Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 276 The Self-righteous Mouse
When setting off on the second day, Niwa Nagamasa specially brought several former retainers to visit the Hide family. They are all retainers of our own family, and now they are transferred to Echizen Toyotomi's tent, and we are here to pay our respects to His Highness."

"Uh, do you mean that these people have already joined Uncle Hidecho's sect?" The Hide family was a little stunned by Niwa's interruption, and glanced around at everyone.

In fact, after the Echizen Niwa family was changed in history, many retainers of the Niwa family were also accepted by Hashiba Hidecho as retainers, including the above-mentioned people, so the Hide family still had some preparations.

But after careful observation today, it was discovered that all the people present without exception were from the Owari and Mino congregations, and none of them were from the Wakasa and Echizen congregations.

As for the Harima people, there is no need to ask at all. They were transferred to Harima within 3 months before they were changed, and there was no time to cultivate the local forces of Harima.

Among the few people, only Shigeharu Kuwayama and Hideo had met face to face. At that time, when he was in Jianyue, as a reinforcement behind the Hideo family, he sat back and watched Nakagawa Hideyoshi being attacked indifferently, so Hideo's sense of him was not very good. .

"If our guess is wrong, the people present here seem to be from the Nooo clan. The Niwa family served as the lord of Wakasa for several years, and also in charge of Echizen. May I ask how the samurai of Wakasa and Echizen were arranged?" After showing respects to several people, Xiujia put his ear to Niwa Nagasawa's side and asked softly.

"Katsuhisa Kuriya, Naoyuki Kumagai, Motoaki Takeda and others in Wakasa had great influence in Wakasa, and they didn't follow when the family was transferred to Harima. At that time, they directly became the direct ministers of Guan Baidian.

Some of Omi, Echizen Naomasa Sakai, Tikyori, Matsubara Naomoto and others stayed in Echizen, while a small number followed us to Harima, and now they have gone to Kaga first.

Your Highness may not know that His Highness Guan Bai is very fond of retainers from Nobi's background. When the family changed, he offered to accept the remaining ministers for us, so our family can properly handle the retainers' knowledge and deeds. "

"Guan Bai and His Royal Highnesses have always been sympathetic to their subordinates." Xiujia said duplicity.

But having said that, the Xiu family's plan for the two brothers has been basically ascertained.

It can be seen from their attitude towards Niwa's old ministers that the purpose of the two brothers is still to fight for the control of the Oda family.

You must know that the Toyotomi clan's ruling power is based on the foundation of Oda Nobunaga. There are countless samurai from Nobunaga in the entire Kinki region. With the expansion of Oda Nobunaga, they were divided into various territorial countries. .

Whether it is Oda Nobunaga in the past or Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the present, the feudal kingdom they established is essentially the kingdom of Nobuo samurai.

Now that Toyotomi Hideyoshi is very powerful, that's why they switched to Toyotomi Hideyoshi's command, but the attitude towards Hideyoshi in their hearts is fear, and they treat the Oda family with kindness.

Today Hideyoshi can rely on fear to suppress Oda's old ministers, what about tomorrow's descendants of Toyotomi?
Who can guarantee that there will be no ambitious people who will set off a rebellion in the name of restoring the Oda family?

All Toyotomi Hideyoshi can use various means to weaken and reduce the great power in the old Oda family, but he must not overturn the table of Nobuo Samurai.

Let alone flipping the table, we have to go a step further and give favor to these implicated Nobuo samurai, let them know that following him Toyotomi Hideyoshi is no worse than following Oda Nobunaga.

Take the Niwa family as an example. The reason why Hideyoshi weakened the Niwa family is that the brand of the Niwa family has a certain influence within the Oda family, and Hideyoshi must suppress it.

But this suppression cannot be implicated in the thick-tailed samurai who followed the Niwa family, otherwise Hideyoshi's suppression will dig his own foundation.

From this point of view, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's behavior in dealing with the Niwa family seems to be a bit sloppy, but in fact he is very steady and sophisticated, even the Hideyoshi family can't help but give them a thumbs up.

That is to say, the Hide family doesn't know the little Jiujiu in Niwa's heart. If he knows that Niwa's family thinks that Niwa's family can follow Echizen Toyotomi's family back to the top, I'm afraid a "red deer" will be scolded.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi's actions are obviously digging the foundation of the rebirth of the Niwa family. The sad two brothers Niwa Nagege and Niwa Nagamasa, combined with Senmaru's adoption of Toyotomi Hidecho, are daydreaming.

The aristocratic families in the Warring States Period were the most realistic existence. Although there were many people who were loyal to the emperor and loved their lord, most of the aristocratic families first considered the interests of their own families.

What's more, the division of the family often puts the interests of the division before the main family. This problem was not resolved until the end of Tokugawa. Otherwise, the Tokugawa shogunate would not have fallen so quickly.

Now, Brother Niwa Nagjuge expects this group of "foreigners" who have nothing to do with him to obey his orders and take Echizen Toyotomi's house above him, which is really ridiculous.

Hideka didn't entangle them too much. After two conversations with the second generation of Niwa's family, Hideka had labeled them both as "usable but not handable" in his heart.

At this moment, the Xiu family already regretted it a bit, and they said too much yesterday that they wanted to bring the team of Ni Yu's family, and they were purely trying to find excuses for themselves.

So after saying hello to them, they returned to their respective teams and headed for Osaka.

While riding on the horse, Shimizu Nobuo also asked Xiujia strangely, "I don't quite understand why the Niwa family is still in such a posture after being changed. It seems to be a little swaying, and there is no feeling of introspection at all."

Xiujia turned his head and glanced at Shinya Shimizu, this was exactly the question he was wondering about yesterday, the conversation last night, the tone was thank you, it is more appropriate to say it is a kind of showing off.

Yesterday's Niwa Changzheng seemed to be saying to the Hide family, "My Niwa family is not over yet, His Highness Ukita will not regret making friends with the main family."

Now that Qingshuixin also asked Xiujia this question, Xiujia also had the idea of ​​testing, turned to him and asked, "Why do you think this is?"

Shinmizu also thought for a moment and said: "Yesterday, I thought it was the Niwa family who had learned from the pain, accepted the fact that they were reduced by seven to eight, and felt ashamed and courageous, and wanted to restore the old glory of the Niwa family. But now that I think about it, it was me. I was wrong."

"What makes you feel otherwise?" Xiujia continued to ask.

"As Niwa Nagamasa-sama said, their family has become His Royal Highness Toyotomi's direct ministers, and the other lords are the same, either serving Guanbai or serving as Toyotomi's counselor, and have long since had nothing to do with him.

But today, he still behaved like a superior, as if he was introducing his retainers to His Highness. How could a normal samurai make such a mistake. "

Shimizu Xin also said something, Xiujia was very satisfied with his answer, and nodded in agreement.

After being encouraged by Xiu's family, Shimizu Shin also continued to say, "Your Highness may not have noticed just now, but I saw some embarrassing expressions on the faces of several adults.

Looking back now, I don't know if those adults wanted to see His Highness subjectively, and how many of them were pulled over by Niwa Nagasei. "

"Hey~ Is it really a fan of the authorities?" Xiujia couldn't help but sighed.
Even Nobuoshi Shimizu, who is only fifteen or sixteen years old, can see this simple question clearly. Why can't the two brothers Niwa Nageshige and Niwa Nagamasa see clearly?
Perhaps the timing of Senmaru's adoption was too coincidental, which gave the Niwa brothers an unrealistic illusion.

According to history, Senmaru had been adopted by Hashiba Hidecho in 1582, so when Niwa's family was changed after Niwa Chohide's death, even though Hashiba Hidecho still spoke well for them, he still didn't let them. Create this illusion.

But now the two brothers who are immersed in their dreams can't be persuaded. Even if the Xiu family wants to persuade them, they will still be regarded as jealous and disgusted by them. They can only hope that they will recognize the reality early and keep their feet on the ground. It was given to Hideyoshi.

When Hideka and his party arrived in Osaka, it was already the end of August. Niwa Nagamasa and others needed to take their family members to continue northward, so they parted ways with Hideka and others in Amagasaki.

Aoyama Sokatsu, Aoki Kazujue, Kuwayama Shigeharu and others who met a few days ago, because they needed to meet the new lord Toyotomi Hidecho, they turned south with the Hide family and came to Osaka.

And only after separating from Niwa Nagasawa, Kuwayama Shigeharu and others who followed behind the team became less restrained.

While waiting for the ferry by the Yodo River, Aoki Kazujue and Kuwayama Shigeharu took the initiative to lean over to Hideo's house to have sex with each other, saying without exception, "From now on, I will work for the Toyotomi family. The Xiu family will take care of you."

In such a scene, three or two sentences are too much, and the topic quickly turned to the main topic. As a representative, Shigeharu Kuwayama, who had a relationship with the Hideka, took the lead and asked, "Lieutenant General Yuchai seems to have some affection for our old master, I think the Niwa family will be revived soon under the support of Councilor Toyotomi and Lieutenant General Hashiba."

The Xiu family heard his conversation, and said with interest, "You have already transferred to the Toyotomi family, and you still miss the old master. It is a real honor for the Niwa family to have retainers like you."

In fact, this question was exactly what Xiujia had always wanted to think about in his previous life.

After the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate in history, many Ukitaji, including Togawa Tatsuya, more or less gave some help to Hideka who was exiled to Hachijo Island after surrendering to Togawa, which is a good story for later generations.

But as the parties concerned, they and the Tokugawa family, as the Tokugawa retainers, enjoy the Tokugawa salary, but still miss the old master, are they worthy of the salary paid by the Tokugawa family?
"But you're guessing wrong. I'm not very close to the Niwa family. Both Niwa Xiu and the two adults have only met each other a few times. Maybe Uncle Hidecho has some friendship with Niwa Xiu."

A few people were talking, the boat ferrying Xiu's family to the river had already docked, before seeing him, he heard his voice first.The leading clerk is an old acquaintance of the Hide family, the "old hermaphrodite" Katagiri Kemoto.

"Aiya~Aiya~, Lieutenant General Yuchai must have been waiting for a long time. The next official came over as soon as he received the report from below. Unfortunately, he has not ridden a horse for some days, and his skills are a little rusty, so he came late. I hope His Highness will make amends. .”

Seeing people coming from Osaka, Kazuchi Aoki and Shigeharu Kuwayama acquainted themselves with Hide's family first and then left.

Xiu looked in their direction from the corner of his eye, and the warriors who were with them seemed to be expecting their reply, but who knew they just shook their heads faintly.

"The most important things for a samurai are swords, armor, and horses. Toichi Zheng shouldn't do that." Seeing Katagiri Kamoto get off the boat, Hideka leaned forward and teased him.

"The Zuozhong general criticized it very much. After I go back, I will hurry up and practice. You also know that Daban City has just been established, and the accidents in the government affairs have involved most of my experience. That's why it happened."

Hearing Xiujia's "reproach", Katagiri Kamoto smiled and apologized to Xiujia, then changed the subject and said to Xiujia with a serious face, "Your Highness is really not in a good mood today, Your Highness is not in a good mood today. , This time, Councilor Toyotomi asked me to welcome His Highness."

"What happened in Osaka Castle?" Hideka curiously asked Katagiri Kamoto.

Who would have imagined that Katagiri Kimoto didn't give Xiu's positive reply, he waved his hand and said with a sloppy eye, "Hey, why did my retainers deliberately talk about the matter of the master's family?
I just informed His Highness in advance that His Highness Guan Bai may not see you today, even if you take the initiative to invite him to see you, today may not be a good day. "

"The boatman is almost ready. Your Highness only needs to bring a few attendants and maids to cross the river. All the troops will be stationed in Amagasaki City, and there will be someone in charge of them."

Seeing Katagiri and Yuan's secretive appearance, Xiujia already had some guesses in his heart, and nine out of ten it was Hideyoshi's private matter, and this matter was still very taboo.

Nowadays, the only topic in Osaka City that everyone is afraid to keep silent is the matter between Hideyoshi and Chacha.

Hideo made a "clear" expression, thanked Katagiri Kasumi for the information, and then explained to Kakunan Yuyuki and Takahashi Ryosuke, and brought dozens of banner warriors and a dozen The attendants boarded the boats crossing the Yodo River one by one.

It's just that Katagiri Kazumoto came here specially to pick up Hide's family, and Aoki Kazuchi and Kuwayama Shigeharu are Toyotomi Hidecho's retainers, and they had to spend their own money to cross the river.

"The two adults seemed to have something to say just now. I saw the behavior of the other adults when they returned. The two of them seemed to be sent to test His Highness's tone." As soon as the Xiu family and others boarded the ship, they took advantage of Katagiri When Yuan left to arrange things, Qing Shuixin also came to Xiu's side and said.

Hideka was very happy, Hanbei observed the details just now, but this was not enough, "Oh? What do you think they are talking about?"

"I'm afraid the actions of the Niwa brothers are indeed unpopular. Their attachment to the Niwa family is based on Niwa Xiu-sama, but the actions of the Niwa brothers these days have really chilled the hearts of these veterans.

Today, Master Niwa Nagasawa is bossing them around who are no longer retainers, no one will feel good about it.They were probably afraid of the relationship between the Niwa family, the main family and the Echizen Toyotomi family before, so they sent someone to test His Highness's tone. "

"So? Is my sentence 'I don't know the Niwa family familiar' really hurt Niwa Nagamasa? Should I have said just now, 'I and the Niwa family are Jinlan friends?'" Xiujia said indifferently. Said in a sarcastic tone.

"Your Highness is really in a good mood to make a joke, but in this way, it can be regarded as finding out the reality of the Niwa family. I'm afraid it's just a self-righteous paper tiger."

Different from Shinya Shimizu's definition, Xiujia looked at the river bank when he came, and whispered in his mouth, "Is it a self-righteous paper tiger? No! It's probably a mouse."

(End of this chapter)