Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen

In the autumn of Tianwen's eighteenth year, it quietly descended on the capital.Toyotomi Hideyoshi has finished his business in Oshu and is about to arrive in Kyoto. Layman Lixiu, who returned to Juledi from Odawara one step earlier, sat quietly alone in a room that was only four and a half stacks in size and had entertained many famous names and tea masters.He neither sits in meditation here, nor lives here in peace. What should come is finally here!Faced with such strong anxiety, he began to think about the past.This trip to Odawara, Rikyu fell out of favor in front of Hideyoshi, which was due to the two people's different views on Date Masamune.Hideyoshi did not regard Date Masamune as a general military commander, nor did he regard it too highly.With his habit of optimism, he dismissed what Masamune did as nothing.Because Masamune was hesitant to come to Odawara, Hideyoshi was furious, so he cut off his title, donated 400,000 koku of Tsu to the Gamo family township, and enclosed Masamune in the land of 300,000 koku in Yonezawa.Rikyu disputes this.

Rikyu was called old and stubborn, not without reason, he unceremoniously stabbed Hideyoshi's self-esteem: "My lord, don't you think Date is a useful talent?" "What's the use! He just turned a blind eye to me!" "But I think that Date-sama is different from Gamo-sama." "Oh, you mean I lost my sight?" "Sometimes, adults do get it wrong." Lixiu was fearless.When the One Night Castle was first built, Masamune, who wholeheartedly opposed it, often asked Rikyu to mediate. "Tell me, what's the difference?" "Your Excellency favors Gamo-sama, and thinks that Gamo is better than Date. But I don't think so."

"However, Chusaburo said that Masamune is not easy to control." "That's right, but I think that my lord should know that after Kamo-sama goes to Xinling, he doesn't know the local people's conditions, and he will be manipulated by Date unknowingly." Having said that, Hideyoshi, who was always smiling, suddenly turned his face, patted the table and said, "Zongyi! Since when did you like politics? When did I allow you to talk about politics?" "Yes. However, Masamune asked me to deliver a message for him..." "Shut up! It seems that the rumors are true. It is said that you have taken advantage of Zhengzong to speak for him like this."

Having said that, Rikyu could no longer keep calm, he was even more angry than Hideyoshi.He had no guilt in his heart, but Hideyoshi misinterpreted him, making him unbearable: "My lord, when did I accept bribes from Mr. Date?" "Shut up! In terms of tea ceremony, Gamo and Date are indeed different. But, how dare you say that I was wrong!" "It is my lord who wants to observe Date carefully. Date is arrogant by nature and refuses to be inferior to others... I did not defend Lord Date, but just wanted to remind my lord that Yonezawa's 300,000 koku cannot satisfy him. Your lord Gamo was planted in Aizu, trying to contain Tokugawa and Date, but Gamo was controlled by Date instead. If it wasn't for this, there would have been riots already. The distance between the two places is so far away, wouldn't it be troublesome to adults..."

"Shut up!" Hideyoshi seemed to be a different person, "I will not be taught by you, step back!" "Yes. Your Excellency wants to leave, and I will leave. But I have one more word: Rikyu will never do things that go against his conscience for money. Please learn from me." "Hmph! That's what I'm scolding! Do you think I don't know anything? Back then, when I exiled Guxi monk from Dade Temple to Bodo, did you hold a farewell tea party for Guxi in Juledi?" Rikyu finally figured out who told Hideyoshi about it—it was Zongji! Hideyoshi continued to press: "You dare to invite the people who were exiled by me to Juledi. This is an unforgivable crime! What were you hanging in your room at that time?"

Rikyu was shocked.The monk Gu Xi of Dade Temple is his Zen master. He believes that Gu Xi did not fall out of favor with Hideyoshi for no reason but was at odds with Ishida Misunari and was victimized by Sancheng's slander.Rikyu is convinced that Hideyoshi's exile in Guxi was not intentional, so at the farewell tea party, he specially presented Hideyoshi's calligraphy of "the most famous thing in the world" Ikushima Xudo that Hideyoshi put elsewhere. "Hanging the calligraphy of Xutang." Lixiu said frankly. "Is the Xutang ink mark your property?"

"No, the adults entrusted them to keep them." "You still have the face to say it! You gave the sinner what I entrusted you to keep, and you put me in your eyes?" Rikyu finally understood the reason for Hideyoshi's anger, and was speechless for a while.Monk Guxi was granted an amnesty under the mediation of Lixiu, and had returned to Kyoto from Hakata before.If his words are inappropriate, it may be detrimental to Guxi.Thinking of this, Rikyu didn't want to argue with Hideyoshi anymore, and said: "I'm very sorry. At that time, I thought that the adults were generous, informal, and focused on the tea ceremony. That's why I did this. I really didn't think about it."

"No, it's because you don't pay attention to me at all. Go down!" Since then, Rikyu has lived in seclusion in his small temple in Yumoto, doing some fine work. It seems that the knot with Hideyoshi may not be untied for a while.He criticized Hideyoshi's confidant Gamo's hometown for being inferior to Date Masamune, and Hideyoshi of course couldn't bear it.Later, Rikyu learned from Oda Yule that someone seemed to have slandered him, saying that he had earned a lot of money while he was living in hibernation. Lixiu didn't explain much, he did make money.The slanderer probably refers to the fact that he sold flower tubes made of leeks and mangosteen bamboos to others when he was practicing.Of course, Rikyu also donated some to Hideyoshi, all of which are Hideyoshi's favorite Shakuhachi, Enjoji, Night Market, etc...

To be honest, Rikyu has never been able to truly understand Hideyoshi's temperament. Perhaps he has grasped nine out of ten, but he has overlooked the most terrifying point: Hideyoshi is open-minded on the outside, but has an unimaginable stubbornness in his heart.In other words, his indifference in wanting to transcend the world is only used to cover up his stubbornness.This terrible stubbornness must not be offended when Hideyoshi is at the peak of self-confidence.Mitsuhide once criticized Hideyoshi as an "ignorant man", and later he and Hideyoshi were like participating in business, and were eventually destroyed by Hideyoshi.Shibata Katsuya unintentionally mocked Hideyoshi as a "prosperous farmer", and later died in the fire.Nobuyoshi said that Hideyoshi "carried shoes for my mother", but he hated Hideyoshi, and soon suffered misfortune.

When Hideyoshi and Nobuo discussed the matter of Ieyasu's former collar, Nobuo once said: "I think Kanbai should know that Owari and Ise are the places that my family has passed down from generation to generation..." He was criticized for this.Of course, this is a trap set by Hideji, and I can only blame Nobuo for being too ignorant of himself.In this way, Lixiu made mistakes on top of mistakes. In addition to the problems of Masamune and Clan Township, there are also disputes over the color of the teacups, as well as personal relationships with sinners, interference in politics... In the vast sky, how can Lixiu stand on the right?

Rikyu sat in the four-fold hall and meditated.Although Hideyoshi is eager to win, he is unwilling to sit still.When Hideyoshi had a dispute with Rikyu about the color of the tea bowl, he once said, "Rikyu, just wait and see!" Perhaps he had already started to look for an opportunity to make a move at that time, and this has nothing to do with the size of the teacup. It is the weakness of human nature, and Rikyu unknowingly turned against the dragon scale.In addition, the dispute between the two is also related to Sakai Port and sending troops to North Korea. The Shimai Clan of Hakata was sent to North Korea to investigate in detail the situation of all armaments, favors and famous names there.The clan asked Saita Denemon, Motoyama Sukuemon, and some influential figures in Sakai Port to gather rice, wine, copper and iron, etc., in Gyeongsang, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Huanghai, and Jeolla in North Korea. While doing business, while inquiring, secretly brought back the news. Daming Kingdom is not as easy to conquer as Hideyoshi imagined.In case of a hard battle, even if all the manpower of Japan is invested, it may not be possible to win the vast Ming Dynasty.After the clan came back and reported the matter to Hideyoshi, Rikyu, who was waiting on the left and right, of course objected to sending troops and took the responsibility of admonishing him. It was at that time that he offended Hideyoshi and was not tolerated by Guan Bai. He was too careless, failed to see clearly the weakness of Hideyoshi's personality, and got angry many times, only then did he suffer today.During the Battle of Komaki, Ieyasu and Hideyoshi were tit for tat, but during the Battle of Odawara, Ieyasu was able to hide the hatred in his heart and eliminate the grudges between both sides.Rikyu realized now: "It seems that Tokugawa-sama is even better." "Father, sister is here." The voice of the adopted son Shao'an came from the yard. "A Yin is here? Tell her to come in!" Lixiu looked at the crackling fire, and suddenly felt dry mouth. "Father, is there no tea?" "Oh, I was thinking about something just now. How is it? Are the children okay?" "It's okay." Shao'an went out, and Ah Yin sat down, "Father, my daughter has encountered a problem. Tongkou Shijian, who is good at drums, came to me." "problem?" "Master Guan Bai wants me to go to his side." Ah Yin's lips were pale. Rikyu hastily turned his gaze elsewhere.He knew what Ah Yin wanted to say, so he could only avoid speaking.Seeing that his father was silent, Ah Yin couldn't say anything more. After a long time, Lixiu tried his best to calm down and said, "Where did Tongkoushi see you?" "Yes. You came back one step earlier than Mr. Guan Bai. It seems that Mr. Guan returned to Beijing on the first day of September." Tongkou Ishimi, who is good at drums, is also a person close to Hideyoshi, and he was with Rikyu when he was in Odawara.Because Mrs. De Dian likes Mrs. Shi Jian, he often attends banquets, so he must be able to get some news. "Father, Mr. Shi Jian refuses to say who maliciously slandered you." Lixiu shook his hand slowly, "I was thinking about this just now, no matter who is slandering, in short, the fate between me and Guan Bai is over." "The fate is over? Why?" "Father is too self-willed. Oh, what else did Shi Jian say? Only that the Lord wants you to go to him?" "No, there is something more worrying than this." Ah Yin leaned forward and said, "Master Guan Bai is angry with you." "Haha... Guan Bai's Wrath." "At that time, everyone present came forward to persuade him that this would never happen. You are Guan Bai's tea master. Without Guan Bai, there would be no you... and you have always been sincere and loyal to him." "Thank you for their persuasion. Guan Bai's tea master? Known all over the world because of Guan Bai's gift? Alas! Am I really at the point where I can't survive without Guan Bai?" "No, this was just to ease the atmosphere at the time. But later, someone offered advice to Guan Bai. He said, if he doubts you, why not ask you for a treasure." "Could it be you?" Lixiu asked in surprise. "Yes. If it's a tea set, you will definitely not hesitate. Therefore, this person suggested a living treasure, that is, a daughter." Having said this, Ah Yin sighed, "When Guan Bai heard this idea, he was overwhelmed. , kept nodding and said: If the layman has a different heart, he will definitely refuse." "Oh?" "So he decided to return to Beijing as soon as possible, hold a tea party, and raise this matter among the audience. Mr. Ishimi told his daughter these words." Rikyu closed his eyes, listening to the sound of water in the cauldron. Guanbai asked Rikyu to hand over his daughter in order to test whether Rikyu had a different intention.Normally, Rikyu would be very embarrassed, but this time he was surprisingly calm.Everything was expected, and he gradually realized that this was a means to force his family to die, and there seemed to be other plots hidden behind it. Recently, Mrs. Matsumaru and Mrs. Yodo have a tense relationship.Mrs. Matsumaru is more beautiful than Mrs. Yodo. Before she was married to Mrs. Yodo, Hideyoshi naturally doted on her, and she was born in the Kyogoku clan, so in terms of family background, she was by no means inferior to Mrs. Yodo. The two of them seem to be in harmony, but they are actually jealous of each other.After Tsurumatsumaru returned to Mrs. Yodo's side again, this confrontation became more intense.As long as Tsurumatsumaru is by Mrs. Yodo's side, Mrs. Matsumaru, who is a concubine, will always be under her.Therefore, Mrs. Matsumaru suddenly approached the Beizheng Office, wanting to take the opportunity to counterattack Mrs. Dian. Although Ah Yin is the adopted daughter of Rikyu, her biological father is the world-famous Matsunaga Hideo, so she can never become someone else's concubine.From this point of view, if Ah Yin also becomes a concubine, it is tantamount to adding a helper to Beizhengsuo and Mrs. Matsumaru.Ah Yin and Mrs. Dian are not close, but they have studied tea ceremony with Beizheng since they were young. "Father, Guan Bai will be back soon, if he raises this matter, what should my daughter do?" "..." "If father refuses, Guan Bai may forcefully ask for it. This is Shi Jian's opinion." "Oh……" "He will call his father and raise it in public at the first tea party when he comes back." Rikyu was still listening to the sound of water in the cauldron.After a while, he said softly, "This is your own problem. Do you want to serve him?" Ah Yin's face was pale, and he looked at his father with infinite resentment, how could this sound like what his father should say?Ah Yin tossed and turned last night, almost unable to sleep, thinking of his father. "What about you? Maybe the Beizheng Institute will like you." "Father, my daughter is asking for your opinion. I'm doing this for you, I don't want to serve anyone!" "Oh." Lixiu still closed his eyes, "So, you don't want Guan Bai to have resentment towards me, and to keep me safe, you go to serve me regardless of your own feelings?" Rikyu's voice was still so flat.But Ah Yin became excited: "That's right, you are already old, and my daughter doesn't want to see you get into trouble." "I see." "However, my daughter doesn't understand you." "Ayin, don't worry, who said that without Guan Bai, there would be no Lixiu?" "This……" "Well, let's not talk about this first, but this sentence made my father make a decision." "decision?" "Yes, I care about this statement. However, this statement is not unreasonable." "I don't understand what you're talking about..." "Don't worry. If I really died for the tea ceremony, it would be a well-deserved death. To Hideyoshi, I am a master of the tea ceremony, but to me, Hideyoshi is an unreasonable person." "..." "But that's not enough. I'm doing it for the tea ceremony." "For the tea ceremony?" "Yes. Whether there is Hideyoshi or not, the tea ceremony will always be a part of the world's life. If I don't do it, it will be just Kanbai's Rikyu... But if I mainly focus on the tea ceremony, then Kanbai is nothing more than a person who learns the tea ceremony. people." "what?" "Should we focus on the tea ceremony, or should we respect authority?" "But, father..." "I have decided, for the tea ceremony, why not fight with Guan Bai?" Lixiu opened his eyes wide and looked at Ah Yin with a smile. "Even if you fight with Guan Bai..." "I'll still lose to power, won't I? But if I win, I'll start the tea ceremony." "This……" "Ayin, refuse Master Guan Bai! Even if you really go to serve him, it will only tarnish the tea ceremony. Think about it, people like Qian Lixiu actually let their daughter be someone else's concubine... Whether it is true or not False, there will always be such rumors. At that time, even if I am safe and sound, it will shame the tea ceremony. I cannot give up the tea ceremony, even if I die, I must carry forward the tea ceremony. This is the meaning of my life." Rikyu's enthusiasm warmed Ah Yin's heart like a fire, and Ah Yin began to get to know his father again.Logically speaking, his ideas are not rigid.Hideyoshi ruled the world, Rikyu was good at tea ceremony.In this way, even Monk Guxi will respect his father.However, as a daughter, Ah Yin does not respect her father for this reason. Hideyoshi has always believed that everyone in the world should act according to his wishes, and he Hideyoshi is the law of heaven, goodness, and justice.Hideyoshi does have something special.However, he is too attached to himself, and if anyone conflicts with him, he will mercilessly get rid of it.However, there is still one person in the world that makes him helpless, and that is Tokugawa Ieyasu. Rikyu is determined to confront Hideyoshi.Once Hideyoshi gets angry, he will end it all with killing.However, Ah Yin's respect and affection for his father did not come from this. "Father, I understand how you feel..." Ah Yin said cautiously, "A truly smart person should know how to protect himself in disputes." "Self-protection in disputes?" "Yes. Is there a better way than this?" Lixiu smiled, but his eyes showed sadness, "No, Ah Yin, you are wrong. You can survive by self-preservation, but the best way to survive is to fight when you are fighting." "Master Guan Bai wanted to kill you because he had the same idea." "Yes! If no one is willing to give in, then I will win." Lixiu raised his head and pondered, "He has power, but I am weak. Once the opponent fights, he will lose. Ah Yin, from today onwards, I will Beyond the world of Zen." After speaking, Rikyu sang his favorite song of the monk Cizhen: "If the breath stays in the heart, it will be the bridge to cross the world." The singing is full of the sorrow of those who promote the tea ceremony and live for the tea ceremony.Rikyu seems to want to take a step away from this song and enter the realm of "everything is in its own hands". Ah Yin knew that once his father made up his mind, he would not waver.She was at a loss, after all, she was just a girl. "Father..." Ah Yin wanted to say something, but was too sad to speak for a long time.Father Rikyu is doomed to a bloodbath.Ah Yin couldn't bear it any longer, bent down and began to cry.