Shiba Yoshigan saw Ashikaga Yoshiji's lonely expression and said softly.
“I won’t kill you, and His Highness Uesugi won’t kill you either.
If you insist on siding with the Hojo family, we can only place you under house arrest. But please rest assured that your life safety will be guaranteed.
This is not because we are afraid of the Hojo family, nor because it comes from you, but because we respect the bloodline of the Kamakura Ashikaga family.
After the Hojo family is eliminated, you will be ordered to become a monk, the ancient Buddha of Qingdeng will die, and the Kamakura Ashikaga family will also die with you.
But are you really willing?
The Kamakura Ashikaga family dominated Kantō for two hundred years, and the last Kantō shogun turned out to be loyal to Hojo Ujiyasu, a traitor who rebelled against the party.
This shame will accompany you for the rest of your life, and the Kamakura Ashikaga family will be humiliated because of you. History will clearly record your stupidity and you will be cast aside by all generations.
Former Kantō General, you should know better than me how your mother, Ashikaga Haruji, died.
If the Hojo family can survive this disaster, the Sano-led alliance will be a stain that the Hojo Ujimasa is trying to erase. You also know how she will treat you as a loyal friend in the future.
If a person does not serve himself, he will be destroyed by heaven and earth.
The Kamakura Ashikaga family did not owe Hojo Ujiyasu anything, but the Hojo family owed a lot to the Kamakura Ashikaga family. You should think carefully and be wise. "
Ashikaga Yoshiji sighed. She was indeed moved by Yoshigan Shiba's words, but she still had concerns.
What Hojo Umasa will do to her in the future is a matter for the future. But what if she joins Echigo now and Uesugi Teruhu uses her up and throws her away?
One is a long-term concern, and the other is a short-term concern. If Ashikaga Yoshiji sells himself directly to Echigo because of Yoshigan Shiba's provocation, this would be real stupidity.
she whispered.
"In troubled times, people can't help themselves. You can't care about the future. Just take care of the present first."
Although Ashikaga Yoshiji is still tough-talking, his attitude has softened somewhat. Shiba Yiyin understood and continued.
"If you don't worry about the long term, you will have immediate worries. There are some things that you should plan for in advance. Take a look at this first."
Ashikaga Yoshiji vaguely saw Yoshigage taking out a letter, hesitantly took it and scanned it carefully. After reading ten lines at a glance, she couldn't help but snorted and cursed.
"Shameless!"
This letter was written by Harusuke Kada to Terutora Uesugi. Every piece of paper is filled with words of surrender and flattery.
The Furukawa Territory was nominally the place where the Kanto shoguns were stationed, and Kada Harusuke was just a retainer of Kamakura Ashikaga who was acting as the leader.
Ashikaga Yoshiji herself presided over the ceremony and succeeded the Kanto Shogun. Now Ashikaga Yoshiji was defeated, captured by the Echigo army, and imprisoned.
As a retainer, Harusuke Hatada shamelessly moved closer to Terutora Uesugi, completely regardless of what would happen to his nominal master, which made Ashikaga Yoshiji feel palpitated.
Of course Ashikaga Yoshiji knew the virtues of the Kanto samurai family, but there was a difference between seeing someone else's misfortune and having it happen to him.
Shiba Yiyin said slowly.
“Those who know the current affairs are heroes, so you don’t need to feel angry.
The Furukawa Territory is just southeast of the Sano Territory. If Harusuke Kadada doesn't know the truth, Echigo's army will immediately go south and crush her to pieces. "
Ashikaga Yoshiji snorted.
"Whether she recognizes her or not, what does it have to do with me?"
Si Bo Yiyin said seriously.
“Kada Harusuke’s greatest value is nothing more than being the composer of the Kamakura Ashikaga family.
His Highness Uesugi needed to complete the succession ceremony of the Kanto Governor at Kamakura Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, so he could easily forgive her.
And your value is far higher than hers. "
At this time, Ashikaga Yoshiji had already intended to join Echigo. She also knew that she was useful to Uesugi Teruator, but she was afraid that Uesugi Teruator would cross the river and burn the bridge.
"Otai Suo, I understand what you mean.
The succession of the Kanto governor not only requires a ceremony at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, but also requires the recognition of the Kanto general.
But you know that until now, I am still called by Echigo, the fake Kantō General.
Today, I can stand with His Highness Uesugi. But in the future, will His Highness Uesugi be able to tolerate me, a pseudo-Kanto general? How can she prove that she can tolerate me?
You have to know that once I change my tune, I have no way out and can only be at her mercy. "
Shiba Yoshigami nodded, knowing that Ashikaga Yoshiji had been honest with her, and every word came from her sincerity.
It is not difficult for Ashikaga Yoshiji to stand up for Terutora Uesugi. Politicians talk like they are talking loudly and can be shameless even when others laugh at them. But after she admitted Uesugi Teruhora, she no longer had a foothold in the Hojo family.
Once Terutora Uesugi completed the succession ceremony for the Kanto leader and established his prestige among the Kanto samurai family, Ashikaga Yoshiji, the Kanto general, would be useless and would even become a thorn in her side.
Before the rise of the Hojo family, most of the wars in the Kanto Plain took place between the three parties of the Kamakura Ashikaga family and the Ryo-Uesugi family.
The relationship between the Kanto shogun and the Kanto commander is like the Ashikaga shogun and the third commander in recent times. The struggles for power experienced by the Kyoto shogunate also happened in Kanto.
If Terutora Uesugi stood firm, turned around and tortured Ashikaga Yoshiji to death, how unjust would her death be?
Ashikaga Yoshiji gritted his teeth and supported the Hojo family, but there was nothing he could do. The Kanto leaders and Kanto generals of the past dynasties had this life-and-death relationship. They recognized each other but wanted to kill each other.
Yoshigan Shiba glanced at Ashikaga Yoshiji and said decisively.
"Your Highness Uesugi will not burn bridges across rivers. Today's eight states are no longer the confrontation between the Kamakura Ashikaga family and the two Uesugi families in the past.
The Kanto generals and the Kanto governors continued to fight, and the Hojo family, the Satomi family, the Satake family and other local lords took advantage of the situation to rise.
His Majesty Uesugi’s base is far away in Echigo. Heavy snowfall in winter often blocks the Echigo Mountains, making it difficult to respond to emergencies in the Kanto Plain.
She couldn't be arbitrary. Someone had to help her keep an eye on the Kanto Plain and monitor these Kanto daimyo who were ready to move. "
Ashikaga Yoshiji said calmly.
"Maybe, but this person shouldn't be me."
Sibo Yiyin smiled.
"Master Ashikaga Yoshiji, you are very self-aware.
What I mean is not that His Highness Uesugi will choose you to help her keep an eye on the Kanto Plain, but that she has many opponents and the integrity of the Kanto system is very important to her.
If she wants to subdue the great names in Kanto, she needs Kanto generals more than the previous Kanto leaders.
Only when Ashikaga Uesugi's Kanto system is complete will she have enough status to suppress the local area and slowly weaken the local power of the eight states in Kanto.
So, I assure you, burning bridges will not happen. "
Ashikaga Yoshiji asked coldly.
"How can you guarantee that?"
Sibo Yiyin said solemnly.
“As the leader of the Kanto Imperial Palace and the direct descendant of Genji in Kawachi, I promise you that treachery will never happen.
If you bring order out of chaos, Echigo will recognize you as the general of Kanto. The Kanto system of the Kamakura Ashikaga and Uesugi families will resume operation, and order will be restored in the Kanto Plain. "
Ashikaga Yoshiji frowned and looked at Shiba Yoshigan. This flawless handsome face reflected the holy brilliance, which made her feel ashamed and lowered her head to consider the pros and cons.
Shiba Yiyin said slowly and quietly.
"This is not difficult for you. The position of Kanto Governor has never existed, right?
You used a non-existent service position to trick Hojo Yasu around. Are you really loyal to her? "
Ashikaga Yoshiji suddenly raised his head and looked at Yoshigami Shiba, with a hint of sneer on his lips.
"Both and the other, didn't the Kyoto shogunate also use the non-existent Kanto governorship to lure Uesugi Teruhora?"
Shiba Yiyin smiled slightly.
He would not explain to Ashikaga Yoshiji that Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Uesugi Kenmasa teamed up to dig a hole for Uesugi Teruhu. It was by chance that he learned the truth from Daxiong Chaoxiu.
Shiba Yoshigan deliberately caused Ashikaga Yoshiji to misunderstand, so that she could trust Shiba Yoshigan. Complicity is the most powerful guarantee.
Ashikaga Yoshiji took a deep breath and said.
"I have another request. My mother's affairs cannot be delved into."
"good."
Yoshigan agreed readily. If he wanted to recognize Ashikaga Yoshiji, the Kanto general, Ashikaga Haruji, the ancestor, must be forgotten.
The Ashikaga Haru clan was defeated and was taken back to Sagami country by Hojo Ujiyasu and placed under house arrest. He died in mysterious circumstances. If we delve deeper into the cause of her death, Ashikaga Yoshiji, the current Kanto general who succeeded him, must be unclean.
Ashikaga Yoshiji pointed out this request to make Yoshigan Shiba understand.
If Terutora Uesugi wants to regret it in the future, the most likely way is to expose this matter and throw dirt on Ashikaga Yoshiji. Sibo Yiyin's promise today must be honored and she must be protected.
Following Yoshigan Shiba's readily agreed, Ashikaga Yoshiji raised the teacup on the table. The two talked for a long time, and the boiling water had become much gentler.
Yoshigan also raised his own cup, touched Ashikaga Yoshiji's cup lightly, and drank it all in one gulp. When the stomach is cold in autumn and winter, it is indeed much more comfortable to drink warm water.
Ashikaga Yoshiji smiled and drank his own warm water, which was considered an agreement.
She then said resolutely.
"Hojo Ujiyasu caused trouble in Kanto, and I had already intended to sit separately from him. I only regretted that I was so powerless that I had to live in poverty day and night, and had to live under the shelter of others.
Now, His Highness Uesugi has succeeded the Yamauchi Uesugi family governor and is in charge of Kantō. It is really satisfying to go south to Kantō to uphold justice.
I am willing to fight side by side with His Highness Uesugi to bring order out of chaos and restore peace and clarity to Kanto. "
Sibo Yiyin smiled.
"The past few years at Kamakura-den have not been easy. We came late and made you suffer.
But with all the hardship comes happiness, and I assure you, better days are yet to come. "
Yoshigan Shiba used honorifics to Ashikaga Yoshiji for the first time, acknowledging her identity, and Ashikaga Yoshiji smiled in return.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became warm, and the Ashikaga family became a happy family.
———
The next day, Kanto General Ashikaga Yoshiji officially made a statement.
She denounced Hojo Ujiyasu for harming the famous family, wreaking havoc in Kanto, and depriving her of the Kanto leadership granted to her.
He also recognized Uesugi Teruhora as the governor of the Uesugi family in the Yamauchi family and the head of the Kantō administration, and was grateful to her for her righteous deed of sending troops to Kantō.
With Ashikaga Yoshiji, the Kanto general, coming out to take sides, the situation in Kanto became even more one-sided.
Terutora Uesugi supported Ashikaga Yoshiji as the new Kanto general, quickly returned to Ueno country, and outflanked Dahu's leader. Echigo's follow-up troops from the northern Numata Territory followed closely south and besieged the Umbashi Territory.
The Ueno samurai who were close to Hojo were in panic. They didn't even have time to ask for surrender before they were defeated by Uesugi Teruhu's sudden attack.
In less than ten days, Wuqiao City, Dahu City, and Chishi City were all destroyed. All the martial arts families in the city abandoned their master and opened the city to surrender.
Terutora Uesugi beheaded all the Ji warriors of the Dahu family and the direct branches of the Naha family, and the family was wiped out.
While Nagano was interceding for the Nagano family in Amabashi Castle, Uesugi Teruhora ordered the governor of the family, Nagano Kentada, to commit seppuku and apologize, dedicate Amabashi Castle, and allow the family name to remain.
At this point, the Mangqiao leader, the Dahu leader, and the Nabo leader fell into the hands of the Echigo army.
In the plains southeast of Ueno, facing the strict order of Terutora Uesugi, Yura Shigege did not dare to disobey, so he had to withdraw from the territory and return to his home, Kanayama Castle.
Ashikaga Castle's Nagao Tocho was ordered by Sugi Teruatora to go south and attack Tatebayashi Castle Akai Terukage.
The two sides share similar territory and have a deep relationship. After Chief Nagao besieged Tatebayashi City, he wrote a letter to the city to persuade him to surrender. Akai Terukage knew that he had committed a serious sin, and at the request of his retainers, he committed seppuku and apologized.
Tatebayashi Castle surrendered, and the entire Ueno Kingdom was already on Uesugi Terutora's side. The support of Shimono Sano and Shimoso Furukawa led to the smooth flow of water transport from the Tone River to the Musashi Kingdom.
After clearing up logistics and stabilizing supply lines, the Echigo army officially entered Musashi Country. At this time, Uesugi Teruhu had already occupied absolute political and military advantages.
Ashikaga Yoshiji endorsed the justice of his participation in the battle with his peers.
Ueno Province Shirai Nagao, Headquarters Nagao, Minawa Nagano, Uenobashi Nagano, Numata, Yura and other samurai followed suit.
Ashikaga Castle Nagao of Shimono Province, Ryota of Shimotsou Furukawa Castle, Narita of Musashi Province Ninja Castle, Ota of Iwatsuke Castle and other samurai affiliated with them sent troops.
The samurai families from the five countries, including Shimono Kuni Oyama, Utsunomiya, Shimotsou Kuni Takajo, Hitachi Satake, Oda, Makabe, Tagadani, Anbo Kunisatomi, and Kamisou Kuni Sakai, were waving flags and shouting from the outside.
For a time, 100,000 allied troops advanced into Musashi Country and surrounded and suppressed the Hojo family with great momentum.
The samurai family in Musashi trembled in front of a hundred thousand troops, except for Daidoji Temple Shengshang in Kawagoe Castle who defended the city.
On the Hojo side, the Edo castle lord Yasushi Ota, the Matsuyama castle lord Ueda Asanao, and the Takiyama castle lord Oishi Sadahisa all changed their banners and welcomed the king.
Uesugi Teruhora and Shiba Yoshigan led the coalition forces, crossed the Matsuyama Territory, went straight into Sagami Country, bypassed Kagotsu Castle and entered the core territory of Hojo.
Odawara Castle was shocked three times a day, so they gathered their troops and entered the city. Hojo Uyasu ordered the daughter of Hojo Tsusunari who was killed in the Sano Territory to be killed in the battle. Hojo Yasunari defended Tamana Castle to the death, and all parts of Hojo were unable to leave the city.
The Hojo family completely transformed into a giant turtle, shrinking into its own turtle shell. Even though the Kwantung Allied Forces ravaged the territory, they did not dare to come out to fight with them.
The Kanto Allied Forces invaded from the Otsuki area of Sagamihara, then went south along the Sagami River, took the Sakazaka River, and besieged Odawara Castle.
At this time, it is also the first snow in winter.
———
Odawara Castle is located not far from the shore of Nishi-Sagami Bay. It stretches for nine kilometers from Mount Hachiman to the coast and has multiple outskirts.
After repeated reinforcements and repairs by the Hojo family, it almost became a huge city that could not be captured by the medieval samurai family, and it was daunting.
The Izu Kingdom to the west of Sagami Bay was the first base for the Hojo family to invade the Kanto Plain. Odawara Castle is connected to the outer border on the coast, and can continuously receive supplies shipped from Izu Province.
The walls are high and the city is strong, and the logistics are constant.
Although Odawara Castle was surrounded by a hundred thousand troops, the people within the Hojo family were stable, and the war reached a stalemate.
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