Niwa Nagahide was so calm that she picked up the letter and read it quickly. Then, she sighed to the furious Oda Nobunaga.
"The matter has reached this point. No matter how angry the main hall is, it will not help. Please consider it in the long term."
Oda Nobunaga took a few deep breaths, took the letter from Niwa Nagahide, put it on the candlestick beside him, and watched blankly as the letter turned into candlelight.
After the paper was completely gone, she slowly sat back down and said.
"Miyoshi's troops landed in Noda Township and occupied the local Noda Castle and Fukushima Castle, not far from Sakai Port.
Although the water transportation in the Seto Inland Sea is under the control of the Anzai navy, the national strength of the four countries is not enough to support the Miyoshi military force to launch immediate operations.
The Miyoshi family is expected to launch an offensive after the autumn harvest. I still have enough time to lead my troops to Settsu Country and fight with them.
Mi Wuniang, I’ll leave the logistics supplies for the incoming army to you, don’t let me down.”
"Hi!"
The two were talking, and a voice came from outside asking for permission to come in. Oda Nobunaga said coldly.
"Come in."
The sliding door opened, Mori Ranmaru walked into the room with Hideyoshi Hashiba, and bowed respectfully. Then she left Hideyoshi behind, walked out of the room, and closed the sliding door.
Hashiba Hideyoshi's face was still a little confused and expectant. She didn't know what the master's instructions were when he called her late at night.
Niwa Nagahide didn't know why Oda Nobunaga asked Hashiba Hideyoshi to come over. She just smiled at the confused Hashiba Hideyoshi and said nothing, waiting for the master's instructions.
Oda Nobunaga signaled Hashiba Hideyoshi to excuse himself and said.
"When we were retreating from Kanazaki, I told you that I would reward you generously after the battle in Kitaomi, Hideyoshi.
Now, I appoint you as the Lord of Hengshan City!"
Hashiba Hideyoshi was so surprised that he kowtowed to the ground and threw out his good words in piles.
But she still had some doubts in her heart, because during the previous celebration, Oda Nobunaga was still discussing with the girls how to attack Otani Castle with great interest.
The war in Kitaomi was not over yet, so why did you set a reward for yourself first? Isn't this unlike Oda Nobunaga's usual style?
Oda Nobunaga waved his hand and was too lazy to continue listening to Hideyoshi Hideyoshi's compliments. She was troubled now and had no time to enjoy the pleasure of flattering others.
"I will lead my troops to Settsu soon. You are here to hold Hengshan Castle firmly for me. You must not let Asai Nagamasa take it back. Do you understand?"
Hideyoshi Hashiba bowed.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, as long as Hideyoshi is here, Hengshan Castle will be there!"
Oda Nobunaga nodded.
"Don't worry, Nan Omi's military will help you defend. Mi Wuniang will be responsible for the army's logistics and supplies. If you need anything, just tell her."
Hideyoshi Hashiba bowed deeply to Niwa Nagahide and said.
"I'm going to cause trouble to my seniors again!"
Niwa Nagahide smiled in return and said.
"They are all working for the main hall, so you are welcome, Master Yushiba."
Today, Hashiba Hideyoshi has finally become the lord of a city. He is also an important frontier town in Kitaomi and should not be underestimated.
Niwa Nagahide's voice as Lord Hashiba made Hideyoshi full of emotions. She finally pushed through the invisible ceiling above her head and officially became a general of the Oda family.
Oda Nobunaga almost cried with joy when he saw Hashiba Hideyoshi, and said coldly.
"Don't be too happy too early. The Miyoshi family is making a comeback, and I'm going to fight in Settsu Country.
Although the Asai family suffered a defeat in Anegawa, they will never be willing to wait for death. Asai Nagamasa will definitely regain her strength and struggle to survive before I can free my hands to deal with her.
Hengshan Castle in my hands is a sharp blade that cuts off the connection between the north and the south of Asai's territory. Asai Nagamasa is like a knife in his throat, so he will definitely take action.
And what I ask of you is not only to defend this place, but also to find a way to drive a wedge between Asai Nagamasa, Isono Emasa, and Aguki Sadaki, and bring them to my side.
I want Sawayama Castle and Yamamotoyama Castle.”
Niwa Nagahide and Hashiba Hideyoshi were stunned at the same time. Oda Nobunaga's request was too much.
With Otani Castle as the core of the northern Omi Asai family territory, Yokoyama Castle is the waist, and to the west of Yokoyama Castle is a flat plain, which can directly cut off the connection between the northern and southern Asai family territories.
With the loss of Yokoyama Castle, the Asai family has fallen into a strategic passive position. And Sawayama Castle and Yamamotoyama Castle are the other two gates of Otani Castle. How can they easily alienate each other?
Oda Nobunaga said.
"Sawayama Castle is an important town between the north and south Omi. The lord of the castle, Isoga Masano, is a fierce general of the Asai family. In the battle of Anegawa just now, we suffered a lot, didn't we, Hideyoshi?"
During the battle, Isono Danmasa destroyed several military formations of the Oda family, including Hashiba Hideyoshi's reserve team. Oda Nobunaga was really ruthless in his words, which made Hashiba Hideyoshi embarrassed.
Oda Nobunaga clapped his hands and said.
"Masa Isono is a talented person, Hideyoshi, go and try to get her to work for me!
The same goes for Aguan Zhenzheng, the lord of Yamamoto Mountain Castle.
Yamamotoyama Castle is located next to Otani Castle. Once Yamamotoyama Castle is captured, the Asakura family's reinforcements can be blocked, leaving Otani Castle in an isolated and helpless situation.
You want to find a way to drive a wedge between Asai Nagamasa and Aguan Sadaki, do you understand?"
Oda Nobunaga's commanding tone made Hideyoshi's face become increasingly bitter, and he almost cried.
It’s not like Isono Utamasa and Aguki Sasaki are big radishes in the field. You can pull them if you want. They are both important ministers of Asai Nagamasa!
Oda Nobunaga himself also said that the location of Sawa Mountain Castle and Yamamoto Mountain Castle is very important. Asai Nagamasa can allow them to sit there, so he can naturally trust them.
Can such important officials turn against each other after just a few casual estrangements?
Niwa Nagahide couldn't stand it anymore, so he came out to help Hideyoshi Hashiba.
"Main Hall, aren't these two things too difficult?"
Oda Nobunaga snorted and said.
"Are you trying to say that I'm just wishful thinking?
The Asai family had only occupied Kitaomi for three generations, and Asai Nagamasa's mother was still a mediocre person who was suppressed by Rokkaku Sadayori and lost her temper.
The samurai families of Kitaomi only regard the Asai family as their co-owners. How much power do you think Asai Nagamasa really has to restrain them?
During the Battle of Anegawa, the strength of the Asai family was severely damaged. Many members of the Asai clan died, and Asai Nagamasa had few people who could suppress the Asai retainers group.
I don't believe that the Kitaomi princesses can still be loyal to the Asai family. Seeing that the building is about to collapse, they will wholeheartedly want to bury the Asai family.
Masamoto Isono is a member of Kitaomi's guardian Kyogoku family. She could abandon her old master and join the Asai family, but now that the situation is not right, she can naturally join my Oda family.
Aguki Sasaki was born in Ika County, and she helped the Kyogoku family defeat the Asai family, but they were defeated and surrendered. She can surrender to the Asai family, but can't she surrender to my Oda family?
Mi Wuniang, you don't have to worry about this monkey, she has capable people under her command.
Hori Hidemura and Higuchi Naofous came to invest, and Kitanomi's door opened wide. It was the advice of her subordinate Takenaka Shigeharu."
Oda Nobunaga's words were reasonable and well-founded. Niwa Nagahide was refuted and had nothing to say. Even Hashiba Hideyoshi restrained his wry smile and became thoughtful.
Oda Nobunaga stared at Hashiba Hideyoshi and said.
"Don't you always want an opportunity? I'll give you the opportunity now, just to see if you have the ability to seize it.
Don't think I'm making things difficult for you. If the thing is simple, I can just find a dog to handle it, so why leave it to you.
The affairs of Settsu State are urgent. I have no time to waste time here. The entire retainer group belongs to you and is the most motivated. Don't let me down.
Bring Isono Umasa and Aguki Sadaki over here, and after the Kitanomi Asai family is pacified, I will count you as your first contribution. I guarantee that you will have a fertile land here, and you will be able to make a name for yourself when you enter the palace.
How about it, Hideyoshi, do you want to do it?"
Hideyoshi Hashiba's eyes were focused, he kowtowed to the ground decisively and said.
"I will do my best and will not let the palace down!"
Although Oda Nobunaga said it simply, inciting rebellion against an enemy general is never an easy task.
But what she said makes sense. If this matter was easy to handle and could be done by just anyone, would Hashiba Hideyoshi still have a chance to soar into the sky?
In the samurai society where bloodline and family character are valued, superiority and inferiority are emphasized, and the concept of hierarchy is deeply ingrained to the point of despair.
Hashiba Hideyoshi, a low-level samurai warrior who was born as a servant and gained status as a samurai through marriage, is she qualified to follow the steps?
The only way out for her is to seek wealth and honor amidst danger, fight tooth and nail to gain a position, and achieve what ordinary people cannot.
Oda Nobunaga gave her this opportunity, so she should be grateful and work hard to complete it, instead of thinking about the difficulties and obstacles here.
To be honest, if the Settsu matter had not been too urgent, Oda Nobunaga would not have given Hideyoshi this opportunity.
Although Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the annoying big tengu, is a fool, he has inadvertently united all the samurai daimyo who are afraid of the outbreak of the Oda family's power in recent weeks.
Oda Nobunaga was trapped by this Nobunaga encirclement network and could not stretch her arms and legs. The successive wars made her exhausted and extremely passive.
She had just confirmed her advantage over the Asai Asakura family in the Anegawa battle, but she had to give up the opportunity to expand the victory and ran to Settsu Province to put out the fire.
Oda Nobunaga knew that Asai Nagamasa would not miss this chance to breathe, so she had to leave a person who was resilient and enterprising enough in Kitaomi to prevent Asai Nagamasa from having an easy time.
Hashiba Hideyoshi stood out among Oda's retainers in recent years. He continued to strive for self-improvement despite his humble status and kept climbing up. Oda Nobunaga was always watching.
From the time Oda Nobunaga first used her to win over the tribe, to getting unexpected rewards from her again and again, he was also impressed by this servant who once warmed his shoes.
In the end, moved by Hideyoshi's ruthlessness after risking his life in the Battle of Kanazaki, Oda Nobunaga decided to grant Hideyoshi the Lord of Yokoyama Castle and give him the task of alienating the two Asai ministers.
Oda Nobunaga looked at Hashiba Hideyoshi's eyes. She didn't know whether Hashiba Hideyoshi could complete this mission or whether he could surprise herself like every time before.
But if Hideyoshi Hideyoshi could really complete his mission, Oda Nobunaga would not hesitate to reward him heavily and lift up this little catfish that he had personally put into the Oda retainers and let her jump into the sky.
———
Nobunaga's siege network gradually tightened, and enemies jumped out from all directions, making Oda Nobunaga gradually feel powerless.
She had to put her hope in Hashiba Hideyoshi, hoping that Hashiba Hideyoshi could create another miracle in Kitaomi during his battle in Settsu.
Oda Nobunaga did not know that her idea coincided with the future planned by Takenaka Shigeharu for Hashiba Hideyoshi.
Hashiba Hideyoshi was not from a good family background and could not make a difference among the two samurai families of Owari and Mino.
But the Omi samurai family, which was conquered by the Oda family, was an exception. If Hashiba Hideyoshi wanted to become bigger and stronger, he could only develop towards Omi country.
Oda Nobunaga's dilemma was Hashiba Hideyoshi's opportunity. Takenaka Shigeharu's plan that he had been working on for many years could finally be put to full use.
She wanted to use the connections run by the Takenaka family in Nishi-Mino Kitaomi to drive a wedge between Asai Nagamasa, Isono Umasa, and Aguki Samasagi, so that these two important ministers would defect to the Oda family.
As long as this thing is accomplished, Hideyoshi Hashiba will truly soar into the sky and become a trustworthy and usable general in Oda Nobunaga's heart.
The recent chaos has allowed Yu Chai to realize his ambition. However, Kanto has entered a period of peace that has not been seen in a century.
Although everyone knows that this tranquility is not stable and may be overturned at any time, it at least gives everyone a hope.
Yoshigan Shiba, who created this peace and tranquility, has returned from Oda Castle in Hitachi Province, accepted the invitation of the Narita family, and is visiting Ninja Castle.
Ninja Castle is located between the Tone River and the Arakawa River. It is defended by natural waterways and embankments. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is the residence of the Narita family.
The Narita family was originally a retainer of the Yamauchi Uesugi family and lived in Iwatsuki Castle, an important town in the Musashi Kingdom. As a result, the two Uesugi fought and Iwatsuki Castle was taken away by the Ota ancestor who was the head of the Ogitani Uesugi family.
Later, both the Yamauchi-Uesugi family and the Ogitani-Uesugi family were swept into the dustbin of history by the Hojo family, and the Narita family also surrendered to the Hojo family.
However, Teruhora Uesugi once again raised the banner of the Uesugi family in the mountains and returned to Kanhachishu, defeating the elite of the Hojo family in Sano.
Tai, the governor of the Narita family of this generation, simply returned to the Yamauchi Uesugi family and participated in Uesugi Terutora's siege of Odawara Castle.
Originally, this was a good story about the relationship between the king and his ministers.
Unfortunately, when Terutora Uesugi succeeded him as the Kanto governor at Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, Nagata Narita refused to kneel as usual, but he offended the unsuspecting Terutora Uesugi and received a slap in the face.
The Narita family is a descendant of a famous Fujiwara family. Their ancestors fought side by side with Hachiman Tai Ni, and they have always had the privilege of greeting them on horseback without having to kneel down.
This rude move by Teru Uesugi made Narita Nagata disgraced, and he simply took the lead in withdrawing his troops, causing most of the Kanto Allied Forces that besieged Odawara Castle to disperse overnight.
Had it not been for the miracle performed by Shiba Yoshigan at Hachimangu Shrine and the apparition of Hachiman Taimu to personally teach the Royal White Flag, the negotiations between Uesugi Teruhora and Hojo Ujiyasu would never have passed so easily.
Afterwards, Narita Chotai was afraid of causing trouble for his family, so he personally went to Yubaiqi to plead guilty, which was considered to have exposed the fault.
Uesugi Teruhora himself didn't understand the rules, so he couldn't hold Narita Chotasu accountable. Shiba Yoshigan was an honest man, so he didn't care about it.
Going around and around, the Narita family in Ninja City has become a neutral force between the Uesugi and Hojo families, teaming up with the Yura family and other local powerful forces, sitting on the fence between the two powerful forces.
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