Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Tsuchibashi no Morishige was the eldest brother among the Saiga clan, but he entrusted his territory to Izumi no Shikibo. Previously, the imperial court had exempted temples from taxes, so he was exempted as well. Later, when Nobunaga attacked, he wanted his second son, Izumi no Shikibo, to surrender to Nobunaga, while he himself would continue to support Ishiyama Hongan-ji with Saiga Magoichi. This way, he would have a way out no matter who won.

A large portion of the 720,000 koku of land belonging to Geung Lai Temple came from this source.

Of course, Negoroji Temple didn't lose out either. Izumi Shokō Kaigen-kai led the paramilitary organization, the Gyojin-bō, to uphold Negoroji Temple's authority. It was a mutually beneficial relationship, with give and take.

Now you can go to Izumi Shigeobu to find his father, Tsuchibashi Morishige, and ask him what exactly happened within the Saiga clan that led to this situation in Izumi.

They abandoned their stronghold, Sano Fortress, and quickly retreated back to Saiga.

So what happened? The Saiga Fifth Division was exhausted from years of fighting, and the devout believers and ordinary believers, and even non-believers, started to quarrel.

The one who advocated continuing the war of resistance was Saiga Magoichi, or Saiga Magoichi, whose real name was Suzuki Shigehide. His family had inherited the name Saiga Magoichi for generations.

Those who advocate for recuperation and restoration are ordinary citizens, mainly represented by figures like Tsuchibashi Morishige. Tsuchibashi Morishige is also the father-in-law of Suzuki Shigehide, and ultimately, he did turn against him.

The two sides have reached a point of near-war. Why did they not fight each other for so many years, but now they are fighting each other? It is because Izumi Shikibo Kaigen, along with the people of Negoroji Temple, is besieging Yusa Kawauchi Nyudo with Sakuma Nobumori. Tsuchibashi Morishige can only fight back locally with his eldest son, Tsuchibashi Harutsugu.

When the balance is broken, disputes are more likely to erupt.

Actually, Tsuchibashi Morishige wasn't a good person either. Why did he dare to openly make a decision with Suzuki Shigehide? It was also because of the Oda clan.

Previously, Miyoshi Nagaharu of Awa had ordered the entire Awa region to convert to the Hoke sect, which led to a rebellion among the people. Therefore, Miyoshi Nagaharu took out the savings of his father, Miyoshi Yoshikata, and his stepfather, Shinohara Nagafusa, and went to Saiga to hire...

They hired a thousand arquebusiers to suppress the people of Apo.

As a result, the Awa people were not suppressed, and Niwa Nagahide, with the assistance of Miyoshi Nobutaka and Kagawa Nobusumi, stormed ashore. Katsuzui Castle held out in a siege, and a thousand Saiga arquebusiers entered Katsuzui Castle to bolster their forces.

The result was self-evident: a great famine and plague struck Shengrui City, and even Miyoshi Nagaharu died of the plague, along with all one thousand arquebusiers under Suzuki Shigehide.

To be honest, Suzuki Shigehide truly loved Kennyo Shonin. Kennyo Shonin barely provided them with any money or provisions, yet he repeatedly summoned them north to fight against Oda Nobunaga. Suzuki Shigehide would go out and earn money himself, even giving it to Kennyo Shonin.

Having lost a thousand elite arquebusiers, Tsuchibashi Morishige felt the balance of power was unbalanced and dared to make the decision.

The two sides are fighting like dogs, and the Saiga Fifth Division, which was originally supposed to be united, is now completely divided. Suzuki Shigehide, who controls Sano Fortress, immediately withdrew all the garrison troops, preparing to kill or at least cripple Tsuchibashi Morishige, and completely unify the Saiga Fifth Division.

"This is a golden opportunity." Todo Takatora knelt before Shichibei and listened to the whole thing.

"Wouldn't it be better to let them fall into internal strife and both sides suffer?" Shichibei retorted to Todo.

Gao Hu.

"It won't be a lose-lose situation, because the Izumi-shibu pedestrians are currently in Hanoi." Todo Takatora understood perfectly.

Half of Tsuchibashi Morishige's core forces were under the command of Sakuma Nobumori. The three castles of Kawachi had already fallen, leaving only Iimori Castle. Izumi no Shibo Kaigen's troops were Nobunaga's mercenaries; although they were also driven to the front lines, they could afford to shirk their duties, and the losses were minimal.

Even though Saiga suffered heavy casualties, Izumi no Shigeaki's troops were ultimately spared. As long as Tsuchibashi no Morishige had a breath left, he could escape Saiga and immediately drag his eldest son back to fight his way out.

Furthermore, he could easily have sought refuge with Negoro-ji Temple and asked them to send troops to kill Suzuki Shigehide, a follower of the Jodo Shinshu sect. Japanese monks' chanting of scriptures is secondary; they must not only be proficient in Buddhist teachings but also skilled in martial arts. How can a monk who can't fight back spread Buddhism in Japan?

Now that we have an excuse to attack the Jodo Shinshu sect, let's see if Negoro-ji goes to kill Suzuki Shigehide.

Although the battle appeared to be fierce, Suzuki Shigehide had actually unleashed his full strength, even recalling the troops from Izumi Sano Fortress. The fact that Tsuchibashi Morishige didn't call his eldest son home indicated that the fortress still had reserves and wasn't completely exhausted.

“Ah…” Shichibei immediately understood; it was indeed true.

"So, does that mean we can now directly attack Saiga Magoichi's defensive midfield?" Watanabe Kanbei asked excitedly.

Can anyone control this brat?

Takatora Todo didn't continue speaking, but instead gestured to Shichibei with his eyes. It's best if Oda Nobunaga decides on this matter.

Who knows, there might be someone in the Saiga faction who wants to kill Nobunaga to vent his anger, and for us to make that decision ourselves would be overstepping our bounds. Anyway, it's quick to go from Kishiwada Castle to Kyoto, a round trip in two days at most. This internal strife within the Saiga faction doesn't seem like it can be resolved in two days, so it's best to consult with superiors sooner rather than later and report later, and try to avoid taking initiative.

“Furthermore, Kishu…” Todo Takatora subconsciously glanced left and right.

Although the affair between Shichibei and Lady Takaya was still a secret, the mother and son had moved into Kishiwada Castle. They even openly resided within the castle keep as the lady of the house. Todo Takatora was quite shrewd in some ways. The fact that the servants hadn't spoken of it didn't mean Todo Takatora hadn't guessed it.

Toyama Jiroshiro was the reason why Nobunaga pacified the entire Kishu region.

Whether or not such a promise was made back then is unknown. Once they conquered the territory, they would most likely have to give the Toyama clan a county of land. Historically, Nobunaga had promised to give the Hosokawa clan, including Akimoto, two counties in Tanba Province, which they were to be governed by. Although this promise wasn't ultimately fulfilled, it didn't stop Nobunaga from making empty promises.

Don't do something thankless and end up killing either Suzuki Shigehide or Tsuchibashi Morishige, gaining half or a whole prefecture, and then giving it all away to the Toyama family.

The other nobles kowtowed to Nobunaga, and their territories were secure. It would be a waste for us to go in.

"It is appropriate, reasonable, and necessary." Shichibei instructed Todo Takatora to immediately draft a memorial, then turned to Goto Mototsugu and asked if he understood.

If you understand, go and see Nobunaga off; Nobunaga will definitely ask questions. Should we send Watanabe Kanbei? That kid's bad with words. Kuwayama Shigeharu and Tsuchida Chikakiyo are too old to run errands. Goto Mototsugu is young; he can go.

Besides, it would be a good opportunity to meet Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga especially admires strong and honest samurai. Goto Mototsugu is a bit old, but it's always good to meet the Regent. Who knows what benefits there might be? Nobunaga is a very generous man.

Picking up the document, Goto Mototsugu left the palace. Shichibei escorted Kishiwada...

The restoration and expansion of the castle were entrusted to Todo Takatora, while he himself went to Uchima Nefukuji Temple. This place is a subordinate temple of Negoroji Temple, and it must have a close connection with Negoroji Temple.

Upon seeing the new lord arrive, the abbot hurriedly left the camp. Unfortunately, there was no young servant boy to offer tea.

"Let's get straight to the point," Shichibei said. "We want Negoro-ji's cooperation to see if there's an opportunity to intervene in the Saiga strife." The head priest of Negoro-ji didn't refuse; these high-ranking monks of Negoro-ji were already aware of the matter. Taking advantage of the Saiga strife to expand their influence in Kii was actually a consensus within Negoro-ji.

The exact course of action is still under debate within Negoro-ji Temple. Large temples like Negoro-ji are essentially complex military-political groups. Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple is simply more overtly involved, actively engaging in conflict, acting as both a secular lord and a deity.

Other temples were relatively more "conservative" and less unrestrained. Therefore, Nobunaga could tolerate their existence, acknowledging that they could act tyrannically within their temple territories and enjoy certain feudal privileges.

However, in Japan, one cannot survive by focusing solely on chanting scriptures.

This is a golden opportunity; it would be a waste not to participate. Through...

At Nefukuji, Shichibei further learned that the Kurimura family within the Saiga Fifth Group was still neutral and had not yet made a clear decision on their side, meaning the conflict had not yet reached its climax.

Upon receiving new information, Shichibei immediately dispatched a messenger on horseback to deliver it to Nobunaga. More information was always better; although discerning the details required time and effort, it was always better than no information at all. Besides, Nobunaga had so many people around him who could help analyze the situation, and Nobunaga could ultimately make the final decision.

In a game, Shichibei would definitely be aiming to recruit the Suzuki father and son. In any game from this era, the Suzuki father and son would be top-tier in terms of firearms skills or martial prowess. The Tsuchibashi father and son might not even appear, or if they did, their performance would be quite poor.

But after transmigrating, Shichibei lost that habit. Loyalty far outweighed any kind of reputation or talent.

Disloyal? There's no need to consider their abilities; just kill them first.

If Besshogi's wife could be turned into a game character, countless players would want to cast her as their protagonist. But right now? No one offered to persuade her to surrender, and no one tried to protect her. She died quietly, without even a trace, and her body was never actually found.

And then? Then Nobunaga, like a whirlwind, led his few hundred cavalrymen and servants to Shichibei's side.

Previously, he could lead over a thousand or even two thousand men, but because he divided too many among his sons, the size of the Nobunaga Army Officer School and the Army Junior School has been greatly reduced. And since Nobunaga is a wanderer, this situation is truly unsafe.

There was no time for Shichibei to offer advice; Nobunaga immediately deployed his forces at Kishiwada Castle and ordered Shichibei to mobilize all available troops. In short, he was there to "seize the army."

This wasn't the first time, and it wasn't just about "seizing" Shichibei. But Nobunaga's main force was assisting in the siege of Hanakuma Castle and confronting the Honganji Temple, so they couldn't break through.

As usual, no one objected. Everyone felt it was only natural. Nobunaga was the greatest, and everything Shichibei had was given to him by Nobunaga. This prestige was enough to suppress anyone.

"Recall Izumi no Shibo." Nobunaga's first order was to recall Izumi no Shibo Kaigen from Sakuma Nobumori's command.

"Come to Tsuda again and lead three thousand cavalry to increase your strength."

"The Yamato Hachiya group also came to join them."

Orders were issued swiftly, and with the opportunity to completely eradicate the annoying Saiga Party, Nobunaga did not hesitate or waver in the slightest.

"Tell the entire army to attack Saiga, and spare neither the old nor the weak!" As wave after wave of troops gathered, Nobunaga gave the order directly.

"Hehe." Shichibei and the others quickly bowed in agreement.

It was indeed an order issued by Oda Nobunaga. The Saiga troops surrendered and then rebelled again; even if we consider the entire world, this would be a case of certain death. Resisting wouldn't necessarily mean the execution of the whole family, but if one resisted, surrendered to save their life, and then rebelled again after the army withdrew, then there's really nothing more to say.

Moreover, in the Saiga region, the entire population is mobilized for war, with almost every household serving as mercenaries and continuously supporting the Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple. Nobunaga had long wanted to eliminate them, but had not yet had the opportunity.

"Whoever beheads Saiga Magoichi will be granted a permanent reward of three thousand koku of rice!" The reward was also announced.

The hereditary 3,000 koku rank didn't shock Shichibei much, but Nobunaga's decision to execute Suzuki Shigehide was clearly made. It's estimated that Suzuki Shigehide's entire family is doomed, even his brains will be taken by Nobunaga.

Shake to disperse the yellow.

"Anyone who captures or kills one of his gang members will be richly rewarded."

The last time Suzuki Shigehide received such a reward was probably for the entire Asakura Yoshikage family. To be awarded such a bounty by Nobunaga, his entire family must be quite valuable.

432. Weak resistance under exhaustion

A person's name is like a tree's shadow; Nobunaga's prestige was indeed powerful. At his command, troops from all directions rushed to his banners in a frenzy. The fastest arrived in a day, the slowest in five or six days, all fearing that arriving late would anger Nobunaga.

In addition, Oda Nobunaga, Sakuma Nobueki, and Harada Nobumasa also rushed over. With only Shichibei and Tsuchibashi Morishige's forces, it might not be enough to kill the Suzuki clan, which numbered in the thousands. Therefore, without affecting other battlefields, Nobunaga mobilized as many troops as possible.

"Quanzhou Vocational Workshop".

"exist."

As expected, it was exactly as Shichibei had predicted. This "high monk" from the Negoroji Temple, the monk Izumi no Shikibo Kaigen, had absolutely nothing to do with the profession of monk except that he was bald.

No, that's not quite right. At least on that Amitabha Buddha's body, there was a long string of prayer beads. I wonder how much blood stained those beads; they're quite blackened.

Nobunaga summoned Izumi no Shikibo, intending to use him as a guide to invade the territory of the Saiga Five Groups. Now, he was leading Nobunaga's horse.

All the "temple leaders" nominally affiliated with Quanzhou Vocational Work Office will be 100% protected.

"Should Suzuki and the others reunite at Saiga Castle?" Nobunaga did not intend to attack Takako Shigeo of Nando this time, having suffered a humiliating defeat last time.

This time, they went straight to Negoroji's territory, marched along the Kii River towards Saiga Castle, where Suzuki Shigehide and his father Suzuki Satau were located, and decided to capture the leader first by killing Suzuki Shigehide to settle the score.

"There are also many small forts in the mountains, which hide during the day and come out at night to launch surprise attacks from all sides." Izumi no Shigeobu reminded Nobunaga, as the Saiga party was quite experienced in this kind of surprise attack.

Moreover, Suzuki Shigehide was fighting on home ground, which gave him both religious advantages and manpower. Even if the Oda army wasn't isolated and deep in enemy territory, it was still possible that the Saiga forces would attack its supply lines and communication routes.

"That will have to trouble you." Nobunaga naturally had a plan in mind.

Let heroes investigate heroes, let good men investigate good men.

The main force of Oda's army was sent to conduct a human assault on the castle, putting in their utmost effort. The Negoro troops, including Izumi Shikibo, were primarily responsible for suppressing the Saiga party members who were constantly on the move. The Negoro troops were also locals; Izumi Shikibo was even the eldest son of Tsuchibashi Morishige. They would certainly know exactly where the mountains were, what hidden strongholds were, and where the water sources were.

For these small, hidden nestled in the mountains, belonging to Suzuki Shigehide

Nobunaga allowed the entire village of Izumi-no-bu to be destroyed. Kill, kill, kill! Anyone who attacks Oda's army, have their entire family slaughtered!

Anyway, this wasn't the first time Nobunaga had done something like this; military orders are just that cruel.

"Should we leave some troops in Nemoto?" Shichibei usually doesn't speak up in military councils unless Nobunaga asks him.

But this time the main force is our troops, and we have to storm Saiga Castle. I have to say a few words about Shichibei. We know that the Saiga forces will definitely attack our rear, so let's leave some men behind for the rear.

"..." Nobunaga didn't answer, but instead waved his hand.

Not long after, Kitafu Nobuo arrived with 5,000 men and stationed himself in Izumi-shibu. Nobuo was a complete incompetent, but his 5,000 men were not. At least, unless a fight broke out, it was impossible to tell that these 5,000 men lacked good organization and leadership.

With these 5,000 men stationed at Izumi-ji, Izumi-ji could lead the Negoroji temple's entourage on a large-scale expedition to burn down villages along both banks of the Kii River.

Oh dear, why not drive the Northern Fu Army to attack Zaga City?

To put it bluntly, the entire Kitafu family are traitors; each member believes their family is a prestigious clan that has ruled the country for generations, and that they were betrayed by Oda Nobunaga.

They forcibly seized power. They've even rebelled before; what's the point of keeping them around?