Hojo Ujiyasu couldn't help laughing.
"Uesugi Teruhora is so complacent that she really thinks that our Hojo family is like a piece of cake on the chopping board, and that she can already dominate the Kanba Province.
good, very good. What about the imperial office? Why didn't he persuade Terutora Uesugi? "
She was keenly aware of something strange, and there didn't seem to be any peace inside Echigo.
Hojo Genan smiled.
"His Majesty Ujiyasu Hideki, this is what I feel is wrong. The internal affairs of Echigo may not be as harmonious as they show.
There must be a rift between Godaisho and Uesugi Terutora, but they just don't want to show it to outsiders. But from this incident, we can still get a clue.
Uesugi Teruhora's jurisdiction over the Sekishu samurai family had to be avoided by the imperial office. Even though her approach was rough, the imperial office did not express any opinions to prevent her from governing. "
Hojo Ujiyasu clapped his hands in satisfaction, agreeing with Hojo Genan's idea.
Sensing that Echigo's duopoly was unstable, her mood suddenly improved.
We are not afraid of the enemy being strong, but we are afraid of the enemy being united. Strong fortresses tend to collapse from within rather than from external forces.
The Kwantung Allied Forces were full of contradictions. Externally they were dissatisfied with the Kwantung warriors, and internally there were differences between Shiba Yiyin. Uesugi Teruhora hasn't won yet, and Hojo Ujiyasu hasn't lost yet, and they have a chance to turn the situation around.
Hojo Ujiyasu was still thinking, Hojo Genan said.
"Of course, there are also some people who are ignorant of current affairs. I went to visit Oishi Sadahisa specifically, and her attitude was quite indifferent."
Hojo Ujiyasu said calmly.
"Really? That's such a shame."
Under her seemingly nonchalant tone, she was actually very angry.
The Oishi family was originally a retainer of Uesugi in Yamauchi and the hereditary guardian of Musashi. They were a prominent family in Musashi country.
In the battle across the river, the Kanto generals and the two Uesugi family's coalition forces were defeated, and Oishi Sadahisa had to bow his head and surrender to the Hojo family. In order to appease the Musashi family, Hojo Ujiyasu was very tolerant to her.
The Oishi family's Takiyama Castle is not far from Tsukui Castle and is an important border town that has influence on the three kingdoms of Ueno, Musashi and Sagami.
This time the Kwantung Allied Forces passed through Matsuyama Castle and Takiyama Castle, passed through Sagamihara, and arrived at Odawara Castle.
The Hojo family's Sagami defense line, Tsukui Castle, Koki Castle, and Tamana Castle were not lost, but because of the surrender of Takiyama Castle, Uesugi Teruhora was able to pass between Tsukui Castle and Koki Castle.
Now Oishi Sadahisa's attitude is cold and ruthless, making Hojo Ujiyasu even more afraid. The Oishi family of Takiyama Castle has become the nail that Uesugi Teruhora wedges into Hojo's territory and must be removed.
Dealing with Oishi Sadahisa was still the next step. Hojo Ujiyasu temporarily put aside this worry and talked about the conditions for the withdrawal of the Kwantung Allied Forces.
"Aunt, thank you for your hard work and go to the coalition camp again. I agree to the conditions of the Imperial Palace. Yusheng City will release its defense line to ensure that the Kwantung coalition forces can pass without hindrance."
Hojo Ujimasa said in confusion.
"Mother, since you have seen through Yutaisuo's plan, why do you still follow his wishes?"
Hojo Ujiyasu shook his head.
"So what if I see through it? This is a conspiracy, and the imperial office is not afraid of me seeing through it. The army is approaching the city, and I have no choice.
But that doesn't mean I have to watch his plan succeed. There are many things that can be done.
Aunt, if you want to clear the way for the coalition forces to clear the way for the defenders to block their way, stay in the Kwantung coalition formation and get along with your old friends for a while. "
Hojo Genan was thoughtful.
"Your Majesty Ujiyasu, you want me to follow the Kwantung Allied Forces to Kamakura to supervise the release of the defense line by the Tamakisushi?"
Hojo Ujiyasu smiled.
"Let Hojo Yasunari suffer some injustice, and strictly guard Tamana Castle and don't give Uesugi Teruhora an opportunity to take advantage of him.
In all other matters, he strictly observed etiquette and served her with the etiquette he would treat a leader from Kanto. The coalition forces readily agreed to requests for supplies, showing the hesitation and humility of the Hojo family.
I will try my best to compensate for the losses suffered by the Jade Sheng people. Please continue to support the Hojo family and not hold any grudges. "
Two generations of leaders of the Tamadero clan, including Hojo Tsunari and Sano leader, died in the battle at Hojo Ryuyama. Almost all the accompanying tribesmen fell on the battlefield, many of whom were Hime warriors from the Tamaro clan.
When the enemy crosses the border, they are expected to greet them with a smile and do what they want to do. Is this what humans do?
And Hojo Ujiyasu wanted to achieve this effect, using the humbleness of the Tamakis to show the helpless surrender of the Hojo family.
Hojo Umasa asked.
"Mother, is this a arrogant strategy?"
Hojo Ujiyasu smiled slightly and did not answer her. Instead, he said to Hojo Genan.
"My aunt is well-connected and well-informed. When we arrive at the Kwantung Allied Forces, please pay more attention to the current situation of our old friends.
Before and after Uesugi Teruhu's succession ceremony, he must have started planning for post-war distribution. Each family has different relationships and information is not smooth. The aunt can be a good person to help them communicate and get information. "
After saying that, Hojo Ujiyasu turned to his daughter and asked.
"Ujimasa, do you understand?"
Hojo Ushimasa smiled.
"I understand, Mother.
Although our family suffered heavy losses, the core territory is far away from Echigo country, and it is impossible for Uesugi Teruhu to come to Sagami country to occupy the territory for the time being.
The Echigo army worked hard and made great achievements. After the war, they must be generously rewarded. These benefits came from the pockets of the Kanto samurai family near Echigo, and they would definitely be dissatisfied.
Are you trying to accelerate the intensification of the conflict between Echigo and the Kanhachishu samurai family? "
Hojo Uyasu said happily when he saw that his daughter responded quickly.
"Yes, Uesugi Teruhu is arrogant, so I will magnify her arrogance.
As the representative of the shogunate, the Odaisho wanted to avoid suspicion and ignored the internal affairs of the Kanto system. Let’s wait and see the good show of Teru Sugi’s past brutal governance methods in Echigo. "
Hojo Ushimasa hesitated.
"But mother, we still opened the road to Kamakura. Once Terutora Uesugi completes the ceremony, she will definitely ask my family to surrender with a sword.
Can what you have done really cause the internal conflicts of the Kwantung Allied Forces to break out and stop the conspiracy imposed by the imperial government on us? "
Hojo Ujiyasu sighed and said.
"It's up to people to plan things, and it's up to God to make things happen. I've done my best, and then it depends on whether God's will is what I want."
The three people present were speechless for a moment.
Odawara Castle was besieged by a hundred thousand troops. Although Hojo Uyasu always seemed confident, was it really as easy as she showed?
The army outside the city is watching eagerly, and if you are not careful, your family and property will be completely destroyed.
People are knives and servants, and I am fish and meat. Hojo Ujiyasu can only be himself and hope for a turnaround.
———
With Hojo Ujiyasu accepting the terms, the Kwantung Allied Forces turned to Kamakura.
Under Hojo Genan's negotiation, the Yushen people were so humiliated that they endured this humiliation. Villages along the way donated food one after another, and the samurai came out to welcome them.
All the samurai saw the humility of the Hojo family. Hojo Genan visited Uesugi Genan every day and complimented Uesugi Teruhora. The Kanto martial arts family is not willing to be seconded. Regardless of whether it is sincere or not, flattery is enough.
Amidst all the laughter, Shiba Yiyin became somewhat alert.
Hojo Ujiyasu seemed to have surrendered, and gave Uesugi Terutora extremely high courtesy, as if he recognized her as the Kanto leader.
But apart from etiquette and supplies, Hojo Genan never let up on his status.
In other words, Uesugi Terutora most needed recognition from the Hojo family of the distinction between monarch and minister, the distinction between superior and inferior, but Hojo Ujiyasu still did not provide it.
Yoshigan couldn't help but wonder, what on earth was Hojo Ujiyasu thinking? Is she going to wait until the last minute? Will he wait until Terutora Uesugi completes the succession ceremony and asks for the sword sacrifice before he is willing to admit his failure?
Finally, the Kwantung Allied Forces passed through Yusheng City and were not greeted by Kaicheng. Under Hojo Genan's respectful attitude, Uesugi Teruhora generously forgave Hojo Yasunari for his vigilance in guarding the city.
At this time, Uesugi Terutora already believed that Hojo Ujiyasu would soon succumb, and she rushed to Kamakura Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine to hold the succession ceremony.
It was not convenient for Yoshihiro Shiba to intervene in the internal affairs of the Kanto system, so he hesitated to remind Uesugi Teruhu. In the end, he looked at the walls of Jade Rope City in a daze and chose not to say anything.
Everything should be fine, right? Then don't add unnecessary complications.
Regarding the return of Shiba Yoshigan, Uesugi Teruhu had already resigned in humiliation, and Yoshigan did not want to irritate her over some trivial matter.
Today, Uesugi Teruhu is enshrined by the Kanto samurai family. It is the proud time when the fire is cooking the oil and the flowers are blooming. With her proud second-generation temperament, Yiyin may not listen to her advice.
If the tone accidentally aroused her temper and then went back to the emotional dispute that Yiyin was most afraid of, it would be nothing but trouble. Yiyin thought about it and kept silent.
Passing Tamana Castle and heading south across the Katase River, you will arrive in the Kamakura area.
At that time, the first generation governor of Hojo, the Ise woman, took the Tokaido to Kanto, and with the help of the Imagawa family, she conquered the country of Izu.
After completing a series of preparations, she crossed the Hakone Mountains and began the Hojo family's great cause of conquering Kanto. Her first goal was Odawara Castle.
Sagami Province is divided into two parts, the east part belongs to the Kanto Plain, and the west part belongs to the Kanto Mountains. The Ise women first captured Odawara Castle in Nishi Sagami and used it as a base to expand eastward.
Her campaign in Kanto did not go well. The governor of the Ogitani Uesugi family and Uesugi Kensada tried their best to counterattack, and even captured Odawara Castle for a time.
But in the end, Ise Woman succeeded in defeating Uesugi Kensada in Musashi Kawahara and captured Sagami Country.
In her later years, the Ise woman focused on consolidating the new territory and completely held the Sagami Kingdom in the hands of the Hojo family. To this end, she built the Jade Rope City.
The successive generations of the castle dynasties of Yusou Castle were all military generals among the Hojo clan, because of the special status of Yusou Castle.
The Hojo family first occupied the land of Sagami Country outside the Miura Peninsula. Tamana Castle was built north of Kamakura to prevent the hostile forces on the Miura Peninsula from counterattacking.
Kamakura is located in the northwest of the Miura Peninsula, guarding the entrance to the Kanto Plain. The Kamakura area is surrounded by mountains to the east, north, and west, and faces Sagami Bay to the south.
Sagami Bay at the mouth of the Katase River is the Shonan coast, Enoshima, and the location of one of the author's favorite comics, Slam Dunk.
The Kamakura shogunate imitated the Five Mountains and Ten Temples of Jiangnan Zen Buddhism in the Song Dynasty and established the Japanese Five Mountains system and nun system. This is the Kamakura Five Mountains.
Kamakura is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the five official temples appointed by the shogunate are located here. In the center of the valley surrounded by mountains is Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
Traveling through the Kamakura Mountains requires passing through the narrow Kamakura Seven Gates, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Minamoto Yoritomo established the prototype of the samurai shogunate, the shrine here. Afterwards, the Kamakura shogunate rose up, ushering in a new era of shogunate rule under the samurai family.
Four hundred years later, the Go-Hojo family occupied Sagami Country and finally defeated the hostile forces on the Miura Peninsula.
At this time, Tamana Castle took on a more important responsibility, that is, to replace Odawara Castle and become the forward base for the Hojo family to conquer the Kanto Plain.
Miura Peninsula and Boso Peninsula face each other across the sea, separating the two offshore waters of Sagami Bay and Edo Bay. Tamana Castle is crucial as the connection point between Odawara Castle and Edo Castle.
Whether it is conquering Musashi Kingdom or crossing the sea to invade the Boso Peninsula, Tamana Castle is an important fulcrum.
At this time, Kamakura was no longer what it was during the Kamakura Shogunate era. In the continuous war, the bustling cities degenerated into villages.
The Kamakura Ashikaga family had long since relocated to the Furukawa area of Shimotsou Province, leaving only the memory of the samurai family’s traditional holy places, such as Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the Genji Shrine.
The third generation of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu massacred the emperor's ministers, and Shintoism, which was closely connected with the emperor, was eradicated. The only Shinto shrine left was Hachimangu Shrine.
The Hachiman God in Shintoism is a trinity, also known as the Hachiman Three Gods. Among them, the main god, Emperor Ojin, was regarded as the ancestor of the Genji samurai family, and Hachiman God became the clan god of the Genji family.
During the Kamakura period, the descendants of Kawachi Genji became the pillars of the samurai family and conquered the world. The Hachiman God also further became the god of war and the patron saint of the samurai family.
As a direct descendant of the Genji family in Kawachi, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the pillar of the samurai family, would not dare to destroy the Hachimangu Shrine, which enshrines the three gods of Hachiman, even if he destroyed Shintoism.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura is a sacred place for the samurai family. It enshrines the pillars of the Minamoto family, the imperial white flag of the Minamoto no Yoshi family, the Hachiman Tai Ni, and the imperial white flag of the first shogun, Minamoto Yoritomo.
The ceremonies for the Kamakura Ashikaga family and the Uesugi family to inherit the Kanto shogunate, and the Kanto shogunate, need to be held at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine to show orthodoxy.
This was also the reason why Terutora Uesugi had to go to Kamakura. Without going through the succession ceremony at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, she, the leader of Kanto, would not be truly recognized by all the samurai families of the Ten Kingdoms of Kanto.
It was impossible for all the 100,000 troops to enter the Kamakura Mountains. Most of the troops were stationed there after crossing the Katase River.
Only a small number of noble samurai continued to follow Uesugi Terutora, passed through Kamakura Shichikou, and entered Kamakura Tsurugaoka.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is also called Kamakura Hachimangu Shrine.
Five hundred years ago, Minamoto Yoriyoshi persuaded Seishishui Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto to build a new Hachiman Shrine in the Yuigahama area of Kamakura.
Four hundred years ago, the first shogun Minamoto Yoritomo moved the shrine to the Yukinoshita area of Kamakura and expanded it into Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, called Tsurugaoka Wakagu Palace, which was also the center of the Kamakura shogunate.
Terutora Uesugi led countless nobles of the Kanto samurai family through the Kamakura Mountains and along the Shonan coast until they reached the Yuigahama coast, where the ceremony would begin.
As a digression, as early as a thousand years ago, the God Hachiman moved from the Yuigahama area to the Yukinoshita area, and he had already predicted the ending of a certain book.
As an aside, the author has a friend who is a staunch Yuigahama Party. The reason is very simple. Whoever has the bigger bear is right.
