different warring states of japan

Chapter 2100: Settling the Nine Provinces and Calming the King's Heart

Seeing that Hideyoshi Ichijo was worried, Kuroda Kotaka also spoke to comfort him.

"My Lord, are you worried that if you intervene in Kyushu affairs too early, it will inevitably give the Otomo family and the Ryuzoji family a chance to catch their breath, which will be detrimental to the future control of the Kyushu samurai?"

Hideyoshi Ichijo nodded.

"Otomo Yoshitsugu asked me for help, not because he truly surrendered, but because he was forced into a helpless act by the Shimazu family.

Once I successfully suppress the Shimazu family, the Otomo family will definitely have ideas, and it will be difficult to control them in the future.

I originally wanted to wait until the Shimazu family weakened the Otomo family before intervening, but now, I have no choice but to act in advance."

Kuroda Takaka smiled coldly.

"My Lord, don't worry too much. Although the natives of Kyushu are cunning, they are also full of contradictions. It is not difficult to suppress them."

Ichijo Hideyoshi asked with a smile.

"It seems that you have done a lot of research on the Jiuzhou Wu family. What is your plan?"

Kuroda Takaka said coldly.

"Otomo Yoshitsugu was also considered a female ruler, but unfortunately she lost her integrity in her later years. She was defeated several times in wars with the Ryuzoji family and the Shimazu family, and even had to give up the position of head of the family to her daughter to avoid suspicion and apologize.

However, she gave up the throne but not the power, which constrained her daughter after she succeeded to the throne, and she was quite dissatisfied.

In addition, with the rise of the Tachibana family, a relative of the Otomo family, it is not difficult to divide the Otomo family internally."

Ichijo Hideyoshi nodded.

Otomo Yoshijin is a typical confused old man. He worked hard in his early years and achieved great things. Unfortunately, his ambition was too big and his ability did not match his ambition. His downfall in his later years was also his own fault.

The Tachibana family and the Toji family were both relatives of the Otomo family. Tachibana rebelled and was suppressed by Toji, so Toji inherited the Tachibana name. The Tachibana family also became the backbone of the Otomo family during the turbulent times.

It is actually not difficult to take advantage of the conflict between Otomo Yoshijin and his daughter and use the rising Tachibana family to restrict the Otomo family.

As long as there are conflicts within the samurai group, they can be won over, divided and suppressed. Diplomatic suppression is one of Hideyoshi's strengths.

Ichijo Hideyoshi asked again.

"Is it the same with the Ryuzoji family and the Shimazu family?"

Kuroda Takataka smiled coldly.

"The Ryuzoji family is even more chaotic than the Otomo family. Tachibana Dosetsu has no daughter, so he can only bring in his daughter-in-law to inherit the family name. He may not have any intention of replacing the head of the family, Otomo.

However, there is already a rising powerful official in the Ryuzoji family.

If it weren't for Naoshige Nabeshima's fierce counterattack, the Ryuzoji family might have been defeated by the Otomo family long ago, and their reputation and strength would have long threatened the safety of the main family.

The Ryuzoji family was under attack from both sides and could not do without the assistance of Naoshige KOBE. Even though they knew that giving power to Naoshige KOBE would cause trouble, they had to do so.

Therefore, the Ryuzoji family came up with the idea of ​​submitting to the Shimazu family, first eliminating external threats and then turning around to resolve internal troubles.

However, Naoshige Nabeshima could not allow the Ryuzoji family to side with the Shimazu family and defeat the Otomo family.

  Without powerful foreign enemies watching closely, how could Naoshige Nabeshima protect himself?

Since ancient times, powerful ministers who have achieved great success and frightened their masters will either seize power or die a violent death in the end. It is impossible for them to live in harmony with their masters until the end.

The lord can also use Naoshige Nabeshima to suppress the Ryuzoji family when he sends troops to Kyushu this time. The strong minister and weak lord doom the Ryuzoji family to be unable to achieve anything, and Naoshige Nabeshima cannot do without the protection and support of the lord if he wants his family to be healthy.

The most advantageous situation for the master is that the two sides check and balance each other.

As for the Shimazu family, a large family that has existed in southern Kyushu for five hundred years, how could it have few internal conflicts?

Long before the four Shimazu sisters, the Shimazu family had fallen to the point where the entire country of Satsuma was torn apart, let alone controlling the three countries of southern Kyushu.

The four Shimazu sisters made great contributions to the rise of the Shimazu family, but although they seemed united, it was actually only because they had common interests, not without conflicts.

As long as the lord succeeds in conquering Kyushu and crushes their ambition to unify Kyushu Island, the accumulated contradictions within the Shimazu family will not be able to be vented externally and will be intensified internally with a little guidance.

It is common for sisters to fight against each other in samurai families. Miyoshi Nagayoshi had been dominating for half his life, but was ultimately defeated by a saint and could not escape the fate of fratricide.

  No matter how united the Shimazu sisters are, can they be more united than the Miyoshi sisters who almost took over the world?

As long as we interrupt the Shimadzu family's external expansion, it will not be difficult to divide the Shimadzu family."

Hideyoshi Ichijo looked at Kuroda Kotaka who was talking eloquently, his eyes flickering, and no one knew what was going on in his mind, but it finally turned into a smile.

“Xiao Gao seems to have quite a lot of insights into suppressing the princes of the Nine Provinces.

If I send troops to rescue them this time and can really take Kyushu in one fell swoop, I will seal Xiaogao's land in Kyushu and follow your plan and take it slowly."

Kuroda Kotaka's strategies have always been insidious, and this time his analysis of the three families in Kyushu was too dark and cruel, which made Hideyoshi Ichijo feel uneasy.

Today, Kuroda Kotaka can plan for the future of the Ichijo family. Tomorrow, who knows, this disabled but determined poisoner might set his sights on the Ichijo family.

Hideyoshi Ichijo was ambitious himself, so how could he not understand the thoughts of these people and how could he not prepare for the future.

Now, Hideyoshi Ichijo used Kuroda Kotaka's strategy, so naturally he had to tolerate her viciousness.

But in the future, Hideyoshi Ichijo must keep Kuroda Takao in Kyushu and not give this vicious and ambitious man the chance to bite him back.

Kuroda Kotaka bowed and thanked his lord, feeling relieved and relieved.

Although Hideyoshi Ichijo had been hiding his fear of Kuroda Kotaka, Kuroda Kotaka actually knew it well.

Kuroda Takataka asked himself if he could be as selfless as Takenaka Shigeharu, who was willing to consider his lord wholeheartedly, devote himself to the cause, and work until his death.

But as a counselor, Kuroda Kotaka believed that he was worthy of Hideyoshi Ichijo.

However, Hideyoshi Ichijo always used Takenaka Shigeharu as a benchmark to judge and examine Kuroda Kotaka, which made Kuroda Kotaka very helpless.

  Everyone in the world has ambitions and selfish desires. Among the concubines under Hideyoshi Ichijo, how many are selfless and dedicated saints?

Everyone followed Ichijo Hideyoshi simply because he was courageous enough to lead everyone to promotion and wealth, so that everyone could earn a better future.

Since Hideyoshi Ichijo did not trust him, Kuroda Kotaka also had to find a way out for himself.

Kyushu Island is a good place. Although it is mostly remote and poor, it is far away from the emperor. Two generations of shogunate have never had actual control over this place, and the same will probably be true for the third samurai regime in the future.

Kuroda Kotaka intended to guide Ichijo Hideyoshi and guide her to enfeoff him in Kyushu, which was to leave a way out for himself.

In the future, if Ichijo Hideyoshi really defeats Sasaki Yoshikane and ascends the throne of the world, Kuroda Kotaka will not lose the merit of following the dragon.

If things don't go well in the end, Kuroda Takataka can also seize the opportunity to build a career in Kyushu and strive to preserve his family's reputation and business.

Ichijo Hideyoshi and Kuroda Kotaka smiled at each other. Both the monarch and the minister had their own plans in mind, but the conquest of Kyushu was a common wish of both of them.