The weather in early summer and May is extremely sultry. The blazing sunshine carries endless heat and scorches the earth. The golden sunshine falls and covers the green grass with a thick white halo. The white color is like a sharp sword that makes people dazzle.
At present, the suffocating weather seems like a storm is coming.
If someone is standing on Mount Atago and looking south at this moment, he will definitely be able to see a large group of dark clouds gradually drifting over the sea southwest of Settsu. Usually no one wants to go out for a walk on such a sultry afternoon.
After being exposed to the sun for a while, you will feel uncomfortable all over. After a while, you will feel like you have been fished out of the water, and your whole body will be soaked with sweat.
In a secluded corner of Nijo Imperial Palace, the summer cicada was still playing tirelessly, like a lullaby with a monotonous melody. Unfortunately, at this critical moment, the women in the courtyard did not dare to feel sleepy at all.
Kenko Konoe was like a frightened female animal, holding her three daughters in her arms and staring nervously at the movement outside the yard, as if waiting for the slightest sign of trouble to take them into hiding in a certain room.
"Dong...dong..."
Wave after wave of dull sounds were like rolling thunder, tearing through the almost solid air in the afternoon. The shock made the two children in Konoe Kenko's arms tremble all over. The elder Ashikaga Teruko hugged her younger sister Ashikaga Junko and said fearfully: "Mother
Sir, the bad guys are about to come in. Teruko is really scared. Will Teruko and Junko die?"
Konoe Kenko forced a smile and comforted her: "No! I believe that mother will not let you be in danger."
Ashikaga Yoshiteru and she had two daughters together. The eldest daughter Teruko is thirteen years old this year, and the second daughter Junko is nine years old. These two sisters inherited their father's bravery and mother's kindness. They knew that life in the shogunate was difficult at a young age, so they took the initiative to follow them.
The female officials learned from nühong to make beautiful clothes to reduce expenses. Even Teruko's own wedding dress was sewn by her own hands.
The two daughters have been sensible and worry-free since childhood, adding a touch of brightness to Konoe Kenko's bleak life these years. Ever since his eldest son Teruwamaru died of a mysterious illness, Konoe Kenko has been completely thrown into the cold palace by Ashikaga Yoshiteru. In the past few years,
She didn't even get a chance to go to her room to sleep once, and when she came over to see her, she never stayed with her for more than half an hour.
Since Ashikaga Yoshiteru blocked Ashikaga Yoshitoki's promotion to the second rank a few years ago, which ruined the close relationship between the two families, the Kanto Shogunate's support to the shogunate has been reduced year by year, and the riot in Kyoto has not even a single soldier.
He was sent here so that Ashikaga Yoshiteru could only watch helplessly as Miyoshi Nagakei expelled Mikio and occupied Kyoto, giving the shogunate a severe blow to its already weak authority.
The loss of face is secondary. The biggest problem is that the daimyo who donated money are gradually disappearing. In the past years, there have been fewer and fewer big donors enshrined in Kyoto. The Kanto and Yuyu daimyo have all been captured by the Kanto Shogunate, which not only increases the Ashikaga righteousness.
His independence at the time further led to Ashikaga Yoshiteru's reckless betrayal and a massive reduction in donations.
At first, Ashikaga Yoshiteru didn't think anything of it. After the eighth year of Eiroku (1565), fewer and fewer daimyo envoys came to Kyoto to donate gold and silver. By the tenth year of Eiroku (1567), the shogunate's donation income dropped to
The level in the 20th year of Tianwen (1551). This gap is 20 times higher than the peak period in the 3rd year of Yonglu (1560).
The shogunate's estranged relationship with its biggest benefactor and supporter directly led to the decline of the shogunate's authority and financial difficulties. However, Ashikaga Yoshiteru was a tough guy. He would not turn back a good horse, and for the sake of the dignity of the general, he was determined not to admit defeat, so he stood up to the imperial court.
Let the motion to promote the second rank be put into writing, and the result is that the relationship is getting worse and worse. The donations received by the shogunate have been reduced to only three thousand guanwen of Yongle money this year. This kind of thousand guanwen is still given to Hu Ji by name.
The cosmetics of Kenko Konoe, the step-sister.
He suffered a big loss from his adoptive brother Ashikaga Yoshitoki. Not only did he lose his face, but he also lost an important source of finance. His hatred was even brought to the innocent Konoe Kenko, and his cosmetics were stolen by Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
He sent someone to allocate funds to Konoe Kenko, and he himself didn't even have to come over to say a few words.
Last year, Ashikaga Yoshiki took the daughter of Jinshi Harusha as a side chamber, and became even more cold and distant towards Konoe Kenko and his two daughters. If he wanted to see the children, he would send someone to take the two daughters to the imperial palace there to play for a few days before sending them back.
, around the time of the Qian Guanwen Cosmetic Incident at the beginning of this year, the new lady’s young attendant who lived on the other side of the imperial palace became pregnant. Many ministers went there to celebrate and give gifts, expecting the young attendant to give birth to His Highness’s eldest son. As for the
Probably no one would even think of taking care of Konoe Kenko's cold stove.
It’s not that Ashikaga Yoshiteru didn’t think of ways to deal with it. He also imitated the imperial court and used Yamashina Yantsugi to make extra money, and sent Odate Yoshiteru to beg for alms abroad to earn some money. Financial constraints forced Ashikaga Yoshiteru to frequently send envoys to and from various places.
Deeply involved in mediating territorial disputes among various countries, and earning some extra money to support the finances of the shogunate, which was about to go bankrupt.
But that little money came too slowly, and it could not meet the needs of Ashikaga Yoshiteru and the public. In desperation, Jiji reduced the annual salary that the shogunate needed to pay to the ministers every year from the original Yongle money of hundreds of kanmon to
Within one hundred kanbun, the highest one is Settsu Haruto's 85 kanbun. It is a problem to support a family's daily expenses in Kyoto with this little money, let alone go to the bar to drink some wine for entertainment.
The annual salary of important ministers such as Mibuchi Fujihide, Hitoshi Yoshimasa and others has also been reduced to fifty guanwen. Young members of the public can only receive a few guanfu as a symbolic annual salary and support meters for three people. This treatment is different from that of a few years ago.
Every samurai in the public service has dozens of liters and his annual salary is simply incomparable. For example, ministers like Otate Harumi who retired to Otsu City and had their own source of income simply did not receive their annual salary.
The tight life brought a lot of problems to the Nijo Imperial Palace. Ashikaga Yoshiteru soon ordered the elimination of many minor surnames and maids. The number of people in the imperial palace where Konoe Kenko was located was reduced from the original more than 30 people to only eight.
The two female officials with daughters were all fired. Due to the lack of manpower, several gardens in the imperial palace were abandoned. The lotus pond was turned into a pool of stagnant water without cleaning and dredging the clogged waterways. In summer, it became a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The drastic decline in the quality of life did not make Konoe Kenko feel discouraged or disappointed. She did not complain about her husband's unkindness and unrighteousness, and she still took care of the family without any regrets. She knew that her husband had been accustomed to spending money lavishly over the years.
.Suddenly declined to the point where she had to think twice about buying a few decent clothes. So she secretly entrusted Settsu Haruto with 1,000 kanmon Yongle money, while she herself only took the 10 yuan per month given by the shogunate.
Guanwen's cosmetics raised two daughters.
Before marrying Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Konoe Kenko was also a well-known talented woman in the circle of Kyoto ministers. When the female official was dismissed, she took on the responsibility of educating the children. It was also at this time that the two good girls learned to be naughty girls, using their immature skills.
Do what you can on your shoulders to help your hard-working mother.
At this time, she was not yet thirty years old. She had been pampered for nearly thirty years and cultivated Konoe Kenko's quiet and elegant ladylike temperament. She retained the delicate and pretty features that she was proud of as a girl, and also had the unique characteristics of a young woman.
There are many kinds of charms, like the reserved and noble mountain snow lotus, and also like the pure and clear water of autumn water.
At this moment, a woman is in the most glorious years of her life, but because her life is difficult, she has no money to put on powder and rouge. She sells all her gorgeous gowns for money, and she wears simple home clothes like an ordinary woman.
The man held the child and said gently: "Don't be afraid, they won't hurt us! I believe your father will fight off the enemy."
"Boom...onboard!"
Noises and cheers came from the direction not far from the Imperial Palace. The two frightened children huddled in their mother's arms and did not dare to move. Several little maids shivered and hid under the corridor, hugging each other and crying in the corner of the room.
, Konoe Kenko glanced worriedly at the closed courtyard door in the corner, thinking about how to escape.
Konoe Kenko frowned slightly and said secretly: "It would be great if I could escape from the imperial palace and take refuge with my brother."
Suddenly there was a scream, which disturbed her thoughts and made her two daughters shrink into her arms. Konoe Kenko tried to calm down and looked outside, only to see the little
There were dozens of black-clad and masked warriors standing in the courtyard. They were half-kneeling in the courtyard like a row of stone statues, not moving at all. There was only one black-clad warrior standing in the middle of the courtyard.
The black-clothed warrior said in a low voice: "Otai Suo-don is in the room. I respectfully invite you to speak. I have something important to discuss with you."
Seeing that they didn't look like bad guys, Konoe Kenko gently leaned out half of his body and asked cautiously, "Who are you?"
The black-clothed warrior borrowed his mask, revealed his old face and said respectfully: "Hattori Iwami Moribo-chan, who briefly served in the shogunate forty years ago, was ordered by our lord to take the Odaisho Palace out of the capital and take refuge.
Taishoden packed his bags and set off quickly, and there was an army in Kyoto to support him."
"Who is your master?"
"It is the Lord of Kanto, Ashiya Prime Minister. I have been ordered by the Lord to protect the safety of the Odaisho Palace..." Before Hattori Baochang could finish his words, he heard a fierce sound coming from less than fifty meters away.
Hearing the sound of iron cannon fire, his expression immediately changed and he bowed and said: "The three good troops have entered the Imperial Palace. The secret sentry ambushing outside the Imperial Palace has exchange of fire nearby, which means that the Imperial Palace is no longer safe. Without further delay, please invite the Imperial Palace."
Please set off quickly, otherwise things will change if you are too late!"
"As for Yoshitoki's retainer, I can rest assured. I don't have anything to take. I can set off with a little preparation..." Konoe Kenko breathed a sigh of relief and just turned to comfort her daughter. Suddenly, she was stunned and turned around to ask.
He said: "His Royal Highness Gongfang is also guarding the palace. Has he been rescued?"
Hattori Baochang's face darkened, and he secretly thought that he was afraid of something. He leaned on the ground and bowed his head and said: "...I'm sorry! Your Highness Kōkata is in a fierce battle with the Miyoshi Army on the front line. I'm sorry that I have so few soldiers and few generals that I can't do anything. Please take action quickly, Odaisho-dono."
!”
"If Your Highness doesn't leave, I can't leave either. Besides, Qingshouyuan is still there, I can't leave just like that." Konoe Kenko's expression darkened, he slowed down and sat down again, and said, "There is also Your Highness Kōkō.
The other lady, the little attendant, is still pregnant with the flesh and blood of His Highness Gongfang. It is very likely that she is a healthy little Highness. I cannot stand by and watch His Highness Gongfang's heirs get hurt."
Hattori Baochang was so anxious that he got angry. With a wave of his hand, dozens of ninjas quickly jumped out of the quiet courtyard like arrows. He knelt down in the courtyard and said seriously: "Odaishoden, does he know how dangerous these two palaces are now?"
, and how dangerous Kyoto is. Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the younger brother of His Highness the Shogun, announced at Toji Temple that he will go to Ouchi-ri to meet the Emperor this evening, and will be formally awarded the title of General of the Conqueror. Does Odaisho-den know what this means?"
Ashikaga Teruko and Ashikaga Junko quietly walked out of the room, knelt down on both sides of their mother, and curiously looked at the old black-clad samurai. This was the first time in their lives that they had seen a man outside the Nijo Imperial Palace. Ashikaga Junko was younger.
I still don’t understand how dangerous Nijo Gobi is. I just think that if my mother is not afraid, everything will be fine.
The little girl boldly looked at Hattori Warden, who was kneeling in the courtyard. She was very curious about the old samurai's southern-northern accent. She laughed and said to Ashikaga Teruko: "The samurai outside are so strange, and their clothes are strange like I have never seen before."
Konoe Kenko softly warned her daughters to respect the guests, and then said calmly: "Please keep your words, Iwami."
Hattori Chief said solemnly: "Please Odaisho-dono, you must understand that His Highness the General is dangerous, and very dangerous..."
…
At the end of the period, Miyoshi Masayasu personally led 3,000 troops to attack the west gate, and fought fiercely with more than 40 samurai in the small area within the gate's tiger's mouth. Okuyama Kyuugasai held two tachi and bowed left and right, using his own strength
He defeated several Sanhao Army raids and relied on his unskilled two-sword flow to defeat the encirclement and killing of four Sanhao Army generals. He blocked from left to right and never lost.
Since ancient times, there have often been warriors fighting one against ten, but it is rare to hear of a general fighting one against a hundred. Even Leonidas in the Battle of Thermopylae only faced an enemy ten times his own, and probably only faced enemies similar to those in the West.
The tragic scene when Xiang Yu, the overlord of Chu, was at the end of his rope and committed suicide in the Wujiang River can be surpassed, but at this time, Ashikaga Yoshiki was at the end of his rope.
Every warrior guarding the city has to face enemies dozens of times larger than his own. Although he will not be stabbed by dozens of Sanjian guns at the same moment, he will still see endless enemy troops rushing towards him without any backup.
The pressure brought by this desperate mood is very great, and physical exertion will increase exponentially when the spirit is tense. High-intensity battles are all supported by morale, so a strong fighting spirit requires a swordsman like Okuyama Yukasai.
excitation.
The stalemate lasted for a quarter of an hour. The Miyoshi Army repeatedly organized assaults by the Ashugaru team and were repelled. The iron artillery team switched to the concentrated fire tactics and was broken by the attack of more than a dozen horse-riding samurai from the opponent. The iron artillery team lacked flexibility.
It takes a minute to set up the shooting action. With this time, your head can be moved several times.
Until the beginning of the Shen Dynasty, the outnumbered General Ueno Iga Mamoru died in battle. It was the treacherous Miyoshi Masayasu who took advantage of him. He suddenly attacked with a small and unique white iron cannon, killing the careless Ueno.
Iga Mamoru, the general public was leaderless and their morale collapsed and they retreated steadily.
Most of the more than forty people died in the blink of an eye, and more than a dozen of Okuyama Kyuugasai's juniors also died. He was the only one who was still fierce and invincible, fighting fiercely from all sides with his own strength. He was helpless and outnumbered, dodging left and right, and gradually felt that he was unable to do what he wanted.
In the end, he led more than a dozen remnants to resist, but they still couldn't dodge the sword without eyes. A long and narrow gash was cut on his left cheek, and he suffered many serious injuries before escaping into Sannomaru in embarrassment.
At the same time, Shioka Kazuha's experience was also very different from his. Less than forty defenders were killed after a short time of fighting. Shioka Kazuha himself was stabbed in the left shoulder and seriously injured, so he was forced to withdraw.
Emergency bandaging treatment was carried out in the Imperial Palace. Yagyu Munegan persisted for a little longer and fought until there were only seven people left to retreat to the north gate. Kagekane Sukada became more vigorous and retreated with three people from the east gate to Sannomaru.
Among the three people at the gate, none of them were serving the public.
All the samurai who survived suffered a loss. The youngest, Kagekan Oda, was shot in the arm by a stray arrow. If the bamboo bow of the Miyoshi Army had not been so weak, even the long sleeves of his long robe would have prevented his arm from being shot through. Fortunately,
He escaped with only a few superficial injuries. Less than thirty of the more than one hundred members of the public survived, and sixteen of the swordsmen died. This was the armed force of the entire Nijo Imperial Palace.
Ashikaga Yoshiki ordered everyone to retreat to the defense in front of the imperial palace, and he himself went into battle in person. He stood in front of the imperial palace in gorgeous attire and held a sword in his hand. There were dozens of tachi stuck on the tatami behind him, and each one was taken out.
Ashikaga Yoshiki would rather let all the precious things worth thousands of gold be lost here than sell them to dirty businessmen or fall into the hands of the even dirtier Ashikaga Yoshiki.
Seeing the miserable appearance of the samurai who were all wounded and covered in blood, Ashikaga Yoshiki sighed: "It's hard for the Ise defender to fight for me until the last moment. On behalf of the shogunate, I would like to thank you for your loyalty and bravery. The Ise defender has finished."
This is what a guide on the art of war has done, so please leave immediately before the three good armies come to kill you!"
"Your Highness the General, please follow me and rush out of the Imperial Palace!" Kamiizumi Hidetsuna suddenly leaned on the ground and bowed his head and said: "I was actually ordered to come to protect His Highness the General..."
Ashikaga Yoshiki suddenly smiled and waved his hand: "There is no need to go on... I know what I should know. I am grateful to Ise Mori for his dedication to the shogunate. He gave up the glory and wealth of Kanto to stick to the small world of Nijo Imperial Palace for several years.
Year, it must be very hard! Everything will be over today. There is no point in continuing to fight at this point. Return to Kanto as soon as possible! Tell Yoshitoki that I accept this love."
"Your Highness!" Kamiizumi Hidetsuna was stunned in shock. Hayazaki Jinsuke and Komagawa Kuniyoshi, who were not in the battle, helped the more seriously injured Okuyama Yugasai and Shioka Kazuha to kneel down.
At this time, an old woman wearing a monk's robe slowly walked over. She was the mother of Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Ashikaga Yoshiaki. She was Keiodai who had taken great care of Ashikaga Yoshitoki, and was also the relative of Konoe Kenko.
My aunt, who shaved her hair and lived in seclusion for many years as a nun, said: "Ise Shou is a good minister of the shogunate because he is dedicated to serving the Lord. The poor nun thinks that His Highness should give him a reward as a reward."
"I obey my mother's wishes!" Ashikaga Yoshiki bowed respectfully, then stood up and said: "I have nothing to offer now, and all I can give is the sword of this place and my poor reputation. I hope Ise Mamoru doesn't mind.
The stinginess of a dying man before leaving."
"Your Highness Kōkata! What are you doing..." Not only Uizumi Hidetsuna knelt down in surprise, but also the shogunate retainers behind him knelt down on the ground, begging with a look of despair: "You must not do this. !His Royal Highness Gongfang is a noble man, a dignified general who conquered the barbarians and is a direct descendant of Genji in Hanoi. He must not die here!" (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!