Friendship of the soul.

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

reward

Prior to the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600、the Mōri clan's territories were vast (at least for feudal lords in Japan)、roughly spanning present-day Hiroshima、Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures.

However、after this battle、their territory was limited to Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Until this battle、the Toyotomi clan was the de facto ruler of Japan.

(Roughly speaking、the Toyotomi clan came from a samurai background、but as they gained power they became more aristocratic of the dynastic era.)

However、after the death of the founder "Toyotomi Hideyoshi'" in 1598、this regime headed to collapse rapidly.

I said that the Toyotomi clan was of samurai origin、but Hideyoshi was a man who went from being a farmer (one theory is an extremely poor farmer) to becoming the king of Japan.

※In other words、he was a self-made man.

And、of course、he had no ancestral vassals other than a few relatives.※

However、his life after establishing hegemony in Japan became very "strange".

He brought an era of peace to Japan、ending the 100-year Warring States period、but his "strangeness" manifested in both domestic affairs and diplomacy.

Before he became the ruler of Japan、he was a man who killed as few people as possible.

However、he has become a man who easily kills people.

※And it started to take on even more cruelty.

(※I think a big reason is the inevitable failure of Hideyoshi's reckless war of aggression against Korea、which mobilized daimyo from all over Japan、but、2023071317:01/japantime) not surprisingly、the Toyotomi clan quickly fell out of favor with the samurai class、and their support rallied to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

And、of course、even in this changing situation、there were opposition forces against the Tokugawa clan.

At the time of Hideyoshi's government、it could be said that the five great daimyo representing Japan were ministers of the Toyotomi government.

Its top was Tokugawa clan and its No.2 was Mori clan.　

Although the Tokugawa clan was a vassal of the Toyotomi clan、in reality、the impression was that they were allies rather than vassals.

※Ieyasu was originally an ally of Hideyoshi's lord.

The Mori clan was a collaborator when Hideyoshi seized hegemony.

※The Mori clan was fighting Hideyoshi when Hideyoshi's lord was assassinated by his vassal (Hideyoshi's colleague).

They did not pursue Hideyoshi's army、which had to turn back in a hurry to avenge his master's death (this achievement was the impetus for his supremacy achievement).※

This power struggle split Japan in two、and finally war became inevitable.

※It is true that the head of the Mori clan was the "nominal general'' of the Western Army、but on what grounds did I write this？I don't know (lol).

I don't know how this is recognized in "historical studies"、but I think it is quite different from so-called "historical studies."

A battle between the Toyotomi bureaucrats and the Tokugawa clan、who are trying to eliminate the Tokugawa clan for the sake of the Toyotomi clan's well-being.

I think that's how most Japanese people perceive the Battle of Sekigahara.

I wonder I read the book of something historic at this time(lol)？

The Uesugi clan、the great daimyo of Echigo (now Niigata prefecture)、was one of the five daimyo.

The feudal lord with which the Toyotomi bureaucrats allied、if I had to say it、was them、not with the Mori clan.

Incidentally、the transition of this battle is the content that a novel can write.

Just to be sure、I will write it down(lol).※

"司馬遼太郎氏に聞く 関ヶ原 - 鼎談 関ヶ原の背景 司馬遼太郎 森繁久彌 加藤剛"

当時スペシャルドラマ『関ヶ原』をテレビで観た記憶はありますが、2023071620:19(日本時間)現在、持っていません。

・・・・・・・・・　

Well、the commander of the Mori army in this battle was the younger brother of the previous lord.

He was certain of Tokugawa's eventual victory in this power struggle.

Especially if Tokugawa loses (i.e. their side wins).

"We can not keep the peace、Japan definitely fall back to the Warring States era.”

"To create a peaceful world、we must create a Tokugawa victory."

He was sure of it.

(Until just about ten years ago、in Japan、the war world continued for 100 years.)

"Maintaining the status quo of the Mouri clan"

Under these promises、he promised to defect to the Tokugawa side.

It is true that Mohri was the de facto general of the Western army、but in this battle they did not fight Tokugawa at all.

After this battle、Tokugawa hegemony was established.

※Of course、the Toyotomi government still existed.

・・・・・・・・・

"I forgive you for your sins against me.

Not only that、I will give you Choshu as a reward for your achievements.

However、I will destroy the other Mouri clan."

Immediately after the battle there was such a proclamation against him in the name of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

"That is a breach of contract.

Before the battle、Tokugawa had promised me to hold the Mouri status quo."

He protested vehemently、but it was all in vain.

"Any agreement between you and us is subject to change at any time to suit our convenience."

With the victory of this battle、negotiations by the Tokugawa clan effectively became such.

"I don't want any territory.

Please give Choshu to the head of the Mouri clan."

His desperate negotiations saved the Mori clan from ruin.

"If we had participated in the battle at that time、the Mori clan's hegemony might have been established by now."

However、naturally、after this、he will earn a deep resentment from the people of the Mouri clan.

Whether or not he was right in his convictions、there are no "ifs" in history.

There is only the fact that 250 years of peace lasted after this.

※"My lord、all the preparations for subjugating the Tokugawa clan are complete."

"Wait、it's not the time yet."

In fact、they may have used a little vaguer expression、but I remember reading in a book by Shiba Ryotaro san that during the Tokugawa Shogunate era、the Mori clan had such a secret event at the beginning of the year. 2023071620:11(japantime).