June 12, the 14th year of Tianwen, outside the station of the Sichuan Army in the East Temple. Thousands of people in Kyoto gathered in the surrounding neighborhoods, holding broken pots and pans, waiting for the Imagawa family's twice-daily relief.
After the complete food shortage in Kyoto, in addition to the Yikui who looted grain and grass along the Kyoto-Tamba line, some people also chose to beg outside the positions of the Southern and Northern armies to try their luck, hoping to meet kind-hearted soldiers to donate some food. However, the Northern Army itself is in short supply of food and grass and will certainly not distribute it to the people. Not long ago, the Southern Army was violently expelling people who forced themselves to break through. Naturally, they didn't have a good face.
The Imagawa family is the only exception. When the people who were begging for food arrived at the southwestmost position, they had no hope. But after they begged for a long time, some soldiers actually brought out a lot of coarse grains. After the people distributed the food with great gratitude, the news spread like wildfire, and more and more people began to gather at the East Temple. The Imagawa family then opened a porridge shop outside the Toji Temple, and distributed gruel to the people at Tatsuki and Xushi every day. By June 12, tens of thousands of people were already living off Imagawa Jun's porridge every day.
At the same time, on the top of the tower of the East Temple, Imagawa Yoshimoto and Taiyuan Xuezai were standing side by side, looking at the countless creatures outside the temple.
"So, to provide relief to the victims, we have to rely on porridge shops. It's not feasible to directly distribute dry food like you did on the first day." Taiyuan Xuezhai preached to Imagawa Yoshimoto: "You don't need to cook the dry food, you can eat it directly , for those victims who have been hungry for a long time, it will be bad for their stomachs, and if it goes wrong, they will die. Moreover, if they take the food, others will be jealous, which will inevitably lead to burning, killing and looting. Bags of dry food are used for relief. It’s also quite a consumption.”
"You cook it into porridge. For one portion of dry food, you can make four or five servings of porridge. It won't make them sick easily, and it's enough to keep them from starving to death. Because with this little porridge, there's nothing to shoot at, and it saves disputes. .”
"I heard that several other daimyo have strong opinions on me?" Imagawa Yoshimoto pursed his lips with mixed feelings and glanced at Taiyuan Yuksai - the latter had just returned from the main formation of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
"Of course, the food cutoff plan is about to be completed, and we can almost sit back and watch the Northern Army and the people of Kyoto fight with each other. You brat has intervened like this and helped relieve a small amount of the pressure. Can everyone not be angry?" Taiyuan Xue Sai became happy when he heard the words and patted Imagawa Yoshimoto on the back, "But you are much more mature than before. In the past, you would have been the first to oppose the food shortage."
"..." Imagawa Yoshimoto obviously did not quite agree with the "maturity" defined by Taiyuan Xuezhai, but he still said after a long silence: "Teacher, you have forgotten the days when we lived in Kyoto when I was young. The people we know, whether they are monks or traffickers... there must be hundreds of them, right? They and their relatives may also be among the hungry people in front of us..."
"Of course I know. If they were really unrelated common people, you wouldn't be so kind-hearted, right? Isn't it just because you have old ties in Kyoto that you can't be cruel?"
"Teacher offered such a vicious plan, will his heart not be shaken?" Imagawa Yoshimoto turned around and looked at the crowded crowd, deliberately avoiding the sight of Taiyuan Xuezhai: "Teacher's friends and colleagues back then, The brothers and sisters... may also be crowding in the crowd to seek a way out, and may have even died in the previous starvation and plundering. Master Zongxiu is also... Ichijo, Nakamikado, Yamashina, and others in the palace don't know What's going on... How did you issue the order to cut off food with a clear conscience? Don't you feel that you are murdering them with your own hands? If we were attacking Imagawakan and Zentokuji Temple, would you also issue the same order? I won’t mention those living beings who are strangers to us, but in order to win, you will kill even your relatives and friends without mercy?”
"My teacher's advice is to think less about these problems. The more you think about them, the more guilty you will feel. People who are prone to guilt cannot survive in troubled times. If you can't think of the results, it would be better to just avoid thinking." Taiyuan Xue Zhai also straightened his expression, and said to Imagawa Yoshimoto seriously: "Of course, as a teacher, I am not afraid to think about it, and I have already thought about it clearly. For the ambition of being a teacher, there is no harm in sacrificing everything. Of course, It's impossible for you to say that you don't feel guilty, but those are acceptable things. If possible, of course I also hope to protect them."
"In that case, teacher, why don't you stop my willful disaster relief behavior? Isn't this going to ruin your plan?" Imagawa Yoshimoto retorted, but he was asking questions knowingly. Imagawa Yoshimoto also knew in his heart that in Taiyuan Xuezhai's trade-offs, he was a unique existence with privileges. He even said that he himself would be more important than Taiyuan Xuezhai's ambition.
Naturally, Taiyuan Xuezhai would not express his love for his children. Instead, he would act like the free and easy old monk he always was, smiling and saying, "That is naturally my teacher's sixth chess move."
"Both the worst and the best strategies have been made, so is this the teacher's best strategy?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was a little surprised, "The battle situation has become so chaotic, does the teacher still have a back-up plan? Are you trying to trick me?"
Taiyuan Xuezhai just smiled without comment.
"Why didn't you talk to Tora Chiyo? This morning, he sent someone to ask me when the relief will be suspended." When Imagawa Yoshimoto saw this, he wanted to call Hayasaka Nao and ask him to pass the order to Takeda Harunobu, but Taiyuan was Xuezhai waved his hand to stop him and gave Imagawa Yoshimoto a meaningful look:
"Chengfang, remember, no matter how good your relationship is with the chief baker, no matter how good the relationship between the Imagawa family and the Takeda family is, no matter how good the relationship is between you and Madam... Allies are allies after all, not one of our own, and they cannot be all. Belief must not be unreserved.”
·
On the other side, inside the Rensheng Temple.
Not long ago, in order to supervise the smooth transportation of grain from Tamba to Kyoto, Miyoshi Nagakei had moved the Miyoshi Army headquarters here to personally supervise the formation and suppress the common people's attempts to snatch food, but gradually he was still unable to do so. He also realized that if he really went on a killing spree without restraint, even if he really won the battle, his future rule in Kyoto would be difficult.
The big names in the Northern Army who are also allies are also frustrated with the current situation. They wanted to counterattack, but the various units of the Southern Army had already built their positions into iron barrels, and there was no possibility of a breakthrough in the short term. In terms of long-term consumption, the Northern Army, which can only rely on a mountain road for supplies, will definitely not be able to consume the Southern Army, which is backed by a large granary. As a result, the war-weariness spread like wildfire, and the great names of the Western Kingdom hinted at their plans to return to the country many times at military assessment meetings, which made Miyoshi Changqing only find it difficult to do so.
On the one hand, they have to ensure the supply of food and grass, on the other hand, they have to suppress the people, on the other hand, they have to appease the emotions of the friendly forces, and on the other hand, they have to control the war situation - even Sanhao Changqing feels like walking on thin ice and exhausted mentally and physically. After discussing with important officials of the Miyoshi family such as Matsunagahide, Miyoshi Yoshihide, Anzhai Fuyasu, Shihe Icun, and Miyoshi Changit, Miyoshi Changqing made a judgment:
Instead of waiting for death, it is better to take advantage of the time when the Northern Army still has the strength to fight, and attack the Toji-Suirinji line where the Imagawa and Takeda families are located. Even if huge casualties are incurred, the food route to Settsu must be opened.
Just as Miyoshi Nagakei conveyed instructions to the various departments of the Northern Army, and when the battle was about to begin, something unexpected happened - Imagawa Yoshimoto began to relieve the people. A large number of people gathered around the East Temple, which alleviated many of the pressures faced by the Northern Army from the civil uprising. It also made the Northern Army's original plan of raiding the East Temple in vain - it was impossible to quickly pass through so many people's refugees. shed. Having so many rioters lingering near the Imagawa family's position would also limit the space for the Northern Army to spread out its formation.
As a result, the decisive battle plan lost both urgency and feasibility and was shelved. The pressure on various departments of the Northern Army has been relieved, and no one is willing to fight to the death with the Mihaoshi family. At the same time, war weariness re-emerged and even intensified - because everyone found that they were once again in a situation where they were consumed to death by the Southern Army's food deprivation tactics - but now the Southern Army did not intend to kill the Northern Army immediately - - Just like giving a bowl of gruel to the Northern Army, it slowly trapped the Northern Army to death with a sigh of relief.
·
June 15, the 14th year of Tianwen, Rensheng Temple.
"Continuing to consume like this is not the answer after all. One group is full of energy, then weakens, and the other three are exhausted. I wanted all the ministries to fight together, but the Imagawa family's hand was holding back the fighting spirit of the allies. , I'm afraid it will be difficult to organize again." Matsuzaki sighed and shook his head, showing a rare look of helplessness and frustration, "Master Xue Zhai is really vicious, one link after another..."
"The area around Toji Temple is full of rioters, which also gives us an advantage." Tokawa Ichisun said in a cold voice, "If we cross Toji Temple at this time and directly attack the Southern Army Pass stationed on the Settsu Official Road, then the Imagawa Army will We and the Takeda Army can't even think of bypassing the mob and quickly maneuvering to provide support."
"But relying solely on the strength of our Sanhao Army, I'm afraid it will be difficult to break through the positions that the Hexagonal Army has maintained for a long time." Anzhai Dongyasu pressed his hands and signaled Shihe Yicun not to be impatient, "And if our Sanhao family leaves Kyoto, then here The situation is hard to predict. No one can control the situation. What if an ally retreats and leaves? Who can restrain the troops on our behalf?"
Everyone could only look at each other in shock after hearing this, and no one could answer An Zhai Dongkang's question.
"Why don't we use our trump card." After a long time, Miyoshi Changqing raised his head and broke the silence. Bloodshot eyes were faintly visible. In the past, he had always been a flawless and well-calculated family governor, but now he showed the look of a gambler, "Destroying the morale of the Southern Army, looking for opportunities to break through the blockade in one fell swoop."
"At this point, there may be no other way." Miyoshi Yixian was also determined and said in a deep voice: "We were in contact a few days ago, and all preparations are fine. Instead of sitting and waiting for death, it is better to let go Give it a try.”
At this moment, the sound of notification came from outside the tent. Miyoshi Yoshixian signaled everyone to be silent to prevent any possible leaks, even the flagship of the Miyoshi family.
"My lord." The guard who came raised his hands outside the tent and reported the news that everyone had not expected:
"Taiyuan Xuezhai sent an envoy to make an appointment with the lord."
