"Return to the army and follow Yamanaka Princess. I will keep your loyalty in mind, and the military merits and rewards will not be calculated until Echigo."
When the villagers of Pusheng clan heard the words of their lord, they knelt down and kowtowed.
"Your Highness has shown me the kindness to rebuild my life. The village of Pusheng does not ask for any reward, but only seeks to serve the Lord.
Only by bathing in your loyalty and propriety can I become a good warrior who is loyal to justice."
Yiyin burst out laughing and pointed at her speechless.
This little girl is really good at talking, and her fresh and refined flattery sounds comfortable. If you have a son, you should marry this kind of person.
Sensible, considerate, and pleasing to the eye.
Yiyin smiled.
"It is only natural and right that the Wu family is rewarded by the public. What is yours is yours. Stop talking nonsense and return to the team."
He turned around and gave a fierce order to Dao Sheng.
"Shimahime, you continue to command the reinforcements and protect my front and rear."
Then he said to Yamanaka Yukimori.
"Yamazaka Princess, the people you belong to are approaching the flag base and follow my actions."
Both concubines cheered and went back to organize the queue.
Yiyin also made this move intentionally.
Today, Xingsheng in the mountains still has more than 20 Tongxin people in his hands, and Daosheng Meng has 170 riders under his command.
These more than 190 Ji warriors will be his basic base and the most reliable military force in galloping across the land of Kanto.
But even so, there is still a difference between inside and outside in his heart.
More than 20 of Xingsheng's men in the mountains have been with him in battles for many years and are trustworthy.
However, Dao Shengmeng's 170 Cavalrymen had just arrived, so they were alienated from each other and their relationship was relatively estranged.
In order to be safe, it was natural to use Yamanaka Yukimori's troops as the internal army to protect themselves. Shima Katsuo commanded the Hime Warriors and participated in the war.
Yiyin's mind has always been very clear, and he has been able to survive successfully for more than a year, escaping from death several times.
On the one hand, the system is powerful, and on the other hand, he is cautious and has good luck.
As a human being in troubled times, no matter how careful you are, you can never be too careful.
Although he occasionally gets hot-headed and impulsive, most of the time he can hold his own.
The system gave Mihime, Uesugi Teruhora, Yamanaka Yukimori, and Shima Katsuruo the most favorable impressions. The one he trusted the most was Yamanaka Yukimori.
The reason is simple: sleep with peace of mind.
The system is a rotten bastard, and the maximum favorability it gives you when you first meet is a deep pit.
When you first meet, the favorability level is max, but the favorability level is not locked at the highest level and remains unchanged. People's hearts are unpredictable, they will change, and they will rise and fall.
What's the use of maxing out the favorability level when you first meet someone? It's just love at first sight, and it can't last long.
If you want to maintain your goodwill, you must continue to invest and maintain your personality.
Yoshie's acting skills are good, and his image of Giri is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The favorability of Yamanaka Yukimori and Shima Katsuruo has always been at a high level.
As for Uesugi Terutora, after this trip to Hokurikudo, his favorability should have exploded.
But even so, Yiyin still cannot take it lightly and concentrates on performing without slacking off.
Among the three girls, Yamanaka Yukimori is the most trustworthy, because the two of them have had physical relations, and if they feel uneasy, they can sleep with her again.
Simple and effective.
———
Kyoto, Shiba Residence.
Akechi Mitsuhide was practicing tea art in the tea room, but his mind was not here at all.
It has been six days since Dao Shengmeng left. I wonder what the situation is like in Vietnam and whether the reinforcements can catch up.
She sighed, and the waiter outside the door came to announce that Hosokawa Fujitaka was here.
She nodded and asked him to guide her. She waited at the door of the tea room. She must not lose etiquette.
Hosokawa Fujitaka is already the person in charge of the Izumi Hosokawa family, and she actually has the final say on the Mibuchi family's territory in Kitakawachi.
She has the blood of Mibuchi Harue and is the younger sister of Mibuchi Fujihide, the Guardian of Kitakawachi.
The Mibuchi family was not strong, and most of its territory in Kitakawachi was maintained by the retainers of the Izumi-Hosokawa family. The two families were almost like one family.
Hosokawa Fujitaka holds Izumi and Kitakawachi's 200,000 koku, and is the most important ally of the Shiba family.
Although Akechi Mitsuhide provoked Hosokawa Fujitaka several times, he was not fooling around.
She wanted to use Hosokawa Fujitaka's admiration for her master to trap her and make profits for the Shiba family.
Now it seems that the effect is quite good.
From a distance, I saw Hosokawa Fujitaka coming angrily, Akechi Mitsuhide bowed and said hello, and asked to enter the tea room.
Hosokawa Fujitaka had a bad attitude towards her, but he smiled and did not refute.
The two of them dismissed each other and sat separately in the tea room. Mitsuhide Akechi offered her a cup of tea.
"Fuji Takahime came at the right time to try my craftsmanship."
Hosokawa Fujitaka took the tea cup, put it directly on the table, and looked at her coldly.
Akechi Mitsuhide remained gentle on the outside, but he was already impatient in his heart.
She had been in a low mood these past few days because her master was in danger, and she was not willing to act coy with Hosokawa Fujitaka.
She barely managed to deal with it, but unexpectedly, she pressed her hot face against her cold butt. Was this to force her to have a sharp tongue? She was so angry that she had nowhere to vent her anger.
Hosokawa Fujitaka didn't know the cold thoughts she was hiding behind her smile, and said.
"I heard that you accepted the general's sword for Duke Qianxin and sent it to Yuezhong.
How could you go overboard and do such a thing! Is a sword something that can be accepted casually?"
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled coldly.
"Fuji Takahime is not here to focus on the important matters of spring plowing, so she ran back to Kyoto just to question me about this matter?
The Lord is in danger in Yuezhong, so I will naturally use whatever is available. How can I care about anything else at this time?"
Hosokawa Fujitaka glanced at her and said.
"They are left to their own devices to deal with the matter of Echichu and Echigo. Do the Jimbo and Shiina families still dare to attack the envoys of the shogunate?
As long as you give up Uesugi Teru and return to the nearest place, the local samurai will send Duke Kenshin off respectfully."
She felt unhappy.
Hosokawa Fujitaka was opposed to Yoshigan Shiba's intention to go to Kanto.
She even hoped that he would stay in the near future and join hands with her to run a local powerful group. If they fall in love for a long time, they may not be able to get married.
Therefore, in her opinion, it is a good thing that Vietnam and China are blocked.
However, Akechi Mitsuhide accepted the general's sword and sent it to Echichu, and in disguise, he recognized Yoshigan Shiba's engagement with the Ashikaga family, which broke her dream.
She wanted to stop this, hoping that Yiyin would change his mind and return to the couple.
Since it is difficult to get to Guandong, it is better to work in nearby areas. Why bother to travel thousands of miles away, and you may not end up well.
Regarding Hosokawa Fujitaka's thoughts, Akechi Mitsuhide had a clear understanding of them and could not help but sneer.
"Fuji Takahime is very good at calculations. She always knows how to make decisions for my master. She really doesn't care about others."
Hosokawa Fujitaka was irritated by her insinuations and became angry.
"Akechi Mitsuhide, pay attention to your identity.
I am the leader of the Hosokawa Mibuchi family, and I am united with the Shiba family to advance and retreat together. Why can't I make some suggestions?
You are just a small person who is lucky enough to be here, how can you make decisions about the affairs of the family governor at will?"
Faced with her insult and suppression, Akechi Mitsuhide slowly picked up the tea cup, took a sip and said.
"It's obviously for your own selfish interests, but it involves the interests of two families. Fuji Takahime, your face is thicker than before."
Hosokawa Fujitaka stood up angrily, pointed at Akechi Mitsuhide and cursed.
"You villain! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I want you to look good!"
Akechi Mitsuhide also stood up and walked to her. The two looked at each other and were very close.
"Hosokawa Fujitaka, you just covet the Lord and want to get her. Why do you have to make so many excuses? I feel sick for you."
Not to be outdone, Hosokawa Fujitaka said.
"Isn't it the same for you? It's a night's pleasure to be rewarded by the public.
Disgusting! Despicable! Disgusting!”
Akechi Mitsuhide reached out and grabbed her collar, staring at her with burning eyes.
"I'm different from you.
You are not willing to give in, you are asking for something but not getting it, and you want to get the Lord wholeheartedly and satisfy your own selfish desires.
And I, everything I have have been dedicated to the Lord. My body, my thoughts, my emotions, and my soul all belong to Him.
For him, I can do anything! I am willing to do it! Why do you compare with me?
He is suffering in Yuezhong, I am worried, but you keep talking about sword control!
Ask yourself, what do you think of him in your heart?"
After venting, Akechi Mitsuhide let go of his hand, took a step back, bowed deeply and apologized.
"I'm rude."
Hosokawa Fujitaka stared at her coldly, twisted the corner of his mouth and said.
"Don't act like you just lost your mind and are sorry. It will make people sick to see you. I know exactly what kind of person you are."
Hosokawa Fujitaka pointed at Ake Mitsuhide's heart and said.
"You have a demon hiding here, full of cynical resentment. You hate this unfair world and wish you could burn it to ashes so that you can paint again.
I beg you, don’t take advantage of Shiba Yiyin again. He is a poor young man who has suffered many hardships and endured pain that is unbearable for a man.
What he needs is a woman who loves him and a peaceful home. Don't torment him for your own ambitions.
Let me beg you, Mitsuhideji."
Akechi Mitsuhide shook his head.
"You don't understand him.
Fuji Takahime, you are extremely intelligent, but your mind can only accommodate a small Izumi country. You are not worthy of him at all.
These are troubled times! Where can we find a paradise to live in?
You won't understand his sacrifice, his patience, his nobility, and his ambition."
Hosokawa Fujitaka said with a sarcastic face.
"I don't understand him, but I understand you. Don't think that I can't see your little thoughts.
How are you willing to let your beloved master marry into the imperial palace? Since you dare to accept the imperial sword, you must have a back-up plan.
I'm warning you, don't be too desperate, or you'll get him into big trouble!
Akechi Mitsuhide, I will keep an eye on you and won’t let you harm him!”
After saying that, Hosokawa Fujitaka turned around and left the tea room without saying anything. There was nothing left to say between the two of them.
Akechi Mitsuhide looked at her leaving back and remained silent.
Hosokawa Fujitaka is very smart, but unfortunately he is still a traditional martial artist who follows the rules.
She suddenly burst out laughing, that's right, who dares to think about it.