The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 58

"Lord Chikuzen is truly wise!" Shinzaburo complimented, then answered carefully: "Originally, the Ouchi Navy had a great advantage, but some of the ship admirals had been secretly bribed by the Mori clan. In addition, the Murakami clan's Mishima Navy temporarily dispatched two hundred ships to assist the Mori clan on the condition that they would be permanently allowed to collect 'ship mark' money at sea. Therefore, the naval battle was a complete victory for the Mori clan."

The so-called "ship pass" refers to a permit with a certain validity period. In reality, it's a toll.

"Hmm?" Miyoshi Nagayoshi caught another key point: "So, does the Ōuchi family intend to abolish the local 'ship markings'?"

Shinzaburo remained cautious about things he wasn't sure about, saying carefully, "It is said that Tao Oji, who actually controls the Ōuchi family, seemed to have the idea of ​​prohibiting the Mishima navy from collecting ship levies before the war. But I don't know if it's true or not."

“Interesting…interesting.” Miyoshi Nagayoshi smiled and said, “To offend the Mishima navy before crossing the sea to attack the islands…is the renowned Suzuo Hari really such a fool? Or is it a scheme by Mori Norimayaku?”

Miyoshi Nagayoshi couldn't help but interject: "After Tao Weizhang murdered his former master, he held power for many years. He can't be that stupid, can he?"

Matsunaga Hisahide looked surprised: "If it is a scheme, then Mori Noriyuki's wisdom is unfathomable."

Miyoshi Yoshiaki then asked, "Was the Ōuchi army truly wiped out?"

Shinzaburo said, "Due to the naval defeat, the troops that landed on Itsukushima had nowhere to retreat. According to the Mori family's report, 4,800 were beheaded and 3,000 were captured. In my opinion, even if this number is exaggerated, it is not far from the truth."

"Nearly eight thousand lost!" Miyoshi Yoshioki lamented, "The Ōuchi clan will surely never recover from this! Soon the western provinces will undergo a dramatic change. If the Mōri clan were to conquer the Ōuchi clan's Nagato, Suō, and Iwami provinces in one fell swoop, the Amago clan would probably be no match for them either."

Miyoshi Nagayoshi's expression suddenly turned cold, and he said in a low voice, "If that is really the case, my family will have to consider whether to change our approach to befriending Amago and counterbalance the Mori. If the western provinces are unified, they will invade Harima and Tajima, and then Settsu and Tanba."

Upon hearing this, Shinzaburo added, "Although the Mori family is currently enjoying great power, there are some hidden dangers."

Miyoshi Nagayoshi blinked and smiled, "It seems Kubo Genban has gained a lot from this trip. Please explain quickly."

Shinzaburo said methodically, "The ruggedness of the western mountains surpasses even that of Tanba. Therefore, the region is isolated and places even greater emphasis on lineage than the Kinai region. The Mori family, originating from humble beginnings, has always referred to itself as the leader of the 'Kokin-ikki' (Nationalist uprising) and dares not reveal its ambitions. This has caused dissatisfaction among some of the young and ambitious samurai in the family."

“I see…” Miyoshi Nagayoshi immediately frowned: “This is not good. The lord who is staying in Kuchiki Valley probably didn’t care about the Mori family in the past, but now he probably does. He is never stingy in bestowing titles on people from distant lands.”

Shinzaburo thought about it and realized it made sense.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru was previously only focused on winning over the Amago and Ōuchi clans, but now, seeing the outcome of the Battle of Itsukushima, he might also divert some attention to the Mori clan. That would be a timely help.

However, this was something that Miyoshi Nagayoshi was worried about, and Shinzaburo did not intend to bother to consider it.

109 The Approach of the Two Major Factions

After about an hour of explanation, Hosokawa Ujitsuna and the others were satisfied, believing they had obtained enough information.

However, Miyoshi Nagayoshi was not satisfied. Instead, he politely made an unquestionable request, hoping that Shinzaburo would stay at Akutagawa Castle for three more days to give a detailed report and recount all the sights and experiences he had on his westward journey.

It even includes the specific circumstances of the two smaller factions, the Miyamura family and the Sho family.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi believes that some things may seem insignificant, but they can still reflect some characteristics of the Mori family from different perspectives.

Shinzaburo, of course, had no objections.

Because Miyoshi Nagayoshi, who was known as the "Vice-King of Japan," was always a generous lord to his subordinates. As long as you could help him, he was not stingy with rewards.

Although Shinzaburo is theoretically under the control of Hosokawa Ujitsuna.

However, this situation also applies after Matsunaga Nagayori inherited the Naito family, the guardians of Tanba.

Furthermore, the people I met before at Yodo-ko Castle in Hosokawa Ujitsuna's territory, such as Koizumi, Imamura, and Tarao, all actually benefited greatly from the Miyoshi family.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi valued the law and would avoid overstepping his bounds, so he would not directly establish a "relationship of loyalty and service" with the "inner corps" under the shogunate's leadership, in order to avoid causing trouble.

But this does not mean that no real benefits will be provided.

Being able to report to a top leader privately for three days is perhaps more valuable than working hard at the grassroots level for thirty years. It's an opportunity that many retainers would never dare to dream of!

That's why it's said that diplomatic envoys are the best choice for accumulating prestige and merits.

……

That evening, I had a simple meal at Akutagawa Yamashiro without any drinks.

The flavor is traditional Kyoto style, with little salt and sauce, and no pungent spices, it's as bland as water.

However, the ingredients are sea bream, abalone, and scallops, and even after simple steaming, the taste is still very good.

Shinzaburo suddenly realized that his previous expectation of "freedom from the necessities of life" was too conservative.

Truly important people enjoy food that tastes good even without the need for oil, salt, soy sauce, or vinegar.

Next, Hosokawa Ujitsuna summoned Shinzaburo privately at his residence and offered him high praise, saying, "Kubo Genban is skilled in warfare, adept at managing mines, and capable of serving as an envoy. He is truly a man of both talent and ability!"

Shinzaburo feigned trepidation and deliberately chose to say the most flattering things: "On this trip to the western provinces, I discovered that the Bitchu Shoji family, as former retainers, still cherishes their past friendship; and the Aki Mori family is also eager to gain the approval of the Kanrei-sama. This is enough to prove that the Hosokawa family's deep kindness and virtue towards the various provinces is far from exhausted!"

Hosokawa Ujitsuna was pleased to hear this. He stroked his smooth chin and smiled, "A peerless national hero like Kubo Genban should be given an important position. I will definitely consider this carefully next."

That's what they said, but they didn't explain in detail how to "promote someone exceptionally."

The main reason is probably that Hosokawa Ujitsuna's independent voice is more limited to the macro-level of politics, and he cannot interfere with specific personnel arrangements without the intervention of Miyoshi Nagayoshi.

However, Shinzaburo still appeared extremely grateful.

It's all just empty flattery anyway, so saying a few more words won't hurt.

What's wrong with putting on a show of mutual understanding between a ruler and his subject?

……

After chatting with Hosokawa Ujitsuna for a while, I returned to my guest room and was then invited to Matsunaga Hisahide's place.

They were waiting in the hall with several high-ranking warriors in fine clothes.

Upon meeting, Matsunaga Hisahide bowed and said, "A few months ago, I originally intended to recommend Kubo Genban to serve as the military supply officer, but I was interfered with by Hyuga no Kami (Miyoshi Nagayoshi), which resulted in you being exiled to the Tada copper mine. I am truly sorry."

Shinzaburo returned the greeting respectfully, smiling and saying, "You flatter me! The Tada Copper Mine actually contains a silver mine, making it a highly coveted position."

Matsunaga Hisahide shook his head and said sincerely, "Kubo Genban found the silver mine, which is his own ability. But I must express my apologies."

Shinzaburo wondered what he'd been doing for the past few months, only promising future compensation but never delivering. Now that he realized he had to give a two-day private report to Miyoshi Nagayoshi, he quickly came to boost his friendship level.

But there's no need to overthink it.

After all, it's human nature to praise the powerful and criticize the weak.

Just laugh it off and that's it.

Next, Matsunaga Hisahide introduced the other guests at his home. They were Tori Yoshisada, Saito Motosaku, Teramachi Michiaki, Kaji Hisakatsu, Iwanari Tomomichi, and others.

Some of them, Shinzaburo, were already quite familiar with, while others he had only met once or twice.

They are probably the central figures of the so-called "newcomer" faction within the Miyoshi family.

Their adversary was the "Montsune" faction led by Miyoshi Nagayoshi.

According to Matsunaga Hisahide, these are all friends who can be trusted.

In addition, Matsunaga Nagayori of Tanba and Matsuyama Shigeharu of Higashiharima are undoubtedly also among them, but they are too busy to come to Akutagawa Castle today.

however……

Others may not know, but Shinzaburo, as a veteran player of Koei Tecmo's games, clearly remembers that the Iwanari Tomomichi of later generations was clearly following Miyoshi Nagahisa!

Your faction, Matsunaga Hisahira's, isn't very reliable!

The saying goes, "Don't let strangers interfere with close relatives," and Shinzaburo couldn't show it, but he had to remain cautious in his heart.

Matsunaga Hisahide said something that subtly reminded people that some "bad guys" had seen the silver mine that had been dug up at the Tada copper mine and wanted to take advantage of it, but with his friends here, he would not let them succeed.

Shinzaburo neither rejected this "kind offer" nor expressed complete acceptance, but rather gave an ambiguous response: "If it weren't for the two Matsunaga lords' promotion, I would probably still be a Kubomura Otina in Tanba. Of course, being an Otina isn't so bad, but becoming a samurai opens up a whole new world for me!"

As for his future goal of seeking to develop in border regions, he did not mention it on this occasion.

After exchanging compliments with everyone to reinforce their impressions, the short gathering came to an end.

……

Unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, Miho Nagayoshi called me over as a guest.

I dared not refuse the invitation from the big shot.

Inside the house, a group of people had also gathered, including his son Nagatora, two relatives named Miyoshi Naganao and Miyoshi Renkichi, as well as hereditary retainers such as Izawa Tsunayori and Bando Nobuhide.

It seems that all the key members of the "Yuan Cong" faction have been gathered.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi was a kind-faced old man who looked very amiable. He went straight to the point and said, "I will not deny that I did intentionally suppress the newcomers a few months ago. But did Kubo Genban ever think that the Matsunaga brothers' indifference and lack of intervention was the truly disheartening thing?"

Faced with such a blunt statement, Shinzaburo smiled but remained silent, unable to respond.

Then his son, Changhu, said firmly, "My father would never be so indifferent to his own people."

Shinzaburo was even less able to respond to such remarks, and he almost lost his composure and composure.

To this, Miyoshi Nagayoshi shook his head and smiled, speaking gently: "What you just heard may be hard to believe at first, that's human nature. But there's plenty of time, and Kubo Genban will understand in the future. Although the Matsunaga brothers are exceptionally talented, they are too pragmatic in their actions and sometimes lack human compassion."

Miyoshi Nagatora added seriously, "Letting them grow their faction is not a blessing for the Miyoshi family."

Shinzaburo could only bow down, remaining silent.

Next, Miyoshi Nagayoshi did not continue talking about internal strife, but instead asked Shinsaburo to chat with the senior retainers present to build rapport.

……

Shinzaburo finally returned to his room late at night, feeling a little heavy-hearted.

The internal power struggles within the Miyoshi family are indeed quite complex.

Besides the Matsunaga brothers' "Newcomer" faction and Miyoshi Nagayoshi's "Mototsuke" lineage, there seem to be others, such as Noma Nagahisa, Kanayama Naganobu, and Iio Tamekiyo, who maintained a degree of independence and directly obeyed Miyoshi Nagayoshi. Furthermore, figures like Ikeda, Itami, and Irie of Settsu, Matsuura and Tomigami of Izumi, and Yasumi and Tange of Kawachi, representing a degree of independence among the local gentry, didn't seem overly eager to join any faction, yet a vague, unspoken inclination remained.

Across the sea, there are Miyoshi Yoshikata of Awa, Ataka Nobuyasu of Awaji, and Togawa Kazumi of Sanuki. Although they have long been stationed there, their presence is relatively low. However, as the younger brothers of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, they effectively control large territories, so their attitude is clearly important. Conversely, precisely because they are so closely related to the head of the clan, their status is sensitive, making them unsuitable for central government support. However, they cannot completely disregard the distinctions of kinship.

After much thought, I still feel that engaging in empty political struggles is not very meaningful. In the long run, the right path is to find an opportunity to serve as a governor-general on the frontier and control more land and troops.

After all, according to historical development, the Miyoshi family did not quell the chaos, nor did they establish a stable bureaucratic system.

110 Master Mingzhou's WeChat Moments

In short, for the next three days, Shinzaburo stayed at Akutagawa Castle, the main castle of the Miyoshi family, and meticulously recounted his experiences on the westward journey to Miyoshi Nagayoshi and Miyoshi Yoshioki.

Yoshiyuki Miyoshi was still a fifteen-year-old boy. When he heard about trivial details, he would occasionally show impatience, yawn from time to time, or stare blankly out the window.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi did not criticize or reprimand his son, but he maintained a high level of attention. He extracted noteworthy insights from many subtle clues and repeatedly inquired about the details.

There were many key points that Shinzaburo hadn't noticed at all, but after being asked about them, he realized there was room for exploration.

The impression is that Miyoshi Nagayoshi's keenness is probably on par with that of Mori Motonari.

However, the former is not stingy in sharing his thought process with others, so he does not appear "wise to the point of being supernatural" and does not intimidate or keep people at a distance.

Finally, both father and son expressed their sincere gratitude.

However, they would not openly bestow any land rewards upon the samurai who were nominally subordinate to the Hosokawa Kanrei; they would simply give them a small handful of silver coins as a gift.

With the money given by Mori Takamoto, Shinzaburo suddenly had 150 kan in cash, and his finances became much more comfortable.

Logically, he should then return to work at the Tada Copper Mining Station.

Although I had anticipated the possibility of being unfairly treated and had planned my escape route in advance, I have not yet been dismissed from my position. And it seems unlikely that I will be dismissed anytime soon.

However, since he had already been away from his post for so long, a few more days wouldn't make a difference, so Shinsaburo decided to take leave and go back to his hometown.

If you return to your job, skipping work again would seem unprofessional.

Starting from Akutagawa Yamashiro, passing through Yamashiro Province's Nishioka, and arriving at the Kameoka area, we stopped at Kofukuji Temple for the night.

Master Mingzhou has returned from paying his respects to Asakura Sōteki in Echizen. He happens to be at the temple, so the father-in-law and son-in-law can meet.

The old monk immediately exclaimed excitedly, “This trip to the Western Regions has been a truly delightful surprise! I originally thought it would just be about handling a trivial matter, but I never expected to be involved in a major event that has shocked the world! I reported to Miyoshi Chikuzen privately for three days, and when word got out, several monks who had been criticizing me fell silent!”

A three-day solo presentation—that's how valuable it is.

No one knows exactly what you said, and no one knows how much the big boss believed. No one dares to make any rash moves in the short term.

That night, they talked late into the night by candlelight.

Shinzaburo gave a general account of his experiences in the western country, while Master Mingzhou also shared his experience of paying respects at the funeral.

The Echizen Asakura family, though a traditional and prestigious samurai family, had a very individualistic style and placed great importance on cultural refinement. Their long-standing practice was for the head of the family to compose poems and paint in the main castle and manage internal affairs, while when it came to military campaigns, the duties were left to a member of the family who served as "military commissioner."

The current Asakura Yoshikage is twenty-two years old and has been in power for seven and a half years, yet he has never been to battle and has never seen blood!

Correspondingly, the one who commanded the troops in the past was always "Northern Army God" Asakura Sōteki.

This veteran of five dynasties served as "Military Commissioner" for over forty years. His outstanding achievements and lofty status are beyond description.

Now that he has passed away suddenly, who can bear the heavy burden he leaves behind?

Asakura Sōteki had only one son born out of wedlock, who had already become a monk at Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto. He was the grand-nephew of Master Myōshū. This man had shown remarkable talent in Zen Buddhism and was also quite adept at interpersonal relationships, making him a potential successor to the position of abbot.

The one who succeeded him as "Military Magistrate" was Asakura Sōteki's adopted son, named Asakura Kageki.

It is said that Asakura Kageki is quite capable, and he has actually been in command of the battles of the last ten years or so.

However, Master Mingzhou said, "This Lord Jingji seems to think too highly of himself and is somewhat stubborn. He treats the other disciples with an air of superiority. His demeanor is far inferior to that of Lord Zongdi."