Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 180 Give Hideyoshi an Autumn Breeze

The purpose of Hideyoshi's visit this time is very clear, that is to ask Hideyoshi for a certain degree of support.

In old Japan, the lord entrusted you with the position of head of the general, and you have the priority to enjoy the right to know and do according to the land within the range of the raid according to the lord's request, the condition is that the lord will not give you soldiers and food support, Take the territory entirely by your own strength.

Once you ask the lord for soldiers and food as support, then your final evaluation with the lord will be greatly reduced.

The reason why Hideyoshi asked Hideyoshi for support this time is exactly the same as the reason why Hideyoshi asked Oda Nobunaga for support in history.

In history, Hideyoshi was appointed as the general of the Maori conquest, and he had the full power to make decisions in the Western Kingdom, which was not given to the two Shibata Katsuya in the Oda family.

Hashiba Hideyoshi is very politically sensitive. He is very clear about the reason why Oda Nobunaga does not accept the surrender of the Maori family. Nobunaga will not accept the existence of a million-stone-level daimyo in the Western Kingdom.

Therefore, he chose to ask Nobunaga for support to dilute his contribution to leveling Maori as the general, so that when Nobunaga entrusted him after the war, he would not be so embarrassing and aroused Oda Nobunaga's fear.

Now Hideka has also been given the responsibility of conquering the generals of the four countries, and has the full power to dispose of the four countries. As a Hideo who already owns 70 koku, he also has such political considerations, using self-effacing to ease himself and Hashiba Hideyoshi The relationship between.

Of course, apart from this, Yuxi's family really has some troubles.

As early as the beginning of Gangshan's battle in Sanhe, Hanfang Zhengxing told Xiu's family that their savings had bottomed out.

You must know that since Xiujia took over as the governor of the family, he has been recruited every year, and after the reform of the military system, Yu Xiduo has contracted all the weapons of the directly-controlled soldiers in the territory.

Although this has improved the armor rate of the reserve team and the morale of the soldiers, each of them risked their lives to fight the enemy bravely, but it also increased the military expenditure of the family. After all, the equipment needs to be regularly renovated and recast, and these are capital expenditures.

On the other hand, the Xiu family, through the reform of fields, no longer grants the actual territory to the small wealthy families with less than 1500 shi, but pays them in cash. The advantage of this is that the Xiu family actually controls the land of many low-level warriors, making themselves The command can be effectively conveyed to the following go.

You must know that in the Warring States period at that time, the daimyo would split the territory into very small pieces for the convenience of management, and finally reward the landowners for management, and the landowners would pay a fixed tax burden to the lord according to the territory. Among them, the difference between him and the peasants, the lord is I won't take care of it.

This management method is essentially different from the knowledge and practice of rewards in legal theory, but the management system and purpose behind it are similar. Although this saves daily household expenses, it also makes the actual management of the land by the lord fall into the hands of others. hand.

After Xiujia's land reform, not only all the land that was temporarily handed over to the management of the landowners was taken under the management of Tongxinzhong, but also the ability to further expand to less than 1500 shi was returned.

At any time, the grain discount will be much less than the direct payment of money, and the difference will have to be made up by the Yuxi family. In addition, because the land has lost its original manager, the Xiu family has to Spending a large sum of money to support a large number of devotees is another expense.

If things go on like this, even the landlord's family will have no food left~
If it weren't for the fact that Okayama Town is located on the main road of Sanyo Avenue in the West Country, and has a trade route across the key waterways of the Seto Inland Sea, plus special products to trade with the Ming Dynasty, the Hideka would not be able to support this at all. Drastic reforms.

This is also the reason why no other big names imitated Xiujia after the reform and Yuxijia burst out with extremely high vitality.

Don't they know that Xiujia's reform will strengthen the country?However, this kind of reform, which requires a huge economic cost, is a flashy thing in the eyes of many Warring States dynasties. Even the Hashiba Hideyoshi brothers have no interest in reform.

No matter how you say it, it is precisely because the reform has been on the right track that Yuxijia has been on the right track, coupled with the perennial use of troops, it has finally made it into a financial predicament.

There is some military rations, and Hideyoshi has already asked Hanabang Masayuki to sell the surplus military rations when he goes out in June, who knows that Hideyoshi's order to march into Shikoku in September was encountered.

September happens to be the harvest season for autumn grain in Japan. How can Ukido have extra manpower to go to the fields to harvest grain at this time? Even if the grain is harvested, the military funds that can be obtained by selling military grain in the autumn harvest year are less than other seasons Too much.

At this time, Xiujia was like in the A-share market, cutting off the stock at the last moment of the stock's take-off, and then picking up leeks at a high point. The pressure that needs to be borne can be imagined.

In other words, Hideyoshi really needed a certain amount of financial assistance when he came here, and he came here because he wanted to imitate Hideyoshi's story to sell him, that's why we have today's meeting.

Hideyoshi heard that the Hide family asked him for support, and asked with great interest, "The little Changzong, my family, can't be judged by the ability of your Hashiba Zuomen as the supervisor, plus 5 troops? But what else? Support from your family? Or should I send back all the Western civilians who built the city in Osaka and let them fill your army?"

To be honest, the corner of Shikoku is really not that people will have an advantage for a long time.Limited by the terrain, too many troops could not be fully spread out. Otherwise, how could the 3 army of the Oda family be pierced by more than 5000 people from the Changzong family?

So the Xiu family said, "The troops are already sufficient, so I'm here to ask my father for some military funds and supplies."

Hearing Hideyoshi begging for military funds and supplies from him, Hideyoshi said to the samurai guards on duty outside the door, "Go see Master Ishida and ask him to bring the latest account."

The samurai who received the order turned around and left. Not long after, Ishida Mitsunari came here with a ledger.

"Oh~ Saji, the governor of the left gate wants to borrow some military rations and supplies from me. See how much is in the account and how much can be allocated to support Shikoku." Hideyoshi saw Ishida Mitsunari coming, and before he could salute, he was in a hurry Patiently ordered.

Xiu Jia who was sitting next to him heard it clearly, "Borrow?" Xiu Jia said somewhat.The sound produced is extremely small.

Hideya remembered that he just said that he wanted Hashiba Hideyoshi to support him, how did it become a loan from him?

I don't know if it's because the monkey's hearing is too sensitive or what. Although the voice of the Xiu family is very small, he still heard it. He pretended to be innocent and asked the Xiu family, "Um~ Isn't it a loan, Hachiro?"

Seeing Monkey's innocent expression, the Xiu family looked a little embarrassed. They didn't know how to reply him. After a moment of silence, they finally said, "My family is indeed in financial difficulties. Please allow me to pay the debt in a few years, Father."

"Well." Hideyoshi got a definite reply from Hideo, and said to Ishida Mitsunari, "It's just a loan, Saki, let's see how much supplies our family has allocated to support the left gate guard."

Then Hideyoshi asked Hideo again, "What do you want? How much do you need? Tell me quickly."

The Xiu family took a deep breath, and said slowly, "My minister, please support the army with 5 guan of funds, 6 shi of military rations, 2000 iron cannons, and 2 arrow feathers."

For Yu Xijia, he can produce feet, swords, spears, and bows by himself, and has a certain strategic reserve.In particular, after the reform of the military system, the Xiu family collected old meatballs, grass pleats and other materials from various fields and farmers' homes that were more than a hundred years old.

Although these weapons from the old era don't have much defensive power against iron cannons at present, they can be used temporarily as reserve materials to offset the damage of bows, arrows, knives and guns to a certain extent.

As for spears and swords, Bizen’s longship was originally the largest arms workshop in the West Country. After Hideka occupied Hokkaido, the arrival of cork pine allowed Hideka’s English longbow to be mass-produced.

And all of the above are precisely the culprits that dragged down Yuxi's family's economy.

The Xiu family asked for 6 shi for military rations this time, which is enough for 3 people to feed for one year in normal times, but for the soldiers in wartime, it was only enough for 3 people to feed for half a year, which is the share of 5 people's military rations for more than two months .

This is exactly the time Hideka estimated it would take to crusade against the Four Kingdoms. Hideka really didn't plan to pay for military rations at the peak of grain prices before the autumn grains were put into storage, so they simply asked Hashiba Hideyoshi to borrow them all.

As for the 2000 iron cannons, it is for the purpose of enhancing the military strength of the family.

You must know that after the popularization of iron cannons by the Oda family, many daimyos of the Oda family put the construction of their iron cannon squadrons on the agenda. Akechi Mitsuhide’s military service certificate requires that every 300 koku be provided with an iron cannon that is light enough for military use .

In the Hashiba Army, its direct banner has a long-range fire brigade of 2000 people with 5000 iron cannons mixed with bows and arrows, and its retainers are also required to provide an iron cannon ashigaru for every 500 shi.

And Yuxijia has never required the number of iron cannons for so many years. It is completely free-range management. The artillery team was compiled and trained by Xiujia in the standing reserve and became the firearms reserve.

Every iron cannon has its own service life. The iron cannons in Xiujia’s 1000-strong iron cannon team have been changed and changed in many wars. The daily training and combat readiness of so many iron cannons are maintained daily. The money needed is an astronomical figure. In the Yuxi family, where the economy is becoming more and more difficult, expanding the number of iron cannons has become a dream.

Of course, the deeper reason is the perennial wars, and Hashiba Hideyoshi forced the daimyo to train the iron cannons according to military service, which made the price of iron cannons in Kinki skyrocket.

Even if the workshops in Kii, Omi, Sakai, Mino, Owari and other places were producing at full capacity, the price of an iron cannon near Sakai and Kyoto still soared to 45 kanwen, which directly doubled. After the localization of the gun, the price has never been higher than before.

As for the Bizen long ships of Ukido, the main armaments produced are mostly knives, guns, and weapons. There is not much involved in the production of iron cannons. At present, there are only a few workshops that can produce them. They are in charge of Ukido's firearms and iron cannons on a daily basis. It is not realistic to want to mass-produce the maintenance, maintenance and repair work of the battalion iron cannon.

For these reasons, Xiujia decided to directly ask Hideyoshi for some iron cannons for military use. Anyway, Hideyoshi will not personally recruit them recently, and the iron cannons are useless.

Soon Ishida Misachi completed the calculation of the current remaining supplies of Hashiba's family. Of course, he did not report the balance directly, but walked to Hideyoshi with the account book and sat down beside Hideyoshi. He showed him the account book and communicated with him in a low voice. .

This is also normal. After all, although the Hide family is said to be the adopted son of Hashiba Hideyoshi, they are from another family after all. He, Ishida Mitsunari, is Hashiba Hideyoshi's retainer. He manages the accounts of the Hashiba clan. There is really no reason for the Hide family to know about Hideyoshi. family property.

After a brief exchange between the two, Hideyoshi said to the Hideo family, "There is nothing wrong with the military rations and military funds, but there is some trouble with the iron cannon. I will send my banners to Sun Qi, so I will give you 800 at most. .”

Hideyoshi is not very satisfied with this number, but Hideyoshi is not allowed to refute, don't look at Hideyoshi as a profiteer, you think you can bargain with him.

Maybe it was possible in the past, but with the change of his identity, he pays more and more attention to what he said, and any discussion with him is likely to be considered by him as questioning him, causing his suspicion. Displeased.

So Hideyoshi stopped entangled with Hideyoshi and promised this amount.

"Father, please allow the family to repay these supplies in 5 years," Hideka said to Hideyoshi.

800 iron cannons don’t look at the small amount, but when converted into money, even the usual price of 20~25 guan in the past is equivalent to 16~000 guan.

If you add the borrowed 5 Guanjun funds and 7 Guanwen money, the interest will be nearly 10 Guanwen. This is still the price of friendship between the lord and his retainers, which is equivalent to the normal price of 40 shi of grain , 80 Shi Daming's annual net income from the land.

May I ask how many daimyos in Japan can afford such a huge expenditure? Even if the show family has about 20 kan of trade income, but the daily expenses are too much, it may be a bit difficult to spend 10 kan in a year to pay back. Difficult, which is why Xiujia proposed to pay back in 5 years.

Perhaps it was the reason Husong spoke that made him feel good today. Hideyoshi did not criticize the Xiu family's request too much, nodded and agreed to the repayment plan, but said to the Xiu family, "I can give you 5 years, but the interest will be paid. If it’s higher, how much is Sakichi’s discount for these materials?”

Ishida Mitsunari fiddled with the abacus on the side, and quickly said to Hideyoshi, "According to the current market price, it is worth about 10 kanfu (the price of iron cannon military rations has increased), and according to the usual market price, it is 8000 kanfu."

When they heard the 10 Guanwen, the Xiu family instantly lost the desire to borrow money, how can they repay the money they borrowed!Hideyoshi is not Oda Nobunaga, the 7500 guan iron cannon that he borrowed at the beginning can be repaid, but you can rely on Hashiba Hideyoshi to try?
The simple thing is that Hideyoshi said to Hideo and Ishida Mitsunari, "Then calculate it according to the value of 8 kanmon. How about repaying 5 kanmon in 12 years including interest?"

12 guanwen, repayable in 5 years, 2 kan a year, equivalent to 4000 Ishitsutsui family's pure real estate income for a year without eating or drinking, and now it is borrowed by the Xiu family in a muddle-headed way.

Thinking of the 12 kanwen debt, the Hide family was fortunate that just now Hideyoshi did not directly agree to sell 2000 iron cannons to him directly, otherwise he might not have so much money to pay off the debt if he sold himself.

But when it comes to Hideyoshi, it is true that the adoptive father and son settle accounts clearly. As expected of a man who has been a traveling merchant for 5 years, this ability to settle accounts has never been lost!

(End of this chapter)