Chapter 7 Chapter Seven

Hashiba Hideyoshi sent a secret envoy to Ishikawa Shuzheng to tell him that preparations for Asahihime's marriage had been made.This was the fourth day when Hideyoshi led an army of 100,000 troops to conquer Kishu—the 25th day of March in the thirteenth year of Tensho. Hideyoshi first entered Kishiwada Castle on the 21st, and sent his younger brother Hashiba Nagon Hidecho and nephew Miyoshi Nagon Hideji to attack Senshibori built by the disciples of Nerai Temple, and then sent the coalition forces of Takayama, Nakagawa, and Tsutsui to directly attack Nerai Temple, sent Hosokawa Tadakashi and Gamo's Township to attack Jizen Temple.

On the 23rd, Genlai Temple was burned down.On the 24th, Fenhe Temple was also reduced to scorched earth. The battle report has been notified by Nobuo to Shuzheng, so Shuzheng himself is going to Hamamatsu to ask Tokugawa Ieyasu for instructions.Hideyoshi once said that Ieyasu's own son, Ugimaru, would join the team in the attack on Kishu.Therefore, when the battle has made some progress, Shuzheng should also lead a certain number of soldiers and join the team commanded by Yu Yimaru. But this time, the envoy sent by Hideyoshi spoke to his retainers in a tone that did not mention Yu Yimaru's expedition at all, only said that Asahihime's marriage was ready, and asked Ieyasu how the situation was.

Shuzheng sent the envoy away with a smile, and urged the horse to go straight to Hamamatsu.Hideyoshi decided to return triumphantly from Kishu, and the wedding of Asahi Hime and Ieyasu would be held immediately.However, since that day, Shuzheng has never mentioned Asahihime's marriage to Ieyasu.He knew that if he mentioned it casually, it would only increase Ieyasu's displeasure and complicate the matter, so he planned to tell Ieyasu when Hideyoshi urged him again: "As long as you marry Asahi, you don't need to go to Osaka." It seems a little wrong to do this!Hideyoshi should be asked about marrying Asahihime and Ugimaru Chuzheng, so there is no need to hide it from Ieyasu now.In fact, the situation is not very serious, and Ieyasu has no intention of fighting Hideyoshi at all.Along the way, Shuzheng was a little worried at first, but he firmly believed that he would get Ieyasu's approval in the end, so he was relieved.

The cherry blossoms have been scattered everywhere, and the ground seems to be covered with a soft pink and white blanket.It would be even better if he could talk more with Zuo Zuo, but since he has that kind of attitude, forget it!Suzheng entered Hamamatsu City with this feeling in mind. A group of newly armed troops were gathering in the city, and they didn't know where they were going. "Hey, where is this going?" "My lord is going to visit Koshu." "Hey, Kishu is at war, why did my lord leave Hamamatsu Castle?" Suzheng hurried to Ieyasu full of suspicion.

Ieyasu in military uniform was talking to the monk.Shuzheng was taken aback. Didn't that person escape from Genlai Temple? "Oh, the number is right, you came just in time. I am going to inspect Shinano via Koshu." Ieyasu said bluntly. It's difficult to count, and I don't know how to answer it properly.It is obviously inappropriate to cover the enemy attacked by Hideyoshi. This may threaten Yu Yimaru, isn't it a big deal? "I have something to tell my lord right away." "Oh? Then, let me say first, this is actually a monk from Nagenlai Temple."

Shuzheng was silent and noncommittal. "They used to be our allies, and they were hunted down by Hideyoshi. It would be too disrespectful if I refused to save them! I happened to meet him escaping from the battlefield, so I thought he would stay in Hamamatsu. You understand ?” As Ieyasu was speaking, the monk in his early thirties bowed his head respectfully and was accompanied by Masanobu Honda. "Master, why did you suddenly decide to go to Koshu?" "While Hideyoshi is not here!" Ieyasu said nonchalantly, "Do you think Hideyoshi has no other intentions other than attacking Kishu? He is not such a simple person. I am sure he will harass my weakest defense. Therefore, I am going to Konobu patrols and consolidates the defense. When Hideyoshi returns to Osaka triumphantly, I will return to Hamamatsu."

"Oh, I'm relieved that way. But, from Neraiji..." "Shuzheng, although I avoided direct confrontation with Hideyoshi, I did not submit to him! As for Hideyoshi's enemies, I rescued them as a matter of course. I heard from the people at Nerai Temple that this time, there is nothing Nagasou can do. Nobuo is also powerless. In this way, who else in the world can rescue them, but me? Why would I care about Hideyoshi?" Ieyasu said, and laughed, "This person Hideyoshi, if you persist in fighting with him, you will win, and if you compromise, you will lose."

Shuzheng listened, dumbfounded.He thought to himself, this would make it even more difficult to shift the topic to the matter of Asahi Ji.But if you don't seize this opportunity, you may not have the chance to talk about it in the future. "My lord, in fact, I came today to ask you for instructions on two things." "Oh, one thing is to visit Yu Yimaru and join him in the first conquest?" "yes." "What about the other one?" "It's a matchmaker." "Matchmaker? For whom?" "Be a matchmaker between Hideyoshi's younger sister Asahihime and the lord."

"Numbers are correct! The last thing you said is too early. Now you have to go to Osaka first, take Yu Yiwan with him, and accompany him in the first expedition. As for the marriage, we will talk about it when we come back." Jiakang said casually, and was about to go. Shuzheng has never been so embarrassed as it is today.According to the secret conversation with Zuozuo, he told Hideyoshi that Ieyasu had agreed.Now it seems that it was indeed too reckless, and even involved in a conspiracy.Of course, Ieyasu did not underestimate Hideyoshi's strength. "My lord!" Shuzheng hurriedly stopped Ieyasu, "It seems that Hideyoshi has officially sent an envoy to propose marriage."

"Whether to prepare is his business, whether to agree or not is my business. I have my own opinion, don't bother with him!" "What if you do this and start a war?" "Impossible!" Ieyasu seemed confident, "According to my estimation, after he conquered Kishu, he would then clean up the Shikoku. During this period, Hideyoshi had no energy left to attack me. The problem is that when he turned to attack Kyushu... I already It's decided to make Hideyoshi restless." "..." "Do you know, I'm going. Get out of here quickly, go back to Okazaki, and make careful plans for Yuyi Maru. When you're away, I will order Zuo Zuo to patrol Okazaki."

"Alas!" Shuzheng yelled, but there was no better way to stop Ieyasu.Ieyasu's judgment of the situation seems to be correct, but Shuzheng doesn't know when it started, and fell into fear of Hideyoshi. However, Ieyasu's strategy is to confront Hideyoshi and make Hideyoshi hate him. How intriguing is this!Before this, Sakuzuo had said to Susho that if this strategy is used, the situation will gradually change in favor of Ieyasu, and the ending can be predicted from Hideyoshi's character. Shuzheng stood in a daze for a while, catching up a few steps, but in front of him was only the team that had already set off.This is really bad! In fact, the longer Asahihime's marriage is delayed, the better for Ieyasu.Instead, Hideyoshi had to be patient.He forced Saji Hinata to separate from his beloved wife, causing his brother-in-law to commit suicide.The world will ask: Why did Hideyoshi marry Ieyasu in this marriage?And why did Ieyasu coldly refuse?These questions in the world are very unfavorable to Hideyoshi. Ishikawa Suzumasa participated in these erroneous schemes. Suzumasa himself and the people around him felt that he had become Hideyoshi's vassal.However, this was also a big mistake for Hideyoshi. Shuzheng quickly left Hamamatsu and returned to Okazaki.On the way, he said to himself several times: "I, Ishikawa Shumasa, is a retainer of the Tokugawa family. Since this series of actions is not good for Hideyoshi, I have made great achievements?" No reduction. By the time we arrived in Okazaki, it was already the April day of Yingge Yanwu.He immediately led more than 500 people to Osaka, accompanied Yu Yimaru from Osaka to Kishu, and waited at Hideyoshi who was busy setting up the formation.He caught up with Hideyoshi and said something about the smooth march and the victory. In Zaga's tent, when Hideyoshi saw Shuzheng, he squinted his eyes and smiled. "Oh, it's great that you're here, I have something to tell you." He handed the helmet he was proud of to his valet, and wiped his sweat with his chest open, "The number is right, Kishu has already received it, It has also stabilized, and in four or five days, I can go back to Osaka. Then I will fight Shikoku.” His attitude suddenly changed, and his face was very serious. "The more than ten people I didn't kill this time, including Aizenyuan, Genlai Dashan, Yongfuyuan, and Iquanfang, all went to Ieyasu." "Hey, I don't know anything about this." "Oh? You really don't know? Maybe you're not here." "Yes, I left Okazaki on the 25th of last month." "There is one more thing that we must pay attention to. I heard that Hokuriku's Sasa Naruma also went to Ieyasu, do you know?" "I don't know about that either." "That's good. Ieyasu has already regarded you as Hideyoshi's person, and I'm afraid he deliberately concealed it from you." "How could this be?" "You said there is no need to do this? The number is right, haha." Hideyoshi laughed happily, "Ieyasu has already decided?" "My lord said..." "He has already decided to give me Hashiba Hideyoshi a problem." Hideyoshi said nonchalantly, but he almost stopped breathing when he heard the count.All he could think about was how he would answer Hideyoshi if he asked about the marriage.But he never expected that Hideyoshi would say Dawai's words. "Since this is the case, it must be a waste of effort to send you to the Asahi matter!" "Ah!" Shuzheng seemed to be struck by lightning, and even his voice changed. "Therefore, when I pacify the Four Kingdoms, I can make the Tokugawa family disappear from this world. The time is probably... mid-July. But I must pay attention first and then send soldiers. I will not send troops to conquer him suddenly, but send envoys first. Go ask him to come to Osaka Castle. This is the last step.” Hideyoshi was still smiling, “But, you have done these things for me, and I will take you in. Once I decide to use force, you will come here. If you don’t come sooner, Fear of life! Ieyasu thinks too naively of me! Hahaha." When he said this, he drank the barley tea brought by his servants in one gulp. "Master Neifu!" Shu Zheng said in a daze.The time he was most worried about had come.Ieyasu refused to back down even a single step, and Hideyoshi completely saw through Ieyasu's mind, and the time to decide the fate of the Tokugawa clan was in mid-July! "Master Neifu!" Shuzheng yelled again, suddenly felt as if he was caught between two boulders, made a "click" sound, and was about to be crushed—I was stupid, I couldn't figure it out Here is a good way. Hideyoshi and Ieyasu seem to be heterogeneous in terms of Jisho.These are clods of soil that have been deformed by the surrounding pressure, and Hideyoshi and Ieyasu are forged Western iron.Shuzheng felt sad that he couldn't get away. After all, the sentence "I am a member of the Tokugawa family" has been deeply rooted in his heart, and he can't get rid of it. "Please reconsider? Otherwise, the number is positive...it's too miserable." "Hey," Hideyoshi chuckled, "I said, before war breaks out, I will take you in." "Sorry! Shuzheng is definitely not someone who can stand between the lord and the lord of the inner palace and promote the development of the situation. Compared with the two lords, I am a small person... yes, like an insect." "Your words are really puzzling, and the number is positive." "However, this insect also has humble intentions. With this humble intention, at least Shuzheng will not let the two adults fight. Otherwise, it will bring disaster to the people of the world, so I am doing my best." "Shuzheng, I understand this, so I pulled Asahi in. Instead, Ieyasu used it as a shield against me, trying to make Hideyoshi a laughing stock in the world. My patience has a limit. If he plays tricks, how can I not?" Let it go?" "I don't need to tell you about this matter. My lord thinks that by doing this, war can be avoided. The adults of the inner court should also understand this." "Hmph! It's because I understand that I decided not to tolerate him anymore!" Hideyoshi severely reprimanded the bodyguard who was entering the tent, "I haven't finished my words, no one wants to come in!" "Master Neifu," Shuzheng seemed to feel that the gentle spring breeze blowing green sprouts had also become an illusory wind, "please allow this little insect to make another effort to convince my lord! If you can't convince me, I will be a fool." Please give me a chance!" Shuzheng begged frequently, and felt that there seemed to be another Shuzheng next to him, looking indifferently at himself who was crying and nodding, insisting on giri. "Susho, what are you going to do now?" Another Susei said, "Neither Hideyoshi nor Ieyasu are people who can be matched by your efforts. They don't take into account and understand your feelings at all. Individuals are based on the will of those who follow me to prosper and those who go against me to perish, and use all means to develop their own great cause." Another Suzumasa, who insisted on giri and was stubborn, heard this voice and stubbornly bit Hideyoshi and would not let go—if you don't deceive Hideyoshi at this time and turn the situation for the better, your life will be meaningless.Perhaps it was because of this unruly will that Ling Shuzheng gritted his teeth and said, "I will definitely make this marriage a success. Please wait a little longer, my lord." Hideyoshi said nothing. "If Xiaochong is strong-willed, he can also change the general situation of the world. If you don't see this, you are not a real general. Now, the peace of the world is the voice of all the people. For this hope, you must be more tenacious now. I must do my best in the future. With the strength, go on firmly!" This is not something that can be solved by crying.What face, reputation, number orthodoxy does not care.He is like a crazy praying mantis, waving its front paws, trying to hold the void. Hideyoshi finally laughed and said: "Haha, I got it, I got it, the number is right!" "My lord really understands my painstaking efforts?" "Understood, now I fully understand. The father-in-law by the roadside will also be moved!" "Thank you, my lord! Hearing what your lord said, I feel that my work is not in vain." "Ieyasu has such a good retainer! You must be worried. If I ask about Asahi Hime, you don't know how to answer. I just know that you are anxious about this, so I want to let you relax. Don't worry, I I didn't get angry." Hideyoshi said, his eyes were a little red, and he laughed heartily again. Shuzheng lowered his head: This is great! He thought so, but felt that another number was teasing him maliciously, which made him unbearable. "Ishikawa is counted, you have carried a burden of justice to Hideyoshi again! You want to lie to Hideyoshi, but Hideyoshi can bear it, not to mention that Hideyoshi has seen from the beginning that you are as cowardly as a mouse!" In this way, Shuzheng had no choice but to be sandwiched between two boulders, show them without giving in, and there was no other way.He did not know why but shed tears. "Okay, I will entrust the Asahi affairs to you for the time being." Hideyoshi showed a grateful and proud look, "But, I don't want you to force it. I completely trust your sincerity, so you can relax." "Sorry, I'll take my leave." Shu Zheng hurriedly got up and walked out of the barracks, he didn't want another Shu Zheng to see his ugliness. Once outside, the scorching sun heats up the helmet, and the wind blows through the green leaves, bringing a pleasant coolness. Xiukang, who had already greeted him, had someone set up a big paulownia-patterned tent on a hill about two towns away from here, and was resting inside.He is no longer from the Tokugawa family, but Hashiba Mikawa Mori Hideyasu. Shuzheng walked directly towards the big tent, but suddenly stopped in his tracks.There is a narrow path on the right between the cherry trees, which is full of greenery.He took this path unintentionally, probably because he was restless, and he seemed afraid of seeing Yoshimaru, Katsuchiyo, and Senchiyo. The blue sky is as beautiful as washing.Shu Zheng gazed at the sky above his head through the green shade, and sat down on a tree stump by the roadside.There was no place to tie the horses nearby, and there were no soldiers in sight.The number is sighing again and again.He became a praying mantis sandwiched between Ieyasu and Hideyoshi, not daring to move.This praying mantis just said unexpected bold words in front of Hideyoshi, but it didn't have the confidence to convince Ieyasu.Hideyoshi may be moved by Shuzheng's words, but Ieyasu is different. Once he has made up his mind, he will seem to accept other people's opinions on the surface, but in fact he will never change his mind. Suddenly, I saw the sun shining through the gaps in the trees in speckled spots on the ground, and countless ants were continuously coming in and out of the holes under the tree stump.He stomped on the ants, but immediately realized that he was too cruel.He regretted turning his gaze away, but when he looked at the ants again, he found that the little red ants continued to move forward as if nothing had happened. Shuzheng looked at the ant colony in surprise, and seemed to have a new insight, but he couldn't express it clearly in words. He felt that the tenacious actions of the ants were closer to him than Hideyoshi and Ieyasu.Seeing that the ant formation that had been stepped on several times had returned to its original state, he stood up excitedly. At this moment, a golden light suddenly flashed from the depths of his heart, pushing away the cloud of confusion. Shuzheng stood up and stretched his waist towards the sky.In the past, he always thought that Hideyoshi and Ieyasu were always opposed to each other, but in fact they were indispensable to each other.Moreover, the number belonging to Ieyasu is closely related to Ieyasu in everything, and cannot be separated from Ieyasu.However, God's will, which governs the actions of ants, has nothing to do with the hostility between Hideyoshi and Ieyasu. "There should be a more real and consistent interest." Shuzheng said to himself.That is, Ieyasu's success is equal to Hideyoshi's prestige; Hideyoshi is not good, and it is not beneficial to Ieyasu.Their interests must be brought into one, or the quarrel will be to the detriment of both parties. "What if I don't belong to either party?" Isn't Yu Yimaru already Hideyoshi's child?Isn't it Yu Chai Sanhe Shou Xiukang in the Tong pattern curtain? Shu Zheng seemed to see a glimmer of light, and his whole body and mind became much more relaxed.Whether it is Hideyoshi or Ieyasu, in another thirty years, they will disappear from this world like a bubble, and the ones who will be active in this world will be other people who come after them.If you have to reconsider, you should not only think about the gains and losses of Ieyasu or Hideyoshi, but to explore the natural principles of heaven!In the face of the powerful will of God, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu are nothing but one body with the same destiny! Shuzheng stretched, smiled, and left happily.He has seen clearly, and his mood is getting more and more relaxed.The two holding him are no longer boulders—I accidentally have the ability to resist Hideyoshi on my own today, if only I could use the same attitude and method to change Ieyasu.My purpose is only one, which is to prevent the two sides from conflicting. When Shuzheng was entering the big tent, Hondazuo Zuo's son, Xianqiandai, asked, "Is the matter of the young master's first conquest settled?" "Chu Zheng?" Shu Zheng sat down on the bed and smiled meaningfully. "Is it settled, old man?" Xiukang also asked anxiously. "Hahaha, don't worry, in future wars, it's not just about destroying the enemy, but finding a way to use the enemy more to win a complete victory!" After finishing speaking, Shuzheng smiled cheerfully.