The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

The wind and snow subsided, and the world was filled with peace and tranquility.

Before the three could rest, they were led directly to the top floor of the castle tower.

Changqing stood with his back to them, gazing at the snowy scene outside the city in the twilight.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

"You're back?" Changqing didn't turn around.

"Yes, my lord. Our army has returned with minimal losses, and all the spoils have been brought back," Marume Nagayoshi replied on behalf of the three.

"Um."

Changqing slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, lingering for a moment, especially on Hattori Haruyasu's face.

Chun'an lowered his head involuntarily.

"Well done. You led three hundred men to the first breach of the city and achieved a great victory, demonstrating the might of the Mori clan. You've done a good job."

Marume Nagayoshi and Takenaka Shigeharu relaxed slightly, but knew the important part was yet to come.

"But, Hattori Haruyasu!"

"Yes!" Chun'an straightened up with a start.

"I know everything you said in the Takikawa camp. 'What merit is there in the Battle of Shengyi?'... Well said, truly resounding, bringing honor to the Mori clan."

These words sounded like a compliment, but judging from Changqing's expression, everyone could tell it was sarcastic.

Chun'an's forehead was sweating.

"Jigeharu!"

"exist!"

Chun'an turned his head to look and saw that Takenaka Shigeharu's face was sweating more than his own, as if he had just washed his face.

"Raise your heads, everyone..."

Changqing was seen pacing back and forth in the room.

"Chongzhi, when you went on the expedition, I repeatedly instructed you to restrain them and not to steal credit or take advantage of the chaos, but you stubbornly refused to listen! Now Chun'an is spouting nonsense, causing me to be reprimanded and disliked by my colleagues; it is all your fault!"

His words suggested he was deeply distressed.

Chun'an was completely bewildered.

How much does our lord dislike Chongzhi? He's even making him take the blame for this.

But judging from Shigeharu's expression, it seemed that he truly felt guilty.

"My lord, we didn't expect the city to fall so easily. We got carried away with the fighting and couldn't stop. I was going to try to dissuade Lord Hattori when he said those things..."

"Why not try to persuade them?"

"He brought up the Battle of Mori, and I have no face to offer any advice."

Changqing understood instantly when he saw Chongzhi's timid, wife-like expression.

"You may both leave! Shigeji, stay!" After the two left, he patted Shigeji on the shoulder. "You still need to offer advice in the future!"

Shigeharu nodded in agreement.

"This is not your fault. Lord Nobunaga rebuked me so publicly just to make me a lone retainer! It seems that now that I am a member of the same clan, I must be even more vigilant."

"My lord's analysis is quite good..."

"Go back to West Minon and govern your own territory well. I plan to hand over Akechi City to you in a while."

"Thank you, my lord!" Chongzhi kowtowed deeply.

Changqing expressed his trust in this gesture, which was the first time that Chongzhi had received such trust. In this way, the two no longer had any grudges against each other.

"Get some rest early, I need to get some rest too!"

……

Chokei's territory totaled 18000 koku, mostly located in Ena County, east of Mino.

Takenaka Shigeharu originally had 2000 koku in his territory in western Mino.

Marume Nagae possessed 8000 koku of grain, which he used almost entirely to support seven or eight retainers and recruit soldiers for his dojo.

Hattori Haruyasu received 3000 koku, Maeda Keiji received 1000 koku, and Honda Masanobu received 500 koku.

If Takenaka Shigeharu were to give Akechi Castle another 1000 koku, Nagayoshi would only have 3500 koku left.

That won't do. I need to increase my income, since I still have to support my wife and future children.

……

Spring comes exceptionally late to Iwamura Castle. The snow on the mountaintop has not yet completely melted, but the cherry trees on the mountainside have already sprouted tender buds.

Standing on the top floor of the castle tower, Changqing couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the rolling mountains outside the castle.

In just one month, my hard work seems to have paid off, proving that my tireless efforts day and night have not been in vain.

Ashi is pregnant.

He held in his hand a newly completed "Iwamura Territory Water Conservancy and Terraced Field Reclamation Plan Map", which was densely marked with the direction of the water veins.

His eyes, however, were fixed on a list hidden beneath the image, recording the few Warring States period women he knew:

Ningning (Married Woman ×)

Mrs. Suwa (Married Woman ×)

Asong (married woman ×)

Yan Ji (wife ×)

The Asai sisters (?)

Mrs. Toyama (sentenced ↑)

Knowing that Yu Zi (sentenced ↑)

Tachibana Ginchiyo (too far away ×)

Naotora Ii (Too fierce ×)

……

There's not much room for maneuver left...

"My lord." Honda Masanobu appeared silently behind him. "Lord Marume has arrived."

"Please invite him up." Changqing secretly hid the paper in his pocket, pretending to keep his gaze on the planning map.

Marume Nagae had just arrived from the dojo in the castle town, still wearing his casual clothes.

"My lord has summoned me. What are your orders?"

Changqing turned around, unfolded the planning map in his hand on the low table, and even drew a circle with a vermilion pen.

"Chang Hui, look. This is the terrain around Iwamura Castle. Although the terrain here is high, the water veins are extremely abundant. If we can cultivate terraced fields and divert water for irrigation, we can add at least two thousand shi of arable land."

Chang Hui bent down to examine it closely, and was surprised by the precision of the markings on the map.

"Does my lord mean...?"

"Our two hundred professional soldiers," Changqing pointed to several marked areas on the map, "are currently in the off-season for farming. Rather than letting them waste their time in the military camp, we should send them to cultivate the land and recruit refugees to do so."

"My lord, this is a good idea, but the standing army consists of carefully selected samurai and foot soldiers. Making them do the work of farmers may cause some people to become dissatisfied."

Tell them that the cultivated land will also yield their harvest. After it is handed over to the refugees, 10% of the income will go to them, and 30% will be turned over to the government treasury.

After a moment of silence, Chang Hui suddenly realized the real reason why Chang Qing was so eager to establish military farms.

He knelt on one knee: "My lord, regarding the matter of Shi Gao... I have something to say."

"explain."

"I have received 8,000 koku of grain from Iwamura Castle, which is far too much. I request that Your Majesty take back 2,000 koku and use it for the development of the territory or to reward other meritorious officials."

Changqing was stunned, then smiled wryly: "Changhui, what are you doing? That was something we agreed on a long time ago."

Chang Hui raised his head, his eyes sincere. "I have witnessed firsthand how my lord rose from a mere hundred koku to where he is today, and I know that every reward is hard-earned. I did not participate in the bloody battle of the Mori tribe, yet I received the reward, and I still feel ashamed. Now that the territory is newly established, it is the time to accumulate strength, and I am willing to help my lord overcome this difficult time."

A warm feeling welled up in Changqing's heart, but he shook his head: "No. If I take back your fiefdom, how will I maintain order among the people? How will I inspire my soldiers to fight to the death?"

"Since that's the case, all the grain yield from the wasteland reclaimed by our lord shall belong to him!"

"Still split evenly!" Changqing insisted.

At this moment, Honda Masanobu said softly, "My lord, Lord Marume, may I say a word?"

Changqing nodded in acknowledgment.

"Should we report this two thousand koku to Lord Nobunaga?"

"Of course not!" Changqing and Changhui said in unison.

It was an unspoken rule for powerful families across the country to conceal their land holdings, a situation that only improved slightly after the "Taige Land Survey" in history.

"Since it's not recorded in the accounts, why divide it? My lord, you can keep it yourself."

Changqing was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Laughter echoed throughout the castle tower, even drawing the curious gazes of the guards on duty downstairs.

"Zhengxin is right!"

Chang Hui laughed as well: "That's right, I'm a rough man. Let Lord Zhengxin worry about those complicated accounting rules."

Honda Masanobu shook his head helplessly, but there was a smile in his eyes.

After laughing, Changqing said seriously, "Since that's the case, I will accept your kindness."