The offensive and defensive battle of Tsutsui Castle undoubtedly broke out, and in the absence of Matsunaga Shu and Hatakeyama Takamasa, it seemed that it would not be possible to conquer Tsutsui Castle in the short term just by relying on the headquarters of Kochichihiro and the fact that he had gathered up.

Just when everyone was looking at Yamato and whether Tsutsui Castle could hold on, Akechi Mitsuhide and Hosokawa Fujitaka found Ashikaga Yoshite, who was also concerned about Yamato's affairs, and under Akechi Mitsuhide's painful presentation, Ashikaga Yoshiki changed color several times.

Akechi Mitsuhide originally wanted to serve the Lord, but after the efforts of Ashikaga Yoshiki and Hosokawa Fujitaka, as well as the concerns of Date of Okayama Castle about the Honnoji incident, Date and Akechi Mitsuhide missed each other, and Ashikaga Yoshiki privately worshipped Akechi Mitsuhide as a military advisor.

Akechi Mitsuhide pointed his fingers and said one name after another: "Kawachi Guardian Hatakeyama Takamasa led tens of thousands of horses to arrive near Heijokyo, and the remnants of the Miyoshi Party led by Matsunaga Xiu, Iwanari Tomochi and others have also arrived in Heijokyo, and more than 100,000 people from Hanoi, Izumi, and Kii followed behind them and poured into Yamato. After Shimoma Yoriteru arrived at Ishiyama Honganji Temple, the lord of Koshisui Castle, Shimoma Yoryu, was sent to Tanba as a missionary, and there was anyone else in Settsu who could command a large army. ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka raised his head and said, "That's the command of Shimoma Yorisho." ”

Ashikaga Yoshiki glared at him and said, "It is already a very powerful thing for one person to be able to command hundreds of people, and it has always been a large army of 100,200,000 or even 3,400,000, you think that you can command it by relying on one person." ”

To command a large army that dares to fight, it is necessary not only the general general, but also a large number of middle and lower-level backbones, and Honganji Shimoma Yoriren relied on Saga Shizuki Shigehide as the leader when he was alive. Then the crowd with little combat power will rush up and win the final victory. That's why I fought in Takaya Castle last year. After Shigehide Suzuki was defeated by Miyoshi Minoru and Tokawa Ichiku. The remaining 100,000 or so people were pursued by thousands like sheep.

This is also the reason why Date of Okayama was so worried about the peace between Miyoshi Chokei and Honganji Temple, and even did not hesitate to temporarily abandon Shikoku to split the Miyoshi family regime, and Miyoshi Minoru and Tokawa Ichiku led the elite Awa people of the Miyoshi family regime back to Shikoku.

Now, the local forces of Kawachi and Kii, represented by Hatakeyama Takamasa, the remnants of Miyoshi led by Matsunaga Shu and Iwanari Tomotsu, and a group of people with riot experience who fought with Miyoshi Minoru and Tokawa Izuku, have all poured into Yamato.

Hosokawa Fujitaka is also a smart person, but because the skills of the war are too trendy, it is more to deliberately sell stupidity to bring out the wisdom of Ashikaga Yoshiteru. This is also an important reason why he was able to play a role in the three-person meeting after Ashikaga Yoshiteru privately worshipped Akechi Mitsuhide as a military advisor. Ashikaga Yoshiki is a very selfish person, if he and Akechi Mitsuhide discuss secretly, I am afraid that he will be suppressed by Akechi Mitsuhide in IQ and have no ability to perform, and let Hosokawa Fujitaka join, but it also complements each other.

"The general is clever!"

Hosokawa Fujitaka patted Ashikaga Yoshiteru's ass slightly, then turned his head to Akechi Mitsuhide and asked, "Shibei, what do you think is the intention of Honganji Xianru and Shimoma Yoriteru, they are not stupid, they should be able to see the importance of Hatakeyama Takamasa and Miyoshi Remnant Party to Ichiyi." ”

Akechi Mitsuhide pointed to the map and said, "The Yamato country can reach Kyoto directly, and at the same time, it is also the southern capital of the Wa country. The Three Treatises, Chengshi, Faxiang, Kusha, Huayan, and Vinaya all originated here, and the seven major temples of Daan-ji Temple, Yuanheong-ji Temple, Yakushi-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple, Saidai-ji Temple, and Horyu-ji Temple gathered here. After eight or nine hundred years of operation, although they are not as demagogic and drive evil as Honganji, they also have considerable strength, and more importantly, they have gathered a lot of wealth and food. ”

Ashikaga Yoshiki bowed slightly, he and Akechi Mitsuhide and others had planned, the biggest obstacle that can restrict the development of the has always been food, although it is very frustrating to say it, but I have to admit that Akechi Mitsuhide is right, people will starve without food, starvation will have no strength, riots need strength. His brow furrowed and he was silent.

Hosokawa Fujitaka looked at Ashikaga Yoshiki, and said in his eyes: "Most of the seven great temples of Yamato are places where Buddhism flourishes, and the total strength of the Tsutsui clan is only more than 10,000 people at its peak, and now the Yue Zhi clan and other wealthy families of Southern Yamato have betrayed, and the Tsutsui clan is lonely and difficult to speak, and the destruction is instantaneous, and the seven major temples do not have the monk and soldier families such as the Tsutsui clan as the backbone, I am afraid that they will not be able to resist the attack of Hatakeyama Takamasa and Matsunaga Shu and others, and the accumulated wealth and food will go to their hands." ”

He still cares about money and food. Wise Guangxiu sighed secretly, the Warring States are in turmoil, and no one pays attention to righteousness. He looked at Ashikaga Yoshiteru with a trace of sorrow in his eyes. You must know that the reason why Ashikaga Yoshiki was able to become the general of the Shogunate was not only by force, otherwise he would have to say who is the most powerful in the world, so he would entrust him with the authority of the shogunate, and he could use it to fight for life and death. There are some things he can say, and some things hurt when he says them, so let's bury them in my heart forever!

Akechi Mitsuhide saw that Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Hosokawa Fujitaka were looking at him, his fingers did not leave the map, and continued: "General, Daisuke of the military department, the purpose of Honganji to capture Yamato Province is to show that he wants to destroy our morale and seize food at will, and at the same time lure a group of people in Yamashiro and Omi to go to Yamato Province to rescue, and contain more living forces in Yamato Province, this plan is very vicious, because Honganji knows that we will not give up Yamato Province, because there is not only food, but also morale, Once the six sects and the seven great temples of the southern capital surrendered to Honganji, it would be a huge blow to the shogunate and Enryakuji Temple, and there was only one defeat under the lonely palm. ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka was slightly puzzled, and asked without thinking: "Shibei, there is something wrong with you, just now when you came to say that you couldn't rescue, but now you say that you can't rescue, and you will also face the situation of being alone. ”

Ashikaga Yoshiki listened to Akechi Mitsuhide's analysis, fell into deep thought, pondered for a long time, and said in a deep voice: "Shibei, you mean to rescue, but you can't blindly follow the steps of Honganji, I don't know what high opinion Shibei has?" ”

Akechi Mitsuhide's expression became solemn. Suddenly moved his finger from Yamato Province to Ishiyama Honganji. "General." Save must be saved, while the morale is still there, it is better to fight a big one, go straight to the Shishan Palace, and open up the situation of being beaten passively. ”

Ashikaga Yoshiteru's face turned red all of a sudden, and Hosokawa Fujitaka was also full of consternation, neither of them would have imagined that Akechi Mitsuhide would be so bold and take the life gate of Honganji Temple. You must know that there are still two or three hundred thousand people inside and outside this stone mountain Honganji Temple. Attacking Ishiyama Honganji Temple, these people will be desperate, once the two or three hundred thousand people go crazy, who can stop it.

Ashikaga Yoshiki was about to refuse, but Hosokawa Fujitaka suddenly asked, "Ten Soldiers, tell me what you think?" Ashikaga Yoshiteru paused, took a breath, and cleared his mind a little, he was still a little impulsive when he just listened to Ishiyama Honganji, it was time to listen to Akechi Mitsuhide's explanation. You must know that Akechi Mitsuhide is his military advisor, and if he refuses without listening to an explanation, it is too much to give the other party. If you can't get it, you're going to throw your sleeves and leave.

Akechi Mitsuhide's face was serious, and with his unique mellow voice, he said slowly: "Honganji has sent a total of more than 20,000 people from Hatakeyama Takamasa and the Miyoshi remnants, plus more than 100,000 people, I am afraid that the forces in Yamato alone will collapse in the short term, how many reinforcements do we need to be able to help them withstand it?" 100,000, 200,000, or 300,000, it is simple to withstand more than 100,000 people, but it is necessary to resist Hatakeyama High Government and the Three Good Remnants. May I ask the general, do you want to put all the people from the Sakamoto Pavilion headquarters, the monks of Enryakuji Temple, and the recruited ronin? Without the staff of the Sakamoto Building headquarters, who will guarantee the safety of the general? Without the monks and recruited ronins of Enryakuji Temple, who will guarantee the safety of Kyoto and Mt. Hiei? ”

A series of questions, Ashikaga Yoshiki and Hosokawa Fujitaka were speechless, as Akechi Mitsuhide said, the reason why Ichichi was able to succeed was that the first hand composed of backbone elements won the victory, forced the enemy to defend the city, and then countless ordinary people swarmed up and drowned the enemy. Hatakeyama Takamasa and Miyoshi Remnants are the spears of Honganji Raider Yamato, and if they want to withstand this spear, then they need the same or equal number of backbone elements to open the way for the follow-up believers.

Akechi Mitsuhide looked at the two of them and continued: "General, the current situation in Kinai is complicated, very complicated, simple, very simple. Honganji wants to drag all our soldiers and horses in the mountain castle and Omi into Yamato Province, because they know that Yamato Province is our place to save. In the same way, the general should know that our side only has the power of one blow, that is to say, it only has the ability to attack once, and if it wins, it will win all, and if it loses, it will only be able to abandon Kinai and go into exile in other countries in order to make a comeback. ”

Ashikaga Yoshiki looked gloomy and was silent for a long time.

Akechi Mitsuhide has said more than once that they only have the power to strike a blow, and this view has become his trademark, and it has also moved many people to agree with his view, and of course there are many people who oppose it. He followed up: "General, the Yamato country wants to be saved, and it has to be saved, but we can't follow the steps of the Honganji Temple, step by step, drag all our combat power into the quagmire of the Yamato country, and eventually lead to the emptiness and weakness of the Yamato country, I'm afraid this is the true face of the Honganji, and there is a strange soldier hidden in the Shishan Honganji Temple." Shigehide Suzuki is dead, but Saga hasn't disbanded? With that, he lightly pounded the floor and made a thud.

Hosokawa Fujitaka's eyes suddenly shrank, although he agreed with Akechi Mitsuhide's one-hit theory. Akechi Mitsuhide's desperate gamble was still opposed, because he believed that Hatakeyama Takamasa and Miyoshi Remnants had thrown themselves into the territory of Yamato Province, and Honganji no longer had sharp spears. He never forgot that although Suzuki Shigehide died, the Saga group he formed was not disbanded, and this was the vanguard that launched a thought and a fight last year, although they were all foreign in the battle of Takaya Castle, no one could forget them.

Seeing the two of them, Akechi Mitsuhide was moved again, his expression was grim, and he said in a sincere tone: "Why did Shimoma Yorizhao want to return to Ishiyama Honganji Temple, to raise food for the Yamato country, he should go to Izumi, Hanoi and other places, but he did the opposite. Because he knows that if he wants to move the Saka people, he alone will not move, you must know that the death of Suzuki Shigehide, his body has not been cleared of suspicion, only Honganji Temple shows the following decree, and the Saka people dare not disobey. If you add the monks and ronins in the Shishan Imperial Palace, there are about 13,400 people. In addition, more than 100,000 or 200,000 ordinary people have been flocking to Kyoto one by one, and how can we resist their attack when we have lost a large number of backbone elements? ”

Ashikaga Yoshiki took a deep breath and said, "I really want to attack Ishiyama Honganji Temple in a desperate way!" ”

Wise Guangxiu said categorically: "Sun Tzu's Art of War said, encircling Wei to save Zhao, now the soldiers that Shishan Yu can rely on are just ordinary mobs, weapons are scarce, although the fighting spirit is high, the fighting spirit of our believers is not low, it can be offset, then the rest is to consider the ability of the commander." The general is resolute and soft; The generals are united, and it is obvious that they do not trust each other; The general raised the army of justice, as if he were pretending to be the great evil of the Buddha; As long as the Ishiyama Imperial Palace is surrounded, the siege of Yamato will be relieved. ”

Ashikaga Yoshiteru didn't know that he still had so many advantages, his face became extremely red, and when he was about to praise loudly, Hosokawa Fujitaka asked in a low voice: "Hatakeyama Takamasa and others of Yamato Country also came to encircle Wei to save Zhao, what should I do if I take Kyoto directly?" ”

Akechi Mitsuhide laughed, Hosokawa Fujitaka who was laughing was a little weak, he leaned forward, and said: "What is there in Kyoto, what is there to save the general, is it the general's palace that has already been destroyed, or is there some beloved?" I would like to hope that Hatakeyama Takamasa and Miyoshi's remnants will attack Kyoto, and as long as the shogunate army defeats the Saga people, won't Izumi, Kawachi, Kii, and even Yamato be the foundation of the shogunate's revival? As long as the shogunate has its own territory, it can recruit troops and realize the ambition of the shogun to rejuvenate the shogunate. ”

Ashikaga Yoshiteru was obviously moved by the words, and the Nakatsu shogunate was his weakness and his lifeline.

Indeed, as Akechi Mitsuhide said, what is there in Kyoto, and the reason why he valued Kyoto in the past was only because Kyoto was his only territory. But now Kyoto will be the focus of this war in Kinai, so why not jump out. Besiege Ishiyama Honganji Temple and defeat the Saga people. Hatakeyama Takamasa and Miyoshi Remnants withdrew from Yamato to come to the rescue, so they could surround the point and send reinforcements. If they also came to Wei to rescue Zhao, they could give up Kyoto in exchange for Izumi, Hanoi, Kii and even Yamato, and this piece of land would be the foundation of the Nakako shogunate as long as it was properly managed.

The siege of Wei to save Zhao was a lofty reason, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru had enough reason to convince the monks of Enryakuji that on May 27, the anti-Ichijo army gathered in Yamashiro and Omi finally moved. (To be continued.) )