After Ninagawa himself took over such a mess, Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga joined forces to start a war to counterattack the Miyoshi family and conquer Settsu Country.
The shogunate issued orders one after another asking for money and food, all of which were placed on the head of the government, which made Ninagawa himself unspeakably uncomfortable. The head of the family knew that firewood and rice were expensive, and he really didn't know how to live his life like this.
This time when the shogunate was re-established, Ise Sakyo dragged the entire shogunate group into the water, fighting for a way out for the Ise family and causing everyone to suffer.
After Oda Nobunaga killed Ise Sakyo, Ashikaga Yoshiaki also added insult to injury.
Various demands were thrown at the government office, and the ministerial group not only had to bear the logistical support of Miyoshi's expedition, but also received no profit sharing.
Akechi Mitsuhide of the Shiba family is about to serve as the garrison of Kyoto, and Mibuchi Fujihide of the Hosokawa Mibuchi family has taken Fushimi Castle. It is said that Wada Yamasa will serve as the guard of Settsu Province after Miyoshi's conquest.
Everyone can get a piece of the pie, but the ministers have sinned so much that they only deserve to perform their crimes and perform meritorious deeds.
There are no benefits, it’s all obligations!
No wonder Ninagawa himself was full of resentment and wanted to come to Akechi Mitsuhide for advice.
Before leaving, Yoshihiro Shiba said that everyone should work together and cooperate sincerely. You, Akechi Mitsuhide, can't just enjoy the success by yourself and watch the Ninagawa family suffer, right?
On the other side, Hatakeyama Takamasa and Ninagawa are in the same boat.
As soon as Shiba Yoshigan left, she, the head of the Hatakeyama clan, became a filth that everyone could avoid.
She spoke up for Sibo Yiyin in front of the emperor, but her tone was too high. Others were afraid of getting bad luck from her, a mad dog, and were unwilling to pay attention to her.
Yoshihiro Shiba had been away for a while, and Mitsuhide Akechi had promised her to take over the leadership position, but there was no reply at all.
The Hatakeyama clan bet too hard, and their brand is almost ruined. Hatakeyama Takamasa cannot just watch his family be marginalized, but must squeeze into the core circle.
Both Ninagawa and Takamasa Hatakeyama looked at Akechi Mitsuhide to see what she would say.
Akechi Mitsuhide also smiled bitterly.
She really didn't do anything behind the two people's backs, but Ashikaga Yoshiaki forced her to give her the benefits of Kyoto's defense. How should she explain it?
She said that she didn't do anything. This is a pie from the sky. Does anyone believe it? What kind of person is Mitsuhide Akechi? Don't you know?
The so-called sweet-talking and sword-loving disciple was tailor-made for her.
Ninagawa's words were filled with resentment.
"Lord Akechi, you are Tsuta-den's representative in Kyoto, so you must help us come up with an idea.
Mr. Gongfang is not a family man, so he doesn’t know that the shogunate’s family is full of holes. This war is all about money and food. Where can I find money and food to support the supply of the army outside?
You are the guard of Kyoto whom Lord Gongfang values and you are not an outsider. Please advise Lord Gongfang not to embarrass a poor man like me again."
Ninagawa himself seemed to be pleading, but his words were heart-wrenching.
Akechi Mitsuhide was an important minister of the Shiba family, and she said that he was a confidant of Ashikaga Yoshiaki. The hypocritical smile that Akechi Mitsuhide always wore on his face was unbearable.
Don’t say this nonsense!
Akechi Mitsuhide's face turned cold, his brows furrowed, and he turned to look at Hatakeyama Takamasa. He ignored the anxious Ninagawa Makoyo and allowed her to calm down.
Hatakeyama Takamasa was also full of resentment. Just when he was about to speak, he was blocked by Akechi Mitsuhide.
"Your Majesty Hatakeyama, I just came back from His Majesty Hosokawa.
The Hosokawa Mibuchi family has decided to submit a letter to Mr. Kōkata, proposing that you assume the position of governor of the shogunate. I will also sign the document to express my approval of this matter on behalf of the Shiba family.
If the three families submit a letter together, the Lord Gongfang will probably not refute our reputation. I would like to congratulate you in advance, Your Majesty."
Hatakeyama Takamasa, who had a resentful look on his face just now, was overjoyed when he heard this. His resentment was wiped away and he bowed in return.
"Akechi-sama worked hard. The Hosokawa Mibuchi family is willing to submit a letter. Akechi-sama must have put a lot of effort into convincing them, right?
Thank you very much for your righteous deed, I will keep it in my heart and you will be rewarded generously."
Akechi Mitsuhide shook his head and said.
"The Hosokawa Mibuchi family also feels guilty because of the previous misunderstanding. This time they agreed to submit a letter to show the unity of local powerful factions.
This is good for all of us. I am just following the trend and cannot deserve His Highness Hatakeyama's praise.
only.."
Seeing her change of words, Hatakeyama Takamasa felt his heart skip a beat and asked nervously.
"Just what? Is there anything else wrong with this?"
Akechi Mitsuhide said with a slight regret on his face.
"It's not a big problem, it's just that the general valued Mibuchi Fujihide and entrusted Fushimi Castle to her to manage it.
Lord Mibuchi Fujihide seems to have some doubts about submitting the letter, thinking that the general will misunderstand us.
But it’s okay, since His Highness Hosokawa Mototsune has agreed to this matter, the Hosokawa Mibuchi family will not regret it easily, please don’t worry.”
Mitsuhide Akechi secretly applied eye drops to Fujihide Mibuchi, which was considered worthy of his old friend Hosokawa Fujitaka.
Sure enough, Hatakeyama Takamasa's face instantly turned ugly.
Although the matter was almost certain, for her, there was always a little bit of uneasiness and worry when something went wrong in a foolproof matter.
She gritted her teeth and said.
"What a great Mibuchi Fujihide, we haven't settled the old scores yet, good, good, good."
After saying hello three times, she suppressed her ferocious smile and bowed to Akechi Mitsuhide.
"No matter what the outcome is, I am grateful that Mr. Mingzhi is willing to clear up the relationship for me. Please don't be too polite."
The two of them spoke so passionately that Ninagawa Okayo felt embarrassed.
She had just made some sarcastic remarks about Akechi Mitsuhide, and Akechi Mitsuhide brought up the matter of Hatakeyama Takamasa being in charge.
What was originally a scene where Ninagawa and Takamasa Hatakeyama besieged and questioned Akechi Mitsuhide suddenly turned into a chicken-hearted and aggressive one.
Seeing that Akechi Mitsuhide was unwilling to talk to him, he deliberately explained the matter of Hatakeyama Takamasa first. It didn't matter whether Ninagawa Makoto spoke for a while, or he didn't speak.
Fortunately, Akechi Mitsuhide just wanted to teach Ninagawa a lesson, not to make her fall from power.
After exchanging a few words with senior politicians in Hatakeyama, Akechi Mitsuhide turned to Ninagawa and said.
"Ninagawa-sama, I just learned from you that the general ordered me to guard Kyoto, and I was very surprised.
But when I think of it, I am not surprised that Mr. Fujihide Mibuchi received the position of Fushimi Castle.
The general intends to bribe us and divide us, so that we can be in disarray. You must not waver in your stance just because of this little trick."
Hatakeyama Takamasa took advantage of the situation and helped.
"That's what Lord Akechi said.
Ninagawa-sama, the three of us have promised in front of Tsutado-den that we will unite sincerely, you have to believe in Akechi-sama's character."
Ninagawa himself was struck by the two men and was speechless, so he had no choice but to smile and bow to apologize.
"I am impatient. Please forgive me, Sir Akechi."
Akechi Mitsuhide returned the courtesy with a smile and said
"You two, one is the leader of the shogunate and the other is the acting official of the government office. Both of you are important ministers of the shogunate.
How can I, a small servant, have the right to express myself in front of you two? It's just that you two are generous and willing to listen to my explanation patiently.
The general wants to avenge his ancestors. This is a righteous move. We can only support it, not oppose it. Ninagawa-sama said that the government treasury is empty and cannot support military supplies. This is also true.
Ninagawa-sama just needs to do his own thing, and the government office will support it as much as it can earn in the summer and autumn. If military supplies are insufficient, the shogunate will decide the gap."
Ninagawa himself was thoughtful.
The general wants to fight a war and the government office has no money. Then he holds a council and everyone quarrels. This is the old routine of the shogunate.
The ancestor Ashikaga Yoshiteru was perfunctorily delayed by the ministers using various councils, and he had no choice but to give in.
This was also the reason why the shogunate group headed by Ise Sakyo was so powerful at that time.
In the end, Ashikaga Yoshiteru was forced to become ruthless, and took advantage of Miyoshi Nagakei's defeat to find an excuse to sideline Ise Sakyo and help Ninagawa Oishi seize power in the political office.
Now that Ise Sakyo is dead, Akechi Mitsuhide's old-fashioned way of letting Ninagawa become a minister and destroy him.
It doesn't cost money, it costs a life.
With the Shiba family backing her, it was impossible for Ashikaga Yoshiaki to play hardball with Ninagawa himself. After all, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was not Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and she had nothing to do with politics.
Ninagawa himself frowned in thought.
This way, you can indeed pass the test. But the problem is that this offends Ashikaga Yoshiaki too much. She is a general after all.
Akechi Mitsuhide's idea was to tie the Ninagawa family more and more tightly to the Shiba family's boat. One would be prosperous and one would suffer, and it would be difficult to get off the ship in the future.
Hatakeyama Takamasa had already completely succumbed to the Shiba family. At this time, seeing Akechi Mitsuhide tightly tying Ninagawa's neck, he was of course happy to lend a hand and said.
"Ninagawa-sama, don't worry, Tsutado-dono will take care of you, and I will help you, it will be fine.
The general is not an ancestor, and his temper is not that strong, so everything can still be discussed carefully."
Ninagawa himself spat inwardly. The two people in front of him seemed to be planning for themselves, but in fact they were just talking to flatter him.
Thinking that the Ninagawa family had no choice, the Ninagawa family had no choice but to smile bitterly.
"What you two are saying is that I am stupid."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled gracefully.
"That's right, as long as we unite as one, we can do anything."
Hatakeyama Takamasa clapped his hands in agreement. Ninagawa himself felt a little disgusted and changed the subject.
"I heard that Matsunaga Hide has been moving around Kyoto in the past few days, hoping to make a difference in the Miyoshi expedition."
Hatakeyama Takamasa curled his lips and said disdainfully.
"Slave with three surnames."
The development of Matsunagahide stems from the promotion of Miyoshi Changqing and the importance of Miyoshi Changyi.
Not to mention the troubles she caused within Sanhao's family, just the scandal about Sanhao's Shangluo was totally against the wind.
The Great Gosho fire burned to death the ancestors Odaisho and Ashikaga Teru-kun. He was ungrateful and turned against Miyoshi and the other three, and severely stabbed Miyoshi Choitsu, his supporter, during the battle of Kamiro.
After the war, Matsunaga Hideaki was loyal to the shogunate on the surface, but secretly he frequently flattered Oda Nobunaga.
These two-faced, shameless guys could not even look down upon the shogunate samurai who were known for their slippery ways.
But the shogunate's crusade against Settsu Kingdom really couldn't get around this man.
Yodo Castle, the territory of Matsunaga Hide, and the Yodogawa waterway leading from and to Settsu Province from Yamashiro Province, was the frontline town of the Miyoshi family established by Miyoshi Chokei to supervise the movements of the shogunate.
In order to increase the power of Yodo City, Miyoshi Chokei also placed some samurai families in the island county of Settsu Province, which is close to Yamashiro Country, under the control of Matsunaga Hide.
To put it simply, Matsuhisa Nagahide held the key to the Shogunate's entry into Settsu Country, and she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to sell it at a good price.
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled and said.
"Has Matsunaga-hime been active in Kyoto recently? I don't know."
Mitsuhide Akechi, Nagahide Matsushita, and Junkei Tsutsui used to be close friends.
Just because of some reasons, Matsunagahide and Tsutsui Junkei gradually distanced themselves from Akechi Mitsuhide.
From the perspective of outsiders, the discord between the three of them is mostly a dog-eat-dog affair. Anyway, none of these three people is a good person.
Hatakeyama Takamasa was most annoyed by such subordinates betraying the master's family and said:
"Those who follow Qin, Mu, and Chu will not end well sooner or later. What did she do?
Even if she succeeds in her career, she is only able to be arrogant because of His Highness Oda's protection, and she will die sooner or later."
Ninagawa himself smiled and said nothing, looking at Akechi Mitsuhide.
Akechi Mitsuhide thought for a moment and asked.
"How did the Tanba Kingdom and the Tango Kingdom react to the shogunate's attack on the Miyoshi family?"
Matsunaga Hide's Yodo Castle is the gateway for Yamashiro Kingdom to insert into Settsu Kingdom. However, the strategy for Settsu Kingdom cannot be a tough one all the way.
To the south of Settsu Province are Izumi Province and Kitakawachi. This is also the reason why Ashikaga Yoshiaki attracted Mibuchi Fujihide and his successor Hosokawa Mibuchi family.
To the north of Settsu Country is Tanba Country, which was once conquered by the Miyoshi family.
Tanba and Tango were one country in ancient times, and they were separated later. They were observation posts on the mountain-yin-shanyang road leading to the Western Kingdom recently.
Tanba Kingdom is now dominated by the Hatano family who expelled the Miyoshi family, while the guardianship of Tango Kingdom has always been hereditary by the Isshiki family.
Matsunaga Hide has already begun activities, and the Hosokawa Mibuchi family is also making preparations to move closer to local powerful factions and seek autonomy in wartime.
What about the Hatano family and the Isshiki family?
The breakthrough of the shogunate and Oda coalition forces in the middle also requires the coordination of the northern and southern wings, so that the Settsu Kingdom attack can be launched smoothly.
The Ninagawa family's territory is in Tanba country, and Ninagawa himself is very familiar with the situation of the Hatano family, she said.
"The terrain of the Tanba Highlands is dangerous, and the mountain people are unruly and disrespectful. The shogunate intervened in the Tanba Kingdom several times, but it was so disgraced that it had to recognize the autonomy of the local counties.
A few years ago, the Hatano family, Akai, and Naito divided Tamba country into three parts. Later, the Hatano family and the Akai family joined forces to attack and destroy the guardian Naito family.
The Tanba Kingdom was originally under the guardianship of the Hosokawa clan. After the demise of the Hosokawa clan, Miyoshi Nagakei recognized himself as the guardian of Tanba. The shogunate, on the other hand, recognized the Hatano family as the guardian of Tanba.
After Hatano Hideharu succeeded to the throne, he drove away the Miyoshi family and gained high prestige in the country. She was also worried about the possible comeback of the Miyoshi family.
During Miyoshi's rebellion in Kyoto, Hatano Hideharu had always been a strong local feudal lord who opposed the Miyoshi family stationed in Kyoto. The shogunate sent troops to attack and contacted the Hatano family's partial troops to cooperate, and the Hatano family would definitely respond.
As for Tango Kingdom, the Isshiki family controlled the palace, but when Miyoshi came to Luo, he left without permission, which was a huge disappointment.
This time the Luozhong legal system was passed, the law enforcement power of Kyoto was stripped away from the palace, and the Isshiki family lost interest in the empty shell of the palace.
I heard that the Isshiki family will send their heir to Kyoto to serve as the shogun's companion, hoping to reverse some of the bad influence.
However, the general seems to be still considering it and has not yet given his permission.”