Chapter 2 Chapter Two Conspiracy Gathering

That night, in the mansion of Guan Bai Toyotomi Hideji - the White Academy in Juledi, there was a particularly dull banquet, with more than thirty beautiful concubines sitting on both sides.When Xiuji's favorite concubine, Mrs. Zaemon, who is famous for her pipa skills, finished playing a piece of "Heike", for some reason, the audience fell into silence inexplicably. Toyotomi Hideyoshi will return to Beijing soon.In fact, a lot of bad news has spread to the city one after another, disturbing Xiuci's mind—— "Lord Taige is extremely annoyed by Guan Bai's hunting."

"Master Taige wants to abolish Guan Bai and let the newborn Prince Ashi succeed him. He has been discussing secretly with Ishida Zhibu for several days." "There are rumors everywhere outside, saying that Master Taige has returned to Daban City early and wants to execute Guan Bai." These rumors have unknowingly spread among the important ministers and women, and the pipa music has added a lot of sorrow to everyone.Mrs. Zaemon Nagahideji is more than ten years old. She is not only a famous lute player, but also Hideji's waka teacher. There is always a gloomy air about her.Before she put down the pipa, there was a low sobbing sound from Xiuci's side. It turned out to be his concubine, A Gong.

"Be careful." A royal reprimanded, "Crying like this will make adults even more depressed." "Yes, my daughter knows. But the song is so sad that it will inevitably make people cry." Agong, who was only thirteen years old and was in a sentimental period, hurriedly wiped away her tears, and at this time Xiuci had already shown her displeasure.At the same time, taking both mother and daughter as concubines is probably one of the reasons why Hideyoshi was extremely dissatisfied.The spies said Hideyoshi called him worse than a beast.In fact, apart from the mother and daughter, Mrs. Uemon and her daughter, Osomatsu, were also included in the inner court by Hideji.

"What's so sad! Get the hell out of here if you want to cry!" Seeing her daughter being scolded by Xiuci, the mother on the side hurriedly smoothed things over and said: "She is still young. Please ignore her, my lord, just pretend you didn't hear." "Nonsense! You also retreat for me." "yes." Xiuci's temper has been getting worse and worse recently.He often has sex after drinking, overturning tables and breaking wine vessels.Knowing that he has a bad temper, Yi Yutai quietly retreated with Ah Gong.In this way, no one of the women dared to speak anymore.

"Pour wine! What's there to be afraid of?" "Yes Yes." "Am I that scary? You always have to look at Taige's wink and act, and you're obedient. Is someone like me that scary?" Before the words were finished, a woman hurried over to pour wine for Xiuci. This person was the youngest concubine in Xiuci's inner court—A Song, who was only twelve years old.She was wearing a bright red tulle dress with a hundred flowers blooming in autumn, she was very charming, but her jade hands were trembling all the time, and she even forgot to pour the wine. "What are you afraid of!" Xiuci jumped up, "What are you afraid of? It's really inexplicable! Isn't Master Taige thinking that I am extremely cruel? I'm afraid that I will drag you down in the future, don't you? You think this is very interesting?"

"No... dare not." "Then why are you still trembling?" "This..." Ah Song, who was still childish, agreed, but his hands couldn't be controlled, and the jug hit the wine glass with a bang. "Why are you shaking?" As he said, Xiuci suddenly picked up the wine glass and poured the wine on another concubine - thirteen-year-old Aai. "Ah..." A'ai couldn't help screaming when she was splashed with wine, and Xiuci drew the knife from the waist of the servant boy beside him with a swipe. "Please wait. My lord, you must not act on your will." The old Kumagai Ozen, who was sitting on the right hand side, shouted, "If your lord does this, it will be even more frightening. Mrs. Asong is still young after all."

"Lord Kumagai is right." Kimura Tsuchirokusuke on the right also said, "My lord's most urgent task is to adjust my mood. After all, when Taiko-sama arrives in Osaka, the most important thing is how to deal with it." "According to what you say, do I have to go out of the city in person to meet the Lord Taige who wants to execute me?" "My lord is short, this matter has not been settled. Instead of sitting still and waiting for death, my lord might as well go out to the area of ​​Hyogo and express my feelings to Lord Taige. It may be feasible." Ai winked, suggesting that they back down, and said calmly, "Of course, if your lord thinks this plan is not feasible, you can discuss it in the long run. In short, your lord must be more cautious these few days."

"Chang Lujie! I will never go out to greet you. I don't want to talk about it now. Let me ask you, how are our people doing now?" "Why did your lord suddenly mention this?" Chang Lujie looked confused, and exchanged glances with Xiong Gu Dashan, "As Guan Bai, how can there be any distinction between us and the enemy? , have long been unable to make ends meet, and complained again and again. Therefore, lending them some spare money to alleviate their current predicament is the long-term solution." "Huh? Hmph! Through this battle and the building of Fushimi, Taiko has exhausted all the daimyos. Of course I want to raise some money and food behind the scenes to help them. This is not to attract them into the gang, is it your so-called long-term plan?" No... For your so-called long-term plan, who are we going to help?"

While talking, the wine in Xiuci's wine glass was about to pour out.Tsuchirokusuke Kimura and Kumagai Ohzen frowned again, and exchanged glances - Hideji was too rash, talking about the enemy and our side so bluntly, and even disclosing the names of those who donated in private, I don't know how much misunderstanding it will cause.Perhaps Taiko and Ishida Mitsunari's eyes and ears are hidden among these people in front of them.Although they have borrowed some money from Date, Hosokawa, Asano, etc., once this is leaked out, it will be troublesome. Not only will they not be able to become allies, but it is not impossible for them to defect to Taige.

"Please forgive me for being dull, I have never remembered such a thing. I think it is better to discuss how to welcome Lord Taiko today." Kumagai Dazen's tone was slightly reproachful.While asking people to refill the wine, Xiuci kept shaking his head and said disdainfully, "No! I just said that I don't want to meet Taige!" "What does this sound like... What does your lord mean, do you wait for Master Taiko to return to Osaka Castle before going to pay his respects?" Xiuci suddenly stopped, did not answer, just leaned back and took a sip of wine. "My lord, let's not talk about the matter of going out for the time being, but if Taige returns to Daban City, my lord won't even ask, I'm afraid it won't make sense."

"No!" "This... Your Excellency's attitude is so firm. Mr. Chang Lujie——" "Neither go out to greet, nor go to greet... In this way, Lord Taige may personally send a message to invite him to come over." Chang Lujie said. "Well said, I was just about to ask Lord Guan Bai about this matter. Since Lord Guan Bai has made up his mind not to greet him or greet him, then if Lord Taige sends an invitation, how will he respond?" "Post post? Even if Taige orders, I will not go! If I go, Taige will be furious, I will be reprimanded, and I will be cut, what should I do?" "My lord's words are serious. The Taige was furious and wanted to execute my lord. It's just a rumor. If my lord believes it, I'm afraid something big will happen." "Dashan, Chang Lujie!" Xiuci finally couldn't bear it anymore, his face was livid and his cheeks were trembling, "You are really presumptuous, not only did you not come up with good ideas for me, but you just refuted me, is this you old people? As?" "My lord's words are really inappropriate." "Then why don't you come up with a good idea? You should weigh it over and over again, come up with a better strategy, and then report to me. But have you done it?" "My lord!" said Da Shan, "That's why I suggested that my lord go out to the Hyogo area, but my lord rejected it without saying a word. So I have no choice but to suggest that my lord, after Taige returns to Osaka Castle, I personally went to greet you and congratulate the army on their triumphant return, but my lord still said no. Since this is the case, I can only ask: If the Taige sends an order, what will your lord do..." Before the words were finished, there was a hoot, and the wine glass in Xiuci's hand flew out again.It didn't fall to Dashan, but flew into the air, venting its inextricable pain and anger to the heavens. "Ah!" It was Madam Zoe who was splashed all over by the wine. She didn't dare to scream any more, but let out a low moan. "All the female relatives should step back." Kimura Changlusuke immediately said, "Your Excellency is in a bad mood, we still have some important talks, and I will comfort you, you step back first." The women finally breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and got up to go, a scent wafted out of the hall.Xiuci was still trembling, trying to suppress the nameless anger in his heart. "Okay, what else do you two have to say?" "My lord, now is not the time to get angry." "Okay, Chang Lujie, you kicked the women off just to reprimand me?" "What if the eyes and ears of Zhibu are lurking among these people?" "If there is, I will cut her into pieces." "Your Excellency fell right into the trap of Zhibu." Chang Lu quickly winked at Dashan, "Jibu is definitely not a villain. He is the pillar of Toyotomi's family with both ability and integrity." "Are you intending to reprimand me face to face and praise Jibu?" "My lord, don't be in a hurry, listen to me and speak slowly. As long as your lord is more careful at ordinary times, even the government department will have no gaps. The Taige is over sixty years old, and A Shi has just been born. Therefore, A Shi will inherit the great cause of the Tai Pavilion. Impossible, after all, you are too young." "You don't need to tell me, I know all these things well." "Since your lord knows it, you should suppress your anger as much as possible and think carefully. Since Jibu is Toyotomi's backbone, once A Shi takes power, he will do his best to assist him as an assistant political elder... Zhibu himself will definitely plan in the same way. " "So what? As I said earlier, I hate his ambition." "Having said that, he always follows Taige around. Once he becomes an enemy, it is like turning Taige into an enemy. So, my lord, why don't you just win over Zhibu as well..." "Win?" "Guan Bai has never taken them seriously. In fact, Jibu is also a good retainer of the Toyotomi family. If you lobby with such an attitude..." "What do you mean, you want me not only to meet the Taige alone, but also to cater to the Zhibu?" "I hope that my lord will come to the Hyogo area, first invite the governor, treat him generously, and take the initiative to get close to him. Then, let him take the lord to see the Taiko personally, and talk face-to-face. In this way, the rumors in the world will naturally When the smoke disappears, the Zhibu will not find a chance to engage in slander. What do you think of this plan, my lord?" Xiuci still shook his head vigorously, "No, I won't go! To flatter someone who secretly slanders me, hmph!" Chang Lujie and Dashan curled their lips slightly and smiled knowingly. There must be several reasons for a riot to happen.A seemingly insignificant thing may be giving birth to another thing, and everything depends on each other, and the insignificant thing will become a major event that cannot be ignored.In fact, Hideyoshi did not really regard Hideyoshi as the successor of the great cause, but only regarded him as a substitute, so he ordered Zhibu to spy on him secretly.At this critical moment, Chacha's uneasiness intensified the change of the situation.Chacha knows that Hideyoshi trusts Jibu the most, so she confides her worries to her and asks Zhibu to help her.In this way, the new Ashi and Jibu made Hideji confused. From the very beginning, Xiuci regarded Zhibu as an enemy, and he harbored hatred, which accumulated deeper and deeper, like a thorn in the bone.Mucun Changlusuke and Dashan also saw everything clearly, so an unexpected ambition quietly sprouted.In the beginning, they were nothing more than following and serving Xiuji's retainers wholeheartedly, but now they have a dream: Anyway, the Taiko father and son have lost their peace, and Hideyoshi has entered old age. At any time, ambition is the chief culprit in causing factional disputes.Once a person develops ambition, he will have many fantasies, as if he has discovered thousands of treasures. "In this way, my lord is not willing to welcome you anyway?" "You two are so boring!" "Even so, you can't immediately turn against Lord Taige." "That's why I asked you for countermeasures. Who are our people?" "My lord must ask, why don't you tell me clearly. I have contacted Hosokawa, Asano, and Date a few days ago, but with such a little strength, it is not enough to compete with Taiko." "What about Tokugawa? Even if Ieyasu shouldn't, isn't Hidetada still in the capital?" "Also contacted, but..." "If I can win Jiakang over, the Taige will have great abilities, and I will not dare to do anything to me. As for the matter of going out, I am still reluctant, and I can excuse my illness to decline. Even so, the Ministry of governance will still make slander , so we must expand our strength as soon as possible, so that Taige will suffer. So, Taige has nothing to do, after all, strength determines everything." Speaking of this, Xiuci didn't know what to think of, and suddenly burst into tears.After all, he still couldn't hate Hideyoshi, he only hated Ishida Jibu and Chacha.There are many ugly rumors about tea tea in the world. Some people say that Ah Shi's biological father is Ono Xiu, and others say that Xu is Ishida Jibu Shaosuke... Why did Ah Shi choose to be born at this time? Hideji had low self-esteem in front of Hideyoshi. In this regard, he is very similar to Katsuyori, the son of Takeda Shingen.After Shingen's death, the veterans kept praising the former Lord for his valor, which aroused Katsuyori's fighting spirit, and he was defeated and died.It's the same with Hideji, when Hideyoshi trusted him, he always thought about it, always wanting to show off his talent in front of the world, not only on the battlefield, but also in learning.Although despised by Konoe Sanyakuin and others as an "ignorant junior", Hideji still ordered the popularization of knowledge.He ordered the monks of the various temples to print new annotations, and asked them to devote themselves to the annotations of popular songs, and even asked them to promote the research on systemists, poets, Shintoists, and historians, etc. I want to transport the collection of books to Beijing, and plan to open another academy... However, just because Hideyoshi was not born, Hideyoshi suddenly seemed to be a different person when Ah Shi was born.Thinking of Hideyoshi's grief after Tsurumong's death, he decided that once Hideyoshi's own son was born, he would definitely be deposed.He even often thought about it, why not just take the initiative to create an excuse for Hideyoshi to abolish him, so as to get rid of this painful torture as soon as possible.But I don't know when, he began to have another dream: if he has the strength to compete with him, Hideyoshi may not dare to take it easily... Of course, these changes of his are completely influenced by his neighbors. Hidetoshi is not yet confident enough to raise the flag of rebellion and openly challenge Hideyoshi.However, once the situation is critical and the two sides are at war with each other, Hideyoshi will be scruples about the world's public opinion, and he will not dare to wave his troops lightly, but the key is still two words - strength, this is Hideyoshi's small calculation.Even so, his moods often fluctuate. "My lord, it's not time to cry yet. Once your lord gets hot-headed and gets confused, people will take advantage of it. Ishida Osamu, Masuda, Konishi, Otani and others are always eyeing you." Hearing what Dashan said, Hideji sobbed more and more. "Why is this? Why do I have to fight with Taige to the death? When will I be able to talk with Taige about the world's major affairs with the same heart and soul as before..." This is Xiuci, who just said that it depends on strength and strength. Hideyoshi resisted, and the saliva star was still crying.But for Xiuci's weakness, the ambitious courtiers didn't dislike him at all, and thought it would be beneficial for them to use their hands and feet. "My lord, what do you think of this?" Lusuke Kimura felt that it was time to speak clearly, so he said cautiously, "If you just lie about being sick and don't go to greet you, I don't know how the world will react. Since it's sick, just ask for it." A name, claiming to have a serious illness that requires medication, and then rushing to Owari's hot spring to recuperate..." "Leaving the capital?" Xiuci was taken aback, and exclaimed strangely, "Taige's triumphant return, Fushimi's fortification, and Ashi's birth, at a critical moment when major events continue, I left the capital. What's wrong with that? Isn't this just right for Mrs. Dian?" and his allies on a good pretext?" All this was expected by Chang Lujie and Dashan, and they were not panicked. "My lord, please decide." "This this……" "My lord has said it himself, no matter what, we don't go to greet you." Chang Lu Jie pressed every step of the way, "In this case, we should make a big deal out of it. Since your lord is seriously ill, you have to go to the hot spring in Qingzhou's hometown to recuperate , In this way, it will be powerless to welcome the Taige, and the meeting will naturally be impossible. This is the countermeasure for me." "But I said long ago that if this happens, Zhibu and others will take advantage of the situation and they will definitely take advantage of me to leave the capital to win over the famous ministers in the capital." "What does your lord mean, that this plan is not feasible?" "Of course not. I want to hear your next step, how to deal with the opponent's tricks when I am not in the capital." In fact, there is no clear distinction between the so-called enemy and us, and there is no so-called Xiuji faction and Ashi faction in everyone's mind.However, such words came out of Xiuci's mouth.It seems that Xiuci is indeed a brave and honest person. "My lord, please go to your hometown Qingzhou to recuperate! Let Zhibu and others do whatever they want." "This plan is inappropriate..." "Don't worry, my lord. We can't just sit idly by. We will secretly monitor their every move. We will know exactly what they want to do, what kind of strategy they will adopt, and how far they will go. The countermeasures are natural. He came out. If your lord stays in the capital, and people come to invite you, but you ignore them, you will immediately fall into a passive position. This is the countermeasure that I have worked hard to think of." "So, I have to leave the capital?" "If your lord insists on staying in the capital, but doesn't greet Taige, I'm afraid something bad will happen." Xiuci heard it in his ears, and gritted his teeth with hatred.I don't know when, he has become an obstacle to the decision-making of the important ministers. In the eyes of the important ministers, his existence seems to be irrelevant, and it has nothing to do with the strategy.Although no one said it clearly, he could vaguely feel it. "Okay, since you all persuade me this way, I will go to Qingzhou. But, I promised you, and you also promise me: when I am away, don't forget to help me win people over." These words are too blunt, if someone else hears them, it will be tantamount to treason.In fact, there is no natural disparity in the quality of human beings. It is only with the change of the environment that there is a gap gradually, and finally there is a world of difference.Hideyoshi was originally similar to Hideyoshi in many ways: he fought bravely on the battlefield, liked women, was extravagant, and liked to bluff... Therefore, in Hideyoshi's view, Hideyoshi was born into this world with all his shortcomings.In Hideji's eyes, Hideyoshi often reprimanded his uncle with ill intentions. After Ashi was born, Hideyoshi must find fault again to make things difficult-this prejudice has been deeply rooted. Hideyoshi is the heir of the Miyoshi family, originally a great name, but later became the envied nephew of Kanbai; Hideyoshi, however, was born in a poor family, started as a low-level samurai, and went through hard work step by step to become the success he is today.Although the personalities of the nephew and uncle are very similar, their experiences are very different. Xiuci finally agreed: Before Xiuji returned to Beijing, he would rush to Qingzhou for medical treatment.In the words of the important minister, this is the only way to escape the Taiko's censure, but how can his little trick deceive Toyotomi Hideyoshi who is discerning? Hideyoshi has already set off from Nagoya, so Hideji should inform the Beizheng Office of his departure.However, the important ministers are secretly acting behind the back of the Beizheng Office.When Xiuci had a sudden whim and asked him to inform the Beizheng Office, they stopped him and said, "How can this be done? It's too reckless to do so." Xiuci thought that Beizheng would definitely stop him from going back to Qingzhou City for recuperation, so he set off without even notifying Beizheng's frequent visit to his biological mother Ruilongyuan.He thought that his subordinates had already informed them, so he didn't take this matter to heart at all—this move was really reckless. On the day of departure, Xiuci stroked the heads of the four children and said, "After I leave, you must be smarter. Your enemy Shi has already been born. If you don't pay attention, you will not have a good life." At this time, Xiuci's eldest daughter was seven years old, her eldest son Senchiyo was four years old, and the other children were still in their infancy. "Yes, my lord father." The daughter and eldest son nodded and answered innocently.They were still young and couldn't really understand what their father said, so naturally they couldn't know that his father's reckless action would soon bring disaster to the whole family. The important ministers sent Xiuci to the vicinity of the Seta Bridge, and they went back with confidence.As for the future, they are as vague as Xiuci's children.They follow a reckless master and try to use his recklessness to further their personal ambitions.At this point, they have become utterly stupid and have embarked on a road of no return...