Hashiba Hideyoshi is extremely grateful for the unexpected help from Mitsuhide Akechi.
However, due to time constraints, the two did not continue the in-depth discussion. They agreed that Hashiba Hideyoshi would send someone to Akechi Mitsuhide's camp to retrieve the letter, and then said goodbye.
After Hashiba Hideyoshi respectfully bowed to bid farewell to Akechi Mitsuhide, Takenaka Shigeharu came closer and whispered.
"Akechi Mitsuhide has an excellent reputation in the capital. He is a good man, good at dancing, and willing to do charity.
She has helped many people, and her territory has also taken in many poor and poor descendants of famous families who have no future. The martial arts family all praise her for having Meng Chang's legacy.
But I have also heard some groundless rumors calling her a contemporary Jia Xu and a poisonous figure in Kyoto.
It is said that Miyoshi went to Raku Kyoto, and her ancestors died tragically at Nijo Castle, which was inseparable from her. The first thing she did after going to Raku in the Tsudo Palace was to whip her in public outside the gate of Tawen Mountain Castle.
Although it was said that she had neglected her duties and was guilty of negligence, the subsequent punishment was to imprison Dawen Shancheng, waiting for further treatment.
The crime of negligence would not warrant such a heavy punishment. There must be other reasons that are difficult to disclose to the outside world.
If General Ashikaga hadn't used such despicable methods to exclude Tsutado-don, this person might not have had the chance to be used again and return to Kyoto.
Tsudaden changed her previous strategy of wooing the generals to fight against the Oda family, and took the initiative to retire from her residence and become a monk. This change occurred after she returned to the capital, and it was probably a new strategy led by her.
Tsuta-den left Kongo and went to Kanto. While she was deeply trusted by the shogun and accepted the post of Kyoto garrison awarded by the shogunate, she became close to the main-den. It is said that Konon-kun kept writing letters.
This person is very capable. He has connections on both sides of Ashikaga and Oda. He is also a diplomat of the Shiba family stationed in Kyoto. His ability to dare to jump repeatedly among the three camps is really impressive."
Hideyoshi Hashiba shook his head and said.
"I know what you mean, I know better than you what kind of person she is and what she has done.
Believe me, I am far more wary of her than you are. But now is not the time to be wary of her. I need her help now, and I even hope to deepen my connection with her.
I have a feeling that my future achievements will probably depend on this person's performance."
Takenaka Shigeharu’s eyes narrowed.
"what do you mean.."
Hideyoshi Hashiba glanced around and saw that no one was paying attention, so he lowered his voice and said.
“Some things have been done once, and they become more familiar when done again.”
Takenaka Shigeharu's breathing became heavy and he glanced at Hideyoshi Hideyoshi's confident eyes. His master must know something that he didn't know, but since she didn't tell him, it was hard for him to ask.
Hashiba Hideyoshi received the amulet given by Akechi Mitsuhide and grabbed a glimmer of hope from a certain death situation. After all, he could not suppress his excitement and let out a hint of rumors about Takenaka Shigeharu.
It is definitely not a rumor that Akechi Mitsuhide participated in the murder of Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
Hideyoshi Hashiba was sure that the mad woman who had the courage to ask for Yoshiki Shiba seven times in one night must have been the mastermind behind the murder of Ashikaga Yoshiki, the shogun.
At its root, it is nothing more than a word of love.
Hideyoshi Hashiba watched Oda Nobunaga bring Yoshigoshi Shiba into the room and take away his first love.
As a member of Elder Nobunaga Oda's team, Hashiba Hideyoshi was very aware of Oda Nobunaga's thoughts on Shiba Yoshigan. She was determined to conquer the world, and she also wanted to conquer the most beautiful man in the world again.
Will Akechi Mitsuhide allow Oda Nobunaga to do this?
There was once a lord of the world who died tragically and inexplicably in Nijo Castle because of his relationship with Shiba Yoshigan. So, would Oda Nobunaga, the future man of the world, also die inexplicably?
Hideyoshi Hashiba is looking forward to it.
As long as she survives the disaster of Kanezaki, she will be able to break the glass ceiling above her head and become an important minister of Oda, with a bright future.
At a time when the power of the Oda family was rapidly expanding, I was really lucky to be able to successfully board this speeding express train.
But even more fortunately, she has discovered the possibility of getting rid of the shadow of the Oda family and surpassing Oda Nobunaga in the future.
Akechi Mitsuhide, do you want to use me? No problem, I'm waiting for you to use me. I'm really looking forward to it.
Leaving only half an ambiguous sentence, Hashiba Hideyoshi stopped saying another word to Takenaka Shigeharu. We are all smart people, and some things can be explained in detail. There is no need to explain everything in detail.
Takenaka Shigeharu himself ignited Hashiba Hideyoshi's ambition. How could he not know that Hashiba Hideyoshi's further difficulty in the future would be Oda Nobunaga.
The supporter you once admired will sooner or later become the obstacle in your way.
Regardless of the future prospects, the most important thing for Hashiba Hideyoshi at the moment is to complete Oda Nobunaga's rear mission and return alive to receive the reward.
After that, the two of them stopped talking and hurried back to their home base.
Seeing the waiting ladies in the main formation, Hideyoshi Hashiba swept over them one by one, including Shigeharu Takenaka, Masakatsu Hoshisuga, Hidenaga Kinoshita, Kiyomasa Kato, Masanori Fukushima, and Nagamasa Asano.
These people may be sent by Oda Nobunaga, or they may be his sisters, or relatives at home. They are all his old team members who have worked hard for several years.
Hashiba Hideyoshi's heart suddenly surged with great pride, he bowed deeply to the concubines and said sincerely.
"I'm very sorry! I have found a troublesome job for everyone! Please die with me!
Only by surviving from death and fighting back from hell to the human world can we have a better future!"
The ladies looked at each other in confusion, not understanding what Hideyoshi was talking about. But even Masakatsu Hachisuga, who had the most estranged relationship with him at the time, had already been impressed by Hideyoshi's personality charm.
The concubines who believed in Hideyoshi Hashiba did not hesitate to bow in return and shouted.
"I wish to live and die with the Lord!"
———
Not to mention how Hideyoshi gave blood to his subordinates in his camp, Akechi Mitsuhide on the other side did not directly return to his camp to write a letter for Hideyoshi.
Instead, he asked to see Oda Nobunaga again and was introduced into the formation.
Oda Nobunaga was having dinner after a busy day. She didn't seem to be bothered by the troubles in front of her. Instead, she appeared to be in high spirits, as if she was excited about accepting a new challenge.
Seeing Akechi Mitsuhide come in, she did not speak immediately, but poured the tea into the remaining rice, stirred it, and then wolfed down the chazuke rice into her mouth.
After finishing the meal, he wiped his mouth with the hand towel Mori Ranmaru offered, and then Oda Nobunaga asked slowly.
"Tomorrow we will retreat with the army. Doesn't Akechi Ji need to go back early to prepare?"
Akechi Mitsuhide bowed.
"I came with the army this time, and I just brought a few banners with me, so I don't need to prepare anything specially.
Even if His Highness Oda wants me to set off now, I can go back and say hello, and then we can set off."
Oda Nobunaga laughed.
"You seem relaxed and at ease, so why are you asking to see me now?"
Akechi Mitsuhide said.
"His Majesty Oda's arrangements for withdrawing troops are in an orderly manner. I admire him very much, but I just have some thoughts that I don't like."
Oda Nobunaga glanced at her lightly.
"tell me the story."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled.
"I sat in on the military meeting and watched His Highness Oda's arrangements. Do you want to lead the army back to Kyoto?"
Oda Nobunaga nodded.
"Not bad, any questions?"
Akechi Mitsuhide shook his head and said.
"As for military strategy, I am far away from His Highness Oda. I can't tell you what your mistakes are. I'm just a little confused.
The strength of the Oda family is far stronger than that of the Asakura Asai family. The two highnesses Asakura Yoshikage and Asai Nagamasa are secretly communicating with each other to block you out of the mountains and along the coast.
You have sent Niwa Nagahide to stabilize the Wakasa Kingdom samurai family first. Thirty thousand troops are crossing the border. With the strength of the Wakasa Kingdom samurai family, they probably don't have the guts to stop them.
The army would not encounter any trouble before entering the Asai family's Kitanomi Takashima County, but the Asai family would not watch the army return without doing anything, and would inevitably arrange an interception in Takashima County.
But as long as you can successfully return to Kyoto, and the remaining Oda army responds to the 30,000 troops retreating from Wakasa country, the Asai family will not dare to block you in Takashima County, but will be afraid of being attacked from the north and the south.
So, have you ever considered the possibility of leaving the army and returning to Kyoto first?"
Oda Nobunaga squinted his eyes and listened to Akechi Mitsuhide's suggestion, and his heart moved. Of course she wanted to escape as soon as possible, but reality did not allow it.
With the Oda family's two million koku land mobilization power and huge commercial profits, the 30,000-strong army deployed this time was only part of the force.
There are still Oda troops stationed in Kyoto, and there are also many troops in the new territories of Minami Omi and Kita Ise.
As long as Oda Nobunaga can return to Kyoto, even if he is alone, he can quickly mobilize these troops, effortlessly pull out more than 10,000 troops, and go north to help relieve the blocked army.
But the question is, how can she go back?
To be continued...