Hojo Ujiyasu listened carefully and thought over and over again. The Miyoshi family's rebellious move was seeking death, but it gave the Hojo family a chance to get out of trouble.
This businessman has a lot of brains and knows that this news is worth thousands of gold. She took the risk and rushed back by boat before the heavy snow closed the port.
Although Odawara Castle was besieged by a hundred thousand troops, the outer border of the giant castle stretched to the coast, and the sea route was not cut off.
The Echigo side did not have a navy in Sagami Bay. Among the Kanto samurai, the one who might be able to resist the Hojo family's Izu navy was the Satomi family's navy. Her family was attacking the Boso Peninsula and could not take care of this.
Therefore, the sea channel of the Hojo family was still smooth before the heavy snow closed the port. This allowed Shang Mingxing to go ashore and inform Hojo Ujimasa of the valuable information about the Kyoto Incident.
Hojo Ujiyasu wanted to laugh, but her heart ached and she didn't dare to indulge herself at this time. God pitied the three generations of the Hojo family for their difficulty in pioneering, and finally gave them a glimmer of hope.
Hojo Ujiyasu asked in a deep voice.
"Ujimasa, you rushed over to tell me the news. Do you have any ideas?"
Hojo Ushimasa said solemnly.
"Mother, I think this is an opportunity."
Hojo Ujiyasu finally couldn't help laughing. Even if his heart hurt, he had to laugh happily first. The daughter who has experienced ups and downs has finally matured, and there is hope for the successor of the Hojo family.
"Okay, okay, okay."
After saying three good words in a row, Hojo Ujiyasu started sweating profusely on his forehead. Hojo Umasa was so frightened that he was at a loss and thought he had said something wrong.
Hojo Yasushi calmed down his mind, looked at his daughter with bright eyes, and said softly.
"Don't worry, I'm just happy. The Hojo family finally has a chance to survive, and I will never fall down at this time.
Tell me, why do you think this is an opportunity? "
Hojo Ujimasa's mother's complexion gradually improved and she felt a little more at ease. She pondered for a while, organized her words and spoke slowly.
"These days, I have been reflecting on my mistakes. The Echigo army came from afar, and my family had all the right places and people. Why did we suffer such a tragic defeat?
Lord Tsunari Hojo finally desperately sent the Ashikaga White Flag, and I was able to deceive the Furukawa Territory and escape with the remnant army.
We have never fallen behind on Echigo's intelligence. Uesugi Teruhora seems to be powerful, but in fact there are constraints from the old guardians and Yangbei people on the inside, and there are chaos in Yuechuang and Hokushinano outside, so he has a lot of worries.
After thinking about it, I realized that the Echigo army was heading south with great force this time, and there was one person who was planning the strategy for Uesugi Teruhora. It was the Odaisho who we had always ignored. "
Hojo Ujiyasu's face was full of joy, and his daughter had really worked hard to see this clearly.
Since inheriting the Fuchu Nagao family, Teruhora Uesugi has been accustomed to using violence to suppress both internal and external forces.
Although she is extremely talented in the military and is invincible in suppressing rebellions and conquering enemy countries, force is not omnipotent and she has many hidden dangers. As long as she uses any means, it will be enough to make her exhausted.
However, when the Hojo family actually faced the Echigo army, the situation was completely different.
After seeking the approval of General Ashikaga from Kamiro and returning to Echigo, for a full year and a half, Uesugi Terutora did not take any military action in the Kanto Plain, which was not like her style of life.
It is difficult to change the way a person does things, especially successful people, who will subconsciously develop path dependence.
Which method is used to succeed? When making a decision again, this method will be chosen first to continue. Success is called self-confidence, and failure is called arrogance. In fact, it is the excessive self-awareness caused by constant victory.
Terutora Uesugi used force to suppress Echigo, and was arrogant and self-righteous. This person cannot play roundabout tricks, nor can he have the patience to communicate and compromise with the weak in his eyes.
Unless forced to do so, she will continue her style. Suppressing domestic and foreign dissidents, they rushed directly to the Guandong Plain in an attempt to win by force.
But in the past year and a half, Uesugi Teruhu's governing style has changed drastically. She actually straightened out Echigo's complicated domestic and foreign interests, stabilized the external environment, and eased internal conflicts.
Hojo Ushimasa said firmly.
“The strategy of uniting the majority of people and integrating interests to achieve a step-by-step strategy is by no means the style of Uesugi Teruhora. It must be the method of another leader of the Echigo duopolitan politics.
Terutora Uesugi is unstoppable because there is a powerful man standing behind her. In order to defeat the Echigo army, we must first dismantle the duopoly of Echigo. "
Hojo Ujiyasu patted his palms twice and sighed with a smile.
"My daughter has really grown up and can share my worries."
After receiving praise from Hojo Ujiyasu, Hojo Ushimasa became more confident and said.
"Odaisho is from Kyoto, and he is an assistant sent to Kanto by the shogunate to help Uesugi Teruhu ascend to power.
Ever since the Kanto shoguns started their rebellion and the ten kingdoms of Kanto attacked the Ashikaga shogunate, the Ashikaga shoguns' family in Kyoto were more and more afraid of the Kamakura Ashikaga family day by day.
The Kanto Plain is vast and rich in resources, and it is also the origin of the samurai shogunate. A small area can fight against the world. Sekihachishu is the confidant of Ashikaga Shogun, and a dominant family will never be allowed to appear here.
To make an inappropriate metaphor, the current Odaisho is the great-grandmother of the time. They are all heroic figures sent by Kyoto to break the dream of the big forces to dominate Kanto. "
The Hojo family originated from the deacons of the shogunate government, and the descendants of the Ise family. The first generation of the family governor was an Ise woman from Kyoto.
The Imagawa family of the Suruga Kingdom, as the Ashikaga clan, assisted the Ise women to obtain the Izu Kingdom and invade the Sagami Kingdom, which was directed at the Kamakura Ashikaga family.
The water here is very deep, involving the cooperation between the Ashikaga family, the Ise family, the Imagawa family, and the Hojo family.
Times have changed, and several companies have experienced different situations decades later. No one could have imagined that the Hojo family, the original chess pieces, would become the overlords of Kanto.
With the arrival of Yoshigan Shiba, the Ashikaga Shogunate in Kyoto is repeating its old tricks. He was the original Ise girl, the Uesugi family was the original Imagawa family, and the Hojo family was the original Kamakura Ashikaga family.
Same recipe, same routine. The same purpose is to prevent the emergence of a single overlord in Kanto, causing the Kanto Plain to fall into continuous war and being unable to fight against the central Ashikaga Shogunate.
The difference between the two sides was that at that time, the Ashikaga Shogunate behind Ise-onna still had the ability to play with a balancing hand, while Ashikaga Yoshiteru himself, behind Yoshigan Shiba, collapsed first.
After listening to his daughter's lucid analysis, Hojo Ujiyasu asked.
"The Sanhao family committed regicide. What should we do with this news?"
Hojo Ushimasa hesitated and said.
"The two masters of Echigo should soon get news of the chaos in Kyoto, but the Kanto samurai under their command have no channels to understand recent events.
Assuming that I was the leader of Echigo, I would definitely block the news and prevent the Kwantung Allied Forces from knowing that something big happened in their own rear. Only in this way can we stabilize the morale of the army, continue to besiege Odawara Castle, and force us to surrender.
Therefore, I want to reveal the news of the Kyoto Incident to disrupt the morale of the Kwantung Allied Forces and make them withdraw from the siege. "
Hojo Ujiyasu frowned slightly.
Although Hojo Umasa analyzed the situation well, her final decision was mediocre and ineffective, which made her a little disappointed.
But she still suppressed her dissatisfaction. Her daughter's thought of this step was beyond her expectation. The improper handling was also due to lack of experience. She should cultivate it slowly in the future.
Hojo Ujiyasu stretched out two fingers and said.
“To use this news to sway the Kwantung Allied Forces, we need to solve two problems.
First, how do you make the Kwantung Allied Forces believe the news.
We were trapped in Odawara Castle, and suddenly news was released to the outside world. It was shocking news that the Miyoshi family had committed regicide. Who would believe it?
Secondly, if the two masters of Echigo cannot disagree, the morale of the Echigo army will not be shaken, and the Kwantung Allied Forces will not dare to be shaken.
It was the Echigo army that defeated us, and the Kanto samurai were just speculators who pretended to be powerful.
They didn't care what happened in Kyoto, their eyes were always fixed on the two Echigo Lords who could decide their fate.
As long as Uesugi Teruhora and Odaisho cooperate seamlessly, the Kanto Allied Forces will not waver or retreat. "
Hojo Ushimasa's statement was well founded, leaving Hojo Ushimasa speechless. She lowered her head in shame and bowed.
"I'm very sorry. I thought of things too simply."
Hojo Ujiyasu consoled him.
"Ujimasa, if you can see the opportunity for my family to turn around from the Kyoto Incident, you are already an excellent family governor. What you lack is just some mature coping strategies.
Go and issue the order. The whole city mourns the death of Ashikaga Shogun.
Although I, the Hojo family, are foreign ministers, my loyalty to the emperor is no weaker than that of any samurai family. When I heard that the Sanhao family rebelled and killed the king, my heart ached and I screamed endlessly.
The Hojo family is going to Luo! We have to fight to the death with the treacherous regicide! The Sanhao family and I are at odds with each other! There is no me but her! "
Hojo Umasa looked at his impassioned mother blankly, and suddenly realized something. I see! It turns out you can still do this!
If the news is given to the Kanto Allied Forces outside the city, as long as the two masters of Echigo do not express their stance, others will not even dare to believe it, and will only regard it as a rumor that the Hojo family is desperate and has no way out.
But if the entire Hojo family swore an oath for the general, this would be an unusual gesture. The pillars of the samurai family have dominated the world for hundreds of years. With the importance of etiquette in samurai society, the behavior of the Hojo family is considered a serious act of death.
If you spread rumors out of the city, you can deny them afterwards. But the whole city screamed for revenge for you, how can you quibble afterwards? Curse the king, everyone will find it and kill him.
Hojo Uyasu was using his reputation to testify about Miyoshi's treason and regicide, thereby increasing the authenticity of this information.
Secondly, Hojo Ujiyasu clamored to go to Luo to avenge Ashikaga Yoshiteru, but she is now trapped in Odawara Castle, and the person trapping her outside the city is Ashikaga Yoshiteru's fiancé.
Hojo Ujiyasu's struggle for hegemony in Kanto has been reduced to a secondary conflict. The treasonous act of regicide by the Sanhao family was the main contradiction that shook the world of the Wu family.
The Hojo family stated that the internal conflicts within the Wu family can be put aside for the time being, and the Miyoshi family, a major treason that shakes the order of the Wu family, should be killed first. Should the Echigo family take over?
The ball was kicked to Yiyin Shiba's feet, what should he do?
Yoshigan Shiba was sent to Kanto by the shogunate. He held the sword and reopened the Kanto Palace. His righteousness and majesty came from the authorization of Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
Now that Ashikaga Yoshiteru died tragically in Kyoto, Yoshigan Yu privately was her man, and Yu Gong was her minister. What could be more important than revenge for Ashikaga Yoshiteru? Why are you blocking Odawara Castle at this time?
Terutora Uesugi was even more embarrassed. Although she was the leader of Kanto, her title was obtained from Ashikaga Yoshiki in Kamilokyo.
If she shamelessly pretended not to hear anything at this time and continued to besiege Odawara Castle, what would the Kanto samurai family think of her?
Is this kind of selfish villain with no king or mother worthy of being the second-in-command of the Kanto Warrior Family, the leader of the Kanto family? The Kanto Warrior Family cannot afford to lose this person!
Under the Hojo family, the overlord of Kanto, there are many lesser overlords in Kanto. Teruhora Uesugi's face was so disgraced. How could the Satomi family, Satake family, Utsunomiya family, etc., be willing to obey in the future?
Hojo Ujiyasu's move was to put Yoshigan Shiba and Teru Uesugi on the fire. As long as one of the two wavers, the Kwantung Allied Forces will not be able to calm down.
This is the trouble with dual politics. It doesn't matter that the orders come from two sects, and they have the same mind. Once the two masters disagree, the conflict becomes more intense as it goes down, and the grassroots level is the most clear-cut between right and wrong.
Hojo Umasa looked at his mother solemnly, knowing that he did still have many shortcomings and needed to learn from his mother.
Hojo Ujiyasu asked his daughter to go do things quickly, and he fell into deep thought again. Miyoshi's great rebellion was only used to relieve the siege of Odawara Castle, which was really a waste.
She needs to think things through, and it would be best to use this to tear apart the alliance between Yoshigan Shiba and Terutora Uesugi.
There was a problem with Echigo's dual-headed politics, and the Echigo army could no longer take care of the Hojo family. To fight against the outside world, one must first settle the inside, and later one must first bleed into a river of blood.
Hojo Ujiyasu squinted his eyes, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.
Strong fortresses are often destroyed from within, but how strong can this fortress of Echigo be?
Yoshigan Shiba, Terutora Uesugi, can the bond between you be closer and more indestructible than the Hojo family, who are united as one?
Hojo Ujiyasu chuckled softly, and the haze of despair was swept away.
A new storm has emerged, how can we stand still? The Hojo family will not give up just yet, a miracle will definitely happen.
———
Outside Odawara City, a group of people returned to the coalition formation to discuss matters.
Just as he sat down, Yoshigan withdrew his banners, leaving only Teru Uesugi, Mitsunari Ishida, and Kanetsugu Naoe to continue the topic they had just interrupted.
The snowflakes turned into water, and waves of chills ran through the body. Yoshigami managed to pull himself together and asked Ishida Mitsunari.
"What's the situation in Kyoto now?"
Ishida Mitsunari shook his head.
"I don't know. The Hokuriku Road trade route is closed due to winter snow, so we can't get the latest news.
We only know that after the rebellion of Miyoshi and three others, Miyoshi took control of Kyoto after going to Luo. The forces of the Sibo family have all withdrawn from the mountain city country and have retreated to the Sibo territory.
All the adults in the family hope that you will return to Jinji quickly to bring order to the chaos and preside over the overall situation for the shogunate. "
Ishida Mitsunari glanced at Naoe Kanetsugu beside him and knew there was news that he couldn't hide from Uesugi Terutora. Even if you don't say it, others will mention it, so you might as well say it first.
"Before the general died in the battle, he gave the Seal of the King of Japan to Yukino Takada, hoping to pass it on to you to avenge her."
After listening to Ishida Mitsunari's words, the eyes of everyone present flickered, each with their own thoughts.
