At this time, there were already more than 20 small and medium-sized wealthy families in Shengrui City. Compared to them, Kume Yoshitoyo is one of the larger ones. The leader Yifeng was injured and depressed, and he looked like he had a fiasco, but under the restraint of the deputy general, everyone under his command was still in good spirits.

Ten Rivers Depository did not doubt that he had him, asked a few questions, and let them into the city as usual to enrich the garrison in the city. And after learning that Yoshitoyo's wife and sister-in-law were tragically killed, Hosokawa Shinyuki, as his uncle, also comforted him very much.

In the evening, fires broke out in many parts of the city, causing huge stirring. Especially the many small and medium-sized wealthy families in the city, each of them does not belong to each other, and some even have personal grudges with each other, and in this dark night, it is completely out of control when it becomes chaotic. Shihe Depository tried to stabilize the situation, but he didn't have many descendants in the city, only more than 1,000 people from Sanqi, how could he restrain it? The chaos grew worse and worse, and the city became a boiling pot of chowder.

Taking advantage of this chaos, Kume Yoshitoyo and his subordinates entered Honmaru, controlled Hosokawa Shinyuki, and played the banner of supporting Hosokawa Shinyuki. Hosokawa Shinyuki, as the official guardian, still has a certain influence, and soon four or five wealthy families responded to the Kume family and gathered in front of Honmaru. Seeing this, the Ten Rivers Depository hurriedly gathered the descendants who maintained order everywhere, hastily gathered the strength of more than 300 people, and launched an attack on Honmaru together with the four or five hundred Awa people who had barely gathered it.

However, the main pill of Katsurui Castle is very strong, how can it be so easy to capture? And since the Ogata Hall is in the Honmaru, the Tokawa Deposit Guarantee can't be too persecuted, because the Okataden is not only the mother of Hosokawa Shinyuki, but also the mother of his Ten Rivers Deposit Guarantee and Miyoshi Choji. There was a small wealthy clan who tried to burn Honmaru, but he drew his knife and cut it off on the spot.

At this time, more than 5,000 of my troops appeared outside the city and began to attack the Datemen of Shengrui City.

After receiving the news from the envoy, Shihe Depository was naturally furious. However, even if I understood my plan now, it was too late. With the current situation in the city, he simply did not have the energy and manpower to resist the foreign enemy.

Seeing that the general trend had gone, Shihe Depository could only give up Shengrui City and flee back to the territory with two or three hundred Sanqi people.

Among the rest of the Apo people, except for the few hundred people who were originally stationed in the city, the rest of the wealthy clans were blown up by me once, and they were not embarrassed by anything, and they had an understanding of our strength and generosity, and they also lost the heart of resistance when they saw that the Ten Rivers Depositor, who was the generation of the city, had fled. The organic spirits immediately rushed to Otedo and opened the gates for my army.

In an instant, like a flood that opened the floodgates, as an auxiliary to the vanguard, immediately poured into Shengruicheng. As the vanguard general, Wasuka Masakatsu comforted the wealthy clan who opened the door after entering the city, and then went straight to Honmaru under his leadership.

By the time I arrived at Honmaru, the situation had calmed down. Masakatsu Wasuka and Hattori Masasari had completely controlled Honmaru, and the one in charge of the periphery was Yasutoshi Yamauchi, who commanded the auxiliary gun array, and he led more than 300 people, each with a pine torch, to monitor the various wealthy families outside.

Seeing the flag of the main general, which was similar to the late leader Dai Sanhao Changqing and also wore the Wusan Tong deputy pattern, the wealthy people knew that **oss was coming, and they hung their heads to the flag.

"I'm still stunned to do anything, I'm going to put out the fire!" I ordered in a tone of course, "The people of Itano-gun are in charge of the northern part of the city, the people of Meito-gun are in charge of the eastern part of the city, and the people of Meinishi-gun are in charge of the western part of the city!" ”

The crowd was at a loss, and when they heard this unkind order, they took the order as if they had the backbone of the Lord.

After convincing the wealthy clan in a few words, I continued to instruct: "Gao Hu will lead a standing reserve of 200 people to take over here, and Kang Feng will lead his troops to guard the city gate, and let the Hequan people be responsible for the fire extinguishing work in the south of the city. ”

"Yes!" The two of them received the order loudly, their faces full of excitement.

They are all only in their teens and twenties, and seeing that this number one city in the four countries is about to completely fall into their own hands, it is no wonder that they are not calm!

I smiled and turned to enter the castle tower.

"Is it His Royal Highness Kira of the Oda family? Please wait a minute......" A slightly hesitant voice sounded. When he turned his head to look, he was a middle-aged samurai in his forties.

"Who are you? Didn't you say you were going to put out the fire? I scolded.

"In Shimoshinohara, he escaped and was the assistant of the Shimoyagata Temple...... I am very worried about the safety of the lower house-shaped hall, so how about allowing me to go in and visit? Under the firelight at night, beads of sweat seemed to appear on his face, "As for the firefighting, it has already been arranged." ”

I smiled, he was worried about Hosokawa Shinyuki, obviously worried about Hosokawa Shinyuki's mother, Ogatata.

The Shinohara family is a member of the Miyoshi family tree, and has served the Miyoshi family since Shinohara's grandfather. Shinohara Nagamasa, the father of Zi Dan, is the elder of the Miyoshi family, and at the same time serves as the assistant of Miyoshi Chokei; The elder brother of Zi Escape, Shinohara, was the later servant of Miyoshi Nagaji, and commanded the entire Awa Miyoshi retainers; And he himself was tasked with assisting and monitoring Mayuki Hosokawa.

The ability to escape is average, but he is proficient in the way of pleasing and flattering, and he is deeply favored by the Great Shape Palace. Not only that, but his eldest son, Shinohara, Nagahide, also inherited his talent and became Miyoshi Nagaji's most favored close study, and was named the lord of Imakiri Castle. Later, Nagaji was attacked by Hosokawa Shinyuki, and first retreated to the Imakiri Castle of Shinohara.

After the Miyoshi family withdrew from Kinai and their prestige was greatly reduced, Shinohara's self-escape boldly set up the large hall. However, as the mother of the lord, it is impossible to marry, so he has to stay in Shengrui City as much as possible, so as to get along more with the Great Shape Palace, and all kinds of ambiguities are inevitable during this period. For this reason, Shinohara Nagabo reprimanded him many times, but he gradually held a grudge, and then finally took advantage of Shinohara Nagabo to try to contact the Oda family, and sued his brother in front of Miyoshi Nagaji, resulting in Shinohara Nagabo being beaten into a rebellion, and being besieged and killed by the joint siege of Miyoshi Nagaji and Tokawa Storage.

Speaking of which, I was able to sweep Itano-gun so smoothly, and Shinohara's self-escape was really "indispensable". His Kizu Castle is the ancestral residence of the Shinohara family, and the city defense is quite solid, if he hadn't been unwilling to defend it, I would probably have to spend a little more work.

Then give him a face, and thank him for his cooperation.

"Is that so...... Then come in with me! "I agreed to his request.

"Thank you so much!" Shinohara, who happily bowed his back, respectfully followed behind me and Xiujing.

Entering the main hall, outside the main hall, it was Wasuka Masakatsu leading dozens of people to guard, and inside the hall were Kume Yoshitoyo and his men, in fact, most of them were Hattori Masanari Iga Gumi, who were responsible for taking care of the Otataden and Hosokawa Shinyuki.

"Your Highness Kume, it's been really hard." I nodded to Yoshitoyo Kume first.

Hosokawa Shinyuki understands that Kume Yoshitoyo is not trying to support him, but as my internal response. He cast an angry glance at his nephew, who was older than him.

Kume Yoshitoyo's face turned pale, and he asked me, "Your Highness Kira, can you release your wife and eldest son now?" ”

"Please rest assured, Mrs. Ling and Ling Lang are very good, and the promised 5,000 stone territory will also be allocated in full, but I will continue to grieve His Highness Kume for two days." I replied kindly.

Yoshitoyo Kume stopped talking.

"What is Your Highness going to do with my mother and son?" A very pleasant voice suddenly asked.

Naturally, it is the Great Shape Hall that speaks.

Actually, as soon as I entered the main hall, I noticed her. Among the hundreds of people in the hall, she was undoubtedly the most dazzling, not only because of her position, but also because of her appearance and temperament.

Her complexion was very fair, her face was beautiful, and her long black hair was draped over her shoulders, which contrasted sharply with her shirt as white as snow. I don't know if it was because of the cold or fear, her body trembled slightly, and she looked pitiful.

I couldn't help but sigh, this is simply a demon!

In terms of age, she must be over forty or close to fifty, and even her son Shinyuki Hosokawa is two years older than me. However, in my eyes, she was only in her early thirties, and she was a beautiful young woman.

It is no wonder that more than ten years later, at the age of nearly sixty, she was still able to charm the Yuan relatives of Changzong and my department, who were the same age as his son, and she quickly became pregnant, and gave birth to a boy for Yuan Yuan the next year.

But I really don't dare to compliment her character. His first husband, Hosokawa Chitaka, died in June of the 22nd year of Astronomy, and she gave birth to her eldest son, Miyoshi Choji, for Yoshiken in September, which was obviously ambiguous; After Miyoshi Yoshixian's death, not only did she not become a monk, but recently she also hooked up with her son's assistant retainers, violating the ethics of being a housewife more than once; And according to history, she will also follow the original relatives of Chosō Ibu, although the original relatives murdered her son Hosokawa Shinyuki, and it is also indirectly related to the death of her other son, Miyoshi Nagaji.

"This must be the Lady of the Great Shape Palace," I fixed my mind and nodded to her as well.

"It's the concubine," she blinked, intentionally or unintentionally picking up a strand of hair on her chest with her fingers and brushing it behind her shoulders, her movements and postures were extremely beautiful, "What is Your Highness going to do with the concubine?" ”

I was speechless. This tone, this title, this gesture, where is the attitude of the captives towards the enemy, it is clear that the wife is with her husband, and she is still at a prime age.

"Mother!" Shinyuki Hosokawa shouted sullenly.

"Don't worry, Lady Ogatata, I won't embarrass the two of you," I smiled, "The Awa Hosokawa family has always been an important town of the shogunate, and now it is a gratifying thing to be able to escape from the control of the Miyoshi family and return to the rule of the shogunate." ”

"Then can the concubine continue to live?" She asked.

"This depends on the decision of His Highness Gongkaden and Danmasa, as well as the decision of Shimogatataden himself," I turned to Hosokawa Shinyuki, "If Shimoyakataden can make a statement against the Miyoshi family, I believe it will be favored by the shogunate!" ”

"Is that really the case?" Shinyuki Hosokawa was obviously tempted. After being a puppet for so many years, he naturally hopes to be able to come to the forefront.

I know his feelings very well, and later he made an alliance with the Yuan relatives of Changzong and my department, which is a clear proof of his unwillingness to be a puppet.

"The matter of Dr. Miyoshi Sakyo, the lower house should know about it, right?" I asked rhetorically.

Shinyuki Hosokawa nodded. In the past, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, who was overshadowed by the three of them, defected to the shogunate, not only married Yoshiaki's sister, but also obtained the official position of Doctor Sakyo, and guarded half of Hanoi with the Hatakeyama family, which he knew.

"Then please ask His Highness Kira!" Thinking about it, he finally made a decision.

"The lower house-shaped hall is indeed wise." I smiled and said, "So, how about going to Kinai as soon as possible and meeting His Highness Gongboden and Danmasa?" ”

"Going to Kinai?" Hosokawa Mayuki looked at me in surprise, "Isn't Kinai in the midst of war?" ”

"It's just a little bit of a petty ambition! Moreover, I will send a thousand sailors to escort it, so don't worry about Shimogatataden," I smiled and comforted him, "If Shimogatataden can share the worries of the shogunate and His Highness Danmasa, and persuade the people of Awa Province to put things in order and fulfill their duties as guardians, maybe they can truly protect Awa Ichikoku!" ”

Shinyuki Hosokawa thought about it and finally agreed to my proposal.

As he nodded, I felt a little relieved. If I can get the support of the Awahosokawa family, I can also explain something to Nobunaga.

Although I got Nobunaga's approval when I set out, it was a bit unreasonable that I was still wandering outside with my army because of the changes in Kinai. If Nobunaga had always had the upper hand, the question would not be a big deal, and according to his surname, he probably wouldn't have been too careful; But his situation is getting more and more difficult now, and I have to do something for him to deal with it.

With the cooperation of Mayuki Hosokawa, this is a result that is enough to make a difference. As long as Hosokawa Mayuki appears on the battlefield, the Miyoshi trio will know that a major change has occurred in their hometown and they are facing the threat of losing all their territory. Then, many wealthy clans in the Awa Kingdom will be shaken, and the morale of the entire army will be seriously affected. As a result, the Miyoshi family's forces, which numbered more than 25,000 men, were likely to withdraw from the battle and rush back to Shikoku to seize the lair, thus greatly reducing the pressure on Nobunaga.

Since the loss of the mountain castles, Hanoi, Settsu and other countries in Kinai, the Miyoshi family has been called Bo Xishan, and can only rely on Awa and Sanki to survive.

Of these two countries, most of Sanuki's territories belonged to the wealthy clans. As early as the Hosokawa clan, in the Sanki Kingdom, there was a saying of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Hosokawa", which was used to refer to the four wealthy families of Kagawa, Kosai, Yasutomi and Nara. Among them, the Kagawa family has the three counties of Nishisanuki, and has served as the guardian of Nishisanki for generations; The Yasutomi family owns most of the seven counties of Higashisanki and serves as the guardian of Higashisanki; The rest of the land also mostly belonged to wealthy families such as Kosai, Nara, and Hatoko. Although the Ten Rivers Depository served as the guardian, it actually did not have much land, and it was basically taken from the Anfu family.

Therefore, Awa is the last lifeblood of the Miyoshi family. After two hundred years of suppression by the Awa Hosokawa family, except for the Kaibe County in the southern mountains, there is no big wealthy family in this country with more than one county, and most of the land is directly under the direct control of the Miyoshi Yoshiken and the Miyoshi clan. And after the three of Miyoshi withdrew from Jinai, they relied on the direct leadership of these sects to maintain it.

However, the total stone height of Awa and Sanki was only 350,000 stone after all, which could not support the huge structure of the family. As time goes by, Miyoshi's strength will only shrink more and more. Even now, the contradiction between the Kinai faction led by the Sanjo and the local faction led by Miyoshi Choji and Jukawa Reservoir is already quite large, and they can work together for the time being.

This time, he joined Settsu and poured out to attack Nobunaga, which can be said to be the last fight of the Miyoshi family. If you succeed, you can reclaim Hanoi and Izumi, return to Kinai, and gain great prestige, so that the declining fortunes of the family can be turned around.

However, now instead of defeating Nobunaga, he has also lost Katsurui Castle, and even the entire Awa country is in danger of being lost. The Miyoshi family was already facing a life-and-death situation that fell apart, so they could only give up the confrontation with Oda Nobunaga's main force and quickly return to the Awa country.

And for the next period of time, I think there will be a lot of pressure. But there is an absolutely superior naval army, and there is Shengrui City, which is strong and well-fed, and I don't believe that they can't stop their offensive.

Once Nobunaga was relieved, the Miyoshi family had to abandon the Awa Province and retreat to Sanki with the Sanki people. You don't even have to wait for Nobunaga's support, as long as the Miyoshi family can't capture Katsurui Castle in a short time, the Awa people will fall apart. In history, after the Yuan family captured Haibe County, the entire southern and central Hao clans basically rebelled.

The so-called "wealth and danger seeking". At that time, at least a considerable part of the 175,000 stone of the Awa Kingdom will fall into my hands.

……，…… The next morning, all the remaining fires were extinguished, and I sent more than a dozen teams of 100 people to inspect the whole city, and gradually restored order in the city. At the same time, I also sent someone to count the inventory, distributed a large amount of gold and copper coins to the wealthy families, and in the name of Hosokawa Shinyuki and myself, they gave each wealthy family a mansion and an empty head as a reward for their participation in the firefighting. Even the concubines of the three people sent by the three people in Jinnai, I gave them to some wealthy families.

These rewards are impossible for the Miyoshi family to give them, but I give them very generously. Anyway, it's a generous thing for others, and it doesn't cost me anything. And in this way, if they want to keep their vested interests and actually gain more territory, they must help me hold the city and resist the expected arrival of the army of the Miyoshi family.

There are two wealthy families, probably worried about the revenge of the Miyoshi family, and cautiously refused to accept it, but I took their wives and children as hostages, and then drove them out of Shengrui City.

After doing these things, Hosokawa Shinyuki is almost about to set off. As promised, I sent a thousand sailors to escort him to Jinjin in Kinai to meet Nobunaga and Yoshiaki.

Since I have blocked the two most convenient sea routes, it is impossible for the Miyoshi Trio to get the exact news of the loss of Katsurui Castle until Hosokawa Shinyuki appears. Therefore, I also asked them to return to join the rest of the naval army as soon as they completed their mission, and prepare to block the return of the Miyoshi family at the Akashi Strait and the Naruto Strait.

(To be continued)