"So, in fact, Bitchu Mamoru has no feelings for the Imagawa family? Is it just because of your father's teachings that he decided to abide by his duty and be loyal to the Imagawa family?" Imagawa Yoshimoto felt that he seemed to understand the meaning of Asahina Yasuno's words,
"But why do you think that the Imagawa family can continue? When the nest is overturned, there will be no intact eggs. If you blindly follow the Imagawa family, if the Imagawa family is destroyed, how can the Asahina family, as a wing, survive?"
"Haha, these two questions can be answered together." Asahina Tenno seemed to have anticipated Imagawa Yoshimoto's question. After shaking his head, he stretched out a finger and said: "Because of people."
"My late father's death had a great impact on me. Although I still didn't quite understand what my late father taught me, I am still a filial person. I thought that since my father wanted me to do this even though he died, then my son should also do the same.
There was only one way to obey. But in fact, I still resented the Imagawa family and my old master in my heart, and reluctantly performed my duties as a retainer, until that day——"
"That was the day when Hikima Castle fell. The Imagawa family completely defeated the Shiba family, took back the Toe area as their ancestral homeland, and expelled all the forces of the Shiba family from Toe. It has troubled our Asahina family for two generations, and it will never stop.
The endless bloody war is finally over, and we no longer have to fight with the Shiba family."
"That day, at the celebration banquet, I got very drunk. My drinking capacity was not very good at that time, and I liked to talk nonsense when I was drunk. I don't remember exactly what I said, but later I heard Sakyo Okabe say
The old guy said, I spoke rudely to my old master at the banquet, scolding him for his persecution and oppression of the Asahina family. The dirty and fierce words frightened all the retainers present, and the banquet broke up. Afterwards, the banquet broke up.
, I was left behind by my old master—at that time, everyone in the Asahina family thought that I would never come back. For insulting the master like this, I would be ordered to commit seppuku if not beheaded."
Imagawa Yoshimoto listened attentively, listening to his father's story - but it was very strange to him. Yes, his father had too many things and secrets that he didn't know. He was sent away at the age of 4
In the temple, he only had a few days of memories about his father, and only a few fragments, all of which were told by others.
"But he didn't." Asahina Taino raised his head slightly, his eyes were slightly red, as if he was recalling some unforgettable memories: "My old master did not kill me, but apologized to me, bowed to me, and apologized to me.
A younger generation bowed and apologized to a retainer who had just insulted him in public."
Imagawa Yoshimoto was stunned - this was different from the image of his father that he always had in his mind - the father who opened up the largest territory of the Imagawa family, won the civil war, regained Yuanjiang, and conquered Mikawa, shouldn't be a father that thousands of people admire and not be angry with
A self-proclaimed hero? How could he be so groveling and submissive?
"I asked my old master why he wanted to apologize, and he told me very frankly. He said that the punishment given to the Asahina family before was because the Asahina family stood on the opposite side of him in the dispute over the house governor, and it was just as it should be. But.
After that, the Asahina family had proven their loyalty with their loyalty and perseverance day after day, but he did not help the Asahina family because of old grudges. He said that he had scolded Asahina in private to his cronies.
The family is domineering, and if the punishment in the past is to be revoked now, he will feel very embarrassed. Due to his face, he has not improved the situation of the Asahina family, and it is all his problem. If I am dissatisfied, if the Asahina family's family superintendent
It's completely normal to have dissatisfaction with the samurai, it's all his problem."
"Is that what the family leader said?" Imagawa Yoshimoto felt a little embarrassed just listening to these words. A high-ranking family supervisor, in front of others, admitted that it was some ridiculous personal emotions of his that caused the problem.
Making mistakes and bowing to apologize - this is just too difficult.
Because these successful people and those in power often have extremely strong self-esteem and baggage, it is more difficult for these arrogant people to admit that they are wrong than the sky is falling. Throughout the ages, many heroes have acted in anger because they refused to admit their mistakes.
In the end, the good situation will be ruined. If you can listen to the advice and then correct it secretly - you are already a wise king. But if you expect them to apologize in public, don't even think about it - unless the courtiers have built hundreds of steps for him.
, monarchs will pinch their noses and admit their mistakes, and then quickly pass it on - not because of anything else, their self-esteem does not allow them to admit that they have made mistakes, their arrogance does not allow them to admit that they are better than their ministers
To be worse.
But Jia Yan... not only apologized, but also deeply analyzed his dirty heart, reviewed his stupid mistakes without reservation, and personally bowed and apologized to the minister who had just insulted him.
"Wouldn't this be a loss of face?" Imagawa Yoshimoto couldn't help but blurt out.
"I asked the same question at that time." Asahina Yasunou lowered his head, got close to Imagawa Yoshimoto's face, looked into Imagawa Yoshimoto's eyes, and couldn't help but said in a daze: "It seems...it really seems like it. The old man at that time
My lord, his features and eyes are really similar to yours. He looked at me with such sincerity and humility, and then replied——"
"'Because I did make a mistake' - that's what the old master said."
Asahina Taino laughed:
"Yes, you should apologize when you make a mistake, correct when you know you are wrong, and learn from others' good points. This is a truth that all children understand, but countless heroes and heroes are unwilling to give up their self-esteem and arrogance to do these things.
But the old lord is different. He knows that he is weak. He knows that he is not strong enough. People around him have told him this since he was a child, telling him that he is not as good as 'Little Deer Fanman'. But it is also true that the old lord is particularly
Be cautious. He knows that this is the only way to survive."
"But in the troubled times of the Warring States Period, for the survival of the family, this caution was more important than any dazzling talent. This means that he will be down-to-earth, listen to advice, and will constantly correct his mistakes. This means that he will not
He is so ambitious and has a long view of Shu. He will not do excessive things for the sake of ambition and profit. This cautious desire to survive, which was born after knowing his own weakness, allows the Imagawa family to continue to grow."
"Seven years ago, I did not choose the talented Imagawa Yoshima, but you, Your Highness. It was also because I saw the old master's look in your eyes - the one who knew his own weakness and was cautious, but also
A tenacious desire to survive that is not afraid of any difficulties.”
Asahina Taino straightened up, moved his eyes away from Imagawa Yoshimoto's face, and looked out the window at the blue sky.
"On that day 26 years ago, after seeing the look in my old master's eyes, I decided to follow him. I believed that he could protect the Imagawa family and the Asahina family who took shelter under the Imagawa family's wings, so that the whole family would be like this
Many people and our family name were able to continue. I finally understood my father’s legacy: if you want your family to survive in troubled times, you must abide by your duties as a retainer and find a family governor who also abides by your duties.
"
Afterwards, he bowed to Imagawa Yoshimoto again and kowtowed very solemnly:
"To make His Highness laugh, this is the loyalty of our Asahina family. There is no earth-shaking monarch and ministers, no eternal favor of thunder and rain, no fire of loyalty passed down from generation to generation, there is just an effort to keep the family going.
He is a weak and weak family governor, and carefully chooses an equally weak but cautious lord who in his eyes can best enable the continuation of the family."
"After that, I changed my mind and became a loyal supporter of the Imagawa clan. The clan uncle (Asahina Shunaga) was very dissatisfied with my change. The Suruga Asahina faction within the clan who was dissatisfied with the Imagawa clan also completely rejected my Toe Asahina faction.
One faction is divided, and the two sides do not interfere with each other. After the death of the clan uncle, Tanba Mamoru (Asahina Kantoku) lacks prestige, so he will accept my command during military discussions and expeditions, and that's it."
"Later, the old master died, and the former master (Ujiteru Imagawa) who succeeded him had his own cronies, the Okabe family. The power of the Okabe family soon caught up with the Asahina family, and the voice of the family was even greater than that of the Asahina family.
You know, the Okabe clan is from a branch of our Asahina clan, and has served the Imagawa family for a much shorter time than us. It is a great shame and humiliation for the Okabe family to take advantage of us. Opposition within the clan broke out again.
But I kept in mind the teachings of my late father and old master, and worked hard to suppress all objections, until the late master suddenly died of illness and civil strife broke out."
"Same as the last battle for the governor, between a talented concubine and a legitimate son who abides by his duties, I chose His Highness. But the opposition within the clan is naturally different. Tanba Mamoru and the others have long been obsessed with Imagawa Yoshima.
Talent, I believe that as the number one supporter, supporting a concubine to establish a firm foothold can bring the Asahina family its former glory and power. The reason why I invited His Highness to the lobby at that time was that you could convince the entire Asahina family to agree to my support for you.
I just want to use your mouth to silence the opponents."
"Although you succeeded in turning defeat into victory in the end, the opponents of Danba Mamoru did not give up. Whenever you made a mistake, they would build momentum within the clan and demand your replacement. No matter your defeat in Tianryu River, your various
Regardless of misbehavior, it will become an excuse for them. Although I tried hard to suppress it, I was ultimately unable to do so. That’s why I sent my eldest son (Asahina Taitomo) and second son (Asahina Matsuchiyo) to Imagawakan to serve as your bodyguards.
I just want to show the people of the Suruga Asahina family that I am determined to support you and stop them from thinking about it. Who would have thought that they would take such a risk and launch a rebellion directly while you are in trouble."
"I have committed a crime that deserves death, please forgive me!" Asahina Yasuno said as he took off the samurai sword from his waist, raised his hands respectfully, raised it above his forehead, and presented the sword to Imagawa Yoshimoto: "This is the Asahina family.
I hope that the family governor will accept the samurai sword Niigiri, which has been passed down from generation to generation. If there are rebels from the Asahina family in the future, please ask the family governor to kill the rebellious ministers with this sword!"
"Binaka Mamoru..." Imagawa Yoshimoto was so moved by Asahina Taino's determination and sincerity that his eyes turned red, and he felt a little embarrassed for a moment, "Why are you so serious all of a sudden... I'm not used to it, you're still the usual carefree person.
A drunkard?"
"Haha, so I can't say these embarrassing words without being drunk. If a man says this for no reason, isn't it a joke? You can only say it if you drink too much." Asahina Tai can laugh after hearing this.
He got up, picked up the wine again and poured it into his mouth. At the same time, he said vaguely: "Drink, drink. When you get drunk, you will forget all these bad things. Your Highness, please don't treat me as a person."
What a pretentious bitch. When I wake up tomorrow, I will still be the same Asahina Bitchu Mori Yainou who is not stingy!"
