"Old man, what's the matter?" Imagawa Yoshimoto opened the door of Taiyuan Xuezhai's room and yawned a little tiredly - the smell of alcohol in the room made him almost breathless after taking a big breath.
When Taiyuan Xuezai saw Imagawa Yoshimoto coming in, he immediately put down the pen he was writing, wiped the grease stains on his hands with a towel for the first time, and even closed the lid of the lunch box containing pork and chicken on the side.
If something goes wrong, there must be a monster - Imagawa Yoshimoto suddenly became vigilant.
"I want you to go to Sanhe."
Sure enough, Taiyuan Xuezhai made this request.
"I agreed that I would not handle government and military affairs." Imagawa Yoshimoto once again went back on the agreement made between master and apprentice many years ago.
"Just do me a favor." Taiyuan Xuezhai, as always, followed Imagawa Yoshimoto's temperament of "eating soft things but not hard things" and began to tease him, "This time the civil strife in the Matsudaira family is very involved. It will take a while.
It can’t be ended, so we need the Imagawa family to act according to the situation. If we stay here at the Imagawa Hall, the exchange of information will be too slow and we can’t handle it.”
"Aren't there Yamada Ukonoe and Obara Hizen?" Imagawa Yoshimoto replied nonchalantly, "Yamada Ukonoe is resolute and steady, and Obara Hizen is wise and astute. The two of them led the Jinxi Preparation to stay at Yoshida Castle. What can they not do?
Coming?"
"If the civil strife in the Matsudaira family really gets worse, the Imagawa family may even choose a more suitable agent to replace it, and may even send troops to Mikawa and even the Owari border. Do you think the two of them are qualified to make a decision on a matter of this level?
Once you hesitate, you will miss the opportunity. Limited decision-making power will also lead to restraint." Taiyuan Xuezhai also talked eloquently, refuting Imagawa Yoshimoto speechless, "At this time, of course, let someone who can take the decision
The person who came up with the idea can only sit nearby."
"Well, old man, why don't you go by yourself?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was at a loss for words and had to forcefully defend himself.
"It's okay if I go, you come and help me with my official duties." Taiyuan Xue Zhai pointed to the pile of official documents in the corner of the room. Imagawa Yoshimoto just glanced at them and shook his head.
"Can I let my mother go?" Imagawa Yoshimoto came up with another plan.
"Your grandma is so old, why are you willing to let her, an old lady, travel thousands of miles to Mikawa to command the war? Besides, your grandma has never fought in a war." Taiyuan Xue Zhai looked at Imagawa Yoshimoto in an exaggerated manner, and asked him
All escape routes are blocked.
"Let's do this. If you succeed in your trip to Mikawa, you can take care of my treasure box as my master!" Seeing that the situation was great, Taiyuan Xuezhai immediately took a step back and gave Imagawa Yoshimoto a sweet date - patting it as he spoke.
The broken wooden box beside me.
"Hmm..." Imagawa Yoshimoto has wanted to know what kind of treasure is in Taiyuan Xuezhai's broken box since he can remember. He was deceived into Mikawa last time by this reward. Hearing that Taiyuan Xuezhai
After making this condition again, Imagawa Yoshimoto also fell into deep thought.
"But you have to make it clear in advance." Thinking of the bad experience of Taiyuan Xuezhai after returning from his last trip to Mikawa, he insisted that Imagawa Yoshimoto was not considered a success and therefore could not look at the box. Imagawa Yoshimoto was cautious this time and took the initiative to add.
, "Old man, please tell me first what counts as success and what counts as failure."
"How can you say that? The situation will change rapidly. If the master has set clear victory conditions for you, won't you be constrained in your thinking?" Taiyuan Xue Zhai shook his head repeatedly, but what he said was quite reasonable.
"Probably, probably give one." Imagawa Yoshimoto had no choice but to give way.
"Well... let the Matsudaira family become our vassal, and send His Highness Matsudaira Guangtada's newborn only son as a hostage." Taiyuan Xuezhai pondered for a moment and then came up with a condition.
"That's too harsh." After hearing this, Imagawa Yoshimoto backed down, straightened his clothes, and sighed in frustration, "How can I succeed? Your Highness, Hiroutada, treats me sincerely..."
"Don't worry about this. You will know when you go there. The situation will be stronger than others." Taiyuan Xue Zhai, however, had already accepted the situation and issued an eviction order to drive Imagawa Yoshimoto away. "By the way, keep an eye on the Oda family and be careful of their interference." ."
On April 10, the 11th year of Tianwen (1542), Imagawa Yoshimoto led a group of guards and 200 horseback cavalry and set out eastward. Along the way, Akai Kuroko kept smiling happily. Imagawa Yoshimoto didn't think about it at first. He, but he laughed louder and louder, and Imagawa Yoshimoto asked curiously: "What's wrong, Akai, why are you so happy?"
"My wife was pregnant before. When she comes back from this expedition, she will probably be able to give me a big fat boy. Our Akai family will have a daughter." Akai Heigao laughed boldly, not caring about those who wanted to whisper. Imagawa Yoshimoto's embarrassed look - in the eyes of the other guards, they thought Imagawa Yoshimoto was gossiping.
"You are so old, and you have a child?" Imagawa Yoshimoto glanced at Akai Kurotaka. His thick beard and strong body didn't look like he was incapable of doing anything.
"I can't stand you women from Suruga. You are all so whiny. I asked people from my hometown to tell me about Izuku's marriage. It's still us northern women who can work, and they are also willing to eat meat." Akai Kuroko patted her head. Then he made a vomiting motion on his chest, "It's not like you Suruga women, who don't even want to stick meaty food in their mouths, so they just eat fish."
"You are about to become a father, why are you still not stable? Are you still fighting with people in the dojo?" Imagawa Yoshimoto squinted at Akai Kurotaka, and then looked at Kira Weicheng, "Weicheng, you are too, you should probably say It’s about getting married.”
"Don't worry about it." Akai Kurotaka and Kira Hoshige replied in unison, making Imagawa Yoshimoto choke up.
On April 14, the eleventh year of Tenmon (1542), a group of people secretly arrived at Higashi Mikawa Yoshida Castle, preparing to watch the changes in the Matsudaira family. However, before Imagawa Yoshimoto could take a bath and change clothes, he was told that Ori The Tian family has secretly sent an envoy, who is waiting for him to receive him in the Yoshida Castle castle tower.
"What's going on? How did the Oda family know that I'm here? This trip is secret." Imagawa Yoshimoto immediately became vigilant and said to Ohara Jinmao who came to report, "Could it be that he was defrauding me? You should reply, ' Isn't Imagawa Yoshimoto here?"
"Let His Highness decide. However, in my opinion, the envoy seems to be quite sure that Your Highness will definitely be there." Ohara Zhenshi answered truthfully without hesitation, and his expression became serious, "I guess the news has leaked, I suggest Your Highness will conduct strict inspections on both sides."
"Let's talk about it later. Who is the envoy? Is he from Oda Osumi (Oda Nobhiro) of Anxiang Castle?" Imagawa Yoshimoto frowned and then asked.
Anxiang Castle was originally the territory of the Matsudaira clan, opposite the Matsudaira family's home city Okazaki Castle across the Yahagi River. However, during the last civil strife of the Matsudaira family, Anxiang Castle was captured by Yamaguchi Kensugu and dedicated to Oda.
Nobuhide. Oda Nobuhide then appointed his eldest son, Nobuhiro Oda, as the lord of Anxiang Castle to maintain the influence of the Oda family in Nishi Mikawa.
"No. It's from Narumi Castle Yamaguchi Zuomasuke. The man called himself Honda Tadanobu and said he had met His Highness before." Ohara Zhenni reported the name of the envoy, but Imagawa Yoshimoto frowned.
Tighter.
"Yamaguchi Sasumasuke..." Imagawa Yoshimoto clearly remembered that the last time he came to Mikawa, he was trapped in an ambush on the west bank of the Yahagi River. It was this Yamaguchi Kotsugi who had never met him before who helped him escape - as a deal, he let
Imagawa Yoshimoto restrained the Matsudaira army from assisting Anxiang Castle, which was attacked by the Yamaguchi family. Later, Yamaguchi Kakusugu and Imagawa Yoshimoto jointly promoted the marriage of Matsudaira Hirotada and Mizuno Yutaka.
He is a little-known person, but he is extremely bold and lends a helping hand to the governor of a hostile family, and the benefits he asks for are very down-to-earth and small profits.
Low-key, sober, and decisive at the same time - this person should not be underestimated - Imagawa Yoshimoto left such an impression at that time. And this time Yamaguchi Kotsugi suddenly sent an envoy to visit, which made Imagawa Yoshimoto even more vigilant.
.
"Let him come." After hesitating for a long time, Imagawa Yoshimoto decided to meet Yamaguchi Kotsugi's envoy. Not long after, Hayasaka Nao led Honda Tadanobu to the Yoshida Castle castle tower.
"Greetings to Your Majesty Imagawa." Tadanobu Honda offered a considerate gift, and at the same time whispered: "My lord has not sent you greetings for a long time, so I have sent you here to apologize."
"His Royal Highness Yamaguchi Saumasuke is an important member of the Oda family, so how come he frequently interacts with the Imagawa family? It is an act of loyalty to greet him after a long absence." Imagawa Yoshimoto gave him the nail without mercy, and then asked in a low voice, "
Let me answer a question first. How did Yamaguchi Samasuke know that I am here?"
"To be honest, it's just a guess." Honda Tadanobu didn't mean to hide it at all, and replied very frankly, "My lord heard that the Imagawa family suddenly detained Matsudaira Nobutaka and released him soon after, which caused the Matsudaira family to have civil strife.
There must be important members of the Imagawa family coming to Mikawa to take charge of the situation. If it’s not Master Xuezai, it’s just you, Your Highness.”
"Yamaguchi Sasumasuke is quite perceptive..." Imagawa Yoshimoto smiled, but his eyes became a little complicated, "Then why did Yamaguchi Sasumasuke send you here? It can't really be for the sake of long-term estrangement.
Say hello and apologize?"
"Your Highness Mingjian." Tadanobu Honda immediately took over the steps from Imagawa Yoshimoto, "My Lord wants to do business."
"Business again?" Imagawa Yoshimoto laughed dumbly, "What are you going to do this time?"
"My lord can help His Highness Imagawa turn the Matsudaira family into a subordinate, but I hope His Highness Imagawa can help my lord kill the eldest son of the Mizuno family, Mizuno Nobuyoshi. Even if he cannot be killed, his party members must be severely damaged." Honda Tadanobu calmly said.
He described Yamaguchi Kotsugi's conditions in detail, but the content was so cruel that even Imagawa Yoshimoto took a breath.
"The Mizuno family is now the in-laws of the Matsudaira family, and our Imagawa family is an ally of the Matsudaira family. How can we attack our allies?" Imagawa Yoshimoto refused without even thinking, "Back then, the marriage between the Matsudaira family and the Mizuno family was still between me and Yamaguchi.
It was jointly promoted by Zuo Ma and Zuo Ma, so wouldn’t it be treacherous to act like this?”
"It doesn't matter, my lord said before I left, His Highness Imagawa will never agree to it now." Tadanobu Honda bowed again, but he didn't feel the slightest regret at being rejected. "My lord just wants to leave a wedge for us to
After His Highness Imagawa encounters trouble, don’t forget that there is a businessman in Owari who you can do business with.”
"Am I going to get into trouble?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was keenly aware of the meaning behind Honda Tadanobu's words.
"Your Highness Imagawa is wise and powerful, and my lord does not dare to say depressing words. My lord is just letting me take the lead. If your highness is willing to cooperate with my lord, a lot of trouble can be avoided."