Pillars of the Wu family

In the blink of an eye, at the turn of spring and summer, the 500 new troops and the 500 horsebacks of the Kira family had completed their training and were formally incorporated into the main army. Among the two thousand new troops, [-] people were taken away by Takikawa Masashige to train the iron cannon ashigaru, and the remaining [-] were all incorporated into the gun shield team. If the requirements are too high, I can only be wronged temporarily.

The 50 newly installed flintlock cannons have basically been trained, and the feedback from them is very good. The new guns are characterized by a faster rate of fire and easier operation. The initial velocity and power of the iron cannons have been greatly increased. The distance is from 70 meters to [-] meters, and the instability caused by the ignition of the matchlock is omitted.

The skillfully controlled iron cannon Ashgaru can complete a round of shooting within ten seconds. As long as the reloading speed is well controlled, it can support the effect of three-stage shooting in a short time. Trouble, a few rounds of high-intensity shooting must allow a certain amount of time to slow down the pace.

The [-] newly added iron cannon ashigaru have no problem with their training. After more than two years of professional training, in addition to the basic training of the gun shield ashigaru, the iron cannon and bow and arrow have also received corresponding basic training. The basic requirements of the Kira family for off-the-shelf standing, proficiency in several weapons is conducive to improving the overall combat power.

In late May, Yoshitoki Kira inspected the formation and training of the new army in the teaching ground at the foot of Kasuga Mountain. The [-] new army from Echigo and the [-] standing army from Omi will receive professional training from Tokiyuki Yamamoto here. Due to the requirements of the situation, the Echigo New Army requires a year and a half of high-intensity basic training.

This one-and-a-half-year training method is becoming more and more mature, which greatly improves the physical strength and flexibility of ashigaru. On the other hand, it cultivates basic tactical literacy, including the use of standard Swiss gun formations and various changes, and improved gun quilts. Assault tactics and cavalry anti-assault tactics and other professional training, in order to achieve the professional level of standing ashigaru.

From the perspective of professional quality, this [-] new army already has excellent qualities as a standing army. What it lacks is not combat experience or long-term professional training.The normal training needs three years to become a regular stock, which is condensed to one and a half years. The effect must be discounted. By the beginning of June, the training period of this new army will expire, and it will soon be handed over to the Nagao family for military service. .

Omi needs higher standing requirements. The [-] standing army will have two years of high-intensity and in-depth training. Now that the training period has just completed one year, the overall level is not much different from the [-] long-tailed new army that is about to enter service.They all have one thing in common, they are very young children.

The average age of the 16 Echigo New Army is [-] years old, and the average age of the [-] Omi Standing Forces is slightly younger. Their role is to gradually replace the original military service system of the Nagao family and replace the traditional military service call-up system with Standing conscription system, and then gradually transition to the process of abandoning military service. [

The equipment they are equipped with.From the ordnance and armor looted by the Kira family during the war for many years, 5000 sets of well-maintained and sophisticated equipment were found in Kinai. It only needs to be repainted according to the requirements, which is enough for the [-] new troops of the Nagao family. The [-] people in the Omi reserve team Here, the Kira family provides a complete reserve of [-] sets seized in recent years, and the Piwa house manufactures [-] new equipment.

The 15 military service that Nagao Jinghu was in charge of became the number one lord in Echigo.The land exceeds [-] town steps, including the population of Naoetsu and Kasugayama castle towns, plus the direct leadership of the Kira family that is not counted, and the two directly control nearly half of the population and land of Echigo.

Faced with the absolute disparity in political, economic, military, and agricultural strengths, the people of Echigo do not dare to give in to these two. This advantage has gradually increased with the successive victories in the Kitashinano and Ueno areas. After last year's assassination Affected, Yigazhong, Kagazhong, and Xuanyuanzhong reshuffled Echigo's internal intelligence layout.The internal military and political control is so dense that it is terrifying, and whoever dares to accept the adjustment at this juncture is simply an old birthday star eating arsenic and looking for death.

The teaching field behind the Kasuga Imperial Palace originally belonged to a wild land in the back mountain. It was included when the Kasuga Castle was rebuilt a few years ago. Now the entire Kasuga Mountain is surrounded by high walls from the bottom of the mountain. The nearest one is the Northwest In addition to the Copper House and Iron Cannon House, there are Naoetsu Town and Castle Town in the east and southeast.

Houshan was placed under the Kasuga Imperial Palace by Nagao Jinghu.In addition to being the garden of the Kira family, there is also a Himeyashiki group, in which 150 Hime warriors live. They are expanded on the basis of the original Nagao family Hime warriors.Since the accident four years ago, Yoshitoki Kira has ordered the rich families in Echigo to enroll their daughters of the right age at home into the Ji Samurai Regiment.

In the teaching ground in Houshan, 150 heroines are wearing men's hunting clothes, their long hair is tied up high in bowls, and they are running back and forth with bows and horses in their hands. There is an indescribable beauty in the movements. Among them, there are quite a few outstanding-looking women who will show sweet smiles when they rush to Kirayoshi who is outside the court.

"Cough! It's really good!" Yoshiki Kira scratched his forehead and pointed out in a serious manner: "Looking at the movements of drawing a bow and shooting arrows like clouds and flowing water, it seems that he is an expert. Speaking of... hey! Where are you?"

Looking around, he found that Hu Ji and Zhihu who should be standing beside him were gone. The little maids standing beside him covered their mouths and laughed lightly. After a while, they saw Hu Ji and Zhihu wearing black hats He held an unsharp plain spear in his right hand, and a fan-shaped shield in his left hand, driving his mount slowly onto the stage. The two were dressed exactly the same, and if you didn't look carefully, you could really be mistaken.

The two girls galloped on horses with plain guns and made a ping-pong fight. Looking carefully at their skills, they were not bad at all. They were definitely not imaginary posing and putting on airs. However, sometimes they are entangled with each other and exchanged offense and defense.

"Tora-hime, move to the left! That's right, she's going to hide! Naotora, don't get entangled with her, be careful of the danger! This reaction is really good!" Yoshihiro Kira folded his arms and watched with relish, admiring the two soft girls fighting It's still a very interesting thing. I spent the whole morning watching the girls practice, and didn't stop until the bell struck eleven.

"I'm so tired!" The two Ji warriors who took off their armor came over and took cold towels to wipe off their sweat. The high-intensity training made the girls sweat profusely. In this medieval era that lacked entertainment, the nobles had to work hard to become a generation of heroes. Either greedy for enjoyment and reduced to a capable person.

The samurai have few choices, and the famous saying that they can be replaced has always been deeply engraved in the souls of the samurai descendants. In this patriarchal society, the women of the samurai family in the Warring States period are destined to follow the universal values ​​of the samurai family.Either become a man's arm like Nigotai, Bagozen, Banba Gozen, Shougui Ni, or be a traditional woman in the style of Yamato Nadeko, such as Kira Yoshishi's mother Ai Gozen, aunt Fang Gozen, Ashikaga Yoshiki Mother Qingshouyuan and so on are examples.

"Your Highness! Have you seen the practice of my sister Naotora and me? Comment!" Hu Ji took Naotora's arm and walked over with a smile like a team of sisters. Naotora's cheeks were flushed like a big girl. Red apple, I don't know if it's because the weather is too hot or because I'm shy.

Ji Liangyishi quickly praised: "From a distance, you look like a pair of sisters. Looking closely, you can also imagine your appearance. Tiger Ji's nose bridge is tall and beautiful, Zhihu's eyebrows are like those of Toyama Handai, Tiger Ji's eyes are brighter, and Zhihu's Your eyes are clearer, and you don't even have much difference in martial arts. You both have the word "tiger" in your name, so it's a fate!"

Kira Yoshishi praised the two girls and blushed. Seeing Ji warriors looking at the three of them curiously, he stomped his feet shyly and angrily and urged: "Why are you standing still, aren't you shouting that you are hungry?" It's over! Hurry up and eat!" [

"Yes, Your Royal Highness!" Ji Warriors stuck out their tongues and scattered like birds and beasts.

At noon, I stayed in the imperial palace and had lunch with several concubines. Hu Ji's cooking was still not satisfactory.However, this spirit of hard work is commendable. Aju will come to teach them cooking skills every three days. Some rare treasures from other regions are also involved, and she has summed up her cooking skills through years of practice, and it is not a problem to be a teacher of some women who are not considered women.

In recent months, Aju's body has become heavier and heavier, and the cooking teaching can only be temporarily postponed.As early as the beginning of the year, when Saito Chaoxin found Kirayoshi, he hoped to invite the best midwife to deliver Aju. Saito Chaoxin was the only seedling of the Saito family. Kira Yoshitoshi's sister-in-law, it is not too much to make this request.

He also understands Zhong Kui's worry. In ancient times, giving birth to a child was a very dangerous thing.When the fetus is born feet first, it is very easy to have dystocia, which requires the most skilled doctors and midwives. There are the most skilled doctors in Echigo. Nagata Tokumoto is a very kind and serious doctor.From his nickname, Mr. Sixteen Wen, it can be understood that there is absolutely no problem with this doctor's professionalism and professional ethics.

As for midwives in Echigo, there are also some well-known midwives, but this kind of midwife delivery is the experience passed down by word of mouth. It is difficult to distinguish between superb skills and low level. It can only be judged from years of word-of-mouth. I think this phenomenon is very bad, especially when these midwives are faced with midwifery by noble women, if there is a slight mistake, it is a big deal, even if they kill the midwives' whole family afterwards, it can be saved.

The measures he took were ordered at the evaluation meeting at the beginning of the year. The midwives from Echigo counties went to Kasugayama Castle in three batches to receive the guidance of Nagata Tokumoto. Although Mr. Shiliuwen is not a master in the field of midwifery, he With his superb medical knowledge, rich experience in dealing with emergency situations, and years of experience in medical practice, it is no problem to teach these midwives basic common sense.

The next second step is to sort out and summarize the experience of midwives with rich experience in midwifery, and then make various versions of the preview version of the midwife manual to solicit opinions, and then make additions, deletions and revisions based on feedback, and finally form the first in early June. Set of decrees governing the training of birth attendants.

Midwives who are over 55 years old will select the best of them to come to Kasuga Mountain City for consultation at any time. Their other job is to regularly train young women on midwifery knowledge. The next step is to open a medical school in Kasuga Mountain City. The ultimate goal is to Establish an institution of higher education similar to Ashikaga School.

With Nagata Tokumoto as the first generation master and Qu Naose Shouma as the lecturer, basic medical education is opened for townspeople with a certain cultural foundation. Currently, five-year education is established, and long-term professional education is destined for those adult towns Accepted by the civil law, it can only be reluctant to give up the opportunity to their own underage children.

Today, the number of illiterate people in Kasugayama Castle Town and Naoetsu Town is gradually decreasing. Underage children will receive one to two years of cultural education, including simple kanji kana writing, explanations of laws and regulations, basic education on the social system of the Samurai, etc.

In the first month of June, there were several earthquakes in Kinai. It was rumored that there would be a major earthquake. Many ministers packed their bags and went to distant countries. Unfortunately, Echigo has also become one of the choices of some ministers.

The Catholic Church of Tokudaiji sat in the reception room with a sad face. Now he is 20 years old.The three non-counselors of Guanju, as the youngest son of the former governor of the Tokudaiji family, Tokudaiji Mitsutoshi in Hokuriku, unfortunately lost his right of inheritance because of his father's sudden death and failed to return to Kyoto in time. All he can rely on is that poor name The identity is mixed with an official and a half job, lingering on his last breath.

The reason why he chose to go down to Echigo is almost the same as that of his dead father, and it might even be more miserable, if it weren't for his righteous brother Tokudaiji Gongwei who thought that he was a child left by his adoptive father.Whether the Catholic Church of Tokudaiji can live to adulthood is still a question.

Hearing the sound of footsteps in the corridor outside the door, the Catholic Church of Tokudaji hurriedly sat up and looked up. The strong sunlight outside the door dispelled the darkness in the room, and his eyes were blinded by the light so that he couldn't see the person's appearance clearly. , but his calm and natural demeanor still caught his eye.

"The Lord of Deda Temple, I have met the Lord of the Town!" The Lord of Deda Temple nodded slightly as a salute.As a high minister he has the right to have this standard of decorum.

"During Kirayoshi's time, I saw General Zhonglang."

The two of them kept the polite manners for a long time, and then they chatted about some recent news in Kyoto. It wasn’t about which master had released some new masterpieces. At the song meeting of a certain year and a certain month, a certain minister made a so-and-so waka, which aroused the admiration of the audience. , There are also chores such as boating on Lake Biwa during the Moon Festival, reciting poems and writing Fu, tasting Omi food, and so on.

The paper door was opened a gap.Kawada Iwatsurumaru reminded the time softly, and Kira Yoshihito closed the fan with a smile and said: "General Zhonglang is exhausted, I don't want to bother you for too long, so I bid farewell!"

"Hold on!" The Catholic Church of Deda Temple suddenly stood up and blocked his way: "Please wait a moment, Lord Zhenfu! My Catholic Church has something to say."

"Oh! Please tell me, I'm listening." Facing the powerless Gongqing blocking the way, Kira Yoshishishi chose to wave his hand to repel Kawada Iwatsumaru who was about to barge in, and took two steps back to sit down again.

The Duke of Tokudaiji smiled bitterly; "It's still very embarrassing to say, but it involves the safety of the town government and the entire Echigo. Please give me a little time to talk about it. Speaking of it, it has something to do with my father's death." It must be related, except for the two ancestors and my father's untimely death, my Tokudaiji family has served as ministers for generations, and my father's death was killed by the governor of Etsuchu Masuyama Castle!"

The Tokudaiji family, one of the Seven Tsinghuas, came from the branch family of the Fujiwara Kita family and the Sanjo family.The Xiyuanji family, which belonged to the same sub-family, and the Imadegawa family, the sub-family of Xiyuanji, both belonged to the Tsinghua family. Except for the two generations of family governors who died young, the lowest achievement was the position of internal minister.

His father, Tokudaiji Mitsutsu, was born in the tenth year of Yongzheng (1513).In his early years, he lost most of the old collars of the manor due to frequent wars. He was poor, and there were troubles in Kinai at that time. So he decided to go to Hokuriku. The place he chose was similar to the idea of ​​Ashikaga Yoshitsuke. Going to Vietnam, relying on his mother's status as the daughter of Naojun Hatakeyama, he can live comfortably.

Tenwen five years, the Tenwen Hokka Rebellion basically ended, Yamashina Honganji Temple was burned down, and Tokudaiji Mitsutsu felt that he could return to Beijing safely, so he left the warm embrace of Etchu and returned to his big home in Kyoto, but the good times never passed Soon, Kyoto ushered in a new war, and Tokudaiji Mitsuto fled to Etsuchu for refuge.

Unfortunately, the newly powerful Nayan and General Ukino, relying on his status as the son-in-law of Hatakeyama Yoshio, did not pay much attention to the position of the local local tyrant, and he repeatedly offended this kind-hearted man with his negligent words. In the narrow Etsuchu guardian era, in September of the 14th year of Tianwen (1545), Yoshio Hatakeyama died of illness less than a month before he was assassinated by Jinbao Chief.

"It's really a sad story to tell..." Kira Yoshitoki expressed his grief for the deceased, "But does it have anything to do with my Kira family? It doesn't seem to have anything to do with Echigo, right?"

"It's related, it's very important!" The Catholic Church of Deda Temple waved his arms excitedly: "The head of Shenbao is a narrow-minded villain who will take revenge. Because my father offended him verbally, he was murdered by love. The town government official offended this little man. He is more ruthless than my father, so of course his revenge is stronger!"

"Because my family killed the invading army of the Jinbao family and the Ichikui samurai of the Jinbao family, so I want to take revenge on my family and threaten me, the Kira family and Echigo? I will seriously consider it, please rest at the palace!" Yoshishi Kira used his bat fan to cover the flash of contempt that flashed from the corner of his mouth. He was too lazy to chat with this frustrated and mentally disturbed minister, so he got up and walked out the door.

"Wait, please listen to me!" The priest of Tokudaiji became anxious immediately, and ran forward to grab his sleeve in three steps at a time. He gritted his teeth and yanked it with all his strength, with a "squeak", Kira Yoshitoki's sleeve was torn in two.

The priest of Tokudaiji staggered a few steps and almost fell on his back. He finally stabilized his footsteps. When he saw Kira Yoshishi’s face, the face changed from sunny to cloudy and then to rainy: “Why do you want to prevent my family from leaving? ?”

"Because the Echigo army is quietly gathering!" Tokudaiji Catholic Church said eagerly: "Their goal is to attack Echigo!" (To be continued...)