On December 29, the Tenth Year of Astronomy (1541), Imagawakan Castle Tower.
The gymnasium where Kentaro Tian Shen practiced in the past has been used by Imagawa Yoshimoto to play Cuju as usual, but this time there are three more faces in the Cuju team - Takeda Nobutora, Ginkgo and Imagawa Goro - they are playing in the venue at the moment. Against two - actually it was originally three against three. However, when Kira Usei and Akai Kuroko were playing against each other, the kick was too anxious, and the two started to struggle directly on the sidelines. Akai Kurotaka is originally a madman who picks fights in the Imagawa family, and Kira Ushinari is also a bad-tempered person who doesn't want to be served, so naturally they get into fights.
"You, a southerner, have quite a bit of brute strength!"
"Shut up, young master, you ghost guy from Ezo, let me see if I don't rip your head off!"
·
"You two are not as good as us, father and daughter!" On the court, Takeda Nobutora, who had just scored a goal, was very proud. He patted his chest and said to his son-in-law, "That's all, you female warriors of Suruga, Where is our 'Kafi Tiger General' opponent?"
"Goro, you have to fill your spot in time." Imagawa Yoshimoto glanced at his son who had already fallen in love with Cuju at a young age, and encouraged him, "When you play Cuju, you must think about running more. Run more." .”
"It's obvious that dad only attacks and doesn't defend!" Imagawa Goro was not happy to hear what Imagawa Yoshimoto said. He stuck his waist and pouted like a ginkgo, staring at Imagawa Yoshimoto: "Mom and I are facing each other. There are still times when he will let me go, but grandpa never lets me go. How can I catch up with him! If dad doesn't come to help, I can't hold on at all!"
"That's right, sir." Ginkgo also helped, "Obviously the person who hates running the most is you."
"I know, you Suruga people want to ride in a sedan even when you go out, why are you willing to run?" Takeda Nobutora laughed again and laughed, "Isn't that what Cuju is all about? You can learn it after learning it!"
"Don't let others look down on you!" Imagawa Yoshimoto walked up behind Imakawa Goro, bent down and put his hands on his shoulders, "Goro, cheer up, this is for the glory of the Imagawa family!"
"For the glory of the Imagawa family!" Imagawa Goro followed suit and growled in a sweet voice.
"I really hope that you, father and son, will not only think of this 'Glory of the Imagawa Family' when you are playing Cuju." Taiyuan Xuezhai, who happened to come in, saw this funny scene and couldn't help but laugh, "Chengfang, I am going to be my teacher." Let’s go to Zentoku Temple and check out the ninja village in the east of the river. You didn’t have lunch in the castle tower. You don’t have to wait for me. I’ll probably be back the day after tomorrow.”
"Didn't you miss the New Year?" Imagawa Yoshimoto stopped playing Cuju on his feet and looked back at Taiyuan Xuezai at the door of the dojo, "Is it necessary to be so anxious, teacher?"
"Don't worry about the teacher's affairs." Taiyuan Xuezai smiled, waved to Takeda Nobutora as a greeting, and then turned and left. Imagawa Yoshimoto was stunned for a long time before he realized why Taiyuan Xuezhai was in such a hurry - Whale House would be closed for half a decade during the Chinese New Year, didn't he have to go before the New Year? It seems that the teacher has an old sweetheart in the Whale House over at Zendeji Temple.
·
However, as soon as Taiyuan Xuezai left with his front foot, Sena Ujijun came with his back foot, interrupting Imagawa Yoshimoto's Cuju competition.
"Your Highness, an envoy from the Matsudaira family is here to celebrate the New Year."
"Didn't we all arrange to stay at the hotel first and then meet together on the 30th?" Imagawa Yoshimoto stopped the Cuju skillfully and turned to ask.
"The situation of the Matsudaira family is somewhat special..." Sena Shitoshi hesitated, as if he didn't want to talk about it in front of so many people.
"Let's go then." Imagawa Yoshimoto then tidied up his clothes angrily, and at the same time ordered Hayasaka Nao and others, "You continue to play Cuju with His Highness Sakyo."
"What's going on?" Imagawa Yoshimoto asked in a low voice to Sena Ujitoshi on the way back to the castle tower. At the same time, he wrapped his coat tightly - it was a snowy day, he was sweating all over from exercising, and being blown by the cold wind was enough. .
"Your Highness, please listen to Lord Abe Ozo in person." Sena Ujitoshi explained awkwardly.
"Abe Daizo is here in person? Why did His Highness Matsudaira send him to be the congratulatory envoy?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but speed up his steps - Abe Sadaiki was Matsudaira's close confidant and the elder of the writing family, and he actually personally served as the congratulatory envoy. When you come to Imagawa Hall, you must have something important to discuss.
"No, the congratulator is Mr. Matsudaira Nobutaka, the Matsudaira clan of the Miki Matsudaira family." Sena Ujitoshi lowered his voice, almost lighter than the sound of his feet on the broken snow, "It has been arranged as usual. We stayed at the hotel. But Lord Ozo came secretly, not with the Matsudaira family’s envoys.”
·
After Tan Yao waited for Imagawa Yoshimoto to return to the castle tower, Abe Sadayoshi had been waiting here for a long time. He was not wearing the samurai uniform of the Matsudaira family. Instead, he was dressed in black, as if he didn't want to attract attention.
"Abe Ozo, long time no see." Imagawa Yoshimoto was the first to greet him.
"His Majesty Imagawa, after a long absence, your demeanor is still as good as before." Abe Sadayoshi also bowed politely, but obviously he had no intention of continuing to be polite, but got to the point hurriedly, "I am here on this trip. I have something important to tell you. .”
"Please tell me." Imagawa Yoshimoto asked Sena Shitoshi to serve him a cup of tea, while he began to recall the current situation of the Matsudaira family that Taiyuan Xuezai told him last time, and Abe Sadaikichi in front of him also talked about everything.
After Imagawa Yoshimoto supported Matsudaira Hirotada and returned to Okazaki Castle, the magnanimous Matsudaira Hirochada did not strictly pursue those relatives who participated in the rebellion. Although the instigators, Matsudaira Nagauchi and Matsudaira Nobusada, were put under house arrest and retired, Matsudaira Nobutaka, who was also involved in the matter, was safe and sound, and his territory was not reduced. After Matsudaira Nagauchi and Matsudaira Nobusada moved away from the political center, Matsudaira Nobutaka became the core of the remaining force of the "anti-Hirochu faction", and his voice in the Matsudaira family was further enhanced.
After Matsudaira Nobutaka gained power, the relationship with his younger brother Matsudaira Yasutaka gradually became tense, and he even began to encroach on Matsudaira Yasutaka's territory. Matsudaira Yasutaka complained to Matsudaira Hirotada, but Matsudaira Hirotada did not want to fall out with his uncle because of this, but only adjusted it - which naturally fueled Matsudaira Nobutaka's arrogance. But the soft-hearted Matsudaira Hirotada remembered the goodwill and kindness Matsudaira had for him back then, and never made up his mind to eradicate Matsudaira Nobutaka. As a result, his power in Mikawa expanded even more, and there was a faint tendency to compete with the clan.
Abe Nobuyoshi, Okubo Tadashi and other retainers saw it and were anxious in their hearts, but they were helpless - no matter how they tried to persuade their kind-hearted lord, they could not bring themselves to do anything to their relatives. So, the two men came up with a vicious plan - to kill someone with a borrowed knife. Since Matsudaira Hirohada can't be ruthless, let Imagawa Yoshimoto take action against Matsudaira Nobutaka.
With their encouragement, Matsudaira Nobutaka served as the Matsudaira family's congratulatory envoy this year and went to Imagawa Hall to congratulate Imagawa Yoshimoto on the New Year. Abe Sadaiki hoped that Imagawa Yoshimoto could find a reason to seize Matsudaira Nobutaka and directly declare his exile, so that the Matsudaira clan of Mikawa could naturally accept Matsudaira Nobutaka's territory.
But Imagawa Yoshimoto has always had a good reputation for keeping etiquette, so it is hard to say whether he is willing to wade through the muddy waters of the Matsudaira family's internal strife. Besides, the Imagawa family and the Matsudaira family are just an alliance of brothers, not a master-slave relationship. Such arrogant banishment of important ministers who are allies is untenable. The Imagawa family's tyranny will inevitably cause dissatisfaction in the Matsudaira family.
After Abe Nobuyoshi said this, he felt a little embarrassed - after all, he wanted his allies to help take the blame. He raised his head and looked tentatively at Imagawa Yoshimoto - as expected, the latter's face was full of anger, as if he had remembered something very unpleasant.
"Your Majesty Imagawa, please don't be angry. Everything is the idea of the subordinate retainer and has nothing to do with the governor. If you want to blame me, I am willing to commit seppuku and apologize." Abe Nobuyoshi leaned down, but he obviously misunderstood what Imagawa Yoshimoto meant.
"No, that's not what I meant." Imagawa Yoshimoto shook his head, and then replied coldly: "No problem, just do what you want. I will directly arrest Matsudaira Nobutaka and throw him into the dungeon."
"Ah?" Abe Sakichi was stunned for a moment, obviously not understanding why Imagawa Yoshimoto agreed so readily.
It was this Matsudaira Nobutaka who wanted to bully my Ginkgo in Okazaki City...
When Imagawa Yoshimoto remembered what happened at that time, his eyes became angry. Although there was no incident at that time due to the friendship between the two families, now that Matsudaira Nobutaka has broken up with Matsudaira Hirotada, Imagawa Yoshimoto is no longer polite.
Public revenge for private revenge.
·
As soon as he finished talking with Abe Sadaikichi, Imagawa Yoshimoto led Mochizuki Takaki and a group of horses like a whirlwind towards the hotel where Matsudaira Nobutaka was staying. Before Matsudaira Nobutakato could react, several knives were held to his neck.
"This... His Highness Imagawa..." Nobutaka Matsudaira's face turned pale with fear, and his calves could not help but tremble. "Is there some misunderstanding?"
"Is it him? You admit it right?" Imagawa Yoshimoto ignored Matsudaira Nobutaka and confirmed to Mochizuki Takaki who was following him.
"That's him, he's plotting something against Madam." Takaki Mochizuki looked up and down at Matsudaira Nobutaka with squinted eyes, "That's the guy."
After seeing Mochizuki Takaki following Imagawa Yoshimoto, Matsudaira Nobutaka felt that everyone was stupid - although he also knew that he had probably offended a female member of the Imagawa family, but he never expected that he would offend someone. Imagawa Yoshimoto's woman.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Imagawa Yoshimoto stepped forward and glanced at Matsudaira Nobutaka coldly, "To save you some face, let's say that you tried to steal the Imagawa family's confidential information, and now we have detained it. .”
"Thrown into the dungeon." Imagawa Yoshimoto waved his hand, and the horseback warriors swarmed forward and directly suppressed Nobutaka Matsudaira, who was sweating like rain. Abe Sadayoshi, who followed, was watching not far from the hotel. After confirming that the matter was settled, he quickly thanked Imagawa Yoshimoto.
"You're welcome, it's just a piece of cake." Imagawa Yoshimoto shook his head and said no, "The rest of the matter will be your Matsudaira family's family affairs, so I won't bother you and let His Highness Hiroutada handle it properly."
