Chapter 5 The third story Ukita Hideya-1

first quarter -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ There is a story about a saber.It was when Hideyoshi was living in Fushimi Castle, and one day he walked through the long wall to the hall.On the way, there was a living room with five sabers.At this point, Hideyoshi stopped in his tracks. Hideyoshi said, "Shall I guess who owns these five sabers?" Needless to say, judging from the extremely elegant furnishings of the living room, these five sabers must have been worn by the five highest-ranking daimyos of the Toyotomi family.Judging from the daimyo who visited Fushimi Castle today, they should be:

Ieyasu Tokugawa Maeda Toshiie Terumoto Mori Nagon Ukita (Ukita) Hideie Kagekatsu Uesugi These five daimyos served as the "five elders" of Toyotomi's family in Hideyoshi's later years.Everyone swears that after Hideyoshi's death, they will work together to assist Hideyoshi.This system continued until the Battle of Sekigahara. Maeda Genichi, who was born as a monk and is now in charge of teaching, said, "Oh, Your Highness, are you saying that you want to guess which sword belongs to whom?" He had a deliberate look of astonishment on his face. "Then, I'll guess!"

So, Hideyoshi raised his hand, pointed at the five treasured swords, and reported their owners one by one, without any mistakes. Now Xuan Yi was stunned and asked, "How did you guess that?" Hideyoshi replied: "There is no mystery." Then, he revealed the answers one by one. "Let's look at the one of Edo-dono (referring to Tokugawa Ieyasu) first. It is unadorned and unpretentious. Edo-dono is not the kind of mediocre warrior who wants to conquer the world with the bravery of a sword. Therefore, that one should be his." "The lord of the Kaga Domain (referring to Maeda Toshiie) was originally called Zaemon. He has long been a well-known general in the battlefield. The heavy sword with the hilt is undoubtedly his."

"Kingkatsu Uesugi, inheriting the legacy of his late father Kenshin Uesugi, is good at swordsmanship on horseback, so naturally he likes to use long swords, so the long sword must belong to him." "Ani Chunayan (referring to Mori Terumoto) likes to dress up and decorate his body with strange items. For this reason, that distinctive and unique sword must belong to him." "How about Bizen Chunayan (referring to Ukita Hideka)?" Saying so, Hideyoshi raised his finger.Ukita Hideka's family is the youngest among the five, and Hideyoshi himself is his adoptive father in name.Hideyoshi pointed to his saber and said, "The Hideo family was born like this, and everything is gorgeous. Therefore, the saber inlaid with gold on the handle must belong to him."

Maeda Xuanyi told this story to everyone he met in the court hall, and said in admiration: "This is really a clever calculation!" However, this is an ordinary thing for Hideyoshi.In terms of insight into people's inner world, Hideyoshi is an unprecedented genius.Because of this, he was able to start from a servant of Oda Nobunaga, and finally became a figure who dominates the world.After gaining the world, he became a little dizzy in his later years.However, games of the level mentioned above are still effortless for him.This is much easier than grand sumo wrestlers playing arm wrestling and the like.

Hideyoshi likes to joke around with people.Not long ago, he went to the Fushimi mansion of Ukita Hideo, who is "focused on magnificence". He drank tea first, and then took a walk in the yard, full of praise for the single-petalled camellia in the yard. After that, Hideyoshi slapped his hands and shouted to the elders in Ukita Hide's house: "Old people, old people!" The elders of the family are now kneeling and waiting for him on the open space covered with white sand that borders the courtyard.Ukita is a daimyo family on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. It owns 574,000 stone fiefdoms, covering part of the current Okayama Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture.Therefore, there are many elders in the mansion, such as Kii Mori Osafune, Higo Moritogawa, Akaishi Sabe, Shima Mori Hanabou, Echizen Morioka, etc. There are more than ten people in total.

Hideyoshi said: "The Xiu family has been entrusted to you! The Hide family's childhood name is Hachiro, and I raised the child with my own hands. Please take care of me!" After a while, when he was about to return to his study, he suddenly called Tatsuya Higo Moritogawa's name among the elders. Hideyoshi ordered: "Please carry me to the study!" Togawa is a man with high martial arts skills, and he has been a well-known general in Sanyo Road since the Ukita Nao family was alive.The back of this person is as wide as a mat.At this moment, he bent down, carried Hideyoshi on his back, raised his hairy legs, stepped up the steps, and walked briskly through the corridor leading to the study.

Hideyoshi, who was small and thin, was excited and shouted loudly: "This is really comfortable." This can also be said to be a political trick of Hideyoshi.Among the elders of Yuxi's family, there are many who think that their father is the best in the world, relying on their own strength, they always underestimate the young lord Xiu's family.There are also factions in the family elders, which are divided into two factions.This fat postkeeper Togawa Tatsuyasu can be called the leader of the opposition party. If you offend him, no one is sure he will come up with something for you.Hideyoshi probably wanted him to have a sense of intimacy with him, and through this move, Hideyoshi won the peace and harmony of the Uki family for the Hide family.

When Hideyoshi was young, Hideyoshi whispered to him more than once: "No child is as cute as Hachiro!" Hideyoshi adopted many children from his own relatives and his wife's relatives as his adopted sons, and also recognized many Youzi (equivalent to Chinese godsons, just like sons).But it seems that his favorite is this Xiu family who has no blood relationship with him. Hideyoshi himself understood that his worst shortcoming was that he especially liked women.He has such a problem: Whenever he sees a beautiful woman from a famous family, it is difficult to restrain his lust, and he has to try to get it before giving up, even once, even if the woman is someone else's wife.

That was when Hideyoshi served as the general of the Oda family and attacked the Mori family in Chugoku. At that time, Hideyoshi's headquarters was located in Himeji Castle.The base camp of the enemy Mori clan is in Hiroshima Castle.Hideyoshi's deceased father, Ukita Nao, lived in Okayama Castle between the two castles.The Nao family is a daimyo who owns both Bizen and Misaku. At first, this person joined the Mori family. "Based on this situation, I'm afraid it's still beneficial to seek refuge with the Oda clan!" Zhijia changed his mind.Although the Maori family is a great lord who owns more than ten countries in Sanyang and Sanyin, the total amount of grain and rice harvested in the territory is only one million or hundreds of thousands of shi.The Oda family has conquered more than 30 countries with the Kinki region as the center, and the sphere of influence has reached more than three million stones.From the perspective of strength, it is estimated that the Oda clan will win.

Zhijia is a person who is good at calculation. Not only that, but there is no one in the world who is so faithful to his calculations.It turns out that although the Yuxi family is a famous family in Sanyang Dao, when Zhijia was young, the family fortune had declined, and he revived the family business with bare hands.When he was young, the Nao family worked as a servant in the Urakami family of Bizen daimyo, secretly made up their minds, and through tricks, killed the powerful figures of the Urakami family one after another, and finally took the Urakami family as their own.A conspirator as cruel and ruthless as the Zhi family was unique even in the Warring States Period.Although he was an upstart among the daimyos who had climbed up amidst the turbulent wind and fierce turmoil, in his generation, there was only one large-scale war.All goals are achieved by careful planning and ingenious conspiracy.When he deems it necessary, he kills without distinction, whether it is the lord, the lord, the benefactor, the foster father, or relatives and friends.Even his own younger brother, Zhong Jia, who has been acting with the Zhi family since he was young, said to people after the death of the Zhi family: "There is no one more terrifying than my brother. My brother loves me very much, but He is a black-hearted person, and sometimes he can't figure out what is going on in his heart. For this reason, every time I go to my brother, I must secretly wear a chain armor for protection under my clothes before going to see him .” Zhijia is such a character. In the end, the Nao family finally took refuge in the Oda family.In terms of specific affairs, he contacted Hideyoshi, the commander of the Oda family's army who attacked the Mori clan.It was Jutoku Konishi, a businessman from the Sakai region who was born in the Nao family's territory, and his son Yakuro Konishi, who worked as go-betweens between Hideyoshi and the Nao family.Konishi Tokuro's son, Konishi Yakuro, showed extraordinary talent in this negotiation, so he was favored by Hideyoshi, and later became the name of the Toyotomi family, known as Settsu Mori Konishi Governor.However, this has little to do with this story, so I had to give up. The two parties signed a secret agreement, and the Nao family sent someone to send his son Hideka (called Hachiro at the time) to Hideyoshi's tent stationed in Himeji as a hostage.Hachiro was just eight years old at the time.When Hideyoshi met this young boy in Himeji Castle, he was surprised to see that he was very handsome with delicate features, white teeth and red lips. "Come to me and let me hug you!" While saying this, Hideyoshi waved to the young man, then picked up the young man, lifted it high into the air, and made a few circles, then asked the elder of the Yuki family who sent the young man here, and said, "Master Hachiro, Does it look like his father or his mother?" Although Hideyoshi has never met Naoya, he heard that Naoya is a famous handsome man. When he was young, he won the favor of his lord Urakami Muneke because of his good looks. Unexpectedly, the old man tilted his head, hesitantly: "Hey, what should I say?" To say that the son of a general is not like his mother but like his father is a compliment.However, it is a pity that Hachiro does not resemble Naoka at all, but resembles his mother. The old man said, "Forgive me for speaking so bluntly." Then he reported the situation. Hideyoshi suddenly realized when he heard this, he couldn't help nodding, and said in response: "Yes, yes, I guess so. From the young master's point of view, his mother must be a beauty!" Hachiro was sent to Nobunaga who lived in Omi Azuchi Castle.Although Hachiro is the second son of the Ukita Nao family, he is now the only son of the Ukita family because the eldest son and the Taro family had died in battle not long ago.Taking the only son as a hostage cost a lot.The Nao family, who is known for playing tricks and tricks, actually sent his only son Hachiro as a hostage, which even surprised Oda Nobunaga in Azuchi Castle.He is satisfied with the sincerity of Zhijia.Besides, Hachiro is a beautiful boy. For this reason, Nobunaga not only has a good impression of Hachiro's father, Naoka, but also the boy himself. Nobunaga told the servants: "The child from Beiqian is very handsome, you should take special care of him!" It seems that Hachiro has been quite likable since he was a child. Not long after, the new year entered, namely the ninth year of Tianzheng (1581).Nao's family was terminally ill in Okayama Castle in Bizen.According to the doctor's diagnosis, it is estimated that he will not live long. This is because he is already in his fifties and his body is already very weak.Due to the strategic needs of fighting against the Maori family, the Zhi family was terminally ill, and the news was strictly blocked from the outside world.However, only the allies in Himeji Castle were an exception, and the messenger quietly notified Hideyoshi.Hideyoshi was surprised.He said to himself many times: "The Zhi family is going to die, don't let him die!" He sincerely sighed for the Zhi family's misfortune.Deep friendship is Hideyoshi's nature, he is always very amiable, considerate and gentle towards others.It is precisely because of his nature that people admire him and entrust their future to him with confidence.Even the Ukita Nao family, known for their incomparable treachery, is no exception.Before dying, the Nao family's wish was: "While I still have breath, I hope to meet His Highness Hashiba, and entrust him with matters related to Hachiro's fame and future." Hideyoshi agreed to Nao's request.But his left and right are not at ease.They said that the Nao family was a famous murderer, so he must have pretended to be sick and invited Hideyoshi to Okayama Castle.The clever Hideyoshi laughed at this kind of argument. He thought "this is too much, and Naoka is telling the truth." Besides, he understood that he was just an official who contacted the Oda family, and killing himself would not do any good to the Nao family.Hideyoshi made preparations to go to Okayama Castle.Under the circumstances at that time, it was almost a rare case that I took the initiative to go to the city of an ally who made a new covenant.But Hideyoshi decisively agreed.This reflects his caring attitude towards people. Hideyoshi deeply understands that this kind of incomparable consideration and concern for others is the capital to realize his political ambitions.He also understands that it is better to be thorough than to be considerate to others.For this reason, Hideyoshi asked Oda Nobunaga, who lived in Azuchi Castle, to take the only son of the Nao family, Hachiro. "Ah, this is..." Even the military adviser Kuroda Kanbei (Rushui) was dumbfounded by Hideyoshi's bold move.Taking hostages to visit Okayama Castle, as long as Zhi's family intends to kill them, isn't it equal to the swan meat delivered to the door?Kill Hideyoshi and take back the hostages.Kanbei said: "This is too dangerous!" However, Hideyoshi believed that it would be impossible to win people's hearts in this troubled world without taking this risk.This is Hideyoshi's fundamental starting point.Naturally, he did not accept Guan Bingwei's clever suggestion.Needless to say, at this critical moment when risking his life, Hideyoshi did not think of Hachiro's mother, the peerless beauty, in his mind.For Hideyoshi, lust may be said to be a hobby of his, but it is not his life-and-death career. It was already the ninth year of Tianzheng.At the beginning of the new year, Hideyoshi took Hachiro with him, starting from Himeji Castle in Banzhou, and going down the Sanyo Road.This trip left Hachiro with memories that will last a lifetime.At that time, Hachiro was nine years old.In this boy's young heart, he was unable to understand Hideyoshi's position and so on at that time. However, as he grew older, whenever he thought of this past event, he couldn't help being grateful for Hideyoshi's deep friendship and self-sacrifice. Thanks for his kindness. "For him, I will go through fire and water, and I will do anything." Deep in his heart, Hachiro strengthened his determination even more.In this regard, Hachiro is different from the other adopted sons of the Toyotomi family.The other adopted sons were all relatives or brothers-in-law of Hideyoshi, and it can be said that they naturally acquired the distinguished status.They all take it for granted.And the adopted son of the Ukita Hide family, because he has no blood relationship with Hideyoshi, and has a different experience from other adopted sons, so he can really feel Hideyoshi's love for him. Hideyoshi's attitude towards Hachiro's biological father when he visited Nao's hospital bed was also unforgettable in Hachiro's life. "I am about to leave behind my infant wife and leave this world. I hope His Highness can understand my melancholy mood at this moment." As Naoya said so, he stretched out his skinny hand to Hideyoshi.Hideyoshi also stretched out his hand, and held Naoka's hand in his own. At this moment, Hideyoshi couldn't help crying.Seeing Hideyoshi crying, Naoya was relieved. "Please take care of my son Hachiro." The Nao family asked Hideyoshi again and again, "It was supposed to be my father who taught him the skills of riding horses and archery and leading soldiers in battle. I hope that your Highness will replace me and teach the whole family." Hachiro." Hideyoshi put his mouth close to Nao's ear, and said, "Please rest assured. From now on, I will regard Hachiro as my own child. Needless to say, your original fief Bizen and Misaku, I will definitely raise Hachiro Become a general who can command a large army across Japan." Hearing Hideyoshi's words, the Nao family was moved to tears, and said, "I am relieved. From now on, even if I become a ghost, I will protect your highness Zhuzhou's health. Not only I, but also The ancestral spirits of my Yuxi family, the God of Heavenly Spear, and the spirits of the ancestors in the sky, will also work together to protect your highness Zhuzhou's martial luck for a long time!" Hachiro is an emotional child.After listening to these conversations between his father and Hideyoshi, he was so moved that he couldn't help sobbing.This scene moved the people present even more. The Zhi family went on to say: "I still have one extravagant wish. I don't know if I can get His Highness's permission. I hope that when I am alive, I can take a look at Hachiro's manly demeanor." This means that a crowning ceremony is required for Hachiro.Hachiro was too young to be crowned.However, such a thing is not without precedent in the world.Hideyoshi agreed.He personally acted as the adoptive father in the ceremony, and immediately got ready by the Zhi family's pillow. After a while, everyone's errands in the ceremony were allocated.Some are crowned, some are haircut, some are foster fathers, and some are in charge of the stage.Among them, the president Konishiya Kuro was in charge of haircutting according to Hideyoshi's instructions.This businessman who was born in Sakai, Ukido's territory, showed excellent diplomatic skills in communicating the relationship between Naoya and Hideyoshi. He was appreciated by Hideyoshi and has become Hideyoshi's subordinate. Among nicknames, they have become a united front against Maori. Yakuro brushed up the hair on his shoulders for Hachiro. At the same time, Hideyoshi ordered Yakuro to be Hachiro's tutor on the spot.The relationship between this general who was born as a merchant and the Hide family continued from then on until the battle of Sekigahara.This incident was probably something that no one present at the time could have imagined. Then came naming.The names of Yuxi's family are passed down from generation to generation with the character "jia".Hachiro's great-grandfather was named Nojia, his grandfather was Xingjia, and his father was Naojia. "Your Highness Zhuzhou, I have one more request. I wonder if His Highness will give you a word from your tuba to give Xiaoer Hachiro a name?" At the request of Nao's family, Hideyoshi decided to give Hachiro a "Show".He ordered someone to prepare a piece of paper that was used according to the regulations, wrote a big "Xiu" character on the center of the paper, and drew a monogram on the bottom left of the paper, and handed it to Hachiro. Although Hideyoshi stayed in Okayama for two days this time, he was unable to meet Hachiro's mother.I heard that she has a cold and is resting in bed. When Hideyoshi returned to Himezhong Castle, he left Hideyoshi in Okayama Castle in the name of letting his son take care of his father.Such kindness is almost unbelievable to Yu Xijia and the practice of the Warring States Period.Hachiro's mother Yu Fu, like the Nao family, is very grateful for Hideyoshi's kindness. Like the Zhi family, Yu Fu chanted to Hachiro almost every day: "Don't forget the kindness of Master Zhuzhou!" Yu Fu is still very young. In a few springs and autumns, she will not be thirty years old.Naturally, she is not the first wife of the Zhi family.The history of the Zhi family's marriage itself is also the history of his conspiracy.His first wife was the daughter of Nakayama Nobumasa, the former Beichu prefect. The Zhongshan family was the largest force under the Urakami family, the original master of the Nao family.After the Zhi family got married, they were very affectionate with their father-in-law, and gradually gained his trust, which soon made him relax his vigilance, and then murdered his father-in-law, thus winning the territory he owned.Shortly thereafter, the Zhi family's first wife died of illness.The news about her suicide has been circulating in the world for a long time.Then, the Nao family married the daughter of Misaku Shugoto, who was also a prominent official of the Urakami family, and half of the Misaku country was his fiefdom.The Zhi family took advantage of their advantageous position as the son-in-law to make the father-in-law negligent, and then poisoned the father-in-law to death and seized his territory.The second wife also died of illness.This Yu Fu is the younger sister of the late second wife of the Zhi family, and people say that she is "extremely beautiful". She was raised by Yuxi's family since she was a child, and when she matured, the Zhi family took her as their wife.Not long after they got married, a boy and a girl were born, and the boy was Hachiro. Let's say that shortly after Hideyoshi's visit, that is, on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month in the ninth year of Tensho, the Ukita Nao family died.He was fifty-four years old.Hideyoshi, as the protector of the Uki family, came to Okayama again. He let the Hide family inherit the position of the family governor, and gave a lecture to the elders and concubines of the Uki family, and took the death of the Nao family. Strict confidentiality measures.The news of the Zhi family's death was not made public until a year later, on the ninth day of the first lunar month in the tenth year of Tianzheng (1582).For this reason, before the news of the death was announced, the widows of the Zhi family could neither be ordained as nuns, nor were they assigned a courtyard number (there was a custom among Japanese nobles at that time that after the death of their husband, widows were proclaimed nuns and assigned a courtyard number. The so-called courtyard number , is to add the word "Yuan" after the name of the precept, that is, the name of the Dharma), but must maintain the original vulgar style. During this period, Hideyoshi met Yu Fu for the first time. Needless to say, Yu Fu was not wearing mourning clothes at this time. "Hey! You are Hachiro's mother. You and Hachiro really look alike. I don't think it's the first time I've seen you!" Hideyoshi chatted with her so affectionately.But deep down in his heart, he couldn't help but marvel at Fu's beauty.There is a faint shadow around Yu Fu's eye sockets; his eyes are flickering, looking forward, dazzling.Even Hideyoshi, who has traveled far and wide and has seen a lot, has seldom seen such a beautiful woman. "Oh! The dead Quanzhou (referring to Zhi's family) did me a good deed!" This sentence almost blurted out, he felt bad, and finally stopped in his throat and swallowed it. During his stay in Okayama this time, Hideyoshi and Hideie established a relationship with each other.Juzi means like a son, and his status is second only to that of an adopted son. When Hideyoshi lived in Okayama Castle, he behaved very straightforwardly, and people in the Uki family had a good impression of him, especially the women in the inner palace said: "I have never seen such an amiable general." Speaking of Chikuzen Moriba Hideyoshi, that is the leading general of the Oda family.Nobunaga is such a harsh general.For this reason, people originally imagined that the most trusted general of Oda Nobunaga would be a terrifying figure.However, his words and deeds in Okayama City were not pretentious at all, and even made people feel a little too casual.If there is any ridiculous thing, he will laugh out loud; if he thinks it is good, he will praise it loudly and reward you on the spot, without any pretense at all. A certain foreman of the maids in the inner palace received a large amount of gold and silver from Hideyoshi. He was very grateful for Hideyoshi's generosity and became the first person to worship Hideyoshi.In order to persuade Yu Fu, Hideyoshi asked this person to help him.This incident surprised even Hideyoshi's admirer.Although the Zhi family is still alive and the news of his death is kept secret, strictly speaking, isn't Yu Fu currently in mourning? Hideyoshi said: "Well, well, this, I know, I know. You see, I beg you like this." At this time, this manly man was actually facing a maid, with his hands clasped together, as if praying to Buddha: "To tell you the truth, only this kind of desire is really hard to restrain. I have long been eager for Fu, but I tried my best to endure it." , even beating my chest and cursing myself to restrain myself, but it didn't work. Please, please help me. You see that I have suffered so much. Please understand my difficulty." Seeing this scene , even the maid couldn't help laughing, and finally forgot the seriousness of the matter, and agreed to help him.The maid secretly told Yu Fu what Hideyoshi meant. After hearing this, Yu Fu didn't know what to think.However, unlike the Edo period, women in this era were not bound by Confucian morality, which is a fact.Therefore, in terms of moral concepts, perhaps you will not feel much pain.It is natural to respect the rights of the husband during the lifetime of his own owner, the husband.Now that the owner is dead, as long as she has the courage and is not afraid of other people's gossip, she can arrange and dispose of her body by herself.Yu Fu didn't have such courage. When he was in trouble, Hideyoshi got into her boudoir and shared the bed with her smoothly.Yu Fu had to be at his mercy.She boldly accepted the challenge.This incident was not a product of her courage. Hideyoshi found a strange reason to comfort Yu Fu: "For Hachiro, you are the mother and I am the adoptive father. It is better now." Since both parties are Hachiro's parents, it would be strange and unnatural if there is no relationship between the parents.This is the truth invented by the lively Hideyoshi.Hearing what Hideyoshi said, Yu Fu also felt that he had suddenly realized something. During his stay in Okayama Castle, Hachiro's adoptive father came to Hachiro's mother's room every night.Yu Fu felt embarrassed, but he didn't hate Hideyoshi emotionally.Compared with his deceased husband, this is a rather unremarkable man, only about five feet in length.However, Hachiro's adoptive father was far more straightforward than his late husband, and every time he came, he always left a rough and healthy atmosphere in Yu Fu's quilt.If it is said that Yu Fu is happy about this, then perhaps it can be said that she has developed something similar to love for Hideyoshi. Naturally, Hideyoshi has love for Fu.He is not only a flower picker who loves flowers and willows, but also has a surplus of love for any woman he has ever had a relationship with, and he will always do everything possible to make this woman happy.This is Hideyoshi's temper and character.And this kind of temper can be said to be unparalleled.Now, Yu Fu also understands this. Hideyoshi made a wish: "In the future, I will try to train Hachiro to be a person respected by the world." Naturally, with Xiujia as the medium, there is a strong emotional bond between Yufu and Hideyoshi.This emotional bond finally made Yu Fu feel that the strange relationship between her and Hideyoshi was an extremely natural relationship that complied with nature and human feelings.By the last few nights of Hideyoshi's short stay, Yu Fu had received Hideyoshi with a very natural attitude as if he was Hideyoshi's wife who had been married for many years. Nakanogen Ukitahide's family, the name of the Toyotomi family, was born in such a boudoir love. Since then, Hideyoshi has never let Hideyoshi leave his side.When going to war, he must be taken with him, and when introducing the generals, he is always asked to accompany him by his side.Naturally, the generals were also polite to Xiujia. After Nobunaga's death, Hideyoshi changed the boy from Yuzi to adopted son, making him a member of Toyotomi's family.No matter before or after, Hideyoshi was always kind to Hideyoshi and never lost his temper. Whenever Xiujia gave a clever answer to the adults' questions, Xiuzhong would say with a smile on his face: "Look, look, how well Hachiro said it!" and showed great joy. Perhaps it can be said that Hideyoshi loves this adopted son Ukita Hideyoshi who is not related to him more than any other adopted son who is related by blood. People whispered behind their backs: "It's a bit like a real son!" As far as Hideyoshi himself is concerned, it may be precisely because he has a physical relationship with Hachiro's mother that he has a special affection for this young man, and often tends to have a hazy illusion that Hideyoshi is really his own son.The so-called father has never experienced the physical pain of a woman in childbirth, and only has a physical connection with the mother of the child.In this regard, Hideyoshi is fully qualified as the father of the Hachiro Hide family. Hachiro, the widow of the Ukita Nao family, was deeply loved by Hideyoshi. For this reason, there was no one in the Toyotomi family's mansion who did not envy Hachiro's luck. They said: "The young master is really lucky!" Some people also said: "It's all due to his mother!" At this time, Yu Fu had already arrived at Daban City.On Bizen Island under Osaka Castle, there used to be a mansion of the Uki family, but Yu Fu did not live there, and Hideyoshi gave her a house in Osaka Castle. However, what Yu Fu received was not concubine treatment.In the harem of Toyotomi's family lived many women from famous families: Mistress Sanomaru, the fifth daughter of Hideyoshi's late master Oda Nobunaga, Mistress Himeji, daughter of Nobunaga's younger brother Xinbao, and Mistress Himeji from the Omi region. Ninomaru-san (Yodohime) from the Asai family of the daimyo, Kaganoju-san-san, the third daughter of the Maeda Toshi family, Matsunomaru-san from the Kyogoku family of the Omi region daimyo, the younger sister of the Kamao family, and the Sanjo of the talented woman Bureau empress and so on, really too numerous to list.Yu Fu does not belong to this group of colorful harem concubines. People called her "Mrs. Bizen".At this time she was already a monk.In the second year after Zhijia's death, after the funeral, according to the custom, Yu Fu shaved his hair and became a nun, wearing white mourning clothes.From Hideyoshi's point of view, he couldn't take a nun as a concubine, so he had no choice but to build a nunnery in Osaka City and let Yu Fu live there. Hideyoshi often visited the nunnery and said loudly: "After becoming a monk, she has become more and more charming, and I am still in love with you now!" But Hideyoshi no longer had sex with her.If a widow who has become a nun is allowed to accompany him at night, then Hideyoshi's lust is too abnormal.He just came to talk to her about family affairs.However, this Hideyoshi, who is very good at pleasing people, often sends letters to this Fuku when he is on an expedition, reporting the current situation of himself and Hideyoshi, just like what he did to his wife and other concubines. like that. Hideyoshi often said to Fu: "There is no cuter child than Hachiro!" Hideyoshi likes Hachiro so much, but it's not all because of his tenderness for Fu. It seems that Hachiro himself also has something worthy of Hideyoshi's love.Xiujia is pure in heart, noble in taste, and gentle in manner and speech.The children of Hideyoshi's own relatives were not only ugly, but also slow and stupid in speech.For this reason, he liked Xiujia even more.I also felt a little pity for him.Although the Hide family is an adopted son, they have no right to inherit the Toyotomi family business because they are not related to Hideyoshi.In this regard, compared to his elder sister's son Xiuci and his wife's nephew Xiuqiu, the adopted son of the Xiu family gave off a sense of loneliness and melancholy.Of course, Hideyoshi himself would not have this kind of feeling, only his adoptive father Hideyoshi felt it. Whenever this happened, Hideyoshi always thought: "Be nice to Hachiro!" He seldom smiles in front of other adopted sons, but he always smiles and is very amiable to the Xiu family. Hideyoshi did not relax the training of Hideo either, he hoped to train him into a general who can fight well.When Hideo was thirteen years old, Hideyoshi appointed him as the lieutenant general of the four lower left guards, took him to participate in the war against the four countries, and let him participate in the battle against Kizu Castle in the Awa country.Two years later, he was allowed to participate in the conquest of Kyushu, and after his triumph, he was promoted to serve as the three councilors.This counselor is called the prime minister in China.For this reason, people once called him "Prime Minister Bizen". At this time, Xiujia was just fifteen years old. Then he participated in the Odawara Crusade.He was only eighteen years old at that time, and he was the commander-in-chief of the navy, and no major mistakes occurred.However, the reason for this is due to Hideyoshi's own hands-on teaching and the assistance of the family elders, not because of Hideyoshi's own ability. At this time, Xiujia was married.His wife is Hideyoshi's adopted daughter, named Hao Ji. "Betroth Hao Ji to the Xiu family!" When Hideyoshi gave such instructions, everyone in the Toyotomi family's family was envious of Hideyoshi's good luck. Hao Ji is the daughter of the Maeda Toshi family.Back then, there was a third daughter of the Toshi family named Ama. When she was fourteen years old, she became Hideyoshi's adopted daughter and soon became a concubine.Ama also has a younger sister named Haoji, who has been Hideyoshi's adopted daughter since Hideyoshi was the general of the Oda family, and has been raised by her side.Hideyoshi regards Hao Ji as the apple of his eye, which makes people feel that even his own father would not be so loving and sympathetic.When Hideyoshi, as the general of the Oda family, was on the Banshu battlefield, he sent a letter from the army tent to the girl who stayed in Omi Nagahama Castle. The letter read: I really miss it.Don't be too naughty and hurt your body.In addition, for the sake of health, we must insist on fumigation and moxibustion.this Things can be told to the nurse. I don't know how my son is in good health, does he eat a lot?I really want to know.All in all, I miss my son very much.I will I will try to pick you up to live in Himeji Castle, so please rest assured.If you want to take a sedan chair when you say you come, then I will definitely Prepare a top for you, please let me know by letter. parent show in the army Haoji Wuer It can be said that he is a person who loves his children.This heroine has grown up.This time Hideyoshi is different from when he treated Haoji's sister Ama, and he didn't touch her hands.For her, Hideyoshi has maintained the identity of "Daddy" from beginning to end, and it seems that this identity makes him feel happier. "I want to find a son-in-law for Haoji who is unparalleled in the world!" Hideyoshi had said so long ago, and he had already made up his mind to betroth her to the Xiu family.Perhaps Hideyoshi wanted to further strengthen the status of the Hideo family in the Toyotomi family by marrying the adopted son to the adopted son. Xiujia participated in the Korean War twice.During this period, he was promoted to Quanzhong Nayan. For this reason, people generally call him "Bizen Chunayan". 前面所说秀吉猜中五位大名的佩刀的事，大概是在这前后的事吧。 从这时期起，秀吉无论在肉体上还是精神上，都开始显著地衰老起来。这时，丰臣家的嫡子秀赖早已诞生，秀吉的全部注意力，已经集中在这个婴儿身上。他预料到关白秀次将成为秀赖前进道路上的障碍，所以已经予以诛杀；地位次于秀次的养子秀秋也已送给小早川家作了养子；留下的只有秀家了。秀家没有那并不牢靠的继承权，因而秀吉对他的疼爱一如既往。不仅如此，简直可以说，反倒是秀吉方面，流露出了一种想要依仗秀家的意思。 有一天，秀吉把秀家叫到跟前，说道：“我原本一直打算，无论如何要活到秀赖长到十五岁的时候。可是，如今看来连这也有点靠不住了。万一我有个三长两短，望你象从前我养育身为孤儿的你时那样，好生照管、护卫你的弟弟秀赖。” 说这话的时候，秀吉凝视着秀家，眼眶里含满了热泪。 秀家没有作答。这位反应敏捷的年轻人，此时却一反常态，只见他满脸不悦地始终缄默着。 秀吉不觉心生疑窦，追问他道：“为什么不讲话呀？” 秀家这才回答说，照管和护卫弟弟秀赖，这本来是我的天经地义、义不容辞的责任，而父亲却还要再次念叨，这大概是因为觉得我的态度还不够鲜明之故。我作为一个男子汉大丈夫，对这一点感到很不愉快。 听了秀家的这番话，秀吉心里的石头落了地。 秀吉想道：“毕竟是八郎啊！” 但是，他立即又恢复了教育者的身份，教训秀家说：“你的诚实，我是理解的，可是刚才的态度却不好，容易招人误解。作为一个大名，他的一举一动，全得考虑政治效果，所谓政治，不要以为就是奸诈之道，应该看作是把自己的诚意传给别人的本领。你缺少这种本领。在刚才的一瞬间里，连我都对你的诚意突然产生了疑虑。对你的这一缺点，我早就放心不下，我想对你讲的，正是这一件事。” 秀吉接着又问道：“你家里的事，解决了吗？” 世间盛传着宇喜多家的家老之间关系不和，纠纷不断的消息。就连秀吉也多少有所耳闻。 然而，这位当事人的秀家却不知道。秀家从幼童时起就在秀吉身边，由于多年来一直在府衙中生活，所以对自己家的事情，以及封地内的政治情况，知道得很少，五十七万余石领地的一应事务，全托给了首席家老纪伊长船。为此，家里发生了什么事情，他大多不知道。 秀家老老实实地回答道：“幸好，没有发生什么事。” 事实上，秀家是这么相信的，而且他也只能这么回答。 “这个年轻人，兴许不象我早先预料的那样有出息！” 据秀吉看来，秀家在战场上倒是相当勇敢的，在领兵打仗和统率军队方面，也还不无能耐，然而似乎不善于料理内政。自然，秀家具有作为一个贵族应有的文化修养。例如，他善于诗歌，也会击鼓和演唱能乐，为此，在朝堂的社交场中，尚能应付裕如。然而，这些文化修养，看来只有在朝堂之中才有用处，而在统率宇喜多家方面，却是全不顶事的了。 “兴许是我不好，不该把八郎一直留在府衙里。” 此刻，秀吉对自己的教育方式微微感到有点后悔，不过，他如今已经没有精力来更多地谈论宇喜多家的内部事务了。秀吉从这一年（庆长三年）的初夏时起，不知为什么原因，一直泻肚子，食欲也减退。他为即将到来的夏天发愁。为了避开大坂那酷烈的暑气，不久前迁居到建造在伏见高地上的夏宫里。然而他仍然担忧。他这样风前残烛似的身体，不知能否度过夏天，这样的愁思一直在他的脑海里萦绕，始终不肯离去。他只是对他的侍医曲直濑道三透露了自己的心境。秀吉与其说是对自己的生命，不如说是对丰臣家的前途感到不安。只有秀吉的健康长寿，才是丰臣政权的光荣，它的唯一的政治基础和动力。如果这健康的肉体死亡的话，那么与此同时，这个政权也将灭亡，这一点，任何头脑冷静的人，只要稍微观察一下，谁都会明白的。上一代的织田政权的兴亡史早已证明了这一点。十六年前，织田信长死于非命，与此同时，他所建立的政权也灭亡了。秀吉正是通过消灭这一政权才继承了故主信长的盟主的宝座，建立了丰臣政权的。这位秀吉比任何人都更清楚地懂得这一原理。正是这一原理的作用，秀吉才异军突起，独占了鳌头的，而如今在他生命垂危的时刻，反而却一直受着这一原理的威胁。秀吉期待着能出现奇迹。他希望能够超越这一规律，把天下传给如今还只是个幼儿的秀赖。他完全懂得，这是非常勉强的事。然而正因为如此，他才十分焦躁地希望出现奇迹。他的整个注意力，全部集中在这件事上。眼下的秀吉既没有那样的耐心，也没有那样的兴趣，来长篇大论地对秀家的家庭事务提出忠告了。 进入九月后，“太閤归天”这一晴天霹雳般的消息从朝中传出。这消息使城下的诸侯们大为震惊。城下所有府邸里的人都走出门来，站在大路上，使者们催马急驰，各十字路口，人吼马嘶。可是这时秀吉却仍在本丸的里间活着。实际上，在极度虚弱的情况下，又并发了其他病症，在病床上晕过去了两个来小时，不省人事，这被误传成死讯。在这之后，多少恢复了一点气力，然而秀吉由此而不得不作思想准备，知道自己行将就木了。 秀吉想要建立一个完整的体制，以便在他死后，让丰臣政权继续运转下去。这件事必须抓紧办理。在这之前的丰臣政权，在管理方面，是没有什么组织机构的，秀吉自己一个人说了算，他的秘书长石田三成、长束正家等充当他的手足，他们将秀吉所下的一道一道命令和指示，化作具体的行政措施，仅仅如此而已。现在改变了这种作法，任命了石田三成等五人为丰臣家的执政官，称为“五奉行”。在这五奉行之上，有一个领导机关，设置了五个决策官，这五人被称为五大老。其中的首席大老是内大臣德川家康，这或许可以说是辅佐秀赖的首相职位吧。可以称之为副首相的，是五大老中的二把手，官居大纳言的前田利家。再往下是毛利辉元、上杉景胜、宇喜多秀家。秀吉给了这五个人在辅佐秀赖方面以最高的发言权。不用说，这五个人无论领地还是官位，都超过其他大名。不过在各人的能力、性格和人望方面，却有很大的差距。按世间一般人的评论来说，则是上杉景胜愚直，毛利辉元平庸，至于宇喜多秀家，还只能说是个娃娃。 秀吉在病床上口述了五大老这一新的组织机构的名单。聆听他的指示的，和往常一样，是石田三成等五位执政官。浅野长政也在其中。秀吉口述完了之后，讲了一点感想，类似于对五大老这五个人物的评论。浅野长政把秀吉一边叹息一边讲述的感想笔录下来，并将它传给儿子，继而又留传到了后世。 江户阁下是个循规蹈矩的人，我与他多年共事，深知这一点。希望他把他 的孙女许配给秀赖。我相信，这位规矩人一定会很好地扶持秀赖的。 这些谈话，与其说反应了秀吉的看法，倒不如说寄托着秀吉的满腔的热望。另外，也许还希望这些话在传到家康耳朵里时能产生某种效果吧。 加贺大纳言（前田利家）和我是青梅竹马的朋友。我深知他是一个十分正 直的人。因而我请他担任秀赖的太傅，我相信他一定会大力协助秀赖的。 景胜和辉元，这两位也是忠诚的人。 秀家不比旁人，他是我从小一手抚养和提拔起来的。在护卫秀赖方面，他 与别人不同，不管发生什么情况，我相信他是决不会逃避的。他已担任大老， 但也希望他参与奉行的事务，忠实而沉着地工作，并能公正地调解各方面的关 系。 秀吉又让五大老、五奉行以及其他各位大名分别写了效忠信，并让他们在信中按了血手印，信的内容大致是：在秀吉死后，仍然严守丰臣家的章程和体制，忠实地为秀赖服务，毫不懈怠。这样的效忠信不止是一次，而是让他们写了两三次。秀吉从中抽出了家康写的那封效忠信。 他甚至说：“别的不管它，唯有这一封信，我可要装进棺材，带到阴间去！” 然而，这一切都白费劲了。秀吉死后，安放着他遗体的建造在阿弥陀峰上的庙堂，被家康捣毁了。当然，不是在秀吉死后马上捣毁的，而是在大坂战役结束之后。 秀吉在他死之前一个月，给各位诸侯分赠了纪念品，并写了一篇死后将成为法律的、内容周密而详尽的遗嘱。这时，他还在呼吸。秀吉死于庆长三年（1598）八月十八日，在他去世的前两天，他把五大老请到了病房里。目的是再一次托付秀赖的事情。五大老之中，只有上杉景胜因回乡去了，没有在场，德川家康等四位大老都来了。他们的座位被安排在秀吉的枕头不远的地方。每个人都作出了副严肃而悲痛的表情。唯独秀家耷拉着下嘴唇。四个人中，只有他目睹着躺在病床上的秀吉，受到了极大的打击，这打击甚至使他装不出那样一副出自政治需要的表情来。眼前的秀吉已经瘦得不成人样，只剩下皮包骨头了。每当他闭上眼睛的时候，那样子就活象是一个饿死的人。不过，此时他还活着。 “这就是太閤啊！” 想到这里，秀家再也忍不住了，便放声大哭起来。这哭声时而凄厉，致使秀吉的重要谈话，都难以叫人听清。秀吉只把眼珠子向秀家转动了一下，以低微的声音喊了声：“八郎！” 大家都侧耳静听着。 大概是因为身体虚弱、意识朦胧的缘故吧，秀吉以一种简直是在与婴儿喁喁私语的声音说道：“我现在正讲要紧的话，你不好静一静吧？” 听了这话，秀家更是悲痛不已。小时候，当他和其他小勤务兵一直在秀吉身边嬉闹时，养父常用与这同样的话语责备过他。 秀吉继续说下去。 他的话并没有什么特别的内容。只是一个劲儿地说，请各位怜悯秀赖，拜托大家，希望你们诚实地遵守誓言等等。另外三个人将继续活下去，并因此而感到骄傲；从他们来看，这不过是些滑稽可笑、荒诞不经的言论。然而，秀家早在八岁那年，就曾在亡父的枕头边，见到过这般情景，因而此时此刻，他的感受与那三个人完全不同。当时的他正相当于现在的丰臣秀赖，已故的父亲则相当于眼前的秀吉。那时候，筑前守羽柴秀吉风华正茂，英姿飒爽，犹如浑身光芒四射似的。 秀吉凑到直家的耳边说：“请阁下放心就是，八郎少爷的事，包在我身上了。” 真是言行信果，说到做到，秀家在秀吉的身边长大成人，如今已是二十五岁的青年了，宇喜多家的领地也比原先增加了。秀吉信守了在直家临终前所许下的诺言，其证据就是跪在他床前的秀家本身。要是秀家今天是自己一个人跪在养父面前，那么他一定会抓着养父病床上的被头，嚎啕痛哭，衷心祈求他平安无事的吧。 然而，此刻秀家不便开口。按照规矩，这种场合应该由坐在上席的人应答的。坐在上席的家康，不久就用膝盖向前挪动了几步，回答道：“请阁下尽管放心就是。” 家康的话里充满了惆怅和凄切，同时带有一种令人十分可信的、几乎可以称得上是庄严的语气。听了家康的回答，秀吉使出了全身的力气，笑了一笑，并牵动了一下下巴，微微地点了下头。 就在两天之后的深夜里，秀吉死了。