Iga Ueno Castle, the residence of the castle keep.
At the beginning of the lanterns, the three Maeda girls sat separately. This was a family dinner to cleanse the dust of the Maeda family.
Maeda Toshiie glanced at the smiling elder sister Maeda Toshihisa, then at the cold-faced elder sister's adopted daughter Maeda Yoshie, and smiled calmly.
"I didn't expect that there is a large city of this size in the Iga Basin. Congratulations to the Iga Maeda family for their prosperity."
Maeda Toshiie picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. Maeda Toshijia picked up the wine glass to cater to her, not forgetting to glance at her daughter secretly. Maeda Toshiie could only reluctantly finish the glass of wine.
Maeda Rihisa smiled.
“The Li family has come a long way and it’s been a hard journey.
Just rest in your residence today, we are all family members, don’t see anyone else, I have prepared everything for you, don’t refuse.”
Maeda Toshiie nodded.
"Of course my family won't see anyone outside, it's all up to my sister's arrangement.
When I came out this time, I made a special trip to Huangzi City to have a look. Eight years later, the place is still the same as when we left, as if it was the other day."
Maeda Rihisa expressed concern.
"Is my mother's health okay? Did this Battle of Shiba Oda affect my mother?"
The Maeda family in Arakoko Castle is also the Shimobari old Takeshi family. Since the two daughters of Maeda Rihisa and Maeda Toshiya divided the family wealth and went their separate ways, Maeda Toshimasa, the family governor, had to be forced to live in old age.
Not to mention that the Maeda Iehime samurai group and the connections of relatives and friends in Arakoko Castle were divided into two by the two daughters, and each took them to Iga Country and Mino Country for development.
Even if the strength of the Maeda family in Arakoko Castle was still there, Oda Nobunaga would not allow another Maeda family under his command to have a close relationship with the Shiba family.
The decline of the Maeda family in Arakoko Castle is a matter of course. But this incident was indeed caused by Maeda Riku and the two daughters of the Maeda Toshiya cheating on their mother. Maeda Riku still feels a little guilty to this day.
In the Battle of Shiba-Oda, both Maeda families made great contributions.
Maeda Benedict served as the general in charge of the area and fought hard against the Oda army on the frontal battlefield of Lake Yuwu. Maeda Toshiie led troops south from Gunjo County to threaten the Oda family's most important Gifu Castle in Mino Country.
The Oda family suffered a great loss because of this, and Maeda Toshihisa was really worried about whether his mother, Maeda Toshimasa, would be angered by Oda Nobunaga.
Maeda Toshiie smiled.
"Eldest sister, don't worry. Although my mother is not in the Oda family's favor, no one dares to bully her.
The battle of Shiba Oda is not yet clear. Who will suppress Maeda's hometown governor of Arakoko Castle at this juncture?
When the war subsided, the Sibo family was even better, and no one dared to be disrespectful to their mother. Instead, people came to her to please her, and often came to establish friendship.
When I went back this time, my mother was not angry but happy. She even took the initiative to talk to me about you. She missed you very much and asked me to bring you a message to come home often when I have time.
My mother no longer cares about what happened back then. Now that she is old, she only cares about everything going well for us.
The Oda family is unwilling to use the Maeda family in Arakoko Castle. Many of the younger generations have no future when they grow up. My mother also hopes that I can support the younger generations."
Maeda Rihisa smiled.
"As long as my mother is in good health, I will definitely go back to see her when I have time.
The clansmen in Huangzi City are all our own children, so of course we have to support them. You and I will discuss it later, we are already familiar with it, and it will be a matter of dividing our mother's family wealth again."
The two sisters Maeda Toshiya and Maeda Toshiya were talking and laughing, but Maeda Toshi was immersed in drinking and eating food and did not participate.
Maeda Toshiie looked at Maeda Benefit and said.
"The Maeda family is prosperous, and my mother is actually very happy. Those unpleasant things back then have long been forgotten.
It's just that the old people back then didn't expect that the most promising warrior Hime of our Maeda family would actually be a profit.
He has knowledge and practice of 12,000 shi, and he can be called a great name. He is a general in the country and holds a high position of authority."
Most of the important officials of the Sibo family are hanging on the Shigao of Sibo materials, but this is not a place of knowledge.
Speaking of which, the greatest benefit of Toshiyuki is Maeda, who has twelve thousand koku. Maeda Toshiyoshi only has five thousand koku, which is not up to the standard of ten thousand koku daimyo.
Seeing that Maeda Toshiie's words finally came to him, Maeda said with a smile.
"I don't dare to be worthy of the high praise from Owari Shiba."
Maeda Toshiyaki frowned and was about to scold his daughter, but was stopped by Maeda Toshiie.
Maeda Toshiie said softly.
“Eight years have passed, and it’s late autumn again.
I remember it was late autumn at that time, and you were wearing a bright red bathrobe, hiding in a tree and hitting handsome men passing by with persimmons, and finally stained the saint's clothes."
Maeda Riku stared at his daughter after hearing this, making Maeda feel guilty and interrupted.
"It's an old thing, why bring it up?"
Maeda Toshiie showed a gentle smile.
"At that time, Benefit still liked me very much. He always stayed in my hut and refused to go home. Even when the saint came to see me, you led him through the door."
Maeda Yoshi's face darkened.
"Master Maeda Toshiie, what's the point of bringing up those past events now?"
Maeda Toshiie sighed.
"I know that you have two major hatreds for me.
First, His Highness Oda made me the heir to the Maeda family of Arakoko Castle on the grounds of military merit, depriving me of my eldest sister's status."
Maeda Riku shook his head.
"I don't blame you for this. I did something wrong myself. I followed Oda Nobuyuki into battle and went against His Highness Oda."
Maeda benefit sneered.
"How can you blame your mother for this?
It's obviously Maeda Toshimasa who plays both ends, hedging his bets, and sent you to Oda Nobuyuki's side!"
Maeda Rihisa cursed.
"Shut up! How can you call your grandmother by her first name!"
Maeda gritted his teeth and said nothing.
She is actually a concubine of the Takikawa family and the adopted daughter of Toshihisa Maeda. She is not a bloodline of the Maeda family in Arakoko Castle.
Although the Wu family values family name over bloodline, that still has some problems.
Maeda Toshihiro was born in the Takigawa common branch, and her parents died early, which could not bring any benefit to the Maeda family in Arashi Castle. How could Maeda Toshihiro care about her?
When Maeda Toshihisa was deprived of the inheritance rights of the Maeda family in Arako Castle by Oda Nobunaga, Maeda Toshimasa only dared to be obedient. Maeda's interests became even more angry, and he became more and more alienated from the Maeda family in Arako Castle.
Together with Maeda Toshiie, the fourth aunt who was once admired by Maeda, she also became the bad guy who took away her mother's inheritance rights.
Maeda Toshiie shook his head, once again stopped his eldest sister who wanted to denounce Maeda's interests, and continued.
"Benefits, you and I are called aunt and nephew, but we are actually of the same age. We grew up together and have the same affection as sisters.
Judging from the results, I finally left the Oda family and the Maeda family in Arakko City, and I did not take away the eldest sister's position as heir. You shouldn't hate me."
Maeda Toshiie snorted coldly and said nothing. Maeda Toshiie sighed and continued.
"So, the real reason why you distance yourself from me is another hatred, for the saint."
Maeda Satoshi glanced at his mother, Maeda Rihisa, who had an angry face at the side, and answered with a frown.
"Whatever you say."
Maeda Toshiie sighed.
"It is human nature for a man to love a woman. How many good sisters have drawn swords against men. How can it be an exception when it comes to you and me?"
I also admit that I did have the idea of suppressing you before, and that was to compete for the qualifications to join Sibo.
But now that the saint has stepped onto the Shinto path, and the dispute over marriage has disappeared, what obstacles are there between you and me that we can't overcome?
The two major hatreds no longer exist, why are you still looking at me with stern looks? Aren't you afraid of hurting the eldest sister's heart?
You should know very well that the eldest sister is much more traditional than the two of us. She is the one who really hopes that the Maeda family business will continue and prosper.
You and I have been fighting for the saint, and how many things have we done to hurt her heart in the past eight years? You and I are not responsible Ji warriors. You and I are both terrible."
Maeda felt guilty after being told that he felt guilty, so he interrupted coldly.
"Okay, okay, I know what you said is true, but I can't tell you anything. Anyway, my daughter is unfilial.
There are only three of us here, so there is no need for you to bring yourself down just to belittle me."
Maeda Toshiie smiled.
"I won't mention the past. But there must be a plan for the future.
Now that the dispute over marriage no longer exists, why can't the two Maeda families unite with the outside world to safeguard the common interests of our family?
The Western Kuni faction of the Yamanaka Niko group, and the Sakai Minato faction of Takada Haruno and Takada Yukino, they can unite, why can't we?"
Maeda Toshiie's words made Maeda Toshiyaki excited and heart-warming, and he nodded repeatedly.
Maeda, on the other hand, had his arms crossed on his chest, subconsciously still resisting the olive branch extended by Maeda Toshiie.
Toshiie Maeda was actually mentally prepared for the cold reaction from Maeda's interests.
Even though Maeda was the military boss of the Shiba clan in recent years, she was probably the most educated person among the important officials of the Shiba family. She was proficient in Japanese singing, monkey arts, poetry, tea making, and chess.
The arrogance of this cultural person is engraved in Maeda's bones. She restrained herself in front of Shiba Yigen and never looked down on others.
With her temperament, if she hadn't unexpectedly become a successful person in the Spao family, she would have been more likely to be uninhibited, abandon all restraints sooner or later, and run away to become a wonder.
Maeda Rihisa is a traditional samurai family. The theory of the Maeda family's family fortune can convince Maeda Rihisa, but the effect is very poor on the thorn in Maeda's interests.
However, Maeda Toshiie also doesn’t want to force Maeda’s interests to bow through Maeda Toshihisa’s mother-daughter relationship. A strong-willed melon is not sweet, let alone a strong-willed alliance.
Maeda Toshiie hopes that the two Maedas will join forces to form a stable alliance with no hidden dangers, rather than being resentful of Maeda's unwillingness to be forced to nod due to his interests.
Therefore, in order to make Maeda Benevolent agree willingly, Maeda Toshiie prepared a trump card that was enough to make Maeda Benefit's heart flutter.
Maeda Toshiie said.
"When a saint steps onto the path of God, the glory of the God's descendants will surely spread across the earth.
You and I are all direct followers who have followed the saint all the way. The saint understands our admiration for him, so naturally he will not treat you and me poorly, and it will inevitably rain.
If you and I are lucky enough to give birth to a divine descendant, I think your daughter can be named Maeda Yoshie, and my daughter can be named Maeda Yoshiie.
Benefits, what do you think?"
Maeda's eyes narrowed and he asked seriously.
"Is this true?"
Maeda Toshiie stretched out his right hand and said solemnly.
"You and I can swear by high-fiving each other, and the eldest sister will bear witness for us. If I, Toshiie Maeda, go back on my promise, I am willing to receive thousands of arrows and die with my heart in my heart."
Maeda Riku quickly explained.
"Just give us a high five and make an appointment. Don't mention any poisonous oaths. We are all one family, so why make such a fuss."
Maeda Hatake decisively high-fived Maeda Toshiie and said.
"I believe in you. From now on, the two Maeda families will share the same fate and advance and retreat together."
Maeda Toshiie repeated in a deep voice.
"We share weal and woe, we advance and retreat together."
When Toshiie Maeda mentioned the future names of the two heirs, he actually admitted that Toshihisa Maeda's branch was the direct descendant of the Maeda family, and he was willing to become a commoner.
Because of the interests of Yoshigan Shiba and Maeda, when the Maeda family had a child, they would inevitably follow the example of Takeda Yoshinobu and give the family the common name of the Shiba family.
The status of a saint is lofty, so the meaning of the Sibo family must come first, but the second word has a profound meaning.
The common characters of the Maeda family are Lee, Maeda Toshiro, Maeda Toshijiu, Maeda Toshiie, and Maeda Benefit. They all come from the same origin.
Maeda Toshiie said that his child would be called Maeda Yoshiie from now on, and the child who benefited from Maeda would be called Maeda Yoshie.
The implicit meaning of this sentence is that the Maeda Toshiie took the initiative to divest the Maeda family's general name Toshiba, and relegated themselves to common people, which in disguise recognized the status of the direct line of the Maeda family.
When Oda Nobunaga asked Maeda Toshiie to replace Maeda Toshihisa and become the heir to the Maeda family in Arakoko Castle, this was a thorn in the heart of Maeda's interests.
Because Maeda Yoshida is an adopted daughter, Maeda Toshihisa has been putting off getting married for her sake, and is criticized at home. This makes Maeda Yoshiko feel deeply guilty towards his mother.
Therefore, when Maeda Riku was deprived of his inheritance rights, there was no objection from the Maeda family in Arakoko Castle. In the final analysis, Maeda Riku was unwilling to get married and have a daughter.
Now that the Maeda family has given in, who in the Maeda family in Arakoko City is still qualified to compete with Maeda interests for direct succession?
Maeda was naturally happy. After years of resentment, he finally regained his status as a direct descendant of his own lineage for his mother, forcing those who were once snobbish to bow their heads.
Today's Maeda interests are not the Takigawa concubine who had nothing in the past. With the tradition of the samurai family focusing on family name over bloodline, the Maeda family in Arakoko City will definitely not reject the general of the Shiba family.
Maeda Yoshie cooperates with Maeda Toshiie, and his mother Toshihisa Maeda's identity as a direct descendant can be regained, and it can help her realize her wish to prosper the Maeda family. Why not Maeda Yoshie?
The most important thing is that the situation today is indeed different.
Because Shiba Yiyin stepped onto the Shinto path, the marriage dispute has been falsified. There is indeed no need for the aunt and nephew to continue to be estranged and let outsiders take advantage.
After the high-five, Maeda Toshiie looked obviously better. She raised her glass with a smile and said to Maeda Toshiie.
"Fourth Aunt, let's not get drunk tonight."
Maeda Toshiie nodded with a smile and picked up the wine glass.
Maeda Riku glared at his daughter, feeling a little disgusted by Maeda's arrogance in front of her and Kyou's back.
Earlier, you were calling Lord Toshiie Maeda indifferently, but now you are calling your fourth aunt affectionately. As expected, your face changed after being given a favor. Where is your self-proclaimed intellectual character?