November, Suruga, Sunpu Castle. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

This is where Ieyasu lived after passing the position of Shogun to Mitsuo Hidetada.

Although nominally he had abdicated and lived in seclusion, in fact Ieyasu also practiced the politics of the Great Imperial Palace in Sunfu, forming a so-called "dual politics" system with Hidetada in Edo.

At the same time that Ieyasu moved from Fushimi Castle to Sunfu Castle, his three young sons, Gorouta, Chofukumaru, and Chiyo Tsuru, also moved with him to Sunpu Castle.

He is accompanied by several side chambers, watching his three children learn and play every day. Ieyasu lived a stable and comfortable life in Sunfu.

Now, Ieyasu has finished his official duties and is playing with his three children in the small yard.

"Pick it up! Gorou Tai! ”

Ieyasu excitedly threw the ball in his hand to Gorota on the other side. Gorou caught the ball too quickly.

"Well done Gorouta! Haha, that's great! ”

Ieyasu was very satisfied with Gorouta's performance, and a smile of joy appeared on his face.

Gorouta is eight years old this year, and he has a very handsome appearance, and is often praised by Ieyasu and other retainers. Of course, everyone doesn't praise Gorou because he is too good-looking. At a young age, Gorou was very outstanding in both learning and martial arts, and was deeply favored by Ieyasu.

"Father! Don't call me by that name! ”

Gorou put the ball down a little unhappily. As mentioned before, Gorou didn't like the young name his father Ieyasu gave him.

Ieyasu's expression froze, a little embarrassed. He immediately squatted down to appease Gorouta:

"Yes, yes, then the father won't be called, haha."

Chofukumaru and Chiyo Tsuru, who were on the side, were held in the arms of the nurses.

"My father always favors my brother, my brother, my brother! Changfu also wants to play! ”

Nagafukumaru, who was already five years old, broke free from his nurse's arms with some dissatisfaction and trotted to his father Ieyasu.

"Father, you can also play with Changfu for a while. Changfu! Come here, pick it up. ”

Gorouta handed the ball in his hand to his younger brother, who was already eager to try it.

"Okay, I see, Gorou...... Forehead. I'll have a good time with Changfu for a while, haha. ”

Ieyasu, who was already in his early sixties, bent over and hugged Nagafukumaru and began a game of catching the ball.

……

……

In the afternoon, Ieyasu received information from Osaka Castle and was reading it.

"Ahh

Looking at it, Ieyasu curled the corners of his mouth and muttered to himself.

"Father."

A young voice came from behind the sliding door.

Ieyasu followed the prestige, ah, it turned out to be Gorouta.

"What's wrong? Five...... Didn't go to a nap? ”

"I've been studying! I wanted to go out for a walk, but I happened to pass by my father's study, and I heard a voice, and I was a little curious, so I came in. ”

Eight-year-old Gorou looked at the letter in Ieyasu's hand with some curiosity.

"Father, that must be Osaka Castle's secret letter, right? Just heard. ”

"Ah, haha, that's right. Come here, come here, come to the Father. ”

Ieyasu happily beckoned Gorou over and sat him on his lap.

"Father-sama, I just heard you say that the people of the Toyotomi family are interesting?"

"Haha, it's really interesting."

"Really? I've never heard of what the people of the Toyotomi family are like, has my father ever seen the lord of the Toyotomi family? I've heard from my retainers that it's like a child! ”

Gorouta, who was sitting on Ieyasu's lap, poked his head out towards the letter.

"You're really good at talking~ The head of the Toyotomi family seems to be thirteen years old this year, and he's no longer a child like you~"

"Ah, that's right. What kind of person is that person? ”

"Well, I don't know much about being a father...... However, there is often some information coming from Osaka Castle, as if this person is a smart boy who can match you, and he is said to be very good at studying. ”

Ieyasu happily fanned Gorouta.

"Ah, speaking of which, I almost forgot that there are four boys in the Toyotomi family. I'm old for my father, I'm sorry~"

"Four men? Where did the second and third men in the middle go? ”

"Haha, that head of the family is the third man. The eldest and second sons of the Toyotomi family died young...... Ah, I was talking about the four men just now. That fourth man seems to be different from his brother, and the people of the Toyotomi family seem to secretly call him a fool. ”

"Huh? Idiot? ”

"Yes. My father had seen him once, and unlike his brother, he didn't look like a great talent. It is said that the young master of the four men doesn't like to go out very much, and he nests in his room every day, and every time he sees his retainers, he is submissive. Ah, he's about your age. ”

"I didn't expect it to be such a person! Those four men are too boring! I hate this kind of person the most! ”

Gorouta stuck out his tongue in disgust as he listened to what his father told him.

"Haha, after all, you're the best kid in our Tokugawa family! With Gorou here, it's a lot more reassuring to be a father. ”

"Father, father, great, man!"

"Okay, good, don't scream, don't scream. By the way, what are you studying today? ”

Ieyasu touched Gorouta's head and asked about his studies.

"What I'm reading today is the Bai's Anthology...... Yes! When I was talking to my father, I forgot that I was still studying! I'm sorry, Father, but I'm going back to studying! ”

Gorou jumped off Ieyasu's lap in a hurry and ran out.

Ieyasu smiled and looked at the back of Gorouta's departure, and was about to continue to handle official business when another person came in.

"Lord Daigosho."

"Ah, I believe in it. What's wrong? By the way, it seems that Masasumi followed Hidetada back to Edo? ”

"Yes. It was the old minister who let him pass. General Xiuzhong is still young and has just succeeded as a general, and the old minister is worried that General Xiuzhong will do something inappropriate, so he asks Zhengchun to go back with him. Of course, if there is no problem, Masasumi will soon return from Edo. ”

Masasumi was the eldest son of Masanobu, who was temporarily transferred to Edo by his father to supervise Hidetada, the new shogun.

"Yes, let him go. Actually, I'm also a little worried about Xiuzhong, it's great that you can think of it. ”

"Thank you for the compliment. I just received some news, please listen to the report of the old minister. ”

"Well, let's hear about it."

"First, good news from Edo Castle that Mrs. Ajiang is pregnant again."

"Oh, that's a good thing! Xiuzhong is still good! ”

Ieyasu was a little happy to hear this. After all, the more children and grandchildren of the Tokugawa family, the better.

"There's another thing."

Masanobu approached Ieyasu and reported:

"It's from Kyoto."