A mansion in Tsuruga County near the Imperial Palace, the window is covered with snow, the interior is like spring, and the green smoke in the incense burner is in harmony with the fragrance of tea. The owner of the house, Hosokawa Fujitaka, sits with his new friend Akechi Mitsuhide over tea.

Wise Mitsuhide is knowledgeable, and there is an ancient color in his words and deeds, which is very different from the people of the world. He claimed to have served the Saito Michido Sanmi, and since Michizo was killed by his son Yoshiryu, he began to travel around the world, hoping to vote for the master.

After traveling to Echizen, he did not go out of Echizen's master, Asakura Yoshikage, but instead became the guest secretary and tea ceremony teacher of the down-and-out former prince Ashikaga Yoshiteru, tasting tea and discussing the Tao. Hosokawa Fujitaka could see in his eyes the extraordinaryness of the wise ten soldiers.

The chaos in Kinai, the tranquility of Echizen, made Hosokawa Fujitaka feel uncomfortable, Akechi Mitsuhide looked complacent, Hosokawa Fujitaka suddenly asked: "Now that Kinai is turbulent and chaotic, Shibei, who is the one who won the Central Plains?" ”

Wise Mitsuhide nodded solemnly and said, "In my opinion, today's Jinai is like a big game of chess, and the person who controls this big game of chess is the one who won the Central Plains." Few people agree with Akechi Mitsuhide's view, and most people can't see clearly who has the ability to control the turmoil in Kinai.

Of course, this does not include Hosokawa Fujitaka. Ever since Hosokawa returned from Bichuku three years ago, he felt a deep fear of the man who had told him to disturb the turmoil in Kinai, and everything was like his calculated steps, and he felt a sense of powerlessness.

Hosokawa Fujitaka pursed his lips, smiled slightly somehow, and said, "From several meetings with Date Dazai. I can roughly guess what he's like. But I didn't expect him to be even more powerful than I thought. It's just that I really can't figure out that he's no longer something that Miyoshi and others can fight against, so why do you want to make such a mess? ”

Akechi Mitsuhide shook his head slightly, he glanced at Hosokawa Fujitaka, shook his head and said, "Hosokawa-kun, in fact, you already have the answer in your heart, but you just want to say it through my mouth." If he wanted to establish the old regime of Lai Chaogong, he could have gone to Luo three years ago. ”

To put it bluntly, Hosokawa Fujitaka sighed. Said: "Do your best to obey the destiny of heaven, come, taste tea." At this time, an old family member hurried to stand on the edge of the porch in the snow, and reported: "Lord, there is an old man who asks to see me, and this is a post from him." ”

Stunned for a moment, Hosokawa Fujitaka took the book, and the thick anger between his eyebrows flashed. He tossed the slip on the table and glanced up at Akechi Mitsuhide. He smiled bitterly: "Look, that one has taken another step, and it seems that he still doesn't let us be idle." ”

Akechi Mitsuhide didn't answer, and he couldn't say words of encouragement to comfort the new confidant in front of him.

Hosokawa Fujitaka suddenly became excited, and said: "Everything must have twists and turns, and the ebb and flow of the tide is also the way of nature." Just because we're in decline doesn't mean we can't make a comeback in the future. If he wants to manipulate us, let him see if he will raise tigers? ”

Akechi Mitsuhide knew that someone must have something important to discuss and wanted to get up and say goodbye, but Hosokawa Fujitaka held down Akechi Mitsuhide one step at a time, and said with emotion: "There is nothing unseemly, it doesn't hurt to listen to it, so that those jumping clowns know that I have a clear conscience." ”

People will think about things when they are comfortable, Hosokawa Fujitaka was reused by Ashikaga Yoshiteru at a young age, which caused the dissatisfaction of the old guys who relied on bloodline and family lineage to maintain the shogunate's side, the old guys are mediocre in ability, lack of success and more than failure, find fault with Hosokawa Fujitaka everywhere, if people know that someone knocks on his door at night and consults secretly, I am afraid that there will be ugly words again. Nowadays, there is a lot of rumors in Tsuruga about Hosokawa Fujitakachi Tsuida's family.

Akechi Mitsuhide pointed at Hosokawa Fujitaka and said with a wry smile: "Hosokawa-kun harms me." ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka glanced at Akechi Mitsuhide, neither laughing nor angry, and said: "Shibei, you are not suitable to stay in the shogunate, if one day, if you meet the master, it is better to leave, this is the advice I said as your confidant and friend." ”

Akechi Mitsuhide was noncommittal.

The old family brought the people in, Hosokawa Fujitaka looked at the comer, he looked at the Hattori security chief with a sharp eye, as if he wanted to recognize the other party, and then asked in a fluttering voice: "Should I call you Chiga Land Masasen, or Hattori Baochang." ”

Hattori's face stiffened slightly, and he replied: "The name is just a title, I came here today to inform you of two things, the first thing is that Miyoshi Nagakei seized Ataka Fuyasu, the people of Kinai took control of Akutagawa Mountain Castle, Miyoshi Shikyu and Shikawa Ichiku led more than 10,000 Awa people to break through Sakai Port, seize the ship and withdraw from Kinai." ”

Before Hattori could finish speaking, Hosokawa Fujitaka suddenly stood up and shouted, "What? ”

Then he and Akechi Mitsuhide glanced at each other, and they both saw a trace of shock in each other's eyes, Miyoshi Ieki and Awa turned against each other, and the news of Awa retreating from Kinai was too terrifying, and it would have a huge impact on the next development of the situation.

Akechi Mitsuhide suddenly asked, "Are you sure about the life and death of Sakai Gongfang?" Sakai Kokata naturally refers to Ashikaga Yoshiei, who temporarily resides in Sakai Port, and although he and Ashikaga Yoshiteru are in opposition to each other, he is also a member of the Ashikaga family.

Hattori Baochang glanced at Akechi Mitsuhide with a little puzzlement, since Hosokawa Fujitaka had no scruples, he also said everything he knew: "Sakai Port has been burned down, there are heavy casualties, and the Myokokuji Temple, where the Sakai Duke temporarily lives, has not been spared, and it is unknown whether he is alive or dead." There is no news of the Sakai Gongfang in Ishiyama Honganji, and most of them have been martyred. The corpses in Sakai Port are piled up and are horrible to see. At present, Ishiyama Honganji Temple has completely blocked the roads of Sakai Port, and the inside and outside of the castle are full of people from Ishiyama Honganji. ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka sighed, he never thought that the flowery Sakai Port would be destroyed, but he expressed his condolences for the affairs of Sakai Port at most, and no matter what he did, he listened to Akechi Mitsuhide's question, glanced at Akechi Mitsuhide gratefully, and did not feel unhappy at all for the other party's arrogance. Sakai Port burned him indifferently, but he knew the life and death of Ashikaga Yoshiei of the Sakai Prince, and now among the three princes of Kinai, Ashikaga Yoshiei has the upper hand with the support of Ishiyama Honganji. Ashikaga Yoshiaki relied on the support of Miyoshi Chokei. Plus his relationship with religious forces. In second place, the most disadvantageous is Ashikaga Yoshiteru Tsuruga, who is far away from the turbulent place.

Akechi Mitsuhide saw that Hosokawa Fujitaka was deep in thought, and he asked directly, "What is the second thing you want to say?" "The destruction of Sakai Port, Ashikaga Yoshiei's life and death, this is something that he could never have imagined in any way, and at the same time he wants to know what the second thing is.

Hattori said without hesitation, "Please return to Sakamoto with Tsuruga." ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka's face showed hatred, he didn't expect that the second thing would be to make Ashikaga Yoshiteru step into the fire again. This made him feel a deep malice, everyone knows that the situation in Kinai is extremely complicated now, and the major political groups are worried about the development of the situation after the defeat of Miyoshi Chokei by Ishiyama Honganji, and the major forces are fighting for their own interests, doing everything they can, at this time, let Ashikaga Yoshiteru go to Sakamotokan, this is not a fire.

At present, Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Hosokawa Fujitaka are in the same boat and have just escaped from danger. The other political factions did not dare to approach the whirlpool for fear of destruction, and the man who had been relying on him now asked Ashikaga Yoshiteru to take Hosokawa Fujitaka and others into the whirlpool. For the situation at hand. Hosokawa Fujitaka can see that the only way to wait is the best policy, and he just wanted to refute it.

Wise Guangxiu clapped his hands again and again, and a smile of surprise appeared on his face, and he praised again and again: "Wonderful, wonderful, worthy of becoming the number one man in the world at the age of twenty-four, this strategy is very wonderful, if it is used well, Lord Gongfang may have one day to become a chess player." ”

Akechi Mitsuhide said calmly: "For Date Dazai, we are all pawns, tools for him to play political games. We are not strong enough, in the world of chess, can only be a chess piece, but to be a chess piece does not mean to be slaughtered, if we can seize the opportunity, we can also dominate the fate of the opponent. ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka was silent, looking at Akechi Mitsuhide, wanting to hear the other party's high opinion. Hattori also had no intention of leaving, he was also happy to see the hunt, knowing that the man in front of him was afraid of being a masterpiece, and discovering outstanding talents was also one of Hattori's usual tasks.

Akechi Mitsuhide said eloquently: "When I came to the royal income on the first day, I said that as long as you seize the opportunity and develop and grow, as long as you grow and have strength, you will have a solid foundation with the opportunity to control your own destiny, and you will have the opportunity to grow into a player in this big chess game." Although the opportunity is slim, but the opportunity is much stronger than no chance, as long as there is a chance, those promising courtiers who follow the public side will work hard, which is not to be missed for the public side, for the young courtiers. ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka also belonged to one of the courtiers who often felt deep sorrow for the decline of the shogunate, and at the same time were unwilling to be as depraved as those old guys, and wanted to dedicate their strength to the shogunate.

Hosokawa Fujitaka asked, "Shibei, can you tell me about the deep meaning of it?" ”

Akechi Mitsuhide said calmly: "Hosokawa-kun, you and I know what the root cause of the turmoil in Kinai is now, so don't mention it. Ostensibly a dispute between the Pure Land Shinshu sect and other religious forces represented by Ishiyama Honganji, whether the Ishiyama Honganji Temple was ultimately victorious or other religious forces were victorious, in the end, both families needed the samurai to manage them as the rulers of their secular realm. Then, with the fate of the Sakai Princesses uncertain, the Awa people return to Shikoku, and the Awa Princes will definitely be seen as a serious matter, and it will be impossible to intervene in the situation in Kinai again. ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka is also a smart person, and when he heard the meaning of Akechi Mitsuhide's words, he said, "You mean? ”

Akechi Mitsuhide nodded and replied: "Hosokawa-kun is concerned about chaos, as long as you look into it, you can see what are the benefits of returning to the Sakamoto Pavilion for the Gongkata Lord, once the Gongfang Lord returns to the Sakamoto Pavilion, then the other religious forces will reconsider who can better represent their interests, especially in the next Miyoshi Chokei, it is very likely that the jar will be broken, and the people of Kinai will be coerced to take refuge in Ishiyama Honganji, so that the generals they support can still represent the interests of other religious forces?" ”

The reason is clear, draw inferences from one another, Hosokawa Fujitaka immediately pulled up Akechi Mitsuhide wanted to go to the imperial palace to visit Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and put it into practice, if you want to wait for Ashikaga Yoshiaki to react, it will be too late, only to settle in Sakahonkan first, and then get the support of Asakura, Asai, Rokkaku, Takeda and other forces, and use their power to become agents of religious forces such as the Tiantai sect and the Rinzai sect in the secular world, and then expand their power step by step, grow and grow, and grow enough to play against the one in Okayama Castle.

Hattori retreated at the right time, not seeing the depth of Akechi Mitsuhide's gaze glancing at him.

Hosokawa Fujitaka pulled Akechi Mitsuhide into the palace where Ashikaga Yoshiki temporarily lived, informed Hattori Baochang of his intention, and at the same time gave Ashikaga Yoshiki the analysis of the benefits of returning to Sakamoto Building, Ashikaga Yoshiki listened to the analysis of the two and jumped with excitement.

On December 23 of the first year of Eiroku, the banner of Ashikaga Nichiki was once again hoisted above the Sakahonkan, and the wealthy families of Shiga and Kurita, who had been invaded by the Miyoshi family three years earlier, surrendered one after another, and even Koizumi Hidekiyoshi, a former retainer of the Miyoshi family stationed at Osaka Pass, also opened the castle to accept the surrender.

All of a sudden, he brought 3,000 soldiers and horses to Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and for the first time, he had an army of more than 1,000 people, so he was naturally overjoyed. The arrival of Ashikaga Yoshiaki certainly made the movements in Kinai more complex and changeable, and it was Ashikaga Yoshiaki in Kyoto who suffered the most damage.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki was now walking back and forth among the residences that Miyoshi Chokei had built for him, when he didn't notice that the snowflakes were falling again, almost with a cold face, and the sound of footsteps hitting the floor of the corridor seemed to contain all the anxiety in the heart of the new shogun.

Hosokawa Akima, the only shogune he can trust now, is standing not far away, frowning and frowning, he is also troubled by the situation in front of him, the Awa people led by Miyoshi Minoru are too ruthless, and they drained all the efforts of the Miyoshi family at once, and now Ashikaga Yoshiteru has returned to Sakahonkan.

Now, the Miyoshi family is no longer able to resist the attack of Ishiyama Honganji, and the day of defeat is just around the corner, and the Miyoshi family has completely fallen into the control of the Kinai people led by Matsunaga Shu after the loss of the Awa people, and the rumors that they want to convert to the Pure Land Shinshu from Akutagawa Mountain Castle are about to come true. When the time comes, how should Ashikaga Yoshiaki be good, the Miyoshi family has come from the Pure Land Shin Sect, can he still gain the trust of other sects. The arrival of Ashikaga Yoshiaki pushed Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who was about to reach the well, into the well.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki suddenly stopped and said fiercely: "Since I have been forced to this point, the only way to survive is to die, I want to go to Ishiyama Honganji Temple to enter the Tao." (To be continued......)