News from Gifu has been coming for a whole day, and I'm still weighing up how to choose.

With a "brush", the door was opened. I sighed, no need to look, it must be Xiao Xia.

This room is my ashram, on the highest floor of the castle tower, and when I want to concentrate on something big, I lock myself up here. The room was empty, but Nana suggested that I put a statue of Buddha to help me calm down. I considered her suggestion, but put on my own set of armor.

I think the most important thing is to get back to your heart.

Everyone in the family knows what this ashram does. So, when I'm inside, there is hardly anyone to disturb me, except for the maids who deliver food in the morning and evening.

And the reason why I say "almost" is because of this Xiao Xia. She doesn't care about such rules.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Without waiting for her to speak, I took the initiative to ask.

"I heard that His Royal Highness is going to hand Keitaro over to the women of the Ii family to teach, right?" Xiao Xia's voice sounded angry, "Could it be that the concubine is not well educated!" ”

"Did you educate him about anything other than archery? Normally, it's the vegetables that take care of the children, right? I asked rhetorically.

"This ......," Xiao Xia said.

"I used to let you be a mother with peace of mind, but you want to be my personal guard general...... Of course, if you change your mind now, I'm still looking forward to it. ”

"That's not going to work!" Xiao Xia replied categorically, "As for Keitaro, wouldn't it be better to let Nana continue to take care of it?" ”

However, he has turned five years old and needs to learn more than just upbringing. Martial arts, the art of war, and strategy...... Well, there's also the tea ceremony and so on. She wasn't good at these dishes, she wasn't a samurai after all. Therefore, I had to entrust it to His Royal Highness Zhihu. ”

"Really...... Hmph, it seems that you still appreciate her! Xiao Xia obviously minded my attitude, and even changed her title, "So you decided to marry her?" I've heard that Yukadu is starting to prepare...... She's virtuous enough! ”

"Of course, Naohu is indeed very good." I nodded.

"Oh, do you want to marry the best?" Xiao Xia's tone became sour, "Then Your Highness is afraid that you will have to demolish the triple city and build a thousand castles, right?" ”

I sighed again, it was impossible to keep thinking.

When he turned around with his hands on the floor, he saw Xiao Xia with his hands wrapped in his smock, because he was angry, his chest was rising and falling violently, and his face was full of coquettishness, which looked very unique.

"Not really," I suddenly tried to tease her, "sometimes the bad ones will marry...... For example, you don't know anything but archery, and you're very stubborn, like to lose your temper, and make trouble from time to time......"

I crossed my fingers and counted Xiao Xia's shortcomings one by one. Her eyes lit up at first, then she hung her head in despair, and then she almost cried.

“…… But if you can only marry one, it is likely to choose you! "I almost broke all ten fingers before I finally said this.

Xiao Xia was stunned when she heard this, and she looked a little incredulous. She looked at me seriously and finally smiled: "I'll just listen to the last sentence!" …… If you have this sentence, the rest will follow Your Highness! ”

With that, she smiled and walked briskly out of the quiet room.

I shook my head, sometimes women are really coaxing, such a perfunctory sentence can send her away - with my current status as the head of the Kira family and the elder of the Oda family, if I really want to marry only one, it should also be Ishitani Nana who is knowledgeable and has the style of a formal room, not to mention, she is still designated by Nobunaga himself for me.

Of course, I still love Natsu very much. Although that sentence is perfunctory, it is not a lie. If I were still in Tosa, and I was still the first student of the Sengoku Academy, after understanding her affection, I would indeed be happy to marry her. But now, it's impossible for Caicai and Yu Jia to give up, in addition to such a long-term relationship, one of them is a virtuous helper, and the other is a big housekeeper, both of whom are indispensable to me.

Speaking of which, Yu Jia's movements are really fast. Yesterday I went back to Honmaru, and by the way, I mentioned to her that she was so considerate and began to prepare for a relationship with Naotoka...... The third day of the agreement with Naohu Ii happened to be the day of the routine assessment in early April. After it was over, I left Naohu Ii behind.

"How? Can you tell me your decision? I asked with a smile.

“…… Actually, I haven't thought about it yet. Naotoka's expression showed a hint of loneliness, "Your courtier's young name is known, his name is Jiro Mage, and he also grew up as a samurai under his father's teaching...... Therefore, the subordinate did not want to be trapped in the inner room, and later when he was supposed to marry his cousin as the daughter of the governor to ensure that his next governor would be more famous, he also retreated. ”

"That's so......," I replied, and then looked at her quietly, waiting for her to follow.

Your Majesty knew that such an idea was very unseemly. Later, when the family was in turmoil and his cousin died, his subordinates also thought about whether they would be able to stabilize the Jingyi family in the name of the family governor if they got married. There used to be a lot of ambivalence about this. Then, I met the lord at Fenglai Temple and saw the waka written by the lord. At that time, His Majesty was extremely moved, because finally someone was able to understand His Majesty's behavior. ”

"I see." I nodded, "I respect your choice, please continue to help me as a samurai!"

Unexpectedly, Jing Yi Naohu shook his head: "That's not it...... The words of the lord in front of him, his subordinates also think it is very reasonable. And if it is the lord, his subordinates are willing to consider it...... After all, even if you don't have that affection for understanding, it's a very beneficial thing for both the main family and the Jing family. ”

"So, do you agree?" I smiled reassuringly, crouched down and reached out to her. It was customary for her to put her hand in the palm of my hand if she agreed.

But Naotora Ii didn't move.

"Your Majesty has another question," she bowed earnestly, "if the lord can answer, the wedding will be held immediately, and if the lord can't answer, how about postponing it for a year?" …… Maybe it's a little rude to the lord, but it is precisely because it is to the lord that the subordinates can decide like this. ”

"Then I may ask." I'm kind enough to say.

"Do you remember what kind of pattern was painted on the kimono that His Majesty wore the day before yesterday?"

"This ......" I was stunned. I really can't answer this question. I only remember that she was wearing a plain kimono that day, and as for the pattern, she didn't look closely at it because the color was very light.

“…… It seems that what the lord wants to marry now is mainly his subordinate's family, not his subordinate himself. Ii Naohu smiled a little disappointed.

Yes, if I marry her out of my love for her, then she rarely wears a kimono, and I should take a closer look at it, and I should remember what the pattern is.

It can even be said that the reason why I came up with this idea was entirely because Xiujing and her misunderstood what I meant, so I had to give an explanation. However, it hurts too much to say this, how can she be a woman. Moreover, she is a woman with samurai spirit, so she may be ashamed of it...... And, to say that I don't have the slightest idea about her, that's impossible. Since it has developed to this point, it can be regarded as karma!

"I'm so sorry! I don't want to admit it, but that's the case...... You made me understand my true heart! I owe it a little, "Then according to your will, delay it for a year!" Well, next time I see you wearing a kimono, I will definitely appreciate it very seriously. ”

"Lord!" Naotoko Ii's face turned red again.

I smiled, it's a rarity. It can be seen that Ii Naohu is not completely unfeeling for me!

……，…… The matter of Naohu Ii touched me a little. It didn't take long for me to make a final decision about Ashikaga Yoshishu.

Nobunaga's will is unchangeable, and it is almost impossible for me to influence him. However, since I ushered in Yizhou, whether it is from morality or heart, it is necessary for me to fight for him. However, it also depends on what Yi Zhou means, and what he thinks.

In late April, Nobunaga sent a messenger and told me to go to Gifu immediately. So I knew that he had made a decision to replace Yizhao with Yizhao as Shangluo's signboard. And the reason why he asked me to accompany me was probably to borrow my relationship with Akechi Mitsuhide.

At the beginning of the First World War of Yamato, I got along fairly well with Akechi Mitsuhide, who was a deputy general, and the reason why I followed the wishes of Shogun Yoshiki to go to Kyoto to meet him was not only because of Kaizuki, but also because of his face. Later, when the shogun Yoshiki was martyred and his retainers scattered, he went to Wakasa Province and once again attached himself to Takeda Yoshitomi, his maternal cousin. In August of the following year (1566), due to a surprise attack by the Miyoshi trio, Ashikaga Yoshiaki left the Omi-Yajima Imperial Palace, and also went to Wakasa Province, where he attached himself to his sister-in-law Takeda Yoshitori, who was his younger brother, and tried to use Wakasa's power to go to Kyoto. It was during this period that due to the persuasion of his friend Hosokawa Fujitaka, Akechi Mitsuhide threw himself into Yoshiaki's disciple again.

But at this time, Takeda Yoshitomi did not have the ability to help Yoshiaki at all. His position as the governor of the family was obtained by posthumously releasing his younger brother Takeda Nobukata and his father Takeda Nobutoyo, and then experienced the rebellion of the family's important ministers, Kuniyoshi Castle Lord Awaya Katsuhisa, and the lord of Yamayama Castle Itami Masashi, and had lost his control over his retainers. In particular, Masashi Itami, who rebelled in the 4th year of Eiroku (1561), was a powerful retainer who owned a naval army and dominated Kohama Port, and was also supported by Matsunaga Nagayori of Tanba Kuni, and his strength almost overshadowed that of the main family. In order to suppress it, Takeda Yoshitomi had to ask for help from the Asakura family in Echizen, and it was not easy to stabilize the situation, but the family was greatly damaged and has not been able to recover so far.

Seeing this situation, Ashikaga Yoshiaki chose to turn to the Asakura family for help, and got the approval of his uncle, Asakura Yoshikei. As a result, Akechi Mitsuhide was sent to Echizen as a "kagashi" (a retainer who contacted the two families) to the Asakura family, receiving 4,500 annual salaries, and making preparations for the arrival of Yoshiaki.

On the 8th day of April in the 10th year of Eiroku (1567), Wakasa guardian Takeda Yoshinori died, and Takeda Motoaki, the five-year-old son and nephew of Yoshiaki, succeeded to the family governor, and the important ministers of the Itami clan and the Awaya clan rebelled again. Ashikaga Yoshiaki hurriedly left Wakasa and went to Echizen to attach himself to Asakura Yoshikage, and then stayed until now.

This is the experience of Akechi Mitsuhide in the past three years. Obviously, he was already an indispensable and important retainer of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and if the Oda family wanted to welcome Yoshiaki, they would definitely have to deal with him.

So, Nobunaga thought of my previous relationship with Akechi Mitsuhide and summoned me to Gifu Castle.

"What kind of person is Wise?" In the meeting room, Nobunaga asked.

I thought about it for a while, and replied to Nobunaga: "He is an excellent military general who is proficient in both civil and military affairs and is determined to restore his family business, and he is willing to uphold righteousness and reason, and there is no lack of determination for a strong man to break his wrist. In addition, His Highness Wise is very much in tune with tradition, especially the subtleties. ”

"That is, there is something similar to you...... On the first sentence. ”

"Don't dare to be the praise of the lord." I bow my head and thank you.

If you think about it, that's exactly what it is. The evaluation of the first sentence can also be applied to me...... At least to others, I seem to be such a person.

In the latter sentence, however, it is almost the opposite. Wise is a traditional cultural person at heart, with strong self-esteem and fragile and sensitive. Moreover, because he pays too much attention to the subtleties, he seems to be more noble and does not get along with many people, including Nobunaga. Unlike me, whether it is a small surname or a colleague from a farmer's background, as long as there is a relationship, they can get along happily.

"Oh, do you think it's a compliment? Then it's up to you to deal with him! Nobunaga said, nodding his head.

"Yes...... His Majesty has another message. ”

"Say it!" Nobunaga's attitude was casual.

"Your Majesty would like to go and visit Yoshishu-sama......" I looked up at Nobunaga.

Sure enough, a look of displeasure appeared on Nobunaga's face: "What are you going to see him do!" ”

"It is indeed a wise decision for the lord and the Asakura family to form an alliance and jointly support His Highness Yoshiaki. However, the covenant may not be reached, so Lord Yizhou can't be too lazy......"

"You don't have to do much. Even if the covenant fails, Yoshiaki will rely on his own family instead. When Wise came to ask for help before, he promised this matter, and promised to be a part-time representative of the family! Nobunaga waved his hand, "So don't worry about it at all!" ”

However, His Majesty still felt that Lord Yizhou should not be completely abandoned...... Even if it's for the sake of balancing Lord Yiqiu! I insisted.

"Hmm...... It makes sense to say that," it may be that Nobunaga finally agreed to my request after discovering that Yoshishu still had some value, "Then you can go!" However, no promises are allowed! ”

(To be continued)