Chapter 247: Fight or Not Fight?
Tobacco originated in the Americas. As early as 1000 BCE, indigenous peoples in regions like Mexico were already cultivating tobacco and had invented smoking tools such as “pipes” and “mouthpieces.”
After Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, he brought tobacco back to Europe, and Europeans subsequently spread it to Asia.
In China, tobacco was likely introduced during the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty. In Japan, textual records of tobacco only appeared around 1590, during the late Warring States period.
Now, A Man was ahead of her time, smoking a “pipe.” Yuan Ye snatched it away, examined it closely, and then, smelling the pungent burnt odor, frowned and asked, “Where did you get this thing?”
A Man, not understanding, asked curiously, “I snatched it. Some foolish Ronin was tricked by the Kakizaki family and went to Ezo Island to reclaim land. He was captured by the Ainu people. I found it on him. They say it’s a type of herbal medicine. Try it; it’s a bit unaccustomed at first, but once you get used to it, it’s quite…”
“Ronin? Ronin from where? Where is he?” Yuan Ye interrupted her, pressing for details.
A Man recalled, hesitating, “He’s still on Ezo Island, of course, working as a laborer. I don’t know if he’s dead! He seems to be from Kansai. He was probably the second son of a minor Local Lord. His whole family died, so he fled to the Northeast, and then, tricked by the Kakizaki family, went to Ezo Island.”
After answering, she became even more perplexed and asked, “Is something wrong with this thing?”
“Hmm, nothing’s wrong, it’s just… the first time I’ve seen it.” Yuan Ye casually brushed it off, likely understanding the situation.
Historically, when a new species enters a country or region, it usually doesn’t happen just once.
For example, corn, also an alien species from the Americas, was introduced to China through multiple entry points, including the southwest coast, the Indochinese Peninsula, the southeast coast, the northwest region, and the Bohai region.
This means corn entered China several, or even over a dozen, times, with uncertain timeframes, spanning nearly a century. This also led to corn initially lacking a unified Chinese name, with variations like “Yumi,” “Yugu,” “Baomi,” and “Gumi,” each region having its own name.
Watermelons are similar; various varieties were repeatedly introduced to China starting from the Liao and Song Dynasties, continuing into the Modern Era, and only stabilized once the flesh turned red.
The situation with tobacco is likely similar. Before it was recorded, it had probably already landed in Japan from various places, but it hadn’t spread widely, and no one had written about it.
The presence of tobacco on this Kansai Ronin could be due to its spread by sailors on a “Nanban ship,” or it could have been a gift from “Nanban missionaries.” It’s even possible it was brought from Kyushu Island by merchant ships trading in Kansai.
However, that’s no longer important. Tobacco can be a lucrative tool; all Transmigrators love to use it. It’s just that he hadn’t been able to connect with the Nanban people before, so he hadn’t considered it.
Tobacco costing a few cents could be sold for several yuan, or even tens of yuan, a tenfold or even hundredfold profit…
Military expenses are covered, and at least the troop limit can be increased by 30%.
Of course, tobacco also needs to be cultivated. Tobacco prefers moisture and warmth, and Japan’s climate is suitable, so it shouldn’t be difficult. As for filters and cigarette machines…
One doesn’t know the cost of firewood and rice until they manage a household. Since becoming the “Lord of Wanjin,” Yuan Ye can’t stand hearing the word “money.” Hearing it makes his heart race, his eyes turn red, and his reason clouded, leaving him only wanting to make money.
At this moment, his morality index plummeted again, and he began to contemplate promoting cigarettes in Japan.
A hundredfold profit, who wouldn’t be mesmerized by that?!
He couldn’t even bother with repairing fortifications anymore and directly ordered A Man, “You’re not needed here. Hurry back to Ezo Island. Even if you have to hang that Ronin up and beat him, find out how he got this thing! You must find the seeds! If you can’t find them, go to Kansai, or go to Kyushu. In short, you must bring the seeds back to Wanjin!”
“Ah, I just got back and have to go again?” A Man had worked everyone on the ship to exhaustion to get back. She hadn’t even settled in properly before having to leave again, and she wasn’t very willing.
Besides, given the current situation, Wanjin and the Kitabatake family were bound to have a fierce battle, which concerned the future of the “Yuan Ye Family.” She wasn’t at ease with leaving at this moment.
She quickly said, “It’s just finding something, not a difficult task. I don’t need to go personally; I can send some people, right?”
“That’s acceptable, but you must find them!”
“Then you can rest assured!” A Man didn’t think it was difficult. She couldn’t guarantee anything if she wasn’t asked to find it, but as long as it existed in Japan, she could get it. After all, the “Life Preservation Style” had developed for so many years; they wouldn’t have received so much funding for nothing.
But now she was curious about tobacco. After all, she had brought back such a large Nugget Gold for Yuan Ye, and he had only been interested for five minutes before setting it aside. Yet, he was so anxious about these crushed leaves. It was obvious these crushed leaves were not simple!
She took out her small Leather Pouch, rummaged through the tobacco inside, and felt it was still just an herbal medicine, nothing special. She asked curiously, “Is this thing very valuable?”
Yuan Ye affirmed, “Very valuable!”
“Why is it valuable?”
“You’ll know when you bring back the seeds.”
Yuan Ye couldn’t explain it easily now, and A Man was used to it, so she didn’t press further. But then her Dou Dou Eyebrows twitched, her dark eyes rolled, and she mused, “So, does that mean I’ve made a great contribution? I found something so valuable and then… uh, specially presented it to you. It’s definitely a great contribution, right?”
She felt a bit shortchanged and wanted to get some benefits.
Yuan Ye was stunned for a moment. He felt she was right. Even if she was mostly just messing around out of boredom on Ezo Island, she had indeed opened up a source of wealth for Wanjin.
He hesitated and said, “Then consider it one merit. When this business gets started, I’ll give you five percent… hmm, zero point five percent… uh, zero point zero five percent… I’ll give you fifty Koku as a bonus.”
“Ah, only fifty Koku? Are you trying to dismiss a beggar?” A Man was displeased. Even if she had been a beggar before, she wasn’t now. She said directly, “It should be at least five hundred Koku! Otherwise, this business should give me a fifty Koku dividend every year!”
“Agreed, no problem. Once production starts, I’ll give you five hundred Koku upfront, and fifty Koku annually!” Yuan Ye agreed immediately. For a tobacco monopoly, a few hundred Jin of copper a year was nothing!
A Man gasped and rummaged through the crushed leaves in her Leather Pouch again, feeling that this thing was even more valuable than Nugget Gold. She quickly confirmed, “Then it’s settled. You can’t go back on your word!”
“Give it here!” Yuan Ye snatched the Leather Pouch. “Don’t worry, I always keep my word. However, this thing will belong to me from now on, and you’re not allowed to smoke anymore, or the dividends will be forfeited.”
Smoking reduces life expectancy by 25%. Making money is one thing, but A Man is a friend, and he didn’t want A Man to die early, so he directly helped her quit.
A Man didn’t mind the forced smoking cessation. After all, she had only snatched some crushed tobacco leaves and occasionally smoked them out of boredom on Ezo Island. If she wasn’t allowed to smoke, so be it. Real gold and silver were more appealing to her.
For this dividend—she and Yuan Ye had agreed that this dividend would go directly to her and not be managed by A Qing—she was very motivated and took a ship back to Xin Wan Jin Port, preparing to send people to fetch that unlucky Ronin urgently. Even if they had to spin him on a windmill, they had to make him hand over the seeds.
Incidentally, as Yuan Ye’s absolute confidante and an elder of Wanjin’s founding, she held prestige within the core group second only to Yuan Ye. She could also oversee the Chita Peninsula, preventing their two allies, Oda Nobunaga and Matsudaira Ieyasu, from having any ulterior motives.
Yuan Ye, on his part, continued to be stationed at the Nameless Beach in Ise, transporting people, horses, and Grain and Forage Supplies batch by batch. At the same time, he urged the Wanjin Army to actively dig trenches and build fortifications, preparing to stay in Ise Province and not leave.
Now, it remained to be seen if the Kitabatake family had the determination and ability to fight to the death and drive him back into the sea.
…
“What does the Yuan Ye Family say?”
In a temporary Shogunate tent, the Kitabatake family’s Vassals gathered, sitting on Folding Stools. Yasuda Katsuji from Okōchi Castle also participated in this Military council.
The landing point chosen by Yuan Ye was at the border of Suzugamine County and Shimokyū County. To the northwest, it could attack the outer castles of Okōchi Castle, and to the southwest, it could attack Anno Castle, posing a significant threat.
Previously, Yasuda Katsuji’s group was heading to Jōsui County to suppress local uprisings. They received an urgent report midway and had to abandon their original mission, making an emergency turn. They arrived here, backed by Notsuki Castle—an outer castle of Anno Castle—and began to set up camp and maintain vigilance.
To be honest, Yuan Ye’s arrival was somewhat sudden. They couldn’t figure out what Yuan Ye was up to. Or rather, they had some guesses but also held onto a sliver of hope, unwilling to confirm.
Therefore, with this hope, they decided to send an envoy first, asking Yuan Ye why he had come. If it wasn’t a major issue… they didn’t want to fight Wanjin at this moment. They were willing to give some money and supplies, bleed a little, and have Yuan Ye leave.
This was essentially treating him as a Water Bandit to be dealt with.
The envoy was not greatly troubled and returned unharmed, but he said dejectedly, “My Lord, I did not see Nohara Saburo, nor did I see anyone who could make decisions… I didn’t even see a single Samurai. I don’t know who to ask.”
“Are they hiding and refusing to see us?”
“Then there’s nothing more to say. This means the Oda Family has made a move against us!”
“Is there any news from the Kōbe Family to the north?”
Upon hearing this, the Samurai began to clamor, generally concluding that Yuan Ye’s arrival was definitely malicious. Some even judged that this could not possibly be an independent action by Wanjin; it must have been instigated by Oda Nobunaga, intending a pincer attack on Ise Province. Oda Nobunaga was preparing to attack the eight counties of North Ise and had sent his vassal, the Yuan Ye Family, to openly land in southern Ise to attract the attention of the Kitabatake family and disperse their forces.
After all, Yuan Ye didn’t have much fame outside. Oda Nobunaga’s surprise attack at Okehazama shocked the world, and Azai Nagamasa achieved a great victory against the Rokkaku family with fewer troops. Yuan Ye had no such achievements. At most, he had fought a battle against a detachment of the Imagawa family six or seven years ago, and in Kanto or the Northeast, he had fought against the Satomi Clan’s Navy.
Such achievements were not enough to make him famous throughout the land. At least, the Samurai of Ise Province didn’t think much of it. Who hadn’t fought a few tough battles in this era?
Samurai fought battles every day. Yuan Ye was considered a pacifist, often staying inactive for one or two years, or just tagging along with Oda Nobunaga without any real impact. He had no deterrent effect.
Most importantly, Yuan Ye was not a Lord of a Province like Oda Nobunaga or Azai Nagamasa. He didn’t even have a proper Official Position from the court. He was still called “Saburo,” and he only controlled the power of one county. Where would he get the courage to attack a province with thirteen counties?
Moreover, it was an overseas invasion. If he lost, his entire army could be annihilated, and escape would be difficult.
Therefore, for a time, the mid-to-low-ranking Samurai of the Kitabatake family felt this was a precursor to a large-scale invasion of Ise by Owari. They all proposed that they could not wait any longer and should “attack them halfway,” taking advantage of Oda Nobunaga’s absence to decisively defeat the Wanjin Army first!
While these mid-to-low-ranking Samurai argued heatedly, the high-ranking Samurai of the Kitabatake family had grim expressions. Even though they were not lacking in decisiveness and had the resolve to launch a preemptive strike and drive the Wanjin Army back into the sea, they…
They lacked sufficient troops. Currently, the Kitabatake family’s military strength was scattered, entangled with the “Ikkō-ikki” rebelling in various regions, making it impossible to gather forces quickly.
With only the nearby outer castles and a small reinforcement from Okōchi Castle, not even the strength of one county, the outcome of a battle against the Wanjin Army was truly uncertain.
The situation was now difficult. It could only be said that the Kitabatake family was unlucky this time. Just as they were suffering from a pestilence, Wanjin came to take advantage of the situation, arriving precisely at their most inconvenient moment.
Should they fight now or not?
