"Your Highness Tokugawa, this matter is really difficult to handle!" With a long sigh, I pressed my hand to the thick stack of paper on the table, as if I could not express my feelings, and slapped it twice hard. "Even His Royal Highness Toshiie Maeda has come to such a conclusion...... I can't say anything else! ”

Tokugawa Ieyasu's eyes were fixed on the stack of papers, then moved up and down with my hand. There was goose feather snow in the dark sky outside, and I knew it even though I didn't open the windows. For this reason, a warm brazier was placed in the room, but even then it was not worth sweating, so what was the shiny layer on Tokugawa Ieyasu's forehead?

What is it that I am pressing in my hand that would make Tokugawa Ieyasu so out of shape? That is a situation report, the "Explanation of the Situation in Kai and Shinano Areas" written by Maeda Toshiie.

After this Kanto expedition, Tokugawa Ieyasu lost the three kingdoms of Mikawa, Enoe, and Suruga, and the main force was tied to Odawara Castle and delayed for several months, so there was turmoil in parts of Kai and Shinano that were still under his rule, and Sakai Tadaji was a little unable to control the scene. Of course, if it weren't for Takeda Nobukiyo going back......

The prestige of the Takeda family in Kai is indeed unmatched, even the scheming Tokugawa Ieyasu is not so easy, not to mention that he has only controlled this area for less than two years. In places such as Kai's Yamanashi and Shinano's Ina, there were even open rebellions.

Naturally, I couldn't sit idly by and watch this situation, so the well-known Maeda Toshiie, accompanied by Honda Masanobu, went to deal with it, and he didn't have any grudges with anyone in the area, so naturally there would be no resistance. However, with today's Maeda Toshiie's cautious behavior, it is naturally impossible to do anything out of the ordinary, and it is precisely because both sides have seen this that they have a tough attitude and will never back down.

In less than a month, Maeda Toshiya had become overwhelmed, but he couldn't make up his mind to deal with anyone, even though I had given him that power. Finally, after hesitation, he wrote a report to me about the situation during this time, and came to the conclusion that "it is better to separate the two sides"! But who are you going to relocate, those wealthy families or Tokugawa Ieyasu? This was not made clear in the report.

"Everything is up to His Highness Da Nayan!" Although Tokugawa Ieyasu was clearly in a state of agitation, his words were very measured. He is undoubtedly a very smart man, and since everything has happened, it is better to let it be.

"The influence of the Takeda family in Kai has not been eliminated so far, which is really a very headache!" I was so embarrassed that it sounded like a toothache. "Others may be able to say that His Royal Highness Tokugawa has been in direct confrontation with the Takeda family for more than ten years, which makes the contradiction more and more difficult to reconcile. I can't say much about this estrangement between the two of you, after all, it is not a matter of who is right and who is wrong, or whether it is a matter of principle. Since His Royal Highness Tokugawa has already been involved and there is no one else here, it is better to say what you have to say! ”

"His Royal Highness Da Nayan is so compassionate, I really don't know what to say!" Tokugawa Ieyasu sighed as if he was grateful and seemed to sigh with emotion, and a sense of vicissitudes really rose around him. "This fluctuation in the eastern kingdom originated from the following, and it is natural for the court to condemn the crime. The dissatisfaction of the wealthy families under the rule of virtue is also deserved. I really have nothing to say now, no matter how His Highness Da Nayan handles it, there will be no complaints! ”

"This ......" I hesitated for a while, and after a long time, it seemed that I had made up my mind, but it seemed a little difficult to say. I used to say some ...... to Honda-sama in Sunfu."

Hearing such terrifying words, his face lost its color almost instantly.

"However, His Royal Highness Tokugawa has made a great contribution in the crusade against the Odawara Hojo clan, and those words have naturally changed over time!" I finally sighed, and then asked, "If I'm not mistaken, what Nobunaga Taimasa agreed with His Highness Tokugawa when he was fighting against Takeda was from Mikawa, Enoe, and Suruga!" ”

"What His Highness Da Nayan said is good, that's what it looks like!" The corners of Tokugawa Ieyasu's eyes jumped inconspicuously, and then he lowered his head again.

I couldn't help but laugh in my heart, he might still be wondering if I was going to put him back on the Tokaido, but how could I be so naïve? Tokaido has always been at the forefront of the struggle between the Kanto separatist forces and the Kyoto regime, and I would never have put him in such a place.

"What a coincidence!" The corners of my mouth turned upward, as if I remembered something very interesting. "At that time, Nobunaga Taimasa and His Royal Highness Tokugawa made an appointment and entrusted more than 700,000 territories of the Three Kingdoms. After a series of unbelievable changes, the Tokugawa family has risen and fallen to the present day back to Kai, Shinano and some other people with a total of more than 700,000 stones, it seems that this is really providence! ”

"It is indeed the will of heaven, and only those who are like His Highness can get a glimpse of heaven as soon as possible!" Tokugawa Ieyasu's mind calmed down a little, and he could hear the general meaning from my words.

"His Royal Highness Tokugawa is relieved and considerate, then I will be relieved!" I picked up the stack of papers in my hand and put it in an envelope. "The Tohoku region has been decided, and it is in need of a person of high moral standing like His Royal Highness Tokugawa to stabilize the situation. I would like to ask His Royal Highness Tokugawa to move to the fifteen prefectures north of Kami, Sema, and Nagaoka in central Michinoku, and the total territory is more than 700,000 koku. The place is a little remote, and it can only be wronged by His Royal Highness Tokugawa! ”

Tokugawa Ieyasu did not look up at me, but lowered his head even deeper, and it seemed that he had been prepared for this result, and it was even a pretty good result. "Thank you for the generous gift of His Royal Highness Da Nayan, Ieyasu and the Tokugawa family are really grateful!"

"That's all I can do, if His Highness Tokugawa can understand!" I reached out and patted him on the shoulder, which was already down, and expressed satisfaction with his attitude.

"His Royal Highness Da Nayan is busy with state affairs, so I won't bother much here!" The major event that has been in his heart for a long time has been decided, and Tokugawa Ieyasu is ready to leave.

"Oh, one more thing!" I suddenly patted my head and said, "Now that the world has been calmed, I am ready to go to His Majesty the Emperor to restore the system of the Daimyo's children guarding the Imperial Palace." Although this is a rare honor, the Tokugawa family also deserves it, so please ask His Royal Highness Tokugawa to choose a son and send it over as soon as possible! ”

"Excuse me...... Is it okay to let Yu Yimaru come over? Tokugawa Ieyasu asked tentatively.

"What's not to do with that!" I smiled tolerantly at his caution and said very open-mindedly: "His Royal Highness Yu Yimaru is smart and studious, and he is indeed a manufacturable material. As soon as the matter of migration is over, you will send him to Kyoto, and I will personally preside over the Yuan service for him! By the way...... "I suddenly thought of one more thing. "I think his marriage to His Royal Highness Princess Ikeda should also be done, and Yu Yimaru's name will be Hengkang!"

This candidate was proposed by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself, but he was a little hesitant when I agreed so readily. But now it's impossible to change my words, and no one dares to make fun of me now.

Watching Tokugawa Ieyasu withdraw, I rubbed my face that was a little numb, and it was really tiring to always keep this fake smile. A great leader is not so easy to be, always has to hide his true self, or wronged himself. Why do many famous emperors become stupid in their old age, my personal opinion is that they mistakenly think that they no longer need to hide themselves!

Many people may not understand my approach, but I do have my own plans. In addition to the purpose of stability and uniting the majority, I also need to be able to have a balance in the outlying areas. Kyushu is Otomo and Shimazu; To the west are Mori and Ikeda; Then Tohoku will have to be Tokugawa and Date!

I knew that Nobukiyo still trusted Date Masamune more in his heart, so I gave Tokugawa a bigger piece of land, and in the future, I was going to divide the Michinoku Guardian and the Oshu Detective between the two of them. In addition, I have other unspeakable reasons, and after relying on the people of Takenaka and Maeda to gain the world, the action to reduce the power of the daimyo in various regions will gradually unfold, and only when there are still a large number of external forces, will the daimyo who I have single-handedly supported accept certain measures.

"The three highnesses of Mori, Kobayakawa, and Gamo meet the lord!" Just as I was taking off my mask and trying to relax, a report from the attendant outside made me have to give up this beautiful plan.

"Meet His Highness the Great Stars!" The door opened and the three of them walked in.

"It doesn't have to be like this, three highnesses, please take a seat!" After inviting them to sit down, I said, "Tomorrow will be a gathering of the world's great names, and it has been really hard for the three of us to assist in the preparations for the re-administration in the past few days. This time, the world has finally arrived, and Your Majesty can finally rest assured! ”

"Thanks to His Royal Highness Da Nayan's efforts to help the crisis!" Although the Gamo clan was a little haggard, he was very excited, and his eyes were glowing red on his pale face. "His Highness Takenaka is still meeting with some daimyo from other places, so he ordered us to report to His Highness Da Nayan first: everything that has been prepared is going well, and there will be no mistakes in the gathering that starts tomorrow!"

"Then I'll be relieved!" I let out a deep sigh of relief, and turned to Mori Terumoto and Kobayakawa Takakei, "Since this crusade, the Mori army has seen many successes, and His Highness Kobayakawa's landing in Izu is the key to success or failure. The Maori family has proved their loyalty to the court with their actions, which is really commendable! ”

"His Royal Highness Da Nayan is strategizing, and the Maori family does not dare to take credit!" Mori Terumoto modestly excused himself.

"How much territory is His Highness Kobayakawa now?" I asked suddenly.

"Thirty thousand stone in the east of Nagato!" Takakei Kobayakawa replied.

"Then these 30,000 stones will be used as a reward to return to Maori's house!" When they were amazed at how I was so obvious about "borrowing flowers to offer Buddha", I continued: "As for His Highness Kobayakawa, I will seal the 72,000-stone territory of Izu, so that you can have the best of both worlds!" ”

"yes, it's the best of both worlds!" The Gamo clan immediately clapped their hands and praised it.

"The snow has stopped, go and sweep the yard clean!" Kobayakawa Takashi was about to say something, but there was a sudden shout in front of His Excellency the castle tower outside.

This was the event of December 30 in the 10th year of Tensho (1582), and the location was the castle tower of Owari Kiyoshu Castle, in the study of Oda Nobunaga.