Pillars of the Wu family

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, when the imperial envoys came to Edo Castle to meet Ashikaga Yoshitoshi, the composition of the mission was unusual this time. The leader of the mission was Konoe Maejiu, the left minister of Kanbai, and the two right guards below. The envoys composed of General Kuga Totsuken, the three major powers Dainagon Imadegawa Haruki, the three major powers Nagan Chuin Tongmin, and the four major generals Shimozakon Mori Harutoyo Kanshuji rushed to Edo Castle to proclaim the decree.

Such a grand occasion and such a luxurious court envoy frightened the Kanto warriors. Since the Kamakura shogunate to the early Southern and Northern Dynasties, since the palace generals resigned, there has not been such a large-scale public official in the Kanto for a long time in the past few hundred years, including The Kamakura and Furukawa princes ascended the throne in the past dynasties, but only sent one of the three princes of the Habayashi family to congratulate.

Especially those samurai warriors from all over the Kanto. They have never seen a senior official in the family for generations. They are also the chief ministers of the current imperial court. Right General Tsuga Kuga, Haruki Imadegawa, who was born in the Tsinghua family, Yoshitoki Ashikaga's brother-in-law Gonchu Nagon Chuin Michimi, and the eldest brother-in-law of the current first prince, Prince Seihito, Harutoyo Konshuji .

Among the above-mentioned people, apart from those who are far away from the Quanxiu temple family, who were sent by Prince Chengren to gild gold for benefits, the others are all serious "Yishishi Party", who have supported them to open commercial houses in recent years. To do business, send them a lot of food and money to support them to hold frequent singing parties, tea parties and other banquets in Kyoto, in order to keep these big families active in Kyoto and give the court great influence.

Regardless of the fact that these ministers do not usually do much, the most important main business is the study of various artistic hobbies such as literature, music, historical records, Cuju, and tea ceremony.But in fact, these public minister groups play a very important role.All 66 states in the world take Kyoto culture as the most advanced leader.The core of Kyoto culture is Gongqing culture, they are the reformers of Japanese culture and the advocates of new culture.

As top cultural figures and excellent diplomatic envoys, ministers can easily reach any hostile area to act as diplomatic mediators. Their role is somewhat similar to that of the shogunate's diplomatic envoys, but the difference is that they are not warriors and do not have to worry about being feared. Secondly, ministers and Kinai Several great temples in the capital jointly control the supreme discourse power of public opinion in Kyoto, and these ministers can give many people unexpected benefits by blowing the wind in the court.

Ashikaga Yoshitoki has benefited from positive public opinion in Kinai. In recent years, Rokkaku Yoshiken, Asai Hisamasa, Hieizan Enryakuji Temple, and Miyoshi Changkei have all been greedy for Sakamoto's fat. Let these few families have a lot of worries when they took Sakamoto by force.Maybe this territory will be divided up by these few companies.

Konoe came here a long time ago to support his righteous brother Ashikaga Yoshitoki. At the banquet that day, he announced the latest appointment of the imperial court. Yuan, and the format changes from the general of the tutelary mansion to the general of the tutelary mansion.

"Congratulations! His Highness Gongfang has won the first general Xuanxia!" Langoka Shoubo looked proud, and he followed suit when Ashikaga Yoshiki was promoted. With his background in the Beibata family, his promotion speed was far faster than that of ordinary samurai families. The original four lower right guards major generals were promoted to the regular four upper right guards lieutenant generals.

Also promoted were Tokiyuki Yamamoto, who was far away in Kinai, who was promoted to the fifth rank of Sado Mamoru, Yutaka Sanada was awarded the rank of fifth rank, Shobe, and Hosokawa Fujitaka was promoted to the fourth rank, Daisuke of the Ministry of War.The receiving names of many samurai in the family became the official positions that the imperial court personally canonized, which is also the greatest support given by the imperial court to the Ashikaga family.

"There are countless things to do. The general announced only the Shogun's Hall in Kyoto, and it is better for this general to keep a low profile." Yoshitoki Ashikaga smiled lightly to avoid the proposal of Namioka Sallow House. Once, it was during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the great general of the Southern Dynasties, the famous Nayan Beibata family, who was the ancestor of the Langgang family.

Ashikaga Yoshiki didn't want Edo to become a bustling farce announced by the general of the tutelary government, and to add to the trouble of the general who conquered barbarians in Kyoto, Ashikaga Yoshiki. It was a slap in the face for the attitude of a loyal minister and good general who had been maintained for many years. Of course, he really needed this general to announce it to give the Kanto Wu family a strong hint.

The ministers were sitting together drinking tea and chatting, the young Quanxiu Temple Qingfeng was coaxed by the samurai who talked about Kanto in Langgang's house, and the young and energetic Jiu Wotongjian couldn't help but join in the chat It's also a pleasure, the overall atmosphere of the gathering of the ministers is very harmonious, compared with the vain attempts of the Wu family to test each other, many utilitarian factors have to be removed.

The middle court said proudly: "In any case, this is the second general in the shogunate. Yishi was promoted to the second highest official position in the samurai family!"

"Isn't it too high-handed? I think Zuobing Weidu is pretty good. I worry that His Highness the General will have other ideas when he finds out about Yu's official position." Ashikaga Yoshitoki gave a worried look, feeling that the court Giving this appointment is a bit hasty. Zuobing Weidu's status in the Ashikaga family is not low. Ashikaga Takaji has been doing it for many years, so his influence is not small. In his own opinion, he can be used all the way to the second.

Konoe said with a smile all over his face: "Yitoki probably doesn't know yet! His Royal Highness the General was promoted to the first right minister earlier, and the right minister Kuze has retired, and Yoshitoki's uncle Nakainden was promoted to the second inner minister."

"Oh! So that's the case! Congratulations to His Royal Highness the General and Tong Cheng."

Yoshiki Ashikaga was promoted to the right minister and he is already an extremely human minister. Unless he can wait another ten or eight years until Konoe retired, he might be able to become a minister of the left. Yoshiki Ashikaga thinks this is probably the court's opponent After losing his beloved son, I gave him a stimulus and encouragement, hoping that he can get out of the shock of his son's death as soon as possible and contribute more to the protection of Kyoto.

Jiuwo Qingtong has served as the right minister for several years and it is time to retire. If he does not retire, he will not be able to make room for his son-in-law Jiuwo Tongjian to continue to be promoted. For decades.Competing for the expected rewards from all over the country for the imperial court.Of course, there are also factors that make Ashikaga Yoshiki sell well.

If the imperial teaching book announced by the shogunate is just a prelude.The appointment of the imperial court is equivalent to finalizing the appointment of the Kanto government. The double recognition and strong support of the imperial shogunate made many warriors of the eight countries of the Kanto recognize the iron-clad fact, that is, Ashikaga Yoshitoki’s background is too deep. These country warriors can play.

Combined with the recent walks about the evil deeds of Ashikaga Fujimasa, and the influence of several large thorns in the Kanto region being punished by reducing the seal and reforming, the resistance forces in various parts of the Kanto region have moved closer to the new Kanto government. The Chinese are still very tolerant.As long as the circumstances are not bad, they will basically be given a license for security skills.

Affected by Ashikaga Yoshitoki's promotion to the three major powers and the generals of the tutelary government, Odawara Castle, which hangs alone in the western border of Sagami, was shaken. Looking at the entire Kanto, there is only one samurai family from the Hojo family who rebelled against the Kami Ashikaga family. Going down, the fool also knows that he must kneel, not to mention that Takeda Shingen is sharpening his sword and aiming at Izu country at any time to "respond" to Ashikaga Yoshitoki's call to launch an attack.

Most of the [-] troops in the city came from the two countries of Sagami and Izu, and a small part followed the Musashi, Shimo, and Kamiso people who retreated into Odawara Castle. So many samurai who were not from the direct line of the Hojo family watched their territories be confiscated. He was dismantled and reorganized into the Kanto government's enforcement agency for selection and employment. He didn't know how his wife and children were doing.The feeling was worse than chopping their heads with a knife.

These Chinese people insisted on leaving Odawara Castle, and clamored to go back if they were not allowed to leave.The incident was so serious that it almost caused a mutiny. In the end, it was Hojo Ujiyasu who temporarily appease the mutinous samurai with his lofty prestige. I feel sorry for you.

There is only one Odawara castle left in Sagami country, and the closest passage to Izu country is by sea transportation. However, since Ashikaga Yoshitoki moved to Edo castle, the number of naval forces of the Kamiso Ashikaga family in Sagami Bay immediately increased geometrically. The speed increased, and the sailors of the Fangso Peninsula and the Musashi Kingdom returned to the Ashikaga family without saying a word. When they heard the news that their navy had fled against the master, they almost pissed Satomi Yoshihiro to death.

The growth of the navy and the construction of the port near Edo Castle, the construction of the dock, and the rush to build a ship and a house ship, and only a few months to collect all the shipbuilding timber prepared by shipbuilders from all over the Kanto , Reluctantly built more than a hundred new ships plus the newly attached navy, and soon gathered more than [-] ships to become the Kanto Tianzi No. [-] navy.

The Sagami navy of the Hojo family can’t defeat them, and if they can’t protect the route, they can’t deliver information and supplies to Odawara Castle. Over time, Odawara Castle will become an “artificial desert” isolated from the world, which means that animals living in isolation will soon be killed by natural enemies Targeted and killed easily, and the Hojo clan in Odawara Castle was almost in the same situation.

Enemies on all sides and no retreat is a huge crisis facing the Hojo family. This is even more dangerous than the Kagoe night battle 15 years ago. Pushing forward, Hojo Ujiyasu was forced to be helpless, and the most powerful right-hand man Hojo Tsunari became a prisoner. His son Hojo Ujishige was slightly inferior to Hojo Tsunari in terms of talent and strength. This has cut off the Hojo family from fighting a beautiful counterattack. possibility.

In such a bad situation, the Hojo clan government decided to send Hojo Genan as an envoy to Edo Castle, and personally met with Ashikaga Yoshishi and expressed his willingness to open the city and ask for surrender. This diplomatic action is different from what has been repeatedly mentioned in the past few months "Pleading for peace", even the alliance under the castle is not the result Ashikaga Yoshitoki wanted, but this time it is precisely to "beg for peace" with Ashikaga Yoshitoki.

Facing the begging of Hojo Genan, Ashikaga Yoshitoki replied calmly: "Immediately surrender the city, and only [-] soldiers are allowed to be retained after being released from military service. I will give the Hojo Clan Izu a country security according to the original conditions." Not to mention the ownership of Sagami, Odawara Castle must be surrendered, I don’t want such a strong castle to remain in the hands of the Hojo family.”

Hojo Huanan raised his beard and tremblingly said: "This...this is not allowed! My lord has repeatedly asked to keep Odawara Castle. This is the territory that I, Sagami Hojo, have worked hard for generations!"

Ashikaga Yoshitoki sneered and said: "It turns out that Hojo Sagami has always been in love with Odawara Castle! Well, I will fulfill his request. Odawara Castle will be completely closed. Izu country will be sealed off."

"...His Royal Highness, why do you have to fight to the death! I, the Hojo Clan, really want to surrender!" Hojo Huanan clasped his hands together and said with a sad face, "I beg your Highness to leave a way out for my Hojo family. From now on From now on, we will always be loyal to His Royal Highness, and if we violate our oath, we will be punished by the gods and Buddhas!"

Ashikaga Yoshitoki laughed at his statement. The so-called oath at that time must be the truth. His descendants may also be determined to betray him. Relying on oaths to send documents to temples and shrines is a fragile rule. There is also no guarantee that this system that is purely supported by blood kinship will last for a long time before it will collapse.

For example, the Muromachi shogunate fell into such a miserable situation, which has a great relationship with the imperfect system. The dominance system created by Ashikaga Takashi has been proved to be a product of failure. Ashikaga Yoshitoki used Another system is gradually improving the new system.In this system, the public party has absolute military strength and land advantages.

"Loyalty and bravery are commendable... and you really can't let the world think that Yu is too stingy, like this! I will give you two choices for the Hojo family. The city of Andu in the Tosagami Banguo is Tamawa Castle, or the city of Nikuyama in Izu Izukuni. According to the two The choice will give the Hojo family an aggressive mission, Higashi Sagami Bankuni will go to the Koyamada clan in Kai County, and Izu Ikkuni will go to the Suruga Ikkuni.”

"Is there no better choice?" Hojo Huanan scratched his head anxiously, he didn't dare to choose these two options at will, and if he failed to pick up any one, he would put their Hojo's house in the hole. He is not stupid, of course. The Takeda family used them to deal with centipedes when they were born in Ashikaga.

"Transfer seal and leave here. You can also go to Kanto Shimono country or Hitachi country. You can choose whatever you want for [-] stone grids. But you will not be reconciled if you don't get credit!" Ashikaga Yoshitoki really wanted to laugh out loud, The thinking of the Hojo family still stays in the thinking of the Warring States daimyo, and one hundred thousand shige was enough to be the chief family elder in the past few years.

It’s just that the speed of expansion in recent years has been too fast, so that this standard has been continuously raised to 15 shi to be eligible to be the elder of the Pu Dai family, and among the new Shen Pu Dai Zhong, he is also an outstanding and powerful martial artist. There are more than [-] shi, which is enough to be the elder of the genealogical family. Before the reduction of the title, the Utsunomiya and Nasu families also had [-] shige. After the reduction, they were reduced to about [-] shi.

"This..." Hojo Huanan thought for a long time and still had no solution, and finally bit the bullet and said: "The poor monk still needs to think about it, and give His Royal Highness an accurate answer in a few days!"

……

On the [-]th day of the first lunar month, the weather was sunny and sunny. The consecutive days of good weather melted a lot of snow on the road. Just after dawn on this day, a huge team appeared on the land of Kamakura. Kamakura is located on the Miura Peninsula. The western part of Kamakura is also known as the capital of samurai. The word Kamakura is enough to represent all the meanings of samurai. When the samurai family was in the ascendant, it was here several times to witness a drama with mixed joy and sorrow.

It represents the glory and endless glory of the Kamakura Shogunate for a hundred years, and it also represents the feats made by countless warriors with blood. Kamakura public Fang Ashikishi's hand, this ancient city no longer needs to use too many gorgeous words to describe it.

Riding a horse on the streets of the ancient capital Kamakura has a different feeling. The quiet ancient city exudes a peaceful atmosphere from the towering ancient trees. After entering the central area of ​​the city, you can see large and small temples everywhere. During this period, listening to the melodious bells in the ancient temple and the occasional sound of morning class chanting, people can't feel the brutality of this city back then.

The inauguration ceremony was held at Tsuruoka Hachiman Shrine on Komachi-dori on the east side of Kamakura Prefecture. When I visited Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine a few days ago, I found that the scenery in front of me was completely in modern style, and I could clearly find many facilities in Hachiman Shrine. Most of them are new creations, which disappointed Ashikaga Yoshitoki who was full of reverence.

After Hachimangu Shrine's explanation, he learned that this ancient capital had been attacked by a war 35 years ago. Huge damage, the two sides in this battle are Hojo Utsuna and Satomi Yoshitaka, the major conflict between the two sides over the expansion of the Fangsou Peninsula, and Hojo Utsuna and Furukawa’s Ashikaga Takaki, which caused the confrontation with Koyumi’s Ashikaga Yoshiaki of a raid.

The Satomi clan led the Fangsuo Navy to raid Kamakura Prefecture, and the continuous fire engulfed half of Kamakura. I don’t know how many ancient temples and temples were burned in this battle. Hojo Utsuna raised funds to repair the damage. Kamakura gave this dilapidated city a chance to rejuvenate.

What's more interesting is that the qualifications of the two sides to repair the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine after the joint battle were fiercely disputed. In the end, it was Hojo Utsuna's near-water tower who took this opportunity back. Yoshiaki also lost his prestige because of this, so he had to follow Satomi Yoshitoyo back to Fangxuan Peninsula with a long face. (To be continued..)