In the next few days, the general still refused to take charge, but rumors began to spread in the Gosho Sword Room.
With the help of Yagyu Sogan, the head of the Odai, he accurately killed several of the side servants and servants who were following the message.
Therefore, rumors spread only among the swordsmen.
The generals above didn't know, and the waiters below didn't dare to participate. It was so subtle that it circulated in a small circle.
These swordsmen are used to being dissolute. When not on duty, they have been lingering in Whale House and entangled with Wandering Orioles all year round, and they have listened to the most vulgar rumors.
It was unbearable to say, and it sounded red-faced.
Yagyu Sogan, who was secretly observing, was secretly shocked when he saw that Takada Yukino was still practicing swordsmanship alone for several days, ignoring her.
Somehow, I always felt like something big was going to happen.
———
There was an undercurrent in Kyoto, but Oda Nobunaga, who was far away in Owari, was in a good mood.
After Imagawa Yoshimoto was defeated in the battle, the Imagawa family fell into civil strife and was unable to invade Owari again.
She was finally able to concentrate on digesting the four Owari counties, and her strength greatly increased, becoming a powerful daimyo with more than half a million koku in hand.
What's even more gratifying is that under the mediation of Maeda Toshiie, Matsudaira Motoyasu finally decided to move closer to her and will go to Qingzhou City to form an alliance with her today.
Matsudaira Motoyasu would not change her stance so easily. The Imagawa family was still in civil strife, so she had a strategy to protect herself by harassing Owari.
How could she be willing to form an alliance with the Oda family who had just fought several deadly battles in Okehazama when she was not yet cornered?
Who knows whether the Oda family can be trusted?
But her harassment strategy ran into trouble. Oda Nobunaga was so cunning that he sealed the southern Owari mountain area to Shiba Territory.
If you want to attack the Oda family, you must first enter the Shiba family's territory.
The Shiba family was a high-ranking sect of the shogunate. Not to mention its previous decline, Shiba Yoshigan revived it. Matsudaira Motoyasu really didn't want to offend the unparalleled Lord Kenshin in battle.
Ever since, her strategy has fallen into an awkward position.
They did not attack Owari, fearing that the Imagawa clan would rush into Nishi Mikawa and kill her if they had a moment of respite. They would then use the Nishi Mikawa land to purchase the retainers and quell the civil strife.
When attacking Owari, before they can hit the Oda family, they have to fight the Shiba family first.
Owari Shiba leader is not strong enough and will probably not be able to stop her offensive, but so what if she wins?
Continue deep into Owari, attack the Nobi Plains, and start a battle with Oda Nobunaga?
The Imagawa family is watching behind her, and she only wants to protect herself by raiding the Owari border. I don't want to go deep into Owari and continue to consume my own strength.
When she was in a dilemma, a letter from Toshiie Maeda, the agent of Owari Shiba, whom she had some friendship with when she was a girl, gave her a new choice.
Matsudaira Motoyasu was moved by the proposal that the Shiba family would act as a guarantee and form an alliance with the Oda family.
It is impossible for the Imagawa family to attack Takeda and Hojo's two allies, so if the Imagawa family really wants to expand, they must choose the Mikawa and Owari lines.
At this point, Oda Nobunaga and Matsudaira Motoyasu have common interests.
It's just that the two sides have grievances between their grandparents far away, and there have been several fierce battles in Tongzhajian nearby, with countless casualties, making it difficult to trust the other side.
If it is up to the Spoelstra family to bridge the gap, then the stability of the alliance will be guaranteed.
What Oda Nobunaga wanted was Mino, and what he wanted was the entire Nobi Plain.
What Matsudaira Motoyasu longed for was to preserve his family business, not to mention the possibility of annexing Higashi Mikawa and counterattacking the Imagawa family with the support of the Oda family.
Unifying the Mikawa Kingdom has been the dream of several generations of the Matsudaira family. How could Matsudaira Motoyasu not be tempted.
After several interactions with envoys, she finally made up her mind to come to Qingsu Castle to meet with Oda Nobunaga in person.
Oda Nobunaga greeted Matsudaira Motoyasu outside the city. When the two met, they both had tears in their eyes and clasped their hands.
"Sister Master Ji."
"Sister Takechiyo."
The retainers of the two families around them were all wiping away their tears, adding to the earth-shattering friendship between the two sisters with different surnames and creating a rich atmosphere.
How could they not be moved to tears?
The Oda retainers group could finally conquer Mino without any worries and gain more land and benefits.
With the support of the Oda family, the Matsudaira retainers group not only put aside the worry of being annexed by the Imagawa family, but also had the ambition to invade Higashi Mikawa and expand the family business.
The two sides have a deep love and righteousness. Those dead ancestors, Warrior Ji, are nothing!
When two families of liver and gallbladder meet, they can shine upon the sun and the moon!
As the guarantor, Maeda Toshiie, who escorted Matsudaira Motoyasu and his party, looked on with cold eyes, smiled and nodded in amusement.
The Qingzhou Alliance was established.
That night, Oda Nobunaga, who had exchanged oaths with Matsudaira Motoyasu and completed the alliance, summoned Maeda Toshiie in the castle tower.
Sitting on the main seat, Oda Nobunaga was high-spirited, wearing a bright-colored kimono, lying cross-legged on the pillow, and his attitude was quite arrogant.
With the Matsudaira family blocking them on the front line of Tokaido, she finally had no worries and could go all out to attack Mino. The strategic situation was better than ever.
At this time, she was a little carried away, forgetting that the person saluting in front of her was the Shiba family's acting official in Owari, and she needed to be respected.
Or maybe she did this on purpose, hinting to Maeda Toshiie that your value to me has declined, so be more cautious.
Maeda Toshiie looked respectful and bowed his head in salute. No matter how mischievous Oda Nobunaga was, she was still polite.
The existence of Owari Shiba collar is very strange.
Speaking of which, the gaijinzu, subordinates of the Oda family, were rewarded for their military exploits and were the most orthodox samurai territory.
However, the owner of this territory is a high-ranking member of the shogunate. In recent years, he has been working hard to revive the family business and has actually separated from the Oda family to become independent.
In terms of title, Oda Nobunaga did not dare to call Yoshigan Shiba as his subordinate. He was a member of the Ashikaga family, the resurrected governor of the Shiba family, and held a high position of authority.
If Oda Nobunaga insists on being taller than him, will the shogunate’s face and the general’s majesty be lost?
Therefore, she could only hold her nose and recognize Shiba Ling, the Oda family's kingdom within a kingdom.
As arrogant as Oda Nobunaga, he didn't dare to have Owari Shiba's ideas casually.
The rewards for military merit must be fair, otherwise it will worsen the relationship with the Sibo family.
What is this?
Therefore, she simply left Shiba leader in the southern mountainous area to fight with the Matsudaira family, and concentrated on digesting the four Owari counties and preparing the Mino strategy.
Who would have thought that the marginalized Shiba collar actually gave her a big surprise. Maeda Toshiie persuaded Matsudaira Motoyasu to abandon the Imagawa family and move closer to her.
The most important foundation of Oda Nobunaga's general strategy of conquering Mino, peeking into the near future, and intending to take over the world is Owari.
Regardless of Owari's territory of more than 500,000 koku, or the generations of samurai who have followed the Oda family for many years, they all helped her conquer the world.
Therefore, there is no room for error in Owari.
The Nishi Mikawa Matsudaira family formed an alliance with her, and the threat behind the Oda family was finally lifted.
Oda Nobunaga had enough confidence to focus on the west, swallow Mino, and get closer. How could he not be extremely happy.
And in front of her, Shiba Owari's acting official, Maeda Toshiie, was of no use to her.
"You did a good job, what reward do you want?"
Oda Nobunaga simply said a word and gave all the credit to the Maeda Toshi family. Don't even think about taking more benefits from me for the Shiba family.
Maeda Toshiie replied respectfully.
“It is an honor for me to serve His Highness.
Maeda Toshiie has nothing but to make new achievements when His Highness conquers Mino and relieve His Highness' worries. "
Oda Nobunaga raised his eyebrows. He was so worried. He thought Owari Shiba's collar wasn't big enough? Want more?
She smiled coldly and said hypocritically.
"I will think about it."
Stop dreaming.
