"The old conflict that has been going on for many years is that the fields are secretly encroached a little beyond the boundary in the winter, and the villages are preparing to grab water for irrigation before spring plowing. That's all.
How could it be complete without killing dozens of lives every year? This time, a dispute broke out between the Honda family and the Sakai family in the village, and blood relatives were killed.
It's just that Ishikawa Shusei went too far and came out to defend the Sakai family in the name of Nishi Mikawa's banner, which angered my cheap aunt."
Tokugawa Ieyasu frowned. Honda had conflicts with Ishikawa Sumasa many times?
"What exactly happened?"
Honda Tadakatsu said helplessly.
"How would I know.
Honda wrote to me many times, all of which were full of accusations that Ishikawa Tsushima was unfair. I can’t believe these one-sided accusations. Do you believe it?
It’s not like the Honda clan is a coward who doesn’t dare to resist when being beaten, right?”
Tokugawa Ieyasu shook his head and said.
"You should have some respect for the two flag-bearers. They are both elders and should be addressed as adults!"
Honda Tadakatsu said perfunctorily.
"Hey, you are teaching Mr. Ishikawa Sumasa and Mr. Honda multiple times.
Alas, there's no one else here, so I'm just saying it briefly, so don't worry about it."
The two of them were talking, but no one took Hattori's mother and daughter who were waiting respectfully below them seriously. The Ninja people are nothing more than hawks and dogs. If they don't save the people, they will never be on the stage and they can't be considered human beings.
Tokugawa Ieyasu thought, the letter from Mikawa Kingdom would be arriving soon. She felt a headache just thinking about it.
The Tokugawa family started in Nishi Mikawa, swallowed up the big ones with their small ones, and took over Higashi Mikawa and the Tokugawa Kingdom.
In order to absorb the new territory, Tokugawa Ieyasu had to move his residence to Hamamatsu Castle and handed over the management of Mikawa Kingdom to his trusted relatives and important ministers.
Honda was the leader of the Higashi Mikawa flag several times, and Ishikawa Shumasa was the leader of the Nishi Mikawa flag, both of whom were her loyal ministers.
The Sakai family and the Tokugawa family are related, and their eldest daughter's line and the second daughter's line are two branches. They are an important force that Tokugawa Ieyasu relies on to stabilize the local rule of the Tokugawa family in Mikawa Kingdom.
The conflict between the East and West flags concerns the two wealthy families of Honda and Sakai. How can it not give Tokugawa Ieyasu a splitting headache? She shook her head, and in the end it was just a matter of peace, what else could she do?
Tokugawa Ieyasu is in the Toe Country, and it is already very difficult to suppress and win over the Toe people. If there is chaos in the Mikawa country, it will still be his own cronies, each playing thirty major roles, so there shouldn't be any big problems, right?
Tokugawa Ieyasu had a headache, and for a moment she didn't want to think about these bad things anymore. She looked at Hattori and her daughter below and said.
"His Majesty Oda invited me to go to Luo together, and I intend to mobilize for war.
Hattori Chief, your Hattori family is from the Iga country. Are you willing to set up an outpost for me to explore the current situation in Japan, so as to cope with the coming and going of my army."
Hattori Baochang kowtowed to the ground and said.
"I am willing to serve His Highness."
There was a trace of pain in her heart.
Iga country was isolated by the shogunate, its economy collapsed, and the people of the country were worse than dead. The Hattori family tried to open up the situation several times, but failed.
Hattori Chief himself once went to Luo to seek service to the general and find a way out for the Iga people.
It's a pity that the ministers got too many premiums from daily necessities transactions by blocking Iga country, and no one was willing to give up this benefit.
After Hattori's efforts failed, he made up his mind to take his people out of Iga country and join the Tokugawa family in Mikawa.
But who would have thought that the Iga people would one day make a comeback. Yoshigan Shiba took control of the Iga country and led the Iga people to a wonderful turnaround.
Today, the Iga clan is no longer a barbarian of the country, but a retainer of Shiba, and has become a well-known samurai family within the guardian system.
On the other hand, the Hattori family is still struggling in the Tokugawa family, and they don't know when they will be strong.
Hattori Warden felt bitter in his heart. He went back to Japan to run errands. If he met his old subordinates who were in Iga country, he would be completely embarrassed.
However, she had no choice but to go back to eat the emperor's salary and share his worries.
Tokugawa Ieyasu gave some instructions and waved for Hattori and his daughter to leave.
Hattori Chief went outside and said to his daughter Hattori Masashige.
“This time I went back to Koji, mainly to explore obstacles and collect intelligence on the marching route of Minami Omi.
You take people to lurk in the Suzuka Mountains, and I'll find old friends from the Koga Fifty-three family to find out the details."
Hattori Masashige kowtowed slightly, and the girl spoke as crisply as an oriole.
"Mother, aren't we going back to Iga?"
Hattori Chief's face stiffened and he shook his head.
"talk later."
———
After Hattori and his daughter left, Tokugawa Ieyasu was rubbing the letters in his hands and wondering what he was thinking.
Honda Tadakatsu, who was standing by, looked at the master strangely. It was rare to see her with such a melancholy expression, and asked.
"What are you thinking, Your Highness? The letter is almost torn."
Tokugawa Ieyasu glanced at her, peeking into the king's thoughts, which was taboo everywhere. Even if this guy could say it casually, he was still very generous.
But at this time, she was indeed flooded with thoughts and remembered some past events.
"Did you know? Before I went to the Imagawa family to be a hostage, I stayed at the Oda family."
"Oh, I know that."
Honda Tadakatsu nodded, this matter is not a secret, there are many people who know about it.
When the Tokugawa family was fighting against the Oda family, in order to get help from the Imagawa family, the heir Tokugawa Ieyasu was sent to the Imagawa family as a hostage daughter.
Unexpectedly, the escort had other ideas midway and took Tokugawa Ieyasu around to Owari Province and handed it over to the Oda family for handling.
The governor of the Oda family at that time was Oda Nobuhide, and her daughter Oda Nobunaga was not a big name with millions of stones, but a big fool known to all Owari.
Tokugawa Ieyasu sighed.
"I was sent to Qingzhou City, and everyone else was hostile and wary of me. Only Master Ji's sister often came to play with me.
There were also a few times when she was so bold that she took me out of the city to play, and I had the chance to meet Brother Yiyin."
How could Honda Tadakatsu be willing to listen to such old memories, but if her master wanted to talk, she had to be patient and listen.
Master Yoshi's sister refers to Oda Nobunaga, so is Brother Yoshigage...
Honda Tadakatsu looked at the letter in Tokugawa Ieyasu's hand in surprise and asked.
"His Highness has known the world-famous Yutaisuo for a long time?"
Tokugawa Ieyasu raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.
"Yes, we have known each other for a long time.
He was also an interesting nobleman. When he was a child, he didn't look like a noble man from a famous family, but he looked a bit like a woman."
Tadakatsu Honda touched his head, he looked like a woman? Is this a compliment or a compliment?
Tokugawa Ieyasu looked into the distance with deep eyes and said.
"At that time, I just felt that this young man was not like an ordinary young man. He had a more delicate appearance and behaved independently. He was not like the men in the inner courtyard who depended on women for their lives.
But the man has changed a lot and his beauty is now widely spread across the world. I am also very curious as to what he looks like now."
Honda Tadakatsu always felt that her master's smile was a bit crazy, but she wasn't really stupid. Of course she wouldn't say it out loud, she would just compliment her.
"There's always a chance to see you again."
Tokugawa Ieyasu smiled at her and waved the letter in his hand.
"Yes, if we are destined to meet again, we will meet again. He is coming soon."
"Um?"
Honda Tadakatsu's little face was blank, as innocent as a child.
———
In the Gifu Castle Castle Tower, Oda Nobunaga is half-lying on the main throne.
She looked at Maeda Toshiie who entered the room and bowed respectfully, and smiled without saying a word. After being silent for an unknown length of time, she picked up a letter on the slip and asked.
"Inuchiyo, guess where the letter in my hand comes from?"
Maeda Toshiie's expression did not change and he said.
"I guess they're probably from Echigo."
Oda Nobunaga straightened up and asked.
"Oh? How can you see it?"
Maeda Toshiie said.
"If it hadn't been for the letter from my master, who is as busy as you, how could you have time to specially invite me to come for questioning?"
Oda Nobunaga sighed and said.
"Smart people, smart people.
I have been busy mobilizing the military and organizing supplies these days, and I have been so busy with the matter of going to Luo. But I have a doubt at this time, and I would like to ask you, a smart person, to help me clear it up.
Why? Why would Shiba Yoshigan, who is far away in Echigo, know that I am going to Luo?"
Maeda Toshiie said seriously.
"Of course I told the Lord.
I am the acting officer of Owari Shiba and a retainer of Shiba. The affairs of the Oda family going to Luo will involve the interests of the Shiba family. I must inform the lord and ask him to know what he knows.
In addition, I kindly ask His Majesty Oda to pay attention to your respectful speech and not to address my lord by his first name."
Oda Nobunaga's expression changed drastically, he stared at her and said.
"Odaisuo? Kenshin Gong? Well, what a great Inuchiyo, you let me down so much.
I thought you were mine. But I didn’t expect you were his from beginning to end."
Maeda Toshiie kowtowed to the ground and said.
"Your Majesty Oda, I am doing this out of duty and for your consideration."
Oda Nobunaga's smile was full of anger and a little twisted. She felt a little hot, took off her kimono with one hand, exposed half of her jade arm, pointed at Maeda Toshiie and said.
"Yes, it's my duty. Mr. Qianxin is so lucky to have such a loyal minister like you.
What a pity, what does this have to do with me?
I gave you the opportunity to perform meritorious service and rewarded you with 20,000 shi of territory. This is your reward for me? Inuchiyo, why don’t you die?”
Maeda Toshiie said solemnly.
"I am willing to devote myself to the peace of the Shiba Oda family and the friendship between you and my master until my death."
Seeing the maeda Toshiya's appearance of not being afraid of being scalded by boiling water, Oda Nobunaga's wanton laughter echoed in the room. She waved the letter and said.
"I have been so blind all these years that I didn't realize that you are still a Marquis Zhuge Wu?
Then I dare to ask the wise Lord Wuhou, guess what is written in Qianxin’s official letter?”
Maeda Toshiie said calmly.
"The Lord is coming back."
Oda Nobunaga narrowed his eyes. She didn't expect that Maeda Toshiie really guessed it right.
When she saw the letter, she was filled with shock and anger. She was so busy trying to figure out who was stealing the letter that she didn't think about anything else.
At this time, she saw Maeda Toshiie's calm tone with a hint of strange thoughts, and couldn't help but hum.
"He really is Zhuge Liang, yes, you guessed it right.
Then guess again, what will I do with you?"
Looking into Oda Nobunaga's violent and stern eyes, Maeda Toshiie said without fear.
"Don't you miss him? Don't you want to see him?
It has been more than three years since he left Owari Province for Luo in the winter of that year, and it is now almost the early spring of the fourth year."
Oda Nobunaga was furious, and Maeda Toshiie's words "do you miss him" made his heart feel cold.
She paused and said angrily.
"It's none of your business!"
Maeda Toshiie smiled, feeling a little lonely.
"I miss him, I miss him so much.
He is my master, and you are my Bole. I really don’t want you to go into confrontation.
I know him very well, and I have seen everything he did in recent years and in Kanto.
He is still the same boy as before, without any change."
Oda Nobunaga remained silent, and Maeda Toshiie kowtowed to the ground again, saying sincerely.
"Your Majesty Oda, you are not against him. Wouldn't you rather believe in the two-faced people these days who hide their swords in their smiles than join forces with my master?
How did General Ashikaga die? A clue can be seen from the information sent back by Lord Niwa Nagahide.
The Miyoshi family was no longer the Miyoshi family during the Miyoshi Chōkei period. Her family did not have the strength to go to Luo, and General Ashikaga was killed by his own people in the shogunate.
These shogunate warriors killed their masters, and then they wanted to support another puppet to take over and continue to enjoy their own power.
Can you trust such people? Would you rather trust these people than give the loyal and benevolent master of my family a chance?
When I sent the letter to Echigo, I knew that my lord would definitely choose to come back. He is from Owari, and he is one of our own!
Please put aside your prejudice, the Spo family is not your enemy, but your comrade-in-arms."
After saying that, Maeda Toshiie lay down on the ground and waited for his defeat.
Although she is the acting official of Owari Shiba, the status of Owari Shiba is quite special and belongs to the foreign domain of the Oda family.
What if Oda Nobunaga really gets mad and deprives her of the 20,000 koku territory? No matter how awesome the Shiba family is, they only have 200,000 koku, and they are still far away. Can they really come to Owari Mino and kill the Oda family?
Maeda Toshiie knew this day would happen when she wrote a letter to Echigo. But she thought about it and wrote the letter anyway.
She couldn't put Shiba Yiyin into an embarrassing situation for her own selfish reasons. That was her master, the one she loved, and she had to take this risk.
Although Oda Nobunaga was surly, Maeda Toshiie knew that he still had a chance.
Over the years, there has been a vague rumor in the Owari samurai family. It is said that since his two sexual encounters with Shiba Yoshigami, Oda Nobunaga has almost never touched his husband, No-kun.
For this reason, there was a major purge in Oda Nobunaga's inner courtyard, and a batch of servants serving her mother Tsuchida Imperial Palace were replaced.
Oda Nobunaga looked at the sincere face of Maeda Toshiie and couldn't help but sigh. The little girl who was blowing her nose behind him has finally grown up.
Maeda Toshiie betrayed her, and with Oda Nobunaga's temper, he would never trust this traitor again.
This guy was just pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger, making him think that she had given in. Unexpectedly, she had such deep feelings for Shiba Yiyin, and she was willing to sacrifice her own future for him.
Maeda Toshiie's title was given to her by Shiba Yoshigan, but everything she had except her title was given to her by Oda Nobunaga. If she disobeys Oda Nobunaga, she will have nothing.
Even though she knew this was the fate, she still did it without hesitation.