Ming East India Company

He was worried, yet helpless. The strength in his body was slowly draining away, the cold spreading from his limbs to his heart, and his consciousness gradually blurred.

He glanced one last time at Hideyori, then at the five elders before him, his lips moved, and he uttered his final, feeble words: "Assist... Hideyori... Protect... Toyotomi..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hideyoshi slowly loosened his grip on Hideyori's small hand, closed his tightly shut eyes completely, and stopped taking his last faint breath.

The once-powerful Toyotomi Hideyoshi finally passed away in the autumn chill of Fushimi Castle, ending his legendary and controversial life, entrusting his young son and the vast Toyotomi empire to the Five Elders.

Below the stage, Tokugawa Ieyasu's eyes were filled with tears, but his heart remained unmoved.

For him, this moment had been a long time coming. His hatred for the Toyotomi family, which had been building since his transfer to Kanto, had reached its peak.

However, he knew he couldn't act rashly at this moment, because the other four of the five elders present—Maeda Toshiie, Mori Terumoto, Uesugi Kagekatsu, and Ukita Hideie—were no pushovers.

The following day, Yodo-dono and his close retainers, at a loss, hastily summoned the five elders to the palace to discuss secret matters, in accordance with Toyotomi Hideyoshi's dying wish.

At this moment, inside the council hall of the citadel, the doors and windows were tightly closed, and armored soldiers stood guard outside, not allowing anyone to approach. The candlelight inside the hall was dim, casting the shadows of the five elders on the ground. There was no pleasantries in the air, only a suffocating tension.

The youngest and most loyal to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ukita Hideie, could not contain himself any longer. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and spoke first, his voice filled with barely concealed impatience:

"Gentlemen, the news of His Majesty's passing can no longer be concealed. Hundreds of thousands of troops on the Korean front are now deeply embroiled in the battle, caught in a dilemma. We have gathered here today to determine our course of action and devise a strategy!"

After he finished speaking, the hall remained silent.

The Korean War has dragged on for several years. From its initial unstoppable advance to its current predicament where it is being relentlessly pressed forward by the combined forces of China and North Korea, the Japanese army is exhausted, running out of supplies, suffering heavy casualties, and the country is seething with public resentment.

However, this war was a lifelong obsession for Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and even on his deathbed, he still thought about it. Now that the decision to withdraw troops has been made suddenly, everyone has their own thoughts, and no one is willing to speak up easily.

Maeda Toshiie, leaning on his cane, looked somber. He had always been Hideyoshi's most trusted retainer, wholeheartedly devoted to protecting the Toyotomi dynasty. Looking at the assembled guests, each lost in their own thoughts, he slowly spoke, breaking the deathly silence:

"The Emperor has passed away, and the young lord is still young. The most important thing now is to stabilize the domestic situation and reassure the people. The war in Korea has dragged on for too long, our army's supplies are exhausted, and our soldiers are homesick. If we do not retreat now, not only will the entire army on the front lines be wiped out, but the domestic situation will also change, and the Toyotomi dynasty will be plunged into an abyss of no return. Retreating is the only way out at present."

These words revealed the current dire situation, yet they also struck a chord with some. Mori Terumoto frowned, stroking his beard, lost in thought. The Mori family had a large army stationed in Korea; retreating meant all the manpower and resources they had previously expended would be wasted, and the family's power would be damaged. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly spoke: "Lord Maeda is right, but Taiko devoted all the nation's resources to conquering Korea. A sudden retreat now might go against Taiko's wishes and incur criticism from the world. Furthermore, if the soldiers on the front lines retreat hastily and are pursued by the combined forces of China and Korea, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Which is more important, Taiko's last wish or the Toyotomi Empire?" Uesugi Kagekatsu asked in a steady voice, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"What Taiko sought throughout his life was to secure the Toyotomi dynasty. Now, the young lord is still young, and the feudal lords within the country are eyeing him covetously. If we are further bogged down in Korea, facing difficulties both internally and externally, we would truly be betraying Taiko's life's work! Withdrawing the troops, preserving our forces, and returning to defend the country is the greatest loyalty we can show to Taiko!"

As the argument raged, everyone's gaze invariably fell upon Tokugawa Ieyasu, who remained silent to the side.

Tokugawa Ieyasu sat calmly in his chair, his eyes lowered, as if the conflict before him had nothing to do with him. However, everyone present knew that he was the most powerful and prestigious of the five elders, and his attitude directly determined the outcome of the meeting.

Seeing everyone's gaze focused on him, Tokugawa Ieyasu slowly raised his eyes, his gaze deep, his tone calm yet each word powerful:

"Gentlemen, now is not the time to dwell on the last wishes. Taige has passed away, and the focus of the nation should be on the young lord. The war in Korea has been protracted and fruitless, and the nation's strength is exhausted. Continuing to fight will only plunge Japan into chaos, and the era of warlordism will return once again."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and continued:

"Withdrawal is imperative. However, careful planning is required. On the one hand, envoys should be dispatched to the Chinese and Korean military camps to negotiate peace, discuss the withdrawal, and stabilize the allied forces. On the other hand, secret orders should be given to the generals at the front to withdraw in batches, strictly maintain their formations, guard against enemy pursuit, and ensure the preservation of the main force to return to Japan."

At the same time, news of the Crown Prince's death should be strictly kept secret. Only after the entire army has withdrawn and the domestic situation has stabilized should the news of his death be announced to the world. Only in this way can the young ruler be ensured safety and the world be at peace.

His words were clear, logical, and to the point. He not only decided to withdraw the troops but also provided a comprehensive solution, instantly quelling the dispute in the hall.

Although Mori Terumoto was unwilling, he understood that what Tokugawa Ieyasu said was the only feasible solution at the moment. If they insisted on fighting again, the Mori clan's forces would be completely exhausted, so he could only nod silently.

Ukita Hideie was filled with resentment, but seeing that everyone agreed to withdraw the troops, and thinking of the young Toyotomi Hideyori, he could only clench his fists, sigh, and no longer object.

With the agreement reached, the tension in the hall eased slightly.

Ukita Hideie gazed at the empty throne room, recalling Taiko's grand ambitions and the impending decision to retreat. A deep sorrow filled his heart, and his clenched fists remained tightly shut for a long time. Mori Terumoto and Uesugi Kagekatsu, each preoccupied with their family's interests, wore solemn expressions. Maeda Toshiie wearily closed his eyes, his heart filled with worry for his young lord.

Only Tokugawa Ieyasu remained calm, but a sinister smile flickered deep in his eyes and at the corner of his mouth.

With the secret order quietly sent from Fushimi Castle, across the sea, and to the Korean front, the invasion of Korea, initiated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and lasting for several years, finally came to an end with Japan's complete withdrawal of troops.

After the five elders finished their discussion, Tokugawa Ieyasu strode out of the palace.

Today, Tokugawa is the most powerful daimyo under the Toyotomi family, possessing a 256 million koku of rice in Kanto, the six-year-old Toyotomi lord Toyotomi Hideyori, and his brainless mother Yodo-dono.

Having always lived under the thumb of others, he tasted the power of the highest authority for the first time. He was no longer willing to be subservient to anyone; all the powerful figures here today were his future rivals, and he had already placed them all on the chessboard.