Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

"Understood." Nobunaga pursed his lips, not showing any anger, but simply nodded.

That's perfectly understandable. Now that they've raised an army, Asakura Yoshikage and Hori Hidemura will definitely want to kill Azai Nagamasa, who's caught in the middle between them. Once Azai is dead, the Asakuras can march straight into Jiangnan, and under the leadership of the Rokkaku family, storm Kyoto and seize power.

"My lord, we must rescue Kotani!" Shibata Katsuie, who had also escaped back, immediately declared.

“Indeed, if Ogaya falls, the Asakura army will advance unimpeded and be impossible to stop.” Hideyoshi was also very anxious.

After half a month of chaos, Nobunaga, with the help of Hatakeyama Akitaka's troops, completely quelled the unrest in Kyoto and led his army back to Gifu. The Rokkaku clan's forces were insufficient to attack the Oda army, which had recovered to tens of thousands of men, and could only watch as Nobunaga swaggered through.

Upon returning to Gifu Castle, they discovered that some other soldiers, either following Tokugawa Ieyasu or fleeing on their own, had also successfully returned to the castle. By now, the Oda soldiers who hadn't returned were undoubtedly dead. In the end, the Oda army suffered approximately 2,500 casualties, either killed or missing.

It's alright, perfectly acceptable.

"Where is Sanza?" Nobunaga looked around, searching for Mori Yoshinari.

"Your subject is here." Mori Yoshinari was resting against a doorpost. He and Nobunaga had fled separately, and he had just returned to Gifu.

"Go to Mount Usa and build a city."

"..." Mori Yoshinari's mouth opened, as if to say, "Where are the soldiers? Where is the money?"

"Find Shichibei for the whole job, and give him three months to finish it." Nobunaga and Mori Yoshinari were longtime lords and ministers, and Nobunaga immediately understood Mori Yoshinari's meaning, pointing to Shichibei sitting at the end.

"clear."

When Shichibei dismantled Kannonji Castle and the various branch castles in Jiangnan, he did indeed preserve the parts carefully, and many of the castle's buildings could be directly moved and reassembled. Apart from a portion that was dismantled and taken to Nijō Palace, the remaining materials were readily available and could be procured with a single word.

The manpower could be hired from construction companies near Kyoto, or directly requested from Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Yoshiaki has remained silent, as if nothing is of interest to him.

As for money, didn't Nobunaga just ask Shichibei for another 50,000?

This shows that Nobunaga recovered quickly after being punched and showed no anxiety whatsoever. Regarding the Kinai region, the priority was to stabilize the outskirts of Kyoto. As long as the enemy couldn't penetrate Kyoto and replace the shogun, Nobunaga could continue to enjoy the dual legitimacy of both the Imperial Court and the Shogunate.

The enemy troops are all thieves and rebels, and they cannot escape the label of treason.

Mori Yoshinari turned to look at Shichibei, who nodded back. The money and supplies were readily available; there was no need to worry. It's just that the Jiangnan region was rather unstable for the time being, so it was best to bring more people.

"How is things going with Okazaki?" Nobunaga ignored Kotani's matter and asked Okazaki instead.

"Lord Tokugawa is doing well." Lin Xiuzhen, who was left behind, looked up and replied. At first, he was worried that something might happen and did not dare to let Tokugawa Ieyasu into the city. Later, after the news was gradually confirmed, he gave some food and let Ieyasu return to his country.

Didn't Ieyasu say he would immediately lead his troops to help Nobunaga launch a counterattack? Obviously, that's a very good idea.

"Qingxu's rise to power is utterly despicable!"

It's not to say that Nobunaga wasn't wary of Ryūō, but many people who rebelled ended up working for him. Didn't Shibata Katsuie rebel? Didn't Oda Nobuhiro rebel? Even Tsuda Nobuyoshi joined his father, Oda Nobukiyo, in killing Nobunaga.

They're all working hard under Nobunaga now. To guard against the rise of the new regime, Nobunaga even sent Nagai Michitoshi with a thousand men to accompany him. With the main force right under his nose, he thought everything would be fine, but who knew that the three groups had conspired together.

“It is also a proposal to first pacify Kiyosu.” Sakuma Nobumori clearly supported stabilizing their home base first, and then considering the directions of Kyoto and Omi.

"Who else has jumped out?" Nobunaga continued to ask.

"Tsutsui Junkei of Yamato." This was Shichibei's reply. It wasn't that Shichibei was in charge of this, but rather that he was receiving messages from various countries while establishing the post stations.

"Humph."

"Hikoshichiro." Nobunaga called out loudly to his younger brother, Oda Nobuoki, after a cold snort.

These days, you really can't rely on anyone; in the end, you still have to rely on your own brothers. Nobunaga summoned Nobuyuki and immediately granted him eighty riders, which was eighty samurai and foot soldiers, an actual force of about three hundred men.

He was appointed lord of Komie Castle. Where is Komie Castle? It hasn't been built yet. At this time, Nobunaga wanted to build a castle near the Kiso River in a place similar to a relay point, north of Tsushima, west of Kiyosu, and northeast of Kuwana. This would both ensure communication between Gifu and northern Ise-Kuwana and limit Kiyosu's oppression of Tsushima.

If Kiyosu's Saito Tatsuoki gains control of Tsushima, then Tatsuoki will be able to continuously receive external aid and support, making him an inexhaustible force.

Today's meeting of senior retainers still hasn't decided on the general direction of the war, and Nobunaga himself is also unsure which side to take. After all, history has changed, and now he's caught between two difficult choices.

After a dismissal, the senior retainers left the main hall of the residence in an endless stream. Mori Yoshinari and Oda Nobuoki came over to bow to Shichibei. Although Shichibei wasn't a senior retainer, everyone realized at this moment that he was the one who truly controlled Nobunaga's finances. Nobunaga's two wicked sons were now entirely in Shichibei's pocket.

Nobunaga's task was urgent, and time was of the essence; he needed to get the money from Shichibei immediately. Only with money could they act effectively. Inside, one was a chief retainer, and the other was the lord's younger brother—there were many of them. Outside, they'd practically beg him to hurry up and allocate funds.

Sure, no problem.

These are all matters of national importance, so why would Shichibei withhold their money? They could just go to the Kawamura-ya main store to collect it after retreating from the castle. However, they would all have to sign and affix their seals for easy reporting to Nobunaga at the end of the year.

"What? You need to borrow money too?" Shichibei dismissed the two men, and Hideyoshi approached.

"I don't need it." Hideyoshi still had some money in Shichibei's shop. Besides, he had made a complete retreat. He had suffered some losses, but they were not significant and were acceptable.

"That……"

"Do you think His Highness the Prince is..." Since there was no one around, Hideyoshi didn't completely lower his voice when he spoke.

"What have you found out?" Shichibei knew that Hideyoshi had been sent to serve as the Kyoto Magistrate and had even held secret talks with Oda Nobuhiro about investigating and arresting him.

"There is a letter from His Highness the Kōbō, in which the physician Dōsan was dispatched to Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle to treat the Mori magistrate."

"gross profit?"

Oh right, Mori Motonari fell ill, and it seems he's quite ill right now. So much so that during the first Nobunaga siege, the Mori clan was completely absent, because they were facing internal troubles and prioritized stabilizing their own situation.

Not long ago, Ōuchi Teruhiro, who had received support from Ōtomo Yoshishige, launched the Re-establishment Army, attempting to revive the Ōuchi clan in Suō and Nagato. Mōri Motonari appears to have gone to war while ill.

Yoshikawa Motoharu, who was campaigning in Izumo, and Kobayakawa Takakage, who was campaigning in Bizen, interrupted their operations several times and returned to Yoshida. This was all because Mori Motonari's illness was recurring, and his esophageal cancer greatly affected his governance.

Without the support of Motohiro, Mori Terumoto would have been unable to secure his position as governor of the eight western provinces. He could only rely on his two powerful uncles for endless support and care.

In recent years, the Mori family has become useless.

Historically, the Mori clan even ceded Hakata entirely to Yoshishige Otomo in exchange for the Otomo family's promise to cease supporting the Ouchi clan's restoration. This significantly reduced the Mori family's income and made their situation even more difficult.

"It shouldn't be that bad." Although Shichibei knew that Yoshiaki was instigating it, there was no clear evidence.

"Let's wait and see," Hideyoshi said, as if he were certain of his words.

It has to be said that the first time Nobunaga's encirclement put the most pressure on Nobunaga, but Yoshiaki just didn't step up to take the lead, causing the various forces to fight their own battles and making it impossible for them to form a united force.

Nobunaga, again relying on the imperial court's name, issued an edict ordering the Asakura clan to withdraw their troops. He even used the righteous pretext of the imperial decree to demand that the Enryaku-ji monks also retreat.

If a shogun had taken the lead at that time and publicly called for an attack on Oda Nobunaga, the situation would have been completely different. But Yoshiaki simply didn't step forward, perhaps because he wanted others to weaken Nobunaga so he could reap the rewards later.

Even Hideyoshi could see through his intentions, so how could others not?

The various factions were probably thinking that they would gain an advantage, and then Yoshiaki would step in to give them a legitimate reason to fight, so that everyone could do their part and work together to divide up Nobunaga's territory.

The human heart is truly an elusive thing.

197. First rescue Asai from Jiangzhou.

"Master, we're at Kiyosu's stable..."

Shichibei retreated from the castle and returned home. Inase Yoshinari cautiously ran over. From what he said, it was clear that Saito Tatsuoki had wiped out Kiyosu Castle's underhouse.

"How much was lost?" Shichibei still had some composure; after all, his family business was large, and some losses were perfectly acceptable.

"No one is hurt, but we lost 400 kan of money and 80 horses." Inase Yoshinari reported the losses after seeing Shichibei's nonchalant attitude.

"It's nothing, it's a small matter." Upon hearing this, Shichibei simply unsheathed his sword and handed it to the junior officer.

Anyway, the Takeda clan's horse-selling caravan came a few days ago and sold several hundred more horses to Shichibei. The number of horses lost due to the sudden war and abandonment in Echizen has now been fully recovered.

In addition, Yonekura Nobutsugu replied that he had found a minor official at a mine who might meet the requirements, but he wasn't sure if it was the one Shichibei was looking for. He said a man would be sent to Gifu later so Shichibei could review him. If confirmed, he would then help the man with his dismissal in Kai.

After all, it's not easy to find a decent job these days. Don't let Shichibei's words lead you to leave your domain. If you end up losing your salary because you didn't find the right person, that wouldn't be good.

"Several stables in Jiangzhou were also attacked, and one person died." Inase Yoshinari nodded to his sister-in-law, the young major general, and continued.

"Does that family have a son?" Shichibei remained unmoved.

"There's one, only ten years old."

"Bring him to our shop and see what he's up to. Also, send fifty kan to their family, no, a hundred kan." Shichibei wasn't a cold-blooded person.

Those who guarded the post stations, stables, and foot soldiers outside were mostly "ashigaru" (輩士) with a salary of fifteen or twenty kan. This is the same family background as the protagonist of "The Samurai's Family Account Book"—essentially, foot soldiers. Their family's income was seventy koku, which also fit the ashigaru category.

Shichibei is currently receiving a pension of 100 kan, roughly equivalent to five years' salary for living expenses. His child is ten years old; when he turns fifteen, he will be able to serve Shichibei as a gunman and horseman, and his salary will be sufficient to support his family.

"That's good enough." Upon hearing Shichibei's suggestion, Inase Yoshinari nodded slightly.

Immediately, someone led the orphan and widow into the room to kowtow to Shichibei. Shichibei didn't have much to say; given the sudden turn of events, it was only natural that some of his men sent out would be killed or injured. He offered a few words of comfort and sent someone to collect the compensation.

"Is there anything else?" Shichibei took out the documents and inquired in detail about the recent losses.

"It seems unlikely that we'll be able to buy the Oakland horse this year."

"Ah."

It's definitely not going to be possible to buy it. Wakasa is now almost entirely controlled by the Asakura clan. All the goods from Oshu and Echigo-ma that came from the northward trade have been bought up by the Asakura family and will definitely not flow into the Omi market again.

"The current situation has greatly affected the store." After thinking for a moment, Inase Yoshinari finally voiced his thoughts.

"Wait a moment." Shichibei waved his hand, partly because he was looking at the documents, and partly because he noticed a member of the Mori family coming over.

Mori Yoshinari has come to collect the 500 kan needed for construction. Oda Nobuoki will be here soon too. Let's discuss it after they've both taken the money. The construction projects at Usayama Castle and Ogie Castle are major events that Nobunaga just outlined at the meeting. One blocks Asakura, and the other blocks Saito; both are strategic passes.

The samurai from the Mori family, upon seeing Shichibei, quickly bowed and handed over the document signed and stamped by Mori Yoshinari. After verifying its accuracy, Shichibei ordered someone to give him the money. Five hundred kan—that would require an oxcart to transport it; it was a considerable sum.

Soon after, Oda Nobuoki's family arrived. Was he Nobunaga's seventh or fifth brother? Oda Nobuhide was an extremely strong man, and for a time was known as the "Tiger of Owari." He left behind dozens of children. However, he died too young, leaving only three adult sons: Nobuhiro, Nobunaga, and Nobukatsu.

By this point in time, his sons and daughters had generally come of age and were able to serve Oda Nobunaga.

Only after dismissing both families did Shichibei allow Inase Yoshinari to continue. The impact on Kawamura-ya was mainly concentrated in northern Omi and southern Owari.

and many more!

Inase Yoshinari was speaking when Shichibei suddenly thought of Kita-Ise. He immediately ordered Inase Yoshinari to send men to Tsushima and Anotsu to have the various post stations and stables scattered throughout Kita-Ise prepare for evacuation.

The reasons are readily available: to prevent a surprise attack by the Koga Rokkaku clan on northern Ise, and to guard against a possible invasion of northern Ise by Kiyosu Saito Tatsuoki.

Of course, what was it actually meant to prevent? Only Shichibei himself knew at that moment.

If we reveal things before they've even happened, not only will we lack evidence, but we'll also bear political responsibility.

So it's best to avoid getting involved if possible. As for Kita-Ise, they should take things easy for now and wait and see what happens, given a suitable and appropriate reason.

"The Rokkaku family?" Inase Yoshinari hadn't expected the Rokkaku clan to harass Kita-Ise.

Although the Rokkaku family has historically made numerous trips to and from northern Ise, and even supported and cultivated pro-Rokkaku forces there, Rokkaku Yoshikata's main focus now should be on restoring his rule over the south.

"What?" Shichibei thought to himself, "You kid are questioning me?"

"Speaking of Kitase, Sojuro reported that Jodo Shinshu followers on Nagashima are gathering," Inase Yoshinari said thoughtfully.

Because Nagashima is a large, gently sloping sandbar at the mouth of a river, one must take a boat to reach it. And the place with the most boats in all directions is undoubtedly Tsushima. Ito Sojuro, who was stationed at the Tsushima branch, would naturally know about the boat movements.

"Why didn't you report this sooner!" Shichibei exclaimed in surprise, slamming the document onto the floor.