She grew up in a Buddhist temple and was not familiar with samurai politics. This time she returned to secular life to fight for the throne because she firmly believed that the Ashikaga family's family status would make all samurai families in the world stand by her unconditionally.
Wada Weimasa's rhetoric about a noble family was very to her liking, so she gladly accepted the Rokkaku family's help.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki smiled.
"Rokukaku Yoshiharu is quite sensible. I will keep his kindness to the Rokkaku family in mind."
However, Wada Weimasa disagreed in his heart. Her rhetoric was to please Ashikaga Yoshiaki. In fact, Rokkaku Yoshiaki was unable to decide anything at all.
During the era of Rokkaku Sadeyori, the Rokkaku family dominated recent times. Even Ashikaga Yoshiteru was married in a black hat ceremony hosted by Rokkaku Sadeyori.
It's just that the Rokkaku family, which has infinite glory, fell into a complete mess during the era of Rokkaku Yoshihide. They were defeated several times and the family business collapsed.
When Rokkaku Yoshiharu, the granddaughter of Rokkaku Sadeyori, took control of the real power, he realized that he had really become a granddaughter, and he felt extremely aggrieved.
On behalf of the retainers group, Goto Kentoyo put many constraints on the master's family and gave instructions. The young Rokkaku Yoshizhi was born out of fear and killed this important family minister with one blow.
As a result, dissatisfaction broke out among the retainers and Kannonji Temple was in turmoil. Rokkaku Yoshiken and Yoshiharu and his daughter had to escape from the castle in embarrassment and relied on the good offices of the Kamao family to return to Kannonji Castle.
The Rokkaku Shiki jointly drafted by Rokkaku Yoshiharu and the retainers stipulated the rights and obligations of both parties, and her power was completely restricted.
The confrontation between the Rokkaku retainers group and the Koga clan caused the prestige of Rokkaku Yoshiji to plummet. She is just a house governor, what can she decide if she has fame or no power?
The Rokkaku family themselves were busy fighting among themselves and had no interest in dealing with Ashikaga Yoshiaki. They also did not want to see the Miyoshi family, a group of Shiki natives occupying Kyoto, so they decided to give Ashikaga Yoshiaki some support.
There is no need for Ashikaga Yoshiaki to be moved. If Rokkaku Yoshiharu had the power he had during Rokkaku Sadeyori's period, he would have come out to cause trouble a long time ago. Who wouldn't be able to go to Romon?
Wada Weimasa continued to reassure Ashikaga Yoshiaki, she said.
"I have some close friends of the ministers in Kyoto, and I have received a lot of news. It is said that Miyoshi Yoshitsugu and Ise Sadakyo have been in trouble recently.
Miyoshi's army is stationed in Yamashiro Country, and this winter is difficult. Miyoshi Yoshitsugu hopes that the ministers will provide supplies to help the Miyoshi family survive the winter, but Ise Sakyo is reluctant to express his position.
The first snow of winter was not far away, and Miyoshi Yoshitsugu lost his temper several times because of it, and even threatened Ise Sadato."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki asked.
"Miyoshi's army is in Kyoto. How dare Ise Sakyo dare to challenge Miyoshi Yoshitsugu?"
Wada Weimasa smiled.
"Ise Sakyo doesn't want to do it either, but Ninagawa himself is hiding in the territory of Tanba Kingdom and won't come out, but he won't forgive anyone.
She continued to send messages to Kyoto to express her indignation at the rebellion of the Miyoshi family. She called on the ministers not to succumb to the regicide traitors and to prevent Ise Sakyo from coming to power.
The ministers are not monolithic within themselves either.
They were afraid that the Miyoshi family would fall out and cause a war in Kyoto. They were also afraid that Shiba Yiyin would return to Japan and liquidate their crimes of colluding with the Miyoshi family.
Ise Sakyo is in a dilemma. Kyoto is now in chaos. Miyoshi Yoshitsugu can't even get supplies for the winter. There is no way he can do anything detrimental to our Sakamoto Castle.
Moreover, Ninagawa's speech in Tanba country was supported by Hatano Hideharu, the guardian of Tanba.
Even if Miyoshi Yoshitsugu wanted to send troops to teach this troublesome government official a lesson, facing the protection of the Hatano family and other Tamba local samurai families, there was nothing he could do for the time being.
She looks majestic in Kyoto, but in fact she is besieged on all sides. Not to mention using troops against us, the Miyoshi family cannot even stand in Kyoto, and they may have to go back to Settsu Shikoku one day."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki felt refreshed after hearing this, and felt that his decision to leave the mountain and return to secular life was right.
she laughed.
"The Miyoshi family is going against the grain and will be punished by God. No, even before winter comes, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu can no longer bear it.
God's will, this is God's will. The ancestors have spirits, and God will never stop the Ashikaga family."
Wada Weimasa and Hitoshi Yoshimasa looked at each other and smiled. Everything they said was to enhance Ashikaga Yoshiaki's confidence.
Their investment this time was all on Ashikaga Yoshiaki. If she was frightened by external pressure, things would be difficult to handle.
Yagyu Soyan thought deeply.
"Although there has been chaos in recent years, no one has a good impression of the Sanhao family. All it takes is someone to take the lead in Luo to overthrow the Sanhao family, which is strong on the outside and arrogant on the inside.
Since Sakamoto Castle is safe, Your Highness should seek the support of powerful daimyo to plan for Luo."
The idea of the girls is not to rely on Shiba Yiyin, but Shiba Yiyin will definitely come back as soon as possible. All plans must be accelerated and completed before Shiba Yiyin returns.
If Yoshigan Shiba were to get the gold seal first and raise the flag to lead the world's samurai families, there would be no way Ashikaga Yoshiaki could compete with him in terms of charisma.
After all, he is a legitimate Odaisho, avenging his wife. What is Ashikaga Yoshiaki? The ominous Ashikaga twins have no name and no distinction.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki nodded.
"Yagyu-hime is right.
We must find a powerful daimyo who is willing to help me as soon as possible, and raise our troops to Luo before Lord Shiba Kenshin comes back."
Wada Weimasa said.
"Your Highness, are you willing to give it a try to Echizen Country?"
Ashikaga Yoshiaki asked.
"You mean to find the Asakura family?"
Wada Weizheng nodded and said.
"The Asakura family has been running the Echizen Kingdom for more than a hundred years. They are powerful and have an alliance with the Kitaomi family. They can easily enter Kitaomi and take the road to Kamikawa.
The Echizen Kingdom has a close relationship with Konki, and during the several times Konki was in great turmoil, the Asakura family had contributed to the shogunate, and they had always been respectful to the Ashikaga family.
I heard that last year the Asakura family also raised troops to attack the Kaga Kingdom, and the battle was fierce, and they deserved to be the number one female feudal clan in Hokuriku.
If you are willing to go in person to seek support, I believe that the Asakura family will feel your sincerity and protect you in going to Luo Jingdu and firmly assuming the position of general."
Wada Weimasa recommended the Asakura family after careful consideration.
The Asakura family and the Asai family have been in alliance for several generations and have a close relationship. If the Asakura family sends troops, the Asai family will inevitably send troops to help.
The Asai family controlled Kita Omi, running from the west bank of Lake Biwa southward along the Hira Mountains and straight into the Kyoto Basin. Their marching route was almost perfect.
The biggest obstacle in the northeast of Kyoto is actually the temples headed by the Tendai Sect of Mount Hiei. With the close relationship between the Tendai Sect and the Ashikaga family, it is impossible for them to help the Miyoshi family stop Ashikaga Yoshiaki from going to Raku.
In terms of combat power, the Asakura family is also well-known, not much worse than the Miyoshi family. The Asakura Asai family has a combined strength of one million koku, which is enough to support Ashikaga Yoshiaki's succession to the capital.
As long as Ashikaga Yoshiaki is willing to spread the pie and give benefits, the Asakura Asai family should be willing to send troops, right? This is beneficial and harmless to them.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki was a good person, she said.
"In this case, I will go to Echizen Country. Koji Yoshicho, please accompany me there."
Yagyu Sect kowtowed to the ground and said.
"I boast that my swordsmanship is extraordinary, and I sincerely request that I escort you to Echizen."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki is right.
"Will this... affect your Omatsu affairs?"
Ashikaga Yoshiaki indeed hopes that the world-famous swordsman will protect him, but the information about Omatsuke is also very important, and he cannot ignore one thing and lose the other.
Yagyu Muneyan affirmed.
"Please rest assured that protecting you will not affect the Omatsu incident, and the information can also be sent to your desk as soon as possible, killing two birds with one stone."
Soen Yagyu must go. The most important thing when being an intelligence chief is the trust of the master. If the master doesn't trust you, you are just a p.
When Ashikaga Yoshiteru doubted her loyalty, Yagyu Sogan immediately returned to his former self, and his life was not as good as that of a wild dog in Kyoto, which taught him a profound lesson.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki entrusted her with important responsibilities when they first met. How could she dare to stay far away? She must show her face in front of the master more often and express her loyalty frequently to reassure her.
Wada Weimasa smiled, and after seeing through Yagyu Muneyan's thoughts, she said.
"Sakamoto Castle cannot do without Mr. Niki Yoshimasa, who is in charge of the overall situation. I will also go with your highness to Echizen Country to negotiate with the Asakura family."
Niki Yoshimasa sighed, looking depressed, and said bitterly.
"There is no room for loss in Sakamoto Castle. It is a pity that I cannot travel with His Highness.
I will arrange for an elite flag force to set off with you, and prepare a boat to go ashore directly to the Kitaomi River to prevent the Miyoshi and Rokkaku families from interfering."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki saw the commendable loyalty of the three people and was very moved and rubbed his hands.
“The strong wind knows the strong grass, and the rough waves know the sincere ministers.
If I, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, rule the world one day, I will never forget your loyalty."
The three concubines below all kowtowed to the ground without daring to speak. Everyone was smiling, and the atmosphere between the monarch and his ministers was extremely harmonious.
———
Sakamoto Castle made plans, and Ashikaga Yoshiaki and his party began to prepare to go to Echizen Country. Before they set off, an unexpected person greeted them in the city the next day.
Hosokawa Fujitaka looked at Ashikaga Yoshiaki, his eyes were empty, and his face gradually turned pale. Although he did not cry or yell, the heavy sadness was a deep dependence on the Ashikaga family.
Yagyu Soen admired from the sidelines that Hosokawa Fujitaka was worthy of being the carefully cultivated heir of the Izumi-Hosokawa family. His superb acting skills alone were enough to dominate the shogunate's political arena.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki was once again moved, and the two looked at each other in tears, another moment of remembering the glory of the Ashikaga family.
The Izumi-Hosokawa family was a branch of the Hosokawa family, and the main family was destroyed by the Miyoshi family. Hosokawa Fujitaka's words were eloquent and moving, and they mirrored the experiences of the Ashikaga Shogun family, making Ashikaga Yoshiaki feel resonance.
We are both fallen people at the end of the world, so why should we meet before? Ashikaga Yoshiaki shed a tear, took Hosokawa Fujitaka's hand, and said emotionally.
"Hosokawa-hime, you are interested."
Hosokawa Fujitaka's eyes turned red, pretending to be strong, and gritted his teeth and said.
"Three good things are a great rebellion and cannot be tolerated by heaven.
As members of the Ashikaga family, the Hosokawa family must stand with you and fight the Miyoshi family until the end!"
"Okay, okay..."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki clapped her hands and was so moved that he didn't know what to say.
The Izumi-Hosokawa family is not a small player. The Hosokawa-Mibuchi family is the same family and owns the Izumi Kingdom and the approximately 200,000 koku territory of Kitakawachi, which is just southwest of the two countries of Settsu Mountain Castle.
With the support of the Izumi-Hosokawa family, the belly of Miyoshi's army was like a sharp sword. Miyoshi Yoshitsugu was attacked from both sides in Kyoto and had trouble sleeping and eating.
Hosokawa Fujitaka came to serve on behalf of the two families, which made Ashikaga Yoshiaki overjoyed. God help me!
Others are not as naive as she is. The powerful local Hosokawa Mibuchi family actually took the initiative to move closer to Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Didn't they hang out with the Shiba family? What is going on?
Not sure what the Izumi-Hosokawa family was thinking, Wada Weimasa tried his hand.
"Hosokawa-hime and Hosokawa Mibuchi, the two family governors, are you really willing to support my highness in inheriting the position of general?"
Hosokawa Fujitaka said solemnly.
"Your Highness Yoshiaki is a sister from generations past, and everyone in the shogunate's samurai family knows about her.
Now that our ancestors are in trouble at Nijo Castle, the Ashikaga family business should of course be inherited by His Highness Yoshiaki. As relatives of the Ashikaga family, the Hosokawa Mibuchi family is willing to serve His Highness Yoshiaki."
Fujitaka Hosokawa speaks with such righteousness that no one can find fault.
The Hosokawa family is one of the three feudal lords. It has been a kin female feudal clan since the opening of the Ashikaga shogunate. It has been in charge of the shogunate several times and has a great reputation.
Although the Hosokawa clan has been exterminated by the Miyoshi family of Shikoku, the Izumi-Hosokawa family is highly used by Ashikaga Yoshiteru and their status is not low.
The Mibuchi family is a branch of the fourth generation shogun. In terms of blood relationship, it is closer than relatives like Hosokawa Shiba. Moreover, generations of ministers have served the Ashikaga shogun.
These two families lit up their voices and sang in harmony. Compared with Wada Weimasa, Niki Yoshimasa, and Yagyu Muneyan, the direct ministers of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, they had louder voices and more prestigious positions.
But when the Wu family does things, interests come first. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, and politeness are all good. Whoever takes it seriously is a fool.
Wada Weizheng smiled slightly and asked.
"I heard that the Shiba family has obtained the Seal of the King of Japan. Shouldn't the local powerful faction wait for Lord Shiba Kenshin to come back and take charge of the overall situation?"
Hosokawa Fujitaka frowned.
"Master Wada's words are wrong.
Kings and ministers, mothers and daughters, Tsunasa ethics cannot be violated. Although Lord Shiba Kenshin was valued by previous generations, in the final analysis he was still a minister.
The affairs of the Ashikaga family should be handled by the heirs of the Ashikaga family. We, the ministers, only need to uphold justice and be loyal to the Ashikaga family.
How can I overtake my servants and do what Huo Guang did?"
As soon as Hosokawa Fujitaka said this, Wada Weimasa and others finally understood. It turned out that the negotiations between the Hosokawa Mibuchi family and the Shiba family had broken down.
These two families are pretending to be stupid, not mentioning that Yoshihiro Shiba is the fiancé of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, they only say that the Shiba family is a minister of the Ashikaga family, and they obviously want to speculate.
Probably because the benefits were not as good as expected, the Hosokawa-Mibuchi family came to view the Shiba family and turned to investing in Ashikaga Yoshiaki, hoping to get more benefits from the new shogunate in the future.
Miyoshi Yoshitsugu's predicament in Kyoto can be seen by anyone with a discerning eye. The Miyoshi family will not last long in the center, and there will be no place for the Miyoshi family in the future of the shogunate.
In this case, of course, each family must show off its unique abilities and compete for position and power in the new shogunate in the future.
These direct ministers of Ashikaga Yoshiteru are afraid that Yoshigan Shiba will monopolize power and exclude themselves. Aren't the Hosokawa Mibuchi family afraid?
Even if the two families can get some share, they won't be happy if they get less. Who doesn't want the family business to be more prosperous? The Sanhao family is like a grasshopper after autumn. It can't survive for a few days. It would be a fool not to argue at this time.
Wada Weimasa nodded, accepting Hosokawa Fujitaka's explanation. She didn't know that the Shiba family gave a lot, but Hosokawa Fujitaka wanted too much.
Hosokawa Fujitaka wanted the man Yoshigan Shiba, but the retainers of the Shiba family who were crazy about getting married, of course refused to agree.