Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 41

Due to Hideka's obsession with Ishikawa Goemon, he decided to stay in Azuchi for a while, but after three consecutive days of exploration by Kansuke and Sabei, there was no news, even though Hideka was more curious about Iga Ninjutsu, he could only temporarily put his heart down Unwilling.

In fact, after being urged many times by Hanabang Masako, the Xiu family finally decided to leave Hashiba’s mansion early the next morning. Since they needed to leave early the next morning and hoped to spend the night directly in Kyoto, the Xiu family could only meet Mrs. Ah Zhong one night in advance. Go to bed early after saying goodbye.

In the middle of the night, Xiujia suddenly felt some water dripping from the ceiling. Xiujia touched his face and opened his eyes. A fat man like a bear was hanging on the eaves, staring at Xiujia with moonlight eyes.

Xiujia first decided that death was so close, he even decided that as long as he moved himself, his journey in the Warring States Period would probably end.

The Xiu family didn't know how long the two confronted each other. Someone came down from the roof and sat down opposite the Xiu family.Xiujia also sat up from the bed and met his eyes.

"I heard that you are looking for me, Ukita Bizenmori-sama." The visitor finally said, "I am the Ishikawa Goemon you are looking for."

"We met, do you still remember?" Hideka didn't answer directly, but got close to Ishikawa Goemon without confirming his intention of coming.

"If you say it was when you pulled the door out that night, then it counts."

"What do you think about me?"

"What did you say, how are you doing?" Hideka asked aimlessly, but instead made Ishikawa Goemon dizzy.

"What about me? Are you interested in being my retainer? I'm willing to use 200 shi to recruit you." Hideka originally prepared a lot of flattering words without saying anything, and directly proposed to Ishikawa Goemon to recruit him. .

Hideka's directness was clearly beyond Ishikawa Goemon's expectations, and he who was originally serious became a little dumbfounded and said, "200 shi, do you mean to be a samurai?"

"Well, as far as I know, your father was also a samurai. You must also hope to restore your family name, so you can be my retainer." The Xiu family continued to suggest.

Ishikawa Goemon considered for a while but refused in words, "I'm sorry, Bizen-sama, I might have accepted your invitation before, but now I have a higher ideal to fulfill after experiencing all kinds of things in the world."

"Is your ideal to steal other people's things and distribute them to civilians?" Xiu Jiafa asked
"The lords of the blood-sucking bugs, who are ordinary people, have the nerve to expropriate the labor income from the people for their own selfish desires. What I did was just to redeem them for a little drunkenness."

When Hideka heard this, he did not expect that in Japan in the 16th century, he was still a zero-proletarian warrior. Ishikawa Goemon's thoughts had crossed this era so much that Hideka didn't know what to do next. to answer the call.

Seeing that the Hide family didn't reply, Ishikawa Goemon continued, "You who have been pampered since you were a child, how could you understand the meaning of it? Let's take the recent one as an example. The Iga people didn't mess up the Oda family, they just hope that they can exist independently like in the past. Forget it, the leaders just hope to live well, who would have thought that the Demon King would give the order to wipe out Iga for his private wish of distributing martial arts in the world."

The origin of Iga Zen's reduction order mentioned by Goemon Ishikawa is a long story.

When Nobunaga was in Shangluo, he encountered an iron cannon sniper from the Iga ninja Yazaemon [-] meters away. Fortunately, he was not hit, but since then, the stubborn Iga has become a thorn in Nobunaga's side.

After Nobunaga established his residence in Azuchi, Iga became the only neighboring country that did not surrender.In fact, since the Onin Rebellion, Iga has started a self-governing alliance, and even the Omi Hero Rokkaku family is only a part of the family that can dominate Koga and Iga.

After Nobunaga went to the hegemony in Kinai, Iga quickly expressed his respect to Nobunaga, but he didn't agree to be fully included in Nobunaga's jurisdiction and accept the transfer. In Nobunaga's view, this is treason!
In the seventh year of Tianzheng (1579), Nobunaga's son Oda Nobuo led a team of about 1 people in order to please his father. The troops were divided into two groups and broke into Iga from Nazhangkou and Manokou.

Iga has made full preparations. Under the command of Santai Hyakuchi, Iga's ninja army cleverly avoided confronting Nobuo's troops head-on. The army launched a raid.

On the road and in the mountains, Iga ninjas appeared and disappeared. In just one day, Nobuo was hit head-on by Iga in the mountain battle, and lost more than half of it.

Although this operation was Oda Nobuo's private march, the disobedience of the Iga people was like a slap in the face of Nobunaga. Nobunaga temporarily stood still because he had to face the threat of Ishiyama Honganji and Mori. Let Yi Hezhong relax his vigilance.

After Ishiyama Honganji Kaesong and Mori were repulsed by Hashiba Hideyoshi in Xiguo, Nobunaga, who had freed up his hands, went off to wipe out the Iga crowd in person, and even gave the order to "reduce all Iga".

Oda's army of more than 4 people, led by Oda Nobunaga himself, led Niwa Nagahide, Takikawa Kazuyoshi, Gamo Ujigo, Asano Nagamasa and other brave generals to attack Iga in five groups.Oda Nobuo also led about 13000 people to participate.

Iga is a country with a total territory of less than 10 shi, a population of about [-], and a total force of no more than [-].Under such circumstances, Iga seems to have been cornered, and the only option is to fight to the death.The Iga people, regardless of men, women, young or old, or monks and ninjas, all fought fiercely with the Oda army.

Of course, the Oda Army did not drive out all the Iga people in the end, but Iga still suffered a devastating blow after all. As the core of the leadership, the "Mikami Shinobi", except for the Hattori family who had left Iga long ago, and the Hyakuchi of the other two The third husband died in battle, and Fujibayashi Yatoyo disappeared.The ninja's self-governing alliance was also destroyed, and most ninjas had to go into exile.

Hideka very much hoped that he could bring Ishikawa Goemon under his command through words, but he was even more afraid that if he said something unfavorable to Nobunaga at this moment, it would spread throughout Azuchi the next day under the operation of someone with a heart, and he might leave. He was cut off by Nobunaga without leaving Antu.

Just as he was considering how to persuade Hideie of Ishikawa Goemon to think, Ishikawa Goemon took the initiative to say, "I knew you would be like this. As the lord of a country, you also think Iga is rebellious."

After holding back for a long time, Xiujia finally replied, "Everyone has his own choice. Once the choice is compared with others, there will be conflicts. There is no right or wrong in it. Instead of living in the hatred and pain of the past, it is better to think about it. Think about what to do in the future."

Ishikawa Goemon didn't expect Hideka to give such an answer, thought for a while and said, "You have a point. Oh, it's really troublesome. 200 koku is really attractive. If it's Sannojo, maybe he will accept it."

"Goemon, I still hope that you can accept my proposal. What you are doing now may save a few people. Even you yourself can only live in hiding. Why don't you save the world with me." Jia tried to make the last effort, exuding the so-called "dominant spirit" in the novel and said (really stupid C died).

"It's too far away to save the world, but what you said is right. Many of my companions follow me and live in hiding. I am so sorry for them." Ishikawa Goemon shook his head. head said

"I won't go. If you are willing to accept part of my Iga people, I will be grateful." After saying that, Ishikawa Goemon saluted Hideka.

"Are you really not coming? We are going back tomorrow." Xiujia was about to make the final struggle.

"I won't go, I'm so famous now, if I go, everyone will be troubled"

Hideka clearly saw the helplessness on Ishikawa Goemon's face, and understood that he had entrusted his family to the Hideka, so he could only nod his head and say, "Don't worry, I will take good care of them."

Ishikawa Goemon smiled at Hideo, bowed to Hideo here and stepped back, Hideka knew at this time that Kansuke and Sabei, who were ninja attendants, hadn't noticed that anyone had come to Hideo's house, For the first time, Xiujia had the idea of ​​​​replacing the two of them, and at the same time had doubts about Gao Yuxijia's ninja ability.

Early the next morning, Hideo returned from Azuchi with the Banner team, but the return team was much larger than before, and most of them were Iga, dressed as businessmen, who followed Hideo back.

In the evening of the same day, the team of more than 1000 people finally came to Kyoto under the curfew. As usual, Murai Sadakatsu arranged the Xiu family to repair at Kiyomizu Temple, and the accompanying merchants were resettled nearby.

Since it was too late to enter Kyoto, the Hide family was about to rest after a simple wash. Suddenly, they received a notification from the samurai guarding the gate that a businessman named Sanzhicheng asked to see him.

The Xiu family received the businessman at the Buddhist hall where they stayed.

"I'm the third prime minister of Zatsuzhi, and I met His Royal Highness Ukita Bizen."

"Tsuge Sanzhicheng? Igazhong? Why did you come here?" Hearing Tsusue Sanzhicheng's self-reported family name, Kenjiro was afraid that the person coming would be detrimental to the Hide family, so he hurriedly put the Hide family behind him and scolded, "I can help you, Zuo Bing guard!".

Kansuke and Sabei who heard the exchange entered the Buddhist hall from the back of the house and blocked Tsusue Sanzhicheng, but what they did was like a one-man show, and Sanzhicheng sitting at the door did not respond.

"Normal heart, normal heart, Kenjiro" Hideka who was behind everyone comforted Kenjiro.Then he said to Tsusaki Sanzhicheng.

"Are you the leader of this Iga crowd?"

"romper"

"Did Ishikawa Yoshiemon tell you all when he went back?"

"Saemon said that His Highness is a daimyo who can be entrusted to. We all trust the judgment of Saemon."

"Well, I once promised Ishikawa Goemon 200 stones to Zhixing, but he refused. Now that you are their leader, as long as you work for me, I will reward you with 200 stones from Bizen Makiyama. My vassals are serving, and the surrounding territory is used to house the Iga people."

"My lord?" "Hall?"

Hideka's decision can be said to be an unprecedented decision. There has never been a daimyo who would accept Ninja Tomoyuki as a retainer. Hideka's decision surprised Kenjiro a little.

The reason why Kansuke and Sabei were surprised was that the Hide family actually wanted to take in Iga even though they already had their own ninja army.

Hideka ignored them and continued to say, "Back to Bichu, the Iga people changed their name to the Mushan people and existed independently. As a supplement to the ninja army of our family, Sanzhicheng is directly responsible to me."

"Ha Yi, Sanzhicheng is taking orders."

After Tsusaki Sanzhicheng retired, Hideka said seriously to Kansuke and Sahei, "Yesterday in Azuchi, Ishikawa Goemon entered my house. Did you two find out? Why didn't you come to protect me immediately? What if he came to assassinate me."

Hideo's words shocked the three people in the house. Kenjiro looked at Hideo and then at Kansuke and Sabei. He couldn't believe that the two personal ninjas could let unknown ninjas come into the lord's house until they left. Unaware.

Kansuke and Sabei fell into shame after a brief shock, Kansuke bowed to Hideka and said, "It was my negligence, and I am willing to apologize with death." "Sabei is also willing to apologize with death."

Hideka has never understood why the Japanese have to apologize for their sins at every turn. For Hideka, who made a mistake and didn't want to make up for it but died, it was a kind of evasive behavior.

"Can I apologize after I die? Remember, you two owe me your life. I want you to learn ninjutsu from Iga, so that you can work better for your family in the future." Xiujia sternly refuted the two the opinion of.

Although the two couldn't understand why Xiujia refused their suicide, they agreed to the fact that they owed Xiujia their life for the time being. Even though learning ninjutsu from Yihezhong would refute their face, they still agreed.

After dealing with Ukita Ninja, Xiujia can finally rest after a tiring day. What Xiujia didn't know was that there was a strange thing waiting for him the next day.

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Off topic

I'm afraid that many people don't understand why Xiujia didn't recruit Ishikawa Goemon, and simply explained here that every character written by the author will analyze his character according to historical records.

In some novels, the protagonist is full of domineering spirit, accepting people when he sees people, and accepting ghosts when he sees ghosts. In the author's writing, the other supporting characters are not brainless tool people, but people with flesh and blood.

When writing the plot of Keijiro, the author also tried to write the dialogue as close as possible to the historical evaluation of him.

Writing today, Ishikawa Saeemon also clearly knows that this person cannot be recruited under his command. If he can use this to recruit some of the Iga people, it will help improve the situation of Ukido's ninja army.

(End of this chapter)