Enjoyed the salary for two years.
Since last year's Battle of Anegawa and the combined battle with Uesaka Castle, Kitaomi has returned to peace again.
Although the Kyogoku family suffered heavy casualties in this battle, in the end they did repulse Asai Ryomasa's attack and were considered the victor in a sense.
After all, Uesaka Castle and other places were taken back from the Asai family by the Kyogoku family, and the Mitamura family once again turned to the Kyogoku family, making the Kyogoku family's influence in Sakata County increase day by day. Although it is still not on par with the Asai family, it at least allows the people of Kitaomi to see Kitaomi's "strength" in protecting the Kyogoku family.
In March, Lake Biwa came to life again, the snow on Mount Ibuki also began to melt, and the entire Omi Kingdom was a scene of revival.
The farmers are busy with spring plowing, and various forces are trying their best to restrain themselves to avoid any conflicts that may break out at such a critical moment, thus affecting their own spring plowing.
If there is a problem with spring plowing, it will affect the family's autumn harvest. If the grain harvest fails, the problem will be serious. At this point, the Asai family suffered a big loss last year.
This year, the Asai family is still very troubled, because the Iguchi family, who control the irrigation of the Takashi River Basin, has come out to cause trouble again.
Otani Castle in Asai County, a mountain castle located on Otani Mountain, is the headquarters of the Asai family, a wealthy family in Kitaomi.
As one of the five major mountain castles in history (Kasugayama Castle, Tsukiyama Tomita Castle, Kannonji Castle, Otani Castle, and Nanao Castle, Otani Castle was later replaced by Hachioji Castle), the terrain is difficult and dangerous, easy to defend but difficult to attack. It was originally built on Odake, the highest peak of Otani Mountain. Later, due to factors such as being unfavorable for living, the main body of the city gradually moved to a flatter place on the right side of Mt. Otani. The original castle built on Odani became a branch of Otani Castle and was called Otani. city.
Otani Castle Honmaru is located on the mountainside of Otani Mountain, where Asai Ryomasa's residence is located.
Putting down a document with the Yumori's monogram in his hand, Asai Ryomasa rubbed his forehead, and a feeling of anxiety filled Asai Ryomasa's body.
Standing next to him was Asai Gorobe Hidenobu, the son of Asai Kiyomasa, and beside him sat Asai Nomasa, Asai Kiyomasa and other important ministers of the Asai family.
"With the letter sent by Umasuke Umori, the Iguchi family has cut off the water supply of the Sugino River. Now more than half of the territory on the left bank of the Takatoki River is short of water to varying degrees. If this continues, I am afraid that the scene last year will happen again this year! "Asai Ryomasa said worriedly.
"Hmph!" Nomasa Asai punched the floor next to him and said angrily, "My lord, Iguchi Danmasadasa is going too far!"
"Although most of our territory is in Asai County, Ixiang County already has a lot of people from our side. If the Iguchi family is allowed to continue to be so unscrupulous, I am afraid that Yumori, Xiaoshan and other people will also leave our family in the long run!"
"The Iguchi family is no match for this family, so we might as well just send troops to attack and destroy the Iguchi family!" Asai Nomasa said with an indignant look.
"Nonsense!" Before Asai Ryomasa could say anything, Asai Kiyomasa, who was sitting next to Asai, spoke up first, "Although the Iguchi family has always had disputes with me, they do not belong to either party!"
"Rushly sending troops to attack the Iguchi family, isn't this pushing the Iguchi family to the Kyogoku family's side?"
"Besides, our family's prestige in Omi has declined since the Battle of Uesaka Castle last year. The Rokkaku family's intention to attack our family has been planned for a long time. Once the war in Kita Omi resumes, the Rokkaku family will definitely take advantage of the chaos to attack Kita Omi! "
"Is this a fight that you just want to fight?"
Asai Kiyomasa's words simply expressed Asai Ryomasa's heart.
In fact, Asai Ryomasa, the "overlord" of Kitaomi, felt very aggrieved.
First of all, the Asai family's own strength is actually not too strong. They rely more on people like Yumori and Aguan to increase the Asai family's control in Kitaomi. This makes it impossible for Asai Ryomasa to do whatever he wants, and he has many things to worry about.
Secondly, the Rokkaku family in Minamiomi seemed to be a big mountain weighing on Asai Ryomasa's heart, and Asai Ryomasa didn't dare to provoke him at all. After several consecutive defeats, Asai Ryomasa realized that the Asai family was far from being a match for the Rokkaku family at this time, so the Rokkaku family must not be given the opportunity to send troops to Kitohmi in a short period of time.
It is for reasons like this that Asai Ryomasa is restrained. Even if he faces the Iguchi family with average strength, Asai Ryomasa does not dare to really launch an attack!
It is easy to defeat the Iguchi family. It can be done with the appeal and strength of the Asai family at this time. The rare thing is that if a war breaks out in Kitaomi and the Rokkaku family in Minami takes advantage of the situation, the Asai family will be in a dangerous situation.
This is also the fundamental reason why Asai Ryomasa did not dare to send out a large army when he attacked Uesaka Castle last year. A small battle to control the number of people could not affect the nerves of the Rokkaku family. But if the war escalates, the Asai family will face big bosses like the Rokkaku family.
But what Asai Ryomasa didn't expect was that he would capsize in the gutter.
"But we can't really ignore it!" Asai Nomasa continued to emphasize.
Asai Ryomasa sighed, and then said, "This matter cannot be rushed. Tomorrow Gorobei will bring some gifts to Iguchi's house and inform Iguchi Danmasatada of our attitude."
"If the Iguchi family can no longer embarrass me about the issue of irrigation water, then I am willing to transfer the Fukunagaso territory located on the right bank of the Takatoki River to the Iguchi family!"
"Lord" heard Asai Ryomasa's words, not only Asai Ryomasa, but also Asai Kiyomasa and others on the side also changed their expressions.
Before anyone could say anything else, Asai Ryomasa had already replied decisively, "No need to say any more, it's just a territory of a few hundred koku. Even the family on the left bank of the Takatoki River has almost forgotten about it, and the territory on the right bank has been given to Iguchi." What’s wrong with home?”
"Besides, this is just a temporary measure! After our family completely controls Kitaomi, we will take it back sooner or later, and we may even get more by then!" Asai Ryomasa replied with a fierce look in his eyes.
Seeing Asai Ryomasa say this, Asai Nomasa, Asai Kiyomasa and others could only shut their mouths silently.
Half an hour later, Asai Hidenobu took the transfer document from Asai Ryomasa's hand with a solemn expression, "Please rest assured, my lord, I will fulfill my mission!"
"Please! Gorobei!"
"Ha~ha!"
The Asai family is worried inside, but the Kyogoku family is a happy scene.
Defeating the arrogant Asai Ryomasa, the morale of the Kyogoku family retainers has been unprecedentedly high, and they are even more motivated to serve as officials. At the same time, Master Sanlang's Yuanfu Ceremony also arrived.
On April 5th, in Seitakiji Temple of the Kyogoku Family Bodhi Temple, Kyogoku Takahiro, the head of the Kyogoku family, came to this quiet temple with a group of retainers and Master Saburo who looked excited.
After more than three months of preparation, under the witness of all the Kyogoku family retainers and with the blessings of the guests invited by Kyogoku Takahiro, Master Saburo's Yuanfu Ceremony is about to be held.
