different warring states of japan

Chapter 2121 A new generation replaces the old one

Ichijo Hideyoshi started another big gamble in her life, betting that Sasaki Yoshikane wanted to peacefully transform the samurai under her command and win without fighting.

She bet that the Sasaki family would not stab her in the back when she went to the peninsula. When Sasaki and Dokura lent her too much money and their interests were too closely linked, they would not attack her but would support her instead.

But Hideyoshi Ichijo did not know that Yoshigin was a spiritual Celestial Emperor, and he would stab Yoshigin in the back regardless of the consequences, even if it meant huge losses, in exchange for an admission ticket to become a vassal of the Celestial Empire.

In Hideyoshi Ichijo's view, by withdrawing supplies from the Sasaki territory and returning them with interest, the Sasaki family would lack the military resources and will to mobilize for a decisive battle. A 30% to 50% chance of winning would be enough for her to bet everything on it.

Conquering the world is a gamble in itself. Sōma is strong and Ichijo is weak, so there is only hope if they take an unconventional approach.

Hideyoshi Ichijo firmly believed that her strategy was correct, and just like every big gamble she had made over the years, she would eventually make a fortune.

But this time, Hideyoshi Ichijo miscalculated.

There is a saying in the Heavenly Dynasty: If you rise by this, you will fall by this. This is what it means.

Sooner or later you will have to pay for what you have done. As long as you keep gambling, no matter how much you win, you will eventually have to pay it back at the gambling table.

---

Wen Shancheng.

In the warm winter sun, Nagano Yoshimori led the way carefully, and following behind her was Date Masamune, one of the descendants of the gods of the Sasaki family.

As the new Shintoism reached a compromise with the Buddhist sects, the divine value of the descendants of the Sasaki gods was once again enhanced. At this time, the descendants of the gods could no longer be regarded as ordinary mortals, but the bloodline of gods.

The female warriors who gave birth to descendants of the saint and their families received huge rewards that they had never dared to imagine. Our family is a god.

The huge benefits made the Spo group of descendants of the gods more united. Although the fifteen Spo families always had some frictions in private, from the overall situation on the surface, they had reached an unbreakable alliance.

As Date Masamune was led forward by Nagano Yoshimori, he had the leisure to look at the scenery in the courtyard and was in a very relaxed mood.

The birth of the saint's child consolidated the foundation of the Date family. Date Masamune's power in Oshu was at its peak. He was no longer as anxious and embarrassed as before, when he could only kneel and fawn.

It’s a pity that there is really nothing to see in the garden in this winter.

Looking at Nagano Yoshimori, Date Masamune asked.

"I heard that Ii Naomasa and Tachibana Kanade are both pregnant? Who is serving the Saint now?"

Nagano Yoshimori answered respectfully.

"In the summer and autumn, Lord Ii Naomasa selected the best students from the first batch of graduating students and sent them to the Tongxin Secretariat for internship.

One of them was chosen by the saint to serve in the room."

Date Masamune's eyes narrowed and he immediately became alert.

Although she had great talent and ambition, she was born at the wrong time. She launched several uprisings to unify Austria and dominate the world, but was always suppressed by the saint. In the end, she had to resort to flattery to win favor.

Because of this, she was looked down upon by the military families behind her back, who thought she disregarded her status as a daimyo, was self-deprecating and shameless.

Of course, now that the Date family has given birth to a descendant of a god, Date Masamune is as stable as a rock in the Ou region, and the samurai who once looked down on her now admire her for her resilience and her willingness to endure humiliation for the sake of the family's prosperity.

Therefore, Date Masamune was well aware of the advantage of being close to the water and getting the moon first.

The world has shown a trend of reunification, and it is no longer meaningful to continue to dominate the local area.

Now that the central government is being reshaped, simplicity is the kingly way.

Successful people are most sensitive to the possibility of others replicating their success. Date Masamune rose to power by getting pregnant due to favor, so he naturally judged others by his own standards and was worried that someone would follow his example and take the same shortcut.

After all, the fifteen families of the descendants of the Sōma gods are already enough, and there is no room for more female warriors to have evil intentions and try to take the Zhongnan shortcut.

She asked, pretending not to care.

"Oh? Appointed by the saint? This warrior Ji is really lucky. I wonder which famous family he is from?"

Nagano Yoshimori smiled. "Her name is Matsugami Sae. She comes from a humble background, but she graduated as the top student of the first class of cadets. She is a woman of both beauty and talent, and a master of both civil and military skills."

Date Masamune narrowed his eyes, nodded and stopped talking.

Nagano Yoshimori continued to lead the way respectfully, but in a blind spot where Date Masamune couldn't see, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.

The rise of the student soldiers has made the older members of the Tongxin group feel a sense of crisis.

These newcomers are elites carefully selected from thousands of places. They are stronger than the old ones in all aspects, which makes the old ones feel uneasy and afraid of being marginalized.

It is common for small groups to stick together for warmth. Even within the Tongxin Clan, there is no solid block, and friction is most likely to arise when the old and the new are in power.

However, the student soldiers system was promoted by the late Lord Gamo Ujisato against all odds, and Lord Ii Naomasa was determined to carry it through to the end, so the elders did not dare to complain openly or obstruct it.

But seeing newcomers climbing over one’s head or even into the inner chamber of a saint always makes one envious, jealous and hateful.

The old men all had experience of following the saint through mountains of swords and seas of fire. Ii Naomasa and Tachibana Kanade were at the forefront of the charge and had outstanding military achievements, which impressed everyone.

  But who is Matsukami Sae? What qualifications does she have to be favored by the saint?

The saint is willing to promote newcomers, and the old people of the Tongxin Clan have no choice, but this does not mean that the Divine Descendants Group is willing to watch the newcomers ascend the holy throne.

Look, Date Masamune, who was standing behind Nagano Yoshimori, has stopped talking and his expression has gradually become cold.

Having successfully devised his plan, Nagano Yoshimori stopped saying anything unnecessary and just led the way.

The two men crossed the threshold of the inner courtyard one after another and bumped into someone head-on.

Nagano Yoshimori asked with a smile on his face.

"Matsunoki-hime, why did you come out? Does the saint have any instructions?"

Date Masamune frowned and looked at the beautiful female warrior who had just appeared. She was indeed a beautiful woman with a graceful figure, and very young.

Date Masamune once boasted that she was the youngest and most beautiful among the Mothers of God, and secretly mocked those old women in their early thirties who could be called old women and how they had the nerve to seek the favor of the saint.

But at this moment, she suddenly empathized with those old women. Beauty fades, youth is gone, and everyone will not be so young one day. Big brother, don't laugh at second brother.

Date Masamune was not a good man to begin with. At this moment, he was feeling dissatisfied with Matsukami Sae, so his expression naturally became even colder.

Matsukami Saeki bowed respectfully to the two and said.

"Lord Nagano, the Saint has asked His Majesty Date to come in alone to see him. You and I do not need to go in."

Nagano Yoshimori nodded, turned around and bowed.

"Your Highness Ida, please."

Date Masamune smiled slightly, walked into the courtyard, and when he passed by Matsue Sae, he suddenly uttered something.

"Are you Matsukami Sae?"

Matsukami Sae was stunned and bowed deeply.

"Hi, your subject Matsue Sae."

Date Masamune's smile deepened.

"You are good. I will remember you."

Looking at Date Masamune's back as he disappeared in the yard, Matsue Sarai and Nagano Yoshimori exchanged a few polite words and then left.

Nagano Yoshinori looked at the background where Matsuue Sae hurriedly left, the smile on his face disappeared in an instant, and he spat in a low voice.

"I wonder how long you can be so proud of yourself, you are a lucky minister who has achieved success today."