Maeda Toshiie got along very well in the Oda family and was very popular. Everyone spoke highly of her when they mentioned her.
She is a member of the wild children group of Oda Nobunaga's cronies. She grew up with Niwa Nagahide, Ikeda Tsuneki and other close ministers, and has a close relationship.
He was also born in the Maeda family of Arakoko Castle, and got along well with the old samurai warriors from Shimo-Owari County. He was also an old subordinate of Shibata Katsuie, the leader of the old samurai clan, and had a close relationship with him.
After the Oda family conquered the Mino Kingdom, the Maeda Toshi family made great achievements in battle and changed the position of the Mino Kingdom Commandery to Shangjun, holding a territory of 20,000 koku.
Unlike those Oda retainers who were proud of their achievements, her attitude towards the Mino samurai was friendly and reasonable.
Her territory is in the Gujo County area, in the Ryobai Mountains where Mino, Echizen, and Hida meet, and in the Hida Mountains. It has little to do with the conflicts between villages competing for land and water in the Noo Plain.
The surrender ministers of Higashino, headed by Hinano Hiroshi, were grateful to her for upholding justice and were willing to associate with her.
The Simino samurai family, led by the three people from Simino and the four members of Fuha Koji, had a pretty good relationship with her, and they had a lot of information on each other.
Takenaka Shigeharu really admired this man, he was good at dancing, and he managed the relationship inside and outside harmoniously, but there was one thing he couldn't figure out.
What is she doing this for?
What’s the point of Shiba’s retainer being praised by everyone in the Oda family and the Owari Mino samurai family?
Either leave the Shiba family, join the service of Oda Nobunaga, and become Oda's retainer and make great achievements.
Either you can work for the Shiba family with peace of mind, find an opportunity to return to the center of Shiba Yiyin, get close to the master, and perform more to be promoted steadily.
Staying in the marginalized Owari Shiba community, being a marginalized person between the two blurred lines, is wasting your time and wasting your talents.
A person as smart as Maeda Toshiie would not be able to see the disadvantages of being in two different places and not being able to integrate into the core power circle.
Takenaka Shigeharu saluted while thinking about something on his mind. How could such a wise and courageous samurai be willing to live in silence for the rest of his life? Does she have a conspiracy in her heart that others have not noticed?
Maeda Toshiie glanced at Takenaka Shigeharu and had long admired this famous wise man from Mino. Her feat of outsmarting Inabayama Castle is still spread among the Mino samurai family.
Hashiba Hideyoshi was indeed a capable person, and her greatest ability was her ability to win over people's hearts. Even a talented strategist like Takenaka Shigeharu was willing to make plans under her command.
Maeda Toshiie pointed to the castle tower and said to Hashiba Hideyoshi.
"It's getting late, hurry up and go in to pay your respects to the main hall. Master Shibata and I just came out, and Master Niwa is still inside."
Hideyoshi Hashiba was overjoyed and said.
"Niwa-sama is here too. I haven't seen her for a while and I miss her very much."
Maeda Toshiie smiled and said.
"You just came to Gifu City and haven't found a place to stay yet, right? You don't have to look for it after you get out of the castle tower. Come directly to my place and I will make a place for you."
Oda Nobunaga had long promulgated the centralized housing system for samurai families, hoping that high-ranking samurai families would spend as much time living in the city as possible to facilitate control. For this reason, she was rare and generous and granted residences to these important ministers.
Hashiba Hideyoshi was only a man of a thousand koku and was not qualified to receive a bountiful house in Gifu Castle. He originally planned to go to the castle town to find a rental house after paying homage to Oda Nobunaga.
At this time, she received the invitation from Maeda Toshiie, and said with some embarrassment.
"I'm really causing trouble for you."
Maeda Toshiie shook his head and said.
"Come in quickly, come out early and go to my place. It's been a long time, I still want to have a few drinks and chat with you."
After saying that, Maeda Toshiie said goodbye and left. Looking at her back, Hideyoshi Hashiba's eyes showed genuine sincerity.
Takenaka Shigeharu on the side was secretly speechless.
She had always admired Hashiba Hideyoshi for being a good person, but she never expected that Lord Toshiie Maeda was even better at being a good person. No wonder she was able to blend in like a fish in water among all the forces of the Oda family as a foreign minister.
Takenaka Shigeharu thought about it and felt that he should mention something to Hideyoshi Hashiba, so he stepped forward and said.
"Maeda-sama is sincere in his treatment of others, and his magnanimity and magnanimity are rare to see."
Hideyoshi Hashiba failed to appreciate the meaningfulness in Takenaka Shigeharu's words, so he just nodded and said.
"Maeda-sama is indeed a noble person.
When we followed the main hall, she was the banner and I was just a servant. But she never rejected me and treated me well."
Takenaka Shigeharu nodded with a smile and said nothing more. Hideyoshi Hashiba had true feelings for Maeda Toshiie, so why should he act like a villain in vain and speculate on malicious intentions? Just keep a careful note in the future.
Hashiba Hideyoshi completely ignored Takenaka Shigeharu's worry and said to her with a smile.
"Let's go in quickly, we have to find Master Maeda's residence later.
I wonder how she will entertain us tonight, whether there will be delicious salted fish and pickled radish, I am really looking forward to it."
After saying that, she turned around and asked her younger sister, Hide-Naga Hashiba, to wait outside with a few relatives, Hatamoto. Their status was too low to enter the castle tower.
Then, Hideyoshi Hashiba took two of his followers, Masakatsu Hoshiga and Shigeharu Takenaka, to see Oda Nobunaga.
———
Maeda Toshiie who walked away turned around and glanced at Hideyoshi Hashiba who entered the castle tower.
There is no hatred without reason in the world, let alone love without reason. Her and Niwa Nagahide's tolerance for Hideyoshi Hashiba was also based on their own standpoints.
In the politics of the Wu family, the most important thing is not how strong or outstanding your abilities are. It is what connections you have, which circle you belong to, how to maintain contacts, and how to get what you need.
The Wu family's group culture consists of big circles within circles and small circles within middle circles. Everyone has his own group and must resolutely safeguard the interests of his own group.
There is a saying in the Middle East, I fight with my brothers, I fight with my brothers and cousins, and I fight with my brothers and cousins against outsiders.
The truth behind this statement is similar to that of Wu family politics.
Hashiba Hideyoshi was indeed humble, but she, Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie had a common circle with overlapping connections.
Although she is not a member of the wild children who grew up with Oda Nobunaga, she was born as a servant of Oda Nobunaga and is considered a close confidant.
She was set up as a typical example of common people's counterattack, but she entered the Kinoshita family to obtain a true samurai identity. She worked with the Oda Gyōshou headed by Niwa Nagahide, and was regarded as one of the Gyōshō clan's own.
The most important thing is that Hashiba Hideyoshi's predicament today is due to the need for Oda Nobunaga's military reform, and he single-handedly pushed her to the stage as a target.
Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie, who had always followed Oda Nobunaga's footsteps, of course wanted to show goodwill to Hashiba Hideyoshi.
In fact, it was to show Oda Nobunaga's absolute loyalty that when there was a conflict between Oda Nobunaga and the Oda retainers, he would stand firmly on Oda Nobunaga's side.
Therefore, Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie's concern for Hashiba Hideyoshi was not simply due to appreciation of her as a person, but out of comprehensive considerations.
Consider the thoughts of the members of the Wild Boys, the senses of Oda followers, and the reaction of Oda Nobunaga.
Hashiba Hideyoshi and the two of them have too many overlapping connections and circles. Even for the stability and development of their own group, their attitudes must be friendly.
Of course, Hashiba Hideyoshi's own abilities were also recognized by the two, but the complexity of the samurai family's politics did not change based on personal emotions.
Only those who know how to assess the situation are politically mature leaders of the Wu family.
———
Hashiba Hideyoshi walked into the castle tower, took a deep breath, and adjusted his state.
Every time she met Oda Nobunaga, she would use her fullest spirit to face this terrible lord and win her favor.
Yes, the terrible lord.
A word from Oda Nobunaga could lift her up to the clouds or push her into the abyss. She is the god of Hideyoshi Hashiba, an omnipotent god.
Did Hashiba Hideyoshi really not understand Takenaka Shigeharu’s warning? Did Hashiba Hideyoshi really not understand the deep meaning behind Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie’s kindness?
She understands everything, so what can she change? It's better not to understand and concentrate on being a full-fledged Hideyoshi Hashiba who strives to reach the top.
She comes from a humble background and cannot make a mistake, miss an opportunity, or suffer a failure. She must have a 100% winning rate.
After all kinds of tests, ninety-nine times of success, if she fails just once, she will lose all her chips.
With a warm smile on his face, Hashiba Hideyoshi walked into the meeting hall where Oda Nobunaga was sitting.
No more hesitation, no retreat even if she is hurt. She will always win, keep winning, and never fail.
———
In the meeting hall, Oda Nobunaga was so excited that she walked back and forth. The pair of jade rabbits on her chest were rising and falling, almost ready to jump out, and they could not wrap up the majestic ambition in her heart.
She was so excited that she didn't expect it to go so smoothly. Originally, she just sent Niwa Nagahide to Konge to try her luck, but she actually got a big trump card.
Oda Nobunaga didn't care what Ashikaga Yoshiaki was. Even if he was a pig, she had the confidence to help him rise to the throne of Ashikaga General.
Wada Yamasa represents the old party of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and Hosokawa Fujitaka represents the two powerful local factions of the Hosokawa-Mibuchi shogunate. Their attitudes are the most important.
With their invitation, the Oda family's road to Luo was completely opened. With the support of several local forces, Oda Nobunaga was not afraid of encountering the dilemma that the Miyoshi family was in Kyoto at this time.
She walked back and forth on the main seat, releasing the unbearable excitement in her heart, and couldn't help praising Niwa Nagahide who was sitting there.
"Well done, Mi Wuniang! That's great! I want to reward you big!"
Seeing Oda Nobunaga jumping up and down with joy like a child, Niwa Nagahide has long been accustomed to her wild behavior after following this lord for many years.
She said calmly.
"Main Hall, it's not the time to be happy yet.
The two sides reached an agreement. Lord Wada Weimasa has returned and asked His Highness Ashikaga Yoshiaki to move to Asai's house in Kitaomi to wait for our army to advance to Luo.
However, the route to Luo Luo has not yet been determined. The time to ascend Luo Luo must be before Lord Shiba Kenshin comes back, and everything needs to be carefully weighed and calculated.
And when we go to Luo, do the martial arts of the surrounding countries need to be on guard? You have to be on guard against the story of Imagawa Yoshimoto."
Oda Nobunaga stopped, sat back at the head of the table, pulled back his kimono, revealing a large patch of white on his chest, and fanned himself vigorously with a paper fan.
Her chest was flushed with excitement, and she was so hot from walking back and forth, and a lot of sweat flowed down the curve, making her feel so uncomfortable that she wanted to take off all her clothes.
While opening his kimono and fanning his chest to cool off the air, Oda Nobunaga thought and said.
"Before coming to Gifu Castle, Wada Weimasa had already contacted Asai Nagamasa, right?
My younger brother and sister-in-law wish that the Rokkaku family could disappear completely from this world. I would go to Luo Kyoto to help her level the Nanomi River, and of course she would be willing to send troops together.
Naturally, the sooner the better. Shiba Yiyin, ha, I won't give him a chance, I will definitely get ahead of him!
After your hard work, go to Kitaomi and negotiate with Asai Nagamasa about the date of going to Luo. The earlier the time is, the better. Don't wait for the slack after spring plowing.
If she has problems with logistics and military supplies, I will solve them. As long as she is willing to cooperate, all the money and food will be handed over to me, and I will have plenty of food!
As long as Kitanomi can mobilize farmers and soldiers to support the logistics line, I will make up for all the food gaps caused."
If Oda Nobunaga wants to complete Kamiro before Yoshigan Shiba returns, he must catch the Minami Omi Rokkaku family by surprise.
If they send troops during the slack season after spring plowing, the Rokkaku family can mobilize a large number of farmers and soldiers to defend, and the war will inevitably be protracted.
But Oda Nobunaga's military reform was aimed at off-season operations. Sending troops before spring plowing directly disrupted the rhythm of traditional samurai operations.
The Oda family sits on the Noo plain of Owari and Mino, with a stone height of 1.1 million koku. Oda Nobunaga just defeated the Kitaise samurai family and asked them to surrender and provide money and food.
War is nothing more than fighting for logistics, money and food. In recent years, it has been the core area of war, and its power has withered.
The territory here is exhausted and the Samurai family is in disarray. With the cooperation of the local leading party, the Oda family can completely crush it with its strength.
Niwa Nagahide followed his master's train of thought and asked.
"Then we never break through and attack?"
Oda Nobunaga nodded.
"The army passed through Sekigahara, entered Kitaomi, and joined forces with the Asai family to march into Minamiomi.
I will write to the Liujiao family and ask her family to cooperate with the volunteers to go to Luo this time, open the city and clear out the treasury, and get out of the way without any violation.
If you don’t comply, the Shangluo Yibing will regard the Rokkaku family as the comrades of the Miyoshi family, and let Rokkaku Yiji carefully consider it and do what he wants."
Niwa Nagahide shook his head and was speechless. Oda Nobunaga was trying to kill someone, and he was clearly trying to force Rokkaku Yoshiji to jump over the wall.
Open the city and clear out the treasury, make way for the road, and then the Oda family and the Asai family come to occupy the magpie's nest. Will there be a place for the Rokkaku family to stay in Minamiomi in the future?
Oda Nobunaga continued.
"The south cannot be idle either. I will let the Nishi Mino people supervise the North Ise samurai family and send troops to Suzuka Pass.
Didn’t Kobe Gumori and Seki Nobumori say that the eight counties of Kitaise truly surrendered to me and were loyal to me?
Okay, I'll give them a chance to prove themselves. Let them turn their guns and attack their old masters, the Rokkaku family.
Let the Nishi Mino people keep an eye on them and guard against the intervention of the Iga Koshiba leader at Suzuka Pass. Head north to harass Minami Omi Koga County, think of it as a partial division, and coordinate with our army to attack Minami Omi Rokkaku's house."