After Sakai Port fell into the control of the Shiba family, the saint ordered the Izumi-Hosokawa family to be responsible for managing the checkpoint.
Although in recent years, the Sibo financial system represented by Dazang Changan and the Sibo foreign trade system represented by Lilu have gradually emerged, taking away many of the benefits of Sakai Port.
But Fujitaka Hosokawa still firmly grasped the tariff issue and got a share of the fat from the rapid development of the Shiba family.
It's hot in summer, but it's cool in the room at the customs house right now. Businessmen have already offered ice stashed in their homes to flatter Hosokawa Fujitaka.
Akechi Mitsuhide used an ice pick to pierce a large piece of ice, and broken ice kept splashing out of the basin. Hosokawa Fujitaka, who was reading documents in front of the paperwork, said angrily.
"Okay, you came to my place not to play on the ice, right?"
Akechi Mitsuhide shook the ice pick and said with a smile.
"No wonder it's not easy to use. It turns out it's made of gold and the needle tip is too soft."
Akechi Mitsuhide looked around and talked about him, but Hosokawa Fujitaka didn't bother to talk to her and said directly.
"You want me to abandon Sakai Port?"
Akechi Mitsuhide shook his head and said.
"I didn't mean that.
Sakai Port is an estate entrusted by the saint to the Izumi-Hosokawa family.
If you give up in the face of war, even if the saint does not want to pursue it, after the war there will be people with ulterior motives who will add fuel to the fire and try every means to deprive the Izumi-Hosokawa family of their responsibility to occupy the checkpoint."
Hosokawa Fujitaka nodded.
"It's good that you know."
Everyone knew that the Shiba Ichichi and two families were bound to go to war, and Hosokawa Fujitaka naturally knew it too.
The Sakai Port Ishiyama area is collectively known as Osaka and has a special status. It is the core area where the two families meet. It is also here that Tobita Shinchi, which caused Hosokawa Fujitaka to become disgraced a while ago, is also here.
The sage Xiang Zhuang danced his sword with the intention of targeting Peigong, but Hosokawa Fujitaka caused the city gate to catch fire, affecting the fish in the pond.
Something happened to the Hiden Shinchi under her jurisdiction, and the saint took advantage of it to deal with the dissenters. People who had long been envious of the dividends from the Sakai Port Office were also nagging behind the scenes.
If Fujitaka Hosokawa dared to easily withdraw from Sakai Port when an army was invading, it would be someone else's fault. There would be another dispute over the jurisdiction of Sakai Port after the war, lest it fall into the hands of others.
Therefore, Hosokawa Fujitakaming knew that this place was dangerous, but he could not retreat. At least a few important officials and hundreds of elite members of the Izumi-Hosokawa family had to die here, so that they could give an explanation to the Shiba family.
Although he must die politically, it does not mean that Hosokawa Fujitaka is willing to lose his direct lineage, she said unhappily.
"Since you know I can't retreat, why are you still wasting your breath here?"
Akechi Mitsuhide put down the ice pick and said solemnly.
“Osaka Bay, where Ishiyama Sakai Port is located, is the best port area in the Western Seto Inland Sea.
Ichiyama is in the hands of Ichijo, and Sakai Port is protected by you. As long as Sakai Port is not lost, one of Hideyoshi's main logistics lines will not dare to disembark easily from Osaka Bay and can only take the Harima detour."
Hosokawa Fujitaka's mouth twitched.
"Do you want the Izumi-Hosokawa family to defend Sakai Port?"
If a legion wants to enter Kinki, it will probably follow the old path of the Miyoshi family, starting from Harima Settsu, taking control of Ishiyama ashore at Sakai Port, and attacking Kyoto of Yamashiro Province along the Yodo River.
And Ichijo Hideyoshi was much more powerful than Miyoshi Nagakei.
Back then, the Izumi-Hosokawa family was attacked by a partial force of the Miyoshi family, and they were unable to defend Izumi country. Now, although they have the backing of the Shiba family, they cannot succeed in defending Sakai Port.
The saint obviously wanted Ichijo Hideyoshi to destroy the peace first and lose people's hearts, so on the surface the Shiba family had not mobilized and all preparations were underground.
However, Ichijo Hideyoshi was fighting on the peninsula, and her regime was constantly mobilizing. One day, she could suddenly turn around and kill them directly.
Hosokawa Fujitaka was self-aware that the Izumi-Hosokawa family could not withstand a desperate attack by an army, and the sage never thought of letting the Izumi-Hosokawa family fight to the death.
Trading territory for time was an inevitable choice for Shiba's side. They abandoned the Settsu front line and introduced the enemy to Kyoto or even Omi for a decisive battle.
But according to Akechi Mitsuhide, she wanted Hosokawa Fujitaka to defend and make Sakai Port a nail buried in the back of a legion of troops.
Hosokawa Fujitaka felt that she was out of her mind. How could the Izumi Hosokawa family withstand the full force attack of an army of hundreds of thousands who had fought and seen blood on the peninsula.
Sighing, Hosokawa Fujitaka said.
"If you keep talking nonsense, go back earlier."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled.
"Let me guess, you have prepared hundreds of elites and a few loyal ministers, and want them to die in Sakai Port, so as to give an explanation to the internal affairs of the Shiba family?
In this case, why not try to gather thousands of troops to defend it for a while?
If they were really able to be crucified at Sakai Port, and their merits will be rewarded after the war, your contribution is not small.
As far as I know, the port area under the jurisdiction of Lilu was built in the Nanman style, with forts and cannons built at the port.
During the war, if there were Nanman ships at sea to support Guobeng and fortress iron cannons at the port, Ichijo Hideyoshi might not be able to defeat him.
Even if she can defeat her, it will take her a long time and the gain will outweigh the loss.
You are already prepared to kill people, why not make their deaths more valuable. Maybe they can survive and survive. After the war, it will be a great achievement for you and them, so there is no reason not to take a gamble."
Hosokawa Fujitaka's eyes drifted over and asked.
"What on earth are you planning?"
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled, knowing that his cheap sister's patience was exhausted, so he simply revealed all his plans.
"From now on, you hoard a large amount of military supplies in the port area for the use of thousands of elites, and try to last as long as possible.
I have been training the local people in Tanba Country for a while. Akai and other families were implicated in the Tobita Shinchi Incident, and they also wanted the opportunity to prove their loyalty to the saint.
The Tanba Kingdom is condescending and intimidating a legion from behind. You bury a nail in Sakai Port and retreat to Izumi and Hanoi to wait for reinforcements.
Both sides of the Yodogawa River are not peaceful, and a single army cannot quickly invade Yamashiro Country.
Otani Yoshitsugi is the garrison of Kyoto and has reinforced the city defenses along Yodo Castle, Fushimi Castle and other places.
Sage wants Ichijo Hideyoshi to take action first out of political considerations, but we should also try our best to stop Ichijo's army and buy time for Sage Kanto to mobilize troops."
Hosokawa Fujitaka narrowed his eyes, looked at Akechi Mitsuhide, and said.
"Is it any wonder that you have been training the locals in Danba Country for half a year just to prepare for this?"
Hosokawa Fujitaka finally understood what Akechi Mitsuhide meant.
Tamba Country is the gateway to Kinki from the Western Kingdom, and it is also a highland directly leading to Kyoto. Its strategic position is extremely important.
During the Tobita Shinchi Incident, the Sage discovered that the Tanba samurai family had colluded with the Ichijo family, which resulted in the local samurai family in Tanba country being severely punished and purged by the Sage.
While Akechi Mitsuhide was carrying out severe punishments without giving credit, he was also giving people sweet dates to raise hope, and repeated PUA in order to recreate the strategic hindrance effect that Tanba Country had on the Miyoshi family and Oda family.
Hosokawa Fujitaka listened very carefully. Akechi Mitsuhide first mentioned Otani Yoshitsugi, and then deliberately mentioned Kanto, which was meaningful.
Kyoto is the political center of the world. It has a special status that cannot be compromised. Yoshitsugi Otani must stick to it and live or die with Kyoto.
She is Maeda's best friend, a direct descendant of the saint, and a general of the Kinki clan of the Shiba family.
If Akechi and Hosokawa can hinder the advance of a legion and drag the enemy on the Osaka Plain, they will be a great help to Otani Yoshitsugi, and Maeda will also have to remember this favor.
Therefore, by sticking to the front line of Sakai Port and Tanba, Akechi and Hosokawa will only gain more than they lose. Whether it is military merit or favor, they will all make enough by then.
Among the Shibagami group, the Kanto families are the strongest. If Hideyoshi Ichijo attacks this time, the Kanto army will definitely be the main force against the Ichijo family.
For this reason, the Kinki lineage of divine descendants cannot be cowardly, otherwise they will be completely trampled by the Kanto lineage of divine descendants in terms of rewards after the war.
The saint has appointed Miyuki of the Uesugi family as the heir, and the Kanto line of divine descendants has already gained the upper hand. If the divine descendants from Kinki do not act, they may be suppressed for hundreds of years.
So this time, both Akechi Mitsuhide, Maeda Toshiie, and Maeda Benefit are all active.
On the contrary, Nizi Yukimori was not worried at all. The Nizi family and the Mori family were locked in a bloody feud. After the war, the Nizi family would definitely return to the Western Kingdom and would not bother to get involved in the rivalry between Kanto and Kinki.
As for Yuigahama Yui, let’s not mention it.
This battle between the Shiba Ichijo family will be the decisive battle to determine the ownership of the world. If we don't work hard now, we won't have a chance to work hard in the future.
If the world is peaceful, how can great achievements change fate? So in this last battle, everyone wants to win glory and show their face.
Hosokawa Fujitaka was immediately moved by Akechi Mitsuhide's words, nodded and said.
"I understand, I will arrange for the elite divisions of my capable generals to defend the port area of Sakai Port.
The success or failure depends on their lives."
Akechi Mitsuhide sighed.
"I have to encourage them. As long as they can survive, with this meritorious service of fighting to the death for the Izumi-Hosokawa family, their family will surely be prosperous and prosperous for generations to come."