Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

Upon opening the complaint, Shichibei suddenly realized the truth. It turned out that Bessho Nagaharu's rebellion in history wasn't just because he was Hatano Hideharu's son-in-law and conspired with the Hatano family to rebel; there was another incident involved as well.

It's understandable, really. By this time, Hideyoshi was already a prominent daimyo in Japan, and he was more or less reluctant to admit that he came from a lowly foot soldier family. Oda Nobuhide's foot soldiers were simply wealthy farmers from Owari province.

Well, having neither official status nor blood relation, they are indeed somewhat "lowly".

Furthermore, Hideyoshi didn't initially intend to curry favor with any powerful figures. His surname "Asomi" was only obtained by Nobunaga when he was rewarding his retainers, and Nobunaga helped him obtain it from the Imperial Court. Others, Taira no Asomi and Minamoto no Asomi, didn't have a surname at all.

How about we suggest to Hideyoshi that he buy a high-class father?

Hideyoshi now has 420,000 koku, which is quite impressive. If all else fails, he can be made to acknowledge a member of the Akamatsu clan as his father, whoever it may be.

Being the adopted son of the prestigious Akamatsu clan would not only benefit Hideyoshi's rule in Harima, but also allow him to gain the lineage of a Minamoto no Tomoomi. Although the Murakami Genji was not quite as good as the Kawachi Genji, he was absolutely worthy of Hideyoshi.

If Hideyoshi had become the head of the Akamatsu clan of the Murakami Genji right now, then in the future…

Forget it, that's all in the future. Even if we asked Hideyoshi to find a father figure now, he might not be willing. He probably thought he was destined to work for Nobunaga his whole life, never imagining that one day he would face so many obstacles because of his lack of lineage. First, he was forced to become a nephew of the Fujiwara clan, then he demanded gifts from the Toyotomi clan.

Let's get to the case. In his complaint, Bessho Nagaharu stated that Hideyoshi treated Bessho Yoshichika, who participated in the Kakogawa survey, with extreme brutality—in short, he beat him. Why was he beaten?

What? There was neither explanation nor evidence.

Since that's the case, Shichibei looked up and asked Matsui Yuzan, "Generally speaking, how are these kinds of cases judged?" Matsui Yuzan, who was standing next to him and could see everything clearly, said that both parties involved would definitely be summoned to Kyoto. Not only would they have to confront each other, but they would also have to hear the testimonies of witnesses at the scene before a final judgment would be made.

Hideyoshi couldn't possibly come to Kyoto; Harima could erupt at any moment.

The great battle raged, and the Mori army loomed menacingly. Shichibei was in a real bind. Matsui Tomokazu, standing nearby, suggested that for such a "major case," they should send a messenger urgently to Yamato and have Oda Nobunaga decide it. "Nobunaga can decide however he wants," he said. "It would be better if we decided on this."

That makes sense. We've gotten ourselves into this mess, so it's alright for us to offer advice to Nobunaga from the sidelines.

Immediately, a fast horse was summoned, and a messenger was dispatched to deliver the original complaint to the front lines of the Yamato campaign for Nobunaga's review. Shichibei, on the other hand, requested that Hideyoshi send a representative to respond to the lawsuit. Bessho Yoshichika, along with the Harima garrison members present at the time, were also required to come to Kyoto.

All. To be consulted by Nobunaga when he decides on a case later.

Within three days, Nobunaga returned from the Yamato front. At this time, Hideyoshi's and Nagaharu's representatives and witnesses had not yet arrived in Kyoto. The incident was sudden, and Nobunaga himself felt the matter was somewhat troublesome. Harima was the front line against the Mori; even if Hideyoshi had committed grave errors like murder and arson, they would have to contend with the Mori first before considering any further action.

What's wrong with Bessho Nagaharu? We've already appeased him with Harima no Kami, yet he still dares to file a lawsuit without any sense of decency? It's utterly unreasonable.

"You don't know your place!" Nobunaga cracked his whip, seeing someone approaching.

Shichibei and Matsui Tomokazu said this.

"In families like this, face is perhaps more important than life." That was the only explanation Shichibei could offer; what else could he say?

Just look at Bessho Nagaharu's appearance, and you'll know how much they value the so-called Murakami Genji Akamatsu branch, the foremost family in eastern Harima. This kind of old samurai family, the kind that has been passed down from the previous era, is not as capable as the heroes of the past, but is extremely proud of the glory brought by their ancestors.

In 1962, Masaki Kobayashi directed a film titled "Kiri".

"You idiot!" Nobunaga cursed as he sat down in the hall.

This is clearly a criticism of Bessho Nagaharu, who is completely blind to the situation. Even if he had simply written to Nobunaga to complain, Nobunaga would have appeased and won him over for the sake of Harima's stability. But Bessho Nagaharu chose to publicly appeal. Once an appeal is filed, how can the matter be resolved peacefully?

"..." Shichibei didn't dare answer, but instead lowered his head and sat down. In a sense, we had spoken up for Bessho Nagaharu once, and now...

It would be inappropriate to speak again.

"Send someone to Miki to reprimand him: with a formidable enemy at hand, instead of thinking of serving loyally, he is indignant with internal strife."

"Disagreement! This is placing personal grudges above the greater good of our lord's family. If you do not repent, you will be disloyal to me!" Nobunaga immediately issued a decree.

oh……

Hearing Nobunaga say this, Shichibei suddenly realized that Nobunaga truly was Nobunaga, and his abilities were indeed superior to theirs. "Don't you, Nagaharu, are making a mountain out of a molehill? Well then, I'll make it a complete mountain out of a molehill."

The dispute between Bessho Yoshichika and Hashiba Hideyoshi was a personal grudge. But now, with the Mori clan's invasion imminent, we need to unite and resist, which is a matter of public duty.

It is unacceptable for personal grudges to outweigh public justice.

If things have been taken to a whole new level, then everything must prioritize justice. If you don't uphold justice, you're disloyal to your lord and disobey Oda Nobunaga. If you're disloyal to Nobunaga, then being ordered to commit seppuku by Nobunaga is perfectly justified, in line with today's social values.

I've made it clear to you that at this time, you must be brave in public battles and timid in private fights. If you continue to fight privately, then you are undeniably disloyal and unjust.

If Changzhi is truly a smart person, then he would have kept this matter secret.

The matter was suppressed. Moreover, it was suppressed at the behest of the Lord, providing a way to gracefully back down. If he weren't a smart person, would he insist on demanding an explanation?

Surely not, just for something like this?

It's better to be safe than sorry. Sometimes people get stuck in a rut and can't see things clearly, so they take extreme measures.

Katsuramoto said that tens of thousands of Mori troops had gathered on Awaji Island and were about to join forces with Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple to launch an invasion of Settsu and Izumi. Araki Murashige, who was in fact the ruler of half of Settsu, was naturally a little panicked, after all, he had first been entangled with Takayama Shigetomo and then went to Tanba to attack Naito Joan.

Although he rose from a mere retainer to the lord of half of Settsu Province through constant warfare and intrigue, he was not yet powerful enough to remain unscathed in the chaotic Warring States period. He needed to form alliances or find a powerful ally.

Through repeated shifts and defections, they sought further development and advancement. So, is it possible to defect now? The Honganji Temple's fighting strength is decent; they can rely on them for support. The Mori clan goes without saying; with the Mori navy present, their retreat is guaranteed, and their supplies will flow in continuously.

The Kinai region isn't chaotic enough yet. The bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish. But the storm is only moderately big now. Nobunaga has plenty of troops to suppress the Honganji, Mika, Yusa, Matsunaga and other groups. He doesn't feel like he's stretched thin at all.

Really?

What if Harima Miki's Bessho critically defeated the Hashiba army, and Tanba Hachi's Hatano critically defeated the Akechi army, and there were no other guerrilla forces in the Kinai region?

At this time, Honganji launched another fierce battle, bringing with it Araki Murashige from Settsu and 10,000 Mori troops, which was enough to form an army of 50,000. 50,000 men could completely seize the entire southern region and occupy it firmly.

Then I ask you, what can Araki Murashige gain? If it's merely a peaceful settlement, that's utterly unappealing. Unless the Mori army can land at Settsu and assist Araki Murashige in driving out Takayama Shigetomo and Nakagawa Kiyohide, allowing the Araki family to hold onto 350,000 koku, then I might consider it.

It's a deal!

Katsura no Masaru readily agreed to Araki Murashige's request, and requested that Araki Murashige lower the defenses of Hanakuma Castle, allowing...

Ten thousand Mori soldiers landed. Then, in conjunction with the Honganji Ikko-ikki, fifty thousand men stormed Takatsuki Castle, driving away Takayama Shigetomo, Nakagawa Kiyohide, and the rest.

hiss……

Upon hearing Katsuramoto's blunt suggestion, Araki Murashige gasped. He truly had no grudge against Nobunaga, and he knew that Nobunaga was only reluctantly appeasing him in order to encircle Hongan-ji Temple.

Perhaps now is the perfect opportunity to go a step further and seize the entire Settsu. The Mori army, riding high on their victory at Kizugawaguchi, certainly has the potential to conquer the entire region.

Chapter 400 The Lights Flickered

The letter couldn't be sent by just anyone. Nobunaga glanced at Shichibei beside him and thought, "You seem to know Bessho quite well. Go to Harima and tell Bessho Nagaharu about the situation."

Furthermore, the 6,000 troops that Shichibei lent to Hideyoshi were due for repayment, and Hideyoshi had essentially established a foothold in Harima. Although he still faced the threat of the Mori clan, he had at least amassed approximately 20,000 men and fortified Himeji Castle. Even if the Mori clan sent 20,000 to 30,000 men, they would be no match for Hideyoshi.

If the Mori clan can send more than 50,000 men, that would be perfect; Nobunaga is eager for a decisive battle in the field.

Judging from Nobunaga's personality, it's clear that he was never afraid of or avoided battle; he preferred large-scale, decisive battles in the open field. Furthermore, he possessed exceptionally keen information gathering and judgment skills during these open-field engagements. If a single battle could wipe out half of the Mori clan's manpower, Nobunaga would be more than happy to do so.

Shichibei originally wanted to decline, as this mess would only bring him trouble. But when he thought of his six thousand troops, he had no choice but to go to Harima.

Perfect timing! I'll tell Hideyoshi. Let's see if we can buy a father figure.

Well, buying a father figure at this point in time is similar to Tokugawa Ieyasu finding his ancestor after he had basically pacified Mikawa. He was already the ruler of a country, so if he could establish a connection with someone related to him, and as long as it gained widespread social acceptance and the endorsement of Oda Nobunaga and the imperial court, it was practically guaranteed to succeed.

Do you see anyone mocking Tokugawa Ieyasu's ancestors for being bought? No. There was no vested interest or personal grudge involved, so why are you bringing up the fact that his ancestors were bought?

Hideyoshi can buy a father now, and in ten or twenty years, even if he's not his biological father, he'll still be his biological father.

That's it. Having a legitimate family lineage means that even if we don't use it in the future, at least it's a safety net.

There's no other way; I have to make the trip. While I'm at it, I'll also inform the witnesses and representatives on both sides not to come. Nobunaga's judgment has been issued; this is the final verdict.

They rode through Settsu and stayed overnight at Takatsuki Castle. Takayama Shigetomo and Shichibei were old acquaintances. Hearing that Shichibei had gone to Harima to deliver Nobunaga's imperial edict and to bring back 6,000 troops, he asked what the edict was. Upon hearing that it was about the dispute between Bessho Yoshichika and Hashiba Hideyoshi, Takayama Shigetomo hesitated for a moment.

how?

Shigetomo Takayama said that his family has lived in Settsu for many years.

Yes, he had connections with most of the powerful local warlords in Higashi-Harima. There's a situation I wonder if Shichibei and Oda Nobunaga of Kyoto were aware of.

Bessho Yoshichika and Bessho Shigemune were the two elders of the Bessho clan who, after Bessho Yasuharu's death, effectively supported Bessho Nagaharu's succession. Bessho Nagaharu was only nineteen years old this year, and for the past few years, these two had been the ones who held the reins of the Bessho family.

Both men possessed lands of tens of thousands of koku, wielding considerable influence within their families. Bessho Yoshichika, in particular, was the eldest son of Bessho Nariharu, renowned for his martial prowess and resourcefulness, much like his father. During Bessho Yasuharu's time, Bessho was a key stronghold in the western part of the Bessho clan, maintaining excellent relations with powerful local figures such as Akamatsu in Harima Province.

Bessho Shigemune was a key figure in the Bessho clan's eastern territory, and he fought against Miyoshi Nagayoshi and later the Miyoshi Triumvirate for a long time. However, due to changes in the situation in Settsu, Bessho Shigemune lost the opportunity to expand his territory, and his influence within the clan gradually fell behind that of Bessho Yoshichika.

If we don't help Bessho Yoshichika vent his anger now, given his prestige and power within the Bessho family, he might very well use Bessho Nagaharu as a hostage to file a protest. Ah!

"Really that amazing? No way." Shichibei was secretly startled, but Takayama Shigetomo...

This also aligns well with the situation of samurai society during Japan's Sengoku period. It was common for feudal lords to be controlled or sidelined by their senior retainers; the deputy governor would control the governor, the chief retainer would control the deputy governor, and so on, until finally, the retainers held the reins of power.

Judging from the current situation, Bessho Yoshichika truly resented Hideyoshi for beating him, causing him to lose face in front of the people of Harima Province. Moreover, he held the reins of the Bessho family's government and had the greatest influence within the Bessho clan.

When Hideyoshi Hashiba and Nagaharu Bessho in Harima received the message from Kyoto, they had different thoughts. But before they could notify the witnesses and other relevant information, they received news that Oda Nobunaga had already made a ruling, and the personnel did not need to go to Kyoto for questioning.

Hideyoshi immediately guessed that Nobunaga was biased towards him, and Bessho Yoshichika also confirmed that Nobunaga must have rejected Bessho Nagaharu's request and suppressed the case.

Everyone got the result they wanted, except for Bessho Nagaharu, who felt completely dizzy. Nobunaga had made his decision without even asking for the details. What was the result? Did it even need guessing? Either he favored Hideyoshi, or he favored Nobunaga.

In this matter, Hideyoshi indeed couldn't control himself and unilaterally beat Bessho Yoshichika. Logically, the Bessho family had the upper hand. Now, disregarding reason, the verdict will almost certainly favor Hideyoshi's side.

It's more accurate to say there's something fishy going on underneath.

Just one day later, new news arrived: the 6,000 cavalrymen of Kawamura's army dispatched to Harima had received orders to withdraw to the Kinai region for rest and recuperation.

Hideyoshi's own army, along with his main family and entourage, moved to the outskirts of Himeji Castle. Home is where family is; they rested temporarily at Himeji Castle.

Sure. The troops under Shichibei's command were drawn from as far as Echizen, and had been fighting abroad for almost a year. If they really needed to rest, they would have to return to their respective territories or to the castles of Azuchi and Gifu.

This is a serious matter, at least within Harima Province. However, for Shichibei, it is more important to go to Miki Castle first and convey the imperial order to Bessho Nagaharu.

In fact, Nobunaga's rulings were quite obvious. Instead of making judgments on specific disputes, he would elevate the events to a higher level to forcibly suppress the conflicts.

This both favors Hideyoshi and gives Bessho a way out; if Bessho Nagaharu is smart, this matter can be turned over. At least until Shichibei...

After reading the imperial edict to Bessho Nagaharu, Bessho Nagaharu looked relieved.

Ok?

Because Shichibei helped him buy his way into an official position, Bessho Nagaharu had some goodwill towards Shichibei. Ignoring the others, Bessho Nagaharu directly asked Shichibei if Nobunaga was quite dissatisfied with this matter.

Ha! Is that something Shichibei could possibly answer? Even if Nobunaga is deeply dissatisfied, this matter cannot be allowed to leak out of Shichibei's mouth. It's their business if others spread it; we must keep our mouths shut.

Shichibei simply smiled and didn't reply. Then Bessho Nagaharu also smiled, saying that he had been too hasty at first, and in a moment of impulsiveness, he had written the complaint and sent it to Kyoto.

After lying down and thinking it over, he realized that the matter was somewhat rash. Oda Nobunaga had not oppressed him in the slightest; on the contrary, he had been very kind to him. He shouldn't have used this method to so vehemently demand a verdict from Nobunaga.

But Lord Nobunaga was Lord Nobunaga after all; he was truly wise and mighty. With such an imperial edict issued, he could use it at home to silence his uncle Bessho Yoshichika, and also to deal with the other lords of Higashiharima.

He had to give an explanation to the clan. He would really stand up for others when something happened, but Nobunaga insisted that justice should come before private feuds, so there was nothing he could do.

As the deputy governor of the eight districts of Higashi-Harima and concurrently the governor of Harima, Bessho Nagaharu was subordinate to the regent Oda Nobunaga in terms of the greater good of the samurai class, and should indeed obey Nobunaga's decision.

Hearing what Bessho Nagaharu said, Shichibei's evaluation of this person rose to a new level. To be able to see so clearly at the age of nineteen is truly extraordinary. No wonder he was able to cause so much trouble for Hideyoshi in history, and at one point almost drove Hideyoshi to the brink of destruction.

"It's wonderful that Lord Miki can understand the Lord's intentions." Shichibei said this sincerely, fearing he might encounter a fool or an idiot.

"I implore Lord Kawamura to mediate and offer some assistance." Bessho Nagaharu quickly pushed out a box of silver. He was so sensible, truly sensible.