Spring is the season when all things come to life. After spring plowing, the mountainous country is full of vitality.
The land near Kyoto has a sense of superiority that is different from other countries, not only spiritually, but also materially.
After the spring plowing in other countries, the village women are either busy with the military service of the Wu family, or doing chores in their spare time. In short, there is nothing unprofitable.
However, the farmers in the mountain city country can make some profits by taking advantage of the prosperous business, or they can carry goods for others and do logistics, or they can sell low and buy high and become second-tier dealers, and so on.
The Ashikaga family was also tolerant to their subordinates, and the military service and grain taxes were not high. This family was the co-owner of the world. In the past, it had royal materials to supply the shogunate's expenses. Now it relies on donations from samurai families from various places, and the output of the land is not enough to operate the shogunate no matter how demanding it is.
Besides, the samurai fought in their spare time just to grab a few more stones, rice, and acres of land. The Ashikaga family already had the greatest profit in the world, so they couldn't lose face by doing something ugly.
The Seta River flowing from Lake Biwa not only created a large number of alluvial plains, but also brought a gold-inlaid trade route.
The goods imported from Omi Province from Saikuni, Hokuriku, and Tokaido were all transported to Kyoto through the Seta River at Lake Biwa, which contributed to the prosperity of Yamashiro Province.
"The shogunate once thought about building a city at the mouth of the Seta River in Lake Biwa. Wouldn't it be nice to collect taxes from the customs, but the Rokkaku family would never agree. The matter has remained unresolved for so many years."
Hosokawa Fujitaka talked eloquently all the way, introducing anecdotes about Yamashiro Omi to Akechi Mitsuhide.
Akechi Mitsuhide is not a good flatterer. She seems to be more interested in the scenery on the roadside and just caters to it casually.
"Two adults, are we going to fight? Can you talk about the affairs of the Omi Kingdom samurai family? What's the point of talking about these merchants?"
Maeda, who was riding in front, turned around and said, Hosokawa Fujitaka was stunned when he heard this and couldn't help laughing.
"We don't know how to go into battle, so why fight?"
"Aren't we the expeditionary force sent by the shogunate to support the Rokkaku family? The Rokkaku family also sent troops to help."
When Yoshigami heard what Hosokawa said, he couldn't help but interrupt.
"Master Si Bo misunderstood."
Seeing Yoshigan asking the same question, Hosokawa Fujitaka realized that the two of them had a different idea.
"The shogunate sent us out just to express an attitude. This is a custom. We won't go into battle, and the Rokkaku family doesn't dare to let us go into battle.
We are not so much reinforcements as envoys. As for the military strength, it is just for protection against accidents. You see, Mitsuhide and I don't even wear protective gear."
For this trip, the advantage was that they were fully armed, and Yoshigan was still dressed as a Jinhaori. And Hosokawa Fujitaka and Akechi Mitsuhide were wearing dark hunting clothes, and they looked like they were going on a trip.
"I see."
Yiyin nodded. He felt relieved, but Li Yi felt a little uncomfortable. She wanted to fight the most.
"Master Shiba, please look at it. After passing the pass in front, you will reach Omi Kingdom. The protective army should be waiting in front.
Walk along the Seta River to the west bank of Lake Biwa, then turn south and go to Mekada Castle, and then go east along the lake to Rokkaku Castle and Kannonji Castle."
Since it had already been brought up, Hosokawa Fujitaka simply explained the next route, politely and without losing distance.
Yiyin felt her coldness, although it was a little strange, it didn't matter.
Anyway, after this trip, he will return to Owari after completing his mission. I don’t know when the next time he comes here will be, whether the young master of the Hosokawa family will still be alive at that time.
Yoshigan didn't want to be high-profile. He even put the Ashikaga White Flag that he had defrauded into a package behind the horse, so as not to show off or show off. A strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. No matter how ruthless the cheater is, he can't defeat the people's hearts.
After listening to Hosokawa Fujitaka's words, he felt relieved, and just wanted to gather the protective forces and survive this battle.
"This? Is this the army that protects me?"
After passing the pass and seeing the waiting Otani army, Yoshigine looked at Hosokawa Fujitaka behind him in surprise.
Hosokawa Fujitaka also felt his face heat up. He had vowed before that we were envoys representing the shogunate, but the reality quickly hit him in the face.
The Otani army in front of me was composed of a warrior Ji who looked like he was sick with his head covered, and twenty-three peasant soldiers.
These peasants and soldiers were not ordinary shabby people. Some of their hats were shabby and even had a few holes exposed, and they only had a few pieces of bamboo clothing, and some were even wearing cloth clothes full of patches.
The bamboo gun in my hand looked like it was pulled out temporarily near my home. The head was not sharp, and there were some scraps from the branches that had not been shaved cleanly.
The Ji warrior who led the team was even more exaggerated. He was covered with a turban, standing weakly, coughing heavily from time to time, and looking like he was about to die.
This is what Hosokawa Fujitaka said about the military strength of the Rokkaku family to protect the envoys of the shogunate. How could Yoshigan not be confused.
"Otani Yoshitsugi, a member of the Rokkaku clan, would like to send my greetings to you all. Are you from the Shiba clan?"
Otani Yoshitsugi saw four knights on horseback dressed in extraordinary clothes and came forward to inquire.
"I'm Shiba Yiyin."
Otani Yoshitsugi looked at Gigin in surprise. She was very tall, but she was a man. The order given to her by the Rokkaku family only said that she was a noble of the Shiba family, but did not mention her gender.
When it comes to fighting, I naturally thought it was Samurai Ji. Who would have thought it was a man, no, he was still a young man.
"Yoshitsugi Otani, the servant of Otani Village, would like to send my regards to Lord Shiba. The governor of the family is deeply inspired by your righteous deed of helping the Rokkaku family on behalf of the shogunate, and has sent me here to obey your instructions."
This time the order was getting more and more weird, and Otani Yoshitsugi was a little unsure of the size. He simply lowered his head and kept it small. Anyway, when Chinese people see a high-ranking family, it is always right to be humble, and they can speak smoothly in the scene.
"Okay, I'm not familiar with Omi either. You will be responsible for the subsequent itinerary."
"As commanded."
After scolding the scattered peasants and soldiers, Otani Yoshitsugi set out with a loud cough.
The four Yoshigans still walked forward in twos and twos, but there was an extra group of peasant soldiers behind them, and Otani Yoshitsugi led the way beside Yoshigan. In order to take into account her walking speed, the four of them slowed down their horses.
Hosokawa Fujitaka had a gloomy face, and she felt something was wrong. She looked at Akechi Mitsuhide next to her, and she still looked calm and calm as before, but his riding posture was a little more upright.
"Guangxiu, I think something is wrong."
"Well, the Rokkaku retainers are famous for their toughness. Kondo Goto, known as the twin vines, has a great reputation. Kamao and Hirai are also powerful warriors that they rely on. Even if they are far away and too late, there are still the loyal dogs of the Mekada family close at hand."
"So, if you send a seriously ill countryman here, won't you be afraid that the envoy will go back and accuse the Rokkaku family of neglecting the shogunate? This time it is the Rokkaku family who begged the shogunate to send someone."
Seeing Hosokawa Fujitaka asking questions, Akechi Mitsuhide lowered his head and turned his face sideways, half of his face hidden.
"Perhaps, you are not afraid of what the envoy will say when he returns. The dead cannot speak."
After hearing this, Hosokawa Fujitaka narrowed his eyes and looked at Yoshiyin's back.