……，…… I entrusted Xiujing to bid me farewell to Yoshioka and Usuki Zhensao, and coaxed Janet back to Imabari Castle, where only Konatsu was left with me, and spent most of the month with me. During this period, the small and medium-sized wealthy families in the vicinity knew my intention to come to Tosa, and they did not dare to disturb me easily, only Nakamura's Kira Kinsada and Urado's Nagamune Yorito came to visit, and Zhou Jing and Akiko also came twice, mainly to report to me on the autumn harvest in the country.

Thanks to God's blessing, this year's year is very good, and the preliminary grain harvest has reached 240,000 stones, which has exceeded the actual stone height on the books by about 10 percent. When it came time to determine the amount of annual tribute, Zhou Jing accepted Katsugano Motonobu's suggestion and ordered that the annual tribute in the whole territory should still be levied according to the amount on the books, and as compensation for each family, the military service in the middle of the year would also be maintained at the level of last year, and the families who had children who entered the lotus pond or lost soldiers in the expedition to the Xiangxiang would be exempted from part of their military service within three years.

As soon as the news spread, it immediately aroused cheers within the territory, and both the samurai and the farmers were grateful for Zhou Jing's good governance. I also put on civilian clothes with Natsu and went out on patrol in the nearby town of Kochi for a while, and heard the praise of the farmers who rushed to the market many times.

"This year, I can be more generous, buy a few household belongings, and have a good year. Thanks to His Highness Lotus Pond's kindness! ”

"Although he is a young lord, he is very trustworthy!"

"That Highness, after all, is the child of His Royal Highness Kira and Lady Kamikawa, and he is also a person from our Tosa Province......"

"The people's hearts are available!" I sat in the izakaya and listened to the chatter of the people, and said with emotion to Maeda Toshinaga and Katsugano Shushin (historical Katsugano Minobu Shinobu), who were standing on the sidelines, "The lords are not very demanding, and as long as there is no war and there is a slight surplus in the harvest, they will be very satisfied to support the lord and be happy to go out with the lord and fight." ”

"Yes. Since the head of the Tosa family, there has been no war in the country for several years, and the annual tribute is only 40%, so everyone is very grateful," Katsugano Shushin replied respectfully, "Even in the old head of the Chosho family, the family is prestigious, and many of the former ministers of the Motokin, who are determined to go into seclusion, have reappeared as His Royal Highness Yorijin of Urado. ”

"That's good news." I commented with a smile.

At this time, a heavily armed guard came to the door. He saw Maeno Jingding, who was on guard in civilian clothes by the door, and immediately whispered something in his ear, and then Maeno Jingding came over and reported to me and Xiao Xia in a low voice: "My lord, the young master of Zhou Jing of the lotus pond, accompanied a senator from Kyoto to ask for a meeting, and he is currently in the city...... Look, do you need to go back to the city now? ”

"A senator in Kyoto? Came to Tosa Province? "I felt very strange. One Senate is one internal affairs, and after he was sent to the Ichijo clan in Kyoto by me, because the head of the family, Ichijo Neiki, did not give birth to children, so he soon became the adopted heir of the family, and when Ichijo Neiki was promoted from a left minister the year before last, he also obtained the official position from the three senators, which can be described as a blessing in disguise. However, since then, his fate with Tosa has almost been severed, and the only connection is the thousand-stone Zhiyuki that I left him unusually, which is managed by his brother-in-law Tsuno Dingkatsu, who sends the annual tribute income to Kyoto in late autumn and early winter every year.

Could it be that something went wrong with this annual tribute? However, according to the usual practice, the annual tribute was not delivered to Kyoto until September or October, and it was not time at all. What's more, although such an annual tribute is very important to a family (the stone height determined by the Edo period of the Ichijo family is 2,044 stones), at most it is handled by the family order or the family division of the doctors, and there is no need for an heir to come forward.

"Didn't Lord Tsuno come?" I waved my hand to the guard at the door and asked in a deep voice.

"My lord, I didn't go to Tsuno's house, and went directly to Lianchi City to visit the young master." The guard replied respectfully.

In other words, Tsuno has nothing to do with the intention of Ichijo's internal affairs, and he is not even qualified to participate in it...... My heart suddenly moved, could it be that something happened in Kyoto? Moreover, I can't even get information about my Jinwu and Li Fangliang's Australian house?

"Let's go back!" I made a quick decision and walked out with Natsu. Katsugano Shushin took out a small judgment and threw it to the boss who was already kneeling on the ground, and then followed closely.

When he arrived in the city, a servant came forward to report that Zhou Jingzheng was accompanying an internal affairs officer to taste tea in Jianxiu Garden. I thought about it and told Xiao Xia to go back first, and then went directly to Jianxiu Garden in civilian clothes, and found Zhou Jing and an internal affairs at the end of the promenade on the river.

I haven't seen it for a few years, and the appearance of an internal policy has changed a lot. When he left Tosa, although he was already in charge of the Motofu by me, he was actually not yet thirteen years old, and now he is a young man with a long body, not only has the demeanor and demeanor of a public family, but also has a bit of a heroic spirit because he came from a samurai family. Beside him, an elderly monk sits. The monk had a calm face, bowed his head slightly, and showed great respect for an internal matter.

Seeing me coming, Zhou Jing was concentrating on cooking tea, and he didn't say anything, but he immediately bowed his head and said, "I've seen His Royal Highness Jinwu...... I haven't seen him for a few years, and His Royal Highness's demeanor is better than before, which is really gratifying. ”

"Your Excellency," I nodded, "and I have heard about your Excellency, and I am very pleased. ”

"Thanks to the support of His Highness Tsuya." An internal thanksgiving.

"Needless to say, it's an old friend," I smiled, "Actually, I was on a tour of the consulate a while ago, and when I heard that you came from Kyoto, I immediately came to meet you...... You see, I haven't changed my clothes yet! ”

"I see." An internal affairs show a sudden expression.

"So, I hope you don't blame me for neglecting the hospitality." I said with a smile, and then I saw a slight embarrassment in the internal affairs. Obviously, he did have some dissatisfaction when they met, and when he saw me dressed in ordinary samurai casual clothes, he said that "the style is better than before...... Really, what kind of style can be seen in the deliberately frugal and inconspicuous dress?

"You're laughing. I feel very honored to come to meet me so kindly. He said with a cover-up.

"In that case, could you please tell me what I was trying to do, so that I could clear up the doubts in my heart first? …… Seriously, you came very suddenly. ”

"Ah, in fact, it's for the sake of the New Year's tribute," replied an internal minister, "because the expenses in the first half of the year were a bit too much, and I can't support it anymore." Therefore, can this year's annual tribute harvest be handed over to the family in advance? ”

"This is no problem, I will let Zhou Jing tell you to go back." I readily agreed.

"That's really grateful." An internal affairs bow their heads and salute the road.

"However, this is not the purpose of your trip, is it?" I suddenly changed my words, "If it's just because of this, I don't need you to intervene at all...... Can you tell me what you really mean? ”

“…… I can't hide anything from His Royal Highness Jingo," an internal affairs officer was silent for a moment, and turned sideways to show a wry smile to the monk beside him, "The next thing, please tell His Highness Jingo?" ”

"Who is this?" I looked at the monk and asked.

"In Shimogen Yasumasa, the legal name is Sogaku, and he is the master of the Ichijo family, and he once served as the head of the Tosa Ichijo family." He replied.

"Oh, it turned out to be Your Excellency the Secretary of the Source Criminal Department." I nodded. His name, as I've heard before, is from the Daigo Genji clan and serves as a doctor in the Ichijo family. In that year, Tosa Kunichi Ichijo Boji died early, and Fangji's uncle, the former Sekihaku Ichijo Ichijo Botsu, went to Tosa Province to serve as the adoptive father and posterior of Ichijo Kaneda, and Genyasuma also went with him, taking charge of the affairs of the Tosa Ichijo family, and later became the right-hand man of Ichijo Ichijo with Toi Sosan. It's just that, after Ichijo Kaneda was exiled by the important ministers, he also left Tosa Province with him, and he didn't meet me who later entered Nakamura Castle.

"It's just a small name, it's rare to be respected by His Royal Highness Jinwu, it's really a blessing," Yuan Zongjue said politely, and then turned to the topic, "This is indeed just a pretense for Your Excellency Senator to come here." The real purpose is to ask you about one thing at the request of the head of the Kujo Sekihaku and the head of the family. ”

"What's the matter?" I asked, looking him in the eye.

"That is, how is Oda Safu going to rule the world?" Gen Zongjue leaned forward slightly, "Some time ago, because of the merits of pacifying Kyushu Yuxiang, San'in Inaba, and Hokuriku Etsu and other countries, the imperial court imitated the old example of Taipei Daishokoku (Taira Kiyomori) and appointed Oda Safu as the minister of Taise. However, Oda Safu resolutely refused and was unwilling to accept the appointment. After consulting with the Excellencies, Kujo Sekihaku simply promised the three posts of Taisei Minister, Sekihaku Zuo, and Shogun Seiyi to Oda Safu, and he chose one of them, but two months later, Oda Safu still did not reply......"

Speaking of this, Gen Zongjue lowered his head again: "In the Oda family, everyone knows that His Royal Highness Jin Wu is the most trusted by Oda Zuofu, so can you tell us what Oda Zuofu means?" Choosing one of the three positions is already the ultimate that the imperial court can do. Even the Heidai Xiangguo, Yoritomo Gonghe, and other Chiin halls (Ashikaga Sonji) did not hold two of these positions at the same time; Although Rokuen Temple (Ashikaga Yoshimitsu) became the minister of Taisei, it was eight days after his resignation as shogun of Seiyi (as was the case with Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada in history)...... To this extent, isn't Oda Safu still dissatisfied? In other words, can His Royal Highness Jingo persuade Oda Safu? After all, dragging on like this made all the nobles of the court very anxious; Even His Majesty the Emperor has repeatedly asked about this matter. ”

"Hehe, the most credible? That's not to say; Persuade His Royal Highness Zuofu, I don't have the courage to do so now," I shook my head and deliberately changed my tone to complain, "I returned victoriously from Kyushu last time, but I only persuaded His Highness Zuofu to spare His Royal Highness Mamoru Mikawa's son-in-law, and as a result, I was ordered to reflect for several days...... This kind of thing is enough once, but if you advise it again, you may not know what will happen! ”

"However, as the number one minister in the family, His Royal Highness Jin Wu can't ignore it, right?" Yuan Zongjue persuaded.

"What about ignoring it? What about care? I shook my head again, "Anyway, even if I say it, it's in vain, and everything is up to His Royal Highness Zuofu's decision." ”

His Highness replied...... What a pity! Yuan Zongjue sighed, "Can it only be dragged on like this?" ”

"That's not it," I thought for a moment, "if you want His Highness Zuofu to accept the appointment of the imperial court, there is still a way. ”

"Dare to ask what?" Yuan Zongjue hurriedly asked.

"His Majesty the Emperor abdicated and went into seclusion, and Prince Seihito of Nijo Castle succeeded him." I replied to him.

"This!" Yuan Zongjue was almost shocked, "Could it be that His Royal Highness Zuofu wants to depose the Emperor of the Present Dynasty?!" ”

"It's not that serious...... However, His Royal Highness Safu has indeed been supporting Prince Seihito, so he accepted the fifth son of the prince as a prince and offered Nijo Castle, where he lived. Therefore, if Prince Seihito succeeds to the throne, then for the sake of the new emperor, His Royal Highness Zuofu will definitely accept the imperial court's edict. I explained.

"I see," Gen Zongjue nodded, "His Highness Jingo's suggestion is good. There are many precedents for the abdication of the emperor and the administration of the imperial court (it was not abolished until Meiji 22, and the emperor was introduced for life, and it was forbidden to abdicate the throne as emperor or emperor)......"

"Don't do that!" I hurriedly interrupted him, "Courtyard politics or something, please give up!" His Royal Highness Zuofu will not tolerate anyone competing with him for power...... If the government is carried out again, it may bring great disasters to the royal family and your Excellencies. Isn't the events of the post-Shirakawa era enough to teach a lesson? ”

Hearing me talk about Emperor Houbaihe, Gen Zongjue's face couldn't help but change. At that time, the Emperor was fighting for power with Pingshunsheng, but as a result, he was completely killed and brought back to life, not to mention that he was imprisoned, and all the public ministers who participated in the administration of the court were dismissed, and many of them were exiled to other places, and then died mysteriously (Fujiwara Narikin, etc.), and some were even executed directly in Kyoto (Fujiwara Seiko, etc.). From then on, the power of the imperial court and the public family declined, and a few years later, the Kamakura shogunate was established, and the samurai dynasty officially entered the era of power.

Whether it is from the process or the result, this matter can be said to be an eternal pain in the hearts of the court and the public, and it is also something that all the public should know and taboo. And now Nobunaga, the authority is more powerful than Hei Shun Sheng, and the surname is more powerful (at least Taira Mori didn't dare to burn Mt. Hiei, but allied with them), really annoying him, what will be the result? It's chilling to think about...... "Is it that serious?" An internal affairs officer couldn't help but ask.

"Maybe not, but I have to guard against it," I said casually, "His Royal Highness Zuofu has always been strong, and he will not give in easily, if the court gives in, you might as well give in...... In short, I have good intentions to you. ”

"Thank you, Your Highness Kingo, for your opinion!" Gen Zongjue bowed down and said, "The lower general will submit the opinion of His Royal Highness Jingo, and ask the nine Kanbai and your Excellencies to consider it." ”

(To be continued)