Chapter 8 Chapter Eight: Guan Bai's End

From the late autumn of the third year of Wenlu to the spring of the fourth year of Wenlu, it was the cruelest test for Toyotomi Hideyoshi.Worried about the progress of Xiaoxi's negotiations with Emperor Ming in Beijing, and the governor stationed in North Korea sent mixed news, Hideyoshi couldn't feel at ease for a moment.The conflict between him and Xiuci is also deepening day by day.Fushimi Castle was completed as early as August of the same year, but he was unable to move there immediately; he planned to bring Ah Shi to Fushimi, but he was worried about criticism from the world.Every time Xiuci saw him, he was submissive, docile and lovable, but once he returned to Juledi, all kinds of treasonous news spread immediately—hunting on Mount Hiei, practicing sword skills with prisoners, disemboweling pregnant women Belly, quartering the blind man into five horses... all kinds of evil deeds are simply heinous.

In December of the third year of Wenlu, Hideyoshi finally brought Ah Shi, who was nearly three years old, to Fushimi Castle.Prior to this, Chacha had been chattering in her ears, saying that she should take it early, and that it would be bad luck if it was delayed, so she spent all her time thinking about it.Then the rumor started again: "Toyotomi's heir is newly appointed. It's really not Guan Bai, but Mr. Ashi." Hideyoshi was in distress, he never expected that the rumors would spread so fast.A lot of troubles made him helpless, but there was only one thing that brought him some relief, and that was Ah Shi's thriving growth.As time went by, Ashi gradually replaced Tsurumatsumaru in Hideyoshi's heart.

In March of the fourth year of Wenlu, Hideyoshi impatiently named Hideyoshi for Ashi, and asked the court to grant him a title.Since there is an old rule in the palace that one cannot be promoted to a noble under the age of three, the conferment had to be postponed until August.Even so, the court still gave Xiu Lai a sword and a horse. In mid-April, Hideyoshi fell ill. This was the second time he fell ill after returning to Beijing from Nagoya.The world has many doubts. "It seems that the Taige is going to attack Guan Bai at last." Even the people in the market spread the word, and the wind became more and more violent.Those people who used to come and go in and out of Guanbai Jule in a continuous stream, after the summer, gradually became indifferent, and even the borrowed gold and silver were quietly returned to Guanbai.

On this day, Guan Baixiuci started drinking just after noon, and he hadn't stopped drinking until Haishi.The more he drank, the paler he became, but he still pestered Mrs. Zaemon to play the lute.When the pipa sounded, he seemed to hear it but didn't hear it, but once it stopped, he opened his eyes wide and scolded endlessly.When it was approaching the third watch, Xiuji finally burst into tears.There was almost no important minister left by his side, not because the banquet was too long, but because everyone was afraid that Xiuci would go crazy after drinking, so they left one after another.Accompanied by the side, there are only more than thirty wives and concubines, as well as well-dressed servant boys.Tonight, Xiuci did not allow women and servants to leave without authorization.

"Those who want to leave just go..." The veterans left one by one, Xiuci said to the wives and concubines, but his eyes were full of sorrow, "You must always stay by my side." This is undoubtedly a plea, it seems He couldn't bear to be alone. Hideyoshi also assigned two assistant ministers for Hideji - Nakamura Shikibu Shosuke and Tanaka Bingbu Daisuke.But they didn't show up at all due to other affairs, which may also be the reason why Xiuci felt so helpless. Xiuci wept while listening to the pipa.After a long time, he turned to his wives and concubines with tears on his face, looked at each of them carefully, and then waved to Agong who was only fourteen years old, "Come here, Agong...you look the most lovely tonight."

Agong is the daughter of Mrs. Yutai, who inherited the blood of Gongqing, beautiful and elegant. "Yes." Ah Gong leaned on Xiuci's lap, gently wiping away his tears.Xiuci, on the other hand, stared at her with red eyes.The other wives and concubines were afraid that Xiuci would go crazy after drinking, so they didn't dare to breathe, and waited by the side trembling. "The time to part with you is coming soon." Xiuci said softly, "My life is coming to an end. The palace will confer a knighthood on Hideyori in August, of course I am different from him."

"Ugh……" "The fire of my life is about to go out, you and I are just a dream..." "How could my lord...it's so sad." "You have always been obedient, so I told you... In fact, Taige has always wanted to get you by his side." "This……" "Don't be afraid. Taige is more lustful than me. He didn't expect that a beauty like you would become my concubine and even lose his temper because of it. You probably don't know it yet." "I have heard a little..." "Tai Ge scolded me for bringing you mother and child into the house together, it's not as good as a beast. He slapped me while scolding me."

"..." "After I die, you will have to hug the white-haired Taige with these jade hands, and you will also be forced to kiss that old man, wrapping around him like a vine to act like a spoiled child... Can you do this?" At some point, the sound of the pipa stopped, and the surroundings were deadly silent. "Why don't you answer me, Ah Gong? You know that I love you the most, so I told you all this. Did you hear that?" Agong stuck to Xiuci stiffly.She is still young, and she can neither flatter a man nor know how to play tricks.But Xiuji's question is really difficult to answer.If you say "can", Xiuci will be furious; if you say "no", Xiuci will kill her with his own hands.

"Agong, why don't you call me back?" "This..." Ah Gong could only be vague.If the prevarication passes, Xiuci will feel pity and change the topic. "What do you mean? Is it possible or not?" The drunk Xiuci became more and more stubborn, "Please explain clearly to me. I can't hear you!" "Yes Yes." "What is it! I can't understand. I ask if you can hug that white-haired old man and kiss that wrinkled man?" Xiuci raised his hand and hit Agong on the head.Like a bird in a strong wind, Ah Gong turned her face away, trembling all over.Xiuci immediately turned her face towards him, "Say it quickly! Say what you think!"

Agong's innocent face had already lost all color, perhaps because she was overly frightened, all the blood in her body seemed to be drained. "Why don't you say it? Don't you dare to say it?" "No...not...not..." "Then tell me quickly! After I die, Taige will definitely take you away." "At that time... then..." "How? Say it!" "Since...suicide, go with the adults." Xiuci let go of Agong's neck abruptly, tears streaming down his face.Everyone thought that Agong's helpless answer temporarily eased Hideji's anger, and they breathed a sigh of relief.With a sad face on his face, Xiuci gently slipped his hand from Agong's shoulder. "Oh? Come with me?"

"yes." "Okay then, bring me the knife!" "Knife?" "Instead of committing suicide at that time, I would kill you with my own hands." The cruelest scene finally came, and everyone in the room panicked. "Here comes the knife." To everyone's surprise, Ah Gong took the knife with firm steps and handed it to Xiuji.Perhaps, the little bird has seen through that he is doomed.With a dull expression on his face, Xiuci suddenly drew out the knife like sleepwalking, and stood up unsteadily.His whole body exuded a murderous aura, tears were still streaming down his eyes, and the lamplight reflected that ghostly shadow on the curtain behind him. Ah Gong's mother hesitated to speak on the imperial platform.She knew that if she was careless, Xiuci would be annoyed and the situation would be even more difficult to deal with. "Agong, you are lying!" "No, my concubine is not lying." "No, you are lying, I know it very well!" "No, I don't dare." Ah Gong turned around and clasped his hands together.However, Xiuji didn't even look at her - Gong wanted to live, not just Gong, everyone wanted to live. "What do you say, let me go, is there really someone in the world who is willing to die with me? No, not at all!" "No, the concubine has already thought about it. Please do it, sir." "You have no choice but to be forced by me to have nowhere to escape... If this is the case, Xiuci has already prepared." "My lord, please let the concubine go on the road first." "You really want to die?" The people around couldn't bear it any longer and started to sob.Everyone thought that Xiuci would kill Ah Gong, but tonight, Xiuci didn't want to kill anyone, but just wanted to express his sorrow.He threw the knife, "A Shizhi, bring me the teapot on the shelf." A Shizhi next to the royal platform was taken aback, and hurriedly raised his head.She was born in the capital, and she is thirty years old. She is a middle-aged lady, and she is good at singing "the song of today". "My lord, is that the teapot that was sent from Fushimi Castle today?" "That's right, it's the jug that Nayasuke Zaemon brought all the way from Luzon... I heard that Taiko sold such a jug to various daimyos at a high price in Fushimi Castle." "Yes, please wait a moment, my lord." A Shizhi hurriedly took a clay pot five or six inches high and four inches in diameter from the shelf, but Xiuji pressed the pot with a knife in his hand, "I heard that Dashan is for To please Taige, he actually bid two hundred gold to buy this pot." "This pot is worth two hundred taels of gold?" "Why, you don't think it's worth it?" "A concubine is worthless." "Why is it not worth it? Look at the waist of this pot, does it look like that old man's neck? It's not only worth two hundred gold, it's worth one thousand taels of gold!" "Maybe, after all, it was finally obtained from Luzon all the way." "Move to the right." "yes." "I'll let this jug die for Agong today." Xiuci was still standing unsteadily just now, but suddenly swung his knife and slashed towards him. "Ah!" Ah Gong couldn't help shouting.When the knife landed on her body, there was only a thud, and the blue shirt was split from the armpit to the shoulder, revealing her snow-white skin.She immediately fell to the ground on her back.Yi Yutai hurriedly stepped forward to pick up his daughter.In fact, Ah Gong was not injured, the knife just tore her clothes.Seeing that her daughter was safe, Yitai yelled and passed out. The mother and daughter were taken as concubines by the same man...Compared to the daughter, the mother feels more humiliated as a royal.Seeing that her daughter was safe and sound, her nervous heart suddenly relaxed, and she passed out.Although Xiuci's eyes were full of murder, he shouted in horror: "What's going on? Did I kill Ah Gong?" "No, no." A Shizhi hurriedly protected a mother and daughter from the royal platform. Hideji stretched out the knife in front of A Shizhi, "Since there is no one, why did Yitai fall to the ground? This is clearly a mockery of me on purpose. I will never spare her! I will kill her!" "My lord...Please be merciful, my lord. Ichigotai is just... just overly frightened." "Back off, everyone! As soon as I say something, I will kill you. Neither mother nor daughter will be left behind!" Xiuci raised his foot to kick A Shizhi away.At this moment, Bupo Banzuo, who had been silent all this time, stood up suddenly and stood in front of him. "My lord, please be merciful." The companion has an unusual charm, he is seventeen this year.Just as Mori Ranmaru is to Nobunaga, the companion is also Shuji's inseparable favorite. "Ban, why did you stop me?" "My lord, you are too unreasonable." "I'm unkind?" "Yes. As Guan Bai, you must not act like this. All the women here rely on Guan Bai, and they are all weak and unarmed women." "Your words sound interesting, Ban, so you can resist?" "Your Excellency, don't change the subject. You have also seen that everyone is terrified. Please put the knife away." "Ban, draw your sword!" "grown ups!" "Okay, I'll listen to you. But you have to replace them." "grown ups……" "Hmph! I want to kill everyone in this world, all of them! No one can understand the sadness in my heart... You don't have to worry about it. If your knife can kill me, just kill me." "My lord, please calm down." The companion's voice was powerful and awe-inspiring, "My lord's nonsense shows that Taige's views are correct... Future generations will surely laugh at your irrelevant magnanimity." "I've thought of this a long time ago, just laugh at it! I don't care about my reputation anymore. Draw your sword, Ban! Xiuci is completely insane after being bullied by his uncle. It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. I, Xiuci..." The companion stretched out his left hand to hold Hideji's right arm.Gradually, his eye circles also turned red.He had expected that Xiuci would have an accident after drinking, but he felt even more sad.If a person is ruthlessly abandoned by the person he trusts most, he will become unscrupulous and extremely frantic.Hideyoshi is what Hideyoshi trusts the most, but Hideyoshi hates Hideyoshi from the bottom of his heart... These things are beyond comprehension. Mrs. Nishimaru, Ishida Mitsunari, Masuda Changsheng and others really regarded Hideji as a stumbling block.Even so, as long as Xiuci acts cautiously, it is not impossible to reverse the situation.However, all good opportunities were wasted by himself. The companion believes that everything is due to Hideyoshi's words - soon, he will go from North Korea to conquer Daming, let Hideji be the king of Joseon, or go to Daming to serve as Guanbai, these words make Hideyoshi full of doubts.Not only that, but whenever the battle situation was unfavorable later, the rumors of wanting Xiuci to go to war became rampant, which undoubtedly deepened Xiuci's suspicion.Taige knows that this is an unwinnable war, but he still wants to drive me to North Korea and let me kill myself there... Xiuci is getting deeper and deeper. "Okay, Ban, you seem to understand Hideji's distress. Pull out your sword! Pull out your sword, and chop as you like. Let's see if I will be killed by you, or you will be hacked to death by me..." The companion didn't answer, but just congratulated Ah Hu to another servant boy: "Ah Hu, hurry up and get the mother and daughter of the imperial platform to another room." "Want to fight adults?" "Quick! How can we go on like this? Once something happens, it will be terrible, let the women retreat quickly." "Understood." Ah Hu immediately got up and carried a dais on his back, while Sankuro Yamada hurried forward to pick up Ah Gong, and everyone hurriedly retreated. "Quick, get back..." When the companion ordered everyone, Hideji still had a dull expression, and threw himself on the companion.The women all stood up and left in a hurry, like flowers knocked down by the wind and rain.In fact, all this didn't happen only tonight. This kind of situation often happens recently, and every night's banquet ends like this. After everyone retreated, the hall was empty, only rows of candlesticks, and messy cups and plates, which made people feel like they were alive after a catastrophe. "Okay, everyone is leaving. Come on, Ban, you and I will fight!" Xiuci yelled. "Please forgive the villain for being rude!" The companion punched Hideji in the side.Xiuci fell silently to the ground.Only then did the companion sit down gently beside him.Zahe Ahu and Yamada Sankuro just rushed back, and they were shocked when they saw each other.They never thought of calming down the situation by attacking their master. "Ban, is it appropriate for you to do this?" Ah Hu asked uneasily, "If my lord wakes up, I'm afraid he will be even more furious." "Hey! In this case, why not..." the companion said, "I have thought about it carefully. The time has come for us to make mistakes for the adults." "What nonsense are you talking about? Ban! It's still too early to conclude that Taiko's knot can't be solved. On the 26th of last month, when three adults, Ishida Jibu, Nagatsu Masaka and Masuda Changmori, came to question him, Didn’t your lord already write a seven-page affidavit and hand it over to them... that must have worked. Since then, Fushimi Castle has never made things difficult for your lord..." The companion raised his hand to interrupt San San Lang, with deep sadness hidden in his eyes, "The oath is useless now." "Why?" "This is just a prelude to the execution of your lord." "You... how do you know, buddy?" "Even the important ministers are no longer close to the lord, and they all left tonight with excuses. This is the evidence that everyone has completely abandoned Guan Bai. Can't you see it?" "All the important ministers have abandoned your lord?" "Of course. At the beginning, these people took advantage of Guan Bai's prestige to constantly incite you, and suggested that you stick to Juledi. Afterwards, they suggested attacking Fushimi in one fell swoop, or simply sending troops to Omi Sakamoto to wipe out all of Japan. Divided into two, the decisive battle with Taige and so on. But, they have all become dumb now." After finishing speaking, the companion took a silk scarf and gently covered Xiuci's face.Xiuci's face was pale and haggard, making it unbearable to witness, "Nowadays, the important ministers are divided into three factions, one of which is to find ways to escape from the adults in order to save their own lives." "There is such a despicable villain?" "Some people think that since there is no hope, it is better to accompany the adults to die... In this way, at least the children and grandchildren will not be convicted." "Is there another kind of person?" "It is to secretly report all the actions of the adults to the Taige, and ask for credit and reward." "I will never spare such people!" The companion ignored it and continued: "When your lord wakes up tomorrow morning, we will persuade you to donate money to the palace." The other two were taken aback, "Donate money to the officials? It's this time, will the court still support you?" The lights of the candlesticks had been burned out one by one, and the shadows of the three servant boys swayed in the empty hall, and the whole hall was filled with a strange atmosphere. "Is this your idea, Ban?" Thirty Lang aggressively approached Ban Zuo. The companion shook his head lightly, "I overheard this when the old Daisuke Tanaka and the heavy minister Hitarusuke Kimura had a secret conversation." "Eavesdropping?" "I also know it's wrong to do this, but because I was worried about your safety, I eavesdropped." "What did Master Tanaka say?" "If you donate money to the imperial court, the Taige will use this as an excuse to send your lord to Fushimi for execution, so be careful..." "Did Master Tanaka reveal this?" The companion did not answer, but only said: "If your lord mentions donating money, will you strongly discourage it, or will you fully support it?" "Full support, isn't it a betrayal of the master?" "No!" The companion shook his head, "This is Lord Tanaka's kindness. His Excellency donated money to the court, and the Taige had long regarded it as an act of his lord to win over the court and intend to rebel. The Taige wanted to put the Lord to death. Therefore, my lord might as well come out by surprise." "Surprise?" "This is the only way to save your life. Your lord can donate money to the imperial court and ask for the dismissal of Guan Bai. He says he can't bear to work all day long and wants to resign from his official position and go to the Qingyan Temple of the Dazheng Office. In this way, once the imperial court agrees, Taige can no longer endanger your life. This is their secret talk." "What did Tsuchirokusuke Kimura say?" "I didn't hear Mr. Kimura's answer clearly. But they haven't mentioned this matter to him so far, maybe they think it's useless to talk about it." "Do you want to persuade adults to donate money?" "Yes. If your lord doesn't listen, I'll advise you to commit suicide and I will personally intervene for him." After speaking, the companion gave Zhe Ahu a wink, and the two gently hugged Xiuci. "Quickly, help your lord to go to the bedroom." "I see." "The Taige has long wanted to capture the evidence of your lord's rebellion..." After the two left, San San Lang was still sitting there alone in a daze, his grief getting stronger and stronger. "Come here! The banquet is over, clean up." After sitting for nearly half an hour, San Sanlang called the night watchman loudly.When San Sanlang walked into the partition of the bedroom, there were bursts of weeping in Xiuci's room. It was the weeping of Xiuji who had just woken up, and it was heart-piercing.Did the companion say something to him again? If she wakes up and finds no one around, Hideji will find it difficult to fall asleep.Sometimes, he would even ask for three or four other couches to be placed next to the couch, and let the women take turns staying with him overnight.Before falling out with Taige, he was not so sick.Although he was wasting his youth desperately at that time, he still knew self-discipline, and even painstakingly practiced martial arts and studied knowledge.However, as the relationship with the Taige deteriorated, all efforts went to waste in an instant.He was completely changed, drinking, irritable, doing whatever he wanted, and losing all humanity between his pillows and quilts.He became more ferocious than the devil, cruel and inhuman, and extremely vicious. Tonight, Xiuci didn't share a room with a woman, but just cried endlessly in the room with his partner.Zahe Ahu pricked up his ears, wanting to hear what the two of them were talking about.The crying continued for a long time, only to hear Hideji say: "Ban, this is too cruel." "Please forgive me, my lord." "Everyone abandoned me." "The villain made up his mind to tell the adults that if he doesn't tell the adults, it is disloyal." "Well said...but I don't think it's a good way to do it." "Aren't you just going to sit and wait like this?" "Yeah, what can I do if I don't listen to you? I'll call Muto Sakyo early tomorrow morning and let him go to the palace." The companion began to sob again. "Is it okay to ask Ichirotai's father to offer three thousand ingots of silver?" "It's up to adults to decide." "This is life-saving money for my whole family... Your idea is very thoughtful." "grown ups!" "Then I rushed to Koyasan immediately to show that there is no difference. How?" "Yes, that's the only way. We can only act according to Daisuke Tanaka's military department." "Okay, that's it. If I kill the whole family because of me, God will not forgive me." "My lord, I have one more request..." "you say." "Although this is a secret between us, should Tokugawa make it clear so that they can help?" "Having said that, Da Nayan is not in the capital now, do you want to tell the lieutenant general?" Zahe Ahu squatted down and listened attentively.He finally understood that it seemed that Xiuci had made up his mind to leave Juledi and become a monk.He first asked Ju Ting Qingji, the father of a royal platform, to present three thousand ingots of silver to the court to keep his wife and children safe.Since Guan Bai wanted to become a monk at Qingyan Temple, no matter how unwilling Hideyoshi was, he would not be able to kill him.If the imperial court were to say a few more kind words, maybe they would leave some territory for Xiuci's five-year-old son-in-law, Senchiyo, to maintain his livelihood. "If Master Tokugawa is willing to help, it will be even more beneficial." Companion said. These matters should be considered by the important officials, but now they have their own ghosts and keep silent.In fact, even if they said it, Xiuji would not listen to it.It is very appropriate that this matter should be said by the companion. "You also think it's best to raise this matter with Xiuzhong?" "Yes. Although the lieutenant general can't help, there is Lord Da Nayan behind him. We can ask the lieutenant general to ask Da Nayan to give us a few words of kindness... In this way, it will be more beneficial..." The companion's voice became lower and lower, and gradually disappeared.Zahe Ahu nodded vigorously while listening, this is indeed a good idea.Everyone knows that Hideyoshi has always looked at Ieyasu differently.It is also true that Ieyasu's son Xiuzhong is now in the capital, and he is very close to Xiuji.You can call Xiuzhong, tell him clearly, and beg his father Jiakang to help.As long as Ieyasu and the court come forward, it will be of great help. "Bring Xiuzhong here?" Xiuci's voice came from inside again, "But Xiuzhong hasn't shown his face recently. However, he would not refuse to call him in the name of playing chess." "Yes, if you invite him to a banquet, he probably won't come. But if you invite him to play chess, he will definitely agree." "Then it's settled like this. I'm tired too... I really want to get out of this boundless sea of ​​suffering one day sooner." "The villain understands the mood of adults very well." "If I become a monk, all my retainers don't need to become wanderers. Why didn't I think of it before?" Zahe Ahu burst into tears unknowingly.Although this plan is not perfect, it can be regarded as a ray of hope for Xiuci and others who are in a dilemma.The tragedy of Xiuci was all because of sitting in the position of Guan Bai. It is really rare for such a person who has no opinion and drifts to sit in the position of Guan Bai.It is precisely because of a hero like Toyotomi Hideyoshi that Hideji's life will be involved in turbulent waves, unable to control himself... The puppet in the hands of the puppeteer has no will, but Xiuci is a person with will, but he can't break free from the string in Hideyoshi's hand, and he was born as a puppet in Hideyoshi's palm.He changed his surname to Hashiba at the age of eighteen, which was Hideyoshi's idea; Hideyoshi severely reprimanded him for the battle of Komaki Nagakute; Xiuci himself was always confused.The Battle of Kyushu, the Conquest of Oshu after the Battle of Odawara... Every time he went to the battlefield, Hideji was working hard, but he never thought of being Guan Bai.But after He Song's death, he became Toyotomi's heir in the blink of an eye, and was pushed to the supreme position of Guan Bai.When Hideyoshi sent troops from Nagoya, he was still in a dream. "Japan will be handed over to you." Hideyoshi solemnly asked him to write the affidavit and read it out in public.But Xiuci, as a Japanese Guanbai, can't even hunt freely. With Hideyoshi's birth, Hideyoshi has become a stumbling block and a thorn in the side of Hideyoshi.He was just a puppet from beginning to end, reprimanded, praised, recommended, and suppressed by Hideyoshi, and he was involuntarily charged with treason or treason, and was at the mercy of others. Xiuci gritted her teeth and looked around, and found that all she could do was drink and abuse women.He finally went to hell, realizing that uncle and nephew cannot coexist.Hideyoshi is like a jackal like a wolf, cruel and ruthless, his great achievements are at the cost of devouring the happiness of his relatives, this unworldly hero has countless corpses under his feet. Not long after, Bupo companion came out of the bedroom with red eyes.He glanced at Ah Hu and sat down silently next to each other. "Adult fell asleep?" "yes." "In this way, the adult's life can be regarded as a good end." The companion was silent.It's almost dawn.After dawn, the important ministers will gather together for the last discussion, but will they be able to do so? Neither of them moved, and they just sat in silence until dawn.