Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

If everyone works together, a simple fortress can be built in just three to five days. Inside, there can even be stables, granaries, wells, and arrow towers.

"Not considering the issue of guards?" Niwa Nagahide asked immediately afterward.

"Inabayama Castle is about five and a half miles from Inuyama. It will take the army at least half a day to march there at a fast pace." Shichibei found a tree branch by the roadside.

Five and a half miles a day is about 21 kilometers. If a soldier fully armed runs 21 kilometers, and also needs to save his strength for fighting in the field, wouldn't it be considered fast to walk this distance in five hours?

Considering the widespread malnutrition among Japanese people these days, this timeframe needs to be extended. In other words, to ensure that the soldiers have sufficient strength to fight upon reaching the north bank of the Kiso River, if I were Saito Tatsuoki, I would divide this route into two parts.

On the first day, we covered most of the distance, then rested halfway. On the second day, we set off early, walked only three to five kilometers, arrived at the site, and launched an attack on the construction site where the city was being built.

That is, it would take two days and one night to launch an attack.

Therefore, it would have taken three to five hours for someone to discover the construction of the fortifications by Oda and rush to inform Saito Tatsuoki. Saito Tatsuoki was very decisive and did not delay at all. He immediately mobilized the foot soldiers directly under the Saito family and did not wait for the support of the local lords, which would have taken at least half a day.

Why? Because you need to steam the rice balls fresh, right? The armor and weapons of the foot soldiers are stored in the armory within the castle, and they still need to be distributed and worn. Bows and arquebuses need to be counted and assigned, and the quantities of arrows, gunpowder, and projectiles also need to be carefully calculated.

The vast majority of the soldiers suffered from night blindness, making it impossible for them to launch an attack that night. In other words, from discovery to preparation, Saito's army needed a day and a night.

Even under ideal conditions, it would take Saito's army three days and two nights to reach the north bank of the Kiso River, and they could only bring a few hundred regular foot soldiers, not a large army.

With this much time, you, Niwa Nagahide, couldn't even build a fortress of 100 or 200 tsubo?

I'll say it again: you don't have the ability. Nobunaga should really marry his adopted daughter to me.

Niwa Nagahide watched as Shichibei meticulously listed the details on the ground, analyzing them clearly and thoroughly, realizing that Shichibei was truly a person skilled in calculation and planning.

Prior to this, he had received orders from Nobunaga, who casually remarked that he could assess the abilities of that horse-headed man named Shichibei. After annexing the Inuyama Oda clan, the immediate task was to attack Nakano.

While the incredibly strong and brave Nobunaga is in great need, a series of civil administration tasks, such as land surveying, castle construction, and tax collection, also require personnel. The Oda clan's retainers are very weak, so promoting talented individuals from the old Owari, Oda, and Shimo-ji districts is the top priority.

The hereditary retainer Kawamura Shichibei Nagayoshi, who just happened to be mentioned, would be very suitable. His rank of 60 kanmon is enough for Shichibei to support seven or eight households. As long as Shichibei is presentable, he can set up the framework of a magistrate's rule by bringing along the retainers of the Kawamura family and the shop assistants.

They don't even need to be taught how to calculate or write; they can start working on the same day.

"I heard your father fought in Azukizaka?" Niwa Nagahide came to his senses and confirmed again.

"Sigh, he was seriously injured and died young." Shichibei's cheap father has been dead for nine years, why bring him up again?

"Truly a descendant of a loyal retainer." Niwa Nagahide exclaimed repeatedly. A family of retainers, a descendant of a loyal retainer—it's simply perfect.

"It's all for the sake of the Imperial Household!" This is due to Nobuhide's cultivation and personal performance.

23. The highest level of the horse-passing system

According to Shichibei's understanding, a post station should be set up every mile along the street from Owari to Nakano. That is, a post station should be set up about every four kilometers. Each post station should be equipped with at least five horses and have shelters that can provide a roof over the heads of two or three hundred people so that they would not have to get wet in the rain or cold during their journey.

Repairing stables and horse pens was Shichibei and his family's old profession; they knew exactly how long and wide the stables should be, and how much space each horse should have to move around.

Besides alfalfa and hay, you also need to prepare barnyard grass or beans, bran, and salt. Normally, alfalfa is fine, but when delivering urgent messages that require a day or two of frantic running, you have to give the horses extra feed at night. Without extra feed, the horses will definitely lose weight, then develop malaria, and eventually lose their strength, leaving them only the option of slaughtering them for meat.

Most importantly, relay stations were either located by rivers or in places where wells could be dug. Horses that graze freely and eat fresh grass might drink less water. However, if they were constantly on standby for battle or riding on the battlefield, then drinking fifty liters of water a day would be considered low.

Therefore, post stations must be located near rivers or have wells. Without water, horses, like people, will die. Moreover, horses might die even faster than people.

There's a saying that if horses weren't for their significant military importance to humans, and were simply left to survive in the wild, all wild horses would become extinct within a few thousand years.

It's precious.

Furthermore, Japanese horses are not shod. During wartime or when riding, they mostly wear riding shoes, which are a type of overshoe woven from cattail or rice straw. These are necessities that are consumed quickly, and post stations must also keep some on hand. The riding shoes might wear out after the horse has run two or three miles and need to be replaced immediately.

Alas, even horse hooves are precious. If that layer of horn is worn out, or if some random little stones get stuck, the horse might just stumble and fall.

If a horse's hoof is broken, the horse is essentially rendered useless. Not only is it difficult to heal, but even if it is healed, the horse will suffer from psychological trauma and be afraid to run fast.

In the end, they were sent to the Eta Hijin, who killed and ate them.

"Does the Imperial Residence have a stable source of horses?" After saying so much, Shichibei was thirsty, but the post station couldn't function without horses.

"Not yet, but it will be soon," Shichibei replied earnestly when Niwa Nagahide asked. However, when Shichibei asked a question, Niwa Nagahide was very perfunctory.

"The resources of the military and the nation, the urgency of taxes and transportation, their use and demands must be carefully considered." Fine, if you don't want to tell me, fine, I've already fulfilled my duty to advise you.

Shichibei was a retainer of Oda Nobunaga, so he had to fulfill his duties as a retainer. It was impossible for him to die for his cause; as long as he gave his advice, that was enough, and his duty would be fulfilled.

"You've even read the History of the Song Dynasty?" Niwa Nagahide and Shichibei finished their walk and started heading back.

"It's not a complete collection of chapters; I've only skimmed through a few." Shichibei didn't dare to boast.

I did read the complete "Chronological Records Since the Jianyan Era" and "Chronological History of the Song Dynasty," but I was young then and didn't seek deep understanding from my reading; I mostly just skimmed through them. Later, I read "History of the Southern Ming Dynasty" in more detail, and while reading it, I developed high blood pressure and almost fainted.

Why are you studying history? You're either thinking of rebelling or jumping off a building.

"Tsk tsk tsk, really..." Niwa Nagahide didn't say anything more after that, and it was unclear what he was thinking about.

The two of them rode horses for the entire trip, their speed barely exceeding eight kilometers per hour. The round trip took almost a whole day. When they returned to Niwa Nagahide's house, his servants had already prepared food and wine.

Having no interest in drinking, he'd rather have a bowl of miso soup in the meantime. Niwa Nagahide, however, was quite interested, inquiring about Shichibei's family situation. He was very surprised to learn that Shichibei had five younger sisters, none of whom were betrothed.

Your dad's kung fu is pretty good.

Indeed, Shichibei was convinced of this, as he himself had two younger sisters who had died young. This meant his adoptive father had fathered approximately eight people, which was quite impressive even in those days.

However, if Shichibei knew Niwa Nagahide's current achievements, he probably wouldn't boast about his adoptive father. Because Niwa Nagahide, in his fifty years of life, fathered fourteen children. Essentially, he'd been diligently working since adulthood, and in his last few years, he not only suffered from cholecystitis but also possibly lymphoma. All things considered, he was practically holding a baby every year.

That's all in hindsight. Don't let his current age of twenty-eight fool you; he doesn't actually have a single child. That's because Nobunaga's adopted daughter only married him last year. His record of fourteen conquests is just beginning to climb.

There are things like "red feathers growing heavy" and "red feathers growing straight," and there's still more to come.

After finishing his meal, Shichibei prepared to go back to his room and lie down in bed. He must be tired after running around outside all day. He had to get up early the next day, so soaking his feet and washing his face before bed was the proper thing to do.

But Niwa Nagahide refused to let Shichibei leave and actually ordered someone to light lamps. Not oil lamps, but candles, and several candles at that. With such a display, each candle cost eight or ten coins, and the cost of the two chatting for a while was equivalent to two or three days' wages for a laborer.

Seeing this, Shichibei had no choice but to sit down. Niwa Nagahide, however, was in no hurry to talk about the matter. Instead, he brought over a cup of tea and asked Shichibei to rinse his mouth.

Ok?

When you give a gift, you must have something in mind.

What did he want? He wanted Shichibei to talk about the horse-riding system of the Rokkaku clan in southern Omi, as well as his views on the supporting road network and post station setup.

Nobunaga's primary motivation for preparing the route from Owari to Nakano is to facilitate his advance into Mino. Furthermore, he plans to establish post stations along this route to ensure the rapid transmission of military intelligence. His main objectives are military, with virtually no consideration given to civilian use.

In contrast, the already well-established horse-transfer system in southern Omi not only greatly promoted the flow of people and goods in Hunan, but more importantly, it strengthened the Rokkaku clan's rule over the region.

Otherwise, he would have been able to set a historical precedent by being the first in Hunan to implement a policy of centralized residence for retainers. His two policies complemented each other. Other daimyo could not withdraw all their samurai from the provinces because they lacked sufficient grassroots administrative, security, and military mobilization capabilities, and therefore needed the assistance of local samurai.

The Rokkaku family, through its well-developed and dense road network and mature horse-transfer system, ensured that the decrees of Guanyin Temple City could reach every corner of its territory.

Whether or not it will be implemented is another matter; at least everyone in the territory will know what the Hexagonal family wants to do.

This is very important. The reason why the credibility of local governments in some countries is generally negative, and why it is more difficult to control public opinion than to prevent a river from overflowing, is that local governments do not want the people to know the original text of the central government's policies, requirements, and rules.

Without knowing the original text, ordinary people are unclear about the scope of their rights and whether they have been oppressed or deceived by the government. The government, in turn, seizes the final interpretation power, with right and wrong resting entirely on its lips. Ordinary people don't even have the right to question, because they don't know whether what is right or wrong is true.

As a result, the upper and lower levels of government were separated, and local officials preyed on the villagers, acting with impunity, treating the people like cattle and horses, and driving good citizens like pigs and sheep.

If the magistrate wants to effectively govern the local farmers at the grassroots level, he must ensure that information flows smoothly between the top and bottom levels. To achieve this, there must be a smooth and feasible road network, as well as manpower and transit points to convey information from above.

There needs to be a designated person to relay Oda Nobunaga's orders, which he was stationed at Komakiyama Castle, word for word, to Tsushima in Kaito County, Atsuta in Aichi County, and Inuyama in Niwa County...

If the local people clearly knew what Oda Nobunaga wanted and what he wanted to accomplish, then the role of the local samurai would inevitably decrease greatly, and there would be no need for so many samurai to stay in their places and run errands for the Oda clan.

Only then can these people be brought to Komakiyama Castle to serve the country, undertaking only military obligations and serving Nobunaga's conquests. Furthermore, their direct control over the land can be stripped away, transforming them from a dual class of landowners and military meritocrats into a purely military aristocratic class.

This cannot be accomplished by doing it alone; it must be done in a group. Moreover, it cannot be accomplished in one or two years; it requires a plan and regulations, and we must be prepared to see results in three to five years, and success in eight or ten years.

It's even possible that Nobunaga's generation won't enjoy this blessing, but rather his next generation will.

In fact, this is a more advanced form of so-called national unification. The simplest form of unification is like the Uesugi clan of Echigo, where everyone outwardly submits to you, and the whole country listens to Uesugi Masatora. But so what? If I choose not to listen tomorrow, rebellions by Nagao Masakage, Ōkuma Tomohide, and Honjō Shigenaga will erupt one after another.

For slightly more prestigious families, like the Takeda clan of Kai, if you obey my orders, I'll arrange a marriage alliance with you and begin the bloodline change. One, two, three generations later, I'll gradually transform you into a member of the same clan, even making you my own son or brother.

If you don't listen to me, then I'll kill you all until your lineage is wiped out. Then I'll send my sons, brothers, or even my bed partners to inherit the family line.

If a powerful daimyo with exceptional personal charisma and a proven track record of victory were to possess such a unique and unparalleled method of forming a domain, it would be virtually invincible. It could even be compared to the Xiang Army, built around a core of local ties and familial bonds, characterized by internal unity and fierce external competition.

The prerequisite is winning the war, expanding the territory, and ensuring everyone is well-fed, or even well-fed. When you're rich, everyone calls you "Dad," and you're incredibly close. But when you're about to lose, even brothers will have to settle accounts clearly.

I have such a large family fortune; I can't let it be lost along with my godfather, and even less can I let it be lost along with my godbrother.

As for advanced forms of governance, no one in the Sengoku period of Japan pursued them for the time being. Neither the Sengoku daimyo who were transformed from former governors and provincial governors, nor the newly emerging daimyo families who established themselves through overthrowing their superiors, possessed a more advanced form of rule.

Everyone is still exploring through continuous wars, conquests, and territorial assimilation, and has yet to discover a commendable evolutionary model.

24. A little effort was put into building the post station (named after Zhu Xiucai Sanjin)

The candles have all burned out, and Shichibei still hasn't finished talking. I'm exhausted. Let's stop talking and go back to sleep. Anyway, the street renovations will take all winter, and we see each other every day, so a little more time won't make a difference.

The horse-riding business at Tsushima River Village House has also stopped operating; how can they operate without pack horses?

Yesterday, Shichibei spent a long time wandering around Komakiyama Castle Town, but only managed to buy one horse, and that was because the traveling merchant was short of capital at the last minute. If it weren't for this opportunity, he wouldn't have even gotten that one horse.

It's ridiculous that they're passing around a horse's head on the road; there's only one horse.

We really talked too much today, and Niwa Nagahide was also very tired. He didn't say he wanted to sleep next to Shichibei, but just slept however he wanted.

The next day, I got up early; official business still needed to be done. The entire route had been inspected yesterday. The forts and post stations on the north bank of the Kiso River would be discussed later; first, the post stations and roads within the Owari territory should be repaired.

Logically, Shichibei should have petitioned Nobunaga to implement a widespread horse-riding system throughout Owari. However, Shichibei did not do so, as Nobunaga's current war needs were far from requiring round-the-clock fighting, constant shifts in attack and desperate battles, such as conquering Echizen one year and capturing Nagashima the next.

In ordinary times, he would lead his few hundred foot soldiers and retainers in a hasty response, and the conflict would be over quickly. But in the event of a large-scale military conflict, he would wait until after the autumn harvest, when he had both food and money, before engaging in battle.

Therefore, he did not have a widespread need for housing for his retainers. Other things like entertainment venues and banquet halls were simply not even mentioned.

Moreover, Nobunaga still relies on merchants in Tsushima and Atsuta to provide him with monopolistic taxes, including arrows, shovels, and transport gold. If these were to be sold off, the money he uses to support his regular foot soldiers and reserve officers would immediately run out.

Even if you don't want to show off or get ahead of your superiors, you still need to be mindful of the occasion.

With the plan settled, it was time to put it into action. Since there was no business at the shop anyway, Shichibei simply summoned all his family members and employees who had nothing to do at home to Komakiyama.

Yes, Nobunaga pays salaries. All the Kawamura-ya staff, including Shichibei, are paid daily. Shichibei's military service is only twelve days a year; he's finished not only this year's but also next year's. If you still want me to serve, then you can only pay me to come.

I'll do the work, you'll pay—that's only fair.

Before it snows in Owari and Mino, earning a little extra money for living expenses isn't a bad thing. Several employees at Kawamura-ya have seven-year contracts, only providing food and lodging, without any wages. Takeshi from Ito-ya is the same; he's been working for Ito Sojuro for over five years, pure manual labor.

Oh dear, if my sister marries him, she probably won't even have a place to settle down.

They got to work. Shichibei wasn't someone who was lazy or ignorant of farming. Niwa Nagahide temporarily brought over forty farmers who were performing general labor to help build the post station. The streets and pontoon bridge were built by another group of people and had nothing to do with Shichibei.

The post stations also served a certain military function. Considering the intensity of the fighting in Japan, there was no need to build any walls around them. Rammed earth walls were too troublesome; simply enclosing a piece of land and digging a two-meter-wide moat around it would suffice. The inner side could be temporarily fenced off with bamboo mesh, and that was enough to create a "wall."

However, a fire-watching rudder was essential. Of course, the fire-watching rudder at the post station was not used to observe fires, but mainly to observe whether the next post station would send out signals such as smoke signals or signal flares.