With the issuance of an order, Yoshida-gun's mountain castle, which was built in the Mori period and expanded by the Mori gen, became an abandoned castle, and the dismantled stone and timber were transported along the Enogawa River and the Tajibi River to the mouth of the Ota River to build the Hiroshima Port Castle in the mouth of the Ota River.

The abandonment of Yoshida-gun Mountain Castle was unimaginable bad news for the people who had lived in the castle for generations, and they knew that once Yoshida-gun Mountain Castle was abandoned, they would have to move elsewhere, and for a time there was an uproar, and many people knelt on the ground and begged.

In the eyes of the soldiers of the Zhengheng and Date families, this is not the residual power of the Maori family threatening, not to mention that in this case, no one will listen to the nonsense of the people, and the soldiers on the periphery stepped forward with swords and guns, stabbing to death several people who would not leave.

When this came to an end, Zhengheng sent his retainers to various places to receive the inheritance of the Maori family, and if there was resistance, he sent a large army to besiege it, and after the city was broken, the men sent the copper mountain, and the women bought it on the spot, this process was already very familiar.

It's just that since the news of Yoshida-gun Mountain City spread, no one dared to resist Date's army, and even those who were unwilling were mostly left alone, and they would not affect the family.

More than 30 people, including the former lord of Katsuga Castle, Kasai Motosei, his son Kasai Motokiyo, and his retainers Uematsu and Shinju Shikoku, rushed all the way to Aki Province, and went to Silver Mountain Castle to meet Masahiro under the arrangement of Miyahara Masashige, the diplomatic director of the Date family.

Xiangxi Yuancheng knelt respectfully in front of Zhengheng, knelt deeply on his back humbly, and even his unruly son Xiangxi Yuanqing also knelt on the ground, all the way. Zhengheng's prestige in China is growing. The two of them did not dare to be disrespectful in front of him.

More than 30 people, including Zhisong Senior Minister and Xinju Zijiao, were arranged to wait under the city.

Especially this time, I heard that he expelled Yoshicho Ouchi, destroyed Murakami Buyoshi, and attacked Yoshida-gun Mountain Castle. Beheaded more than 2,000 heads before and after, seized An Yi Country with his prestige, became the lord of the Five Kingdoms, and the master of tens of thousands of armies, such figures, Xiangxi Yuancheng and Xiangxi Yuanqing swallowed their respective careful thoughts into their stomachs.

Their thoughts were all expressed, and the political balance was also in their eyes. Masahiro did not expect that Miyoshi Chokei would suddenly send troops to attack Sanzaki Katsuga Castle and expel Kasai Motosei and his son. This kind of thing was too sudden, and it was too fast, and he asked directly, "Did you come here today to ask me for help?" ”

Xiangxi Yuancheng heard Zhengheng's question, his face tightened, he heard that Zhengheng didn't have much intention to help them turn against Miyoshi Changqing, and after thinking about it, he understood, now that the Date family has just ended a big war, and he hasn't eased his breath, where is there still enough strength to compete with a powerful Warring States daimyo.

Xiangxi Yuancheng was about to speak, and his son Xiangxi Yuanqing took the lead. Ying said: "Yes, I also ask the lord of the country to cross the sea and counterattack the ten rivers and save one cun." Help us retake Katsuga Castle. There seemed to be a threat in the words, which made everyone in the room frown.

Zhengheng looked at Xiangxi Yuanqing, and his eyes showed a little displeasure. Xiangxi Yuanqing suddenly felt a heavy pressure, his legs trembled involuntarily, and he didn't dare to raise his head slightly, as if there was a huge stone pressing down, making it difficult for him to even breathe.

Xiangxi Yuancheng glanced at his son fiercely, and hurriedly knelt on the ground again and pleaded: "The child is fine, please forgive Lord Bizheng." I came here today to plead with Lord Bizheng to abandon my previous suspicions and protect us, so as not to cause harm to Xiaoxiao. ”

Zhengheng didn't speak after answering "Hmm", waved his hand, and Miyahara Zheng sent people to lead Xiangxi Yuancheng and Yuanqing away, and the figures of the two were a little decadent and gloomy.

Miyoshi Changqing made a move, although he only occupied the city of Sanzaki Kunikatsuga, but it was like a slap on the palm of Date Masahiro's outstretched hand, so that Masahiro understood that Sanzaki Country belonged to the forces of the Miyoshi family, and he also told Sù Masahiro not to be smart.

I heard that Miyoshi Nagakei captured Sanzaki Kunikatsu Castle, although he was not happy with the rudeness of Xiangxi Motoqing just now, everyone present knew the meaning of it, and he would not spoil the overall situation for some small things. What's more, if you swallow this bitter fruit, I am afraid that you will gain more inches in the future.

Miyazawa Heihachi didn't know what kind of secret agreement Date Masahiro had with this Xiangxi Motosei that day, but he knew the importance of Sanzaki Province to the Date family's foundation for China's security, and he first spoke: "My lord, the Miyoshi clan is now capturing Katsuga City, and there is a great tendency to sweep Sagasaki Country, my family can't ignore it, and I have to ignore it, and I am willing to lead 3,000 elite soldiers to cross the sea to attack Katsuga City." ”

Ishikawa Hissataka bowed to Masahiro, and then said: "Miyoshi Nagakei was more brave and ruthless than his father, and at the age of seventeen, dissatisfied with the fact that he did not obtain the territory before his father's death, he led 2,500 men into Kyoto and defeated the then shogun Ashikaga Yoshiharu and the governor Hosokawa Harumoto. Such a character, no matter how much he overestimates his talent, it is impossible to do it. If Miyoshi Changqing is completely against us because of the attack on Katsuga Castle, it will only bring more trouble. If nothing else, let's just say that in the present, once Awaji Island is blocked, even if it achieves hegemony in the Seto Inland Sea, my family will not be able to convert it into financial resources to accumulate military power. Speaking of which, Hisataka Ishikawa inexplicably has a feeling that Date Mashiro and Miyoshi Chokei are both famous generals who became famous at a young age, and I am afraid that one day there will be a fierce battle.

Noyama Masasao nodded slightly, and said: "My lord, the minister agrees with Ishikawa Hisataka's opinion, and it is not easy to be an enemy of the Miyoshi family too early, and now although my family has obtained the ruling power of the five countries, it has not really been integrated, and the Niko Haruma of the Izumo Province and the Ochi Yoshinaga of the circumference have not been completely cleaned up. ”

Everyone either agreed with Miyazawa Heihachi's radical opinion, thinking that it was necessary to teach Miyoshi Nagakei a good lesson, and that Miyoshi Nagakei should see the power of the Chinese samurai, and these people were mostly young retainers, and some people supported the opinions of Ishikawa Hisataka and Noyama Masato, thinking that it was not easy to be an enemy of the Miyoshi family too early, and there were many calm people.

Zheng Heng knocked on the case lightly, the venue was silent, and everyone looked at the main seat, just when Zheng Heng closed his eyes and thought, his fingers lightly tapped on the case, which was exactly what Zheng Heng looked like in deep thought. After a while, Zhengheng said: "It's not easy to completely break with Miyoshi Changqing now, but it can't make it easy for him to be in Jinnai, and we will discuss this matter later." Now, the Date family has captured Bizen, Bichu, Bigo, Yasui, and Misaku, plus Harima, and all kinds of 1.2 million stone high, 30,000 or 40,000 troops, which can be said to be a hundred wastes waiting to be rebuilt, and there are too many things that need to be done, but what the Date family really lacks is not that we can get it behind closed doors in the territory, what do you think? ”

Zhengheng stretched out two fingers and said, "What the Date family lacks the most is two words: prestige." The rise of my family appealed, the great exploits have not penetrated into the hearts of the warriors, and the deeds of Zhuoran have not been spread to various places, and seeking more prestige for the Date family is the current priority. In fact, Zhengheng has been thinking about this matter for a long time, and has made many efforts, sending people to spread it in the township, but it is still called a child by many people, which is really too lacking in prestige and the reason why the reputation cannot be spread.

Zhengheng started from preparing for China's small local tyrants, and when he started as a small snail, he finally obtained the authority of the five and a half countries, breaking the Nizi, defeating Maoli, chasing the big interior, leveling the state, and taking Anyi, and he became the regional hegemon by virtue of this series of military achievements. There is no doubt that the rise of the Date family is as rapid as a comet, but it is not easy to last as long as a star, after all, in the eyes of many people, Zhengheng is just a martial artist from the bottom and does not deserve too much attention.

It can be seen from the official position of the imperial court on Zhengheng that even if Zhengheng has obtained the territory of the five and a half countries, it is no longer able to obtain more political capital from the outside. If you want to integrate the territories of the five and a half kingdoms in a short period of time, you need the support of the imperial court.

Zheng Heng glanced at everyone and said, "I heard that when His Royal Highness the Emperor ascended the throne today, he was unable to hold an enthronement ceremony, and it took nearly ten years to delay before he received a donation of 2,200 guan from Ouchi Yoshitaka. Today, the autumn harvest has been completed, I want to send Shangluo to pay tribute to the autumn grain thousand stones and 100 small silver judgment, this matter has Miyahara Tanba as the main envoy, Taoshan Masanori and Miyazawa Heihachi two people as deputy envoys, leading thousands of people to transport tribute rice Shangluo, military by Taoshan Masanori and Miyazawa Heihachi two people to discuss the main. ”

Everyone's eyes lit up.

Obviously the meaning of the political balance is not to go to Kyoto by sea, but by land, although the speed is much slower, and it also needs to pass through the territory of hostile forces such as Akamatsu and Miyoshi, although it is to pay tribute to the imperial court, but such a large-scale military situation is bound to cause these forces to be vigilant, and the slightest carelessness is afraid that it will lead to war, plus Miyazawa Heihachi, I am afraid that it will not be peaceful along the way.

Miyahara Masashige, Tao Shan Masanori, and Miyazawa Heihachi did not refuse in the slightest, and immediately responded: "Yes, lord!" ”

At this point, the meeting was almost over. Several retainers took this opportunity to briefly report a few more details, and only then dispersed after the political balance gave instructions one by one. In fact, there is still a matter of rewarding and punishing crimes to be discussed, but this matter will not be announced until the powerful from all over Anyi come to see it, and Miyahara Masashige, Taoshan Masayori, Miyazawa Heihachi and others have no intention of leaving, but they just sent an order to Urakami Masamune, who was far away in Harima Yamashiroyama, to do the important task of receiving the Shangluo army.

By the time the disposal is complete, it's time to sub-order. Shoheng yawned and turned to walk towards Honmaru's backyard. After a few twists and turns along the corridor, you arrived at the bedroom. Outside the bedroom door, Tsuda Sukegoro had been waiting for a long time, and when he saw Zhengheng coming, he immediately knelt down and said, "My lord, the person has been brought." ”

Zheng Heng responded, waved his hand and said, "Go down and rest!" (To be continued......)