"It's too much! It's just that he sent troops to contain it, so he asked for 200,000 stone in the four counties of Ximeinong, how could he agree! Back at the post house, Takigawa Kazuki was extremely dissatisfied. He is currently on the front line of Ximinon, and he will definitely be indispensable in the future to capture Ximinon. But the Asai family asked for four counties at once, so how many more could fall into his mouth?

"What did Xuanjing say?" Niwa Nagahide asked.

"Try your best to see if you can reduce it to three counties." I thought about it.

Actually, I know it's all false. Since Nobunaga will not make an appointment, then there is no difference between the three counties and the four counties. However, it is always necessary to make a gesture of importance, which is also an aspect of sincerity.

"Even the three counties are unacceptable." Takigawa Kazuki shook his head.

"Sanjun is probably the bottom line of the Asai family...... Anyway, let's do our best, as for whether it will succeed or not, it still depends on the will of the lord. I said.

"So be it! I trust Xuanjing's judgment. The lord also explained that the conditions for the alliance were drafted by Xuanjing...... What do you think, Your Highness? Niwa Nagahide asked.

"Since the lord has spoken first, there is no opinion below." Takigawa Kazuki replied with a calm face......

Soon, the two families officially reached an agreement: Aichi married into the Asai family and became the main family of Nagamasa, and the two parties were respectively responsible for the marriage of Niwa Nagahide and Anyoji Shihisa; The Asai family took the lord of Sawa Mountain Castle, Isono Yuanchang (the righteous brother of the Anyangji clan, and the adopted son of the Anyoji clan, the son of the Anyoji clan) as the bannerhead, and was responsible for containing the rebels of Nishimino; After the capture of Mino, Saito Ryuko's mother and son were sent to Kita-Omi and returned to the three counties of Ishizu, Yasupachi, and Ikeda to be handed over to Ryuko.

When the news reached Mino, the three of them were shocked, and Saito Ryuko's immediate retainers were also greatly stimulated. Perhaps because the terms involved Ryuko, they were optimistic that the Asai family was hostile to the Nishimino clan led by the trio, and if Ryuko could actually grasp power, the Asai family, as the in-laws of the Saito family, would inevitably abandon the alliance with Owari and instead make peace with Mino. At the behest of these retainers, Ryuxing, who was less than 16 years old, took decisive action, gathered a small number of direct forces, and suddenly detained Ando Morisho, who had stayed behind in Inabayama Castle, in early February, and took the wealthy samurai around him hostage.

Mamoru's son, Nao Ando, was staying in the northern castle, and when he learned that there had been a change in Mt. Inaba, he immediately sent someone to inform Inaba Ryotsu and the family Naomoto, and found his younger brother Shigeharu Takenaka.

As a result of the incident of contacting the wealthy clan to defeat the Oda family and lift the siege of Inabayama three years ago, Shigeharu Takenaka's reputation in Mino has increased, and this time Inabayama Castle has changed, and his younger brother Shigeju has also fallen into it. Whether it is his father-in-law Ando Mori or his younger brother Takenaka Shigeju, he can't ignore it. So, on the sixth day of the second lunar month, Shigeharu Takenaka led sixteen people to Inabayama Castle, and miraculously captured this famous fortified castle in the Warring States period after Odawara, Ishiyama (Osaka), and Azuchi Castle, and rescued his father-in-law Ando Morisa. Saito Ryuko fled in a hurry and took refuge in the mountain castle under his uncle Toshizo Saito. Although Mamoru Ando and Shigeharu Takenaka later withdrew from Inabayama Castle and invited Ryuko back to the castle, Saito Ryuko, fearing the murder of the trio, stayed in Saito Rizo's territory until August of that year.

Mino has had such a big change, of course, he can't hide it from Nobunaga. Soon after Shigeharu Takenaka took Inabayama Castle, he sent Kinoshita Hideyoshi to mediate Shigeharu Takenaka. In addition, Saito Rizo, who took in Ryuko, is the half-brother of Yoritsu Ishitani, and he is the younger brother of Nana's Yoshiri, so of course Nobunaga will not give up this relationship. However, as a retainer of the family, Nobunaga would not let me take the risk, so he invited my brother-in-law.

I know that neither of these things will come to fruition. Shigeharu Takenaka's subsequent actions have long been recorded in history, when he refused Nobunaga's conditions, abandoned his domain and went to Kita-Omi, where he obtained the 5,000-stone territory of Kusano Township, Higashi-Asai County, which was granted by Asai Nagamasa. But he only stayed for a year, and then he abandoned his territory again and returned to Iwate Village, the old collar of the Takenaka family, to live in seclusion.

As for Saito Rizo, Ishitani Yorichen is certainly his brother, but Saito Ryuko is also his nephew. Even putting aside this level of kinship, the so-called samurai Yoshiri aside, after he handed over Saito Ryuko to Nobunaga, what could he get other than the reputation of a rebel and the siege from all sides? His territory did not border Owari, and Nobunaga could not save him even if he wanted to.

And the results were exactly what I expected. Shigeharu Takenaka refused Nobunaga's request to transfer Inabayama Castle, and also refused the retention of his father-in-law Mamoru Ando, leaving Mino for Kita-Omi; Ishiya Yoritsu's strategy failed, and he brought Nobunaga a letter from Saito Rizo, and then came to Kanie Castle to visit his nephew.

Hearing that Shigeharu Takenaka had left the Saito family, I decided to go to Kita-Omi and try to get him to work for me.

Normally, I wouldn't do this kind of thing. But Shigeharu Takenaka was not from Kita-Omi after all, and his asai family was just an expedient measure. Moreover, I know his surname and thoughts very well. In this case, I am somewhat sure.

In mid-March, Masakatsu Wasuka and I arrived in Kusano Village. It is a mountainous depression located between the Nishimata Valley and the Iiyamaguchi Valley, and the Kusano River crosses the entire territory and joins the Sister River near present-day Hamajo.

The location of this land is not very good, and heavy snow falls every winter, but thanks to the irrigation of the Kusano River, agriculture in the territory is still quite developed. It was the spring sowing season, and when we entered the valley, we met busy farmers and women along the way. When we saw samurai adults passing by, they rarely looked up, and only some children followed us curiously.

"Do you know where Takenaka-sama lives?" I took out a dozen Yongle coins and flipped them in my hand.

Unexpectedly, they shook their heads, and their eyes were staring at my hands brightly.

"Do you know where the lord of this place lives?" I asked in a different way.

"Did you ask the 'Lazy Lord', I know?" A slightly older child spoke.

"'Lazy Lord'?" I asked rhetorically.

"Yes, since this adult came, he rarely went out......"

"The village went to visit him, but he couldn't shirk it......"

"I heard that the lord of Asai sent someone to invite him two days ago, and he didn't go because he pretended to be sick......

The children complained.

"Okay, that's him, you take me to him!" I kindly divided the money among them, exactly two pieces each. Then, surrounded by these children, he found the residence of Shigeharu Takenaka.

It's a not too big house, so it's a bit reluctant to call it a castle. On the grass in front of the door, sat two listless guards. When they saw us coming, they slowly got up and put on duty.

"Please inform His Highness Takenaka, and say that the old man of Mino is visiting." Masakatsu Wasuka said.

"Two adults, please go back. The lord of the castle said, "I don't see the people of Mino." One of the guards replied.

"Then please inform His Highness Takenaka, Tosa Yoshira Nobuyi asks to see you." I stepped forward and said.

"Tosa? Where is that? Kyushu? That's even more impossible! He muttered.

"Well," I said, pulling out a grain of bean gold, "whoever tells me first will have this grain of gold." ”

Before the words fell, another guard had already taken the bean gold and ran into the door quickly.

"Bastard!" The guard cursed, and spat helplessly at the back of his companion.

After a while, a thin young man came out.

"Your Highness Takenaka? In Shimojira Xuanjing. I smiled and nodded to him.

“…… Oh, it's really His Highness Kira! Shigeharu Takenaka glanced at Masakatsu Wasuka beside me, and immediately made a judgment, "Please come in and talk!"

"Then bother." I said. Then he and Masakatsu Wasuka went into the house with him.

As soon as he sat down, he hurriedly spoke: "I have always admired His Highness Kira. In the past, I made a special trip to visit, but unfortunately it was a pity. ”

"I've heard of this before, it's been almost five years!"

"Exactly. His Royal Highness Kira's accurate judgment of the situation at the beginning is really admirable! Shigeharu Takenaka nodded, "I thought about it for a while, and then it finally dawned on me." ”

"I dare not take it seriously if I am wrongly loved." I smiled and shook my head.

"But I don't know what happened? I heard that His Royal Highness Kira is already an important minister of the Oda family...... And His Royal Highness Wasuka, who seems to have joined the Oda family? He glanced at Masakatsu Wasuka, and there was a hint of sarcasm in his words, "I am very grateful for the advice I received at the beginning." It's a pity that we couldn't get along for long! But I don't know how much land has been increased after His Royal Highness Bee Suka has taken effect? ”

"It's just enough to support a family! With the body of thousands of people under the river, no matter what, he would not dare to act as recklessly as His Highness Takenaka. Wasuka shot back. He was referring to Shigeharu Takenaka's seizure of the lord's castle and then his departure from the lord's house.

Hearing his words, Shigeharu Takenaka fell silent.

"Zhengsheng, don't talk nonsense, His Royal Highness Takenaka's move is also out of helplessness." I hurriedly defended himself to Masakatsu Wasuka.

"I would like to ask my lord for advice." Wasuka Masakatsu owes himself.

"At that time, His Royal Highness Ando was arrested, and the two Inaba and the clan would definitely not be able to sit idly by, and they would probably go to Inabayama Castle. If the two sides are allowed to tear their faces apart, I am afraid that the situation will be out of control. His Highness Takenaka took Inabayama in time, which can be said to have saved the situation. ”

As I spoke, I noticed Shigeharu Takenaka's expression. And his gloomy gaze almost confirmed my suspicion.

"However, His Highness Takenaka can stop the Inaba and clan clans! Why do you have to do it to the Lord's house? ”

"The Inaba and clan can't stop it, in the face of the provocation of His Highness Long Xing, they can't retreat, otherwise they will lose the support of the wealthy clan. As for Inabayama Castle, His Royal Highness Ryuxing didn't have much military strength at that time, and there were still people from the Ando family in the city, but they were only suppressed temporarily. Starting from Inabayama Castle is relatively much easier. I analyzed it in detail, and then sighed, "Although such a military admonition is an act of disloyalty to the master's family, it is better than two parties formally fighting each other—the lesser of two evils." ”

“…… His Royal Highness Kira is really a confidant. "Shigeharu Takenaka gave me a deep salute, and he owed himself to Wasuka Masakatsu, "It turns out that His Royal Highness Wasuka abandoned his territory and joined the Kira family, which can be described as a righteous person." I just said something abrupt, don't blame it. ”

"His Highness Takenaka's distress is indeed understood." Wasuka Masakatsu returned the salute.

"It's just that His Highness Takenaka's move is still unsafe...... Originally, the three of them handled domestic affairs in the name of auxiliary servants, and on the surface, they also maintained respect for His Royal Highness Long Xing. However, His Royal Highness Takenaka's move almost completely destroyed the only remaining prestige and dignity of the Saito family, and in the future, many wealthy families in the country may deviate from morality. I continued to analyze.

"No wonder His Highness Takenaka has no intention of dealing with the affairs of the territory...... It turned out that he had such a heart. Wasuka Masakatsu sighed.

Shigeharu Takenaka smiled bitterly and did not speak.

"I wonder what His Highness Takenaka plans to do in the future? With the great talent of His Highness Takenaka, you can't keep nesting in this mountain valley, right? I asked.

“…… I know that the two of them came here with the intention of soliciting. However, please forgive me for not being able to obey the order. Shigeharu Takenaka was silent for a few moments before replying.

"I do have this idea under it. I beg His Highness Takenaka to help you. "I admit it.

"Although Zaixia left the Saito family, he still didn't want to be an enemy of Mino." Shigeharu Takenaka closed his eyes.

"But the current target of the main family is Ise Province, but the Asai family is hostile to Mino." Wasuka Masakatsu reminded.

"After all, the Asai family intends to reserve the land of the three counties for His Royal Highness Long Xing......"

"The thoughts of the Asai family, His Highness Takenaka won't be able to see it, right? Just a few days ago, didn't His Highness Takenaka refuse Kotani Castle's summons under the pretext of illness? I shook my head, "Is His Highness Takenaka ready to use this lie to convince himself to continue wasting his time in this valley?" ……”

Seriously, this famous military advisor with a weak crown is so decadent, I really can't bear to look at it. The surprise attack on Inabayama was regarded by later generations as one of his brilliant deeds, and it was talked about, but for him, he had no motive such as being in the limelight and gaining fame, and it was a last resort, and because it offended the lord, it could be said to be a stain on his life.

Maybe it's for this reason that he did his best to assist the monkeys until he died of exhaustion in Himeji Castle!

But he couldn't turn the corner yet, and looking at his appearance, he was completely indifferent.

In that case, it's not good to be too reluctant.

"Zhengsheng, let's go! His Highness Takenaka may have other plans, but it can only be said that he has no chance. I stood up.

"Then, Your Highness Takenaka, please take care." Masakatsu Wasuka said.

"I'm really sorry to let the two of you come here." Shigeharu Takenaka owes a debt. Despite his decadence, he is still very gentle.

Thinking of the four years he was about to waste, I couldn't help but look back before walking out of the room, and persuaded him one last time: "I don't know what His Highness Takenaka's ambitions are. But, in any case, as a capable, aspiring samurai, wasting your time is the least desirable. There is a saying in the Ming Kingdom, the past cannot be admonished, and the coming can still be chased. This sentence should be regarded as a farewell to His Highness when he leaves! ”

……，……

"What my lord said just now is really good." On the way back, Wasuka Masakatsu said sincerely, "Your Majesty had some faint feelings before, but he didn't think about it so clearly. ”

"But I still haven't convinced His Highness Takenaka," I sighed, "Actually, as long as a person matures, ambition is a responsibility. A lot of times, just out of responsibility, there are things that you have to do. His Royal Highness Takenaka's surprise attack on Mt. Inaba was also out of responsibility. For him at the time, it was the only decision that could prevent the situation from escalating...... Perhaps, ambition means burden, and responsibility can be regarded as a kind of helplessness. Like His Highness Takenaka now, it is a blessing to be able to get rid of his burden. ”

"But Your Majesty thinks that His Highness Takenaka is not such a person who is not responsible......" said Wasuka Masakatsu.

"Huh!" Suddenly, I heard the sound of horses' hooves, and when I looked back, it was Shigeharu Takenaka. Behind him, two guards ran out of breath. When the peasants along the way saw such a few people, they knew that it was their lord who had arrived, and they bowed their heads respectfully.

"His Highness Kira!" Shigeharu Takenaka jumped off his horse and bowed deeply, "His Highness's words just now really made Zaixia embarrassed...... I am willing to follow the teachings of His Highness! ”;