Chapter 1653 A City
Because of these three conditions, it was extremely friendly to Nobunaga.
The first marriage was Nobunaga's specialty. The women of the Oda family, including his elders, were all tools used by Nobunaga to form relationships through marriage. Although he felt guilty about his beloved sister, it was not a bad idea to marry Aichi off to a distant place when the relationship could not be restored.
What's more, using a remarried sister to exchange for peace at sea and not interfering with the Ming people is a sure win.
The second condition was that Kuki Yoshitaka was dead, and the ironclad ships that he had high hopes for were also vulnerable. What could he do if he did not acknowledge the Ming people's "Three Bans on Foreigners"?
There is one last point. Oda Nobunaga was already frightened by the endless killings of the Ikko sect. He would be very satisfied if Honganji could disarm and stop the Ikko Ikki all the time. What else does he want?
As for Honganji, Kenshin had already reached the end of his rope. Seeing that the heroes who could compete with Nobunaga had passed away one after another, what do you think was the reason for a monk like him to hold on?
Although many people in the Ikko clan, including his son, still couldn't let go of their grievances with the Oda clan, after his brother-in-law passed away, Xianru knew that the situation was over. Now that he could retire safely like this, what else could he ask for?
Finally, on April 8th of the seventh year of the Wanli reign, the two sides signed a perpetual peace treaty at the Houn Zen Temple in Sakai City, witnessed by Zhao Hao, chairman of the Jiangnan Group, and Prince Makoto, the emperor's representative.
As for how long this contract can be observed, it depends on the rise and fall of the strength of all parties in the future...
Anyway, Zhao Hao didn't have much confidence, because Osaka was where the monkeys were going to build their future settlement.
It was a pity that he didn't get to see the monkey this time, let alone Oda Nobunaga, whom he had played many times, which made him feel very sorry.
It was normal that he could not see him, because in order to ensure his safety, not only were 30 warships stationed in Osaka Bay, but 5,000 fully armed marines also temporarily took over the defense of Sakai City. Even if Oda Nobunaga wanted to come in person, his retainers would try their best to stop him from falling into the trap.
In the end, Nobunaga had no choice but to let his eldest son, Oda Nobutada, the head of the Oda family, attend the treaty ceremony on his behalf.
Due to the same concerns, the Security Department also resolutely refused to allow Zhao Hao to leave Sakai City. After all, the death of the elder sister Uesugi was too strange, and it was widely rumored that Nobunaga sent a ninja to assassinate him. The young master's life was connected to the world, and Gao Wu would rather believe it than not believe it.
In the end, Zhao Hao did not see the living Oda Nobunaga, which left him with a great regret.
~~
At noon on the next day after the signing of the treaty, a long wedding procession from the Tokugawa family carried the bride into Sakai City in a green sedan chair.
In addition to Nobunaga's brother Oda Nagayoshi, there were also Akechi Mitsuhide and Tokugawa Ieyasu...
It's okay for Ariake Mitsuhide, after all, he was a retainer of the Oda family. But Tokugawa Ieyasu was a real local lord, and he actually came to Nobunaga's sister like a retainer. He really didn't care about dignity at all...
But this did not affect Zhao Hao's admiration for these two. Look at Mitsuhide's big forehead, which looks even taller and more abrupt against the backdrop of Yue's head. No wonder Nobunaga used him as a drum.
But apart from having a birthday forehead, Mitsuhide was still handsome and his every move was calm and composed. He was indeed a rare and educated person who was familiar with public customs.
Moreover, Mitsuhide was nearly 1.6 meters tall. Standing among a group of Japanese men with an average height of 1.4 meters, he stood out like a crane among chickens.
Who could have thought that it was this person who would kill Nobunaga, who was at the height of his power three years later?
Let's look at another piece of information. If it weren't for Sen no Rikyu's introduction, Zhao Hao really wouldn't be able to connect this short, fat, silly-looking raccoon cat with a protruding mouth with the future big winner Tokugawa Ieyasu?
In fact, Ieyasu's height should be around 1.56 meters, which is considered "imposing" among Japanese men.
The reason why these Japanese men are so short must be related to their eating habits. As mentioned before, because the whole nation believes in Buddhism, the whole Japanese society is vegetarian. Even the daimyo and samurai can only eat grilled fish and tofu and vegetable soup. And fish meat cannot promote bone development at all. From this perspective, we should still support the development of Buddhism in Japan...
However, when Ah Ichi, wearing a white wedding gown, got off the sedan chair, Zhao Hao discovered that she was surprisingly tall. But on second thought, it was not surprising, after all, her brother was Nobunaga, known as the "giant man", who was 1.69 meters tall!
Looking at her again, she has an elegant figure, a slender swan neck, and a pure white dress, which makes her look full of the grace and elegance of a mature lady.
But her face and neck were covered with thick powder, and her eyebrows were shaved off, replaced by two dots on her forehead with ink, called "Dian Shang Mei". It was really hard to tell whether she was beautiful or ugly, or even her age...
But Mr. Zhao couldn't laugh at her. It is well known that everything in Japan comes from China, especially from the Tang Dynasty. The so-called Japanese style is the Tang style. This makeup of applying heavy powder and shaving eyebrows originated in the Tang Dynasty of my country. Women in the Tang Dynasty raised their eyebrows to look more elegant, and when it was introduced to Japan, it became shaving eyebrows. Although this style has long been out of fashion in China, it is still the standard makeup for Japanese women.
Zhao Hao's only hope now is that A Shi won't dye her teeth to have shiny black teeth, otherwise he is really worried that his nephew will be scared to death on the wedding night.
He expressed his concerns to Sen no Rikyu, who comforted him by saying, "Don't worry, young master. Only women from royal families are qualified to paint their teeth black. If women from samurai families do that, they will be laughed at for wearing a human crown." Zhao Hao felt relieved and looked at his nephew beside him, just about to ask him how he felt.
But Zhao Shizhen's eyes were red and he looked sad.
"Don't be afraid, you'll look better after removing your makeup..." Zhao Hao hurriedly comforted him.
"No, I looked at her and felt that she was very sad, and then I became sad too." Zhao Shizhen took a deep breath and wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingertips. "If she really doesn't want to marry far away, forget it."
"Don't worry, she is not sad because she has to marry far away. On the contrary, marrying far away may be a relief for her." Zhao Hao sighed. This is really an unfortunate woman.
Her ex-husband, Asai Nagamasa, under pressure from his family, stabbed Nobunaga in the back during Nobunaga's first siege, causing him great losses and being regarded as a shame in Nobunaga's life.
When Nobunaga's second siege was broken, Nobunaga ordered the monkey to capture Odani Castle, the main castle of the Asai family.
When Odani Castle fell, Asai Nagamasa handed Oichi and his three daughters to Hideyoshi to take back to the Oda family. At the same time, he asked his retainers to take his two sons away to escape. Then he committed suicide with his father Asai Hisamasa at the age of 29.
On New Year's Day of the following year, Oda Nobunaga made wine cups out of the skulls of Asai father and son and drank with his retainers to celebrate the New Year.
A year later, the monkey found the two young sons of Nagamasa and Aichi and brutally killed them, eradicating the roots of the evil…
Therefore, Zhao Hao was not surprised at all by the state of the most beautiful woman in the Japanese Warring States Period. He patted Zhao Shizhen on the shoulder and said:
"You've been thinking about it for so many years, you have to taste the orange yourself to see if it's sour or sweet..."
~~
Because Japan follows Zhou Li, weddings are held after sunset.
It was still some time before sunset, so the bride went to the shrine to rest first, and Zhao Hao also returned to the residence arranged for him by Sen no Rikyu to rest for a while.
Sen no Rikyu was a famous tea master in Japan. In the tea garden he built carefully, he entertained Mr. Zhao with the tea ceremony originated from China.
The so-called tea garden, also called open space, is a Japanese-style garden built for the tea ceremony. Outside the wooden teahouse, the simple stepping stones symbolize the rugged stone path in the mountains, the dwarf pines on the ground represent the lush forest, the squatting wash basin is associated with the clear mountain spring, and the vicissitudes of life and heavy stone lanterns create a harmonious, quiet, pure and secluded tea ceremony atmosphere with a strong Zen artistic conception.
But what Mr. Zhao was more interested in was the Jian teapot that Sen no Rikyu gave him. It was black with small, thin star-shaped spots, surrounded by a jade-white halo, as beautiful as brocade, and definitely not an ordinary item.
"Yōben Tenmoku teacup?" Zhao Hao played with the teacup.
"It is a rare piece from the Jian kiln during the Southern Song Dynasty in the Celestial Empire. There are only a few of them in Japan." Sen no Rikyu said respectfully, "I am presenting it to you today, so it can be considered a perfect return to its rightful owner."
"Okay, then I won't be polite." Zhao Hao nodded with a smile.
This thing is very precious in later generations. He remembered that there were only three and a half left. Three of them are intact in Japan and are collected as national treasures. On the contrary, in China, where it was produced, only half of it was unearthed. So Mr. Zhao felt it necessary to bring this one back to China.
He smiled and said, "I have accepted your gift, so I have to show my appreciation. Tell me, what do you want?"
"Nothing can be hidden from you, sir." Sen no Rikyu said respectfully, "In fact, I am fortunate to have the protection of you in this chaotic world. My family is safe and my business is prosperous. I have nothing else to ask for."
He paused, poured the thick green tea into the Tianmu cup, and said softly while lighting the tea foam: "It's a good friend of mine, who is eager to meet you, young master."
Zhao Hao nodded and motioned for him to continue.
"He is none other than Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu who came to escort the bride today." Sen no Rikyu asked, "Do you still remember him?"
Zhao Hao nodded slightly, revealed a playful smile and said: "Then let's meet."
"Thank you, young master." Sen no Rikyu nodded to his son Shaoan who was serving behind him.
Shaoan went out to tell others about it.
After a moment, the sound of wooden clogs stepping on stepping stones was heard, and the short and fat man Ieyasu followed Shaoan in.
However, he was stopped in the courtyard by Zhao Hao's guards, who ordered him to take off his two swords and searched him.
Ieyasu did as he was told without changing his expression, showing no sign of displeasure. He then walked on the stepping stones to the outside of the tea room, took off his wooden clogs, and bowed outside the door, greeting Master Zhao in Japanese.
Sen no Rikyu was naturally qualified to do translation.
Zhao Hao asked him to stand up and said to Tokugawa Ieyasu with a smile, "What's the matter, Lord Ieyasu?"
Tokugawa Ieyasu looked at Sen no Rikyu and whispered something.
"Lord Ieyasu said he wanted to have a written conversation with you." Sen no Rikyu did not take it as an offense. Smart people do not want to know too many secrets.
"Okay." Zhao Hao nodded.
So Sen no Rikyu brought a stack of letter paper and two sets of pens and ink, prepared for the two of them to have a written conversation, and then retreated to the door to boil some water.
ps. Keep writing and read it tomorrow morning.
(End of this chapter)