Chapter 673 19. Nobunaga Uses Both Kindness and Force

As soon as Kanamori Nagachika left, before his footsteps even faded, Yamauchi Shukei's face immediately fell!

When Imagawa Yoshichika saw his uncle's face, he stood up and took the letter from Yamauchi Shukei's hand. He only took a quick look and understood.

After several people went around and read it, what can they say about the content of this letter? It's really hard to comment on his good or bad immediately!

Oda Nobunaga believed that Yamauchi Taro had both outstanding achievements and a great reputation, and he did not lose the reputation of his father and grandfather at all. Now that the shogunate is prosperous, in order to ensure the orderly succession of public ceremony, it is appropriate to make Yamauchi Taro a Genfu.

Whether to have a Genfu or not is not a very urgent matter. Although Genfu means a person's adulthood, Oda Nobunaga was a Genfu at the age of twelve. Before that, he served as the lord of Furuno Castle and was assigned a retainer.

But Yamauchi Taro's situation is different! He is a daimyo himself, and whether he has a Genfu or not will not change his righteous status as the head of the Yamauchi family. He does not need to rely on the coming of age ceremony to obtain certain powers that only adults can exercise. This is a reality determined by his own bloodline and identity.

Whether Yamauchi Taro came of age or not is between possible and impossible. But what Nobunaga said later is quite interesting.

Now Yamauchi Taro is in a high position and is the adopted son of Ashikaga Shogun and the heir to the Muromachi shogunate. If Yamauchi Taro is to come of age, it must not be done by some random person. If the previous Hosokawa Kanrei, Hosokawa Masamoto, Hosokawa Harumoto and others are still there, it would be more in line with etiquette for them to help Yamauchi Taro come of age.

But now the situation is very different! The Imperial Teachings issued by Ashikaga Yoshiaki clearly announced that "The etiquette of the world is entrusted to Nobunaga!" That is to say, to some extent, Oda Nobunaga's military rank is higher than Yamauchi Taro.

After all, Oda Nobunaga is the regent of the shogunate, and Yamauchi Taro is the heir to the shogunate. In terms of power, Oda Nobunaga is indeed higher! It is not easy to argue about the status, how to distinguish the superior one from the inferior one.

So what Nobunaga meant was that next New Year, he would invite Yamauchi Taro to Kyoto to wish his father Ashikaga Yoshiaki a happy New Year, and Oda Nobunaga would hold a grand coming-of-age ceremony for him!

So far, everything makes sense. There is even a little bit of a favor in it. If Yamauchi Taro's coming-of-age ceremony is completed, he can exercise certain rights (not power) on behalf of his nominal father Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

For example, when the Imperial Palace held a New Year's ceremony on New Year's Day, Yamauchi Taro was qualified to serve as the Imperial Palace's guard reserve, which was to show the world that Yamauchi Taro inherited the status of the public ceremony.

For example, Yamauchi Taro could visit the five mountains and five temples, Yamato's Kofuku-ji Temple, and other places, and asked each temple and shrine to offer a bed-down ceremony. This represents the submission and recognition of the samurai regime by the mountain gate. In the era when the power of temples and shrines was strong, this was a powerful aid to the stability of the general's rule.

On the premise that Oda Nobunaga recognized this heir to the shogunate, there are indeed many benefits!

But it is believable that the meaning is a bit wrong! The letter said that Yamauchi Taro was very supportive of Oda Nobunaga as the successor to the shogunate, and promised to stand on the same front with the Yamauchi family. Any ambitious person who dared to challenge Yamauchi Taro's right of succession would be ruthlessly attacked by Oda Nobunaga.

Very good!

The alliance between Yamauchi and Oda still exists. As a minister of the Muromachi shogunate, it is really good to help each other!

Now Luoyang is under the control of the shogunate, that is, under the control of Oda Nobunaga. A general who can't enter the capital is a wild chicken general. Even if he gets the proclamation, what? Who recognizes the general who can't issue the imperial teaching in Luoyang?

If Yamauchi Taro wants to inherit the general, he must also enter Luoyang, meet the emperor in the imperial palace, accept the edict, and announce it to the world, and Gongyi will be successfully inherited.

Nobunaga said that I will sincerely escort you to the capital!

What does this letter mean? Combined with the context, it seems that Oda Nobunaga is trying to win over the Yamanouchi family. He not only fully supports and confirms the succession rights of Yamanouchi Taro, but is also willing to use force to guarantee the power of the Yamanouchi family.

But he also secretly expressed that I am now the first person under the Shogun, and my power is confirmed by Ashikaga Yoshiaki who is imprisoned in Nijo Palace. The imperial edict is published throughout the world and is known to the world.

More importantly, Luoyang is in the hands of Oda Nobunaga!

Different people have different understandings. At this time, Yamanouchi Shukei is an old stubborn man who is proud of his status as a member of the Ashikaga clan of the Seiwa Genji and the direct descendant of the Kawachi Genji. How can he be willing to listen to Oda Nobunaga's hints?

If my Taro wants to be a general, he will be a general. Why do I need your support!

"What does Gifu Dansho mean?" Imagawa Yoshichika frowned.

"Both kindness and power!" [Note 1]

"Show kindness and use power!" Uncle Tsunayoshi has met Oda Nobunaga and seen Oda Nobunaga's methods, so he is not unfamiliar with all this.

In the final analysis, the power of the Yamanouchi family is far inferior to that of the Oda family. Mino and Owari are richer than the five countries of the Kaido, not to mention that Oda Nobunaga also controlled Ise with his brother and son. Jiangnan and Yamashiro are also roughly in control, which are fertile and fertile lands.

If you follow me, I will guarantee your family's power and wealth. As for any crooked thoughts, you should weigh your own weight and carry your own weight. Think clearly, can you beat me, Oda Nobunaga!

"Everyone, how should I reply?" Although the Yamanouchi chief accountant was not very satisfied with Oda Nobunaga's attitude, he certainly knew that the rulers could not act out of loyalty.

It must be a joke that the exchanges between major countries rely on appeasement or bribery. Oda Nobunaga is now telling you about the benefits and using his power to move you. Let's see if your Yamanouchi family knows the current situation.

"Since Kobayata just had a meeting with Kasugayama Kanrei, should we wait for him to come back before making a decision? It will only take one or two days anyway!" Hosokawa Saijo felt that Kobayata should be consulted on this matter.

"Yes! Your Highness should also know about this!" Uncle Tsunayoshi helped.

"Where is Kobayata?" Yamauchi Shukei turned to ask Hosokawa Saijoi.

"It should have been past Kai!"

The messenger rode alone and ran fast, and Kobayata set off afterwards, but he followed the team of 800 people and rode in an ox cart, and at most he only went half the way. Now he is probably still at Suwaguchi, and it will take two to three days to reach the palace.

"Then tell people to entertain the Oda visitors well, and we will delay for one or two days. Maybe Kasugayama Kanrei has other instructions, and at this time, we must be in sync!" Yamauchi Shukei expressed his approval.

"That's it!"

"Alright!"

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[Note 1]: In fact, there should be a more colloquial sentence in Japanese, "饴と彲で子公をeducationさせる", which is probably a sentence like this, teaching children to use candy and whip together.