Even though he already had the title of "South China Sea Exploration", out of caution, before using force against Shikoku again, Hirate Honhide still sent people to Kyoto to pave the way.

As a result, I learned that after Ashikaga Yoshiaki overcame all obstacles and made up his mind to kill Takehui Maru, who was considered to be the "orphan of Yoshiteru", the atmosphere inside the shogunate became extremely tense, so there was no time to worry about it for the time being.

As a powerful local faction, Hirate Honhide was able to send an individual to Kyoto for a symbolic walk around Kyoto, and he showed firm support for the Shogun's approach, which was a relief in the snow, and it was certainly not a problem to propose a conquest of Shikoku or something.

So everything is ready, and the east wind is not owed.

As soon as the military order was issued, Bai Xiang Ieka, Kato Mitsuyasu, Matsuyama Shigeharu and others counted more than 5,000 people, gathered 200 large and small ships, and landed at the Katsu Beach at the junction of Tosa and Awa.

It's been the fourth time in five years that the army of the Heite family has set foot on this territory, and the three victories in the three battles have broken the courage of the snakes on the ground, so this rabble does not dare to give birth to the slightest idea of gathering troops to resist, and even the fighting spirit of the cage city is very lacking.

They just broke into pieces, took their cronies and families, packed up the soft gold and silver, and fled to the inconvenient mountains and old forests, hoping to make a comeback after avoiding this limelight.

According to normal thinking, there are a total of 14 wealthy families, and the family size is large and small, with a maximum of 180 people and a minimum of 350 people.

After all, the army spent extravagantly, and it was impossible to play hide-and-seek in the poor countryside of Shikoku Island for a long time.

But the tie is determined.

His explanation to the soldiers was: "Give you half a year, dig three feet into the ground, and find out the rebellious party for me!" In this operation, in addition to the usual daily subsidy of 15 cents per person, all the swords and armor obtained during the war, or the wealth and silk women, I did not take a penny, and all of them belonged to the soldiers who were fighting. ”

Generally speaking, the fattest fresh meat of the fruits captured during the war, or plundered after the war, must undoubtedly be handed over, followed by the middle-level samurai gnawing on the bones to the point of a little residue, and the low-level soldiers will also drink some soup and give a few hundred yuan, at most one or two pieces of silver.

This is an unspoken rule that is not explicitly written, but it is self-contained.

Of course, there are also bold people who hide valuables that do not match their identity, but once they are exposed, the end may not be very good.

The attitude of "not taking a penny" of materials is equivalent to saying that the ministers and close ministers around him will not get a share, and the harvest of front-line officers and soldiers will be greatly increased.

This motivates them to go deep into the countryside, to the valleys, to the forests to track and fight.

Hearing this order, Kato Kotai, who had the poorest family background and the most flexible brain, immediately thought of a potential loophole, and did not dare to ask the lord directly, but asked Kawada Naga himself: "Lord Lao, if some ignorant villagers, even the old and weak, women and children, are bewitched by the chaotic party and hinder the actions of our army, is it okay...... Is it possible to use force? ”

Obviously, he has already started the idea of poisoning the people and killing the good and risking the merits.

Such heinous things must have been common in the armies of the Middle Ages.

It's just that because the soldiers in the Pingshou Army are treated well, and they are generally not poor, they are not too keen on this kind of "side hustle" with low cost performance.

Originally, ordinary good people don't have much money on them, and if they kill too hard and cause a beating, most of them won't be able to eat afterwards, so why take that risk? It's not like the monkey of Fei Mountain, a poor egg who will open his eyes when he sees half a penny.

But this time, the tie made a special statement that it encouraged looting, so some people thought about it.

Regarding Kato Mitsutai's question, Kawada Naga had already considered it, and immediately imitated the appearance of the criminal department, smiled indifferently, and said calmly: "I am conducting an investigation, and it is expected that a conclusion will be reached within ten days." At that time, a list will be given, and all the villages that are loyal to my family will be recorded, and they should not be acted lightly. Everything else isn't on the roster...... Everybody, do it cheaply. Of course, if you find that some villages are pretending to obey, you can report to me with evidence, and after the investigation is confirmed, the whistleblower will be responsible for catching and confiscating them. ”

Looking at this meaning, the entire Awa and Sanuki countries, as long as they cannot absolutely prove their innocence, may become targets.

If you think about it roughly, it is estimated that only the territory directly under Shihe Depository, Miyoshi Yasunaga, Kagawa no Kei and others can prove their innocence absolutely, and it is only about one-third.

The rest is really what you want.

When the officers and men heard about this policy, it was undoubtedly that everyone was gearing up and eager to try it out.

Kawada Nagajin kept in mind the command of Hirate Honhide: "It is difficult for an army that has no chance to plunder to have a future, but it is only known that the army that plunders will not even have a present, and the balance between the two needs to be carefully grasped." ”

To this extent, it is obvious that he is ready to let him be completely alone.

……

On the other hand, after a fierce ideological struggle, Kinoshita Hidecho tossed and turned for several days, and finally confessed to Hijo Hide: "There is one thing that I really dare not deceive His Highness, but I don't know where to start...... In fact, a few days ago, when I was investigating the rebellion of Hosokawa Sabu (Hosokawa Shinyuki), I was ...... The handwriting and handwriting of an existing letter in the issuance are somewhat familiar. The person who wrote the letter claimed to be 'Ogawaya Hachibei', but in fact, it was a pseudonym, and his real identity was 'Tsubouchi Sun Shichiro', who was born as a samurai of Owari. Person...... This person had a good relationship with his brother Kinoshita Hideyoshi twenty years ago, and later ...... Later, he became his brother's confidant and soldier. Therefore...... Therefore...... Only now do I dare to speak, and I ask His Highness to punish the crime! ”

Hirate Honohide smiled, didn't feel too sudden, and replied disappreciatively: "Brother Kinoshita Hideyoshi, isn't he in Kyoto now, working for the shogunate?" Since this matter is related to the princess, it is normal for Brother Ling's henchmen and retainers to be involved, and there may not be anything too worrying. ”

Hearing this reply, Kinoshita Hidecho bowed his head and said yes, but the gloomy clouds did not ease at all.

In his heart, he knew that his brother was a seemingly humble and simple person, but in fact he was extremely proud and self-respecting - would this kind of person really be willing to serve Ashikaga Yoshiaki wholeheartedly?

He even did not hesitate to instigate a conspiracy to deal with such a terrible enemy as the Tie Sho Punishment Department?

No matter how you think about it, it feels a little wrong.

Moreover......

Seeing this, Fan Xiu brushed his beard and asked, "Xiao Ichiro! Are you so out of shape because you are worried that you will have to be an enemy of Brother Ling in the future? ”

Kinoshita Hidecho hesitated for a moment, bowed down on the ground, and said in a muffled voice: "I'm really scared!" Originally, as a samurai, I should have treated this kind of thing as if I had to wait for it! Next...... The practice below is really not enough......"

"No need to blame yourself." Hirate, still smiling kindly, "It's human nature. If anyone can completely disregard any friendship for the sake of the so-called way of the samurai, I am afraid that I will not dare to use it. ”

"Thank you for your understanding! There is no place to be ashamed! Kinoshita Hidecho still buried his head deeply.

"Otherwise......" Hirate Honshu suddenly thought of a suggestion that he thought was good, "I won't give you any other work for the time being, arrange a job to stay in Kyoto for a long time, talk to Brother Ling, understand each other's true thoughts, and then decide, how to choose, is the most beneficial for your Kinoshita clan!" ”

“…… For His Royal Highness's compassion, I am grateful for it! Kinoshita Hidecho finally raised his head slowly with an embarrassed face, and said firmly: "I will not affect this mission to Kyoto because of my brother's relationship!" I don't know what your Highness commanded me to go there? ”

"There's no need to be so nervous! It's not a job that will make you feel embarrassed. "You probably know that before the war with Takeda last year, our transport ship was sabotaged by enemy ninjas, causing a serious accident and losing a thousand stones of military rations. However, I took this opportunity to work with several commercial houses to skillfully manipulate the price of rice in the region, and instead made more than 10 times the profit...... I won't go into details, but in the process, many people who were not optimistic about us, or who thought they could make a fortune from speculation, were severely hit, and the Kaimachi merchants who were kind to us gained a lot. In the name of Tennojiya, Tsuda Munekazu bought the shop and warehouse of a bankrupt merchant near Kyoto, and the grain business is still maintained there on the surface, and it will actually be used as a contact base for my family at the same time, so you can go there and take care of the preparations! ”

“…… I understand it below. Kinoshita Hidecho was silent for a while, and then bowed to the ground again, and replied resolutely: "I will do my best to complete this task!" I will never leak the secrets of the liaison base to my brother because of my blood! ”

"It doesn't have to be that way, I trust you." Hite's posture is very casual, but it sounds like there is a sense of sincerity, "That's right...... As I mentioned earlier, when the price of rice rose sharply, most of the grain merchants in Kyoto lost money, but some of them made a lot of money. A certain independent small businessman called 'Saburo Saemon Okamoto', you should pay attention to it! Check if there are any forces worth mentioning behind this person, and if not, try to win them over to my advantage. ”

If there is a force worth mentioning behind it, how to deal with it, this tie did not say.

Because at that level, it's a matter of leaving it to the department that specializes in dirty work.

Kinoshita Hidecho understood the intention, bowed again, and took the order.

After a while, staring at the other party's back, the lazy and uninhibited posture on Hisho Tsusu's body disappeared and became serious.

Behind the secret door in the corner of the room, five inconspicuous mysterious figures quietly walked out.

The leading old man saluted to the flat hand and said: "Report to the lord, according to the old man's observation, there is no false element in the posture, expression and unintentional small movements of the old man Kinoshita just now. He should have no ill will towards my family, and he should be loyal and trustworthy. ”

The other three nodded yes together.

Only one person was noncommittal, and whispered: "Didn't the lord say it?" Sometimes...... Not absolute loyalty is equal to absolute disloyalty. ”