Chapter 61: The Help of the Zhongyuan Family (Seeking Recommendations)

  After a few days of rest, the Kirishima samurai had adapted to the environment near Lake Biwa and the Uji River. The geography of this area was similar to that of the Yakabe River and Toyokawa River plains, with abundant water resources and well-developed fishing and water transportation industries. The only difference was that the land in Omi was more fertile and produced more goods. It didn't take long for these samurai from Mikawa to grow fond of life here.

  Kirishima Mitsumaru specially brought the Mabiki troops to watch the training of Saigō and Mikawa samurai. After several days of grinding, the two armed forces from different places and backgrounds gradually produced a tacit understanding. The combat effectiveness of the Mikawa samurai was also not to be underestimated. Recognizing their weaknesses, they strengthened their training in formation attacks and group coordination. Several ashigaru generals also took this opportunity to successfully establish their leadership.

  In the Sakamoto Gosho Bekkan, Ogawa Kuniyasu, Isshiki Naotaka, Settsu Sadatsune and Suganuma Sadanao were seated in a row. Directly opposite them sat Kiryu Kanematsu and Nakajo Hidetaka. After careful consideration of the special nature of the Mikawa vassals, Kiryu Kanematsu decided to divide the Mikawa vassals on the basis of their existing clear distinctions.

  "Gathered here today is to discuss the reorganization of the Mikawa vassals. This proposal is a draft plan prepared by our house, please take a look." Yoshida Mitsumasa nodded with his eyes, and several attendants handed out several copies.

  Regarding the issue of reorganizing the Mikawa samurai, he had already been brewing it in his mind for a long time. The strength of Nishi-Mikawa and Higashi-Mikawa was unbalanced, and both factions were powerful families with strong family ties. If this opportunity is not taken to solve the problem once and for all, allowing them to develop will inevitably form new military groups, which will have an adverse impact on the control of the Kira family over the Mikawa samurai.

  The content of this plan is actually very simple, dispersing the main body of the two factions and three rivers of the public, and reorganizing them according to a new system. Part of the things were evenly mixed into the hands of four foot soldiers, with each foot soldier averaging 135 people, and from then on, they no longer appeared in the name of the east-west-three-rivers public, but with a new name called Akabito or Akabitowarrior group.

  ōkawa Kōki and Isshiki Naoharu exchanged a glance, then chimed in unison: "I, ōkawa (Naoharu), concur with the Master's plan!"

  "I, Teitō (Sadashige), also agree!" The two ashigaru generals from Tōsandō also expressed their support afterwards.

  "Alright, then let's leave it to these four to carry out personally!" Kiryu Mitsumatsu smiled and nodded, watching the four people retreat silently.

  Two of the most powerful daimyos in Mikawa Province, who were not hereditary vassals of the Matsudaira clan but rather allies, were Honda Tadakatsu and Ii Naomasa. They were naturally expected to support the decision of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

  The two daimyos of the Eastern Mikawa region, Settsu Sadatsugu and Suganuma Tadanao, did not oppose him either. Although they were from outside the Kira family system, as long as they accepted the favors of Kira Yoshinaka, they had no choice but to be drawn into the Kira family's chariot. If they did not accept Kira Yoshinaka's appointment, it would have been all right, but once they accepted it, they had to obey Kira Yoshinaka's orders; otherwise, they would only have an isolated fate.

  Regardless of their origin, from the moment they followed the Kira family out of Mikawa, they were consciously or unconsciously bound to the Kira family. Especially since they all came from either the main branch or a side branch of a powerful clan, they had ambitions to achieve great things. If they didn't listen to the Kira family's orders and were sent back to Mikawa, it would be unbearable for them. Moreover, as warriors, they valued their family's reputation above all else, and anything that might tarnish it was unthinkable. Other than following orders, there was no better option.

  This time, the reorganization work of the Mikawa samurai was personally planned by Yoshida Mitsumaru and executed by four ashigaru generals. The plan directly intervened in the appointment of the next batch of heads and group leaders, and many powerful hereditary vassals of the Yoshida family emerged, greatly strengthening the Yoshida family's control over the Mikawa samurai.

  Kiriu Banshōmaru glanced slightly, and from start to finish, Nakajō Hidetaka didn't say a word, his expression stiff as he sat still in the same place. "Hmph," Kiriu sighed, "This result is indeed not beyond my expectations. The newly-born Akatsuki will become another fist for our household, it's just that I owe an apology to Nakajō Hidetaka..."

  Nishi Mikawa samurai were appointed by Kira Yoshinaka as his trusted vassals, and next was to appease the Tōtōmi samurai. In comparison, Nakajō Hidetada, who belonged to Nishi Mikawa, became an awkward position, he was destined not to be assigned a practical post, but also could not be ignored, which would only lead to loss of people's hearts.

  In order to win over and appease the vassals of the Chō family, he deliberately elevated the status of Chō Hidetaka, appointing him as the deputy general of Saigō Tsugiyori, serving under Yamamoto Kansuke, with an annual stipend of 500 kanmon. Within the two major systems of Saigō and Akaboshi, his overall ranking was second only to Yamamoto Kansuke, making him a high-ranking official in third place.

  The name sounds good, but the actual power is not even a bit. Of course, it's not because he served as Sanyo Kan no Suketsune's assistant, and there was no chance for him to intervene with any power. It's just that Nakajo Hidetaka had absolutely no chance at all, because Kira Yoshinaka directly called him to his side as a deputy officer, what hope did he have of grasping power?

  Perhaps there will still be dissatisfied voices coming out internally, but they are destined to fail because there is a powerful Saito waiting on the side, and no one dares to make trouble. Moreover, Fukuba's ability to gather intelligence is not something to be underestimated, and any signs of trouble can be detected in time, minimizing the risk of internal problems.

  Just as the problem here was settled, a person from the Nakaniwa family arrived. It was the young man who had received him at the gate of the Nakaniwa family, named Nakaniwa Asayuki, a member of the Nakaniwa family's branch house. He brought a letter from Nakaniwa Tsunetami.

  "Does the elder's intention mean supporting our household's actions?" Kiryū Manzaburou looked at the letter, then lifted his head and glared at Chūin Tomomichi.

  "Yes! The young lord highly agrees with Lord Kira's opinion and has ordered me to accompany Lord Kira to Sakai town."

  Kirishima Mantsumaru nodded in understanding, feeling quite surprised by the letter from Chūin Michizane. He had never exchanged a word with this cousin, yet he was directly expressing his support through a letter. What's more surprising was that he sent Chūin Asamichi to accompany him to Sakai-machi, citing his mother's hometown, the Sanjō Nishi family having maintained close ties with Tennojiya in Sakai since the time of Michizane. Gathering any information in Sakai would be easy with the help of Tsuda Munemitsu from Tennojiya.

  Kira Yoshinaka, who had been left to his own devices by the outside world, chose to accept this calmly. Accompanied by a small group of close retainers and twenty mounted samurai, he set off in a boat on Lake Biwa, entering the Uji River and then the Yodo River, heading for Sakai-chō. On this trip, he brought only Nakatomi Hidetaka, a non-Kira retainer, showing his special consideration for him.

  This time, among the thirty close associates he brought along, for the first time, he took Takigawa Keijirō and Honda Tadakatsu. These two future powerful generals were quite eccentric, as they were five years apart in age and shouldn't have been able to play together, but they insisted on playing together and their relationship was closer than that of biological brothers. They stuck together day and night, even making Honda's own brother, Honda Tadamasa, a bit jealous.

  Note: The journey to Sakaimachi is about to begin. This trip will allow you to come into contact with many characters, and the protagonist will also gain a lot!

  Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, Wumei wishes everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and reunion with family!