Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 294
After subtracting the land of the three and a half counties of Kita Shinano, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s final settled actual territory was only 3 koku of Toe + 20 koku of most of Suruga, 15 koku of Kai, and 22 koku of Shinano, totaling about 24 Wanshi or so.

This amount of knowledge is within Hideyoshi's acceptable range for foreign daimyo knowledge, but compared with Tokugawa Ieyasu, who has a letter of about 140 million koku, Cen Jingxiong has reduced by 40%.

Hideyoshi also knew that excessive reduction of the Tokugawa family in such a short period of time may not be conducive to stability, so he prepared to draw a big cake for him to comfort him: "The Tokugawa councilor came today and I have something important to discuss with you in detail. "

Tokugawa Ieyasu put on a smile and asked Hideyoshi, "What is the order of His Highness Kanbaku?"

Hideyoshi smiled and said, "I plan to give you Jundong County and Izu Country to show your intention to make up for you. As you know, Izu has a golden mountain."

The total stone height of Jundong County + Izu Country is about 10 shi. As Hideyoshi said, it can just make up for Tokugawa Ieyasu's loss of Beixin.

Moreover, Hideyoshi emphasized the situation of gold production in Izu, just to emphasize that he did not mean to let Tokugawa Ieyasu suffer. In addition to the gold output of Izu, the comprehensive gold production of Izu country is about 6 guan (and 24 shi).

Hearing that Hideyoshi said that Izu and Suruga Suto-gun were entrusted to him, Tokugawa Ieyasu showed a bit of embarrassment on his face. After all, these two lands are still in the hands of the Hojo family, the overlord of Kanto.

And the Hojo family is now an ally of the Tokugawa family, and the head of the Hojo family, Nao Hojo, is Ieyasu's son-in-law. Hideyoshi is a proper strategy to drive away wolves.

The point is that the Hojo family is really not easy to mess with. I didn't beat the Hojo family when I was 140 million shi. Now that I have only 80 shi, what capital do I have to seize these two territories from the Hojo family?

But Tokugawa Ieyasu, who is worthy of being a master of expression management, quickly put on a smile, and asked Hideyoshi in a flattering tone, "Oh, maybe I'm older, and I can't remember whether Izu and Junto are from the Hojo family." territory."

He intended to remind Hideyoshi here that Izu and Jundong are the territory of the Tokugawa family, and many of them are empty-mouthed flower cakes.

Unexpectedly, Hideyoshi shamelessly gave an affirmative answer, "You remember correctly, it is indeed the territory of the Hojo family."

But immediately, Hideyoshi said in a vicious tone, "But what about the Hojo leader? I have written to the Hojo Ujimasa and Ujinao father and son many times, asking them to surrender to me, but I have repeatedly refused.

Even asking me to go to Odawara Castle in person before surrendering to me is simply a dream.I remember Senator Tokugawa, you are a relative of the Hojo family, right? "

Tokugawa Ieyasu replied with some embarrassment, "The modern head of the Hojo family, Nao Hojo, is my son-in-law."

When Hideyoshi heard Ieyasu's reply, he clapped his hands excitedly and said to him, "That's really great, and in the future, I would like to ask the councilor to persuade that child to go to Luo to surrender to me earlier.

Just tell him that I can help him get out of his father's grasp and become the real master of Hojo.

However, the Hojo family must pay the price for their previous disrespect to me. The cession of Junto and Izu is only a condition for now. Ueno has been reduced year by year.

And Jundong and Izu, as a reward for His Highness Tokugawa. "

Hideyoshi was also really annoyed by the writing sent by the Hojo family, and he even said wildly that he wanted Hideyoshi to go to Odawara.

Since the battle of Hideyoshi Yamazaki started, no wonder Tokugawa Ieyasu was asked to bring such harsh conditions.

Of course, this is a condition after all, everything can be discussed.

Back then, before Hideyoshi accepted Tokugawa Ieyasu's surrender, he also asked Tokugawa Ieyasu to send the head of Sakakibara Yasumasa to comfort Ikeda Hengxing's spirit in heaven, otherwise he would not negotiate.

Isn't Sakakibara Komasa sitting right behind Ieyasu now, watching Hideyoshi croaking on the throne.

Tokugawa Ieyasu felt very bitter. He didn't know how to convey this sentence to the Hojo clan and his sons. He was even afraid that if he said this, he would still be able to get out of Odawara Castle.

But seeing Hideyoshi's sharp and irresistible expression, Tokugawa Ieyasu didn't want to touch his brow, and nodded slightly in response.

Hideyoshi seemed to be very satisfied with Tokugawa Ieyasu's performance today, and motioned to Ishida Mitsunari to hand him a letter to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

"Open it and have a look, this is a reward for you" Hideyoshi said while sitting on the imperial steps.

Tokugawa Ieyasu opened it, and what caught his eyes was the words Zhengsi Shangquanzhong Nayan.

Ieyasu raised his head in astonishment, and cast a questioning look at Hideyoshi.

On the side, Ishida Mitsunari said slowly, "In order to welcome the arrival of Tokugawa Gonchunagan, His Highness Kanbai specially went to His Majesty the Emperor to recommend Nakanogen, and promoted you to the four senior officials."

If you have been listening to and changing news all day, the four officials who are now rewarded by the court are the only good news Ieyasu Tokugawa has heard today.

He bowed his head again to taste the words on the letter, nodded, and shook his head again.Then he closed the letter and thanked Hideyoshi.

The strange behavior aroused Hideyoshi's interest, and he asked curiously, "Why did Quanzhong Nayan nod and shake his head just now?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu replied slowly, "I nodded at the beginning to reconfirm that the official positions in the letter are the top four, and I shook my head later because I couldn't believe that I would still be able to become the Minister of the Highness. All this is thanks to His Highness." , in the next Minggan five."

Hideyoshi knew that what Ieyasu Tokugawa said was a lie, and Ieyasu Tokugawa also knew that Hideyoshi was just what Ieyasu just said was a lie, but when this lie came out, there was a sense of loyalty to the king, which made Hideyoshi on the imperial steps feel embarrassed Do not cooperate with the performance.

"I have received the loyalty of His Highness Tokugawa, please continue to serve the public in the future."

In fact, the topic has all ended so far, but Hideyoshi still asked Tokugawa Ieyasu with great interest, "How does Tokugawa-sama plan to deal with Sanada Yasuo."

Tokugawa Ieyasu has already felt Hideyoshi's idea of ​​forcing himself to himself many times today, and now Hideyoshi asked himself what he thinks about dealing with the Sanada family, Tokugawa Ieyasu simply lay flat and asked him, "Does Kanbai-sama have any suggestions? "

When Hideyoshi heard Ieyasu's question, he said resentfully, "Since I said I would hand over the Sanada family to you, I will naturally not intervene. I am just curious. Of course, I am more optimistic about the Sanada family with Mamoru Abo as the leader. "

Although Hideyoshi said that he would not interfere with the Tokugawa family's handling of the Sanada family, he actually gave his own opinion, that is, he hoped that Sanada Masayuki could continue to manage the Sanada family.

This result did not exceed Tokugawa Ieyasu's expectations. In fact, he had already made such psychological expectations long before he set off.

But now that Hideyoshi hinted at himself in a grand manner, Tokugawa Ieyasu still felt a little uncomfortable.

If adding the premise that Hideyoshi had divided the Ogasawara and Uesugi collars before, and now the Sanada family is still preserved, the Tokugawa family's territory in Shinano is really only half.

No matter how reluctant, Ieyasu still calmed down, and said to Hideyoshi, "I haven't made up my mind yet, let me make a decision after meeting An Fangshou first."

After all, he did not give Hideyoshi time to refute, and asked Hideyoshi to leave, "I still feel a little unwell, please allow me to resign now, Yumian (sorry to the superior)."

Hideyoshi has already expressed his point of view, after all, Ieyasu cannot be forced to be too prosperous, so he thought for a while and said, "I see, then please go back to the Councilor to take care of your health, and then meet with Mamoru Anfang to discuss the disposal after your health is better.

After everything is settled, let's hold the peace negotiation ceremony between Tokugawa and Uesugi at Toyama Castle. "

Although Hideyoshi agreed to Ieyasu's procrastination formula, he still gave a certain hint, "If the Sanada family on your side has not dealt with it, the peace negotiation will continue to be delayed."

Ieyasu understood Hideyoshi's hint, but responded with silence, bowing to Hideyoshi to express his desire to end the conversation. (After all, the rank is lower than Hideyoshi.)
Hideyoshi understood what he meant, and after saying a few words of encouragement, he got up and left, taking Hideyoshi and Xiukang with him before leaving.

After returning to the Ohonmaru side hall that Maeda Toshiie vacated for himself, Hideyoshi asked Hideyoshi, "How do you think Tokugawa Ieyasu is doing today?"

Xiujia replied generally, "Counselor Tokugawa still has some complaints in his heart, but overall he still behaves quite submissively."

Hideyoshi nodded, shook his head again, and continued to ask, "Do you know why I took you to meet Uesugi and Tokugawa separately, even though you were not involved in this meeting?"

Xiujia thought for a while and replied, "Does Father want me to get in touch with and observe the two daimyos?"

"Yes, would you like to talk about how Tokugawa compares to Uesugi?"

"Uesugi's obedience should come from the heart. Tokugawa Gonchu's obedience is probably more out of fear of his father. Therefore, Uesugi can be handed over, and Tokugawa can be used."

"Uesugi is available, is Tokugawa available?" Hideyoshi repeated Hideyoshi's words, "The summary is really good, and this is exactly what I thought."

"So father wants the two of them to be at roughly the same size, to compete with each other and monitor each other?" Xiujia asked rhetorically.

Hideyoshi heard the questions from the Xiu family, and said to Xiukang with a smile, "I will learn a lot from your brother in the future. He was already my right-hand man when he was in your grade."

Xiukang had a good relationship with the Xiu family, and admired the thinking logic of the Xiu family. Now that Hideyoshi personally asked him to learn from the Xiu family, Xiukang replied excitedly, "I will always follow my brother as an example, but it is a pity that my brother and I have different opinions. I am on both sides of my father, and I cannot meet and learn from time to time."

Hideyoshi heard that Hideyasu was worried about this, and said with a smile, "You don't need to worry about this. After the world is peaceful, I will let all the famous names in the world come to Osaka to participate in the work. Then you brothers will be able to see each other every day. Isn't it good? "

Xiukang was still a little naive, didn't understand the subtext in Hideyoshi's words, and replied excitedly, "Is this true? That's really great."

Hideyoshi is surrounded by two close sons, enjoying the rare family happiness.Now look at this child Xiukang, the more he looks the cuter he is, he has no shortcomings except being too honest.

But for a daimyo, is honesty a shortcoming?
Do not!In Hideyoshi's view, this is its biggest advantage.

Hideyoshi stroked Xiukang's face with great satisfaction, expressing his love for him.And Xiukang hadn't felt such an intimate gesture from his father to him for many years, and he enjoyed it quite a bit.

After enjoying the relationship, Hideyoshi turned to Hideyoshi and asked, "Any more questions? Ask me now."

Just like what Hideyoshi said, Hideyoshi was really full of doubts after this trip. Now that Hideyoshi gave a lecture, Hideyoshi naturally shook out his curiosity.

"Father, why did you delay the Tokugawa Palace for so long before you started to attend the meeting? Is it true that, as the palace said just now, you went to seek an official position from the Emperor for His Highness Tokugawa?"

Hideyoshi replied with a smile, "Of course not, the official position was obtained long before I left, and the reason why I delayed for so long was for two purposes;

One is to wait for Ishikawa Shuzheng, who is far away in Osaka, to come. After all, he is a retainer of the Tokugawa family, and a retainer of my retainer.

The second is to grind the patience of Tokugawa Ieyasu, after all, he is the one who cut the most meat in this negotiation.If I talk to him about this on the first day I meet him, do you think he will agree? "

Hideka: "At that time, the news of Lord Ishikawa and Lord Ogasawara's rebellion had not yet come out. I am afraid that the Tokugawa Palace still had illusions. Now that the way back is cut off, the military system that started from Mikawa was exposed. Compared with His Highness Tokugawa, the largest The idea is to go back as soon as possible, and it is necessary to make some sacrifices for this."

Hideyoshi: "So, Hokimori really helped me by leaving this time."

"So, is that why father took in Mr. Ishikawa's escape?" Hideka asked curiously.

Hideyoshi replied, "This is only part of the reason. As for the rest, you don't need to ask."

Hideka knew that the rest of what Hideyoshi said, if it wasn't some amazing secret, it must be because of personal relationships that kept Ishikawa Susho.

"Any more questions?" Hideyoshi continued to ask.

Hideka: "I do have another question. I remember that in the meeting with Major General Gon Uesugi, my father was very decisive in dealing with Mamoru Sanada. He sternly rejected Master Uesugi's explanation.

So why, after today's meeting, is it unnecessary to ask Tokugawa-sama about his thoughts on dealing with Sanada-sama?In the end, he also suggested to him, hoping that Mamoru Anfang could continue to serve as the governor of the Sanada family? "

After Xiujia finished asking, Xiukang on the side also asked, "This is exactly what I doubt. If, as my father said, today's meeting has damaged the interests of the Tokugawa Palace and damaged the relationship with Tokugawa. .

So in the end, rewarding Lord Tokugawa with an official position is an attempt to mend the relationship with Tokugawa. Why do you need to do more in the end to open up this wound and anger Master Tokugawa?Isn't everything you just did in vain? "

(End of this chapter)