I know that you are wary of the Nanman Cult, but now is the time to employ people, so please be tolerant and generous, so that you can attract the world's heroes to join you.
Kuroda Takataka and Konishi Yukinaga are both rare talents, and the Nanman Cult are also powerful collaborators. You cannot turn against them at this time."
Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded.
"I understand that I will reuse Kuroda Takaka. But I don't think she can replace you. She is not as loyal as you, nor as open-minded as you.
In short, she is far inferior to you."
Takenaka Shigeharu smiled.
"It is my great fortune in this life to receive such an evaluation from my lord, that I will die with no regrets, and to be able to be with you as my master.
As an alternative, I would like to ask you to accept the daughter of the Ukita Nao family and raise her as an adopted daughter.
Ukita Nao's family is seriously ill, and there is not much time left. At this moment, he is anxious and uneasy, fearing that after he dies, his daughter will follow his own path and drift like a rootless duckweed in troubled times.
If you can be kind to her daughter and treat your adopted daughter as your own, the Ukita Nao family will definitely help her sincerely, and the two countries will be settled."
Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded.
"I will personally interview the Ukita Nao family to show my sincerity.
If she is willing, I can advance Yuanfu for her daughter and give her daughter my own Xiuzi, Ukita Xiake, which sounds very good.
If she is still worried, I will give the name Miao to her daughter as well.
I am not married yet and have no children. If my adopted daughter is willing to marry me, I will treat her favorably. If I am with Hideyoshi Hashiba, Bizen will belong to her daughter and no one can take her away."
Takenaka Shigeharu smiled.
"I have always admired the Lord's ability to win over people, and I am not worried about it.
As long as you are willing to win over her, the Ukita Nao family will definitely believe and accept her. She is going to die soon, and she really has no choice but to trust you."
After talking about the two strategies, Takenaka Shigeharu seemed to relax, and the pent-up energy in his chest instantly dissipated. His hands immediately lost strength and could no longer hold Hashiba Hideyoshi's wrist.
Hashiba Hideyoshi quickly grabbed Takenaka Shigeharu's hand with his backhand. In just a moment, the flush on Takenaka Shigeharu's face faded and turned pale.
"Bakenakahime!"
Takenaka Shigeharu took a few deep breaths and forced a smile.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't see the day when you came to dominate the world. It's such a pity.
Lord, please continue your efforts and forge ahead, and you must win the world! The world!"
Hideyoshi Hashiba's face was filled with tears and he was choked with sobs and could not speak. He just kept nodding his head.
Takenaka Shigeharu coughed up another mouthful of blood foam, and then coughed violently as if he was being choked. Hideyoshi Hideyoshi didn't know what to do.
Hashiba Hideyoshi's hand was grabbed by Takenaka Shigeharu again, but this time the strength was weak and shaky.
Takenaka Shigeharu seemed to be using up his last strength and said weakly.
"Oda Nobunaga will not die well. You must make preparations in advance and replace him... Yoshigage Shiba... Shiba..."
Halfway through the words, Takenaka Shigeharu's eyes widened and he died.
Hideyoshi Hashiba closed his eyelids for her with tears in his eyes, and firmly grasped her hand that had dropped.
"I will win the world! Zhuzhongji, I promise you, I will win the world!"
———
Takenaka Shigeharu died young, and Hideyoshi Hashiba lost his arm. In grief, he held a large funeral. He spent a lot of money to invite the monks from the surrounding temples to come and perform rituals to see Takenaka Shigeharu off.
In the middle of the night, Hideyoshi Hashiba sat cross-legged on the throne and looked coldly at Takataka Kuroda in front of him.
When Kuroda Takataka persuaded the local samurai family to surrender, he was accidentally imprisoned and suffered mistreatment.
Not only was her left knee broken, she was also infected with moss due to the dampness in the dungeon, which made her look embarrassed.
The once high-spirited girl has now become a disfigured cripple, and her temperament has become much gloomier.
Having paid too many sunk costs, Kuroda Takaka became more and more utilitarian. She would not let herself suffer all these costs in vain. She must get more rewards.
Hashiba Hideyoshi was good at observing people's words and emotions, so he was naturally aware of Kuroda Takaka's changes in his mind and was a little more wary.
Takenaka Shigeharu's final advice was reasonable, and Hideyoshi Hideyoshi had to accept it.
Kuroda Takaka was extremely intelligent and familiar with the geography and culture of the Western Kingdom. She was the best counselor to assist Hashiba Hideyoshi in conquering the Western Kingdom, even more suitable than Takenaka Shigeharu himself.
No matter what Hashiba Hideyoshi thinks of Kuroda Takaka, now is the time to employ people, and she cannot ruin the overall situation of the expedition just for her personal tastes.
But tonight, Takaka Kuroda came to admonish him, but Hideyoshi couldn't help but get furious.
Hideyoshi Hashiba said expressionlessly.
"Bamboo Princess dedicated her whole life for me, shouldn't I give her a grand burial?"
Kuroda-hime, please don’t forget that it was Takenaka-hime who rushed to vouch for you when she was ill, so she begged the palace to save someone and saved your family.
Are you ungrateful?"
Kuroda Takaka bowed slightly and said solemnly.
"I should keep Takenaka-hime's kindness in my heart and never forget it.
But the Lord is giving her a grand burial at this time, which is not a good thing for her or for you.
You know the character of the main hall very well. Takenakahime is dead and she has no use value to the main hall.
As the general of the Western Kingdom, you are not immersed in military affairs, but you are wasting money and time for the beauty of Princess Zhuzhong. You are delaying the palace's strategy for the Western Kingdom. How can the palace be happy?
If this offends the main hall, changes course, or sends someone to urge you to constrain and supervise your actions, Takenaka Hime's strategy for the Western Kingdom that she has worked so hard to plan for you will have more variables.
Takenakahime’s spirit in heaven, is she willing to see this result?”
Hideyoshi Hashiba narrowed his eyes and said nothing.
Kuroda Takataka continued.
"Outside the army, there are always heroes who have unrealized ambitions and died midway, with their bodies wrapped in horse leather. It is a common practice in the army to keep everything simple. The Lord must turn grief and anger into strength, so that the dead can rest in peace.
Today, Harima Kingdom is still unstable. Although the Akamatsu and Urakami families submit to the Oda family in words, they secretly have constant correspondence with the Mori family.
The days of the Ukita Nao family in Bizen were short. She used conspiracy to seize and suppress Bizen and Bizen. The local samurai feared her but did not love her. The rule of the Ukita family was not popular among the people.
For the current plan, it is best to stabilize the hearts of Harima and Bizen as soon as possible, press the front line to the Bichung line, and be careful of the attacks that may come from the Mori family at any time.
Fortunately, the Shiba family was on the front line of San'in to assist in the battle, so there was no need to worry about the Maori army's outflanking on the flanks, which saved a lot of thought and effort.
Preparing for China is the bottom line that Maori cannot give in.
The Ukita Nao family was full of cunning and scheming. They teamed up with the Maori family to eliminate the Mimura family who had prepared China, and then turned back to cooperate with the Oda family. The Maori family was betrayed by the Ukita Nao family, and they must be unwilling to accept it.
Behind Bizhong is Bingo country. Ashikaga Shogun opened his palace in Tomon in Bingo country. This is an important political place that the Maori family must protect.
Therefore, the Maori family will never give up preparing for China and will take action soon.
The Ukita Nao family's time is running out and they are no longer able to control the situation. We need to reach an agreement with her as soon as possible to stabilize the Ukita family's territory in Bizen and Bizhong.
But you, at this time when every second counts, hide in front of Takenaka Hime's soul and feel miserable.
Takenakahime’s spirit in heaven also hopes that you can cheer up as soon as possible and will recognize my suggestions. I also believe that you will never let Takenakahime down.
Please, Lord, make a decision as soon as possible!"
Chapter completed!