Akechi Mitsuhide is a pig who is not afraid of boiling water, but others are not as open-minded as she is.
Maeda returned to Iga Ueno Castle angrily, but was told by the retainer that Yoshitsugi Otani had come to visit and was waiting for her at the residence.
She frowned slightly, wondering why Otani Yoshitsugi came here at this time.
When she entered the meeting hall of the residence hall, she saw her mother, Toshihisa Maeda, talking with Yoshitsugi Otani.
Maeda sat down with a smile, greeted Otani Yoshitsugi, and then asked.
"Otani-hime, the spring plowing is about to start, why are you free to come here?"
After receiving the courtesy, Otani Yoshiji looked at Maeda's interests and said nothing, and the atmosphere in the room became solemn.
After a while, Otani Yoshitsugi said.
"Todo-hime sent me a letter, have you received it?"
Maeda looked at his mother and saw Maeda nodded and handed her a letter. She apologized slightly for being rude, then lowered her head to open the letter and read it.
Otani Yoshitsugi couldn't wait for her to finish reading and said directly.
"Master Todo Toraoka asked Todo Hime to go to Mino Country. She should have already set off by this time."
Maeda's hand stiffened when opening the letter, and he looked at Yoshitsugi Otani.
Todo Takatora went to Mino Country? Going to see the Lord?
Maeda Yoshitsugi, Ohtani Yoshitsugi, and Toudo Takatora were the first batch of Shiba Yoshigan's samurai to approach Hatamotohime. Their qualifications were older than those of the same sympathizers as Yamanaka Yukimori, Kamaojigo, and Ii Naomasa.
The three of them were sent away by Sibo Yiyin when the Sibo Territory was established in recent years. They are the true confidants of the Wu family.
Todo Takatora returned to Omi Todo and became the governor of the Toudo family and the successor of Todo Takataka. Maeda's interests occupied most of Iga country, while Otani Yoshitsugi's territory was in Minami Iga.
The three of them huddled together to keep warm, with Maeda's interests as the leader. Now that Toudo Takatora was sent to Mino Country by her mother, what does it mean?
Maeda quickly opened the letter and read it at a glance. When she finished reading, she couldn't help but groaned, and the letter was almost crushed with her palm.
Otani Yoshitsugi said as he expected when he saw her losing her composure.
"Todo-hime has nothing to do. Her mother is the governor of the family. It is a courtesy for her to see the master, so don't think too much about it.
When I come here this time, I also want to say goodbye to you. "
Maeda raised his head to look at her with an evil look in his eyes and said.
"Are you going to Meinong Country too?"
Otani Yoshitsugi looked her in the eyes and said without fear.
"Yes, Todo-hime said it well in her letter. Her mother asked her to go to Mino to meet the Lord, which is the duty of a minister."
Seeing them choose to leave one by one, Maeda felt that he was isolated and abandoned, and stared.
"Do you think I'm not doing my duty?"
Otani Yoshitsugi shook his head and said.
"When Todo-hime and I bowed our heads to you, it was to help you succeed in getting married. No matter what you do, I should support you.
However, we met when we were young, and the wealth we have today is all a gift from the Lord. "
Otani Yoshitsugi pulled away his headband, exposing his embarrassing skin, and said.
"I am suffering from a strange disease, and all the concubines look at me as fearful as a snake and scorpion, and they are disgusted and alienated.
Only the Lord gives me a chance and treats me as a human being. He was even willing to drink the tea dripping with my pus in order not to embarrass me!
Maeda Hime, I can support your marriage, but I must be loyal to the master. Please understand my feelings.
Todo Hime’s mother, Todo Toraoka is doing well. The Lord does not trust the recent Sporde, so we should go to the Lord's throne and show our loyalty.
You are the general in charge of Spo in recent times. The situation in recent times is severe and it is inconvenient for you to leave, but I can.
I am willing to go to Meinong Country to represent you and me and offer our loyalty to the Lord. "
Maeda Yoshiyoshi listened to Otani Yoshitsugi's impassioned speech, looking uncertain and a little confused.
Maeda Rihisa on the side explained.
“Profit, Otani-hime is right.
My lord is already close, but he is unwilling to return to Iga country. This is a shame for us as retainers.
If we can't gain the trust of our lord, what's the point of our existence as Spo's retainers? "
Seeing that his mother supported Otani Yoshitsugi's approach, Maeda was a little shaken and said.
"The Third Master of Baidi went to report the incident in Kyoto. My lord must be disgusted with me, so he is unwilling to come back.
Ohtani-hime went to offer her loyalty on my behalf. Will the Lord accept it? "
Maeda Toshiie shouted loudly.
"Because of the slander of the Third Master of Baidi, we must go to the throne of the Lord to clarify ourselves!"
Hearing his mother emphasize the word innocence, Maeda's eyes lit up and he repeated.
"clean?"
Maeda Rihisa and Otani Yoshitsugi looked at each other and said.
"I have already explained to Otani Hime that the Iga Maeda family did not participate in the Kyoto Incident. They were just deceived by Akechi Mitsuhide and delayed the time of sending troops to rescue Kyoto.
We acknowledge the responsibility for the fall of Kyoto due to our hesitation in sending troops, and we are willing to bear the punishment imposed on us by our lord.
However, we definitely did not participate in the Kyoto Incident! The Third Master of Baidi wants to convict us of our crimes through a confession. He is really crazy!
To slander and convict the commander-in-chief of Jinji Shiba with a single confession, what does the third wife of Baiji want to do?
What’s even more ridiculous is that Fujibayashi Xing is dead! This is the confession of a dead man, and there is no proof! "
Maeda frowned.
"But Akechi Mitsuhide, she has already said she will admit it."
Maeda Riku looked at the guilty daughter and wanted to wake her up, and said sternly.
"She Akechi Mitsuhide has done good things herself! Still wants to drag others into trouble?
She said that Fujibayashi Xing’s confession was true, so that meant it was true? What if Fujibayashi Xing colluded with her? What if Fujibayashi Anzu is her savior?
Don't say that I, the Iga Maeda family, are not convinced, I think even Takada Haruno will scream injustice when he comes to the throne of the Lord! "
Maeda's eyes became brighter and brighter, and she finally got the idea. Mother was right, the evidence of Bai Di San Taifu could not convict her at all.
Only two people could prove Fujibayashi's confession. One was Momochi Santao who interrogated him, and the other was Akechi Mitsuhide who admitted his confession.
But the problem is, Fujibayashi Xing is dead, and the evidence of the crime is no longer clear. Who is that bastard Akechi Mitsuhide? A bad-mouthed poisoner.
Can the Lord believe her words?
As long as Maeda's interests bite him to death, even if the master half-believes it, it is better than him believing everything.
Maeda Maeda really doesn’t want Yoshihiro Shiba to dislike him or hate himself. Just imagining that scene made her feel like she was hopeless and almost going crazy.
The most important thing is that she did not participate in the Kyoto Incident. Of course, there is schadenfreude on the shore.
So, she really felt innocent.
The power to declare war diplomatically lies in the hands of Akechi Mitsuhide. Even if Maeda's interests sense that something is wrong, they can excuse it by complying with authority, which is not a mistake.
With her mother's explanation, her heart pounded and she muttered to herself. The master will not hate himself, he will believe in me, he will definitely believe in me.
The more Maeda thought about it, the more excited she became. She bowed deeply to Otani Yoshitsugi and said.
"I'm sorry, Otani-hime, I misunderstood you. Only now do I understand that you were doing it for my own good."
Otani Yoshitsugi bowed in return and said.
"You and I are good sisters who have gone through life and death, so of course I want to help you.
I said, I will always be loyal to the Lord. As long as you don't violate this rule, we will always be together. "
Maeda's interests are clear cut.
"I will never betray my master! I, Maeda Yoshi, am his person in life, and his ghost in death!"
Otani Yoshitsugi nodded.
"In this case, I will go back to Meinong Country to make sure that the Lord understands our loyalty."
In order to stabilize his mood, Maeda discussed with his mother Toshihisa Maeda and Yoshitsugi Otani for a while.
Otani Yoshitsugi said goodbye and left. Before she left, she hesitated a little and wanted to mention Toudo Takatora, but in the end she chose to shut up.
After she left, only Maeda and her daughter were left in the house.
Maeda looked at her mother gratefully. She knew that her mother and Yoshitsugi Otani had already negotiated everything before she came back. My mother has been silently supporting and helping me behind the scenes.
Maeda Riku sighed, looked at his silly daughter, and couldn't help but shake his head.
"Otani Yoshitsugi came to negotiate with you personally before setting off for Mino Country. Do you know what this means?"
Maeda nodded.
"She still recognizes me as the leader."
Maeda Riku glanced at his daughter, and finally couldn't help but slap her on the back of the head, causing her to stagger.
Maeda Yoshida looked at Maeda Riku stupidly and said inexplicably.
"Mother?"
Maeda Riku narrowed his eyes and spoke word by word.
"This means that Takatora Toudo is no longer reliable."
Maeda opened his eyes wide and lost his voice.
"Impossible! The three of us are good sisters who fought together from thousands of troops. Both of them promised me that they would help me win the marriage dispute.
You see, Todo Takatora also wrote a letter to remind me. "
Maeda Rihisa sneered.
"Tora Todaka is the governor of the Toudo family. She wants to protect her family business and not let the dirty water from the recent Shiba leader splash onto her.
Therefore, she sent her daughter Toudo Takatora to Mino Country to show the loyalty of Toudo leader in front of the throne of the Lord. The way she handled it was perfect.
But what about Takatora Toudo? She is your important ally!
Is she just so obedient? Qingpiao wrote a letter to tell you and left immediately?
Have you ever thought about it? If Otani Yoshitsugi doesn't go there on your behalf, how will the Lord view this matter?
Toudo Takatora could have come to Ueno Castle to confess to you and go to Mino Country on behalf of the three of you, but she didn't.
She has selfish motives, maybe she wants to take your place, maybe there are other reasons, it doesn't matter anymore.
The important thing is that she is no longer reliable.
Otani Yoshitsugi offered to help you explain. She didn't even care about spring plowing in Minamiiga's own territory, so she went to Mino Country to explain to you!
Tell me, between the two of them, who is your trustworthy ally? "
Maeda was stunned again and again. She wanted to refute, but couldn't say a word.
The Samurai Hime with the hearty smile in her mind, the Takatora Toudo who vowed to share the joys and sorrows with her, she. .
Maeda Riku cursed for a long time, finally exhaled and said slowly.
"Remember me, if something unexpected happens in the future, Yoshitsugi Otani can be trusted. But Takatora Toudo, you have to be careful.
The Wu family has no righteousness, so don’t make any mistakes! "
Maeda looked at his mother who was panting because she spoke so eagerly, and felt warm in his heart. She stretched out her hand, covered the back of her mother's hand, and said softly.
"Mom, calm down, I understand."
Maeda Riku's expression froze for a moment, then softened, and he slowly reached out his hand and touched Maeda Riku's head.
"You are just like your biological mother. You are too attached to friendship and don't look like a martial artist.
I'm really worried that one day I'm going to die, what will you do? "
Maeda squinted his eyes, enjoying his mother's touch and care, and said.
"My mother will live a long life and will always be with me."
Maeda Riku laughed dumbly and said.
"What a fool. In this troubled world, people are dying every day, but you still want to live a hundred years? If you live past seventy, you are considered a turtle."
Maeda smiled and talked to Maeda Rihisa. Although the two were just adopted mother and daughter, their bond was deeper and more sincere than that of many biological mothers and daughters of the Wu family.
This level of affection is rare in the Wu family.
———
Shiba Yiyin himself didn't know how far his influence had reached.
He just hesitated to move forward in Meinong Country, which caused great shock in the Spurs Territory in recent years. After sensing the dissatisfaction of the master, each family started to save themselves.
Except for the culprit, Akechi Mitsuhide, who sat with his hands spread out and waited for death, everyone else was actively seeking forgiveness from their master.
When news of the alliance between Shiba Yoshigan and Oda Nobunaga spread, it was not only the retainers of the Shiba clan who were afraid of the recent news, there were also some people who were even more panicked than the Shiba retainers.
North Omi, Otani Castle.
After Ashikaga Yoshiaki's envoy Wada Weimasa and Oda Nobunaga's envoy Niwa Nagahide paid a joint visit, Asai Nagamasa finally changed his previous ambiguous stance.
She clearly expressed her indignation against the regicide of Miyoshi Kamigakuro, and was willing to assist Ashikaga Yoshiaki in opening the road to Kamiro, that is, to kill the Miyoshi family's accomplices, the Minami Omi Rokkaku family.
After receiving a formal reply from Asai Nagamasa, Ashikaga Yoshiaki resolutely left Echizen Country regardless of Asakura Yoshikage's attempts to stay.
She came to Kitaomi Otani Castle and prepared to go to Gifu Castle in Mino Country to join Oda Nobunaga in Luo.
Echizen's Asakura Yoshikei was so angry that because of the constraints from all parties within the Asakura family, the opportunity for the Asakura family to go to Luo to seek greater benefits was finally missed.
Asakura Yoshikage hated Oda Nobunaga who cut him off halfway. From then on, the two almost unrelated forces, the Echizen Asakura family and the Owari Oda family, gradually became antagonistic.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki came to Kotani Castle and was warmly entertained by Asai Nagamasa. Compared to the cold reception he received at the Asakura family, Ashikaga Yoshiaki finally felt a little more distinguished as an Ashikaga shogun.
In fact, Asai Nagamasa did serve this poor official who was ridiculed by the samurai with the courtesy of a general. It's just polite and nameless, and everyone understands it tacitly.
For this reason, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was so carefree as to convey orders to Oda Nobunaga in the form of a royal letter. She really thought that she had a sure chance of winning and ascending to Luo to take the throne would be foolproof.
But soon, news came that Shiba Yoshigan's fast horse crossed the Tokaido, and Oda Nobunaga personally led Oda's ministers to Owari Kingdom to greet the imperial palace.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki and his group were scared to death in their sweet dream.
How could Shiba Yiyin come back from Tokaido? Aren't the Hojo family and the Takeda family enemies who had fought with him? This bastard Oda Nobunaga wants to eat both ends?
As word spread, everything changed.
