Chapter 2 Chapter 1

Tianwen ten years, AD 1541. That year, Takeda Shingen was 21 years old, Uesugi Kenshin was 12 years old, Oda Nobunaga was 8 years old, and the future civilian Taiko Toyotomi Hideyoshi was still a six-year-old boy with unkempt hair. On the other side of the sea, the neighboring country of Ming Dynasty, which is separated by a strip of water, has reached its middle and late stage.In Europe, Charles V declared war on Frank I and invaded France; Henry VIII has inherited the throne of Ireland, and he is eyeing King James of Scotland, and he just wants to get rid of him soon... No matter the east or the west, there are dark clouds of war everywhere.

Inside Mikawa Okazaki Castle. Although it is still winter, the first month has arrived and the weather is starting to become mild.In the yard, the citrus tree donated by Tojo Mochihiro of Ise is covered with golden fruits, full of fragrance.Perhaps it was lured by the aroma, there were so many birds in the yard.The sixteen-year-old city lord, Matsudaira Hironata, has been silently staring at the birds for a long time.Under the warm sunshine, the eldest son Kanliu, who was born last year when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, climbed up to Guangzhong from time to time, looking up at his father who was full of sorrow.

At this time, Ajiu felt like a cold wind blowing through his heart.Akuna is the daughter of Matsudaira Sakon Chengzheng, who is from the same family as Matsudaira Hirochu. She married Hirochu as a concubine at the age of 15. Hirochu was only 13 years old at the time.Today, she is a young mother.Although her figure is weak, she is also quite charming.If the maids were dismissed and only the three of them were left, it would not look like a family of three, but rather like the elder sister taking care of the two younger brothers. "Hasn't your lord made up your mind yet?" Ajiu said, "If you don't agree, the concubine will be severely criticized, and the retainers will definitely think that it is the concubine who prevents the adults from making a decision out of jealousy."

"Ajiu, why didn't you show such a little bit of jealousy as they said? You and I met as the main wife at that time... Have you forgotten?" "I haven't forgotten my body...but everything is for the future of the Matsudaira family." Kanliu leaned against his mother at this time, and Ajiu picked him up and continued, "Besides, I heard that Miss Yu is famous Beauty, people praise her for her insight and strength. I really hope that you can marry her as soon as possible, so that your retainers can feel at ease." Guangzhong suddenly raised his eyes and stared at Ajiu, with anger showing on his young and pale face: "You also want me to marry the daughter of my enemy and bow down to my opponent?"

"But this is for the sake of Matsudaira's overall situation—" "Stop talking!" Guangzhong slapped his knee hard, his expression was agitated, then he remained silent, his eye circles turned red unknowingly.After a long time, Guangzhong's voice was a little hoarse: "Yu Danai is the stepmother's daughter. To me, she is not only the daughter of the enemy, but also the younger sister in name. How can I marry my younger sister to make a living..." He couldn't go on. Ajiu said again: "When making any decision, you must consider the long-term interests."

Her voice was very low, but she paused every word, extremely resolute. The Yuda mentioned by Hirochu and Ajiu is the daughter of Mizuno Tadamasa, the lord of Kariya Castle.Kariya borders Okazaki.Just last year, Guangzhong and Zhongzheng fought for a whole year. Yu Xiaoguangzhong was two years old and fourteen years old, and he was famous for his beauty.It's not that the young Guangzhong didn't want to see her, but he just regarded her as the daughter of his stepmother Huayangyuan and his sister, not a sad married woman who was forced to marry after his defeat.Mizuno Tadamasa shook his fat round head, and said to himself with a sinister smile: "If Yu Da marries Matsudaira Hirochu, it will do me a lot of good." , I feel resentful and hard to suppress.

"Ajiu, after my biological mother passed away, my stepmother married. Do you know what people talked about at that time?" "This... how do I know." "I'm afraid you wouldn't say it even if you knew it. Whenever I think of these past events, I feel very embarrassed in my heart." "But that was a long time ago—" "No!" Guangzhong's eyes were burning, "The stepmother gave birth to five children for Mizuno in Kariya Castle, Zhongshou, Xinnian, Zhongfen, Zhongzhong, and Yuda. They all have good looks and strong bodies. Why did Zhongzheng give up giving birth to him? A woman with so many children? Why did she remarry her late father..."

Ajiu immediately threw himself on Guangzhong's lap, and said, "My lord, you must not speak like that. If you say that, Ajiu, I...I..." In this matter, Ajiu was in the most embarrassing situation.Mizuno Tadomasa is treacherous and ruthless. He was able to abandon a woman who gave birth to him five children and let her remarry Matsudaira. What will be the ending... At present, Matsudaira's strength is far inferior to his opponent Mizuno's.The Mizuno clan and the Matsudaira clan were both officials of the Imagawa clan in Sumfu.However, in recent years, the power of Oda Nobuhide in Owari has gradually expanded. Hirochu's uncle, Matsudaira Shinsada from Sakurai, and others attempted to cooperate with Oda Nobuhide and take Okazaki Castle as their own.Therefore, Okazaki retainers Abe Daizo, Okubo Shinhachiro Tadatoshi and others tried their best to persuade Ajiu: "In any case, please take care of my wife. The city owner is still young, so you must persuade him to agree to this marriage." Ajiu's fate was thus involved. Into the major events related to Matsudaira's life and death.Guangzhong never agreed to the marriage.He was convinced that his late father, Kiyoyasu, had been tricked by Mizuno Tadomasa's tricks, so he married the mother of Mizuno's five children.

Guangzhong looked at Ajiu who was crying beside him, looked at the young and innocent Kanliu, suddenly his eyes lit up, and said, "Ajiu, I have an idea." He glanced around and whispered in Ajiu's ear. As Ajiu listened, the color gradually faded from his face. "you understood?" Guangzhong lowered his voice again and carefully looked around. Ajiu stared closely at Guangzhong's eyes, tremblingly said: "It's too, too cruel..." Her face began to convulse, and her hands on her lap trembled. "How cruel is this? It's just treating the person in the same way as the person."

"You can say that, but Miss Yu is innocent." "Innocent? Why am I innocent? Both my grandfather and father were killed by the enemy's sword, and I will do the same one day. In this world, if you don't kill, people will kill you. Isn't there someone who kills his family just to survive?" Is the mother of five children given to the opponent as a spy..." "Shh-" Ajiu interrupts Guangzhong.Footsteps came from the empty corridor, it was Ajiu's maid, Awan.She reported: "Mrs. Tai has come from Beiyuan." The two were startled and looked at each other.Guangzhong got up in a hurry, ready to meet his stepmother.

"You don't need to be formal. Let's just sit down, it's very good." A crisp voice came, and the stepmother Huayangyuan walked in with a smile on her face, "Oh, Kanliu is here too. I haven't seen you for a few days, and I've grown up a lot. Come on, good boy, let grandma hug you!" After Guangzhong's father Qingkang was assassinated, Huayang Yuan became a nun, and his dharma name came from the source.Although she is in her late thirties, her charm still exists.Kanliu seemed to like his grandmother very much, and happily climbed onto Huayangyuan's lap. "The weather is really nice today," said Huayang Yard, coaxing the baby on his lap, "When I came from Beiyuan, I stopped by to take a look at Wine Valley and Fenglu Valley, and saw groups of orioles, and the plum blossoms were about to bloom. How time flies. Not long ago, I was fighting against Mizuno in the cold wind." Guangzhong glanced at Huayangyuan sarcastically.Huayang Academy ignored it, and continued as if nothing had happened: "Guangzhong, Yu Da sent a letter this morning." Hearing this, Ajiu stood up gently and walked out. "A young woman's mind is always full of happy things. She is very happy about the peace talks between Mr. Matsudaira and Mr. Mizuno. In the letter, you guessed your character and habits, and your tone is full of joy about the future. After all, you still don't know the world. How difficult and dangerous... how much does she know about the ways of the world?" Huayang Yard lightly raised Kanliu, and laughed loudly: "Little Kanliu, your father is still far behind your deceased grandfather...now there are In Imagawa, there is Oda in the west, Takeda in Kai, and Hojo in Oda. All the powers are facing each other, and Matsudaira Mizuno will continue to fight. Both sides will suffer, and they will be swallowed up in one mouthful. Hirochu, this marriage is only proposed after I think it over. , think about it." After saying that, Huayangyuan put down Kanliu and kissed his smiling face. Guangzhong's self-righteousness and leisurely complacency towards his stepmother is really unbearable.My father did admit that this woman was quite talented.Because of this, when Guangzhong heard her comparing himself with his father and blaming him for being too immature, he couldn't help secretly annoyed, but he said verbally: "Well, since it's what the mother meant, the child naturally has no objection." "Oh, so I am relieved. In fact, this is also your father's wish." "Father's wish?" Huayang courtyard looked directly at Guangzhong: "Guangzhong, men will never understand the sad fate of women. Life is flashy, and life and death are like dreams and illusions. One woman serves two husbands and three husbands, but it is for the prosperity of future generations. " "What does mother mean...do you want to leave Mizuno's blood in Okazaki Castle?" "No, I want to keep the blood that your father entrusted, my old woman and the Matsudaira family." "Oh." Guangzhong whispered.In fact, he didn't know much about the real situation of his stepmother marrying his father.He always knew that everything was a conspiracy by Mizuno Tadomasa, and Mizuno forced his stepmother into his father's continuation. But this is not the case.When Qingkang was in charge, the Matsudaira clan was far stronger than the Mizuno clan.One day, Qingkang visited Mizuno Tadomasa, and seeing Mrs. Mizuno's graceful manners at the banquet, he couldn't help but joked, "Give me this beautiful and virtuous woman." Huayangyuan was already the mother of five children at that time, but The humble Zhongzheng can't just laugh at Qingkang's jokes.Fearing health, Zhongzheng quietly divorced his wife.Not long after, Qingkang married Huayangyuan.Who knows the misfortune of Huayang Academy at that time? Today, the strength of the Matsudaira Mizuno family is completely adjusted from that at that time.In order to avoid this kind of sadness, Huayang Academy hopes that the two families can be closely linked.But how can Guangzhong, who will lose every battle and is declining day by day, understand her thoughts? "Since my mother said so, I will marry her. However, if Yu Da is barren, I will divorce her! Can my mother agree?" Guang Zhong was a little aggressive.Huayangyuan smiled and nodded, and the indifference revealed in her expression aroused Guangzhong's spirit again.He raised his eyebrows and said: "Also, if the Matsudaira and Mizuno families have no choice but to go to war again, I will definitely kill the Mizuno family. Now please don't stop me, mother." Huayangyuan smiled again: "You can do what you want." The world of men is a Shura field that advocates force. In it, there is only one thing a woman can do, and that is to compromise, bear children, and let the next generation conquer and rule the world. Guangzhong was speechless, no matter how angry he was, he couldn't say what he whispered to Ajiu just now.At this moment, all the retainers walked in solemnly. "My lord, Kariya Castle sent an envoy." Okubo Shinhachiro said eagerly as soon as he sat down. "It seems Mizuno Tadamasa is very enthusiastic about this marriage." The tall and strong Abe Dazou said to himself, and gave the maid Awan a wink.Awan understood, took the child from Huayang Yard, and went. "Now we can only endure." Uncle Nobuko, a Tibetan, looked at Huayangyuan secretly with some scruples, and sighed, "We must accumulate strength... and Miss Yu is Mrs. Tai's own flesh and blood, which is also considered A good marriage." "No, these are just trivial matters. We have to look at the overall situation." Okubo Shinhachiro looked directly at Hirochu, and said, "We must know exactly who can dominate the world." "Who can?" "I heard that Takeda Harunobu covets Junfu from time to time, but the Imagawa clan is in full swing, and Oda Nobuhide is also expanding rapidly with the momentum of sunrise, and the Ashikaga clan's retainers should not be underestimated...Among the powerhouses, Xiaofan must avoid mutual Fight, strive to be good-neighborly and friendly, unite in unity, and survive at all costs." "It's reasonable. It's a time of crisis, and the other party proposed the marriage. It's true that the ancestors have spirits in heaven to help the Songping family get this good opportunity." Huayang Courtyard has been on the sidelines, listening to the discussion, smiling and silent.At this time, she waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, everyone." "Madam Tai means..." "I have advised Guangzhong that he will take the overall situation into consideration and marry Yu Daguan. What do you think, Guangzhong?" Guangzhong's face was full of displeasure, and he turned his head to the side: "This kind of good thing, my child can't wait for it." "Congratulations!" "Congratulations, my lord!" The veterans congratulated one after another and laughed happily.For them, marriage and women are means and tools to keep the family alive.Welcome and send women to resolve the conflicts between the two sides, trying to sow their own seeds within the enemy - the originally noble and pure love between men and women is forced to succumb to the rationality of survival. Guangzhong was angry from the heart, and couldn't help but put on a straight face and said: "Okay, stop laughing!" He thought to himself: They will definitely not realize that I let Ajiu do harm to me, how could I obediently listen to Mizuno!He eased his tone and said: "The matter has been decided, let's do it quickly. You must discuss everything with your mother to be safe." "Of order." The veterans looked at each other and smiled.In their view, there is nothing more successful and meaningful than this strategy. In Kariya Castle, Mizuno Tadamasa learned that Matsudaira Hirochu had agreed to the marriage, and said, "Well, my life finally has a happy ending." Since the fall of last year, Mizuno Tadomasa's gray hair has grown more and more.He asked his valet to help him comb his hair, and then sent someone to call in his little daughter Yu Da. A smile appeared on Yu Dayuanyuan's face.Her cheeks are plump from the tip of her eyebrows, which is like Zhongzheng; her crystal clear skin is like her mother.At this moment, she already knew that she was going to marry to the city where her mother was. "Are you happy?" Zhongzheng asked softly. "The daughter was very happy to see her mother there." "That's right... I'm very gratified to be a father." Mizuno Tadomasa looked ferocious, but he was extremely gentle towards this little daughter who lacked maternal love since childhood. For a fourteen-year-old girl, Yu Da is considered tall.A pair of red phoenix eyes, black hair showing round crimson earlobes, very beautiful.Except for the white neck exposed by the neckline and the round shoulders revealing a bit of mature charm, she has not yet shaken off her childishness.Her personality is the most complicated but lively among several brothers and sisters. She speaks crisply and neatly, and behind her soft smile lies strength and alertness.Her understanding of her father also surpassed that of her siblings. "It is said that it is best to avoid the first month and September when you get married. Don't pay attention to these superstitious sayings, whichever day you think of, it will be a good day." "Yes. My daughter thinks so too." Hearing Yu Da's straightforward answer, Zhongzheng smiled and nodded: "Everything is ready. The other party will send a dowry gift on Xuri. After you get married, our father and daughter will never see each other again. Today, Just give Wei father a good pat on the back." "Yes." The weather was exceptionally clear and the spring breeze was rippling, and Yu Da's hand fell gently on his father's shoulder. "Yu Da, just to be cautious, I want to ask you one last question, do you know why I care so much about this marriage?" Yu Da carefully shook his head behind his father without saying a word.She knew it very well in her heart, but she wanted her father to tell her that this was where she was so smart. "Old ministers... No, even your elder brothers, there are quite a few people who strongly oppose this marriage. Do you know?" "My daughter has heard a little about these things." "They all wanted to destroy Matsudaira Hiromada when he was still young, but that was nothing more than the courage of a common man." "The child thinks so too." "Oh? If the two families really go to war, it will not be the Matsudaira clan that will perish, but our Mizuno clan." Zhongzheng suddenly twisted his neck to the left, and said, "Help me beat the base of my neck." He moved his right hand a few times, and continued, "I have something to tell you as a father. I made a big mistake, thinking that Your mother won by sending her to Okazaki Castle, but it turns out that it was nothing more than a miscalculation without consideration and ridiculed." The room was extremely silent, only the sound of backbeating echoed softly in the room. Zhongzheng deliberately did not face his daughter, and in a light tone, he confessed his last words to his beloved daughter who was about to be sent to the enemy: "When Qingkang, Guangzhong's father, asked me for your mother, I was very angry and secretly called him a jerk, You especially looked down on him and thought he was just a womanizer. Although I felt wronged, I thought I had won at the time. Your mother left five children and went to Okazaki Castle alone. As long as she stays in Okazaki for one day, The Mizuno family will be safe for a day." Zhongzheng's tone became more and more excited, and Yu Da's eyes became moist.Yu Dabairan is very clear about the deep affection his father has for his mother.Therefore, although she missed her mother very much, she never resented her father. "...I was not wrong in my thinking on this matter. Isn't the Mizuno clan safe and sound now? But my original plan was to send your mother as a hostage first, and then look for an opportunity to destroy the Matsudaira clan. My The plan has been completely miscalculated. Your mother is a virtuous person, and the retainers still respect her. The generals who fought against Matsudaira on the battlefield are all her children. No matter how heroic they claim to be, they will never Destroy the city where my mother lives. Because as long as you destroy the other party, it is equivalent to killing your own mother..." Having said this, Zhongzheng stopped suddenly, as if he felt something dripping onto his neck. "Hahaha... There's nothing to cry about, it's all passing, it's all over." Yu Da didn't stop, just nodded. "Although the matter has passed... But I still lost. The strategy of ignoring feelings is not a real strategy. I was severely punished by the gods for this matter. Yu Da, can you understand?" "Yes. The child knows the sadness and loneliness in the father's heart when the mother is away." Zhongzheng nodded: "I am really lonely. Matsudaira Kiyoyasu is well versed in the world, and he actually took the mother of five children away... Thinking of this, I am so angry that I am going crazy... But everything has disappeared since today. .In this troubled world, clever tricks are useless. Now I finally understand that meaningless laments are often the result of cleverness." Yu Da stopped slightly.Her slender eyes fixed on her father carefully, listening quietly. "Therefore, as a father, I decided not to care about the past. I sincerely hope that the two families will treat each other with sincerity and be consistent with the outside world. This is the real way to win. Do you understand? I gave my chaste and virtuous wife to others. I have suffered so much. From then on, I might as well turn my resentment into a prayer, present my beloved daughter, and ask for the blessing of gods and Buddhas." Yu Da was speechless, only nodded silently.Her hands moved again.Zhongzheng showed a gratified smile on his face: "In recent years, I have repeatedly ignited wars with the people of Songping, not to destroy them, but just to make...you look more decent when you marry...Do you understand the painstaking efforts of being a father?" Yu Da loves Okazaki Jouchi's mother deeply, and of course also loves his father deeply. Killing, being killed, scheming and being schemed, people admire and rely on force, but they have accumulated endless sorrow and resentment.The so-called misery in the world, I am afraid that is all.Father was now about to be freed from the shackles of this world.Yu Da thought, even for his father, he must become a solid bridge between the two alliances. "Let the daughter beat her father's waist." Yu Da supported Zhongzheng to lie down, and soothed his father's vicissitudes of life with the innocent words of her fourteen-year-old girl. "My daughter is very happy and has never been hated or hated by anyone." Zhongzheng felt a warm feeling in his heart.The daughter saw the uneasiness in his heart, so she said these words to reassure him! "Yeah." He sighed. "Children have always been loved by their parents and older brothers...they will surely be respected by Okazaki people in the future. Children are born happy." "Yes, with your temperament, you will never be hated by others, but Yu Da..." "Father." "You should not only accept the love of others, but also take the initiative to love others. Have you ever thought about it?" "Yes. My daughter will love the treasures of the Okazaki family with all her heart." "treasure?" "It's Okazaki's loyal and outstanding retainers... Mother mentioned it in her letter." "Oh……" Zhongzheng sat up involuntarily.He didn't need to say much, he said just now that the Mizuno Clan would lose in the fight between the two families, because the Matsudaira Clan had a group of capable retainers. "Yu Da, you have to keep this in mind. So, I'm luckier than you... That's all, that's all. Hahaha!" At this time, the second son, Xinyuan, rushed in with a long knife without notification.He glanced at Yu Da and said, "Father, I want to talk to you alone." After speaking, he sat down carelessly. "Yu Da, you go down first." Zhongzheng said, sat up, straightened his clothes, under his frosty eyebrows, a pair of eyes fixed on Xinyuan: "Is there any news from Owari?" Xinyuan has a strong and outgoing personality, which is quite different from his father.He nodded heavily, and said, "Aren't you going to change your mind about Yu Da's marriage?" "This is the end of the matter, why do you say that!" "Oda Nobuhide has already become suspicious. This may not be good for us." "Hmph! Then pass the word to Owari, saying that our move is to design to get rid of Hiromada." "Father!" "What's wrong?" "I'll say it again. Please change your mind. Now is a great time to annex Okazaki." Xinyuan straightened his back, showing a forceful presence—he was not Huayangyuan's own son.Zhongzheng looked at Xinyuan quietly, only smiling. It seems that the tide is high, and the sound of waves can be faintly heard from the stone wall of the city.