Chapter 15 second quarter

In mid-June, the early summer just after the rainy season, Niu Yi formally received an invitation to Fushimi from Dashan Hoki.Ishida and a few others made a big fuss and sent him from the hermitage to the Tianman Ferry, which is very close at hand. After entering Kyoto, the ship docked at the ferry on the north bank of the Uji River, from where you can see the newly built Kibata Fushimi Castle directly above. In the boat, Boqi quietly told Niu Yi that this place was chosen because its foundation was stronger than that of the previous Zhizuki Fushimi Castle.Lessons learned from the earthquake, in the new city, one out of every three pillars was buried five feet deep in the ground, and all important points were connected with nails, so we were very careful.The things Boqi told were very strange to Niu Yi, who spent the whole winter at home and didn’t know much about the outside world.

However, when you really walk in and take a look, the interior design is almost the same as the previous Zhizuki Fushimi Castle.Walking on the corridor, Niu Yi took a look at the room. The only difference was that the "audience room" was wider, and the seat of Lord Taige was farther away.He asked the reason, and Boqi leaned into his ear.Explain quietly. "This is Mrs. Yodo's proposal, in order to prevent daimyos from all over the world from seeing clearly the complexion of Taiko-sama who has been in poor health recently. However, Taiko-sama will not meet you in this official 'audience room' today. Taiko-sama's original intention is— —I am an old acquaintance with Izumi Mori, I hope to have a cordial interview, and I will wait in the living room inside. Oh, Izumi Mori-sama, you are deeply trusted."

(Really? Perhaps it was because Taige was too ill to get up.) Niu Yi listened to Bo Qi's words.Dubious, with complicated emotions. Four years ago, in the second year of Wenlu, which was fifty-seven years old, Master Taige suddenly became weak.Before, he didn't know what it was like to be sick.Ushiichi was the same when he was young. As his name suggests, he was physically strong and stronger than ordinary people, but he was still not as good as Hashiba Hideyoshi who was promoted from a pawn.Even after he became a general, Hideyoshi still slept on horseback, and with only the dried rice balls and dried carp in his arms, he was able to gallop through the mountains for days and nights without getting hurt.Niu Yi once sighed how Hideyoshi's tiny body like a baby mouse contained such a strong energy.

However, even if Hideyoshi was extremely strong, he was overly driven by Nobunaga when he was in his prime, and after he became the leader, he was dissolute with young concubines, and his vigorous energy naturally disappeared unexpectedly quickly.In December of the second year of Wenlu, he hunted in Owari and stayed for half a month. He caught a cold for the first time in his life, and this was the initial cause.In order to welcome the New Year in Osaka, he reluctantly embarked on the return journey, which aggravated his condition and developed a high fever after returning to Osaka.From the third year of Wenlu, the symptoms of enuresis appeared.There are folk rumors that he often held his urine and broke his bladder when he held frequent tea parties and folk art performances in winter.In the fourth year of Wenlu, he had to love his son Ashi (born in August of the second year of Wenlu) and forced Guan Baixiu to perform seppuku, which made him haggard physically and mentally, and his condition worsened.Because of severe lung disease, he postponed his visit to the emperor in the palace (November of the fourth year of Bunrok), and was absent from the ceremony held at Fangguang Temple (January of the fifth year of Bunrok).

These emergencies can no longer hide Taige's condition.Afterwards, from the first year of Qingchang after Niu Yi left, rumors that displeased Lord Taige continued to be heard. Niu Yi learned the whole story from Boqi's mouth. (Taiko boy, today I will see your life limit!) Niu Yi took a deep breath, put on a respectful look again, adjusted his waistcoat and hakama, and walked towards the center of the city.He came to the living room, lay down on the ground, and announced his family name. "Master Taiko, I heard that you are summoned for something, and Shimota and Izumimori came here under orders."

After a while, there was the sound of clothes rubbing against each other, the sliding door was opened a little, a little boy showed half of his face, and over his shoulder, he could see Lord Taige in white silk pajamas.Everyone present bent down together, and Niu Yi also fell down on the ground again, raised his throat, and began to speak. "Seeing that Master Taiko is in good health, and Mr. Xiu Lai is lively and cute, I am very happy with Izumi Shou." Although he said hello, Niu Yi was convinced that Taige must have been lying down just now. There were intermittent coughing sounds from the living room, and the sliding door finally opened completely.

"Come in, Izumi Mamoru, long time no see." Taige's voice was low, and there seemed to be phlegm in his throat, which seemed to be in pain.Even so, he is still imitating Nobunaga's speech language, and he seems to be in a good mood. After obtaining permission, Niu Yi quietly entered Taige's living room, and after speaking the stylized polite words, he squeezed out a smile and secretly observed Taige and his son. This room can be spread over twenty tatami mats, and it is magnificently furnished.Taiko-sama sat on a high seat with a picture of an ox cart, and called Aiko Hideyori (Yen clothes on December 7, the first year of Qingcho, four years old at the age of Xu) to sit on his lap.The maids hurried to catch up with Hideyori, but he just struggled, unwilling to listen to his father, ran around the room, and finally was held down by three maids and dragged to Taiko-sama's lap.

Niu could see that Xiu Lai ran around the house not for fun, but because he really wanted to escape.When he was held down, his face was painful, and he was obviously unwilling to sit on his father's lap.It was an accidental discovery.Even so, Master Taige still held his young son who could be a grandson at that age, his eyes narrowed into a line with joy. "Izumi Mamoru, after you leave, you're still fine." "Yes, thanks to you." "Good health is the most important thing. How old are you this year?" "Seventy-one years have passed." "He's ten years older than me. He's still very strong at his age. I'm so envious."

It sounds like he is envious from the bottom of his heart. "From my point of view, your lord's health is also very good." "It's okay for a while. Although I still have a cough, it's generally okay. My body may have adapted to the mountains and rivers of Fushimi. Once I arrive in Osaka, it won't be good. How are you? I heard that you live in Tenma..." "My body's reaction has been relatively slow since I was born. I have never been sick. I can fall asleep anywhere, and I feel delicious when I eat." "As expected of Niu Yi, he lives up to his name." Taige smiled wrinkledly, showing his yellow teeth, and coughed violently in the middle of the smile, "When I mentioned the nickname Niu Yi, I remembered something from the past. Do you remember us? Was there a horse race at the Azuchi Racecourse back then? What year was that? In short, it was early summer. In Azuchi, after eating Nobunaga’s banquet, I felt a little bloated, so I raced horses with you. Don’t you Say you don’t remember.”

Tai Ge put on a threatening expression. "In April of the fourth year of Tianzheng, Lord Taige, you presented a stone to Lord Nobunaga, hoping to use it as the cornerstone of the Azuchi castle tower. At that time, I was in charge of receiving you." Niu Yi replied, recalling that he was also very competitive at the time - Hideyoshi, what is it. "As expected of a writer, I remember it very clearly." "My nature is dull, and that's the only advantage. At that time, it was just a little bit close, and I lost." "No, you're not right. There's more than a horse's length between us."

"Seems……" "You bastard, pretend to be dumb." Taige smiled all over his face, "At that time, your kid's horse was panting heavily and said something to me, didn't you know?" "What? My horse ate the guts of a leopard and dared to talk to you." "That's right. Your boy's horse panted and said to me—running with a cow, you can't win. Ahahaha." Master Taige is indeed a master of pranking people, even if he is sick and bedridden, he can still tell such jokes casually.Niu Yi followed suit and laughed. Afterwards, the ladies brought in the tea.What Niu Yi drank was matcha, but what Tai Ge seemed to drink was decoction.When the tea bowls of the two were removed, Taige spoke slowly again. "I'm looking for you, nothing else, just ask for one thing. No, to be honest, this is Jibu's begging request." Perhaps because of the decoction, his voice sounded much lighter, perhaps his throat was a little more comfortable. "Just tell me, as long as there is something that an old man like me can do." "I want you to write Nobunaga's official biography." "This is something I didn't expect..." Niu was dumbfounded and thought about it.In the past, he had asked for writing two or three times, but Taige ignored it, why now... It is difficult for him to understand the reason why Taige changed his mind. "I knew you would say that a long time ago. You said before that you wanted to write to the eldest prince. I was not very energetic and didn't give you a good face." "It's not like that at all." At this moment, we must show a look of sincerity and sincerity. "Okay, I understand. Please forgive me for being a potential Taige." "I dare not." The person in charge of the world said so, so Niu Yi naturally couldn't refuse. "It's very urgent. In order to commemorate Nobunaga's 17th anniversary in June next year, I hope you can finish it three months in advance and in March of that year. To be honest..." Taige put Xiu Lai off his lap, clapped his hands and called for attendants.Hideyori immediately ran into the next room pinching her nose.The attendant brought a map of the Fushimi area. "Look closer." Hearing Taige's words, Niu Yi knelt and walked to his side.Suddenly, a foul smell came. (This is the smell that Hideyori hates. Taiko's bad breath? No, it's not bad breath. It's the smell that wafts from the five internal organs, and it's the peculiar smell of tuberculosis patients.) In an instant, Niu Yi made a judgment.Sure enough, looking closer, Taige's face shrank, the skin hung down ugly, and his complexion was abnormally black.Taige who opened the map didn't pay attention to Niu Yi's reaction at all. "It's here, Izumi Mori. This mountain is directly above the ferry you landed just now. This time, I decided to build a study center here, which will be completed in April next year. I want to put your works into the collection there. It was Jibu's beggar's request. Would you like it?" "Why is Master Jibu so persistent?" "I have to tell you the reason. Come on, come closer." Although I thought to myself, don't let me get close anymore, but after all, this is the person who controls the life and death of the world, so I can't be rude.The cow knelt down and walked forward for nearly a foot. "Because it's you, I said it, please don't spread it. To be honest, the cause of this matter is that the governor hates Lord Neifu (Tokugawa Ieyasu)." Taige told the whole story one by one. One day, Ishida Jibu took the master of the inner government to visit Osaka Castle. Except for secret facilities such as vaults and weapon depots, he went to all parts of the city.Everywhere is resplendent and resplendent, making Zhibu feel proud, he originally planned to show off, and the adults of the inner palace kept admiring.However, only the explanations given by the librarian, the adults of the Neifu were absent-minded.Several of Hideyoshi's retainers who accompanied him reported that - the lord of the Neifu plucked his nose hair and dismissed it.Hearing these words, the victorious Jibu couldn't take it anymore, so he conducted an in-depth investigation and learned that Mr. Neifu, who was born with a love of books, was building a huge library on the south side of Edo Castle, which was under construction.For this reason, he asked people to transport the books stored in Hamamatsu, Okazaki and other places, and at the same time purchased many rare and ancient books.A large number of books are densely stacked in the corridors of Edo Castle, waiting to be put into storage.I heard that the master of the Neifu once said to the people around him that compared with the collection of books in Edo Castle, the collection of books in Osaka Castle is not worth mentioning.After hearing the above report, Jibu ran around and searched everywhere in order to prevent the master of the inner court from getting books, and even asked Taiko to ask for books in return when he made offerings to shrines and temples. "However, it's meaningless to be full of ancient books. I need other books. The official biography of Nobunaga you are about to write is one of them. After reading your "Taiko-sama's Military Records", Jibu liked it very much. On the 17th anniversary of the death of the eldest father, he compiled his records into a book to express his condolences. Zhibu specially recommended you, saying that this job must belong to you. He thinks this is your new work, which is better than the Lord of the Neifu. Take the first step. That's what it is... By the way, bring the things here!" Hearing Taige's order, the attendant brought a lacquer plate, uncovered the square silk scarf on it, and showed it to the cow. "That's twenty gold coins. Ten of them are the manuscript fee for writing Nobunaga's official biography, and the other ten are given to you by the Jibu. The Jibu is thoughtful. He said that he needs to collect information when writing something, so please don't worry about it. How to accept his wishes. In addition, after you finish writing, I will add ten gold coins. How about it? Can you write?" (Thirty gold coins!) Even Niu Yi was overwhelmed by Tai Ge's boldness.These gorgeous big gold coins are not the same as the broken silver of the past.At that time, daimyos who were loyal to Toyotomi Hideyoshi came to Osaka Castle for a visit, and they would send gifts from various places, and they would also receive gifts from Taiko in return. The general daimyo received ten gold coins; the important daimyo received twenty gold coins. "How? Are these not enough?" Taige smiled slightly, that expression seemed to say that it is impossible not enough. "That's enough. I don't know what to say for such a generous fee." "If enough, you can write." Taige reminded. At this moment, Niu Yi's brain was spinning abnormally fast.I was angry that I was so easily defeated by gold coins, but after thinking about it, even if Jinwei was willing to give up the price a long time ago, it would still cost a lot of money to ask him to write. "About this creation, I have three requests." Niu Yi made up his mind and looked straight at Taige. "Just talk in order." Tai Ge still smiled. "First of all, once this work is included in the academic institute, I don't think people should make copies of it." Niu Yi observed Tai Ge's complexion, trying not to let him see his thoughts. "Of course it will. I intend to order your book to be placed on the shelf where copying is prohibited." Books that are prohibited from being copied are managed by a special person, and it is difficult for ordinary people to borrow them. "But will I be allowed to make a copy?" "You are the author, of course you can. But only one copy is allowed, and it cannot be circulated. What is your second request?" "Just now you mentioned my humble work "Taiko-sama's Military Records". In fact, a considerable part of the content was shared by Yuki Omura. It was a collaboration between the two of us. He was scolded by you and died later. Yuki was also busy Writing, being confused for a while, did something that made you angry. If you like that book, please forgive yourself. As his colleague, I presume to ask you for mercy." The smile disappeared from Taiko's face. "Really? Youji died after being scolded by me? I don't know. Well, I will forgive him. Youji should have a son, right?" Regardless of the past or the present, Taige's memory is beyond ordinary people. "Yes, thirteen years old." "Let Jibu support that child." "It's a great honor to be so kind." "What was your last request? Your request is getting harder and harder. Tell me." "It's the record about Lord Nobunaga. If this book is collected in such a magnificent institute and left for future generations to read, I am determined to write it well..." "Of course. Are you going to say that you can't write well? You just go straight to the topic and talk about the key." Although his tone was severe, there was no displeasure on Taige's face. "That's not what I mean. I still have a little confidence in my previous humble works. However, there is a problem in writing a long official biography this time." Now it's time to speak your mind.Niu Yi made up his mind. "Really? Tell me about it." "I started to record Nobunaga's words and deeds from the eleventh year of Yonglu, that is, when he came to Beijing for the second time. In that year, I was appointed as a minister. Before that, I was just an ordinary warrior. hands on the battlefield." "That's right, there's no way to keep records during the battle." "If you don't add the previous events, that is, the history of Nobunaga when he started in Owari, people in later generations will say that my record is halfway. Therefore, I have also visited many old officials of Nobunaga before. Collected a lot of rumors and anecdotes about Yonglu eleven years ago. The tricky thing is..." Speaking of this, Niu Yi secretly looked up at Taige.At some point, he had already closed his eyes, isn't he interested in these words?Impossible, it must be a false sleep. (asshole……) Niu Yi ignored it and continued talking. "From the birth of Lord Nobunaga, including the often mentioned appearance of him making a fuss at his father's funeral and performing his coming-of-age ceremony, the stories of those veterans are always very different. On the contrary, they can't figure out the original appearance of Lord Nobunaga. This is beyond me. unexpected." Niu Yi drooped his shoulders exaggeratedly.Half of his words are true thoughts, and the other half are acting.In order to attract Taige, the past must be revealed. "Especially the battle between the barrels..." Niu Yi forgot Taige's bad breath, so he couldn't help but move closer. The Battle of Ozama that defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto was a battle that Nobunaga was proud of in the first half of his life, but there is no record of high credibility.Niu Yi felt that because of the importance of the incident, he had to carefully record it, so he did not start writing for a long time.As long as this problem is solved, "Nobunaga's Preface" can be completed in one go... He wanted to get some useful information from Taiko, and this author's state of mind made him forget his identity for a while. "About that battle..." Niu Yi slowly adjusted his breathing, "Owari's old ministers said different things. Let's take the time when Lord Nobunaga sent troops. Some said midnight, some said early morning. As for the soldiers who participated in the battle, there were many Say two thousand, some say two hundred, and some say a mere twenty. I don't know who is telling the truth. Therefore, what I want to ask Taige-sama is..." Having said this, Tai Ge's lips trembled.Niu Yi pretended not to see it and continued talking. "Maybe I would say that in the first year of Yonglu, that is, two years before the Battle of Ozazama, Lord Taiko began to follow Lord Nobunaga, right?" Niu Yi wanted to be confirmed, but Tai Ge still closed his eyes.He had to go straight to the point. "I heard that you were the centurion in the Battle of Barrel Gazebo." "maybe." At this time, Taige opened his eyes a narrow slit, pretending to be deaf and dumb, as if he was talking about other people's affairs. "That's true. I also vaguely remember that in the Oda camp, you were promoted very quickly. On this point, all the veterans agree." "It's all in the past, I don't remember it at all." Taige was obviously unhappy and turned his face away.If it is in the audience room, then some courtiers will come forward to stop him.But today there is no one but the maid.This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.Niu Yi continued to question. "Oh, Taiko-sama, this is an important link. Taiko-sama, no, it should be said that Kinoshita Tokichiro-sama was in the battle of Ozazama at that time, which general did he belong to? What did he do? Nobunaga came from Kiyosu Castle How many troops did you bring with you when you dispatched troops? As long as I know these things, I can roughly describe the overall picture and progress of the Oda side when they went to war. This is what I want to ask, and it is the third request. Unfortunately, I At that time, it was almost left in Qingzhou as a bow and arrow, but..." "Enough! Stop talking!" Taige's gloomy face turned purple, "Niu Yi!" He suddenly stopped calling the familiar name "Izumi Shou". "exist." Niu Yi consciously showed excessive awe. "The focus of the letter I asked you to write to Mr. Chang is not in those places." Taige directly announced, "From the eleventh year of Yonglu when you started recording, to the tenth year of Tianzheng, that is, Mr. Nobunaga Before the death of Honnoji. I will not allow you to add this before and after. Nonsense to the nameless people who don't know where. I don't want to hear it, I don't want to see it. You don't write nonsense, don't do pointless For the investigation, just write in a regular manner! The 17th Anniversary of Nobunaga will be held in March next year, and you have to finish it three months in advance, and no late submission is allowed. Got it, Niu Yi." "Once Niu offends, please forgive me. I must follow my wishes." Niu Yi took a few steps back, lay down on the ground, and pressed his forehead against the tatami.It's not so much lying down, it's better to say it looks like lying down. Niu Yi put the twenty gold coins in his arms, started on the way home, muttering to himself. (No matter how much you want to tie me with money, I will not satisfy you. This "Nobunaga Ji" must write the whole life of Nobunaga.)