Chapter 186: Maeda Toshiie Killed Oda Nobunaga’s Brother?
After Yuan Ye returned to Xin Wanjin, he found that everything was normal there.
The printing and dyeing industry and the salt industry had gradually become the pillars of Xin Wanjin’s economy. The beautiful, cheap, and colorfast printed cloth had already crushed the traditional dyeing workshops in Kyoto, Kanto, and Hokuriku. This not only provided a large number of jobs for Xin Wanjin but also generated substantial wealth, and production was still actively expanding.
The situation with Xin Wanjin’s salt industry was similar. With ample manpower, the volcanic ash cement salt fields could produce a large amount of coarse salt. Combined with brine purification technology, salt flower crystallization techniques, and strict process management, a large quantity of high-quality, low-priced refined salt was also impacting the markets covered by Atsuta Port and Shimazu Port. This had essentially wiped out scattered households that used fire-based salt production and those with mud flat salt fields. The refined salt produced in Xin Wanjin was cheaper than their coarse salt, leaving them no room to resist, with bankruptcy being their only option.
In addition to these two industries that required a significant amount of labor, the matchlock guns, swords, arrows, and armor produced in Xin Wanjin were also extremely popular. Even though these items had not been improved with modern technology, due to Xin Wanjin’s organized production and strict process management, the quality of the products was still better than in most other places, attracting many buyers.
Furthermore, with saltpeter still in short supply throughout Japan, it continued to yield exceptionally high profits, ensuring Xin Wanjin’s finances were extremely healthy, with no signs of deficit.
And in this world, money makes things happen. As long as there was enough money, infrastructure was never a problem. Xin Wanjin’s piers and urban areas became more prosperous, with many new buildings serving different functions. The villages of Xin Wanjin had begun to spread southward, and with defensive rock fortresses, they were nearly occupying the entire territory of the Oya Family.
The only drawback was that Xin Wanjin’s grain production was still not self-sufficient. Even with the use of traditional fertilizers, there was still a shortfall. This was mainly because the workshops required too many raw materials. Xin Wanjin cultivated large amounts of cotton and hemp, as well as indigo plants and other dyes. It was difficult to also grow a large amount of grain, and Xin Wanjin’s population was also growing rapidly. Thanks to Yuan Ye’s constant scheming and trickery outside, including plundering, kidnapping, and purchasing, Xin Wanjin’s population had now reached nearly seventeen thousand, more than double that of the Aragiko Maeda Family. The sheer number of mouths to feed was immense, and even with the rapid development of new fields, it was not enough to sustain them.
This was an unavoidable situation. Even with guano fertilizer, fertilizer could not directly turn into grain; it required a process.
However, in the Medieval Period of Japan, a “grain standard” was in effect, and rice often served as a general equivalent of value. As long as there were no widespread natural disasters, collecting grain was relatively simple. After all, the commoners in Japan consumed very little actual grain. About eighty percent of the grain produced was taken by Daimyo, local lords, and samurai. Much of this grain entered the market, and a portion of it would become Xin Wanjin’s grain reserves. Yuan Ye had never relaxed in this regard; Xin Wanjin always maintained enough grain reserves to sustain the entire population for six months of combat even if all production capacity was lost, in preparation for disasters and war.
Of course, self-sufficiency would be even better. However, now that there was enough manpower, land was becoming scarce again. Opening up new fields would mean encroaching on Oya Castle, and now was not the time for that. Therefore, compromises had to be made. Yuan Ye had to prioritize ensuring there were enough workshop workers to serve as a source of soldiers.
Yuan Ye toured Xin Wanjin roughly and found no issues. Currently, Xin Wanjin was just a small place, and it was entirely possible to achieve good governance and harmonious relations, with clean administration. The public order was also exceptionally good; leaving valuables unattended on the street and sleeping with doors unlocked had become the norm.
It was unclear what the future would hold as the territory expanded, but for now, Xin Wanjin truly felt like a utopia.
Izumi Heiji was also very satisfied with Xin Wanjin, feeling that moving his fellow villagers here was an extremely correct decision. There were no harsh taxes or oppressive levies, and life was peaceful and harmonious, truly a dream destination. However, the Kōka people seemed to have an inherent restlessness; many, despite having good land, were unwilling to farm diligently and still preferred to roam around.
For example, many young people from Jiangnan Village had formed a “circus troupe” and performed regularly within Xin Wanjin’s territory. They felt this earned more than farming, was easier and more liberating than farming, and they even planned to save money to build a grand theater in Xin Wanjin’s urban area. They were constantly petitioning Izumi Heiji to ask A Man to use her influence to request a plot of land in a good location from Yuan Ye. Most residents in Xin Wanjin’s urban area were workshop workers with considerable purchasing power. However, because Xin Wanjin’s initial site selection had overly prioritized military factors, both the port and the urban area were now crowded. Some merchants were even forced to build upwards, making it difficult to acquire more land. At the very least, passing Endo Chiyo’s scrutiny would be a challenge.
Indeed, Endo Chiyo was currently infatuated with the idea of buying raw materials at low prices and selling finished products at high prices for profit. She preferred to reserve her land for future workshops, or at the very least, for merchants who could pay high market taxes. As for a grand theater… it sounded like a frivolous pursuit, so it should be put aside immediately!
When Yuan Ye passed by Jiangnan Village, Izumi Heiji had subtly mentioned it. Even though he also disapproved of these “unproductive” young people, he still offered some help. Yuan Ye, however, was quite interested and planned to discuss it with Endo Chiyo and others upon his return to see if they could carve out some land for them.
He was considering recruiting these talented individuals to form a propaganda troupe, creating plays to perform everywhere, and perhaps smearing the reputation of the samurai… In fact, there was no need to slander them; simply recounting the deeds of the samurai would suffice. After all, no matter how well samurai were portrayed in historical dramas, the reality was that Japanese samurai were often inhumane, and this could not be changed.
Moreover, this would also contribute to his ultimate plan. He intended to ponder this further upon his return and plan it out carefully.
…
Yuan Ye spent two days touring Xin Wanjin, shaking hands with the civil officials at all levels and thanking them. He only regretted that his acting skills were not good enough to say with teary eyes, “How fortunate, with you all, I have no worries!” He then turned and plunged into the Wanjin Army.
Xin Wanjin had always encouraged industry and commerce and strived for development, so the Wanjin Army naturally could not stand still. After the manpower issue was initially alleviated, conscription work resumed. This time, most of the conscripts were “good family sons,” no longer the single men Yuan Ye had purchased. Most of them had families and households. Serving in the Wanjin Army was now a prestigious position, with salaries more than three times that of ordinary people, and enjoying numerous benefits for active duty personnel, veterans, and their families. It was truly a case of one person joining the army, and the whole family eating well. The competition was quite fierce; even minor imperfections would result in being sent back to the workshops, as the Wanjin Army did not accept them.
The Wanjin Army had now expanded to a field force of over twelve hundred men, with an attached logistics force of over six hundred men (including transport teams, engineers, etc.), and a military police force of over two hundred men.
In addition, each village also had militia training to ensure basic local defense capabilities, and they could also be assembled to serve as auxiliary combat or garrison troops when necessary.
These individuals were all secretly accumulated by Yuan Ye, with the intention of seizing more territory during the Battle of Okehazama. Although there were more new recruits, under his excessively strict military discipline, their combat effectiveness was still expected to be present. Now, they were just waiting for the opportune moment.
This army consumed almost all of Xin Wanjin’s fiscal surplus, as well as all the spoils of war he had plundered over more than a year of traveling. Now, he could only hope it was worth it and that he had not wasted this enormous sum of money.
…
Yuan Ye personally oversaw the Wanjin Army, supervising training daily while also ordering A Man to collect topographical intelligence of the northern base of the Chita Peninsula and monitor the movements of the Imagawa Family, actively preparing for the major battle.
Nearly two months passed quickly. Just as he felt the outside world was calm and was assessing when the Imagawa Family would advance eastward, Mura Hachiro—the first follower recruited by Maeda Toshiie, and currently his trusted attendant—suddenly arrived at Xin Wanjin in a small boat. Upon finding Yuan Ye, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, “Lord Yuan Ye, please save my Lord’s life! I beg you, sir, please save my Lord’s life. We can only rely on you now!”
Yuan Ye was greatly surprised. He had not received any news of any unusual activity from the Oda Family. He quickly helped Mura Hachiro up and asked with concern, “What happened? It’s alright, take your time and tell me!”
Mura Hachiro refused to get up, his face filled with anxiety and fear. He wanted to continue kowtowing but dared not defy the wishes of Yuan Ye, his lifeline. He could only stand there in an awkward posture, but he did not hesitate to speak urgently, “My Lord killed someone. I heard that Lord Kazusa-no-suke is preparing to order my Lord to commit… commit seppuku as atonement!”
“Ordered to commit seppuku? When did this happen?” Yuan Ye was completely bewildered. He gave Mura Hachiro a firm shake and frowned, “What exactly happened to Lord Maeda?”
Mura Hachiro paused, swallowed, and took a breath, his mind seeming to return to him. He then said, “It happened this morning. Two days ago, my Lord had… some dispute with Lord Kazusa-no-suke’s companion, Shu Ami, and they argued. Then… then Lord Kazusa-no-suke found out and punished both of them. My Lord was very angry. This morning, when he encountered Shu Ami again, Shu Ami spoke disrespectfully, and my Lord couldn’t hold back for a moment, so… he killed him.
Then, then, Lord Kazusa-no-suke also became angry and directly ordered my Lord to be imprisoned. I heard he will be ordered to publicly commit seppuku as atonement.”
After speaking, Mura Hachiro became anxious and agitated again, tightly gripping Yuan Ye’s sleeve and saying, “Sir, my Lord truly acted on impulse. You are my Lord’s friend and can speak to Lord Kazusa-no-suke. Please, you must save him! Only you can save him now!”
Yuan Ye was stunned for a moment, then patted his hand and comforted him, “I understand. I will go to Kiyosu Castle immediately.”
Although he didn’t know the details of the incident, he could ask slowly. Maeda Toshiie still needed to be saved, as Maeda Toshiie had helped him a lot.
“Thank you so much! Our Maeda Family will forever be grateful for your great kindness!” Mura Hachiro immediately knelt down again and kowtowed desperately, unable to be stopped this time.
Yuan Ye quickly had someone help him up again and sent him to the pier, where they would travel to Kiyosu Castle together. At the same time, he beckoned to A Man and asked, “What exactly happened?”
A Man had come to deliver intelligence. The intelligence from the Life Preservation Style had arrived at Xin Wanjin around the same time as Mura Hachiro, but they had sought out different people. A Man directly handed the intelligence to Yuan Ye and said, “It’s similar to what he said, but Shu Ami was not an insignificant person. Moreover, that fool Maeda Toshiie killed him in front of Oda Nobunaga. When Shu Ami was killed by a single sword stroke, Oda Nobunaga was standing on the castle wall.”
Yuan Ye unfolded the intelligence and his eyebrows twitched. He asked curiously, “Is this Shu Ami Oda Nobunaga’s brother?”
Maeda Toshiie killed Oda Nobunaga’s brother?
This matter is indeed troublesome…
