Matsunaga suggested inviting Yoshihiro Shiba back to mediate recent disputes, but Mitsuhide Akechi refused perfunctorily.
Although Akechi Mitsuhide has full confidence in Oda Nobunaga, it would be better if the process of seizing power was more tortuous and more blood was shed by all parties.
The reason for her refusal was also very good.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki tried every possible means to drive away Yoshihiro Shiba from the center of power of the Kyoto shogunate. Now that he has created a mess that no one can clean up, he wants Yoshihiro Shiba to come back and help clean up his stock?
You really think that the Sibo family is the one being taken advantage of!
After getting over this issue, the two of them chatted for a long time in the tea room. It wasn't until dark that they exchanged mean words in their hearts and said goodbye.
After Matsunaga Hide left, Akechi Mitsuhide came to a side room next to the tea room, where Honda Masanobu and Fujibayashi Muku, who were already sitting, saluted her together.
Akechi Mitsuhide waved his hands, sat on the main seat with a smile, and said.
"I've kept you waiting for a long time, but this Matsushita Nagahide is really whimsical.
On the one hand, she hopes that I can help her get out of trouble in front of Oda Nobunaga. On the other hand, she hopes that I can invite me back to Tsutado-den to ease the pressure on the Oda family.
How greedy."
Honda Masanobu thought.
"Based on my understanding of Matsunaga Hide, she shouldn't be so insane."
Akechi Mitsuhide sneered.
"This villain is just testing my position, whether I am loyal to Oda Nobunaga or Tsutado-don.
As for Ashikaga Yoshiaki, no one takes this stupid general seriously anymore."
Honda Masanobu sighed.
"The general made a bad move. Even if she was not angry with His Highness Oda for being domineering, she should not have issued indiscriminate imperial letters and secretly colluded with various forces.
In recent years of great chaos, the Kyoto shogunate has been reduced to a mere decoration. It has done nothing to see the war expand.
No matter who can win the final victory after this chaotic war, the influence of the shogunate will be exhausted and it will no longer have the majesty it once had.
From now on, no one will take Ashikaga Shogun seriously, and the Ashikaga family's two hundred years of empire were ultimately destroyed in the hands of this poor Lord."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled and said nothing.
When she first wrote to Ashikaga Yoshiaki, urging him to return to secular life and go to Luo, she never thought that this nun-general could be so stupid. It was unexpectedly useful.
The Ashikaga family originally did not have enough strength to act arbitrarily in the shogunate. The famous shogunate leaders such as Shiba, Hatakeyama, Hosokawa, and Yamana all had a rivalry with the Ashikaga Shogun, and their power was overwhelming for a while.
What the Ashikaga family is best at is actually the balance hand, using their strength to check and balance the various factions of the shogunate. The Ashikaga shogun is more of an arbiter, mediating disputes and controlling the shogunate.
Since the Yatsudai Shogun Rebellion, the shogunate has been experiencing serious internal strife.
In particular, the Hosokawa clan was massacred by Miyoshi Nagakei, Rokkaku Sadayori rose to power, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru, a strong-willed and powerful swordsman, could only barely maintain the majesty of the shogunate.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Rokkaku Sadayori are a secret relative, and she forms an alliance with the Rokkaku family to deal with the Miyoshi family.
It wasn't until Rokkaku Sadeyori passed away and Miyoshi Nagakei's plan to go to Rakukan was shattered by Yoshihiro Shiba that Ashikaga Yoshiteru gained some confidence and dared to radically reform the shogunate and gather central power.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki, an Ashikaga shogun who was born as a nun, did not receive orthodox samurai education and did not understand the Ashikaga family's political wisdom and trade-off skills at all.
He is as tough as Ashikaga Yoshiteru. When he should pretend to be a grandson, he has to pretend to be a grandson. However, Ashikaga Yoshiaki considers himself noble and offends both Yoshigan Shiba and Nobunaga Oda who supported him to become a general in Luo.
Originally, Ashikaga Yoshiaki's succession to the shogunate had some legal flaws.
She is not the designated heir of Ashikaga Yoshiki, but appears as a non-existent twin after her ancestor was murdered. The samurai family in the world do not quite recognize the title of this Ashikaga shogun.
Now that war has broken out again, the Kyoto shogunate is helpless and can only allow all forces to wreak havoc in the near future, completely destroying the awe of the Ashikaga Shogun among the samurai all over the world.
All in all, the Ashikaga General family has become the biggest victim of this war, and all this was done by Ashikaga Yoshiaki himself.
This general seems to really regard blood and family character as the golden rule. Even Minamoto Yoritomo would not dare to be as trusting as her.
If the title of the direct descendant of the Genji family in Kawachi can really shake the tiger's body, it will make the world's samurai family worship him, and the descendants of Minamoto Yoritomo will not be extinct in the second generation. The samurai family is very realistic.
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled slightly and said.
"I have turned down Matsunaga Hide's request. I implore Tsutado-don not to come close for a while, just to let everyone see clearly the stupidity of Ashikaga Yoshiaki and the weakness of the Ashikaga Shogunate.
Fujibayashi-hime, how is the situation over there in Omi Country?"
Fujibayashi Mukuro bowed and said.
"His Majesty Oda led his troops to Sakai Port to confront the Miyoshi family.
Before the Asai and Asakura families could recover from the defeat of Anegawa, His Highness Asai made a request to His Highness Asakura to continue joint operations.
However, the front line of Hengshan Castle was ready, and the Minami Omi reinforcements were responding from afar. His Highness Asai could not find a breakthrough on the east bank.
Therefore, this time, the Asai Asakura coalition forces may launch an attack from the west bank of Lake Biwa."
Akechi Mitsuhide nodded and started thinking.
The land in the Omi Basin is scattered along the shores of Lake Biwa. The plain areas are mainly distributed on the east bank and the south bank. The core territories of the Rokkaku and Asai families are also here.
Between the west shore of Lake Biwa and the eastern foot of the Hira Mountains, there is only a narrow plain belt, which is divided into Takashima County in the north and Shiga County in the south.
If the Asai Asakura coalition forces want to break through from the west bank, they must break through Sakamoto Castle guarding the gateway to Kyoto.
Akechi Mitsuhide asked.
"Who is the current guardian of Sakamoto Castle?"
Fujibayashi replied.
“After His Majesty Oda withdrew his troops from Echizen Kingdom, he handed over Sakamoto Castle to the Oda family’s veteran general Mori Katsunari.
Just recently, messengers have been coming and going from Kitanomi to Mount Hiei frequently, and His Highness Asakura Asai seems to want to borrow troops from Mount Hiei."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled and said.
"Master Kakushu of Enryaku-ji Temple thought that she only needed to deliver the Imperial Letter to Ashikaga Yoshiaki, but now she is probably riding a tiger with difficulty.
Now, His Highness Asai and His Highness Asakura have lost their sights. In order to save the situation, they will definitely drag everyone down.
Well, it seems that Sakamoto Castle can no longer be saved. I wonder if Oda Nobunaga will still be determined to continue the confrontation with the Miyoshi family in Settsu Province after hearing this news."
The Oda family's territories are mainly in Owari, Mino, Ise, and Minami-Omi. Oda Nobunaga fought in Settsu Province, and logistical supplies needed to pass through Yamashiro Province, which is the Kyoto Basin.
Sakamoto Castle is the gateway from Omi Kingdom to Kyoto. Once Asai Asakura's coalition forces break through Sakamoto Castle, they can cut off the retreat of the Oda army's expedition to Settsu at any time.
Regardless of whether Oda Nobunaga wants it or not, she will most likely return to Omi Province and deal with the threat from Asai Asakura's coalition forces first. As for Sakai Port and Settsu Province, she can't take care of it for the time being.
Mount Hiei is located in the Hirara Mountains northeast of Kyoto. It overlooks Kyoto to the southwest and Sakamoto Castle to the southeast.
Since ancient times, the Ni soldiers on Mount Hiei have been a political and military force that cannot be underestimated and are feared by the Kyoto regime.
If Enryakuji Kakushu really lends troops to the Asai Asakura family to attack Sakamoto Castle, Oda Nobunaga will definitely regard the temple power on Mount Hiei as a thorn in his side and want to get rid of it quickly.
Oda Nobunaga would never allow a military group hostile to attack him to exist on the side of Kyoto.
Akechi Mitsuhide couldn't help but laugh when she thought about Oda Nobunaga's falling out with the Tendai Sect. She asked Honda Masanobu.
"Honda-hime, how is the situation over at Shishan? Master Xianru is still unwilling to take action?"
Honda Masanobu bowed.
"I'm very sorry. Although the lower levels of the clan have been furious, Master Xianru is unwilling to get involved in the war with the Oda family.
I stirred up public opinion several times, but was suppressed by force. But I believe that the day when Yi Xiangzong will join the war is not far away."
Akechi Mitsuhide nodded, a little disappointed.
Master Kakushu of Mount Hiei has jumped into the pit of fire, and Master Xianjo of Ishiyama seems to be still struggling. This uncertainty of only waiting for a spark to ignite makes Mitsuhide Akechi feel uncomfortable.
She sent Honda Masanobu to Ishiyama just to light up the flame as soon as possible. She didn't expect Master Xianru to be so restrained, which was really disappointing.
Honda Masanobu carefully observed Akechi Mitsuhide's face, feeling uneasy.
On the contrary, Akechi Mitsuhide quickly regained his composure and said to her with a smile.
"Thank you for your hard work these days going to Ishiyama. I remember telling you that if something goes wrong, you can go to Sakai Port to seek help from Takada Haruno-sama."
Honda Masanobu said with a wry smile.
“I went to Sakai Port, but was turned away by the Shinsengumi.
Mr. Takada Haruno said that he does not know me. If you need assistance, please send a formal letter of authorization."
Akechi Mitsuhide's eyes flashed and he nodded slightly.
To be continued...