Ming East India Company

Ishida Mitsunari picked up the paper Bai Ling handed him and read it word by word. As his eyes slid between the words, his expression gradually changed from calm to astonishment.

"Tokugawa Ieyasu really dared to promise anything. He even dared to write down in black and white the promise to cede the territories of the Mori and Shimazu clans to Ryukyu."

A slight smile appeared on Ishida Mitsunari's face.

"I think you understand the significance of this contract to you."

Ishida Mitsunari began to ponder. Since being driven out of Osaka, he had been secretly contacting various forces loyal to Toyotomi, attempting to unite with daimyo such as Mori Terumoto, Ukita Hideie, and Chosokabe Morichika to form an alliance against Tokugawa Ieyasu, wanting to defend the Toyotomi clan's empire by force.

But the powerful figures of the world already harbored their own ulterior motives. In chaotic times, self-interest always trumps loyalty.

Most of the major daimyo in western Japan owed favors to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and were unwilling to see Tokugawa Ieyasu dominate the country, yet each harbored their own selfish motives:

Mori Terumoto possessed a vast territory in the western country and was very powerful, but he was indecisive and only wanted to preserve his strength and watch the outcome unfold.

Ukita Hideie, as Hideyoshi's adopted son, was loyal to the Toyotomi clan, but he was young and impetuous and lacked the ability to coordinate the overall situation.

Uesugi Kagekatsu occupied Echigo and had a long-standing conflict with Tokugawa Ieyasu. The anti-Tokugawa camp was only trying to protect its own territory.

……

But now that he has this secret agreement, he can immediately unite the various daimyo of western Japan. As long as he reveals Tokugawa Ieyasu's conspiracy to them, it will inevitably cause panic among these daimyo, and then the anti-Tokugawa alliance will be formed.

Although I don't like the Ryukyuans, I have to admit that this was a brilliant plan.

Ishida Mitsunari smiled bitterly and said:

"It seems I have no choice."

……

In March of the fifth year of Keicho, an explosive rumor began to circulate among the various daimyo of the western provinces.

Rumors continued to circulate that Tokugawa Ieyasu of Kanto had secretly made an agreement with the Ryukyu people on behalf of the young Toyotomi Hideyori, ceding territories of the Mori and Shimazu families in western Japan to the Ryukyu people, and that the army was already being reorganized and advancing by land and sea.

In a panic, the daimyo of the western provinces gathered at Sawayama Castle and sought help from Ishida Mitsunari, Tokugawa Ieyasu's mortal enemy and also Toyotomi Hideyoshi's strategist.

But Ishida Mitsunari gave them a bolt from the blue.

Inside Sawayama Castle, Ishida Mitsunari pulled out the secret treaty of Ryukyu that he had collected. It contained a plan for the division of western Japan's territory written in black and white, and also bore Tokugawa Ieyasu's vermilion seal.

What's even more unbelievable is that the contract was signed when Toyotomi Hideyoshi died, meaning that before the main Japanese forces had even withdrawn from Korea, Tokugawa Ieyasu was already plotting to "betray" the soldiers on the front lines.

Anger and hatred spread among the daimyo of the western country.

Soon, under the planning of Ishida Mitsunari, a number of daimyo, including Ukita Hideie, Otani Yoshitsugu, Konishi Yukinaga, Shimazu Yoshihiro, Chosokabe Morichika, and Mori Terumoto, joined the Western Army, and a decisive battle that would determine the future of Japan was about to begin.

"Useless idiot, how could I have a son like you?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was in Edo, was whipping Hidetada.

When Tokugawa Ieyasu heard the news of the formation of the Western Army, he was not particularly surprised. To be honest, ever since he drove Ishida Mitsunari out of Osaka, he had been preparing for a possible counterattack.

However, to his surprise, Ishida Mitsunari presented him with a so-called "contract" bearing his vermilion seal, which immediately placed him in a very unfavorable political position.

Puzzled, he immediately summoned Tokugawa Hidetada to inquire about the situation.

Upon learning that Tokugawa Hidetada had secretly made a pact with Ryukyu behind his back, Tokugawa Ieyasu was furious.

In his view, it was only natural for the Ryukyuans to send troops to intercept the Western Army's daimyo, and there was no need to promise them territory before sending troops. This bastard ignored his advice and his superfluous actions brought great trouble.

After whipping Hidetada, Tokugawa Ieyasu had no choice but to grit his teeth and clean up the mess.

On the one hand, he ordered his men to immediately "debunk the rumors" and claim that there was absolutely no such thing; on the other hand, he hurriedly sent someone to inform Kuroshimazu, instructing him to do everything in his power to persuade Ryukyu to send troops to the west.

"Father, since you've already determined that the Ryukyuans are unreliable, why do you still want to ally with them?"

While clutching his battered back, Tokugawa Hidetada knelt on the ground to ask for permission.

"You idiot, you need to understand that for the Ryukyu people, the Shikoku and the western daimyo are their neighbors that they can't move away from. As long as they want to expand, they will inevitably have to fight with these people. You can't even see such a simple tactic as befriending distant states and attacking nearby ones. You've wasted decades of my training."

Therefore, we don't need to spend any resources at all; as long as we exchange information with the Ryukyuans, they will send troops.

On Ryukyu Island, Bai Ling and Bai Ye were laughing heartily at the recent actions of the Eastern and Western Armies.

"I knew you were going to sign that ridiculous treaty. Turns out it was all to trick that old turtle Tokugawa."

"That's right. For us Ryukyu, a unified East is definitely unacceptable. Whether it's Tokugawa or Toyotomi, as long as they keep fighting, that's the best outcome for us."

Therefore, when necessary, we must find a way to give them a push and get them to fight in time.

Bai Wenzheng, who was standing to the side, asked:

"So what should we do next? Should we proceed with the planned deployment to western Japan?"

"No rush, no rush, the real show is just beginning."

Just then, the guard outside the door reported:

"Reporting to the Master, I just received a message from Kuroshimazu saying that he has important matters to discuss with you."

"Oh my, speak of the devil and he appears! He couldn't sit still any longer." Shiro chuckled and had Kuroshima invited in.

Kuroshima knelt down as soon as he entered the door:

"Please, sir, save my life!"

"Why has this Envoy Kuroshima gone to such lengths!"

"I just received a secret letter from the Guandong Palace, saying that I committed a serious crime by making a private alliance with the Lord last time, and should be beheaded."

Now let me atone for my crimes by persuading my lord to send troops to the various lords of the Western Army. I beg my lord to consider that I have worked diligently and faithfully for you all these years and have never harmed you, please help me out!

After saying that, Kuroshima began to kowtow repeatedly.

Before Bai Ye could react, a guard suddenly came in and whispered a few words in his ear...

Bai Ye smiled and pretended to be embarrassed:

"Lord Kuroshima, it's not that I don't want to help you, but the Western Army's envoys have arrived, and they're actually urging me to send troops to Kanto to attack your master, Tokugawa Ieyasu, from both sides!"

"This..." Kuroshimazu's mind went blank for a moment, and he didn't know how to deal with it.

Shironodo:

"There's no time like the present. Since that's the case, let's have both sides argue it out right here on stage and see who can convince whom."

Immediately, Baiye waved for the Western Army envoy to enter.