Mornings start early at Sugawa Castle.
Since accurate clocks didn't exist in this era, it's hard to say for sure, but generally, everyone was awake and starting their activities around 5 a.m.
However, under normal circumstances, most people go to sleep by 8 PM, so it's not like their sleep time is particularly short.
As expected, I, too, was having an early breakfast at the main residence where Ichihime was staying, accompanied by Haruhime.
I get up before the sun rises and sip the porridge that Ichihime has lovingly prepared and simmered slowly—while glancing at Osamuhime, who is smiling beside her.
Incidentally, it seems that the notion that talking while eating is bad manners does not exist, as Ichihime and Haruhime were exchanging smiles and conversation.
They looked like sisters—it warmed my heart from the morning.
(Well, there's no doubt she's my fishing rod sister.)
While such vulgar thoughts crossed my mind, I ate the pickles that Ichihime had made for me and thought about what I needed to do today.
However, that was obvious from the start—
(The question is, what should we do about the zashiki-warashi?)
That sums it up.
Or rather, this was the only option.
If Naotsune's plan proceeds smoothly, the 300 members of the Takamine faction should arrive in about two or three days.
Indeed, while found an ideal utopia that accepted them despite knowing their circumstances.倦cormorant
With hope in their hearts, they will desperately try to escape from Koga at all costs.
(But the problem is, we're not at all prepared to accept the Takamine faction...)
It's likely that several, or perhaps most, members of the Takamine faction were killed during their escape from Koga.
He was branded a "rogue ninja" by the other Koga ninjas and treated with no mercy.
Nevertheless, they will surely head straight for Asai territory, towards this Sugawa Castle, in order to make their future lives filled with hope.
But what would happen if the Asai family did not accept them at all? It's not hard to imagine.
Without even needing to give specific examples, there is nothing more terrifying than a creature that has lost all hope and become desperate. And—
"...Lord Nagamasa, is something the matter?"
—And the one who is more sensitive than anyone or anything else to the subtle nuances of my emotions as I grapple with such worries is my wife, Ichihime.
"No, it's nothing..."
I started to say "no," but then I stopped myself.
In a sense, they are people of this era. They have a deep, visceral understanding of zashiki-warashi (house spirits), not just superficial knowledge like mine, but a cultural one.
It might be better to get some advice rather than trying to handle this alone.
"..."
"Lord Nagamasa"
Calling my name, Ichihime placed the bowl of porridge down with a soft thud.
She didn't say anything more, but her beautiful eyes were intently observing me.
It was a look of concern, wondering if I was pushing myself too hard, or if I was burdened with something. Or perhaps it was a look filled with pure-heartedness, thinking of me endlessly and wishing to alleviate my suffering.
(I guess I can't compete with that...)
With those thoughts in mind, I put down the bowl of porridge.
A wry smile escaped my lips unintentionally—at my own heart, which was unconsciously trying to rely on the maternal qualities that Ichihime possessed.
"Hey, Ichi... and Osamu. There's something I want to ask you."
"yes"
"What can I do for you?"
My two beloved wives immediately respond to my questions.
Facing them again, I felt a little nervous, carefully choosing my words, and asked them a question.
"I want you to answer frankly. If I were thinking of taking a Zashiki-warashi (house spirit) under my command, what would you do?"
"Well..."
"..."
Indeed, they all wore expressions of surprise—faces that suggested they had never even considered such a thing, that it hadn't even crossed their minds.
"First of all...it's something that defies common sense."
Instead of the silent Ichihime, Haruhime responded.
"I'm sure Lord Nagamasa is aware of this, but... zashiki-warashi are extremely dangerous beings. They have demonic blood mixed in them and usually have a rather monstrous appearance... and it would be absolutely impossible to use one as a servant."悍Ozo
"Hmm..."
I feel like I've heard a very interesting opinion.
"Besides, you never know what a zashiki-warashi might do... And some of them are like demons—they can't even be harmed by anything other than fluorite. Ordinary humans can't control them, and that's precisely why zashiki-warashi, they've always been—"
"Hey."
I quietly looked at Princess Osamu.
She flinched and looked at me with eyes that seemed to say she was afraid.
I didn't intend to be angry at all—I was just sad. Especially since I had come to know the mother and son of the Todo family.
Ichihime continued to stare at me silently.
"Those Zashiki-warashi are your past, Osamu. No, it might be even worse. They were born only to receive blessings from their parents, or perhaps not even from them... They've always been looked down upon by those around them, lonely, suffering, yet still living—that's the kind of beings they are, I'm sure."
Haruhime lowered her head and fell silent.
"At least you had Shigenori. Or perhaps a retainer who cared for you... But a Zashiki-warashi probably doesn't have any. Even if you have siblings, you have almost no companions to support you."
Historically speaking, discrimination is essentially very simple.
Those who possess fear losing their position and suppress those who might threaten to overthrow them.
And when they are overthrown, the fear that revenge for the oppression they suffered will be taken, and the attempt to thoroughly differentiate themselves in various ways—this is something that can be easily understood by looking at history.
Or perhaps that was the only way they could maintain order.
"I want to save those kinds of people. Osamu, you should understand—you, who know my intentions, will surely."
"...I"
Haruhime made a face of pain and tightly clenched the hands that were resting on her knees.
"...What a hopeless woman. I should understand that kind of suffering...and yet. All I can think about is how to move the soldiers, and everything else is childish...Until you told me, I just passively accepted it as it was—without thinking or realizing anything."
"No...that's just how humans are. It's no easy feat to break free from fixed ideas and preconceived notions that those living in that society consider common sense—because questioning them disrupts the order of the world you inhabit. I suppose only someone living in a different region, or perhaps someone from a different world, can objectively evaluate 'common sense'."
Ichihime's eyes suddenly became sharp.
His gaze was as if he had spotted the enemy's supreme commander in the midst of a chaotic battlefield—that's the kind of look he had.
Her eyes, which seemed to thrust a knife into the depths of my heart and gouge it out, filled me with fear as I faced her.
"Hey, Ichi... what do you think?"
"Well... do you want to ask me too? The answer has been decided from the beginning."
As soon as she said that, the sharpness in her eyes vanished, replaced by a gentle smile.
"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to the city. As long as Lord Nagamasa is here, everything else is insignificant."
"...I see."
"Therefore, if Lord Nagamasa were to employ a zashiki-warashi (house spirit), then I would not reprimand him."
But, Ichihime continued.
"Even if Ichi is okay with it, the other retainers probably won't. Zashiki-warashi are something to be avoided...that's common sense in 'this world'. To get them to accept that will require the right stage and setting, but those have already been prepared."
"..."
"A new castle is to be built on this land. The actor who appears before the assembled people is Asai Bizen-no-kami Nagamasa, the leader of northern Omi. He wears golden armor born from the body of a hawk—which signifies 'hawk slayer.' A hero who slays hawks commands a zashiki-warashi (house spirit)...isn't that like something out of a story? And when that story becomes a reality, what will become of the people and their retainers? Will they have the courage to resist the actions and will of the hero who appears?"彩Color
Indeed, Ichihime looked at me with eyes that reminded me of her real brother, Nobunaga, and embraced me.
"I will pass on to my brother the instruction to complete the hawk armor as quickly as possible. Lord Nagamasa, I request that you establish a separate base in Nagahama as soon as possible—a building where ceremonies can be performed."
◆
In the world I came from, the concept of "kokudaka" (rice yield) is a distant memory.
And the only situation in which this system, which converts land productivity into the amount of rice, reappears before modern people is probably in a Sengoku period simulation game or a historical drama.
For these reasons, the kokudaka system is often misunderstood. For example, it's sometimes mistakenly believed that a daimyo with 500,000 koku employs retainers worth 500,000 koku.
(Well, that's not going to happen anyway.)
In short, in most cases, 60% of the daimyo's landholding was distributed to their subordinates.
Indeed, if a daimyo has a domain of 500,000 koku, it's reasonable to assume that roughly 300,000 koku is the share for all of his retainers.
And the remaining 200,000 koku would be the daimyo's " "—that is, the land under their direct control.直轄領Chokkatsuryo
"My lord! Lord Masamoto has a report on the progress regarding Nagahama!"大礼殿Taireiden
"Okay, let me see."
I placed the bench where the weeds had grown unchecked, and as I took the scroll the messenger had brought and unfolded it, I felt the presence of the weeds swaying in the spring breeze, and involuntarily looked up at the sky.
It's springtime. The air is still cold, but it will surely get warmer soon.
The fact that the weeds are starting to grow vigorously is the best proof of this.
Indeed, the place where I had brought my subordinates was a farming village located at the foot of a mountain, not far from the former main castle, Odani Castle.雲雀山Hibariyama
No, it might be more accurate to say "former farming village."
This is because this village, which was once under the direct control of the Asai family, is now uninhabited, and all that remains are neglected fields and houses.
However, such villages were not uncommon during the Sengoku period (Warring States period).
Some villages are abandoned when their inhabitants flee en masse because they cannot pay their taxes, others are wiped out by disease, and still others simply disappear because their inhabitants vanish.
In reality, this village was just one of those places... and nothing more. It's a sad truth.
"...I see, if we simply transfer the laborers who were working on the construction of Nagahama Castle, the construction could be completed in as little as a month and a half."
"Yes, currently, Mr. Tanaka Yoshimasa is in charge of directing the laborers, and he says he will somehow manage to complete the construction of the Grand Ceremonial Hall..."
"This will be quite an expense," the messenger added, quoting Masamoto.
The image of my younger brother playing the guitar, groaning and tearing at his hair, comes to mind .算盤Abacus
Oh dear, I am terribly sorry.
"Very well... It will be costly, so I feel bad for Masamoto, but... for now, put aside the construction of Nagahama Castle and focus on building the Grand Ceremonial Hall. And once it is completed, there is something that must be done in conjunction with the completion ceremony. I will give you instructions regarding that later."
"I understand."
The messenger man wrote down my message, bowed, and left.
Watching her retreating figure, I headed towards my subordinates who were working tirelessly in the rural village.
Some of them swarm around houses, while others cut weeds in wasteland.
"...Okay, I'll join in too."
"M-My lord!?"
I knelt in the overgrown field and began pulling out weeds—my subordinates frantically tried to stop me.
He brought 50 subordinates with him to the rural village—all of them were originally soldiers of Odani Castle, and were now incorporated into Sugawa Castle.
Incidentally, there is also a long-handled foot soldier named Yamada Heishiro who is in love with Tsubaki, who is the head lady-in-waiting to Princess Ichi.
Well, I brought him along intentionally, partly to assess his character.
So, what exactly was I doing with them? To put it simply, I was cleaning up abandoned houses and tidying up fields.
Preparing housing for 300 members of the Takamine faction from scratch was utterly impossible, so they decided it would be faster to reuse existing villages.
Even if there are 300 people, it's unlikely that all of them are independent heads of household. The number probably includes their wives and children.
In fact, they could probably get by for the time being by reusing this rural area—or, if they were given this rural area as it was, the problem would disappear altogether.
Of course, food assistance will be necessary until the fields are restored—but eventually, it will be reimbursed in the form of land tax, so it will more than pay for itself.
To begin with, this rural area is not producing anything at all because there are no people there. There would be no problem in giving it away.
In that sense, cleaning up abandoned houses was a higher priority than clearing overgrown wasteland.
"Well, I can't just dump all the menial tasks on you guys. Besides, it's best to finish work quickly. Dragging out a single task out of inertia is what incompetent people do. Let's finish quickly and soak in a hot spring—all of us."
When I said that, a mix of various emotions erupted on the men's faces.
In times of war, they are nameless, ordinary soldiers who roam the battlefield.
Unlike generals like Naotsune, there was a vast difference in social status between us.
To be honest, I suppose they feel apologetic for making me help with menial tasks, especially since I'm already too intimidated to even exchange words with them.
And yet, she invited me to take a bath with her after work.
They are overjoyed and overwhelmed—the complex expressions on their faces at this moment succinctly reflect their psychological state.
"Okay, Heishiro."
"Y-yes!"
I first approached the man with an undeniably "ordinary" appearance, and then I approached the four other men.
"I'll make you five squad leaders, and each of you will be assigned to a group of nine. I'll decide on the assignments now, so clean the vacant houses according to your assigned tasks. I, Nagamasa, will personally reward the squad that finishes the job cleanly and quickly."
"Oh...oh...!"
Indeed, the 50 men's eyes began to sparkle.
Knowing there's a reward makes a big difference in motivation—and on top of that, there's even a bath after work, so it's no wonder they're so eager to do their job.
Indeed, not long after, the men, following my assignment, began cleaning the houses lining the rural landscape, their spirits high.
I observe them as they work vigorously, calling out to each other bravely or singing bad songs, while I pull out weeds from the field.
—In the end, it was worthwhile to see that Heishiro was a reasonably capable man.
While the other men worked in groups of ten to clean one house at a time, he took on the task of cleaning houses in pairs, quickly cleaning many houses at once.
He's certainly the kind of man Tsubaki would fall for. Perhaps he's someone who deserves a little more attention.
Indeed, as the sun slowly began to set, I was thinking about such things as I led a group of men, who were working up a refreshing sweat after a hard day's work, towards a hot spring at the foot of Mount Kotani.