Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

He used to be a reckless man, quick to draw his sword and kill when angered. But now he's a different story. He and his son, Niwa Nagashige, each command 100,000 koku of rice in Etchu, making them powerful chief retainers in the Oda regime. Look at him, he's amassed a considerable following to support Oda Nobushige, and he's gradually developing his own methods.

It's impossible to resort to such despicable assassination methods!

"Who benefits most from poisoning Hakata's retainers?" Hara no Nagayori was able to distinguish between primary and secondary matters.

Whoever benefits the most is the prime suspect. There are two who benefit the most: one is Hideyasu Hashiba, the son of Hidenaga, who can inherit 500,000 koku of the Chikuzen-Hakata Domain; the other is Nobushige Oda, who caused the faction supporting Nobukatsu's illegitimate son to lose a key figure.

These two are the biggest beneficiaries, who else could it be?

"I have also thought about it deeply, but I cannot find a solution." Shichibei had considered these two possibilities, and even broadened the scope to suspect Hashiba Hideie and his mother.

Could it be Tokugawa Ieyasu? Having spent decades in the world of time travel, Shichibei had long since learned one thing: don't judge people and things based on preconceived notions. Just because someone has a bit of precognitive knowledge doesn't mean they must be this or that. According to this logic, if you went to the Eastern Han Dynasty, first slaughter Cao Song's entire family, then Yuan Tang and Yuan Feng's entire families, and finally Sima Fang's entire clan.

Following that, people like Dong, Zhang, Gongsun, and Sun, including several branches of the Liu family themselves, were all to be killed.

After you time-travel, I'll first slaughter hundreds of thousands of people to eliminate all your preconceived notions and unstable factors. See, you'll die even faster then; you'll definitely die a violent death much faster.

A person's ambitions vary depending on their position. Would Yuan Shikai, who only became the Governor-General of Korea, have thought about ascending the throne and becoming emperor? Would Chiang Kai-shek, who scolded himself for going out to prostitutes and told himself to be more vigilant, have known that one day he would become the President of the Central Committee and Chairman of the National People's Congress?

To add another, less appropriate, point: when Wang Jingwei chose to end his life, living up to his youthful ideals, did he know he was about to become a major traitor?

Tokugawa Ieyasu's current ambition is to gain legitimacy in the Kanto region, secure political capital for his descendants, and become the leader of the Bando samurai. He will wait for the opportune moment to participate in the next round of the struggle for supremacy.

You're saying Tokugawa Ieyasu wants to become Grand Chancellor right now? What kind of delusional nonsense is that?

Who would believe that he sent someone to murder Hashiba Hidekatsu and even bribed Hidekatsu's page beforehand? It's simply impossible. He's not a demigod who can predict the future and foresee an earthquake that will surely kill Nobuo Saburo and his master, as well as Hashiba Hideyoshi.

"My lord, it's a matter of great importance!" Hiratsuka Tamehiro interrupted Shichibei and Hara Nagayori's deep thoughts.

"how?"

"Fujikake Sanzang has drowned in the ditch!" Hiratsuka brought Hiroshi the bad news.

"Kill him to silence him." What a brilliant move! What a brilliant move! Shichibei had only just begun searching the entire city when Fujikake Sanzang was already silenced.

Osaka Castle was surrounded by several layers of canals and ditches; controlling the bridges and intersections at all points of access was tantamount to sealing off the castle. Seeing this, the mastermind behind Fujikake Sanzang decisively killed everyone to silence them—a truly ruthless tactic.

Especially at a time when the whole city was in a state of panic, and news of Hidekatsu Hashiba's assassination was spreading like wildfire, the fact that he was able to silence everyone so quietly shows that this person must have a group of extremely loyal core members and confidants, and act with great efficiency.

"Who could it be?" Shichibei felt a tightness in his chest, which was extremely uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, inside the Hashiba residence, Enryuin was completely relieved after confirming that all the daffodils had been cleaned up.

Chapter 640 The two sides are torn apart and each takes sides

The servants specially sent from the Kyoto Town Magistrate's Office carefully examined the bodies of Hashiba Hidekatsu and Fujikake Sanzang. There was nothing much to say about Fujikake Sanzang's body; he had been stabbed in the back and pushed into a ditch, and his death was very clear and obvious.

However, Hidekatsu Hashiba's case was quite strange, because two of the experienced servants from Kyoto believed that he had died of some kind of sudden illness. Another thought it might have been poisoning, but he had never seen any poison before, and he had no concrete evidence.

ha?

No, there was no poisoning? Not only did Hashiba Hidenaga not believe it, but even the elders of the family, including Shichibei, and Wakatoshi didn't believe it.

The situation before them clearly indicated poisoning, yet according to the servants present, Hidekatsu Hashiba suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and became delirious from pain, only to die within four or five hours. Such a potent poison would require a large dose to have such an effect.

For small doses, there aren't any poisons that potent these days. As for large doses, Hidekatsu Hashiba isn't stupid enough to just take them.

To use an example from a later movie, imagine a pot of sugar water with a pound of arsenic—good heavens, it's thicker than sesame paste! Would anyone eat something like that? Unless the entire Qi family of thirteen are complete idiots.

yes……

They're all seasoned criminals; there's no need for them to deceive or fabricate anything, especially since they're from Kyoto and have no connection to this case. Before the incident, Hashiba Hidekatsu ate three large bowls of leek porridge, which clearly didn't have any unusual smell. If it had, Hashiba Hidekatsu would have vomited long ago.

It's really baffling; it looks like poisoning no matter how you look at it, but the poisoning theory doesn't get any support.

Investigate, keep investigating. Fujikake Sanzang is just a teenager. Go and capture his father, his mother, and his friends. At this point, it's better to kill three thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free.

All of Hashiba Hidekatsu's attendants, close associates, and pageboys were also detained and subjected to thorough investigation. Those suspected were investigated, and those not suspected were investigated anyway.

Those who were present when he went out drinking heavily the night before he died should also be investigated. Although it's rare for poison to take twenty hours to produce symptoms, who knows? These days, all sorts of strange things happen. Let's expand the investigation if we must; the murderer must be found.

"My lord, my lord, Lady Ashikaga has sent someone, saying it's urgent." Shichibei was giving orders when Hiratsuka Tamehiro led a servant over.

"Go back and report that I will go to the Ashikaga residence in a few days." He's just making things worse. At a time like this, he still wants to call Shichibei? When will he have the time?

"It's urgent." Hiratsuka Tamehiro called out as he saw Shichibei turn to leave.

"What's the emergency?"

"Your Highness, Ashikaga's young lord did not return home yesterday afternoon, leaving only a letter." The attendant hurriedly came forward to report, and took out a letter.

"Hmm?" Ashikaga Nobuyoshi is also a troublesome fellow. Shichibei helped him make plans twice, but he refused. He hasn't learned anything except how to argue.

Upon opening the letter, Shichibei almost burst into a tirade. This little bastard had actually abandoned Ashikaga Hime, who had raised him, as well as a younger brother and two younger sisters, and gone straight to join Oda Nobushige.

That dog deserves to be killed. Osaka is already chaotic enough; he's just making things worse.

"Understood." Fortunately, Shichibei had some self-control and did not lose his temper in public. He suppressed his anger and sent Ashikaga's servant away.

"Gentlemen, I have some matters to attend to at home, please allow me to leave first." I need to go and capture that little beast Ashikaga Nobuyoshi. What does it mean to go and seek refuge with Oda Nobushige?

"Please go ahead." The group nodded without saying anything more.

When Shichibei arrived at the Ashikaga residence, Princess Ashikaga's thoughts were completely on her face. She hadn't expected Ashikaga Nobuyoshi to choose to run away. At this point, saying anything more would be useless, so she could only beg Shichibei not to get angry.

All the retainers and servants of the Ashikaga residence were brought before Shichibei, who questioned them directly. Ashikaga Nobuyoshi had only taken his slightly older brother and three servants with him when he went out. As a young master, he only rode one horse when he went out, and he would have to abandon the horse after traveling only a few dozen kilometers at a fast pace.

Relying on his own two feet? A journey of 500 kilometers could kill him. He would inevitably have to rely on the horse-riding service of Kawamura-ya, running from station to station to Kanto. Shichibei only needs to know which route he took to have a chance to catch up with him.

As a result, the servants reported that Ashikaga Nobuyoshi had most likely fled to Sakai and used Kakuya's return ship. He was probably already past Kumano-nada and about to reach Totomi-nada.

It is indeed possible that they could travel at breakneck speed day and night.

He's really determined to join Oda Nobushige. I wonder what kind of spell Oda Nobushige cast on him? He's made him run off to Kanto without a second thought.

While Shichibei was still investigating inside the Ashikaga residence, news of Ashikaga Nobuyoshi's escape spread like wildfire. The people around Osaka Castle were restless, everyone was on high alert, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

Needless to say, Ashikaga Nobuyoshi's escape caused quite a stir among Nobukatsu's illegitimate son's faction. This was because it represented an old force unwilling to remain dormant, actively seeking to align themselves with Oda Nobushige in order to rise again.

How can he rise again? He should kill the lords of the faction led by Nobukatsu's illegitimate son and seize new patronage. Then these old forces can support Oda Nobushige's resurgence.

This incident not only caused concern among many people, but also led to a certain degree of suspicion towards Shichibei among the faction led by Terumoto Mori.

Are you saying this kid ran away on his own initiative? Or did you, Kawamura Nagayoshi, hint that he should run away so you could leave yourself an escape route?

By the way, Nobuo's illegitimate son is famous, and it has now been revealed: Oda Katsuhoshi.

Xinxiong truly doted on this illegitimate son, but unfortunately, he was unlucky and didn't even get to see his father twice before his father died in the Tianzheng earthquake.

Due to a series of incidents, both large and small, Oda Katsuhoshi's faction began to harbor great suspicion towards Oda Nobushige's faction. They felt that Oda Nobushige's faction was resorting to assassinations and poaching, using every means possible, and had no longer maintained a dynamic of fighting without breaking apart.

Just as Shichibei dispatched oar-powered boats in an attempt to catch up with Ashikaga Nobuyoshi by sailing day and night, another major event occurred at Osaka Castle.

Ikeda runs away!

The father and son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and Motosuke, former retainers of Oda Nobutada, suddenly chose to lead their retainers and their followers from Osaka back to their territory of 150,000 koku in Harima-Himeji.

Since Ikeda Tsuneoki was a member of Oda Nobushige's faction, but he was actually surrounded by Oda Katsuhoshi's faction, and seeing the tension between the two sides escalating, his departure was a completely understandable act.

Upon returning to Himeji Castle, they began a degree of mobilization to protect the castle they controlled. Regardless of whether actual conflict would occur later, staying within their own castle was generally a relatively safe option.

It's better than being assassinated. Hashiba Hidekatsu has already been killed, and who knows who will be next? It's not that everyone is in danger, but it's normal for him to feel uneasy since the Ikeda family is surrounded by Oda Katsuhoshi's faction.

However, given how things have developed, it is imperative to decide on an heir as soon as possible. If the situation remains unresolved for any longer, the future trajectory is uncertain.

Meeting!

Before the meeting, Shichibei once again informed his allies. At the same time, instead of holding a "Standing Committee" meeting, an expanded meeting was convened, and all the lords of Osaka, as well as the representatives of the Tenryō Ōmi-hatamoto, were notified to attend.

Small meetings are not acceptable; if they are, the current situation will never be resolved. A large meeting is necessary. Even if we don't expect everyone's approval, just having two-thirds of the people agree will ensure that the decisions made represent the entire ruling class of Japan.

Those who could attend the meeting were at least 5,000 or 8,000 koku of rice, each with a large retinue of thugs behind them. Shichibei had to do his best to prevent another civil war from breaking out across the country.

"We didn't catch up." Shichibei sat upright on the upper side of the hall when Hiratsuka Tamehiro rushed in with bad news.

Ashikaga Nobuyoshi has already fled to Edo, and he's probably already in Oda Nobushige's shogunate. The retainers sent to pursue him can't possibly enter the shogunate and bring him back, so they'll have to give up.

"Understood." Shichibei simply made a mental note of it, his expression unchanged, and waited for all the lords to arrive and be seated.

"The position of prime minister cannot remain vacant for long. Now that the male lineage of the Tokugen-in-dono has been confirmed, his status should be established as soon as possible." Shichibei cleared his throat and began to speak.

There's no doubt that Oda Katsuhoshi was Nobukatsu's biological son; it's a fact, and there's no way to question it. Even Mori Komatsu-hime testified to this and acknowledged it. However, Oda Katsuhoshi was later adopted by her as her legitimate son.

"The son born from adultery is an outrage to both heaven and man. It is truly fitting that he should shave his head and pray before the gods to seek blessings for the deceased Tokugen-in Temple." Shichibei's attitude had become increasingly clear these past few days, and Maeda Toshiie immediately jumped out and first ripped off the roof.

A son born out of wedlock with his stepmother has no right to inherit!

"This is a grave error. Master Shengfa's birth mother was not welcomed with proper ceremony by the Great God of Heaven." Mori Terumoto was no fool; he grasped the crux of the matter.

Indeed, Narita Kaihime was a "spoils of war" from the Battle of Odawara in the Kanto region, presented to Oda Nobunaga by the generals. Oda Nobunaga did accept this spoils, and Kaihime served him until he fell asleep.

But this was just a brief encounter; Nobunaga died of a heart attack a few days later. After his death, Kaihime was not formally admitted into the Oda clan as a concubine, becoming Nobunaga's secondary wife.

Until the first law enacted in Meiji Japan, there was specific legislation protecting "concubines" who had undergone ceremonies and registration. In terms of inheritance, concubines who had passed through the legal procession were considered "second-class relatives" along with the principal wife (Proclamation No. 944).

For concubines of high status, that is, legitimate stepmothers, there was no problem. But the problem lay precisely in the fact that Princess Kai did not follow the proper procedures.

Now, Mori Terumoto is adamant that Nobunaga was merely passing through Kanto and had a casual encounter with her, and that there was no legitimate relationship between him and Kaihime. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable for Oda Nobukatsu to take Kaihime as a concubine.

As for your question about the father and son sleeping with the same woman and being "hole brothers"? That's not a big deal, especially in wartime Japan, there's not much to say about it.

"What all the generals have seen is undeniable!" Maeda Toshiie was naturally unconvinced. If she couldn't be identified as a stepmother, then all the old ministers who hadn't entered the central government would have to step aside.

With a new emperor comes a new court. Under Oda Katsuhoshi, a group of his trusted confidants, led by Nobukatsu, will undoubtedly seize power. Even the Owari no Fudai (fathers of the Owari clan) will only get scraps. As for the Eastern Provinces' followers, they can step aside.

"Offering captured women as gifts is nothing new; it's just for pleasure." Mori Terumoto was already looking forward to his wonderful life of holding power for fifteen years and had no intention of backing down.

"What else is there to say!" Mizuno Tadashige, sitting behind Maeda Toshiie, suddenly spoke up, as if to say, what's all the fuss about?

Just state your opinion directly; arguing and bickering are pointless.

Mizuno Tadashige, who had been transferred to Yoshida in Mikawa with a fief of 50,000 koku, naturally supported Oda Nobutada as a former ally. As for the secret letter he had received from Tokugawa Ieyasu, hoping that he would stir up trouble in the central government if necessary, that was another matter entirely.

The Mizuno clan, a powerful local lord along the border of Mikawa and Owari provinces, had long served under both Oda and Matsudaira. Now, through a series of events, they were granted a fief of 50,000 koku and were present at the meeting.

"Yes! What does Lord Kumamoto think?" Maeda Toshiie wasn't instigated by anything, but he was genuinely exhausted from arguing and fighting with Oda Katsuhoshi's faction lately.

Since Shichibei is presiding over the meeting, the presiding person must also have a stance and a choice.

"We are all retainers of the Oda clan, so we must maintain harmony in this gathering." Shichibei was already prepared, but he still subconsciously tried to mediate and maintain a moderate approach.

"It's either this or that, please decide as soon as possible, Lord Kumamoto." Mori Terumoto thought he had already given up an extremely large amount of benefits to Shichibei, but Shichibei was still trying to play it safe, which really annoyed him.

Recently, with a series of major events such as the assassination of Hidekatsu Hashiba and the departure of Nobuyoshi Ashikaga and Tsuneoki Ikeda, Terumoto Mori's nerves are also on edge.

"Well..." Now, Shichibei was the one being lifted up.

"If we keep discussing it from today to tomorrow, and from tomorrow to the day after, and keep discussing it every day, what can we possibly come up with!" Mizuno Tadashige dropped the pretense and went straight for the kill, forcing Shichibei to take a stand.