They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 190 Economic Monopoly & Fog-Hidden Anonymous Bank

In chaotic times, I think of Hongyang.

In ancient China, the name Sang Hongyang was always mentioned whenever there was chaos or a decline in central authority, and funds were urgently needed to complete important tasks.

For over two thousand years since the Treatise on Salt and Iron, despite numerous reversals, state monopolies in specific sectors have always been a reliable way for central governments to raise funds during times of turmoil.

This state-owned economic monopoly system allows for the acquisition of large sums of special funds for major tasks, which aligns well with the principle of concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks throughout history.

Therefore, throughout history, apart from the central government, any private individual who dared to get involved in these areas was executed.

Regardless of their status, even if they are royalty, it is almost impossible for them to escape unscathed if they dare to get involved in these areas.

As time goes on, the scope of state monopolies in specific fields continues to expand.

In addition to satisfying economic interests, areas that are vital to the nation's survival and have a significant political impact have also been included in the scope of state monopolies.

In the ninja world, that would be fields like ninja tools, salt, steel, alcohol, tobacco, and construction.

So when Hozuki Shingetsu announced that the village would be monopolized in these areas, it caused an uproar among the merchants.

For them, this part of the content has a far greater impact than any ninja system reform or contribution point system.

When they learned of this, the merchants outside the village were alright; after all, it didn't matter who they did business with.

For them, it doesn't matter whether the transaction involves a village or an individual.

But for the merchants in the village who operate in these sectors, it's a different story.

In the past, they made a fortune by profiting from these fields. Now that a single decree has turned these areas into villages, how could they possibly be willing to accept it?

To operate a shop in these fields within the ninja village, you simply need connections.

Therefore, these people are less like businessmen and more like front men for the various ninja villages within Kirigakure, or perhaps they were run by their own clansmen.

However, to their surprise, when they went to the master's house to complain and try to gather public opinion to blackmail the village, they were all sternly stopped by the master.

They were naturally unaware that Hozuki Shingetsu had already discussed the matter with their master long before the reform was announced, adhering to the principle of not holding meetings for important matters.

In exchange for agreeing to allow the village to monopolize these economic sectors, Hozuki Shingetsu appointed ninjas from various clans as representatives of Kirigakure to reside in the smaller ninja villages and clans near the Land of Water, fulfilling the previous agreement between Kirigakure and these smaller forces.

As for why these ninja clans agreed to allow the envoy from the superior nation to reside in their village, the scene was... well, just look at how the United States treats Japan—it was incredibly audacious.

Besides this part of the economic monopoly, the most important economic reform was the establishment of the Wuyin Village Village Bank.

Besides its normal functions of financial investment and financial support for people's livelihood, the most important function of this village bank is to... establish anonymous savings accounts for the entire ninja world.

-

In the Land of Water, at the capital city, in the residence of the Grand Supervisor Nomura Tsunayoshi, a Kirigakure ninja is informing the Grand Supervisor of Kirigakure's reform measures.

As the highest-ranking official in charge of all warehouses and storage facilities in the Land of Water, this position of Grand Supervisor is arguably one of the most lucrative and profitable departments in the entire Land of Water.

As a contemporary high-ranking official, if you were to say that Nomura Tsunayoshi was completely honest and upright and had not embezzled a single penny, even the contemporary daimyo of the Land of Water, Mizu Keita, probably wouldn't believe it.

However, in Shui Keita's opinion, Nomura Tsunayoshi must have some sense of right and wrong. Even if he were to embezzle one or two percent of the goods in the warehouse, most of the warehouse would still be in good condition.

However, even if Shui Keita racked his brains, he probably wouldn't believe it, but at most, only about 50% of the warehouses in the Land of Water are still intact.

Half of the warehouse's goods quietly disappeared without a trace as he and his men devoured them.

However, as the saying goes, the older one gets, the more timid one becomes. As he grew older, Nomura Tsunayoshi became increasingly worried about this matter.

According to the rules, he will have to step down in five or six years at most, and by then the matter of the missing goods in the warehouse will probably be impossible to hide.

But it's definitely impossible to get him to spit out the meat he's eating.

It was at this moment that the envoy from Kirigakure arrived at his residence.

"An anonymous savings account?"

Nomura Tsunayoshi looked at the introduction to the Kirigakure Village Bank in his hand and fell into deep thought.

"That's right, our bank only recognizes tokens, not people. Moreover, Lord Crescent Moon guarantees with his own and the village's reputation that the owner of this account will not be discovered by anyone."

The Hidden Mist Messenger smiled and delivered Hozuki Shingetsu's specific instructions.

"...even a great name."

Nomura Tsunayoshi's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he repeated the sentence.

Even a famous name?

"Indeed, as one of the five great ninja villages in the ninja world, you should know that if we want to hide someone's information, no one can find out."

The Mist Envoy smiled and replied in this way.

If we're going to give the daimyo face, then we'll just use an illusion on the messenger who's come to investigate.

If things fall apart, then techniques like burning the warehouse with fire dragons can be developed.

Nomura Tsunayoshi clearly had also thought of this, so he quickly nodded in agreement.

"Since that's the case... let's deposit a billion to test the waters first!"

-

Such scenes occur in various parts of the mainland.

After all, as greedy and corrupt nobles, almost everyone had a few shady assets.

In the past, their best method was to find a place where no one knew and bury it in the ground. However, while it was easy to bury it, it would be troublesome when they needed to use the money.

In addition, there have been frequent reports on the mainland of nobles having their buried wealth stolen by mysterious people and disappearing without a trace. As a result, more and more nobles, or their confidants, are choosing to deposit their wealth in the Hidden Mist Village Bank.

After all, as one of the five great ninja villages, as long as one does not actively reveal it, there is basically no possibility of being coerced by others into revealing the identity of the account owner.

As for whether Kirigakure would actively reveal the account holder's identity... it can only be said that Hozuki Shingetsu had cultivated too much prestige in the ninja world before. The influence of years of publicity and the peace truce conference led to most of the "potential clients" believing his words when he swore on the honor of himself and Kirigakure.

Among these "potential customers," besides those whose money is illicit due to corruption, there are also some who are afraid of future changes and have to transfer some of their assets in advance.

For example... the Uchiha clan.

(End of this chapter)