The Rokkaku family retreated, the army returned to Kannonji Castle, and the crisis in Kitanomi was lifted.
After receiving the news that Rokkaku had returned to the army, Maeda immediately led the army 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 gave up on 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, and 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 wielded 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 young doctrine continues to have many conflicts with Sanhao's three people, and the signs of civil strife become more obvious.
The Minami Omi Rokkaku family's Northern Expedition failed, and the Goto family's threat to the main family became more and more serious. Rokkaku Yoshiharu had to ask the general to come forward and reach peace with the Shiba family and the Asai family.
As the old enemies in both the East and West are declining in recent times, Ashikaga Yoshiteru is certainly refreshed.
Within the shogunate, she began to consolidate territory and military and food services through the construction of Nijo Castle.
He 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 Ashikama Hui clan, controlled the Yodogawa waterway south of Kyoto, which was the waterway that entered Kyoto from Sakai Port in the west.
The two main trade routes into Kyoto were controlled by the Ashikaga family, which was equivalent to controlling Kyoto's business. If the ministers 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 Ise Sakyo's mistakes 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 refreshing to swing a knife."
Takada Yukino silently sheathed the knife and stood beside her indifferently, not answering her words, leaving the noble Mr. Gongfang in the dark.
Fortunately, Ashikaga Yoshiki has long been accustomed to her coldness, and as time goes by, he feels better about it. Compared to those noisy flatterers, the quiet Yukino is a sensible sparring partner.
She looked at Yukino and suddenly asked.
“I wonder if Duke Kenshin arrived in Echigo?
A few days ago, there was a summons from Echu. He used his sword to remove the Echu guardian of the Shiina family.
He is still so bold, what a bad man. "
Although he was saying derogatory words, Ashikaga Yoshiki couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. He finally accepted the sword and became husband and wife with me.
Hum hum, 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 I throw it away?
Yukino hates Mitsurugi, 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. "
Tsutsui Junkei smiled flatteringly and said.
"Akechi-sama was joking.
You are a famous wise man in Kyoto. You are in charge of the external affairs of the Shiba family. How can you spend your energy on these small tricks?
That is to say, I, an outsider, indulge 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, serving.
As the Battle of Omi comes to an end, the strength of Maeda's interests proves that even if Yoshihiro Shiba is no longer nearby, 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 is a big name, he still has to keep his head down and be small.
Her humble attitude towards Mitsuhide Akechi shows her full respect for the Shiba family, and she has no intention of offending.
Akechi Mitsuhide did not find another mansion in Kyoto, but stayed in the guest room of Shiba's mansion, exercising the rights granted to her by the 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, there is something I want 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. This time it was serious, and there was a burning pain in my left cheek.
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 is in charge of Nan Yamato. Although he is a martial arts nun who has never been beaten, he is also a famous figure with more than 200,000 dan in hand.
Flattery to Akechi Mitsuhide is because he is afraid of the power of the Shiba family and the staunchness of Yoshigan Shiba.
Akechi Mitsuhide himself was just a subordinate. If he wasn't 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! How could she not feel angry when she was humiliated even more deliberately.
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 Nagakaku appeases each family of nuns and warriors, and intends to restore the old situation of the four nuns and warriors who were in 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 stability of the Shiba family as an alliance, Nagakaku, the head of Kofukuji Temple, 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 Master Nagakaku's division of the nun samurai group, Tsutsui Shunkei must ensure that the Shiba family will not get involved.
Once the local powerful 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 Shunkei 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.
"As the master of Kofuku Temple, Master Nagakaku 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. Many things are actually not easy to handle.
My Tsutsui family has been managing 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 Ji would say such vulgar words.
Akechi Mitsuhide sneered and continued.
“The Rokkaku family is experiencing internal strife, but Omi’s external troubles 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, feeling distressed.
"Does it hurt? Do you understand?"
Tsutsui Junkei's heart felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, the chill was biting, and he swallowed and said.
"I have done things for you, reported 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 Shunkei'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 Shunkei was dizzy from her tossing and turning, 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 from Kofuku Temple. I want to know what relationship she has with the Ashikaga family."
