"Two, please go this way!" At the turn, Hosokawa Fujitaka, who was walking in front, turned sideways out of politeness.

"Yes, Hosokawa-sama, please!" Niwa Nagahide humbly said a word, and I also took two steps behind me. At this moment, we are in the middle of Nijo Castle, the imperial seat of the Ashikaga shogun.

I don't know if it was because of the gifts, or because the battle of Barrel Sama caused Oda Nobunaga's reputation to rise dramatically, but this meeting attracted great attention from all parties concerned. On the night we handed over the petition, Ashikaga Yoshiteru sent someone to bring a banquet of rewards. Although the prestige of the shogunate is no longer what it used to be, it is still a rare honor. We, the Oda family, to be precise, are certainly full of face, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru also used this to show the world that the Muromachi shogunate was still powerful among the powerful clans! The interests of both sides were relieved and they hit it off. It was supposed to come a long time ago, but Ashikaga Yoshiteru suddenly fell ill, so it was postponed until now.

I looked around, and the former center of power wasn't as big as I thought it was, but it had obviously been renovated not long ago. It's not gorgeous, but it's at least complete! The soldiers standing guard here and there, well-equipped and full of spirit, seemed to be full of pride in their profession, and looking at them, I suddenly thought of the Swiss mercenaries standing in front of the Vatican. "That 'Sword Hero General' won't teach them martial arts personally, will he?" I thought to myself, but there were less than 500 people under the Ashigaru under the entire Kyoto shogun.

At this time, we walked into a hall, and there were already several people inside, most of them with a bit of false grandeur. Hosokawa Fujitaka introduced us to the courtiers of these generals, namely Kyogoku Takayoshi, Isshiki Yoshikiyo, Hatakeyama Masadaka, Kira Yoshinao, and several others. If more than a hundred years ago, these surnames alone could dominate the world, but now time has taken power and heroism away from them!

"His Royal Highness the General has arrived!" Before we could say a few words, one of the attendants shouted at the door, and we hurried back to our places. Judging from the fact that Ashikaga Yoshiteru came out so quickly, authority and temper are indeed directly proportional.

Ashikaga Yoshiki strode in from the outside, he was thin but agile, and he was indeed skilled. Maybe because he just recovered from his illness, his complexion is not very good. "Are you the messenger sent by Oda Kamisuke?" He asked, seated.

"Yes! The lord asked us to visit the general, and wished the general a long life and a long military fortune, and hoped that the general would take care of his noble body! Niwa Nagahide bowed his head respectfully and said.

"Lord Shang is so polite, he actually sent so many precious gifts!" Ashikaga Yoshiteru said softly, and pointed to the nearby seat. "You've worked hard too, how are you doing along the way?"

"Thanks to your inquiry, our journey has been very peaceful, and this is also the result of the Shogunate's prestige. The people can have such a stable life, all thanks to your blessing, the general! Niwa Nagahide said humbly.

"Niwa-sama said it well!" The interface is Hatakeyama Masadaka. He turned his head to Ashikaga Yoshiki and said flatteringly: "His Royal Highness the Shogun has revitalized the shogunate and turned things around, he is really the first general in ancient and modern times......" Hatakeyama Masadaka's next words were even more numb, and after being driven out of Hanoi by his retainers, he has been sending food here. As the saying goes, a phoenix with a falling feather is not as good as a chicken, and this is the sorrow of losing the name of the territory! With his words, a tidal wave of eulogies rang out all around.

"Ahem!" Ashikaga Yoshiki coughed lightly, it seemed that he didn't like such sycophants either, and his gaze swept over the first seat on the left.

"Niwa-sama......" Kyogoku Takayoshi, who was sitting there, spoke, and it seemed that he had a very tacit understanding with the shogun. Even in Kyoto, we have already heard about the prestige of Mr. Kamisuke! If the shogunate and the shogun are still facing all kinds of difficulties, there are still many traitors in various places who are ready to move, and is actually a dark tide. In this eventful time, I wonder what the plans of Mr. Kamisuke are? With his words, everyone's eyes focused on Niwa Nagahide's face.

"Yes, Kyodai people......" Niwa Nagahide looked as usual, it seems that he had expected such a situation for a long time. I'm also very anxious about the situation in Kyoto! The Oda family has always been loyal (although they deposed the guardian Spo clan as a substitute official), and several generations of family governors have done their duty (although they expelled the Oda Yamato Morichi clan as a courtier), but ...... The usurper Saito Ryuko is still showing off his martial arts in Mino, and the road to Shangluo of the Oda family has been blocked, so he is really powerless! ”

"But ...... at the moment"

"I already know what Mr. Kamisuke-sama means!" Ashikaga Yoshiteru interrupted Kyogoku Takayoshi's words. "The Saito clan has been recognized by all parties for the protection of Mino instead of the Toki clan, and although Saito Yoshiryu has seized the position of the family governor by unrighteous means, it is the son who inherits the father's business, and the matter is ...... It's a bit tricky! ”

Niwa Nagahide said: "I don't have any selfish intentions for Mino, I just have to do my best to fulfill the deathbed instructions of the three great people of the Dao!" Now Saito Ryuko not only blocked the loyal people of all parties in Mino to help the shogunate, but also received the support of the Miyoshi family and the Rokkaku family......"

"What !!" Niwa Nagahide's words drew an exclamation.

"Niwa-sama...... You say three good and hexagonal ...... Is there any basis for this? Hosokawa asked in a trembling voice. It is no wonder that they were excited, the reason why the shogunate was able to stay in Kyoto safely was because of the delicate balance between the Miyoshi family and the Rokkaku family, and if they reached any agreement, the future of the Ashikaga shogun can be imagined.

"Why doesn't the general know yet?" Niwa Nagahide looked surprised. "Asai Nagamasa-sama of Kita-Omi and Echizen-samachi Asakura Yoshikei-sama, like the main family, also had the ambition of the Joraku auxiliary general, but in doing so, they were at odds with the Rokkaku family. The main family, Asai and Asakura originally agreed to enter Beijing together, but Saito Ryuko united the Rokkaku family to confront it, and mediated the grievances between the Rokkaku family and the Miyoshi family, and it is said that the three of them have reached a consensus! ”

"Unexpected...... I can't imagine ......" Hatakeyama Masadaka muttered to himself in distraction, and the performance of several other "guest secretaries" was not much different from him.

"I wonder what is the situation of Mino and Owari now?" Ashikaga Yoshiteru changed the subject, and it seemed that he had some ideas.

"The whole family is now united in hatred! As for Mino......" Niwa Nagahide pondered for a while and said: "Saito Ryuko is mediocre and cruel, close to the villain and alienated from Inaba Ittetsu and other old ministers, Mino is now angry and resentful, and it is only a matter of time before everyone betrays and leaves!" ”

"In that case...... Ashikaga Yoshikashi was very determined. The guardian of Mino Country, please leave it to Mr. Kamisuke from now on! ”

************************************************

"The Saito family has already formed an alliance with Miyoshi and Rokkaku? I didn't know before I came, did I just get the news? "I asked after leaving Nijo Castle.

"Oh~! Don't you know? Niwa Nagahide looked at me. In fact...... I don't know! ”

"Which ......" Seeing his smiling face, I suddenly felt the need to ask.