Chapter 172 15. Matsunaga's Success

Kobayata was shocked. Don’t think that this person is even a common face in games or film and television works. But in history, this person is famous for his bravery. During the Battle of Kyokōji, he attacked the various teams of the Hatakeyama clan with a small number of troops and made great contributions to Miyoshi Nagayoshi’s final victory.

Not to mention that when Kobayata was this age, he succeeded the Ataka clan as a son-in-law, used both kindness and force, unified the Ataka navy in a short time, and then attacked and killed the Kosai clan and captured Sumoto Castle by himself. The entire Osaka Bay Naniwa Tsunoki did not fly the flag of their Ataka navy on the surface of the water.

There were many famous generals in land warfare, horse and foot combat. Kobayata had seen famous generals like Uesugi Terutora and Takeda Harunobu, but in the Pacific Ocean, the Seto Inland Sea and the inland rivers, to be honest, how many people in Japan are stronger than Ataka Fuyuyasu! The Ataka ships were named after his surname, which shows his strength. (Perhaps there is one person that you are not familiar with, called Munakata Ujisada, the leader of the Munakata clan in northern Kyushu, who fought with the Ouchi clan for a long time. He once advised Tao Qingxian to guard against the Iyo Mishima Murakami during the Battle of Itsukushima, but the result was still cold.)

Everyone knows the ending of this person in history, and of course Kobayata knows it clearly. His life has begun to count down. Moreover, such a fierce person did not even leave a naval warfare book such as the Ataka Navy Warship Essentials. (There is no doubt that Ataka Fuyuyasu has a very high cultural literacy and a good level of Chinese and Chinese poetry. There is no problem in writing a book.)

Kobayata looked at those Japanese warships and only said haha, but I don’t need to be better than you, I just need to be not worse than you. Everyone is these paddle boats, and Kobayata is very familiar with this kind of naval warfare method—nothing. Now there is a big guy in front of him, and he must visit him no matter what.

With a plan in mind, he quickly told Chen San to take out a string of money and two small gold coins from the package.

Then he hurried to the front of the team that was escorting Ataka Fuyuyasu. The two foot soldiers who were leading the way raised their guns and were about to shoot. Xiao Pingtai shouted, "Wait a minute." Then he immediately handed the two foot soldiers a handful of dozens of coins, all of which were shiny and new Yamanouchi Yongle coins.

Seeing the money, the two foot soldiers did not take it, but looked at Xiao Pingtai and his group, and then asked Xiao Pingtai's purpose.

Xiao Pingtai was of course to visit Ataka Settsu no Kami Fuyuyasu, who was not only very brave, but also highly cultured, known as the "tea craftsman", and was proficient in waka, tea ceremony, painting, and Chinese poetry. At the same time, he was broad-minded, kind, loyal, and loved scholars.

Xiao Pingtai explained his purpose, and a foot soldier went back to report. The foot soldier found a samurai on horseback and pointed at Xiao Pingtai and muttered something. The leading samurai looked at Xiao Pingtai and quickly dismounted.

"Who are you and why do you want to see Settsu no Kami?"

"I can't bear it. How can a famous samurai be exposed in such a state?" Kobayata said to the samurai in a solemn and clear voice.

After hearing Kobayata's righteous words, the samurai looked reluctant. He obviously sympathized with Ataka Fuyuyasu, so he ordered the team to stop and rest. Then he waved his hand and asked Kobayata to visit Ataka Fuyuyasu, pretending that he didn't know.

As soon as Kobayata saw the man's appearance, he knew that he had made a good bet. Ataka Fuyuyasu was indeed a generous and kind person with a good reputation in the Miyoshi family. He was highly respected by the Miyoshi samurai. The words of defending Ataka Fuyuyasu really moved the samurai.

After the samurai said this, he turned around and found a flat place to sit down and rest. Kobayata hurriedly and quietly stuffed two small gold coins into the samurai. It's not a bribe or anything like that. You should always thank someone for doing you a favor. "A little money for tea and wine, please don't refuse." The samurai saw two gold coins worth nearly ten taels and made a slight refusal. He gathered his sleeves and took the gold in.

"Thank you!" After bowing, Kobayata brought a few followers and walked in front of Ataka Fuyuyasu. Aji and Tatsuzo dispersed the copper coins Kobayata took out and handed them one by one to the foot soldiers who escorted and carried Ataka Fuyuyasu.

Then they asked them to untie the ropes on Ataka Fuyuyasu's hands. The people escorting around, including the leading samurai, accepted Kobayata's money. Seeing that Kobayata didn't have any unusual movements to rob people, they pretended not to see it.

Ataka Fuyuyasu rubbed his wrists and shook his numb arms. He stood up, took two steps, and looked at Kobayata with a harmless smile on his face. "May I know your name?"

"I am the general of the Yamanouchi clan in Shinshu and the lord of Ejiri Castle, Tanjo Taitadatsuna. I have the honor to visit Ataka Settsu no Kami." Kobayata bowed his head slightly and narrated in a tone of admiration.

"I am just a criminal, no need to be polite. But Tanjo's great reputation is something that even I, a sailor in Setouchi, have heard of." Ataka Fuyuyasu was a little surprised to hear Kobayata's name. After all, it was not common for a high-ranking samurai of the Yamanouchi clan to appear in the territory of Izumi Province, so he looked Kobayata up and down.

"Since my late father did not fight, I have fought back and forth since I entered the government, but I have made some minor achievements, which are not worth mentioning. I wonder why Settsu no Kami has come to this point?" Kobayata is certainly not a proud person. What kind of identity is he as the head of the family of the Kinki overlord and the shogunate's kanrei Miyoshi clan? This man has good eyesight. If Kobayata doesn't behave well at this time, he might be regarded as arrogant.

"My brother has become increasingly cruel. Since my second brother died in the battle of Kumeda, he has been partial to treacherous people. As a minister, I naturally cannot sit idly by and watch. I have no choice but to risk my life to make strong remonstrations." When Ataka Fuyuyasu talked about this, it seemed to bring back sad memories. He had a deep relationship with his brother Miyoshi Nagayoshi.

Their father, Miyoshi Motonaga, was killed by Hosokawa Harumoto at a young age, when Ataka Fuyuyasu was only eight years old. The entire Awa Miyoshi family did not even have an adult man, and they were orphans and widows. Miyoshi Nagayoshi took up the family business that was about to wither at the age of fourteen, and took care of so many of his brothers and sisters. Ataka Fuyuyasu still had snot at the time. In his memory, the father whose brave name resounded throughout Kinki was only a shallow image. And Miyoshi Nagayoshi, the eldest brother, was really like a father, and worked hard to raise them, his brothers.

Now Miyoshi Nagayoshi began to trust his son-in-law Matsunaga Hisahide, and entrusted him with the important task of conquering Yamato and the political power within the Miyoshi family. How could Ataka Fuyuyasu bear it? The foundation of Shikoku was becoming increasingly chaotic due to the deaths of Miyoshi Saneki (Miyoshi Yoshitaka) and Juhe Kazumoto. Miyoshi Nagayoshi was gradually sinking, not showing the majesty of the Kinki hegemon, which made Ataka Fuyuyasu anxious in his heart.

Now, this man who strongly advised Miyoshi Nagayoshi was slandered by Matsunaga Hisahide as being dissatisfied with Miyoshi Nagayoshi, and then he was beaten and ordered to return to his country to reflect on himself.

Although Kobayata roughly understood the ending of the Miyoshi brothers, it was indeed a pity for this one. Not to mention his level in naval warfare, his other talents were also outstanding, and he was kind. But before long, due to various reasons, he would be unjustly killed. The last stronghold of the Miyoshi family would collapse with his unjust death, until it was completely destroyed in the end.

After listening to Ataka Fuyuyasu's narration, Kobayata could only sigh. Then he took out the rice ball and handed it to him, and opened the kettle. Ataka Fuyuyasu didn't refuse anything, maybe he was really a little hungry, and he ate it in big mouthfuls.

Kobayata took out another coat of his own and put it on Ataka Fuyuyasu.

Ataka Fuyuyasu clapped his hands and put on his clothes by himself.

"Thank you! I wish the military fortune of Tansho will last long!" Ataka Fuyuyasu bowed to Kobayata.

Then he was tied up again and sent away.

Ataka Fuyuyasu was getting further and further away, just like the national power of the Miyoshi family, which was deteriorating day by day.