"Uncle, what does this long letter say?"
"Oh! It's about so changes in the situation, a few major events... a dramatic change in the Shogunate, truly a tumultuous autumn for the world!..."
Great rchant Mori no Kiyoshi held the letter, calming his turbulent emotions. He took a few deep breaths before solemnly speaking to Kaozaki Mitsuhiro.
"The first major event is that the eleventh General of the Expedition, fourteen-year-old Ashikaga Yoshikao, has formally taken the throne in the Capital City. His governance is aided by the esteed 'Lady Odate,' the wife of the eighth Generation General, with Hosokawa Masamoto as the Shogunate leader. Envoys from families around the Capital Region have participated in the ceremony, thus acknowledging the new General's position!..."
"Uh? Uncle, isn't the tenth General Yoshizumi in the pri of his life? I only heard last year that General Yoshizumi subdued the Omi Guardian Hexagonal High Lai, and the Shogunate showed signs of resurgence... how did the General change so suddenly this year? Did General Yoshizumi die suddenly?"
"Mitsuhiro, the news you know is correct, just sowhat outdated... Last spring, General Yoshizumi raised an army of tens of thousands to dispatch against the River Guardian Hosokawa Ji Family, while Hosokawa Masamoto remained in the Capital City. The Shogunate Army's front line was thriving, but Hosokawa Masamoto staged a coup in the Capital City, rallying under Lady Odate's banner and supporting Ashikaga Yoshikao, causing chaos in the Capital Region once again!..."
At this point, great rchant Mori no Kiyoshi sighed deeply. He foresaw the signs of turmoil in the Capital City early on, which led him to slip away to Wakasa Nation to observe the situation, while helping an old friend fulfill a final wish... However, the outco in the Capital City exceeded his expectations. The seemingly powerful tenth General was like a paper lantern, pierced easily!
"Buddha! I thought General Yoshizumi, holding the army and the General's title, would smoothly return to quell the coup... Unexpectedly, the news from the Capital City revealed that the Shogunate army dispersed in a day. The tenth General instead stood isolated, falling into the hands of the Kyoto Hosokawa Family. While Hosokawa Masamoto beca the leader, deposing Shogunate Generals and taking control of Shogunate governance... This is indeed comparable to the 'Myo-o Incident' of 'Shooting the King in the Shoulder'! From now on, the Shogunate's decrees may not extend beyond the Capital Region!..."
"Shooting the King in the Shoulder?..."
"Oh! It's a Spring and Autumn period reference, referring to 'Zheng Zhuanggong shooting the Emperor of Zhou with an arrow.' From then on, the Emperor of Zhou lost his majesty, leading to chaos among the countries, heralding the arrival of the Spring and Autumn Warring States! And the Shogunate's current situation seems similar, likely heading towards the Warring States!"
"A Spring and Autumn period story? Ancestors! That was old news from two thousand years ago... Back then, our Takeda clan's Minamoto ancestors should have co across the sea from the Wu State, right?..."
Kaozaki Mitsuhiro widened his eyes, clearly having never heard of this historical reference from the Spring and Autumn annals. However, in the Muromachi Era and Japan's prestigious family records, many would ntion the 'noble ancestral origins of the Ji clan,' and recount the 'deeds of ancestors who crossed the sea.' They indeed regarded pre-Spring and Autumn Celestial Empire's history as their own.
As for the current tis, the Muromachi Era influenced by Tang is drawing to a close. The rising generation of Martial Families all wield swords and bows, no longer reading Tang books. At present, Kaozaki Mitsuhiro's mind is a jumble. With the General's Family changing like a revolving lantern, whom should this Martial Family swear allegiance to?
"Buddha! In just five years, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh... the Shogunate has changed four Generals? Uncle, is the tenth General Yoshizumi still alive? Did he formally announce his abdication?"
"Oh, this is the second major event regarding the tenth General's movents! Initially captured by the Hosokawa Clan, the tenth General Yoshizumi was set to announce his abdication... Yet, a month after capture, inexplicably, General Yoshizumi escaped from the Capital City! He fled all the way to Central Yuezhi, seeking refuge in the territory of the deceased Hosokawa Masanaga, before summoning martial families from various regions for allegiance... The latest news indicates Hosokawa Masamoto's punitive force lacked support from martial families and was defeated by Shenbao Changcheng in Central Yuezhi..."
"It appears to be another situation with two Generals in coexistence! Shouldn't it beco like the Southern and Northern Dynasties period again... No, the prestige of Ashikaga General's Family has diminished to the extre, making the formation of two Samurai groups impossible... What follows will be the tumultuous rise of heroes and prominent figures!"
Mori no Kiyoshi let out another long sigh. The Capital City is forever the epicenter of chaos, and with the Shogunate in flux, a Kyoto rchant like him certainly cannot prosper!
Not to ntion the chaos surrounding the Capital City, with various trades swiftly dwindling, alongside the extortion of guardians. The waning Shogunate authority ans Kyoto rchants like him can no longer leverage the "Kyoto Tiger Skin" as effectively during travels. It might an even the naplate of 'Miao Fa Temple Monk' won't be as useful!...
"Buddha knows the future! If a great tree withers, how can the vines relying on it fare well? The cunning rabbit has three burrows, aside from this one of the Kaozaki Family... I must carefully think about where else I can leave a retreat!..."
The news from the Capital City is enough to keep Mori no Kiyoshi tossing and turning at night. But for Kaozaki Mitsuhiro, far away in Ezo land, it seems more like a distant tale. He only worried about the chaos within the General's Family for a mont, before curiously inquiring again.
"Uncle! Besides the two major matters in the General's Family... are there any other significant changes in the world? My father often says I know too little about the world's major events. I've seen too few heroes in the world... Uncle, you have broad insights, perhaps you can guide a little?"
"Ah, major events and heroes in the world? Let think, aside from Hosokawa leader controlling governance and General Yoshizumi fleeing to Central Yuezhi... the third major event is the change of family head in the Ouchi clan. Ouchi Masahiro fell ill and abdicated, succeeded by Yoshiaki Ouchi as the family head!"
"You must know, the Ouchi clan is guardian of the Six States, the strongest Daimyo in the Western Country! Only the Ouchi clan in the entire world can truly match the Kyoto Hosokawa Clan in strength! If General Yoshizumi doesn't wish to concede and aims to reclaim Shogunate power, other Daimyo don't asure up, only the Ouchi Family may... "
"Ah! The strongest Daimyo in the Western Country, the Ouchi clan? Uncle, have you t this Yoshiaki Ouchi? Does he possess an extraordinary appearance?"
"Oh! I've t this man! He is quite a formidable character, with an appearance like that of a hawk! With such a figure, no matter how chaotic the Western Country gets, he is likely to resolve them one by one... Moreover, this gentleman's subordinates include many capable heroes! Such as Nizi Jingjiu, the family head of the Nizi Clan."
"Eighteen years ago, I t him in the Capital City. He was a hostage there; at first sight, I thought his appearance remarkable, specifically sent many gifts, which can be considered forming good karma!"
Mori no Kiyoshi's eyes twinkled, recalling another Western Country hero he t, "The Wolf of Yun State," Nizi Jingjiu. His appearance resembled that of the one from Ryuzoji Temple! The Western Country seems always to produce these formidable figures, but as for the Eastern Country...
"Alas! The previously powerful Shogunate leader Shiba Clan has thoroughly declined with no heroes at all! Yuanjiang Country was taken by Jinchuan Clan, Echizen Country by the Asakura family, only the last Owari Country remains. Yet the Oda Clan of Owari Country has increasingly thrived in recent years, likely soon to claim the position of Owari Guardian..."
"As for Kanto Governor Uesugi Xianding, he has released news for alliance with Koga Kubo... intending to adopt Sagami Ashikaga's second son, naming him Uesugi Kenshi, and establish him as the next inheritor of Mountain Uesugi family! After strife lasting since Changxing era, shouldn't the divided Uesugi family finally decide the victor?"
"Oh, and your clan's Kai Takeda Clan is embroiled in constant internal conflicts. The newly appointed family head Takeda Nobushige is fighting against his brother, while Jinchuan Clan is eyeing them from outside... anwhile, Date Family seems to have experienced another civil strife..."
"The entire Eastern Country is in chaos with no discernable hero! No, no! Recently, there appears to be a seasoned old general from Jinchuan Clan, originally known for nothing, who has now made a na for himself in Kanto, suddenly rising to prominence!"
"An old general from Jinchuan Clan? Suddenly rising to prominence?"
"Indeed! A very unexpected person, older than !"
Mori no Kiyoshi's face brightened as he spoke of this, thoroughly engaged in the topic. Not for anything but because this "old general" is truly robust and overly legendary, akin to Huang Zhong from the "Three Kingdoms."
"Haha! This story is also a legend!... Last year, the two General's contention in the Capital City reached Ueno Country, inciting Horikoshi Gongfang to deploy his forces, leading to a vacancy in Izu Country..."
"As a result, an old minister of Jinchuan Clan, flying the banner of supporting the eleventh Generation General, astonishingly stord into Izu with rely a few hundred troops!... In just a month, he managed to take the entire Izu Peninsula and appeared to have consolidated his position, controlling the situation!"
"You have to understand, this old general is over sixty years old, yet still battles, charging overnight! Truly envious physical prowess, a blessing from Buddha!"
"Oh! Over sixty years old, the sa age as father, yet still able to battle? This is truly... incredible Buddhist Law!... Are there truly heroes in the world deed 'old but strong'? Uncle, what is his na?"
"Let think... He seems to be from the Ise Family, nad sothing like 'Shinjuro'… Yes! 'One of the many sons of Ise Family,' Ise Shinjuro!"
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