In the Warring States period, economic power and interpersonal relationships were essential for maintaining independence and not submitting to powerful nations.
At least, that’s the conclusion I reached based on the results of historical research in Japanese, East Asian, and Western history.
The world is not simply governed by a military balance.
Our lives require many things, and these are based on supply and demand.
Since humankind was born on this Earth, it has developed various communication abilities, such as language and writing.
So, how did such abilities flourish?
According to collaborative research by linguists and anthropologists, human communication developed “in order to obtain what one desires.”
The foundation of communication lies in fulfilling each other’s needs and supply, and money was invented to make this process even smoother.
The underlying relationships during the Sengoku period (Warring States period) were largely the same.
Following the Ōnin War, various regional powers established their own distinct communities through military force.
However, even that is ultimately nothing more than a complex of overlapping supply and demand created by individuals within a community.
It is commonly referred to as a “constraint” or “entanglement.”
Even those known as feudal lords naturally had their own “entanglements” and obligations.
The same is true of the historical figure Asai Nagamasa.
He himself harbored no ill feelings towards Nobunaga, the brother of his wife, whom he had loved wholeheartedly throughout his short life.
However, Nagamasa’s father, Hisamasa, and the majority of his retainers desired a cooperative relationship with the Ashikaga shogunate, the Takeda family (the leader of the Kai Minamoto clan), and the Asakura family, a powerful neighboring family.
Trapped by these “constraints” and unable to escape them, Nagamasa finally challenges his brother-in-law to battle.
The fact that Nagamasa himself did not truly desire this can be seen from the fact that he did not send his wife, Ichihime, back to the Oda family.
And it was precisely because Nobunaga himself was aware of his brother-in-law’s situation that he continued to urge surrender right up until the moment he besieged and attacked Odani Castle…
There are two things I must do to prevent the Asai family from being destroyed.
First and foremost, in terms of supply and demand, we must create a situation where, at the very least, neighboring countries feel that “nothing can be done without Asai.”
Secondly, to avoid being trapped by “entanglements,” we should associate with as many people as possible.
If there is no other way than for the Asai clan to be destroyed, we can take Ichihime and escape to Sakai.
There, we can make a living by producing maltose or soap and trading.
As someone who has been transported to the Sengoku period for no reason, the most important thing to me is my wife, Ichihime, and frankly, everything else is of low priority.
Early morning on January 17, 1567 (Eiroku 10).
As I was thinking about that, Ichihime began to stir and fidget on my chest.
The kimono’s front opening has loosened, revealing her pale neck and collarbone.
Ichihime is making a pose and letting out a moan, “Mmm…”—I wonder what kind of dream she’s having.
I traced Ichihime’s luscious and moist lips with my index finger.
Then her mouth parted slightly, and she took my finger completely into her mouth.
At first, I was just observing her, thinking she was cute, but when Ichihime’s tongue started to crawl across, I noticed something was a little off.
That’s because her tongue was only licking around my fingertips, while her lips were nibbling at my fingers without biting, as if trying to squeeze something out, and even slightly sucking on them.
I decided that I would teach Ichihime how to hold Big Sun in her mouth again soon, and slowly withdrew my fingers so as not to wake her.
I have meetings with my retainers this morning.
I also need to prepare gifts for them.
But the problem is the afternoon.
For now, time is of the essence.
I quickly changed my clothes and decided to head to the kitchen at a brisk pace.
◇
未sheepThat time.
In the world I came from, it was 2 PM.
Five men rushed to my summons and bowed their heads.
In other words, the three generals of the Sea, Red, and Rain who were the pride of the Asai family—Kaiho Tsunachika, Akao Kiyotsuna, and Amamori Kiyosada—along with Asai Ryochika and Asai Masamoto.
This gathering wasn’t official; I personally organized it.
I wanted to convey my intentions in advance, before any individual meetings with them, so that discussions and decisions could proceed smoothly at the evaluation meeting to be held at the beginning of next month.
Ichihime was standing behind me, intently watching the scene.
“You all went to a lot of trouble today.”
“Hah”
When I first offered words of appreciation, the men bowed and raised their heads.
“The reason I’ve asked you all to come here today is simple.
“Is that so…”
Kiyosada nodded.
As someone involved in domestic affairs, he was probably one of the people most concerned about this issue.
So why did they summon Tsunachika and Kiyotsuna, who were in charge of military administration?
Well, that’s a matter of appearances.
“Of the three generals of the Sea, Red, and Rain, Lord Nagamasa highly values Lord Amamori…”
If such rumors were to leak out, it would be the end of the Asai family, and they would face the crisis of being divided.
No, other influential retainers—for example, Endo Naotsune—would probably try to put out the rumors once they started to spread, but given the current situation where he is at odds with the majority of the Asai clan, there is absolutely no need to sow seeds of discord among his retainers.
That was the conclusion I reached.
“First, if I were to list the problems within our territory, it would be that we are not fully utilizing the geographical advantage of being located at a transportation hub.”
Tsunachika nodded quietly.
For him, as the person in charge of military affairs, transportation issues were also of great importance as they were related to logistics.
“Therefore, our greatest goal in Omi will be road administration, including the development of highways.
However, that will cost an extraordinary amount of money…”
“While improving the roads will certainly speed up the movement of our army, it will also make us more vulnerable to attacks using those same roads.”
Kiyotsuna said with his arms crossed.
“With the conflict with the Rokkaku family continuing, maintaining the highway might be quite dangerous.”
“But surely it would be possible to travel the road from Odani Castle to Sawayama Castle?”
The area from Odani Castle in northern Omi to Sawayama Castle in southern Omi was within the sphere of influence of the Asai clan, and the local lords pledged their allegiance to them.
The area was relatively safe in terms of public order during the Sengoku period, and there was little risk of being attacked by bandits while paving the road.
“However, brother…
I am terribly sorry, but as you know, the Asai family’s finances are not exactly in dire straits, if not in dire straits.
The reality is that we are not even able to afford the construction of the road from our main castle to Sawayama Castle.”
Masamoto, Nagamasa’s younger brother, said apologetically.
The reason I summoned Masamoto was precisely because he is a highly capable financial bureaucrat who single-handedly manages the finances of Odani Castle, and I wanted to gauge whether my plan was truly feasible.
In any era, it’s difficult to take action without money.
“I suppose so…
That’s precisely why we need to find the funds for that…”
“Hmm…”
The five men in front of me were deep in thought, some with their arms crossed, others scratching their heads.
However, while it may seem easy for a feudal lord to acquire wealth, in reality, it is quite difficult.
For a feudal lord to obtain immediate funds, all he had to do was tax the farmers, seize their grain, and sell it for cash.
However, doing so would immediately incur the resentment of the farmers, potentially leading to a large-scale uprising.
The leaders could be warrior monks or wanderers, among other things, but the majority were actually farmers.
And when an uprising occurs, the lord is required to suppress it, so he will send his army to deal with it.
But this also meant that the army would be killing the farmers who produced the grain, which would immediately lead to a reduction in taxes in the following years.
Rural areas that lose their workforce decline, and fields that lose their male labor fall into ruin.
And even if one tries to revive them, the improper development of the land only makes the process more difficult.
In short, allowing a situation to arise where an uprising is likely is a very bad thing for those in power.
Therefore, introducing a new tax to cover the cost of paving the roads is far too risky.
In that case, the Asai family would have to generate wages from the surplus funds obtained by subtracting total expenses such as military and administrative costs from the total income they could earn from their territory, but as Masamoto mentioned earlier, the Asai family’s finances were quite tight.
There’s absolutely no way I have the money to buy gravel for paving and hire workers to maintain the road.
However, it is certainly true that developing infrastructure such as roads would make it easier for people to move around.
Humans naturally want to live in the most comfortable and pleasant place possible.
Thus, road construction was an important project for attracting people from other regions into the Asai domain.
“That’s precisely why we need to create industries and increase our income.
As an easy way to do that, I propose promoting the therapeutic bathing industry using hot springs.”
“A hot spring…?”
With a blank expression, Ryochika asked.
“That’s right.
Like the one at the foot of Mount Otani.”
The men nodded.
“However, the hot spring is completely undeveloped.
It’s simply bubbling up from underground, and people just soak in it.”
So, I continued.
“Maintain the area where the bath will be filled, and have the people of Asai manage it.
Those who bathe, excluding children and the like, should only be charged one mon per person.”浴舎Yokusha
“…I see, that’s a good idea.
However, as Lord Masamoto mentioned earlier, if finances are tight, wouldn’t it be difficult to build bathhouses throughout northern Omi?”
Tsunachika calmly asks the question.
But I had an idea about that.
“Before you start building the bathhouse, have a notice issued.
It will say that you are soliciting donations for its construction.
And for those who donate, have their names engraved on the wall of the bathhouse as collaborators.
Next to my name, in order.”
“…I see.
If it were possible to have one’s name inscribed next to Lord Nagamasa’s, it would be quite an honor for the townspeople and farmers.
In that case, donations would surely pour in.”
Tsunachika nodded.
“The bathing facilities are well-maintained, and they charge money to people seeking therapeutic baths…
Hmm, I never would have thought of that.”
“For the time being, let’s save the income from the hot spring resort.
It won’t be much, but every little bit adds up.
In a few years, it should amount to a decent sum.”
“I see, so that’s how it is!”
As if he had finally understood, Kiyosada slapped his knee in surprise.
“Lord Nagamasa, you don’t intend to use the money you earn there for road administration, but rather for another project, do you?”
“that’s right”
I nodded to Kiyosada.
“I’m thinking of building a workshop here in northern Omi to produce cotton, silk, and soap.”
“Lord Nagamasa, we may be able to manage the silk, but the cotton will be a bit of a challenge.”
Ryochika continued speaking.
“Currently, the only people in the country who possess the technology to make cotton are those living in Mikawa and Tokai, that is, in the territories of the Tokugawa family.
And there is no way the Tokugawa family would easily transfer that technology to us.”
“Hmm…”
I decided to take that opinion very seriously.
It’s possible that I might have to negotiate directly with the head of the Tokugawa family…
Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Without a doubt, a considerable price will be demanded.
“What are your plans for the sericulture business?”
Kiyosada asks me.
“Sericulture has never been particularly prevalent in northern Omi until now, but it is mostly done by farmers as a side business.
However, judging from Lord Nagamasa’s actions, it doesn’t seem like he intends to support it…”
“That’s right.”
I nodded slowly in response.
“Until now, it’s likely that each household has been independently raising silkworms and producing silk.
But I believe this should be changed, and the business should be consolidated in one place.
Raising large numbers of silkworms, producing large numbers of silk threads, and manufacturing large numbers of silk…
If we do that, the day when Kita-Omi becomes the world’s leading producer of silk products will not be far off.”
“surely…”