In late October, I started the Awaji Country Raider. The first target of the strategy is Sumoto Castle, which is located on the side of Osaka Bay in the middle of the island. The castle is the largest castle in Awaji and was built decades ago by the Ataka family. In the past, when cleaning up the water villages, in order to avoid too many casualties, Yan Song Jing determined that they all bypassed here. But this time, my goal is the whole of Awaji, and naturally I want to uproot this No. 1 fortress in Awaji first.

Of course, it is said that the castle is strong, but in terms of the scope of Awaji country, this castle is nothing compared to Katsurui Castle, Kishiwada Castle, etc. If he hadn't been kicked out of Kinai, the headquarters of the Ataka family would still be in Kishiwada Castle.

In this siege campaign, I dispatched all three reserves and 3,000 sailors, suppressed with 2,000 iron cannons led by Tsubouchi Risaki and the navy, and 3,000 spears led by Wasuka Masakatsu were responsible for the frontal siege of the city, and 2,000 sailors were led by Iwamatsu Jingding to attack the water gate in the west of the city.

The number of defenders in the city was, according to intelligence, about seven or eight hundred. They had always been suppressed by our side, and when they learned that their home had been abandoned by the Miyoshi family, their morale was already very low, and they were suddenly attacked by more than 8,000 troops, and they inevitably behaved unexpectedly and were overstretched everywhere, especially the strong suppression of iron cannons and a small amount of baking, which almost made it impossible for them to gain a foothold on the humble lookout and wangdou.

In the evening, the navy blew open the water gate and broke into the city first. Seeing that there was nothing to be done, the brothers Anzhai Xinkang and Anzhai Qingkang led a small number of cronies to escape from the side door and fled to Yuliang City overnight.

The next time, our side took advantage of the victory to pursue, and it will be surrounded by Liangcheng.

Miyata Mitsuji held the five bone fan-five three tong shogi, and the castle Ichiki held the red festival golden horse seal, and I personally rode the horse to the front of the Otemen array, and shouted loudly: "I am Kira Xuanjing, please tell the head of the castle of His Royal Highness Anzhai!" ”

Seeing that there was no movement in the castle for a while, I shouted again: "Can't His Highness Anzhai believe me?" Or do you not even have the courage to face it? ”

This time it worked. Soon two samurai in full armor with full hoods appeared at the head of the city.

"What does His Highness Kira want to say? If it's persuasion or something, please leave! This city has been the home of my family for generations, and it is impossible to hand it over to either the enemy or the enemy! One of them spoke, apparently Nobuyasu Ataka. And the person next to him, probably his younger brother Anzhai Qingyasu, looked very vigilant, as if he was ready to guard him at any time.

"Haha!" I couldn't help but laugh, "Your Highness, is that all you know?" ”

"Humph!" Anzhai snorted angrily, "If you make fun of us, wait until you take this city, and then tell us about the heads!" ”

"Isn't it ridiculous to be stuck to one city and one place?" I smiled and said, "Please think about it, is the city or the people important?" The main castle of my Tosa Kira family for generations is Kira Castle, which was lost a long time ago, and now it is still back in my hands? How does it compare to the Triple Castle I have now? How does it compare to the Shengrui City I just ceded? How is it compared to Kishiwada Castle, which I captured and was built at home? ”

Nobuyasu Ataka stopped talking, which is obviously irrefutable.

"Moreover, His Royal Highness Ling Zun Anzhai Tsu Shou Dongkang is from the Miyoshi family, right? Taking a step back, this Yura Castle is not the home of the Anzhai family, right? I seem to remember that the Ataka family is from Azukuso, Mulou County, Kii Province, right? ”

After saying that, I didn't say anything, and waited for him to think about it carefully.

After a long while, he finally spoke: "If I open the city, will His Highness Kira be willing to let the family keep the city?" ”

"I'm not going to hide it, I already have other arrangements for this city." I replied immediately.

"In that case, what else is there to say!" Before Anzhai Xinkang could speak, his younger brother Qingkang was first angry, and persuaded Xinyasu, "Brother, fight!" ”

Nobuyasu was a little hesitant. In the event of a war, there is no internal support and no reinforcements to support it, so it is impossible to hold it at all. Even the stronger Zhou Ben Castle didn't last a day, how long can Yura Castle last?

"Since His Royal Highness Kira said that Yura Castle has other arrangements......" Antaku Nobuyasu thought for a while, "So how is His Royal Highness Kira going to arrange for my Anzhai family?" ”

"Do you know the Horinai family in Mulou County?" I asked.

Nobuyasu nodded his head. He is also the current head of the Azhai family, so it is impossible not to know the process of starting the Azhai family.

The Ataka family and the Horiuchi family are both wealthy families from Mulou County, and from a very early age, both families have become a number of naval forces in Kumanoda Sea. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties of the early Muromachi period, there were many fights between the Horiuchi family in the Southern Dynasty and the Ataka family in the Northern Dynasty. Later, after the fall of the Southern Dynasty, the Ataku family was awarded the Awaji Ichigoku for their exploits against the Horiuchi family, and obtained the seal of the shogunate to suppress pirates, which became one of the best naval forces in the Seto Inland Sea, and successively built two castles, Yura and Sumoto.

As the biggest rival, the Ataku family moved to this place, and the Horiuchi family gradually grew, and now it has become a wealthy family that occupies the entire western part of Mulou County and controls the territory of 780,000 koku. The Ataka family, a branch of the Mulou clan that still remains, and the Shukan clan, who owns the shrine of Prince Wakachi, has welcomed his adopted son from the Ataku family many times, and now he has also surrendered to the Horiuchi family.

When I passed through Kumano Sea, I didn't have time to clean up this house, but I just supported the Three Demons Jotaka to build Owase Castle as a containment against the Horiuchi family. Recently, there has been some friction between the two sides, so I specially arranged for a thousand naval troops to be stationed as a support for Vulture.

"If His Royal Highness Ataka is willing, I will support the Ataka family to return to Kumano and replace the Horiuchi family, and then as a branch of my Kira Naval Army, His Royal Highness Asuku himself will serve as the deputy general of the Honke Naval Army. What does His Royal Highness Azuku think of this proposal? I said.

"I heard that the Nine Ghost Families of Shima Country are also under His Highness Kira?" Nobuyasu Yasuku asked me pensively.

I understood that he wanted to surrender directly to Nobunaga as the strength of my Kira family. Perhaps, he thought that the Oda family, who was the overlord of Kinai, could be on an equal footing with me in terms of the navy, or even overpower me, and achieve the status that was said to be the same in the heyday of the Miyoshi family.

However, he thought this way, apparently because he did not understand Nobunaga's way of doing things. Nobunaga is not the kind of person who holds all the power in his hands, and does not ask everyone to be directly loyal to him, and since he has handed over Awaji to me, I have the right to dispose of all the noble families in this country according to the laws of the family. A small force like Ataka Nobuyasu trying to cross the law will certainly not be liked by Nobunaga, let alone gain his trust.

"Does His Highness Anzhai want to be like His Highness the Nine Ghosts?" I smiled very sincerely, "Then I'll introduce you to His Highness Danzheng on my behalf!" ”

"Since His Highness Kira has promised, he is willing to surrender." Nobuyasu Ataka agreed.

……，…… After subduing the Anzhai family, the next thing is simple, it doesn't matter if I'm not there. So I ordered Hidekei to continue pacifying Awaji in my place, and with the cooperation of Kiyoyasu, Nobuyasu Ataku's younger brother, Kiyoyasu, and went with Nobuyasu to meet Nobunaga in Minami Omi.

At this time, Nobunaga was still stationed in the Chiga area at the foot of Mt. Hiei, besieging the 25,000 Asakura troops on the mountain. Since the signing of the peace agreement with Miyoshi in early October, it has lasted for more than a month. During this period, due to the rise of Omi Ichisu, all the wealthy clans loyal to Oda were dragged down, and Nobunaga, in order to draw troops to help suppress it as soon as possible, once asked the Asakura family for a decisive battle, but was rejected by Asakura Keigami, the general of Asakura. He also once wooed Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei and demanded that Enryakuji Temple expel the Asakura family on the condition of returning all the occupied Yamamon territory, but the result was still refused. So Nobunaga had no choice but to continue to surround him with a depressed mood.

Hearing the news of the victory I brought, Nobunaga's mood was a little better.

"The affairs of the Awa country have already been arranged, right?" He asked.

"Yes. Before I went to Awaji Province, there was almost nothing left," I owe, "It's just Izumi Province, and I asked the lord to send someone to serve as an acting official." ”

"Izumi Country?" Nobunaga was stunned for a moment, "There doesn't seem to be anything going on in Izumi Country!" ”

"But Izumi Province is close to Stone Mountain after all, so maybe something will happen. His Majesty is in Awaji Country, and it is inconvenient to take care of it. I replied.

Now that it has been decided to bypass the Sect, it is a little more thorough. Now that the Miyoshi family has settled down, and the successor is powerless, it is basically impossible to threaten the Oda family anymore, and Shikoku does not need to pay too much attention to it. At this time, if I still serve as an acting official in Jinai, and then preside over the work of the siege of the Tsuyozong, the ** of the Ten will fall on my head. It was a chore, and the two presiding officers in history did not end well, the first Naomasa was killed for trying too hard, and the second Sakuma Nobumori was exiled for not trying hard enough.

Nobunaga gave me a surprised look. He may not have expected that there would be subordinates who took the initiative to give up power: "Since this is the case, I will send someone again!" Not...... What do you think, what about the three good political victories? ”

"Your Majesty heard that His Royal Highness Miyoshi Masakatsu's original territory was in Settsu, and that he was Ikeda's uncle?" I thought about it and said.

"It seems so." Nobunaga nodded.

"Then how about letting His Royal Highness Miyoshi Masakatsu continue to stay in Settsu and help Ikeda Tomomasa restrain Araki Murashige?"

"That's a good idea." Nobunaga smiled. This time, Miyoshi and Oda signed a peace treaty, and Settsu had no choice but to surrender to Nobunaga again. Among them, Tomomasa Ikeda, as the guardian, took a stance in favor of the Oda family, but the guardian generation Araki Murashige disagreed and tried to overthrow Ikeda Tomomasa. If there is support from the three good political victories, Zhizheng's position will probably be more stable.

"It's just, who should I send to Izumi Country?" Nobunaga groaned.

"Your Majesty has two candidates. One is Matsuura Munekiyo, the original guardian of the Matsuura family, who has local connections; There is also Ashikaga Yoshishu of Kohama, who has a natural reputation. "I recommend these two guys.

"Hmm...... Then Ashikaga Yoshishu! Nobunaga nodded, "This time he and Nagahide invaded Kita-Omi, but he has some credit, and he should be encouraged!" ”

"The lord is wise," seeing that Nobunaga was a little tired, I brought up the matter of Ataka Nobuyasu, "His Royal Highness Ataku Nobuyasu of Awaji, I hope to be able to meet the lord ......"

"Isn't the matter of Awaji Province already handed over to you?"

"However, Nobuyasu Ataka is already outside the door...... It's not easy to be so far away, how about the lord might as well meet him? I persuaded.

"Well, then, I'll see him...... It's for your sake! Nobunaga looked a little impatient, and nodded at the attendants at the tent.

After a while, Antaku Nobuyasu walked into the camp under the leadership of his attendants.

"In the Xia An Mansion Xinkang, meet His Royal Highness Danzheng!" Nobuyasu said.

"Down?" Hearing his name, Nobunaga turned to me in surprise, "Aren't you willing to surrender?" ”

"Yes. I hope to be able to ...... "Ataka Nobuyasu calmed down."

"Xuanjing, what's going on!" Nobunaga raised his voice and didn't look at Nobuyasu Ataka, "Didn't you just say that Awaji Province has been pacified?" ”

"This," I had to bow down as well," said His Royal Highness Antaku, hoping to become a direct minister of the lord......

"You're a good talker!" Nobunaga sneered and stared at Nobuyasu Ataka, "Ataka! ”

"Yes." Nobuyasu Ataka hurriedly replied.

"Don't you want to obey the guardians I have sent? Isn't that so? Nobunaga asked.

"Your Majesty doesn't dare!" Antaku Shinyasu hurriedly changed his name, and even his voice trembled slightly.

"Then go back! From now on, you must do your part! Nobunaga snorted.

"Yes." I bowed my head with Nobuyasu Ataka.

Out of the camp, Antaku Nobuyasu looked a little depressed, and reluctantly bowed to me and said, "I'm really sorry to embarrass His Highness Kira...... In the future, please ask Your Highness for your care! ”

"Please also support me." I nodded, and officially settled on his master-slave status.

After leaving Chiga, I took my personal guards and Antaka Nobuyasu to the northeastern part of Yamato, and returned to Mie Castle via Iga Province. I've been away for nearly four months since mid-July, and Naoto, who was only more than two months pregnant, has a pronounced bulge in his abdomen, and the Bodhi Temple, which was built under the auspices of Honda Masanobu, is nearing completion.

I was very satisfied with Honda's work and decided to take him to Awaji Province to preside over the expansion of Sumoto Castle. In addition to this, I also brought two people, one is Asano Nagayoshi and the other is Gamo Fuxiu.

Asano Nagayoshi has been serving as Yamauchi Kazutoyo's deputy, while Gamo Fuhide has studied with Shigeharu Takenaka. Both of them are very smart people, and this time I decided to have them take charge of the division of Awaji Province.

The so-called division of the country is to survey the stone height in the country, determine the knowledge and deeds of the retainers, and then divide each person's territory in detail. Since I have acquired the country of Awaji, I can now transfer most of the retainer domains of Mie County and Chaomei County to the past, and let these two counties become my direct domain completely.

The lords of this era basically did this. Nobunaga's earliest territory in Owari Province, and now almost six of the eight prefectures have become Nobunaga's direct domain; The transfer of the Mino people has also begun gradually, such as Mori Kesei, if he does not die in battle this time, it is obvious that he will be transferred to the two counties of Shiga and Takashima in Omi Province. Later, when Nobunaga decided to build Azuchi Castle in Minami-Omi, the nearby Shibata Katsuie and Akechi Mitsuhide would also be transferred to Echizen, Tamba and other countries, and Sakuma Nobumori was directly deprived of his fief. And the original Owari and Mino's direct leaders were handed over to Oda Nobutada as the heir.

When I went back to Awaji, Hideki had already pacified the entire Awaji, and I immediately started to divide the country.

First of all, I decided to expand the three cities of Sumoto, Yura, and Awa. Among them, the island castle on the east side of Osaka Bay is my temporary residence and the base camp of the navy, which is garrisoned by a permanent garrison; Yura Castle, a few kilometers away, was handed over to Hidekei, and he was asked to lead and prepare to be my acting officer, and to guard the west side of Awaji Island; The castle was handed over to Masakatsu Wasuka, and was garrisoned by an auxiliary garrison, ready to support Awa's Hosokawa Shinyuki at any time.

In addition, I will build Iwaya Castle next to Iwaya Port in the north, and Iwamatsu will be stationed in the Akashi Strait with 2,000 naval troops.

Since the castles were being built or built, and there was no strong stronghold to rely on, the army naturally could not be withdrawn, and he could not help Ataku Nobuyasu to attack the Horiuchi family, so he temporarily served as my subordinate to help me understand the geography of Awaji Province.

Awaji Island is mountainous and the northern Tsuna Prefecture is basically mountainous, and it is generally called the Tsuna Mountains. The Tsuna Mountains are divided into three parts, the Kitatam Mountains in the northeast, the Senzan Mountains in the south, and the Tsuna Hills in the west.

Mihara-gun in the south also has two mountainous areas, the Yuzuruha Mountains in the south-central part and the Seishan Mountains in the west. In addition, there are the Sumoto Plains in the Sumoto River basin and the Mihara Plains in the Mihara River basin. These two plains are the essence of the entire Awaji Island, and although they occupy only a quarter of the area, they are three-quarters as high as the stone of Awaji Province.

However, the role of mountains cannot be overlooked. The entire mountainous terrain, mostly covered with tropical rainforest, provides fresh water for the entire island. The Sumoto River and Mihara River, which irrigate most of the plains, originate from the Yuzuruba Mountains, and the rest of the mountainous areas are built with artificial reservoirs called "Tanata-ike" to provide water for the homes in the mountains and small farms in the mountains.

In order to smoothly divide the country and build a complete defense system, I appointed Honda Masanobu to serve as the general commissioner, with Fujido Takatora as his deputy, to preside over the construction of the castle together. Then, I divided the position of "Kanding Commissioner" into two, and Gamo Fuhide took the position of Kandai, and followed me in charge of the overall planning; Asano Nagayoshi served as the commissioner, and followed Hidejing to be responsible for the specific territorial division.

However, before that, I took them to survey the Yuzuruha Mountains, especially Mt. Tofumaru at the source of the Sumoto River and Mt. Yuzuruba at the source of the Mihara River.

"For an island like Awaji, water is the most critical thing. Without water, there is no harvest. So, this is the most important policy! "I led everyone to climb the Yuheyu Mountain, and watched the trickle under my feet merge into a small river, and I said with emotion.

"Do you know why the power of this family can flourish?" I asked Fuxiu Gamo.

(To be continued)