Chapter 1473 If life were just like the first time we met
Hideyoshi Hashiba thought.
"Horihide Village, which opened the way for the army to enter Kitaomi Castle, received 60,000 koku from Sakata County.
Aguki Sadasei, who assisted in the attack on the Asai family, received 20,000 koku from Ika County, and Isono Tamashiro received 60,000 koku from Takashima County.
It seems that most of the thirty-five stones in Kitaomiya were given to me and Asai Ryochen by the main hall. This is really strange."
Takenaka Shigeharu smiled.
"It's not surprising, because there is nothing the main hall can do.
Think about it, Omi Kingdom has more than 700,000 koku, and Echizen Province has more than 400,000 koku. The Oda family has expanded so fast that in the blink of an eye, it has gained nearly a million koku.
Of course, the more land the better, no one would be dissatisfied with it, but even if it is as powerful as the main hall, it can no longer control such a large territory.
Kita Ise has always been censorious when it comes to Nagashima, Minami Ise's scandal involving Kitahata Nobuba's failure to kill the former governor, and Minami Omi's rebellions one after another have made the main hall understand the limits of its control.
After all, the Oda family was only a daimyo from the four Shimo-Owari counties, and the foundation of the retainer group was limited.
The main hall is too ambitious, and she wants to annex the world, but the old people in the Oda retainers group can't really support her ambition, and they have become a drag.
If you want to take the world by storm, you can only rely on the power of the world's heroes. It is impossible for the Owari samurai family to accomplish this great feat alone.
The main hall has come to understand and changed its attitude. In the future, it will definitely focus on operating the Noo Plains of Owari and Mino as the foundation to guide the peripheral expeditions.
You are optimistic that Niwa Nagahide-sama, Shibata Katsuie-sama, and other important officials of the Oda family will gradually be enfeoffed, leave the Nobi Plain, and become the vanguard of the Oda family to conquer the world.
The main hall will soon move to the new Azuchi Castle to control the Kyoto shogunate nearby and complete the political establishment of Oda Gongyi."
Hashiba Hideyoshi squinted his eyes and thought for a while before saying.
"You mean, the main hall wants us to conquer the world for her, and she will deploy the central military governors nearby to strictly guard the foundation?"
Takenaka Shigeharu nodded.
"The Oda family is already big enough, and the main hall doesn't have the energy to take care of everything.
As long as she firmly grasps the million-stone foundation of the Nongwei Plain and sits in the nearby centers to give orders, it will be enough to drive the ladies to serve her.
As for the generals who are fighting in all directions, they can let their subordinates do what they want boldly. If they do well, they will be rewarded, and if they do poorly, they will be punished. As long as the rewards and punishments are clear, there is no need to worry about no one sacrificing their lives for the Oda family.
The Oda family's current foundation is strong enough and they can afford to lose. As long as the main hall is willing to delegate power, there will always be elites who will stand out and open up territory for the Oda family.
You are the example that the main hall has set up, letting everyone see that as long as you are willing to open up territory for the Oda family with your heart, the main hall can generously reward you with knowledge and deeds worth 120,000 koku.
But if the battle goes unfavorably and the Oda family loses face, the main hall will mercilessly withdraw the rewards. She has a million stones of Nobi plains in her hands, and she can use rewards to fairly manipulate the concubines. Who can resist?
If we continue to expand according to the previous method, with so many new territories in Kitaomi and Echizen Kingdom, the main palace will have to worry about a lot, and how many lazy ladies of the Oda family will be raised.
In the Oda family, there were many Ji warriors like Lin Xiuzhen who lived peacefully and only thought about their small fortune every day. The palace would not tolerate them hindering their world ambitions.
Therefore, not only Kitanomi will be granted the title of meritorious ministers who surrendered, but also the surrendered ministers of Echizen Kingdom, the main palace should also treat them favorably and use them in important ways.
There is a cloud in the sky, there will be brave women under heavy reward, and the palace does have the spirit to accept all rivers."
Yu Chai thought about it carefully and nodded.
"You are right, but the main hall will not really believe those who surrender. It must let its own people who can be trusted take the absolute advantage and suppress the place.
That’s why I was granted the title of 120,000 koku in the north of Omi, and my strength firmly suppresses the surrender of Kitanomi. I think the same is true for the Echizen Kingdom, but I don’t know who the main palace will send to control the surrender.”
Takenaka Shigeharu bowed slightly.
"The Lord is wise."
Hashiba Hideyoshi touched his head and said.
"Don't make me panic by talking about your master. It always feels like a dream, not real enough."
Takenaka Shigeharu smiled.
"You are now a famous member of the martial arts family with a fortune of 120,000 shi. There are very few people in the world who are more noble than you. If you don't address yourself as Your Highness or Lord, it will make outsiders laugh and think that Yu Chai's family has no laws."
Hideyoshi Hashiba shook his head helplessly on his face, but he was secretly happy in his heart.
She came from a humble background and had a deep sense of inferiority in her heart. Now she has achieved a prominent status with a name of 120,000 stone warriors, it is really like a beautiful dream.
I just don’t know how beautiful this dream can last. Takenaka Shigeharu said that there are not many people more noble than her in the world, but the man she loves is the most noble person in the world.
To get what he wants, Hideyoshi Hashiba knows that he still has a long way to go.
She thought for a while and said.
"The main hall has given me a gift of 120,000 stones around Xiaogu City. I want to demolish Xiaogu City and use the demolished wood and stones to build a new city and use it as my residence."
Takenaka Shigeharu asked.
"Are you worried that the Wu family near Xiaogu City has evil intentions?"
Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded.
"After all, the Asai family has been operating in Kitaomi for three generations, and it has a far-reaching influence in the Otani Castle area.
This time, I contributed the most to the destruction of the Asai family. Who knows how many people who miss the kindness of the Asai family hate me behind my back.
Living in Xiaogu City, I can’t sleep peacefully, so I might as well look for another important place and build a new city.”
Takenaka Shigeharu smiled.
"My lord is right, Xiaogucheng is indeed not suitable if the lady does not stand under a dangerous wall."
The two were discussing the location of the new city. Hideyoshi saw Hideyoshi standing aside and remained silent, so he asked with a smile.
"Why don't you say anything, Xiuchang? Why don't you come and give me some advice?"
Hashiba Hideuchang smiled.
"Master Takenaka is ten times more intelligent than me, so I don't have the nerve to show my shame. However, there is one thing I want to ask your permission for."
Hideyoshi looked at Hideyoshi Hashiba with a smile. This sister could be regarded as her most caring relative, and she was also safe in doing things, which made her feel at ease.
"What is it?"
Hashiba Hideuchang smiled.
"It's not a big deal, but I'm worried that if I agree casually, I don't know if it will cause trouble to you in the future, so I still want to ask you to check it for me."
Hideyoshi Hashiba smiled.
"You just have to be careful. Tell me, what exactly is going on?"
Hideucha Hashiba said solemnly.
"Do you know the name Samurai Toudo Takatora?"
Hideyoshi Hashiba's face straightened.
"Takatora Toudo? The Takatora Toudo who left the Benshiba family and joined the Asai family?"
Hashiba Hideyoshi knew Toudo Takatora. When she was sent by Oda Nobunaga to Kokomo to buy iron cannons, she happened to meet Yoshigan Shiba who had returned to Kyoto after the Noraga War.
At that time, Todo Takatora served around Shiba Yoshinin and was one of his earliest followers.
But for some reason, this man was so blinded by lard that he abandoned the light and turned to darkness. He ran away from Shiba's house and joined the Asai family under the control of Isogan Masaru.
At this time, the Shiba family was still a famous family in the world, but the Asai family was crushed to pieces by Oda Nobunaga, and even the heads of the two generations of family governors were turned into gold cups.
Hashiba Hideuchang smiled and said.
"You know, I have been dealing with the Kitaomi family and tried my best to bring them to the Hashiba family.
I have met this Takatora Toudo several times, and she is indeed an excellent Samurai Hime. It’s just that Masa Isono has always been cold to her, so her life was not very satisfactory."
Hideyoshi Hashiba smiled.
"It's no wonder Isoba Masaru, after all, she fought side by side with Tsutado-don, and she always has to worry about Tsutado-don's face."
The Omi Todo leader was originally the bridgehead of the Shiba family in the central part of Omi country. The former family governor, Todo Toradaka, was a powerful figure and quite prestigious in Kita Omi.
Because of her Shiba family background, she was pushed out by the Kitaomi Shinsan-gun samurai family as a shield to prevent the Asai family from collecting military and food services from the three prefectures, leaving Asai Nagamasa with only a nominal status as the lord.
Oda Nobunaga took a fancy to this, and asked the Koga clan who had surrendered to the Oda family to assassinate him, and helped Asai Nagamasa remove the thorn in Todo Torakaka.
With the help of the Oda family, Asai Nagamasa truly annexed the Shinsan County, but he also became estranged from Yoshihiro Shiba because of the assassination of Todo Toradaka.
You must know that since the Battle of Norada, the Shiba family and the Asai family are old comrades who have had a fateful friendship, and the two sides have always maintained friendly cooperation.
But ever since Todo Toradaka was killed, a rift has appeared between Shiba Yoshigan and Asai Nagamasa, and it is difficult for the two families to continue to be close.
Asai Nagamasa had a crush on Shiba Yoshigan. She had never confessed her love to Shiba Yoshigan, and Shiba Yoshigan naturally didn't care. He had too many girls in his heart, and he couldn't think of Asai Nagamasa.
From a political and military perspective, the Asai family, which cooperated with the Oda family after abandoning the Shiba family, is no longer worthy of Yoshihiro Shiba's trust.
The only cooperative relationship between the Shiba Asai and Shiba Asai families is the Hokuriku Road Trading Route.
Therefore, after the Asai and Oda families broke up, Yoshihiro Saba also acted as a mediator from the perspective of political interests.
If we were to talk about the comradeship between the Shiba Asai family again, it would have been a thing of the past. It would be too hypocritical and not worthy of Shiba Yiyin's action.
This is also the reason why Asai Nagamasa was asking for reinforcements from the Asakura family from beginning to end after he was in trouble, but never thought of asking for help from Yoshihiro Shiba.
On the one hand, she cut off her friendship with the Shiba family and was too embarrassed to ask Yoshiba Shiba for help. On the other hand, her self-esteem also made it difficult for her to speak and let the man she admired see her in embarrassment.
Not to mention the deceased Asai Nagamasa, but only to say that the Toudo leader after Toudo Takataka's death was succeeded by Toudo Takatora.
This successful young man was so impulsive and ignorant that he actually got angry at Shiba Yiyin and chose to leave the Shiba family.
You must know that the Todo clan was the result of the Todo clan taking the initiative to move into the territory and join the Shiba family. Now they have left without permission, which is tantamount to rebellion.
Although Yoshigan Shiba was unable to reveal the truth about Oda Nobunaga's assassination of Todo Takataka due to political needs, he felt guilty for Todo Takataka, so he did not argue with her.
But Masa Isono was not willing to risk offending Yoshigan Shiba by using her for the sake of the reckless Takatora Toudo.
Therefore, no matter how Takatora Toudo behaves, he is just flirting with a blind man, and Masa Isono won't accept his move.
After the Asai family was defeated and perished, Isono Danmasa was sealed by Oda Nobunaga to Takashima County on the west bank of Lake Biwa. He was in Todo District in Inugami County on the east bank of Lake Biwa and had to find his own way out again.
Obviously, this time Todo Takatora found Hidenaga Hashiba, and Hidena Hashiba also had some scruples about this.
Like Isono Tamashi, she was worried that if she accepted Takatora Toudo, she would offend Yoshigashi Shiba and cause trouble to her sister Hideyoshi Hashiba, so she had to ask her sister for advice first.
Hideyoshi Hashiba asked.
"Since you came to ask me, it seems that you really want to reuse Todo Takatora?"
Hashiba Hidenaga replied sheepishly.
"Sister, you also know that my martial arts reputation is not good, and I don't have any powerful Ji warriors under my command. It is rare to meet an outstanding martial artist, and I am really excited."
Hideyoshi Hashiba felt sad.
Hideuchi Hashiba said it implicitly, she didn't have a good martial name, it was just because she was from a humble background and a serious warrior would not look down on her as the head of the Hashiba family.
The younger sister was considerate of her older sister's feelings and spoke politely, but Hideyoshi Hashiba understood it immediately.
Fortunately, today's Hideyoshi Hashiba is already a famous person with 120,000 koku. Hideyoshi Hashiba has naturally risen with the tide, and his status is no longer ordinary.
Hideyoshi Hashiba naturally felt sorry for this sensible sister, she smiled.
"Just accept it if you want. It'll be fine."
Hideyoshi Hashiba is not Masa Isano and Hideyoshi Hashiba. She knows Shiba Yoshigami very well. This benevolent and righteous man does not regret Toudo Takatora's departure, so there is no need to worry too much.
As for Hideucha Hashiba's subordinates, they do need the help of a strong samurai family, and Takatora Toudo is not bad at all, so he can be considered a good helper.
Hashiba Hideuchang smiled.
"With my sister's words, I feel relieved."
———
The Hashiba sisters were very excited about Oda Nobunaga's huge reward. At this time, Yoshigan Shiba, who was far away in Tamonyama Castle in Yamato, also received a final letter from Asai Nagamasa.
There is no text in the letter, but a handsome young warrior is sketched in pen and ink, holding a sword in hand and sitting in front of a horse mark that has been chopped off.
Yoshigan recalled that during the battle of Norada, he used his fifty-nine cavalry to break through Rokkaku Yoshiken's main formation and cut off her horse seal.
Asai Nagamasa came later, and the scene she saw herself was very similar to the painting on this paper.
With just a few strokes, the characters appeared vividly on the paper. Apparently, this scene was deeply imprinted in Asai Nagamasa's mind and has never been forgotten.
Yiyin looked at Warrior Ji who came to deliver the message and asked.
"Your Highness Asai, are you asking me for help?"
Warrior Ji shook her head and said.
"When I left the city through the secret passage, the Oda army had already invaded Honmaru, and my Highness had already committed seppuku."
"Well, you go down first."
Thinking of the young warrior Ji who once fought alongside him, and the vague love she had for him, Yiyin felt a little dazed.
When the Shiba Oda Asai family joined forces with Luo, the city king made a farce in order to meet Yoshigan. From that time on, Yoshigan had a vague understanding of Asai Nagamasa's intentions.
But since Jun is a monk, Ji is already married, and there is such trouble from the mayor, Yiyin will certainly not provoke a married woman, causing trouble for himself.
Asai Nagamasa didn't send this painting to her case until the moment she died in the battle. She never thought about letting herself save her, but chose to reveal her love to herself before she died.
Looking at the paintings in front of him, Yoshigan couldn't help but sigh as he thought of Asai Nagamasa's carelessness and pretended care for him over the years.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru is like this, Asai Nagamasa is like this too, what is so good about him is worthy of them not forgetting to care about him until his death.
While Yoshiyin was dazed, Kamojigo walked in from outside and bowed.
"What's up?"
"Your Majesty, the warrior Ji who went out just now committed hara-kiri in the court."
Yiyin's hands holding the letter trembled and he did not raise his head.
"This is a loyal man, let him be buried with dignity."
"Hi!"
After the Pu Sheng clan left the village, Yiyin shook his head gently and said in a low voice.
"You, why don't you ask me for help?
If you really ask, I will probably help you. The family fortune may not be saved, but at least I can save your life.
You know, I have never been a qualified martial artist, I have always been soft-hearted and cannot be ruthless or unjust."
Yiyin didn't know what he was saying to this letter, his mind was very confused.
Because he knew that his heart had become much harder than before. Maybe Asai Nagamasa would be cruelly ignored by him if he really asked for help.
Looking at the painting for the last time, Yiyin placed the letter paper on the candle. The paper and candle flames gradually turned into ashes and disappeared in the air.
Yiyin watched blankly as the boy in the painting slowly disappeared in the fire. It wasn't until the flames burned his fingers that he subconsciously let go of his hand.
"sorry."
If life is just like the first time we met, why should the autumn wind draw a fan sadly?
Soon, Asai Nagamasa's head was made into a gold cup by Oda Nobunaga, and was used to show off his martial arts at the celebration banquet, which spread throughout recent times.