Chapter 176 19. Chitosemaru Becomes a Monk

The show ended, and Matsunaga Hisahide, with blood all over his face, was dragged and thrown out of the palace. Of course, he did not do anything shameful like cursing, but the hatred could still be felt from a distance.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru seemed to have eaten ice watermelon in summer and drank hot fermented rice wine in winter. He was so happy and satisfied. Even the ugly Kobayata became pleasing and heroic in his eyes. With such a deep impression, Kobayata was completely classified as "one of his own" by Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru stood up and said with admiration, "Danzheng is a true hero." Then he hurried to contact the envoys of Rokkaku, Takeda, and Hatano. He knew that he could not give in at this time. He gritted his teeth and shook his power. He had to preserve the Muromachi shogunate and the last dignity of his general.

Kobayata and other shogunate samurai respectfully sent Ashikaga Yoshiteru off. Several samurai from the shogunate's government office saluted Kobayata to express their admiration. Although the others did not say anything to Kobayata, they all gave him some positive comments in their hearts.

In the admiring eyes of several attendants, Kobayata took off the sash dress splattered with the blood of Matsunaga Hisahide and the ivory tablet stained with blood and handed them to Ashikaga Yoshiteru's attendants. A attendant handed over a wet cotton cloth and asked Kobayata to wipe the blood on his hands and face.

"Please apologize to His Highness the Lord on my behalf. I accidentally stained some dirt on it." Kobayata wiped his hands casually, showing no concern for the bloodstains, showing that he was also a samurai who risked his life on the battlefield. Then he bowed to the place where Ashikaga Yoshiteru left at the back of the hall and took his leave. Several attendants also saluted Kobayata.

Kobayata walked back to the small camp of the Yamanouchi. The glorious image of Kobayata scolding Matsunaga Hisahide in the palace had spread among the shogunate army in the palace. Just now, Matsunaga Hisahide looked down on the crowd and rode alone into the palace. In the end, his head and face were broken, blood was dripping, and he was thrown out like a dog. That was very satisfying, and the Yamanouchi warriors looked at Kobayata with stars in their eyes and praised him.

Kobayata just scolded and beat him very happily. Now there is no fear, but Matsunaga Hisahide has 5,000 troops in the capital, and there are only four people on his side. The only one who can really fight is Kanai Aigoro. It may be difficult to get out of this situation. We must think of a way to be safe.

Of course, as long as Kobayata stays in this Hana no Gosho, the three or five thousand people sent by the Miyoshi family will not be able to break in. But if you want to go out, you may not be able to do so for the time being. Be patient for a few days.

The two sides confronted each other for four or five days, calm on the outside but turbulent on the inside. The monks of Kinai received the imperial edict from the general Ashikaga Yoshiteru one after another, and came to the imperial palace with the monks and guards, and the ceremony became bigger and bigger.

The major sects in Kinai are not afraid of you, Matsunaga Hisahide [Note 1]. This clown is just a bug in the eyes of these big temples with thousands of deep-rooted believers. Honganji had great appeal back then, but Yamashina Gobo burned it down with a fire. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was a maneuverer who unified Japan and pushed the Muromachi shogunate to prosperity, but the monks were not afraid of you at all. They carried the shrine of Kasuga Okami to the streets, and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's great reputation had no effect on them.

However, the most important half-head of Kofuku-ji Temple, Ichijoin Monji, said that he was so sick that he was about to go to the Pure Land of Bliss to see the Buddha. It was difficult for him to get up from his bed. This time, he could only let his disciples and grandchildren come on his behalf to show their loyalty.

Hearing this news, which might be very sad for others, but was extremely good news for Koyata, Koyata came up with a plan and hurried to ask to see Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru has been very anxious these days. Minami-Omi Rokkaku Yoshitaka is very active and said that he will guarantee to bring 5,000 people to Sakamoto, which is close to Kyoto, but there will be no more. He also has to guard against Asai Nagamasa in Kitao-Omi. It is definitely not enough to support Ashikaga Yoshiteru with just these few people.

If the Hosokawa clan's banner was still there, as long as Hosokawa Harumoto asked, he could easily bring at least 20,000 to 30,000 people with his face. Now Hosokawa Harumoto is finished. His son is still crawling on the ground, with no prestige at all. The puppet governor Hosokawa Ujiyasu is still under control in Akutagawa Castle. Not to mention bringing troops to rescue, he himself can't protect himself, and there is no hope at all.

As for Hatano Harumichi, it was very unfortunate. He was obviously in his forties, and he should have been in high spirits, but he was actually sick and couldn't even speak. His father Hatano Uemichi was at his age when he was in the Kinai area. I don't know why he fell down and was about to die.

Kobayata saw that he and several close shogunate officials were discussing where to get reinforcements. Although the situation was still in a confrontation between the enemy and us, it was always better to have a strong force.

"I heard that the powerful monk Ichijoin Kakuyo was seriously ill?" "It seems so." A shogunate official answered on behalf of the shogun.

The right to abolish these mountain gate officials was in the hands of Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Every time the gate was inherited, he could get hundreds or thousands of kan of money, which was a huge income for the shogunate. As long as Kakuyo died, no matter who came to power, they would have to give a sum of money to Ashikaga Yoshiteru. This was a customary thing.

When everyone heard Kobayata mention this, they also thought that they could get some money to recruit some ronin and miscellaneous soldiers. But he was not dead yet, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru was not so anxious. He didn't understand why Kobayata mentioned this. He would not come here for such a small amount of money.

"I heard that Your Highness still has a few younger brothers? If you don't take what God gives you, you will suffer the consequences!"

"Hmm? Hmm! Hmm." Ashikaga Yoshiteru immediately reacted.

"Call Chitosemaru!" Several shogunate officials were also delighted.

Kobayata estimated that Chitosemaru was probably Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who would become a monk according to the historical trajectory.

[Note 1]: Although Matsunaga Hisahide defeated the Tsutsui clan of Kofukuji in his strategy to conquer Yamato, the Tsutsui clan continued to carry out extensive "guerrilla warfare" in the rear, resulting in Matsunaga Hisahide never completely ruling Yamato.

[Note 2]: The actual leader of Kofukuji was Kofukuji Betsudo or Gonbetsudo, who was held in turn by two of Kofukuji's Daijoin and Ichijoin menji. Therefore, becoming Ichijoin menji was equivalent to being half the head of Kofukuji, and it was only a matter of time before he became the leader.