Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

"Hanbei, you wouldn't understand this." Shichibei waved his hand dismissively, as if he had a brilliant plan.

Chapter 246 Preparations for the Appointment of the Imperial Palace

Takenaka Hanbei rolled his eyes inwardly. Since being assigned to Shichibei's subordinates, he had come to realize that Shichibei was a kind and benevolent person. However, he was equally ruthless towards good-for-nothings.

Work hard and serve the public, and your salary will be plentiful. Don't work hard and serve the public? I'll kick you to the horse ranch to shovel manure for three months straight, feed you with whips, and even the laziest dog will be tamed and made obedient.

What special skills did Watanabe Ren and his son Watanabe Kanbei possess that made Shichibei give them such high salaries?

No!

Anyway, Takenaka Hanbei didn't see it at the moment, but it doesn't matter. He saw a samurai who could fight, so it was reasonable for him to be interested and recruit him.

Upon further inquiry, it was discovered that Watanabe Kanbei was not Watanabe Ren's biological son, but rather an adopted son. Watanabe Taka had discovered that his uncle Watanabe Ren had never had a legitimate son, so he gave his second son, Kanbei, to his uncle for adoption.

From that moment on, fathers and sons become cousins, a situation quite common in Japan. There have even been cases of grandfathers becoming adopted sons of their grandsons.

As they were chatting, some great news suddenly came from outside.

Sasa Narimasa, who had disappeared for some time, desperately chased after Rokkaku Yoshikata, who had fled. After Rokkaku Yoshikata's defeat, he rushed along the Yasu River to Lake Biwa, probably intending to take a boat trip on the lake and hide for three to five days.

Ultimately, he couldn't outrun the ambitious Sassa Narimasa and was captured. He was better off alive, as he could be sent to Kyoto and handed over to Oda Nobunaga for judgment.

After all, the dead can only have their heads stuck on spears for public display, but if a living person is taken to Kyoto, they become a pawn. Or at least a lucky rooster to warn others, which can be used when necessary.

Upon hearing the news, everyone rushed out of their tents to see Rokkaku Yoshikata, who had been bound and was now mounted on his horse. How wise Sasaki Judge was back then! When Ashikaga Takauji was around, he helped Ashikaga Takauji; when Takauji was gone, he helped the winner. He won countless battles throughout his life, always riding the crest of the wave.

Moreover, he indulged in all forms of entertainment, including eating, drinking, and merrymaking, earning him the title of "Great Name of Vasala." He was elegant and witty, and many anecdotes about him have been passed down. He was truly a winner among winners in life.

Who would have thought that their descendants would be so unworthy, ending up in such a state, having inherited none of their ancestors' wisdom and talent?

Rokkaku Yoshiharu is now serving Ashikaga Yoshiaki in Kyoto, and Rokkaku Yoshikata has been captured. It seems the father and son will never be released back to Jiangnan; they'll likely be stuck in Kyoto eating cold leftovers until they die.

However, the decision to imprison him must be made by Oda Nobunaga. It is already late, and it is impossible to set off immediately to escort him to Kyoto. If he is intercepted on the way, who can bear the responsibility? It would be safer to leave him at Anyo-ji Temple for the next day and wait until it is light tomorrow to escort him with a hundred horsemen.

Sassa Narimasa was eager to achieve merit, but now that the credit was in his hands, he calmed down and didn't rush to leave that very night. He even went so far as to get Rokkaku Yoshikata a vegetarian meal and a good amount of sake. To treat an enemy general like this on the battlefield was quite a show of courtesy.

Rokkaku Yoshikata initially sighed deeply, but after drinking a bottle of sake, he calmed down. He only lamented his bad luck; ever since his defeat at the Battle of Norata to Azai Nagamasa, his military fortune seemed to have completely vanished, and he had never been able to recover, suffering defeat after defeat.

At the end of the road.

They weren't exactly tragic figures; they simply became stepping stones for Oda Nobunaga's success. And despite repeated defeats, neither father nor son died, eventually rising to become Hideyoshi's Otogishu (a military rank), and dying peacefully in their seventies or eighties.

Takeda Shiro became a headless ghost, Yamagata Masakage became a funnel ladle, Asakura Yoshikage became a golden wine cup, and Hatano Hideharu, Araki Murashige, Bessho Nagaharu and others died along with their entire families. In comparison, Rokkaku Yoshikata was quite lucky.

Those around him congratulated Sassa Narimasa, saying that for such a great achievement, he should be rewarded with 20,000 koku of rice and given 300-500 foot soldiers to guard a strategic point on his own, or to be assigned to a legion commander's side as an assistant.

Historically, Sassa Narimasa initially granted Katsuie a fiefdom of 100,000 koku of rice, sharing it with Fuwa Mitsuharu and Maeda Toshiie. Ultimately, he obtained a reward of over 200,000 koku of rice across half of Etchu Province, thus becoming a daimyo.

Sasa Narimasa, positioned in the center of the crowd, suddenly became the most dazzling figure, a testament to his fierce battle during the daytime fighting, where he focused on attacking the central lane.

The next day, after returning and cleaning up the battlefield, Abe no Sadayoshi and Kuchiki Motonaga, having won a battle and received their rewards, took their leave. Sasa no Narimasa, with Rokkaku Yoshikata bound, went to the capital, while Shichibei led his men to retreat slowly to Chōkō-ji Temple, waiting for Oda Nobumasa to arrive from Kyoto to join them on their return to Gifu Castle.

We must take this young master back the same way we brought him out.

In the evening, Oda Nobumasa ran back, probably because he had been praised by his father, and was as happy as if he had eaten bee droppings. However, upon seeing Shichibei, he still conveyed Nobunaga's order to him.

Take good care of Ashikaga Yoshihide!

Huh? Isn't the Grand Palace located at Risseiji in Mino, where he receives a pension of 10,000 kan every year, living a life of luxury? Why would he need "proper care"? More like "proper supervision," right?

Has something terrible happened in Kyoto again?

Indeed, the matter of Oda Nobunaga setting fire to Mount Hiei was finally submitted to the highest level of the shogunate for a public "trial" and debate.

The opposing side, represented by Ueno Hidemasa, and the supporting side, represented by Hosokawa Fujitaka, engaged in a three-hour public debate before Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate. Oda retainers Murai Sadakatsu and Takigawa Kazumasu also attended the meeting.

The debate ended with neither side admitting defeat, and neither side convincing the other. The Imperial Debate became the beginning of a major split among the retainers of the Muromachi Shogunate. Retainers who were friendly with Oda Nobunaga, represented by Hosokawa Fujitaka, openly broke away from the Shogunate and turned to serve Oda Nobunaga.

Meanwhile, Oda Nobunaga, who was fueling the flames from the sidelines, was overjoyed to accept these retainers who had pledged allegiance to him. He welcomed almost everyone who came, bringing all sorts of rabble under his command.

The key point is that Oda Nobunaga not only recruited people, but also tacitly allowed these retainers to flee to the Oda family with the manors and territories of the Muromachi Shogunate.

Almost instantly, he won over two-thirds of the shogunate's retainers, leaving the entire shogunate virtually empty. Ashikaga Yoshiaki was left with fewer than five hundred followers.

Faced with such a huge blow, it's hard to say whether Ashikaga Yoshiaki will succumb to despair or fight to the death.

So, while Oda Nobumasa was in Kyoto reporting the news, Oda Nobunaga sent a message to Shichibei, telling him to keep an eye on Ashikaga Yoshihide. Although Yoshihide had been sidelined, he was a genuine shogun who had been officially appointed by the shogun.

Once Ashikaga Yoshiaki raises an army against Oda Nobunaga and issues a decree to all the feudal lords to attack him, Ashikaga Yoshihide's value will suddenly increase, becoming a legitimate reason for Nobunaga's downfall.

Holding the imperial palace in hand, you can advance and retreat freely.

Upon hearing this, Shichibei told Oda Nobumasa to go play by himself and then turned to discuss the matter with Takenaka Hanbei beside him. Akechi Mitsuhide had now been granted a fief of 50,000 koku in Sakamoto and had effectively become Oda Nobunaga's vassal, severing his lord-vassal relationship with Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

Seeing him jump ship, the retainers of the shogunate, who were not exactly known for their loyalty and courage, probably panicked. After the fire at Mount Hiei, they likely realized Nobunaga's determination to overthrow the old order.

Jump ship now, and you might still get a decent ending. But jumping ship later won't be so easy. If things turn violent, who knows what the outcome will be?

But this Hosokawa Fujitaka...

This guy is interesting. Not only did he publicly debate with Ueno Hidemasa on behalf of the pro-Oda faction of shogunate retainers, but he also became the leader among the shogunate retainers who switched sides to the Oda army.

He truly knows when to exert himself and when to step up. This alone might earn him an excellent impression with Oda Nobunaga.

Including the previous two times, Hosokawa Fujitaka has now curried favor with Nobunaga three times on major issues.

Sigh, let's not talk about it. Everyone has their own choices, and people have their own logic for thinking and doing things this way. We're not exactly acquainted with Hosokawa Fujitaka, so it's enough that we know.

As for Ashikaga Yoshihide, Nobunaga has mentioned him twice recently. It seems that this former Ashikaga shogun, who is supported by a huge sum of 10,000 kan a year, will probably have to make an appearance soon.

Since Nobunaga has given the order, let's do as he says.

He had already sent someone to Odani Castle to bring along his family and household members, and had also informed Watanabe Ren, the retainer of Azai Nagamasa, to accompany Shichibei on his return journey. Hearing that Watanabe Ren had been recruited by Kawamura Shichibei, Azai Nagamasa even settled his annual allowance for two hundred people ahead of schedule. Consider it a good deed; who knows, Watanabe Ren might rise to prominence in the future.

Asai Nagamasa can't be said to be an incompetent ruler, but his base of support was too small, and he was situated in a region surrounded by enemies. His brother-in-law, whom Nobunaga admired, certainly possessed a certain charisma.

Upon returning to Gifu, the troops were disbanded and resettled, and the Watanabe father and son were given a small house near the castle. A samurai with two hundred kan, not much different from Yamauchi Kazutoyo back then, he lived in a place that was neither close nor close to Oda Nobunaga.

Unfortunately, they were able to rest, but Shichibei could not. After reporting the battle situation to Oda Nobutada, he glanced at his wife and children at home, and the next morning he had to get up early to visit Ashikaga Yoshihide.

Rissei-ji Temple is also very close to Gifu Castle, located at 3-7-11 Nishi-so, Gifu City in modern times; it takes less than half an hour by horseback. Since someone had been sent to inform them yesterday, the people in the temple were not surprised by Shichibei's arrival.

The welcome was normal, the introduction was normal, it was even so normal that Ashikaga Yoshihide was playing backgammon with women on his left and right.

As a former shogun, Ashikaga Yoshihide's most reassuring state was when he indulged in drinking, gambling, and womanizing. If he spent his days practicing martial arts and even soliciting guests everywhere, even Oda Nobunaga, who took him in, would have become somewhat suspicious.

Ten thousand kan of retirement funds would only be enough to support two or three hundred followers, leaving Ashikaga Yoshihide with plenty to live a life of luxury. Therefore, when he met Shichibei, he paid him no attention and simply asked what business the regent had.

Without even looking up, he was laughing and joking with the maids opposite him, happily throwing dice. If he threw a good one, he would even hug and kiss them, without any restraint.

By the way, having lived a very comfortable life at Rissei-ji Temple, Ashikaga Yoshihide has already had two sons and two daughters. Seriously, how should I put it? He certainly has a knack for sowing seeds.

What could possibly have happened? Shichibei could only say that the shogunate burned Mount Hiei, the retainers had a huge debate in front of the emperor, and now more than half of the retainers have fled.

"Oh?"

Ashikaga Yoshisaka, who had been embracing and kissing his maid and seemed completely oblivious to Shichibei, suddenly stopped talking and touching.

He was a general after all, so he's definitely not a fool. The Ashikaga family is quite adept at playing dirty tricks and schemes; they have that family background.

"Therefore, my lord sent me down to pay my respects to the Grand Master." It was a nonsensical statement, but Shichibei believed that Ashikaga Yoshihide understood.

On the surface, it says that the pro-Oda retainers have fled, but in reality, it means that the conflict between Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga has become public. Once Nobunaga decides to raise an army to overthrow Ashikaga Yoshiaki, then Ashikaga Yoshihide will inevitably be the one with the righteous cause.

At that time, Yoshie will no longer need to "hide his talents" in Risseiji. He can go to Kyoto openly and show his strength on the stage of Kyoto.

"Hehehehe..." For some reason, Ashikaga Yoshihide laughed, a rhythmic, low laugh filled with emotion.

"It seems everything is well at the Imperial Palace. Is there anything you need? I will present it immediately." Shichibei was just following the script, so he didn't care what Ashikaga Yoshie was laughing about.

"All is well, all is well." Ashikaga Yoshihide stopped smiling.

With a wave of his hand, the five or six maids who had been surrounding him withdrew, and the backgammon board was pushed to his side. With a flick of his arms, his sleeves fluttered, and he sat up, exuding a subtle air of authority.

It's that kind of aura that emanates from the bottom of one's heart. Even if you were just a puppet general, you were still a general.

"In that case, I will report back to my lord." Shichibei smiled, nodded, and bowed.

When Ashikaga Yoshihide was drugged, it was Shichibei who saved him from the brink of death with a bowl of mung bean soup. That's why Nobunaga ordered Shichibei to negotiate with Yoshihide; the two had a connection to each other.

"Shichibei, I heard you've also made a name for yourself?" Ashikaga Yoshisaka seemed to still have something to say.

"Not really, just a pro-Oda ally." In fact, Shichibei could be considered a pro-Oda ally throughout the entire territory, but Nobunaga mainly controlled Noboru.

In other places, including Jiangnan, the Battle of Yezhouchuan has just ended. Without stable rule, there's no way to develop and prosper commerce.

"Do you have ten thousand strings of cash?"

"Including my wife's cosmetics, it's 6,200 strings of cash."

"Tsk, how can the governor be so stingy, not even willing to part with ten thousand strings of cash."

"I have only done my best to serve the public. My lord will make a wise decision on what to do and what to reward." Shichibei really had no complaints, as long as the commercial monopoly was maintained.

"How wonderful it is that the Regent has such a loyal minister as you."

Chapter 247 Flying Back to the Capital

What, you're going to reward me with ten thousand strings of cash?

That's just average. Unless it's 100,000 kan, Shichibei might be tempted. If someone tries to win Shichibei over with only 10,000 kan, Shichibei will laugh at them for a whole year.

The monopoly on commerce granted by Nobunaga would earn far more than 100,000 kan a year. Although this money couldn't be used recklessly and had to be prepared for Nobunaga's exploitation, the profits would only increase as Nobunaga's empire expanded. This monopoly was destined for a long and prosperous future.

Seeing that Shichibei's expression was calm and unmoved, Ashikaga Yoshie said no more, and smiled as he gestured for Shichibei to come forward, as it had been a long time since any outsider had spoken to him.

The former shogun's status was so sensitive. Apart from Shichibei, who sent 10,000 kan every year, which senior retainer of the Oda clan would dare to come and chat with Ashikaga Yoshihide on a daily basis?

It offers no benefit and could easily attract the attention of Oda Nobunaga.

That is Shichibei. His status is relatively special. He had a life-or-death friendship with Ashikaga Yoshisaka and was the person specifically in charge of this matter. He only came once or twice a year.

But if you want to chat, buddy, we can't accommodate you if you want to ask more questions or stir up trouble.

Ashikaga Yoshihide was merely testing the waters. Since Shichibei didn't respond, he decided to inquire about the situation in the Kinai region first. As long as the events were happening openly, there was no taboo against speaking out, and Shichibei could be straightforward and say whatever came to mind. For example, in Kawachi, only Hatakeyama Akitaka of Takaya Castle remained; in Yamato, only Mori Yoshinari of Tamonyama Castle remained; and in Settsu, only a very small number of forces, such as Wada Korechika of Takatsuki Castle, remained, still supporting the regime of Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga.

The current shogun has essentially lost control of the Goki region, and a large number of local people and local lords have sided with the anti-Yoshiaki-Nobunaga alliance.

Under the leadership of Hosokawa Fujitaka, many retainers of the shogunate also defected to Oda Nobunaga. Ashikaga Yoshiaki was stripped of his power, with only a very small number of men still obeying his commands.

Here, Shichibei omits the fact that Miyoshi Yoshitsugu openly betrayed the Oda clan but was actually against Yoshiaki. After all, this conclusion is based on later analysis, as evidenced by Yoshiaki's uprising against Nobunaga, his siege of Makishima Castle, and his subsequent escape to Wakae Castle, where Miyoshi Yoshitsugu was located, after the castle fell.

After the explanation, Ashikaga Yoshihide had a general understanding and then proposed that he send someone to Kyoto to participate in this year's Daijosai.

After the autumn rice harvest, the Imperial Court and the Emperor traditionally hold the Daijosai ceremony, which the Japanese Imperial Family continued to hold until 2024, albeit at a slightly different time. Other traditions, such as supporting agriculture and silkworm rearing, have also been preserved in Japan. There's even a small plot of land in Tokyo that's said to be cultivated exclusively by the Emperor.

Should he attend the Daijosai (Great Thanksgiving Festival)? As the head of the Imperial Household Department, Ashikaga Yoshihide was already entitled to serve as Councilor and Lieutenant General of the Left Imperial Guard. He was then a likely candidate for Grand Councilor (Gon-Dainagon), as precedent had been set. As a head of the Imperial Household Department whose status and rank were no less than those of the Five Regent Families, he was fully qualified to participate.