Yukino tilted her head and said in confusion.
"Those who serve the lord must be Warrior Ji. You should feel lucky because the lord gave you the status of a warrior family so that you have the basic conditions to repay the grace of saving your life.
As a Hime Samurai, you need to be proficient in using swords. This is a skill you must master to serve the Shiba family. "
Glancing at the weak Takata Harano, Tachibana Kanade said.
"It's more efficient to kill people with a musket."
Takada Yukino thought for a while and said.
"Are you talking about the iron cannon? It's too slow and cannot be accurate.
I can smell the scent of you struggling on the verge of death. Like me, you have transcended life and death and are a returnee struggling to return to the human world.
You can break through the limits of the human body and learn my flying sword style. "
Tachibana Kanade retorted.
"Then what? Will I become disabled like you? There is a price to pay for exceeding the limits of the human body."
Yukino said coldly.
"This is what you owe the Lord. Before he comes back, you must become a useful swordsman and serve the Lord for me."
Tachibana Kanade looked at Takada Yukino.
"Your resentment is very strong. You hate your current incomplete state. I am just your tool to replace yourself."
Takada Yukino tried to clench her fist, but her fingers trembled uncontrollably.
"Xiao Zuo, you also have a lot of resentment. I can feel that you hate this island country."
Lihua Zuo was silent for a while and said.
"Yes, why should I like it here? What is there that I should like here?
My name, my life, my freedom were all taken away from me in the name of salvation. "
Takada Yukino glanced at her.
"At least you're alive."
Tachibana Kanade twitched the corners of his mouth, as if he wanted to smile, but his expression became even colder.
"I once didn't understand anything, so I pointed to the sea and told my friends that there was wealth waiting for us to get it. So, three ships left my homeland from distant England with my dreams.
I was lucky enough to meet my eldest sister who took care of me. She taught me a lot, and then she died in a storm.
I was very sad, and a little sister comforted me. She was also going to sea for the first time. She was very scared and hoped to have a sister who could take care of her. I felt that I could be a good sister, and then. . "
Tachibana Kanade stopped, and Takada Yukino asked lightly.
"Dead too?"
Tachibana Kanade's eyes were a little distracted.
"On an island, she was hit by a poisonous arrow from a native. She rolled on the ground in pain and kept calling my name before she died, asking me to save her.
I held her until her body became cold and stiff, and that was the last time I cried.
Three ships went out to sea, and I met many, many partners. Some of them were enthusiastic, some were wise, and some were brave. In the end, most of them died on the journey.
Those of us who survived got a boatload of nutmeg. As long as we return to England, everyone can live the life they long for, be rich and happy.
However, a storm in the Pacific changed everything. I was forced to come to this island country, and my friends were bewitched. They betrayed me and our faith.
Shouldn't I hate this place? "
Takada Yukino was silent for a while and said.
"I allow you to hate this island country, but I ask you to be loyal to my lord and serve him on my behalf. This is what you owe him."
Tachibana Kanade turned to look at the sky outside the court and said calmly.
"I will serve him until the merits I have established are enough to repay his life-saving grace, and then I will leave this country."
Takada Yukino nodded and said.
"Then continue practicing your sword, Xiaochan."
Tachibana Kanou glanced at her, took out a black stick from his arms, and pointed it at the tree branch in the courtyard.
Takada Yukino stared blankly at what she was doing. After waiting for a few breaths, there was a loud roar, and a large area of gray and black was blown out of the tree trunk. Half of the branches slowly fell to the ground, and dust was everywhere.
Tachibana Kanade looked at Takada Yukino.
"First, call me William. Second, I think short guns are more suitable for killing people than your so-called flying sword style."
Takada Yukino blinked and answered.
"Okay, Xiaochan.
There are still a hundred strokes left before you can have dinner before you draw the sword, so please work hard, Xiaochan. "
Takada Yono, who was discussing matters with Imai Munehisa in the inner room, heard a loud noise in the courtyard. She walked out of the room and saw only a mess.
"I spent a lot of money on this art tree! What are you two doing!"
Tachibana Kanade and Takada Yukino looked at each other, both of them were silent, using silence to deal with the furious Takada Yoshino.
———
The Yodogawa River runs through the Osaka Plain and the Kyoto Basin from east to west. The north and south sides of the border between the two countries belong to Setsu Province and Kawachi Province.
The junction of the Three Kingdoms is a battleground for military strategists. There are two important cities on the north bank of Yodogawa River in this section.
Yodo Castle on one end of Yamajo Province, and Takaki Castle on the other end of Settsu Province. The two cities serve as each other's gateways, both standing on the north bank and controlling the Yodogawa waterway.
Although the Oda army was the main force in this Settsu attack, the prestige of the shogunate played an extremely important role in the local samurai family.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki also went to the front line in person to scold Fang Qiu. He was stationed in Takaki Castle, controlled the water transport hub, and supervised the military.
At this time, Gao Guocheng lived in the pavilion.
There were only two people sitting across from each other in the room, Ashikaga Yoshiaki looked hesitant, and Wada Weimasa had just returned from the front line.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki looked cautiously and asked again.
"Miyoshi Yasunaga really said that?"
Wada Weimasa affirmed.
"I went to Sakai Port to negotiate with her in person, and she conveyed Miyoshi Yoshitsugu's surrender request to me. The Miyoshi family did intend to surrender to the shogunate."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki thought.
"This attack on Settsu was in the name of revenge for our ancestors. If I easily agreed to Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, how would I explain it to the world?
Also, Oda-hime is fighting fiercely at the front, and I’m behind to reach an agreement with the Miyoshi family alone. Isn’t this inappropriate? "
Wada Weimasa shook his head and said.
"Lord Gongfang, the three people who killed the ancestors of Miyoshi have already been executed. Miyoshi Yoshitsugi was just deceived and coerced by the traitor. He was not the culprit, but at most an accomplice.
The foundation of the Miyoshi family is in Shikoku, and the Awaji navy is blocking it. Even if we take Settsu, we can only look at the sea and sigh, unable to eradicate the foundation of the Miyoshi family.
Since the Miyoshi family cannot be eliminated, why not give Miyoshi Yoshitsugu a chance to return from his lost ways?
The shogunate is facing difficulties both internally and externally. We should not expand the scope of our involvement. Instead, we should show your generosity and allow the Miyoshi family to be used by the shogunate. This is the best policy.
Think about it, the Miyoshi family brought the shogunate into disgrace back then, and even the ancestors had no choice but to tolerate many things.
If you can subdue the Miyoshi family, in the eyes of the martial arts families in the world, it will greatly enhance the authority of the shogunate and your majesty.
As for His Highness Oda. . Don't you think her hand is stretched too far?
Settsu Country is far away from her territory, but she is very dedicated to the Settsu strategy. This is not something that people can laugh off.
The territory of the Oda family already exceeds two million koku. It would not be a good thing for the shogunate if His Highness Oda is allowed to expand his influence in Settsu Kingdom.
Whether it is the Miyoshi family or the Oda family, they are all foreign vassals that the shogunate needs to carefully check and balance. It is best for the shogunate to hold the bowl of water level until it can be mixed in the middle. "
From Wada Weimasa's point of view, the speed of the Miyoshi family's collapse was also unexpectedly exaggerated, which led to many speculations.
If I had known that the Miyoshi family was so reluctant to fight, why should I have taken advantage of the Oda family? Wouldn't it be better for the shogunate to keep this piece of fat for itself?
I wanted to drive the tiger to devour the wolf, but who knew that the wolf had degenerated to the point where it was even worse than a dog. If the tiger is fed to become stronger, it will be difficult for the shogunate to control it.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki nodded slowly after hearing this. What Wada Weimasa said was reasonable, but she was no longer the stupid young girl who was manipulated by Wada Weimasa and others.
Although her political skills are still a little immature, she is no longer easy to fool.
"Wada-hime, I saw the post-war resettlement plan you submitted. Do you want to divide Settsu Country into three guardians?
The shogunate sent people to control East Settsu, and the Ikeda-Itami family was in charge of West Settsu and North Settsu. So what about Oda-hime? She paid a lot for the Settsu strategy, and the shogunate could not let the loyal ministers' hearts fall cold.
There is also Matsunaga Hime, who made a great contribution to the shogunate by convincing the people of Settsu to switch sides anyway. "
Ashikaga Yoshiaki knew that Wada Weimasa had been active in the shogunate recently and wanted to win the guardianship of Higashisettsu. In fact, she did not object, and had even hinted that she acquiesced to this matter.
The strength of the Ashikaga Shogun family has long been inferior to what it used to be. Although Yoshigan Shiba went to Kanto, the local powerful faction introduced Hatakeyama Takamasa as the leader, and he has always been unhappy with Ashikaga Yoshiaki.
There is also the Ninagawa family of the shogunate faction who is holding back and secretly helping Hatakeyama Takamasa, which makes Ashikaga Yoshiaki very difficult to deal with.
Wada Weimasa was a meritorious official who supported Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and she had the same interests as Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Letting her serve as the guardian of Settsu would help Ashikaga Yoshiaki consolidate his position.
In fact, the Settsu Kingdom was not conquered by the shogunate and Oda coalition forces, but the Settsu people took the initiative to rebel and sold the Miyoshi family.
The shogunate could not control Northwest Settsu, and it did not want to take advantage of the Oda family. It is the best choice to give the two powerful local Ikeda family and Itami family the guardianship position and win them over to serve the shogunate.
But the three guardians of Settsu were all divided by the shogunate itself. Oda Nobunaga's force and Matsunaga's lips and tongue were all defeated by the Ashikaga Yoshiaki Haku female? There is nothing so good in the world, right?
Wada Weimasa said.
"His Majesty Oda is busy with the war, but he is not idle in private either.
Miyoshi Yasunaga told me that the Oda family had sent someone to contact wealthy merchants at Sakai Port, namely Kyoto garrison Hashiba Hideyoshi. "
Ashikaga Yoshiaki frowned slightly, Oda Nobunaga actually attacked Sakai Minato without telling him?
At this time, she seemed to have forgotten that she and Wada Nobunaga were calculating behind Oda Nobunaga's back. She only felt that Oda Nobunaga acted without authorization and disrespected her Ashikaga general.
In Ashikaga Yoshiaki's thinking, she is a noble Ashikaga general. Whatever she does is for the sake of Ashikaga, there is nothing she cannot do.
But when it comes to Oda Nobunaga, he is an arrogant minister of a foreign domain who does things without knowing the importance.
In short, double standard.
Wada Weimasa saw that Ashikaga Yoshiaki's face turned cold and said immediately.
"Matsuhisa Nagahide seemed to be respectful to the shogunate, but he always served His Highness Oda loyally. His intentions are very clear."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki was even more unhappy and said.
"Three surnamed domestic slaves are not worthy of belief."
Matsunagahide successively took refuge in the Miyoshi, Ashikaga, and Oda families. Although it is unpleasant to say that she is a slave of the three surnames, it is not unfair.
Wada Weimasa became increasingly displeased when he saw Ashikaga Yoshiaki and struck while the railroad was hot.
"The Miyoshi family is willing to withdraw from Sakai Port, and His Majesty Oda is interested in Sakai Port. It is better to use Sakai Port as a reward for the Oda family to send troops and allow the Oda family to send people to manage it.
As for Matsunagahide, doesn’t she serve under His Majesty Oda? Please ask His Highness Oda to reward her for this meritorious service. "
Ashikaga Yoshiaki felt something was wrong.
Rewarding the public with kindness is the righteousness of the king and his ministers. This time the shogunate sent troops to capture Tianjin, and all the foreign ministers participated in it, which was an act of imperial service.
Is it too much to refuse Matsunagahide's reward and ask her to ask Oda Nobunaga for it? Ashikaga Yoshiaki, a general, was somewhat thin-skinned, not as thick-skinned as Wada Weimasa.
But Wada Weimasa did not smear Matsu Nagahide casually, but deliberately suppressed him.
She wanted to be the guardian of Higashi Settsu, and the best castle to live in was Takaki Castle, which was right under her feet.
Takaki Castle is the gateway to Settsu and the mountainous castle country. The benefits of the Yodogawa Waterway are so great that who wouldn’t salivate?
Matsunagahide occupies Yodo Castle on the other side of Yamashiro Country, and he must also want to take Takaki Castle and the entire gateway into and out of the Kyoto Basin.
Wouldn’t it be nice to sit on the ground and collect money?
Without reducing Matsunagahide to nothing, how could Wada Weimasa snatch away the fat piece of Takatsuki Castle?
In addition to the dispute over the Yodogawa waterway, the Matsunaga family and the Wada family also had a deeper conflict.
At the beginning, Miyoshi Nagakei placed Matsunagahide in Yodo Castle to supervise the movements of the Kyoto shogunate. He assigned the samurai family on the border of Settsu country to Matsunagahide for management.
If Wada Weimasa wants to be a powerful guardian of Higashi Settsu, he must suppress Matsu Nagahide so that the Takayama family and other local samurai families in Higashi Settsu can switch to him.
There is no room for two tigers in one mountain. This contradiction is irreconcilable and the only way is for the east wind to prevail over the west wind.
Wada Weimasa spoke for the shogunate, but in his heart he only cared about himself. In order to kick Matsunagahide's influence out of Higashisettsu, she stabbed him in the back and spoke all kinds of slanderous words.
This time when he went to Sakai Port, Wada Weimasa not only met Miyoshi Yasunaga, but also met with Ikeda Itami, the governor of the family.
It is in the interest of the three families to protect the three Settsu families, but the Oda family's army attacking Settsu is a sharp sword hanging over everyone's heads.
Is it because Miyoshi Yoshitsugu is willing to surrender and Miyoshi Yasunaga is willing to withdraw from Sakai Port because of the power of Ashikaga Yoshiaki's general? Nonsense, it's just because Oda's army is coming so fiercely that no one can defeat it.
Wouldn't it be nice to use Ashikaga Yoshiaki's reputation as a general to suppress Oda Nobunaga, an outsider, and then everyone hides behind to get the benefits?
Ashikaga Yoshiaki was not ignorant of the thoughts of people like Wada Weimasa, but Wada Weimasa had one sentence that captured her worries.
Oda Nobunaga's territory already has two million koku, and she is actively coming to Settsu Country to expand, which poses a great threat to the shogunate.
If he is not in his position, he will not seek his government.
After using deceitful tactics to take away Yoshigami Shiba, Ashikaga Yoshiaki desperately needed to prove that he was a good general. Just like Li Shimin killed Li Jiancheng, he had to prove that he was a better emperor.
Ashikaga Yoshiaki tacitly allowed Wada Weimasa to change the dispute. He was the usual balancing hand of the Ashikaga shogun family. He had been tried and tested for two hundred years. Ashikaga Yoshiaki could be regarded as a self-taught master.
But she was somewhat uneasy about giving such a big fat piece of meat as Sakai Minato to Oda Nobunaga.
"Although the three guardians of Settsu have no share in the Oda family, Oda-hime got the Sakai Port. Isn't it considered a jackpot?"
Wada Weimasa heard the hidden meaning of Ashikaga Yoshiaki and smiled.
"Master Gongfang, the Miyoshi family has withdrawn from Sakai Port, but the Shiba family is still there."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki was stunned for a moment, then he immediately reacted and laughed.
"Yes, the Miyoshi family has withdrawn from Sakai Port, and the Shiba family should assume more important responsibilities for the shogunate in Sakai Port. I believe Tsutado-den will not refuse, right?"
Wada Weimasa bowed.
"The general is wise."
.
