Chapter 17 Ninth story Yodohime and her son-1

Toyotomi Hideyoshi has a lot of unique features, one of which is overly passionate.In his prime, he restrained himself.Relaxed in old age.Yodohime was Hideyoshi's favorite woman in his later years, and she gave birth to his son Hideyoshi. This woman was born in Omi (present-day Shiga Prefecture).Childhood—until the age of seven, was spent in Omi. The Asai clan of her natal family was originally the overlord of the northern part of Omi, and her main city was in Xiaogu. Xiaogu City is a city built on top of a mountain.Behind the city, there are continuous undulating mountain peaks, stretching far to Hokuriku.The southeast of the city is close to Mount Ibuki.Standing on the top of Mt. Ibuki and looking into the distance, I can see the little white sails in Lake Biwa, like the wings of small insects, shining faintly.The fortress on the top of the mountain is Dian Ji's natal family.For her, the scenery of the city and the top of the mountain is something she will never forget.

Dian Ji's childhood was very miserable.When she was sensible, both the city and the mountain were surrounded by enemy soldiers.On the flat ground at the foot of the mountain, enemy flags and troops were everywhere.She spent her childhood in such an environment.There are constant gunshots in my ears every day.The days disturbed by the sound of gunfire made people feel that they were endlessly long.This situation lasted for three years and two months from June of the first year of Yuangui (1570) to August of the first year of Tianzheng (1573). "The enemy is Kinoshita Fujiyoshiro Hideyoshi."

This is the name that the wet nurse (the future female official of the Minister of Finance) has been chanting in the little girl's ears in a tone full of hatred for the past few years.To be precise, the enemy should be "Oda Nobunaga".However, the wet nurse deliberately avoided talking about it.Because the Oda family is the natal family of the girl's mother, Aichi, and Nobunaga is Ashi's brother and the little girl's uncle.Kinoshita Tokichiro is just one of Nobunaga's generals.However, Fujikichiro was the direct leader of the unit sent by the Oda family to attack Asai's Otani Castle.It's okay to make little girls hate the name.

The girl will never forget the scene at that time for the rest of her life.Looking down from the dangerous pass on the south side of the city, one can see that at the foot of the distant mountain, on the hills opposite Hirakawa, the enemy general Fujikichiro built a base camp there.The locals call this piece of hills Hengshan.In fact, it is a graceful, winding ancient tomb.A strong castle was built on top of the tumulus.During the day, countless banners flutter; at night, thousands of bonfires go out.This is the unchanging scenery day and night during the period of three years and two months.In that base camp, the Oda family's infantry-born general Tokichiro was playing the role of commander-in-chief of the persecutors.

The girl asked her mother Ah Shi: "Mom, do you know him?" Ah Shi knew it logically.Because when she married into the Asai family, Fujikichiro's status was already quite high.In fact, when Ashi came to Omi from Gifu, Fujikichiro was one of her escorts in the wedding procession.The man had a witty smile, piercing eyes, and a loud, cheerful voice.But the stature is very short, the appearance is also very ugly, the face is almost like a newborn premature baby. "..." After listening to his daughter's question, Ah Shi silently shook his head.A strong disgust that he didn't even want to mention, like a steel knife out of its sheath, it was undisguised.The girl will never forget her mother's angry expression at this moment.

The day came when the city fell.Regarding the progress of the war, the little girl did not get any news from the adults. She only remembered being woken up that morning before dawn, and was led to see her father, Nagamasa Asai.After meeting them, they got into sedan chairs with their mother Ashi, nurses and two younger sisters, and were carried out of the city gate. The little girl tapped on the small window of the car from inside more than once, asking, "Where are you going?" But even the nurse didn't answer her.As a result, they were carried to the Oda family's barracks, and met Oda Nobunaga who claimed to be her uncle for the first time.That day, Nobunaga did not wear armor, but wore a cool-looking linen short-sleeved shirt.Kneeling beside him was a general whose eyes were red and swollen from crying. This man was surprisingly short in stature.

"The said Fujikichiro, could it be him?" Many years later, relying on a little bit of memory, Hao barely remembered what Tokichiro Kinoshita looked like at that time.In this way, they were sent to Kiyosu Castle in Owari and lived there. By the way, it is estimated that she lived in at least eight castles in her life, constantly changing from one city to another.Otani Castle in Omi, Kiyosu Castle in Owari, Hokusho Castle in Echizen, Yodo Castle in Yamashiro Country, attached castle of Sagami Odawara, Nagoya Castle in Chikuzen, Fushimi Castle in Yamashiro Country, Osaka Castle...

The period of living in Owari Kiyosu Castle was not long.Not long after, they moved to Echizen Beizhuang City.Because the girl's mother, Ashi, remarried Shibata Katsuya, the lord of Beizhuang City.The Sing family also served as the governor of the Oda family in the Hokuriku region, and the Beizhuang Castle also fell. Just like when her birthplace, Asai Clan's Otani Castle fell, the enemy who attacked the castle was that Tokichiro again.Ten years have passed since Xiaogu City was captured.During this period, his identity changed, and his title was changed from Kinoshita Tokichiro to Chikuzen Moriha Shiba Hideyoshi.The difference from when he attacked Xiaogu Castle before was that this time he did not break into Echizen by Nobunaga's order, but organized a large army according to his own will, and with a whip, he urged the troops to cross the Echizen. After crossing Muya Ridge, they broke into the Echizen Plain and surrounded Beizhuang City.

At this time, Nobunaga was no longer alive.The year before, at the Honnoji Temple in Kyoto, he had been murdered by his general Akechi Mitsuhide, and this Mitsuhide had also died when he met Hideyoshi's lightning-fast challenge.Needless to say, Hideyoshi's influence seems to have developed enough to control the succession of the Oda regime, but the chief veteran of the Oda family, Shibata Katsuie, was not happy about this, and the two had a falling out and broke off friendship.The two sides finally fought a decisive battle at the cheap mountain in Kita Omi, near the ancient city of Xiaogu.Relying on his miraculous military strategy, Hideyoshi defeated the Singer's army.The Sheng family fled north, hid in Beizhuang City, and closed the city gate.Hideyoshi didn't stop, stalking and chasing after him.When Hashiba Hideyoshi's army approached Beizhuang Castle, she thought to herself, "Why does that man always act like this?"

In his own career, this man led soldiers to kill her twice, ruining her life and separating her from her family.For this man, rather than feeling hatred, it is better to say that he is full of fear.On April 24th, when the sky was not yet clear, there was a sudden burst of gunfire. The deafening gunshots seemed to split Beizhuang City into two halves.In her bedroom, she was so frightened that she sat up in bed.But then fell down again.The nurse put her arms around her plump shoulders, and she was seventeen years old then.It was still dark.The room was dark. After a while, she finally asked, "Is it still night?"

The nurse whispered slowly and softly in her ear: "No, it will be daylight soon, but it is not yet daylight." This whispered word aroused her distant memory.When Xiaogu City fell, this nanny also said so.Whether it was the time before dawn or the crazy gunfire, it was very similar to the scene in Omi Kotani Castle. Just when she was knocked down, Hideyoshi's army had rushed into a corner of Beizhuang City.The city immediately became a battlefield.Katsuya and his family moved to the castle tower.At this time, the soldiers guarding the city and its families were down to two hundred dead. Her stepfather Shibata Katsuya and her late father Asai Nagamasa have one very similar thing, that is, they have a common temperament: they demand a heroic death.In fact, Singer did exactly that. Singer informed the enemy that he was going to kill himself.After that, he held a banquet in the castle tower.He made the surviving soldiers sing, while he himself danced happily in a dark red evening dress dyed with madder roots.In this way, according to the traditional practice, the banquet of the falling city was held. Then an envoy was sent to the enemy to advise: "I will set fire to myself in the castle tower soon. For this reason, please retreat a little farther." The castle tower is full of gunpowder that has been stored for twenty years. If a fire is set here, the gunpowder will ignite and cause a big explosion. I am afraid that even the pillars and roof of the castle tower will be blown up into the air.Singer advised the enemy to hide far away to prevent injury. This is true.There was only a bang, the ground shook and the mountains shook, and the Tianshou Pavilion flew into the air.The stepfather Shengjia, mother Ashi, and more than thirty accompanying servants were all blown to pieces in the fire he lit.Even this time, it was fate that kept her alive.According to Singer's order, she was sent to the enemy army together with her two younger sisters.Before committing suicide, Katsuya begged Hideyoshi, "Please save these three girls!" The reason is: "As you know, these three girls are not the children of my Sing family, but the widows of Asai Nagamasa of Omi Kotani Castle. Therefore, they are the nieces of the late right minister. They are members of the Lord's family and should be protected." Needless to say, Hideyoshi accepted.This situation is exactly the same as when Xiaogu City fell, to be more precise, the same is a bit too much.This girl named Chacha once traveled around the underworld full of swords and fires when she was young. Probably because of the negligence of the bullheads and horsemen, she was allowed to return to the world alive. Now, as a young girl, she was forced to once again. Went back to the same hell.When she went to hell for the first time, her own father died, and when she went to hell for the second time, her mother also died.And the two hells before and after were all forced by the same man.Legend has it that this person is the most active person in the world today. They were sent to this man - Hideyoshi's army.But it is not the base camp, but a mountain village called Yicheng Valley in the southeast of the battlefield, which is far away from the battlefield.This is the site of the castle and residence of the Asakura clan, the former ruler of the Echizen Kingdom.Although the former site of the Asakura Clan is only a few cornerstones left in the depths of the forest, the moist air in the valley where many ancient cedars are pierced and the site of the ancient city are extremely quiet, which must make the three girls nervous My nerves relax a little.And this must be Hideyoshi's concern for them.I found out later that Hideyoshi seems to be very considerate, sometimes even too much. For some reason, Hideyoshi didn't meet them right away.After taking down Beizhuang City, he marched into Kaga again, fought in various places, and conquered many cities.Then he surrendered Noto and Etsuchu, and did not return to Echizen until early summer.On the way back to Echizen, he took the initiative to stop by Ichijo Valley. Hideyoshi said, "Let me meet Miss Chacha." They met in a monastery.Hideyoshi asked someone to clean up the monastery's academy in advance, and then sent someone to call them here.Hideyoshi did not put them in the lower seat, but gave them the same seat as himself. Hideyoshi said humbly, "I am Chikuzen Mamoru." This person usually speaks frankly and has a cheerful personality, but now he speaks this sentence weakly, like the aftertaste of the bell in the monastery that is about to disappear.There is also a very natural tone of sadness in the tone. "Although it was due to the war, it was also out of helplessness that I met Xiu (referring to the winner), but Xiu was not good at martial arts, and finally died in battle, and even your mother died. I don't know how to comfort Cai. Good." Hideyoshi said so clearly, his tone full of sincerity. "The three present here are all the nieces of the late Minister of the Right. Needless to say, they are members of my master's family. From now on," Hideyoshi paused at this point and closed his eyes slightly, "Please allow Mamoru Chikuzen to replace the Minister of the Right. Guard you." What a wonderful way to say that.By bringing up Nobunaga's name, Hideyoshi's actions and positions have become completely righteous.It was also Nobunaga's order to attack Otani Castle in Omi in the past; this time, even though Nobunaga had long since become an old friend, it was also on the issue of which son would inherit the Oda family. The difference of opinion, and for this reason (albeit superficially) led to the engagement of the two armies.That is to say, both sides are "not out of selfishness but always for the sake of the cause of the Oda family". As long as Nobunaga's name is mentioned, then whether it is to eliminate Asai Nagamasa or force Shibata Katsuie to commit suicide, it will be completely wrong. He Hideyoshi did it because of justice. However, Hideyoshi's righteous feelings at this moment are not necessarily completely faked.He turned his head to look at his retainers, and said to them: "These ladies are my lord's precious family members, and the current situation is very sympathetic, please serve them carefully and love them more." Hideyoshi shed tears of sympathy from the bottom of her heart and asked her retainers to take care of them.These are Hideyoshi's words from the heart.Hideyoshi is a person who loves to express his true feelings, just like the veins on his neck are always exposed.This is a rare person who is always so serious in doing things, even when he tells lies, he can speak very sincerely.He is not that dull, he only knows to be honest blindly, whether it is honesty or truthfulness, he has prepared several sets, just like there are many blood vessels in his body.For example, when he misses the old master, his loyalty to the old master even makes him cry often. Grab it in your own hands and go all out to carry out the activity.In fact, it was with such an extraordinary ambition that he led his troops and galloped across the country.Whether it is the former or the latter, it is Hideyoshi's true love. At the same time, Hideyoshi was thinking again: "If this young lady..." Hideyoshi stared at Chacha's snow-white and tender jade neck for a long time with hungry eyes, wishing to hold her in his arms.This is also his strong truth.In Hideyoshi's view, this is not at all inconsistent with loyalty to the old master Nobunaga.To be more precise, it was the longing for the old master that aroused his lust.Hideyoshi liked women to the point of misfortune.The object of his liking is not the kind of low-born woman, but the nobleman.It was the noble woman that aroused the lust of this humble man.As for the noble woman, she was not from any noble family. The girl from Gongqing's family is not included.Although Gongqing is an aristocrat among the aristocrats, he did not have much actual contact with them in Hideyoshi's past life, so he did not understand them deeply.He has to want the nobles of the Wu family.For this reason, Hideyoshi has acquired a girl from the Kyogoku family, hooked up with the widow of the Uki family, and shared the bed with the wife of the host of Honganji Temple several times. , anyway, we have to count the Oda family.If you think about it calmly, then this thing is a bit strange.Because this Oda family is just a new daimyo who suddenly became the master of half of the Owari country from the generation of Nobunaga's father, and it is not even clear what his grandfather does.However, when Hideyoshi was still a slave and was called "Monkey", this Oda family has always been Hideyoshi's main family.At that time, for him, the Oda family was the people in Tiangong.In his opinion, the ladies of the Oda family are as noble as gods.Their fairy-like beauty, even looking up from the ground, can even make people lose their souls and be mesmerized.If he could hold even one woman from the Oda family in his arms, he would be satisfied even if he gave up a thousand women.Although this idea is a bit humble, but in terms of yearning in the heart, it and the loyalty to the old master are like two melons growing on the same vine. Hideyoshi suddenly remembered that Oichi who was burned to death in the fire of Beizhuang Castle with Shibata Katsuya came.Mayor Ah is a beautiful woman, he can be described as a peerless beauty.Hideyoshi had secretly missed her before, although it was just a dream that could not be realized.And the girl in front of her is Na'a Shi's daughter, even though she may be slightly less beautiful than her mother. The more Hideyoshi cherishes the memory of the Oda family, the more he imagines in his mind all kinds of scenes when he will marry the girl in front of him one day: "One day in the future..." However, this Chacha lowered her head, her eyes were always down, and she only looked up at Hideyoshi once. "It turned out to be this person!" Chacha was a little surprised when she looked up and saw Hideyoshi.A person who has brought such a disaster to himself, unexpectedly, is as innocent and innocent as a village boy playing at the intersection in this area.I saw him talking happily for a while, and laughing loudly like a child for a while.Just like the clear sky in midsummer, it is cloudless and blue.He was curious about everything and expressed surprise, and he seemed to be a broad-minded and open-minded person.Chacha was puzzled by this. Chacha even thought: "It's not that man." "That man" refers to the Tokichiro who conquered Otani Castle where she lived when she was a child. At that time, he built a nearby Yokoyama Castle for combat in order to attack Otani Castle. He was the lord of Yokoyama Castle.What Chacha thought in her heart was: This person in front of her is not that Tokichiro.In the past years, Chacha has always portrayed the image of Tokichiro in her mind, but this image is completely different from the person in front of her. It was this nanny who instilled various images of Tokichiro into Chacha before, but later she began to say to Chacha: "That's a good man!" Gradually, though gradually, the nanny seemed to be constantly changing.Recently, her behavior and speech have become strangely cheerful, and she told Chacha many stories about Hideyoshi.There is often a tone of appreciation between the small details of the words, obviously to make Chacha like Hideyoshi. "Why is this happening?" Chacha never thought about such a problem.In this regard, Chacha is very slow, and this slowness is a characteristic that people of her background tend to have.Chacha only noticed that the nanny's clothes had unknowingly become extravagant. Moreover, at some point, this nanny called her sons from her hometown, Ono Village, Tango (now part of Kyoto Prefecture).This nurse is the wife of Ono Shuryo, a samurai in Tango Ono Village.She and her husband had been servants of the Asai family since the time of Kotani Castle.After the fall of Xiaogucheng, they returned to Tango.Afterwards, her husband passed away due to illness, and her two sons grew up safely. The eldest son, who is almost twenty years old this year, is named Ono Harasawa. "Tango's Ono Village is from Miyazu to the west, a village on the mountain, right? Well, I remembered that there is a Takeno River flowing by the village, forming a small valley." When the nurse was summoned alone, Hideyoshi talked about her hometown in this way.Hideyoshi didn't know about Tango's Ono Village, and it happened that there was Tango's daimyo Hosokawa Yusai in his camp. This was the knowledge that Hideyoshi had wholesaled from him in advance.Hearing Hideyoshi's words, the nanny was stunned.She even knew such a remote mountain village well, which made her feel close to Hideyoshi very quickly. Hideyoshi asked her, "Do you have a son?" When the nanny answered "yes", Hideyoshi went on to say: "Your son must be like you. He is very smart and capable. Go and bring him to show me. I will promote him to be a guard. If he is very capable, he will be able to do so in the future." He might even be promoted to be a general!" The nanny thought to herself: "Hey, isn't this a beautiful thing that can't be found with a lantern?" From this day on, she has completely changed, as if her internal organs have been replaced by someone.She immediately sent someone back to her hometown to deliver the letter.Later, her two sons boarded a boat from Tango Miyazu Port, entered Mikuni Port in Echigo, and arrived at their mother's place within a few days.Hideyoshi fulfilled his promise and hired both brothers as samurai. Chacha has her keenness - because of this, she always blinks her eyes vigilantly, and there is always a strange brilliance in her eyeballs.However, when she heard that the nurse's son had been hired by Hideyoshi as a samurai, she couldn't think of any connection between the recent change in the nurse's expression.I don't know why, but she lacks wisdom in this area, and she may be born with this. Chacha and the others moved to Osaka Castle as ordered. When the group of them entered Osaka from Echizen, Hideyoshi had already asked someone to prepare a special mansion for them.This is newly built, and it seems that construction has already started. The nurse said: "Maybe as early as in the Echizen army, they sent people to fly back to Osaka and ordered people to build it." She praised Hideyoshi again.Chacha has never lived in such a magnificent mansion in her life. From this point of view, she is satisfied.The nanny said: "Mr. Hideyoshi is a caring person! This can also be seen from the following incident. He once told me on his own initiative that he planned to take care of your father, Mr. Asai Nagamasa, and your mother. On the anniversary of Mrs. Shi’s death, a group of monks were invited to do Buddhist rituals for them. Such feelings are extraordinary.” And more importantly, “Master Hideyoshi also said that when the time comes, the female relatives of the Asai family will be It doesn't matter if you call me." When Nobunaga was alive, the Asai family was the number one sinner in the world.After years of hard work, Nobunaga wiped out the Asai family. After that, he painted the skull of his brother-in-law Asai Nagamasa, added gold rims, made a cup, drank from it, and passed it on to his subordinates. .Nobunaga hated the Asai family so much.The same goes for the Asai family members.Some of them hid in the deep mountains and old forests after the castle fell, never daring to show their faces in the world again.This means that Hideyoshi wants to cancel Nobunaga's ban, not only for women, but also for men. Hideyoshi said: "I will appoint them according to their talents." The nanny said, "Is this true?" She clapped her hands together, and kowtowed in the direction of Katsuko Jizo, who she usually worships in Atago. She relayed Hideyoshi's words to Chacha, and said, "Miss, please be happy. In this way, all the spirits of your ancestors in heaven will be saved and ascend to the Paradise of Ultimate Bliss. What a joy! " But Chacha was not moved, she only responded lightly: "Really?" The reason she was so indifferent was not because she disagreed or disliked what the nanny said just now, but because she couldn't be like the nanny who danced for joy when she heard about the prosperity of the people of the same clan and the salvation of the spirits of the ancestors who had no direct relationship with her.Chacha is always reticent.This kind of taciturn personality gives the adults such an impression: Chacha is a girl with many eyes and is difficult to take care of.Even the nanny is often anxious about it. With Hideyoshi's permission, the members of the Asai family who were hiding in various places showed up one after another.After the fall of Otani Castle, Asai Masataka, who was renamed Tanao Moemon, and Asai Daisuke, and even the son of the late castle lord Asai Nagamasa's concubine Asai Yorui also came out.This Asai Lai is Chacha's half-brother, and Chacha has not even seen his face until now for the first time. Hideyoshi made this arrangement for them: "Ah, are the Asai family here? It's so kind to meet you! Please work under Mino Mori (Hideyoshi's younger brother Hidecho)." Chacha and the others gradually got used to the life in Osaka City. Hideyoshi said, "They belong to the master's family." He respected Chacha and the others very much.Although it also contains Hideyoshi's exaggerated elements.His intention has become well known among the tens of thousands of male and female residents in the city.Therefore, the life of the three displaced sisters in Osaka City is not bad. In addition, Chacha, her younger sister, and the maids only found out after arriving in Osaka Castle that among the residents of Osaka Castle, there are many former servants and subordinates of the Asai family, or people from Omi who had relations with the Asai family in the past. amazing. The nanny also said: "Among His Highness Hideyoshi's trusted staff, three out of ten are probably from Omi." This is also a matter of course.After Hideyoshi wiped out the Asai family, he ascended the throne of the daimyo of the Oda family for the first time.At that time, he obtained from Nobunaga the 200,000 stone fiefdom in the three counties of Kita Omi, formerly Asai's territory.He should have used Xiaogu Castle as his residence city. Considering the inconvenient transportation in the mountain city, he also wanted to give a new impression to the residents in his fief, so he built a new city by the shore of Lake Biwa, which is Nagahama Castle.During this period, the nouveau riche daimyo Hideyoshi recruited a large number of recruits in order to build an army suitable for the status of the 200,000 stone fiefdom.The vast majority of those who came to apply were from his territory, so naturally, many of them were retainers of the Asai family and residents of the Asai family's territory.Mitsunari Ishida, a close confidant and aide to Hideyoshi, can be regarded as one of the best.Among Hideyoshi's daimyo-level figures are Miyabe Zenshou Fang Jijun and others; generals who are good at fighting are Tanaka Yoshimasa; officials with administrative management skills are Nagatsu Masakae.In addition, there is Todo Takatora.Although this person's status is low, if he is allowed to manage some affairs, he can be called a genius.Omi Yutaka, Kuchiki Mototsuna, Otani Yoshitsugu, Kakini Nao, Akaza Naoho, Kimura Hitakusuke Shigetsu, etc.There are a lot of people, and it is very troublesome to even mention their names one by one.As for the warriors below the intermediate level, there are countless of them. Although they are all called Omi people, the three counties in the north of Omi have a deep relationship with the Asai family.The central part of Omi was originally the territory of the Rokkaku clan, but was later destroyed by Nobunaga, and now there is no trace of the Rokkaku clan; the Koka region in the south of the near river has been self-contained and independent since ancient times. and the Kuchiki family in the mountainous area on the west bank of Lake Biwa, etc., also had little contact with the Asai family.Among the Omi people in Osaka Castle, the North Omi people are the most numerous. These people all thought silently in their hearts: "Miss Qianjin from Xiaogu is here." Because of this, they have a kind of affection and special respect for the mansion where Chacha and other girls lived.They treated Chacha and the others with the etiquette they treated their old masters. Especially Mitsunari Ishida said to his nanny several times: "No matter what, if there is something you don't like, please just tell me." It seems that their township consciousness, centered on Chacha's mansion, is gradually strengthening. The nanny told Chacha: "Owari still has a lot of people!" Since Nobunaga and Hideyoshi were both born in Owari, it can be said that in this Osaka Castle, most of the rich and powerful speak the Owari dialect with ups and downs.In order to fight against it, the people from Omi who served under Hideyoshi when Hideyoshi was the lord of Nagahama, had already had the idea of ​​huddling together.They probably pinned their thoughts on Chacha and the others. In Chacha's grandmother's house - Oda's house, several people work under Hideyoshi.Oda Yuraku, the eleventh son of Oda Nobunaga's father, Oda Nobuhide, was one of them.He was in charge of receiving guests and instructing the tea ceremony in the Osaka mansion, living a leisurely life.Oda Yule is also Chacha's uncle, so whenever he has the opportunity, he always comes to see Chacha and say "how is it, is there any problem?" Youle is a shrewd man, not to mention a diplomat, so he knows the inside story of the mansion very well.He didn't have nostalgic feelings for these nieces like some Omi people did. He once said privately to his friend Hosokawa Yuzhai: "It's better to let Chacha girl get married as soon as possible!" Youle couldn't help feeling worried because of his loyalty to Hideyoshi, the emerging regime. You Le said to You Zhai: "You also know about Hideyoshi's situation. Does he have ulterior motives for Miss Chacha?" If Hideyoshi enters Chacha's embroidery room, it is possible that within this regime, an Omi faction will immediately form.Maybe the Omi people will organize their cronies around the concubine (though not yet) Chacha as the center.Because in this regime, the number of Omi people is very large, and they all hold real power and are very powerful.What would happen if these powerful people from Omi colluded with the concubine Chacha?The power of the Toyotomi family may be monopolized by the people of Omi. "Such a thing is impossible." You Zhai laughed it off.You Zhai was originally a person who had a keen sense of inside information, but this time even he thought that You Le's worries were a bit unfounded. three years have past. Chacha is twenty years old. "What are you going to do with that young lady of Marquis Asai?" One night, Hideyoshi's wife, Beizhengsuo, asked Hideyoshi unexpectedly, "The person who will leave the court has already been decided." Hideyoshi replied, "Not yet." He had a look of disappointment on his face. "Not yet?" "No." "Did you notice? She's twenty." The Beizheng Institute repeated: I don't need to tell you, you know that girls usually get married when they are fifteen or sixteen years old.At the age of twenty, the wedding period is over.There is no other way than to find a family whose ex-wife has passed away to fill in the house. "This is a young lady raised by others, what are you going to do?" The reason why she talked about this matter in a vain manner was because she had heard all the gossip circulating in the court.People privately commented that such a young lady from a famous family, who is beautiful like a fairy, has never heard of a young man who is betrothed to anyone. In this way, it may be that His Highness has his own plans, Want to keep it for yourself?Hey, I'm afraid that's the case. Hideyoshi's lust has always been famous in the world.Even if there is no wind and no waves, because this era is the era of humble people, men and women often gather together to discuss such topics. For example, there is a saying in the court: "I heard that His Highness Hideyoshi had admiration for Miss Chacha's mother Ashi in the past. After Asai's demise, Ashi returned to the Oda family. Even at this time, His Highness still I once begged the old master Nobunaga again and again, hoping to marry a good wife. But Ashi himself didn't like him. Just at this time, the main wife of Shibata Katsuya died and became a widower, so Ashi remarried to Shibata Houye Home. If this legend is true, then our Highness attacked Shibata in the Northern Kingdom as revenge for a broken relationship. Here is a piece of evidence: in previous wars, our Highness Hideyoshi never killed the defeated enemy, but this time he did not kill the defeated enemy. The Marquis of Shibata, however, showed no mercy, and actually set a big fire, burning Shibata's house and the castle tower to ashes." Needless to say, all of this is nothing more than speculation.When Ashi was still the daughter of the Oda family's boudoir, even if Hideyoshi had feelings for her, he had no chance to contact her.In addition, to say that Oshi became a widow, and Hideyoshi begged to marry her, this is not true.Because since he was a junior warrior, he has had his first wife Ning Ning, who is now the Beizheng Office.Hideyoshi is a womanizing person, but he has always valued his wife Ning Ning very much, always discussing with her, and giving her a little humility in everything.It can be said that his respect for his wife Ningning is extremely rare.Abandoning his wife Ningning and marrying Ashi as his wife, such a thing is completely impossible for Hideyoshi.In addition, when Hokuriku attacked Katsuya Shibata, he said many times in his military tent: "I really don't want to kill Katsuya..." He also said that he didn't want to kill him, but if he didn't kill Shengjia, the world would not be stable. This was a last resort.The objective situation Hideyoshi was in at that time forced him to kill Singer.Because if the chief family leader of the Oda regime was allowed to live in the world, then Hideyoshi would not be able to establish his own regime.This is by no means due to any love entanglement.Besides, Hideyoshi is not the kind of person who can hide his hatred in his stomach. From his character, it is impossible for him to go to war because of the resentment caused by a broken relationship. The legend is completely unfounded. However, on the other hand, it's not easy to talk to death like this.When Hideyoshi saw the mature Chacha for the first time in Echizen Ichijo Valley, he thought to himself that this chick was carved out of the same mold as Oshi, so he was really excited for a while.Although he didn't have unrequited love for Ah Shi as people said, but at that time he regarded Ah Shi as a peerless beauty in the world and admired her very much. This is a fact.It's not just Hideyoshi.There are probably many servants of the Oda family who have the same idea.Ah Shi is such a character.She lives in the palace of heaven.Hideyoshi never wanted to get involved in Ashi, he knew it was impossible.当时的秀吉是充满了现实主义精神的，他决不是个一味想入非非、勉为其难的人。但是，在越前一乘谷这阶段，情形就不同了。 “这姑娘如今是在我的羽翼之下。” 秀吉的此种想法是符合现实情况的。眼前的这位姑娘，虽不是阿市本人，但跟她长得一模一样，如今这姑娘从云端里跌落下来，成了受自己保护的身份。“到时候让我来搂着你，”秀吉心里曾暗暗地打过算盘，看来也是明摆着的事实。如果有人把秀吉当时的这种心思，加油加酱，绘声绘色地歪曲、渲染一番，那自然就会产生出上述传说中的那些故事来了。 近三年来，秀吉悄悄地作了布置，让茶茶生活在他的影响之下。 秀吉对待茶茶的方针是“不动声色地办”，他相信这也是不久的将来把茶茶弄到手的办法。这与攻打城堡很相似。无论是播州的三木城，因幡的鸟取城，备中的高松城，秀吉都没有强攻，而是采用长期围困的作战方式，切断敌人的粮道和水源，有时则用水攻。总而言之，战术的核心，全部集中在使守城的敌军失去战斗意志这一点上。秀吉是以这样的办法来对待茶茶这个人的。他比任何人都清楚，不顾情况，硬要闯入茶茶的绣房，是不聪明的。在秀吉看来，征服茶茶需要时间。时间长了，茶茶心灵上的旧创自然会愈合。而这期间的频繁的、既不动声色又充满温情的接触，将会渐渐改变茶茶对秀吉的心情。为此，虽然这三年里，秀吉常常为了礼仪应酬而离开大坂去京城，为了讨伐敌人而多次越过铃鹿山脉的山岭东征，然而每到一地，他总要给茶茶寄去种种稀罕的物品，以及问候近况的书信。茶茶方面出自礼貌，不用说也不能不给秀吉寄去回信。从茶茶来说，这三年，每时每刻都生活在秀吉的脉脉温情之中。 That's the way it is. 但是，秀吉的这些举动，在宁宁眼里，自然是令人不愉快的。她从身边的侍女那里听到了许多风言风语，就连秀吉和茶茶常有书信来往这样的事情，由于茶茶的侍女向别人透露了，结果也传到了宁宁的耳朵里。 从那以来，宁宁一直觉得非常没趣。而数日之前，织田有乐在茶会上突然向宁宁透露了这么一件事：“看样子近江人在蠢蠢欲动啊！” 有乐没有多说。但是聪明的宁宁已经明白了。这话的意思大概是：近江人为了对抗丰臣家主力的尾张人而正在蠢蠢欲动。世间一般认为，尾张帮是受到这位宁宁庇护的。尾张出身的大小诸侯，每当得罪了秀吉的时候，就准来恳求宁宁，托她向秀吉说情。每逢遇到这样的事情，宁宁总是愉快地答应下来，并为他们效力。然而宁宁自己却并没有别的什么野心。 但是朝中的谣传又作别论。人们认为，尾张帮是大坂城中政界和军界的最大势力，而这势力的首领是宁宁。宁宁这个人，很明显地已经具有一种政治吸引力。尽管她自己并没有这样的企图。 宁宁也从侍女的口中听到了这样的谣传。说是近江人很羡慕尾张人，他们说：“我们也出生在尾张就好啦。”宁宁听了感到十分意外。近江出身的大部分人都既不和宁宁接近，也不来托她办什么事。只有极少数几个近江人与宁宁有些来往。象西近江出身的田中吉政（任兵部大辅）和琵琶湖东边的中近江出身的藤堂高虎等人就是的。他们与近江的同乡反而疏远，与尾张人却交往自如。顺便说一下，前田利家可以说是尾张帮的代表性人物。另外，年轻的有加藤清正、福岛正则、池田辉政、加藤嘉明；较年长的有浅野长政、中村一氏、崛尾吉晴等人。这些人全都是从创业期起就跟着秀吉在战火中成长起来的身经百战、武功卓著的将领们。尾张人的特点是善于打仗。 另一方面，近江人具有当行政长官的才能。石田三成和长束正家几乎可说是算术方面的稀世奇才。例如石田三成，为了管理好丰臣家的规模巨大、项目繁多的事务，创造了用途不同的种种帐册。从国家财政的帐册到厨房的小笔支出的帐册都有，他通过这些帐册指挥下属，料理丰臣家的事务。如果没有他们近江系的官吏和幕僚从旁协助，无论出兵打仗还是管理自己的直辖领地，都会发生困难。那样的话，秀吉恐怕连一天都不得安生了。 由于上述原因，他们近江人正在成长为这个新政权的核心力量。 织田有乐所担心的是：万一他们近江人结成一帮，怎么办？有乐没有明确地对宁宁说出口来，他想说的是：您要当心啊，要是他们依仗旧主家的浅井小姐的话，这事儿怎么好啊！如果把话说得更直截了当一些，那就是：“他们近江人一心希望浅井小姐成为秀吉殿下的侧室呢！” 这一年，即天正十四年（1586）的十二月，关白秀吉任太政大臣，蒙天皇陛下赐丰臣姓。这么一来，和平氏、源氏、藤原氏等贵族人家相并列，秀吉确立了作为当代新贵族的地位和体面。 为此，秀吉在宫廷社会中的社交活动繁忙起来了。他常常要去宫中致谢，并参加种种庆祝的宴饮等等。在京城的时候，他住在聚乐第里。聚乐第是这一年的二月完工的。同年秋天，秀吉让北政所和大政所也迁来了，她们从此留住在京城里。 茶茶则留在大坂。她与丰臣家属在宫廷社会中的社交活动，是无缘的。她只是从别人嘴里，听说了聚乐第建造得多么富丽堂皇。 茶茶心中想道：“真想去看一次。” 她也把这话对奶妈说了。可是，唯有这件事连奶妈也无法满足她的希望。聚乐第是亲王、公卿、皇亲国戚以及封了位的武将们的社交场所，怎么可以让一个没有任何官位的没落大名家的遗孤进去呢？ 茶茶自言自语地说道：“一定非常漂亮吧！”她脸上流露了一种憧憬的神情。 “北政所有官位吗？”茶茶问奶妈道。 奶妈回答说：“她是关白殿下的正妻嘛！” 北政所虽然是个女流之辈，却官居从二位，比大纳言的官位还高呢。这是何等华贵啊！ 此刻，茶茶的心飞向了那热闹而繁华的帝都了。在她的眼前，出现了一个万紫千红、百花争妍的大花园。她想，在聚乐第里，该常是弦歌之声不断，诗会、香会（点燃各种香，互相品尝的会。日本人把燃香的技艺称之为香道，与茶道、花道等传统技艺并称）、茶会频繁的吧，而这一切社交活动的核心人物则是秀吉和北政所啊。 一天，这位秀吉突然间回到大坂城来。府邸中的全体人员都慌了手脚。秀吉一进府邸，便吩咐把茶茶的奶妈叫来。奶妈慌忙沿着回廊奔了过去。出人意料的是，屋里只有秀吉一个人。 秀吉一见奶妈，便一边用手摸了一把脸，一边说道：“嘿，你听我说！” 他那肤色黝黑的脸，犹如吃了酸茱萸似的，一副尴尬相，同时羞答答地笑着。 “从我脸上看得出来吗？” 秀吉好象不看镜子也能知道自己的表情似的。他对奶妈说：“你瞧我这张脸，从我的脸上你就看得出来了吧。我害臊说不出口啊。” 奶妈跪伏在铺席上。她已经懂了。这说的是茶茶的事。 秀吉说：“我心里闷闷不乐，克制不住，这才回大坂来的。行吗？明天我就回京去。” 奶妈心中思忖道：“明天回京？” 要是这样，只有今天夜里是个机会。这事儿好仓促啊。 秀吉说：“请多多包涵哪。你把这信匣打开！” 听他这么一说，奶妈才发现眼前有一只信匣。她小心翼翼地打开它，从里面取出一张诗笺。想不到上面写的是一首情诗。秀吉这阵子对作诗十分热心，出于现实的需要，他正在努力学习贵族们的风习。这一点，茶茶的奶妈也是知道的。但是，难道连谈情说爱也要模仿贵族吗？或者这位勾引女人的天才，是否唯独在对待茶茶时，想通过这样的时髦花招，以显示其对茶茶的尊重呢？要不，这位幽默大师是否在故意采用开玩笑的方式，以避免赤裸裸地提出问题呢？ 睡梦里，魂儿飞向大坂城。 今宵喜逢君。 但愿人如意，共床枕。 这首诗很符合短歌的韵律。听说秀吉作的诗，是由细川幽斋帮助修改的。这首短歌想必也是的吧。 秀吉特意说：“这是我作的诗。”奶妈诚惶诚恐，把诗笺收入信匣里，盖上盖子，用紫色的绸带扎好，然后双手把信匣举过了头。 秀吉以斩钉截铁的口吻吩咐道：“今晚戌时（晚上八点）前去，叫她在卧室呆着，躺下来等我。” 这显然已经不是贵族风度，而俨然是一个以武力取得了天下的武将的口气了。 当奶妈正要退出的时候，秀吉又把她喊住，并招来了小书童。书童头顶一方白木做的台盘，放在奶妈面前，这是秀吉的赠品。台上放着黄金。奶妈当然不能不收下。 奶妈退了出来，一边在长长的回廊里争急步走着，一边思索着：“殿下整整等了三年才来。” 对于这一点，她的感受是十分深切的。她早就是秀吉的得力的帮手了。其他近江人，例如官居治部少铺的石田三成等人，都曾闪烁其辞地对她说过，盼望这样的事态早日到来。总而言之，为了改善茶茶对秀吉的印象，她在这三年里，真不知花了多少心血，想了多少办法啊！而现在总算眼看要成功了。茶茶的母亲阿市，是个深明大义、意志坚强的人，而茶茶却是个感情用事的姑娘，什么事情都容易按感情来判断。这对奶妈的工作来说，总算是个有利条件。在这方面，奶妈自己觉得，这些年来她费尽心机地对茶茶进行了诱导。不过，这姑娘生就一副任性和高傲的脾气，临到这紧要关头，还不知她会怎么样呢。 奶妈自言自语地说：“无论如何得设法成全他啊。” 她用这话来鼓舞自己。这件事如能办成，归根结蒂是对茶茶忠诚的表现，而决不是为了黄金而出卖茶茶。 当天晚上戌时，秀吉进了茶茶的绣房。按理说，他早已吩咐奶妈，叫茶茶躺下来等他的，可是却只见茶茶依然衣着整齐地紧靠着矮脚烛台，跪坐在摇曳的烛光之下。 秀吉顺口说道：“啊呀，这香好香啊！” 他想借这临时拣来的话题，使自己摆脱尴尬的处境。绣房里点着香。满屋子香烟袅袅，香气扑鼻。由此看来，茶茶似乎是有意在等他到来。从香的味道看，点的大概是由各种香混合而成的组香。倘使是这方面的行家，那么，只要用鼻子一嗅，就会猜得出是什么香。 秀吉仰起脸，翕动着鼻孔说：“告诉我，这香叫什么名字啊！” 他开始学习宫廷文化还没几天，靠用鼻子嗅是分辨不出来的。 茶茶用微弱得几乎听不清的声音回答说：“这香名叫嫩菜。” 不过，和微弱的声音相反，眼睛却灼灼发光，显得有点傲慢的样子。本来茶茶对秀吉就不大恭敬，有时甚至有点妄自尊大。秀吉对她却很宽容。自从在越前一乘谷第一次见面以来，唯独对这位茶茶，秀吉一直容忍她采取这样的态度。换了别人，不管是男的还是女的，秀吉是不允许他们这样的，而且也没有人敢对他这样。秀吉有不少侧室，例如旧织田家的分支出身的姬路姬，足利氏属下的大名中的名门京极氏出身的松之丸姬，蒲生氏乡的妹妹三条姬等等，她们大多是名门望族出身，可是在秀吉面前却连大气儿也不敢出，而是尽力讨秀吉的欢心，个个楚楚动人。秀吉待她们也不薄，确切地说是过于温柔了。她们对秀吉的这种厚爱，很是感动，常常满怀感激之情，为他服务。然而，唯有茶茶却完全不同。她好象生来就任性，而连秀吉这样通晓世故的人物，有时竟也不免发生错觉，以为这位小姐准是忘不了对自己的怨念，耿耿于怀，至今还在恨着自己呢。秀吉迷恋上她了。而正是这种迷恋，使他变得软弱了。 秀吉讨好地问道：“这香是小姐自己点的吗？” 茶茶没有开口，而是默默地摇头表示“不是”。茶茶姑娘没有这种搭配并点燃组香的才艺。这是奶妈给点的。奶妈不仅给她搭配和点燃了香，而且还嘱咐她道：“小姐，你可千万别忘了，这组香名叫嫩菜，别弄错了，是嫩菜啊，这几首古诗是咏唱这嫩菜的。”奶妈把一首首古诗写在纸片上，并事先一一教会了她。这都是奶妈布置好了的。 但是秀吉却误解了。他看到茶茶摇头，还以为是她谦逊呢。茶茶姑娘对于香道竟有如此深的素养，不禁使他十分感佩。这情景和正在热恋的年轻人简直没有什么两样。 “我对这香道是一无所知啊，请问与这嫩菜有关的，有哪些古诗呢？” 茶茶用低沉的声调回答道：“有几首。” 她照着奶妈刚才的嘱咐，从吟咏嫩菜的几首古诗中，选了下面这一首，出声念了起来： 圃中嫩菜鲜，本欲去采之； 昨今一场雪，菜埋雪里边。 听完这诗，秀吉侧着头寻思：“昨今一场雪，菜埋雪里边”，这大概是拒绝的暗示吧。从茶茶的口气来看，至少因为某种缘故，今天是不能摘嫩菜了。 秀吉抱着一丝希望再一次叮问道：“噢，今天不能摘啊？” 如果是王公贵族家的贵公子，或者是奈良朝、平安朝时的公子哥儿，得了这样的暗示，他们至少会从女子的绣房中退出，然后写一首唱和的诗，差人送去，这才算得上是风雅之举。 不过，同样是贵族，秀吉却是在战场上成长起来的，他那关白的乌纱帽，是靠骑在马上，挥剑厮杀得来的。他没有退出去。 “小姐，我好不容易来了。” 秀吉一边这么说着一边伸出了右手，开始了行动。只见他用伸出的那只手抓住了青瓷香炉，一下子打开盖子，随即把水瓶里的水倒进香火里。一霎时，满屋子香灰扑飞，缭绕的香烟熄灭了。与此同时，什么嫩菜也好，古诗也好，暗示也好，都一古脑儿地消失了。 秀吉看到这情景，不禁噗哧一声，笑了起来。 想不到秀吉的笑脸竟有一种沁人心肺的魅力，甚至令茶茶都不由得暗暗为之吃惊：“咦！”但是秀吉立即收起了笑脸。 过了一会儿，他凝视着茶茶，说道：“公子哥儿那一套，就到此为止吧。” 这是宣言。看来武人自有武人谈情说爱的方式。 秀吉威严地命令道：“把你的右手给我！” 可以说，用实力迫使对方投降和服从，乃是武将的办法。这办法果然对秀吉有利。茶茶变得顺从了。她把那只白皙的手伸给了秀吉，心里变得慌乱起来了。 茶茶还没来得及纳闷“这是干什么呀？”秀吉早已抓住了她的手，只一拽，便让她倒在自己的膝盖上了。 “茶茶呀！” 当秀吉直呼她的名字的时候，茶茶的身体已经被举在空中。出乎意料之外，这个小个儿男人，不知哪儿来这么大的臂力。就这样，她被抱到被子上。但是至此秀吉已经精疲力尽了。只见他一屁股坐在铺席上，气喘吁吁的。 他真想自我解嘲地说：“我也老了。” 然而，为了在年轻的茶茶面前保全面子，他没有说出口来，而只是一味大声地狂笑着。现在，猎物就躺在他面前。但是秀吉没有马上行动，在呼吸平静下来之前，他要说些什么。他说，自己虽然生得个子矮小，可是托老天的福，却精力过人，不知疲劳。但是为了完成统一天下的伟业，现在已经有点疲乏了。要是从前，象你茶茶这样的苗条身材，只要用一个手指头就举起来了。可现在却…… 茶茶躺在被褥上，一边听秀吉这么说，一边心里想道：“瞎说八道！”对于这位早已年过四十的男人说的这些大话，她觉得非常可笑。 秀吉说道：“茶茶啊，给我生个儿子吧！” 他依然坐在铺席上，重复地说：“快给我生个儿子，好让他继承我丰臣关白家的家业啊。” 这是他常说的一句私房话。他对与他有过关系的哪一个女人都这么说了。然而她们一个个地都违反了他这道命令。也不知是因为秀吉没有生育后代的能力，还是他所碰到的女人都是不会生育的。这事儿弄不清楚。且说现在茶茶被放在被褥上，正等候秀吉的摆布。 就在这一瞬间，一桩巨大的事件发生了。这样大的事件，在丰臣家的家谱上，恐怕是空前绝后的了。秀吉和茶茶同枕共衾。可以说，仅仅是这样一件普普通通的行为，却从它发生的一刹那起，就开始改变了丰臣家的性质。近江帮在茶茶的闺房之中诞生了。 不过，话又说回来，秀吉对茶茶是爱之若深的。事完之后，他还没有放开茶茶，而是和她说着话。他很想赠送点什么给这个楚楚可怜的女子。 秀吉一边用手抚摸着茶茶，一边问道：“你想不想要座城池啊？” 秀吉说，女子嘛，总得买点中国来的绫罗绸缎啊什么的打扮打扮，另外，身边的侍女也得增添几个，然而，茶茶更应该有的是一座城池，她该有一座城池。 茶茶听了大吃一惊，脱口而出地说：“一座城池？” 这时，她再一次地认识到，自己的情夫不是凡夫俗子，而是执掌天下的人物。执掌天下的人的赠品，自然应该是一座城池喽。 “可是，我是个女流之辈，我可不要城池。” 秀吉劝说道：“你不用客气。” 他硬要给她一座城池。原因是，秀吉常常来往于京都和大坂之间，他希望在位于京都和大坂之间的淀这一带有座城池，作为休息之用。要是让茶茶住在那里，那么，不仅茶茶高兴，他自己也很方便。 秀吉心里想道：“只是得好好说服别的女人们啊。” 如果其他的侧室们都住在大坂，而唯独茶茶拥有一座城池，那么，她们大概是会嫉妒的吧。首先得胡乱编造一点理由，向正室北政所进行说明，使她不至于闹别扭。 要干的事儿，迅速行动。这是秀吉的脾气。几天之后，他把弟弟大和大纳言秀长叫了来。 他下命令说：“请给我在淀这个地方造一座城池。” 他告诉弟弟，城址最好选在桂川和宇治川汇合而成淀川的地方。那里从前有过一座足利将军属下的城堡，如今只留下几个土墩儿了。把那座废弃了的城堡恢复起来，重新建一座小而坚固的城池，造几幢华丽的楼馆给女人用。每幢楼馆的庭院里别忘了栽种花木，厕所怎么造，也要多动动脑筋。 花了五个月左右的时间，一座城造好了。茶茶从大坂迁居到那里。同去的还有浅井氏同族的一批人和茶茶身边的侍女，住进新城的男女居民估计超过二百人。从此，茶茶被世人称为淀姬，秀吉由有时叫她淀的人，有时叫她淀夫人。 没过多久，世人开始称呼她作“公子的母亲”了。因为她为秀吉生了个儿子，取名鹤松。 谁知这位公子鹤松，两年之后就夭折了。秀吉大失所望。然而，他对淀姬的宠爱则与日俱增。不久，攻打朝鲜的战争开始了。秀吉前往设在筑前名护屋城的大本营时，还把茶茶带了去。在这名护屋的行营里，淀姬再一次怀孕。秀吉高兴得手舞足蹈。 秀吉面对着淀姬的腹部，低头合掌，十分虔诚地祈祷着：“老天有灵，让她生个男的啊！” 生个儿子，这对于丰臣家来说，不啻是个奇迹。然而看来淀姬能轻而易举地叫它实现。那一年，即文禄二年（1593）八月三日，她按照秀吉的希望生下了一个男孩。那时，她早已从名护屋回到淀城了。 这男孩便是秀赖。