Nagano Yegu stamped his feet, patted the snow off his shoes, and congratulated the boy next to him: "Happy New Year, Morijiro!"
"Happy New Year Heita!" Nobuzada Obata tightened her collar and breathed out a sigh of relief as she warmed her hands. The wind and snow in the North were far colder than they imagined. The snow-capped scenery of Naoejin reminded them of the winter in their hometown. The same wind
In the snowy winter, Echigo, which is close to the sea, is warmer than Ueno, which is among the mountains.
The two of them took off their samurai costumes, put on sheepskin robes and bamboo hats to block the increasingly heavy snowfall, and stepped on the thick snow towards the Kasuga Mountain Castle with hope. However, their good mood did not last long before they were guarded.
The Nagao family samurai blocked the gate.
The few warriors guarding the city gate were also wrapped in fur coats. They seemed to know the two young men, so they said politely: "You two, please go back! There will be no outsiders in Kasugayama Castle during the Spring Festival."
"We would like to see His Highness the Governor, please let me know!" Nagano Yegu stretched out his hand and took out a money bag, containing about twenty or thirty Yongle coins, and said with a smile: "It's hard enough for the New Year's Eve people to stand guard, buy some
A few bowls of chicken soup to warm you up, could you please tell me something?"
"...Okay! I'll give it a try." The warrior weighed his money bag, glanced at his companion, then turned and walked into the door. The other warrior ordered: "You guys wait here, don't leave if anyone comes or goes.
Don't make things difficult for us by blocking the road and causing trouble."
"Okay! You guys are busy first." Nagano Yegu took Obata Nobuzada and walked to the Otemon gate and stood there.
The boy from the Obata family stomped the snow on his feet and muttered: "The rules of the Nagao family are really big! We need to be informed before we can enter."
Nagano was so calm that he explained with a smile: "Be patient. We are outsiders when we come to Echigo. We should be controlled in every way. But don't forget that you brought two hundred red samurai and put them in other places."
The daimyo would never let so many people cross the border."
"How did Morijiro know this trick?"
"What can we do without being prepared when we go out? When we were wandering around the streets these days, I had already inquired about it. Ever since Wu Weiden came to Echigo, the laws of the Wu family have been very strict, but there are still some ways to adapt. For example, we
It's a conflicting matter like the two of you asking to see the palace leader. It can be handled with a little favor..."
Kobata Nobuzada was dissatisfied: "I think this is a sign of laxity, right? Shouldn't samurai be willing to be poor and not even look down upon wealthy businessmen and farmers? How can they be considered qualified samurai if they are so profit-loving?
?”
Nagano Yegu smiled and said: "What's so strange about this! This Wuweidian attaches great importance to laws and rules, but he also approves of samurai improving their quality of life. According to my observation, samurai in Echigo can drink fresh soup almost every day, isn't it?
Chicken soup is just fish soup. They are better off than us city lords. With such good treatment, it is no wonder that they are all in good spirits and have bright eyes."
Kobata Nobuzada looked at his companions with disbelief, smacked his lips and said, "I can't tell. Is Morijiro still an admirer of the Wuweidian?"
"It's human nature to worship the strong, right? It's not against the law anyway, as long as I still remember that I am a samurai of the Nagano family..." Before Nagano Yegu could finish his words, he heard a rumbling vibration.
He looked up and looked down at a group of cavalry in red armor rushing up from the street at the foot of the mountain. The townspeople hawking along the way knelt down and saluted the samurai.
"It's the Akabi Cavalry of the Kira family!" Nobuzada Kobata stared at the leading samurai with wide eyes. "Takigawa Keijiro" was written on a flag behind the bloody spear.
"This is the Akabi Cavalry! The invincible division that is so powerful in Kinki, they are the ones who will fight together in Kawanakajima to defeat the Kakutora." Nagano Yagaku can understand his mentality. The name Akabi is very popular, and the five colors of the Hojo family are
There is Akabe in Beili, and the Ohata Party in Ueno is also Akabe. I heard that the Takeda family is also engaged in Akabe.
The names are the same, but prestige and strength cannot be equated. All the family members of the Kohata Party put together only have five hundred red horse warriors. Among them, Kobata Nobuzada's own family has two hundred knights, all of which were given to him by his father. Kobata Nobuzada is familiar with his family background.
Sada could tell at a glance how sophisticated the Kira family's chibei were.
"That person is Takikawa Keijiro Tokimasu, he is about the same age as me and has already become a famous general..." Nobuzada Obata didn't know what expression he should use better.
"There will always be some unexpected strong men emerging from the sky, so don't think too much about it..."
…
"That man just now is from Ueno, right? He looks familiar." Shima Tokikatsu rode on horseback with a square bamboo bow on his back, and a bunch of hares hanging on the horse's back. The wild birds didn't care at all about the incredulous looks of the townspeople.
, in the words of the Kira family samurai, this is called hawk hunting to inspect the prey. Anyway, as long as you can't see me eating it, who dares to say that we eat meat?
"No matter who he is, he's still a guy who was stabbed to death by my blood gun Jiulang!"
Takigawa Tokiyoshi turned around and cursed with a smile: "You just know how to poke people, so you will never become a famous general."
Nagasaka Nobumasa was unhappy when he heard this. He held his head and said: "What are you talking about? Why can't I be a famous general? Isn't it just luck that killed an old man? I want to kill one!"
Shima Tokikatsu was basically immune to these two living treasures, and was thinking to himself: "Does Keijiro remember the mounted samurai he saw last time? The leader of that group of samurai seems to be that boy."
"That's right!" Takigawa Tokihitsu said with a slap on the head: "When you mentioned it, I suddenly remembered that there is such a group of people, they also seem to be called Chibei?"
"Are those people called Chibei? Release them and let's practice. Regardless of whether they are fighting on horseback or on foot, we can knock them all down without using real people." Nagasaka Nobumasa glanced at the invisible door with disdain, feeling proud.
He said: "In an infantry battle, I, the Blood Spear Nine, can defeat one against twenty. In a horse battle, I can also defeat one against ten."
"You're bragging and you're one against ten."
"Let me tell you! Are you looking for trouble today? Don't you want us to practice? I, Blood Gun Kuro, am not afraid of you!"
"Hmph! Don't get beaten like a dead pig then!"
"That dead dog is no better!"
…
Echigo's half-month-long New Year's Eve banquet is just the beginning. Yesterday, on the first day of the New Year, I received a bunch of congratulatory gifts from the countrymen. They were all worthless country rituals, mainly to express their obedience to the rulers of Echigo.
Today's banquet is the highlight. All the samurai who can drink in Echigo are here, including Kakizaki Keie, Murakami Yoshikiyo and others who are far away in Northern Shinano. If they dare to come back, they will be sure to ensure that Yukitaka Sanada will not cause trouble.
After a large-scale reshuffle last year, the people of Shinano, who belong to the Nagao side, have become much more honest. Although the people of Shinano have the attribute of remembering to eat but not to fight, they are not really stupid. The death of so many people is enough to scare them.
After not daring to move for several years, even if Yukitaka Sanada had a strong head and six arms, he would not have a chance to make adjustments for a while.
Last winter, there was a heavy snowfall that lasted for half a month, blocking all roads in Shinano. Takeda Nobushige led the Takekawa people back to Kai to celebrate the New Year. Sanada Yukitaka was unable to support himself alone, so he could only stay in his territory to celebrate the New Year peacefully.
"Gentlemen, grab your wine!" I raised my glass with a red face, and suggested: "We wish your lord, Wuwei-den, happiness, longevity and good health, and wish me prosperity in Echigo!"
"...Wish me prosperity in Echigo!"
At the banquet, the two samurai families were finally able to sit together and have a drink. Compared to previous years, when Nagao Kagetora took the lead in drinking, he just sat with him for a while, drinking tea instead of wine, and then he and Kira Yoshitoki stood up and left.
It is impossible to expect to have a full meal at a banquet. If you want to be full, you have to wait for the special stove to be opened.
Nagao Kagetora walked very fast. Soon he was a few steps behind Kiragi. As soon as he reached the castle tower, he let out a deep breath and said, "It's really hard to watch other people drinking but not being able to drink myself!"
Kira Yoshihi asked the younger brother to prepare some food, then sat down with a smile and said: "Drinking is harmful to the body, especially since my brother has a cold disease and must not drink at all... How was the recuperation last year? How was the old illness?"
"It has gotten much better, and now I can fight wild boars with my bare hands! But Mr. Nagata said that this is not enough, and he will recuperate for half a year this year! I really can't understand it!" Nagao Kagetora's wide eyes were filled with helplessness.
.
"As long as the body is healthy..." Kira Yoshihi said with a smile: "By the way! I haven't congratulated my brother on his promotion to the fifth rank of Shobi!"
Except for some special circumstances of supplementary appointments, the imperial court's promotion system was set early, so there will be a collective promotion in the imperial court during the first few days of the year. For example, Nagao Kagetora was promoted to the fifth position this time.
The result of a long process of preparation.
"I am the fifth-ranked person, don't you just care about your face? Otherwise, as a daimyo from a distant country, I might not be able to make any further progress in my life." Nagao Kagetora didn't mind taking advantage of his brother-in-law, and said with a smile:
"It's you! You're only sixteen now, and you're already the governor of Zuobingwei. You should be given an official title this time, right?"
"Yes! It's the general of the garrison."
"General of the Guard House? This is not..." Nagao Kagetora's expression changed, and he swallowed back half of his words.
The tutelary general is the most famous official position of the samurai family. As early as the Nara period, Sakanoue Tamuramaro served as the tutelary general. Since then, both Minamoto and Taira clans have held this position. The Kawachi Minamoto clan has Minamoto Yorinobu and Minamoto Yoriyoshi.
Three generations of the Minamoto no Yoshi family were responsible for the war, and the prisoners of Oshu were pacified in the battles of the first nine years and the last three years.
More recently, Ashikaga Takauji and the Kitahata family have also served as tutelary generals. Since the end of Ashikaga Naotou's last term, no one has held this position in the past two hundred years, but now Kiragi has added it.
What do you want to do with this position?
"Does His Highness have no doubts?"
"There will definitely be! It's just that I didn't say it out loud!" Kira Yoshishi smacked his lips indifferently and said with a smile: "My family once swore a solemn oath in front of His Highness Gongfang to always be loyal to His Highness Gongfang and to his descendants.
, His Highness must not be able to express any questions he has!"
In March last year, a wedding brought half of the court's famous ministers to the place, and they even performed a piece of Sarugaku music from "Night Run". After the wedding, the court and shogunate spectators were left in Kasugayama Castle to eat, drink, and worship more than one person.
During this period, he and Fujitaka Hosokawa participated in several Japanese singing performances. Before sending these noble people back to the capital, they prepared gifts worth several hundred guan for each of them.
At the beginning of winter this year, Echigo's envoys brought eight hundred taels of silver, three thousand Yongle coins, and one thousand candles to Kyoto to pay homage to the imperial court. The shogunate, the imperial court, and the shogunate all had to remember his loyalty, even Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
What can I do if I have any ideas?
Today's shogunate dare not say how wealthy it is. At least there is no shortage of food and drink. However, it is difficult to use the shogunate's income to raise soldiers, especially elite soldiers. The shogunate still has in its hands what is left of more than three years ago.
More than a thousand remnants.
The reason is that the shogunate is unwilling to lose its position, and the ronin samurai look down upon it. The public support of local daimyo has basically been swallowed up. Now we are in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat. Without soldiers and power, we still cannot do without the support of daimyo such as Hatakeyama and Rokkaku.
It is as if a premature baby born with stunted growth would hardly rise up suddenly like Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and single-handedly unify the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru had many ideas, but most of them lacked the feasibility of implementation and sufficient execution power. In the past, when Kira Yoshiki was there, he could still use his "talent", but now Kira Yoshihiro has gone to remote Echigo and has not come back.
Even if Ashikaga Yoshiteru knew that he had some ideas, he couldn't ask. He could only hold his anger in his stomach.
"The leader of the palace, Ogasawara Shinano, the guardian of the palace, please deal with it as soon as possible!"
"Yes! I will certainly do it!" Kira Yoshi had a faint smile on his face.
…
This year's snowfall is more than in previous years. During the day, the town residents organized voluntarily to clear the snow on the roads. Children ran around the streets with small lanterns, occasionally bumping into passing pedestrians and looking embarrassed.
Whenever this happens, pedestrians will always stop and show a relieved smile, gently stroke the child's head and say something careful, and then leave quickly with a smile on his face.
There are almost no familiar expressions in Echigo. There is no sorrow or numbness. The eyes are bright and energetic, and everyone exudes a vibrant spirit. It seems that there is some motivation to support them in exuding this positive force.
…
"And this power is called hope!"
Xiaobata Nobuzada asked doubtfully: "Hope?"
Nagano Yegu stopped and looked at an old man accompanying his little granddaughter to the lantern festival. He said with emotion: "Yes! What I saw and heard was the word 'hope'! Only hope can
It will make people work hard from the bottom of their hearts. They will move forward lightly without carrying heavy burdens. They believe that the king will lead them to a better future. This is something that our Ueno country, even the entire Kanto, and the entire world does not have... Heita, you know me
What are you thinking of now?"
"You want to stay in Echigo?"
"No! I was thinking, if one day we can become the retainers of Wu Wei Palace, how happy it would be!"
"What did you say?" Kobata Nobuzada looked at his companions in disbelief. After a while, he smiled again: "The laws of the Wuweidian family are very strict, right? Are you planning to give up the land that you have held for generations? Don't say stupid things!
"
"I'm not saying something stupid." Nagano Yoshigu said seriously: "I suddenly feel that the only one who can put an end to today's troubled times is Wu Weiden."
"You are still saying that you are not stupid. Are we supposed to think about pacifying the troubled times? Think carefully about why the governor is worried!" Nobuzada Obata feels that this little friend has been possessed since he came to Echigo, and he talks about it every day.
Thinking about how good Echigo is, I almost get tired of hearing the words "Buweiden".
"I don't know Wu Weiden's attitude, maybe he is just trying to be patient..." Nagano Yoshigu said hesitantly.
…
Ogasawara has been very melancholy for a long time. In the past year, he has been living in the imperial palace in Naoetsu with delicious food. Every ten days and a half, he goes to Kasugayama Castle to participate in the evaluation meeting and shows his face. His own role is unlimited to the mascot.
change.
Every time his two sons came home and talked excitedly about the day's training, they would make him realize the huge changes in Echigo. What worried him even more was the attitude of Kira Yoshitomo. The retainers complained to him many times about the Kira family.
The lack of respect for them shows that the weight of the Ogasawara family is rapidly declining.
After a few days of contemplation, Ogasawara put on his long gown and said to his wife: "For the sake of the Ogasawara family's family business, I must do something! I must not stay silent like this! I must ask Meibu Weiden's true attitude!"
When Ogasawara Nagatoro hurried to Kasugayama Castle, there was also a fierce argument on the other side of the imperial palace. Uesugi Kenmasa and his family leader Nagao Toucho were furious in the argument. Neither of them was willing to give in, making the scene very tense.
Awkward.
After a long confrontation, the Kanto Governor said angrily: "He actually asked me to pass the Kanto Governorship to his main wife! This is simply a great shame and humiliation for our Uesugi family! Letting a woman become a daimyo is already the number one thing in my family.
This has never happened in a hundred years, and it is even more impossible for Kanto to take charge! I will never compromise!"
Nagao sighed, and advised with a sad face: "My lord! You should look away! This woman is not an ordinary person, she is the main wife of the Wuwei Palace, the adopted daughter of the Konoe family, her status is extraordinary, how can
She is still the princess of the Nagao family, this one represents the face of the Kira family and the Konoe family, so why should we care about these rules now that we are living in this place with little standing?"
"Absurd! Absolutely ridiculous!" Uesugi Kenmasa's face turned red, he gritted his teeth and glared at him, scolding: "Did you accept his benefits? Tell me! What did my family owe you? Let you do it again and again.
Say good things to him? I want to give face to the Kira family and the Konoe family, so who will give me the face to the Uesugi family? If I, Kensei, hand over the stewardship to his principal wife, how will I have the face to go to Hiraozaka to meet my ancestors in the future? You
It’s time to say it!”
"You still cling to the rules and don't let go! Looks like I have to give you a strong dose of medicine!" Seeing that this good-for-nothing lord still clings to his ancestral family law and doesn't let go, Nagao Dangchiang said with a smile: "
But now, the Uesugi family's foundation has been completely destroyed, how can my lord go to meet the ancestors of the Uesugi family? Our Uesugi family has no way to retreat! If we retreat any further, it will be the fate of Shaodian Ryūwakamaru, my lord
Just think about how innocent the young master is!"
Uesugi Kensei seemed to have been struck by lightning. His complexion turned from red to white, and then to black. His whole body was shaking like chaff, but after a while he burst into tears: "It's all my useless Kensei! The century-old foundation of the Yamauchi Uesugi family has been destroyed by me.
In my hands! It’s all my fault!”
Chang Tail had a terrible headache. Every time he said a few heavy words, the lord would start howling, either scolding himself for being useless or for losing the inheritance of his ancestors. At this level, he was just like a kid who made mistakes. He, the leader of the family, would get it.
He had no choice but to patiently persuade: "My lord, now is not the time to cry! It is about how to pass on the position of Kanto governor to the princess of the Nagao family..."
"No! Absolutely not! Everything else can be compromised, but this one must not be compromised! The Kanto governorship cannot be given to a woman!" Uesugi Kenmasa wiped away his tears and said intermittently: "Chief! Your Nagao family has devoted hundreds of thousands of people to our family. Year, we have no one we can trust in our constitutional government now! You must protect this foundation for my family!"
Changwei Dangchang couldn't stand his master's humble pleading, so he reluctantly said: "My lord, please do your best..." (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and updated faster!
