The first thousand and sixty-four chapters absolute advantage
Shiba Yoshigan saw Ashikaga Yoshiji's lonely expression and said softly.
"I won't kill you, and neither will His Highness Uesugi.
If you insist on siding with the Hojo family, we can only place you under house arrest. But please rest assured, your life safety will be guaranteed.
This is not because we are afraid of the Hojo family, nor is it because it comes from you, but because we respect the bloodline of the Kamakura Ashikaga family.
After the Hojo family is wiped out, you will be ordered to become a monk, the ancient Seiden Buddha will die, and the Kamakura Ashikaga family will also die with you.
But are you really willing?
The Kamakura Ashikaga family had dominated Kanto for two hundred years, and the last Kanto shogun turned out to be loyal to Hojo Ujiyasu, a traitor who rebelled against the party.
This humiliation will accompany you throughout your life, and the Kamakura Ashikaga family will be humiliated because of you. History will clearly record your stupidity, and you will be despised by all generations.
Former Kantō General, you should know better than me how your mother, Ashikaga Haruji, died.
If the Hojo family can survive this disaster, Sano's leadership will be a stain that Hojo Ujimasa is trying to erase. You also know how she will treat you, a loyal friend, in the future.
If a person does not serve himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth.
The Kamakura Ashikaga family does not owe Hojo Ujiyasu anything, but the Hojo family owes the Kamakura Ashikaga family a lot. You should think carefully and be wise."
Ashikaga Yoshiji sighed. She was indeed moved by Yoshigan Shiba's words, but she still had concerns.
What Hojo Umasa will do to her in the future is a matter for the future. But what if she joins Echigo now and Uesugi Teruotora uses her up and throws her away?
One is a long-term concern, and the other is a short-term concern. If Ashikaga Yoshiji sells himself directly to Echigo because of Yoshigan Shiba's provocation, this would be real stupidity.
she whispered.
"In troubled times, people can't help themselves. You can't worry about the future. Just take care of the present first."
Although Ashikaga Yoshiji was still tough on his words, his attitude had softened somewhat. Yoshigan Shiba understood this and continued.
"If you don't worry about the long term, you will have immediate worries. There are some things that you should plan for in advance. Take a look at this first."
Ashikaga Yoshiji vaguely saw Yoshigage taking out a letter, hesitantly took it, and scanned it carefully. After reading ten lines at a glance, she couldn't help but snorted and cursed.
"Shameless!"
This letter was written by Harusuke Kada to Terutora Uesugi. Every piece of paper is filled with words of surrender and flattery.
The Furukawa Territory was nominally the area where the Kanto shoguns were stationed, and Harusuke Kada was just a retainer of Kamakura Ashikaga who was acting as the leader.
Ashikaga Yoshiji personally presided over the ceremony and succeeded the Kanto Shogun. Now Ashikaga Yoshiji was defeated, captured by the Echigo army, and imprisoned.
As a retainer, Harusuke Hatada shamelessly moved closer to Terutora Uesugi, completely regardless of what would happen to his nominal master, which made Ashikaga Yoshiji feel palpitated.
Of course Ashikaga Yoshiji knew the virtues of the Kanto samurai family, but there was a difference between seeing someone else's misfortune and having it happen to him.
Shiba Yiyin said slowly.
"Those who know the current affairs are heroes, so you don't need to feel angry.
The Furukawa Territory is just southeast of the Sano Territory, and if Harusuke Kadada doesn't know what's going on, Echigo's army will immediately go south and crush her to pieces."
Ashikaga Yoshiji snorted.
"What does it have to do with me whether she recognizes her or not?"
Si Bo Yiyin said sternly.
“Kada Harusuke’s greatest value is that he is the composer of the Kamakura Ashikaga family.
His Highness Uesugi needed to complete the succession ceremony of the Kanto Governor at Kamakura Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, so he could easily forgive her.
And your value is far higher than hers."
At this time, Ashikaga Yoshiji had already intended to join Echigo. She also knew that she was useful to Uesugi Teruator, but she was afraid that Uesugi Teruator would cross the river and burn the bridge.
"Otai Suo, I understand what you mean.
The succession of the Kanto governor not only requires a ceremony at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, but also requires the recognition of the Kanto general.
But you know that until now, I am still called by Echigo, the Pseudo Kanto General.
Today, I can stand by His Highness Uesugi. But in the future, will His Highness Uesugi be able to tolerate me, a pseudo-Kanto general? How can she prove that she can tolerate me?
You have to know that once I change my words, I have no way out and can only be at her mercy."
Shiba Yoshigami nodded, knowing that Ashikaga Yoshiji had been frank and honest with her, and every word came from her sincerity.
It is not difficult for Ashikaga Yoshiji to stand up for Uesugi Teruator. Politicians can speak like ps and can be shameless when laughed at. But after she admitted Uesugi Teruatora, she had no place in the Hojo family.
Once Terutora Uesugi completed the succession ceremony for the Kanto governor and established his prestige among the Kanto samurai family, Ashikaga Yoshiji, the Kanto general, would be useless and would even become a thorn in her side.
Before the rise of the Hojo family, most of the wars in the Kanto Plain took place between the Kamakura Ashikaga family and the Ryo-Uesugi family.
The relationship between the Kanto shoguns and the Kanto governors is like the Ashikaga shoguns and the third governor in recent times. The struggle for power that the Kyoto shogunate experienced also happened in Kanto.
If Terutora Uesugi stood firm, turned around and tortured Ashikaga Yoshiji to death, how unjust would her death be?
Ashikaga Yoshiji gritted his teeth and supported the Hojo family, but there was nothing he could do. The Kanto governors and Kanto generals in the past generations had a life-and-death relationship. They recognized each other but wanted to kill each other.
Yoshigan Shiba glanced at Ashikaga Yoshiji and said decisively.
"Your Highness Uesugi will not burn bridges across rivers. Today's eight states are no longer the confrontation between the Kamakura Ashikaga family and the two Uesugi families in the past.
The Kanto shoguns and the Kanto governors fought endlessly, and the Hojo family, the Satomi family, the Satake family and other local lords took advantage of the situation to rise.
His Majesty Uesugi's base is far away in Echigo. Heavy snowfalls in winter often block the Echigo Mountains, making it difficult to respond to emergencies in the Kanto Plain.
She cannot be arbitrary and arbitrary, someone must help her keep an eye on the Kanto Plain and monitor these Kanto daimyo who are ready to move."
Ashikaga Yoshiji said calmly.
"Maybe, but that person shouldn't be me."
Sibo Yiyin smiled.
"Master Ashikaga Yoshiji, you are very self-aware.
What I mean is not that His Highness Uesugi will choose you to help her keep an eye on the Kanto Plain, but that she has many opponents and the integrity of the Kanto system is very important to her.
If she wants to subdue the great names in Kanto, she needs Kanto generals more than the previous Kanto leaders.
Only when Ashikaga Uesugi's Kanto system is complete will she have enough status to suppress the local area and slowly weaken the local power of the eight states in Kanto.
So, I assure you, burning bridges will not happen."
Ashikaga Yoshiji asked coldly.
"How can you guarantee that?"
Sibo Yiyin said solemnly.
"As the leader of the Kanto Imperial Palace and the direct descendant of Genji Kawachi, I promise you that any betrayal will never happen.
If you correct the chaos, Echigo will recognize you as the Kanto general. The Kanto system of the Kamakura Ashikaga and Uesugi families will resume operation, and order will be restored in the Kanto Plain."
Ashikaga Yoshiji raised his brows and looked at Yoshigan Shiba. This flawless handsome face reflected the holy brilliance, making her feel ashamed of herself and lowered her head to consider the pros and cons.
Shiba Yiyin said slowly and quietly.
"This is not difficult for you. The position of Kanto Governor has never existed, right?
You use a non-existent service position to trick Hojo Yasu around, are you really loyal to her?"
Ashikaga Yoshiji suddenly raised his head and looked at Shiba Yoshigan, with a hint of sneer on his lips.
"Both and the other, didn't the Kyoto shogunate use a non-existent Kanto governorship to lure Uesugi Teruhora?"
Shiba Yiyin smiled slightly.
He would not explain to Ashikaga Yoshiji that Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Uesugi Kenmasa teamed up to dig a hole for Uesugi Teru. It was by chance that he learned the truth from Ohkuma Asahide.
Yoshigan Shiba deliberately caused Ashikaga Yoshiji to misunderstand, so that she could believe Yoshigan Shiba, and complicity is the most powerful guarantee.
Ashikaga Yoshiji took a deep breath and said.
"I have another request. My mother's affairs cannot be delved into."
"good."
Yoshigan agreed readily. If he wanted to recognize Ashikaga Yoshiji as the Kanto general, the ancestors of Ashikaga Haruji must be forgotten.
Ashikaga Haruji was defeated in the war and was taken back to Sagami Country by Hojo Ujiyasu and placed under house arrest. She died in an unknown manner. If we delve deeper into the cause of her death, Ashikaga Yoshiji, the current Kanto general who succeeded him, must be unclean.
Ashikaga Yoshiji pointed out this request to make Yoshigan Shiba understand.
If Terutora Uesugi wants to go back on his word in the future, the most likely possibility is to reveal this matter and throw dirt on Ashikaga Yoshiji. Yoshihiro Shiba must honor his promise today and protect her.
Following Yoshigan Shiba's readily agreed, Ashikaga Yoshiji raised the tea cup on the table. The two talked for a long time, and the boiling water had become much gentler.
Yoshigan also raised his own cup, touched Ashikaga Yoshiji's cup lightly, and drank it all in one gulp. The stomach is cold in autumn and winter, and it is indeed much more comfortable to drink warm water.
Ashikaga Yoshiji smiled and drank his own warm water, which was considered an agreement.
She then said resolutely.
"Hojo Ujiyasu caused trouble in Kanto, and I had long intended to separate from him. I only regretted that I was so powerless that I had to live in poverty day and night, and had to live under the shelter of others.
Now, His Highness Uesugi has succeeded the Yamauchi Uesugi family governor and is in charge of Kantō. He is going south to Kantō to uphold justice. This is really a great pleasure.
I am willing to fight side by side with His Highness Uesugi to bring order out of chaos and restore peace and clarity to Kanto."
Sibo Yiyin smiled.
"The past few years at Kamakura-den have not been easy. We came late and made you suffer.
But after all the hardships come happiness, I assure you, the better days are yet to come.”
Yoshigan Shiba used honorifics to Ashikaga Yoshiji for the first time, acknowledging her identity, and Ashikaga Yoshiji smiled in return.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became warm, and the Ashikaga family became a happy family.
———
The next day, Kanto General Ashikaga Yoshiji officially made a statement.
She denounced Hojo Ujiyasu for harming the famous family, wreaking havoc in Kanto, and depriving her of the Kanto leadership granted to her.
He also recognized Teruhora Uesugi as the governor of the Uesugi family in the Yamauchi family and the chief of staff in charge of Kantō, and was grateful to her for her righteous deed of sending troops to Kantō.
With Ashikaga Yoshiji, the Kanto general, coming out to take sides, the situation in Kanto became even more one-sided.
Terutora Uesugi supported Ashikaga Yoshiji as the new Kanto shogun, and quickly returned to the Ueno Kingdom to outflank the Dahu Territory. Echigo's follow-up troops from the Numata Territory in the north followed closely south and besieged the Ubashi Territory.
The Ueno samurai who were close to Hojo were in a panic. They didn't even have time to ask for surrender when they were killed by Uesugi Teruhora's sudden attack.
In less than ten days, Wuqiao City, Dahu City, and Chishi City were all defeated. The warriors in the city all abandoned their masters and opened the city to surrender.
Terutora Uesugi beheaded all the Hime samurai who were direct branches of the Dahu family and the Naha family, and the family was wiped out.
While Nagano was interceding for the Nagano family in Amabashi Castle, Teruhora Uesugi ordered the governor of the family, Nagano Kentada, to commit seppuku and apologize, dedicate Amabashi Castle, and allow the family name to remain.
At this point, the Mangqiao leader, the Dahu leader, and the Nabo leader fell into the hands of the Echigo army.
In the plains southeast of Ueno, facing the strict order of Terutora Uesugi, Yura Shigege did not dare to disobey, so he had to withdraw from the territory and return to his home, Kanayama Castle.
Ashikaga Castle's Nagao Tocho was ordered by Sugi Terutora to go south and attack Tatebayashi Castle Akai Terukage.
The two sides had similar territories and had a deep relationship. After the Nagao commander besieged Tatebayashi Castle, he wrote a letter to the city to persuade him to surrender. Akai Terukage knew that he had committed a serious crime, and at the request of the retainers, he committed seppuku.
Tatebayashi Castle surrendered, and the entire Ueno Kingdom was on the side of Uesugi Terutora. The support of the Shimono Sano leader and the Shimotou Furukawa leader allowed the water transportation of the Tone River to flow directly into the Musashi Country.
After clearing up logistics and stabilizing supply lines, the Echigo army officially marched into Musashi Country. At this time, Uesugi Teruhora already had absolute political and military advantages.
Ashikaga Yoshiji and his colleagues endorsed the justice of his participation in the battle.
Ueno Province Shirai Nagao, Headquarters Nagao, Minawa Nagano, Uenobashi Nagano, Numata, Yura and other samurai followed suit.
Ashikaga Castle Nagao of Shimono Province, Ryota of Shimotsou Furukawa Castle, Narita of Musashi Province Ninja Castle, Ota of Iwatsuke Castle and other samurai wings sent troops.
The samurai families from the five countries, including Shimono Kuni Oyama, Utsunomiya, Shimotsou Kuni Takajo, Hitachi Kuni Satake, Oda, Makabe, Tagadani, Anbo Kunisatomi, and Kamisou Kuni Sakai, were waving flags and shouting from the outside.
At one time, 100,000 allied troops advanced into Musashi Country and surrounded and suppressed the Hojo family with great momentum.
The samurai family in Musashi trembled in front of a hundred thousand troops, except for the Daidoji Temple of Kawagoe Castle, Sheishang, who defended the city.
On the Hojo side, Edo Castle Lord Ota Yasushi, Matsuyama Castle Lord Ueda Asanao, and Takiyama Castle Lord Oishi Sadahisa all changed their banners and welcomed the king.
Uesugi Teruhora and Shiba Yoshigan led the coalition forces, crossed the Matsuyama Territory, went straight into Sagami Country, bypassed Kagotsu Castle and entered the core territory of Hojo.
Odawara Castle was shocked three times a day, so they gathered their own troops and entered the city. Hojo Ujiyasu ordered the daughter of Hojo Tsunari, who was killed in the Sano leader, to defend Tamana Castle, and all parts of Hojo were unable to leave the city.
The Hojo family completely turned into a giant turtle, shrinking into its own turtle shell. Even though the Kwantung Allied Forces were ravaging the territory, they did not dare to come out to fight with them.
The Kanto Allied Forces invaded from the Otsuki area of Sagamihara, then went south along the Sagami River, took the Sakazaka River, and besieged Odawara Castle.
At this time, it is also the first snow in winter.
———
Odawara Castle is located not far from the shore of Nishi-Sagami Bay. It stretches for nine kilometers from Mount Hachiman to the coast and has multiple outer borders.
After repeated reinforcements and repairs by the Hojo family, it almost became a huge city that the medieval samurai could not capture, and it was daunting.
Izu Country to the west of Sagami Bay was the first base for the Hojo family to invade the Kanto Plain. Odawara Castle is connected to the outer border on the coast and can continuously receive supplies shipped from Izu Country.
The walls are high and the city is strong, and the logistics are constant.
Although Odawara Castle was surrounded by 100,000 troops, the people within the Hojo family were stable, and the war reached a stalemate.