In the fifth year of Yuangui (1572), entering the second half of September, after the frost falls, the weather suddenly turns colder day by day, and at the end of the month, it gives people the feeling that it has been a cold winter.

In order to maintain a sense of presence in Kyoto, Hirate Honhide only let the outsiders, guest troops, and the wounded be disbanded, and a total of 6,000 or 7,000 people from the personal guards and flags were always with him. As soon as the climate changed, I had to quickly contact Izumi, Awaji, and Kii and ordered that in addition to military rations, additional cold necessities such as cotton clothes, blankets, and firewood should be delivered.

This is where the trouble of forming a standing army comes in.

Ordinary daimyo mainly recruited peasant soldiers, and in case of a situation, they only had to order their retainers to raise their own supplies. The flattener must allocate special funds to carry out bulk purchases and build transportation channels.

The money is like flowing water, as if it is filling a bottomless hole day and night. However, to this day, the Kaimachi businessmen, led by Tsuda Munekazu, have great confidence in this investment business, and there is no resistance at all for them to squeeze their wallets again.

In the past ten days, sitting in Kyoto to listen to the news of all parties, Hirata Honhide has a better understanding of the matter of the "general's personal conquest".

The specific course of the battle is still divided, and the figure of Ashikaga Yoshiaki is also wavering. Whether it was a famous general who was not afraid of danger and calmly led the shogunate army to defeat and repel strong enemies, or a mediocre lord who was arrogant in good times and relied on his retainers to fight in bad times, and shirked his responsibilities afterwards, it has become a mystery that no one can tell.

Only the defeat of the Asakura family is confirmed.

Asakura Yoshikei was defeated and surrendered, Asakura Keijian was reversed in advance, Asakura Keigami defected, Yuzhu Keigu was punished in the chaos, the former Bo Yoshitsugu and Tomita Nagashi were both captured, and even the orphans with the previous general Yoshiki became prisoners.

There wasn't much to say about the other people's plans, the only thing worth paying attention to was the eight-year-old boy named "Wu Hui Maru".

Ashikaga Yoshiaki has not yet expressed his position, and in private, it is said that he insists on killing him.

From the standpoint of a politician and a warlord, such a decision is really human, and it is normal.

After the death of the brother, in the face of the orphans left behind by the deceased brother, who can not regard it as a thorn in the side?

However...... The situation of the general Zhengyi in the previous generation is a bit special.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru is a person who does not have a long-term vision, and his wrists are difficult to say sharp, whether it is the ability to govern or strategize, he is very mediocre, but his life temperament is resolute and resolute, fearless, indomitable, and more courageous, with deep personality charm, in line with the traditional samurai family's way of life.

When he was killed, he fought bravely, and his tragic posture of not blinking his eyes won the sympathy of the public.

Therefore, although he lived a lifetime of exile and poverty after succeeding to the throne, and did not accomplish any worthy deeds, he won the admiration and love of many shogunate retainers, as well as some monks, literati, townspeople, and the people of Kinai.

This emotion is inherited in the form of love house and black to the body of "Takeki Maru Child".

Yumitsu Numata, he is definitely not the only one who is running around to dredge up relationships in an attempt to put pressure on Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

The old shoguns are in the middle, and they must be able to move some bigwigs in the court, religious circles, and cultural fields, but if they lack the endorsement of local powerful factions, can they really stop the public lords who can defeat the Asakura and are in the limelight?

That's hard to say......

On the sixth day of the first month of October, when the auspicious time of the good day, Hirate Honhide greeted the triumphant Ashikaga Yoshiaki in Kyoto, and they boasted about each other, saying that I "defeated in one fell swoop the Takeda Daizen, who had been entrenched in Koshin for decades and was feared by the world, and saved Oda, Tokugawa and other loyal ministers from fire and water, and was the model of the samurai in the world, and the first soldier in the world", I said that you "thanks to the strategy of the princess, you won a thousand miles, and now you are the central figure of the anti-party, and the achievements of the Shikaen Temple (Ashikaga Yoshimitsu) are not diminished." ”

This is all the meaning of the question as it should be.

Later, Heite Honhide advised: "Although the rebellion has been put down, the devastation left in various places cannot be ignored, and the countries of Hanoi, Yamato, Omi, Echizen, and Ise are in a state of chaos. ”

Hearing this, Ashikaga Yoshiaki also nodded in agreement, and replied: "I'm tired of the Ministry of Punishment!" That's certainly something I should focus on right away. You are in Izumi and Kii, and I think you should be more concerned about the security of Hanoi and Yamato. In addition, I heard that there are many people in Shikoku who cling to the party, and the shogunate will not be able to whip it for the time being, so I need you to worry about it. ”

Tieshou Fan Xiu immediately bowed down and said, "It is incumbent." ”

Talking and laughing like this, everything is in plain sight.

On the first day of the meeting, the festival was arranged to go to the Ashikaga family Bodhi Temple, and the process was very complicated, and there was not much time for communication, but the two sides had already taken the opportunity to reach a high degree of agreement.

After getting a certain promise, Hirate returned to Myoshinji Temple in the southern suburbs of Kyoto to rest.

Three days later, it is estimated that the shogunate's festivals should be completed, and I will go to the imperial palace to pay a visit again.

Unexpectedly, this time Ashikaga Yoshiaki didn't give a good face, and even refused, and the guards responded, "Today's schedule is full, please come back tomorrow." ”

It's amazing, I don't know what to do.

In desperation, he thought that he couldn't run in vain, and planned to find a secretary of justice he knew to have a visit to the Lala relationship, but he met Yamashina Yanjing on the way and took the initiative to come to the door, and the other party said, "I have something to ask the master of the criminal department for details."

That's just right.

Tie hand Fan Xiu hurriedly asked what was the matter.

Yamashina said: "The day before yesterday, the Princess-sama sent an envoy to visit the Imperial Court, saying that the post of 'Minister of the Interior' had been vacant for several months, and wanted to ask what was going on—the implication was that the Shogun himself had intentions. As a result, after the public in the hall deliberated, the reply was that 'it is advisable to appoint the lord of the house on a small road'. When the princess learned of this, he was very displeased. ”

I see!

When Hirate Honhide heard this, he understood the reason why Ashikaga Yoshiaki was in a bad mood. Then he asked, "What does this have to do with despicable people?" ”

Yamashina cried and laughed: "Didn't you say it the day before yesterday? The imperial court intends to let you move to the right 'Zheng Wu Lower Punishment Department Daisuke', and this matter seems to have been leaked out......"

Tie Tsu Xiu was speechless.

At that time, when the Muromachi shogunate was not so weak, there was a tradition for the shogun to serve as the minister of the interior. Now Ashikaga Yoshiaki thinks he has a lot of middle spirits and wants to take this title. Unexpectedly, the senior officials of the Minister of State had a bad impression of him for various reasons, and they refused so decisively.

It is said that the imperial court should not be so tough in the face of the samurai regime that suppressed.

This can only be explained by the fact that the ministers believe that Ashikaga Yoshiaki is still a puppet in name only, rather than a person with real power in the hands of force, and feel that he does not dare to do anything too tough.

However, at the same time, the tie was respected and recognized by the imperial court.

With such a comparison, it is no wonder that Ashikaga Yoshiaki's mentality is unbalanced.

After learning about the things before and after, Tieshou Fanxiu thought about it for a while before thinking of a countermeasure.

……

Early the next morning, I went to the palace as promised, and this time I was able to meet him smoothly.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki looked as usual, talking and laughing freely, as if there was no mustard in his heart.

But the flat hand was unintentional, and without saying a few words, he took the initiative to ask: "I don't know what you plan to do with those people who participated in the rebellion in the Asakura family, Lord Gongfang?" ”

Ashikaga Yoshiaki was stunned for a moment, and immediately replied: "Saemon Governor (Asakura Yoshikei) was claustrophobic in Kyoto, and the former Hayoshitsugu, Tomita Nagashige and others ordered seppuku, and Asakura Keigami deserved to be commended...... These have already been decided, but I don't know what to do with my deceased brother's widow, Wuhui Maru Gongzi. I really can't bear to punish the only bloodline of the deceased brother, but pardoning it will damage the majesty of the criminal law, maybe what do you think about the criminal department? ”

Hearing this, Tieshou Fanxiu bowed his head and closed his eyes silently.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki couldn't help but ask, "What is the criminal department thinking?" ”

Tie show said nothing.

Seeing this, Ashikaga Yoshiaki became more and more curious, and repeatedly asked.

Pingshou Fan Xiu said: "I just thought, back then...... Kamakura Hall (Minamoto Yorito) was also involved in a rebellion as a child and was arrested, and Taira Daikoku (Taira Kiyomori) could not bear to kill this related child, so he was exonerated from the death penalty and exiled to Izu......"

As soon as these words came out, Ashikaga Yoshiaki suddenly changed color, stared silently, and barely smiled for a while: "What the Lord of the Criminal Department said is very true!" However, there were many people within the Imperial Court and the Shogunate who advised me to be merciful...... What should I do? ”

Hisho didn't answer, only patrolled left and right.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki immediately understood that all the attendants had nothing to do with his life and stepped back, leaving only one guard, saying, "This person is my first confidant, and he will never divulge secrets." ”

At this point, he sighed lightly and bowed down: "The previous words are okay to be announced, but from now on, if people know about it, I am afraid that you and I will have a disaster." ”

Ashikaga Yoshiaki solemnly bowed and replied, "Please advise." ”

"The best way to deal with the imperial court minister is to make Kyoto chaotic." Once the law and order were threatened, they realized the importance of the samurai and gave the shogunate the respect they deserved. ”

Ashikaga Yoshiaki's eyes moved, obviously shocked by the implication of his words, but he did not say anything about it, but continued to ask: "What about the opposition within the shogunate?" ”

Tieshou Fan Xiu said: "Then we must guide the differentiation and let these people have internal contradictions." ”

Ashikaga Yoshiaki bent forward and asked, "How to guide the division?" ”

Pingshou Tsuyoshi apologized: "This is going to wronged you, Lord Gongfang, sacrificing a little personal image......"

Then he will teach the plan he has come up with.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki was a little annoyed at first, thought carefully for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "If the strategy is useful, a little rumor is really nothing." ”

The flat hand has finished speaking, but he sits still like a clay figure.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki knew the other party's appeal, and said solemnly: "In view of the fact that the situation in the four countries has not been very peaceful, I intend to follow the example of Ou and Kyushu and set up the post of 'South China Sea Exploration' to govern the six countries of Nankai Province. In addition, the six districts in the south of Hanoi and the five districts in the southwest of the country each need a deputy officer, I wonder if you have any candidates to recommend? ”