Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 2159 The use of Zong Baikui (Weir [-]) for detailed work
Gao Wushi not only knew the reason why Uesugi Jingsheng refused to go to Beijing this time, but it should even be said that the reason was given to him by Gao Wushi himself.On the contrary, Jia Fei Ji didn't know the process, because the process of this matter did not go through Jia Fei Ji-this matter was handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

There is no need to discuss this matter in detail. To put it simply, among the dozens of secret agents that Jinghua sent to Japan in the early years, there were naturally placements in such a famous family as the Uesugi family.

Among them is a person named Kashiwahara Zongzhi, who has already worked in the Uesugi family's Otsutsu Magi, and he is a very talkable existence of the Uesugi family - Otsuru is the Japanese term for artillery, so "Otsutsu Makoto" as the name implies is The person in charge of the Uesugi family artillery.

How Kashiwahara Zongzhi got into such an important position these years, I won’t go into it here, but said that his main work for the Uesugi family these years is to accumulate artillery and train gunners.This training gunner is naturally a technique brought back from Ming Dynasty, so it doesn't need to be said much, anyway, what he can teach is mainly aiming, and he himself doesn't understand the other concentrated firepower.

What I want to talk about now is "accumulating artillery".Japan is now able to manufacture good-quality matchlock guns, the so-called "Japanese iron guns", but for real artillery, that is, large cylinders, they lack the manufacturing capacity and can only obtain them through other means.This "other way" was through the so-called "Southern Barbarian trade" in the early years, that is, doing business with Spain and Portugal.

However, since Jinghua has basically monopolized the Japanese trade, the number of businessmen from Spain and Portugal who continue to go to Japan to do business has decreased sharply. With the direct trade between Nanyang and Jinghua, which saves a lot of trouble, the profit is not less, so why go north to Japan?

As a result, only a few missionaries remained in Japan and those who still hoped to escape to Japan.

There is no need to do trade with the Southern Barbarians, and there is no doubt that the source of Japan's artillery is the Ming Dynasty.As I said before, someone from Ming Dynasty quietly smuggled firearms to Japan.Not only the Jiangnan maritime merchants are willing to make this money, but even within the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance, those princes and marquises had sold a batch of replaced artillery to Japan before, and it was only after the outbreak of the war to aid Korea that Gao Pragmatically stop the war on the grounds that the war cannot be supported by the enemy.

It wasn't just Jinghua's sale of artillery to Japan that was stopped, but even the smuggling of artillery with Jiangnan merchants was strictly controlled.Here is one thing to say: Jiangnan Maritime Merchants will not be stupid to sell finished artillery directly, it is too easy to be caught by Jinghua.

They have always split the artillery into the smallest components as much as possible, sent them to Japan in different batches, and then assembled the artillery in the local chamber of commerce they established in Japan, and finally contacted the buyer to deliver the goods and payment.

These days, it is impossible for Jinghua to open warehouses and inspect the goods transported by each ship one by one, so it is difficult for Jinghua to obtain such a delivery method.

However, "difficult" is mainly because the cost is not economical. It does not mean that Jinghua cannot conduct a thorough inspection when it is necessary. It is nothing more than sending more manpower and increasing the workload.After high-level pragmatism insists on strictly controlling the flow of artillery into Japan, it will be as difficult as ever to obtain artillery in Japan.

At this time, Kashiwahara Zongzhi got the time to show his ability in the Uesugi family: he can still get artillery for the Uesugi family from time to time.Although these artillery pieces look average, they are often only Jinghua's No. [-] guns, and at most No. [-] guns, but they are also extremely precious to the Uesugi family.

As a result, Kashiwahara Zongzhi's status in the Uesugi family has been rising all the way. Although he is definitely not able to be the elder of the family with his new identity and qualifications for a few years, it does not affect him becoming more and more important in the Uesugi family.

The upper echelons of the Uesugi family knew that the reason why Kashiwahara Zongzhi was able to get the artillery was because of the contacts he established when he was a general in Daming—after all, according to Kashiwahara Zongzhi himself, his former master, General Liu Ting, was "Daming Guan Bai is an important general under the command of Gao Yushi.With General Liu's face, it seems natural that getting some artillery is not a big problem.

The above can be regarded as the premise of being highly pragmatic to give Uesugi Jingsheng a reason not to return to Kyoto, and after Uesugi Jingsheng returned to Aizu, Kashiwahara Zongzhi immediately reported to him a "major event related to the world".

Kashiwahara Zongzhi said that he had heard about an extremely serious conspiracy from Jinghua: Tokugawa Ieyasu had won the support of Jinghua and wanted to usurp Toyotomi's inheritance by "integrating internal and external".Specifically, it is to win over a group of people from Toyotomi's family internally, and then defeat a group of people who do not obey him by force, and then seize the status of "people of the world", abolish the Toyotomi public instrument that integrates public and military forces, and let him establish a new shogunate .

Of course, this alone is not enough.Because if that's all, the Uesugi family is a super daimyo with a majestic 120 million shi, and they have the capital to directly submit to Tokugawa, and then continue to maintain their family name.

Therefore, Kashiwahara Zongzhi continued to say that Tokugawa Ieyasu had already indicated his plan to Jinghua.Unfortunately, the attitude towards the Uesugi family is: the domain is one of the Toyotomi clan besieging the Tokugawa clan on three sides, and it has the highest status and the strongest strength, and must be completely eradicated.

Uesugi Jingsheng was shocked when he heard about it, and Naoe Kanesuke and other important retainers also believed that after analysis, if Tokugawa Ieyasu really has the heart to subvert the world, then it is indeed reasonable to put the eradication of Uesugi as the top priority.In this way, how dare Uesugi Jingsheng return to Beijing?Of course, the first priority is to consolidate the territory and prepare for war as soon as possible.

Two flowers bloom, each representing a branch.Now it's time to turn back to Tokugawa Ieyasu and see what he's going to do next.

Previously, Tokugawa Ieyasu accelerated the pace of his visit to Osaka Castle by taking advantage of the rumor secretly released by Ishida Mitsunari, and soon entered Osaka Castle when Osaka Moho was in a hurry and at a loss.

Not long after Tokugawa Ieyasu entered the city, he built a solemn castle tower in the west garden of Osaka Castle.Although it can't be compared with the castle tower in this city, it is still a bit luxurious as the residence of the Shaojun and the regent.

With the approval of the late Taige, Ieyasu, who is the most powerful in the world, became a trustee.It is undeniable that the two castle towers in a city face each other far away, and Ieyasu also wants to show his majesty to the world's famous names.He seems to be saying that if anyone refuses to accept, Tokugawa Ieyasu is willing to fight with him...

In fact, ever since Ieyasu lived in Xiyuan, he has no scruples, and he pretends to be a man of the world.He first exiled Hijikata Kawachi Morihisa and Ono Shuryo to Hitachi, and then asked Asano Nagamasa to return to Kaifei to think about his mistakes. This time he deliberately created the illusion that he was going to crusade against the Maeda family in order to force the long brothers to surrender.

Needless to say, Asano Nagamasa, the world once discussed that the Toshicho brothers would never beg for mercy from Ieyasu, but since the Maeda family's former governor of Yokoyama Yamashiro and apologized to Ieyasu, the situation has changed drastically.

Ieyasu actually ordered Yokoyama Nagawa to send Toshinaga's mother Hoshunin to Edo as a hostage.This request shocked Masuda, Nagatsu and others.Although there was a precedent of the late Taiko taking hostages in Osaka before, it was never before that such a high-status daimyo was held hostage in his own territory.

In this way, doesn't it mean that Brother Li Chang surrendered to Ieyasu?Ieyasu might have seen through that Maeda would not agree, so he deliberately provoked.

However, just as the rumors spread, the Maeda family agreed to hand over the hostages, and everyone was dumbfounded again.

Hoshunin—that is, Mrs. Asatsu’s explanation: “There are precedents for this matter. Master Asano has handed over his son to Edo. After the Battle of Komaki Nagakute, the Dazheng Office also went to Okazaki as a hostage. As long as it is For the peace of the world, I am just an old woman, so there is nothing to be afraid of."

For this almost difficult request, the entire Maeda family was in a commotion.In order to appease the family's dissatisfaction, Maeda Toshinaga acted in complete secrecy. First, Murai Byogo and Yamazaki Anfang sent Yoshishunin to Osaka, and then from Osaka to Edo.Lizheng was even more distressed than Lichang, and he said with tears: "Sending mother to Edo as a hostage is tantamount to a downfall of the family, surrendering to the second master..."

In fact, behind Fangchunyuan's deep understanding and righteousness, there is also Gaotaiyuan [Note: Hideyoshi's main wife Ning Ning. ] a great effort.Kodaiin wholeheartedly inherited Hideyoshi's behest, and took "eternally maintaining peace in the world" as its mission.But fortunately, the incident did not cause a storm.

Knowing that the Maeda family has no betrayal, Ieyasu still deliberately makes it difficult for the Maeda brothers, which seems very unreasonable.However, after the hostage incident, Ieyasu immediately betrothed Hidetada's second daughter to Toshinaga's younger brother Toshinori, who was going to inherit the Maeda family business.

This woman is Qianji's younger sister who has a marriage contract with Xiulai.Therefore, if the world is stable, Hideyori and Toshijo will become brother-in-law, and the three families of Toyotomi, Tokugawa, and Maeda will be inseparable.Although this is only a political marriage, it seems that there is no lack of Ieyasu's gratitude for the attitude of the late Dana Gen Maeda Toshiie before his death.In short, the entanglement between Tokugawa and Maeda should be said to have been settled.

Then came Mori and Uesugi.From Ieyasu's point of view, once Mori and Uesugi become his allies, then Ishida Mitsunari will have to obey orders obediently, and the flames of war in Japan will be extinguished before they are ignited-unless Jinghua personally ends, who else can deal with him at that time? ?

For these, Ieyasu has some ideas.However, not everyone can understand what he did. For example, since Mori Terumoto returned to the neighboring country last year, he ignored it. Instead, he frequently contacted Uesugi Kagekatsu from Aizu, or asked about Ou's situation, or informed Uesugi to the court. dynamic……

Uesugi Kagekatsu's city was originally in Kasugayama Castle in Echigo, but was later transferred to Aizu, which happened in the first month of the year when Toyotomi Hideyoshi passed away.It is obvious why Hideyoshi transferred Jing Sheng to Aizu with 120 thousand koku for what consideration.

Seeing that the Tokugawa family achieved great success in flood control after the transfer of the Kanto, and raised the stone height to 250 million shi in less than ten years. The entire Kanto is booming. Isn't Toyotomi Hideyoshi nervous?In his early years, he arranged to encircle the Tokugawa family on three sides. Now the remaining two sides seem to be not a big problem, but it seems that the suppression force from the north is getting weaker and weaker.

This is mainly because, after Gamo's death, the Gamo's suppression of the Tokugawa family from the north was actually bankrupt.Therefore, Hideyoshi moved the Uesugi family, who has been famous for his martial arts since Kenshin, to Aizu to monitor the movements of Edo.Jing Sheng, Jia Kang and Sancheng knew the essence of this arrangement, and they couldn't forget it.

Unexpectedly, in August of the third year of Qingchang, Jing Sheng received a letter that Hideyoshi was critically ill, so he went to the capital and stayed until August of the following year, and did not return to Xinling for a whole year.So after returning, he immediately immersed himself in tedious tasks such as repairing the city walls and preparing roads.Ieyasu was quite aware of all this.However, Ieyasu has not yet fully grasped Jing Sheng's views on the general trend of the world and what actions he will take.

Regarding the current infighting between the Arbitrary faction and the Pursuing faction, regarding Ieyasu's ability to create a shogunate, and regarding... all kinds of development possibilities, Ieyasu still doesn't know what Uesugi Jingkatsu thinks.

Ieyasu kept in touch with Jing Sheng, in fact, he was trying to find out.In this sense, Maeda Toshinaga, who showed weakness to Ieyasu under the persuasion of his mother Hoshunin, at least passed Ieyasu's temptation.

In frequent contact, Jiakang finally ushered in a good opportunity to test Jing Sheng.

On the first month of the fifth year of Keicho, Torii Mototada's son-in-law and Dewa Kakukan castle lord Tozawa Shiro Masamori sent someone to report to Ieyasu: "Uesugi Nagon and the old man Naoeyama castle guard and continuation, not only conspired to overhaul many castles in the territory, but also In the name of the fact that Aizu, Ashina's home city for several generations, is located in a depression, which is easy to attack and difficult to defend, a new city was built in Shensashihara, 64 miles away from the city."

Almost at the same time, Hideji, the governor of Horizaemon, who was transferred to Echigo, the former leader of Uesugi, also came to report that Jing Sheng seemed to have rebellion.It turned out that before the transfer to Aizu, Jing Sheng collected taxes in Echigo for half a year in advance, and as a result, Hori Hideji, who was transferred from the transfer, was in trouble.

Hori Hideji, full of resentment, reported to Ieyasu: Jing Sheng seems to have used all the tax money collected to build a new city, renovate Echigo official roads, and repair river wharfs. There are even rumors that Uesugi Jing Sheng secretly built a large army. (artillery).

Hearing the secret report from Tozawa Masamori and Hori Hideji, Ieyasu was neither surprised nor angry.As we all know, reorganizing armaments is the first task that a general must do after taking office, and collecting the annual tax in advance is also because the Gamo clan who was transferred from Aizu to Utsunomiya collected taxes in advance, and Jing Sheng had to do it as a last resort.Ieyasu was not worried about these trivial matters.

At the beginning of March in the fifth year of Qingchang, the snow in Beiguo melted and the cherry blossoms were in bud.

"120 million koku...King Katsu Uesugi, who has such a huge territory, can he understand that all I do is to keep Japan in a peaceful and prosperous world? Does he really have such foresight?" Ieyasu often asked himself.

A narrow-minded person who is obsessed with showing off his high position, rich salary and strong military force will become the source of riots.But now, not only is Uesugi Kagekatsu's disposition beyond Ieyasu's judgment, but there is also a shadow that hangs over Japan all the time: Jinghua.

The purpose of Jinghua is to let Japan fight a civil war first, and when the veterans on both sides are exhausted, Jinghua will come out to "resist the world", and then "support" Tokugawa Ieyasu to become the shogun with an almost rewarding attitude.Only in this way, all parties in Japan have no power to say no to Jinghua, and the Tokugawa family even have to show a grateful attitude, thanking Jinghua for bestowing him with the status of shogun.
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Thank you book friend "Cao Mianzi" for your support, thank you!
(End of this chapter)