different warring states of japan

Chapter 2162: Hideyoshi and Hidenaga Talk about Going to Kyoto
Harima Province, Himeji Castle.

Hideyoshi Ichijo watched Kobayakawa Takakage leave his courtyard, and asked Hidenaga Ichijo beside him in a low voice.

"Where is Shimazu Yoshihiro?"

Yitichi Xiuchang said helplessly.

"She is still sailing on the Seto Inland Sea, but her letter of apology has already landed on my desk.

It was said that the Shimazu clan’s army was turning back too slowly and might not make it in time for the first battle, so only a thousand men at most could participate.

She apologized to me for not supervising the troops strictly."

Ichijo Hideyoshi smiled coldly and pointed at Kobayakawa Takakage who had disappeared outside the courtyard.

“I’ll make a bet with you that the number of Shimazu clan members participating in the war this time is only Shimazu Yoshihiro’s 1,000 men.

What do you mean that we can only send a thousand people in the first battle? She will definitely make excuses in the future. Unless I gain the upper hand in the war with Sasaki Yoshikin, the Shimazu family will not send any more soldiers.

After all, there is no deep blood feud between the Shimazu family and the Sasaki family. Her family just wants to show its value and find a way out.

The only ones who are truly willing to come out in full force to support me are the Maori family, because the Maori family has no way out. "

Hidenaga Ichijo nodded helplessly, agreeing with Hideyoshi Ichijo's opinion.

Shimazu Yoshihiro participated in the war in her personal capacity, and on the one hand, she gave the Shimazu family an excuse to shirk responsibility afterwards, so it can be said that she acted on her own initiative.

On the other hand, a thousand people is not a lot, but it is enough to show bravery on the local battlefield and let the saint of the Sasaki family see the power of the Shimazu family.

From this we can see that the Shimazu family did not look favorably upon Hideyoshi Ichijo's adventure at all, and her family was already preparing for a post-war separation.

Therefore, unless the situation in the Battle of Sasaki-Ichijo becomes clear and the Ichijo family has the upper hand, the Shimazu family will continue to delay sending reinforcements.

Ichijo Hideyoshi split the Shimazu clan into two so that the Shimazu clan would no longer be a threat to him.

Whether it was Shimazu Yoshihisa or Shimazu Yoshihiro, although these two smart men were not in harmony, they relied on this discord as a tacit understanding and defeated Hideyoshi Ichijo at the critical moment.

Shimazu's unstable two-headed system gave the two Shimazu sisters sufficient reasons to delay sending more troops, and Hideyoshi Ichijo could not say anything.

The political situation of discord between the two leaders of Shimazu was a divide and rule scheme secretly created by Kuroda Kotaka under Hideyoshi.

On the contrary, the attitude of the Mori family was very positive. Kobayakawa Takakage personally led his troops and mobilized a total of more than 30,000 people. It can be said that all the assets of the Mori family were mobilized.

It’s not that the Mori family wanted to help Hideyoshi Ichijo take advantage of the situation, it’s just that the Mori family had no other choice.

Although the Mori family escorted the defeated Niwa Katsuhisa out of the country with courtesy, Niwa Katsuhisa died on the way under unclear circumstances.

According to the subsequent analysis of the situation, this was a conspiracy between Akechi Mitsuhide and Ichijo Hideyoshi, and a foreplay to the Honnoji Incident.

But the problem is that Yoshigin Sasaki would never admit this.

If he admitted that Amago Katsuhisa was killed by Akechi Mitsuhide, then the Akechi family and the Amago family among the descendants of Sasaki would become mortal enemies, and the death of Oda Nobunaga, which had been settled, would be brought up again.

In order to unite the internal forces, Sasaki Yoshikane has asked Akechi Mitsuhide to raise Oda Nobunaga's orphan Qiqimaru, and promised to help Amago Yukimori return to the west, making the Amago family's revival more powerful than before.

Therefore, the Mori family must be the murderer who killed Niwa Katsuhisa, otherwise the situation within the Sasaki family will not be fair.

The Mori clan was well aware of this and, knowing that they could not compete with the Sasaki clan, they had no choice but to rely on Ichijo Hideyoshi and become his most loyal ally.

Even though they knew that Hideyoshi Ichijo had little chance of winning, the Mori clan had no choice but to follow Hideyoshi Ichijo and take the gamble.

Shaking his head to get rid of the shadow brought by the Shimazu family's speculation, Hideyoshi Ichijo asked.

"How's things going at the Shiba family?"

Ichijo Hideo sighed.

"It's still those clichés calling for peace. It's just that the economic severance has put a lot of pressure on our military logistics. Do you really want to march into Shangluo?"

Seeing that Ichijo Hidenaga was uneasy, Ichijo Hideyoshi said helplessly.

“Do I have any choice?

While calling for peace, Yoshikin Sasaki cut off Sasaki Dokura's funding and did not allow Sasaki to continue supplying supplies to the front line on the peninsula.

In addition, Oda Shinbao's death was really coincidental. A rebellion broke out in Oda's former territory, and all places no longer obeyed my orders.

In addition, with Sasaki Yoshigin cutting off logistics, those in Oda's former territory had ample reason to refuse my orders and stop supplying military supplies on the grounds of road obstruction.

If I don't resist now, I will have no choice but to surrender when the military supplies run out."

Ichijo Hidenagaga said.

“That’s true, but the economy is in dire straits right now, the saints are calling for peace, and the martial arts families of the world are feeling at ease, and no one wants to continue the war.

If we insist on going against the trend, will we fall into the trap of the saints? Moreover, what reason do we have to go to war with the saints?

As the saying goes, a teacher has a legitimate reason.

The Saint has not mobilized any troops at all. If we suddenly attack the Sibo Territory, I am afraid we will completely lose the support of the people in the world."

Ichijo Hideyoshi sneered.

"Cut off my economy, disrupt my territory, force me to take action, isn't that enough for Yoshigin Sasaki?

Apart from posturing and not mobilizing the military, he had already exhausted all the tricks he could use. Most people in the world are fools, but they were deceived by his hypocrisy.

Fortunately, in this martial arts world, it all comes down to who has the stronger fist. Whoever wins is right, and there is no need to worry about what others say.

As for the reason for starting a war, who said I wanted to start a war? I just went to Luoyang to ask for an explanation.

Yoshikin Sasaki accepted the title conferred by the Ming Dynasty and, regardless of the blood and tears of the soldiers on the front lines, made peace with the Ming Dynasty without authorization, which was against etiquette.

He is the elder of the Genji clan, and I am the elder of the Fuji clan. He is the pillar of the samurai family, and I am the pillar of the court official family. Even if we want to accept the Ming Dynasty's amnesty, it is not his unilateral decision.

I went to Luoyang this time to invite him to discuss state affairs and explore the integration of civil and military affairs. He should not act on his own. Even if the island country really has a new king, it should be a king who integrates civil and military affairs. This is the orthodoxy. "

Ichijo nodded slightly.

"This reason is barely justifiable."

In theory, the current island country is divided into imperial and military rule. Hideyoshi Ichijo was born in a humble family, but she inherited the Tosa Ichijo family and revived the imperial family, which barely allowed her to rule the world.

Although the Wu clans under her command were only intimidated by the size of her fist and had to submit to her, they at least had a reasonable political status to maintain their rule.

As for Yoshikin Sasaki, it is the Sasaki theocracy that was modified by the samurai shogunate, but its underlying color is still the orthodoxy of the pillars of the samurai family.

The court regent and the samurai shogun were originally two ruling lines that split from the imperial court system.

Sasaki Yoshikin accepted the Ming Dynasty's enthronement without authorization and became the king of the island country. Ichijo Hideyoshi was dissatisfied and went to Kyoto to ask for an explanation in the name of the leader of the court officials, which barely complied with the rules of the game of island country politics.

But, it's just barely acceptable.

Since Ashikaga Yoshimitsu slaughtered the emperor and his nobles and accepted the title of the Ming Dynasty, the island nation has entered the unified rule of the samurai shogunate, and it is no longer the dual rule of the imperial court and the shogunate coexisting in the Kamakura period. Didn't Ichijo Hideyoshi want to be a pillar of the samurai family? Didn't he want to rule the samurai world with a legitimate reason?
It's not that I don't want to, I just can't.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki was too concerned about his reputation to adopt Hideyoshi Ichijo as his daughter. Hideyoshi Ichijo had no choice but to go to the outdated Tosa Ichijo family and pick up the fallen regent system to restore his reputation.

But now the country is ruled by the samurai, and all the people under Hideyoshi Ichijo are samurai. She herself knows very well how much appeal her public ceremony as a leader of the public officials has: it is equivalent to nothing.

The local samurai who surrendered to the Ichijo family either had a mortal feud with the Sasaki family or were conquered by the military force of the Ichijo family, so they reluctantly accepted the rule of Ichijo Hideyoshi, the leader of the court nobles.

Now Hideyoshi Ichijo wants to use the excuse that he is a pillar of the military family and is willing to accept the throne of the island nation as the leader of the court officials to go to Kyoto to attack. It is really funny.

But the fact that Hideyoshi Ichijo, who came from a humble background, was able to climb to the position of one of the only two in the world today is itself the biggest joke in the strictly hierarchical samurai society.

Ichijo Hidena smiled helplessly and asked.

"You are going to Luoyang in the name of discussing state affairs with the saints under the guise of public and military unity. So how should we proceed?"

Hideyoshi Ichijo knew that she was taking a huge gamble, and that was why she had thought about and deduced the plan of going to Kyoto countless times.

At this moment, she did not hide it from her sister and spoke frankly.

"Going to Kyoto is just a cover. I want to take over Sakai Port and keep the Ishiyama-Sakai Port line in my hands.

Then go up to Luo along the Yodo River and capture Yodo Castle, Fushimi Castle, Sakamoto Castle, Azuchi Castle, and Sawayama Castle.

Best of all, we can also capture Gifu Castle."

Ichijo Hidenager was a little confused and asked.

"Aren't you going to Luo? Why are you running further and further east?"

The Osaka Bay area formed by Sakai Port and Ishiyama is the rear base for an army heading to Kyoto. In order to ensure smooth logistical supply, it must be taken.

Yodo Castle is the gateway to Yamashiro Province, and Fushimi Castle is the guardhouse of the southern suburbs of Kyoto, so naturally they had to be taken.

However, after Hideyoshi Ichijo captured these cities, he had no intention of going south to the Nara Basin to Tamonyama Castle to find Yoshikin Sasaki.

Instead, he continued to move eastward, invaded Omi Province, and even went to Mino Province, which made Hidenaga Ichijo a little confused.

Sakamoto Castle is the entrance of Kyoto's water transport to Lake Biwa, Azuchi Castle controls the southern Omi Plain, and Sawayama Castle is an important town between North and South Omi. The plan is to conquer all the way through Omi Province.

Gifu Castle was an important town in Mino Province, the former residence of Oda Nobunaga and the starting point of his conquest of the world, overlooking the Nobi Plain.

Ichijo Hideyoshi went to Kyoto in the name of going to Kyoto, but he did not go to find Sasaki Yoshikin. Instead, he rampaged in Omi Mino, which made Ichijo Hidenaga very puzzled.

Looking at his puzzled sister, Hideyoshi Ichijo explained.

"It makes no sense for me to go to Tamon Castle, but it would be more meaningful to go to Oda's former territory.

Yoshigin Sasaki has been resisting mobilization just to make me bear the infamy of starting the war. Since I am prepared to take on this infamy, I naturally have to take advantage of this initiative.

Yoshigin Sasaki will not sit idly by. He will definitely try his best to delay time. If I go to Tamon Mountain Castle to find him, I will fall into his trap.

Most of the Sasaki family's strength is in Kanto, and the strength of the Kinki Sasaki domain is not enough to defeat me. Sasaki Yoshikane will definitely try his best to delay me until the Kanto coalition forces arrive at the battlefield.

I can't let him control me. I have to break out of his plan in order to have a chance of survival.

The former territories of Oda were bewitched by Sasaki Yoshigin and had adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Except for Settsu, most of the former territories, such as Omi, Owari, Mino, Echizen, Ise, etc., were all east of Kyoto.

If I were to get involved with Sasaki Yoshikin in the Kyoto and Nara areas, then the samurai from Oda's former territory would continue to remain neutral.

If I want to force them to stand together and help me, I can only take Azuchi Castle or even Gifu Castle by force."

A smile suddenly dawned on him.

Gifu Castle and Azuchi Castle successively became the residences of Oda Nobunaga. The political significance of the change of ownership of the two castles was extraordinary, enough to influence the thinking of the former samurai of Sasaki.

If Hideyoshi Ichijo did not get entangled with Sasaki Yoshikin, but went directly eastward, he would try to retake the important town that was formerly under Oda's control before the Eastern Army arrived at the battlefield, and thus win the hearts of many people.

The Wu family admires the strong, and treats benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and trustworthiness as bullshit. Only the strong can drive them.

Ichijo Hideyoshi sighed.

"Unfortunately, I don't have much time. If I can suppress Sasaki Yoshigin and make him afraid to move, and capture cities everywhere, people's hearts will surely change.

But Yoshigin Sasaki will not give me too much time. He will not watch me capture cities and unsettle people.

I may not even be able to enter Mino Province, and Gifu Castle is just a luxury. I expect that my army will be stopped before I break through the pass. "

Suzuka Pass, Aika Pass and Fuwa Pass are the geographical dividing line between Kanto and Kansai on the island country. In particular, Fuwa Pass, located between Omi Province and Mino Province, is the center of the axis.

Bupoguan is not a checkpoint, but a small plain and basin surrounded by mountains, which can also be called Guanyuan.

A long-haired man followed with a sigh.

“It’s a pity indeed. If we can break through the pass and capture Gifu Castle, we can intimidate the Nobi Plain and shock the world.

The people’s attitude will be different by then.”

Ichijo Hideyoshi shook his head.

"Sabo Yoshigin won't give me this opportunity, not breaking through is his bottom line.

This is not just about the people's support, but also about the political balance.

If you defeat me in Osaka, the Kinki Divine Descendants will be the main force. If you defeat me in the Nobi Plain, the Kanto Divine Descendants will be the main force.

For Yoshikin Sasaki, this is the final battle to determine who will rule the world. If he cannot balance the power comparison between Kanto and Kansai, there will be big troubles in the future.

He has the upper hand now and is concerned about the stability of his regime, so he gave me the opportunity to break through to Omi Province and the possibility of a Jedi counterattack.

By taking advantage of Shiba Yoshigin's balanced mind and the competitive spirit of the Shiba clans, I was able to have a chance to give it a try in Sekigahara.

As long as we can defeat Sasaki Yoshigin in one battle, smash his reputation of being invincible, and severely damage the strength of Sasaki's descendants, we will have a chance of survival.

When the gods are no longer invincible, the martial arts families of the world will be ready to make a move, and the world will be in chaos again. This is my only chance to survive."

Ichijo Hideyoshi pondered for a while and nodded silently. She was relieved to find that Ichijo Hideyoshi was still very sober.

After gaining the recognition of military lords throughout the nation through the temporary shogunate's Daipanji system, the rule of the Sasaki theocracy had become consolidated and could not be completely eliminated in one battle.

However, the descendants of the Sasaki God have been very aggressive in recent years, encroaching on the military territories in various places. The local military families also have many complaints in their hearts, but no one dares to go against the trend.

If the myth of Sasaki Yoshigin's invincibility could be shattered in one battle and the strength of the Sasaki families could be severely damaged, the military families in various places would inevitably develop different ideas.

The troubled times have not ended yet and order has just been established. People want peace, but the ambitious people have not given up.

Hideyoshi Ichijo never thought that she could win the world by relying on the Battle of Sekigahara. She just wanted to win a major battle, disrupt the world situation, and give herself a chance to survive.

This idea was so objective and calm that Hidetsugi Ichijo admired it and gave rise to a glimmer of hope.

If they could really defeat Sasaki Yoshigaki at Sekigahara and win a battle, even if it was just a small victory, perhaps the Ichijo family would still have a chance to hold on and survive?