Oda Nobunaga instigated Matsunagahide to deal with Wada Weimasa. Matsunagahide, a sinister man, did not show up himself, but instigated Mibuchi Fujihide to take Takatsuki Castle.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki roped in Mibuchi Fujihide originally with the intention of poaching Yoshigan Shiba, but now, his own wall has collapsed.
If the issue between Wada Taimasa and Mibuchi Fujihide is not handled well, Ashikaga Yoshiaki's fundamentals will be shaken. But at this time, Oda Nobunaga took action against Wada Taimasa again.
The Wada family's territory, Wada Village, is in Minami-Omi Koga County, which is the sphere of influence of the Oda family.
Niwa Nagahide has been active in Minami-Omi for almost a year, and has long understood the local situation, and that's why he struck the snake seven inches with a thunderous blow.
The Oda family found an excuse to demolish the wall of Wada Village's stockade and imposed a fine. It seemed fair and strict, but in fact it cost Wada Weimasa his life.
In troubled times, bandits and evil parties are rampant, and it is normal to form strongholds to protect themselves. The island country is full of fortified cities, and Hotan Village can be said to be a village or a city.
Without the protection of the outer wall, how can the Hotan family live in this territory?
Not to mention the roaming bandits who would come to cause trouble, even the fellow villagers of Jiahe Zhong might be anxious about leaving an undefended village, so they couldn't help but cover their faces and grab a handful first.
After all, there are many factions within the Koka clan, and some factions themselves cannot deal with Wada Weimasa.
If there is any hint of the Oda family, the leader of Minami Omi, the Wada family may never have a foothold in Minami Omi in the future.
Wada Weimasa has already lost the territory of Settsu Province. If the territory of Minami Omi's hometown is lost again, the Wada family will really fall.
Moreover, Oda Nobunaga did a great job.
The wall was demolished and the fine was fine. She also issued an order not to allow Wada Weimasa to come in. This meant that she did not give him a chance to beg for mercy, and acted like she wanted to force Wada Weimasa to death.
In the eyes of outsiders, the Wada family was doomed. Even Takenaka Shigeharu, a resourceful strategist, thought so.
But Hideyoshi Hashiba had some different views. She once saw Wada Nobunaga, the daughter of Wada Weimasa, and went to see Oda Nobunaga together with Niwa Nagahide.
Wada Weimasa was smart all his life, but he didn't expect that he would be sold out by his daughter. Fortunately, his daughter joined the Oda family in advance, so the Wada family had a chance to survive.
Therefore, Hashiba Hideyoshi did not think that Wada Weimasa would be doomed. However, it would be interesting to assume that this situation was deliberately created by Oda Nobunaga.
If the chief minister of Ashikaga Yoshiaki was forced to bow his head and join Oda Nobunaga.
The prestige that Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the new general, has worked so hard to build through the Settsu strategy will be lost. He will even be in an extremely bad predicament as when he took over the throne just now.
Hashiba Hideyoshi thought for a moment and whispered.
"I once met Niwa Nagahide-sama and Wada Weinaga coming out of the reception room of the main hall."
Takenaka Shigeharu's pupils shrank and she thought about this sentence repeatedly. After a long while, she sighed.
"It seems that the main hall is about to go to Luo and enter the capital again."
Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded and said nothing.
After identifying the key point of Oda Nobunaga, it is not difficult to guess Oda Nobunaga's plot.
Although Ashikaga Yoshiaki relied on Shiba Yoshigan and Oda Nobunaga to successfully go to Luo in one go. But before these two people, Ashikaga Yoshiaki already had his own supporters.
Among these supporters, the most important ones are Wada Weimasa and Niki Yoshimasa.
Wada Weimasa was good at diplomatic mediation. He negotiated with local powerful vassals on behalf of Ashikaga Yoshiaki and assisted him in Kamikawa, which was a great achievement.
Niki Yoshimasa controlled Sakamoto Castle and received command of the Ashikaga Horsemen before Ashikaga Yoshiteru's death. He was Ashikaga Yoshiaki's reliable military force.
Although Ashikaga Yoshiaki has theoretically inherited the Ashikaga Shogun family and the shogunate after ascending the throne, she does not have much solid foundation.
The Shogunate Group has been on the decline since Ashikaga Yoshiteru took down the Ise Sadect. Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Ise Sadect died tragically one after another, and the strength of the Shogunate Group was even weaker than before.
The current leader of the shogunate group is Ninagawa. Ashikaga Yoshiaki sent Yamaoka Keitomo to woo her daughter Ninagawa in private, but was directly rejected.
Not everyone is as stupid as Fujihide Mibuchi. He jumped out to change the master at this sensitive moment. If something goes wrong in the future, it will be easy for the whole family to die.
The leader of the powerful local faction in the shogunate is Ushiba Yoshigan, and Mibuchi Fujihide, whom Ashikaga Yoshiaki carefully wooed, has made a big mistake in Settsu Province, which has already embarrassed Ashikaga Yoshiaki.
Hatakeyama Takamasa was determined to be a dog to Yoshihiro Shiba. After Fujihide Mibuchi rebelled, the Izumi-Hosokawa family would only give more consideration to the Shiba family to avoid Yoshihiro Shiba's anger.
The basic foundation of the Ashikaga Shogun family comes from the reorganization of the imperial family system by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who changed the central imperial family to the public. Its core force is the Ashikaga horseback clan.
Because Ashikaga Yoshiaki lacked a foundation, he could not even get back the manors in Yamashiro Kingdom and surrounding areas that Ashikaga Yoshiteru had finally controlled.
Without territory, there is no money and food. Relying on honor alone cannot satisfy the Ashikaga warriors. No money to talk about Gil's loyalty?
It would be great if Niki Yoshimasa could appease the Ashikaga Hui people and not rebel. Ashikaga Yoshiaki couldn't even pay for the departure expenses of the military girls for the war, so they could only survive.
Therefore, the diplomatic service that Wada Weimasa was responsible for turned out to be the most powerful tool in the hands of Ashikaga Yoshiaki.
If Oda Nobunaga can coerce and induce Wada Yaomasa to change his position, the foundation of Ashikaga Yoshiaki's control of the shogunate will be completely shaken.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki could not mobilize the ministers and local powerful factions. Ashikaga returned to the army, but she had no money to mobilize. Niki Yoshimasa's Sakamoto Castle was in Minamiomia, and Oda Nobunaga could besiege the city at any time and force him to surrender.
What other cards could Ashikaga Yoshiaki, a general whose prestige had fallen to the ground, play? She could only stare blankly as Oda Nobunaga went to Luo again and came to Kyoto to set rules for her.
Both Hashiba Hideyoshi and Takenaka Shigeharu understood it, but they couldn't say much.
Wada Nobunaga's daughter was Oda Nobunaga's trump card for instigating rebellion against Wada Nobashi. Hashiba Hideyoshi should not have known about this matter, and revealing it to Takenaka Shigeharu was already a sign of trust in this military advisor.
After that, the two could only keep silent and never mentioned it again.
Thinking of Ashikaga Yoshiaki losing so miserably, Hideyoshi Hashiba couldn't help but sigh.
"If I had known today, why bother in the beginning.
If it weren't for the general's malicious intentions, he deliberately kicked out the main hall during the Settsu strategy and incited the Ise Kingdom samurai family to riot.
The main hall would not have fought back so fiercely, leaving no face for the general."
Takenaka Shigeharu shook his head and said.
"Now that things have happened, it is useless to say this. The general's last luck is that only Tsudo-don's return to the nearest place can make the main hall have some scruples.
It’s a pity that Tsuta-don is stranded in Kanto and has not returned. It seems that Tsuta-don is also afraid of this capricious and ungrateful general and is unwilling to get involved in these messy things in Kyoto.”
Ashikaga Yoshiaki's rule in Settsu Province collapsed, and she was unable to control the shogunate forces in Yamashiro. If she wanted to prevent Oda Nobunaga from going to Luo again, she could only rely on the power of Konki Shiba.
Although the Sibo Territory only had a mobilization force of 200,000 shi in recent years, the prestige of Sibo Yiyin far exceeded that of ordinary martial arts families.
If he is willing to come forward, the Izumi Hosokawa family, the Kita-Omi Asai family, the Kita-Kawauchi Mibuchi family, and the Minami-Kawauchi Hatakeyama family will all take a stand.
Even the nuns from the Yamato Kingdom and the mercenaries from the Kii Kingdom would take action after hearing the news.
If these forces could be gathered together, even Oda Nobunaga, a 2 million-koku daimyo, would be afraid and hesitant.
However, Ashikaga Yoshiaki himself did not engage in human affairs. He robbed Shiba Yi of all his money in Kyoto and left sadly.
At first you wanted to separate, so you separated, and now you have to use giri to persuade him to come back. Ashikaga Yoshiaki is thinking too beautifully, isn't he?
Shiba Yoshigan is hiding in Kanto and does not show up. In recent years, Shiba has not participated in the chaos in Kyoto. It has nothing to do with him and is high up. You can mess around as you please. If you take another look, I will lose.
Hideyoshi Hashiba mocked.
"The Hokuriku Dou trade route is prosperous, and the Shibachu Fund is making money every day.
I heard that Shibao collars all over the country are busy buying food now, and they are very happy to prepare for the mid-year welfare. At this time, who still cares about the Ashikaga General in Nijo City who is unwilling to be lonely?
I heard that starting from this year, all the Jishi warriors who serve in the Shiba family will receive an annuity twice a year, and each time they can get three kilos of brown rice.
Last year, Jin Sibo received the initial annuity, and everyone was telling it as a joke, but Jin Duodian actually gave out brown rice, leaving the Wu family in Jin Dynasty speechless.
How many people were talking behind their backs about how it was a crime to give free rice to the poor people at the grassroots level. They said they were unconvinced, but in their hearts they were envious and wished they were the Shiba family's Samurai Ji.
It is said that some martial arts families are already looking for a way to get their heirs into the nearby Sibo Territory. It is advantageous not to fight for it, but there will be thunder and lightning.
However, it seems that the selection of Spo's staff has not been released yet. When it comes time to announce it, just wait and see how many warriors are trying to squeeze in."
Takenaka Shigeharu was dumbfounded and asked.
"In the entire Shiba retainers group, there are not 2,000 Ji warriors serving as officials, but only 1,500, right?
Everyone has to be given six shi of brown rice, so where did the Sibo Zhong Fund get so much money and food?”
Hideyoshi Hashiba said.
"I was also very confused at first. When I went to Sakai Port to discuss cooperation, I specifically asked Tsuda Muneji to find out about it.
Later I learned that Shibachu Fund was really rich and almost monopolized the most profitable commodity channels in Sakai Port.
Tsuda Muneki estimates that the scale of the Hokurikudo Trading Road will reach more than 3 million guen this year. As the Shiba family's own industry, the Shiba Tadashi Fund can have a net profit of at least 100,000 guan.
Tsuda Muneji has been doing business in his business house for generations, striving to become one of the top three businessmen in Sakai Port, but the wealth he has accumulated over the years is only the income of the Shibachu Fund in one year."
Hashiba Hideyoshi sounded envious. Generally speaking, the samurai family had a prejudice against merchants, but she was very keen and interested in the benefits of business.
She continued.
"In the Battle of Okehazama, the main hall raided and killed Imagawa Yoshimoto. Later, the Imagawa family was attacked and destroyed by the Takeda family and the Tokugawa family, and the Tokaido trade route that had been cultivated and protected for many years was also in chaos.
Today's Tokaido is divided by a group of women, and there is no longer the grand business flow that it once was. The Hokuriku Road trade route has replaced it, and it is becoming more and more profitable. It is really amazing that Tsutadoden has a unique vision."
Takenaka Shigeharu frowned slightly and asked.
"Does the main hall know about these things?"
Hideyoshi Hashiba said.
"Of course the main hall knows that she has great ideas about the Hokuriku Road trade route, which even caused Niwa Nagahide-sama to feel uneasy.
Niwa-sama expressed to me several times that he hoped that I would be cautious in doing things in Sakai Port and avoid any misunderstandings with the Shiba family.
The Oda family already has enough enemies, and turning against the Shiba family for business gain is not worth it.
But this matter was not easy to do. As you know, Tsuda Muneji followed me. Her main business rival, Imai Munehisa, was the trader of the Shiba family on the Hokurikudo trading route, and the two had deep conflicts.
I want to make a difference in Sakai Port, but I’m afraid I can’t avoid the town official who will offend the Shiba family, Takada Haruno.”
Takenaka Shigeharu shook his head and said.
"Niwa Nagahide-sama's concerns are not unreasonable, and they are not limited to Sakai Port.
I heard that there has been a lot of trouble in Minami Omi recently, and the main temple has adopted the policy of Rakuchi Rakuza. The local temples are very resentful, especially the always unruly Ichigo sect, which is even more unconvinced.
The temple fair was originally the local business center, but the main hall decided to use the Rakuza policy to move the business center to the castle town so that the Oda family could collect more business taxes.
Moreover, the group of people responsible for Rakuchi Rakuza policy are the recent Nichiren sect disciples who were hunted down by the Ichigo sect, and the escaped Owari survivors who were taken in by Honnoji Nichigen at the request of the main hall."
Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded silently.
Commercial conflicts are superimposed on religious conflicts. As the most arrogant sect of Buddhism, the Yixiang Sect must not be able to swallow this breath.
No wonder Niwa Nagahide, who was responsible for pacifying Minami Omi, was worried and his hair turned gray. This Rakuza policy was just the beginning. Later, the policy of separating farmers and soldiers would be followed up, and land inspections would be required. That would be a big trouble.
After more than a hundred years of chaos, the temple took advantage of the opportunity to occupy more land. If Oda Nobunaga asked the temple to return the cultivated land, the conflict between the two parties would inevitably be resolved through violence.
Hideyoshi doesn't know whether the other sects are going crazy or not. But the Omi Ichikou sect will never compromise. These Buddhist nuns are used to being naughty and will not let the Oda family manipulate them.
Hideyoshi Hashiba sighed.
“It’s such a mess.
You don’t know that the saltpeter and lead that I met at Sakai Port, the president of Konishi, are all high-quality Nanban products.
Tsuda Muneki wrote to me a while ago and told me that she discovered that the Nanman Sect was deeply involved in this matter and was deliberately giving benefits to the Oda family.
I'm really worried that one day there will be a conflict between the Oda family and the Ichigo clan, and the Nanman Church will take the opportunity to stir up trouble in Settsu Country."
Takenaka Shigeharu smiled.
“It’s not bad to be a little messy.
The Oda family lacked talents who understood the recent past, and there were many conflicts between the surrendered Omi samurai family and the veterans of Owari Mino.
If you can make good friends with the Omi samurai family, participate more in recent affairs, and help solve problems for the main hall, this will be an excellent opportunity for advancement.
If there weren't so many troubles, what would be the point of you being crushed by those old ministers of Owari?"
Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded and smiled.
"I understand, but I'm worried that the main hall is too radical and will offend too many people at once, which will lead to a bad situation in which all parties besiege the Oda family."
Takenaka Shigeharu shook his head and said.
"Please believe in the main hall, she will not fall here. Just like I believe in you, you will definitely soar into the sky."
Hashiba Hideyoshi glanced at Takenaka Shigeharu, couldn't help but smile bitterly, and sighed.
"I'm not that confident myself, and I don't know where you got your confidence and why you are so confident in me."
Takenaka Shigeharu replied calmly.
"Of course I believe you, because you are my chosen master."
Hashiba Hideyoshi's bitter smile froze for a moment, bowed slightly to Takenaka Shigeharu, and said
"Thank you, thank you for believing in me."
Takenaka Shigeharu bowed in return, and the monarch and his ministers smiled at each other and continued their discussion.