Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 395 What is justice?

Facing Hideyoshi's solicitation and offering a reward of 15 koku, Naoe Kanesuke still refused, "Thank you, His Highness Kanbaku, for your favor, but unfortunately, my answer is still the same as last time, I will not leave me My lord."

Naoe Kentsugu still rejected Hideyoshi in the face of 15 koku, Hideyo was not surprised.

After all, since the 11th year of Tensho (1583), due to the geographical influence on the Niigata area and the problem of long-distance grain transportation, Naoe Kanesuke has been the chief manager of the Niigata area.

Digging of tributaries, dredging of river channels, reinforcement of river banks, etc. began in the Shinano River, Agano River, and Shinkawa, where the water potential is uncertain. At the same time, relying on these rivers, irrigation ditches were dug here, laying the foundation for the current Niigata Plain.

Naoe Kanetsugu used water conservancy to carry out farm farming in the Niigata Plain, which made the Uesugi family gradually change the military rations needed for the attack on Shibata Castle from Kasugama to local supply since 1585.

Naoe Kanetsugu, who is mainly engaged in this strategy, is obviously very aware of the development potential of Niigata. As long as this land is developed properly, Echigo will definitely become the granary of northern Japan, greatly enhancing the power of the Uesugi family. How could he lose the reward?

But other people don't know the doorway inside, so they don't understand his refusal to add 15 stones as a reward, and they feel that Naoe Kentsugu is very loyal and refuses the opportunity to become half of his original owner's strength.

Therefore, one after another praised Naoe Kanetsugu's reputation of loyalty in court, and even Hideyoshi praised him, and asked Toyotomi Hidecho to read another award certificate that had been prepared.

From this little action, it can be seen that Hideyoshi made two-handed preparations for Naoe Kanetsugu. Now that Naoe Kanetsugu is unwilling to become his direct minister, what was written in the relevant award will probably remain a secret forever.

In this certificate of reward for reading, Hideyoshi praised him for his contribution to assisting Uesugi Kagekatsu, stabilized the situation in the Uesugi family, and formally bestowed on him the official position of the five Kamiyama Castle Guards (raised by half a rank), and bestowed upon him Toyoshi The surname of the courtiers is Yuchai Miao, and the Wusantong pattern is specially given.

The strength of this reward surprised even Hideyoshi, and even felt for a moment that Uesugi Kagekatsu and Naoe Kanetsugu were Hideyoshi's real sons.

For Naoe Kanetsugu and Uesugi Kekatsu, they won such an honor without being asked to transfer their titles. This trip to Kyoto really made a lot of money.

After leading the two to award, Hideyoshi continued to say to the two, "I specially built this Juledi, and it will be a place for me to rule the world in the future. The daimyos have enjoyed it with me for the past few days." .

It just so happens that Yu Yiwan and Kyoko's wedding will happen in a few days. The daimyos are planning to congratulate the couple here before leaving. Why don't you just stay here for a few more days and go back after drinking the wedding wine. "

"Ha~Kayi" Facing Hideyoshi's reasonable request, Uesugi Jingsheng naturally had no reason to refuse. During his last trip to Echu, he knew the news that Tokugawa Ieyasu's second son was going to marry the Hideka.

Both of them are among the best daimyos in the world. Although they had just ceased fighting with the Tokugawa family in Shinano not long ago, Uesugi Jingsheng wanted to save face no matter what he said.

After that, he turned his head to look at Ogasawara Hideyoshi and said, "It's just that I came from Echigo far away. I haven't heard of this before, and I didn't bring a gift to Matsumoto's attendant. You and my family are not far away. When I return to Echigo, I will Here is your wedding present."

Hearing that Uesugi Jingsheng was embarrassed because he didn't prepare a gift, Hideyoshi said in relief, "Hahahaha, you are not the only one who just got the news, even their brother Hachiro rushed to prepare a gift last month.

But if you go back to Echigo, you have to prepare double gifts, because the wedding of our Hachiro and Xiaoju will be held at the end of the year. "

As a very important member of Toyotomi's vassal system, the Xiu family immediately attracted the attention of the palace when the news of his upcoming marriage was announced by Hideyoshi.

Even Uesugi Kagekatsu and Mori Terumoto, who used to have a straight face and no expression, congratulated Hideyoshi with a smile and said, "Then we are here to congratulate General Toyotomi on his newlyweds in advance."

Taking advantage of the hot environment in the hall, Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued, "I was also very happy when I heard the news, and as a father, I couldn't say nothing.

I originally wanted to reward them when they got married, but now that everyone is so enthusiastic, I simply joined forces again and rewarded the Okayama clan with 3 kan to prepare for the wedding ceremony. "

After finishing speaking, Hideyoshi pondered for a moment, especially not enough, as if something was missing, he looked at Xiujia and continued, "When Hachiro takes Juji at the end of the year, how can we do without a corresponding identity? Wusan Tongwen How do you deserve to marry the daughter of my high-ranking Toyotomi family?

I will ask the emperor to bestow the five-seven paulownia pattern on the Toyotomi family of Okayama as a show of honor. At that time, you can wear the five-seven paulownia pattern that is exclusive to you, and marry Xiaoju back home in a glorious manner! "

As mentioned above more than once, the paulownia patterns bestowed in ancient Japan are divided into two types: those bestowed on individuals and families. Those bestowed on individuals can only be used by you alone, which is equivalent to a pattern of your own special identity.

What is bestowed on the family is equivalent to opening a new family crest for the family, and the recipient will make detailed changes on the family crest, which will eventually be passed on from generation to generation as a new family crest.

And what the Xiu family got today belongs to this kind.

In this regard, it is much better than the Wuqitong pattern that Hideyoshi bestowed on Uesugi Jingsheng personally.

After hearing that Jingsheng Uesugi was bestowed with the Wuqitong pattern, Xiujia was mentally prepared that he would also be bestowed soon, but he didn't expect that with such an excuse, Xiujia would get Ju Ji's favor instead.

After the evaluation was over, Hideyoshi couldn't wait to take Uesugi Jingsheng to play with this big toy designed by himself, just like he took Uesugi Jingsheng to play in Osaka two years ago.

Hideyoshi has been pulling Uesugi Jingsheng, wanting to hear information about Tohoku and Kanto from his mouth. Hideyoshi has no chance to get close to Uesugi Jingsheng. As for what they talked about, it is beyond Hideyoshi's ability to find out.

The "Sanshiro Guardian" finally seized an opportunity, when Xiujia and Jing Sheng's close minister Naoe Kanezuri were alone, Xiujia decisively stopped his name.

Naoe Kanezuri stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look at Hideka and asked strangely, "Is Your Highness calling me?"

Xiujia nodded and said, "If you have time, let's walk around."

Hearing Hideka's invitation, Naoe Kanetsugu had no reason to refuse, and took two steps forward to catch up with Hideka.

Naoe Kanesuke took half a step from Xiuxiu's house, and the two walked almost side by side, Xiujia said, "To tell you the truth, this is the first time I have visited this Jule Building, and my father repaired it too gorgeously. If you get lost, don't blame me."

Hearing Hideka's politeness, Naoe Kanesuke smiled and sighed, "It's indeed much more prosperous than Kasuga Mountain Castle, Kinki and West Country are just as rich."

Hearing Naoe Kanetsugu's exclamation, Hideka also said, "That's right, that's why father is the one who can end the troubled times and calm the world. After all, the war is not long after all, is it money?"

Regarding Hideka's answer, Naoe Kanetsugu smiled noncommittally, and replied, "The outcome of a war is not necessarily determined by money, but also by the loyalty of the samurai and the hearts of the people. After all, war is a war where the just wins. "

Hideya knows that Naoe Kanezuri worships Uesugi Kenshin, but in Hideya’s view, he believes in Uesugi Kenshin must be a belief. As a manager who works on the front line, and even the elder in charge of the Uesugi family’s economy, he should belong to the Realistic samurai.

Therefore, after hearing the answer given by Naoe Kanetsugu, Hideka dared to ask strangely, "Is that so? So, the reason why Uesugi Councilor was able to defeat his brother and Shibata Shigee was because he took the righteousness. name?"

Facing Hideka's inquiry, Naoe Kanetsugu replied proudly, "Of course, it is precisely because justice is on my patriarch's side, and he guessed that he was protected by Bishamonten, that he was able to defeat Uesugi Kagetora and Shinbata Shige successively." The rebellion of the family and others."

"So what about the Battle of Shinano last year? This is the territory that His Highness Kanbai handed over to Tokugawaden. Why did the Uesugi family get involved?
For the Uesugi family, Uesugi Jinghu and Shibata Shige's family were rebellious, so they won the crusade.

The Sanada family rebelled first, isn't it a rebellion for the Tokugawa family?
The Uesugi family helped the rebels resist the righteous crusade of the Tokugawa family. Is this what you call the way of justice?If so, it is no wonder that the Uesugi family did not win in the end. "

Hideka's question was very sharp, and Naoe Kanatsugu didn't think that Hideka called him once to question him, so he didn't give an answer for a while.

And the Hide family's question continues, "Sado, Aizu, and Shonai are all very close to Echigo. If one day the Uesugi family attacks these territories, is it because of righteousness?"

Faced with Hideka's questioning, Naoe Kanatsugu was forced to roar angrily: "Of course! It must be! The Uesugi family will always abide by righteousness!"

Naoe Kanetsugu got angry suddenly, which startled Hideka.Naoe Kanetsugu soon realized his rudeness, bowed to Xiujia and apologized, "I'm really sorry, I was the one who was rude."

Although there is, he bid farewell to the Xiu family and said, "I still have things to deal with, please allow me to leave."

According to the situation in the past, the Xiu family has already hated the other party, so they should not stop him, and even apologize to make up for their mistakes.

But Hideka grabbed Naoe Kanetsugu's hand and said, "Yamashiro Mamoru, we haven't finished talking yet. Please feel free to enlighten me on some topics."

Facing Hideka's rudeness, Naoe Kanatsugu frowned. He really didn't think why Hideka would be so rude.

But after all, he is Toyotomi's surname, and he has a famous name to rely on in military exploits. He is not something that he or even the Uesugi family can afford, so he temporarily stops and waits for the next question from the Hide family.

"If it is true that according to Yamashiro Mori's words, the Uesugi Council has always held righteousness, then why did Uesugi Kagetora block him in Kasugayama Castle in the first place?
And why use gold and silver to seek help from the Takeda family? Is the justice corrupted by gold and silver still justice? "

"that is because."

Naoe Kanetsugu wanted to defend, but Hideka interrupted, "Please let me finish, Yamashiro Mamoru."

"Yamashiro Mamoru, if justice has always been on the side of the Uesugi family, why did you deal with the rebel Shibata Shigee so hard at first?

As far as I know, due to the geographical reasons of the Niigata area, and the long distance to transport grain from Mount Kasuga, you will not be able to suppress the rebellion in Shibata.

In the end, it was under your operation that you directly built water conservancy projects in the Niigata area and opened up new fields so that the army could get food nearby, so you quickly suppressed Shigeka in the Niigata area within a year, right?

From the very beginning, you refused to admit that the outcome of the left-right war was the result of the war, and you have been holding the banner of justice. Why did the Uesugi family change their strategy and win the battle because of the money and grain offensive? "

Facing Hideka's offensive of questions, Naoe Kanesuke answered ironically, "It was not won under the offensive of money, it was us who grasped the righteousness, and the victory was always in our hands, but we used a method to achieve it in the end." That's all!"

But Xiujia retorted, "If it is really justice, neither Uesugi Jinghu nor Shibata Shigee will betray. If it is really because justice is in hand, the Uesugi family will not be delayed because of these two rebellions. A full 10 years!"

Hideka's questioning has touched Naoe Kanetsugu's most deeply rooted beliefs.

Yes, as Hideo asked, if the so-called righteousness really exists, why did the Uesugi family waste 10 years on it.

In 10 years, the power of the Uesugi family has regressed so much that the Uesugi family has completely lost the opportunity to compete for world hegemony.

Even the Kanto, which Kenshin has been longing for, has fallen under the hoof of the Hojo family. Where are the former allies now?

Throughout the entire Kanto, only the Satake family in Hitachi is still struggling to support it. The former ministers of the humerus, Ota and Urana, bowed their knees under the pressure of the Hojo family and begged for the continuation of the family name.

yeah, why?Why did the Uesugi family suffer such pain? If the Bishamen naively sheltered the Uesugi family, why did they use such torture to interrupt the Uesugi family's fortune?
"It...it just came a bit late. This may be the experience Bishamonten gave us."

Naoe Kanetsugu, whose heart has been shaken, gave an uncertain answer.

No, it should be said that this answer was the one he had used to anesthetize himself, but when he said it from his mouth again today, even he couldn't accept it.

Facing this ambiguous answer, Xiujia refuted it face to face, "Nonsense! Does justice that is delayed deserve to be called justice?

If justice is truly on your side, you should all win along the way.Instead of falling into a defeat in the early stage, it turned defeat into victory after some twists and turns.

This kind of justice is just a back and forth between the two sides. What is the difference between this kind of justice and those wealthy families who are sitting on the fence?How can such a majestic and upright word as justice have an official in its name? "

Naoe Kanatsugu was questioned by the Xiu family, and he asked the Xiu family back, "You and me. Then tell me, what is justice?"

For this question, Xiujia already had an answer in his mind, and Xiujia said to him, "Justice is the human heart, and justice is the economy. When the two are combined into one, there is no possibility of defeat."

"People's hearts? Economy?" Naoe Kanetsugu obviously didn't expect Hideka to give such an answer. Isn't this exactly what he said at first, why did he go around and go back after being scolded?

"The so-called human heart is the heart of all the people in the world. If you win the heart of the people, you will have endless soldiers to supplement you. If you have the heart of a warrior, you will have the perseverance of the backbone of the army. If you have the heart of a king, you will have the pretext for attacking. The soldiers are weak.

The same is true of the so-called economy. If the people are rich, if the treasury is full, the war preparations will last for a long time. If the money and food are sufficient, the soldiers will be prosperous.

The hearts of the people, the hearts of servants, the hearts of the emperor, the hearts of the enemies, and the interests of the economy, the unity of none is justice, and there is no possibility of failure. 5 If all are achieved, righteousness will come, if one is missing, righteousness will be too late, and if there are many, the game will be defeated. "

"The heart of the people? The heart of service? The heart of the king? The heart of the enemy? Economic benefits?"

Naoe Kanezaku carefully commented on Hideyoshi's words, and felt that it was somewhat the same as his own cognition, but it was not the same when he thought about it carefully. The righteousness he thought was only the hearts of the people and the samurai, while Hideyoshi added the king and the enemy. .

My own understanding of the economy is just money and food, not as deep as Xiujia's understanding.

Naoe Kanezuka looked at Hideka, and he couldn't help muttering in his heart: Is this the way of the Yuki family's constant victory?
(End of this chapter)