Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen Blood Thick Blood Thin

On the eleventh day of the first lunar month in the fifteenth year of Qingcho, Naruse Masanari went to Edo Castle to pay homage to the general's wife. On that day, Ah Jiang and his wife went to the kitchen in person to instruct everyone to make imperial cakes (mirror cakes).Recently, the women in the city have been dressed more and more gorgeously, and with it, the various expenses of the general's inner court have increased, and the number of servants has increased, so today A Jianghe took the lead in setting an example of frugality. "Listen, although we are in the general's mansion, we must not be extravagant. You should remember!" A Jiangyu was making small bean cakes.In the past, red bean cakes were made into salty flavors, but this year they wanted to make them into sweet flavors, so Junfu sent some brown sugar.In order not to waste the brown sugar, A Jiangyu personally demonstrated several times.Frugality is a virtue shared by Ieyasu, Ah Jiang and their wives.As they grow older, Jiang and his wife respect Jiakang more and more.

It is said that Ajiang and his wife have a slight discord with Mrs. Afu, Takechiyo's wet nurse. One of the reasons is that Ajiang and his wife are too frugal.She has experienced all kinds of misfortunes in the past, so even though she is the general's wife now, she still dresses very frugally.The servants said that the general was a little jealous of A Jiangyu, so he didn't marry a concubine.However, Naruse Masamari thought that maybe Hidetada was really satisfied with this one wife. Zhengcheng was taken to Ah Jiang and his wife's room to pay New Year's greetings, and then handed over the letter that Jiakang asked him to bring to his wife.Madam folded it neatly and put it in the closet.There is no sense of youth and beauty in her, but she is dignified and chaste. That kind of calm and elegant demeanor makes people feel mature and stable.

What kind of woman is Mrs. Dian?When she was young, she was naturally outstanding, but is it still the case now?A woman will undergo various changes as her husband's status changes.Just as Cheng was feeling emotional, his wife said: "Zhengcheng, please use some sweet bean cakes today. Please remember the taste of red bean cakes, and express my respects to the Emperor. Everyone is very happy." This noble lady sitting in front of Zhengcheng was indeed so noble that one dared not look directly at her. "Yes." Zheng Cheng respectfully fell flat on the ground, and conveyed Ieyasu's intention to meet Xiu Lai, and then said, "Thinking carefully, my lord has not seen Mr. Xiu Lai for almost seven years. But my lord can't be casual." Please invite Mr. Xiu Lai to Junfu."

"Just wait until he enters Beijing." Ah Jiang and his wife frowned slightly, and said sideways.She seemed to have understood what Zhengcheng was planning. "Master Da Yusuo said, madam, you and Mrs. Dian are close relatives, and they are also people who know the basics. There may be some ways, so let me come to see you in private after the worship." Zhengcheng gradually entered the topic, while A Jiang and his wife seemed to be lost in thought. "She is indeed a little too arrogant." Of course it was Mrs. Dian who said it.However, Ah Jiang and his wife quickly raised their eyebrows and said, "This is very important to Toyotomi, Hideyori, and Aqian. If I don't do my best, I will really feel sorry for the Great Imperial Palace."

"Ma'am, don't be too tired." "No..." Ah Jiang and his wife smiled sideways, with a look of deep thought, "Some people in Osaka City say that Hideyori has reached the age to come out of this city to see the world this year." "In Osaka, someone once asked me: When will the Great Imperial Palace enter Osaka?" "Frog in the well! I didn't expect my sister to be so stupid." A Jiang and his wife sighed a few times, and suddenly patted their knees, "Yes!" "What good idea does Madam have?" "It's not enough just us, there is one... no, two people, if you ask them for help..."

"Who are they?" "One of them is the widow of Mr. Jing Gao, and also my own sister, Chang Gaoyuan." "Ma'am is right." Zheng Cheng saluted. After the fall of Xiaogu City, Mrs. Dian, Chang Gaoyuan, A Jiang and his wife went through hardships together.Kyoko was once stationed at Otsu Castle as the Eastern Army during the Sekigahara War. After the defeat, he gave the city to Tachibana Soshige, but was leniently granted by Ieyasu and sealed him in Wakasa Obama with an annual salary of 92,000 shi.Gao Ci died of illness in Xiaobin on the third day of May last year, and his widow, Chang Gaoyuan, is now in Youjia, Xidongyuan in the west of Beijing.If the two sisters lobbied together, they would be able to impress Mrs. Dian.

When Zheng Cheng was thinking about it, Ah Jiang and his wife said again: "The other person is Gao Ci's sister, Mrs. Matsumaru." "Ms. Matsumaru..." Mrs. Matsumaru is Mrs. Kyogoku who once competed with Mrs. Yodo for favor.When Hideyoshi was alive, she had a bad relationship with Mrs. Yodo.But after Hideyoshi's death, the two fell in love with each other, and their relationship became much closer. "Tell Chang Gaoyuan and Mrs. Matsumaru that it is what I mean, and they will not understand. Please go to Chang Gaoyuan in my name." Naruse thought it was a good idea.Even if Mrs. Yodo has resentment towards Ieyasu and Edo because of the slander, she has two younger sisters, and the lobbying of Mrs. Matsumaru, Taiko's concubine who is closely related to the Asai family, will clear up many misunderstandings.

"Mrs. Dian," Ajiang and his wife said with a smile, "I have had this temper since I was young. Once I say it, it will be difficult to change it. But she is upright by nature, extremely intelligent, and will not be ignorant of the painstaking efforts of the Imperial Palace." "Madam is right." Zheng Cheng said sincerely. "We'll be waiting for your good news." In addition to his own sister, Ah Jiang and his wife also added Mrs. Matsumaru, who was more and more cautious like Ieyasu.If the people of the Kyogoku family can calm Mrs. Yodo, Ieyasu's painstaking efforts to take care of Hideyori will surely make her understand.Although both the Kyogoku clan and the Rokkaku clan are descendants of the Sasaki clan of the Omi Genji clan, at the time of Takayoshi, the father of Takaji, Mrs. Matsumaru's father was taken over by Nagamasa Asai, and Takaji was displaced when he was young, which was extremely bitter.Since Mrs. Matsumaru became Hideyoshi's concubine and Mrs. Yodo's younger sister married Takaji, Takaji began to receive Hideyoshi's protection, and the Kyogoku sect gradually revived.

The Kyogoku clan should know this well.Ajiang and his wife are also very clear about this, so they set up this plan just now. As usual, Zheng Cheng drank cold wine and ate enough pancakes, and then withdrew.It should not be too late, and in the first month, many great things can be done in the name of "New Year's greetings". A Jiang and his wife immediately called the Bureau of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and ordered her to prepare to go out, "Thank you for your hard work, and go to the West Cave in the capital to pay New Year's greetings." As soon as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs heard it, she knew that she was going to visit Jingji's widow Chang Gaoyuan.At the beginning of each year, the wife of Jingji's family would solemnly send someone to visit her sister Ah Jiang and his wife.

"You go to Changgao Court. It's been another year, and filial piety is over. She has become a widow. She must be quite lonely. Please comfort her." After saying these kind words, Ah Jiang and Cai said the truth To the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.However, the Minister of Civil Affairs seems to be very embarrassed.She has decided that Toyotomi and Tokugawa will not eliminate the bad feelings at all. The chaotic world seems to be just yesterday-everyone is trying their best to plan, father, son and brother are all wary of each other, and many people have not yet adapted to peace.If I were also the widow of a fallen daimyo, doubts would arise as well.Ah Jiang and thought to herself that when her second husband, Hideyoshi's adopted son Tamba Major General Hidekatsu passed away, she felt as if her life was over.Life is like purgatory, and you will be cursed for the rest of your life.After the death of her third husband, she was forced to marry Xiuzhong, who was younger than her-she was almost desperate at that time.However, this marriage has brought her back to life.

At the beginning, Ah Jiang and Yi were at a loss, and their hearts were ashamed.But after giving birth to her sons Takechiyo and Kunimatsumaru, her mind changed immediately.The "God and Buddha" that Ieyasu often talks about seems to exist.All the misfortunes she encountered before were all trials in life.After passing through that door, I looked back and found that what I had experienced before was actually a sign of luck. From then on, Ah Jiang and his wife began to really get close to and respect Jiakang.Ieyasu is also a person who has been tempered a lot.She also reconsidered Xiuzhong seriously.In the past, she hated men's indulgence very much, and wished she could tie up his hands and feet.However, now she also began to respect Xiuzhong.She realized that Xiuzhong didn't marry his concubine because he was afraid of her. Ieyasu decided to teach the world with Confucianism and Taoism, and Xiuzhong also strictly practiced it. "If my father's wish is realized, Japan will become a country of gentlemen in the East China Sea. The idea of ​​making everyone a saint is like the words of the gods and Buddhas. I am not as good as my father, so I will strictly follow his orders." Xiuzhong's words firmly engraved in her heart.Since then, her mind has changed dramatically. At this time, Ah Jiang and secretly made up their minds: they must let Mrs. Dian understand Jiakang's good intentions. "Maybe Mrs. Dian will do the same thing as when the general entered Beijing." A Jiang and his wife carefully checked the letter to the Chang Gao Yuan before handing it over to the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, reminding, "The world will add fuel and vinegar to this. It is purely false to say that Edo and Osaka are at odds." The Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs did not answer. "Think about it," Ah Jiang and his wife smiled heartily, "If our two families do not get along, it will only make the world laugh, and our sisters will also lose face. I often say this to Chang Gaoyuan and Mrs. Matsumaru." "yes." "My two sisters and I, when we escaped from Echizen Beizhuang, we all lamented our fate..." "Yes, thinking about it today, it's still sad..." "However, one of the sons born to our sisters will be the regent Guan Bai, and the other will be the general, and together they will shoulder important responsibilities in the world. How lucky is this!" "yes." "Do you think Mrs. Dian would think so?" "Yes. No...Although I think so, but...the last time the general went to Beijing, there was some unhappiness." "Hehe, you can't always think like this. The other party misunderstood, so you have to solve the misunderstanding." "yes." "I can't persuade her in person. Chang Gaoyuan and Mrs. Matsumaru will take you there, you just need to tell Chang Gaoyuan. I didn't like Mr. Daigosho before, he was cold... Actually it is not. People are constantly growing, Master Dayusuo is very clear about this, he knows that I will understand sooner or later, so he has been waiting. Now, he has even written down his experience in teaching children to me." "My lord..." "You have to let the Chang Gaoyuan understand this too. The Lord of the Imperial Palace has aged a lot recently, and the lessons he taught us will become his last words. This year he wants to meet Hideyori and see what Hideyori looks like. If he can go to Beijing, I hope he can I am happy to meet you. If you can see Mrs. Dian, the Lord of the Imperial Palace will be so happy. Let’s just say this.” As he spoke, Ajiang and his wife’s eyes filled with tears. "If Lord Ogosho resents Hideyori, why did he send Zhonghui to Osaka on purpose? He naturally hopes that my sister and the people around her will wake up. I have never had such a lenient person around me! I understand now." The earnest words between A Jiang and his wife made the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs also shed tears, "Understood. People will not remain the same. Waiting quietly for each other to grow up, this is really the mind of a god and Buddha." "Yes. To have such a person by our side is unprecedented luck for us sisters!" "yes." "If the Great Imperial Palace Lord is not in this world, the Kyogoku Clan will perish first." "Exactly." "During the battle of Guanyuan, Jingji was almost destroyed, thanks to the Lord of the Imperial Palace. Moreover, it is because of such a good father-in-law that Ajiang and today can be so happy. You have to tell the Chang Gaoyuan well. I I believe that the real guardian Buddha of the three Asai sisters is Lord Ogosho, whom A Jiang visits day and night." This is the true state of mind of Ah Jiang and his wife recently.Previously, she also thought that Ieyasu was an unfathomably cold ancient well, but later on she gradually discovered that Ieyasu's indifference, which shows neither emotion nor expression, actually came from the "patience" of prudence and hard work.He is so resentful towards his daughter-in-law Ajiang and Keng, why doesn't he treat Mrs. Dian and Xiuyue in the same way? "If I'm close to Osaka, I'll definitely go there immediately and tell my sister in person. You can convey it to me, the Great Imperial Palace doesn't distinguish us from each other. I've thought very clearly, he won't live forever, so I hope Do something that pleases him." "Don't worry, Ma'am, the maidservant will report to the Madam of the Changgao Court, and must let Osaka understand Madam's intentions." "Okay. You go to Osaka with her. Don't take it to heart if Qianji's people say something unpleasant." "yes." "This time it's for our sisters." "Keep it in mind." "This is our duty, not only for our sisters, but also as a repayment to the Great Imperial Palace. This matter must be done properly, please." The Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs immediately left Edo the next day and went to the capital. After understanding what Ieyasu wanted Naruse Masanari to convey, Hidetada had no objection.However, Toshikatsu Doi refused to nod easily.He takes care of all the affairs of the shogunate, and has always done everything himself.Although Ieyasu has fully considered the impact and consequences of meeting Hideyori, Li Sheng still has concerns: Toyotomi and his former ministers still fantasize about handing over the world to Hideyori.At such a time, it is very inappropriate for Ogosho to propose to see Hideyori.How would he explain it to Shurai?Is the Ogosho really confused, or did he see Hideyori's talent and want to drive him out of Osaka Castle? The shogunate will not let Xiu Lai sit in Osaka Castle like this.There are two reasons.Although they are all rumors, they must not be taken lightly.One of the rumors is that Osaka Castle is impregnable.However, in addition to the muskets of the past, the shogunate already had extremely powerful cannons that could blow up the castle tower in Osaka. Although the "unbeaten city" is a thing of the past, those ronin who have experienced the battle of Sekigahara still firmly believe in it.Another rumor is about the gold left by Hideyoshi.The gold was used to repair and build countless temples and shrines, and it was basically exhausted.But both ronin and ordinary people think that there is still countless gold in Osaka City. Toshikatsu Doi was very worried about these two rumors.Ieyasu wanted to see Hideyori, but once the news leaked out, there would be an uproar.No one thinks that the world will be handed over to Hideyori, and the world will definitely think that Ieyasu is bullying Hideyori. Doi Lisheng thought about it, and quietly called Yonezawa Kanbei.Doi naturally had his own considerations, and ordered Yonezawa to arrive in the capital ahead of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and made an agreement with Itakura Katsushige to prevent rumors. "Kanbei, you go to Kyoto, go to see Soshidai in the name of New Year's greetings, and tell me that I want to see Katagiri Kamoto and Oda Yurakusai." New Year's greetings are really a good excuse. There is a world of difference between Ah Jiang and his wife's longing for their close relatives and Doi Toshikatsu's political considerations. Li Sheng is not against Ieyasu, but to maintain Tokugawa's dignity.He wanted to get Hideyori out of Osaka first, and Ieyasu should have the same idea.But the difference between the two is that Li Sheng is out of political needs, while Ieyasu is out of his feelings for the Toyotomi clan and hopes that the Toyotomi clan can last forever. Li Sheng wanted Itakura Katsushige to go to Osaka first, and after paying homage to Hideyori, he would meet with Katagiri Kamoto and Oda Yurakusai and ask them to agree to move Hideyori.However, Qi Yuan and You Le Zhai are not easy to talk about, but at least they will not act rashly. "Don't let the fact that the Imperial Palace wants to meet Hideyori spread, otherwise it will be detrimental to Hideyori once the world talks about it." After all, Li Sheng is mature and prudent, and all his considerations revolve around real interests. "Instead of this, let Hideyore go to visit Lord of the Imperial Palace, after all, the Lord of the Imperial Palace is still an elder. Moreover, there is also the general's wife and Chang Gaoyuan. This is the real meeting of the three Asai sisters. Then the topic of moving the title was brought up in a friendly manner, explaining that this is to make the Toyotomi family permanent The best way to continue. It must be done! No one dares to object to the transfer fee, and you can order all the big names to help. After the city is built, Xiu Lai will be elected as Guanbai. At this time, Mrs. Qianji may have given birth to an heir. In short, don’t let any disturbances arise between the two families. Regarding the government office after the transfer, the Great Imperial Palace has his own ideas, and the general and I are also considering Yamato’s Koriyama Castle. If necessary, we can reveal a little about it.” Li Sheng is confident that this is the best way, and Kanbei Yonezawa keeps it in mind. Among the genealogical daimyos and the banner books, there are still some people who think that "the first is the best".But now, the world is at peace, and the Toyotomi clan is no longer an enemy.Hideyoshi's blood and Ieyasu's blood have been fused together in order to achieve peace.Although Li Sheng thought so, it was his wishful thinking after all, and he didn't know what Ah Jiang and his wife were thinking.