When Imagawa Yoshimoto asked Takeda Harunobu for advice on the situation, the atmosphere at the banquet became intense. The famous people from various families exchanged glasses, and the wine table was full of financial and power transactions. When Hosokawa Harumoto got excited, he had already begun to discuss merits and rewards in advance, promising future rewards to the daimyo who participated in the war. Land, service, and official positions were all commented upon as if they were appetizers in rounds of toasts.揠
Among the crowd of people enjoying themselves, there was only one person who stood out a little bit - the young messenger of the Nagao family sitting in the corner. He didn't touch the food and wine in front of him, his expression was stiff, and he looked at everyone's ugliness expressionlessly. It seemed that he had been suppressing it for a long time and could no longer bear it. He suddenly stepped out of the queue and asked in a loud voice to Hosokawa Harumoto who was sitting on the throne:
"Your Highness, may I ask how Gongfangdian was killed?"
This "inappropriate" voice seemed a bit abrupt and harsh in the middle of the banquet, and the daimyo all looked at him with boredom and disgust.
"Who are you?" Hosokawa Harumoto glanced at the slightly shabby messenger of the Nagao family, and snorted disdainfully: "You are qualified to speak on such an occasion? Your master has never properly disciplined you. Servant?" Hosokawa Harumoto, who was born into a well-known family, even though he had been down and out, was also from the Hosokawa family, one of the three management and four-level families. He himself felt that saying a word to these country bumpkins would be devaluing himself.
"Didn't His Majesty, the Governor, convene an army from all over the world for the sake of revenge for Gongfangdian? Why did the evaluation meeting turn into a banquet? Gongfangdian's bones are not yet cold. As a shogunate, it is not appropriate to wear hemp and mourning, but to sing and dance. Is it appropriate to talk about it? Despite all the fame and fortune, has anyone ever cared about the cause of Gongfang Dian’s death? Your Majesty, Your Highness, has arranged the rewards afterwards in every detail, but you are not even willing to mention the cause of Gongfang Dian’s death?”
The envoy of the Nagao family looked around at the daimyo present with dignity, and then cursed loudly: "How dignified are you? Do you dare to say that you are a loyal minister of the shogunate?"
However, except for Imagawa Yoshimoto who was slightly moved, none of the other daimyo showed the slightest bit of shame. Instead, they all looked at the envoy of the Nagao family like a fool. They all seem to be saying: For such a righteous matter as revenge for the general, it is enough to deceive his subordinates. Why bother talking about it on such an occasion? Do the famous people believe this?揠
"A fool who is more naive than you, Goro, appears." Takeda Harunobu teased Imagawa Yoshimoto in a low voice, "But it is reasonable to appear in the Nagao family. This person may be reused in the future."
"I have never heard of Captain Zaemon (Nagao Harukage) having the name of Shigei." Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at Takeda Harunobu in confusion, and the latter just shrugged.
"Originally, if you were so rude and vulgar, no one would say anything if I asked you directly. But today is a feast for the coalition forces and a cleansing feast for all of you who have come from afar. It is a good day to please, so there will be no blood." Haru Hosokawa Yuan seemed quite satisfied with his magnanimity and tolerance. He waved his hand to the envoy of the Nagao family and said, "Let's go quickly. I really don't know why your lord would send someone like you to attend."
The envoy of the Nagao family did not hesitate, and without even the intention of apologizing, he stood up and walked out the door. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned around as if remembering something, and asked in a deep voice to Hosokawa Harumoto: "May I ask, Your Highness, to tell me the cause of death in Gongfang Hall and the location of the mausoleum, so that I can go back and recover?" .”
"He was killed by Miyoshi Xiu. How do I know exactly how he was killed?" Hosokawa Harumoto suppressed his offended anger and said casually, "As for the mausoleum, according to my people, it is buried in the prime minister's country. Temple, you go back and report to His Highness. By the way, report tonight’s situation truthfully and see how he will deal with you.”
"It's time for Gongfangdian to worry about it." The envoy of the Nagao family snorted coldly, and then walked away. There were also boos in the lobby behind him.
"People from the bitter cold land of Hokuriku Echigo are really uneducated." Kitahata Harugu shook his head angrily, and at the same time cupped his hands to Hosokawa Harumoto and said: "That is to say, our highness, His Highness Kaihan, is not as knowledgeable as him. . Otherwise, in our Kitahata family, it would not be an exaggeration for the entire clan to be put to death for such a blatant crime."
"Haha, the vulgar place of the Nagao family is naturally not as good as the etiquette of the Kitahata family. Forget it, why bother arguing with the servants? There is no need to be angry in a good life." Hosokawa Harumoto laughed generously, and everyone in the hall Join in the compliments and the laughter. No one paid attention to the messenger of the Nagao family after leaving Makishima Castle.
After that, he rode his horse straight north, heading straight for Kyoto.
·
Late at night on March 26, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), Nijo Imperial Palace in Kyoto.
The imperial palace of the Ashikaga Shogunate has now become the headquarters of the Kansai Allied Forces led by the Miyoshi family. Oppositely, Makishima Castle, 45 miles south of Kyoto, is the main camp of the Kanto Allied Forces headed by the Hosokawa family. Because the Kansai Allied Forces were arrayed in the north, they were called the Northern Army. If the Kwantung Allied Forces are arrayed in the south, they are called the Southern Army.
"Huh? The envoy of the Nagao family wants to see you?" Miyoshi Nagakei was studying the map of the battle between the two armies at the table. He raised his head after receiving the report from Miyoshi Yoshihide, "Didn't the Nagao family go to the Confederate Army? "
"Maybe something happened." Miyoshi Yoshiken sat down next to Miyoshi Nagakei and suggested with a subtle expression: "Our ninjas reported that the ninjas of the Nagao family came from Makishima Castle."
"Makishima Castle?" Miyoshi Nagakei laughed, "Didn't Hosokawa Harumoto tell everyone that a review meeting will be held today to discuss how to "appease" us? ”
"Yes, as big brother can see, the negotiation has probably fallen apart." Miyoshi Yixian weighed the chips in his hand and glanced at Miyoshi Changqing with a smile, "The negotiation has fallen apart, so he came to our side... Big Brother Why don't you guess why the conversation broke down?"
"Hokuriku Echigo is too far away from here, and the governor can't give the Nagao family the benefits they want?" Miyoshi Nagakei answered matter-of-factly, then thought about it for a moment and gave a few more guesses: "The Nagao family wants to Do you want the guardian of Echu? Or do you want Northern Shinano? Or do you want a senior official position? Could it be that you want the Kanto governor of the Uesugi family?"
"Brother, the benefits cannot be calculated completely or clearly. To calculate, you have to calculate the person himself." An Zhai Dongkang opened the door of the room and walked in. "Xiangren, if you understand his nature, you can Predict all his actions."
"I would like to hear the details." Miyoshi Changqing put down the brush that was drawing circles on the map.
"I heard that the leader of the Nagatail Army this time is Nagaotora Chiyo Kagetora, the younger brother of the family governor. He is eager for justice, affection and trust, and he doesn't like the fame and wealth of a dog-eat-dog." Anzhai Fuyasu said with a self-deprecating smile: "He is a good man. He is not in cahoots with us samurai. He is a bit like the Imagawa family's Jibu."
"Third brother, you are not completely incompatible with us. So far, you are basically a good person." Miyoshi Yixian stood up, laughed and patted Anzhai Fuyang on the shoulder, then leaned down and supported himself on On the table in front of Miyoshi Changqing, he whispered to him: "So, brother, as a bad guy, you know what you should do, right?"
"Of course." Miyoshi Changqing also smiled knowingly, raised his hand and made a mask-wearing gesture, "I am best at playing a satisfying "good guy." ”
"But how do you know how to please him?" Miyoshi Yixian asked.
"Of course it's gambling." Miyoshi Changqing stood up, took out the handful of chips from Miyoshi Yixian's waist, and scattered them on the table, "I'm also the best at it."
·
Soon after, Nijo Imperial Palace.
The envoy from the Nagao family hurried in and wanted to see Miyoshi Nagakei, but was told by Miyoshi Yoshiken who stayed behind: "I'm very sorry, my brother is not in the imperial palace."
"Then where is His Majesty the Repairman?" The envoy of the Nagao family looked puzzled. It was already night. If the general of the Northern Army was not staying in the Nijo Imperial Palace as the main formation, where would he be?
"We are keeping vigil for the late Kōkōden at Shokokuji Temple." Miyoshi Yoshiken pointed to the northeast of Nijo Imperial Palace.揠
The envoy of the Nagao family was startled for a moment, but Yoshihide Miyoshi still understood clearly - his elder brother had made the right bet.
At the request of the envoy of the Nagao family, Miyoshi Yoshihide led him to ride his horse late at night all the way to the outside of Xiangguo Temple. Still one mile away from Xiangguo Temple, he was stopped by Miyoshi Changyi who had been waiting here for a long time.
"Your Highness has an order that no one is allowed to ride a horse near the Gongfang Palace Mausoleum, not even Your Highness Shikyu, so as not to disturb you." Miyoshi Changyi offered his hand to Miyoshi Yixian without being humble or condescending, and Miyoshi Yixian pretended to be helpless. He stood up and dismounted, and at the same time he apologized to the envoy of the Nagao family: "I'm sorry, I might have to delay your envoy's time."
"It doesn't matter." But the messenger from the Nagao family
But he did not express any displeasure. Instead, he whispered with some emotion: "What's the delay... It should be like this..."
After the two of them walked into the main hall of Shokokuji Temple, they saw Ashikaga Yoshiharu's spiritual tablet enshrined in the center under the candlelight of the entire hall. Sanhao Changqing, wearing hemp cloth and mourning, sat on his knees under the spiritual throne and kept reciting Buddhist teachings without noticing the visitors behind him.
"Brother." Miyoshi Yixian called in a low voice.
Mihao Changqing stopped chanting when he heard this and turned his head silently. Under the candlelight, the tears on his face were clearly visible, and his eyes were red and swollen from crying. For a moment, Miyoshi Yoshixian was almost deceived by this realistic scene, as if the person in front of him was really a samurai loyal to the shogunate. It was precisely because of the unexpected death of General Zhengyi that he was in pain.揠
While Miyoshi Yoshihide was in a daze, the envoy from the Nagao family had already stepped forward, knelt down behind Miyoshi Nagaki, knelt down to Ashikaga Yoshiharu's memorial tablet, and then burst into tears.
After a long while, the envoy of the Nagao family finally stood up, saluted Miyoshi Nagaki and said:
"Your Majesty, I will tell you the truth. I am not a messenger, but the general of the Nagao Army in this battle, Nagao Tiger Chiyo Kagetora. The Nagao family went to Luo this time just to avenge Kōfōden. However, the North and the South are still arguing. , the shogunate has been torn apart again. We in Hokuriku are remote and have little information. No one can tell us who is the real culprit who harmed the public hall. So I sneaked in as an envoy, hoping that with my own eyes, I can identify A loyal girl does it."
"The Confederate army was full of guests and friends, but no one was sad and angry for Gongfang Dian's death. Instead, they were all talking about meritorious deeds and rewarded them. How could they have any intention of taking revenge on Gongfang Dian? I'm afraid they themselves are the instigators! I'm sorry. I don’t want to associate with those sycophant women, so please allow Your Highness to allow our Long Tail Army to join the Northern Army to bring down those disloyal and unjust traitors!”
"Gongfangdian treats our Sanhao family very kindly. As long as they avenge Gongfangdian, they are all comrades of our Sanhao family and a member of our Northern Army."
