Chapter 400 3. Using the Public Power to Gain Power

Aji's voice came through the still drizzling rain. He was soaked through and jumped onto the eaves rashly.

"Danzheng, hurry up and get into the city. Yamauchi Shuke is calling you."

"Why are you going back to the city after just leaving? Do you know what's going on?"

"I don't know. Shuke just told me to hurry up."

"Okay, I know."

Xiao Pingtai had no choice but to put on the rain cape he had just taken off. The dry clothes he had finally changed into seemed to be wet again.

"Aji, you are also a samurai with 150 kan. Be careful. Change your clothes quickly. What if you catch a cold?"

Xiao Pingtai didn't care what others thought. He not only wore a rain cape but also held an umbrella. He changed into wooden clogs and entered the palace in the city again.

...

"Xiao Pingtai, you are here. Come and sit down." Yamauchi Shuke saw that Xiao Pingtai was not wet at all.

"What's the matter?" Koyata looked around, Konishihara Saemon, Hosokawa father and son, Isshiki Miyano were all present.

"Kasugayama Kanrei has arrived at Hayashi Castle, and will arrive at Iida tomorrow. We have to prepare to welcome him."

"Hmm, is he going to support His Highness Taro to succeed to the throne?" Koyata blurted out.

"That should be the case, but..." Yamauchi Shukei hesitated, as if he had some other considerations.

"A hundred years ago, if the Kamakura governor and Kanto Kanrei personally came to preside over the succession ceremony, it would be a great honor. Ordinary people don't have this treatment."

Hosokawa Harumiya said calmly. A hundred years ago, the central government of the Muromachi shogunate was still there. Although it was becoming increasingly weak, it could still command the heroes of the world and control the officials.

At that time, which piece of land belonged to whom, whose son succeeded to the throne, and how to appoint the guardian position were basically all decided by the shogun (kanrei).

What belongs to you is yours. We are all retainers of the Ashikaga Shogun in the capital. There are only differences in status and order of seats.

But now it is different. The old shugo either fell or became a daimyo of the Warring States period. The rituals and music were broken, and the generals were killed. What does not belong to you can be taken away with swords, guns and cannons.

The shugo became a puppet of the shugodai, and the shugodai was hollowed out by the retainers. Everything was decided by the things in their hands, and the old feudal order was destroyed to a considerable extent.

In the past, when the Kanto Kanrei came to support the succession ceremony, he really just represented the shogunate and the general to show his respect for your family. Now, it is not the same.

I am afraid that it will be spread out in such a muddled way, and the status of the monarch and the minister will be determined.

The nobles of the country fear power but not virtue. They are afraid of the knife in the hands of Uesugi Terutora. The authority of the Yamanouchi family is shaken. At this moment, they must rely on the power of Uesugi Terutora.

Hosokawa Harumiya did not continue, but the meaning was clear. How to ensure the independence and survival of the Yamanouchi family while taking advantage of the power of the Uesugi family?

"Has Hamamatsu-dono known about this?"

"We have sent the Nagatake clan to immediately deliver the letter from Kasugayama Kanrei to His Highness in Komaba." Isshiki Miyauchi nodded. They did not even open the letter. This is the rule.

"Let's discuss a countermeasure first, and then we will welcome the Kanrei-dono to Komaba together." This is what the Yamanouchi chief accountant meant.

"Hamamatsu-dono is a lower-ranking official, it's a pity, otherwise~~" Hosokawa Saijo patted her thigh.

Yamanouchi Taro can of course inherit the lofty feudal status of the lower-ranking official, but it's a pity that this is just a vain thing. Speaking of it, it's so majestic that all the officials in the world have to kneel down. Uesugi Terutora had to dismount and bow his head to greet Yamanouchi Yoshiharu when he saw him.

Is it possible? Of course not!

It's okay for you to let Uesugi Terutora kneel to Ashikaga Yoshiharu, he is happy. You ask him to kneel to Uesugi Kenshin, that's fine, he's his legal father. But you ask him to kneel to Yamanouchi Yoshiharu? Or even to Yamanouchi Taro who's only three years old?

Forget it! Uesugi Terutora is giving you face by being on equal footing with you!

Times have changed!

"If His Highness the Shogun's Imperial Household Letter is sent out to the whole country, and everyone knows about it, and he sends people to preside over the succession with Kasugayama Kanrei, the impact will be much better."

"It's a pity that Daishu died in a hurry, and even His Highness the Younger Highness died in Kakuchu." Isshiki Miyauchi shook his head.

"Kakukei-san!"

Kodaira and Hosokawa Harumiya said in unison.

First support the brother of the previous shogun, and ask Kakukei-san to send people, or even come to Yamanouchi in person. Even if the rituals and music are broken, he is still the Ashikaga Shogun who ruled the world for more than 200 years!

"Go to Yamato Kofuku-ji Temple and respectfully invite Ichijoinmonji." Hosokawa Harumiya turned around and instructed Hosokawa Saijo.

"It's best to go to Hasho Hirashima, where there is a shogun."

"Sakai Daiki?" Several people asked at the same time. The Sakai shogun Ashikaga Yoshihide was indeed a strong contender for the shogun.

Now that Ashikaga Yoshiteru died in battle, and Ashikaga Teruwakamaru died with him, his branch of the Ashikaga family is nominally extinct!

In addition to the monk Kakuei who has given up his life to become a monk and the two younger illegitimate sons of Ashikaga Yoshiharu, the son of Ashikaga Yoshihide is the most powerful and the closest, because he has the word Ashikaga on his head.

And the year before last, when Kobayata and Imagawa Yoshichika went to Beijing, they mediated the internal strife of the Miyoshi clan. At that time, Awa Shinohara Nagashina took Ashikaga Yoshichika to Tennoji in order to strengthen his momentum.

Therefore, Kobayata had a communication with this short-lived shogun in history. Although this person looks weak on the outside, he is still hot and restless in his heart. Full of desire for power and coveting the throne of Luojing.

At that time, Kobayata mentioned this news to Yamauchi Yoshikatsu, but Yamauchi Yoshikatsu and Ashikaga Yoshiteru grew up together when they were only ten years old. They were close friends and had a very good relationship. He had no idea of ​​"replacing him" at all, and he was not at all concerned about Ashikaga Yoshichika's willingness to visit Yamauchi and be protected by Yamauchi.

"Hedging? This..." Konishihara Saemon hesitated.

But the three old shamans, Hosokawa Harumiya, Isshiki Miyauchi, and Yamauchi Shukei, did not care whether hedging was good or not, but considered it.

The death of Ashikaga Yoshiteru completely destroyed the last power of the shogun. It doesn't matter which Ashikaga you support, as long as he is an Ashikaga. Even the Ashikaga in Kanto is fine, because he will definitely be a puppet.

It is in the interests of the Yamauchi family to find an Ashikaga who is more obedient and easier to control.

It is true that my Yamauchi family is a loyal retainer of the shogunate. You are the shogun and I am the ruling official, and we are equally loyal.

As long as you don't say things like "Why did your Majesty rebel?", it doesn't make any difference.

Although false reputation is good, everyone knows that actual power and benefits are better.

China used the emperor to control the princes, and Japan can also use the general to control the daimyo!