Maeda Toshiie got along very well in the Oda family and was very popular. Everyone spoke highly of her.
She is a member of the wild children group of Oda Nobunaga's cronies. She grew up with close ministers such as Niwa Nagahide and Ikeda Tsuneaki and has a close relationship.
He was also born in the Maeda family of Aroko Castle, and got along well with the old samurai warriors from Shimo-Owari County. What's more, he is an old subordinate of Shibata Katsuie, the leader of the old samurai family, and he is full of affection.
After the Oda family conquered Mino country, the Maeda Toshi family made great achievements in battle and changed the position of Mino country to the upper county, holding a territory of 20,000 koku.
Unlike those Oda retainers who were proud of their achievements, her attitude towards the Mino samurai was friendly and reasonable.
Her territory is in the Gujo County area, in the Ryobai Mountains where Mino, Echizen, and Hida meet. The Hida Mountains have little to do with the conflicts between villages competing for land and water in the Noo Plains.
The surrender ministers of Higashino, headed by Hinano Hiroshi, were grateful to her for upholding justice and were willing to associate with her.
The Simino samurai family, led by the three people from Simino and the four members of Fuha Koji, had a pretty good relationship with her, and they knew each other well.
Takenaka Shigeharu really admired this person, he was good at dancing, and he managed the relationship inside and outside harmoniously, but there was just one thing he couldn't figure out.
What is she doing this for?
What's the point of Shiba's retainer being praised by everyone in the Oda family and the Owari Mino samurai family?
Either leave the Shiba family, join Oda Nobunaga's command, and become Oda's retainer to make great achievements.
Either you can work for the Spo family with peace of mind, find an opportunity to return to the center of Spo Yin's side, get close to the master, and perform more to rise steadily.
Staying in the marginalized Owari Shiba collar, being a marginalized person between the two blurred lines, is wasting your time and wasting your talents.
For a person as smart as Maeda Toshiie, he would not be able to see the disadvantages of being in two different situations and not being able to integrate into the core power circle.
Takenaka Shigeharu saluted while thinking about something on his mind. How could such a wise and brave martial artist be willing to live in silence for the rest of his life? Does she have a conspiracy in her heart that others are unaware of?
Maeda Toshiie glanced at Takenaka Shigeharu and had been admiring this famous wise man from Mino for a long time. Her feat of outsmarting Inabayama Castle is still passed down among the Mino warriors.
Hideyoshi Hashiba is indeed a capable person, and her greatest ability is to win people's hearts. A talented strategist like Lian Zhunaka Shigeharu was willing to make suggestions under her command.
Maeda Toshiie pointed to the castle tower and said to Hideyoshi Hashiba.
"It's getting late, hurry up and go in to pay your respects to the main hall. Master Shibata and I just came out, and Master Niwa is still inside."
Hideyoshi Hashiba was overjoyed and said.
"Lord Niwa is here too. I haven't seen her for a while and I miss her very much."
Maeda Toshiie smiled and said.
"You just came to Gifu City and haven't found a place to live yet, right? You don't have to look for it after you get out of the castle tower. Come directly to my place and I will make a place for you."
Oda Nobunaga had already promulgated the centralized housing system for samurai, hoping that high-level samurai would spend as much time living in the city as possible to facilitate control. For this reason, she was rare and generous and gave houses to these important ministers.
Hashiba Hideyoshi was only a man of a thousand stones and was not qualified to receive a bounty house in Gifu Castle. I originally thought that after meeting Oda Nobunaga, I would go to the castle town to find a room to stay in.
At this time, she received the invitation from Maeda Toshiie and said a little embarrassedly.
"I'm really causing you trouble."
Maeda Toshiie shook his head and said.
"Come in quickly and come out early to my place. Long time no see. I still want to have a few drinks and chat with you."
After saying that, Maeda Toshiie said goodbye and left. Looking at her back, Hideyoshi Hashiba's eyes showed genuine sincerity and emotion.
Takenaka Shigeharu on the side was secretly speechless.
She had always admired Hideyoshi Hideyoshi's ability to be a good person, but she never expected that Master Toshiie Maeda was even more good at being a person. No wonder she was able to blend in like a fish in water among all the forces of the Oda family as a foreign minister.
Takenaka Shigeharu thought about it and felt that he should mention something to Hideyoshi Hashiba, so he stepped forward and said.
"Maeda-sama is sincere in his treatment of others, and his magnanimity and magnanimity are rare to see."
Hashiba Hideyoshi failed to appreciate the meaningfulness in Takenaka Shigeharu's words, so he just nodded and said.
"Maeda-sama is indeed a noble person.
When we followed the main hall, she was the banner and I was just a servant. But she never rejected me and treated me well. "
Takenaka Shigeharu nodded with a smile and said nothing more. Hashiba Hideyoshi has true feelings for Maeda Toshiie. Why should he be a villain in vain and speculate on malicious intentions? Just keep a careful note in the future.
Hashiba Hideyoshi completely ignored Takenaka Shigeharu's worry and said to her with a smile.
"Let's go in quickly, we have to find Master Maeda's residence later.
I don’t know how she will entertain us tonight, whether there will be delicious salted fish and pickled radish, I am really looking forward to it. "
After saying that, she turned around and asked her younger sister, Hideuchi Hashiba, to wait outside with a few relatives, Hatamoto. Their status is too low to enter the castle tower.
Then, Hashiba Hideyoshi took two of his forces, Hachisuga Masakatsu and Takenaka Shigeharu, to see Oda Nobunaga.
———
Maeda Toshiie who walked away turned around and glanced at Hashiba Hideyoshi who entered the castle tower.
There is no hatred without reason in the world, and there is no love without reason. Her and Niwa Nagahide's tolerance of Hashiba Hideyoshi was also based on their own standpoints.
In martial arts politics, the most important thing is not how strong or outstanding your abilities are. It’s about what connections you have, which circle you belong to, how to maintain contacts, and each gets what they need.
The Wu family's group culture consists of large circles within circles and small circles within middle circles. Everyone has his own group and must resolutely safeguard the interests of his own group.
There is a saying in the Middle East that I fight with my brothers, I fight with my brothers and cousins, and I fight with my brothers and cousins against outsiders.
The truth behind this statement is similar to that of Wu family politics.
Hashiba Hideyoshi was indeed humble, but she, Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie had a common circle of overlapping contacts.
Although she is not a member of the wild children who grew up with Oda Nobunaga, she is a servant of Oda Nobunaga and is considered a close confidant.
She was established as a model of common people's counterattack, but she entered the Kinoshita family to obtain a true samurai identity. She worked with the Oda Gyōshou headed by Niwa Nagahide, and she was regarded as one of the Gyōshō clan's own.
The most important thing is that Hashiba Hideyoshi's current predicament is due to the need for Oda Nobunaga's military reforms, and he single-handedly pushed her to the stage as a target.
Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie, who have always followed Oda Nobunaga's footsteps, of course have to show goodwill to Hashiba Hideyoshi.
In fact, it was to show Oda Nobunaga's absolute loyalty that when there was a conflict between Oda Nobunaga and the Oda retainers, he would stand firmly on Oda Nobunaga's side.
Therefore, Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie's concern for Hashiba Hideyoshi is not simply to appreciate her as a person, but out of comprehensive considerations.
Consider the thoughts of the members of the Wild Child Group, the senses of Oda followers, and the reaction of Oda Nobunaga.
Hashiba Hideyoshi and the two of them have too many overlapping connections and circles. Even for the stability and development of their own group, their attitudes must be friendly.
Of course, Hideyoshi Hashiba's own abilities were also recognized by the two, but the complexity of the samurai family's politics did not change based on personal emotions.
Only a politically mature leader of the Wu family knows how to assess the situation.
———
Hashiba Hideyoshi walked into the castle tower, took a deep breath, and adjusted himself.
Every time she met Oda Nobunaga, she would use her fullest spirit to face this terrible lord and win her favor.
Yes, the terrible lord.
Oda Nobunaga's words can lift her to the clouds or push her into the abyss. She is Hideyoshi Hashiba's god, the omnipotent deity.
Did Hideyoshi Hashiba really not understand Takenaka Shigeharu’s warning? Is it true that Hashiba Hideyoshi can’t guess the deep meaning behind Niwa Nagahide and Maeda Toshiie’s kindness?
She understands everything, so what can she change? It's better not to understand and concentrate on being a full-fledged Hideyoshi Hashiba who strives to reach the top.
She comes from a humble background and cannot make a mistake, miss a chance, or suffer a failure. She must have a 100% winning rate.
After all kinds of tests, ninety-nine times of success, if she fails just once, she will lose all her chips.
With a warm smile on his face, Hashiba Hideyoshi walked into the meeting hall where Oda Nobunaga was sitting.
No more hesitation, no retreat even if there is trauma. She will always win, keep winning, and never fail.
———
In the meeting hall, Oda Nobunaga was walking back and forth excitedly. The pair of jade rabbits on her chest were rising and falling, almost ready to jump out, almost unable to contain the majestic ambition in her heart.
She was so excited, she didn't expect it to go so smoothly. Originally, Niwa Nagahide was just sent to Konka to try his luck, but he actually got a big trump card.
Oda Nobunaga doesn't care what Ashikaga Yoshiaki is. Even if she is a pig, she is confident that she can help her become the Ashikaga General.
Wada Yamasa represents the old party of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and Hosokawa Fujitaka represents the powerful local factions of the two Hosokawa-Mibuchi shogunate. Their attitudes are the most important.
With their invitation, the Oda family's road to Luo was completely opened. With the support of several recent local forces, Oda Nobunaga is not afraid of encountering the dilemma that the Miyoshi family faces in Kyoto at this time.
She turned back and forth on the main seat, releasing the unbearable excitement in her heart, and couldn't help praising Niwa Nagahide who was sitting there.
"Well done, Mi Wuniang! That's great! I want to reward you big!"
Seeing Oda Nobunaga jumping up and down with joy like a child, Niwa Nagahide has long been accustomed to her wild behavior after following this master for many years.
She said calmly.
“Main Hall, it’s not the time to be happy yet.
The two sides reached an agreement. Lord Wada Weimasa has returned and asked His Highness Ashikaga Yoshiaki to move to Asai's house in Kitaomi to wait for our army to go to Luo.
However, the route to Luo has not yet been determined. The time to ascend to Luo must be before Lord Shiba Kenshin comes back, and everything needs to be carefully weighed and calculated.
And when we go to Luo, do the martial arts families from the surrounding countries need to take precautions? You have to guard against the story of Imagawa Yoshimoto back then. "
Oda Nobunaga stopped, sat back at the head of the table, pulled back his kimono, revealing a large patch of white on his chest, and fanned himself fiercely with a paper fan.
Her chest was flushed with excitement, and she was so hot from walking back and forth, and a lot of sweat flowed down the curve, making her feel so uncomfortable that she wanted to take off all her clothes.
While opening his kimono and fanning his chest to cool off the air, Oda Nobunaga thought and said.
"Before coming to Gifu Castle, Wada Weimasa had already contacted Asai Nagamasa, right?
That younger brother and sister of mine, I wish the Rokkaku family could disappear completely from this world. I went to Luo Jingdu to help her level the Minami Omi. Of course she would be willing to send troops together.
Naturally, the sooner the better. Shiba Yiyin, ha, I won't give him a chance, I will definitely get ahead of him!
After your hard work, go to Kitaomi and negotiate with Asai Nagamasa about your time in Luo. The earlier the time is set, the better. Don’t wait for the slack after spring plowing.
If she has problems with logistics and military supplies, I will solve them. As long as she is willing to cooperate and give all the money and food to me, I will have plenty of food!
As long as Kitanomi can mobilize farmers and soldiers to support the logistics line, I will make up for all the food gaps caused. "
If Oda Nobunaga wants to complete Kamiro before Shiba Yoshigan returns, he must catch the Minami Omi Rokkaku family by surprise.
If they send troops during the slack season after spring plowing, the Rokkaku family can mobilize a large number of farmers and soldiers to defend, and the war will inevitably be protracted.
But Oda Nobunaga's military reform was aimed at fighting against the season. Sending troops before spring plowing directly disrupted the rhythm of traditional martial arts operations.
The Oda family sits on the Noo Plain of Owari and Mino Ryogoku, with a stone height of 1.1 million koku. Oda Nobunaga just knocked down the Kitaise samurai family and asked them to surrender and offer money and food.
War is nothing more than fighting for logistics and money and food. After hundreds of years of troubled times, it has been the core area of war in recent times, and its power has withered.
The territory here is exhausted and the Wu family is in disarray. With the cooperation of the local leading party, the Oda family can completely crush them with their strength.
Niwa Nagahide followed his master's thoughts and asked.
"Then we never break through and attack?"
Oda Nobunaga nodded.
“The army walked through Sekigahara, entered Kitaomi, and joined forces with the Asai family to march into Minamiomi.
I will write to the Liujiao family and ask her family to cooperate with the volunteers to go to Luo this time, open the city and clear out the treasury, and get out of the way without any violation.
If he doesn't comply, the Sangluo Yibing will regard the Rokkaku family as the Miyoshi family's allies, and let Rokkaku Yiji carefully consider it and take action on his own. "
Niwa Nagahide shook his head and was speechless. Oda Nobunaga was trying to kill someone, and he was clearly trying to force Rokkaku Yoshiji to jump over the wall.
Open the city and clear out the treasury, make way for the road, and then the Oda family and the Asai family come to occupy the magpie's nest. Will there be a place for the Rokkaku family in the future after Minami Omi?
Oda Nobunaga continued.
"The south cannot be idle either. I will let the Nishi Mino people supervise the North Ise samurai family and send troops to Suzuka Pass.
Didn't Kobe Gumori and Seki Nobumori say that the eight counties of Kitaise truly surrendered to me and were loyal to me?
Okay, I'll give them a chance to prove themselves. Let them turn their guns and hit their old masters, the Rokkaku family.
Let the Nishimino people keep an eye on them and guard against the intervention of the Iga Kuni Shiba leader at Suzuka Pass. Heading north to harass Minami Omi Koga County, we thought we were diverting our troops, so we responded to our army and attacked Minami Omi Rokkaku's house. "
