Sena Jisada had a few final words to tell Sena Ujitoshi, so Imagawa Yoshimoto left the room, leaving the last time for the father and son. Taiyuan Xuezhai was waiting in the corridor. When he saw Imagawa Yoshimoto coming out with a gloomy look, he patted his disciple on the shoulder. Imagawa Yoshimoto did not speak, but kept sighing. Taiyuan Xuezhai saw what his beloved disciple was thinking, and shook his head, then whispered:
"Parting between life and death is normal in life, so don't worry too much about it. The older generation will eventually pass away before you, just one day earlier and one day later. You have to learn to face it."
"It's just that I'm too tired to be like this. Sena Mutsu is just too hardworking..." Imagawa Yoshimoto leaned against the wall and smoothed the messy hair in front of his forehead. "If only everyone could enjoy life and cherish being with their parents like me. , the family happiness of wife and son..."
"If that's the case, the Imakawa family will be dead. What kind of happiness will you have as a family?" Taiyuan Xuezhai laughed dryly and swept away the falling snowflakes on his head. "As a teacher, I will have a table full of official duties when I go back." It’s waiting to be dealt with, why don’t you…”
"Old man, will you leave before me?"
Imagawa Yoshimoto suddenly spoke, interrupting Taiyuan Xue Zhai's words. Taiyuan Xuezhai looked at Imagawa Yoshimoto and found that there were tears in the latter's eyes. Taiyuan Xuezhai was speechless for a moment. Seeing the panic in the grown-up brat's eyes, he suddenly felt his own eyes becoming warm.
"Don't come here. I will definitely live much longer than you as a teacher." Taiyuan Xuezhai laughed immediately, and then walked aimlessly in a circle in the corridor. In fact, he wanted to turn his back to Imagawa Yoshimoto and not let him go. He noticed that his expression was strange, "As a teacher, I only eat nutritious pork and beef. I am also a high-level monk. It will definitely not be a problem to live to eighty or ninety. But Chengfang, you are carrying the ban on meat and eating nothing." Those who are not rich and have a beautiful wife in the house will be gone sooner or later if they indulge in too much sex. Master, I have already prepared the white-haired man to send the black-haired man away!"
Taiyuan Xuezhai thought that this gag could fool his disciple as usual, but Imagawa Yoshimoto did not answer, and did not laugh and curse "stinky old man".
After a while, Imagawa Yoshimoto changed to a solemn title: "Teacher."
Taiyuan Xuezhai understands that this problem cannot be avoided. He then turned back and looked at Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was half a head taller than him, as if an old father was looking at his grown-up child.
"Everyone is going to die."
His tone was very plain, but he told the saddest truth in the world.
"A teacher is also a human being."
"So I will die as a teacher."
"I know, I just feel very frustrated." Imagawa Yoshimoto shook his head, indicating to Taiyuan Xuezhai that he did not want such an answer, "If you are destined to die, why are you still alive? What is the meaning of living? When I think about the fact that if the old man dies, I will never see him again, I feel unspeakably uncomfortable. I can think that I will die sooner or later, and I will forget every moment with the old man, Ginkgo, and many, many people. , I felt even more uncomfortable, and there was nothing I could do about it.”
"Believing in the afterlife may be a good escape." Taiyuan Xuezhai laughed twice, fiddled with his rosary beads, but said something that was not like a Buddhist, "But no one knows whether there will be an afterlife. If death is the end of everything, If there is nothing in the future, then what is the meaning of life? Didn’t you always say before that the meaning of life is enjoyment? "
"Yes, I do think so. No matter how you die, you will unite the world and die under the praise of thousands of people; or you will be full of children and grandchildren, looking at the descendants with joy, and take your last breath; or you will die. Whether it is to come to the end of life in an ordinary way, thinking about the past unwillingness at the last moment; or whether it is to die, the country is destroyed, and the body is lying on the street - aren't they all the same? In this case, why do you still have to work hard? The ending will not be There are changes. Then it is better to seize all the time and enjoy the beauty of the world."
"So now you have changed your point of view?" Taiyuan Xuezhai asked in a persuasive way.
"No, I always feel that my understanding of life is correct. I just feel empty." Imagawa Yoshimoto was as stubborn as ever.
"Then I want to tell you something, please remember it well." Taiyuan Xue Zhai straightened his clothes and came close to Imagawa Yoshimoto's ear. It was rare for the latter to see his teacher being so solemn, and he was also waiting for the teacher's teachings with all his heart.
"Master, I really think I can live longer than this kid like Chengfang."
"Smelly old man!" Imagawa Yoshimoto had been thinking for a long time but was teased like this. He couldn't help laughing and scolding and pushed Taiyuan Xuezhai hard.
·
On December 12, the 10th year of Tianwen (1541), Sena Jisada died of illness, and his son Sena Ujitoshi succeeded to the position of governor of the Sena family. He entrusted the territorial affairs to his uncle Sena Sadakiyoshi, and he followed Imagawa Yoshimoto back to Imagawakan, and as the elder of the family assisted Imagawa Yoshimoto and Taiyuan Xuezai in handling government affairs.
The first piece of news they dealt with was the secret report sent back from Sagami.
"His Royal Highness Hojo Sakyo died again?" Imagawa Yoshimoto couldn't laugh or cry after hearing the news, "Is it true or false this time?"
"His Majesty Takeda of Kai doesn't believe him even if he says he will be killed." Amano Keitoku, who returned from his mission, brought back a message from Takeda Harunobu, "He said he would not send troops."
"But maybe this time it's real." Taiyuan Xuezhai touched the beard on his chin, but he was thoughtful, "And if this death is real, the last fake death would make sense. .”
"Master Xuezai, please clarify." Sena Shitoshi asked in confusion.
"The Hojo family are outsiders after all. Even if they change their Miao characters, they are still not welcome in Kanto, a place that attaches great importance to tradition. Whether it's the Kanto public, Yamauchi Uesugi and Ogidani Uesugi, or Mr. Boso's Satomi, In addition to Kai's Takeda, they have all been attacked by the Hojo family, so they naturally hate them. The Hojo family originally had our Imagawa family as their only ally, but now it is gone."
Taiyuan Xuezai analyzed the situation, and his thoughts gradually became clear: "The Hojo family can establish a firm foothold in Kanto, and it all relies on its own strength, and this strength also comes from Soun Gong and His Highness Sakyo to a large extent. An outstanding leader. Hojo Sakyo's prestige can deter enemies and dissatisfied forces within his territory. But he also knows that once he dies, all those who regard the Hojo family as a thorn in their side will regard this as the best opportunity to rise up at the same time. Attack. The Hojo family, which has just experienced a change of family governor, must be internally unstable. Although it can cope with two families, it is absolutely impossible to resist so many enemies at the same time."
"Hojo Sakyo himself knew this very well. Seeing his health deteriorating this year, he decided to find a way to solve the problem before his death. He chose the right time when our Imagawa family and the Takeda family had not disbanded their troops, and announced his death to the public. , tempting us to advance and defeat the Imagawa Army and the Takeda Army first. And this timing coincides with the autumn harvest. It will take time for the troops of Ryoesugi and Kanto Kōgata to assemble, and the Satomi family, which suffered famine last year, is even less likely to be there. The autumn harvest sent troops, allowing the Hojo Army to defeat the Takeda Army before returning to fight the invading enemies from the east, and first breaking through the Hojo encirclement network that appeared after his death."
"So the teacher thinks that Hojo Sakyo is really dead this time?" Yoshimoto Imagawa flipped through the information in front of him, "But didn't you also judge that he was really dead last time?"
"That's because I received a lot of news about Hojo Sakyo's poor health before, so I believed it to be true. Who knew he was going to use the trick." Taiyuan Xuezhai, who was questioned by his apprentice, scratched his head in embarrassment, and then said with a smile, "That's all, eat. Every pit brings wisdom, so we won’t join in the fun this time.”
·
Two days ago, inside the castle tower of Odawara Castle in Sagami Province.
"I've said all that needs to be said. I have nothing more to say. Please exit."
Hojo Utsuna ordered to Hojo Uyasu who was kneeling in front of the mattress. He knew that there were probably many relatives of the Hojo family sitting outside the bedroom, silently bidding farewell to the old master. No one cried, because this was disrespectful to Hojo Uzuna - what Hojo Uzuna hopes to see is that the Hojo family can be well protected by a family after his death, instead of a group of people crying and fighting. Frightened people in tears.
Hojo Ujiyasu tried hard to hold back his tears and deliberately looked strong. Hojo Utsuna understands his actions and psychology very clearly, because when Hojo Soun left, Hojo Utsuna also played the same role. And this time, Hojo Utsuna finally understood Hojo Soun's state of mind back then - there was reluctance and regret, but mostly peace of mind and relief. The Hojo family will definitely be able to flourish in the hands of their next generation.
"Get out." Hojo Utsuna ordered again. This time, Hojo Ujiyasu did not insist anymore, but leaned over and bowed deeply, then stood up and left.
"Call Genan in." Hojo Uzuna gave one more order before Hojo Ujiyasu went out. Hojo Ujiyasu didn't know why, but he still did it.
"Brother." After Hojo Genan entered the door, he closed the paper door behind him.
"Are you familiar with this scene?" Hojo Utsuna tried to force a smile, but found that he couldn't.
"It's the same as when my father left." Hojo Genan nodded and responded.
"Do you remember the scene at that time?" Hojo Ujitsuna sighed, but his casual words instantly caused Hojo Genan's expression to change drastically. Sweat suddenly broke out on his forehead, and he was frozen in place for a while.
"I know you are no longer 'Genan', but in a sense, you are still 'Hojo Genan', aren't you?" Hojo Ujitsuna seemed to be completely unsurprised by Hojo Genan's reaction, but continued to say calmly, "You You and the Hojo family are both honored and humiliated. Even if you are no longer 'Genan', you will still protect the Hojo family, right?"
"Your Highness..." Hojo Genan's face turned red and white, and he suddenly fell to his knees while the gods and humans were fighting, "You have already seen it..."
"It doesn't matter...it doesn't matter." Hojo Utsuna sighed and mentioned another thing noncommittally: "I heard that before the ninjas in Fuma died, you would personally make the last blow? Imagawa Yoshima was the one back then. Were the trusted ninjas who were accompanying you personally killed by you on the ship?"
Hojo Genan was completely speechless, and his body froze as if it were petrified.
"Although I don't understand the mechanism, I roughly understand it." Hojo Ujitsuna coughed twice, then slowly turned his head and looked at the sweat dripping on the floor of Hojo Genan who was kneeling in front of him, "Kill with your own hands. If you listen to me, it will be of great help to you, right?"
Hojo Genan was silent.
"Answer me." But Hojo Uzuna couldn't help but pressed.
"Yes." Hojo Genan finally chose to answer truthfully.
"Then come on. If you don't want to leave a wound and cause criticism, just suffocate me to death." Hojo Utsuna glanced at the quilt under his arm and suggested to Hojo Genan.
"Your Highness..." Hojo Genan was completely suppressed by the man in front of him, "You know I am not... aren't you afraid that I will usurp the Hojo family? Since you have seen it a long time ago, why didn't you kill me?"
"At least your body is healthy, isn't it? You have your father's blood, and you are a member of the Hojo family. Even if we are usurped, it will only be a feud between brothers, and the wealth will not flow to outsiders." Hojo Ujitsuna turned around and said, Looking at the familiar but slightly old ceiling, "Besides serving the Hojo family, you actually have no other better choice, so I won't kill you. If you were a foreigner, I would have gotten rid of you long ago."
"There is no time, my life is almost over."
Hojo Utsuna finally turned his head to the right and looked deeply out the window, looking at the familiar blue sky outside Odawara Castle and feeling the familiar bricks, tiles, plants and trees.
"Come on, the Hojo family will leave it to you, 'Genan'."
