Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 353 Hideyoshi Ends at Kokura Castle
天正15年（1587年），3月25日（公历4月4日），日本天皇的代官，关东以西大部分大名的实际统治者丰臣秀吉终于在千呼万唤之中来到了赤霞关。

After resting for two days at Chixia Pass, I finally took a boat from Xiaguan Wharf to Xiaocang Castle in Kyushu.

In order to welcome Hideyoshi, Kokura Castle specially organized in advance, and re-planned the military formations of the major names outside the city. Like the Kitakyushu Army led by Hideyoshi, most of the daimyo's military forces went to Chikuzen as early as a few days ago. , Distributed in various cities of the Chikuzen Kingdom.

The Nanjiushu Army Corps belonging to Hidecho Toyotomi also went to Bungo first, leaving only a daimyo Hatakemoto garrisoned under Kokura Castle, leaving the vacant camps for the troops brought by Hideyoshi from Osaka.

After a large number of idle people left, the environment of Xiaocang Castle has improved a lot, but it is no longer the sense of power that was crowded with people a while ago.

Hideyoshi still put on the same ostentation, leading by his cavalry in mother clothes, all wearing yellow lining and carrying yellow mother clothes on their backs, looking like the sun rising from the east.

Afterwards, the "Manmin Umbrella" was held high by 12 attendant warriors, which seemed to symbolize that Hideyoshi was pleading for the people this time and crusade against Shimadzu.After that, the emperor bestowed the flag seal with five or seven tung patterns and his own seal of thousands of ladles.

There were nearly a thousand people in the front team alone, and the daimyos under Xiaocang Castle were all surprised by such a big battle.

As an existence in Toyotomi's family that was detached from other daimyos, Hideya stood at the front of the queue, right beside Hidenaga.

But even so, almost 20 minutes had passed since the first knight appeared in front of his eyes until he saw Hideyoshi's true face.

After seeing Hideyoshi appearing, everyone saluted and praised him one after another. Even Toyotomi Hidecho and Hideyoshi still treated Hideyoshi like a monarch and minister.

Under the small Xiaocang Castle, people all knelt down in unison. This was a common thing. When meeting a lord, civilians must kneel and salute.

But if you take a closer look, these people are all wearing gorgeous clothes, which are not comparable to those ordinary people who are dressed in simple and dirty clothes.

It's hard to imagine that one day these big names ranging from tens of thousands of stones to millions of stones will gather here and bow down to a man at the same time.

After Hideyoshi accepted everyone's salute, he got off his horse and helped his younger brother Hidecho up, and then called everyone to follow him into the city.

Although Hideyoshi had "traveled long distances" from Moji Castle in the morning, he was still full of pride after seeing the situation just now, declined the rest arranged by Hideyoshi, and called everyone to start a military discussion in the evaluation room of Kokura Castle.

After everyone was seated, Hideyoshi first looked at Hideyoshi and asked, "During the days when I'm no longer here, thanks to your mediation in Kyushu, you have worked hard these days."

Hideonaga turned sideways slightly, saluted Hideyoshi, and responded, "Do things for your elder brother, do your best for the peace of the world, these are the things that a minister should do."

Hideyoshi nodded when he heard Hideonaga's answer, patted his right side with his right hand and said, "Sit on it, you deserve to be equal to me."

Hideyoshi's answer made everyone who was thinking about their own thoughts suddenly raised their heads and looked at Hideyoshi in unison.

It should be known that although there is not such a high platform in the evaluation room of the Japanese monarch as in China, it is still one step higher than the people below, and this step is called the Imperial Step.

The height of the imperial steps is generally only the height of a pillow, but it symbolizes an insurmountable gully, representing the status of the monarch and his ministers.

Only people who are familiar with Hideyoshi know that before Hideyoshi was named the Yokoyama City Lord, Hideyoshi sat on the same stage with Hideyoshi and discussed matters together.

Later, with Hideyoshi's prosperity, the invisible gap between the brothers gradually appeared.

Even the reward ceremony for rewarding Hideyoshi to the post of Guanbai was presided over by Toyotomi Hidecho, but Hidecho did not go up the imperial steps, but held the ceremony as a courtier under the imperial steps.

And after Hideyoshi became Guanbai, Hideyoshi himself already felt that he was superhuman, even when he treated his younger brother, he was no longer as close as before.

Now Hideyoshi invited Hidecho to sit by his side for the first time, this sudden move undoubtedly made everyone feel astonished.

Even Hideyoshi was stunned for a moment, then slowly got up and walked up the imperial steps, then walked along the border of the imperial steps, turned around and sat down facing everyone, after that, no matter how much Hideyoshi summoned, he was unwilling to take another half step forward.

After Xiuchang took the seat, Hideyoshi continued to say to everyone, "I know that some of you here have resisted Shimadzu's aggression in Kyushu since the beginning of Tensho's 14th year. It is because of your existence that Shimadzu's rebellious officials and thieves can be contained. ambition. I will record your achievements and reward them together after Kyushu evaluates them."

After everyone heard about it, they called Hideyoshi Shengming again.

Hideyoshi seemed to be intoxicated by the feeling of being surrendered to himself by such famous names. Seeing the people below bowing down in unison, his face was filled with a satisfied smile.

After everyone stood up again, he immediately expressed his condolences to the Hide family, "Xiaoichiro told me in the letter that you not only resisted the Shimadzu family in Bungo, but also went to Chikuzen to help wipe out the local wealthy family. That boy from the Tachibana family forced the Shimadzu family back to Chikugo?"

"Yes, Father." Since what Hideyoshi said was pretty much the same, Hideyoshi was naturally willing to admit his achievements.

What made Hideka curious was that Hideyoshi did not criticize himself for negotiating peace with Shimadzu Yoshihiro privately in public, but even praised himself a few words of encouragement.

"It's hard work. It's the right thing for everyone to deal with their own responsibilities, but it's very rare to deal with things outside their responsibilities."

Speaking of Tachibana Somo, Hideyoshi also became interested, raised his head and shouted to the crowd, "Who is Tachibana Yashichiro Somo?"

Hearing Hideyoshi's call, Tachibana Soshige stood up from the middle on the right side of the assessment room, walked quickly to the middle and saluted Hideyoshi, "Next is Tachibana Somo."

"Hold your head up"

Hearing Hideyoshi's order, Tachibana Munemo straightened his body and looked at Hideyoshi proudly.

Hideyoshi looked at Tachibana Muneshige's face and nodded slightly, and praised him, "He is just a handsome young man, exuding youthful spirit all over his body.

I often received your battle reports in Osaka. Even in the desperate situation, I still didn’t look like a traitor surrendering. I swam around Chikuzen and Chikugo and fought. I heard that the results were quite good. You created achievements that don’t match your grade. what.

When you are free, you must tell me about your detailed experience of fighting in Chikuqian. "

"Yes" Although this was Tachibana Muneshige's second meeting with Hideyoshi, but as an independent daimyo, it was the first time he was summoned by Hideyoshi, so he seemed a bit embarrassed.

Fortunately, Hideyoshi reminded him in advance to behave like a courtier to Hideyoshi. This move also made Hideyoshi love him even more, and he couldn't help but praised him, "It's really worthy of the title of 'Wisdom of the West'."

As soon as Xiujia's words fell, Xiujia sensed the gazes from around him. Thinking carefully about this hall, counting himself, Takakage Kobayakawa, and Munemo Tachibana, there are already three "Wisdom of the West".

If Naoshima Naoshima and Shimadzu Yoshihiro are counted after the Kyushu War is over, there may be a scene where five "Nishikoku Warriors" gather together.

(As we all know, Xiguo Wushuang, it is normal for Wushuang to lose 5 places.)
"I also heard that you and your younger brother inherited the Tachibana and Takahashi families respectively. Later, your younger brother refused to surrender even after being captured by the Shimadzu family. ?”

Although Hideyoshi is in Osaka, he knows everything about major events in Kyushu. In fact, the story of Munemo Tachibana returning to his younger brother Takahashi Tozeng after traveling thousands of miles was deliberately spread by Hideo, and it became a good story among brothers in Kyushu. No wonder Hideyoshi knew about this.

Hideyoshi asked the audience again, "Is your younger brother in the Kokura Castle evaluation room today as the daimyo of the Takahashi family?"

Hearing Hideyoshi calling him, Takahashi Tōsō, who had changed his name to Harada Tōsō, came out from the seats, sat behind Tachibana Muneshige and saluted and said, "Foreign Minister Harada Tōsō, I have met His Highness Kanbai."

Hideyoshi froze for a moment when he heard Harada Tozeng's address, and asked with some doubts, "A foreign minister? Harada? Both the Takahashi family and the Tachibana family are my retainers. Why do you call yourself a foreign minister without using Takahashi's Miao character name?" Own?"

It was the first time that Harada Tosou participated in such a big scene. In the past, he participated in the discussion of politics in his father's small court. Now he was suddenly asked by Hideyoshi, and he was suddenly at a loss for words to answer.

Tachibana Muneshige, who was beside him, replied to the Hide family, "During the attack on the Shimadzu family, in order to pursue Shimadzu's defeated army as soon as possible, I made up my own mind so that its original owner Harada Nobuzuke would be seppuku, and his younger brother would be killed." Following Harada's condition, in exchange for the Kaesong of Songbird City."

After Hideyoshi heard Tachibana Muneshige's answer, he asked him to detail the future. Of course, in his mouth, persuading Songbird Castle to surrender was his own decision and had nothing to do with Hideyoshi.

After listening to his statement, Hideyoshi turned to look at Hideo, wanting to confirm the matter from Hideo.

After being confirmed by the Hide family, Hideyoshi asked Tachibana Zongshige again, "Since the Harada family is going to surrender quickly and get out of the way, why do they have to ask their patriarch to cut seppuku? Isn't this contradictory?"

Hideyoshi asked Tachibana Zongshige the answers to these questions a long time ago. When Hideyoshi asked today, Tachibana Zongshige talked politely, "Because the Harada clan is a daimyo who departed from Otomo's family, it was a disaster in the Shima and Yito counties of the Chikuzen country. It has been a while. There has been injustice done to the people.

Later, he joined Akizuki's army and fought against my father. The main force of the attack in the Battle of Iwaya Castle was responsible for my father's death.There is a grudge against me.

As far as the world is concerned, after receiving His Royal Highness Guanbai's order, he is still obsessed with obsession, and he fights with the rebellious leader Shimadzu Yoshihisa, and has the behavior of resisting the heavenly soldiers.

To sum up, I have to punish the Yuantian family both publicly and privately. If such a family can be put down gently, then what is the prestige of His Highness Guan Bai?
Although the Harada family is guilty, the Ashgaru who follow him are innocent, so I let Harada Nobuzuke perform seppuku to save the lives of the entire city.

Please His Highness Guan Bai allow me to mix my little selfishness in it, and ask for revenge, I use your name to ask the Patriarch of the Harada family to apologize. "

Tachibana Zongshige's words were watertight, and he focused on the fact that the Harada family was responsible for the disaster and resisted Hideyoshi's order, choosing to fight against Hideyoshi.Although I have enmity with the Harada family, it's just incidental.

Hideyoshi was very comfortable with what he said, and nodded his approval, and then asked, "If that's the case, why did you let your younger brother succeed the Harada family afterwards?"

Tachibana Muneshige continued to answer, "Because the Harada family's heirs are withered, the former head of the family, Harada Takane, is 72 years old, and all his children have died. The original head of the family, Harada Nobuchi, was his adopted son from his retainers.

Let Harada Xinzhong commit suicide to punish the Harada clan, and let the world know the fate of resisting His Highness Guan Bai.

However, he couldn't bear the thought that the Harada clan of Chikuzen aristocrats would be extinct, and Harada's former patriarch, Harada Takamune, sincerely attached himself to His Highness, but Harada Nobumune took control of the family affairs and couldn't make things right.

Now that the bandit leader has been removed and the Harada family has sincerely repented, why not give them a chance.Under the plea of ​​the old patriarch Takashi Harada, he agreed to adopt his younger brother to them. "

At this time, Harada Tosou, who was sitting on the side, also said, "My father once said that Takahashi and Tachibana are originally one, and they will never be separated.

When my elder brother adopted me to the Harada family, I was very reluctant, and even said that I would not go even if my knowledge and behavior were doubled.

But later, my elder brother was moved with emotion and reason, and let me understand his situation at that time. In order to kill the Shimadzu family as much as possible, and for the great cause of His Highness Guan Bai, these sacrifices are nothing. "

Hearing the conversation between the two brothers, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was elated, and said to the two of them, "In this case, you will inherit the Harada clan and continue to assist your elder brother. The two surnames Tachibana and Takahashi will never leave, and you will have children in the future." Naturally, you can go back and inherit it.”

When Hideyoshi said this, it was equivalent to tacitly acquiescing that Tachibana Muneshige and Harada Tozeng jointly inherited the territory and knowledge of the Takahashi family. As for how to divide it in the end, it was up to the two brothers.

At the same time, Hideyoshi also acquiesced in the fact that his younger brother Takahashi Tomosuke joined the Harada family and inherited the territory of the Harada family. So far, the matter was completely within the planning of the Hideka family.

But the sentence asking him to "continue to assist his elder brother Tachibana Zongshige" made the Xiu family uncertain.

It's not that this sentence is so difficult to understand. In fact, if it is taken literally, this sentence is to hand him over to Tachibana Zongshige as a retainer.

But you must know that Harada is the territory of 6/7 Wanshi on the right, which is about the same as the Tachibana + Takahashi collar inherited by Tachibana Zongshige. Which family name will have such a dual pattern, the Zong family and its relatives are the same How about knowing and doing?

For Hideyoshi, the name of 7 koku is not too small, and it must be under his command, and he did not personally promise his status as an "accompanying minister" like Naoe Kanetsugu.

Therefore, in the view of the Hide family, it is very likely that the younger brother Harada Tozeng was made the daimyo under Hideyoshi, but became Tachibana Muneshige's power.

Of course, the specific arrangement depends on how the official document after the military discussion defines the relationship between the two.

(End of this chapter)