Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Since that's the case, Nobunaga, having squandered a huge fortune, can pack up and head back to his stronghold in Gifu. At this point, it's unclear what force could challenge Oda Nobunaga's power.

Based on the usual practices of the Kanrei (military commanders), they would typically spend half the year in Gifu and the other half in Kyoto. Their time in Gifu is unremarkable, but in Kyoto they would bring several thousand men to support the Shogun and handle the official duties of the various samurai families.

The current conflict between the Ōtomo and Mōri clans, their struggle for control of northern Kyushu, was actually mediated by the previous shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru. However, the mediation didn't go smoothly, and Mōri Motonari, with Amago Haruhisa behind him, resentfully retreated to Aki.

Furthermore, Ōtomo was also restless, supporting Ōuchi Teruhiro to launch a rebellion against the Minister of Defense. The two sides fought fiercely, which in fact provided ample time for the development of Hizen Ryūzōji and Satsuma Shimazu.

Ōtomo Yoshishige was also a powerful ruler; had it not been for his more than ten-year-long struggle with the Mōri clan, he might well have been capable of unifying Kyushu. This is similar to the more than ten-year-long struggle between the Takeda and Uesugi clans on Kawanakajima Island.

Of course, Nobunaga and Mino fought for over a decade, evenly matched rivals battling to the death their entire lives. In the end, it was Nobunaga who broke the deadlock; sometimes success isn't just a matter of coincidence, but also of strength.

If Ōtomo kills Mōri, or Takeda kills Uesugi, and they swallow up his territory, who will rule the land?

Chosokabe Motochika, who started his quest for power in the same year as Nobunaga, also controlled Murotohama, a key point on the Kuroshio shipping route. Well, he still hasn't unified Tosa.

Doesn't this make perfect sense now? Besides luck, Nobunaga also worked hard for more than a decade.

"But I heard that Akechi Jubei is still serving as the Kyoto Magistrate and staying in Kyoto." Aochi Shigetsuna is now under his roof and is very concerned about the news of the Oda family and Kyoto.

"Of course." Nobunaga himself was leaving, and the main force of the Oda army was also withdrawing, but Kyoto could not be left unattended.

Akechi Mitsuhide was granted a stipend of 4,000 kan by Nobunaga, making it easy for him to recruit dozens of retainers and 300 foot soldiers. With such a force left to guard Kyoto, Ashikaga Yoshiaki himself had several hundred men, which could easily amount to a thousand cavalry.

An army of a thousand men certainly couldn't defend Kyoto, but this helped him rebuild Shogun's Castle. If something really went wrong, Mitsuhide could just carry Yoshiaki on his back, and the two of them could run back to Shogun's Castle.

"By the way, I heard that the Great Hall sent a letter to Lord Ichijōdani, requesting him to come to Kyoto to congratulate the Duke, but Lord Ichijōdani did not respond at all."

"..." Shichibei didn't answer. Asakura Yoshikage was probably cursing right now.

This position should have been held by him, but it was given to Nobunaga instead.

149. He was ordered to go on a mission to the Kitabatake clan.

Furthermore, Nobunaga probably had other motives in sending Asakura Yoshikage to Kyoto. Right now, Nobunaga was trying to take over the old framework and order of the Muromachi Shogunate, and even Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, Hatakeyama Takamasa and others came to join him. Nobunaga probably felt that he also had a chance to bring Asakura Yoshikage under his control.

Just like his previous adjustment in attitude towards Azai Nagamasa, Nobunaga may have already prepared to treat Nagamasa as a retainer, as his general of the army.

If Asai Nagamasa, with a 300,000 koku of rice, can be commanded, then shouldn't Asakura Yoshikage, with a 700,000 koku of rice, also be given a try?

In terms of social standing, the Hatakeyama family was far superior, yet they still had to kneel. In terms of wealth, Nobunaga's estate was worth over 2.2 million, if not more; it wouldn't be shameful for someone with only 700,000 to kneel before him.

Furthermore, in terms of official status and legitimacy, Nobunaga was a Kanrei (chief advisor to the emperor), and even now, the imperial court and many feudal lords still refer to him as Kanrei. Everyone feels that Nobunaga was merely playing the trick of declining the position three times to elevate his own status.

Originally, the old guards, seeing that Nobunaga was still operating within the established system, all thought he was a kind person. After all, at this point, almost any old guard could say a few words to Nobunaga, even someone as worthless as Kyogoku Takakichi had a place in the hierarchy, so they naturally thought Nobunaga was alright.

To be fair, Nobunaga's acting was at least on point at this moment.

In other words, after being summoned once and again without arriving, Nobunaga confirmed that Asakura Yoshikage was truly unwilling to submit and obey, and only then did he decide to launch an attack and eliminate Asakura Yoshikage.

Of course, this was also related to Nobunaga's plan to seize control of the northern trade routes. After all, Wakasa-ohama and Echizen-Tsuruga were both starting points for the northern trade, and controlling such places could bring huge profits.

"Any news from Kyoto?" Shichibei suddenly thought that a stable should also be set up in Kyoto.

The traditional horse-drawn carriage shops near the south bank of the Yangtze River are undergoing renovation and reconstruction. In Kyoto, due to the complex web of various factions and the need for the shogunate's approval, Shichibei has refrained from intervening. Looking back, Kyoto was poised to become a focal point of conflict in Japan for the next few years. Without prior planning and understanding, many things will have been left unseen.

Although the current situation hasn't completely deviated from the main storyline of another dimension, there have already been many changes. For example, Saito Tatsuoki is currently serving as the lord of Kiyosu Castle, and has even led troops to join Nobunaga's forces, fighting for Nobunaga.

Ashikaga Yoshihide, who should have been poisoned to death at this time, was at least still alive, lying on his tatami mat, though not exactly lively. He would soon be taken back to Gifu Castle by Nobunaga and become a layabout.

We need to ask where Ashikaga Yoshihide will be placed after this.

Rissho-ji Temple in Mino was quite nice; Ashikaga Yoshiaki had previously resided there. Nobunaga had renovated Rissho-ji Temple extensively. After all, Ashikaga Yoshihide only had a few dozen attendants, and there was no need to set up a palace. When he started governing the shogunate, a few dozen people were enough to serve him.

"Nothing serious, the main hall has already bid farewell to the palace." Aochi Shigetsuna put down the ladle, having finished drinking the water.

"Row."

Hmm, did Nobunaga recommend any of Oda's generals for official positions around this time in history? It seems not. For example, Mitsuhide's title of Koretoki and Hanawa Naomasa's title of Harada were only granted several years later. As for Hideyoshi's Chikuzen no Kami and Mitsuhide's Hyuga no Kami, those came even later.

Judging from the location of this official post, it's clear it's in the Kyushu region. At that time, Nobunaga and Mori's relationship was still relatively good, and Mori hadn't yet joined the encirclement. Meanwhile, Miyoshi Yasunaga and Sogawa Masayasu of Shikoku had both surrendered to Nobunaga, and Chosokabe Motochika's son even received the character "Nobu" from Nobunaga, taking the name Chosokabe Nobuchika after his coming-of-age ceremony.

In order to establish trade with the Nanban (Southern Barbarians) and the Ming Dynasty, Nobunaga turned his attention to Kyushu. This most likely meant that Mitsuhide would be transferred to Southern Kyushu, and Hideyoshi to Northern Kyushu, making these two major strongholds under Nobunaga's control.

If Mitsuhide hadn't rebelled, he would have received at least 700,000 koku of rice in southern Kyushu. He would most likely have also obtained a seal of authority for trade with the southern barbarians, gaining immense wealth.

I wonder if Shichibei will be able to get some kind of official position? He might become Ishida Mitsunari's Junior Assistant in Charge of Administration.

Oh dear, from now on everyone can call me "Chibu-sho" (a title for a minor official). The name is unlucky; if Nobunaga is thinking of that, he should probably decline and change it to something like "Hyōbu-shō-shō" (a title for a minor official in charge of military affairs) or "Ōkura-shō-shō" (a title for a minor official in charge of military affairs).

Several days later, instead of Azai Nagamasa's main army, they were met by Nobunaga's main force of over ten thousand men, as well as tens of thousands of troops retreating to Owari. Azai Nagamasa seemed to have taken the waterway directly to Takashima County, where he would then meet up with Hideyoshi north of Kyoto and head towards Tajima.

It's good that we don't go through it; if we don't go through it, we won't need to trample on the road, and Shichibei can save some effort in repairing the road.

As for Nobunaga's passing by Kannonji Temple and resting at its castle, that was his own business. Nobunaga was aware of the army trampling the streets and wouldn't hold it against them.

When our lord passes through the camp, we must pay him a visit.

"You've got what you wanted, are you happy?" After all the other officials had left the residence, leaving only Shichibei, Nobunaga gazed at Shichibei with a deep look in his eyes.

"No, no." Even if Shichibei had the guts of a bear and the courage of a leopard, he wouldn't dare to say another word now.

"Hmph, I'd like to see if you dare." Nobunaga was speaking his mind, of course. He even wanted to subdue Asakura Yoshikage, let alone the little Shichibei in front of him.

"It was my fault for speaking out of turn and making unwarranted comments on important matters." These were the truth.

Titles and ranks are bestowed by the ruler upon his subjects; I may give them, but you cannot accept them. To openly and brazenly demand them, whether for oneself or for others, is objectively an offense against the ruler.

The saying that titles and ranks should not be bestowed indiscriminately requires rulers to be cautious in such matters. They should not be influenced by personal likes or dislikes, but should only evaluate the merits of their subjects and bestow rewards accordingly.

"Hmph, it's you..." Nobunaga's tone finally softened a bit.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty," Shichibei breathed a sigh of relief.

The skin of the old Owari, old Oda, and old Shimo-shiki districts was indeed useful. During the period when Shichibei was still serving diligently and did not make any mistakes, having this skin was like having an extra life.

If Nobunaga were to truly lose his temper, the samurai from Owari would undoubtedly rush to his aid and plead for mercy. As Nobunaga's empire grew larger and larger, so many unsavory characters joined his ranks, including figures like Akechi Mitsuhide who rose to high positions immediately upon arrival. Consequently, the Owari samurai would inevitably band together.

"How many more days will it take to complete the street preparations?" After a few words, Nobunaga still had to ask about official business.

He could tolerate his subordinates making mistakes, but they had to be capable of doing their jobs. As long as they were willing to work hard, Nobunaga would be more tolerant.

"It will take at most fifteen days, and preparations can be completed within fifteen days."

"Hmm..." Nobunaga pondered for a moment.

The streets within Yamashiro Castle were constructed by conscripting laborers in the name of the shogunate, under the leadership of Akechi Mitsuhide. The streets from Kyoto to Akutagawa Yamashiro Castle were managed by the newly appointed lord, Wada Koremasa. Afterwards, the people of Settsu, who had been subjugated, also contributed to the construction of the streets within Settsu Castle.

This was also the case in Yamato, Kawachi, Izumi, and other provinces. Nobunaga would require the new lords of these territories to renovate the streets within their domains. This was to facilitate the rapid movement of Oda's army and the flow of people between the various countries.

Nobunaga then inquired about the pursuit of Rokkaku Yoshikata and his remaining followers. It was now almost certain that the Rokkaku father and son had completely hidden themselves in Koga County. This place was "unsubmissive to the emperor's rule," and to capture them, it would probably require leading a large army to sweep them away completely.

Another new development is that Rokkaku and his son may still be in contact with the Kitabatake clan of Iga and Ise. Just look at the map, and you'll see that the Kitabatake clan is now completely surrounded by Oda's forces.

However, the Kitabatake clan remained independent, and Nobunaga couldn't allow this situation to continue for long. Therefore, war or diplomatic suppression was the foreseeable outcome.

The Rokkaku father and son were once powerful daimyo, so it's not surprising that they were in contact with the Kitabatake clan. Kitabatake was probably the only clan in the vicinity that could be relied upon. The Miyoshi clan fled so quickly that even the Oda army couldn't keep up, and their influence completely collapsed outside the Kinai region.

The territory that Miyoshi Nagayoshi had fought for over decades to conquer in the Kinai region was completely wiped out by the Miyoshi Trio in just over ten days.

This information was also obtained by the personnel stationed at the checkpoint in southern Omi. Shichibei reported it to Nobunaga, and that was the end of it; how to proceed afterward was Nobunaga's problem.

"Hmph, Kitabatake, is it? Once the affairs of Jiangnan are settled, you will return to Gifu and then go on a mission to Kitabatake with (Takikawa) Sakon." Nobunaga made his decision so quickly, almost without hesitation.

Come to think of it, even Shimazu Yoshihisa of Satsuma personally traveled to Kyoto to congratulate Ashikaga Yoshiaki. It's a bit unreasonable for Kitada Tomonori, who was in southern Ise, to say that he didn't know about the new emperor's accession.

In Nobunaga's mind at that time, if you did not come to pay homage to Yoshiaki, it was tantamount to not recognizing his regime of ruling the world.

The two are essentially equivalent. After all, anyone who comes to pay homage to Yoshiaki must also pay homage to Nobunaga and proclaim him "Kanrei-dono" (Lord Kanrei). Nobunaga's refusal to take on the role of Kanrei was his own decision. If you don't treat Nobunaga as Kanrei, then Nobunaga will have a heart-to-heart talk with you.

"Urge them to go to Luoyang?" Shichibei was well aware of this.

"Not bad!"

The best approach is to offer persuasion first, then resort to force. If Kitabatake Tomonori can understand the situation and humbly submit to Nobunaga in Kyoto, then there is still room for negotiation. Even colluding with the remnants of the Rokkaku clan is not an insurmountable obstacle.

But if you don't even have this attitude, then well, that's just laughable. For Nobunaga, raising 90,000 troops is no big deal. It all depends on whether Nobunaga has the ability to feed 90,000 soldiers.

The autumn harvest is just around the corner, and the Nobi Plain is rich with a million koku of rice. With a million koku of rice harvested and stored, those who still think Nobunaga is a country bumpkin and unworthy of my worship as one of the "Three Kingdoms Warlords of the Sengoku Period" from Kitabatake Tokunyo are in for a taste of Nobunaga's iron fist.

"I understand."

"Handle it well."

Nobunaga said nothing more, and as darkness fell, they all went to rest.

With the completion of the street renovation from Ōgaki Castle to Setabashi Bridge, the Kawamura Denmaya (horse-riding houses) set up in places such as Imahama, Ōtsu, and Kannonji were all completed. Relying on the horse resources from the Omi Hokkai trade and the confiscated assets of the old Denmaya, the establishment was carried out at a rapid pace.

The only thing Shichibei didn't expect was that the old horse-riding personnel were still stubbornly holding on, and some even went to Koga County to seek refuge with Rokkaku and his son, refusing to bow down to Shichibei.

Perhaps they felt that the Rokkaku family still had a chance to make a comeback. Shichibei didn't have time to deal with them for the time being, so he could only leave behind the necessary captains and employees, while ordering them to try to incorporate the old Jiangnan cavalry, and then withdrew to Gifu.

Takigawa Kazumasu was not in Gifu, but at Kanie Castle in Owari Province. He had not yet begun constructing Matsushima Castle in northern Ise. After reporting back to Nobunaga and settling all expenses, Shichibei, without any rest, immediately rushed to Kanie Castle.

Let's just consider this a trip back to the Tsushima headquarters to catch up on the latest situation. We're about to take on the exclusive distribution of the Oda family's annual tribute rice, and we also have to repay the 40,000 koku of rice owed to the Sakai and Anotsu associations. I need to entrust Inase Yoshinari with handling this matter properly.

Yoshinari Inase was well aware of the importance of this matter and indicated that he would definitely be stationed on Tsushima Island to deal with it with all his might.

Thus, after reviewing the accounts of Kawamura-ya during this period and speaking with some of the managers and branch managers, Shichibei felt relieved enough to head to Kanie Castle.

After waiting for Shichibei for a long time, Takigawa Kazumasu boarded Shichibei's boat and they went together to Anonozu. Taking a boat would save them some walking, and Shichibei had been so busy lately that he was indeed tired.

In addition, he had already sent people in advance to inform the Kitabatake family that the Muromachi Shogunate's Kanrei-dono (Lord Kanrei) was sending an envoy to meet them, and asked them to make preparations in advance.

Preparations? The Kitabatake family is already in an uproar.

150. You little brat, you're a subject too.

The situation of the Kitabatake clan is not difficult to guess. Oda Nobunaga has just ascended to the throne and is at a point of arrogance. At this juncture, Nobunaga is preparing to take over the entire old order of the Muromachi Shogunate.

Coincidentally, the Kitabatake clan was not actually within the power-loyalty system of this old order. Otherwise, why would they be called "Sengoku Sangokushi" (a title implying they were first and foremost a court noble family, not a daimyo)?

But Nobunaga didn't care about that. He even neglected his own brother-in-law, Azai Nagamasa, whom he definitely needed to win over, let alone someone like the Kitabatake clan.

They could either express their submission to Nobunaga and accept his command, though it wasn't necessarily necessary to explicitly state their status as subjects; or they could resist the royal army and await their doom.

In reality, judging from the current situation, both the Hatakeyama brothers, Takamasa and Akitaka, have expressed goodwill to Nobunaga, and the Hatakeyama family has received the responsibility of securing and protecting half of Kawachi province. Nobunaga is indeed not immediately seeking to turn these former lords into his retainers.

The key is to heed the call of Nobunaga, the one who took over the old order, even if it's just a lip service.

Like the Negoro troop of Kishu, he also expressed some goodwill towards Nobunaga. However, he did not obey Nobunaga's orders to mobilize troops for the time being, and only outwardly supported the new Oda regime.

If you lower your head, everyone will be happy; Nobunaga will save face, and your own fundamental interests won't be affected.

But here's the problem: the Kitabatake family isn't even willing to lower their heads. If they were, they could simply send someone to Kyoto to congratulate Yoshiaki and offer him a hundred taels of gold, and that would be the end of it.