Around the country of Yamato, the Tsutsui family and Matsunaga Shu have repeatedly fought each other, and they have become enemies who share the sky. Just from the time Ashikaga Yoshiteru committed suicide with serious injuries to the present, the two families have fought twice around the ownership of Tsutsui Castle. The first was on November 16, 1565, when Matsunaga Shu launched an attack, and two days later captured Tsutsui Castle, and the previously subdued Koo Takaharu and Takada Tojiro rebelled again; The second time began in April of the following year, Miyoshi and Tsutsui jointly sent 15,000 troops to attack Yamato Province, and Matsunaga Hide, seeing that the situation was not good, escaped from Tamonyama Castle, recruited some people from the country in Settsu, and joined forces with Hatakeyama Takamasa 6,000 troops to fight against Miyoshi, but due to the disparity in troops, it was surrounded in Sakai Town in May, and Tsutsui Castle naturally returned to Tsutsui Shunkei.

If I don't take the initiative to get closer to the Tsutsui family, then at the end of this month, the third Tsutsui City will happen. With the help of 20,000 reinforcements from Hosokawa Fujitaka, Sakuma Nobumori, and Wada Yumasa, Matsunaga Hidekai captured Tsutsui Castle again and drove Tsutsui Shunkei to the mountains.

However, Tsutsui Shunkei apparently did not notice the change in the situation in, and the ninja who returned from the Tsutsui family reported that the Tsutsui family was currently following the affairs of the Juichi family closely and had no time to think about other matters, and did not respond to my request.

Even so, I definitely won't go back the way I came, so I directly pulled the army and surrounded the Ten Cities Family Dragon King Mountain Castle near Yamabe County.

The current head of the Ten Cities family is Ten Cities Shinjiro Yuansheng. All along, he has been cautiously watching the limelight, swinging between the two families of Tsutsui and Matsunaga. At the beginning, Tsutsui's family was powerful, so he married Tsutsui Shunqing's sister; Later, the Matsunaga family entered Yamato Province in a big way, and he hurriedly sent his daughter as a hostage, and eventually married Matsunaga Tsutsu.

I wonder what he's going to do this time? I heard that he no longer had any children to be hostages, but he married another stepfamily...... I thought with some wickedness that I had ushered in the envoy of the Ten Cities in the array.

"It's really hard for your lord to lead a large army to come to our land," the envoy very humbly gave a gift, and then asked cautiously, "In the lower ten cities, the general of the family department of the city Morimoto Kizo, dare to ask the lord ......?" ”

"I'm the old Kira Xuanjing of the Oda family, and I'm here for His Royal Highness Tsutsui!" I told him with a big grin.

"The ...... of the Tsutsui family The Confederates are in full swing! Hearing that it was from the Tsutsui family's side, he was obviously taken aback, and a panicked look appeared on his face.

His reaction made me understand immediately: "My lord is the one who supports the Matsunaga family in the Ten Cities!" ”

"I didn't ...... There is no such thing! Kizo Morimoto hurriedly denied it.

"I don't mind your inclinations, it's all His Highness Tsutsui's heart. So don't worry about anything," I waved my hand, "But, since I'm here, I always have to do something for His Highness Tsutsui...... In this way, hand over the right hostages, let me take them back to the Tsutsui family, and I will give up the siege. ”

"Yes, I will definitely convey the declaration of His Highness Kira to my lord." Kiyama Morimoto hurriedly promised.

"Then I'm sorry for you!"

Half an hour later, the hostages of the Ten Cities family were sent to my array, which made me feel particularly speechless - it was indeed after the death of Tsutsui Shunkei's sister, Ten Cities was far better than the stepfamily who married another.

So, I took the steproom of the Ten Cities family and continued to Tsutsui Castle.

Seeing the huge army surrounding, there was also a panic inside and outside Tsutsui Castle, and all the townspeople on the road under the castle disappeared at once. I ordered my guards to approach the city gate and shouted to the city: "Please tell the head of the city with His Highness Tsutsui!" ”

After a while, a head covered with a white hood appeared at the head of the city: "This seat is Tsutsui Shunqing, who is the lord under the city?" ”

"Your Highness Tsutsui, do you remember me?" I personally advanced to the city gate and asked aloud.

"His Royal Highness Xuanjing of the Kira family!" Tsutsui Shunqing shouted in surprise, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.

"Exactly!" I laughed, "I heard from my subordinates that His Highness Tsutsui was worried about the back of the Ten Cities family, so I personally led 20,000 troops to come and open my eyes for His Highness Tsutsui." Fortunately, the Ten Cities family has already handed over the hostages and surrendered to the Tsutsui family. Please also ask His Royal Highness the Tsutsui family to open the castle and let me personally hand over the hostages of the Ten Cities family! ”

Tsutsui Shunqing at the head of the city was silent for a while, and then laughed: "That's really annoying His Royal Highness Xuanjing!" I'm so grateful! …… Put away your weapons and open the gates! ”

I instructed Wasuka Masakatsu, Nagano Fujitashi and others to restrain the military situation, ordered someone to invite out the step-room of Toshi Yuankatsu, and was about to lead the guards to Tsutsui Castle, when I saw Kitabatake, my heart suddenly moved: "Adjutant General, dare to go with me?" ”

"What don't you dare!" Kitabatake replied loudly with a puffed face. This kid is still a bit of a bachelor.

"He is worthy of being the son of the lord!" I casually boasted, "Then let's go with us!" ”

Entering Tsutsui Castle with Kitabatake Guyu, Tsutsui Shunqing immediately greeted him, sent someone to settle the lady of the ten cities, and welcomed us into the main hall.

"This is the son of His Royal Highness Oda Danmasa, His Royal Highness Kitabatake Gotoyo, the next governor of the Kitabatake family!" As soon as I sat down, I solemnly introduced to Shunkei Tsutsui.

"Oh! What a blessing! Tsutsui Shunqing looked at him suspiciously, and then asked me, "I didn't expect that after a few years, His Royal Highness Xuanjing already had such a prestige...... But I don't know why I suddenly came to my Yamato country? ”

"His Highness Tsutsui doesn't know?" I was also puzzled, "What happened in Minami Omi, has His Highness Tsutsui heard about it?" ”

Tsutsui Shunkei shook his head: "I am concentrating on the Yamato country and expelling the forces of Matsunaga Hide...... Is something going on in Minami-Omi? ”

For a moment, I wondered if history had changed, and if Nobunaga had failed along the way...... Minami Omi changed hands for such a big thing, how dare he not know?! No wonder history is so sluggish.

"His Royal Highness Danzheng led 60,000 troops, and has captured the Guanyin Temple City of the Hexagonal Family, and will escort Lord Yizhao to Shangluo to the position of General Zheng." I told him so.

"Really?" Tsutsui Shunkei's face changed suddenly.

"Could it be that His Highness Tsutsui doubts the power of my Oda family?" Kitabatake Guyu felt that he was being looked down upon, and his tone was very dissatisfied.

"His Royal Highness Kitabatake said so......"

"In this way, His Highness Tsutsui might as well think about it, as a partial division, I can also have 20,000 troops and open up the Iga country. So what will happen to His Highness Danzheng, who is the main force? …… Now, if His Royal Highness Tsutsui hadn't planned ahead and was preempted by Matsunaga Shu to catch up with his family, then the Tsutsui family would be very dangerous! ”

“…… In this way, I really want to thank His Royal Highness Xuanjing and His Royal Highness Kitabatake! Tsutsui Shunkei's face was cloudy.

Maybe he's still a little unconvinced, but if it's really like what I said, the Tsutsui family will have to make a statement and act as soon as possible. He should be aware of this.

"What's going on, His Highness Tsutsui might as well take a look!" I said with a smile.

……，…… The time I arrived at Tsutsui Castle was September 17th, and it had been four days since the fall of Guanyin Temple Castle. After that, I sent someone to Minami-Omi to make contact, and soon brought the latest information: the day after the Rokkaku family fled to Koga, the Gamo family surrendered to Nobunaga, and sent their sister-in-law Tsuru Chiyo as a hostage, and the Aochi, Kokura, Awamizu, and Terakura families, which were close to the Gamo family, also surrendered one after another. Subsequently, Nobunaga Pegasa reported the victory to Yoshiaki of Ritsushoji Temple, urging Yoshiaki to come to Minami-Omi, and in the name of Yoshiaki, he sent envoys to Goto, Kondo, Takashima, Nagahara and other wealthy clans, ordering each family to submit to Shogun Yoshiaki.

I was so impressed by this news. Nobunaga deserves to be Nobunaga, and he is too shrewd. Gamu, Aochi and other wealthy families who were close to the Oda family, he sent his own messengers; Goto, Takashima and other wealthy families close to the Kita-Omi Asai family, he surrendered in the name of Yoshiaki, so that the Asai family was depressed, although he knew that Yoshiaki's was Nobunaga, but after all, he was nominally subservient to the incoming general. If they dared to do something to the general's subordinates, Nobunaga would have the right to stop them.

Obviously, the Asai family was put on the table again. I think the father and son of Asai Nagamasa must be very depressed right now...... Tsutsui Shunkei must have also sent someone to Minami Omi to verify the news. Two days later, he officially announced his break with the Miyoshi family, and sent an envoy to Nobunaga in Minami-Omi, and his attitude towards me and Kitabatake was even more enthusiastic. At this time, I raised the issue of supporting grain and grass, and he naturally agreed, and very generously allocated two months' worth of military rations.

The Tsutsui family, who is the guardian of Yamato, still has such an attitude, not to mention other small wealthy families. The Miyoshi trio soon fell into a situation of betrayal and had to abandon Kyoto. Iwanari Yutong, the head of Yamashiro Province, led about 2,000 people from his family to guard Katryuji Castle and maintain his influence in Yamashiro Province; Miyoshi Nagayi entered Hokusai and retreated to Settsu and was stationed at Akutagawa Castle, and Miyoshi Masaysu retreated to Hanoi and stationed at Iimoriyama Castle, the residence of the Miyoshi family. The rest of Miyoshi Yasunaga Irichi, Irie Left Near, Johara Ukyojin, Ikeda Katsumasa, Itami Kinko, Araki Murashige and others also guarded the castle and waited for it.

In addition, although General Yoshiei of Tomita Pumonji Temple was seriously ill and was not suitable for a long journey, the Miyoshi Sanren arranged for someone to escort him to Awa Province across the sea. It can be seen that at this time, the three of them are almost desperate.

Originally, they were going to set out via Sakai Town, but on September 18, our navy from afar blocked Osaka Bay and defeated the Ataka navy that came to their aid. As a result, the Miyoshi family who was escorting the shogun had to make a detour to Settsu, passing through the Akashi Strait, Awaji Province, and Naruto Strait, but before they reached Awa, General Yoshiei died at sea.

This news made me feel a little emotional. When I came to Yomoto, I landed at Kansai International Airport, and now I'm finally back. However, the airport was later reclaimed from the sea, and it should still be a sea of water.

On September 27, Oda Nobunaga held Ashikaga Yoshiaki's guard of honor and stayed at Mitsuiji Temple on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga County, Minami-Omi, which is an important place close to Kyoto. The next day, Nobunaga and Yoshiaki entered Kyoto and stayed at Tofukuji Temple and Kiyomizudera Temple in Higashiyama (Mt. Otoba), respectively, along with Asai Nagamasa and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

After a few days, the large and small forces of Yamato Province in the direction of Kyoto had completely fallen to Nobunaga, and I entrusted the military affairs to Wasuka Masakatsu and others, and then took Tsutsui Shunkei, Kitabatake Toyoshi and Nagayo Fujitoshi to Tofukuji Jinmi.

First of all, it must be a debriefing report. I wanted to gently bring over the matter of Kitabatake Guyu attacking and killing the Takino family without authorization, but this kid couldn't wait to tell it like a treasure. That's fine, I don't have to be this wicked person.

"In other words, you escaped from Iga Province in disgrace? Aren't you afraid of ruining the prestige of my Oda family? Nobunaga asked.

"As soon as the lord conquered Minami Omi, my Oda family was about to take control of Kinai, how could such a prestige be reduced by his subordinates...... Speaking of losses, it is only a little bit of prestige of the subordinates, and this is better than losing the soldiers! Seeing that Nobunaga felt good about himself, I gave him another breath to make him even more self-aggrandized.

"Haha! Not bad! Nobunaga laughed, "You're not bad either!" Being able to focus on the overall situation and pacify half of Yamato really lived up to my expectations! ”

"If you don't give up Kashiwawara Castle, maybe you can pacify half of Iga Country......" Kitabatake muttered dissatisfied.

"That's all you have and the eye! If Xuanjing is not handled properly, it will delay the family's major affairs! Nobunaga scolded.

"But that's exactly what happened......"

Nobunaga raised his right hand, and the folding fan in his hand flew towards Kitabatake.

“…… Be! Seeing that Nobunaga was angry, Kitabatake Gotoyo didn't dare to argue anymore, and hurriedly fell to the ground and pleaded guilty.

"Let's go down and reflect!" Nobunaga waved his hand.

Kitabatake had no choice but to leave the room in panic.

"What a fool!" Nobunaga scolded.

"His Royal Highness Gu Feng is still young, and there is a lot of room for growth, so the lord doesn't have to worry too much. Moreover, although His Royal Highness Gu Feng was reckless this time, he was also quite brave......"

"I know your thoughts." Nobunaga interrupted me.

"A little thought of the subordinates naturally can't be hidden from the lord." I said as calmly as I could, avoiding his gaze with a bowed salute.

"However, I don't have to exalt him for the sake of my face at all. As a senior, speak up and teach in case of trouble, that is the way of loyalty! …… Moreover, you Kira Xuanjing are not flatterers! ”

"Yes, it was your subordinates who made a mistake." I was secretly relieved.

So, it is safe to correct his mistakes...... If my son ends up being a stubborn, self-righteous, inadequate waste, I will kill him! ”

I couldn't help but look up, and Nobunaga's face was resolute, obviously serious about what he was saying.

"Your Majesty remembers the teachings of your lord!"

"Then you can go down too, and by the way, tell Hidemasa and let Matsunaga Xiu come to Jin!"

Matsunaga Shu has come to surrender to Nobunaga? So-"My lord, Tsutsui Shunkei, who has been subdued some time ago, is also waiting to see you outside. ”

"I'll see him later!"

"Yes!" I exited the room.

It seems that Nobunaga still preferred Matsunaga to serve as Yamato's guardian...... After all, the enormous influence he has in cannot be ignored.

(To be continued)