Omi Province consists of 12 counties. Before Nobunaga Kamiraku, the Asai family of Kita-Omi had taken control of the six counties of Kanzaki, Aichi, Inuage, Sakata, Asai, and Ika through several years of ingenuity. When Nobunaga went to Kamiraku, they probably planned to take advantage of the east wind to clean up the wealthy clans of Minami Omi, and then slowly annex them by relying on their geographical advantages and network advantages, so they vigorously mediated the alliance between Asakura and the Oda family, so that the Asakura family could "transfer" Yoshiaki to Nobunaga, so that the Oda family could obtain the righteous name of Kamiraku. I didn't expect Nobunaga to be too cunning, except for the close relationship of Gamu-gun, and Koga County, where Yoshiken's father and son were hiding, the other four counties were all occupied in the name of Yoshiaki, thus eliminating the Asai family's attempts.

Fortunately, Nobunaga was still a little righteous, and took out Takashima-gun, which borders the Asai family in northern Biwa Lake, and gave it to the Asai family in the name of Yoshiaki. Although the other three counties are still under the name of Yoshiaki, Yoshiaki is unable to defend them, and it is Nobunaga's passage to Kamiraku, so it is naturally handed over to the people of the Oda family to do it for him. So, Shiga County gave Mori Kesei and lived in Usayama Castle; Kuritai-gun gave Sakuma Nobumori and lived in Yonghara Castle; Yeshu County gave Shibata Katsuya and lived in Chokoji Castle. These three were important ministers in Nobunaga's direct legion, and although the army they led was not large, they were all professional soldiers who had been separated from the peasants, and their combat effectiveness was much higher than that of the peasant ashigaru.

Unlike the previous feuds, these three counties were not given to them, but they were to guard them and rule over the wealthy clans of their own counties. For example, Sakuma Nobumori is still the 60,000-goku territory of Takahashi-gun, which was divided from Mikawa Province. Of course, according to this trend, after stabilizing the situation, they will still be really sealed.

Niwa Nagahide and Kinoshita Hideyoshi, who played a major role in the pacification of the Minami-Omi War, were left in Kyoto by Nobunaga as agents of the Oda family; Kesakuyama shot Maeda Toshi's family, and sealed the territory of 3,000 stones; The rest of the meritorious people are also rewarded...... However, the rewards for me and Kitabatake have not been awarded for a long time.

I seem very calm about this situation. In any case, as the general and deputy general of Ise Province, we pacified Yamato Bankoku, Izumi Province, and Kawachi Province, and our exploits cannot be forgotten. What's more, Kitabatake Guyu is still Nobunaga's son, and it is rare to show his face, and Nobunaga will definitely not treat him badly.

So I'm still doing my own thing.

Due to the submission of the Gamo family, the marriage of Mitsu and the sister-in-law of the Gamo family, Tsuru Chiyo, has already begun to prepare. According to my agreement with Nobunaga, she must first go to Gifu and receive half a year of instruction as Nobunaga's adopted daughter, and her adoptive mother is Mrs. Sakaji, Sanchimaru's biological mother and Yutsu's future mother-in-law.

Seeing that it was the end of the year, I decided to take her to Gifu for the New Year's celebration and send her to Oda's house.

If you want to say reluctant, then there is. The whole Mie Castle knows that among the children, my favorite is Mitsu. And Mitsu herself is even more depressed, maybe because she is about to part, maybe because she is about to get married...... I don't know if there was a "premarital phobia" in this era, but Mitsu seems to be in such a troubled situation.

In order to ease her emotions, I could only tell Nana and Yu Jiaduo to enlighten her. As for myself, I don't have much work left. As a lord, contrary to the lords, the end of the year is the busiest time, and I need to deal with all the things such as the summary of the year, the planning of the coming year, the arrangement of the army, and the rewards of the retainers.

On the third day of the previous year, I finally solved the pile of papers and papers, so I breathed a sigh of relief and went to Monomidai to recuperate my eyes, only to find Mizu sitting listlessly on the wooden corridor on the edge of the corridor, leaning her back against the pillars in a daze. This is really a very dangerous thing, on her right side, several meters high from the roof below, and it would be unimaginable if she fell...... I wanted to warn her, but I was worried about frightening her, so I slowly approached her and pulled her down.

Suddenly being pulled by someone, she really screamed, and when she turned around and found me, she showed a smile.

"You don't want to die? How dangerous it must be to sit here! I rebuked.

She didn't make a sound.

"Why did you come here alone, maids? What about Yuxu? I asked her.

"They must be looking for me again...... I'm hiding here because they won't dare to come and disturb you. Mitsu replied honestly.

"You," I shook my head, "when did you come in?" I didn't even find out. ”

"You've been looking at things, and I can't see it even when I'm grimacing in front of you."

"That's right......," I smiled," I said, "I really didn't notice." ”

"So I didn't bother you anymore." Mitsu had a lonely expression on her face.

Seeing her look on her face made me feel a little guilty. Ever since I decided to marry her to the Gamo family and let Nana teach her, she hasn't been carefree anymore. This is also something that can't be helped, as the daughter of a martial family, it is impossible to be autonomous in marriage, and you can't do whatever you want in terms of doing things. As Nana said, compared to the daughters of other families, Mitsu has been much luckier to have my kindness and favor over the years.

"Father, look!" She suddenly pointed to the hillside by the verandah below.

I looked in the direction she was pointing, and there were a few orange trees, and because no one had picked them, all the ripe oranges hung on the branches, like small fiery red lanterns.

"It's an orange tree!" I remembered that I had brought it with my own hands when Mie Castle was built nearly four years ago. At that time, Mitsu was still at Kanie Castle, and I was working on a strategy for Kitaise, so I would bring some gifts every time I couldn't go back. When I returned from Kyoto to meet General Yoshiki, I didn't forget her, and I brought her and Yujin oranges from Shikoku Imabari. Then, she asked me to plant orange seeds in Mie Castle, and I didn't expect that after four years, they would now bear fruit.

"But why don't any maids pick them?" It looks like a December orange, but it's been ripening for a while.

"Hehe, because I said the year before last that my father planted these orange trees for me. So even though it's mature, no maid dares to pick it! Mitsu replied with a smile.

I understood that this was the first year of fruit, so she wanted me to pick it.

Seeing her smile, I suddenly felt a childlike heart. It's rare to have completed all the work today, and she got her wish!

"In that case, then I'll help you pick it up today."

"Really?" Mitsu asked happily.

"Yes, yes...... Also, bring Yujin and Akitsu with you! ”

"I'll go get scissors and baskets!" Mitsuko hurriedly ran downstairs.

After a while, I set off with thirteen-year-old Mitsu, eight-year-old Yujin, and seven-year-old Akitsu. A few maids wanted to follow, but Mitsu blocked them back in my name, and she didn't even let Nana follow. For the sake of her about to leave home, Caicai and I both smiled and accommodated her little presumptuousness.

When I got to the orange tree, I reached out and climbed the branches, cut off the oranges, and threw them into the basket that Mitsu was carrying. The three daughters were delighted. While Yujin and Qiujin were eating, they also complained that Mitsu had not allowed them to pick them.

"Okay, okay, after I'm gone, won't it's all yours?" Mitsu said.

"This ...... Sister, you're not coming back? Yujin asked cautiously.

"yes, never to come back. No one will grab anything from you two in the future, are you all happy? Mitsu said, pulling her cheek.

This is indeed true, and if Mitsu marries and wants to return to the Oda family, unless it is a hostage sent by the Gamo family, it is almost impossible.

"My sister likes this orange, and every year I pick it and send someone to send it to you." Yujin hurriedly comforted like a little adult.

"Why don't you take two orange trees with you, sister!" Akitsu also said generously.

"How can you take it, if you move the place, you may die." Mitsu smiled.

"Don't talk nonsense!" I reproached her, her mentality is really unacceptable, "You have to get married after all, and it's your own home over there." ”

Mitsu was silent.

"Lord!" "Brother!" Suddenly someone called out on the verandah.

When I looked up, it was Xiujing and Shigeharu Takenaka. I understood that there was probably some emergency going on, otherwise they wouldn't have come together. So what could it be...... Judging by their expressions, there shouldn't be anything bad.

"Mitsu, take Yujin and Qiujin back, remember to send tangerines to the three mothers!"

"Yes." Although she was a little unhappy, Mitsu went obediently.

I tore off several more oranges and threw them down the verandah one by one.

"Next!"

Xiujing and Wasuka Masakatsu hurriedly caught it until they couldn't take it with both hands, and finally they were hit twice by me in a hurry.

"Brother...... "Xiujing seems a little helpless about my occasional pranks.

"Alright, let's talk about what's going on!" I picked up a few oranges of my own and went back to the verandah.

"Brother, the main hall is here, and it is being entertained by Chongzhi." Xiu Jingyu reports.

"The Great Hall? At this time? "I was taken aback. It's almost New Year's, but Nobunaga still has time to come here? However, for the retainers, this is a sign of special grace.

"Yes. In addition, there is His Royal Highness Kitabatake. Wasuka Masakatsu nodded, "The main hall also said that he wanted to meet the young master!" ”

"Then I'll go over with Zhengsheng to greet him first, and I can't let the main hall wait for a long time...... Xiujing, you go to the castle tower and tell Nana and ask her to give Keijiro to you and take it to Sannomaru. ”

"Yes." Xiujing took the order.

Wasuka Masakatsu and I rushed to the Takenaka Shigeji Mansion, and sure enough, it was Nobunaga and Kitabatake Yutakyo, with only a few retinues with us.

"Lord!" I stepped forward to salute, and Shigeharu Takenaka and Masakatsu Wasuka also hurriedly followed to pay homage to Nobunaga.

"No need to be polite," Nobunaga waved his hand, "Ise is really a good place!" Now it's snowing in Gifu, and it's still so warm. ”

"It's true that in Ise, it's rare to see snow, so it's a lot less fun." I replied.

"Oh, do you think so?" Nobunaga nodded, and suddenly said in a loud voice, "Let's all go down!" ”

"Yes!" Everyone responded together, and there was no one left. The last one to go out was Shigeji, who was the master, and he gently closed the door.

"Xuanjing, this time in Shangluo, you have made great contributions, but you haven't received a reward yet, you must have complained in your heart, right?" Nobunaga said slowly.

"Don't dare!" I gave a deep salute, "Your Majesty has only been in office for ten years, and he has become an important town in his family, all thanks to the blue eyes of the lord, how can he complain!" ”

"It's good that you think so. However, merit still needs to be rewarded," Nobunaga looked very happy, "I'm going to hand over half of the country of Shimowazumi to you for protection!" ”

I looked at him in amazement, isn't the lower river spring managed by the George Nobukata of the George Water Army?

Unlike the original history, this time in Kamiraku, my navy captured Kishiwada Castle for Nobunaga, and then Nobunaga sent Saji Nobukata to be stationed as the head of Shimokawa Spring. I have to say that this appointment is very appropriate, Saji Nobugata is Nobunaga's brother-in-law, he is definitely trustworthy, and he has a navy in his hands, and he has experience in business management, so he can assist Nobunaga and Sakai Town, which Niwa Nagahide sent, is carrying out the good governance of Myoin.

By the way, according to the original history, at this moment the Miyoshi family and Matsunaga Shu have joined forces and are preparing to attack Ashikaga Yoshiaki in Kyoto's Rokujo Honkuji Temple...... My heart suddenly moved: "Is there something wrong with Kishiwada City?" ”

"That's right," Nobunaga gave me an approving look, "The retainers of the Miyoshi family, the guardian of Shimowazumi, Matsuura Hizen Mamoru Matsuura, united with the Shimowazumi clan Terada family and raided Kishiwada Castle, and Nobukata has been loyal. ”

"His Highness Nobukata is dead?" I was taken aback, this was a full five years ahead of history.

Obviously, this is the butterfly effect caused by my arrival. In addition, it is likely that there is a conspiracy of Matsunaga Shu among them, which is a prelude to his and Miyoshiya's operation, and the raid on Kyoto is about to take place.

"What a pity!" I sighed sincerely, "I hope that Onoden (Nobunaga's sister Inu) will mourn ......."

"She's already pregnant with Nobukata's child," Nobunaga doesn't love Aichi as much as he loves Achi, but he also has a brother-sister relationship, "I hope it's a boy!" ”

"So the lord wants his ministers to avenge His Highness Nobukata?" I understand.

Nobunaga nodded, "However, before you go to Shimokawa Springs Country, I want you to do another thing. ”

"Please command, my lord!"

"Hmm...... Have you heard of the rebellion of the father and son of Kitabatake? Nobunaga said with a deep groan.

"My lord, Your Majesty thinks it's unlikely," I analyzed seriously, "Now that the family is like Zhongtian, His Royal Highness Gu Feng has also accumulated considerable prestige, and if the father and son of Kitabatake Gu want to rebel, they can't incite many wealthy families, and there won't be many people in the family to follow." ”

At the beginning, the conditions for the surrender of the Kitabatake family were that Kitabatake Guyu married Yukihime, the daughter of Gujiao and the adopted daughter of Gufang, as the main room. In other words, they have decided to graft the blood of the Kitabatake family onto the big tree of the Oda family. Now that Kitabatake has Feng Yuanfu, and the marriage with Yukihime has been put on the agenda, Kitabatake's godfather and son really have no motive to rebel.

"What if I say it's exact news?" Nobunaga stared at me and said.

(To be continued)