Shiba Yoshigan allowed Hosokawa Fujitaka to stay at Shiba's residence after the banquet, sending a clear signal to all kinds of people attending the banquet.
Shiba Yiyin, who was once regarded as a chaste widow, is succumbing to reality. Now that he has an illegitimate daughter, his attitude towards the defense of men and women is beginning to loosen.
This signal was quickly received by everyone.
Politics is the art of compromise, and nothing is ever clean when it comes to politics. As long as the benefits are sufficient, you can have sex with your enemies of life and death. Once their interests conflict with each other, they are like sisters who draw swords against each other.
Sibo Yiyin has become the most influential ruler of the island country, not even one of them. The struggle for interests surrounding him can no longer be slandered by simply saying that a man is unfaithful.
As long as the benefits are sufficient, some people will take the initiative to clear his name. As long as the benefits are substantial, countless Ji warriors are willing to live with him and have children.
Whether Sibo Yiyin himself was holy or dissolute was irrelevant. Whether we can get enough political benefits from him is the most important thing.
Do the high-ranking nuns of the Shingon Sect, Tendai Sect, and Yixiang Sect really think that Yoshiyin is a god descending to earth, so they are dedicated to building momentum for him?
Do the powerful warriors inside and outside the shogunate really think that Yoshigage is a living god, so they would happily accept the illegitimate children of a slut to become a god's bloodline?
In the final analysis, everyone is following the trend and working hard where there is least resistance in order to obtain the greatest political benefits.
As the saying goes, if you get the right way, you will get a lot of help, but if you don't get the right way, you will get little help. Yiyin was also pushed to the forefront with the help of the collective appeal of the girls, and he achieved his new Shinto.
No one is a fool, and no one wants to have trouble with themselves. Everyone is pursuing maximizing interests wholeheartedly.
But humans are not grass and trees, nor are they absolutely rational robots. After all, they have their own feelings. For example, Maeda is very depressed right now.
Maeda's love for Shiba Yoshigan has not wavered over the years. Akechi Mitsuhide promoted Hosokawa Fujitaka, and the two stayed at Shiba's residence together. Maeda was naturally unhappy.
But she couldn't get into the attack again, so she could only drink a lot of wine and return to Fushimi Castle.
Fushimi Castle is an important town in southern Kyoto. It protects the Yodo River that runs through the Osaka Plain and the Kyoto Basin. Its main tributaries are in the Kyoto section of the basin.
It can be said that most of the supplies entering and leaving Kyoto have to be transported ashore from the southern suburbs and moved under the nose of Fushimi Castle.
Sakamoto Castle oversees the mouth of Lake Biwa, Yodo Castle oversees water transportation in and out of Settsu Province, Yamashiro Province, and Fushimi Castle in the southern suburbs of Kyoto.
These three important towns form the three nodes of water transportation in the entire Kyoto Basin, especially Fushimi Castle, the gateway to the southern suburbs of Kyoto, which is the most important city among the three cities.
Since Yoshigami Shiba led his troops to Luo and drove away the Oda family's military power in Kyoto, Maeda has occupied Fushimi Castle as the general of the recent Shiba camp and commanded the defense of Yamashiro from here.
Tonight, Maeda returned to Fushimi Castle drunk and was about to rest, but was told by the guard that Maeda Riku had arrived from Iga Country and was waiting for her in the council hall.
Maeda was surprised and hurried to the meeting hall, smiling at Maeda Riku who had been waiting for him for a long time.
"Mother, why are you here?"
During the days when Maeda's interests were on the rise, Maeda Toshihisa had been guarding Ueno Castle in Iga Province, arranging supplies in the rear, and coordinating the support of the recent Shiba Territory to the Kyoto Shiba garrison.
Maeda Riku looked at the drunk Maeda in front of him, feeling a little distressed and a little dissatisfied.
"Why are you so drunk? You really don't know how to take care of your body!"
Maeda Riku helped Maeda Mitsuru to the throne, went out and called the waiter, and brought hot water to wipe Maeda Mitsuru's face.
Maeda, who was dizzy after drinking under his mother's careful care, showed a silly smile and waited patiently for his mother to ease his drunken discomfort.
After Maeda Riku finally poured a cup of hot water and slowly fed Maeda Yoshida to drink, he frowned and sat back down in his seat, looking at the half-drunk and half-awakened Maeda Yoshida with a look of hatred.
Maeda asked with a smile.
"Mom, why are you here in Kyoto? Is the situation in Iga country okay?"
Maeda Toshiie said.
“The defense on Iga’s side is very good.
Otani Yoshitsugi has lived up to your trust and even personally led people to guard the front lines of the Suzuka Mountains in the middle of winter. Takao Mitsujun of the Koga clan sent people to spy several times, but she blocked them all. "
Maeda nodded.
"Otani-hime is worthy of me, and I feel at ease with her taking care of my back."
Maeda Toshiie asked.
"I heard that you vouched for Miyoshi Yoshitsugu in front of your Majesty. Are you planning to entrust her with an important role when the war starts next year?"
Maeda smiled.
"Yes, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu is a fierce general, and his prowess is comparable to that of the Miyoshi family's number one general, Tokawa Ichibun."
Maeda Toshiie shook his head.
"But she is Shihe Icun's daughter after all. You also know that in the battle of Yamato, Shihe Icun was beheaded by the king himself.
If Miyoshi Yoshitsugu has a grudge against him and makes a counterattack in next year's war, affecting the war situation, you, the guarantor, will also be implicated. "
Maeda sighed.
"My mother doesn't know that although I am trusted by the king and, as the recent general of the Sibo family, am in charge of the military affairs of the Sibo coalition, this job is really difficult to do.
Not to mention that Nizi Katsuhisa and Takada Yono were in charge of my logistics. I had to discuss many things with them. Just saying that each of the allies had different ideas and treated me so perfunctorily made me feel very uncomfortable.
I can't always go to Tsudo Hall and complain when I have any friction with my allies, right?
Once or twice is okay, but after too many times, Tsudoda will doubt my ability and feel that I am unable to control the situation.
Among the allied forces, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu was the most resolute in supporting Jun Shang's war. Whether it was military discussions or mobilization, she went all out and put a lot of pressure on other allies.
With her singing this dark side, I can deal with those allies who don't agree with me much more easily.
These days, I have been in close contact with Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, and I have discovered that she is actually quite upright. Now she just wants to hug Tsutado-dono's thigh tightly and prepare a way out for her future.
Since she does sincerely support Jinduoden and is very helpful to me, I am willing to give her a helping hand, which will be beneficial to the war and the future. "
Maeda Riku nodded and said.
"It's not easy for you either. The position of general is really not easy to sit in. If Miyoshi Yoshitsugi sincerely joins Tsudo-don, it would be a good idea to give her a hand.
What's the matter with you looking like this now?
Today's banquet is supposed to be a banquet for the shogunate concubines at Tsudo Hall. Why are you drinking like this? If you accidentally lose your etiquette at the banquet, wouldn't it be a joke for outsiders to see? "
Maeda smiled bitterly.
"Mom, I feel really uncomfortable.
Akechi Mitsuhide is really nothing, and he even helped Hosokawa Fujitaka stay at Shiba Mansion. Isn't this a smear on Tsutado-don's face?
I don’t know what rumors will spread outside, but you are really not a subject of others, this treacherous sycophant! "
Maeda complained to his mother, and his anger towards Mitsuhide Akechi was beyond words.
Maeda Riku asked her back.
"Benefit, how long has it been since you slept with your Majesty?"
Maeda Yoshida was frightened by his mother's words and subconsciously looked at the closed sliding door.
"Mother, why do you say this?"
Maeda Rihisa scoffed.
"Don't worry, there's no one at the door, it's just you and me, mother and daughter.
Why are you pretending to be in front of me? As early as Owari, I knew that there must have been something between you and Tsutama.
I'm just annoyed with you. Why are you becoming more timid and fearful now, instead of being as bold as you were back then? "
Maeda smiled bitterly.
"Today is different from the past. Your Majesty's status has become higher and higher over the years. I have also been entrusted with important responsibilities, but I cannot be as free and carefree as before.
Mother, haven't you always opposed my obsession with the Lord and my jealousy with Maeda Toshiie? What's wrong with you today? Suddenly asked about this? "
Maeda Toshiie glared at his daughter.
"Is it useful for me to object?
It has been six years since you came out of Owari. Half of the girl has grown into an old girl, but she is still stubborn and refuses to marry a husband honestly.
Also, the Li family is your fourth aunt. How can you call her by her first name? You don’t understand any etiquette.
Speaking of which, Li Jia is also a stubborn person. She is a few years older than you. If she continues to be obsessed with her, she will become an old woman soon. "
Maeda Riku became angrier as he talked, shaking his head and sighing.
In this medieval era, people got married very early, and they could become grandmothers or old women at the age of thirty. Toshiie Maeda was already twenty-seven or eighty years old at the moment, so he went to be an old woman, right?
A sister and an adopted daughter were all blinded by lard, and all they could think about was Shiba Yoshigan. What could Maeda Rihisa do?
Over the years, Maeda Riku had gotten tired of trying to persuade her, but now, she had some other ideas.
Maeda Riku was complaining as always, but Maeda Moji heard something strange in it, and his mother's attitude seemed to have changed.
Maeda asked cautiously.
"Mother, what do you want to happen between me and your Majesty?"
Maeda Rihisa sighed.
"I originally expected you to find a husband, and with your current position of power, you would find a strong samurai family within and outside the Shiba family to marry into. In the future, the Iga Maeda family would also be able to get a strong support.
But what about you? I refuse to marry my husband, and there has been no progress on the Junshang side. How could I have a worthless daughter like you?
Even if you imitate Takeda Shingen and get a big belly, you can still make me feel at ease a lot. At least with your attitude towards your children, you will inevitably have to take care of the Iga Maeda family in the future.
Look at how smart Akechi Mitsuhide is. He knows what he wants and dares to do it. He pulls Hosokawa Fujitaka to join forces to fight for favor.
If I look at you again, I know how to drink away my sorrows! "
Maeda said depressedly.
"I'm not that shameless person like Akechi Mitsuhide. Even if I'm with you, I still have to be married to a matchmaker, or officially married."
Maeda Riku sighed and stamped his feet anxiously.
"Stupid daughter! Are you still counting on your Majesty to recruit a wife? When did your Majesty ever explicitly mention that you were getting married? That was all Akechi Mitsuhide secretly fanning the flames, leading you fools to take it seriously!
Now the three major sects are building momentum for you to lead you to the divine way. It is already obvious.
Your Majesty wants to be a living god, how can he marry a secular person? If you want to fight, that is also the blood of the king, my silly daughter!
Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin have already succeeded, Akechi Mitsuhide is dragging Hosokawa Fujitaka to run away, you fool are still here feeling sorry for yourself!
Do you really have to watch them become pregnant one by one and have children before you wake up? "
Maeda Toshihisa's words were like an enlightenment that instantly woke up Maeda's desperate interests.
Yes, your Majesty first became a monk and cultivated, and then he built up the momentum to become a god. He is about to go to the altar.
Once he becomes a living god, who else in the world is qualified to marry him? Once you embark on the Shinto path, there is no turning back. It is impossible for Shiba Yiyin to get married in this life.
The dispute over the marriage is even more nonsense. Your Majesty has never admitted it!
Maeda took a deep breath and suddenly realized that he was a complete idiot.
Thinking that Akechi Mitsuhide was dragging Hosokawa Fujitaka to have sex with him at Shiba's mansion, and taking away the King's seed that should have belonged to him, Maeda was so angry that his face turned red and white.
Maeda Riku finally understood Maeda's interests and wanted to hit her on the forehead a few times. She is such a stupid daughter!
If possible, Maeda Toshihisa certainly hopes that Maeda will be able to marry a husband normally.
With the current status of the Iga Maeda family, the descendants of recent powerful samurai families and famous families would not refuse to marry with Maeda for their own benefit.
The two powerful forces join forces to survive the troubled times. The Iga Maeda family will surely become a famous family in the next era, and will enjoy at least a hundred years of glory.
However, reality forced Maeda Riku to wade into this muddy water and support Maeda's interests in pursuing the bloodline heir of Shiba Yoshigan.
On the one hand, Maeda was deeply in love with Shiba Yigen and had shown no repentance over the years. Maeda Toshihisa was tired of persuading him and gave up.
On the other hand, for the Iga Maeda family, there is also an urgent need to obtain Shiba Yigin's seeds.
Maeda's interests include the Tomoyo Estate in Iga Province, which has 12,000 koku, and the Shiba Ryosho, which is in charge of the business, has 15,000 koku.
Once upon a time, everyone was deceived by Akechi Mitsuhide, thinking that Shiba was the ticket to marry into the family.
Maeda Toshiie even changed the place of knowledge obtained through his military exploits to Shiba Reservoir, just for a chance to marry Shiba.
But judging from the current situation, it is impossible for Sibo Yiyin to recruit anyone. He is on the road to becoming a god.
Then an embarrassing question arises. Will the Spo family take back the Spo family in the future?
From a legal point of view, the important ministers are only in charge of the Shiba family's materials, and the master family certainly has the right to take the materials back.
But in fact, because the Shiba family did not have a clan and lacked generational retainers, Shiba Yiyin had no choice but to divide the territories and let the retainers of each family's important officials manage these territories.
Therefore, these territories have been joked by the retainers of each family as their own territory. If they are forced to spit it out again one day, wouldn't it be a heavy loss?
Maeda Yoshizuki's knowledge was only 12,000 koku, while Shiba's knowledge was 15,000 koku, which was the majority of the Iga Maeda family's wealth.
In the past, there was a carrot hanging in front of the bride, and the retainers still had some hope. Now, the dispute over the marriage has been proven false, which has tugged at the heartstrings of the retainers group.
Most of the territory turns out to be floating in the air and can fly away at any time. Who can bear it?
In recent years, Maeda Toshihisa has devoted all his attention to running the Iga Maeda family for Maeda's benefit, hoping that his family can prosper.
Maeda Toshihisa couldn't accept the hidden danger of losing more than half of his family's wealth and the commotion among his retainers.
After thinking about it, the best way is to let Maeda get angry in front of Junshang. Since she is obsessed with Shiba Yoshigan, she might as well get pregnant with Shiba Yoshigan's child.
As long as there is a child and he is established as an heir, the Shiba Ryosho can continue to be looked after by the Iga Maeda family as the child's property.
Is Bo Yiyin’s emphasis on children unlikely to take away the material for his own children?
As long as it lasts for several generations and is not taken back, this territory is equivalent to the territory of the Iga Maeda family, and no one can take it away again.
Maeda Rihisa may not be as politically astute as Hosokawa Motonsune, and he does not have such a thorough understanding of the future trend of the divine bloodline.
However, out of the protection of his own territory, Maeda Toshihisa still made an accurate judgment when he learned that the three major factions were building momentum for Shiba Yiyin to become a god and that the marriage dispute had been falsified.
She came here this time just to ask Maeda to sleep with you as soon as possible. She must get your seed and give birth to your child.
Akechi Mitsuhide can be thick-skinned, and Hosokawa Fujitaka can jump in line. Why can't Maeda be angry because of his interests?
The hesitation of Maeda's interests has already threatened the Iga Maeda family's family business. For the future of the Iga Maeda family, we can no longer hesitate!
(End of chapter)
