Chapter 428 31. Echigo Province Is Undercurrent

"Congratulations, Danzheng. The Prime Minister has granted me a marriage. What a grand occasion."

Naoe Jingtsuna held the teacup and blew the faint steam from the tea. Winter is coming soon, and the weather is not hot at all, but when Xiao Pingtai heard this, her face turned red.

She was so embarrassed that sweat began to break out on her forehead. It was okay for others, but it was really hard for Naoe Jingtsuna to explain.

Who told me to be so nosy and ask about other people's little daughter, but I was mistaken for it.

Fortunately, it was just a casual mention at the time, and there was no agreement or engagement. Achuan was still innocent, and the news was not revealed to anyone else.

"I dare not refuse the gift from the Prime Minister." Xiao Pingtai could only use Yamanouchi Yoshiharu's tiger skin as a banner.

Naoe Jingtsuna was a little unhappy, but he could understand the current situation of the Yamanouchi family. Yamanouchi Yoshiharu suddenly adopted Ayane and married Ayane to Koyata as a daughter of the Yamanouchi clan. The political implication was too strong.

The atmosphere of winning over was overwhelming. To put it bluntly, it was to stabilize people's hearts. Tie Koyata, a capable and wise general, to the chariot of the Yamanouchi clan, the tighter the better.

At this time, even if Koyata wanted to marry a woman from another family, he might be intercepted by Yamanouchi Yoshiharu. As the best of the new generation of retainers, Koyata, who is likely to serve as the regent of the Yamanouchi clan in the future, is what Yamanouchi Yoshiharu must stabilize.

So Naoe Kagetsuna can fully understand the marriage between Koyata and Ayane. He is not a petty person. After all, Afune is still very young, not even ten years old. At this age, even in ancient times when people married early, no one thought of proposing or discussing marriage, and it would not affect Afune's future at all.

However, when the eldest daughter Alang married Shidano Yoshi a few years ago, she was already married. To be honest, this person has no military reputation and does not have many highlights. It seems that Naoe Kagetsuna, who is the head of the Uesugi family, does not need to rely on marriage to raise his status, and at the same time, it is convenient for him to adopt a step-son in the future if he finds a family with a low profile.

Naoe Kagetsuna is also old, and he has not seen a son for so many years after giving birth to two daughters. He has given up the idea of ​​having a son. With the huge family business in Bancheng, he can either recruit a son-in-law or a grandson. These are the two ways to inherit.

And Koyata's family business is not much worse than Naoe Kagetsuna, so it is impossible for Koyata to marry into the family. This reason also makes Naoe Kagetsuna's intention to recruit Koyata as a son-in-law fade, or even disappear.

"What is Koyata's purpose this time?" Putting aside this past event, Naoe Kagetsuna knew that Koyata did not come for no reason.

"In fact, there are some things I want to ask, but it's not easy to say it." Koyata put down the teacup.

Then he began to ask Naoe Kagetsuna whether Uesugi Terutora, who is also in his thirties, has considered the issue of succession. After all, he had no wife, so he could only adopt a son.

Although Naoe Kagetsuna was surprised that Kobayakawa was curious about the succession of the Uesugi family, the current situation was all on the surface, so he could introduce it in detail.

Uesugi Terutora was different from the historical situation. In history, he had four clearly adopted sons, Uesugi Kagekatsu (Nagao Akikage), Uesugi Kagetora (Hojo Ujihide), Uesugi Kagekuni (Murakami Kunikiyo), and Uesugi Masashige (Hatakeyama Yoshiharu).

Due to the deviation of history today, Uesugi Terutora only has one adopted son, that is, Uesugi Masashige, who was sent by the Hatakeyama clan as a hostage when he signed an alliance with Hatakeyama Yoshitsugu of the Hatakeyama clan of Noto when he was fighting in Echigo two years ago.

As a descendant of the Hatakeyama clan, Yoshiharu Hatakeyama, who was born in the Noto guardian Hatakeyama clan, was originally the second son, and it was highly likely that he would not have the family business, but a pie fell from the sky and was given to the childless Uesugi Terutora as an adopted son.

Uesugi Terutora liked Hatakeyama Yoshiharu, who had a good family background. He not only helped him inherit the Uesugi clan, but also gave him hundreds of kan of zhixing.

However, he never mentioned arranging him as the heir. First, Uesugi Terutora was in his prime, and second, Uesugi Masaharu had no foothold in Echigo. None of the two idiots in Echigo were convinced. He certainly couldn't control the situation and calm the chaotic situation.

So there were actually some undercurrents in Echigo, but they hadn't erupted yet.

Now, the one who looked like he was destined to be the lord of Echigo in the future was Nagao Masakage of Sakado. First, as a branch of the Fuchu Nagao clan, he had this bloodline and legal system. Second, Sakado Castle was powerful and mobilized no less than 2,000 people.

Although Nagao Masakage was a few years older than Uesugi Terutora, Nagao Masakage was not afraid. He had a son. He didn't believe that two generations could not outlast Uesugi Terutora.

The enemy was Uesugi Kagenobu of the Koshi Nagao clan. He was hostile to Nagao Masakage when Uesugi Kagetora and his brother Nagao Harukage were fighting for Echigo, and he supported Uesugi Kagetora.

But it was thought that Uesugi Kagetora would be able to completely crush Nagao Masakage after he came to power, but Nagao Masakage surrendered and nothing happened. Uesugi Kagenobu, who coveted to seize his territory after victory, was very dissatisfied with this. But he couldn't hate Uesugi Kagetora, because he was treated well by others.

So the contradiction between Uesugi Kagenobu and Nagao Masakage was irreconcilable and deepened day by day. On the surface, they seemed to be getting along, but secretly they were constantly competing. But unfortunately, this man has not given birth for many years.

But God always jokes. When he pacified Odawara, Uesugi Kagetora asked the surrendered Hojo clan to hand over hostages. At that time, Hojo Ujiyasu's seventh son, Hojo Ujihide, was sent to the Uesugi family as a hostage. In order to show peace, Hojo Ujihide became the adopted son of Uesugi Kagenobu.

At that time, Kobayata saw him being sent to Echigo with his own eyes. Many years have passed in a flash.

Nowadays, Echigo seems to be calm, but in fact, it has begun to take sides. Since the retainers of the former Echigo guardian Uesugi clan and the retainers of the emerging Kanrei Uesugi clan (Shudai Nagao clan) merged under the command of Uesugi Terutora, these previously hostile samurai took sides first.

Many of Uesugi Terutora's close generals have actually stood on the side of Uesugi Kagenobu, after all, they fought together for power. And a considerable number of the former guardian retainers were hostile to him and stood on the side of Nagao Masakage.

This is the most superficial team standing. Usami Suruga no Kami is a former guardian retainer, but because he and Nagao Masakage are not in harmony (that is, the territories are close, and they have fought before), he actually abandoned his old teammates and supported Uesugi Kagenobu.

As a close associate of Uesugi Terutora, Yamamotoji Kagenaga did not support Uesugi Kagenobu, who should have been closer, because his wife was from the Sakado clan, and ran to the side of Nagao Masakage.

The relationship between the two sides is complicated and intertwined. It was simply impossible to sort things out. Xiao Pingtai didn't even dare to speak out what was on his mind. He was afraid that if he spoke out, the hot oil under the pot lid would explode.