Ise.
Kiriyama Imperial Palace.
Kitahata Haru's face looked a little unkind.
The Kitahata family had already prepared to send troops three days ago. At that time, Kitahata Harugu had even issued an attack order, but the plan to send troops had to be terminated because of the arrival of a person.
Looking at Hosokawa Motonsune who was smiling but not smiling in front of him, Kitahata Harugu really wanted to slap his straw sandals on his face. However, Kitahata Harugu could only think about this idea in her heart. The Hosokawa Kyoshi family behind Hosokawa Motonsune was indeed not something the Kitahata family could afford to offend.
"Harima Shoden, you have been staying in my room all day since you came to my house three days ago, but you don't know why you came here?"
When he asked this question, Kitahata Harugu had already roughly guessed the purpose of Hosokawa Motonsune's visit.
After all, Hosokawa Motonsune didn't come early or late, but he came just when he was about to attack the Kyogoku family. And considering the relationship between the Kyogoku family and the Hosokawa family, everything didn't seem so difficult to guess.
Hosokawa Motonsune turned around unhurriedly, and then carefully looked at Kitahata Harugu who was sitting on the throne, and then said: "The Kitahata Senate Hall has been very proud of itself recently. Although I live far away in the mountain city, I have heard about it. The great things that the Kitahata Senate has done recently.”
"It is said that the Kitahata Council of Ministers intends to start a war with the Omi Kyogoku family?"
Sure enough, as soon as Hosokawa Motonsune mentioned the Kyogoku family, the purpose of the other party's visit was self-evident.
"The Harima guardian is well informed. Yes, this is indeed the case!"
"The Kyogoku family was guarding Kitaomi, but they extended their hands to our country of Ise. Not only did they attack and destroy several wealthy families under our family, but they also occupied two counties of Ise!"
"As Ise Kuniji, shouldn't we send troops to repel the invaders?"
Hosokawa Motonsune shook his head, and then continued: "Kitahata-sama, since you said that the Kyogoku family is the guardian of Kitaomi, there was no reason to attack Ise. But why did the Kyogoku family come anyway?"
"And the Kyogoku family is our ally. Does the Kitahata Senate really not know about some of these connections?"
Hearing Hosokawa Motonsune's words, Kitahata Haruto's eyes shrank and her breathing began to quicken, "Harima's intention is to guard the palace. Could it be that the Kyogoku family's dispatch of troops to Ise this time was ordered by Hosokawa Rokuroden?"
"Otherwise?" Hosokawa Mototsune showed a smile.
Kitahata Harugu was a bit embarrassed now, "I wonder why the palace leader is targeting my family?"
"The Kitahata Senate really has a good memory. When my family fought against Hosokawa Takakuni a few years ago, I wonder which side the Kitahata Senate was on?"
"If I remember correctly, the Kitahata family was preparing to send troops to support Hosokawa Takakuni at that time!"
Kitahata Harugu did not deny it, and immediately replied, "Yes, I am the son-in-law of Duke Michinaga (Hosokawa Takagoku's legal name). It is reasonable to send troops to help my father-in-law."
"It makes sense!"
Hosokawa Motonsune suddenly emphasized his tone, "In this case, the Kitahata family is naturally the enemy of my Hosokawa family!"
"I would like to ask, isn't it reasonable to send troops to attack our enemies?"
"My family wanted to attack Ise, but we were struggling to fight within the territory, so we asked our allies, the Kyogoku family, to send troops on our behalf. Why not?"
Kitahata Harugu now understood that Hosokawa Motojo was here to speak for the Kyogoku family.
It’s just nonsense!
However, in the face of Hosokawa Motonsune, Kitahata Harugu really dared not speak out in anger.
To say that last year, Kitahata Harugu was really panicked at first, especially after Hosokawa Takakuni was killed, Kitahata Harugu once thought of sending someone to plead guilty to Hosokawa Harumoto.
But then, Hosokawa Harumoto was beaten by the coalition forces of Honganji Temple and Hosokawa Harukuni and fled directly to Shikoku. Kitahata Harumoto thought that Hosokawa Harumoto would not be able to return to Kinai for a while, so he didn't think much about it.
Who would have thought that in just a few months, Hosokawa Harumoto not only returned to Kinai, but also defeated Honganji Temple in one fell swoop, and Hosokawa Harukuni's side was also defeated.
At this time, Kitahata Harugu really didn't dare to be arrogant in front of the Hosokawa family, otherwise if he incurs the wrath of Hosokawa Harumoto and brings an army to Ise, he would really not be a match for the Hosokawa family with his strength.
After thinking for a while, Kitahata Harugu forced out a smile, and then continued, "I wonder what the head of the palace thinks about my Ise matter?"
"It's easy!"
Hosokawa Motonsune raised a finger and said: "The Kitahata family immediately sent an envoy to Settsu Ikeda Castle to present an invitation to our lord. For the sake of the Kitahata family being a famous samurai family, my lord can forget the past."
"But the land in the two counties previously occupied by the Kyogoku family still belongs to the Kyogoku family. The Kitahata family is not allowed to interfere, otherwise they will be enemies of the family!"
"I wonder what the Kitahata Senate Council thinks?"
Seeing that Hosokawa Mototsune was so aggressive when he came up to him, Kitahata Harugu naturally refused, "This seems a bit overwhelming."
"Kitahata Councilor Hall, before leaving, my lord has already begun to gather troops. It was originally to attack Hachiro Hosokawa."
"But if the Kitahata family still doesn't understand the situation clearly on this matter and insists on going against me, then these tens of thousands of troops will march towards Ise!" The threat in Hosokawa Motonsune's words should not be too obvious.
Hearing Hosokawa Motonsune's words, Kitahata Harugu fell silent.
To be honest, Kitahata Harugu was really panicked.
Before the arrival of Hosokawa Motonsune, Kitahata Harugu not only learned that the Nagano family and Seki family had joined the Kyogoku family, but also learned that the Yamato Tsutsui family had signs of sending troops to Ise.
However, Kitahata Harugu is not afraid of being punished. In his opinion, the participation of the Nagano family and the Seki family in the war only slightly enhanced the Kyogoku family's combat power.
As for the Tsutsui family, they only need to send one retainer with thousands of troops to guard the hills around Mt. Takami and Mt. Kuruzun.
Although this will disperse some of the Kitahata family's troops, there are still 20,000 people who can participate in the battle against the Kyogoku family.
Twenty thousand versus seven thousand, no matter what, there is a high chance of winning.
But now that the Hosokawa family suddenly intervened in the matter, Kitahata Harugu had to consider whether it was still necessary to send troops.
The Hosokawa family, those are the real bosses!
At present, among the various forces in Kinai, the Hatakeyama Oshu family (the lineage of the high-ranking Kyogoku Masaru and pro-Hatakeyama Masakuni) is in a state of decline. The Hatakeyama Soshu family has been ousted by its retainer Kizawa Nagamasa, and Kizawa Nagamasa is now Hosokawa. A supporter of Qing Yuan.
The Omi Rokkaku family had suffered heavy losses in the previous battle with Honganji Temple, and they seemed to have been in close contact with Ashikaga Yoshiharu, who was exiled in Omi recently, and they had no intention of fighting in Kinai for the time being.
As for the Yixiang Sect, they were beaten so much that even the main mountain was burned down. The gathered Yikui also suffered heavy casualties in various places and are now licking their wounds.
As a result, the Hosokawa family really has no opponent in the entire recent area!
At this time, the Hosokawa family was at its peak, and he was worried that he could not find anyone to scare the monkeys and establish his power while controlling the territory.
If the Kitahata family jumped out to oppose the Hosokawa family at this time, wouldn't that mean they were seeking death?
Thinking of this, Kitahata Harugu had no choice but to give in even though she was reluctant in every way.
"In this case, I will obey the order of the governor! In the near future, I will go to Settsu in person to meet with the governor to report my family's faults. I also ask Harima Shoden to convey my family's wishes on my behalf."
"As for the Kyogoku family... I am willing to make peace with them and never fight again!"
At this moment, Kitahata Harugu finally knew what it meant to swallow with broken teeth.
At the same time, I was also sighing, why is Hosokawa Takakuni so disappointing?
If Hosokawa Takakuni had been more successful, wouldn't he be the one holding his thigh right now?
