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I remember going online many years ago to visit the "New Warring States Alliance (after so many years, I don't know if this website is still there)", and there were many netizens discussing the reasons for the demise of the monkey family.

There are quite a few people who believe that one of the most important reasons for the final failure of the little monkey Hideyori is the instability of the monkey regime, why is it unstable? There is a problem with the regime system! What's the problem? Instead of creating a shogunate or becoming a shogun, the monkey became a secretary of the rank and file with no practical significance, and a regime without samurai as a foundation was unreliable.

According to these netizens, as long as the monkey became a general, his regime could be stable for a long time...... Hehe, Kamakura General Minamoto Yorichao smiled and said nothing.

I left Hokuriku with the army, and at this time, I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, and I was finally able to appear as a more respectable "cultural person" (of course, I am still far from a real cultural person, for example, I don't know how to smell incense, and the tea ceremony is just so-so), it seems that I have been a samurai for quite some time, and I can't seem to get used to this position.

After two defeats, the influence of the Oda family in Hokuriku was greatly reduced, and not only the unruly Ichijo sect, but also the people of Echichu and Noto were also fluctuating, and there were not a few people who secretly contacted the Uesugi family.

Knowing this time, Shibata Katsuie, who had been complacent because of the smooth outcome of the war, finally calmed down.

"It seems that I underestimated the strength of the Uesugi family, but if I really want to fight, I won't lose again."

That being said, but the snow season in Hokuriku Province is coming soon, and neither Shibata Katsuya nor Uesugi Keiko has any intention of fighting again.

At the end of November, Uesugi Keitora, who had gained fame for his victory, sent an envoy Naoe Kanesu (huh?). How could it be him? Go to Azuchi Castle and make peace.

It was not too late for the gentleman to take revenge for ten years, and Oda Nobunaga also understood that the war could not be fought for a while, and compared to the whole world, Hokuriku Province was nothing, so he readily agreed.

In December, both sides retreated, and Shibata Katsuie returned to Kitazhuang Castle, while Uesugi Keitora also returned to Kasuga Yama Castle after appointing Gansu Keiji as guardian of Echichu.

The war was incredible from the start. You can only succeed, not fail, and once you fail, you will perish...... Before the expedition, few people were optimistic about Uesugi Jinghu's command ability, but now, there is no doubt about the level of "Saburo".

Therefore, compared with the lost and regained Vietnam, the prestige brought by this war is the most valuable asset.

However, Uesugi Keitora also has his own troubles - after the two battles of Wolf Plain and Tonami Mountain, his retainers have clearly become two factions. In fact, except for himself and Uesugi Jingkatsu and a few more stable family elders, the rest are all main battle factions. In the eyes of this hot-headed main fighter, Oda Nobunaga was not to be feared. They were originally a group of fierce and simple samurai in Owari, and now they should take advantage of the enemy's respite to launch a decisive battle and defeat them in one fell swoop...... It's really logical.

Hehe, if you want to fight, I don't have the capital to destroy Oda Nobunaga at all, although Shibata Katsuya is relatively large at any time, but the main force of his army is still there, if I continue to fight, I'm afraid I won't be able to take advantage of it, why can't these guys think more about me, alas......

There is another person who is more interesting - Naoe Kanesu, after completing the peace talks, he did not leave, but traveled everywhere to enjoy the mountains and rivers, and expressed his affection for nature.

This makes everyone a little suspicious that this guy can't be a spy, it doesn't seem to be, the people of the envoy group have already left, he is alone here, and - his official position in the Uesugi family is not high, just a general, and this is because he inherited the relationship of the famous Naoe family.

On the third day after I returned home, Kanesu Naoe sent a message hoping to come and visit.

At this time, should I say that this guy is very affectionate?

We didn't meet at the house, but we met at an sake brewery in Azuchi.

"It's been a long time, Naoe-sama, how are you doing?" I poured a glass of hot wine for Naoe Kane, I haven't seen him all these years, Naoe Kane's appearance has become more and more handsome, but because of my pursuit of "tranquil nature" relationship, I have become more and more depressed over the years.

"It's okay, but it's not as good as Lord Akechi," Naoe continued to think about it, since Uesugi Keitora came to power, he hadn't really had a good time, but he didn't care, "Lord Akechi's reputation has been great over the years, even if I live in seclusion, I've heard of it...... If nothing else, during the Battle of Tetori River, Lord Keinao died at your hands, and this time, Lord Saito and Lord Chisaka were both taken by you...... My lord, I'm afraid you don't realize it yet, but your martial name has spread among our Echigo samurai......"

"Hehe, yes, my lord has won the award......" I remembered the battle exploits that were sent to the door, and felt a little blushing, it was really a fight to be one-on-one, Chisaka Jingqin didn't know, "Echigo Zhong Kui" wanted to clean me up, it was a simple thing.

It seems that I have been lucky lately.

"Lord Naoe, you are not bad, as an envoy of a country to the enemy...... Other countries, this is the best proof of Jing Hugong's trust in you, and the completion of the mission is not dishonored, which is also a fortunate thing enough to leave a name in history. ”

"Leave a name in history...... Haha......" Naoe Kanesuke laughed out loud as if he had heard something particularly funny: "I am afraid that I will be scolded to death by everyone in the family when I go back this time......"

"Nani? What do you mean by that? Haven't you successfully completed your mission? ”

"Successfully completed? Ah yes! Indeed, I did everything as the Lord commanded...... Anyway, now that the matter is over, I don't mind telling you the truth about the peace negotiations. ”

Aha, is there anything else that can't be known to outsiders? This is my interest in hearing and seeing.

"When peace was negotiated, Nobunaga ...... Wise Lord, you may be upset when you say it, Nobunaga's request is really too difficult for people to accept, and it is completely unacceptable......"

How could I be upset? Oda Nobunaga was a difficult lord to serve, and everyone around him knew this.

He proposed...... He hoped that his family would provide him with hostages to show his sincerity in negotiating peace! ”

Nani?!

Even I was dumbfounded - the losing side lost nothing, and the victorious side had to hand over the hostages instead? It's incomprehensible, and even ridiculous...... But then again, this is really the style of Oda Nobunaga, who is unpredictable.

"Do my father-in-law have any requirements regarding the hostages?" I asked cautiously.

Naoe Kanesui smiled bitterly: "How can there be no requirements?" However, Nobunaga was quite reasonable, and gave the family two choices, one was to choose a member of the Uesugi clan who had a close relationship with the lord, or to let the sons of the three elders come to Azuchi Castle...... Either way, it's ...... Alas! ”

"I think it's ...... now," Naoe Kanesuo poured himself a glass of wine and drank it in one gulp, "Not only the adults in this family, but I'm afraid it's Ah Chuan, and I'm afraid I'm going to grit my teeth with hatred when I mention it......"

A boat? Who is Ah Chuan...... Oh, by the way, I almost forgot, Ah Chuan is the wife of Naoe.

"But Lord Naoe, you have always acted according to the will of Jinghu Gong, Jinghu Gong is ......"

"It's not up to the lord to decide the affairs of the family...... Although I'm staying in Azuchi Castle, I've always heard the news from Hokuriku - you know, Lady Akechi, there is already a lot of scolding in the family, and the most resolute opponent is the Shibata Shigeya-sama. As soon as he heard that Nobunaga had named a member of the lord's family or the son of the elder of the family as hostages, he immediately became angry...... As long as he has a breath of air, he will never hand over his son to the Oda family as a hostage. He even shouted in front of everyone, saying that he would rather send all his sons away and let him be a ronin than let him lose the face of the Shinbata family and the Uesugi family! ”

I listened and sighed, diplomats seem to be beautiful, but in fact they have to do, but they are always very hard.

nodded and said, "That's right, this time about the hostage, the lord is indeed a bit of a strong man." ”

At this time, I understood why Naoe Kanesugu would not go to Echigo.

Naoe continued: "I actually asked for a hostage from the lord who had already won the battle! Nobunaga is ridiculous! If it is for others, no matter what kind of request is made, it has nothing to do with us, but it is really deceitful to make such a request to the Uesugi clan of Fujiwara Namonago! However, since he proposed it, he had to deal with it seriously. ”

"So what does Jinghu Gong mean?"

"The lord agreed, and in a few days, Lord Keishin will be rushing from Echigo to Azuchi Castle."

"Actually, I think Jing Hugong is quite wise."

"I can also understand the hard work of the lord, after this battle, although the Oda family was defeated, but the strength did not decline, but the family, affected a lot, the next step of the lord, is to rectify the country, before that, he must seek a quiet environment for himself, Nobunaga must have seen through this, before he dared to open his mouth...... In fact, the assistant and Nobunaga Gong have long had a tacit understanding, but it is just that I am suffering from this errand...... Thank you, Lord Wise, for listening to my bitter ...... for a long time."

"It's okay, we're not friends......"

After more than three hours, I left the brewery.

It was already dark, and I looked into a dark corner not far away.

"Humph! These two people are still staying here, it seems that they really don't give up, and they will find a place to kill them later! ”