Reincarnated as a Warlord in a Sengoku Era - Chapter 4
Trade and Encounter
Tenbun 24 (1555 A.D) 2nd Month, Wakaksa Province, Obama Port.
I am walking with Denza in the Obama Port. I did a lot of thinking after meeting Jubei and realized one thing. I need money, a lot of it. Hiring soldiers and buying rice both cost money. It seems like even in the Sengoku Era, money still runs the world.
That’s why Oda Nobunaga that controlled both Tsushima and Atsuta becomes so strong. He had the fertile land of Nobi Plain [1] along with money from the trade of Tsushima and Atsuta Port. Imagawa must have wanted these three lands too[2].
If Nobunaga had Tsushima and Atsuta then Wakasa has Obama. The Obama Port is close to the capital and has a flourishing trade. The amount of people that comes and goes at the Obama Port is no joke.
Unfortunately, the clan only controls this one Obama Port. The Tsuruga Port next door is controlled by Asakura from Echizen. I heard of our many attempts to take control of the Tsuruga Port had failed.
That means I can only rely on this one port to make money. Wakasa might not have vast fertile land to farm corps, but we sure do have land to farm money.
Another reason why I decided to kame money first is that the clan hadn’t paid the vassal any wage. They didn’t have any money or rice left to pay the vassals. How can the clan expect the vassals’ morale to be high if the clan didn’t pay them? This financial blunder coupled with weak soldiers can lead the clan to destruction.
“My, If it is not Magoinumaru-sama, the young master of the Takeda clan.”
In the midst of my walk, a man approached me. He seems to know me but I didn’t recognize him.
Before I manages to ask who he is, Denza greeted him, “Ah, Genshirou-dono of Kumiya.”
I see this man is pretty well known.
Denza told me that he’s one of Kumiya, a group of merchants who acts as a shipping agent in Obama. This Genshirou seems to be one of the most influential people among Kumiya.
Perfect. I can just ask everything I want to know to him. If Genshirou didn’t know, then no one in Obama will know.
“Genshirou-dono, I have a question. What kind of goods can be sold for a high price?”
“Well, you sure ask a peculiar thing. Let’s see… Number one is definitely rice. Other than rice there are Kombu[3], Shiitake mushroom, and other ingredients that can be made into stocks are quite popular in the capital.”
Rather than capital, those things must be popular in Mt. Hiei[4]. Those corrupt monks must be having a great time, enjoying the delicacies the world has to offer.
Hm… Kombu can only be harvested in the north but it should be possible for me to cultivate Shiitake mushroom. It’s worth trying.
“Any other things?
“Silver. Recently, Tanegashima [5] has also been sold at high price.”
So Tanegashima has entered the market. It seems that the price is still steep. That makes sense because in the current time period there is still no way to recreate them. It should be a perfect time to buy about two Tanegashima and send them to a skilled blacksmith for mass production. If only I had enough money to do that.
I don’t. Then, it seems like cultivating Shiitake mushrooms is the only way I can earn money.
…No, wait. Isn’t there one other way?
This is a trade which means I can use the law of supply and demand. If I sold rice from places that had surplus to places that demand it I can reap profit.
Usually, It’s going to be tricky to predict the place that will have a demand for rice, but for me, it’s not a problem. This is 1555 A.D, the year Battle of[6] Miyajima in the Chugoku region[7] take place.
The reason I know this year is 1555 is that last year the alliance between Takeda, Imagawa, and Hojo is formed[8]. I counted the year from then.
“Genshirou-dono, I want to ask another thing. If I had information about a war that will happen in the future, will you be able to make a profit?”
“That goes without saying! Many people will need various different things in a war. Does Magoinumaru-sama knows that sort of information?”
“It’s Genshirou-dono choice to believe me or not. Denza, bring me all m allowance.”
“Yes!”
Denza started to run. As I was waiting for Denza to return I give Genshirou the detail about the Mori clan clash with Sue and Ouchi clan. It’s fine even if he didn’t believe me. I just going to take my profit.
Denza returned and give the money to Genshirou and Genshirou’s expression changed into surprise.
Wakasa might be small, but I’m still the heir. I was being pampered by everyone and as the result, the amount of allowance I got is not small. Though giving this amount of money to a child while not giving any salary to the vassals is also one of the reasons why the clan’s financial situation is so terrible. Thinking about that makes me smile bitterly.
“I have certainly received the money. I will definitely bring back a profit. Thank you for your patronage.”
“I’ll be counting on you.”
With that, I make an investment in Genshirou. I never thought I’m going to invest in the Sengoku era, at the age of age. But investment is the most sure-fire way to earn money without the need for additional manpower. This time, I’m glad I was born as the son of a daimyo[9].
For a while, I noticed that there seem to be someone who observed my conversation with Genshirou from distance.
That man might be around the same age or possibly younger than Jubei. But different from Jubei, he’s thin and his complexion doesn’t look good.
My first impression of him is that he looked sick. Then, he finally approached me.
He looked creepy but he also held an aura that might be able to attract a certain group of people.
“Excuse me. Are you perhaps the young master of Takeda clan?”
“I am.”
“I am a vassal of Takeda clan, Numata Kouzukenosuke Sukemitsu. It is an honor to meet you. If I may enquire, what makes young master come here?”
After saying that he let out a creepy laugh. What with this guy?
Denza whispered into my ear information about the man. He’s the clan rear vassal. His family is a vassal of the clan’s direct vassal, Matsumiya Kiyonaga.
Talking about vassals, the structure of power in the Wakasa Takeda clan is simple. First, the top is my family, the Takeda clan. Right below the Takeda clan is four vassal known as Four Elder. They are Awaya clan, Kumagai clan, Naito clan, and Mutou clan. Below the Four Elders is the clan’s executive. They are Henmi clan, Yamagata clan, Shirai clan, and Matsumiya clan.
Actually, this structure of power is not fixed. Stuff like Henmi replacing Kumagai in the position of Four Elders can happen. Father just favored the Kumagai more.
Under this power structure, the Numata clan position is the lowest. Usually, people of Numata’s status would hesitate to even greet me. I don’t really mind though.
This guy named Kouzukenosuke is pretty sharp to try to pry my discussion with Genshirou. It’s not something I need to hide so I just told him frankly.
“I’m here to make some quick money.”
“As expected, for someone of young master stature, you must have spent money like water.”
“Of course not! The money I have is something that had been gathered by the people’s sweat and blood. I won’t spend it recklessly. But as you know, It’s impossible to do anything without money as such I was making some quick money with Genshirou.”
Hearing my answer, Kouzukenosuke’s eyes widen then he started to nod deeply. He seems to agree with my words. I wonder if I can make him may ally?
What he didn’t know is the fact that the clan didn’t have much money, or rather we might actually be in debt. Well, that’s Father’s problem not mine…I hope.
“It might be a fate that we meet here so Kouzukenosuke, can I ask for your help? Of course I’ll pay.”
“If I can be of help, then gladly!
Kouzukenosuke reacted to the word ‘pay’ and kowtowed. I can take it as he agreed then. It’s unsettling to ask for help from someone I just met but we meeting here must be some kind of fate… Of course, that’s just some nonsense fancy word I said to him. The truth is I just don’t have many options so I need to use whoever I can now.
Our battle for survival has just started.
?
T/N:
[1] a vast fertile land in the Mino-Owari area. Both area is under the control of Oda Nobunaga in Sengoku Period https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C5%8Dbi_Plain ?
[2] Tsushima, Atsuta, and Nobi Plain are all located in Mino-Owari area, governed by Oda Nobunaga. Imagawa wanted to attack this Mino-Owari area while he was on the way to march to Kyoto, but was defeated by Oda Nobunaga. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okehazama ?
[3] a type of kelp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombu ?
[4] Enryaku shrine temple complex is build here. In sengoku period the buddhist monks that lives here is known as being corrupt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hiei ?
[5] A type of matchlcok based gun. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanegashima_(gun) ?
[6] Famous battle that marked the start Mori Motonari’s rise. He’s a samurai who will later become famous.
https://sengoku-period.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_Miyajima ?
[7]the southwest region of Honshu island. Honshu is the largest Japanese Island https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honshu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%ABgoku_region?
[8] This happened around March 1554.
https://samurai-archives.com/wiki/Hojo-Takeda-Imagawa_Alliance?
[9] The provincial lords in Sengoku Japan is called daimyo.?