Chapter 38 Chapter Thirty-Eight

From the autumn of the 10th year of Yonglu to the spring of the first year of Yuangui (1570.), for three years, it can be said that the Owari eagle and the Sanhe eagle galloped freely. In November of the tenth year of Yonglu, on the way back from Takano, Nobunaga Oda quietly welcomed the secret envoy sent by Emperor Shochincho to the home of the retainer Daoist Owari Shou, and got the opportunity to enter Beijing.On the 20th of the same month, he married Takeda Shingen's daughter and became the wife of his eldest son Kikumaru Nobutada.In this way, he consolidated his rear.At this time, the young couple was only eleven years old.On July 28 of the following year, Nobunaga finally realized his long-awaited plan to enter Beijing in the name of supporting Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

The journey to Beijing this time can be described as a long way, and it has been eight years since he took the head of Imagawa Yoshimoto in Tianlewa.During these eight years, Nobunaga first formed an alliance with Matsudaira Ieyasu, the keeper of Mikawa, then wiped out the Mino Saito family, and then won over Kai Takeda Shingen. While guarding against Ise Kitajima, he married his youngest sister, Ichihime. Nagamasa Asai of Otani Castle in Omi has tried his best. The brother of the late general Ashikaga Yoshiki has been wandering in Echizen and Omi since his brother was killed by Matsunaga Hideo.Nobunaga supported Yoshiaki to go to Beijing. First, he drove the three good people who held the real power in the capital to Setjin and Hanoi. Then, on October 18, he supported Yoshiaki as the general who conquered the barbarians.Undoubtedly, Yoshiaki is just Nobunaga's puppet. Nobunaga has gained real power and can finally command the world.

During this period, Mikawa Eagle Matsudaira Ieyasu also consolidated his territory step by step. In December of the tenth year of Yonglu, Ieyasu was granted the imperial order and changed his surname to Tokugawa. At that time, Ieyasu was called the descendant of Fujiwara and the descendant of Genji at that time.If you call Genji directly, it will damage the face of Nobunaga, a descendant of the Heira family. Ieyasu thought again and again, and finally changed his surname to Tokugawa.The surname Tokugawa originated from Genji Nitta, but Ieyasu did not take the word "De", but used the word "Dechuan".Later, Ieyasu took the ancestor of the Matsudaira clan Tarozaemon's relative Tokuami as his distant ancestor, and just changed his surname to "Tokugawa".According to legend, Ieyasu's ancestor, the Tokugawa family, changed his name to Deami in order to escape the war in Ueno, and disguised himself as a monk of Tokimune, traveled around various countries, and finally settled down in Matsudaira Village, Kamo County.

In addition to hiding the character "De" in "Dechuan", the character "De" in the family name Deami is also to not forget the old surname.In short, the rich meaning contained in "virtue" has aroused Ieyasu's infinite reverie.On the one hand, he has the intention of bringing peace to the world with virtue; on the other hand, he also shows that he is the successor of Genji, and if Nobunaga happens, he can replace him and order the world. At the end of the eleventh year of Yongroku, Ieyasu who separated Suruga and Tone with Takeda Shingen, was known as Tokugawa Sakyo doctor Minato Ieyasu, who was twenty-seven years old.Thinking of Nobunaga's success in entering Beijing at the age of thirty-five, Ieyasu couldn't help but feel excited, and he undoubtedly wanted to display his ambitions.

The first month is approaching, and Ieyasu is still in the army.He has marched to the castle hill of Iigani, Inasa County, Enzhou, two and a half miles away from Himano Castle.The widow of Toyomae Iio lives in Hiramano Castle. "As the left, I want to enter Yemaye before the first lunar month." Ieyasu said. The main mission of this march was Namoto Zuzaemon Shigeji.Wearing a kerchief on his head and a cloth feather over his armor, he sits by the campfire.Seeing Ieyasu's figure, he stood up abruptly and pushed the table he was sitting on in front of Jiayasu. "I heard that the lord is acquainted with Toyoma Iio's widow."

"Oh. She was my childhood friend in Junfu, she is a very strong woman." Sakuzaemon looked at the shimmering Lake Hamana outside the camp. "How's the offense going tonight?" "No. She will surrender, she should hate Shizhen." Sakuzaemon glanced at Ieyasu, and silently added wood to the bonfire.In the north wind, thick smoke rose from the crackling firewood, drifting from Ieyasu's side towards Shiroyama. "Zuo Zuo, do you know why her husband Fengqian was killed by Shizhen?" "I don't know." "People thought that Buzen would die in the battle of Ozazama, but it was safe and sound, but I was really suspicious, thinking that he had an affair with Oda, and even suspected that he had a secret relationship with me..."

Sakuzaemon seemed to be half listening, avoiding the smoke.He knows better than Ieyasu how Toyo Iio was deceived to death by Ushima in Nakano Kawara. I don't know what kind of relationship Ieyasu had with that woman in the past, but it is said that Toyomae was very suspicious of his wife.When Fengqian died for Shizhen in Nakano River, he once muttered: I am afraid that my wife will bring the city to Sanhe Yezhong... and then she died in anger.And Jiakang is now here with Chen Bing, waiting for Fengqian's widow to come and surrender. It seems that what Fengqian said before his death was not catching wind and shadow.In fact, the young warriors in the main force were already dissatisfied with this, and there were many discussions.

"I heard that when the lord was in Junfu, he had an affair with the unmarried widow Iio." "Yeah. I've heard that too. My lord wanted the widow Iio who was called Agui at that time more than Mrs. Tsukiyama." "No matter what happened in the past, we can't delay the war because of that kind of thing. If no one takes the initiative to attack, we can only celebrate the New Year in this well." The young and energetic Honda Heihachiro Tadakatsu was the most dissatisfied.That day when he saw that the city gate was still closed and there was no movement at all, he didn't wait for Jiakang's order and said, "I'll go and have a look." He took a few followers and went out.And Ieyasu didn't know anything about it.

"On the left, a city guarded by a woman! Is it necessary for us to destroy a city that we know will submit?" "But my lord, I'm afraid that's just your wishful thinking?" "I wishful thinking?" Tsukuzu glanced at Ieyasu, then turned to stare at the smoke. "I heard that Iio's widow is a very strong woman." "Oh. She is a strong woman..." "If she doesn't move forward, I'm afraid she won't come and surrender." "You mean to attack?" Ieyasu said with a wry smile, "Wait a little longer, an envoy will surely come."

Sakuzaemon fell silent again.The rumors seem to be true.He couldn't help worrying about Ieyasu, worried that he couldn't see the reality clearly because of the woman.He believed that because of that woman's stamina, her husband suspected that she had an affair with Ieyasu, and that she would never surrender to Ieyasu without a fight.In fact, not only Zuzaemon thinks this way, but Heihachiro Honda, Mototada Torii, and Koheita Kanbara all have this idea.If they stay in this way, once the Imagawa Clan's real army overtakes Xiaoli, what will happen?Ieyasu seemed to be slowing down on this issue.Therefore, everyone asked Zaemon to speak to Ieyasu and demanded an immediate attack.

"Zuo Zuo, the smoke is too thick, add more firewood." As Tsukuru bent over to add firewood, he thought, Ieyasu would have gone to the house earlier and pitched the tent.If he continues to stay here, if the story of Hei Hachiro spreads, something bad will happen... Just thinking of this, there was a commotion in the team. "Zuo Zuo, what happened?" Sakuzaemon saluted Ieyasu and walked towards the crowd. "What are you shouting about! I'm making a noise to my lord." "Saemon, come and judge me." Kamihara Koheita, who was held by Okubo Tadashi with one hand, protested in a crying voice, "Heihachiro's subordinates came to report that Heihachiro Tadakatsu was sent out of the city. The enemy is surrounded and the situation is dangerous. Can we stand by and watch? Can we watch Heihachiro be killed and do nothing?" "Don't shout!" Sakuzaemon turned his head, and sure enough, he saw a servant sitting in a corner, panting heavily. "Where did Heihachiro attack from?" "He went straight to the enemy's front gate, announced his name, and then started yelling and asking if there were any living people in the city. He came alone, Honda Heihachiro Tadakatsu, and if there were living people, he would come out to fight..." "As a result, someone went out of the city to fight? How many people are there?" "Surrounded by more than 300 people, waving spears wildly like an Asura..." Xiao Pingtai burst into tears again. "Although there is no order from the lord, we can't just watch Heihachiro be killed. I am ready to be punished. Let me, Xiaoping, go." "No!" Ieyasu's voice came from behind.Xiaoping screamed too darkly, but there was nothing he could do.Sakuzaemon slowly turned his head and found Ieyasu staring at everyone. The morning fog slowly dissipated.Seeing that Ieyasu had understood everything before him, Xiaopingtai knelt on the ground and cried loudly: "My lord, my lord. Please send someone to meet Heihachiro. He is surrounded by enemies and is in danger." "No!" Ieyasu roared, "Zuo Zuo, who ordered Heihachi to attack? Why did he dare to go there without authorization?" "I don't know anything about it." "Do you think this has nothing to do with you? Mrs. Xiao Ping also listen carefully: you are in a panic, I have a reason." "Master!" Xiao Pingtai shouted again, "The situation is critical now. You can't reprimand us too much, but Heihachiro Zhongsheng..." "Are you afraid that he will die in battle?" "If he is allowed to die here, it will damage the reputation of our army. Heihachiro has received the oracle from Iga Hachiman, saying that he is a treasure of Mikawa and a well-known general... My lord, please scold me later .Please--" "If you are obsessed with your obsession, you will be killed without mercy!" "My lord, just watch Heihachiro being killed and just sit back and do nothing?" Ieyasu pressed the handle of the knife, strode up to Xiaopingta, and suddenly put the knife on his neck.Xiaoping instinctively let out an "ah", trembling all over. The surroundings became dark, and the morning mist crept in. "When did you start ignoring military discipline? Why can't you understand me and obey my orders?" Ieyasu finally changed his tone when he said this, "I have repeatedly warned you that a single-handed horse is the courage of a man. Fighting with bows and arrows and naginata The era is about to pass, and now is the era of muskets. Only an army with strict military discipline can win. I have repeatedly told you, but you can’t understand at all? If you don’t obey my orders, let alone Heihachiro, Xiao Heita, Yan Youwei, I Never forgive me lightly! Remember, Tokugawa’s retainers are by no means limited to you.” "..." "Even if Heihachi breaks through the siege and comes back, violation of military discipline is still unforgivable. Being killed by me is death, and death in battle is death. This is his own choice. Do you understand?" No one answered.Xiao Ping, who was lying on the ground, bit his lip too tightly, his shoulders trembling violently. "Zuo Zuo, take good care of these young boys. If anyone dares to disobey the order again - kill without mercy!" After speaking, Ieyasu strode away.Everyone was silent for a while. "Ah, the fire is about to go out, add more firewood," Zuo Zuowei said.The bonfire was blazing again. "I said before, my lord will be angry." He clasped his hands and said coldly. "But Iio's widow knew it was Heihachiro, and she took the initiative to fight. It was beyond my expectation." "Why don't you say something for Heihachiro as a magistrate?" Okubo Tadasa, who had been silent all this time, suddenly turned to Sakuzaemon and said.Zhong Zuo is the nephew of Okubo Changyuan and tough guy Shinhachiro Tadatoshi. "Don't add fuel to the fire. He'll calm down sooner or later." "If the lord calms down after Heihachiro dies in battle, then what's the point?" Tsukuzaemon looked at Tadashi and said, "Will Heihachi die in battle?" "How do you know he won't die in battle?" "Why didn't I know! It was because I knew that I didn't stop him. Although he was brave and foolish, he knew a thing or two about the danger approaching him." "Then what did you mean by what you just said?" Sakuzaemon slowly shook his head and said, "I thought that the lord was unhappy with the memory of the widow Iio's old relationship and did not attack for a long time, but I seemed to be wrong." "Because the old relationship is unforgettable?" "Yes, I thought so. My lord and Mrs. Tsukiyama are at odds. Now that he is physically strong and young, he must be lonely in his heart. Sell favors to that woman and show his ability: How, the former Sanhe orphan is back... ...Hmph, young people must have such thoughts. But the Lord seems to be thinking about more than that." As soon as Sakuzaemon said this, Xiao Heita, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly stood up and took the gun. "I go." "Wait." Sakuzaemon didn't get up, "Do you want to continue to provoke the Lord?" "I must go, I am determined." "Your decision is too hasty. I have already said that Heihachiro will not die. Didn't you understand?" "He can't die, I'm going. If it's Heihachiro and Koheita, the lord may not be able to bear to do it. Xiaopingtai is definitely not the kind of heartless person who sees Heibachiro being killed without moving." "Xiao Pingtai! You are too reckless, how could the lord let Hei Hachiro die in battle?" "But didn't he say that Heihachiro would never be forgiven?" "That was just a moment of anger. He will calm down. If the lord wants to kill Heihachiro just because of your insult to the lord, the lord is definitely not that confused." Xiao Ping stood still, his body trembling slightly.The surrounding area is even darker, only the bonfires everywhere are particularly clear. "I still want to go." Xiao Pingtai walked out of the tent.But he suddenly seemed to have discovered some monster. "who?" His shout reached everyone's ears.Honda Zuzaemon quickly stood up and ran outside the tent.Xiao Pingtai's gun was pointed at a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, who looked like a villager's child.To Sakuzaemon's great surprise, the boy didn't tremble under the gun point, but his eyes were wide open, which was very unusual.His tattered trousers showed his thighs, which were red from the cold, and he wore a pair of worn-out shoes. "What's the matter, Mrs. Xiaoping?" "How dare this kid peep into the tent!" Sakuzaemon approached the boy and said, "This is not a place to play, go quickly! If there is a war, it will inevitably hurt you." The boy suddenly brushed his forehead hair that was wet by the morning mist, and said, "I'm here to see Lord Jiakang of Sanhe." "You came to see the lord? What's your business?" "You can't tell your retainers about this. Take me to see Lord Jiakang quickly." "My lord is very busy now, I don't have time to see you. Go!" The boy shook his head: "I won't leave until I see him. This was originally my city." "Your castle?" Sakuzaemon's heart sank, "Okay, I'll go and have a look. Come with me." "Who are you?" "The lord pursues Honda as Zaemon." "Ha, it's actually a ghost. I've heard of you. If you were you, I could tell." Sakuzaemon looked back at Xiaopingta: "Xiaopingta, don't think too much. Heihachiro will be back soon. Don't go!" After he said sternly, he took the boy back to Ieyasu's tent, "Come on , Sit down. Are you the orphan of Iigani's master, Naohin-kun?" The boy stared at Sakuzaemon and nodded. "It seems to be called Manchiyo...isn't it?" "yes." "You came to see our lord, what's the matter? What evidence do you have to prove that you are thousands of generations?" "I can't say until I see Ieyasu." "If you don't tell me, I won't let you see him." Sakuzaemon didn't give in, and added some firewood to the fire himself, "It's cold. Come, warm up." "The ghost is on the left." "You think about it before you say it; if you don't want to say it, don't call me." "I shouldn't doubt you, I just want to come and join Lord Jiakang." "Oh, you want to join the lord? Then there should be credentials. Show me the credentials. If I think it's appropriate, I'll let you see him." "Although I can't show you the evidence, I can tell you what I have on me." "Oh, let's hear it." "A letter from Mrs. Kira, the hostess of Hiramano Castle." "Mrs. Kira..." Sakuzaemon couldn't help but patted his knees, "By the way, my wife is actually your aunt." He finally understood Ieyasu's intention to push the army to Iigaya, but not attack Hiramano Castle head-on. up.I am so confused!Blindfolded by the love affair of the city lord when he was young, he thought to the left.Now he is ashamed of his childish thinking. Manchiyo's father Ii Naochi also died because of Shizhen's suspicion.Shizhen even offered a gold reward to buy Wanqiandai's head.The protagonist speculates that Manchiyo may be hiding nearby. If he can be found and won over, he can win the hearts of the people in Inasa, Hosoe, Kiga, Iigani, and Kinji.The lord's ambition has been directed from Toe to Suruga... Although Sakuzaemon understands Ieyasu's ambition, he forgets that there is also a queen who was hunted down by Ujima in this land. "So you are Madam's nephew. I understand, I will take you to see the lord. Come with me!" Zuo Zuo led Wan Qiandai into the tent.The light in the tent was dim, and Jiayasu was using two candlesticks to circle the map drawn by Ru Xuezhai. "My lord, the long-awaited messenger has arrived." "What, the messenger is here?" "Yes, Manchiyo, please come here." The boy strode up to Ieyasu without hesitation.Ieyasu looked at him in surprise. "Are you the son of Iiya Naoki?" "Yes. My name is Manchiyo. I hope I can serve you from now on." "You have been hiding in Yemaye City before?" "Yes. I have been hiding around, exhausted." Ieyasu stared at Manchiyo and nodded.Facing Shi Zhen's deepening suspicion, the young man can only hide around, which can be described as going through untold hardships.Ieyasu seemed to see the young Mrs. Kira standing behind Manchiyo.Ieyasu liked Kira, and Kira certainly didn't hate Takechiyo back then.If Imagawa Yoshimoto did not have his niece Sena Hime, and if Sena Hime's father Sekiguchi never tried his best to match, then Ieyasu's wife might be Agui.But later, Agui married Toyozen Iio, and Ieyasu married Hime Sena.Now, he still has to fight against the woman he loved.Recently, Ieyasu picked out a smarter Iga man who had surrendered to him, and secretly sent him to Mrs. Kira.His heart is complicated, but he doesn't want this matter to be too ostentatious. Ieyasu sent secret envoys to the castle, first of all because Hiramano Castle, which is located on the shore of Hamana Lake, is a must-have for military strategists for him who wants to further control the entire Suruga and Enjiang areas.Once Yimaye was destroyed, it would take a lot of time and manpower to rebuild after the war, which he didn't want to see. Seeing the real decline of the family has become inevitable, after Nobunaga's mediation, Ieyasu and Nobunaga finally reached an agreement: Takeda has Suruga, and Tokugawa has Tone.If it is delayed for a day, it is possible for the power of the Takeda clan to penetrate into the sphere of influence of the Tokugawa clan. Of course, Ieyasu also wanted to let Mrs. Kira go, and also thought of the feelings and hopes of the people who were about to merge into the Tokugawa territory. "It would be a pity if Jean really killed Machiyo Ii." If Mrs. Kira spread the word like this, she might send Manchiyo as an envoy to formally surrender, Ieyasu thought.But now Manchiyo standing in front of Ieyasu doesn't look like a decent messenger at all. "Didn't your aunt send you as a messenger?" Wan Chiyo stared at Ieyasu and shook his head: "I once persuaded her to submit to the Lord. But my aunt said she understood you, so I don't need to talk too much." "Oh. Then..." "She said, since you admire her so much, you should bring a letter. My lord, after reading this letter, you will definitely accept me..." Wan Qiandai said, putting his hand into the wet cloth bag , carefully took out a double-wrapped object. "Fang today, only Oda-sama, my lord... I told my aunt before. My aunt also agrees with me. I want to become a daimyo and avenge the murder of my father. Please accept me." Ieyasu took the letter and unfolded it under the candlestick.Hondasakuzaemon squatted beside the charcoal fire at Ieyasu's feet and dozed off. 〖I would like to present this book. The floating dust in the chaotic world is unbearable to look at from a distance; the rise and fall of things are ultimately hard to imagine. Thousands of generations are like dead leaves in the frost, lonely and helpless, and they are specially dispatched to the king.On the occasion of the spring of Jingyigu, may your glory be infinite. Begging to see you in the underworld in the future. On a bright spring day, Xiao Song is no longer there. On the bank of Yimaye City, is the morning light still there? 〗 After reading it, Ieyasu couldn't help covering the scroll with a long sigh.There is no word about surrender in the letter, but only infinite sadness and emotion, and you can even feel the slightest chill.He said with emotion: "Wan Qiandai, when you persuaded your aunt, how did she react? You said what you said." When Ieyasu asked this question, Wanqiandai Yiyi looked at the flickering candlelight with spirited eyes, and said, "I said that Shizhen is my uncle's enemy now. In order to keep the family safe, I should also submit to the Lord. At this point, my aunt finally laughed. .” "what did she say?" "She said that I was still a child and didn't understand things between adults... When I went on, she finally shed tears and said, if she surrenders, you will laugh at her..." Ieyasu suddenly woke up and found that Man Chidai had already shed tears. "Aunt once said she liked you." "Oh." "She thought she could rely on Yiyuan Gongan to survive, but later found that she couldn't. Rise and fall change people's fate, just like the same rain, spring rain and winter rain are also different." "Oh." "She said that the colder the winter rain, the better. If she submits to you here and becomes the warm spring rain, it's better to become the cold rain and snow. That way, she can stay in your heart forever." "Okay!" Ieyasu hurriedly interrupted Wan Chidai, he couldn't bear to listen anymore.yes!She was still the Agui from her girlhood, that strong woman... He couldn't help but regret his cruelty for actually trying to persuade such a woman to surrender.While her husband was alive, she lived through the pain of her past relationship every day.After the death of her husband, if she surrenders to her former lover, the pain will undoubtedly be doubled. "My aunt..." Wan Qiandai seemed to think of something again, "My aunt also said that if my uncle was alive, she would have welcomed you into the city already. But now she can't do this, she has some difficulties..." "I see, you don't have to say any more." "Please give me a hundred light warriors. Since my aunt refuses to dedicate the city no matter what, then I will attack Yemano." Ieyasu didn't answer.Is there still such a need?Ieyasu already understood Mrs. Kira's thoughts.Apparently, she pretended to be hiding in the city and would not come out. In fact, she wanted to send away her retainers one by one, and finally committed suicide.What an annoying woman!She knew that instead of serving Ieyasu, it is better to die vigorously, so that she can live in Takechiyo's heart longer.In that case, Takechiyo will probably never forget her for the rest of his life. "Heihachi seems to be back." Sakuzuo, who seemed to be asleep, suddenly raised his head, "My lord, Honda Heihachiro is back. Are you going to kill him?" Ieyasu still didn't answer.He closed his eyes gently under the flickering light, like a statue.