Ninagawa himself was the leader of the shogunate group and was very well-informed about the upper echelons of the shogunate.
Tamba country has almost become an independent kingdom, and the Kyoto shogunate has declined, and it can no longer affect the samurai families in Tamba country.
Even if the Hatano family was willing to support the shogunate in conquering Settsu Kingdom, it was because of their own interests and they were by no means willing to surrender to the shogunate.
However, the Tamba Highlands located northwest of Kyoto is commanding and always threatens the security of the Kyoto Basin.
Whether it is Ashikaga Yoshiaki or Oda Nobunaga, no matter who wins in the end, they will have to deal with the unruly mountain people of Tanba Kingdom.
Kyoto turned a blind eye to the threats that were just around the corner and allowed the Tanba samurai to remain independent for a long time. This is unacceptable to any ruler of Kyoto.
Tango Kingdom is located to the north of Tamba Kingdom and is the wedge behind Tamba Kingdom. It has been valued by Kyoto since ancient times.
Tango's Isshiki family was one of the four positions in the shogunate, and the service office controlled by her family had long been stripped of most of its power.
The military core of the shogunate that managed the imperial family in the world was gradually reduced to the Kyoto police station. Now, Luozhong's legal system has passed the review, and the imperial police station no longer even has the capacity to be a Kyoto police station.
The Isshiki family obviously no longer cares about whether they can return to the palace, they just hope that the general will give the Isshiki family dignity and retain their status as companions.
The three of them thought about how cowardly and greedy the Isshiki family looked, and couldn't help but look at each other and smile. Ninagawa Himashi mentioned another thing.
"I heard that His Highness Yoshikage, the Governor of the Asakura family, is very dissatisfied with His Highness Oda."
When Mitsuhide Akechi heard this, he immediately became interested and asked.
"Where did the news come from? Did the Asakura family send someone to Kyoto?"
Ninagawa Makoyo shook his head and said.
"Whenever there is trouble in Kyoto, some famous families go to Echizen Province to seek refuge. The Asakura family Ichijodani Castle, also known as Little Kyoto, has many educated people.
Your Highness, Asakura, does not need to send someone specially to Kyoto. What she said in Ichijogani Castle can be spread by word of mouth and ears in a few days, and spread to Kyoto."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled.
"It seems that His Highness Asakura is very jealous of the Oda family's gains in Kyoto."
Ninagawa Himashi nodded.
"you do not say.
Mr. Kokata personally went to Echizen Country to seek support from the Asakura family in going to Luo. The terms offered by him were quite generous.
It’s a pity that the Asakura family didn’t seize the opportunity and gave it to the Oda family in vain.”
Hatakeyama Takamasa smiled.
"Times have passed and it is too late to regret it."
The three of them made fun of the Asakura family, but Akechi Mitsuhide secretly remembered it in his heart.
It's not that Asakura Yoshikage can't see the situation clearly, it's just that she is powerless.
The two strongest clans of the Echizen Asakura clan, the Tsuruga clan and the Ono clan, each had their own selfish motives and did not listen to the master's instructions and were unwilling to participate in the battle of Kamiro.
Without the help of these two powerful armies, even if Asakura Yoshikage forcibly launched Shangluo, he would not be sure to defeat the Miyoshi family entrenched in Kyoto, so there was no need to humiliate himself.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki came to ask for help. She couldn't seize the opportunity herself. It would be hard to blame the shogunate, let alone expose her own shortcomings.
There was no other way, Asakura Yoshikage had no choice but to scold Oda Nobunaga to relieve his resentment.
Asakura Yoshikage complained a little, and Oda Nobunaga didn't care. The territories of the two sides were separated by the Kitaomi River of the Asai family.
The Asai family and the Asakura family have been allies for many years, and they are related by marriage to the Oda family. Both parties have to give the Asai family face.
Nowadays, the top priority of the Oda family is to cooperate with the shogunate to conquer Settsu Kingdom. I believe that Oda Nobunaga will not take the unpleasant words of Asakura Yoshikage to heart for the time being.
But in the future, that may not be the case.
Oda Nobunaga's ambition was to conquer the world, and the Asakura family of Echizen Province was strong. They occupied the Hokuriku Road and entered the important towns of Konka, peeking at Kyoto.
Between the Oda and Asakura families, there will always be a decision on who is the king and his ministers. The few jokes today may not be an excuse for war in the future, and Mitsuhide Akechi is also looking forward to it.
Akechi Mitsuhide thought for a while and asked.
"I heard that His Highness Oda is leaving Kyoto to return home?"
Ninagawa Himashi nodded.
"Yes, it is said that the army has been away for a long time and is eager to return home. It will set off to return in the next few days.
Except for Hashiba Hideyoshi's troops who were left to defend Kyoto, all Oda troops in Kyoto will withdraw to the Minami Omi line.
Most of the Oda troops in Minami Omi will be mobilized to participate in the busy farming season, and after the summer and autumn harvests, they will be mobilized again to participate in the Settsu expedition."
Akechi Mitsuhide nodded slightly, mentally weighing whether he should meet Oda Nobunaga.
No-kun's cheap cousin is the mistress of the Oda family, and Akechi Mitsuhide has a good chess piece in his hands, Saito Ryuuki, so he might be able to get married to Oda Nobunaga.
It's just that this Oda family governor has a surly temperament, so Akechi Mitsuhide has to think carefully about how to contact him appropriately.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki is immoral and incompetent. Although she is backed by the title of direct descendant of Kawachi Genji, Akechi Mitsuhide feels that she cannot hold on for too long before she will be completely overwhelmed by Oda Nobunaga.
Oda Nobunaga was so ambitious that the shogunate officials did not want him, and the deputy general was not moved. This was obviously his attitude of replacing him.
The Oda family has achieved great success, and Akechi Mitsuhide will naturally not do the stupid thing of trying to use a mantis as a chariot. However, strong fortresses are often breached from the inside, so it is always better to make arrangements earlier.
He was still talking about being married to Ninagawa, Hatakeyama Takamasa was talking about the gossip of the shogunate, and Akechi Mitsuhide's thoughts had already drifted to Tofukuji Temple and to Oda Nobunaga.
———
Nijo Imperial Palace.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki faced Mitsuhide Akechi, who came to see him, and said softly.
"Mingzhi Ji came here today to express her gratitude?"
Akechi Mitsuhide bowed.
"The Lord Gongfang appointed me to guard Kyoto. I was flattered and frightened day and night."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki laughed.
"I succeeded to the throne in Luo, and everyone who followed me would be rewarded. How could I leave out Mingzhi Ji?
If it weren't for your letter of advice, how could I be the general I am today?"
Mingzhi Guangxiu kowtowed and said.
"My lord Gongfang has spoken harshly."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki shook his head and said sincerely.
"I know Akechi-hime's loyalty very well. Only when you are responsible for the defense of Kyoto can I feel relieved and sleep well."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled bitterly.
"I'm just a retainer of the Shiba family. I'm lucky that the general values ​​me so much, but it's really not convenient for me to take on this position."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki frowned.
"What? Is Tsudo-den not happy?"
Akechi Mitsuhide shook his head and said.
"My Lord has sent a letter, asking me to go back to the mountain city immediately. The Sibo family will review the merits and demerits of the Sibo leader in the past two years, and judge merits, rewards, and crimes..."
Akechi Mitsuhide sighed.
"Three good things went to Luo, my ancestors were murdered, and I am the one awaiting punishment after all.
If I go to Duowen Mountain City, my lord will definitely punish me for my sins and reduce my territory."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki said in a deep voice.
"Akechi Ji didn't do anything wrong.
When Miyoshi went to Luo, so many shogunate samurai stood by and watched, but Akechi-hime not only fought in Kyoto to the end, but also wrote to me to explain her powerful strategy to go to Luo.
Although you are only a servant, your loyalty to the Ashikaga Shogun family far outweighs those people with ulterior motives who only try to deal with me.
With you by my side, I feel at ease."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki had long wanted to win over Akechi Mitsuhide. After the Rakuchu legal system was passed, Wada Weimasa and others wanted to install their own people.
However, after experiencing a political education before and after the Ise Sadakyu case, Ashikaga Yoshiaki had some distrust and resistance towards these ministers who were loyal to the dragon in Kamiro.
Akechi Mitsuhide just arrived in Beijing and helped her untie the knot between the Ashikaga families, which made Ashikaga Yoshiaki very satisfied.
To be continued...