontation between Shiba Yoshigan and Oda Nobunaga, and no fool continues to stand up and show off.

Oda Nobunaga rushed to attack Echizen Country before the heavy snow blocked the road, which completely exhausted the last bit of strength of the Oda army, and had no plans to continue using troops in the winter.

After clearing out the Echizen Ichikui, Oda Nobunaga left Shibata Katsuie and his troops to guard Echizen country, and then led the army to transfer, and each returned to recover and recuperate, waiting for the spring war.

Yoshihiro Shiba, who was in Kyoto, had no intention of taking the opportunity to launch an attack. He was also silently waiting for the coming spring when the Kwantung Allied Forces would advance to Luo.

There is a tacit understanding between Shiba and Oda, and peace has been temporarily restored in recent years. Although the shogunate has become empty, there is still an endless stream of shogunate samurai visiting Luo in winter.

Just because the Ashikaga Shogunate has become a decoration and may be pushed down at any time, everyone must seize the time to find a way out, take advantage of the opportunities of winter exchanges, and make more connections.

———

Kyoto, Nijo Castle.

Kyoto is brightly lit at night. Ashikaga Yoshiaki stands on the castle tower and looks into the distance. Next to her stands the shogunate chief, Yagyu Soen.

Outside the door, it was Korokichi Nagasaki who was leading a guard, the last line of defense to protect Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

Today's Ashikaga Yoshiaki has lost the bookishness of his fledgling life, and no longer looks like a Taoist priest who has returned to secular life, and his face is becoming increasingly cold and solemn.

But she doesn't have the sharpness and fortitude that Ashikaga Yoshiki has developed through years of practicing swordsmanship. She has a similar face filled with meanness and narrow-mindedness, as if everyone she looks at feels like they owe her something.

Today, Ashikaga Yoshiaki has become the biggest joke of the shogunate.

Wada Nobunaga, the biggest supporter, was pursued and beaten by Oda Nobunaga. Finally, he surrendered to Oda Nobunaga and was killed by Araki Murashige in Settsu Province.

Next, Niki Yoshimasa was defeated by the Oda army and captured Sakamoto Castle. He fled into the Konkisuba Territory. With the help of the incest love at that time, he was protected by Shiba Yoshigan.

The two biggest supporters, Yiwen and Wuwu, both met a happy end. Naturally, the rest of the people felt sympathy and loyalty.

The Ashikaga Hui clan was on the verge of collapse due to lack of military spending. Only Koji Yoshinaga, who came out of Kofukuji Temple together, was entrusted with important tasks by Ashikaga Yoshiaki and barely maintained the Nijo Castle bodyguards.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki looked around, and in the end, only Yagyu Soen, the great figure, remained.

However, Yagyu Sougamo was inextricably linked to the Yagyu-gumi of the Shiba family, which Ashikaga Yoshiaki could not believe.

But now, if Yagyu Soen is not used, Ashikaga Yoshiaki will not be able to find anyone who can use him.

Only Yagyu Sogan, a fan of officialdom, refused to give up his position as Omatsu and was willing to continue to be driven by Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki pointed to a noisy open fire in the distance and asked.

"Is that the Sibo Mansion?"

Yagyu Sect said solemnly and respectfully.

"Go back to Master Gongfang, it's Sibo Mansion."

Ashikaga Yoshiaki said coldly.

"It's so lively."

Yagyu Zongyan said in a low voice.

"Tonight, I heard that Tsuta-den is hosting a banquet for the governor and heirs of the two families of Hosokawa Mibuchi. You know that these three families have a close relationship, and coupled with the shogunate samurai families who are joining in the fun, it is really lively."

Ashikaga Yoshiaki snorted.

The Shiba Residence was the residence given to Yoshiki by Ashikaga Yoshiteru. It was very close to the burned-down Imperial Palace and was in the core area of ​​the Kyoto Shogunate.

Nijo Castle is a military castle built by Ashikaga Yoshiteru. It is located in the north of Kyoto, but it is far away from the residence of the shogunate samurai family.

The liveliness of Shiba's residence was in sharp contrast to the desolation of Nijo Castle, and the desolation of the Ashikaga Shogun's family was even more evident at this time.

The samurai of the shogunate came to Luo for an audience. During the day, they were only polite and business-like to Ashikaga Yoshiaki, but at night they went to camp with Yoshihiro Shiba. This attitude made Ashikaga Yoshiaki hate his teeth.

Everyone was not optimistic about the future of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and either sought refuge with Oda Nobunaga or with Yoshihiro Shiba.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki waved his sleeves and left the observatory, returned to the room, she sat on the main seat and asked.

"Did Miyoshi Yoshitsugu get in touch? What did she say?"

Yagyu Soyan followed him into the room and bowed.

"His Royal Highness Miyoshi was flattered by your greetings and said that he will be loyal to the shogunate and the general and do his best to serve the public."

Ashikaga Yoshiaki frowned.

"Are these just lies? I even promised her the post of deputy minister in charge of the shogunate, and she's still not satisfied?

When Sanhao went to Luo for Changqing, he was just asking for the leadership!"

Yagyu Soyan smiled bitterly in his heart.

That was then, and now is now. The former general Ashikaga Yoshiteru was not as depressed as you. He spoke as if he was playing p.

Besides, the Miyoshi family was at its peak back then, and having Miyoshi Nagakei take over was equivalent to ruling the shogunate, which was enough to command the martial arts families all over the world.

Now Miyoshi Yoshitsugu is nothing more than a minor celebrity in Hanoi, and the old subordinates in Shikoku may not be willing to listen to her orders. Is it important whether she has a supervisory commission?

What's more, Ashikaga Yoshiaki's Gouchishu has already tricked Miyoshi Yoshitsugu once. Even if Miyoshi Yoshitsugu is a fool, he was already injured the last time. How can he be stupid again?

In the final analysis, it was Ashikaga Yoshiaki who failed to take responsibility and denied the imperial letter under pressure from both inside and outside the shogunate. As a result, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu was dishonest and was beaten half to death by the Shiba Allied Forces.

The funniest thing is that in the end, the imperial letter was sent back to Kyoto, and it was Yoshigan Shiba who came forward to clear Miyoshi Yoshitsugi's name and save her life.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki's face was swollen from one slap to the left and the other to the right, and he became a joke among the samurai inside and outside the shogunate.

No matter how stupid Miyoshi Yoshitsugu is, he can't continue to be tricked by Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Ashikaga Yoshiaki asked Yagyu Soen to contact Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, which is a matter of self-humiliation.

Of course Ashikaga Yoshiaki understands this truth, but there is nothing she can do about it.

Today, around Kyoto, apart from Oda Nobunaga's power, there are also Shiba Yoshigan's power, and there are not many daimyo who are not related to either side.

Since the Hatano family of Tamba Kingdom is unwilling to get involved in Kyoto affairs, how many choices does Ashikaga Yoshiaki have?

Ashikaga Yoshiaki said helplessly.

"I know that I felt a little wronged by Miyoshi Yoshitsugi about the Gouchishu last time, but that was Yoshigan Shiba's conspiracy, and it was him who made me have to deny the Gouchishu.

Miyoshi Yoshitsugi was forced to surrender to Shiba Yoshigan, and she must have resentment in her heart. As long as she is willing to stand by my side, I promise to compensate her in the future."

Yagyu Sogan felt depressed, this poor official was really unreliable.

Until now, Ashikaga Yoshiaki is still obsessed with the sense of superiority brought by his bloodline and family status, thinking that as long as her bloodline is noble, the martial arts families in the world will beg to be her as a dog.

This general who came out of a nunnery doesn't understand the underlying logic of Wu family society at all.

Yoshigan Shiba defeated Miyoshi Yoshitsugu and defeated Hanoi Kingdom miserably. Does Miyoshi Yoshitsugu have to hate Yoshigan Shiba?

Mu Qiang of the samurai family, if Yoshiyoshi Shiba is just a little better than Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu may not be convinced.

But Yoshigan Shiba is much better than Miyoshi Yoshitsugu. Miyoshi Yoshitsugu now respects and worships Yoshigan Shiba, maybe even more.

To serve as a dog for a superior, of course you have to look for a strong person like Yoshigan Shiba. A weak person like Ashikaga Yoshiaki who even had to swallow back the imperial letter he wrote, how could Miyoshi Yoshitsugi be like her?

But Yagyu Sogan cannot refute Ashikaga Yoshiaki face to face. Now Ashikaga Yoshiaki is blushing at the loss and gets angry anytime and anywhere.

Yagyu Sogan had no intention of angering this incompetent general. She just regretted that she had chosen the wrong master and did not know what would happen to her in the future.

Fortunately, Yagyu Munenuki followed Shiba Yoshigan, and one of the Yagyu family finally got the upper hand. While Yagyu Munenuki was sad for himself, he was also proud of his daughter.

She bowed and said.

"I will continue to keep in touch with Miyoshi Yoshitsugi. I hope she can sympathize with Mr. Kimata's kindness and make the right choice."

Ashikaga Yoshiaki didn't hear the perfunctory meaning in Yagyu Muneyan's words at all, but nodded happily and continued.

"I heard that the Tiantai Sect's mage named Tianhai has been talking some incomprehensible nonsense recently.

Why is Tsutaden the descendant of Bishamonten? He is the living god who protects the world of the samurai family and walks in the world.

Is there no one in charge of the Tiantai Sect now? Is it possible for a leader of a sect like the Tiantai Sect to say such ridiculous things casually?

The evil words deceive the people! The evil words deceive the people!”

Ashikaga Yoshiaki was shocked and angry about the changes in the Tendai Sect.

During the reign of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the Tendai Sect had a deep relationship with the Odaisho and was one of the strongest supporters of the Ashikaga Shogun family in Kyoto.

After Ashikaga Yoshiaki succeeded to the throne, although she was incompetent in the political struggles of the shogunate, she was quite successful in winning over the sects by virtue of her own understanding of the various Buddhist sects.

When Ashikaga Yoshiaki formed Nobunaga's siege network, the Tendai Sect also actively delivered news to Ashikaga Yoshiaki who was trapped in Nijo Castle and made many contributions.

It's a pity that Ashikaga Yoshiaki's Nobunaga encirclement failed twice. Not only did he lose himself as a puppet general, but it also caused the Tendai Sect and Oda Nobunaga to become enemies and eventually broke up.

After the siege of Mount Hiei, Master Kakushu's attitude began to shift towards Yoshigan Shiba, who was more able to protect the interests of the Tendai Sect, and he gradually alienated Ashikaga Yoshiaki, a useless general.

Giving Sibo Yiyin the Buddha Jewel and the Armor of Nine Virtues of Light, and claiming that Sibo Yiyin is the Buddha's foot protector were all the plans of the Master Jueshu during his lifetime.

Although because Oda Nobunaga burned Mount Hiei, Master Kakushu was inexplicably enshrined in the Kyoto annex, the Tendai Sect was now leaderless, and its move to move closer to the Shiba family temporarily stopped.

However, Master Tianhai, who was supported by the Siba family, returned to Kyoto from the Jiaxin Mountain area, took over the banner of Master Jueshu, and began to further promote Siba Yiyin and deify Siba Yiyin's religious identity.

As a high-ranking nun before Kofukuji Temple, Ashikaga Yoshiaki felt deeply uneasy.

As a former shrine holder, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was far more sensitive to religious issues than Oda Nobunaga.

Starting from the Shingon sect, to the Tendai sect, and the addition of the Ichigo sect, the three most influential sects in the world have begun to build momentum for Shiba Yiyin.
To be continued...