Reincarnated as a Warlord in a Sengoku Era - Chapter 7
Translator:Nisarah Editor: Nisarah
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Advice, and Military Training
Tenbun 24 (1555 A.D), 9th month, Wakasa Province, Kumakawa.
A messenger from Kumakawa came to me. I originally thought it was the news of the success of shiitake cultivation, but it isn’t. The messenger said that Kouzukenosuke is stuck and needed my help. I immediately prepare to go to Kumakawa. Of course, Denza is coming with me.
I just hope I can help Kouzukenosuke. Even if I have to flip the world upside down I need to make the cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms a success.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the success and the failure of Shiitkae’s cultivation will be the ones that decide my future fate.
With Shiitake, I can bring kombu from the north, from Ezo Province. Currently, all kombu are only brought to Tsuruga Port. If I have shiitake I can exchange it with some kombu and make kombu enter the market of Obama Port.
Both kombu and shiitake are necessary ingredients to create good stocks. If I can control the flow of both items in the market, I can gain a huge fortune.
I have also encouraged the craftsmen to work on agate, as Wakasa is famous for its agate crafts in the future. But it will be hard to see the result immediately. In the first place, I have yet to be announced as the official heir of the clan so my influence is still too weak. I can only use Genshirou to spread the word of agate craft to the merchants
Other than agate, I have encouraged the craftsmen to start crafting lacquerware, another thing that make Wakasa famous in the future. Unfortunately, maybe because Sanjurou Matsuura, the person that makes Wakasa lacquerware famous isn’t born yet, the craft of lacquerware is still not widespread
“sigh… if only money can just fall from the sky.”
“What are you saying, young master. Did you not have enough money?”
“I do… but it’s still not enough.”
As the grandson of a daimyo, I’m richer than your average farmer. But what I want isn’t to make myself richer but to make Wakasa Province richer.
When I arrived at Kumakawa, the Kouzukenosuka that I haven’t seen in a while looked even paler than before. He must have spent all his energy to make the shiitake cultivation a success.
If this keeps up, I’m worried that Kouzukenosuke is going to collapse first. Kouzukenosuke lowered his head with a gloomy expression.
“My deepest apologies. I have yet to succeed in cultivating the Shiitake Mushrooms.”
“I expect it will take time so it’s fine. So, what is the current problem you faced?”
Rather than answering my question, Kouzukenosuke invited me to come inside the mansion. The mansion has a lot of cracks here and there. This place must be really cold in the winter. The room that Kouzukenosuke invited me to, which is probably his room is located deep into the mansion. The room is littered with tree logs on every corner. Kouzukenosuke must have worked really hard.
Kouzukenosuke handed me a bowl. Inside of the bowl is Shiitake Mushrooms and there is white fungus sticking on the wall of the bowl. It seems like Kouzukenosuke has successfully grown the fungus.
“Ah, this is great! you’ve done well, Kouzukenosuke!”
Thank you for your praise. But the problem came after this.”
If I’m not wrong, the next step should be putting the fungus into a tree log using a small piece of wood that had the shiitake’s fungus on it. The small wood is called… spawn? That spawn is what will go inside the tree log.
“To think that such a method exists! Young master, where did you learn that method?”
“Ah…um…from… a high priest of Ming! [1] I’ve heard it from a Ming high priest that visited my uncle!”
Somehow, I succeeded in making an excuse. It won’t be strange for a Ming high priest to come to the residence of Sei-i Taishogun so I hope Kousukenosuke is convinced by this excuse. I also need to tell Kouzukenosuke that this is a top-secret so no one found out I lied.
“Is that so. I shall try it immediately.”
While keep sprawling, ‘That’s a new knowledge’ Kouzukenosuke walked to a desk. He took a small knife and used it to create a small piece of wood from a tree log.
With how concentrated he looks, I doubt Kouzukenosuke can hear me now. Though it’s a good thing to have a high concentration to the point of no longer being affected by your surrounding at the same time, it’s dangerous. Unless Kouzukenosuke can fix that habit, I’m worried to entrust some soldiers to him.
Words can no longer reach Kouzukenosuke. What I can do now is only hope for Kouzukenosuke’s success.
But well, this is a bit of a problem. I haven’t conveyed the thing about soldiers to Kouzukenosuke. What should I do… While I was contemplating, Kouzukenosuke’s father, Kouzukenosuke Mitsukane sat in front of me. Mitsukane’s daughter, Kouzukenosuke’s younger sister poured two cups of hot water for both of us,
“I apologies for my son’s carelessness.”
“No need. I am rather grateful to him to the point I feel bad to be unable to repay his favor.”
“Thank you. Then, are you not here for another purpose?”
“That’s right. You see, I had arranged a merchant from Wakasa to send provisions, weapons, and armors to Kumakawa.”
I should’ve told this to Kouzukenosuke directly but well, I have no other choice. Let’s just tell it to his father first and let his father tell Kouzukenosuke later on. Then, I can just transfer the command of the army to Kouzukenosuke and be done with it.
I already told Genshirou to pass the message, but telling him myself is also fine since it can prevent misunderstandings to occur.
“I see.”
“I want Kouzukenosuke to secretly gather some people and train them. If it Kouzukenosuke, leading a 100 man should be no problem”
“I shall convey your intention to my son!”
There’s no need to leave it all to Kouzukenosuke. I don’t mind if the Numata father and son work together. I told Mitsukane that and left the Numata residence.
With this the number of people I can move as I please have increased. It’s only 100 people but it’s better than nothing. Kumakawa is only 500 koku territory. Unless the cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms succeded it will be impossible to permanently maintain 100 soldiers.
I also want 6 more warriors. I will need Kouzukenosuke to work hard and gather them.
I can only believe in Kouzukenosuke while kept investing my money in him.
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T/N:
[1] ancient Chinese.?