Chapter 364 23. The Shocking Night of May 19th

It is May Day, the nineteenth day of late spring.

The flowers in Kyoto will fall and the greenery will become more abundant. Minamoto courtier Yamauchi Habayashi Shinshu Moriyoshi Shang is still in Kyoto and has just left the residence of the Shiro Ichijo clan.

One of Yamauchi Yoshiharu's lifelong wishes, to be appointed to the third position, finally succeeded. Yamauchi Yoshiharu, who had been friends with the public minister Ichijo clan and the conquest general Ashikaga clan for many years, worked together to become one of the extremely rare samurai daimyo to have three ranks.

Previously, only a few daimyo, such as the Mutsu Namioka (Kitahata) clan, the Tosa Ichijo clan, and the Ise Kitahata clan, were able to rank three or more. From then on, Yamauchi Yoshiharu could be directly promoted to the palace and became one of the ministers in the palace. It's not the kind of pheasant name that only has four names, plus the title of "Yunshengdian".

In terms of official positions, Yamauchi Yoshiharu, who has retired, and his eldest nephew Ashikaga Yoshiteru are considered equal.

Yamauchi Yoshikatsu's appointment as Major General Ukonoe was accomplished very early, and all his wishes for this trip were successful. Yamauchi Yoshikatsu was preparing to bid farewell to Ashikaga Yoshiteru and return home. After all, this trip had taken more than a month, and it was not good to be away from the country for too long.

…

"It's a worthwhile trip, Habayashi. I heard that the three envoys of Prime Minister Ren and Cong have already set off?" Ashikaga Yoshiki cordially pulled his brother.

Yamauchi Yoshikatsu thought that the imperial emissary should hurry up and go to Yamauchi. His father, Yamauchi Yoshiji, had finally been appointed to the third position. As long as the emissary read the edict, his father would lose at least a few hundred taels of gold. The emperor can take a little of this money, and the envoys can also take it.

What’s more, there are fine wines, delicious food, and local specialties from the mountains. This kind of good thing can't be obtained by other ministers. Anyone who is not stupid has already drifted into the mountains.

"Thanks to His Highness for working for my father, I, the Yamauchi clan, will definitely not dare to forget such kindness." Ashikaga Yoshiteru also played a role in the appointment of Yamauchi Yoshiharu as the third person.

"Every little thing is a trivial matter. The prime minister has been loyal to the shogunate for decades. This is what it should be."

The two cousins ​​were humble to each other, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. The ministers also paid compliments and flattered him.

Yamauchi Yoshikatsu now succeeded the Yamauchi clan as the family governor, and the shogunate's imperial accompaniment that the Yamauchi clan originally served also fell on his head, as well as the dismounted clan. How could the ministers, who were having a hard time, pass up this opportunity to flatter Yamauchi Yoshikatsu. Flattery wouldn't be enough, but they would definitely greet him with a smile.

It's hard to reject the hospitality, so Mr. Yamauchi Yoshikatsu has to deal with these ministers. Since everyone is under the same roof, there will be more opportunities to interact with each other in the future. Now that you support me, I also accept your love.

The other is the eldest brother-in-law Mibuchi Fujitaka. Because he married a good wife, the Yamauchi family's fortunes have risen, and Mibuchi Fujitaka has also taken advantage of the wind. In the shogunate, he is already a judge and is regarded as the real power of the shogunate.

And in order for him to take power and change his name, Ashikaga Yoshiteru may have betrayed the Yamauchi family to save face. Mibuchi Fujitaka has already confirmed that he will succeed Hosokawa and Izumi to protect the family. From now on, our Mibuchi Fujitaka will also be considered a member of the Hosokawa clan, the highest-ranking shogunate clan, with three officers leading one clan.

Perhaps the official branch of the Hosokawa clan, Hosokawa Harumiya, who is far away in the mountains, will be unhappy when he hears the news, that is, he has no more sons. Otherwise, it would be simple to send a son to the Kinai lineage.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru also knew that Yamauchi Yoshikatsu came to say goodbye, and now Shiba Yoshiki is Oda Nobunaga's puppet in Owari. Hatakeyama Takamasa was so beaten that he cowered in Kishu and did not dare to show his head. Hosokawa Harumoto had already lost the ball. He held a banquet, but there wasn't even a big green leaf person on the table. Yamauchi Yoshikatsu, this big green leaf, was going back to China, and he was actually very reluctant to part with it.

The banquet was very lively, and Ashikaga Yoshiteru gained control of Kyoto's huge financial resources because he temporarily controlled Kyoto. Nowadays, the finances are getting better day by day, and the ostentation is getting bigger.

Not only the most famous doctor Kougao in Kyoto was invited, but also other rakugo, Sarugaku, puppet and other literary and artistic workers were invited to the imperial palace. Be sure to let your little brother Yamauchi Yoshikatsu return home happily and fulfill his friendship as a landlord.

It lasted from afternoon to night, and when the candles were lit, Ashikaga Yoshiteru's banquet was finally over. Seeing that Yamauchi Yoshikatsu had been fed so much by the ministers that he was shaking when he walked, Ashikaga Yoshiki ordered his attendants to directly help Yamauchi Yoshikatsu to rest for a night at the imperial palace.

Everyone is envious. It is an honor to stay in the Imperial Palace of the Ashikaga General. That is to say, the loyal minister of the shogunate, the loyal minister among the loyal ministers, the first loyal minister, the most loyal minister, Yoshikatsu Yamauchi has this kind of treatment.

Hosokawa Fujitaka arranged for the guards to be on duty at night and walked out of the palace leisurely. As the eldest brother-in-law of Yamauchi Yoshikatsu, he was naturally the target of everyone's drinking. He also blocked a lot of wine for his brother-in-law. However, his "alcohol test" was a small scene and could not convince him at all.

Although he was a little intoxicated, Hosokawa Fujitaka was still very conscientious and conscientious. Since he was still serving as Luo Jing's fire fighter, he planned to visit the fire camp as usual.

As he walked, he felt something was wrong. There are always some chirping sounds in the night that should be quiet.

"Did you hear any noise?" Hosokawa Fujitaka casually looked at a fire fighter and asked casually.

"It seems to be the chirping of birds. It's a bit far away and can't be heard clearly." The fire hunter was not sure.

"Birdsong? Where did the birdsong come from at night?" Hosokawa Fujitaka looked in the direction of the sound.

The rows of houses block the view, making it difficult to see clearly even along the street. Fortunately, the town firefighters set up a lookout at the intersection of the streets. Hosokawa Fujitaka climbed up to the lookout and looked over.

In the distance, the temples and shrines outside the capital were looming, and the birds living in the mountains and temples and shrines were indeed flying non-stop, making chirping sounds.

"Is it going to rain heavily? No?" Hosokawa Fujitaka looked up at the sky. The moonlight was not very bright, but there were no clouds in the sky, so it should not rain.

Suddenly, a star of light as bright as a grain of rice appeared in the darkness in the distance. Hosokawa Fujitaka rubbed his eyes, as if to make him see more clearly, the star of light became bigger and bigger.

It was a torch for the march!

A huge wave of shock rose in his heart, and the alcohol was gone!

"It's a night attack! Night attack!"

The demeanor of the noble family of Hosokawa Fujitaka's military family was gone at this moment. He knew clearly that there were only 30 guards in the imperial palace, and 20 followers of Yamauchi Yoshikatsu.

The big bell of Kokubunji must be struck immediately to order the public servants in Luojing to enter the imperial palace.

And the more than 50 firefighters in Honmachi in front of him, holding sticks, and wearing uniform clothes. Although they were very panicked when they heard about the night attack, they did not scatter due to the organization they had built up over the past year, and they waited for orders.

"Koheita! Thank you!" Hosokawa Fujitaka had an idea.

The clappers on the observation tower rang out, and the sound spread from town to town. More than a thousand firefighters in Luojing heard Hosokawa Fujitaka's order to assemble.