The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Shinzaburo hoped the other party would be explicit.

However, Imai Munehisa said, "If that friend can help, I do have something I would like to ask for Lord Kubo Genban. But if, unfortunately, we cannot cure your father's illness, then there is no need to ask."

His attitude was so firm that Shinzaburo felt he could not refuse.

They only stayed in a guest room at Noguchi Castle for one night, and the next day, Imai Munehisa and Uozumi Hikoshiro left with their entourage and guards.

A few days later, they returned with a doctor.

The doctor inquired carefully about Jin Bingwei's father's condition, pondered briefly, and then began administering acupuncture.

At first, the patient only felt that the chronic illness was being aggravated, with itching and numbness, which was more uncomfortable than before. It was only after several hours that the symptoms were relieved.

But after three days of treatment, Jin Bingwei felt better and the pain was no longer as severe as before, when he had to use alcohol to suppress it.

Seven days later, he was even able to throw away his crutches and walk a short distance with difficulty.

The whole family was happy.

However, the doctor said that this method could only treat the symptoms, not the root cause, and that it would require long-term use. Since he could not stay in Noguchi Castle for long, he left behind a set of acupuncture techniques that ordinary people could understand, as well as a book called "Guide to Acupuncture" newly written by Michizo Kyūzō, and then took his leave.

While it's said to be easy for ordinary people to understand, one actually needs at least some training in acupuncture; they can't just be a quack doctor. Fortunately, given Shinzaburo's current status and wealth, finding someone skilled in acupuncture in Tanba shouldn't be too difficult.

As long as the pain can be stopped, alcohol abuse can be avoided, and more eggs, tofu, refined grains, and fresh vegetables can be eaten daily to supplement nutrition, Mr. Jinbingwei might actually be able to live for a long time.

This treatment was very successful.

……

Only then did Imai Munehisa reveal his original purpose.

It turns out that his father-in-law, Takeno Jōō, a renowned tea master in Sakai, had recently converted to the Daitoku-ji school of the Rinzai sect and become a disciple of Zen Master Sōtō. From this perspective, they are practically family.

Through this connection, Imai Munehisa learned that the fur trade in Sakai-cho was currently controlled by Daitoku-ji Temple. This task was assigned to a branch temple called "Shosen-in".

There were three shops that each donated forty strings of cash to the "Zhengxian Temple" annually, sharing the exclusive right to sell furs. The total donation was one hundred and twenty strings of cash.

Master Meishu, the "uncle" of Mrs. Adou, had been the head of "Shosen-in" for more than ten years before he was transferred to Kofuku-ji Temple in Tanba, and he still holds the position nominally to this day.

Isn't Munehisa Imai about to start his own business? And the area he's chosen is leather goods.

Therefore, he desperately needs to find a way to get close to Master Mingzhou.

Shinsaburo was a little confused as to why they had to come to him in such a roundabout way, instead of having his father-in-law directly ask Zen Master Zongtao for help.

In response, Imai Munehisa explained, "A business of this scale is not worth asking Zen Master Soto to come forward and ask him for help. It would be making a mountain out of a molehill and complicating things. Even if the Zen Master were to allow me to participate in the fur trade, the three merchants would still be dissatisfied, and it would be inconvenient to cooperate afterward."

This statement is certainly not wrong.

but--

Shinzaburo couldn't help but wonder: "If I were to help Lord Munehisa introduce Master Meishu, wouldn't that also cause dissatisfaction among the original three merchants?"

Imai Munehisa smiled and said, "I do not want Master Meishu to directly grant me a trade quota. Rather, I hope to have the opportunity to talk with the people of 'Shosenin' and the original three fur merchants to seek cooperation that would benefit everyone."

Shinzaburo still didn't understand, and shook his head, saying, "Originally, the exclusive rights belonged to those three companies. If you want to take a share, it's impossible for it to benefit everyone."

Imai Munehisa explained confidently, “If the three original merchants entrust all their goods to me for sale, I guarantee that their profits will not be affected. As for the high monk of ‘Shosen-in’, in addition to the previous annual offering of 120 kan, there will be an additional 50 kan.”

Shinzaburo pondered for a moment, then gradually understood and nodded, saying, "I understand. Lord Munehisa means that as long as you integrate this business, there's a way to greatly increase sales, so everyone can benefit. But how can that be done?"

Imai Munehisa smiled again, about to explain, when the baby-faced Uozumi Hikoshiro couldn't help but blurt out, "Because they only know how to wait for customers to come to them in Sakai, while we will go out on our own and promote to everyone."

what……

Is it that simple?

Shinzaburo couldn't quite understand it for a moment.

Hikoshiro Uozumi continued, “Leather is an important material for making armor linings, and it should be in high demand in these chaotic times. But if we just wait for customers to come to Sakai Town, we will miss out on potential business in other places.”

Oh... I understand now.

Shinzaburo pondered for a moment, then hesitated and said, "Your idea is to actively promote it to various daimyo and important retainers? This would not only involve arduous travel, but also frequently encounter troubles related to 'monopoly rights.' Sometimes, there's even the risk of offending them by using inappropriate language..."

Imai Munehisa blinked and said calmly, "Since I wasn't born the son of a wealthy merchant, why would I be the one to enjoy the money that's easiest to earn? Only the businesses that rich kids find too difficult and are unwilling to get involved in are my battlefields."

Uozumi Hikoshiro nodded vigorously and loudly echoed, "Me too!"

……

Imai Munehisa's voice was gentle, yet firm and resolute.

Even though he is not a character from Koei Tecmo's previous games, his words and actions are quite convincing.

Moreover, based on later recollections, there is ample reason to believe that this person possessed exceptional business acumen.

After listening, Shinzaburo couldn't help but nod and say, "I am not from a prestigious samurai family either, but I also deeply resonate with Lord Munehisa's words. Alright, I will definitely help with this. However, I can't guarantee that I can persuade Master Meishu."

Imai Munehisa and Uozumi Hikoshiro exchanged a glance, both showing excited expressions.

Then the two said in unison, "With Lord Kubo Genban speaking up, it's as if Master Mingzhou has already agreed to 70% of the terms."

These words surprised Shinzaburo himself.

So, in the eyes of outsiders, I am the one who can represent Master Mingzhou's will?

Thinking about it, I really feel flattered.

However, the old monk had already shown him so much kindness, so Shinzaburo's first thought was not to take advantage of the other's trust for any benefit, but rather to feel somewhat apprehensive, wondering if he could bear such a heavy burden of trust.

However, this feeling only lasted for a moment.

Now that they've even married someone else's "niece" and formed a new entity called the "Kubo family," they have to at least appear confident, regardless of whether they're truly confident or not.

Otherwise, how can one become a pillar of support for those around them?

075 Learn from the advanced experience of the daimyo of the East.

Soon, Shinzaburo took some time to visit Master Meishu at Kofuku-ji Temple, accompanied by Imai Munehisa and Uozumi Hikoshiro.

The old monk had no memories of the future and wouldn't assume someone was a business genius just because he saw their name. He was clearly skeptical after hearing the story.

Nevertheless, he did not ask further questions, but quickly agreed: "Since you were able to persuade Lord Kubo Genban, there must be a reason why you are trustworthy. It just so happens that I will be going to Nansōji Temple in Sakai Town next month on business, so let's arrange to meet with those three merchants to discuss the matter."

Imai Munehisa was overjoyed and immediately bowed to express his gratitude.

Master Mingzhou then said, "Within Lord Kubo Genban's territory, there are people who brew sake, producing hundreds or even thousands of liters a year. However, the market for it within Tanba is ultimately limited. In the future, could Lord Munehisa assist in selling the sake to Sakai Town?"

Imai Munehisa did not immediately agree, but pondered for a while before bowing his head and saying, "The consumption of alcohol in Sakai Town is enormous, but I am not qualified to speak on this matter at my current status. If the fur trade goes smoothly, I should be able to secure a place in the 'Gathering of People' in two years, and I will certainly do my best to repay Lord Kubo Genban's kindness at that time."

Master Mingzhou then smiled and nodded, saying, "It seems that Lord Zongjiu is indeed a trustworthy person."

……

After the guests left, Shinzaburo bowed to Master Meishu and said cautiously, "I am truly apprehensive, fearing that I have misplaced my trust in this person and have failed my 'Uncle's' trust."

Master Mingzhou laughed and said, "Why pretend like this? To outsiders, we are father and son in terms of righteousness, so there's no need to talk about trust."

Shinzaburo nodded and then said, "Actually, Adou has always missed 'Uncle' and often wants to visit him at Kofukuji Temple."

Master Mingzhou's eyes flashed with a sense of comfort, but he waved his hand and said, "When she gives birth to a son and the mother and child come to pray for blessings, they can stay at the temple for a while. There's no need to visit her now."

At this moment, Shinzaburo didn't know whether he should reply with "I will try my best," so he didn't answer.

After a moment of silence, Master Mingzhou moved on to the next topic: "Actually, it is very beneficial to be on good terms with merchants. I also think that Lord Munehisa of Sakai Town is a man of extraordinary character and may be a great help in the future. Shinzaburo, do you know that the daimyo of the eastern provinces generally agree that 'ashigaru' is the key to victory on the battlefield, but the daimyo of the western provinces do not seem to have this consensus?"

As a time traveler, I certainly know the term "ashigaru".

But what it actually means seems unclear.

Fortunately, Master Mingzhou provided a definition: "Using only samurai to fight is too few people to fight against strong enemies. If we mobilize peasant soldiers, they are too mixed and difficult to control. Since the famous Kanto general Ota Dōkan decades ago, the daimyo of the eastern provinces have gradually attached importance to 'ashigaru' (foot soldiers)."

At this point, the old monk took a sip of tea and continued, "The so-called foot soldiers are neither farmers nor servants. They own a little land, do not have the pomp and circumstance of warriors, and are less burdened by taxes. They only need to diligently practice military combat skills. Their names are recorded in the register of service, and there is a clear hierarchy between superiors and subordinates. They go out when there is war and can be the backbone of the country."

Shinzaburo understood somewhat.

The popularization of the concept of "ashigaru" (foot soldiers) can be considered an intermediate form in the process of "separation of soldiers and farmers." They were more disciplined and stable than pure peasant soldiers, but not as expensive as real standing troops.

Following this line of thought, he asked the old monk, "I've heard that in the East there is a term called 'Ashigaru Daisho' or 'Ashigaru Kumi-no-kami.' What does that mean?"

Master Mingzhou patiently replied, "Most of these people are newly promoted samurai with little knowledge and experience, and few followers. During wartime, they are specifically responsible for commanding the 'ashigaru' (foot soldiers) within the daimyo's territory. Two or three ashigaru form a group leader, and one or two hundred ashigaru form a general. For example, Konobu Takeda had two thousand ashigaru and more than ten ashigaru generals, who were always the backbone of every battle."

Shinzaburo thought for a moment and then said, "After I took office in Kubo Village, I reduced the salary and rations of a dozen or so young men by half, provided them with rice and loans, and ensured that they would serve in the military during wartime and take turns guarding the area in three shifts during peacetime. This can probably be considered as the local 'foot soldiers'."

Master Mingzhou nodded with delight: "Indeed! It seems that Shinzaburo, having experienced the trials of the battlefield, shares similar views with the heroes of the Eastern Kingdom. It's a pity that his understanding ends in one village."

Shinzaburo pondered, "This is because I am familiar with the situation of every household in Kubo Village, which allows me to handle things with ease. Given the current situation of the Tanba Naito family, I'm afraid it would be difficult to apply this method to them as well."

Master Mingzhou nodded and said, "That is very true. The reason why the daimyo of the East adopted foot soldiers is because they first had land surveys and a system of tally to measure the property of the soldiers and civilians within their territory. Only after that could they compile a detailed list of military service members."

Shinzaburo said, "From what I heard from Lord Matsunaga Magoro, it seems that the Miyoshi family has no intention of implementing the Kanko system on a large scale for the time being."

Master Mingzhou tapped his fingers lightly on the floor unconsciously and said with a smile, "As far as I know, Lord Miyoshi Chikuzen (Miyoshi Nagayoshi) once said that overly complicated systems are not conducive to strategic advancement and are only suitable for maintaining the status quo."

These words greatly surprised Shinzaburo, as they seemed to contradict the "progressive view of history" he had previously encountered.

If it hadn't come from the mouth of a hero like Miyoshi Nagayoshi, he probably would have scoffed at it without even thinking about it.

However, upon closer examination, this viewpoint does seem to have some merit.

Just as Shinzaburo was deep in thought, Master Meishu spoke up again: "Aside from the practice of the 'Kanko-no-Tsu' system implemented by the lords of the eastern provinces, there is another hero whose actions have recently left a deep impression on me. That is Oda of Owari. I wonder if Shinzaburo has heard of him?"

Ah, Oda?

I've never just heard of it, I'm extremely familiar with it! Back in the day, I played countless games with this daimyo in Koei Tecmo's games!

However, on the surface, Shinzaburo could only say calmly, "I've heard a little about it. I've heard that the new head of the Oda clan in Owari is quite accomplished despite his young age."

"Indeed, we should pay more attention to the news from other countries." Master Mingzhou praised, "His name is Nobunaga, and his courtesy name is Kazusa-suke. He has been in power for three years and has won every battle. His military might is awe-inspiring!"

But soon the old monk couldn't help but chuckle: "To be honest, the Kazusa governor is just a nominal position held by the imperial family, while the Kazusa suke is the real governor of the people. Alas, these country bumpkins from Owari can't even recognize the correct official title. They initially called themselves Kazusa governors, and only changed it to Kazusa suke after being reminded. How amusing."

Shinzaburo did not laugh upon hearing this, but instead bowed and said, "I am also from a rural background. Fortunately, I have your guidance, Uncle, so I did not make a fool of myself."

"Haha..." Master Mingzhou laughed twice more before continuing with the main topic: "This Oda clan controlled Tsushima, a major commercial center, and profited greatly. So they recruited the youngest sons and illegitimate sons of neighboring samurai families, and selected brave and valiant men from the common people through sumo wrestling, offering them money and goods instead of land, and had them gather in the castle to serve as guards in the central army."

Based on his knowledge from his previous life, Shinzaburo quickly understood the benefits of doing this and chimed in, "This way, we can not only obtain a strong army, but also mobilize it without spending time assembling it, and it will not affect normal military mobilization. The conscription will still be mainly based on farmers, but victory will depend on elite troops."

“Exactly.” Master Mingzhou nodded and said, “Whether the Miyoshi family implements the Kanagawa system and the Ashigaru system is not something you or I can decide. But the Oda clan of Owari can be emulated.”

Shinzaburo understood the other party's thoughts and smiled, "No wonder Uncle said that dealing with merchants is very beneficial."

Master Mingzhou's eyes shone brightly as he solemnly declared, "I will do my utmost to promote the sake industry in Gokurakuji territory. Shinzaburo will then use this as a foundation to build a strong army, accumulate merit, and gain more opportunities to earn money. By repeating this process, he may be able to achieve great things."

Shinzaburo nodded and said that was very true. Then he added regretfully, "Unfortunately, those dozen or so officials led by Takemura Hidetoshi of the Shingu faction cannot be swayed by money alone."

Master Mingzhou subconsciously glanced eastward toward Kyoto and chuckled, “The loyal men who escorted the young master on his escape for thousands of miles are of course hard to move! I can arrange to visit them at Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto at any time. But whether we can successfully recruit them depends on Shinzaburo himself.”

Danzhou Inner Crowd

076 War and Business

"Why are there soldiers all over the area these past few days? What happened?"

"Haven't you heard? Our Miyoshi Chikuzen of Settsu and Amago Shusuke of Izumo have started a war in Harima Province!" (referring to Miyoshi Nagayoshi and Amago Haruhisa respectively)

"Such a big thing? The forces in Miyoshi Chikuzen are certainly strong, but Amago Osamu doesn't seem weak either. Will it be a major battle?"

"Otherwise, how could they have mobilized all the brave warriors from various parts of the Miyoshi family? Perhaps tens of thousands of people have been gathered together!"

"It's been a long time since I've seen such a grand scene. Tell me quickly, who are the participants?"

"You've come to the right person... Boss, another half liter of sake! Hehe, you all know the Three Good Brothers, right? This time, after a long time, they've all come out!"

"This means that Miyoshi Tozen of Awa, Ataka Settsu of Awaji, and Togawa Minbu of Sanuki all led their troops across the strait to land and support their elder brother, Miyoshi Chikuzen." (Referring to Miyoshi Yoshikata, Ataka Fuyuyasu, and Togawa Kazutsu respectively)

"That's right! In addition, Miyoshi Hinata and Matsunaga Danjo, the 'Twin Jewels of Miyoshi,' also participated. The rest were Shinohara and Akazawa from Awa, Yasutomi and Kagawa from Sanuki, Imamura from Yamashiro, Matsuura from Izumi... the list goes on and on." (Miyoshi Hinata refers to Miyoshi Nagayasu, and Matsunaga Danjo refers to Matsunaga Hisahide)

"In my opinion, these so-called famous generals from various countries are not necessarily comparable to our Settsu's Ikeda, Itami, Irie, and Tada."

"Isn't that obvious? Apart from the Miyoshi Chikuzen clan and their close retainers, the people of Settsu are the most powerful in the Miyoshi family!"

"Why do I only hear these old names? Aren't there any fresh faces? Or do you just know some outdated rumors?"

“Of course there are newcomers! The Tanba garrison is also participating this time, including a young man named Kubo Yoshiaki, nicknamed ‘Tanba Zhong Kui.’ He was previously unknown, but last year he beheaded ‘Blue Oni Momii Noriyuki’ and ‘Tanba Oni Hatano Munetaka’ in a single battle. Surely this isn’t just an outdated rumor?”

"This is indeed a newcomer."

"This is the first time I've ever heard of this name."

"Me too."

"I did hear a merchant from the Mountain City Kingdom talk about it, but... that merchant said that the so-called Tanba Zhong Kui, despite agreeing to fight the enemy 'one against one,' actually only bullies the weak with numbers, and always waits for his allies to fight desperately before secretly stealing their credit... In short, he is a complete shameless scoundrel."

"I think that merchant from the mountain town is just talking nonsense. Lord Nagayori, who is in charge of Tanba Province, is the younger brother of Matsunaga Danjo. He is always shrewd and decisive, and he would never be easily deceived. How could someone who has made a name for himself under him be someone who has made a name for himself by boasting?"

"I was merely stating what I had heard. Why get so worked up?"