Owari Yumeki Golden Day

A young man came out and led Shichibei inside. Nobunaga was indeed changing clothes, and two young men on either side were fanning him. Wearing formal attire to meet the envoy on such a hot day, he couldn't move once he sat down. Even the loincloth in his trousers must have been soaked.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly. We have something else to do later." Nobunaga pointed to a plate of melons in front of him and signaled Shichibei to do as he pleased.

"It's about what happened at Odani-dono two days ago..." Shichibei sat in front of Nobunaga and asked him in a tentative tone.

"Hmm?" When Nobunaga heard that it was Asai Nagamasa, he paused obviously.

To be honest, Nobunaga should have admired Nagamasa. After all, Nagamasa looked very brave and strong, and judging from his past behavior, he was obviously not a foolish person. He and Aichi were indeed a good match.

He is not only his brother-in-law, but also a very capable person. Anyone would have a feeling of admiration for him. After all, a brother-in-law cannot inherit the family property, but can help his son when necessary. This kind of relationship is just right, not too far or too close, it is simply perfect.

"After all, Odani-dono is the lord's sworn brother. It would not be good if we go to Kyoto without any reward." Shichibei tried his best to play the emotional card for Nobunaga.

Indeed, Asai Nagamasa came along, bringing 5,000 men with him. He really gave Nobunaga face, but he got nothing in return. Now was the time for Oda Nobunaga to establish himself, gain prestige, and acquire a reputation.

The Mori envoy who had just left had requested that Nobunaga, in his capacity as the governor of the Muromachi shogunate, send troops to attack the Yamana clan. Nobunaga would likely have agreed to this, in order to gain reputation within the framework of the old order.

In that case, Chang Zheng should come over and give him some money.

"What? You want to be a lobbyist for him?" Nobunaga's tone did not change. He was just puzzled that Shichibei and Nagamasa had no close relationship, but came to persuade Nobunaga.

"That's not the case. I simply feel that since you, my lord, are in charge of the empire, and the capital region has just annexed us, it's time to be impartial, uphold justice, and establish rules and regulations. Rewards for merit and punishments for faults must be fair."

"Hehe, reward him with the title of Jiangbei Guardian?" Nobunaga certainly knew that what Shichibei said was right, but he felt that Shichibei did not understand his current operational thinking.

"No, no, no. Conferring the post of guardian of Jiangbei may cause doubts and dissatisfaction among many famous people." Shichibei hurriedly explained, saying that he could understand Nobunaga's current thinking.

"What do you think?"

"The Imperial Court and the Jiangbei Guardian Acting General should not overstep the boundaries. Niko is also an old retainer of Kyogoku, and the former general will appoint him as the governor of Yinyang Baguo as usual." Only then did Shichibei express his thoughts.

The key point is that there is a precedent. Even Amago Haruhisa was able to be awarded the title of Onmyoji. At that time, the Kyogoku family was not yet completely wiped out, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru was also awarded the title.

Now that the Kyogoku clan is almost extinct and has lost almost all its power, it is far inferior to Hatakeyama Takamasa. With Nobunaga's prestige, what's the point of appointing him a shugodai?

It was very good that Nobunaga gave him face and acknowledged his status as a guardian.

"You are just talking to yourself. He didn't overstep the line, but you did!" With a snap, Nobunaga threw the melon in his hand onto the plate and finally changed his tone.

"I am terrified, I am terrified..." Qibingwei hurriedly lowered his head, crawled back several steps on his knees, and fell to the ground.

"How can a royal merchant like you have any say in the matter of a national treasure?" Nobunaga continued to ask sternly.

"Minister, minister, minister..." After being scolded, Shichibei suddenly understood a truth.

Respect the fate of others and let go of the need to help others.

Why in history did ministers die for their remonstrations, or rather, did they not want to die for their remonstrations? Ministers who could speak out their opinions frankly and in a strong way would be remembered in history.

There are some things that ministers can understand clearly and offer advice without hesitation. If the monarch is virtuous and the ministers are wise, then it's fine. However, if the monarch is incompetent or stubborn, the ministers' advice may be well-intentioned but not appreciated or approved by the monarch. Instead, the monarch will have a different view.

Are you teaching me to do things?

Once the monarch entertains this kind of sentiment, the minister's career is essentially over. Because the monarch no longer likes you, no longer appreciates you, and has a prejudice against you. Even if they don't kill you, they'll banish you to some remote mountain valley, and your life will be over.

It is difficult to be a wise ruler, and it is also difficult to be a virtuous minister.

Shichibei was thinking about preventing Asai Nagamasa from developing resentment towards Nobunaga because of this reward, to the point that he would eventually decide to completely betray Nobunaga and want to kill him as soon as possible.

But in the final analysis, this incident had not yet happened. At this time, Nobunaga was already the king of the world, dominating the Kinai region, and the princes were respectfully following him. Why would Asai Nagamasa, with only 300,000 koku of treasury, rebel?

I will not be a surrendering general, but rather a mantis raising its arms!

Common sense would have it that Asai Nagamasa had no capital to rebel against Nobunaga. With his limited capital, he could only muster an army of 10,000 or so men, while Nobunaga could easily muster an army of 50,000 or 100,000. Forget about fighting in the city or the open air, he couldn't even hold the city.

Then why are you so anxious to consider Nagamasa's mood and feelings?

The first time Shichibei saw Nobunaga walk away in anger, his dissatisfaction with him was clearly shown. He didn't give Shichibei any face at all, and several of Nobunaga's servants hurriedly followed him, leaving Shichibei alone in the hall.

It was over, it was over, it was over. Even in the heat of summer, Shichibei's back felt cold and his head was spinning. He had been wishful thinking, wishing for Nobunaga's well-being, hoping he wouldn't be betrayed. But those were things he'd foreseen; according to common sense, they were simply impossible.

From Nobunaga's perspective, Shichibei even seemed a bit self-serving and took advantage of his seniority. Feeling that he was favored and trusted, he started to dictate Nobunaga's actions.

A gust of wind blew through the hall, and Shichibei began to tremble.

He stood up in a daze and walked out of the hall in a daze. Shichibei's mind was a mess. He had no idea what would happen next and whether Nobunaga would punish him.

The guys who met Shichibei at the door noticed something was wrong with him, so they pulled him back to the base and went to look for So Kotaro and Takenaka Hanbei. The two of them came over and also found that Shichibei was numb.

They hurriedly asked what happened, but the guys had no idea. The two then sent someone to ask Kanamori Nagachika, who was on duty today. Kanamori Nagachika also didn't know what happened. He only knew that Shichibei seemed to have made some suggestions to Nobunaga, which angered Nobunaga and he left in anger. That's how Shichibei ended up.

However, Nobunaga was only angry for a moment, and no clear punishment was given, so it shouldn't be a serious matter.

147. Nobunaga was also slightly touched

Seeing Qibing's look, So Kotaro and Takenaka Hanbei discussed it for a while, and finally went up and slapped Qibing twice, making Qibing see stars.

Just shout "Ouch" and you'll feel better.

The two ignored the pained look on Shichibei's face, his hands covering his face. They asked him what had happened. What had angered Nobunaga? Was it a personal matter or a business matter? Was there any way to remedy the situation?

They have a very clear relationship of dependence and cooperation with Shichibei. If Shichibei falls, they will definitely not end up well.

Moreover, Nobunaga had increased Shichibei's rank to 5,000 kan just a few days ago, so why was he so furious today that he practically kicked Shichibei out of his residence? So many things were changing so quickly, both internally and externally, that for a moment no one could make out what was going on.

"As for me, I suddenly understood something." Shichibei felt that he didn't know whether it was his face or his head that hurt, but it hurt everywhere.

But there were two people sandwiched between me, one on each side, both urging me on. There was nothing I could do. I couldn't cry out in pain, so I had to answer first.

"What? Just tell me." So Kotaro raised his hand, ready to hit the slow-moving Shichibei twice more.

"Talk less and do more." Qibingwei responded quickly. The two blows just now took half his life.

"Huh?" Now it was So Kotaro and Takenaka Hanbei's turn to be confused.

What was he supposed to do? Didn't Shichibei have enough to do? He had to maintain the roads from Ogaki Castle to Setabashi, conduct inspections of the southern Omi area, and even temporarily manage ports and towns like Otsu, Kusatsu, and Katada. He had so much to do that he almost felt like he was being split in two.

What else do you want to do?

"No matter what you do, just do your job." In just half a day, Shichibei figured it out. Talking too much will only lead to mistakes.

"..." He couldn't respond to the two of them and could only stare at Shichibei.

In fact, they were lucky, at least they had Shichibei to keep an eye on them. But Oda Nobunaga, who was in the dark room, could only stare at the ceiling.

During the day, Shichibei offered strong advice, and Nobunaga was indeed very unhappy at first. Who was Shichibei? A mere imperial merchant. What could he possibly know about worldly affairs? Nobunaga was in charge of the country, ruling on behalf of the shogun, and was known as the ruler of the world. Why did he need Shichibei, a small merchant, to teach him?

That feeling of swelling is even more powerful than when I say this is a duck neck, and I know you know it is a mouse, but I still say it is a duck neck.

After all, he still had to issue a notice, persuade three or five insiders, and use threats and inducements. With Nobunaga, if I say yes, it's yes, and if I say no, it's no.

Are you unhappy? Either hold it in. If you let it out, I'll chop you to death. I'll chop you to death and I'll make sure you don't see the sun the next day.

The feeling of being "invincible" can easily make people lost and intoxicated.

As a result, Nobunaga felt that he didn't need to consider Asai Nagamasa's feelings and just needed to act according to his own ideas. After all, Nagamasa's 300,000 koku of wealth was not likely to cause a rebellion.

But what Shichibei said that afternoon did remind Nobunaga again. Nagamasa wasn't a retainer; he didn't have to conform to Nobunaga's every decision. To Nobunaga, Nagamasa was a mere 300,000 koku of lordship. Outside, Nagamasa was a daimyo commanding tens of thousands of people and ruling over hundreds of thousands of subjects.

Nobunaga didn't give him any face. How could he live in Northern Omi? He sent troops and got nothing. He was not only his brother-in-law, but also the son-in-law of the Oda family.

Ha ha……

What would the powerful families of northern Omi think of Asai Nagamasa? According to the normal samurai mentality of Japan's Warring States period, they would undoubtedly look down on Asai Nagamasa, believing him to be of little use, a mere figurehead within Omi. In the eyes of the entire nation, he would be nothing more than a minor figure.

Shichibei was right. Asai Nagamasa should indeed be given some compensation. Even if he couldn't be given the position of Guardian of Jiangbei, giving him a Deputy Guardian wouldn't hurt either.

Although the Asai family has only been around for three generations, they have been a powerful force in Asai and Ika counties for at least three to five hundred years. They even served as the governor of Asai County. Although not as powerful as the rich, they are more than worthless.

Take Oda Nobunaga's own family, Owari Shugodai Kiyosu, a retainer of the Oda clan and one of the three Kiyosu magistrates. If you really put it bluntly, there's no clear distinction between a magistrate and a magistrate.

As expected, the human world is the same: once you're on board, you'll start to strictly adhere to the requirements. It's just like how the Mexicans who already have green cards and the second generation of Mexicans born in the US have suddenly changed their colors and started supporting Trump.

Having obtained a green card, they naturally do not want illegal immigrants to continue to come to the U.S. to affect their welfare and snatch their job opportunities.

Perhaps we should really listen to Shichibei's advice and give Asai Nagamasa some "real benefits." Even though Nobunaga and Nagamasa had a quarrel before, they were all just getting along on the surface. The result was what mattered, not the process.

The emperor's grace is in place and we must serve the public.

The next day, Nobunaga got up, asked Xiao Xing and his attendants to cancel all their morning duties, and then went to call Shichibei to the mansion. They didn't talk or do any errands, just had a simple breakfast together.

Faintly, there seemed to be a thick barrier between Nobunaga and Shichibei.

What to do after breakfast? Each one goes home, each one finds his own mother. Before parting ways, the two stood by a small pond. A gentle breeze blew up Nobunaga's hair, stirring up some dust from the desolate streets of Kyoto outside.

As if something had gotten into his eyes, Shichibei turned his head and rubbed them. Nobunaga patted Shichibei, who lowered his head, and strode away.

As mentioned the other day, the Mori clan petitioned the shogunate, requesting an attack on the Yamana clan to curb their support for the Amago Restoration Army. Nobunaga approved this, and after careful consideration, he decided to launch an attack on the Yamana clan with an army of 20,000 soldiers, commanded by Kinoshita Hideyoshi.

Well, around the 11th year of Eiroku, Hideyoshi was already the de facto general of the Oda clan.

Of course, Nobunaga didn't have more than 20,000 troops to send to Hideyoshi. So, in the name of Ashikaga Yoshiaki and the Kanrei of the Muromachi shogunate, he summoned the people of Tamba Province and the Isshiki clan in Tango, who would fight the Oda clan to the death in the future, to gather and send troops.

Hideyoshi had previously lost several hundred men at Minasaku Castle, but Nobunaga immediately strengthened his forces by providing him with over 400 standing foot soldiers. As a result, Hideyoshi's capital increased, and he was promoted to the rank of lord with a salary of 5,000 kan, and he marched towards Tajima.

The order was carried out immediately. In any case, Higo Sagara Yoshiharu's envoy returned to Kyushu after presenting Yoshiaki with a hundred taels of gold. The situation in Kyoto had also largely calmed down, no longer requiring multiple magistrates to maintain order.

Shichibei was also tasked with repairing Shogunyama Castle east of Kyoto for Ashikaga Yoshiaki. This castle was a temporary fortress built by Hosokawa Takakuni as a link between Omi and Kyoto. Historically, Akechi Mitsuhide had also held his ground there for several months, confronting Enryakuji Temple and the Asakura army.

A few years ago, Miyoshi Nagayoshi chased after Ashikaga Yoshiharu and his son, Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and beat them up. The two emperors first fled from Kyoto, but later found that Shogunyama Castle was no place for them to stay. Finally, they burned Shogunyama Castle and fled to Rokkaku Yoshitaka.

With the Shogun's palace in Kyoto now burned down, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was living in Honbu-ji Temple. If anything urgent happened, it would be very easy for him to run into problems. Nobunaga was reluctant to spend tens of thousands of kan on building a new castle for him. He asked Yoshiaki to collect money from one of the seven customs offices in Kyoto. After saving for two years, he could build his own castle.

In order to be on the safe side, they urgently repaired the Shogun Castle. If something really happened, Yoshiaki and his men would flee the Shogun Castle, and Nobunaga's heavenly troops would arrive after defending it for a few days.

As for why Shichibei was asked to build the castle, it was because a few days ago Shichibei and Nobunaga discussed whether the wood and stones removed from the castles such as Kannonji should be kept and prepared for Ashikaga Yoshiaki to build a new palace, thus saving the money on materials.

Don't bother two masters with the same matter. Besides, Nobunaga couldn't get rid of the people in his hands now, and Hideyoshi became the commander-in-chief of a legion of more than 20,000 people. This shows his ability.

They would tear down a few of the branch castle gates in the Jiangnan region and bring them to Shogunyama Castle, and along the way, they would also tear down a small castle tower or something, just to show their appreciation. They didn't expect Shogunyama Castle to hold out for a year if something really happened. After just five days, Nobunaga arrived with several thousand standing troops.

What can I do? Nobunaga has given the order, so I have to follow it.

So Kotaro and Takenaka Hanbei, who were already confused last night, were horrified when they saw someone summoning Shichibei early this morning. They thought Nobunaga had finally made the decision to punish Shichibei and was going to do something to him.

When they asked, they were told that Shichibei was invited to breakfast. The emotional rollercoaster was truly overwhelming for the two of them.

So Kotaro even suggested, "Is it possible to trick Shichibei into coming over under the guise of breakfast and then punish him?" Or was Takenaka Hanbei more clever, saying, "With Nobunaga's power, why bother tricking? It would be much easier to just send the troops over and chop them down."

So when Qibingwei returned to the base with Nobunaga's new order, the two of them were already waiting impatiently. They almost rushed over to touch Qibingwei's head to see if it was still on his shoulders, and then flipped over his eyelids.

Come on, both of you, follow me to General Mountain to see how to deal with the ruins.

The fire that Ashikaga Yoshiharu had set was quite thorough. Of course, it is also possible that the Japanese farmers showed their Warring States spirit and came in to pick up usable things as soon as the fire started.

The mountain on which the castle stands is called Ueyama, hence the name Ueyama Castle. The mountain is about 200 meters high, though Shichibei only estimated it visually. Within the castle grounds are two Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sites: one a grotto and the other a small temple. It's unclear whether these are relics of previous castle owners or if they have been dedicated by farmers in recent years.

In Japanese anime, statues of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva often appear along rural roadsides. There's even a legend about a poor but kind-hearted man who tied a bamboo hat to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva at night to protect him from the wind and snow, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva rewarded him with a cart of delicious food.

It's just a folk belief. You can do it when you have nothing to do and it's not hard to worship it.

Re-dig the empty trench, build an earthen rampart, erect a fence and arrow tower, and add a somewhat defensive gate, and the repair work will be almost done. It won't cost much, and it won't even require many civilians.

A small hill about 200 meters high is actually the best defense. Attacking a mountain city from above, an army without some skills would find it difficult to even organize and launch an attack.

"Hanbei, I'll leave this city to you. I have to go back to Guanyin Temple." Shichibei made a budget in his mind.

Arguing with Nobunaga was one thing, but presenting him with a budget and writing him a list was another. Since he hadn't come to chop off our heads, and his favor hadn't been revoked, we had to obey him.

No matter how dissatisfied you are, serving the public is a road with no end, and you should work for it until you die.

"It's a small matter." Asking Takenaka Hanbei to build a small fortress is just a small matter.

"Remember to ask Jubei, the court may have any requirements." Shichibei just reminded him of this and was relieved about other aspects.

Asking Akechi Mitsuhide was like asking Ashikaga Yoshiaki. If Yoshiaki needed any specialized ancillary buildings, he would do his best to accommodate them. Currently, Yoshiaki and Nobunaga had a decent relationship, still in the same boat. However, according to Shichibei, they were not far from sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams.

Whether one day there will be internal strife between the leaders, or the general will be attacked by the emperor's father, or the general will be attacked by the emperor's father, it depends on the subsequent developments.

Back at Kannonji, there was no word of what had happened between Nobunaga and Shichibei. The case of the inspection site was still underway, and it was almost finished. Aochi Shigetsuna, who remained behind, handed the ledger to Shichibei for review.

All in all, it is actually only about 300,000 stones. In addition to the fact that Koga County is still called Rokkaku, it is also related to the fact that many territories in Shiga County are temple and shrine territories that are not subject to inspection.

Since Nobunaga was still operating within the framework of the old order of the Muromachi shogunate, the temple and shrine territories that had obtained the privilege of being exempt from inspections were not obliged to report to Nobunaga. In any case, whether he had more or less, it had nothing to do with Nobunaga.

After the burning of Mount Hiei, Nobunaga granted full authority to Akechi Mitsuhide, who then began a comprehensive inspection of Shiga County.

"Thank you for your help!" Shichibei bowed his head and saluted the other four officials.

"No, no." The others quickly returned the greeting to Shichibei.

"The next step is to prepare the streets from Ogaki to Setabashi. I still need your sincere cooperation."

Before Shichibei could finish his words, a horseman and a rider rushed through the castle town of Kanonji Temple and headed straight for Odani Castle.