Autumn in Kyoto is rich in color, especially on Shiunsan Mountain. Although the maple leaves will not turn red for another month, the Kinkei Gwangmyeong Temple in September has already mesmerized autumn admirers.
However, no one in Guangming Temple today appreciates this picturesque autumn scenery. After a month of preparations, the meeting at Guangming Temple convened by Emperor Masachika was held on September 26, the twelfth year of Tensho - the emperor himself was sitting behind the screen With.
In front of the screen, Taizheng Minister Nijo Shoryo first touched the small bun on his head, and then completely prostrated himself on the folded mat:
"Fellow warriors! Since the ancestors of the gods were in Kashihara, and the saints descended, the descendants of great gods have been emperors for hundreds of generations. This is all because of the arrival of the Hirado ship, and the envoys of the Ming Dynasty ordered the court to depose the emperor's name, in order to destroy our roots. Please come today. , please refer to the details together, in order to..." At this point, Nijo Zhaoliang's throat was choked, and he was speechless.
Hashiba Hideyoshi glanced at Oda Nobutaka opposite him and Shibata Katsuie beside him; then at Oda Nobuo and Tokugawa Ieyasu beside him. The heads of the Oda family's power after the Honnoji Temple Incident are all here today.
In addition to these top samurai forces, there are also a few scattered forces that have not yet been unified by the Oda family, such as the distant relatives of the Chosoga clan and the Shimazu family. Hideyoshi Hideyoshi did not expect that they would be able to participate in the meeting at Guangmingji Temple.
Long after Nijo Shoryo finished speaking, the leaders of the three largest factions who were inextricably linked to the fight after Oda Nobunaga's death remained silent. They led troops from their respective bases to Beijing to attend the meeting at Guangming Temple because they did not want to be politically passive. But in order to leave only a bare-bones family and a poor emperor who was almost begging for food, he came to fight against the 15,000 Ming army that was marching towards Kyoto - the samurai here did not have such a high level of consciousness.
Nijo Akiyo was still lying prone there, and the heavy breathing of Emperor Masachimachi behind the screen showed that His Majesty's illness was as heavy as his heart.
Ichijo Ichiki of the Tosa Duke's family saw that all the samurai were silent, so he wanted to speak out. Konoe Maekaku, who was sitting at the bottom of the crowd, had already said generously:
"Japan and China have a foolish view. They treat small matters as big things but they don't treat them as ministers."
"Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, our country's territory has been small, and Mu Han has been granted a great title. There is no need to hide this! Emperor Sui of China wrote to me and said: The emperor asked the Japanese emperor how he was doing. This fully proves the words of the neighboring countries. The Tang and Song Dynasties were on good terms, but they came without Occasionally, I sent an envoy to deliver a letter, or he left because he couldn't agree on the etiquette."
Speaking of this, Konoe's voice suddenly rose an octave: "With the strength of the Yuan Dynasty, he went on an expedition across the sea, but the dynasty was destroyed. The ancestor of the Ming Dynasty set up a monument on the mountain of Shouan Town, and made Ashikaga Yoshimitsu the king, but he didn't know it. He is his general. Although he is full of righteousness and claims to be a vassal and pays tribute to Japan, it is considered a thief in Japan. Nowadays, the cunning boy of Wanli likes to exaggerate and regards Japan as a vassal country. The envoys come to question, how did Japan actually belong to the Ming Dynasty?"
This impassioned speech is well-founded, but it is a pretty show for a blind man. Everyone in the military here knows that reasoning cannot be explained to the Ming army who is as anxious as a spark. What is left for Konoe Maekyu is still embarrassing. silence.
The Shimazu family of the Satsuma Domain was in Kyushu negotiating with Ling Yun Yixu, and was tormented by the various logistical supply requirements put forward by Ling Yun Yi. Therefore, the head of the family, Shimazu Yoshihisa, did not come to attend the meeting and sent his younger brother Shimazu Yoshihiro to serve as the representative. The representative of the head of the family saw that all the warriors were silent, and he hurriedly asked: "The unknown Ming army came. Apart from questioning your majesty, do they have any other requests? Also, since he was going to issue an edict, why did he take a long way to Kyushu first? ?”
After saying this, Nijo Shoryomi, who had been lying on the mat like a toad, finally got a voice from the samurai. He straightened up quickly and replied: "Your Highness Yoshihiro, we don't know why the Ming army came ashore in Kyushu. As for your question No. One question cannot be confirmed before the Ming Emperor's edict is issued. However, what was said today was what the imperial envoy Ling Yunyi and the city lord Matsuura Zhenxin said after the Ming army entered Hirado. He also said - "
Hashiba Hideyoshi finally spoke up and interjected: "What did he say?"
Nijo Zhaoliangdao: "Ling Yunyi said, 'In the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, Japan sent an envoy, Monk Zu, to pay tribute. After seven years, he came back with no formal notice. When he came back in the thirty-fifth year, the imperial edict was designated as the tribute period. One tribute every ten years. The relationship between Japan and the Ming vassal was determined.'"
When Nijō Shoryō said this, he took out the letter sent to him by Matsuura Town and read: "'After that, Emperor Cheng ascended the throne of Dabao. In Japan, either in the second or third year, or in the fifth or sixth year, there was no regular tribute, and all of them were sent to the capital. , Yan’s rewards are generous. The imperial court’s treatment of Japan cannot be said to be unkind!’”
"'In the second year of Jiajing's reign, the Japanese sent their ministers to Ningbo City's Ship Division with good moral character. The envoys Song Suqing, Zongshe, Qiandao and others slandered each other. Zongshe killed Song Suqing and others with swords, guns and blunderbuss, causing chaos and wreaking havoc. Burning and plundering, Ningbo was almost slaughtered!'"
"'Since then, Japanese pirates have invaded countless borders, and the Chinese people have been burned and looted to no avail; the emperor's innocent son has been hanging in the balance for decades! Today, the Japanese imperial envoy is here, and there is still a big account to be settled with your king! '"
After exhaling a long breath, Nijo Shoryo lay there like a toad again, not daring to look at the faces of everyone present.
The samurai present were all dumbfounded after listening to Nijō Akiharu's words relayed by Ling Yunyi. Konoe Maekaku's liver and gallbladder were split, and he almost roared: "Why should your majesty bear the responsibility for the crimes committed by the Ouchi family and the Hosokawa family in the past?! Those who plundered China were all pirates and rogues, so how did Your Majesty ever enjoy a penny? O God, open your eyes! Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
I don't know if Konoe Maekyu, a diplomat who went back and forth among the princes of the Warring States Period, was really as loyal to the emperor as he appeared to be, but the screams he made were filled with tears, which made everyone present feel sad.
Emperor Masachikamachi behind the screen did not make a sound, and his breathing was no longer heavy. The ministers could no longer hear clearly. Ichijo Neki was worried that something had happened to him, so he glanced behind the screen, and then retracted his head - —It seems like the Emperor doesn’t have much of a problem.
Hashiba Hideyoshi made a snort in his nose, as if expressing contempt for Konoe Maekyu's passionate performance. He said coldly: "I don't know what Ling Yunyi wants to do if His Majesty doesn't give him an explanation?"
Nijo Shoryo's prostrate body moved again, and he lay there and hummed: "The Matsuura family also asked Ling Yunyi, and he said that he would lead troops to Kyoto. Anyway, he is also coming to issue an edict to His Majesty."
A flush appeared on Hashiba Hideyoshi's face, and his two comma-like mustaches were slightly raised, and he said loudly: "It turns out that Ling Yunyi traveled all the way to Japan to go to Luo. It's really the most ridiculous thing in the world, haha. Ha ha!"
Ling Yunyi's coming to Shangluo is indeed the biggest joke in Japan since the beginning of the Warring States Period. There was a wry smile on the faces of all the warriors here. Ikeda Hengxing saw that his allies were a little out of tune, so he couldn't help but remind him: "Sir, the Ming army is fighting Burma was destroyed, and Mang Yinglong’s body and head were missing—he was not an invincible enemy.”
Hashiba Hideyoshi straightened his monkey-like body and said proudly: "All the warriors here have a combined force of at least 500,000. If we compare 500,000 to 15,000, is there any reason to lose?"
Niwa Nagahide sighed after hearing this: "Who will join forces? Who will be the leader?" This sentence made Hashiba Hideyoshi speechless. Hashiba Hideyoshi's eyes were red, staring at Shibata Katsuie and Tokugawa Ieyasu, as if he wanted to eat them.
Tokugawa Ieyasu lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking. Shibata Katsuie retorted: "Kinoshita-sama has a prosperous military fortune and possesses the land of fifteen countries. Why don't you raise your troops and fight the Ming army to the death? We can swear in front of your majesty,
When you fight against the Ming army, I will not take any advantage of you."
When Hashiba Hideyoshi heard Shibata Katsuie call him Kinoshita, his eyes seemed to spit out fire. If his eyes could be turned into substance, Shibata Katsuie would have turned into a pile of ashes.
Niwa Nagahide suddenly burst into tears and said: "If Lord Nobunaga is still here, how can Minglu deceive me? Lord Nobunaga has already appointed His Highness Nobutada as the reserve. His Highness Nobutada and His Highness the Three Masters are dead, but His Highness Hide is still alive.
Of course it is our co-owner..."
Hashiba Hideyoshi interrupted him and said: "No need to say more, Mr. Chohide, you have already finished talking at the Qingzhou meeting." Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was counting ants with his head lowered, said: "In the battle of Mount Komaki, we have not won or lost yet.
Yes, His Highness Nobuo also has unfulfilled intentions - what do you say today?"
Tokugawa Ieyasu raised his head with tears in his eyes, which surprised Hashiba Hideyoshi. He heard Tokugawa Ieyasu choked and said: "Your Majesty is our lord, and now you are being humiliated and exposed. How can the Tokugawa family harm you with selfish motives?"
State affairs? If the Senator is willing to take the lead in resisting the Ming army, I am willing to take Yu Yiwan as a pledge and obey your orders!"
After saying this, Hashiba Hideyoshi was speechless and stunned for a moment. All the samurai here took a breath. Tokugawa Ieyasu's words were groundbreaking! [Note 1]
Hashiba Hideyoshi couldn't help but look down the steps outside the house, looking for Kuroda Takataka among his entourage. Then he remembered that Kuroda Takataka, who had been in poor health after the assassination, was left by him to guard the house in Omi. With no hope, he had to keep silent.
Judge Tokugawa Ieyasu's intentions for yourself.
Shibata Katsuie's expression changed, and he glanced at Oda Nobutaka. Seeing that Oda Nobutaka was still in a state of confusion, his mouth was wide open and speechless. Shibata Katsuie also lowered his head, thinking quickly in his mind.
Nijo Shoryo, who had been lying down for a long time, straightened up at some point and praised loudly: "His Majesty Tokugawa is worthy of being a role model for the samurai family. Your Majesty must sincerely appreciate your loyalty to the emperor. Your Majesty Shibata, what do you think?"
Oda Nobutaka finally came to his senses at this time, and hurriedly stopped Shibata Katsuie's words and said: "We only have five kingdoms in our territory, it is difficult to defend the territory, and we dare not show off our strength - I can only wish His Highness Hashiba a prosperous military career and success!"
Before Hideyoshi could retort, Shimazu Yoshihiro, who was extremely anxious in his heart, hurriedly said: "If His Highness Hashiba unites all the armies, the Shimazu family will also be willing to join Jiwei!"