Chapter 710 22. Never Forget the First Lord in My Dreams

Yamauchi Motoyuki mobilized 1,000 people, which was considered the main force of Yamauchi Yoshiyasu. His family had their own knowledge and practice, so it was not difficult to mobilize them. Kiso Yoshimasa mobilized 1,500 people, and Ogasawara Sadakei mobilized 2,500 people, making up 5,000 people, and went out of Nakasendo to fight as a flank.

Try to capture Iwamura before the snow falls. If not, seize a castle and use it as a threat. Wait for the main force to enter Mino before joining forces.

"This time, you will be responsible for the early transportation of soldiers and food, and you must also deal with the harassment of the three parties of the Yama family. The burden is not light!" Xiao Pingtai went down the city with Kurosawa Ryoki, who was suddenly summoned into the city to accept the post of Uchida County Magistrate.

"Tanzheng's burden is heavier than mine. It has been so many days and nights over the years." Although Kurosawa Ryoki had just been promoted to County Magistrate, he still spoke slowly and without much fluctuation.

After all, he had been a monk for more than ten years and had cultivated a good meditation. In addition, he had experienced the massive invasion of the Takeda clan, and the tragic disaster of his father and brother being killed one after another. Now he is really calm and impeccable.

"We are all sharing the worries of the king, so why should we talk about hard work!" Xiao Pingtai smiled.

"By the way, I have been under the command of Tansho for more than a year. I have taken notes every day. I have some experience, maybe I can compile it into a collection and organize it into a book." Kurosawa Ryoki has the habit of writing diaries and taking notes, and Xiao Pingtai knows it.

"You are thoughtful!"

"Tansho is the best in politics and military affairs in the East. People praise him as the unparalleled in the East. He should be passed on to future generations!"

"It's just a false reputation, but thank you anyway." Although Xiao Pingtai doesn't care about false reputation, he is willing to organize it.

"I have come up with a name. Can you express it directly as the Yamanouchi Military Mirror?"

"It's up to you."

"Then please write a preface for me, briefly describing the history of Shinshu's governance and chaos since the three generations of the former Prime Minister, the former Imperial Guards, and the present His Highness."

The two walked down the road and soon arrived at the foot of the city. Xiao Pingtai naturally did what he promised to do. Now thinking about more than ten years ago, the past events are still vivid in my mind. The Yamanouchi family has expanded its territory from a national tycoon with 23,000 kan. Now it is a powerful and powerful family with 379,000 kan. It can be said to be magnificent.

After grinding ink with Liu, Xiao Pingtai sent him to sleep. As the night deepened, the autumn wind rose, and unexpectedly, a light rain fell.

Thinking back to that autumn, it was also a rainy night. The former Prime Minister Yamanouchi Yoshiharu came with a small entourage and visited Xiao Pingtai in the thatched cottage. How similar!

………………

"Koyata, how are you these days?" Koyata, who was writing at his desk, suddenly heard a familiar voice.

He looked up at the voice, and in a trance, Yamanouchi Yoshiharu walked into the house from the corridor, without any sign of old age and pain. He was in high spirits, majestic, and looked like a great leader. Even in autumn nights, he did not wear expensive and luxurious silk clothes, but made a cotton robe, barefoot without socks. Compared with Koyata, who looked like a fifty-year-old man, he was actually younger.

"Your Highness!" Koyata couldn't believe it!

"How are you these days?" Yamanouchi Yoshiharu sat opposite Koyata.

"Everything is fine, everything is fine! Your Highness, how are you!"

"I came from outside and saw that the people were well-fed and well-clothed, and the soldiers were brave and capable. This is all your credit!"

"I dare not take credit for it. This is all because of your diligence and love for the people. I just did my part."

"Taro is just a child. How can he be so capable!" Another voice, more familiar.

"Have the imperial guards come too?" Yamauchi Yoshiharu turned back with a smile.

Yamauchi Yoshikatsu was wearing only single clothes as usual. He had been wiping himself with cold water this winter. He was in excellent physical condition. He practiced martial arts barefoot in the snow, and wore a pair of straw sandals even when the temperature was several degrees below zero.

"Imperial guards!" Koyata hurriedly bowed his head to greet him.

"You have been teaching and assisting Taro for these years, but I, as a father, have not fulfilled my responsibilities. Thank you for your hard work!" Yamauchi Yoshikatsu sat down next to Koyata, helped Koyata up, and took his arm.

"Your Highness is smart, heroic, and studious."

"Stop talking nonsense! We are like brothers, how could I not know you?" Yamauchi Yoshikatsu and Koyata held each other's arms and talked happily.

"Hahahahahaha... That's right!" Yamauchi Yoshiharu also laughed out loud.

"What are you writing?" Yamauchi Yoshikatsu turned his head and came to look at the manuscript on Koyata's desk.

"I have written a brief history of Yamanouchi's governance over the past twenty years, as well as some of his thoughts on governing the country and the military."

"Very good, let me read it!" Yamanouchi Yoshiharu took it and read it himself.

"It is not easy for my Yamanouchi family to get to this point! Now we have reached the stage of going to Kyoto!"

"The shogunate is weak, and it cannot be revived without a wise ruler like Your Highness!" Kobayata replied.

"There are many mountains and rivers ahead. I wonder when my Yamanouchi's two-in-two will be able to stand on the bridgehead of Seta Bridge?" Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu sighed.

"Please rest assured, both of you! I am here to help Your Highness go to Luoyang and revive Ashikaga!" Kobayata stepped back three steps and knelt down.

"You have suffered so much, and I, Yamanouchi, owe you!" The two sighed together and disappeared in the candlelight.

"..."

"Your Highness!"

"Yulin!"

………………

"Your name is Kobayata?"

"Are you from Yamanouchi?"

"Come and serve me."

"What do you have to teach me, Kobayata?"

"I have Fujidansho, just like Emperor Gaozu had Xiao He, the first lord had Zhuge Liang, and Emperor Taizong had Xuanling!"

"It is my bad luck that you are trapped in the mountains of Shinano!"

"Your Highness..." The words of Yamanouchi Yoshiharu lingered in my ears.

"Xiao Pingtai, take my Wufu!"

"Xiao Pingtai, you fooled me again!"

"For today's battle, I will be the pioneer, Xiao Pingtai, are you willing to be my flag bearer!"

"It will only take one or two months to go to Luoyang. I will come to find you after I return to Yamanouchi!"

…………

"Your Highnesses..." The images of the two people became clear in my mind.

The past scenes seemed to have just happened. Yamanouchi Yoshiharu and Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu treated Xiao Pingtai with the grace of knowing and meeting mountains and seas. They took off their clothes to clothe him and gave him food. They rewarded those who had made contributions and punished those who had made mistakes. They distinguished right from wrong and regarded Xiao Pingtai as a confidant and shared their hearts with him.

Xiao Pingtai picked up the pen unconsciously, and wrote quickly.

I am a commoner, working in Nanyang, trying to survive in the troubled times, and I don't seek fame and fortune among the princes. The late emperor did not regard me as humble and mean, but visited me three times in my thatched cottage and consulted me on current affairs. I was grateful for this and promised to serve the late emperor. Later, when the country was overthrown, I was entrusted with the task of defeating the army and was ordered to serve in times of crisis. It has been twenty-one years since then.

The late emperor knew that I was cautious, so he entrusted me with important matters before his death. Since I received the order, I have been worried day and night, fearing that I would fail to fulfill the trust and hurt the late emperor's wisdom, so I crossed the Lu River in May and went deep into the barren land. Now that the south has been settled and the weapons and armor are sufficient, I should encourage the three armies to settle the Central Plains in the north, so that I can exhaust my dullness, drive out the treacherous and evil, restore the Han Dynasty, and return to the old capital. This is how I repay the late emperor and be loyal to your majesty. As for weighing the pros and cons and giving loyal advice, it is the responsibility of Youzhi, Yi, and Yunzhi.

…

Before I finished writing, the whole paper was soaked with tears…