The Rokkaku family retreated, the army returned to Kannonji Castle, and the crisis in Kitaomia was resolved.
After receiving the news of Rokkaku's return, Maeda immediately led his troops back to defend Suzuka Pass.
Nagamasa Asai led his troops into Sawayama Castle, echoing Maeda's interests from north to south.
The Rokkaku family lost the opportunity and had no intention of fighting again. Rokkaku Yoshiharu sent people to Kyoto to seek Ashikaga Yoshiteru's intervention to mediate a ceasefire.
There was a raging undercurrent in Kannonji Castle. Goto Kentoyo took this opportunity to force Rokkaku Yoshihide to make concessions and no longer participate in Rokkaku's family affairs. He became arrogant for a while.
Even the governor of the Rokkaku family, Yoshinori, could not suppress her, and the discord between the principals and ministers intensified, making the family uneasy.
———
In the sword room of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Takada Yukino wield their swords together.
The general has been in a good mood these days.
Seeing a serious problem, Sanhao Changqing lingers on the bedside. Sanhao's minorism continues to conflict with Sanhao's three people, and the signs of civil strife become more obvious.
The Rokkaku family's Northern Expedition failed in Minami Omi, and the threat to the main family from the Fuji family became more and more serious after passing through the generations. Rokkaku Yoshiharu had to seek the general's intervention to reach peace with the Shiba family and the Asai family.
In recent times, the old enemies in both the east and west have been declining, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru is certainly feeling refreshed.
Within the shogunate, she began to consolidate territory and military and food services through the construction of Nijo Castle.
They also took Sakamoto Castle at the mouth of Lake Biwa and Seta River under the direct jurisdiction of the Ashikaga family, blocking the most important commercial waterway between Higashi Konki and Kyoto.
In addition, Fushimi Toba, who was stationed in the Ashikaga Hui clan, controlled the Yodogawa waterway south of Kyoto, which was the waterway from Sakai Port in the west to Kyoto.
The two main trade routes into Kyoto were controlled by the Ashikaga family, which was equivalent to controlling Kyoto's business. If the shogunate wanted to profit from it, they had to respect the shogun.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru's power is gradually expanding, and he gradually controls the power of the shogunate.
Taking advantage of the mistakes made by Ise Sadakyo in recent wars, he suppressed the Ise family and used the Ninagawa family to erode the power of the government and further gain power.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru is full of confidence. As long as she is given two years, the Ashikaga family will be able to reorganize the shogunate and rise again.
Sweating like rain, she slashed a hundred times, then sheathed the sword and smiled at Yukino Takada.
"Sure enough, it's still fun to swing a knife."
Takada Yukino silently sheathed the knife and stood beside her indifferently, not answering her words, leaving the noble Mr. Kōkata in the dust.
Fortunately, Ashikaga Yoshiki has long been accustomed to her coldness, and as time goes by, he feels that it is quite good. Compared with those noisy flatterers, the quiet Yukino is a sensible sparring partner.
She looked at Xueno and suddenly asked.
“I wonder if Lord Kenshin arrived in Echigo?
A few days ago, there was a summons from Echu. He took his sword and removed the Echu guardian of the Shiina family.
He is still so bold, he is really a bad man."
Although he was saying derogatory words, the corners of Ashikaga Yoshiteru's lips couldn't help but curl up. He finally accepted the sword and we became husband and wife.
Humph, let’s see how he escapes from my grasp this time. When I get back to Kyoto, I’ll have to embarrass him and make fun of him.
Takada Yukino glanced at the proud general, lowered his head silently, and held his right hand with his left hand, fearing that he might subconsciously chop the noble Lord Kōkata.
The Lord said that Yukino was asked to protect her, and Yukino could not break his promise to the Lord.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru had nowhere to show off, and had long regarded the silent Yukino as someone to confide in. He had previously carefully explained the meaning of Yoshigami's acceptance of the sword.
Under Yukino's indifferent expression, her heart was not so peaceful.
Lord, are you okay? As for the sword, can you throw it away?
Yukino hates Swordsman, most of all.
———
Sibo Mansion, tea room.
Akechi Mitsuhide admired Tsutsui Junkei's display of tea skills, applauded gently, and looked envious.
"His Majesty Tsutsui is very versatile, and his skills are beyond my reach.
I have also practiced hard, but I just can't do it as smoothly and elegantly as you. Let's not talk about the taste of it."
Tsutsui Junkei smiled flatteringly and said.
"Master Akechi is joking.
You are a famous wise man in Kyoto, and you are in charge of the external affairs of the Shiba family. How can you spend your energy on these small skills?
That is to say, I am an outsider who indulges in it in my spare time. If you like it, I will serve you from now on."
Today, Akechi Mitsuhide invited Tsutsui Junkei to come to Shiba's residence. Although he didn't know what the gentleman wanted to talk about, it did not prevent Tsutsui Junkei from serving him carefully.
That's right, it's about serving.
As the Battle of Omi comes to an end, the strength of Maeda's interests proves that even if Yoshihiro Shiba is not in Japan, the Shiba family is still the leader of the powerful local faction in the shogunate, with the strongest fists.
As the governor of the Tsutsui family who shared Yamato with the Shiba family, he had some unpleasant experiences. Although Tsutsui Junkei was a great name, he still had to keep his head down and act small.
Her humble attitude towards Mitsuhide Akechi shows her full respect for the Shiba family and has no intention of offending.
Akechi Mitsuhide did not find another mansion in Kyoto, but stayed in the guest room of Shiba's mansion and exercised the rights granted to her by her master as the spokesperson of Yoshihiro Shiba.
Regarding Tsutsui Junkei's caution, Akechi Mitsuhide smiled gently and said.
"How dare I trouble Your Highness?
The art of tea and me are like a cow drinking water. This is a waste of His Highness's skills.
However, I do have something to trouble His Highness."
Tsutsui Junkei bowed.
"Sir, please speak."
Akechi Mitsuhide said softly.
"I want to check on someone at Kofukuji Temple."
Tsutsui Junkei was stunned, wondering.
"Sir, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that this matter is a bit too much. The Tsutsui family is a disciple of Kofukuji Temple..."
She hasn't finished speaking yet.
"Snapped!"
Akechi Mitsuhide slapped Tsutsui Junkei on the face, knocking her unconscious. The slap was severe, and her left cheek was in burning pain.
Compared with the slight physical pain, Tsutsui Shunkei's dignity was even more humiliated, causing her face to turn red and she stood up.
"Akechi Mitsuhide! Don't go too far!"
She is the governor of the Tsutsui family, and she is in charge of Nan Yamato. Although she is a nun of the samurai family who has never fought, she is also a daimyo with more than 200,000 koku.
To flatter Akechi Mitsuhide is to fear the power of the Shiba family and the staunchness of Yoshigan Shiba.
Akechi Mitsuhide himself is just a subordinate. If he were not the person in charge of external affairs of the Shiba family, how could he be taken seriously by her?
But this guy dared to slap her! He deliberately humbled himself in exchange for a greater insult. How could she not feel angry?
Akechi Mitsuhide glanced at her coldly, stood up and stepped forward, smiled and touched her left cheek, and asked softly.
"Does it hurt?"
Looking at her distressed look, it seemed as if the slap was not from her.
This strange atmosphere made Tsutsui Junkei stunned on the spot, and he didn't know whether to continue to get angry.
Akechi Mitsuhide held her hand and slowly led her to sit down. The words in his mouth were caring for her.
"I heard that things are not peaceful in Xingfuku Temple these days.
The leader of the Nagakaku Palace appeases the nuns and samurai families of each family, intending to restore the old situation of the four nuns and samurai families who took charge of the Yamato Kingdom.
Every family was a little moved when they heard about it, especially the Yuezhi family, who vowed to Master Changjue and were willing to manage the Yamato Buddhist Kingdom for the Tiantai Sect."
Tsutsui Junkei squinted her eyes and thought, of course she knew these things.
With the alliance of the Shiba family consolidated, the head of Kofukuji Temple, Nagakaku, began to eliminate the threat of the Tsutsui family's dominance.
This is also the reason why Tsutsui Shunkei talks down to the Shiba family. The nun Wu family can't beat the Wu family, and she can't beat Shiba Yoshigan.
In order to cope with the division of the nun samurai group by Master Nagakaku, Tsutsui Shunkei must ensure that the Shiba family will not get involved.
Once this powerful local leader of the shogunate enters the situation, the Tsutsui family will have no choice but to surrender and surrender, leaving Master Nagakaku at his mercy.
Fortunately, Shiba Yiyin is not nearby, and Master Nagakaku is not familiar with Akechi Mitsuhide, so he has not reached out to the Shiba family for help for the time being.
But even so, Tsutsui Junkei did not dare to be careless. The ups and downs of the family business must not be careless.
While she was in Kyoto, she deliberately made friends with Akechi Mitsuhide, and even revealed information about Ichigo Mun to her to sell it to the Shiba family.
But Akechi Mitsuhide's slap knocked her silly. What did this guy mean?
Tsutsui Shunkei thought for a while and answered slowly.
"Master Nagakaku, as the head of Kofukuji Temple, naturally has the right to intervene in the management of Yamato Buddhist Kingdom.
It's just that the Dharma Master is busy worshiping the Buddha and knows very little about secular affairs, so many things are actually not easy to handle.
My Tsutsui family has managed Yamato for Kofukuji Temple for more than a hundred years, so I am afraid it would be inappropriate to change our ways."
Akechi Mitsuhide smiled gracefully and slowly uttered a few words.
"Then why are you pretending to me?"
Tsutsui Junkei was stunned. She never expected that the elegant Samurai Hime would say such vulgar words.
Akechi Mitsuhide sneered and continued.
"The Rokkaku family is experiencing internal strife, but the external troubles in Omi are over.
With Peking University and the Sibo family in my hands, I can assist Master Changjue to complete the reset of the management of the Buddhist Kingdom."
Akechi Mitsuhide touched Tsutsui Junkei's beaten cheek again and said distressedly.
"Does it hurt? Do you understand?"
Tsutsui Junkei's heart felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and the chill was biting, so he swallowed and said.
"I have done things for you, informed you of the news about Yixiang Zong, and helped Duke Qianxin."
She seemed to be grasping a life-saving straw, waving it desperately to Akechi Mitsuhide.
Akechi Mitsuhide nodded, patted her cheek and smiled.
"That's why I gave you a chance, but you didn't use it."
She suddenly changed her expression, pressed Tsutsui Junkei's forehead and pushed him back, with a look of disgust on her face.
"I gave you a chance but you didn't use it."
Tsutsui Junkei was already dizzy from her over and over again, he sighed and said.
"Master Akechi, please stop teasing me."
Akechi Mitsuhide looked at her coldly and said slowly.
"Check for me, there is a nun named Kakukei in Kofukuji Temple. I want to know what relationship she has with the Ashikaga family."