The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 116

Their mutual hostility had lessened considerably, and they all glanced at Katsura Yoshinobu with disdain.

The farmers didn't dare to do that; they all groveled and pitifully begged for mercy.

The six farmers, already ragged and emaciated, were lying on the ground, crying and wailing, looking truly pitiful.

Gui Yixin, however, remained calm and composed, smiling as he held up one finger and said leisurely, "Please be quiet. You have a full hour to reflect on your actions and quietly consider your mistakes. After an hour, I will personally come to listen patiently to your testimonies. If you can sincerely confess the truth and genuinely repent, you may be pardoned. But if you conceal the truth, resist stubbornly, and fail to show sincerity, then I will have to follow the principle of 'noise is the only way to win,' and make a small example of 'killing one to warn a hundred'—after all, killing is ultimately meant to teach people a profound lesson, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Katsuhisa Awaya and Nobumura Oyamada couldn't help but become serious.

The farmers were so frightened that they trembled and didn't even dare to cry.

At that moment, only two loud, youthful voices could be heard—

"Lord Yoshinobu, may we have a word to say?"

Following the sound, they saw that it was Ino-taro and Tobei, the young members of the Kubo family, walking out of the citadel.

Gui Yixin remained calm and immediately bowed to the two juniors with a gentle smile, saying softly, "I wonder what teachings you two gentlemen have for me?"

The shift in demeanor from sarcastic, veiled threats to respectful and cautious behavior was remarkably smooth.

Pig Taro bowed in return and said solemnly, "Does Lord Yoshinobu know that our lord has two concubines who are about to give birth? If we were to use torture at this time, it would be against the natural order and would be detrimental to the peace of the family."

Higashibei then added, "The lady suggested that the punishment of the retainers and subjects be suspended until after the child is born. The lord has agreed and instructed the two of us to come and convey the message."

Katsura Yoshinobu bowed and nodded repeatedly to the two young members of his sect, then turned around and adopted his superior demeanor, speaking calmly to Awaya Katsuhisa and Oyamada Nobumura: "Since the lord has given the order, please stay home and reflect on your actions. Do not go out without permission until you receive further notice. As for the heads of the six households involved, I will detain them and await further orders."

……

Not long after, another retainer of the Kubo family, Manmatsu Yoshikiyo, arrived at Chōsei-ji Temple in the eastern mountainous region of Wakasa.

This Nichiren sect temple has more than 200 monks and laypeople, occupies 500-600 tan of land, and is the location where nearby villagers hold the "Sansai Market" and "Lai Mu Zi".

The so-called "Three-Day Fasting Market" refers to a market held for three days each month. The word "fasting" in the name comes from its origins in the collective fasting activities of Buddhist organizations. "Lai Mu Zi," on the other hand, is a form of private financing that combines venture capital, charity, and lottery business.

Such a large force would be insignificant in Kyoto or Nara, but it was the strongest religious power in Wakasa.

When Takeda Nobutoyo served as the governor, he not only ran a Ponzi scheme to embezzle the monks' assets, but also once sent people to forcibly seize part of the land of Chōsei-ji Temple, causing great dissatisfaction among the nearby residents.

Fortunately, after Shinzaburo took power, he gradually rectified the situation. As long as the monks followed the rules, their land was returned to them.

During the war two years prior, many temples and shrines of varying sizes in the vicinity were destroyed, some of which were never rebuilt. Fortunately, Changqing Temple was not discovered by the Asakura army soldiers and escaped disaster. In fact, it attracted many new believers afterward, and its incense offerings flourished even more.

Today, this place has become one of the most prosperous areas in eastern Wakasa. Although it doesn't even have a single permanent shop, it's still considered the best of the worst.

The "Three Vegetarian Markets" at Changqing Temple are held on the 3rd, 13th, and 23rd of each month.

Mansho Yoshikiyo arrived at the place on August 12th, and after communicating with the abbot, he took action the next day.

In the 16th century, most areas of Japan could only grow single-season rice. Mid-August was the only time of year when the new rice was on the market. Farmers would sell some of their grain and finally have some spare money for consumption, so the "Sansai City" would be particularly lively.

Mansho Yoshikiyo's visit this time was not to buy anything. Instead, as an envoy of the Kubo family, he brazenly occupied the most conspicuous position at the entrance of Chōsei-ji Temple, raised the "Aoi Ryūdan" banner, and posted a simple and easy-to-understand notice.

Considering that most people are not literate, two loud-voiced people were specially hired to read it.

"Recently, we captured a group of unscrupulous merchants from Echizen who were mixing newly minted iron coins with Yongle coins and using them to buy rice in various villages. We urge everyone to be vigilant and exercise extreme caution when encountering people with Hokuriku accents!"

That's right, Yoshikiyo Mansatsu came here specifically to conduct anti-fraud education.

He set up a small stool, leisurely closed his eyes to rest, and ordered his two attendants to take turns working to keep the propaganda going.

The monks, farmers, and merchants around them found it intriguing and gathered to look, but they seemed not to understand it. They were all confused and puzzled, whispering among themselves.

At noon, when the crowd was at its peak, a middle-aged man who looked like a wealthy family suddenly rushed over with a mournful face, knelt down in front of me, and said in a tearful voice, "Sir! Yesterday, I sold grain to a merchant with a Northern accent and received 250 Yongle coins. Just now, after your reminder, I carefully counted them at home and found that 117 of them were counterfeit! What should I do?"

"Hmm..." Mansatsu Yoshikiyo slowly opened his eyes, stood up with the help of his attendants, and said, shaking his head and dragging out the last syllable, "Look, how could you be so careless? You have to be more careful in the future. Fortunately, this time our Kubo family not only caught the thief, but also recovered the stolen goods. You can get your losses back."

"Oh! Thank you, sir! Thank you, Kubo family!" The middle-aged wealthy man was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed several times to express his gratitude. He then explained, "I originally wanted to carefully examine the coins, but there was someone nearby who seemed to be passing by. He said that his grain was cheaper and wanted to take the merchant away. I was in a hurry to complete the transaction quickly, so I didn't have time to examine them carefully."

Mansatsu Yoshikiyo accepted the offer without any modesty, then said very seriously, "This is exactly the scheme of a cunning merchant! If a stranger suddenly appears to steal your business, he is very likely an accomplice deliberately trying to interfere with you! In situations like this, you need to be extra calm. It's better to give up business than to do something wrong."

The onlookers around them all had expressions of sudden realization, feeling that they had gained new knowledge.

Then, the middle-aged wealthy man hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying, "Sir, that unscrupulous merchant with the Northern accent not only uses counterfeit money to buy my grain, but also goes around telling people that this village has low taxes and that village has light corvée labor... In short, he is trying to persuade people to move away on their own."

"Is that so?" Wan Songyi's expression immediately turned serious, and his tone became solemn. He quickly took two steps forward: "How could a mere unscrupulous merchant from out of town rashly discuss the tax and corvée matters of the local villages?"

“Uh…” The middle-aged wealthy man wiped the sweat from his brow, bent over, and lowered his head, saying, “Although he is a shady merchant from out of town, he was brought into the village by a local monk.”

"It seems that Echizen sent spies to bribe the local monks in an attempt to create unrest!" Mansatsu Yoshikiyo concluded after a moment's thought. He then reached out and grabbed the middle-aged wealthy man, saying solemnly, "Come with me and report what just happened to your superiors!"

The monks, farmers, and merchants around them then understood what had happened and exclaimed in unison, "How could these outsiders from the Northern Lands be so wicked!"

219 Reclusive Talents from Rural Areas Recommend Themselves

After completing his task of guiding public opinion, Mansho Yoshikiyo, accompanied by three attendants, returned to his residence outside Kohama Castle, humming a self-composed tune.

As an unrecognized branch of the Tango Isshiki family, he desperately wanted to reclaim his rightful place, but he also knew that this was not something that could be accomplished overnight. Now that he had completed a task, his status within the Kubo family would improve, bringing him one step closer to his goal, which was worth celebrating.

How about we head to the port town to buy some good wine? Or perhaps we could just have a delicious seafood feast at a restaurant?

Just then, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo suddenly noticed a stranger standing at his doorstep and was taken aback.

Upon closer inspection, the stranger had a knife at his waist and a short gun on his shoulder. He was travel-worn and had nothing of value, yet he exuded an indescribable calm and composure.

After making eye contact, the stranger spoke first: "I am Muto Shunsuke, and I have come to pay my respects to Lord Mansatsu Yoshikiyo, hoping to find a place to stay."

Is he a job-seeking wanderer?

Mansatsu Yoshikiyo was slightly surprised, then smiled and shook his head, explaining, "I only do social and logistical work for the Kubo family. During wartime, I manage the Koga detachment, so I don't need any warriors around me. Why don't you visit Oi, Inatomi, and Takemura instead..."

"It's a misunderstanding." The ronin who called himself Mutou Shunshu bowed slightly, his tone calm. "I am more skilled in strategy than martial arts. Isn't Lord Yoshikiyo currently employing strategy?"

"Strategy? What strategy?" Upon hearing this, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo's heart skipped a beat, but he pretended to be confused. "I recently went to Chōsei-ji Temple in eastern Wakasa to handle a case of unscrupulous merchants using counterfeit money to deceive the people."

"Hehe..." Muto Shunshu looked around, stroked his beard and smiled, pointed to the crowd of people coming and going on the road, and said meaningfully, "Do we really have to talk in this public place by the roadside?"

"Hmm... I was being rude!" Mansatsu Yoshikiyo frowned, feeling that the matter was indeed not suitable for public discussion, so he could only extend his hand to invite the other party into the house, "Although we are both ronin, it is fate that we have met. Please come to my humble abode as a guest."

Muto Shunshu entered the room unhurriedly, casually taking off his short gun and katana and handing them to Mansatsu Yoshikiyo's attendant for safekeeping.

The area around Kohama Bay is the core area of ​​the Kubo family, with many guards patrolling it at all times. If a crime is committed here, it would be difficult to escape unscathed. Therefore, there is not too much need to worry about ronin committing evil deeds.

However, Muto Shunshu's willingness to hand over his weapon showed his sincerity.

……

Mansho Yoshikiyo's house was a typical samurai residence, with a small courtyard in front and a house in the back. A small thatched hut was built separately to serve as the kitchen and toilet. Inside, there were a few bedrooms, but only one hall, which served multiple purposes such as receiving guests, dining, and holding festivals.

After taking his seat, Muto Shunshu immediately spoke up: "Lord Yoshikiyo is trying to guide public opinion in Wakasa and attribute the 'Six Households Relocation' case to foreign forces. It is certainly a clever idea, but unfortunately, it lacks strength."

Mansho Yoshikiyo thought that since everything had been seen through, there was no point in insisting on denying it, so he simply asked humbly, "What do you mean by insufficient strength?"

Muto Shunshu solemnly said, "A straightforward arrangement may confuse ordinary people, but it may not be able to fool monks and merchants."

After a moment of contemplation, Mansho Yoshikiyo cautiously said, "It would be good enough if ordinary people could understand the whole story. The thoughts of monks and merchants are beyond my control."

“However…” Mutō Shunshū’s face revealed a sly smile, “Since you intend to guide public opinion, you might as well consider a question first, namely—what exactly is ‘the people’?”

“The samurai, monks, merchants, artisans, farmers, fishermen of Wakasa… these are all subjects of the Kubo family.” Mansatsu Yoshikiyo gave a politically correct answer.

"Hmm..." Muto Shunshu blinked and said softly, "Would you be willing to hear my opinion?"

“…Please speak.” Wansong Yiqing was naturally approachable and very humble. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded.

"Thank you for your understanding." Muto Shunshu bowed and then cleared his throat, saying in a low voice, "Only those who have the ability to speak out are considered the people; their thoughts are the will of the people. All others are just talking two-legged beasts who only know how to follow the crowd."

“This…this…” Wansong Yiqing was stunned when he heard this. He intended to refute the other party, but after thinking for a moment, he did not know what to say.

The words sound so harsh, but the more I think about them, the more reasonable they seem.

At the same time, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo felt fortunate. This ronin named Muto Shunshu was so intelligent, yet he did not choose to expose the truth in public. Instead, he took the initiative to come and invite him to talk, indicating that his attitude was inclined towards the Kubo family.

That's easy to do.

After a moment of silence, Mansho Yoshikiyo asked, "What advice do you have for me?"

"I dare not accept the title of 'teaching master.' However, I do have some knowledge of how to guide people's hearts." Muto Shunshu said with feigned humility, then said seriously, "At this moment, all we need is a mid-level merchant to ask in public whether the so-called 'Hokuriku swindlers' are related to the Asakura family and whether it will trigger a war between Echizen and Wakasa."

"Ah... I understand." Mansatsu Yoshikiyo wasn't stupid, and he immediately grasped the key point. "At this time, you must deny it outright and declare that it has nothing to do with the Asakura family. But you must also show some reluctance on your face. Then everyone will think that the Asakura family was the mastermind behind this, but they just didn't want to make it public in order to maintain peace."

"Lord Yoshikiyo is absolutely right!" Muto Shunshu complimented, then smiled and said, "Merchants and monks think they are a hundred times smarter than farmers, but in reality they are not much better. Uneducated people are easily credulous, while those who have only read a little tend to be overly skeptical."

"You are truly a wise man; your words have enlightened me greatly." Mansatsu Yoshikiyo sincerely thanked him, then looked puzzled, "May I ask, who is Lord Muto Shunsuke? How did you become a ronin and come to this place?"

“I did not come here as a ronin.” Muto Shunshu sighed and said quietly, “I come from Kato Village near Obama. I am a member of a collateral branch of the Wakasa Muto family. I originally had a territory of twenty-two and a half gangoku, but I no longer have it.”

Wakasa Muto?

Mansatsu Yoshikiyo was greatly alarmed.

They were a powerful clan whose territory had been seized by the Kubo family, who had fled to Echizen to seek refuge with the Asakura family; they were enemies, not friends.

At this moment, Muto Shunshu immediately explained, "The direct descendants of Muto are dull-witted and weak, and are not worthy of support. Asakura Kingo of Echizen is also hardly a capable leader. Therefore, I have made up my mind to pledge allegiance to Lord Kubo Sado!"

Upon hearing this, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo remained silent, his expression gradually turning cold, clearly harboring doubts.

Muto Shunshu remained calm and composed, maintaining his smile, and said, "I came here today not to inquire about Wakasa's information, nor to ask for any money, food, or supplies, nor to request any authorization. The only thing I did was to offer a simple plan. Why should you be suspicious?"

"To be honest, your intelligence is awe-inspiring." Mansatsu Yoshikiyo felt he could not contend with the other party and decided to adopt a respectful distance. "I do not know what to do."

"What Lord Yoshikiyo needs to do is very simple." Muto Shunshu had a matter-of-fact expression on his face. "If you think I am a suspicious spy, then you should arrest me and hand me over to Lord Kubo Sado. Conversely, if you think I can be trusted, then you should introduce me and let Lord Kubo Sado decide whether to hire me. There is no difference between the two."

Mansatsu Yoshikiyo was once again rendered speechless.

What the other person said sounded strange at first, but upon closer examination it seemed to make sense. However, upon further reflection, there was still a sense that something was amiss.

“Even if you were to tie me up and take me to see Lord Kubo Sado, if I were to rise to prominence in the future, I would still be grateful for your recommendation.” Muto Shunshu remained calm and composed, even jokingly asking, “Lord Yoshikiyo, you don’t think I’m some kind of hero that Lord Kubo Sado can’t handle, do you? That would be giving me far too much credit.”

That makes sense, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo thought. Although the man in front of him was intelligent and eloquent, he was unlikely to be as good as Lord Kubo Sado.

So there's no need to worry.

Mansatsu Yoshikiyo nodded and said, "Then, I would be so kind as to ask you to stay at my humble abode for the night. Tomorrow we will go together to pay our respects to my lord, Lord Kubo Sado."

"Thank you so much!" Muto Shunshu bowed to express his gratitude, and then said in a serious tone, "If Lord Yoshikiyo is not at ease, it would be best to imprison me."

"You're joking. What could I possibly be worried about? Since you've come to seek refuge with Lord Kubo Sado, we'll be colleagues from now on, and I hope we can look after each other." Mansatsu Yoshikiyo smiled lightly, feigning generosity, but inwardly he decided to arrange for his attendants to take turns keeping watch over this suspicious ronin tonight.

220. Taking advantage of victory, they became arrogant and domineering.

"You two have worked hard."

The two concubines were only a few days apart in their due dates. Shinzaburo looked at his second son and second daughter and was a little unsure how to express his feelings.

Deep down, although it wasn't as exciting as becoming a father for the first time, the feeling of closeness and blood ties was exactly the same.

However, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and between elder and younger children, is an objective reality.

If one focuses too much attention on the offspring born from the side chamber, or inadvertently says things like "I, Yoshiaki Kubo, treat all my children equally," it could cause unnecessary psychological stress for the two mothers who have just given birth, thus affecting their postpartum recovery.

After all, they were just ordinary women, not ambitious heroines.

In a hierarchical society, most people follow the crowd and play roles that fit their status. They will feel angry and dissatisfied if they are belittled for no reason, and they will feel anxious and uneasy if they are suddenly elevated.

Considering his family's feelings, Shinzaburo finally smiled and said moderately, "This boy seems good. Whether he becomes a member of the Kubo branch family or inherits another family name, he should be able to take on the role of a local lord. As for the girls, we will arrange for them to marry the most suitable young talents after they come of age. We don't need to care too much about their social status. The key is their character and ability. Even if they come from poor families, we can still help them out."

As soon as the words were spoken, the expressions of the two concubines relaxed considerably.

Chizuru, the wet nurse of the young master of the Shingu faction, gave birth to a son named "Chōfukumaru," while Nagai Gaiki's older sister, Ayū, gave birth to a daughter, tentatively named "Afune." Counting back 280 days, all of these were the results of last November, which was indeed a rare time for Shinzaburo to relax and recuperate at home.

The delivery went smoothly, and the couple were soon able to move around on their own again. However, the baby was temporarily cared for by an older servant.

Today, Shinzaburo was thinking about giving his child a nickname, so everyone gathered in the courtyard of the Kohama Castle Palace.

Chizuru's physique was probably somewhat special; even after giving birth, she didn't show any signs of plumpness or maturity, remaining the petite and delicate young woman she once was, yet her development in all the right places was quite remarkable, even with room to spare. Looking at her infant son in his swaddling clothes, she softly said, "Since you are fortunate enough to be born into the Kubo family, Chofukumaru probably won't have to work too hard. As long as you are loyal and dutiful, you can live a peaceful and happy life!"

A-Yuan was already a gentle, virtuous, considerate, and meticulous woman, and now she was even more maternal, her brows radiating a warm, spring-like gentleness that seemed capable of soothing any bad mood. Her voice was slightly hoarse, possessing a unique quality, like a gentle breeze blowing across sand dunes: "If there is an opportunity, I hope A-Chuan can marry someone closer to home, even if her husband isn't some great hero..."

“With such a great father, it’s unlikely that A-Fen will ever consider other men to be great heroes.” The speaker was Nezu, the younger sister of Itsumi Masatsune, the most cultured concubine in the Kubo family.

That was a very smooth and skillful way of flattering someone.

In truth, given the current situation, the concubines who haven't yet borne any children are in a rather awkward position, but they have no reason to complain. Shinzaburo has generally managed to distribute his blessings widely and evenly; whether or not they will bear fruit depends on a series of factors such as soil, season, and climate.

Shinzaburo was in a good mood, and his concubines flattered him, so they chatted idly about trivial matters in the courtyard.

After a while, Mrs. Dou walked over from the front yard looking tired.

Everyone quickly bowed according to their status.

Adou was just entertaining guests.

Why should the mistress of the house, rather than the head of the household, entertain guests?

Because all the visitors were family members of the officials.

When a concubine of the lord gives birth, those below should neither be too solemn nor remain indifferent; sending a wife to inquire about the child is just appropriate.