The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 110

Then the third brother, Anzhai Dongkang, and the fourth brother, He Yicun, tried to mediate, but they haven't succeeded yet, so it's inconvenient for them to show their faces.

Furthermore, Master Mingzhou speculates that the desire to possess Yoshiyuki Miyoshi may not have been solely the opinion of Yoshiyuki Miyoshi, but rather a shared aspiration among the samurai of the three provinces of Awa, Sanuki, and Awaji within the Miyoshi family.

Ataka Fuyuyasu and Togawa Kazutsu might also be leaning towards that side.

The reason is not incomprehensible.

After all, after making peace with Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the first to receive titles were Miyoshi Nagayoshi and his son Miyoshi Yoshioki, followed by Matsunaga Hisahide, Miyoshi Nagayasu, and even newcomers like Naito Munekatsu and Kubo Yoshiaki.

The four countries didn't receive much honor.

Conversely, Ashikaga Yoshihiro had lived on Shikoku Island for most of his life. Although he had a grudge against Miyoshi Yoshikata, the governor of Awa Province, he had no other network of connections. If he were to become the shogun in Kyoto, he would inevitably have to promote several local samurai to positions such as "gokōshū" or "honorōshū".

Although Miyoshi Nagayoshi rose to prominence by relying on his hometown of Shikoku, most of his close friends and relatives today are from Settsu and Yamashiro.

People like Miyoshi Nagayoshi also lived in the Kinai region for a long time and rarely returned to their hometowns.

Factions, oh factions...

207 Upholding justice also requires observing etiquette.

The news I heard in Sakai was indeed of great importance. In comparison, the factional power shifts caused by Miyoshi Masayasu's return to the capital were insignificant, and the tea master Sen no Rikyu's skills were of no concern to him.

The conflict between Miyoshi Nagayoshi and Miyoshi Yoshikata was completely absent from the memories of later generations. Even though Shinzaburo was a time traveler, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Will this cause unrest?

If the Miyoshi regime becomes unstable, what will happen to the Kubo family?

Perhaps it's better to prepare earlier.

With mixed feelings, Shinzaburo moved to Kyoto again.

On the way, I stopped at Yodo-ko Castle to visit Hosokawa Ujitsuna. Although he was bedridden and unable to receive guests, I still bowed and left some gifts before leaving.

Then he paid his respects to Miyoshi Yoshiaki.

They now often work in Kyoto and have even built a permanent residence there.

When Miyoshi Yoshioki met Shinzaburo, he was very excited and immediately asked, "How was the tea ceremony in Sakai-cho? Did you meet the tea master Rikyu?"

Shinzaburo carefully considered his words and replied vaguely, "Around Rikyu, every breeze seemed to carry an elegant air, but upon careful observation, one could not grasp its trace, leaving only subtle ripples in the tea, seemingly there yet not there."

Upon hearing this, Yoshioki Miyoshi clapped his hands in delight and exclaimed in admiration, "Wonderful! It seems that Lord Kubo Sado has not only studied the Tale of Genji, but has also gradually come to understand the ways of Zen Buddhism."

Shinzaburo verbally agreed, but in his heart he thought, "If I had known you liked this kind of empty, boastful, and nonsensical literature, I could have just spouted it anytime."

Then Yoshiaki Miyoshi added, “My uncles are all fond of refined pursuits, but unfortunately they have some misunderstandings with my father and were unable to attend this tea party, which is a great pity.”

Hearing this, Shinzaburo was caught off guard.

I already knew the whole story from Master Mingzhou, so I wasn't surprised. I just didn't expect that Miyoshi Yoshiaki would tell me it to my face.

Shinzaburo felt that nothing he said would be right, so he could only remain silent.

Then Miyoshi Yoshiaki casually said, "Now the Miyoshi family's territory spans more than ten countries, with many soldiers and generals. Everyone guards their own territory and usually communicates by letter, so misunderstandings are inevitable. As long as the order is not disrupted, there is nothing to worry about."

Shinzaburo understood what he meant and quickly echoed, "No matter what, the hierarchy must not be disordered."

Yoshio Miyoshi laughed and said, "If everyone in the world were as respectful as Lord Sado Kubo, how could we have ushered in a chaotic world where etiquette has collapsed and music has broken down?"

Shinzaburo quickly replied modestly, "I come from a rural background and originally knew nothing of great principles. It is only in recent years that I have always taken the elders of the Miyoshi family as my role models and have never forgotten to learn from their virtues, which has made me a little progress."

These words may seem like meaningless abstract talk, but they are still quite profound.

The emphasis on "keeping proper etiquette" by Miyoshi Yoshioki indicates that their thinking has changed. They are no longer challengers to the old system, but rather actively integrate into it and become a group with shared interests.

The gains and losses after changing the mindset are not immediately apparent, but Shinzaburo never hesitates to show his support for the leader's instructions at any time.

Therefore, Yoshio Miyoshi then offered praise: "Inviting renowned experts from Tajima Mountain to participate in the Tango expedition was very appropriate."

Shinzaburo adopted a pure and selfless demeanor: "I simply feel that since we are going to support the shogunate, we should convey our intentions to the feudal lords in all directions, especially to prominent families like the famous Tajima Mountain clan."

Yoshio Miyoshi nodded and then reminded him, "The attack on Tango is to support the young lord and eliminate the treacherous ministers. Even if we temporarily control the territory, we must not arbitrarily seize the Isshiki family's property. However, Masamiya is now fragmented, and one day, we may need you to lead troops to uphold justice. At that time, you must also be careful."

These two sentences mean that, whether in Tango or Tajima later, one must behave gracefully and not rashly clash with the existing guardians.

Despite the difficulty, Shinzaburo agreed without hesitation.

The leaders have given instructions, so we have to do it even if it's difficult.

Unless one intends to break away from the Samyoshi regime and go it alone, maintaining a close relationship with the central government is necessary.

After chatting for a while, Yoshiyuki Miyoshi said with no small amount of pride, "Lord Sado Kubo, do you know what I've been busy with in Kyoto lately?"

Shinzaburo, of course, knew nothing about it.

Miyoshi Yoshioki smiled and said, "After Lord Kubo returned to Kyoto, he invited the feudal lords from all over the country to come to Kyoto to meet and clarify the relationship between ruler and subject. This year, the heads of the Echigo Nagao, Mino Saito, and Owari Oda families have confirmed that they will come to Kyoto."

Shinzaburo thought to himself that this was tantamount to strengthening Ashikaga Yoshiteru's presence, but he didn't know what benefit it would bring to the Miyoshi family.

Fortunately, Yoshio Miyoshi immediately added, "I will be accompanying Lord Miyoshi to meet those feudal lords, and I have been busy with preparations in Kyoto recently. If anything happens to those who are going to Kyoto to pay their respects within the territory controlled by the Miyoshi family, it would be a laughing stock in the world."

Oh, I get it now.

Since the Miyoshi clan abandoned the idea of ​​supporting a new shogun and chose to rely on the old authority, strengthening Ashikaga Yoshiteru's presence would strengthen the Miyoshi clan's presence.

At this point, Yoshioki Miyoshi suddenly smiled bitterly: "In February it's Oda of Owari, in April it's Saito of Mino, and in June it's Nagao of Echigo. The one that Lord Kubo least values ​​arrives the earliest, and the one he values ​​most arrives the latest. It's quite a headache."

Ashikaga Yoshiteru valued Echigo-Nagao the most and Owari-Oda the least... This seems to be human nature.

Today, Nagao Kagetora dominates Echigo Province, controls the wealth of Naoetsu, the "Hokuriku Sakai-cho" (modern-day Naoetsu), and is the adopted son of Uesugi Norimasa, the Kanto Kanrei (Kanto Governor-General). His reputation is quite prominent. Saito Yoshitatsu has basically controlled the land of Mino Province. He claims to have inherited the Isshiki family name from his mother and has been granted an official rank by the imperial court, making him a figure of considerable importance. Although Oda Nobunaga has expanded rapidly, his starting point was not high. He currently only controls half of Owari Province and does not possess any noteworthy titles. He was even ridiculed for impersonating the "Kazan no Kami" (Governor of Kazusa Province).

As a time traveler, Shinzaburo would naturally not be bound by the current situation; his greatest concern was undoubtedly Oda Owari.

Moreover, they were the first to arrive in Luoyang, back in February. It's already the end of January, which means we can meet soon.

Saito is in April, Nagao is in June, but they can't wait that long.

However, Shinzaburo couldn't think of a reason to join in the fun.

Unexpectedly, Miyoshi Yoshioki said to himself, "The Oda clan probably wants to obtain the position of Owari governor, but it seems that Lord Kubo does not intend to agree to this request... However, they are the first family to come to Kyoto to pay homage after the shogunate returned to Kyoto, so it would not be appropriate to neglect them."

Upon hearing this, Shinzaburo immediately volunteered: "I now hold some rank, but I am not a member of the shogunate. I am perfectly suited to receive Oda Owari and convey Lord Kubo's intentions beforehand, so that he can be mentally prepared and avoid any awkwardness during the audience."

“That is indeed a solution.” After a moment’s thought, Miyoshi Yoshioki nodded with pleasure. “Lord Oda Kazusa-suke of Owari is expected to arrive in Kyoto on the second day of the second month, which is four days from now. I’ll have to trouble Lord Kubo Sado to stay for a few more days.”

Shinzaburo bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your understanding."

It was only then that Miyoshi Yoshiaki noticed: "Lord Kubo Sado seems to be quite interested in Oda Owari."

Shinzaburo did not hide anything and told the truth: "Lord Oda Kazusa-suke of Owari has only been in power for a few years, but he has successively defeated the two deputy governors of Kiyosu and Iwakura, and quelled the internal strife with a smaller force. His military achievements are amazing, so I often inquire about news from there."

“Hmm…” Miyoshi Yoshihisa hesitated for a moment, then said hesitantly, “Lord Oda Kazusa-suke is indeed victorious in every battle, but his opponents seem to be nobodies, and their significance cannot be compared with that of the Echizen Asakura family, who were defeated by you.”

"I relied entirely on the support of the 2,500 elite soldiers from Settsu that you provided," Shinzaburo said righteously. "Otherwise, how could I have stood against the massive army of the Echizen Asakura clan?"

Miyoshi Yoshioki smiled and said, "Then I will convey the shogunate's specific intentions to you first, and then please act accordingly in front of Lord Oda Kazusa."

"Understood." Shinzaburo bowed in obeisance.

Only now did I belatedly realize that Ashikaga Yoshiteru had shared all his evaluations of the feudal lords with Miyoshi Yoshioki. Were the two of them really that close?

Are you not just pretending to be together but actually having different dreams, but truly sharing weal and woe and planning to build a better new era together?

This is still...

It's really not impossible.

If Miyoshi Yoshioki was content with the status of Hosokawa Masamoto and Ōuchi Yoshioki, he could accommodate the Shogun above him.

As for Ashikaga Yoshiteru... well, apart from Lord Rokuonin, the other successive Ashikaga lords were pretty much the same. They spent half their time in exile and the other half being sidelined by powerful ministers, so they were probably used to it by now.

208. Instant connection, mutual appreciation.

Daitoku-ji Temple is located in the northern suburbs of Kyoto, outside the boundaries of the two major "sōkū" (shogaku) ​​areas, namely "Kamikyō" and "Shimokyō". This means that there are neither security guards hired by merchants nor patrols by the townspeople's self-organized security teams.

But the noble Buddhas don't need those things.

As the head temple of the Daitoku-ji branch of the Linji school of Chan Buddhism, it spans 400 meters east to west and 500 meters north to south. Just from its size, it is clear that ordinary thieves would not be able to provoke it.

Compared to the six sects of Nanto and the two sects of Heian, the Chan school has a relatively short history and is a young and energetic organization.

The Rinzai sect rose to prominence during the Muromachi period thanks to the patronage of the Ashikaga family, and there was a saying within the sect: "Myoshin-ji's abacus, Kennin-ji's scholarship, and Daitoku-ji's tea."

This means that the Myoshinji school excels at proselytizing and has the most followers; the Kenninji school is proficient in Zen Buddhism and its poetry and prose are the most exquisite; while the Daitokuji school specializes in the tea ceremony.

This is the age when the tea ceremony is flourishing. The monks of the Daitoku-ji school have become honored guests of daimyo and wealthy merchants because of this skill, and they often entertain distinguished guests from all over the world in Kyoto.

For example, Wakasa's guardian Yoshiaki Daikubo—he doesn't actually know anything about the tea ceremony, but is considered "one of his own" because of nepotism.

Then there's Oda Nobunaga, the powerful warlord of Owari. He had studied under a scholar named Hirate Masahide since childhood, but he wasn't here for tea today.

Both feudal lords stayed at Daide-ji Temple.

The difference is that the latter requires a large sum of money for food and lodging.

It wasn't that the monks were discriminating against each other. It was just that Oda Nobunaga had brought eighty samurai, two hundred foot soldiers, and two hundred junior officers, totaling nearly five hundred people. The daily expenses for firewood, rice, oil, and salt were considerable. No matter how large and powerful Daitoku-ji Temple was, they couldn't let you eat and drink for free.

Despite having such a large entourage, they were reportedly attacked en route.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru specifically contacted the Kitabatake clan of Ise Province and the Rokkaku clan of Omi Province, requesting permission to pass through, but did not immediately meet with Oda Nobunaga.

Because the esteemed shogun was in a state of conflict, on the one hand, he was satisfied with the vanity of the various lords coming to Kyoto to pay homage, but on the other hand, he did not want the people of Owari to make unrealistic requests.

So Shinzaburo stepped in.

His meeting with Oda Nobunaga was not a formal diplomatic encounter, but rather a deliberately arranged "chance meeting."

On that day, introduced by the monk, I saw a tall, handsome young warrior approaching quickly with vigorous strides.

Upon closer inspection, the newcomer had thick eyebrows, large eyes, a high nose, thin lips, a triangular face, and very sharp features; he could be described as a handsome man with an aggressive appearance.

Before he even got close, a loud and clear voice rang out: "I have long heard of Tanba Zhong Kui, and it is an honor to meet you today. You are indeed a man of imposing stature!"

He greeted us from afar; he's such an impatient person.

Shinzaburo, not one to concern himself with formalities, immediately replied loudly, "If I hadn't studied Lord Oda Kazusa's battle tactics, I wouldn't have been able to earn this meager reputation."

Upon hearing this, Oda Nobunaga stopped in his tracks, raised his eyebrows, and a slightly surprised look appeared in his eyes. He smiled and asked, "Really?"

Shinzaburo held up three fingers: "Use spears to maintain the line, use arquebuses to intimidate the enemy, and gather the Lang Party as elite troops."

Clearly, these three points are common to many Sengoku daimyo, and not Oda's original creation.

But as the saying goes, flattery will get you everywhere, and who can resist its charm?

And it's not entirely nonsense; the other party was indeed one of the reference points.

They then took their seats.

Oda Nobunaga laughed heartily, then said with great interest, "Last year, Lord Kubo Sado defeated Echizen Asakura. I wonder if he used sowing discord or provocation? In any case, his tactics were exquisite."

“It’s just a narrow-minded approach.” Shinzaburo shook his head. “Lord Oda Kazusa’s capture of Kiyosu and Iwakura Castles was swift and decisive, which is even more admirable.”

After only two words of flattery, Oda Nobunaga suddenly stopped smiling and said seriously, "I failed to meet Lord Kyoto, but instead encountered you. It seems that my purpose in coming to Kyoto has failed."

For some reason, Shinzaburo was a little reluctant to follow the traditional formalities of small talk in front of this guy, and immediately got straight to the point: "Lord Kobo hopes that when you have an audience with him, you will not ask to be granted the title of governor of Owari Province. Otherwise, the atmosphere will become awkward."

"Understood." Oda Nobunaga stroked his chin, looking slightly dejected, but after a moment, he waved his hand and flicked his sleeve, regaining his energetic demeanor and quickly making a deduction: "It seems that Lord Nobunaga does not believe that I can withstand the attack of the Imagawa clan."

Shinzaburo lowered his eyes and remained silent, indicating his acquiescence.

"If Lord Imagawa Yoshimoto were to occupy Owari, it might be a good thing for the shogunate, but what about the Miyoshi clan?" As rumored, Oda Nobunaga was more outspoken than anyone could have imagined, blurting out explosive words: "In what capacity does Lord Kubo Sado come today? As a retainer of the shogunate, or a retainer of the Miyoshi clan?"

Shinzaburo, however, was not alarmed. He simply sat calmly and said, “What you say is true, but if Lord Oda Kazusa secures his hold on Owari and then plots against Ise or Mino, then Omi will be next… That would not be good news for the Miyoshi family either. They might even be more difficult to deal with than Lord Imagawa Jibu.”

Upon hearing this, Oda Nobunaga was speechless for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Lord Kubo Sado, you really think highly of me, Nobunaga."

That's true. Right now, probably no one in the world, including Oda's biological mother Tsuchida Gozen, who favored her youngest son, thinks highly of Nobunaga. Those who thought Nobunaga could achieve something back then—his father-in-law Saito Dosan and his teacher Hirate Masahide—have all passed away a few years ago.

Shinzaburo, however, spoke with absolute certainty and confidence: "I observe that Oda Uchihachi possesses great magnanimity and, given time, he will surely become a great man of his generation, surpassing even Imagawa, Takeda, and Nagao in achievement."

After saying that, I felt a little better.

I've achieved the feat of showing off in front of historical figures!

Unexpectedly, after listening, Oda Nobunaga first kept his head down and remained silent, then suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with light.

Shinzaburo was startled, and then suddenly remembered the rumors he had seen about Maeda Toshiie and Mori Ranmaru in his previous life.

Just as he was hesitating whether to frankly admit that he was not enthusiastic about "the way of the masses," he suddenly saw Oda Nobunaga reach down and grab his belt, and then—draw out a folding fan.

Good grief, I thought you were going to take off your clothes and do a Don Sheng dance right there!

Then Nobunaga solemnly said, "This folding fan has been with me for many years. Today I present it to Lord Kubo Sado as a token of our instant friendship. Although I have brought a lot of gold and silver jewelry to tidy up my journey, they are all common items and cannot express my true feelings."

He then asked a monk at Daitoku-ji Temple for pen and ink, and quickly wrote "Presented to Kubo Sado by Oda Kazusa" on the blank space of the folding fan, before solemnly handing it over with both hands.