Samurai Without a Sword

In the midst of endless chaos and bloodshed, when the only law was the law of the sword, a peasant boy named Hideyoshi dreamed of becoming a samurai. But he lacked the height, strength, and noble lineage for that. He could achieve his cherished goal solely through his remarkable intellect. Diligently and thoughtfully mastering the subtleties of human nature, he learned to defeat enemies not by the strength of the sword but by the strength of reason. He managed to attain the status of a samurai, commanded armies, and ultimately became the ruler of the entire country. What helped an uneducated peasant to bend others to his will, entice them to his side, and suppress the resistance of ruthless warlords? How did he manage to attract and keep thousands of loyal followers?