The current situation is chaotic. If a worthless minister dies, no one will care. He can't even think about his own side. Who has the mind to care about the life and death of others.
The war has not yet begun, but the two sides are going back and forth, and the secret confrontation has already become heated.
Because both Yoshigan Shiba and Hideyoshi Ichijo came from Owari, the ties between the Owari clan samurai under both sides became even closer.
From the perspective of world unification, this is a decisive battle between the Shiba family and the Ichijo family.
But from the perspective of the samurai family who came from Owari, the transcendent status gained by the Owari people after eighteen years of hard work and conquering the world cannot be taken away by bastards from other places.
———
Harima Country, Miki Castle.
Miki Castle was once the residence of Betsujoji of the Harima Riki samurai clan. Because Oda Nobunaga appointed Ichijo Hideyoshi to be in charge of the Western Kingdom Expedition, Betsujoji was dissatisfied with this and united with the Mori family to launch a rebellion.
Ichijo Hideyoshi eliminated Bessho Choji with one backhand, and secretly communicated with Akechi Mitsuhide, slandering the Hatano family to whom Bessho Choji was married as accomplices in the rebellion.
As a result, Hatano Hideharu was killed by the furious Oda Nobunaga, Tamba country rebelled again, and Akechi Mitsuhide's cheap old father who acted as a hostage also lost his life.
Ichijo Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide teamed up to perform a play within a play, each getting what they needed.
Ichijo Hideyoshi used the opportunity to quell Bessho Nagaharu's rebellion and sold out Nizi Katsuhisa who was fighting on the front line. This completely ruined Shiba Oda's plan to join forces to conquer the Western Kingdom, and Ichijo Hideyoshi became the leader alone.
Because of the death of her father, Akechi Mitsuhide had a reason to make everyone believe that she would wield a sword against Oda Nobunaga. Various anti-Oda forces conspired with Akechi Mitsuhide and finally achieved the change at Honnoji Temple.
Both parties got the results they wanted, but it was a pity that countless innocent souls perished as a result.
Miki Castle is located in the eastern part of Harima Province, adjacent to the border between Tamba Settsu and Tanzania. It is the bridgehead for a regiment crossing into Kinki.
At this time, the First Army general stationed at Miki Castle was the veteran Hachisuga Masakatsu under Ichijo Hideyoshi.
This man was born in Tokai County, Minami Owari. In his early years, he sailed on the Kiso River and relied on water transportation to make money.
After meeting Hideyoshi Ichijo, he assisted Ichiya in building Sumamata Castle. From then on, he became an official in Oda and became Hideyoshi Ichijo. He participated in the Mino Strategy and the Echizen Strategy and suppressed Ichijou.
Hachisuka Masakatsu is an out-and-out old Owari samurai, one of those Owari people who followed Oda Nobunaga to expand everywhere and finally reached the pinnacle of their lives that they could hardly believe.
After Oda Nobunaga's death, Hachisuga Masakatsu continued to follow Hideyoshi Ichijo, and went through the Western Kingdom, Shikoku, and Kyushu conquests. Due to his meritorious service, he was granted the title of Awa Kingdom, and he was already the head of the country.
She was also grateful for the kindness of Hideyoshi Ichijo, and handed over the role of ruler of the country to her daughter. She continued to fight for Hideyoshi, and was naturally favored by Hideyoshi and entrusted with important tasks.
Miki Castle is the bridgehead for an army to march, so Hideyoshi must send his direct descendants to station there. Masakatsu Hachisuga did his duty and stationed here to wait for orders.
But at this time, Hachisuka Masakatsu was being admonished and was in a bit of a dilemma.
In the inner room, there were only two people, Masakatsu Hoshizuka and Uemoto Inada.
Inada Uemoto was a ronin best friend who fooled around in Owari countryside with Masakatsu Hawasuga before he became famous. The two even imitated Liu Guanzhang of the Celestial Dynasty and formed a sworn sworn brotherhood.
Hachisuga Masakatsu followed Hideyoshi in the southern and northern wars, and Inada Uemoto became an official in the Hachisuga family and contributed a lot.
Ichijo Hideyoshi once wanted to entrust Inada Uemoto to become an independent daimyo, but Inada Uemoto refused.
Inada Uemoto refused to be independent and continued to fight for the Haesuka family on the grounds that Masakatsu Haesuka was my sworn sister and I would go wherever she went.
This friendship gave Inada Uemoto a transcendent status in the Hachisuka family. He can be said to be Hachisuka Masakatsu's closest comrade-in-arms and sister.
But today, Inada Uemoto was trying to persuade Masakatsu Suga not to fight too hard and not to fight the Owari people.
Haesuka Masakatsu sighed.
"Guan Bai has been very kind to me."
Inada Uemoto said bluntly.
"No matter how great Guan Bai's kindness is, can it be compared to the saint and His Highness Oda?
His Highness Oda led the Owari people to conquer the world and captured four million koku territory.
The saint even conquered Kinki Kanto and made half of the world surrender to the Owari people.
You have followed Guan Bai for many years, and you should know very well what kind of mess Guan Bai has in his hands.
Mori from Saikoku, Chosogabu from Shikoku, Otomo from Kyushu, Ryuzoji, and Shimazu, which one of them truly surrendered to Guan Bai?
The saint and His Highness Oda really took over the territory and enfeoffed it to us Owari people to rule.
Oda's old collar was 4 million koku, and he occupied the land of famous upper and middle class lords. Nearly half of them were from our Owari samurai family.
The Ryomaeda family led by Shiba in Owari, Kinki, is also the pride of us Owari people.
Xiaoliu, today I don’t think you are the master and I just said a few arrogant words.
Are you going to take us old sisters who have fought with you for many years to fight with your own people who came from Owari?
The Kinki Shiba Territory is the territory of His Highness Maeda Yoshida, and the Owari Shiba Territory is the territory of the Maeda Toshi family. Most of the elite Shiba Territory in Kinki are members of our old Owari samurai family!
She has already lost Guan Bai. She can't do anything to the Ming army on the peninsula. Could it be that when the army turns back to Kinki, she can defeat the saint?
She simply wants to drag us into burying the Ichijo family!"
Hachisuka Masakatsu frowned.
"Be careful! Guan Bai is extremely kind to me. If you say such things again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Inada Zhiyuan sneered and pulled off his clothes, revealing scars all over his body.
"Guan Bai has been very kind to you, but what about us old sisters?
After all these years of fighting, you know very well, Xiao Liu, how many of the sisters we brought from our hometown are left.
We all left Owari together and followed Lord Oda to conquer the world. We lived happily and died proudly.
But what about now? Guan Bai turned the gun and pointed the knife at our Owari people! It hurts those who are close to us, and quick to the enemies!
Okay, if you want to be loyal to Guan Bai and if you want to kill us Owari people, then start with me, pick up your knife and stab it into my heart.
Come! Sister! Give me a good time!"
Hachisuka Masakatsu rubbed his temples, lowered his head and said.
"Let me think about it and think about it again. Isn't this the beginning of the war?"
Inada Uemoto snorted. "His Royal Highness Maeda Toshiie has given clear instructions. Abandoning the secret and turning over to the bright side before the war starts is considered an uprising. Turning around at the end of the battle is a forced surrender, and the treatment will be completely different."
Haesuka Masakatsu was so confused that he shook his head and sighed.
"I know, I know everything. You go back first and give me some time."
Inada Uemoto was not the first person to persuade her, but she was the most considerate old sister, which made Masakatsu Hachisuga feel uncomfortable.
Maeda Toshiba is just an arrogant guy. Maeda Toshiba has been running the family for many years and is quite popular among the old Owari Mino samurai family, but I really didn’t expect her to be able to convince so many people.
Even Inada Uemoto was here, and Masakatsu Hoshisuga was really worried that if he still gritted his teeth and refused, he would be shot in the face by someone in front of the formation. Even before he reached the formation, his own military strength would be overwhelmed.
Inada Uemoto was quite upright. He said everything he needed to say. After bowing, he turned around and left, regardless of whether Masakatsu Hoshikatsu was still having a headache.
As soon as she came out of the courtyard, she was surrounded by a group of Ji warriors, all asking about the situation.
"Master Inada, what did the governor say? Is she still unwilling to let go?"
"No, what should we do? We have bought a lot of real estate stocks in Sporing over the years. This fight..."
"That's it for real estate stocks. I'm afraid that if I lose, I'll lose everything. From now on, everyone will become a rogue and drink from the northwest wind."
"No way, His Highness Maeda Toshiie is not so harsh, and the saint is also kind. At most, if we reduce some territory after the war, it won't leave us Owari people with no way to survive, right?"
"The saint is kind, but outsiders are not easy to talk to. We Owari people are beaten to death, which consumes our strength. We then turn around and let outsiders laugh at us before we rise to the top. Our work for more than ten years has been in vain!"
"Yes, yes, what does this mean?"
Inada Zhiyuan pressed her hand hard, and everyone fell silent, watching what she said.
She said coldly.
"Everyone, please stop talking nonsense. The governor will not care whether we live or die. We all came out of Owari and crawled out of the dead. The governor sees all the hard work we have put in over the years.
If you give the house supervisor some time, she will definitely make the right choice."
After Inada Zhiyuan finished speaking, a whisper suddenly came out from the crowd.
"What if...the family governor really doesn't care about us..."
Inada Zhiyuan twitched his eyebrows, squinted his eyes, and said calmly to cover up his fierce look.
"No, don't worry."
———
Iga country, Ueno Castle.
Maeda Toshiie has been visiting for many days, and the mother and daughter of Maeda Toshihisa and Maeda Satoshi warmly entertained her.
It was said to be a gathering between the two Maeda families, but it was actually a meeting between Maeda Toshiie and Maeda Toshihisa to discuss writing letters and constantly informing the four parties.
Maeda Toshiie's territory was on Hokurikudo, which was too far from Owari Mino, Ise, Omi and Shikoku, the core area of Oda's old territory, and he could not respond in time.
She simply came to Iga Ueno Castle, and together with Maeda Rihisa nearby, she continued to use the old connections in the Oda family to divide the Owari Mino samurai family.
In fact, not only Hachisuga Masakatsu, but also the old people from Owari Mino were within their persuasion range. Letters were scattered in all directions like snowflakes, and all the connections they could find were used.
As the saying goes, it takes a thousand days to raise an army, but it takes only a moment to deploy it. In fact, the same goes for interpersonal relationships.
Maeda Toshiie has been kind to others over the years, shared so much money, made so many friends, and accumulated so many favors, isn't it just to use it today.
Seeing that Maeda Toshiie and Maeda Toshihisa discussed their interpersonal relationships every day, carefully considered their words, and wrote letters to persuade each other without stopping, Maeda was getting a little bored.
There is a trace of the aloofness of a cultured person in her nature, and she is most annoyed by these pulling relationships. She took a few sips of wine and couldn't help but sarcastically said.
"Owari people don't fight Owari people... It's a shame you can write such an argument.
When the Sage and Oda Nobunaga went to war, were there few Owari men under both sides? Wasn't it bloody?
Is it possible for you to write so many letters? If words are of any use, what’s the use of swords?”
Maeda Riku shook his head helplessly, feeling helpless towards his stubborn daughter.
Maeda Toshiie smiled gently and said casually.
"It was precisely because so many Owari people were killed in the Battle of Shiba Oda that they grasped the Owari people and did not kill them. This was their life-saving straw.
In the final analysis, the saint is afraid of being killed.
Without the saint's overwhelming battle, they would not be as panicked as they are today.
We are just using our strength to help them convince themselves to abandon Ichijo Hideyoshi with a reason they cannot refuse."
Maeda Riku followed.
"His Majesty Oda swept the world and brought the people of Owari to unprecedented heights. There can be many talents in a country, but most of them are not mediocre people.
The territory and power they hold in their hands today, the Shiba Real Estate in their pockets, and the Hokurikudo Trading Route stocks, which one was obtained by their true ability?
Are the samurai from other places not working hard enough? Or are the Owari people particularly good?
They knew very well in their hearts that His Highness Oda led them to obtain these things. Without His Highness Oda, they would still be a bunch of country bumpkin from Owari countryside.
Therefore, even His Highness Oda cannot defeat the saint, how can you make them believe that Ichijo Hideyoshi can do it?
If Hideyoshi is defeated, they will lose everything they have gained. Can they accept it?"
Maeda nodded silently.
Owari gave birth to Yoshihiro Shiba and Nobunaga Oda, bringing Owari people to the highest stage in the world. But how many of these Owari people who have become middle and upper-level leaders are real talents?
Most people don't just pretend to be good, but just because they follow the right person, they become famous, rich and beautiful, and then reach the pinnacle of life.
A pig can soar into the sky even if it steps into the wind, but is that what pigs are capable of?
Therefore, most Owari leaders are filled with a sense of unworthiness.
Although they don't want to admit it, they know very well that their abilities are not worthy of their current status. It is their overwhelming luck that has helped them.
If they were asked to do it over again, they would not have the confidence to seize the opportunity and regain the position of power they have today.
But they are absolutely unwilling to give up the power they have already obtained.
Maeda Toshiie and Maeda Toshihisa took advantage of their complex psychology of not matching their virtues but not wanting to lose power, to continuously divide the Owari samurai family under Ichijo Hideyoshi, and even the Mino samurai family.
Maeda is not stupid, of course she understands what they are doing, but the arrogant Maeda is also a really capable person, and she just disdains them.
Incompetent people occupy high positions because they are so preoccupied and think too much that they can easily be taken advantage of.