boyutpedia Page 134
Page 134
Shinzaburo, clad in a five-piece ceremonial robe with gold tassels and red silk, wearing a sixteen-slit helmet with the Fudo Myo-o sword in front of him, and riding a magnificent steed four and a half feet tall, surveyed his surroundings with an imposing and dignified air. Dozens of riders accompanied him, along with a group of burly men carrying a large banner with the image of Zhong Kui and a horse seal. Their imposing presence and resounding steps commanded silence and respect wherever they went.
Most soldiers and civilians did not actually have the ability to understand what made their lord so powerful; they could only sense his vague "aura."
This is precisely what Yoshiaki Kubo, the Tanba Zhongke, excels at.
Even if they actually win, or even if they suffer a setback in the battle, they can probably still put on an act of being in complete control.
Actually, he wasn't so calm inside.
The main reason was that during the retreat, they received news that Miho's father, Kazukawa Ichizon, had passed away.
This matter is not big or small.
The Miyoshi family's vast empire would not be shaken by the death of a few key figures. However, in the original history, the sudden death of Kazutaka Sogawa was only the beginning, followed by a series of tragic events beyond human control.
At this point in time, there are some things that need to be prepared.
They must at least accumulate enough strength to protect themselves, so that the fledgling Kubo family doesn't perish prematurely in the storm.
Secondly, if you have the capacity, it's best to take good care of your relatives and friends, and also repay the benefactors along your life's journey. Only by forming a large community of shared interests can you truly be safe.
As for the possibility of going further, that's probably something that can't be forced, so there's no need to think about it too much for now.
……
Upon entering the city and dismounting, he had barely exchanged a few words with his long-awaited family when an urgent report arrived.
The magistrate left behind, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo, looked as if facing a formidable enemy. He held a document above his head with both hands and spoke earnestly: "My lord has just traveled a thousand miles and should not be disturbed. However, there is an unresolved lawsuit in the territory. Both parties involved are very influential, and they each have their own version of events, making it difficult to distinguish right from wrong. I am at a loss as to how to handle this matter and can only await your personal judgment."
Shinzaburo frowned slightly upon hearing this, thinking that Mansatsu Yoshikiyo was not the type to seek attention. If he said the case was complicated, then it probably really was.
So he quickly asked for more details.
Mansatsu Yoshikiyo said, "It was the land sale between Itsumi Suruga no Kami's wife's cousin and the head of the Honjō-ji temple."
Upon hearing the name of the person involved, it was clear that quite a stir had taken place.
Itsumi Suruga-no-kami, also known as Itsumi Masatsune, was a powerful samurai who controlled nearly 10,000 koku of land in western Wakasa. He was not only quite influential but also always very respectful to the Kubo family, for which he was treated with great favor. His younger brother has now succeeded to the Matsukura family in Tango, holding a 3,000 koku of land and commanding three yarou (armored soldiers), making him a figure of considerable importance as well.
Therefore, Itsuki Suruga no Kami's brother-in-law was considered one of their own, and naturally could not be treated lightly.
The term "honjō-jō" refers to the bureaucrat responsible for managing various industries under the name of a temple or shrine.
This Honjō-ji Temple is located next to Obama Port and has always been a popular and thriving place of worship. It has close ties with the merchants and artisans in the port town, and its influence extends to the trade order of the surrounding area. Its biggest benefactor is the Wakasa First Luxury Commercial Housing Complex.
Over the years, HDB flats have been very pragmatic, not only contributing a large amount of "transfer fees" but also fully cooperating with the Kubo family's various policies. They are also one of our own, and we cannot take them lightly.
Even in Shinzaburo's harem, there was an intelligent and virtuous lady named Mitsuki, who was the younger sister of Itsuki Masatsune, and a gentle woman named Aru, who had once been a nun in a nunnery under the jurisdiction of Honkyoji Temple.
This is a tough situation; both sides are equally important.
Since the background is a draw, we need to examine the whole story to see who is right.
Mansatsu Yoshikiyo explained, “Two months ago, Itsumi Suruga-no-kami’s brother-in-law asked Honjō-ji for some land and paid a deposit. But now Honjō-ji’s manager has gone back on his word and is demanding double the deposit in return to take back the land. However, Itsumi Suruga-no-kami’s brother-in-law is refusing to accept this.”
Shinzaburo immediately became curious: "Which lands are they? Why are you going back on your word?"
Mansho Yoshikiyo said, "These are desolate beaches on the coast, which were originally of little value. Therefore, Itsumi Suruga no Kami's brother-in-law bought several properties at a low price of only 120 kan, and has now paid a deposit of 30 kan."
Shinzaburo was initially puzzled: "Since it's wasteland, why did one party want to buy it, and the other party promised to sell it first but then went back on their word?"
But he quickly realized something, and before Mansatsu Yoshikiyo could answer, he exclaimed, "Could it be related to the saltpeter business?"
“Exactly!” Mansatsu Yoshikiyo subconsciously leaned forward, his voice becoming low. “After expanding several saltpeter fields last year, we are running low on materials and need to collect more seabird droppings and decaying fish and shrimp. This matter has not been announced yet, but Itsumi Suruga no Kami is aware of it. He probably instructed his brother-in-law to buy suitable land for material collection in advance. As for the head of the Honjō-ji Temple, he initially did not know the intricacies behind it and rashly agreed to sell the land. He probably realized his mistake afterward and regretted it, so he wanted to break the contract.”
“I see…” Shinzaburo understood the tricky part of the matter.
The two sides in the lawsuit not only have strong backgrounds and connections, but are also evenly matched in terms of their arguments.
On the other hand, Masataka Itami used his position to obtain inside information and then quickly made a move in the market in advance to try to hoard the land at a low price. This was not illegal, but it was a bit mercenary. On the other hand, Honjoji agreed to sell the land in a daze, but went back on his word after finding out the situation. He was untrustworthy, but his willingness to pay double the deposit showed that he had some sense of responsibility.
As for whether a deal with a deposit already paid can be terminated, and how much compensation should be paid if it is terminated, it's unclear.
Because of the chaotic Warring States period, there was a lack of written laws and regulations from the central government to individual states. All economic activities had to be conducted according to local customs and social norms. This meant that there were no mandatory standards, and things would become complicated when one party in a transaction did not intend to respect custom or social norms.
No wonder Mansatsu Yoshikiyo, who stayed behind to take charge of administrative affairs, was in a difficult position! This matter was indeed not something that an ordinary magistrate could handle.
After listening, Shinzaburo pondered for a long time. Instead of discussing how to handle the matter, he asked, "Our rightful governor of Wakasa Province, Lord Takeda Osamu (Yoshitomo), hasn't he returned from Echizen? Why don't we go to him about this lawsuit?"
“Hehe…” Mansatsu Yoshikiyo showed an expression of wanting to laugh but not daring to, chuckled, and continued, “This official governor, Lord Takeda Osamu, has some great wisdom in his seemingly foolishness. While you were away on campaign, he was just in Koseyama Castle, indulging in literature, composing poems and painting, and did not care about politics.”
"Well..." Shinzaburo deliberately continued to dabble in this topic, "Don't you still have some old retainers around Lord Takeda Harubu? Do any of them have any thoughts of sharing the burdens of their lord?"
“In the past, some people did indeed act as retainers of the Wakasa governor, pointing fingers and giving orders everywhere. Whether they wanted to share the burden or had other motives is hard to say,” Manmatsu Yoshikiyo explained in detail about the recent developments. “However, faced with this complex and difficult lawsuit, no one dares to speak recklessly. After all, Lord Takeda Osamu is surrounded by a bunch of useless people. Perhaps only Lord Tomita Nagashige from Echizen is an exception, but that fellow was taken to the front lines by you, my lord…”
“Very good.” Shinzaburo nodded, pondered for a moment, and instructed, “I have already thought of a way to handle this lawsuit, so let’s put it aside for now. Next, you should visit Lord Takeda Osamu and his group of former retainers and get them to publicly state that they have handed the lawsuit over to the Kubo family. It would be even better if they could get the documents in order.”
"Yes, sir!" Wansong Yiqing pondered for a moment, then instantly understood his lord's meaning and felt completely convinced. "I will do it immediately!"
“Hmm.” Shinzaburo paused for a moment, then said, “After this is done, call over Itsumi Suruga-no-kami’s brother-in-law and the miscellaneous officials of Honjōji Temple, and have them debate in court.”
"Ah, this..." Mansatsu Yoshikiyo felt that it was better to handle such matters involving high-level officials in secret. A public confrontation would be too undignified, and if no conclusion could be reached and the matter continued to drag on, it would not look good.
Shinzaburo smiled slightly, full of confidence: "Didn't I just say that I've already thought of a way to handle the lawsuit?"
256. Before the verdict was reached, oppressive policies arrived first.
As instructed by Shinzaburo, the case was first forcibly sent to the official governor, Takeda Yoshitomo, and was only taken back after receiving a promise that "all lawsuits involving temples, shrines, local people, merchants, and commoners in Wakasa will be handled by Kubo Sado."
Two days later, the weather changed from sunny to cloudy, and a light drizzle began to fall. Mansatsu Yoshikiyo was ordered to act and summoned both parties to the lawsuit to the Ōhiro-maru of Obama Castle for a meeting.
Although the argument was heated, the number of people present was not large.
The middle-aged man sitting on the right, of short stature, is the brother-in-law of Itsuki Suruga no Kami, named Kuwabara Daisuke. He wears a plain-colored kimono with his family crest printed on it, without any other ornaments, seemingly trying to portray a simple and honest character. However, his eyes keep darting around, and his brows reveal the shrewdness of a stock market swindler.
In another direction, the head priest of Honjō-ji Temple was named Watanabe Shinchisai. He was a tall and robust lay Buddhist who was gentle and refined. He wore a Buddhist robe, a black headscarf, and held prayer beads in his hand. He chanted Buddhist mantras and had a faint smile on his lips. His every move resembled that of a kind and benevolent monk, yet he possessed an aura that was not to be trifled with.
Before either side could even speak or argue, the air was already thick with tension.
Seeing this, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo felt somewhat uneasy. He was always humble and kind, and even when facing the poor, he would show a certain degree of friendliness. When governing, he preferred to move people with emotion and persuade them with reason rather than to oppress them with power.
But given the current situation, we can only suppress it forcefully.
After glancing around, Wan Songyi cleared his throat, focused his mind, put on a serious expression, and announced loudly: "Regarding the dispute between the two of you over the land sale, the lord has ordered me to listen to both sides' views first, clarify the ins and outs, and then take action. Therefore, please state your reasons today, and refrain from any inappropriate words or actions."
"Thank you for your help, Lord Mansho. I believe this matter is extremely simple." Kuwabara University Assistant on the right spoke first, his words rapid yet clear and sharp: "According to the usual practice in real estate transactions, my family paid a deposit of thirty kanmon and received the consent of the temple manager of this territory to purchase several plots of wasteland by the sea, with a contract as proof. Now the other party wants to break the contract, which is completely unreasonable! If this precedent is set, in the future, if this country is controlled, honest merchants will be in danger, and who will dare to do business with peace of mind?"
This guy is good at making a big deal out of things; with just one sentence, he elevated the issue to the level of the business environment.
"Lord Kuwabara is indeed a master of eloquence, but his arguments are nothing but sophistry." Watanabe Shinchisai on the left spoke softly and gently, but he was unyielding. "The deal for those wastelands was not finalized. Since the other party mentioned custom, then we will simply pay double the deposit as usual. Isn't that enough sincerity? As everyone knows, it is possible to back out at any time during a business transaction. As long as sufficient compensation is made, there is no need to question it."
"A mere two times the deposit is hardly enough compensation, is it?" Kuwabara University Assistant persisted, like a small vendor haggling in a town. "After all, Honjōji's breach of contract is completely unreasonable, and we should receive compensation of five times, or even ten times, the deposit."
"Please forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of five or ten times the amount." Watanabe Shinchisai sat upright like a scholar giving a sermon. "According to the past practice in Ohama Bay, Wakasa Province, the penalty for breach of contract in land sales has always been twice the deposit."
“But that convention only applies to breaches of contract that are excusable.” Kuwabara University Assistant’s face gradually showed annoyance. “I don’t know what excusable circumstances Honjō-ji has.”
“As I have already stated, our temple has changed its mind and intends to manage these coastal wastelands ourselves,” Watanabe Shinchisai retorted without backing down. “Isn’t that reason sufficient?”
"Of course not, that's utterly unreasonable!"
"Who exactly is being unreasonable?"
As the conversation progressed, the atmosphere in the room gradually became tense.
Wan Songyi coughed twice, then put on a stern face and reminded them, "I just said not to say or do anything inappropriate. Have you two forgotten so quickly?"
Although Yoshikiyo Mansatsu was a kind-hearted man, he was ultimately wearing the tiger skin of the Kubo family's code of conduct, and if he really got ruthless, he was not incapable of dealing with people.
The two people in the audience immediately bowed and apologized.
Then they dared not argue anymore, but started being sarcastic and sarcastic.
"Lord Watanabe Shinchisai's statement is certainly in accordance with the rules, but it is completely devoid of human sentiment!" Kuwabara University Assistant glanced at Manmatsu Yoshikiyo and grinned with a meaningless chuckle: "Heh, you may not know that these wastelands will be used for important military matters in the future, so it is better to have them managed by someone more trustworthy."
“What you say, Lord Kuwabara, makes perfect sense.” Watanabe Shinchisai remained calm and composed, like an ancient well, and took over the conversation without hesitation. “I was somewhat negligent before, but now that I know the purpose of the coastal wasteland, I cannot tolerate these properties falling into the hands of suspicious people.”
"When it comes to loyalty to Lord Kubo Sado, I doubt anyone in Wakasa Province can compare to my sworn brother, Itsumi Suruga-no-kami," Kuwabara Daisuke said with conviction, appearing very confident. "Therefore, it is our entire family's duty to contribute to the great cause of the Kubo family."
"Our temple's great benefactor is a public housing estate. Back when the Great Bow Castle was being built, it was already serving Lord Kubo Sado. At that time, the Itsumi family was not yet present." Watanabe Shinchisai did not back down and immediately started talking about seniority. "A samurai only needs to fight on the front lines. The work of planning behind the scenes can be left to someone more suitable."
To be fair, neither of them made any mistakes.
Masatsugu Itsumi, behind Kuwabara University Assistant, was Wakasa's number one traitor who helped the Kubo family gain a foothold; the HDB flat behind Watanabe Shinchisai was the head of the Kohama Bay's official merchants, contributing a lot of money.
Mansatsu Yoshikiyo was caught in a dilemma. He sighed and helplessly advised, "Both of you are highly valued by the Kubo family. If you could each compromise, save face, and avoid conflict, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds? There is plenty of wasteland near the coast. Dividing it equally between the two families would still be enough. Therefore, I think that Kuwabara Daigakusuke should still pay the original price of 150 kan to purchase half of the wasteland, and Watanabe Shinchisai can keep the other half. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, both men bowed to express their gratitude, but each politely declined.
Kuwabara University Assistant scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly, looking embarrassed: "I've already made a big promise to Itsumi Suruga-no-kami. If I don't succeed, I'll be too embarrassed to go back and face people!"
Watanabe Shinchisai clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and bowed his head, elegant yet resolute: "If we were to make concessions here, the people of the country would probably think our temple is foolish and easily deceived. How could we face our ancestors?"
After listening to both sides' arguments, Mansatsu Yoshikiyo remained silent for a long time, then sighed and shook his head, saying, "Since that's the case, I'm at my wit's end. I can only ask Lord Katsura Yoshinobu for his assistance in adjudicating today's lawsuit."
Upon hearing this, both Kuwabara Daisuke and Watanabe Shinchisai were somewhat surprised and nervous.
Unlike the good-natured Mansatsu Yoshikiyo, Katsura Yoshinobu was always strict and demanding. Had they known he was there, the two sides might not have dared to argue so fiercely.
A moment later, a man dressed in a black robe and wearing a black folded hat, with sharp, piercing eyes, strode into the hall. He was none other than Katsura Yoshinobu, known for his cold-blooded and ruthless nature.
He glanced around and said sternly, "The two sides are locked in a dispute over nothing more than the saltpeter field! Kuwabara Daigakusuke, as the brother-in-law of Itsumi Suruga-no-kami, received the news early on and wanted to acquire the coastal wasteland before outsiders knew. Watanabe Shinchisai was initially unaware of the situation and willingly sold the Honjō-ji Temple's land, but after understanding the reasons, he regretted it. This kind of tug-of-war, only concerned with personal gain and completely lacking in public interest, is utterly disgraceful!"
Kuwabara University Assistant and Watanabe Shinchisai, having their thoughts exposed, dared not speak out and remained silent with their heads down.
Katsura Yoshinobu paused for a moment, then sneered, "Ha! Don't think that just because you've gotten involved in the saltpeter field, you can rest easy. The lord is considering setting rules: from now on, whoever acquires this land must provide a sufficient amount of saltpeter-making materials once a month, and the Kubo family will buy it all. Any substandard quality or insufficient quantity will be penalized. Anyone who dares to falsify or conceal information will be punished!"
The two people in the audience immediately changed color upon hearing this.
Controlling the source of saltpeter is certainly very profitable and would also enhance one's standing within the Kubo faction. However, if it incurs additional obligations, it's not worth it at all.
Moreover, you'll be subject to frequent checks by officials. What if you get retaliated against?
“This…” Kuwabara University Assistant immediately looked troubled. “The method of using bird arrows and fish and shrimp to make saltpeter is something we have only tried in the last two years. It is a bit too much to take on such a heavy responsibility so hastily… Hey, since Honjō-ji has changed its mind and is unwilling to sell the land, I will give up the purchase and only ask for compensation for the deposit.”
Watanabe Shinchisai was also parched and flustered, uttering incoherently: "Our temple has always been based on quiet cultivation and has never dared to get involved in military supplies. Hmm, this time... this time we were short-sighted. After much consideration, it is indeed more appropriate to entrust the land related to the war to the family of Itsumi Suruga-no-kami."
Hearing their excuses, Katsura Yoshinobu glanced around, greatly displeased: "I just heard you two talking so eloquently, and I thought you were both incredibly loyal to the Kubo family. I never expected you to back down so easily! Alas, how can you follow our lord to build a great cause like this?"
Kuwabara Daigakusuke and Watanabe Shinchisai exchanged a quick glance, seemingly sharing a tacit understanding. They bowed simultaneously and pleaded with Manmatsu Yoshikiyo, who was standing to the side, "Please, Lord Manmatsu, show mercy!"
Mansatsu Yoshikiyo, looking utterly bored, waved his hand in refusal: "I just advised you two to compromise, but you refused. Now that Lord Yoshinobu has spoken, don't you know he is a man of his word?"
The two looked embarrassed, glancing at each other, both feeling awkward and caught in a dilemma.
Katsura Yoshinobu stood with his hands behind his back, observing coldly from the sidelines, showing no intention of making any concessions.
After a long silence, Kuwabara Daisuke chuckled, "Lord Mansatsu and Lord Katsura are both renowned officials, skilled in handling political affairs. I doubt they would stand by and watch us fall into this predicament."
Then Watanabe Shinchisai coughed twice and said in a serious tone, "This humble monk is naturally willing to obey Lord Kubo Sado's orders, but I am afraid that I am not up to the task and may end up making things worse, thus jeopardizing the important affairs of the Kubo family."
“Sigh…” Mansatsu Yoshikiyo shook his head and sighed twice, then suggested, “Lord Yoshinobu just said that the Lord is considering it, which means he has not yet made a decision. If we submit a joint petition now, there may still be room for negotiation.”
Upon hearing this, Kuwabara University Assistant nodded quickly, and Watanabe Shinchisai also breathed a sigh of relief.
257. Watch Noh performances and understand the spirit of the rule of law.
A few days later, as the sun began to shine, a gentle sea breeze blew through Kohama Bay. At the foot of the mountain, not far from the coast, the curtains were drawn in the Kagura Hall of Hachiman Shrine. Seats covered with exquisite straw mats were set up in front, and the sound of distant waves and the nearby music complemented each other.
On stage, there were strange dance steps with bent knees, accompanied by a unique, mysterious singing style. Below the stage, Shinzaburo sat leisurely, squinting his eyes and nodding slowly in sync with the rhythm.
Today he is hosting a Noh performance for his relatives and friends.
Currently, there is no large venue in Kohama Bay specifically for commercial performances, so they borrowed the Kagura Hall of Hachiman Shrine.
Considering that Noh plays of this era are mostly about the rise and fall of samurai families and their conquests, and that Hachiman Daisatsu is the guardian deity of samurai, the choice of this venue is not unreasonable.
Even the theater troupe was recruited from elsewhere by Kanda, the chief priest of Hachiman Shrine.
Noh theater and religion have a deep and inseparable connection. In the early days, most practitioners were priests, and performances were simply part of ritual activities. Later, it was discovered that the general public also enjoyed watching it, and it gradually separated from religion and began to be performed for the public.
The Hachiman Shrine in Obama Bay was looted and burned by defeated soldiers during the Wakasa Incident several years ago, rendering it unable to function properly for a time. It was only recently, thanks to the support of the Kubo family, that it was able to rebuild. Therefore, Shinzaburo's hosting of the guests here is also a way of displaying his power.
The gathering included high-ranking samurai, including the legitimate guardian Takeda Yoshitomo, as well as prominent monks, wealthy merchants, and cultural figures, totaling sixty or seventy people.
The performance on stage at this moment is "Funabenobu Kei" from "The Tale of the Heike," and it has reached its final section. The "Shite," dressed as a ghost, plays the spirit of Taira no Tomomori, expressing his resentment towards his old enemy, and comes to attack Minamoto no Yoshitsune; while the "Wakita" is Musashibo Benkei, wearing a monk's robe and wielding a long staff, who uses martial arts and Buddhist teachings to defeat the enemy.
Shinzaburo was perhaps too relaxed, and for some reason suddenly blurted out an inappropriate remark: "Female entertainers, how wonderful."
Actually, there are no female characters on the field at this moment.
Although the rule prohibiting women from participating was established by the Edo Shogunate, Noh theater during the Sengoku period was considered a masculine and dignified art, and could not be compared with the vulgar and erotic dances of courtesans.
So when these words were spoken, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward, and the warriors, monks, and wealthy merchants all pretended not to hear them.
Only Kanda, the chief priest of Hachiman Shrine, quietly approached, revealing a lewd smile that men understood between, and whispered in his ear, "If Lord Kubo Sado is interested, either the young woman who was dressed as Shizuka Gozen just now, or the handsome young man who is now playing the role of Judge Kuro, can be arranged tonight."
Shinzaburo was taken aback.