Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 349 The Dialogue between the "Wu" in the West Country

In order to respond to Tachibana Soshige, after he left, Hideka sent out many ninjas in Chikuzen, Hizen, Higo and other places to investigate his traces and provide him with information.

On the 12th day of February in the [-]th year of Tianzheng, the Hide family had been confronting the Shimadzu family in Iwaya Castle for nearly a month. Every day, they rode the Anatolian horse dedicated to him by the Napi Shimai clan. Patrolling back and forth on the front line of Tianzhu Mountain.

It was also on this day that the Xiu family received Tachibana Muneshige and his party who came over the mountains from Hizen.

After half a month of trekking, Tachibana Muneshige finally picked up his younger brother Takahashi Tozeng and his party back in Feihou.

When the Hide family received the news and returned to Iwaya Castle, Tachibana Muneshige had already brought his younger brother back to Iwaya Castle Honmaru to settle down.

Seeing the Xiu family approaching, Tachibana Zongshige stepped forward two steps and knelt down in front of the Xiu family and said, "Thank you for helping me, Your Highness, otherwise my younger brother and I may not be able to meet each other in this life, and I cannot fully salute because of the armor, please forgive me. "

After finishing speaking, he pulled his younger brother Takahashi Zento to bow to the Hide family, "Come and thank Your Highness."

The Xiu family hurriedly pulled the two of them up, and said modestly, "I didn't help much, it was just a few days in the rock house city where I occupied the magpie's nest, and I don't deserve your thanks."

"Your Highness is being modest. If it wasn't for the information provided by His Highness, I'm afraid I'm still wandering around Chikugo at this moment. Also, His Highness Chen Bing Zhuhou put pressure on the Shimadzu family, so that they had to mobilize their troops from the rear to go to Chikugo to increase their staff." , I can't rescue Yashichiro so smoothly."

Hideka smiled and responded when he heard his praise, "It's the heavens who are merciful to you brothers, that's why you got Yashichiro so smoothly. This just shows that Tachibana and Takahashi are happy."

After the two were courteous, Tachibana Muneshige pulled Hideka down again, and whispered to Hideka, "On the way back, I have already told Yashichiro about the Harada family, and he asked me to thank His Highness for the arrangement."

Tachibana Michiyuki and Takahashi Shaoyun’s knowledge is similar to that of Otomo’s house. Tachibana Michiyuki has 4.5 koku of total knowledge in the northern part of Chikuzen’s Kasuya County, Shida County, and Naka County.

Takahashi Shaoyun owns Mikasa County, Naka County and Chikugo Mihara County, and Zhixing is about 3 shi, and the total of the two collars is about 8 shi.

In history, after Hideyoshi transferred Tachibana Zongshige to Yanagawa, he gave him a knowledge of 13.2 stones. This knowledge is equivalent to a large increase on the basis of his original collar, which is why Tachibana Zongshige is grateful for Hideji Ende.

In history, for the prosperity of the family, these two territories were inherited by Muneshige Tachibana, but he gave his younger brother Chikugo 18% 000 shi as compensation.

Hideka's meaning is actually very clear. If his younger brother is allowed to succeed the Harada family, then Tachibana and Takahashi can be directly inherited by Tachibana Muneshige. Although the two brothers are relatively independent, their combined knowledge and practice exceeds 15 shi.

If there is a transfer of title after the war, it is most likely that Chikugo Ichigoku will receive all 22 koku. The elder brother will receive 5 koku from Yanagawa Castle in the 13th county of Zhuhou, and the younger brother will receive 4 koku from Kurume, the 7th county.

Such a resettlement plan is actually beneficial to the two brothers, and it is even more beneficial to the entire family. It is almost equivalent to directly doubling the territory.

Takahashi Tongzeng's grade may be young, after all, he is one year older than Hideka, but Tachibana Muneshige is very aware of the advantages of such an arrangement, and under his constant analysis, his younger brother finally accepted the plan.

"It's nothing, it's what Tachibana and Takahashi deserve." Xiujia said modestly.

After Tachibana Munemo thanked Hideka repeatedly, he asked Hideka again, "By the way, on my way to Higo, thanks to Dr. Zaemon (Naoshima Naoshige)'s help, he also asked me if I His Highness Guan Bai has logged in."

After finishing speaking, he took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Hideka, continuing to say, "This is a letter that Dr. Zaemon asked me to hand over to Guan Bai. Your Highness, please keep it."

After the Xiu family took it, they opened it up and reviewed it. The letter was full of nonsense such as the Shimadzu family's atrocities, human beings and gods, and my Ryuzoji family being wronged to serve the enemy and waiting for the heavenly soldiers to rescue them.

The Xiu family lost interest after reading it once, and refolded it and returned it to Tachibana Zongshige. You just leave it to him."

I also have two pieces of news to tell you. I have just sent a letter from His Royal Highness Jin Wu from several cities in the ancient city of Chikuqian. , what do you think about this matter?
"What? The repair doctor is coming down?"

Tachibana Soshige was not surprised. During the most prosperous period of Akizuki, he owned 6 and a half counties in Chikuzen, 4 counties in Buzen, and nearly 20 shi in Chikugo. After leaving the house of Fan Otomo, he has always been a member of the coalition forces of the surrounding wealthy families. The backbone, casually mobilized more than 8000 people to fight against Tachibana Muneshige and Takahashi Shaoyun at the same time.

If Qiuyuezhong really didn't have such confidence, he wouldn't dare to be the first to betray Dayou Zonglin.

But even if such a guy who ruled the roost in Kitakyushu and could only support his father and adoptive father, one day he put down his figure and wanted to surrender to himself, no wonder Tachibana Zongshige would be surprised.

"Is there anything surprising?" Xiujia looked at him strangely. "It's normal to surrender if you can't beat him. I'm asking you about the conditions for his surrender. What do you think?"

Tachibana Muneshige replied very carefully: "I don't know the situation of Kingo-sama's strategy in Chikuzen, so it's not easy to make judgments."

After Xiujia told him about the latest battle situation, he thought for a moment and then directly answered Xiujia's four words, "Idiots talk about dreams."

"Really? Do you think so too?" Xiujia responded with a smile, "The condition I sent to Lord Jinwu is also that I ask Qiuyue's family to accept the unconditional Kaicheng; Palace's forgiveness; Guan Baidian's decision after listening. All other conditions are rejected."

Hideyoshi's trip to Kyushu was not for charity, but to establish his authority and transfer his retainers to resettle him.

But the territory is so big, if you want to settle your retainers, you must transfer the land. Where does the land come from?Naturally, these local names and rich families.

As a typical example of fighting the Otomo family, the Shimadzu family is the happiest existence among the daimyos, and the Akizuki family wants to ask to be let go. How can it be so easy.

In history, Akizuki Zhongshi personally shaved his hair to plead guilty, and gave the famous utensil (tea utensil) Narashiba shoulder punch and the famous sword "Kunitoshi", and offered his daughter Ryuko as a hostage to Hideyoshi. Only then did Hyuga Caitian get 3 Permission to survive.

You must know that the actual control territory of Qiuyue's family was not as small as this time. After receiving so many benefits, Hideyoshi still cut half of his actual control Zhixing at that time, let alone only 5 shi now. 2 shi for resettlement is already good, how could the Xiu family do this for him.

"Did you mean that His Highness Guanbai has come to Kyushu?" Tachibana Soshige asked after obtaining key information from Hideka's words.

"The army has gradually gathered. There are now more than 15 troops landing in Kyushu. I think His Highness Guan Bai is coming soon. Then you will have to go back with me to meet Guan Bai."

"This is what should happen, but what about Chikuqian?"

Tachibana Muneshige expressed concern about the current front-line war situation to Xiujia. After all, Xiujia and the opposite Shimadzu family have been sitting quietly for more than a month, and I don’t know what the opposite Shimazu family thinks. At home, he launched an attack on Chikuzen.

On the contrary, Hideka was not worried about this, and said to Tachibana Zongshige, "Yesterday, I sent a letter from Buzen, His Majesty Kingo Mori's army has already moved from Xiaokura, and will come here in two days. Whether it is a change of defense or a breakthrough in Xietong, Iwaya The first line of the city is already sure to win, and what I am worried about now is the situation in Bungo.”

Tachibana Muneshige asked Hideka again, "Bungo? Has Yoshihiro Shimadzu invaded from Hyuga again?"

"Not yet, but there is news from Bungo Hyuga that Shimadzu Yoshihiro has returned to Hyuga from Satsuma, and has gathered soldiers with the intention of possibly attacking Bungo to reduce the pressure on Bungo."

Historically, the Shimadzu side believed that the northern part of Kyushu was newly attached, and the uncertainty of the people's hearts was likely to become a drag on them, so they chose to retreat to the Satsuma, Osumi, and Hyuga Three Kingdoms with a strong wall and clear fields.

When Shimadzu Yoshihiro returned to Hyuga and began to mobilize, Hideka thought that the meeting of the Shimadzu family might finally come to an end, and chose to fight back resolutely as in the original history.

But how can the wheel of history be exactly the same?Especially after the arrival of Hideka, a little butterfly, many historical processes have changed. Hideka is not sure whether the Shimadzu family has chosen the same strategy in history, so Hideka must be prepared.

Now that Tachibana Soshige is coming from Higo, it is just right to ask him, "When you come back from Higo, what is the situation in the two countries of Hijiki? Is the army moving from the rear to Chikugo to increase the front line defense, or is it starting to transfer to Satsuma?" What about the supplies?"

"Your Highness, are you saying that the Shimadzu family may choose to stick to Satsuma and give up the Higo kingdoms?" Tachibana Muneshige was keenly aware of the meaning of Hideka's words.

Xiujia nodded and confirmed, "I have this idea."

Tachibana Muneshige shook his head after hearing this and denied, "This is absolutely impossible. On the day before I turned around Hizen, the Shimadzu family had just issued an order to Dr. Saemon (Naoshima Naoshima) to mobilize the Ryuzoji family.

Even the Chikushi in Chikugo and the Aso family in Higo mobilized. When I was in Higo, I fought against the troops of the Aso family.From my point of view, the Shimadzu family is preparing to fight for every inch of land. "

When the Xiu family heard the news brought back by Tachibana Muneshige, they raised their eyebrows reflexively. It seemed that this little butterfly of his own had indeed created a different storm, which made the Shimadzu family change their strategy towards Hideyoshi.

It was exactly as the Hide family thought, because the Hide family made Yoshihiro Shimadzu feel the combat power of the "Toyotomi" family in Bungo, and quickly advanced in the direction of Chikuzen, which made Shimadzu feel the Toyotomi family from all over. An emotion of fear.

At the family meeting, they were ready to surrender, but they suddenly received a message from Tadacho Shimadzu from Chikugo that the battle line had stabilized and the Toyotomi family was not breaking through.

Coupled with Shimadzu Yoshihiro’s report that in the Battle of Bungo, although Toyotomi’s main force was strong, the trend was also relatively serious, and the Shimadzu family concluded a piece of information, that is, the Toyotomi family experienced Bungzen on the western front. After the First World War, it was already the end of the battle, and the reason why it was able to quickly advance to Chikuzen was because Bungo's Hideo troops were transferred there.

However, after Hideka's troops experienced the Battle of Bungo-Usuki and the Battle of Taragawa, although they narrowly won, they were already relatively exhausted, and their combat effectiveness declined seriously.

This gave the Shimadzu family hope again.

Of course, the strategy is also different from the history. In their view, the Toyotomi family may be like this. After all, the Laoshi expedition was very strong at the beginning, but the follow-up was weak.

Therefore, preparing to mobilize his daimyo to rely on favorable terrain to resist steadily, Shimadzu Yoshihisa is preparing to fight a protracted battle with Hideyoshi.

In fact, he has already prepared for the complete destruction of the north of Satsuma, but in his opinion, as long as Hideyoshi can show the stubbornness of the Shimadzu family in this battle, even if they surrender after the war, they can get a good condition.

This is why he is constantly adding troops to Chikugo Mihara County, because Chikugo is so important.

This is the throat of Kyushu, and Chikugo is not lost. The Shimadzu family connected to Bungo and Hizen can attack everywhere, attack the hinterland of Toyotomi's family such as Chikuzen and Bungo, and keep Hideyoshi in check.

And if you want to defend Chikugo, you must guard the protruding part of Mihara County. Only here can the main artery of the Chikugo River be controlled by the Shimadzu family.

And once Mihara-gun misses and the Toyotomi family enters Chikugo, the Shimadzu family can only be forced to rely on the Chikugo River for defense.

At that time, among other things, Akizuki, the last resistance force in Chikuzen, and the Ryuzoji family in Beihizen will inevitably switch to the Toyotomi clan, and their strategy in Kitakyushu will shift from active defense to passive defense.

After trying to understand all this, Xiujia couldn't help muttering. "It's no wonder that the Shimadzu family on the opposite side has been building more fortifications these days. They have built several more fortifications around Yamakuma Castle, as if they are going to build the Great Wall in Chikugo."

Tachibana Soshige didn't listen to Qingxiu's family whispering to himself, and asked Xiu's family: "What? Your Highness, what are you talking about?"

Judging from these circumstances, Shimadzu is indeed defending Chikugo, but Hideka is a member of the Southern Kyushu Legion under Toyotomi Hidecho, and now it is only a temporary attack on Chikuzen, even if the city here is so high. It was also time for Hideyoshi to have a headache.

At that time, even if Hideyoshi gets hit here, what does it have to do with Hideyoshi?

Since the matter has nothing to do with him, Xiu's family is naturally held high.But seeing Tachibana Muneshige next to him, Hideka knew very well that as the daimyo of Chikuzen, Hideyoshi would definitely drive him to attack these cities as a vanguard, and he would be the first to hit here with blood.

Based on the principle that friends don't cheat friends, Xiujia still wants to help him from the bottom of his heart.

Finally, after thinking hard, he said in his ear, "After Maoli Jinwu comes, I will go back to Fenghou with you and wait for His Highness Guanbai.

At that time, you will be included in the regiment of His Highness Guan Bai, and I will go to fight under His Highness Zhong Nayan's command, and you and I will be separated.But before I leave, I have one more suggestion to tell you. "

Tachibana Zongshige became interested when he heard it, and asked Xiu's family, "Let's hear it."

"In the past few days, I have observed that the Shimadzu family has been building a city wall opposite, obviously intending to fight His Highness Guanbai here. As the Chikuzen daimyo, you will be the pioneer at that time. I am worried that it will be difficult for you to break through the city, and you can use it at that time. "

After receiving Tachibana Zongshige's encouraging eyes, Xiujia continued, "Ah, according to you, the Ryuzoji family is also included in this recruitment, so they must be stationed somewhere opposite. You can suggest to His Highness Guanbai that you bring The letter went to Tiaolue Longzao Temple's home.

In fact, there is no need to say much about the content of the letter, as long as you write something like "you are now in the enemy's line, and you are resisting the heavenly soldiers. If you want to get security, you must pay an equal price." , will definitely understand how to do it.

Similarly, Higo's Aso family probably doesn't really want to be buried with the Shimadzu family, you can pull him to do things together.Just do this to pay attention to two points. "

Tachibana Munemo nodded when he heard Xiujia's suggestion, but after hearing Xiujia's turning point, he asked anxiously, "Which two points?"

"One is that this matter is confidential and should not be publicized. It is enough to contact Longzou Temple and Asu's family to support our army's attack. If we remove other daimyos, the secret may be leaked, so those daimyos do not need to inform.

The second is that it is best for the two daimyos to agree on a different time, and not to agree together. Among them, the Longzhaosi family should be earlier. "

Tachibana Munemo asked a little strangely: "Why?"

Hideka explained: "Because Naoshima Naoshige is a smart person, and he contacted the main family early, with the contact letter in hand, it is already a betrayal for Shimadzu, and he has no choice.

But the Aso family is different. After the death of Kai Zongyun, whether there is anyone in the Aso family who has the ability to coordinate this time, it is a question mark to see the changing situation. "

The Xiu family's suggestion to adjust the dragon to build the temple is very safe in their hearts, but the suggestion to adjust Asu Weiguang is based on the judgment made in history, and they don't have much confidence in their hearts.

Tachibana Zongshige understood it after listening to it, and responded to the Xiu family, "I already know about this matter. Since it is a confidential matter, the less people know about it, the better. The Asu family can try it out, but don't say it out loud. .

At that time, if the Longzhaosi family turns back, our army will take advantage of the situation to cover up and kill them. The Asu family should know how to do it under the premise that we have already leaked the wind in advance.As soon as these two daimyos changed, the Shimadzu family's army would inevitably run wild, and the victory was already locked for us. "

For Tachibana Muneshige's analysis, Hideka gave a positive opinion. Judging from the behavior of this matter, Tachibana Zongshige was indeed more than he thought.

Asu Weiguang is indeed not trustworthy enough. In this case, it is good to mention a little bit, and leave yourself a way out.

After all, no matter how stupid Aso Weiguang is, he is also a famous name in the Warring States Period. When he saw the chaos in the Shimadzu army, and then thought about the adjustment strategy from Toyotomi's side yesterday, he must understand what was going on.

They are all big names in the Warring States Period, and they are in the midst of occupation. Seeing that their side is doomed, how could they let Congliang's chance pass by.

In this way, the promises that need to be made in order to adjust the Aso family are missing.

(End of this chapter)