The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 108

Looking up, he noticed that while Yamana Yuutoyo's abilities were average, his appearance was quite striking.

He was tall and strong for his time, without any excess fat. He was obviously quite old, but he was well-maintained. His face had few wrinkles, and there was no gray hair on his head. His hair and beard were meticulously groomed. He wore a folded eboshi hat, a yellow short-sleeved shirt, and a dark blue haori. His expression was calm and collected yet astute, and he exuded an air of authority without anger.

The Yamana family always referred to themselves as "Uemon-no-katsu," an official title bestowed upon them by the Ashikaga family, the shogun of the shogunate. While not an official title from the imperial court, it was still more prestigious than any private appointment, similar to Shinzaburo's title of "Sado-no-kami." Moreover, Yamana Yutaka had indeed obtained the rank of "Jūfū-no-kami" (junior fifth rank, lower grade), making his title virtually indistinguishable from a real official position.

So one side shouts "Greetings, Lord Yamana Kingo!" while the other side laughs and says, "Lord Kubo Sado, there's no need for such formalities."

It seemed that because Shinzaburo had politely bowed first, Yamana Yutaka was in a good mood and did not show any disdain for the nouveau riche.

This is a good start.

Next, as is customary, we'll exchange pleasantries and compliments.

Shinzaburo praised the Yamana family's illustrious reputation, while Yamana Yutaka extolled the glorious history of the Sasaki Kyogoku family. Shinzaburo then mentioned the noble lineage of the Yamana family's ancestor, Minamoto no Yoshishige, while Yamana Yutaka spoke of the literary talent and elegance of the Sasaki family's ancestor, Minamoto no Masanobu.

When dealing with scions of prominent families, you can't even open your mouth without doing your homework.

After rambling on for a while, let's finally get to the main point.

Yamana Yutaka stated, "The current lord of the Isshiki family in Tango is young and weak, and treacherous ministers have usurped power, which is truly lamentable. I will answer the call of the shogunate and join you all in upholding justice. As for the future selection of a virtuous and capable person to govern Tango, I wonder if there are any plans?"

He was quite outspoken, immediately expressing his desire to get a share of the profits.

His tone of voice now resembled that of a simple, unassuming country samurai, a stark contrast to his earlier empty pleasantries.

That's good too, no beating around the bush!

Shinzaburo wasn't going to let him off the hook, and immediately dropped a bombshell: "Aside from the matter of Tango, the reason I came here is to inform Lord Yamana Kingo that the Tajima governor, the Daigaki-ya Echizen-no-kami, sent a letter to a nobleman in Kyoto the other day, saying something about 'the governor's misconduct' and claiming that he had the support of the Mori family. It seems that he intends to take over the position!"

204. Eloquent Shinzaburo

Having his sore spot touched, Yamana Yufeng was immediately furious, but dared not retaliate easily, and could only turn his head to the side and snort twice at the floor.

What Shinzaburo just said was half true and half false.

However, it is true that the governor of Makoto, Daigakiya Echizen-no-kami, actively lobbied everywhere and said that "the governor has lost his virtue."

However, the "intention to replace" is probably not actually there.

The current governor of Tajima Province is named Kakiya Tsuneshige, who inherited the ancestral official title of Echizen-no-kami. He is extremely long-lived, already over seventy years old, and even outlived his eldest son. Currently, his second son, Kakiya Mitsuki, who is nearly forty years old, is the successor.

At this age, no matter how healthy they are, they generally don't have much political ambition left.

He's not Sima Xuanwang.

Therefore, when Kakiya Echizen-no-kami Tsuneshige wrote letters to various places, he only wanted to explain the necessity of adopting a "council of senior ministers" in Tajima Province in order to maintain his own voice and independence, and there was no obvious intention of subordinates overthrowing superiors.

This also aligns with Shinzaburo's memories from his previous life.

Historically, the mindset of all the samurai in Tajima was basically stuck in the previous era. They were content as long as they could protect their territory, act as they pleased, and find a good patron in Kyoto. They had no intention of thoroughly annexing or promoting unification.

Incidentally, as someone who lived to be over seventy years old and served as the deputy guardian for fifty years, Kakiya Tsuneshige certainly had a wide network of connections, knowing many nobles and high-ranking monks. Myoshu's senior brother, Obayashi Sota, even received the letter.

Furthermore, it is true that he claims to have the support of the Maori family.

Given the changing situation in the West, making such a choice is perfectly understandable.

At least for now, the Mori clan does not have the resources to support Kakiya Tsunehira in seizing Tajima Province.

but--

Even without embellishment, the subtle pauses in Shinzaburo's tone when he spoke created a delicate atmosphere.

After hearing this, Yamana Yutaka did not think that Kakiya Tsunetsugu would know when to stop.

After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Inaba Takeda Takanobu, the elders of the Yamana clan united and declared that they would not participate in future wars unless approved by a consensus of senior retainers. This effectively left Yamana in a state of fragmentation.

Of the eight counties, the governor Yamana Yutaka controlled only one, the governor Daigakiya Tsunehira controlled two, and the other five were divided among Ta Yusho, Otagaki, Yagi, Ta Ko, Shioji, and others.

Given this power imbalance, who would dare to place their hopes on the integrity of their retainers?

Yamana Yutaka snorted twice at the floor, let out a long sigh, and forced a smile as he said to Shinzaburo, "I believe the nobles in the capital wouldn't support someone who rebels against their authority."

Shinzaburo pretended to be troubled and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Actually, Lord Kōbō said before that we should appoint talents regardless of their social status. Many positions in the shogunate do not necessarily have to be passed down to certain families forever."

This is yet another statement that is half true and half false.

The truth is that the current "Lord of the Kingdom," Ashikaga Yoshiteru, did indeed make similar remarks, demonstrating an attitude of not valuing family status.

However, this statement was only a general remark and was not intended to target Tajima Province.

However, it took on a different meaning when it reached Yamana Yuutoyo's ears.

Originally, his strength and prestige as the guardian of a country were already insufficient; all that remained was his title.

If the shogunate truly supports the re-establishment of the Daigaki-ya (a type of official residence), then Yamana Yutaka will be at a disadvantage in every aspect.

This cannot be blamed on Shinzaburo intentionally deceiving him.

Why did you, Yamana Yutaka, focus so intently on Hosokawa Harumoto's side instead of actively aligning yourself with Ashikaga Yoshiteru?

Now that I have a monopoly on communication channels, so what if I add my own embellishments and insert my own agenda?

Upon hearing those hurtful words, Yamana Yutaka panicked and immediately cried out, "Please, Lord Kubo Sado, judge for me! My Yamana family has always been extremely respectful to the shogunate!"

Shinzaburo lowered his head and remained silent, not answering the question.

Your family, a renowned figure, was once the chief general of the Western Army during the Onin Rebellion and was once the number one rebel in the land. To say that you have always been submissive is a bit too absurd.

Yamana Yutaka also realized this and immediately corrected him: "In the past, some of our predecessors were confused for a moment and their respect for the shogunate wavered, but they have all come to their senses and repented. Now they only have a loyal heart."

Shinzaburo nodded slightly, adopting a reserved attitude, and said slowly, "Well then, now that we are ordered by the shogunate to march into Tango to rescue the young lord of the Isshiki family who is being held hostage by treacherous retainers, Lord Yamana Kingo is naturally happy to send troops."

"Of course I'd love to!" Yamana Yufeng hurriedly agreed, but then coughed lightly twice and said in a low voice, "However... in Malaysia these days, there are only arrogant and self-important soldiers. If there is no lure of fame and fortune, I'm afraid they might not be willing to follow me into battle."

Ultimately, it all comes down to needing territory.

Shinzaburo didn't expose him, but simply smiled and went along with the other person's words: "I wonder which proud and fierce generals are among them?"

Yamana Yutaka was taken aback by these words, his face showing some anger. He blinked and barely suppressed his emotions, then said in a low voice, "For example, the Tajima Governor-General, Daigakiya Echizen-no-kami, whom Lord Kubo Sado just mentioned. Since this person is spreading rumors about 'the governor's lack of virtue,' I'm afraid he won't easily obey my mobilization order!"

"This is a conscription by the shogunate." Shinzaburo emphasized again, then stroked his gradually hardening beard and said in a low voice, "To put it bluntly, if the Tajima governor, Daigakiya Echizen-no-kami, dared to refuse the shogunate's conscription, it would certainly make Lord Kubo lose face, but it would be advantageous for you, Lord Yamana Kingo."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Yamana Yuuyu didn't react for a moment.

“Think about it,” Shinzaburo explained solemnly, “the most terrifying thing for the Yamana family right now is that Kakiya Echizen-no-kami has gained the approval of the Shogunate. If he refuses your mobilization order, it’s the same as refusing the Shogunate’s conscription. How could the Shogunate possibly approve of him?”

“This…” Yamana Yuyu hesitated for a moment, then asked, “What if… what if Kakiya Echizen-no-kami did not refuse the conscription?”

"Isn't that even better?" Shinzaburo's face broke into a warm smile. "Before, they made some kind of council of senior retainers, saying that any declaration of war in the future would have to be approved by the elders of the family, otherwise they would not participate in the battle. If, after Lord Yamana Kingo issues the mobilization order, the retainers still obediently send out troops, then the so-called council of senior retainers will become a joke."

"Lord Kubo Sado is absolutely right, it makes me realize something." Yamana Yutaka's eyes flickered, as if he was about to be persuaded and was still hesitating.

Shinzaburo did not press his advantage, but remained silent, giving the other party space to think.

After a while, Yamana Yutaka finally asked a rather tactless question: "Why does Lord Kubo Sado want to make plans for me?"

"Of course, it's because of the stakes," Shinzaburo said without hesitation. "Conquering Tango is no easy task, and I simply hope to have a capable reinforcement!"

"This...does this mean they intend to use the lives of Tajima soldiers to deplete the power of the Tango Isshiki family?" Yamana Yuutoyo wasn't stupid; he quickly became alert.

“Is there anything wrong with that?” Shinzaburo readily admitted, then smiled slightly: “If the ones who died were men under the command of Kakiya Echizen-no-kami, it wouldn’t be bad news for you, Lord Yamana Kingo.”

"What if the Kakiya family only brings troops to the front lines but refuses to fight?" Yamana Yutaka questioned. "Or what if the Kakiya family actually achieves a great victory and their momentum becomes even greater?"

“Well… I can’t help you with that.” Shinzaburo said matter-of-factly, “I don’t have the authority to command the cavalry in battle.”

"Then, please allow me to reconsider what I just said." Yamana Yuutoyo's attitude became much colder.

"Is that so?" Shinzaburo smiled dismissively. "When I proposed inviting the Yamana family to join me in advancing on Tango, Lord Kubo was very much looking forward to it. But if we don't get a positive response, then Lord Kubo's expectations may turn into disappointment."

The implication is that if you don't accept the invitation, I might go directly to the Shirogakiya family, the guardians of Tajima.

Upon hearing this, Yamana Yufeng's face turned ashen, his eyes widened like copper bells, and he once again revealed a look of anger and embarrassment.

Shinzaburo remained calm and composed, showing no signs of panic.

Finally, Yamana Yuuyuki gritted his teeth and said again, "This matter is of great importance, please allow me to think it over carefully."

The words were the same, but the tone was much softer.

Shinzaburo nodded, then suddenly added as if he had just remembered something: "Oh, right, the Tosa-no-kami of Otagaki in Asagi-gun, Tadashi Province, presented the shogunate with silver from the Ikuno Ginzan. Lord Kubo was very pleased and seems to be planning to bestow upon him the character 'Ki'."

Surprisingly, besides the guardian of the Echizen-no-kami of the Daigaki-ya, there are other people who are also actively contacting influential figures in Kyoto, all harboring ulterior motives.

"Such a thing has happened! Such a thing has happened?"

Yamana Yuutoyo had probably been angry many times today and was temporarily unable to get angry. After hearing this, his expression showed more fear than surprise.

Shinzaburo didn't say much, just waited leisurely to the side, giving the other party plenty of time to process it.

"I am... I am Yamana..." Yamana Yutaka spoke again, his words somewhat incoherent, but his meaning was still clear, "I will definitely support the shogunate with all my might!"

205. Red tape doesn't feel bad.

Using the shogunate's influence, Shinzaburo delivered a eloquent speech that convinced Yamana Suketoyo, the governor of Tajima, to comply. Yamana Suketoyo promised to lead troops to assist Tango's conquest the following year and did not even ask for any land division.

This cannot be attributed to his superior debating skills or the stupidity of his opponent.

Essentially, it's a calculated, open strategy.

Ultimately, the political structure of the West is still too outdated. Aki Mori and Izumo Amago are barely keeping up with the times, stumbling along the path of unification, while the thinking of others remains stagnant.

However, the current guardian of the Kingdom of Ma, Yamana Yufeng, is a lord who is diligent in his duties, has never pursued pleasure excessively, and is not muddle-headed. A hundred years ago, he might have been considered a moderate and conservative ruler.

However, times have changed.

The daimyo of the Kanto and Kinki regions had already extended the "land survey" and "military service contracts" to the grassroots level, while the daimyo of the western provinces continued the gameplay of the previous version, supporting powerful ministers to check and balance each other internally, and relying on nobles in Kyoto externally.

The governor could not fully control the senior officials at the county level, and the county officials could not fully control the remote rural areas. The loose structure of the overlapping buildings collapsed without the support of a grand righteous cause.

A very small number of scions of high-ranking families are able to forge a new path through martial prowess and wisdom, establishing a new power base within the old system. Those who can do this would have a score of at least 80 in the later-day game "Shameless".

Therefore, Shinzaburo proposed to use the pretext of conscription by the shogunate to consolidate the internal organization, which was something that Yamana Yutaka could not refuse.

That hit the nail on the head!

And Shinzaburo himself is neither at a disadvantage nor at all.

In times of war, the more reinforcements that don't require sharing territory, the better. Besides, there's the hope of laying the groundwork for future events in Tajima, so why not?

Both sides got what they wanted and reached an agreement.

The atmosphere at the meeting improved considerably after that.

Yamana Yutaka then changed the subject to the cultural field: "I have heard that Lord Kubo Sado has a great understanding of The Tale of Genji. I have also read the book, but there are many parts that I do not quite understand. Could you please enlighten me?"

Interesting. These nobles really have a strong desire to show off their refined tastes.

Let's talk then!

Shinzaburo composed himself, imagining himself as Genji, striving to project an image of dashing elegance tinged with a melancholic detachment from the world, and began to speak in a gentle, detailed manner: "I was once instructed by Lord Takeda Osamu, and learned a little about the 'historical stories of the Sanjo Nishi Ufu,' and later, thanks to the kindness of the Karasuma family, I was able to learn some analysis of poetry..."

Yamana Yutaka immediately broke into a bright smile, unconsciously speaking in a Kyoto accent: "My uncle, Iyo no Kami, studied under Asukai Akumi for twenty years and was fortunate enough to obtain the 'Perfect Certificate in All Arts.' I have been reciting poetry with this uncle since I was a child..."

The term "Aku" is the Tang Dynasty name for the Grand Councilor. However, since the Asukai family has held the position of Grand Councilor for generations, it's unclear who exactly is being referred to.

As for Yamana Yutoyo's uncle, whose official title was "Iyo no Kami," it was even more unknown which branch of the family he belonged to.

Besides the servants and guards, there were two monks acting as intermediaries present. One was named Longma and the other Ziying. Both were highly accomplished disciples of Master Mingzhou. As Zen monks, they were naturally well-mannered and immediately participated in the elegant academic exchange.

For a time, it was a place where learned scholars gathered and no uncultured person came and went.

After boasting for so long, just as things were about to come to a close, Yamana Yutaka suddenly said, "I've heard that Lord Kubo Sado is a descendant of the Sasaki Kyogoku clan, left behind in exile..."

Shinzaburo was actually reluctant to accept this line, fearing that revealing too much detail would expose his mistake, but he had no choice but to give the rest of the lines that Hosokawa Ujitsuna had helped him make up.

Unexpectedly, Yamana Yutaka fell into deep thought for a moment before saying quietly, "Actually, there was a senior member of the Yamana family who suffered a defeat in battle sixty years ago and was criticized. In a fit of anger, he fled and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since. It is speculated that he may have been living in Tanba.

Wait, what do you mean, buddy?

Are you implying that if you get tired of pretending to be a descendant of Kyogoku, you can switch to pretending to be a descendant of Yamana?

There's no need for that.

Although it's not uncommon for people to change their family genealogy these days, for example, some people would call themselves Fujiwara when dealing with nobles, and Minamoto or Taira when dealing with samurai.

But both Yamana and Kyogoku are prestigious samurai families at the "seven heads" level, so there's no point in switching them!

……

Going to Tajima required a lot of time and effort in preparation, and by the time I returned to Wakasa, it was almost the New Year.

As luck would have it, the new city that was planned in the Delta had already taken shape and a royal residence for the lord's family had been built.

The Kubo family can move in now.

There's no rush for the subsequent work; we can leave it for later repairs.