Chapter 18 Ninth story Yodohime and her son-2

The fact that Hideyoshi and Yodohime shared the same bed is of great importance, and it will gradually change the nature of Toyotomi Kanbai's regime after that. Hideyoshi is a man who believes in fate.But at the same time, he was a very rational and calculating man.He is a believer in fate, but he does not believe in fate. He always has to make a thorough calculation of the success or failure of things.And after the calculation, when it comes to the last moment, he will believe in his luck again. "I'm a lucky person." This is Hideyoshi's belief in himself.In fact, the first half of his life, when he rose step by step, was always full of good luck.Hideyoshi, who grew up under the influence of Nobunaga, is not a straightforward atheist like Nobunaga, but he only regards gods and Buddhas as decorations in people's lives.Like Nobunaga, he believes in himself.Among them, he believes in his natural good luck.

Maybe it has something to do with his own optimistic and firm character.What Hideyoshi likes are women who are plump, strong and healthy, but at the same time delicate and dripping, like a lotus in water.Ning Ning, the official wife of the Northern Political Bureau, is that.Such a lustful man loves Ningning from beginning to end, presumably because Ningning's appearance matches Hideyoshi's hobbies.No, this is not so much in line with his hobbies, it is more appropriate to say that it is in line with the self-belief deep in his heart. "Ningning is my god of good fortune."

Hideyoshi must have believed so.Since he got Ningning, he started to get lucky.Since then, good luck has been prosperous, and there was a period of time when the good luck came one after another, as if they were all panting and striding after Hideyoshi.If you are a timid person, facing so much good luck, you will be afraid for no reason. "This must have been brought by Ning Ning." About the source of these good luck, Hideyoshi probably thought so.Hideyoshi's deep respect and love for this poor wife far surpassed the level of his contemporaries.Even after he no longer had intercourse with Ningning, his attitude did not change.This seems to be not so much pure love as Hideyoshi has a belief in Ning Ning.He kept thinking in his heart: "Be nice to Ning Ning." He must have secretly felt that if he treated Ning Ning well, God would favor him, and if he neglected Ning Ning, God would alienate him.

During the Battle of Odawara, Hideyoshi sent a letter to Ningning who was in Osaka.The letter stated that he wanted to call Dianji to the barracks.His purpose is to get the understanding of his wife. There is this passage in the letter: I want to call Dian to the army tent, and Madam Wang informs her to get ready to leave.Dian is second only to Mrs. My crush too. What he likes is Ningning first, and Dianji second. He uses these eloquent words to show his unspeakable concern for Ningning.Maybe he was a little embarrassed about calling Yodohime only to the military tent during the expedition.In order to comfort Ning Ning, the letter went on to write:

I am already old and weak.During the year, I will visit my wife and talk about the scene after the farewell. I also want to see the big The government office and the young master. At this time, Hideyoshi was already the most powerful person in the world.Such a powerful person is still so considerate to his wife when he was in a low status. Apart from love, it is probably because of a belief in Ningning himself that is unknown to others. However, after getting Yodohime, Hideyoshi had such a personal feeling: "This woman is also a god of good fortune!" This feeling may be called faith - he saw a good omen from Yodohime.No, to be more precise, he felt that Dian Ji herself was an auspicious object.To be clear, she is the messenger sent by the God of Fortune.There is such a digressive story: Among the samurai of the Warring States Period who was the same generation as Hideyoshi, there was a custom of treating women's genitals as auspicious objects.The warriors asked the painter to draw a picture of vulva and intercourse between men and women, put them into green bamboo tubes, and carried them on the battlefield.People believe that by relying on the power of these two pictures, arrows and bullets can be avoided, and by relying on them, you will encounter unexpected good luck on the battlefield.For example, obtain the head of the famous enemy general and so on.This is exactly the same as Western knights worshiping mascot (people, animals or things that superstitious believe can bring good luck).

Hideyoshi regards Yodohime as a god of good fortune. Later, when sending troops to Korea, Hideyoshi brought Yodohime to Chikuzen Nagoya.This time, he explained to the Beizheng Office and other concubine: "During the Odawara battle last time, I also took her with the army, and finally won a big victory as I wished. She is the auspicious star of the battle. This time I will also take her take it." Although these words were his excuse in front of his wives and concubines, Hideyoshi probably thought Yodohime was an auspicious person. In fact, Yodohime brought him great joy.In Chikuzen Chugoya Castle, she became pregnant again.Hideyoshi was ecstatic.

Hideyoshi held the hand of the attendant Qu Naose Dosan, shook it again and again and said, "I'm so old, but..." Hideyoshi, who became a father, was fifty-six years old at this time. He immediately sent someone to send Dian Ji back to the top.On August 3rd of the second year of Wenlu, Dian Ji gave birth to Xiu Lai in Diancheng.Hideyoshi rushed back from the base camp in Chikuzen in a hurry, how could he care about the crusade against North Korea! Hideyoshi came to Diancheng to visit Ashi. Hideyoshi brought a happy smile to the tip of the baby's nose and said: "You picked it up, picked it up, but it's not my son!"

It is said that the children picked up can grow up without disease and disaster.Even if it is your own biological son, you have to adopt this form, throw it away first, and then ask someone to pick it up.The person who was appointed to pick up the children was Hideyoshi's direct daimyo, Sanuki Mori Matsuura Shigemasa.He had escorted Yodohime back up from Nagoya. Yodohime's weak body after giving birth has recovered.From this point of view alone, she also looks very strong and healthy. That night, Hideyoshi let Yoshihime sleep next to him, stroked her body with his hand, and said, "It seems to be a little thinner!"

When Tsurumatsu was alive, Hideyoshi once sent a letter from the army to this lover whom he raised with his own hands: I will go to your place around the 20th, just to give you a hug. On the night I go, I will also ask you to sleep with me.Please wait for me. It was the same this time, long before he came to Diancheng, he sent letters like this one after another to arouse Dianji's strong feelings for him.In this way, Yodohime felt that Hideyoshi was always in her boudoir.This meeting, although it was a long time reunion, but because he felt that he had already arrived, there was no need to be shy anymore, she was at Hideyoshi's mercy, for him to fool around with.

"Because of getting you, the Toyotomi family will change." In the past, he had worshiped Ningning.Since getting Dian Ji, she has brought him greater luck than ever. Hideyoshi chanted more than once in Owari dialect: "It is because of you!" "I have to give Shi'er a gift too." Hideyoshi considered choosing one of the most valuable items from the items he owned, and presented them to this newborn baby. This gift is Osaka Castle. Hideyoshi said: "Give that city to Shi'er, and I will build another one myself." Since Shi'er is the direct son of my Toyotomi Hideyoshi, even though he is only a newborn baby, he must own a first-class city in the world in order to maintain a kind of dignity and might to the princes of all parties.

When Hideyoshi's plan was put into practice, Tokugawa Ieyasu quietly said to his retainers: "It's really unnecessary!" At this time, Hideyoshi had already issued an announcement to the princes of various places through the pursuit, saying that he would give up Osaka City to Prince Ashi, and build another Fushimi City as his own city.Regarding the construction of Fushimi Castle, he ordered Ieyasu and the princes of Eastern Japan based in Osaka to assist. The princes who were ordered to assist whispered in private: "Hey, it's going to cost people and money again!" By the way, the feudal lords of Eastern Japan did not send troops abroad.It was the princes of West Japan who were ordered to send troops to fight in Korea.From Hideyoshi's point of view, he probably ordered the princes of East Japan to undertake the construction of Fushimi Castle in order to allow the princes of East and West Japan to share the expenses equally.Knowing that the power of the people is exhausted, the princes feel very embarrassed. Ieyasu thought, "It's really extravagant!" At this moment, he could no longer understand Hideyoshi's temper.Ieyasu was born as simple and unpretentious as a small landlord. In order to manage the new territory Kanto well, he has moved the capital to a place called Edo.However, the castle walls of Edo Castle were built extremely simply.The city wall was not made of stones, but was surrounded by soil dug up when the moat was dug.Even the gate of the castle tower is made of the thatched-roof building left over from the Ota Dokan era, and the floor of the castle tower is also very careless, and only the bottom board of a ship is used instead.I am so frugal, but I have to spend a lot of money to build Hideyoshi's dispensable castle that is used as a separate residence. "I'm still a baby just out of my mother's womb, what do I want a city for?" Ieyasu felt that Hideyoshi had begun to become a little abnormal.Hideyoshi must have gone mad.Ieyasu heard that Hideyoshi once said to his confidants: "Osaka Castle is a toy given to Mr. Asuka." Even according to the monks from Nanban, Daban Castle can be regarded as the largest castle east of Constantinople.He handed over such a famous city to a baby as a toy, and built a new city in Fushimi himself, regardless of the decline of the people's power.This had to make Ieyasu think that Hideyoshi might have gone crazy. Shi'er has grown to three years old. This year is the fourth year of Wenlu (1595).On July 15th of this year, Hideji Sekibaku, who was previously designated as the official heir of the Toyotomi family, was ordered to die by seppuku because he was unexpectedly suspected of plotting rebellion.His wives, concubines and children were dragged to the river beach of Kamogawa in Kyoto, where they were all stabbed to death by the executioner.The people all over the world who witnessed or heard about this massacre were all shocked. The old people who knew Hideyoshi's life in his prime all commented in unison: "It's unbelievable!" When Hideyoshi was in his prime, even though he was on the battlefield all year round, he never drove his own people to death in vain, nor did he kill the enemy casually, but always tried every means to make the enemy surrender.As long as the enemy surrenders, he will be properly rewarded with fiefdoms, given official positions, and given respect to the opponent.It seems that Hideyoshi's non-killing doctrine is not so much a strategy as it is out of his character.However, it is precisely this kind of policy that has exerted great power in cleaning up the troubled times, and because of this, many people from the enemy's army have defected to Hideyoshi's side without any hesitation.Hideyoshi's character obviously changed after Ash was born.He actually asked someone to cut off the heads of his adopted son Hideyoshi and his family, like cutting grass with a sickle, indiscriminately, and he was completely different from the former Hideyoshi. From then on, Hideyoshi's body also began to age.Not long before the Hidetoshi incident, on the night of April 15th of that year, Hideyoshi lost control of his urine and urinated the bed completely wet.Moreover, he himself didn't realize it right away, and after he woke up, he realized that his energy had been exhausted to such an extent, and he couldn't help being very shocked.From then on, Hideyoshi's skin became withered and dark, and he suffered from qi deficiency, loss of appetite, and frequent diarrhea. "His Highness Taihe has an abdominal illness." The news, together with his incontinence, quickly spread throughout the court.The princes who had mansions under Fushimi Castle also knew the news.Of course Ieyasu also knew. Ieyasu thought secretly: "It seems that Hideyoshi will not live long." He probably felt hopeful about his future because of it.To this same news, officials and aides of the Omi faction of the Toyotomi regime had completely different reactions from Ieyasu.They are Ishida Mitsunari, Nagatsu Masaka and others.Nothing could have been more bleak for them than this.They are the consuls of the Toyotomi regime and Hideyoshi's secretaries. Not only that, they are also in such a position that in the future, when Yodohime and Hideyori inherit the world, they are expected to serve as ministers who assist them.Once Hideyoshi dies, they, the power group formed by Hideyoshi's cronies, will have to withdraw from the government.By that time, it is estimated that Hideji Sekibai and his sidekicks, such as Kimura Hitarokusuke and others, will replace them and gain power. Jiakang thought to himself: "It is because of this that His Highness Guan Bai was killed!" Even he believed that the Guan Baixiu incident was caused by the conspiracy and slander of the leaders of the Omi gang such as Ishida Mitsunari. Hideyoshi's wife, Beizhengsuo, also believed in this statement.The world also sees it that way.Especially those daimyos who suffered the most from the Hideji incident and who are closely related to Hideji, such as Tadake Hosokawa and others, believe this is the case.In order to prove that he is innocent and has nothing to do with the incident, Zhongxing has gone all out to carry out activities.He was almost treated as Xiuci's accomplice.The hatred for Ishida Mitsunari that arose at this time—actually hatred for Hideyoshi and his regime—caused him to join Ieyasu after Hideyoshi's death. However, this is probably 30% wronged. "It's not good for Hideyori's future to let Hideji be the passer-by!" Perhaps he had said such a thing in front of Hideyoshi.However, long before that, Hideyoshi himself had not only realized this point, but had already been planning countermeasures day and night.When he realizes that he is very old and terribly old, and at the same time thinks that Hidetoshi is still young and ignorant, this person who is born with deep affection and is now exhausted because of complete loss of rationality, has only one choice before him, and that is to kill Hideji , eradicate the bane. Say a few words off topic.Shortly after this, a similar incident occurred.The year Hideyoshi died, that is, the third year of Qingchang (1598), he lived in Osaka Castle. Due to old age and frailty, he lived a life of recuperating from time to time every day. At this time, Xiu Lai was not by his father's side, but happened to be in Jule Dili, a magnificently decorated mansion in Kyoto.Hideyoshi is just six years old. Even though he is only a young child, he has already been accepted by the power because of his father's hope and invitation.Zhong Nayan came to power at the age of six, this is probably an unprecedented example in the history of the court. However, Hideyori's daily life is nothing more than an ordinary child's life.Surrounded by a large group of maids, he played with them for fun, disturbing the mansion every day without a quiet place.He is taller than average children. Although he is a young child, he has likes and dislikes towards people.This is a matter of course.There are four maids he doesn't like.They are called Xiaoji, Xiaogui, Xiaoan and Xiaoshi.Xiu Lai always likes to lose his temper with them.They were also troubled by Xiu Lai's stalking.This incident reached the ears of Hideyoshi in Osaka.Although Hideyoshi still couldn't understand, Hideyoshi immediately took up a pen and wrote him a letter. In the letter, Hideyoshi referred to Hideyoshi as "His Royal Highness Chunayan". Then wrote: What a treason! In his letter, he told Xiu Lai that it was unreasonable for them to dare to make the young master angry.For this reason, the four maids should be tied together with a rope, and before the father rushes to the capital, they should be tied to the ground first, and after I go, help the son beat them to death one by one.Your Highness, please appease your anger. In the end, although they were not killed, they were expelled from the mansion.A stern warning was also given to Hideyori's nanny, Dr. Ukyo.Hideyoshi sent a letter reminding her: Those who dare to go against the wishes of His Highness Zhong Nayan can arrest them one by one and smash them into a pulp. These words and deeds have already exceeded the norm. During this period, half of the samurai in Japan went abroad to fight.They fought against the reinforcements sent by the Ming Empire in various parts of North Korea. In order to maintain the territory they originally occupied, they were engaged in a series of arduous battles.In Japan, the big names from all over the country extorted money in order to mobilize the military expenses needed for the war of aggression against Korea.This is suffering the common people.Due to the soaring price of rice, the residents of Kyoto and Osaka have fallen into the misery of life.However, Hideyoshi only cares about Hideyori. Scholar Fujiwara, a scholar at the time, discussed it in private: "Because of this child, the world will be dimmed." He refused to associate with Hideyoshi and the gang of daimyos under his protection, even if he was invited, he would not go.By the way, when Xingwo once had a written conversation with a Korean scholar who was captured in the Korean War and lived under Fushimi Castle, he even said: "Today, people in the world are silent, but they are secretly cursing this Toyotomi regime. If the Ming army and your country’s army landed in Hakata Bay and implemented a tolerant policy wherever they went, the people of our country would be happy to welcome your army, and the daimyo from all over the country would fight back. From the south to the north, as far as the Baihe Pass in Aozhou, your army will conquer the whole country in an instant." Although this statement is exaggerated like the Ming Dynasty, this political researcher Scholars have insight that the Toyotomi regime has gone against the current situation and lost the ability to govern.The policy implemented by this regime was increasingly deviant, and its purpose was only to protect the interests of its young heir and his biological mother Yodohime.All political ills flow from this.According to Xingwo, it was Hideyoshi's confidant Ishida Mitsunari and other civil servants of the Omi clan who aggravated this political bias and put them into practice.In the final analysis, all the strategies they offered to Hideyoshi were for "His Royal Highness Hideyoshi".For example, for the sake of Hideyori's future, they have changed some daimyo's fiefdoms, or are about to change them.This approach has brought uneasiness to the princes everywhere. If Xingwo were to speak directly from the bottom of his heart, he might even say: "If you use Chunqiu's brushwork, then it can be said that although Hideyori is only six years old, he is already a party to this tyrannical politics." According to Xingwo, the appearance of Yodohime and the changes brought to Toyotomi's family due to the birth of a son-in-law brought disasters to this regime and people all over the world. However, only Hideyoshi was unaware of this. June sixteenth is an auspicious day and a festival in midsummer.On this day in the third year of Keicho (1598), Hideyoshi was ill in bed.In order to meet the princes from all over the world who came to pay homage to Osaka City, with the support of his attendant doctor, he got up from the hospital bed, went to the high platform of the hall, and let the six-year-old Hideyori who was specially called from Kyoto sit on his own. around.In order to pray for auspiciousness, according to the regulations, Hideyoshi held a plate with only dim sum in his hand, and while distributing the dim sum to the princes, he said: "Oh, it's so sad. I thought I would live at least until the fifteenth day of Hideyoshi." When I was young, every time I took him to meet the daimyos like today, it would be nice to be able to do that, but my fate is about to come to an end. While he was talking, he was so sad that he couldn't continue, and finally there were tears in his eyes, and finally he broke down crying bitterly, regardless of being in front of everyone.All the princes in the seat bowed their heads and held their breath, none of them looked up at him.They must have mixed feelings and thoughts in their hearts.Naturally, they also thought about the future of the Toyotomi family after Hideyoshi's death, but what they considered more practically was how to keep themselves in the midst of the political changes that would inevitably occur after Hideyoshi's death. Hideyoshi died on August 18 of that year.