Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

The two sides have completely lost their tempers, and the tension is so great that even with the imperial court mediating, it is not necessarily entirely safe.

Do you, Master Kyou, dare to dismantle all the defensive structures surrounding the Ishiyama Palace, leaving the main hall of the palace completely exposed to the Oda army's cannons and swords?

Gambling on human nature?

The most vulnerable thing in the world is human nature.

When Ishiyama Gobo lost most of its barriers and Ishiyama Town had been captured by Oda's army, if you were Oda Nobunaga, would you let the people of Honganji leave in exchange for a new territory of 100,000 koku?

Historically, when Oda Nobunaga attacked Iwamura Castle, Akiyama Nobutomo surrendered to Nobunaga on the condition that the lives of the castle's soldiers be spared. What was the result? Akiyama Nobutomo was not allowed to commit seppuku; instead, he was sent to Gifu Castle and beheaded as a warning. All three thousand Takeda soldiers stationed inside Iwamura Castle, including Nobunaga's own aunt, were massacred by the Oda army.

There are some things that Nobunaga was truly capable of doing.

You are the Venerable Master Xianru, do you dare to gamble?

However, Nobunaga didn't trust Kennyo with control of Ishiyama-cho. The hen that lays the golden eggs is also so fragile, exposed to the blade, vulnerable to being cut by anyone.

There's a stalemate right now; if mutual trust can't be established, a peace agreement is simply impossible. Despite the current back-and-forth, we'll definitely fail to reach an agreement in the end.

456. Unexpectedly, Little Bean had a water thief.

Takatora Todo is right, that's indeed the case. It's very difficult for Kōjō Shōnin and Oda Nobunaga to establish mutual trust. They've long been at odds with each other, and each side has its own demands for peace terms. If they want to reach an agreement, one side will inevitably have to make concessions.

This is a difficult situation.

Just as I was about to send a letter to Saegusa Morinao, asking him to continue gathering information in Kyoto, someone delivered a message outside the palace. It was another report of victory, which, needless to say, was from Awaji.

As expected, upon inspection, Awaji was pacified. There had been almost no fighting, only a few small-scale skirmishes in a very few places. At this time, Morimura Haru had already begun constructing towering watchtowers at Iwaya Castle on the other side of the Akashi Strait, as requested by Shichibei.

The specific location is Matsuokazaki, the northernmost point of Awaji Island. At the end of the Edo period, Katsu Kaishu, under orders from the Tokugawa Shogunate, established a fortified position here to protect Osaka Bay. Of course, the fort was eventually demolished, leaving only the remnants of Matsuokazaki, the site of which was reclaimed and altered.

However, this location is definitely correct. Once the observation tower is repaired and further modified, it can even be used as a lighthouse in the future. This, combined with the ongoing construction in Akashi on the opposite bank...

The Akashi Castle, with its mere kilometer-long strait, is not easily traversed even at night.

"Very well, very well," Shichibei quickly pulled out Nobunaga's reply. Nobunaga had already granted the request to remove Hara Nagayori from Mino. Therefore, Shichibei could then legitimately and logically receive 30,000 koku of land from Hara Nagayori's island.

We immediately sent Nobunaga's reply, along with our letter of acknowledgment, to Hara no Nagayori to put his mind at ease. As for the letters of acknowledgment for Ataka Kiyoyasu and Morimura Haru, Shichibei also immediately drafted them and sent them to Awaji.

Logically, they should have come to Kishiwada Castle in person to pay their respects and receive the certificate of safety. However, due to an emergency on Awaji Island, it was necessary to establish surveillance facilities for the Mori navy in the Seto Inland Sea. Therefore, Shichibei ordered the three generals not to return to Kishiwada Castle to receive the certificate of safety for the time being.

Successfully completing the primary military task of blocking Osaka Bay is far more important than going through the motions of receiving a written certificate.

After everything is arranged properly, it won't be too late to return to Kishiwada Castle and express our gratitude to Shichibei. Although we are not prime ministers, we are still tolerant and can distinguish between what is urgent and what is not.

However, only two days after the relief order was sent out, Kiyoyasu Ataka returned. Awaji was originally his family's territory, and he knew many familiar faces in the village and surrounding areas. He personally oversaw the restoration of his approximately 10,000 koku of land.

After going around in circles, everyone saw that it was him and obeyed without question.

There was almost nothing superfluous to do, and he didn't repair the city walls. He simply dispatched a few officials to utilize the original manor houses, turning them into administrative offices to collect the annual tribute. As for the Anzai family's property, it was temporarily located in Sakai South Manor.

Unless a large-scale war breaks out in the Kinai region and Sakai Minami-sho falls, he can retreat to Awaji Island to observe the changing circumstances. Anyway, he has ships and men now; if things get tough, he can always run away. If he can't beat you, he can outrun you, right?

Despite Kiyoyasu Ataka's leg being crippled by the burns, his manhood is surprisingly intact. In the last two years, he even had a son. Counting his previous sons, he now has three healthy young men. Even if one or two were to die young, the Ataka family line would be secure.

"It is all thanks to the Lord's trust that we have been able to regain our former territory." Although Kiyoyasu Ataka had great difficulty moving around, he was still able to be helped into the house and sit down, and to bow to Shichibei.

"Eh, this was the agreement." Shichibei waved his hand. Back then, when Nobunaga assigned him to Shichibei's command, it was agreed that they would fight their way back to Awaji Island.

Japanese samurai, in particular, often displayed remarkable drive and unwavering determination in their pursuit of restoring lost territories. The most typical example is the Amago Restoration Army, whose relentless efforts were truly remarkable. Similarly, the Ōuchi Restoration Army, launched at the behest of Ōuchi Teruhiro, landed at the Ministry of Defense headquarters.

The Ichijo Resurgence Army of Shikoku, led by Ichijo Kanesada, who was known for his incompetence and lack of a wise ruler, gathered generals from the south with the support of his father-in-law, Ōtomo Yoshishige, in an attempt to revive the Ichijo clan of Tosa.

They usually didn't seem like particularly strong people, but when it came to rebuilding their family business and restoring their former territories, their very character seemed to change, becoming exceptionally resolute. Even if they ultimately suffered defeat and death, they were willing to do so.

"I will never forget Your Majesty's grace!"

Despite Shichibei's wave, Ataka Kiyoyasu remained grateful. Moreover, this wasn't just gratitude; more importantly, it signified that the Ataka family was now, from this moment forward, a retainer of the Kawamura family. The two had established the most basic relationship of "serving the king with imperial favor," and from now on, Ataka would serve Shichibei as his sovereign.

"Great ceremony!" He was so solemn, so Shichibei replied with the same solemnity.

Let me briefly talk about Awaji Island. Originally, Shichibei didn't really want to ask. But now he needs to understand the situation at sea and deal with the whimsical Nobutaka Miyoshi.

As a result, Kiyoyasu Ataka bluntly stated that Awaji Island was fine, there was nothing serious, and all that was needed was to establish rule. However, he heard some news on Awaji Island: Suga no Tatsunaga had led his men to flee to Bingo and join the Mori clan's Kobayakawa Takakage.

This wouldn't be a big deal, but, haha, here's something you might not believe: they were robbed on the way.

That's right. During Japan's Sengoku period, there were warrior hunters on land and fishermen at sea who didn't mind making a small fortune or earning a little money.

Scattered across the Seto Inland Sea are numerous islands, and west of Awaji Island lies Shodoshima. The second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, Shodoshima has abundant water resources, allowing for a sizable population.

The lords of Shodoshima Island were the powerful Kazukawa clan of Sanuki. Kazukawa Motonari was defeated and killed in the Battle of Naka-Tomikawa in history, and in this world, he joined Sogawa Masayasu in resisting the attacks of Miyoshi Nobutaka and Kagawa Nobusumi. Later, the Sanuki forces were betrayed and defeated by the Mori clan, so Kazukawa Motonari and others retreated to Shodoshima Island. Kagawa Nobusumi occupied Toramaru Castle and Hiruna Castle in Higashi-Sanuki.

Tiger crouches on a small bean, launching a counterattack against four countries.

To launch a counterattack, you need money and troops. Where will those come from? By raiding, of course.

When Murakami's online army was still around, the Kanagawa family was relatively restrained and generally wouldn't dare to do this kind of business unless they were absolutely certain of success. After all, Murakami's online army was powerful, and the Kanagawa family might not be able to compete with them.

Shodoshima Island has a population of less than 10,000. How do we know this? Because when Konishi Yukinaga first became a daimyo, he was granted a fief of 10,000 koku on Shodoshima. Therefore, we can deduce that the island had several thousand people engaged in fishing, quarrying, and agriculture.

Later, it was heard that the Mori Murakami navy suffered a major defeat at the Kizugawa estuary. The Mori and Murakami families lost 700 ships and men in one battle, and their strength was devastated.

Unlike Oda Nobunaga, who was wealthy enough to readily spend tens of thousands of kan (a unit of currency) to immediately begin reconstruction, they could only save money little by little and slowly recover.

Thus, the unscrupulous Kanagawa Genrin brothers began to lay an ambush near Shodoshima. Seeing Sugatatsu and his men hastily fleeing towards Bingo by boat, they double-crossed them.

We used to fight under the same command as Sanhao Changqing, so it's best to rob someone you know well. It's like stabbing someone in the back when you're from the same hometown.

Part of Suga Tatsuchō's fleet broke through to Bingo, another part was plundered by Kanekawa Motonari, and a very small number returned. None of them were important figures; they chose to seek refuge with their former lord, Ataka Kiyoyasu. This is why Ataka Kiyoyasu knew about this matter so clearly.

The victims were right under his command; how could he not know?

"Such a thing is true..." What is Han Chuan Yuan Lin? Shichibei had never even heard of him.

This kind of person probably hasn't even appeared in Nobunaga's Ambition games with over a thousand characters. Such a small figure, with such a small force, dared to openly rob in the Seto Inland Sea, defying the power of Murakami's navy.

The signal was so strong that Shichibei didn't know how to describe the information it conveyed.

As outsiders, we only know that the Murakami Navy was once the number one naval force in Japan. Now that it has suffered a major defeat, even if it has lost more than half, or even two-thirds, of its strength, it still has one-third left.

Setting sail for an expedition is probably out of the question, but defending our home base shouldn't be a problem, right? But even a minor character like Han Chuan Yuan Lin has jumped the gun and openly started a risk-free business on the water.

Murakami's online army won't have weakened to the point where even Kanakawa Genrin doesn't care anymore, right?

If they really don't care, then lending half of the Awa Water Army to Miyoshi Nobutaka might not be a bad idea.

"Should we send a document to Chanju to inform Prince Kagawa and ask him to pay attention?"

"This matter..." Kiyoyasu Ataka didn't think that much about it. What he was thinking about was whether Genrin Kagawa would rob merchant ships in Sakai after he robbed Shodoshima.

Shichibei is the acting governor of Sakai and the leader of the Sakai Guild. Although the main store is not in Sakai, a branch store is openly located in Sakai. If a merchant ship in Sakai is attacked, Shichibei will definitely treat it as a major incident.

"Draft a document and send it to Sanshu." Shichibei agreed; it was indeed best to kill Kanakawa Genrin on Shodoshima.

Who told him to start robbing in the Seto Inland Sea? When the Murakami Navy and the Mori family first came to the aid of Ishiyama, they didn't dare to rob merchant ships. They just conscripted merchant sailors and requisitioned ships to transport military rations to Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple.

Because Murakami's crew still needs to set up checkpoints and collect fees in the Seto Inland Sea. Their reputation, built up over hundreds of years, is built on this foundation, and everyone is paying money, so they can't ruin the business.

So even though Shichibei's navy and Murakami's navy were fighting to the death, there was no fundamental conflict of interest between them. But when Kanakawa Genrin robs merchant ships, that's a different story.

If we don't kill your entire family, Hanchuan Yuanlin, we can't give an explanation to the merchants who travel to and from the Seto Inland Sea.

"Understood." Seeing Shichibei's expression, Atate Kiyoyasu immediately responded.

Meanwhile, on Shodoshima Island, Hanchuan Motonari was counting the weapons, equipment, money, and food he had plundered from Sugatatsu. This trip had been quite lucrative; Sugatatsu had fled in a large-scale retreat, so his supplies were plentiful. Hanchuan Motonari had seized several supply ships, much to the delight of Hanchuan Motonari, who was living in poverty on Shodoshima Island.

In his mind, getting a vote from Suga no Tatsunaga wouldn't offend the Oda clan, and Kagawa no Nobusumi of Sanshu wouldn't bother him. And the Murakami navy? Haha, they're all based on the Seto Inland Sea; everyone knows each other.

Murakami Takeyoshi and Murakami Motoyoshi suffered a crushing defeat, losing everything. The once powerful and influential Nojima Murakami family was wiped out in one fell swoop.

Because of Shimamura Michizusa, his strength was preserved as a result of not participating in the war.

Murakami Yoshimitsu was unable to participate because he was the weakest in terms of strength. Murakami Michizusa also did not participate because of a previous conflict with Murakami Takeyoshi during the attack on the Kyushu Ōtomo navy.

They have now become the most powerful force in the Mishima-mura clan, and due to their father's role as the assistant to Kono Michinao, they have gradually expanded their influence and have effectively become independent from the Kono family.

He didn't have the guts to annex Kono, but he had a lot of guts to annex the other two villages.

Murakami is in trouble!

Knowing of the internal discord within the Mishima Murakami clan, Kanakawa Genrin dared to undertake this risk-free venture in the Seto Inland Sea. The result was less than ideal. If it were merely a matter of some people going to the Mori clan's side, that would be one thing. But now that some have returned to Awaji Island, the course of events is no longer under his control.

Oh, right, Shodoshima Island in later times belonged to Kagawa Prefecture, which is the area around Sanuki Province. At this time, it belonged to Bizen Province, but it was not part of the territory of the Ukita Naoie family.

Regardless of who he belongs to, he's definitely on the path to conquering the Oda clan.

The message has been sent to Kagawa Nobuzumi, and Shichibei should also be notified to Hashiba Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi is currently under siege at Inaba Tottori Castle; once his location is confirmed, the message will arrive quickly.

Indeed, Hideyoshi was besieging Tottori Castle and fighting off the Mori army that had come to relieve the siege. He was constantly on the move, with no time to spare. He was also facing a major headache when Nobunaga sent him the order to find a way to pacify Mishima Murakami.

Then Shichibei's letter appeared on Hideyoshi's desk.

Hideyoshi intuitively interpreted this as Shichibei wanting to control the shipping lanes of the Seto Inland Sea, and therefore coming to inform him of this. After all, Shichibei was a great merchant, and his greatest passion was commerce and trade.

So Hideyoshi directly wrote to Nobunaga, requesting that since Kanagawa Motonari on Shodoshima had robbed merchant ships in Sakai, Shichibei should be sent to Shodoshima to wipe out the pirates in the Seto Inland Sea.

The Oda clan now only has a few naval forces, that's clear. Since the issue of pirates has been brought up, it's impossible to recall Kuki Yoshitaka, who has already been transferred to the eastern front to prepare for battle. Besides, Kuki Yoshitaka released the two thousand slave laborers and oarsmen on the six ironclad ships after the victory.

This was one of the methods used to motivate them to fight; the purpose of buying them was to operate ironclad ships. Now, these specialized ironclad ships, designed specifically for the Kizu River naval battles, are temporarily out of service, let alone these slave laborers.

Leaving aside Kuki Yoshitaka's Shima navy, the only way to solve the water problem now is with Kawamura's navy. Once they control Shodoshima, Shichibei can then pacify the nearby Mishima village. This is far more convenient than for him, a man from Inaba Province in the San'in region.

This task, due to a series of coincidences, has begun to take a turn again.

Bingwei.

457. All of Nobunaga's sons were granted official positions.

In the seventh year of Tianzheng, spring, first month.

Shichibei returned to Azuchi Castle and spent the New Year at home. Azuchi Castle was already taking shape, and the town below the castle was planned to be extremely spacious; a church could even be seen rising from the ground.

Amidst the constant warfare, Shichibei rarely gets to return home to Azuchi Castle. We're considered lucky; Hideyoshi's wife, Nene, and their two daughters are spending the New Year at Azuchi Castle. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi is still in the Inaba Tottori Camp; forget about seeing each other, he might not even receive a letter a month.

Moreover, even if one arrives in Azuchi, one must still offer New Year's greetings to Oda Nobunaga on the first day of the new year. Nobunaga will be returning to his castle from Kyoto, and Shichibei will be at the castle gates; one must certainly present him with a sword.

On the contrary, the generals stationed in other towns would at most send someone back in advance as a representative to present New Year's greetings to Nobunaga. They would send whatever was produced within their territory. If they had paper, they would send paper; if they had cloth, they would send cloth; if they had pickles, they would send pickles; if they had salted fish, they would send salted fish.

Oda Nobutada personally traveled from Gifu to pay his respects to Nobunaga before returning to Gifu to receive congratulations from the Noo generals.

After bowing to Nobunaga, Shichibei was finally able to reunite with his family.

As usual, it was a cycle of you treating me, me treating you, and the feasts lasted until the seventh day of the first lunar month. It wasn't that there was no food left, but rather that the women also started treating each other to meals.

That's good; at least we had a peaceful New Year.

In the last two days before the new year, Nobunaga told Shichibei to send a thousand or so men to kill Kanagawa Motonari on Shodoshima. Hideyoshi couldn't leave, and Kagawa Nobusumi said he was suppressing rebellions within his domain to unify Sanuki. Furthermore, he needed to prepare for an invasion of northern Iyo, and lacked a navy to conquer it.