In the past, the Hosokawa family mainly relied on three forces to control the Kinai region.
The first is the powerful group of retainers under his command, the second is the people of the country who follow the command, and the third is the daimyo in the territory who can stand on the same side as the Hosokawa family.
Let’s talk about the first one first. From the beginning of the conflict between Hosokawa Takakuni and Hosokawa Harumoto to the defeat of Hosokawa Takakuni, the Hosokawa family’s retainers suffered heavy casualties due to this civil strife. It can be said that the strength of the retainers was affected. A devastating blow. In addition, Hosokawa Harumoto and Miyoshi Motonaga had a falling out, which resulted in the loss of Miyoshi, a powerful retainer, so that the retainers that Hosokawa Harumoto can use now are Hosokawa Motaka and Hosokawa Motonsune... ...
As for the people of the country, take the people of Settsu as an example. Previously, because the people of Settsu wanted to rebel against Hosokawa Takakuni, they followed Hosokawa Harumoto. At first, the people of Settsu led by Ibaraki Shitaka were relatively obedient. However, after Hosokawa Harumoto performed fierce operations in Kinai and was finally overturned by the Honganji Jedi in Ishiyama, the people of Settsu also began to treat Haru Hosokawa. Yuan was very disappointed.
After all, the people of Settsu suffered the most losses in this battle.
Therefore, due to various pressures, Ibaraki Shitaka had to maintain a distance from Hosokawa Harumoto, so as not to drag the people of Settsu into an unfavorable situation again.
As for the last one - the allies of the Hosokawa family, taking the Hatakeyama family as an example, both the Oshu family and the Soshu family have been emptied of power by their own powerful officials, Yusa Chokyo and Kizawa Nagamasa.
Within the Hatakeyama family, the two people who call the shots are Yusa Nagakaku and Kizawa Nagamasa. It would be fine if these two were just loyal ministers who worked conscientiously to assist the leader, but they turned out to be extremely ambitious people.
Especially Kisawa Nagamasa, who always wanted to make some big news in the Kinai region. In a certain sense, the operations that Matsunagahide later performed in history were leftover from Kisawa Nagamasa's tricks.
Therefore, Hosokawa Harumoto also lost the help from his allies.
To solve this situation, Hosokawa Harumoto's primary purpose is to "reorganize" the Hosokawa family, such as re-incorporating the Miyoshi family into the retainers group, etc.
For now, although the progress of the Hosokawa family's reorganization of the Hosokawa family is proceeding in an orderly manner, it has not yet been successfully completed.
Therefore, finding a new powerful daimyo who can provide strong support to the Hosokawa family is the only option to solve the current problems of the Hosokawa family. Looking at the Kinai region, there seem to be only three forces that meet this requirement.
The first is the Ichikai clan, but the Hosokawa family has just fought with each other, and it is impossible for them to do so in the short term.
Next is the Rokkaku family. The Hosokawa family and the Rokkaku family have had several pleasant cooperations before, and the foundation of both parties is pretty good.
Finally, there is the Asakura family. The heads of the Asakura family in the past generations have actively intervened in the Kinai situation, but the relationship between the Asakura family and the Hosokawa family is too complicated, so there is no possibility.
Then the most suitable one is the Rokkaku family.
.......
After the evaluation, Hosokawa Harumoto was still angry.
Although the retainers carefully analyzed the stakes and tried to persuade Hosokawa Harumoto to accept the "goodwill" from the Rokkaku family, Hosokawa Harumoto still felt that the Rokkaku family's appetite was too great.
Meinong can give it, and even part of Kinai's territory can be given, but taking charge of the leadership is simply wishful thinking.
"My lord, Sanqi is guarding the palace to ask for an audience." Xiaoming stepped forward and bravely came to Hosokawa Harumoto and said cautiously.
Hearing Hosokawa Motaka's name, Hosokawa Harumoto's expression softened slightly.
"Let him in."
"ha!"
Not long after, Hosokawa Mochitaka entered the hall covered in dust.
"Isn't my uncle attending a renge party with the ministers in Kyoto? Why is he back now?"
"When I heard about the recent evaluation, I had something in my mind that I didn't know whether to say or not." Hosokawa Mochitaka said hesitantly.
Hosokawa Mochitaka nodded, and after a moment of silence, he said, "My lord, what my lord and his retainers are arguing about here is nothing more than whether or not we should cooperate with the Rokkaku family."
"The Rokkaku family has always wanted to get involved in the affairs of the territory, and Rokkaku Sakyo is even more ambitious. If he is really promised the title of leader, wouldn't that give the Rokkaku family a legitimate title?"
"What my uncle said is exactly what worries me!" Hosokawa Harumoto agreed helplessly.
This is where Hosokawa Harumoto is struggling. On the one hand, he hopes to use the power of the Rokkaku family to regain control of Kinai. But he was afraid that after bringing in the Rokkaku family, the Rokkaku family would be able to do it alone without the Hosokawa family.
If the Rokkaku family didn't have a name before, then if the stewardship was given to Rokkaku Sadeyori, wouldn't everything fall into place by then?
"Is there no room for maneuver in this matter?"
"The people of the Rokkaku family have a very tough attitude. The other party is aware of the current embarrassment of our family. Otherwise, why would they make such harsh demands?"
"Then uncle is here now. Does he have any other suggestions?!"
Hosokawa Mochitaka nodded slowly and said, "Yes, I do have a bold idea!"
"Uncle please speak frankly!"
"Since my lord doesn't want to find the Rokkaku family, why not let the Kyogoku family go to Luo?"
"The Kyogoku family?"
"With the strength of the Kyogoku family, I'm afraid..." Hosokawa Harumoto didn't expect that Hosokawa Mochitaka would target the Kyogoku family.
To be honest, Hosokawa Harumoto is very satisfied with this little brother of the Kyogoku family. Sensible and obedient, he simply "lives well and is not clingy".
But the strength of the Kyogoku family is indeed too weak. Although they have integrated Kitaomi and brought Wakasa into their sphere of influence, they are still much inferior to Rokkaku and Asakura.
"Even if the Kyogoku family owns places like Kitaomi and Wakasa, the maximum they can command is only over 200,000 koku, and the number of troops that can go up to Luo will not exceed 3,000."
"Such help may not be enough for our family to deter other forces!"
Shangluo is not an ordinary short-term battle within the territory. This is a long-term, time-consuming, labor-intensive and expensive battle. The troops in Shangluo are as good as horses, and people with no family background really can't afford it.
With the strength of the Kyogoku family, being able to dispatch three thousand people to Luo is already the maximum limit, but these few people really won't be of much help to the Hosokawa family.
However, after listening to Hosokawa Harumoto's words, Hosokawa Motaka continued calmly: "The Kyogoku family is indeed not strong, but what if the Kyogoku family controls the entire Omi?"
Hosokawa Nobitaka's words can be said to have stirred up a thousand waves with one stone. Hosokawa Harumoto suddenly lost his composure, "Uncle, what you mean is... to let the Kyogoku family devour the Rokkaku family?"
"is it possible?"
"It was indeed unlikely before, but my lord, don't forget that the war in Sekigahara is not over yet. If my lord tells Sakyo Susumu this idea, I think that with Sakyo Shin's ability, he will definitely be able to give his lord a satisfactory answer. Right." Hosokawa Mochitaka said with certainty.
Hosokawa Harumoto fell into a struggle, because Hosokawa Mochitaka's words were too lethal, and this matter might directly affect the situation in the world.
"My lord, what are you still hesitating about? The Kyogoku family has always been a loyal ally of our family. Since the confrontation with Michinaga (Hosokawa Takakuni), the Kyogoku family has been thinking and doing its best for our family. Isn't it better than the Rokkaku family?"
"Could it be that my lord still doesn't believe in Sakyo Shin?"
Hosokawa Harumoto was silent for a long time, and after weighing it repeatedly in his mind, he finally made a decision.
"This matter is of great importance. My uncle must go to Sakyo in person for this matter!"
"Don't worry, my lord, the horses are ready and we'll set off right away!"
