Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 322 Xiu Chang Visits Xiu's House

It was already afternoon when Hideka returned to Osaka Castle, and after sending someone to Honmaru Omotoban to submit a request to meet Hideyoshi, Hideie took a long rest at the mansion in Osaka Castle.

With nothing else to do, the Xiu family wanted to take a closer look at the mansion where they would live in the next few years, but they heard Qing Shuixin also hurriedly coming from outside, "Your Highness, His Highness Guan Bai wants to see His Highness."

When Xiujia heard Shimizu's notification, Xiujia was also a little bit surprised. After all, it was already afternoon. With Toyotomi Hideyoshi's habit after becoming Guanbai, he definitely would not choose to meet Xiujia at this time.

However, Hideyoshi didn't even let Hideyoshi rest for a while. After receiving the notice from below, he directly let Hideyoshi go to the city. There must be something important to discuss with Hideyoshi.

"Who sent the letter?" Xiujia turned to Qing Shuixin and asked.

Shimizu Nobu also went to Xiu's house and reported: "It's the message brought back by Goro Jihei and Gomoto Ban, let His Highness go to the castle to meet Guan Bai immediately, and Ito Nagami-sama will also come with him."

Ito Nagami is the son of Ito Nagami, a retainer of the Oda family. Although he is an old colleague of Nobunaga who served as an official with Hideyoshi, he is not conspicuous in the Oda family. Hideyoshi dominates.

Just last year, Ito died of a long illness. Out of concern for his old colleagues, Hideyoshi raised his son Nagami by half a level from Huang Muyizhong to become a senior attendant who can walk in front of the palace.

Normally, Ito Chomi would follow Hideyoshi closely, and he would come with the retainers notified by Hideyoshi. It seemed that this order was indeed from Hideyoshi himself.

After tidying up a bit, Hideyoshi walked out of the residence with Shinmizu Nobu and headed directly for Osaka Castle.

On the way, Hideka tried to test the tone of Ito Nagami and asked about the affairs in the palace, but in the end they only got a reply from "His Highness Guanbai and Zhong Nayan were discussing matters in the imperial hall together."

Xiujia was called to Osaka by Hideyoshi, and thought that there was something urgent to report, but they bumped into Hidecho who was about to leave the city.

Hideonaga directly stopped Hideka and Ito Nagami and said, "Hachiro, there is no need to go to the castle today, brother has some things to deal with in the inner hall, let's discuss everything tomorrow."

Ito Nagami seemed to be used to Hideyoshi's operation, and after saluting Hideyoshi, he left with him, leaving Hideyoshi alone in the wind.

"Who am I? Where am I? What am I here for?"

In the end, Xiuchang put one hand on Xiujia's shoulder, and pushed Xiujia out of the city again.

Xiuchang seemed to be in good spirits, and he spoke to Xiu's family on the way, "Hachiro, you are really lucky, you hit it right, and you are going to be a father so soon."

What Hidecho said was of course Naoko Kagawa's pregnancy in Okayama Castle.

Although the Xiu family is in Meinong, they have always communicated with the skill through letters, and the elders of the family have to inform the Xiu family of their decisions. Naturally, it is impossible not to inform the Xiu family of such a serious pregnancy in the concubine of the Xiu family. In a month, Xiu Jiajiu had already received the message.

But the news came from his father-in-law, and the Xiu family was a little embarrassed. After all, he was the serious father-in-law of the Xiu family. The key was that the Xiu family had already planted seeds before the little girl got started.

Xiujia scratched his head, trying to think about what kind of words he would use to talk to Toyotomi Hidecho, but he heard Hidecho say to Xiujia, "The Bizen Million Stone Territory should indeed have an heir now." Stabilize the hearts of the retainers."

This sentence is actually an irony to the Xiu family. After all, Kikuhime is the main wife of the Xiu family, and her children are the real heirs of the Bizen territory.

Xiujia thinks that Xiuchang actually has some opinions on Xiujia's early concubine and getting her pregnant, so as to test Xiujia's attitude.If the Xiu family is noncommittal about this matter, the marriage of the Xiu family is likely to change.

For the Xiu family, in the timeline when Hao Ji married the Mori family, if Ju Ji lost the Xiu family, would there still be a well-matched other half to choose from?

Do you really want to marry the three sisters of the Asai family?How can they be good friends?

Xiu's almost thoughtless Xiu replied, "Heir? What heir? I don't know where the heir of the main family is now.

Even if this child is confirmed to be a male at birth in the future and can grow up to be an adult, he is just a branch character who receives 1 to 2 stones, how can he be the head of the million stones.

Naoko is a daughter of the Kagawa family, and this child has the blood of the Kagawa family. Even if everything goes well, I should allow him to inherit the territory of the Sanuki Kagawa family. "

After Xiujia said this, he turned his head to look at Xiuchang's expression, and found that he pouted noncommittally, and Xiujia said again, "I really can't wait for the day when sister Xiaoju will marry into my family. Take good care of him, please rest assured uncle."

While speaking, the two of them had already left the Yingmen Gate, and after walking a few tens of meters, they arrived at the gates of their respective mansions.

Xiujia wanted to say goodbye to Xiuchang, but was curious about Hideyoshi summoning himself today, so he invited Xiuchang, "I was taken care of by my uncle last time, so I can visit my uncle's house. I don't know if my uncle is free today. Come to my house to have a chat." .”

Xiuchang looked up at the gate of Xiu's house, nodded and followed behind Xiu's house.

The Xiu family wanted to bring Xiuchang to the main hall to entertain him, after all, the identity of the opposite party was here, but he asked him to talk in a more private side room.

Suo Xingxiu's mansion was relatively large, with all kinds of houses, so he brought Xiuchang to the West Hall to talk.

The west side of this room is adjacent to the Nanshui Hori of Osaka Castle Honmaru, and the scenery is extremely beautiful. In order to enjoy the scenery of Nanshui Hor, Hideka directly canceled the fence here, and dug a courtyard full of bamboo and cherry blossoms.

Sitting in the main room of the west hall, the Xiu family deliberately opened the door of the house on the west side facing the Osaka Castle. It happened that the sun was gradually setting from the west side, and the room was illuminated extraordinarily beautifully.

Hidecho seemed to be stunned by such a scene, standing on the wall corridor and looking westward, the location here is excellent, it is more than 600 meters long on the east side of Nanshuibori.The field of view is unobstructed, and you can directly see the Uesugi domain residence that is under construction at the end of the water hole.

"Hachiro, the scenery here is amazing, you can even see the scenery of Oteguchi from here." Xiuchang praised Xiujia with a purple sand teacup.

The Xiu family took advantage of the situation and joked: "If uncle likes this place, how about the two of us switching residences?"

But Xiujia soon realized that he had made a mistake. After all, this is Osaka Castle, and all the residences of Nijimaru daimyos were chosen by Hideyoshi himself. On the east side, this is the order of seniority.

Xiujia originally thought that Xiuchang would reprimand Xiujia for his rudeness, but Xiuchang just took a deep breath and sighed, "That's not necessary, as long as you let me speak often in the future."

"If uncle likes, he can come anytime. We, uncle and nephew, can even stick out our fishing rods here and fish in this South Horn."

"Fishing?" Hearing this word, Xiuchang turned his head to face Xiu's family, and said a little funnyly: "This is my brother's Osaka City. Every brick, every tile, every plant and every tree in the city belongs to my brother. How dare you directly Fishing in his waterhole?"

This is actually what the Xiu family did to pass the time when they were in Osaka last time. After all, it is not as good as later generations. Even the famous Xiu family does not have too many spare time activities.

In addition to war and farming, the most important activities of people in this era are making people, but at Hideya Osaka, these three are not compatible, so they can only sit here with nothing to do and go fishing to pass the time.

Xiuchang asked curiously, "How is it, are the fish in the water hole big?"

"It's okay, if uncle is interested, how about we try fishing together some other day?"

"Okay, I have some free time these few days, and I will come to you after I finish my work."

When building Osaka, Hideyoshi deliberately dug an artificial canal from the Yodo River to connect to the sea in order to improve the city defense system of Osaka, which is equivalent to the branch of the Yodo River near the mouth of the sea. river.

In this matter, Osaka has not experienced two rounds of Osaka battles, and the water holes have not been filled up. Even the water holes that do not want to practice are connected with underground passages to ensure that the water in Osaka City is running water, and there is running water. Naturally, there are fish.

Xiuchang and Xiujia played a few rounds of jokes, and the smell of gunpowder just now dissipated, and Xiujia didn't know if his answer could satisfy Xiuchang.

After Xiuchang drank the tea in his hand, he sat back on his seat. After the Xiu family added a cup for him, he finally brought the topic to the point, "What is it that Mr. Guan Bai is so eager to recruit me today?"

Maybe it's because the longer you get it, the more you want some actions to prove your youth. Xiuchang is also very playful, and instead of taking the initiative to answer Xiujia's question, let him guess the reason. "You are so smart, I think I already have some answers in my heart." Come on, tell me first."

Xiujia pursed his lips, and threw out the first answer to Xiuchang, "On the way back, I saw brother Sun Qi going out of the city, saying that he had obtained Guan Bai's permission to return to the territory to reorganize the army and prepare for war. After the autumn harvest Together with the main force to conquer Kyushu again, I think Guan Bai must have summoned me for the sake of Kyushu."

To this answer, Hidecho gave an affirmative reply, "There is such a thing, the second wave of Kyushu corps with a total of 5 people arrived in Chikuzen and Bungo as early as mid-May.

Now Chikuzen is led by Mori Jingo, and Bungo still lacks a commander.Brother originally wanted me to lead the Bungo Corps in advance, but it just so happened that you came, so I wanted to send you there. "

But Xiujia still had doubts, and asked Xiuchang, "There is no rush for this matter. Since Bungo's side has been in a stalemate for two months, it proves that the generals who command the army are capable enough to deal with Shimadzu's invasion." , why are you so anxious to summon me just as soon as I was in Osaka?"

Hideaga sighed and replied, "Do you know who is Bungo's generation now?"

The Xiu family was a little surprised, why a general made Xiu Zhang so afraid, so he asked, "Who is it? Could it be His Highness Kobayakawa Jinwu?"

Hideonaga shook his head, denying Hideka's answer, "Kobayakawa-dono said that he would wait until the end before going out with the army, and now Bungo's team is the officers and soldiers."

"Hey? What? Is it Mr. Kuroda?" Xiujia asked in surprise.

Hideo was not surprised. After all, Kanbei Takenaka, Hanbei Kuroda, had been serving as Hideyoshi's think tank after his death, and had always been by Hideyoshi's side, almost never leading the army independently.

But the Xiu family is strange again, there is no need to be so nervous, even though he lacks experience in commanding troops, but judging from the current reality, isn't he doing a good job, why should he be replaced?
Xiujia expressed doubts to Xiuchang, Xiuchang shook his head and responded to Xiujia, "There are some things that you don't understand."

Xiuchang turned around and looked outside the house again, looking at the sun that was slowly setting, Xiuchang said, "Guanbingwei is not what you know, he is a very ambitious existence. It's just that none of him is as ambitious as he is." Matching strength is all.

Elder brother has been restricting his strength in the past, and now because of some special reasons, he has to be allowed to play the role of the formation generation, but elder brother does not want him to make more contributions, this is a contradictory issue. "

Xiujia was touched by Xiuchang, and he understood the key point.

From the history of Hideyoshi's arrangements for the Kuroda officers and soldiers, we can already see the clues. He has advised Hideyoshi for many years and helped Hideyoshi win many important wars such as Yamazaki, Kidake, Kyushu, and Odawara. Chikuzen 12 stone territory.

What is the equivalent of this knowledge? It is about the same as the final reward of Todo Takatora, who became an official Hideyoshi after Hidecho's death.

Isn't Kuroda Kanbei's contribution worthy of the name of a 30 stone king?Not worthy, not worthy.

Matching means that it is precisely because of his plan that Hideyoshi has the possibility of becoming a man of the world. In the battle between Yamazaki and Jianyue, even a slight mistake will cause Hideyoshi to fail.

Unworthy means that he has no experience of leading troops alone. The Kuroda family started as a liaison officer sent by the Kodera family to the Oda family. With Hideyoshi's success, the knowledge and practice he guarded was finally fixed on the border of 4 shi for many years. failed to grow.

And the mobilization requirement of 2 shi daimyo is nothing more than 700 soldiers. Such strength is not enough to become a general.

But for a lord like Hideyoshi, how to define Kuroda Kanbei's award at the time of the final award is actually a matter of his one sentence.

It is actually a very metaphysical question whether to count the merits of his suggestions or just count the military exploits of the commanding troops.

In the end, Hideyoshi gave a very embarrassing result, only giving him a reward of 12 shi, and no more sealing.

Why do you say this result is embarrassing, because this reward can't be low or not, if you simply give him a reward of 20 to 25, it will also make people understand that you are a generous lord, and you are a generous lord. In mind.

Or you only promoted him to a name of 8 shi to 10 shi based on his military achievements. Everyone understands that you rewarded him based on his military achievements.

In the end, you gave him a reward of 12 shi. In the eyes of everyone, this reward surpassed his military achievements, but in the eyes of Kuroda Guanbingwei, this reward was not enough to reward him for his efforts.

The final result also led to Kanbei Kuroda beginning to prepare for a new chaos in the world after Hideyoshi's death.

How can there be any kindness of Taiko, Taiko's kindness has long been squandered by Hideyoshi's self-consummated coquettish operation.

(End of this chapter)