"Alert!" Upon seeing this, Kentaro Tian Shen felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy and immediately signaled the guards of the two families to make up their mind. However, when the man ran closer, he discovered that the flag behind him was the Ii family's flag. The target was not Imagawa Yoshimoto and others, but heading west towards Yoshida Castle.
"Ask for help from him. We happened to meet someone from the Ii family. Let him go back and deliver the order to order the Ii family to lead the army to rescue us and escort us into the city." Imagawa Yoshimoto told Kentaro Targami.
"Yes." After receiving the order, Kentaro Tian Shen immediately stood up, jumped out of the hill where he was hiding, and waved desperately to the knight of the Ii family: "My lord, please come here quickly. This is the banner of the Imagawa family. I have an order to pass on." you!"
The knights of the Ii family were also startled by this sudden turn of events. They reined in their horses and stopped them. After looking at them suspiciously for a long time, they very carefully rode their horses and came slowly. They were led to Imagawa Yoshimoto by Kentaro Tian Shen. In front of you.
"Ono... Izumi?" After Yoshimoto Imagawa looked at the person for a moment, he vaguely remembered the face of this person - it was none other than Masanao Ono, a retainer of the Ii family. ..
·
Ono Masanao had a terrible reputation in the original historical records, and was considered a sycophant who caused the Ii family to be almost wiped out. Although Ono Masanao later became the patriarch of the Ii family, his elbows always pointed towards the Imagawa family. In the original history, in the thirteenth year of Tianbun (1544), brothers Ii Naomichi and Ii Naoyoshi were worried that the Takeda family would break their alliance and invade Toe, so they decided to prepare for war. However, Ono Masanao reported to the Imagawa family that the Ii family was plotting rebellion. The angry Imagawa family summoned Ii Naomi and Ii Naoyoshi to the Imagawa Hall and killed them.
After that, Ono Masanao planned to further persecute Ii Naomichi's son Ii Naochika (that is, Ii Naomasa's father), forcing him to go into exile in Shinano to escape death. After the death of Masanao Ono, his son Masaru Ono (Michiyoshi Ono) was also a famous female minister, and his reputation was even worse than that of his father. In Nagai (1562), Ono Masaji reported to Imagawa Ujima that the Ii family might have internal connections to the Tokugawa. Ii Nao himself went to Imagawakan to apologize to Imagawa Ujima, but was also executed by Imagawa Uzuma. Ono Masaji also planned to continue to do the same thing, and even killed Ii Naomasa's youngest son, Ii Naomasa, causing the originally prosperous Ii family to almost become extinct.
So after the Ii family was revived with the help of the Tokugawa family, the first thing they did was to capture Ono Masaji, who was causing trouble to the family, and behead him and his family near the Ii Valley River.
Of course, Imagawa Yoshimoto would not know these things in the original history, and his understanding of Ono Masanao was limited to a casual relationship.
·
"The House Governor's Hall!" Ono Masanao naturally recognized Imagawa Yoshimoto. After seeing the latter actually appearing here, he was immediately shocked and asked: "Is the rumor true?"
"What rumors?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was suddenly confused.
"In the past few days, the people of the Okuhira family have been desperately sending envoys to the foreign countries of Toe and Mikawa countries to accuse you of the atrocities committed by the family governor! They said that you sent people to attack Nagashino Castle at night under the pretext of staying at Nagashino Castle. Try to assassinate the Oppei clan and seize the city! Imitate what the Imagawa family did to the Toda family! The Oppei family couldn't bear the humiliation and have rebelled, repelled the Imagawa army, and are hunting you! Call on all nearby foreigners to rise up and rush Come to the mountains on the border of Sanheyuanjiang to surround and kill you!"
Ono Masaji became more and more anxious as he spoke, and even his neck turned red: "I didn't believe it before, because Master Hizen of Yoshida Castle (Ohara Town Minoru) said that you took the southern road back to Suruga along the coast, and there is absolutely no way you can take a detour. Changxiao Castle in the northern mountainous area. But why do you appear here? Do you really want to take Changshino City by force? There is no need to be in such a hurry, the main hall, these rebels can be liquidated slowly, so why do you have to do it yourself? "
"Ah? What kind of rumor is this?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was so confused that he had no choice but to explain: "I was thinking of seeing His Highness Takeda off again, so I took the North Road to Nagasaki Castle and went to Mikawa and Shinano. Border, I did forget to notify Obara Hizen of the change of itinerary, but I didn’t do anything about the night attack on Nagashino Castle? I’ve never heard of it. When I woke up that night, I was already a member of the Okuhira family. People were assassinating me, so I tried my best to escape from Changxiao City and evacuated all the way here."
"The person who attacked Nagashino Castle was not your people, nor was it the plan of the main hall?" Ono Masaji seriously confirmed.
"Of course not, why would I leave such an impression on you?" Imagawa Yoshimoto protested humiliatingly.
road.
"Because what you did in Yoshida Castle before was really bad. In the ninth year of Tenmon (1540), you passed by Yoshida Castle when you led your army to Mikawa. The Toda family hosted a banquet for you, but you took it away by force after leading your troops into the city. If you seize the Toda family's city, even if it is to uphold justice for the Makino family, you cannot seize the city when the retainers invite you to enter the city!" Masaji Ono advised more seriously: "Don't blame me for being talkative, House Governor, but the fact is That's it! The people in Yuanjiang and Sanhe are all upset because of this incident, and they are afraid that you will rob their city as well."
"I know." Imagawa Yoshimoto accepted the criticism very humbly. He didn't care about political affairs at all at the time, and the seizure of Yoshida Castle was entirely promoted by Yutaka Furuno. From this point of view, he was not much more mature than him, even though he seemed cruel and ruthless, he actually did something that damaged his credibility. , things with endless troubles.
It's just that Imagawa Yoshimoto didn't realize the seriousness of the problem at the time. Oh no, he should have realized that. At that time, when Matsudaira Nagauchi and others organized the Matsudaira people in the Mikawa area to rebel against the Imagawa family, wasn't one of the important rhetoric saying "Imagawa Yoshimoto occupied Magpie's Nest and robbed Yoshida Castle. If there was no resistance, Mikawa would also be stolen by the Imagawa family"?
"Also, Oden, you must not change your itinerary without permission. There are not many people around you, so how can you not tell your retainers about your itinerary? What should I do if something goes wrong? Now Hizen-sama is just because he didn't know that you were going I thought you were heading east, so I transferred all the Imagawa family flags in Nishizaki Castle to the east to look for you. I won’t be able to come back for rescue for a while! We must pay attention to the opinions of our retainers, and do everything we can. Let’s discuss it with the retainers!” Ono Masaji once again bowed his head sincerely and remonstrated.
"I know, it's really my fault." Being lectured so hard by a foreign retainer, Imagawa Yoshimoto's guards all looked bad, but Imagawa Yoshimoto knew he had a problem, So he didn't get angry at all, but accepted the teaching.
"So the main hall didn't plan to attack Nagashino Castle? And it didn't mean to change the Oudaira family?" Ono Masaji asked.
"No, absolutely not. It was either a misunderstanding, or the Okuhira family insisted on rebelling, so they directed and performed it themselves." Imagawa Yoshimoto confessed very firmly, and then looked at Ono Masaji, "No matter what, right now The situation is still a bit dangerous. I have lost contact with the troops of the Imagawa family, and there are not many people around me. Please Ono and Izumi, please return to Iigani Castle quickly, and ask the Iigami family to send reinforcements to escort us back to Iigani Castle."
"This is what I want to tell you to the main hall." Ono Masaji lowered his head solemnly, paused and then said solemnly: "After secret discussions, the senior leaders of the Ii family have listened to the Okuhira family's advice and are preparing to rebel. Let’s hunt down the lone main hall together! Please don’t go to Iigani Castle!”
"What?" Not only Imagawa Yoshimoto, but everyone around him was shocked.
"The Ii family has always been dissatisfied with the Imagawa clan, and is plotting a chance to make a comeback and oppose the Imagawa clan. This time, the main hall was found guilty of going against the grain and murdering retainers in Nagashino Castle. I'm afraid everyone in Mikawa and Tooe is concerned I want to be disappointed and dissatisfied with you. And you yourself have lost contact with the Imagawa family, so the Iikawa family has judged that this is the best opportunity to rebel, and has prepared troops to arrest you!"
Ono Masaji's words immediately changed the faces of Imagawa Yoshimoto and others.
Imagawa Yoshimoto was stunned for a moment and then quickly regained his composure. Then he asked very cautiously: "Isn't Ono Izumi a retainer of the Ii family? Why are you telling me this? If the Ii family wants to rebel, shouldn't you follow the Ii family? Do you want to come together to fight against the Imagawa family?"
"The hall is open. Your identity as a retainer of the Iikawa family is just a cover. Your true identity is the insider arranged by Master Yuzhai in the Iikawa family." Ono Masaji knelt down on the ground and gave a big salute to Imagawa Yoshimoto. I am loyal to the main hall and Master Sekssai. I have been following Master Sekssai for nearly ten years since he returned to Suruga. Please believe me, Master! I have no loyalty to the Ii family at all, and all I want in my heart is to replace Imagawa. Let’s completely eradicate this rebellious family!”
"Is... the teacher's person?" Imagawa Yoshimoto couldn't imagine the good luck in front of him, "It's such a coincidence that I can meet the only one of my own."
"It's not good luck, Grand Hall." Ono Masaji raised his head, his eyes full of admiration for Taiyuan Xuezhai.
respect:
"Master Xue Zhai's appearance in Yuanjiang and Sanhe, as well as in Pudai and the families of the sect, are all covered by countless spies, internal agents, and even deeper hidden lines. If there is any slightest sign of trouble, the lower class will immediately report it to Master Xue Zhai. The stability of Yuanjiang and Sanhe is all due to the intelligence network established by Master Xue Zhai. Not to mention anything else, Master Xue Zhai has failed 6 times in the past few years alone. The rebellion! When Master Yukisai was away, I reported it to Lord Hizen Mamoru (Ohara Masumi) of Yoshida Castle. On my trip to the west, I wanted to go to Yoshida Castle in person to inform Lord Hizen of the possible rebellion of the Iii family. , that’s why I met the main hall by chance!”
"I didn't expect that the teacher has done so much..." Imagawa Yoshimoto felt a little ashamed and guilty after hearing this, "I don't know anything..."
"The rebellion of the Okudaira family this time is really very suspicious, because there was no rumor of the Okudaira family rebelling beforehand. There must have been some accident that stimulated the Okudaira family to take the risk in a hurry. It was precisely because of the sudden accident. , the informants left by Master Yuksai in the Oudaira family did not have time to spread the news that the Oudaira family was about to rebel, otherwise we should have heard the news long ago and taken action as usual to nip the rebellion in the cradle." Ono Masaru He made a firm judgment for the first time, and at the same time said worriedly:
"But as soon as the news about the Okuhira family came out, it is estimated that everyone in Toe and Mikawa had a change of heart. They had basically been enemies with the Imagawa clan on the battlefield. They were sad about what happened to the Toda family and the Okuhira family, and they were worried about His Highness. They will seize their city and kill their people at once, so there may be many wealthy families like the Ii family who will take the opportunity to raise troops to rebel. In name, they are going to crusade the rebellious Okuhira family, but in fact they are going to hunt down the lone main hall! I just said that I saw a lot of people secretly heading towards Yoshida Castle. It may be the insiders left by Master Xuesai in the homes of these foreigners to go to Hizen-sama to report the suspicious rebellion!"
"Now we are in big trouble... The flag of Nishizaki Castle has also been transferred away, and there is no one from the family around to rely on." Imagawa Yoshimoto held his forehead deeply, feeling that the situation was becoming more difficult, "Thank you, Ono Izumi, for the notice. .”
"Then I'll take my leave first. I'll go to Yoshida Castle to report the situation, and also inform Lord Hizen of your location! Reinforcements will arrive within a few days!" Ono Masaji said goodbye to Imagawa Yoshimoto with serious words. He ordered: "Before that, please be careful in the main hall. Before the arrival of the Imagawa family, do not trust any troops approaching! They may be rebels! You just saw me and took the initiative to say hello to me. , it’s really too dangerous! If someone close to the Jingyi family comes, you’re already doomed!”
