Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 864 Ideal
Along with Tokugawa Ieyasu, there was also Akechi Hidemitsu.

There are too many secrets in him, and only the dead can keep them best.

Of course, Xiujia feels that these secrets are secrets for the present, but they should be a piece of history for future generations and an important supplement to this magnificent history.

Therefore, Hideya excerpted what he said on a piece of cloth that is more durable, and after slightly concealing the parts that affected him, he had his monogram confirmed.

He committed seppuku in front of Hideie's sons. Perhaps he will be the last samurai to commit seppuku before the new era begins.

Some of the sons were still confused and didn't know why the old monk in front of them committed seppuku after everything was settled.

Only Xiujia said to them, "He is using his life to teach you a lesson." The younger sons did not dare to see this bloody scene, and Xiujia did not force it.

After the death of the person, Hideie put the cloth recording the secrets of Honnoji in a wooden box and gave it to the Toyotomi Teru family, and said to him, "This is the most important thing of our Toyotomi family, you and yours." Future generations must preserve it well and pass it on from generation to generation. It must not be taken apart to look at it before it is 300 years old."

Toyotomi Teru has been the son of the Hide family for so many years, and has long been accustomed to his mysterious presence from time to time.So he didn't ask any more questions, packed up the wooden box and left with his brothers.

The first thing Hideie did after returning to Kyoto was to deal with Akechi Hidemitsu, which shows the importance of this matter.

After ensuring that the secret would be kept, Hideie immediately reported to the emperor, citing "the state of affairs has been unstable since Keicho" and the recent frequent natural disasters as reasons for requesting a change of the era name.

Finally, after screening by the Hide family, the emperor chose the reign name "Kangyou", which means "peace and blessing".

Therefore, the historical 10th year of Qingchang (1605) was also changed to the first year of Kangyou.

Now that the world has been settled, Xiaoxiao in Kyushu and Northeast China is suffering from moss disease. Especially after the enfeoffment measures have been made, the rebel strength in these two places has completely lost its foundation.

Not only did they have to face the conquests of the official army, but they also had to face the armed conquests of the local daimyo who had been entrusted with the title, and the daimyo who led the team back to prepare to move.

Soon after, the Uesugi family and the Ashikaga family also returned in triumph. At this time, the Hide family was still training in Fushimi, and would only go to Osaka to stay when necessary.

The two of them unexpectedly came to Fushimi to visit the Hide family first, and presented the heads of Kuroda Nishui and Nakamura Ippei to the Hide family respectively, as if they wanted to use this to show off their merits to their father.

However, Hideie asked with a straight face, "You are already a daimyo directly affiliated with the Toyotomi family. As ministers, you go out to fight on your lord's behalf. How can you not go see your lord immediately after returning to the court after victory, but come to see a person?" What about irrelevant people?”

The Ashikaga family explained, "Father is not an irrelevant person! You are my lord's second sight, our father. Is there any problem with the child coming to see his father after he wins?"

"How presumptuous!" Hideie's response to the Ashikaga family was a fierce rebuttal. "You are responsible for national affairs, so you should put national affairs first and family affairs first. You won the victory and did not go to see the lord, but came to see me instead. You are mocking my control." Government?"

Both of them were so frightened by Xiujia's sudden accusation that they didn't know how to reply, so they could only leave angrily with the heads of the two guilty ministers.

Hideie deliberately waited half a day before setting off from Fushimi to Osaka. This was naturally to save face for Osaka and to protect his two children.

After the war, the two Hide family members were given additional rewards, and the Ashikaga family was granted a title of 1 koku by the head of the former 38.7st prefecture.The Uesugi family entrusted the land of one and a half counties in Echigo, and Tomoyuki came to the 1 stone territory.

As for the other daimyo who sent troops, they each received rewards of gold and silver.

But obviously, some secrets will spread inexplicably.When the warriors heard the news, they all praised Xiujia for his righteousness.

However, the daimyo were somewhat unsure of Hideie's attitude. For example, Takeda Hidenobu, after returning to his territory to sort things out, came to visit Hideie again before the Monlan Festival that year (the 11th year of Keicho).

This time Hideya didn't even meet him and was sent directly to Osaka.The Hide family sent someone to tell him that he was no longer a retainer of the Toyoharu family, and even if the Hui family went to Luo, they would have to go to Osaka first and then come to Fushimi.

Takeda Hidenobu's first test of the waters made the daimyo feel the Hide family's determination to maintain the Toyotomi family's legal system.

Although I can't understand why he still does this even though he has already become the number one in power in the world, perhaps His Highness Zuofu really wants to help the Toyotomi clan as he said.

At about this time, Toyotomi Kikuhime and other female family members came to Fushimi one after another with the sons of the Hide family's Weigenfu. From now on, except for the son who was sent out to guard the key position, the whole family will live here.

Along with the female relatives, there was also the political think tank of the Xiu family, Yixin Chongchuan.

When they first met, he jokingly asked Hideie, "I have heard the story of the Zuofu in Kanto. Is the Zuofu ready to devote all its efforts to supporting the Toyotomi family?"

There was a trace of complaint in Yi Xin Chongchuan's words, obviously he didn't quite understand Xiujia's recent actions.

Xiujia deliberately changed the subject and said, "I was reading the history of the Tang Dynasty recently, and it mentioned an emperor who unified the world and stopped the war. Before him, there were hundreds of great names in the entire Tang Dynasty. Before that, The Tang State has been on conquest for hundreds of years, and it was his appearance that brought the Tang State together for the first time.

But it is a pity that after his death, the empire that he hoped to last forever only lasted for one generation and fell apart. The countries that had been conquered and ruled by his government overthrew this dynasty under the leadership of their nobles. "

Everyone is familiar with the empire that Xiujia mentioned, but they don’t know much about Yixin Chongchuan.Most of Japan’s history of China focuses on the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties.

The former is because of the envoys sent to the Tang Dynasty, and the latter is because he is the dynasty on the other side of the Sea of ​​Japan.

The history of the Three Kingdoms, which fascinated later generations, only became the most interesting and familiar historical era for Japanese people with the large-scale publication of the Japanese version of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in the late Ming Dynasty during the Edo period.

"This emperor used force to stop the war. After his death, the empire responded to the force and started another war. It is really disappointing. But he made a start and established an overall concept for the Tang Dynasty on the other side. It is indeed worthy of being the first of all times. The title of the emperor.

But in my opinion, since he started it, and subsequent dynasties were passed down according to his system, it shows that his system is feasible, so the collapse of his empire should not be caused by the old aristocracy. "

Yixin Chongchuan was worthy of being a famous wise man in the late Warring States Period, and was known as the prime minister in black along with Tianhai.Although I have never read this history, I can quickly make my own analysis based on the story.

"I understand what Your Highness means. You want to imitate that emperor and create a unified empire in Japan that will last forever."

Seeing Xiujia nodding his head in approval, Yixin Chongchuan shook his head helplessly and sighed, "It's difficult. The great name in the world must contradict His Highness, and the human emperor who is enshrined by the people in the world will also be His Highness." A stumbling block in the road.”

"I only told the master about this matter. The master did not scold me on the spot, which is the greatest encouragement to me. This is just my idea. If this matter does not work, then the master will just think that I am joking. .”

Yi Xin Chongchuan was silent for a moment, seeming to be recalling the story Xiujia had just told him.Sometimes he shook his head, sometimes nodded, and after a long time he said again, "I know very little about the story of the emperor that His Highness told you. If Your Highness doesn't mind, why don't you make tea with me around the stove today and have a long chat?"

When he heard Yi Xin Chongchuan's words, Xiujia knew that he had recognized Xiujia's idea and was already thinking about plans for Xiujia using Qin Shihuang as a template.

The next Xiujia talked to him about the history of the rise and fall of Qin for a whole day, including Xiujia's own reasons for Qin's rise and fall.

Especially when talking about the reasons for the strength of the Qin State, Yi Xin Chongchuan kept staring at the Xiu family and shooting at the Xiu family. The mystery that had been bothering him for many years was finally revealed at this moment. "So why is the Fengchun Domain under His Highness so different from other princes?" This is the reason!”

When Xiujia finished telling the story, the sky outside was already shrouded in darkness.Although Yixin Chongchuan had finished listening to the story, he couldn't give an answer for a while, so he asked Xiujia to rest early today and gave him one night to think and wait for the meeting tomorrow.

On the second day, Xiujia went to visit Yixin Chongchuan, but he refused, saying that he still had no idea.It was not until noon on the third day that Yixin Chongchuan found Hideya with a heavy heart. He told Hideya, "I have thought hard for a long time and believe that in today's world, it is really difficult for Your Highness to implement the Tang system in Japan.

I really can't figure out why Your Highness would implement this strategy. Your Highness should know that this strategy is more difficult and dangerous than before, and even your closest allies may betray you. "

"I know, but this is my ambition. A truly unified world."

Seeing Hideya's insistence, Yi Xin Chongchuan spoke his mind: "If His Highness really has this ambition, I suggest that His Highness clarify his initial goal first. Although Your Highness is the lord of the 300 million vassal, the most powerful one, There is only one of the five great names in the world, which is not enough for you to command the world regardless of other famous names.

Over the thousands of years in our country, there are countless people who have led troops to Luo, and there are many who have replaced the emperor.If someone does something that will lead to the public criticism of the world, it is best not for Your Highness to carry out this policy personally.

The Human Emperor has a shackles on his heart towards Japan.But as long as someone dares to take the risk, other daimyo will definitely not be willing to do it again.

Your Highness should first win over the world's famous people, and make most of them accompany you in your team, and establish a false king in the world to command the world's princes with royal principles.

During this period, he tried to win over the minor daimyo and weaken the daimyo, win over old friends of the close vassal and alienate the estranged ministers of the outer vassal.Later, referring to the past events of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, he ordered the puppet king to replace the emperor in Kyoto.

There may be some famous people among them who will raise the banner of "Respect the Emperor and Fight Rebellion" to fight against His Highness.Your Highness can take this opportunity to sift through the world's famous names, follow the fate of those who rebel and die, and determine the world with his hegemony.

Afterwards, he replaced him with a false king and once again ruled the world with the royal way.However, the old feudal lords and feudal lords gained power through difficulty with His Highness. They are His Highness's support. It is not realistic to implement the system of prefectures and states throughout the country. According to my opinion, the prefectures and states should be implemented in parallel with the daimyo.

Your Highness should establish a system, agree on the names and laws, and teach future generations to slowly eliminate vassals, exchange personal vassals for external vassals, and exchange small vassals for large vassals.After thousands of years like this, the unification of the world will be unstoppable. "

This was the first time Hideie talked to outsiders about his idea of ​​replacing the emperor and establishing an independent Japanese kingdom.

The reason why he went to talk to Yi Xin Chongchuan was because he was just a monk, and Xiujia's ideas were too wild and unreasonable. No one would believe him even if he told them.

Besides, after listening to Xiujia's words, Yixin Chongchuan also knew that if he didn't make suggestions for Xiujia, he might not have the chance to talk nonsense outside.

However, the level of Yi Xin Chong Chuan is still very high. Xiujia only told him the story of the Qin State, and did not tell him the story of the parallel rule of the Han Dynasty and the promotion of favor. However, in the plan of Yi Xin Chong Chuan , all this has been conceived.

"Master's idea coincides with mine. Be king first, then be domineering, and then be king. Don't you think, master, that the shell of the Toyotomi family is the best false king?"

Ishin Takaden was not surprised that Hideie already had the idea of ​​​​implementing the plan in his mind, but he was still surprised when he saw Hideie saying that he would use Toyotomi as the false king, "Your Highness, are you ready?"

Hideie nodded and confirmed, "I plan to take it in three steps. The first step is to govern the world in the name of the Toyotomi family. All major reforms will be implemented first using the name of the Toyotomi family. The daimyo and the common people will definitely respond. I am dissatisfied with the name Toyotomi. In this way, after I establish my own country, as long as I provide a little favor and care, even if the general framework remains unchanged, the people of the world will still be grateful to me."

Yi Xin Chongchuan understood what Xiujia meant, but he quickly asked another question, "But Zuofu, you are now His Highness Xiu Li's backstory, won't these operations you are doing now involve you?" On your body?"

Unexpectedly, Xiujia came back and said, "Why are you talking about my hindrance? I am from Ruonian! I am only responsible for managing the Wu family for my lord. I have not participated in the administration at all!"

"what?!"

Yes, even though people around him have been encouraging Xiujia to see him later when he gets the upper hand, Xiujia just won't step in.Including the fact that the daimyo were asked to go directly to see Xiuli if they had something to do, or to go to the marsh to find the five big guys for judgment. This is where they were.

Isshin Takaden immediately understood the Hide family's plan. He was preparing to do a secret operation hidden behind his back. "So, were His Highness' previous operations of assisting the Toyotomi family all staged?"

"How can it be said that it was staged? Without the benevolence and righteousness of my administration, how could Xiuli's violence be highlighted?"

Having said this, Xiujia looked up and looked outside and sighed, "In three years, Xiu Li will almost be in charge, right? He could have become a good boy."

Hideie really did what he said. At this time, Japan had just experienced the largest earthquake in recorded history and was accompanied by a tsunami, which affected all areas from Kyushu to Izu.After the disaster, epidemics also occurred due to poor epidemic prevention.

In the past, the daimyo and shogunate would not care about the life and death of the people at the bottom. At most, they would create an isolation area and send some porridge and water there every day to let them obey their fate.

Only Xiujia thought this was a good opportunity to demagogue people.After all, what he wants to do is not only the opening, but also the establishment of a unified dynasty, which means he must win the trust and affection of the lower class people for the Xiu family.

So he and the Hui family went to the disaster-stricken villages in various parts of Kinki to express condolences. Referring to the work-for-relief method used by the Hide family in Mino during the Hida earthquake, they paid for people to repair houses and dig canals.

Moreover, people who are sick need more protein. In addition to ensuring their porridge and water, the Xiu family also rewards meat, smoked fish and other foods from time to time.

These things are basically not available in later generations, but in this era of low productivity, even samurai families may not be able to afford them.

As for other places such as Xiguo and Kyushu, the Hidetaka family also sent monks to give alms under the banner of the Hidetaka family. Of course, the goods used were the gold and silver that Hideyoshi collected and hid in Osaka.

Just from this incident, the Hide family and the Hui family gained an excellent reputation among the people and the lower class warriors.

But as the saying goes, women and villains are difficult to raise. These illiterate commoners and low-level warriors may not even be able to write their own names. It is completely useless for you to teach them righteousness.

Life will continue after the disaster, but the food and seeds have been soaked in sea water. What will they use to plant seeds?
So the Xiu family provided them with farm tools and seeds, and agreed to charge 2% of the loan interest after a good harvest. This was considered a benevolent policy in the face of the high interest rate of 5% at that time.

But this wave of operations was not finished yet. When it was time to harvest grain in summer and autumn, the Xiu family deliberately asked the Hui family to use a small bucket to harvest rice.

The Hui family asked in confusion, "We originally charged less interest than others, and it was the grain that Da Dou lent. Now that Xiao Dou takes it back, I am afraid that not only will he not be able to recover the principal, but he will also lose a lot, right?"

However, Xiujia responded with a smile, "It's a good loss~ It's a wonderful loss~ I just want him to lose. If you don't understand the truth, go back and slowly understand it. When you understand the truth, I can rest assured." I give you this world."

It is not only the action of big buckets coming out and small buckets closing, but the small people see the benefits and forget their loyalty. If it is just like this, many villains will regard the welfare of the Xiu family as what they should have originally.

Therefore, although the Xiu family lent Xiaomin a large amount of rice and borrowed a small amount, they strictly required them to collect 2% of the interest on the loan. Even though the interest collected by the small amount was already small, the formal interest was not No penny should be spared.

Anyone who dares to commit adultery or cheating will be sent to Hokkaido to serve as a military garrison.

These sneaky people were originally wanderers in the countryside, and the people complained about them. Many of them wandered around the countryside because of their status as warriors.

And under the premise that Xiujia has given great favors, the people will not complain about the exile of such a person, but will applaud.

During every festival, the Xiu family used money from the Osaka public treasury to buy wine, meat, and dried fish, and distributed them to families who had lost their fathers and sons, as well as to elderly people over 60 years old.

It has been like this for three years, and the Hide family and the Teru family have accumulated a good reputation among the people. In the middle of the third year of Kangyou, the 3-year-old Toyotomi Hidetoshi finally became a member of the five big brothers under the gaze of the daimyo. Hands taking over symbol of power.

Although the daimyo didn't quite understand what Hideya was thinking, was he really going to be that obedient and loyal "Waka Nianji" who would assist this decadent dynasty behind the scenes?
But no matter what, this young man who had experienced a wonderful young life, experienced two wars, and witnessed his mother being strangled by his brother, finally took charge.

Even if this is only in name.

(End of this chapter)