What a cunning man...... If most people choose to slander before they have the opportunity, then they do so at the first opportunity.

However, it is much more natural and appropriate to say it now than to remind Nobunaga of the relationship between the Tsutsui family and the Ashikaga family after Nobunaga proposed to make Tsutsui Shunkei the guardian of Yamato, and it will not make Nobunaga feel that his authority has been violated.

There is no doubt that if Nobunaga had heeded this reminder, he would have restricted the influence of the Tsutsui family in order to avoid trouble. Anyway, that's a matter of one sentence.

I decided to help Shunkei Tsutsui.

"Your Highness Matsunaga is right," I also bowed to Nobunaga, "whether it was to the Ashikaga family before, or to the Oda family now, His Highness Tsutsui is respectful and loyal. Therefore, if the lord asks the Tsutsui family to take proper care of the son of His Royal Highness Lieutenant General Zuo, His Royal Highness Tsutsui will definitely do his duty! …… His Royal Highness Tsutsui, I don't know if you agree with your words? ”

"Not bad. I, the Tsutsui family, would like to serve His Royal Highness the Right General wholeheartedly! Tsutsui Shunkei glanced back at me gratefully, seizing the opportunity to plead himself to Nobunaga.

"I already know how you feel," Nobunaga nodded, "but for now, let's go back to the assessment that is going on!" ”

"Yes." Shunkyi Tsutsui bowed his head.

"His Royal Highness Ashikaga Kingo." Nobunaga looked to the center of the first row.

"Please command His Highness the Right General." Ashikaga Yoshishu owes his body.

"This time the Kinai Rebellion started with you and Hatakeyama Owari Mamoru to crusade against the Hatakeyama family's rebellious ministers," Speaking of Hatakeyama Takamasa, Nobunaga frowned, obviously very dissatisfied with Hatakeyama Takamasa not coming to see him, "Now Hatakeyama Owari Mamoru is reluctant to enter Beijing, probably because he has no intention of entering!" Then the first initiative belongs to His Royal Highness Jinwu. ”

"This all depends on the prestige of the right general, and I dare not take credit for it." Ashikaga Yoshishu's words trembled slightly, revealing his excitement and nervousness at the moment.

"Well, there is still a reward for meritorious service," Nobunaga nodded, in the tone of a lord, "Due to the misfortune of Hatakeyama Kingo, the Hatakeyama clan is no longer an heir." Therefore, I hope that you will marry the widow of Hatakeyama Kingo, inherit the position of Hatakeyama clan governor, and serve as the guardian of Nam Hanoi...... I wonder if you're willing to accept it? ”

…… I knew that Nobunaga would not leave any more shogun heirs.

I have to say that his arrangement is really ingenious. The Hatakeyama family was originally from the Huanwuhei clan, and when the Kamakura shogunate was in power for Hojo Tokimasa, the governor of the Hatakeyama family and the son-in-law of Tokimasa, Hatakeyama Shigetada, was in turmoil, and as a result, he was defeated and died, so Hojo Tokimasa made arrangements for Ashikaga Yoshikane's eldest son, Ashikaga Yoshijun, to marry Hatakeyama Shigetada's widow (that is, his own daughter). From then on, the Hatakeyama family became a branch of the Ashikaga family, and its status in one family was second only to the Spo family, ranking above the Hosokawa, Kira, Imagawa and other families.

Now Nobunaga's move can be said to be a copy of the situation, and his own status is equivalent to Hojo Tokimasa, who was in power in the Kamakura shogunate and was born in the Heike family. What's even better is that the hereditary position of the Hatakeyama clan, like the Kamakura family, is the governor of Saemon, and if Ashikaga Yoshishu succeeds the Hatakeyama family as the family governor, even the official position is so suitable.

In addition, this is also Nobunaga's test for Ashikaga Yoshishu. His current main room is the daughter of the Hirohashi family, a branch of the Hirohashi family, and the daughter of the acting samurai family Hirohashi Kunimitsu, Hirohashi Eiko, who was originally married as the future Hokumasa. If he marries Nobunaga's sister, he will naturally have to break up with Hirohashi Eiko - he won't be a general anyway, so what's the point of following the traditions of previous generals?

Ashikaga Yoshishu must have been a little disappointed, after all, his intended goal is to become the next shogun...... However, the Hatakeyama family is one of the three leaders, and their status is also extremely noble, not to mention that they can marry Nobunaga's sister and serve as the guardian of the semi-country. So I think Ashikaga Yoshishu would agree.

Sure enough, under Nobunaga's gaze, Ashikaga Yoshishu hesitated for a while, and then obediently accepted Nobunaga's arrangement: "Thank you, Your Highness the Right General, for your kindness...... Now I'm ready to marry the princess! ”

After saying this, Ashikaga Yoshishu let out a breath, and his figure relaxed.

"I'm very pleased with your decision," Nobunaga nodded approvingly, and then called the next name, "His Highness Mamoru Shinano Araki." ”

"Please give the right general's orders!" Araki Village in the second row re-applied the ceremony.

"This time you gave up the darkness first and turned to the light, which is also a great credit. Now I have appointed you as the guardian of the Settsu country, and I will later apply to the Imperial Court for the position of the guardian of the Settsu country. I hope to be loyal and responsible in the future and contribute your strength to our family. ”

"Under the command." Araki thanked him again.

I sighed quietly, Araki Murashige was still coming out. However, in terms of the distribution of power in Settsu Province, he inherited the position of the Ikeda family, and now controls eight of the thirteen prefectures, and he is indeed the only one to protect them. It can only be said that he is too good at fishing in troubled waters, and he has reached this point quietly. Fortunately, I was in Awaji Province, and I persuaded Nakagawa Kiyohide and Takayama Shigetomo to surrender in advance, so that he would not be able to get Nobunaga's promise of "Settsu free cut" as he did in history, so that the family would be the only one and completely control the whole of Settsu.

"The rest of the place......" Nobunaga glanced around the hall, his gaze lingering on Tsutsui Junkei for a moment, and finally swept over, "...... The guardian of the Yamato Kingdom will not be appointed for the time being; Although the Hatano family of Tanba Province sent a document of allegiance, they did not have time to come, so they also left it for later; For the rest of your territories, I will issue a security document later. ”

"Yes. Thank you, Your Highness General Right, for your kindness. All the foreign daimyo and wealthy families thanked them together.

Next, it is the reward of the important ministers of the Oda family.

"Naomasa!" Nobunaga first called Naomasa Tsukami's name. This time in the pacification of Jinai, he was the most active in the family, first pacifying Nanhanoi with Hatakeyama Takamasa and Ashikaga Yoshinoi, and then persuading Ashikaga Yoshiaki to open the castle, both of which are great contributions.

"Your Majesty is here!" Naomasa, who was sitting on my right, bowed down, "Please command, lord!" ”

"Give you 50,000 stone direct leaders of Nanshan City Guodian County, stationed in Majidao City, and lead the mountain city to guard!" Nobunaga ordered directly.

This order surprised everyone. Yamashiro Province was the imperial food of the Ashikaga shogun's family, and the guardian position was always held by the shogunate, the governor or the deacon of the government, and even the guardian of Yamashiro Province as the acting official was often the head of the house, the governor of the deacon, or the deacon of the government office...... Such a position was actually given to Naomasa Tsukasa, who was ranked below me, Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide, and even Sakuma Nobumori?

In an instant, Naomasa immediately became the unanimous focus of everyone, and many eyes were cast on him with envy or jealousy. In these eyes, Naomasa was very excited, and once again saluted to the chief of the letters: "Your Majesty has received the order...... May I die for the Lord! ”

"Get up!" Nobunaga smiled unusually and called my name, "Xuanjing!" ”

"My lord's command." I saluted.

"I heard Hosokawa Sanki Mamoru say that the Nagamune family occupied his Kaibe Prefecture in Awa Province without authorization, and has not yet withdrawn? And the Chosamune family is the Tosa guardian appointed by the Kokuji Ichijo family? ”

"Yes." I nodded. This matter was mentioned to me by Hosokawa Shinyuki before, but I had just settled the matter of the Tosa Ichijo family at that time, and I didn't want to cause any more trouble, so he put it aside for the time being. This time, I guess I saw that I sent troops to pacify Settsu Province, so I guess I appealed to Nobunaga.

As for the Ichijo family, who is the national secretary, appointing the head of the Nagazong and my department as the guardian of the country, although it is a relatively rare thing in the Warring States period (mainly because there are too few national divisions), it is also worthy of the name.

Generally speaking, a guardian is a deputy appointed by a guardian, but if there is no guardian in the country, it can also be granted by the samurai's generals, governors, and probes, or by the imperial court secretary of the public family. Of course, there is some difference between the two, and if it is granted by the samurai, it is basically as a reward for its submission, as was the case with Nobunaga's appointment of Kagawa Nobuyo as the guardian of Nishisanuki; Conferring it by the public is a recognition of its status and prestige.

The guardian position of Tosa Province originally belonged to the Hosokawa clan like Sanuki, Settsu, and Tanba. Later, the Hosokawa clan was in turmoil and lost control of Tosa (the direct effect was that the grandfather of the Motokin, the Nagamune Ibu who followed the Hosokawa family, was destroyed), and the title of the leader of the country belonged to the Kokuji Ichijo family. Ichijo Kanetsu appointed Motoko as the guardian generation, on the one hand, the relationship between the two families was not bad at that time, and on the other hand, Motoko controlled four of the seven prefectures of Tosa, and his strength had reached a considerable level.

But Nobunaga didn't care. He only knew that the Chozong family had encroached on the Awa country, which belonged to him, and that the guardian position of this family was appointed by the Ichijo family, so both families offended his authority.

"Appoint you as the guardian of Tosa Province, and immediately sweep away the Tosa Ichijo family and the Nagasamune Ibu family!" He commanded.

“…… Be. I hesitated, but chose to accept the order.

Although Ichijo Jingfang was supported by me, and the family of Chozong and my clan was currently in harmony, and the innocent crusade would give me a bad reputation for rebellion, but in front of so many foreign daimyo and wealthy families, I could not show any doubts about Nobunaga's orders.

Perhaps, having the order of the master's family is a reasonable name for sending troops. As for the position of Tosa Guardian, whether it is in terms of family background, strategy direction or prestige, I am the only one in the family who is the most suitable, and it is also the praise that my Tosa Yoshira family very much hopes to receive...... Subsequently, Nobunaga issued two more appointments. The first is to recover Sakuma Nobumori's Omi Kurita County, transfer the 120,000 koku of Kita-Hanoi Province, and serve as the guardian of Kita-Hanoi, with Wakae Castle as the main city; The second is to appoint Shibata Katsuie as the guardian of Minami-Omi, and to manage the five Minami-Omi counties except for Shiga-gun of Akechi Mitsuhide and Aichi-gun of Niwa Nagahide.

After such a division, there are four important ministers in the family who serve as guardians. One is the guardianship of my Awaji and Tosa, with a table height of 160,000 koku (more than a real height), plus the two counties of Ise and Sanki, a total of about 300,000 koku; The second is the Minami-Omi guardian of Shibata Katsuya, which is 320,000 koku in addition to Shiga-gun 50,000 koku and Aichi-gun 70,000 koku; the third is the guardian of the mountain city of Zhizheng, with a height of 225,000 stones; Fourth, Sakuma Nobumori's Kitakawachi guards 120,000 stones, plus the old collar of Takahashi-gun, together it is about 170,000 stones.

In addition, among the gates, there are Owari Guardian who was given to Nobuta by Oda Nobunaga, Ise Kuniji and Minami Ise Guardian inherited by Kitabatake Nobuo from the Kitabatake family, and Wakasa Guardian inherited by Takeda Nobutaka from the Wakasa Takeda family; Among the samples, there are the Tokugawa family's Mikawa and Toe guards, the Araki family's Setzu guard, and the Hatakeyama family's Minamikawachi guard; Nobunaga himself also held the two guardian positions of Mino and Izumi, as well as Yamato and Tanba...... The current Oda family can be said to truly have the atmosphere of the overlord of the world.

……，…… After the assessment, I was about to leave with the others, but Nobunaga stopped me: "Xuanjing, you can stay for a while." ”

"Yes." I had no choice but to go back to where I was.

Then, I found out that Hayashi Xiuzhen also stayed, and he didn't get up at all, as if he had known that Nobunaga would make this decision.

It's a strange thing. Since the Battle of Barrel Sama, Nobunaga has slowly alienated the former pen elder and the important minister of the trust, and vigorously appointed his own cronies. Last year, I entrusted him with the minting of the award, not because Nobunaga trusted him, but because I, Niwa Nagahide, Naomasa Tsukasa, and Murai Sadakatsu all had other important responsibilities. However, he did a good job, which is why Nobunaga applied for an official position in the imperial court for him.

So, since he was kept, it probably had something to do with the minting of the award...... I thought to myself.

However, the next facts are somewhat different from my guess. Nobunaga left Hayashi Xiuzhen and me for the sake of writing money.

"Mamoru Sado, let's talk about it with Xuanjing!" Nobunaga said.

"Yes," Lin Xiuzhen replied very respectfully, even being very polite to me, a junior, obviously completely correcting her position, "Your Highness Xuanjing, this is the beginning of this year. At the behest of the lord, when I checked the money issued by the money writing house, I found that a large part of the Yongle money recovered was in defective condition, which was worse than the money used by His Royal Highness Xuanjing, and then I carefully checked and found that a large amount of money was issued by the money writing house in Mie Town...... Is His Royal Highness Xuanjing aware of this matter? ”

"Is there such a thing?" I was amazed. After thinking about it, I asked Lin Xiuzhen, "Your Highness Xiuzhen, can you let me see the samples of the two kinds of money?" ”

"The sample is with me." Nobunaga took over the conversation, and then ordered his attendant to fetch a tray and put it in front of me. The tray is lined with white cloth, and two Yongle Tongbao are placed side by side.

I picked up the two coins and compared them together, and sure enough, I found that the top one was a little smaller; Unfolded and looked at the character lines, the small money is slightly blurred than the big money, and the surface color is not as good.

"Your Highness Hidesada said, is this from the Mie Town Money House?" I checked with him.

"This can be determined," Lin Xiuzhen nodded, "I don't suspect anything about His Highness Xuanjing. It's just that I heard that the daimyo of the Western Kingdom is trying to mint Yongle money, I wonder if His Royal Highness Xuanjing knows more? ”

"Really?" I secretly complained about him. This is not called suspicion, and it is almost necessary to directly say that I have colluded with the daimyo of the Western Kingdom and cooperated to deal with fraud.

(To be continued)