"Don't dare to be, don't dare to be! I am simply sharing the glory of Tokugawa Mikawa-sama, without him, I would not be where I am today! ”

Just such a sentence, Honda Tadashi has said it over and over again almost a thousand times.

It's not at the level of "dry mouth", but close to the level of mental breakdown, and I'm about to drive myself crazy.

He didn't have any grievances or was suppressed.

On the contrary, this year has been completely smooth sailing and prosperous.

First he was appointed as the acting official who took care of the four lower counties of Owari for Tokugawa Ieyasu, and later received an enclave of 30,000 koku in Ise Azuku as a private reward.

This time, he was ordered to lead his army to Seta Castle and join up with the coalition army, and the generals such as Hirate Hideyoshi, Baixiang Ieka, and Kato Koyasu regarded most of the foreign feudal armies as if they were local chickens and dogs, and did not fake their colors at all, except when they saw Honda Tadakatsu, they came up one after another, showing great respect and affection.

If it weren't for the inconvenience of drinking in the army, you would have to drink 300 glasses.

The most eye-catching thing is that Ke'er Caizang, a super bully who fights all day long and doesn't give face to anyone, took the initiative to run to greet him, and kept saying, "Whether it is the area occupied by the camp or the logistics supply, whoever dares to embarrass Benduo will be unable to hide with me!" ”

If this encounter were put on ordinary people, they would have long ago been fluttering and didn't know who their surname was and where their ancestors were.

Thanks to Honda's determination and determination, his mind is clear, and he never leaves "Tokugawa" or "Mikawa", and there is no misconduct, but the physical and mental exhaustion can be imagined.

After finally coping with it, he returned to his tent in exhaustion, intending to rest, but unexpectedly, before going to bed, his own retainer with 1,500 koku and Kawai Matagoro suddenly asked to see him, and asked:

"I heard that half a year ago, Prime Minister Heite gave 30,000 koku to the lord and private in Ise Province, but you insisted on receiving the reward in the name of the main hall (Tokugawa Ieyasu), I wonder if this is true?"

Honda Tadakatsu nodded without hesitation: "That's true." ”

Kawai Matagoro bowed his head and replied, "I know." ”

He retired without expression.

Only one question was asked, and no emotions were expressed, but Honda Tadakatsu suddenly understood the meaning of his retainers, and he smiled bitterly and didn't know what to do.

He suddenly remembered that when he was a child, he heard his uncle tell the story of Song Taizu's "yellow robe and body" in Tang Tu, and he was very disapproving, thinking that if it wasn't for the monarch himself wanting to ascend to the throne, how could he be coerced and pushed by his retainers?

Now I have a slight understanding of the sweet and bitter taste.

Honda Tadashi is satisfied with his current position, and he wants to be a model for the way of samurai loyalty and righteousness that will be admired and praised by future generations, and he does not want to be criticized in this life.

However, not everyone in the world attaches so much importance to the former and the posterior, and the fame is more important than the powerful and rich.

What did the retainers think? What do relatives think? And the newborn son, what will he think when he grows up?

For example, this Kawai Matagoro just now, how many times have he been born and died, and he has never blinked his eyes, and he can be called a first-class hero. But now that you have a family and children, you can't help but think about the world.

Life is so hard!

Honda Tadakatsu realized that there had been an extremely small but impossible gap in his defenses. He hesitated whether the gap should be filled in completely.

……

The next morning, it was heard that the father and son of the Heite family had moved from Kyoto to the scene, and the allied generals were summoned to the Ohiroma unified audience at Ninomaru in Seta Castle.

Everyone arrived, and the heroes gathered, and on the left hand side were Hatakeyama Takamasa, Kyogoku Takayoshi, and Takeda Motoaki, who were the three old nobles. On the right are Araki Murashige, Oda Nagayoshi, Honda Tadakatsu, etc., who are powerful factions that can contribute. Then there are some direct ministers of the flat family, as well as other subordinate forces with fewer troops. Hirate Hideyi, Kawada Nagakin, and Iwanari Tomoto, three of whom have official official positions, did not attend due to busy official duties, and they were also exempted from the embarrassment of seats.

Of course, there are people who are dissatisfied with such a ranking, but no one is too dissatisfied.

Tie Fan Xiu entered the last place, Qi Yu Xuanang sat in the main seat, followed by his son Yoshimitsu who sat slightly sideways, and there were a few standing side guards and guards.

The style of "the head of the world's martial arts" has gradually emerged.

The generals were about to meet him, and the flat hand suddenly beckoned: "Where is Takigawa Zuo?" Please come forward! This time, tens of thousands of troops are waved to defeat Echigo Uesugi, and it is necessary for a veteran like you to discuss military affairs with me, so that nothing goes wrong. ”

Hearing this, Takigawa Ichiyi was stunned at first, thought about it, and felt that he was indeed the only one present who had this qualification, so he stepped forward without any psychological burden, and walked forward calmly.

Hirata stretched out his hand and pointed to a position next to him, ordering someone to fetch the cushion.

Takigawa Kazuki bowed down and thanked him, and sat down at the designated place.

There was a slight uproar in the room, as if someone was talking in private.

Seeing this, Takigawa Yiyi raised his eyebrows and looked a little stunned, as if he didn't expect that he would suffer such treatment, and his face instantly showed resentment and grievance.

At this time, Pingshou Fan Xiu gently patted the desk in front of him to signal quiet, and said indifferently: "Among the gentlemen, who thinks that their military talent is not inferior to Takigawa Zuojin, they might as well step forward together and let everyone judge whether they live up to their name." ”

There was silence for a moment.

We all know that Takigawa Kazuki has made many meritorious contributions in the southern and northern wars over the years, and has the reputation of "being able to advance and retreat", as an unknown outsider can rise in the Oda regime, and the ability to command the army is still above Shibata Katsuya and Sakuma Nobumori, and several typical defeats are mainly caused by factors outside the battlefield. There are not many people in the world who dare to say that they are better than him.

There was no one present, as if there was none.

But Tsugawa Yoshitoshi, who has been on bad terms with Takigawa for many years, suddenly came out and bowed down and said: "Takigawa Zuo is good at commanding troops and fighting, and everyone knows it, and he must be far inferior to him." However, there is still one person, who is even more close to the left of Takigawa, and is cleaning up the situation in Echizen at the moment, and that is Shigeji Takenaka, who is known as 'Mino Kirin'. If the Prime Minister, Lieutenant General, has a need to discuss military affairs, why not transfer him back and appoint him? ”

As soon as these words came out, Kyogoku Takayoshi, Takeda Motoaki, Araki Murashige, and Tsutsui Shunkei...... And so on, everyone present echoed and said yes.

Even the Hete family's Naoto, Kato Kayasu, Kato Kotai, Kasai Naganobu, Kaida Keikane, and Eguchi Masayoshi are all nodding their heads again and again.

Only Oda Nagayi said: "The bamboo hall is good at temple calculations, and the Takigawa hall is familiar with the military formation, all of them are famous generals in the world, and the prime minister and lieutenant general can use these two people." ”

This was a fair remark, but it was quickly drowned out in the human voice. There are also a few people such as Honda Tadashi who are silent.

It shows Shigeharu Takenaka's reputation and connections.

Correspondingly, although Takigawa Yiyi is also a capable person, this person has to be said to be a bit of a failure. He sat next to Pingshou Fuxiu, angry and sad in his heart.

I'm so harmless and reasonable, why am I treated so roughly? It must be you incompetent people who have pink eye.

- These words were almost written on Takigawa Kazuki's face.

He immediately felt a feeling, straightened his waist and said generously and bitterly: "I can't imagine that decades have passed, and the Prime Minister Lieutenant General still remembers me, an old man, and this time he will definitely fight hard, and after death, he will live up to your trust!" ”

"After death" has come out, and everyone can't ridicule it anymore, so they can only show their loyalty.

Heite Hasuhide said: "It has been a year before the Takenaka Shigeji Hall Xuanfu Echi, and when I already know something about the geography and the military situation of the Uesugi family, I will definitely invite him to come and see it at that time." However, you must know that the military is dangerous, although it is necessary to adapt measures to local conditions, but it must also have its own set of warp and weft. Previously, Takenaka was sent to Hokuriku for the mission of 'knowing the other'. However, the part of the 'confidant', please Takigawa left closer, please check whether the armies can fight, and report back to me in three days, can you? ”

"The Prime Minister's lieutenant general is deeply grateful, and he can only repay it with all his might!" Takigawa Kazuyi made a grateful look and buried his head deeply to give a salute.

……

Everyone retreated with their own thoughts, and Hiterate Yoshimitsu said worriedly: "The art of war says, only with one heart can we win." But why do the great names now have their own thoughts? ”

When Fan Xiu heard this, he said: "Otherwise, how about ordering the daimyo to lead the army back to their hometowns and only use the 30,000 direct soldiers of my flat family to fight?" ”

Yoshimitsu was stunned, thought for a moment, and hesitated: "This is not quite right, right...... Even if the daimyo have their own thoughts, they will not be counterproductive? ”

Fan Xiu said with a smile: "The same soldiers, some are elites who can subdue dragons and tigers, some are mortal soldiers who can be used, some are weak brigades that are defeated when they are defeated in good times, and some are decorations that can only be strong and powerful without seeing blood...... Even the last one is better than nothing, but you must have a clear understanding and do not expect more than you can do. ”

Yoshimitsu was a little abrupt, and then said: "The child thinks that in addition to the difference in bravery, the level of fighting spirit is also very important. ”

Fan Xiu nodded and said, "Yes." For example, as we see today, there are coalition armies from all nations, among which are the ones who can and are willing to fight, who are able to fight but are not willing to fight, who are willing to fight but cannot fight, and who are neither able nor willing to fight...... It's complicated to tell. In fact, I brought out Takigawa Kazuyi to show everyone that this crusade against Uesugi only focuses on the ability to fight, and does not care about any past grievances. ”

Yoshimitsu finally understood, and sighed: "It's a pity that most people are only blinded by the fame and fortune in front of them and the fetters of the past, and they can't see their father's intentions. ”

Fan Xiu smiled calmly and shook his head: "Otherwise, no!" In fact, if you look closely, you can see that what should be seen should be seen in my intentions. As for the ...... that I really can't see I didn't expect them anymore. ”