Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

They actually raised an army!

What to do? Mori Terumoto was momentarily at a loss, pacing back and forth, unable to make a decision. Shichibei immediately grabbed his sleeve, determined that no matter what, the Kanto troops absolutely could not be allowed to enter Yamashiro Province.

If Oda Katsuhoshi were to enter Yamashiro Province, the very foundation of his regime would be shaken. After all, he was the Grand Chancellor of the entire nation of Japan; if he couldn't even defend Kyoto, the capital of the imperial court, then his power was bound to crumble.

"That's exactly right!" Kiyoyasu Ataka, who was being carried over upon receiving the notification, responded loudly.

"We must mobilize all the troops and generals immediately. If we can stop the Eastern Army at Nobi, then everything can still be salvaged." Shichibei swallowed hard.

Chapter 645 Remaining Calm and Able to Deploy Resources in a Crisis

Those present were all survivors of Japan's Warring States period, a time when a single moment of discouragement could mean certain death. Despite the clear military confrontation, the mobilization was remarkably swift and without hesitation.

There were only two problems. First, everyone thought they were attending Oda Nobuo's funeral, so they didn't bring ammunition for their arquebuses, and their swords, spears, and armor were not in good condition. Second, the military funds were truly exhausted; Oda Nobuo's treasury was completely depleted, and Kawamura-ya's working capital had also been drained.

What's even more ridiculous is that, prior to this, they had actually given Tokugawa Ieyasu 100,000 kan as a start-up allowance. They certainly had the money and supplies to set out for battle, but Osaka was facing numerous difficulties.

How to do?

Oda Katsuhoshi was only six months old, and the "regent," Mori Komatsu-hime, was ultimately just a woman, although she had a considerable dowry. However, that dowry alone was only substantial; it was far from enough to mobilize an army of over 100,000.

In the end, everyone just shrugged and looked at Shichibei. Originally, it seemed that the top position in the government was going to be held by Mori Terumoto, the new emperor's maternal grandfather, but when the time came, everyone still looked to Shichibei.

Looking at me? It's no use looking at me, I don't have any money on me.

However, Shichibei could not say this aloud. He simply nodded in agreement while actually sitting in the main seat and beginning to assign tasks.

Fortunately, most of the vassal states of the Western Kingdom were located in coastal areas, where ships were readily available, and within a few days, their armor, weapons, and equipment could be transported over.

Furthermore, Shichibei had been stockpiling military supplies for Oda Nobunaga for over a decade, accumulating saltpeter in quantities of tens of thousands of catties. Now, the treasury was being opened wide, and the supplies were being distributed to all the generals and officers, so that the rapidly gathering army could be fully equipped as much as possible.

Military rations are readily available, and weapons can simply be transported by sea. The problem is money; a large army needs money for everything. Moreover, this operation is being conducted within the territory, making indiscriminate hunting and looting impossible.

These were armies that had fought their way through the quagmire of the Warring States period; how could they be commanded without money? With the continuous efforts and development of Nobunaga and Nobukatsu, there were no longer any daimyo conscripting farmers or mountain dwellers for war. At the very least, they would temporarily recruit ronin as miscellaneous soldiers; the main force consisted entirely of standing troops.

Even the lowest-ranking foot soldiers had to be fed five or eight kan of cash a year, and supported with rice for three to five people. Otherwise, how could they be expected to set off for the battlefield an hour after the whistle blew?

Only by spending money like water can one command troops with ease.

In addition, Shichibei immediately dispatched men to Nobi-kaido to assess the situation and to gather as much information as possible through post stations and shokuju (a type of military transport) along the route. Almost simultaneously with Sanada Masayuki and Tamaru Naomasa's arrival in Osaka to report, news of the discovery of the Kanto clan outside Hamamatsu Castle reached Shichibei.

Without needing any other advice or suggestions, Shichibei made the decisive decision: if Kizuki Tomomasa could defend Hamamatsu Castle for more than ten days, the Kizuki family would be granted an additional 500,000 koku of Ise Province after the war.

Upon hearing the reward, those around him instinctively wanted to dissuade him, but everyone, including Kiyoyasu Ataka and Terumoto Mori, knew that if they didn't make an offer now, they wouldn't have another chance to do so later.

If Muzuki Musashi can hold out at Hamamatsu Castle for more than ten days, then the army under Osaka Castle will be able to fully arm themselves and advance to the Jiangnan-Jiangbei line.

They will most likely be able to enter the Nobi Plain before the Kanto forces, occupy the natural barrier of the Kiso River, deploy defenses along the river, and launch a brilliant attack while the enemy is crossing.

You asked how Ise Province, which is divided among so many daimyo, including the territories of the Sanada brothers, Nobuyuki and Nobushige, could be divided? The chief retainer, Nagano Nobukatsu, and other minor lords were all transferred to other fiefdoms, and Harada Nobumasa, Miyoshi Yasutoshi, Kuki Moritaka, and others rebelled, so the fiefdoms definitely had to be changed.

At that time, all of them will be transferred to the government to manage the woodworking industry. Besides, that's a matter for later, and there's no need to discuss it now.

The envoys were to set off immediately, advancing by both land and water. If they were surrounded on land, they were to send messages by water. They were determined to defend the city with their wooden fortifications.

Upon learning that he had lost his 75,000 koku of Sagami territory, Hijikata Okahisa immediately suggested that they take control of all the hostages held by the Kanto people in the Kinai region, and use them as bargaining chips if necessary.

That's perfectly reasonable. Send men to arrest them immediately and bring them all to the Kyoto Town Magistrate's Office. Anyone who resists arrest should be executed immediately. It must be done quickly to prevent anyone from escaping.

"Urgent report! The retainer of Ikeda, the lord of Himeji Castle, has raised an army, besieged the castle, and cut off the Sanyo Road!" Shichibei's order had barely been given when the messenger rushed out to the corridor to report loudly.

"Understood!" As expected, Ikeda Tsuneoki was originally a military commander under Oda Nobushige, and he and his son Ikeda Gensuke had already left Osaka.

"Damn it! Damn it all!" At this point, Mori Teruyuki stopped pretending and started cursing.

"In the next three to five days, there will definitely be many more traitors." Shichibei had already calmed down by now. There was no use in not calming down. Since things had already happened, they had to face them positively.

"Lieutenant General Miyoshi Awa has arrived."

"please."

"Hahaha, everyone, I entrust all 20,000 of my Awa warriors to your command!" Miyoshi Nobutaka strode in, appearing extremely heroic.

After arriving, he neither vied for power nor sought fame; his only response was that he was willing to serve. Is this still the same Sanhao Xinxiao? He doesn't seem like it at all.

"General Katsuyuki's loyalty is so great that the Grand Chancellor will never forget it." Mori Terumoto immediately stood up and shook hands with Miyoshi Nobutaka.

Right now, Terumoto Mori really needs some encouragement, no matter where it comes from.

"Please sit down, please sit down." Although Shichibei didn't understand why Miyoshi Nobutaka was so eager to side with Oda Katsuhoshi, the fact that he came, and even brought 20,000 men with him, was a great thing.

"We should ask the governor of Harima to immediately send troops to besiege Himeji Castle." Seeing that Miyoshi Nobutaka had settled down, Ataka Kiyoyasu immediately changed the subject and suggested to Shichibei.

Although the Seto Inland Sea's water transport had changed, the blocked roads of Sanyo were still unsightly. If the troops who had come from the west learned of the rebellion at Himeji Castle and the interruption of their land route home, it would surely be a thorn in their side, affecting their morale.

"That's how it should be. I also order Harima Ryūnobayashi Sado no Kami (Hayashi Ichikichi), Tajima Kenbeyama Yamana Kingō (Yamana Toyokuni), and Tanba Yatsukami Hosokawa Rokurō to lead troops together to attack Himeji." Shichibei had nothing left to pretend about at this point. Everyone was in a panic. Who else but me?

It's also Shichibei's fault, as he always tried his best to maintain control, keeping everyone fighting without breaking apart, and keeping the conflict open. He even confined Maeda Toshiie to Osaka Castle, preventing him from returning to his Echigoku territory. This gave Mori Terumoto and others a stage to perform, using schemes and tricks to win over Shien and cause trouble everywhere.

When Oda Nobushige and Tokugawa Ieyasu finally overturned the chessboard, they all proved utterly useless. They were all heroes of the pleasure quarters, performers of the entertainment world; where was their supposed composure in the face of great adversity?

They're not even as good as me, a feudal monopoly businessman who's willing to compromise!

Since Ieyasu and his men have led the Eastern Army to march on Kyoto, there's nothing more to say. Don't harbor unrealistic hopes for peace talks, but don't abandon the possibility of resolving the conflict peacefully or by force.

"The decree, issued by the Grand Chancellor, shall be publicly disseminated throughout the nation, condemning Lieutenant General Matsushiro and Tokugawa Edo for their rebellious acts." This meant not only military mobilization but also suppression of public opinion.

"Great!" Miyoshi Nobutaka almost clapped in agreement.

One by one, the arrangements were made, and the entire Osaka, the central government of the Oda regime, began to operate frantically. At the same time, Shichibei wrote to Tsuda Nobuuji, the lord of Mino-Kano Castle, and his father, Oda Nobuharu, promising to forgive all previous debts and that Tsushima would provide them with an additional 5,000 taels of rice. He asked them to mobilize their forces and set up camp in Kano to prevent any troops from passing through the Kiso River.

Of the new generation of the three leaders of the Western Mino faction, one, Sakuma Nobuege, has been transferred to Kanto and is following Oda Nobushige in the campaign. The remaining two are Kawajiri Hidenaga, a staunch Oda Nobushige supporter, and Inaba Sadamichi, originally a loyal and capable general who has also previously expressed his support for Oda Nobushige.

These two are highly likely to cut off the road from Koho to Mino, so Shichibei requested Miyoshi Nobutaka to lead the first attack on Kawajiri Hidenaga and Inaba Sadamichi. If they are willing to surrender, they can live peacefully under their control. If they are unwilling to surrender, they must be killed to settle accounts, lest Noobi fall entirely into the hands of Oda Nobushige.

In addition, Shichibei selected a skilled hitman who frequently traveled along the sea route and asked him to immediately find an opportunity to infiltrate the Eastern Army camp and search for Tsuda Nobuhisa, who had almost become Shichibei's father-in-law. Although his son, Tokugawa Nagamaru, was adopted from the Tokugawa family, he had a close relationship with Shichibei and might be able to be won over.

Furthermore, Yamagata Masamitsu, as Shichibei's brother-in-law, was also in the Eastern Army camp, so he could naturally be courted. We also sent someone to guide him there and try to persuade him.

What would Oda Nobunaga have done back then? What would Hideyoshi have done? Shichibei, who grew up on their shoulders and under their wings, constantly reminisces about his past with them.

Having basically sorted out the chaos following the sudden change, Shichibei got up to find merchants in Kyoto, Osaka, Sakai, and other places to try to borrow 300,000 to 500,000 kan.

"Lord Kumamoto, please wait a moment." Everyone else had left, but Miyoshi Nobutaka lagged behind and specifically called out to Shichibei.

"Please speak." Nobutaka is Nobunaga's son, and by all accounts, he is now the "Imperial Uncle." Although he has long been adopted into the Miyoshi family, he still deserves some respect.

"Your Majesty has only been in office for half a year, and the position of Prime Minister has been vacant for fifteen years. Do you have any plans or arrangements?" Unexpectedly, at this moment, Miyoshi Nobutaka suddenly brought up this matter.

Let's wait until he turns fifteen and goes through his coming-of-age ceremony. There's no way to plan ahead.

"I don't know..."

"Since the appointment of the Grand Minister of State, the positions of Regent and Grand Minister of State have been abolished. Ministers are now only the Left and Right Ministers, with the position of Minister of the Interior being granted only occasionally. Unfortunately, my uncle Shinano has already passed away, leaving no one suitable for the position of Minister. This has resulted in the loss of order among the court nobles."

Miyoshi Nobutaka's words were very straightforward: nowadays, aside from the Emperor, the publicly recognized title of the people of Japan is Grand Chancellor, an official position inherited from the previous Taira no Kiyomori. This title has gained widespread recognition among the feudal lords of Japan and has become the highest-ranking position within the imperial court.

The problem is that Oda Katsuhoshi is only six months old and cannot immediately assume the position of Grand Chancellor. Therefore, the various religious and legal obligations that the Grand Chancellor needs to bear will inevitably be borne by the Left and Right Ministers.

If Oda Nobuhiro hadn't died, as Nobunaga's elder brother and the head of the Oda clan's inner circle, he would have easily been promoted to Minister of the Left, fulfilling various duties in place of Oda Katsuhoshi. But he's already gone, and now the Oda clan's close relatives are at most fourth-rank lieutenant generals.

Even the three councilors who served under Oda Nobuhiro back then haven't been promoted. In the future, court nobles will become the left and right ministers, effectively fulfilling the duties of Oda's Grand Chancellor, thus eroding the power of the Oda family, and even becoming a scourge to the entire regime like a leech.

At this point, Shichibei could easily understand. What could Miyoshi Nobutaka's purpose be in siding with Oda Katsufusa and mobilizing the people to raise an army of 20,000 men in Awa-higashi-Sanuki?

Minister Zuo!

Oda Nobushige took advantage of the political instability to kill from the outside with a knife. You, Miyoshi Nobutaka, used your fists to beat people from the inside.

Once Miyoshi Nobutaka is promoted to Minister of the Left, setting this precedent, it's hard to say whether the Oda clan's regime can remain stable or whether internal strife will break out again.

"We'll discuss this later, we'll discuss this later." Shichibei couldn't make a decision for the time being and could only stall for time.

"Please think it over carefully." Miyoshi Nobutaka was not in a hurry. He just smiled and gestured for Shichibei to go first.

Shichibei was now in a real bind. External troubles were brewing, and he couldn't quell the internal turmoil.

No wonder they say it's difficult to be an emperor or a king. Once in power, one faces a complex and ever-changing situation. One wrong move could lead to total defeat. Everyone within one's sphere of influence has their own plans and demands; it's truly impossible to maintain balance and order without the right skills.

To Shichibei's surprise, Miyoshi Nobutaka also sent men on horseback to Hamamatsu Castle. He had mobilized 20,000 troops with all his might, so why was he only demanding a price in Osaka?

In any case, both Oda Katsuhoshi and Oda Nobushige were descendants of Oda Nobunaga. The world was ultimately rotten in the hands of the Oda family, so Miyoshi Nobutaka felt no guilt whatsoever in demanding prices from both sides.

They're all my good nephews, so it doesn't matter which side I'm on.

Oda Nobushige is only fifteen years old this year. Once he succeeds to the throne, he will inevitably need a powerful figure to assist him in suppressing the power of Tokugawa Ieyasu and other Kanto clans.

At that time, Miyoshi Nobutaka might be able to make his son one of the "Three Ministers of the Court," while he himself would be appointed as a minister and assist in the court.

I can't seize the throne, but I can still try to seize power. Why should someone as unrelated as Mori Terumoto be able to compete, while I, Miyoshi Nobutaka, can't?

Chapter 646 Strategic Interactions and Communication

"In ten days, in just ten days, Your Highness will be granted 500,000 koku of land in Ise Province after the victory!"

At the risk of his life, Kosaka Yuzen, a close associate of Nobuo, infiltrated Hamamatsu Castle by waterway and paid his respects to the castle lords, Mokuzoku Musashi and Nagamasa.

"The Eastern Army has surrounded the city ten times. Our army is outnumbered. How can we hold out for ten days?" Kizuki Nagamasa bypassed his father and answered Kosaka Yuzen first.

"The late Lord Tokugen-in treated Your Highness with the utmost kindness and deep respect. Has Your Highness forgotten this?" Kosaka Yuzen ignored Kizukuri Nagamasa and instead offered his earnest advice to Kizukuri Tomomasa.

"I will never forget the kindness of Lord Tokugen-in." Indeed, without Oda Nobuo's patronage, where would the 100,000 koku of timber craftsmen Hamamatsu be today?

"The Osaka army is amassed by tens of thousands of troops. They can be reorganized in four or five days, and in another four or five days, they can advance to Nobi. At that time, even if Your Highness abandons the city, it will still be the greatest achievement of this campaign." Kosaka Yuzen understood a principle very well: empty promises are useless.

Beyond empty promises, concrete actions and tangible support are needed. The 500,000 koku of Ise is the pie, the carrot dangling before the millstone. Informing Mokuzō Tomomasa that the Western Army of over 100,000 could arrive in ten days is an encouragement for Hamamatsu Castle to hold out to the death.

“Hmm…” Kizaki Kojima still hesitated.

The reason the siege of Hamamatsu Castle had not yet fully commenced was twofold: Firstly, Tokugawa Ieyasu hoped that Kizuki, a politically astute individual, would immediately surrender the castle, handing over Hamamatsu, a key city on the sea route, to the Eastern Army as a successor.

Secondly, the army of over 100,000 men had been marching from the Guandong region. The vanguard had arrived, the central army had just arrived, and the rearguard was still east of the Kagawa River. The army had not yet fully assembled.

Despite Hamamatsu Castle being defended by only four or five thousand men, Tokugawa Ieyasu believed that this castle, which he had personally renovated and expanded, still required serious attention. Ideally, he should launch a fierce attack with ten times the number of troops to have any chance of capturing the castle in a single day.

Today is the second day of the siege.

This was also the second day that Tokugawa Ieyasu had given the wooden utensil manufacturer time to consider.

Once the Eastern Army's rear guard has assembled and no response is given by the third day, the Eastern Army will not merely bombard the city. With over 100,000 troops charging in, even the fortified Hamamatsu Castle would have no chance of survival.

"Even if we subdue the Kanto bandits outside the city, the best outcome will be nothing more than being transferred to Oshu or Kyushu. Is Your Highness willing to accept this?" Kosaka Yuzen crawled forward a few steps.

The Tokaido was Tokugawa Ieyasu's hometown and a strategic pass in and out of Kanto. If he could be stopped at Totomi by Hamamatsu Castle, then the large army coming from Kansai could also be stopped by Hamamatsu. In order to consolidate his territory and power in Kanto, the Tokaido would inevitably become his direct or hereditary domain.

Mokuzuki Tomomasa was Oda Nobukatsu's father-in-law and had close ties with Oda Katsuhoshi's faction. Even if he were to surrender, and manage to retain his 100,000 koku of land, it certainly wouldn't be in Hamamatsu.

If they were to send the Kizukuri family to Aizu, Kizukuri Tomomasa would have to quell the local unrest himself. Or they could go to Kyushu, where they would be completely unfamiliar with the place.