Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

"Haha, not bad." Nobunaga immediately agreed with Hideyoshi's idea.

This is truly Japanese style; the layered roof structure definitely has a historical tradition. I want the title of Kanrei (chief steward), but I won't actually hold the position. What should I do? How about a quasi-Kanrei (acting chief steward)?

They have the status and authority of a supervisor (earned through their own abilities), but do not hold the position of a supervisor's assistant; they are just all show and no substance.

"..." The Oda retainers around him were also surprised that Nobunaga would play such a trick; they really didn't know how his brain worked.

Now that Nobunaga has made his decision, we must do as he instructs. We've already said we'll serve the country with imperial favor; since Nobunaga has bestowed imperial favor upon us, even if he orders us to swarm the castle like ants, we must go.

Upon hearing the news that Nobunaga was willing to offer the imperial court a huge sum of 3,000 kan, Ashikaga Yoshiaki and the imperial envoy were overjoyed. Nobunaga was indeed willing to cooperate, could still recognize the big picture, and was willing to compromise for the greater good.

When Ashikaga Yoshiaki heard that Nobunaga wanted him to submit a petition to the Imperial Court regarding the so-called "quasi-administrator," he was somewhat bewildered. His retainers also felt that Nobunaga was making a pointless and unnecessary move.

Originally, if Yoshiaki had successfully marched to Kyoto, Nobunaga could have legitimately become the Kanrei (shogunate regent). His current position as acting Kanrei is not entirely unreasonable.

What is the purpose of "accurate"?

Hosokawa Fujitaka seemed to have figured something out, but wasn't quite sure. Meanwhile, Akechi Mitsuhide, standing slightly behind him, had a sharp look in his eyes, and after a moment's thought, he revealed a hint of understanding.

Does this Nobunaga really not want to serve in the Muromachi Shogunate? Even in the neighboring Ming Dynasty, establishing a new dynasty required accepting the abdication of the previous one. This Oda Nobunaga...

127. Mitsuhide, a latecomer, surpassed his predecessor.

Akechi Mitsuhide's mind raced, and he spoke to Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Nobunaga's willingness to ask Yoshiaki and the Imperial Court for the title of Deputy Governor-General of Ashikaga showed that Nobunaga knew his place and was aware of his humble origins and lack of family prominence.

ha?

Even Hosokawa Fujitaka, who had already developed a few ideas, was interrupted by Akechi Mitsuhide. The retainers around him all turned to look at Akechi Mitsuhide, their meaning clear: "Tell me quickly."

Mitsuhide, who had already prepared a prepared explanation, immediately laid out a crucial premise: wasn't three thousand kan a huge sum of money? No matter where you are, three thousand kan is a fortune. Especially for Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who lived in poverty and relied on donations from various daimyo. Three thousand kan wasn't just money; it was life itself.

That settles it. Nobunaga's willingness to give such a large sum of money as 3,000 kan shows that he truly respects the shogunate and the imperial court, and is indeed willing to establish friendly relations with them.

Given this premise, the image of Oda Nobunaga as a wise and sensible loyal retainer immediately comes to mind.

Isn't that right? Nobunaga was willing to take a huge risk and support Ashikaga Yoshiaki's march to Kyoto because he deeply respected the old authority. While Nobunaga certainly wanted to use this to elevate his status, enhance his family's prestige, and curry favor with the imperial court, it was still a well-deserved reward.

Just as the Ōuchi clan supported the Shogun's march to Kyoto, the Shogun directly bestowed upon him the title of Governor-General of Seven Provinces (Western Provinces, Kyushu, and Yamashiro), and the Imperial Court also granted him the rank of Third Grade. Hasn't the Ōuchi clan suddenly risen to the status of a first-rate samurai family? With such a ready precedent before us, could Nobunaga also be appointed Governor-General of Seven Provinces, becoming one of the Nine Princes?

As for him flexing his muscles and revealing his ambition, that's a joke. Could someone without ambition conquer the borders of these two and a half kingdoms and support our Lord Yi Zhao's ascent to Luoyang?

Look at Asakura Yoshikage. He cried for two months after his son died, ignored the Ko-ikki's attack, ignored his retainers' rebellion, and ignored even the trouble in Wakasa. Isn't he a complete waste? Relying on him, our Lord Yoshiaki will never become a shogun in his entire life.

Hey, this is a classic case of both sides having their own version of the truth.

The fascinating aspects of journalism are endless, whether viewed from the positive or negative perspective.

It's quite possible that this is Nobunaga trying to curry favor with you, hoping to secure the title of Kanrei (regent) first, and then demand the position from you in the future.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who was initially somewhat unpredictable, was now prejudicially influenced and led astray by Mitsuhide. The main reason was that Yoshiaki genuinely desired to become shogun; with this obsession, it's only natural to be inclined to follow a path that aligns with his ambition to become shogun.

He was a loyal retainer of the Muromachi Shogunate!

So Yoshiaki naturally ordered Mitsuhide to praise Nobunaga, to reassure Nobunaga that Yoshiaki understood this gesture of goodwill (he would definitely show his appreciation once the campaign to Kyoto was successful).

To be honest, thanks to Akechi Mitsuhide's analysis, Ashikaga Yoshiaki felt he had Nobunaga under his thumb. After all, Nobunaga came from a very low social standing, a vassal of a vassal. Once Yoshiaki became shogun, he would have secured the highest rank among the samurai. When that happened, granting Nobunaga a title would be a great favor, enough to repay Nobunaga for his support.

Hurry up and appease Nobunaga so he can lead everyone on their way. Let's hurry, don't wait any longer.

Shichibei was not present at the meeting between Mitsuhide and Nobunaga, and therefore did not know the specifics of what happened or what was discussed. However, he did know what happened after the meeting.

Nobunaga specifically sent someone to discuss with Ashikaga Yoshiaki the possibility of Akechi Mitsuhide becoming a retainer "belonging to both Ashikaga and Oda." This can be compared to Yoshiaki assigning Mitsuhide to Nobunaga as a retainer with considerable influence, but it's not entirely accurate, though it's somewhat similar.

In short, Nobunaga openly demanded Mitsuhide from Yoshiaki, and many Oda retainers didn't quite understand why Nobunaga did this. It couldn't be because Mitsuhide's archery and horsemanship skills overwhelmed the Oda retainers during the hunt, and Nobunaga felt he couldn't save face, so he had to get this man under his control.

Let everyone guess. Yoshiaki, who thought that Nobunaga would become the shogunate's governor in the future anyway, agreed to Nobunaga's request almost without hesitation.

From then on, Akechi Mitsuhide could appear openly on Oda Nobunaga's list of retainers.

"Perhaps my lord needs a wise man who is well-versed in the etiquette of the court and military affairs to serve him..." Hideyoshi was still in Gifu at the moment, and the matter of Akechi Mitsuhide seemed to make him feel a little crisis or tension.

"Maybe it's just a matter of admiring him." Shichibei didn't quite understand either. It seemed that Mitsuhide had simply been running between Yoshiaki and Nobunaga a few times, and then Nobunaga openly asked for him.

There were many reasons behind this, and Shichibei had no spies who could record them all and relay them to him.

"Hmm..." Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide certainly didn't have any hatred for each other; it was probably just a matter of intuition.

"At least he is very skilled in martial arts and also very well-mannered." Shichibei thought it would be another two years before Mitsuhide switched allegiance to Nobunaga.

After all, Nobunaga had offered Mitsuhide 4,000 kan as a reward, but Mitsuhide had very frankly refused. At that time, Shichibei felt that Mitsuhide didn't seem to have much faith in Nobunaga and didn't seem to have any intention of betting everything on him.

Following Ashikaga Yoshiaki, this natural "treasure," he had ample opportunity to observe the heroes of the land. Nobunaga at the time probably didn't demonstrate the magnanimity to whom he was willing to serve.

The saying "A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a good minister chooses a good lord to serve" illustrates this principle.

Mitsuhide was definitely an ambitious person, constantly seeking opportunities for success. What exactly made him feel a connection with Nobunaga, ultimately leading him to accept the "two-servant" proposal and serve both Yoshiaki and Nobunaga?

Too bad, we can't read their minds.

"Tsk, do you think it's possible that this Jubei Akechi was bribed by our lord?" Hideyoshi suddenly suggested.

"What do you mean?" Shichibei quickly leaned closer.

"I think that Prince Gongfang is a very shrewd person..."

Yoshiaki wasn't completely stupid; that's clear. After all, he managed to connect so many people to Nobunaga's encirclement, and even caused Nobunaga considerable trouble at one point. This shows that Yoshiaki did have some networking skills, and his intelligence was at least above the average level for his time.

Hideyoshi probably came to this conclusion from the descriptions of others and his own observations.

In order to keep a Prince Gongfang who is capable of independent thinking and has a certain level of competence, would it be feasible to place someone equally intelligent who can lead others astray by his side?

There was someone who could keep Yoshiaki in check, and this person was also an insider to Nobunaga. This was very beneficial for Nobunaga.

“Hey! Your idea…” Shichibei felt that Hideyoshi’s line of thinking made sense because it was logically sound.

"But there's a problem." Hideyoshi's tone still carried a hint of hesitation.

"what?"

"On what basis does my lord believe that this Akechi Jubei is truly colluding with the enemy?"

Yes, if Mitsuhide could betray Yoshiaki, he could definitely betray others too. Nobunaga's principle towards his subordinates was to bleed them dry before disposing of them, making the most of their resources. So why would anyone think Mitsuhide wasn't a fickle and treacherous person, someone they could trust implicitly to keep by Yoshiaki's side?

"Not necessarily. Our lord is a very confident person." Shichibei's opinion on this matter differed from Hideyoshi's.

Historical records suggest that Nobunaga possessed an almost invincible confidence. Once he set his mind on something, he would do it. Similarly, those he trusted, such as Oda Nobuhiro, who openly rebelled and wanted to kill his brother, were not only employed but also appointed as heads of his clan.

Not to mention Shibata Katsuie, he was practically someone who would swing a sword at his head. After assessing his loyalty, Nobunaga entrusted him with important responsibilities.

Thus, assuming Nobunaga had already decided that Mitsuhide had defected to him, he would boldly appoint Mitsuhide without any suspicion.

Of course, Mitsuhide being turned into a beast of burden and used by Nobunaga from morning till night is another matter. But aren't Shichibei and Hideyoshi in the same boat, with hardly any rest throughout the year? When Nobunaga uses people, he truly treats them like livestock, showing no mercy whatsoever.

I'm really afraid that one day he'll use us like a forklift...

"Oh dear, now that you mention it, I'm not sure anymore." Hideyoshi scratched his already bald head, his words were a complaint but his tone was quite nice.

Having multiple ideas is naturally a good thing.

"Master, Lord Yamauchi is here to see you." The two were in the middle of a private conversation when the waiter outside came to report.

"Please let him in." Upon hearing that it was Yamauchi Kazutoyo, Shichibei naturally wouldn't stop him.

"Then I'll take my leave." Hideyoshi stood up and prepared to leave.

"Let's stay for dinner. Maybe Inoemon has something to say." Yamauchi Kazutoyo was, after all, a gatekeeper for Nobunaga, and could be considered someone on the periphery of the core of power.

Like the gatekeepers at the compound, they might not know much else, but they certainly know the leaders' comings and goings. Just for that alone, who knows how many people have bribed the gatekeepers?

"Lord Kinoshita is here too." Yamauchi Kazutoyo hurried in and greeted Hideyoshi immediately upon seeing him.

"Just now, the lord has bestowed upon Akechi Jubei a stipend of four thousand kan." Sure enough, Yamauchi Kazutoyo had barely sat down when he brought the two the latest news.

"Whoa!" Hideyoshi and Shichibei exclaimed in unison.

Two men had carried guns for Nobunaga for so many years, being treated like cattle and beasts of burden by him, and yet they only received 2,500 kan of credit. But when Akechi Mitsuhide arrived, he received 4,000 kan.

The only difference is that the two men's knowledge and actions were based on knowledge and action, while Mitsuhide's knowledge was purely based on money, without specifying any particular place as Mitsuhide's territory.

In fact, Shichibei should have known about this long ago, because Mitsuhide started his career in the Oda clan at a very high level. He was initially given a stipend of 4,000 kan, and after arriving in Kyoto, he was directly given the Yamashiro Kuze Estate. The area covered by this estate was approximately 28,000 koku in the Edo period, and may be slightly less now.

Within two years, he was transferred to the Shiga district of Omi Province, which already had a fief of 50,000 koku. After that, Mitsuhide became the lord of Sakamoto Castle and the de facto commander of a local army.

Wow, that's really fast!

Well, it's true that Nobunaga trusted his subordinates implicitly. He promised Mitsuhide 4,000 kan, and now that Mitsuhide had arrived, he immediately gave him 4,000 kan.

However, the words didn't sit well with Oda's retainers. No one would be comfortable with someone who came later and surpassed them.

"Alright, alright, let's have a drink." Shichibei clapped his hands and didn't say anything more.

"That's right, that's right." Yamauchi Kazutoyo is currently only a foot soldier head, not a senior retainer, and it's not yet within the scope of considering such matters.

128. Observing from the sidelines without understanding the situation.

However, the fact that Akechi Mitsuhide was present at the meeting of Oda clan's senior retainers was still somewhat unsettling. Those present, whose hands were numb from killing so many, had only managed to secure a seat in the residence; as soon as someone arrived, a seat was provided.

Speechless...

However, Oda Nobunaga was now the undisputed head of the Oda clan. With his unification of Owari and his conquest of Mino and northern Ise, he could suppress any dissenting voices within the clan. He was the one who called the shots in the entire Oda clan; once Nobunaga made a decision, there was no room for argument.

Prestige, once established, is extremely useful. And Nobunaga, possessing prestige, naturally held a supreme position within the Oda clan.

Who's in favor? Who's against?

Anyway, Shichibei was in favor; having another ox or horse might ease the burden on the others. Besides, Mitsuhide was a very capable and hardworking ox or horse.

Let's sit down and discuss something we all know perfectly well. The summer harvest is imminent, so with food we can prepare for war. Ashikaga Yoshiaki holds the prestigious title, and negotiations with the Imperial Court are underway; Nobunaga's status as a quasi-kan-repō (regent) has now been confirmed. They even eagerly anticipate Nobunaga's arrival to maintain order in Kyoto.

When Azai Nagamasa heard that Nobunaga was going to attack Rokkaku Yoshiharu, he practically made a pledge to bring more than 5,000 men to support him. Tokugawa Ieyasu did not refuse either, saying that if Nobunaga summoned him, he would also send more than 5,000 men.

These two alone contributed over ten thousand men, indicating that Nobunaga already possessed considerable influence. Having teammates who could easily muster tens of thousands of men was quite impressive.

Furthermore, the core territories of Owari and Mino had become the heartland of Oda Nobunaga, surrounded by either his own territories or allies and subordinate forces. Oda Nobunaga had almost all three advantages: favorable timing, advantageous location, and popular support.

In that case, how can we not go to Luoyang?

The meeting was to announce this matter. Nobunaga was determined to march on Kyoto and ordered the senior retainers of the Oda clan present to mobilize immediately. Once the summer harvest was over, he would summon all forces to Gifu Castle and support Ashikaga Yoshiaki to ascend the throne in Kyoto.

Everyone had a task: those who were county magistrates were to collect grain, those who were castle magistrates were to mobilize local lords, and those who were magistrates were to prepare weapons. Shichibei was no exception; he was tasked with purchasing rice according to Nobunaga's requirements.

There can only be a large army if there is white rice.

Besides the several thousand koku of tribute rice stored in the city, Shichibei was ordered to procure 40,000 koku of military rations. Of these, 30,000 koku were to be taken with the army, while the remaining 10,000 koku were to be stored in the rice granary of Gifu Castle as reserve rations.