During Toyotomi Hideyoshi's era, Ukidata Hideyoshi's family had a high status.
He was a person Toyotomi Hideyoshi trusted very much, and Toyotomi Hidetsugu was also very familiar with him. He also had the right to speak, so if Ukidata Hideyoshi's family could persuade him, Toyotomi Hidetsugu would probably calm down a lot.
In order to maintain stability, Ishida Mitsunari felt that he had also racked his brains and sacrificed a lot.
"I understand, what you said makes sense. Then I will do my best to keep His Highness calm, but I can't guarantee that I will succeed. After all, this is His Highness."
Ukidata Hideyoshi's family made the highest promise, which made Ishida Mitsunari feel very relieved.
He thought that Ukidata Hideyoshi's family could not wait to kill Tokugawa Ieyasu immediately because of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's hatred.
"Although I really want Tokugawa Ieyasu to die, the foundation of Taikaku must also be preserved. When I kill Tokugawa Ieyasu, I will not let the foundation of Taikaku be damaged, even if it costs me my life."
Ishida Mitsunari did not doubt Ukidata Hideyoshi's loyalty at all, because he was equivalent to Toyotomi Hideyoshi's adopted son. When he was lonely and helpless, it was Toyotomi Hideyoshi who raised him and gave him a very high status and power. His feelings for Toyotomi Hideyoshi were like those of a father and son.
Therefore, anyone could betray, but not Ukidata Hideyoshi's family. Entrusting this matter to him, Ishida Mitsunari was relieved.
So, Ishida Mitsunari set off.
Negotiations also needed military backing. As the saying goes, what can't be obtained on the battlefield can't be obtained on the negotiation table. Without the backing of the military, the negotiation would be powerless. Therefore, Ishida Mitsunari did not object to Asano Yukinaga leading the troops to the Himeji Kingdom to set up defenses.
He sent a letter of request for negotiation to the Tokugawa clan of Ishimi Country, which was soon received by Ii Naomasa.
As a general with diplomatic skills, Ii Naomasa had also contributed greatly to the Tokugawa clan as a diplomat many times. Therefore, after receiving the diplomatic request, Ii Naomasa did not reject it. After some consideration, he decided that the two sides would meet at the border of Ishimi and Kito countries.
It was one day later.
Ishida Mitsunari arrived in Beihou on the 16th of March and met up with Asano Yukinaga.
Of course, the process was not pleasant.
"No matter what you told His Highness to protect you, I will never forgive you."
Asano Yukinaga's hostility towards Ishida Mitsunari was very strong.
Ishida Mitsunari knew this very well, so he was not surprised and remained calm.
"I don't care what you think of me, but this is His Highness's order. He wants me to negotiate with the Tokugawa clan. Please stay put and obey His Highness's order."
"Don't use His Highness to pressure me!"
Asano Yukinaga shouted angrily, "If it wasn't for His Highness, I would have killed you that day!"
"That was after the destruction of the Tokugawa clan. Before the destruction of the Tokugawa clan, His Highness still needs my wisdom, so please be rational, Your Highness."
Ishida Mitsunari's heart did not waver at all.
Asano Yukinaga snorted and ignored Ishida Mitsunari.
After returning to his residence, Ishida Mitsunari could not help but worry about the future of the Toyotomi clan.
How could the future of the Toyotomi clan be salvaged?
Even if he could destroy the Tokugawa clan, he would not be able to escape what would inevitably happen in the future. Right now, there was only a common enemy that was too strong.
He did not know how things would develop. He only knew how to deal with what would happen tomorrow.
On the 17th of March, Ishida Mitsunari and Ii Naomasa met at the agreed place.
"Your Excellency Ishida, it's an honor to meet you."
"Your Excellency Ishida, it's an honor to meet you."
The two met. Although it was a polite greeting, it might not be a lie.
Ishida Mitsunari was an important strategist under Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was very famous. Ii Naomasa was famous all over the world because of the Red Guards. Both of them were familiar with each other's reputation. This time, they were evenly matched.
So the two sat down.
Ishida Mitsunari brewed the tea himself.
"Your Excellency Ishida, you should know why I'm here."
"I don't know. Please tell me, Your Excellency."
Ii Naomasa bounced the question back indifferently.
"Ishijian Ginzan."
Ishida Mitsunari did not want to talk nonsense. At the moment, the situation was urgent. The sooner they talked, the sooner they could end it.
"Impossible."
Ii Naomasa did not want to talk nonsense either. But there were rules in negotiations. He could ask for an exorbitant price, and the other party could bargain. Everyone depended on their strength and eloquence.
"Your Excellency Ishida, how is Ishijian's situation after the Qin Army retreated?"
Ishida Mitsunari came late, so he did not know much about Ishijian's situation. But since the Qin Army had retreated, it would not be easy to convince the Tokugawa side to believe that the Qin Army had other plans. Moreover, he also believed that the Tokugawa side, who had the advantage of distance, would know as much as they did.
"Let's not talk about Ishijian's situation for now. Please allow me to express my sorrow for the passing of Your Excellency Maeda."
Ii Naomasa suddenly changed the topic and brought up Maeda Toshiie.
Ishida Mitsunari frowned and then relaxed his brows. He decided to use Ishida's strength to fight back.
"I will convey your sorrow on behalf of Your Excellency Ishida. But since we are talking about Your Excellency Maeda, do you know what Your Excellency Maeda said before he passed away?"
Ii Naomasa raised his brows and said, "I don't know. Please tell me."
"Your Excellency Maeda said that he was worried that all of this was Qin's conspiracy."
Ishida Mitsunari began his performance. "Qin pretended to return Ishijian Ginzan to Tokugawa in order to provoke Toyotomi. He wanted Toyotomi to lose his patience and launch an attack. Then, the two sides fought a series of battles. When the battle was at its climax, Qin suddenly launched an attack on us and wiped us out in one fell swoop."
Ii Naomasa frowned. He sensed that things were not as simple as they seemed.
"Your Excellency, do you have an accurate source of information?"
"No. All of this is Your Excellency Maeda's speculation before he passed away."
Ii Naomasa did not feel relieved after hearing Ishida Mitsunari's words.
Because he had also sensed this possibility.
However, speculations alone could not prove anything.
"It's just a conjecture, and it can't prove anything. You and I both know how great the benefits of Ishizen Silver Mountain are. It's a benefit that can be protected at all costs. It's just a conjecture, and Lord Ishida wants to obtain the benefits. Isn't it too easy?
Ishida Sansei said, "Your Excellency Jing Yi, China has been unified, and the State of Qin has stabilized itself. Emperor Xiao Ruxun has taken control of the situation, and it's hard to shake his rule. There are no longer any forces in the State of Qin that can threaten him."
"And then?"
Ii Naomasa continued to ask.
"All the empires of China have been unified in the past dynasties. As long as the internal strife is settled, they will definitely send troops to conquer the neighboring countries. Xiao Ruxun is even more so. He was born as a general and likes wars and invasions.
When the former Ming Dynasty was still in power, he conquered Myanmar and Luzon. Now that he has become the emperor of Daqin, he has no more constraints. Will he not want to conquer the neighboring countries? Will such an emperor who likes wars have no interest in the neighboring countries? "
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