Asahina Chitoku seemed to be tired, and took several breaths before continuing to fire:
"Haha, I'm pretty good. Our Asahina family can be considered a descendant of the Imagawa family. Even a dog is a watchdog. It's much better without those wild dogs from Toe and Mikawa?" Asahina said again. When he started to curse, he raised his arms and pointed at the rebel camp outside the city: "Do you know how unhappy they are with you? Haha, I don't know! Do you know why? Because they have no chance to see you. You, you never have time to meet them. You hide in the Imagawa Pavilion every day, play Cuju, have fun with the female family members, enjoy flowers and recite poems. This is your business! If the retainers have any dissatisfaction or territorial disputes, they will be discussed with you. It’s okay with you!”
"It's nothing. It's okay if you don't do things, but it's even more terrifying if you do things. The Toda family kindly gave up the city to invite you to the city for a banquet. You directly seize the city and seize it in front of them. You What do the wealthy foreigners think? Could it be that if you become unhappy one day, the city they have passed down through generations of hard work will be gone?"
"Do you know why so many wealthy people responded to the Okuhira family's rebellion? Thanks to you for being such a foolish king! You indulge in lustful behavior, neglect political affairs, favor those around you, ignore the officials, and act recklessly!"
"I've long been unhappy with you. At that time, the guy from Bichushu ignored the Third Young Master and insisted on helping you. I really can't figure it out! In the battle of Yuanjiang, you were beaten to a pulp by that Third Young Master. Our Suruga Asahina How much has the clan lost? Do you care? No! There are many complaints against you within the clan, but you don’t care! Anyway, if something big happens, the old monk from Taiyuan Xuezhai will help you with it! Don’t be afraid!"
"If you continue to supervise the family like this, the Imagawa family will be finished sooner or later! If the Imagawa family is not finished, we, the retainers who are not your confidants, will not get any benefits! Retire and become your idle monks!"
Being scolded by Asahina Chitoku, Imagawa Yoshimoto didn't feel much angry, but felt a little relieved. In fact, he has always understood that what he did was not worthy of a qualified family governor. But he didn’t originally want to be the house supervisor. He was forced to be the governor, so he thought it was no big deal if he was passive and sabotaging work - it’s not like I worked hard to be the governor.
However, what really makes him feel guilty is the attitude of many retainers who are loyal to the Imagawa family - they respect and love Imagawa Yoshimoto, and are willing to go through fire and water and sacrifice their lives for Imagawa Yoshimoto - for them, this is It is the duty of a retainer to the household supervisor. But Imagawa Yoshimoto felt this was unfair. If he himself is not a qualified family governor, then there is no need for these retainers to be qualified retainers. The more loyal they are, the more Imagawa Yoshimoto feels that he is carrying a deep debt of gratitude.
On the contrary, it was Asahina Chitoku and the rebellious retainers like Mikawa and Enie who made Imagawa Yoshimoto feel better - this was the treatment he deserved. I really didn’t pay attention to them, I didn’t seriously consider their interests and appeals, I couldn’t even remember the circumstances of their families, and I couldn’t even recognize their faces – so isn’t it normal for them to rebel?
Moreover, the conditions proposed by these rebels were incredibly generous - Imagawa Yoshimoto retired to seclusion and gave way to the throne, and Taiyuan Xuezai was exiled - isn't this the life Imagawa Yoshimoto dreams of? He can go sightseeing with Ginkgo and Taiyuan Xuezhai and enjoy a beautiful life without having to be entangled in the martial arts fights and wars.
If it were him 7 years ago, he would definitely agree to this condition without hesitation and say, "Whoever likes to be the governor of the house should be the governor of the house."
But now he is no longer naive.
The common man is not guilty, but he is guilty of carrying the jade. Power is such a thing, once you get it, you can never let it go. Once he and Taiyuan Xuezhai leave the countryside, their lives will be in danger at any time. The opposition in power will definitely take action against the two of them in order to eliminate future troubles. Even if Imagawa Yoshimoto and Taiyuan Xuezai themselves have no intention of resurrecting, there will definitely be someone who wants to use them as a banner, which will eventually lead to death.
Once you embark on this path, there is no possibility of looking back. You can only keep moving forward and fight to the end.
"I don't accept it." Yoshimoto Imagawa handed the joint document back to Asahina Kantoku, "Please go back."
"If you don't want to be dignified, just wait for a miserable end." Asahina Chitoku snorted angrily, and then walked away.
·
Asahina
As soon as Shintoku left, Kisang Osawa came to ask for a meeting with Imagawa Yoshimoto. After listening to Imagawa Yoshimoto finish the news brought by Asahina Chitoku, Osawa Moto couldn't help but urge:
"Your Highness, since the negotiations have broken down, the rebels will definitely attack at dawn tomorrow. Horie Castle may not be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive, so you should leave now by boat at night. As long as you don't fall into their hands, Imagawa's Hatamoto and The rebels are coming with their troops, but these rebels will never be able to accomplish anything."
"What about you, Osawa Zaemon?" Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at the loyal retainer in front of him.
"I will hold on to the city and buy time for you to leave." Kisang Osawa leaned deeply, saluted Imagawa Yoshimoto, and then said anxiously: "Come on, Your Highness, I have prepared a boat for you. , please follow me to the port quickly."
In the early morning of May 8, the twelfth year of Tianwen (1543), at five o'clock in the morning, the dock west of Horie City.
The Osawa family does not have many ships, only a few ships, and it is impossible to transport all the defenders in one night. In addition, Kisang Osawa also planned to allocate several ships to attract the attention of the rebels. There was only a small morning boat that could be used for transportation, and the limit was to carry more than ten people.
"This time it really hurt you." Imagawa Yoshimoto helped Takeda Harunobu and put him on the boat. "You were stabbed in the back and you were chased after me for several days in embarrassment. . I can’t contact my family, so I’m probably worried to death, right?”
"It was really a mistake. The more I think about it, the more I regret it. I should have let you, Goro, be hacked to death. Then I could use my sister to control my nephew and directly turn the Imagawa family into subordinates of my Takeda family." Takeda Harunobu grinned. He laughed twice, and the movement of getting on the boat seemed to touch the wound again, making him take a breath.
"It's a beautiful thought." Ginkgo beside him was so sleepy that he yawned and wanted to lie down and sleep immediately. However, after hearing Takeda Harunobu's words, he couldn't help but complain, "If Mr. dies, I will be the next one." "Ni Yutai", I will immediately lead the Imagawa family on the northern expedition and risk their lives with you."
"When a married woman throws water, her elbows are already pointing towards her husband's family." Takeda Harunobu laughed at himself a few times.
"Is it possible that I am always so naive that I hate you?" Ginkgo glared at Takeda Harunobu.
·
In the early morning of May 8th, the twelfth year of Tenmon (1543), at the head of Horie Castle Honmaru Castle. Osawa Kisho and the remaining remnants of the army stood at the top of the city, preparing to make the final resistance and buy time for Imagawa Yoshimoto to withdraw and lead his army back to quell the rebellion. As for himself - he was already prepared to commit seppuku when the city was destroyed. He received great favor from the father and son of the Imagawa clan and Imagawa Yoshimoto, and he would never give in to the rebels, and would be loyal to them until the end. His son Osawa Kiyin has also become famous in the Imagawa family. Inheriting the family business in the future is not a problem, and he has nothing to worry about.
On the side, Uden Nagato's right hand was wrapped with a thick bandage - he was seriously injured in yesterday's battle, and his subordinates were also defeated, but he still took his Hatamoto guards to the city, preparing to fight Osawa. Prepare to fight to the death together. People who have also received favors from the Zong family must have the same consciousness, right? However, his son Uden Nagarera is still young and has just entered the Yuan Dynasty server not long ago. He must still not be able to be as unconcerned as Osawa Kisho.
The two loyal warriors looked at each other and nodded silently. Without using words, we understood each other’s firmness.
However, in their peripheral vision, they suddenly saw the figure of Imagawa Yoshimoto.
"Your Highness?" The two of them turned around and found that Imagawa Yoshimoto was already dressed in military uniform, with Ryuumaru hanging on his left waist and Sosan Zuo's characters hanging on his right waist, striding up to the top of the city.
"Why didn't you leave?" Kisang Osawa was shocked and at a loss, and staggered to Imagawa Yoshimoto, "The boats have sailed away! Why didn't you leave? What would you do if the city fell? ?”
"Didn't you leave too?" Imagawa Yoshimoto glanced at Osawa Kisho and Uden Nagamochi, then looked around at the other stunned soldiers, "What will you do if the city falls?"
"Of course we are different from His Majesty the Family Governor? You are a noble person and have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. You cannot make any mistakes! But it is our duty as family ministers to protect you. Even if we die for you, we are willing to do so. Only in this way can we live up to our old age. My lord and your highness, you are so kind." Osawa Moto could not wait to pull Imagawa Yoshimoto's sleeves and send him down to the city, but he found that
He couldn't pull Imagawa Yoshimoto away.
"Do you think I am a competent household governor?" Imagawa Yoshimoto seemed to be telling a joke, but he did not laugh. Osawa Kisho and Uden Nagamochi were both asked and didn't know how to answer.
"No, actually you all know that, right? If I were a competent family governor, how could I have ended up in this situation?" Imagawa Yoshimoto raised his hand, and the colorful flags of the rebels outside the city all expressed their feelings. The governor's dissatisfaction.
"So, you don't have to be a competent retainer. You can treat me the same way I treat my duties as a household governor. You don't need to die for me, and I don't have the qualifications or face to enjoy the loyalty you offer me with peace of mind. Enjoying the chance of escape that you fought for for me with your life. I will live and die with you."
Imagawa Yoshimoto turned his back and no longer looked at his two subordinates.
He made a vow in his heart:
An unqualified household governor is not qualified to enjoy the lives dedicated by his retainers. From now on, I will never abandon any of my subordinates and flee. Even if there are violent storms and landslides in front of me, I will fight with my subordinates until the last moment.
I will die together with these subordinates who love me so much even though I am not that bad.
