Prime Minister Bizen

Toyotomi Hideji's coming again is naturally because of the marriage between Hideaki and Zhen Ji, which aroused Hideji's concern, and the seed of dissatisfaction in his heart was deeply planted and germinated.

But he doesn't have the strength and confidence, the most important thing is because of Xiuci's indecisive character, he has been unable to make a decision on the matter of raising troops.

The Xiu family was almost frightened by Xiuci, and thought, "Why do you want to discuss with me about such a big matter as rebellion? The most important thing is that the Xiu family has no evidence now. It doesn't matter if the Xiu family reports on Xiuci, or it doesn't matter if they don't report on Xiuci .”

From Xiujia's point of view, the restlessness in Xiuci's heart has actually sprouted.The reason why he hasn't made up his mind is that firstly, he is not strong enough, and secondly, that Hideyoshi's treatment and offense to him so far has only scratched the surface, and has not touched his vitals.

If Hideyoshi really provoked him, why would Hideji need to come to Hideyoshi to discuss, since he could run back to Gifu to raise troops after unlocking the closed door.

In essence, it is due to Xiuci's personal character, and the historical results have already doomed his ending.

Not to mention that Xiuji's retainers were all given to him by the Xiu family, so he had no capital to resist when faced with Hideyoshi's request to hand over Guanbai's power.

There are still three nails on the wreck. Don’t forget Shigao who owned a million stones in history. Aren’t those elders and vassals who were ordered to cut seppuku his confidantes?

Moreover, Hideyoshi's territory was in Omi, just one mountain away from Fushimi Castle, Hideyoshi's residence at that time, and Hideyoshi was in Kyoto at that time, holding the emperor in his hands, and he had the name of Guan Bai, and had the right to rule the world in name .

If he really had the heart to struggle, he wouldn't be as helpless as in history.

So this was also the reason why the Xiu family was unwilling to get involved with him.

Since ancient times, the road of raising troops has been a dead end that cannot be turned back. It is impossible for someone like Xiuci who is still timid about whether to rise up to succeed. Xiujia is not willing to use his own hand to play with him.

Of course, although the promise was not obtained, Xiujia kept telling him that he would never intervene, and that he would support him when the big event was decided.

As time passed, Xiujia, Xiuzhen and others had to go to Gifu to lead the army via Omi and Wakasa to Tango and take a boat to North Korea.

Originally, the journey was only 5 to 6 days, and Hideka traveled for 10 days. After arriving at Tango Maizuru Port, Hideka stopped in Tango for several days on the grounds of insufficient ships.

The reason why the Hide family is procrastinating is because they are waiting for news from Gifu and Kyoto. Regardless of whether Hideji's momentum can be achieved or not, if the Toyotomi family can be messed up, the Hide family will have a chance to fish in troubled waters.

But it's just fishing in troubled waters.

Because the Hide family didn't think that Hideji would be successful from the beginning, he might be able to use Hideji's head to stabilize his position in the Toyotomi family, and at the same time use Hideji's head to attack Toyotomi Hideyoshi's authority.

Of course, if Hideji suddenly possesses a Saiyan and hits Kyoto, his 3 army in Tango can just play the role of Qin Wang, killing Hideji first, and then detaining Hideyoshi and Hideaki.

But it is a pity that after waiting in Wuzuru for several days, what I waited for was the news that Toyotomi Hideji was ordered to go to Nagoya in Kyushu to sit in town.

After hearing the news, Xiujia couldn't help laughing anymore. It really is "a scholar who rebelled and failed in three years." Fortunately, he had a clear mind at the beginning and he didn't stir up the fire in his heart with a few mouthfuls.

The Xiu family who heard the news summoned Xiuzhen and told him the latest situation of Xiuci.

After hearing this, Xiuzhen was afraid again and again, so she blurted out, "Hey, everyone is not a good thing, as much as you talk, you will be as cowardly as you are."

But this is acceptable, after all, Hideyoshi is not ready to replace Hideyoshi at this moment.

And because of Hideyoshi's strength in the past two years, in fact, Hideyoshi has gradually lost contact with many daimyos. If Hideyoshi suddenly replaces them as the people of the world, Hideyoshi may have to face left and right as if they were sitting on the heat. The "True Qin King Army" like a tide.

The Hide family spent many days in Wuzuru waiting for the news of Hideji. This place is not far from Miyazu, the home city of the Hosokawa family. Naturally, the Hide family will not let go of such a famous name with whom they are married.

Coincidentally, in the last Korean War, Hosokawa Tadakashi's troops followed Toyotomi Hideji's team, and they performed more prominently in the first battle of Wangjing.

In addition, in the second half of the war, due to the blockade of Tsushima Island, Tango Maizuru Port has always been used as a backup port for Japan, directly transporting materials to Hamgyong Road, ensuring that the Japanese troops in Hamgyong, Gangwon, and Wangjing Road basically logistics supply.

In fact, according to the standard of military merit evaluation, the Hosokawa family's contribution to ensuring logistics in the second half of the war should be rated as superior and awarded. The reward of 500 taels of silver was sent away.

The reward of 500 silver is not even as good as the Hosokawa family's consumption of money, people, and effort.

Unexpectedly, after two years of peace, Hideyoshi ordered the Northern Expedition to North Korea again, and the Tango Hosokawa family and Maizuruoka, who performed relatively well in the last Korean War, were named by Hideyoshi to undertake the logistics transfer task.

The most important thing is that this task was provided to Hideyoshi for free by the Hosokawa family, who are courtiers.

As one of the most important ports in the north of Kyoto, it connects the trade between Korea and Japan.The Hosokawa family, whose income has dropped sharply due to the development of North Korea, has to provide shipping convenience for almost the whole of Japan.

Don't forget that the Zhixing of the Hosokawa family is only 12 shi, which is actually very stressful for them.

The Xiu family made Hazel and Hosokawa Tataka get married, and took this opportunity to provide the Hosokawa family with 5 guan military funds as a dowry, which is much more generous than the 500 taels that Hideyoshi gave.

The 5 Guanjun funds are almost equivalent to the entire income of the Hosokawa family's annual endowment + trade income for 2 years. Zhonglong, who is already good to Hazel, is even more capable and generous because of the Hide family. A wife and brother are in the Hosokawa family. Possesses a high level of authority, and even vaguely overwhelms his father Tadakashi Hosokawa.

Hosokawa Tadaoki is not like his father, he is a very cautious person, even he is very guarded against his own son.

Therefore, facing his son Zhonglong who was gradually gaining momentum, Zhongxing directly sent him to the mountain city of the old city construction department as the city lord.And Jianbu Mountain City is on the edge of Wuhe Port, so it is convenient for Xiu's family to toast and drink with their brother-in-law.

Hosokawa Tadataka and his father's personality are exactly the opposite, he is an honest man with a very generous attitude, and he attaches great importance to family affection. Although he was driven out of Miyazu Castle by his father, he has no words for his father. complaints.

On the contrary, Hideka thinks that his current state is more suitable for him to support. After all, Tango's most important Maizuru Port is in the hands of Zhonglong. There is nothing wrong with building warehouses, fortresses, and hoarding supplies as a base for entering the dynasty, right?

As the logistics base for Japan's entry into the DPRK, in order to ensure the logistics security of the Xiujia and Xiuzhen corps, it is not a problem for the Xiujia to leave 3000 people here to garrison, right?
One must know that the total number of Hosokawa family guards recruited into the dynasty was only 3000. As a result, this time the Hide family directly built a Pingcheng outside Maizuru Port, and even stationed in the Hosokawa family territory in the name of stabilizing the rear. With an army of only 3000 men, there was no chance for Tadake Hosokawa to reason.

In fact, the Xiu family intended to directly support Zhonglong to replace him, but honest people have their advantages and disadvantages.

Even though he was feared by his own father, he still didn't show the slightest thought of rebellion, making it impossible for the Xiu family to act.

In mid-April of the first year of Qingchang, the army of the Xiu family stationed in Wuhe had set sail for North Korea in batches, and Xiuzhen had already taken the lead.

Just when Xiujia was about to set foot on the ship, he heard the latest news brought back from North Korea from the crew of the ship:
The Ming Dynasty has sent troops again to join forces with the Jurchens of the North to invade Hamgyong Road. Kato Kiyomasa failed to attack Ping'an Road and had to retreat to Hamgyong Road and stick to it.

As the commander-in-chief of the acting Chinese army, Toyotomi Hideji has been attacking Wangjing for a long time. At Hideyoshi's request, Kobayakawa Hideaki was ordered to support Toyotomi Hidekatsu.

Xiujia was worried about his younger brother, and wanted to go to North Korea to see Xiuqiu's situation quickly, but when Xiujia arrived in North Korea, he heard from Xiuzhen that Kobayakawa Xiuqiu had been recalled by Hideyoshi.

Hideka noticed that Hideaki Kobayakawa's recall dealt a severe blow to the confidence of the ruling daimyos. After all, with the lessons learned from Hachisuka's housekeeping, Hideaki Kobayakawa's ending was basically doomed.

The most important thing is that the last time Hachisuka's housekeeping was only the head of the sub-corps, it was only a small defeat, and the main force was not lost.

But this time Kobayakawa Hideaki was defeated by the North Korean soldiers in Chungcheong Province as a lieutenant general.

The Korean Corps has always been synonymous with fish belly in Japan, and Xiuqiu's return this time may be a disaster.

Even Xiuzhen was very nervous and asked Xiu's family: "How will His Highness Guan Bai deal with His Highness Jin Wu of Chikuzen, so he won't be cut into his stomach?"

Hideyoshi was not sure how to answer this question from Xiuzhen. Although he rationally told himself that it would not be possible, Hideyoshi, who was already a little crazy in the late stage, and the disease invaded his brain, how could he deal with Xiujia beyond common sense? No surprises.

However, the Xiu family soon lost the mind to care about Kobayakawa Hideaki's situation, because he was about to face the same situation as him.

In the middle of May in the 25th year of Wanli, the first year of Riqingchang (5), when Xiujia had just stepped on the ground in North Korea from the boat and did not even make a plan for the next step, he was suddenly received from Xianxing. reported

——An important ally of the Hide family, Nakagawa Hidesei, the younger brother of Nakagawa Hidemasa, the heir of the Aizu Nakagawa family, died in battle!
Before the battle, the governor Nakagawa Hidemasa was ill, so he was left by the Hide family in Tango Maizuru Castle to recuperate. This time it was his younger brother Nakagawa Hidesei who took his place in the battle.

Xiucheng is two years older than Xiujia, and his brother Nakagawa Hidemasa is two years older than him.

Ever since their father Zhongchuan Qingxiu was rescued in the Battle of Jianyue, the Zhongchuan family and the Xiu family have been very close. These two are about the same age as the Xiu family, so it is not an exaggeration to say that they are playmates who grew up together.

It's a pity that because his elder brother Hidemasa Nakagawa could not give birth to a son, he adopted his younger brother Xiucheng as his adopted son and heir early after experiencing the first Korean War.

Even though Xiucheng is bigger than Xiujia, but the experience of the battlefield does not dictate, so Xiuzheng repeatedly entrusted Xiujia to take care of him before the battle.

I never thought that my own people would receive the news that my old friend's younger brother died in battle just after arriving in North Korea.

Xiucheng and the Xiu family were already familiar with each other, coupled with the entrustment of a good partner to take care of them, the Xiu family has always been interested in Xiu.

Even watching him cross the sea with Xiuzhen, the Xiu family told Xiuzhen to keep him near the main formation and not to assign him dangerous missions.

The Xiu family is very concerned about the Nakagawa family, an ally with 30 Shi Zhixing, and at the moment when Hideyoshi Yang's life is not long, it would be a bit wronged if there was a conflict between the two families because of the life and death of the heir.

Due to the retreat of Kato Kiyoshi in Pyongan-do and the northern part of Hamgyong-do, the situation in Hamgyong-do is not optimistic. After Xiuzhen arrived in North Korea, she began to dispatch troops to block the gap.

However, even when the military strength was at its most critical, Nakagawa Hidesei and Iwaki Rilong were not sent out, and they always existed as the guards of the main formation, which was specially taken care of by the Xiu family.

Therefore, upon hearing the news of Zhongchuan Xiucheng's death in battle, it was Xiuzhen who reacted more than Xiujia.

He took two steps forward and grabbed the armor of the old Kumada Kiyoyoshi who escorted Xiucheng's body back, lifted the veteran who was nearly 50 years old, and asked face to face, "I have always let him be on the plateau on the left and right wings of the formation." Garrison, there is no Ming army, no Jurchen soldiers over there, how could he die in battle!"

Kumada Kiyoyoshi was already old, but he was taken aback by Xiuzhen's sudden uproar, and only after he stumbled did he explain that Nakagawa Hidecheng was shot to death by North Korean volunteers with long spears.

"Impossible! The plateau is located in the hinterland, where are the rebels coming from!" Xiuzhen pushed Xiongtian Qingkichi away and scolded.

There was a reason for Xiuzhen to lose her temper. As mentioned above, the Xiu family ruled the courts in Hamgyong and Gangwon.

Even when the other six righteous soldiers were rampant, the two remained under the control of the Japanese side for several years.

Now that Xiuzhen and Xiu's family have just arrived in North Korea, how could a group of North Korean rebels suddenly appear?Especially some time ago, I was the only one who came to North Korea first. Isn't this just saying that he caused the civil uprising?
"It's true, we even captured the heads of some of the rebels!" Kiyokichi Kumata explained while asking for the heads to be presented, and it was verified that the heads of the Koreans were indeed correct.

With a heavy heart, Hideka lifted the white cloth covering Hideo's body. Kiyokichi Kumada saw Hideo's movements and wanted to stop him, but he did not catch up with Hideo and had already lifted the white cloth.

I saw Nakagawa Hidecheng lying pale on the stretcher, not only was his body covered with blood, but also the corners of his mouth, nose and hair.

Seeing that the white cloth had been uncovered, Kiyokichi Kumata could only cover his face and cry, "The young master was raided by the North Korean rebels, fought hard, and finally died from being shot several times in the body."

Looking at Xiucheng who stared wide-eyed and died without regret, the Xiu family helped him close his eyes sadly, and was about to say a word of comfort to Kiyoyoshi Kumata, but found a strange problem.

Xiongtian Kiyoyoshi said that he encountered rebellious soldiers and was finally shot in the body. The Nanban body on his body remained intact, and it was nothing. Maybe the enemy's spear was assassinated by Nakagawa Hidecheng from the unarmored ribs.

But when Xiujia raised his armor slightly to look at the wound, he found that the wound that assassinated Xiucheng was in the middle of his chest!
No matter how much the armor moves, it is impossible for a weapon to damage the heart and lungs in the middle without breaking the protection of the armor on the front!

Xiujia suddenly and keenly realized that there was something strange about Xiucheng's death!