The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 101

This made Shinsaburo want to curse.

Can someone who doesn't tell riddles die?

Unable to understand his superior's instructions, Shinzaburo had no choice but to say, "In my humble opinion, the acquisition of the three provinces is a matter of great importance and cannot be decided arbitrarily. It must be decided by you, Lord Chikuzen no Kami."

"Hmm..." Miyoshi Nagayoshi used another meaningless interjection, displaying an indifferent expression, and said lightly, "Lord Kubo has returned to the capital. If you have any doubts, you may go to the Imperial Palace and ask the Shogunate for its opinion."

This...this doesn't sound right.

Shinzaburo was too lazy to think about it anymore and directly expressed his loyalty: "Although the shogunate is in charge of the affairs of the country, I believe that all matters of daily life must still be decided by the Miyoshi family."

"Is that so?" Miyoshi Nagayoshi's expression remained unchanged, still as calm as still water. "Then, let's go to Ninomaru and let Sonjiro (Miyako Yoshioki) discuss it with Danjo (Matsu Hisahide) and Hyuga (Miyako Nagahisa).

Judging from this, Miyoshi Nagayoshi, who is nearly 37 years old, wants to retire and hand over power to his son who is not yet 18.

Shinzaburo couldn't understand the other party's mentality, but since the leader had given the order, he could only obey and prepared to go to Ninomaru.

Unexpectedly, Miyoshi Nagayoshi suddenly spoke up again: "I heard that Kubo Genban learned about the anecdotes of the Tale of Genji from Takeda Osamu, and also received an analysis of the waka poems of the Tale of Genji from the Karasuma family. Is this true?"

“Exactly.” Shinzaburo, in accordance with the political correctness of the time, expressed his eagerness to learn: “Although I was born in the countryside, I have never dared to neglect the importance of etiquette and learning.”

"Very good." Miyoshi Nagayoshi finally showed some interest and smiled. "Please, speak!"

……

Then we talked about "The Tale of Genji" for most of the next hour.

Shinzaburo was a little confused when he walked out of the Honmaru Palace.

Although we hadn't had much contact before and didn't form any specific impressions, no matter how I looked at it, Miyoshi Nagayoshi couldn't possibly be someone who was obsessed with literature and art and had no interest in politics! Otherwise, how could he have swept across the capital region and established a powerful empire in just over a decade?

Why are you behaving like those incompetent Wakasa Takeda and his son today?

I can't figure it out...

After visiting Ninomaru and paying my respects to Yoshioki Miyoshi, I finally found my familiar rhythm.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the conversation smoothly veered into business.

Yoshiaki Miyoshi stated frankly, "I believe that appointing Kubo Genban as the deputy governor of Wakasa is definitely not a misplaced choice."

The implication is that he was the one who pushed for this arrangement.

Shinzaburo expressed his sincere gratitude.

Next, the topic of exchanging territories, proposed by Matsunaga Nagayori, came up.

Upon hearing this, Yoshiaki Miyoshi immediately frowned: "In that case, you will be far away from Kyoto, which may hinder you if there is a need to defend the emperor."

Shinzaburo hadn't really thought about that.

Even if the territories were exchanged, the entire Tanba region would still be in the hands of Matsunaga Nagayori, and would be considered friendly territory, so the route from Wakasa and Tango to Kyoto would still be unobstructed.

Yoshiaki Miyoshi said, "There might be obstacles."

This means that he believed there was a possibility that Matsunaga Nagayori would rebel in the future, while Kubo Yoshiaki would faithfully save his lord.

These few words fully demonstrate the sense of trust that distinguishes between close and distant relationships.

Even a determined transmigrator like Shinzaburo couldn't help but feel a touch of warmth at this moment. He knew the other party was intentionally trying to win him over, but they had indeed provided significant assistance all along, for which he was grateful.

However, the topic was a bit sensitive and not suitable for expressing an opinion, so I had to remain silent.

"Furthermore, I recall that many territories in Tango-kasa and Yosa districts have already been promised to be distributed to samurai within Tanba Province." Miyoshi Yoshioki calmly analyzed, "If these territories ultimately fall into the hands of the Kubo family, what will those who previously hoped to receive rewards think?"

Upon hearing this, Shinzaburo realized that he had indeed been a bit confused.

A few days ago in Yagi City, I was only concerned with whether my superiors would approve it, without considering any other factors.

As Yoshioki Miyoshi said, if Shinzaburo agreed to exchange territories, he would inevitably be hostile to the Tanba samurai of his hometown.

Matsunaga Nagayori may have wanted to use this to eliminate Kubo's influence and strengthen the unity within Tanba.

In fact, none of these things are necessarily important.

Most importantly, Yoshioki Miyoshi expressed his opposition. He probably hoped that Matsunaga Nagayasu and Kubo Yoshiaki's territories would be intertwined.

The first principle in the workplace: Don't go against your boss!

Thinking of this, Shinzaburo bowed respectfully and said, "Lord Yoshioki is quite right! It seems that the proposal of Bizen no Kami (Matsunaga Nagayari) should not be accepted, but if we reject it outright, it may be detrimental to unity..."

“There’s no need to worry about Genban.” Miyoshi Yoshioki smiled and said calmly, “The Bizen-no-kami captured the Hatano family’s Yagami Castle, and you forced the Asakura family to negotiate peace and preserve Wakasa. Both of you are meritorious officials. It is imperative to work together to conquer Tango next. As for how to distribute the spoils after the victory… I will discuss it with Danjo and Hyuga and decide. I will not let the two of you have a direct conflict.”

Shinzaburo bowed again in thanks. Then he asked his next question: "It is truly a cause for celebration that Lord Kubo has returned to Kyoto from Kuchiki-dani and is now receiving assistance from the Miyoshi family. If I were to pass through Kyoto, would I be obliged to pay a visit to the Shogunate?"

"Hahahaha..." Yoshiyuki Miyoshi laughed heartily, his already small eyes turning into slits, and asked in return, "So, does Genban himself want to go or not?"

"In my humble opinion, it's best not to go!" Shinzaburo still used his usual approach, always trying to gauge his leader's thoughts by showing loyalty: "Although the Shogun is the head of the samurai families, the safety of the world today actually depends on the Miyoshi family!"

"Interesting, interesting." A mischievous expression appeared on Miyoshi Yoshioki's sturdy face, which looked particularly comical with his large nose. "What Genfan means is that if a high-ranking official tries to win someone over with titles and positions, he'd be unwilling to refuse, but accepting would offend the Miyoshi family, so he simply chooses not to meet them, right?"

"Uh... I'm sorry to have made you laugh." Shinzaburo felt embarrassed.

Fortunately, it was just a joke and there was no intention of blaming.

"Don't worry." After a moment, Yoshioki Miyoshi put away his smile and said seriously, "The current Lord of the Kingdom is not like Rokuro Hosokawa, who fears nothing more than peace and quiet. He knows his limits."

The term "Hosokawa Rokuro" refers to the previous Kanrei, Hosokawa Harumoto. Calling him "Rokuro" is slightly more polite than using his given name, but it expresses strong dislike, though a reluctance to escalate the conflict at the moment.

"Understood." Shinzaburo always readily agreed with his superiors. "Then I will pay a visit to the Shogunate."

"I'll write a letter of introduction," said Yoshiaki Miyoshi, who was enthusiastic and confident. "If I take the letter with me to see Lord Kobo, I won't encounter any difficulties."

……

After bidding farewell to Yoshioki Miyoshi, Shinzaburo felt somewhat emotional.

This second-generation leader, who is not yet eighteen, has grown up incredibly fast. He seemed a bit inexperienced when we met a few times before, but now he handles things with remarkable agility and composure.

His talent may not be comparable to his father's, but it is more than enough for him to maintain the status quo.

With such a son, it's no wonder that Sanhao Changqing quickly began to focus his energy on culture.

It was truly a pity that he died young due to illness in history.

However, given the current level of medical technology, even if Shinzaburo were a time traveler who knew the future, there was nothing he could do about it.

At most, I'd suggest seeing a doctor for a checkup, but that's unlikely to be helpful.

191 Official Sado Mamoru

"Tamba warrior Kubo Yoshiaki, pay your respects to Mr. Kimikata!"

Before bowing, Shinzaburo secretly glanced at the shogun known as the "Kubō of Strong Feelings".

His appearance is somewhat surprising.

Although he is said to be a powerful swordsman, he did not display any sharpness. He looked like a ramen vendor, giving off a harmless vibe, and his smile was quite friendly.

On the other hand, the black hat on his head and the straight-cut robe on his body were not complicated. Apart from a sword at his waist, there were no other ornaments. The overall attire was that of a capable samurai, without any of the ostentation of a noble.

At first glance, Shinzaburo felt that this person would be quite pragmatic.

"No need for formalities! I've long heard of Tanba Zhong Kui's great name, and seeing him today, he truly is a tall and mighty warrior!"

Ashikaga Yoshiteru's demeanor was more like that of a carefree warrior, without a trace of pretentious arrogance. Although he spoke in the Kyoto dialect, there was no sense of affectation whatsoever.

I don't know if he was like this since childhood, or if he became like this after experiencing hardships.

Shinzaburo stood up and saw that besides Ashikaga Yoshiteru, there were Hosokawa Fujitaka, Isshiki Fujinaga, Wada Koremasa, Ueno Nobutada, and many others, many of whom were characters who had appeared repeatedly in Koei Tecmo games.

Although his stats aren't particularly high except for Hosokawa Fujitaka, it's good enough that he left his name behind.

It is worth mentioning that Matsunaga Hisahide, a senior retainer of the Miyoshi family, also attended as the "Deputy Steward of the Mando".

In addition, several courtiers, including Takakura, Hino, and Asukai, were present. They were known as "Nikenshu" or "Bukedenhou," serving as a bridge between the Imperial Court and the Shogunate, and coordinating communication between the two.

There is also Otate Haruka, who has inherited the "traditions of the samurai family" for generations and is well-versed in etiquette. Today, he will instruct Shinzaburo on how to bow and sit down.

Why is the scene so serious?

Because the Takeda clan, the guardians of Wakasa, has clearly declined, Shinzaburo, as the deputy guardian, is effectively a regional lord. His visit to the shogunate to pay homage to the emperor is, in name only, similar to the visits to Kyoto by Nagao Kagetora, Oda Nobunaga, and others.

The letter of introduction from Miyoshi Yoshiaki likely carried some weight.

In reality, the Kubo family is not a completely independent force.

However, Miyoshi Nagayoshi was too protective of his reputation and unwilling to bypass the old order to build his own framework. So, others naturally followed his preferences and pretended to still act within the shogunate system.

After the ceremony, Shinzaburo presented the gifts to the shogun. First, to please him, he presented a fine tachi sword. Then, he presented local specialties from the Wakasa region, including pickled rare seafood, repeatedly filtered and boiled fine salt, and an inkstone made of mountain stone.

These days, if you want to get closer to the imperial court, you can just send money. But the shogunate generally won't shamelessly accept cash; they will only accept appropriate gifts and local specialties.

This was also the basic procedure for various local lords to march to Luoyang.

After that, Ashikaga Yoshiteru asked, "I have heard that Kubo Genban is from the Sasaki family."

Shinzaburo, not wanting to appear too pragmatic, remained vague: "I come from a rural background and have long since lost my ancestral lineage. This is the research of Lord Hosokawa Ukyo."

"Haha..." Ashikaga Yoshiteru smiled knowingly, then stroked his beard and said, "A samurai should be proud of his own achievements. Whether he was born into a noble family or not is a trivial matter."

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Gongfang."

Shinzaburo bowed and paid his respects, but inwardly he couldn't help but think: As the highest-ranking samurai among the sixty-six kingdoms, is it appropriate for you to say such a thing? If we really only consider achievements and not background, then who should bow to whom?

In fact, judging from Ashikaga Yoshiteru's style, he truly believed that heroes come from all walks of life. Many of his close confidants were promoted from lower-ranking families. One of them was Wada Koremasa, whose previous generation was just a local tyrant in Iga Province, not much better off than the Kubo family. Yet now he had been appointed as a "Gokōshū," the highest rank among non-feudal retainers of the shogunate.

This is indeed a real advantage.

“However…” Ashikaga Yoshiteru paused for a moment, then said, “In his letter of introduction, Lord Miyoshi Yoshioki requested that the title of ‘Sado no Kami’ of Sasaki be granted to Kubo Genban as his official title.”

"I am truly flattered."

Shinzaburo quickly expressed his modesty.

In his heart, he thought it was quite good. Although it was just a title and not a formal official position, and the governor of Sado and the head of Genban were only of the same rank, the title given by the shogun was much more prestigious than the title given by the governor of Dan Province.

This will help in the control of Wakasa.

"This is a matter of course, and you may now call yourself the Governor of Sado." Ashikaga Yoshiteru slowly added, "However, I believe that a mere official title is not enough. The Imperial Court is discussing granting official ranks to the meritorious retainers of the Miyoshi family, so why not include the name Kubo in that list as well?"

"I am terrified." Shinzaburo hesitated to accept, fearing there might be a trap. "I still retain some of my rustic air, so a formal appointment would be inappropriate..."

This is because rashly allowing the shogunate to recommend officials might affect relations with the Miyoshi family.

“There’s no need to be so modest.” Ashikaga Yoshiteru smiled and glanced to the side. “Since it was recommended by Lord Miyoshi Yoshioki, it is only right that we consult with him before making a decision. Please rest assured, I am not a person who acts arbitrarily.”

Matsunaga Hisahide, who was standing nearby, quickly said, "I will definitely pass on the message as soon as possible and ask Lord Miyoshi Yoshioki for his opinion in detail."

Now that he has obtained the title of "Deputy Head of the Government Office," it is equivalent to having the status of a subordinate of both Ashikaga and Miyoshi, so it is inconvenient for him to call Miyoshi Yoshioki the young master anymore.

This put Shinzaburo in a difficult position. He could only humbly admit that he lacked the virtue and talent to refuse firmly.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru immediately wrote a "Letter of Approval for Official Career," signed and affixed his fingerprint, and then had Matsunaga Hisahide send it to Miyoshi Yoshioki for joint signature and additional judgment before the meeting ended.

……

After bidding farewell to the Shogun, Shinzaburo met Master Meishu at Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto.

They greeted each other upon meeting, and the old monk expressed his delight at the developments in Wakasa's affairs, needless to say.

Shinzaburo was concerned with the following question: "What are the various opinions after the restoration of the shogunate?"

Master Mingzhou replied without hesitation: "Kublai Ashikaga has been quite thoughtful in his words and deeds lately, and his actions are all methodical. He has no intention of competing with the Miyoshi family for power. The nobles and high monks in Kyoto all praise him for considering the overall situation and for being mature and prudent."

"Is that so?" Shinzaburo asked, puzzled. It seemed somewhat different from the history he remembered. "Do the nobles believe that Ashikaga and Miyoshi can coexist peacefully for a long time?"

“Many people think this way right now.” Master Mingzhou’s expression was somewhat subtle. “Some say that… the shogunate has been staying in Kyoto and has not rashly interfered in matters outside of Kyoto; and the young master of the Miyoshi family has also acted with discretion, and his rank has been gradually raised to the equivalent of a Kanrei (chief regent). In this way, the Kinai region may have twenty or thirty years of peace.”

"The rituals were performed by Ashikaga, and the policies were implemented by Miyoshi." Shinzaburo didn't know whether he should trust the stability of this structure.

“Xuanfan doesn’t seem to agree.” Master Mingzhou frowned. “Actually, I also have my own concerns. The Hosokawa family’s territory is in a nearby province, and they will inevitably clash with the Ashikaga family when they are in power; the Ouchi family’s territory is in a distant province, but they cannot stay in Kyoto for long due to the instability of their main city. It seems that this dual system is ultimately unsustainable.”

"Things are unpredictable, so I dare not make any pronouncements." Shinzaburo shook his head and then smiled, "Actually, Lord Kobo has already granted me permission to use the new official position of 'Sado no Kami'."

"Congratulations!" Master Mingzhou said with delight. "This is the title of Judge Sasaki Sado back then. It's a pity that the title of 'Inspector of Non-Violation' has not been given to anyone for a long time. Otherwise, if we could find a way to make it happen, it would be as if the sage had been reincarnated."

Sasaki Sado Daifu Hankan was Sasaki Michiyo, whose official rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Sado Province, and Junior Lieutenant of the Kenbi-shi (訓非违使). Hankan is the Tang Dynasty name for Kenbi-shi, and Daifu Hankan refers to a person with the rank of Fifth Rank holding the position of Junior Lieutenant of the Kenbi-shi, which originally belonged to the Sixth Rank.

“I am deeply grateful to have been granted the title of Governor of Sado.” Shinzaburo said contentedly, “I heard that when Sasaki was serving as Governor of Wakasa, he was appointed Governor of Sado.”

“The Kubo family is thriving, but unfortunately I am getting old and can no longer help.” Master Mingzhou sighed. “The position of Shosen-in at Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto will be changed next year. Kofuku-ji Temple in Tanba will probably be next soon.”

"Hmm? Could it be that someone in the sect is attacking us again?" Shinzaburo immediately became alert. "Now, I might be able to lend Uncle a hand."

“No, it’s just a normal change of generations.” Master Mingzhou smiled. “The capital always needs to be left to the younger generation of disciples. The old monks either go into seclusion or go to other countries to establish new temples. This is the custom of Buddhism. Even my senior brother Zongtao went to Nanso-ji Temple in Sakai-cho.”

“In that case…” At this point, it was natural for Shinzaburo to go with the flow. “Uncle, come to Wakasa! You can see Azumi and the children from time to time, help the Kubo family with their publicity, and also get to know the temples, merchants, and townspeople in the area.”