Chapter 109
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The anguish of fathers.
Three men gathered in the villa that Sakihisa (Konoe) had inherited from Shizuko. Nobunaga, Sakihisa (Konoe), and Ashimitsu had been meeting frequently lately to discuss a certain matter.
“So, what are we going to do about Shizuko’s marriage?”
Shizuko’s marriage. This was a significant matter that could not be avoided, and it was also a task that needed to be resolved urgently. In the past, when she was the village chief, it would have been a different story, but now Shizuko was a prominent retainer of the Oda clan, which was closest to ruling the country, and unofficially, she was also a princess of the Konoe family, one of the Five Regent Houses. Politically speaking, the selection of a husband for Shizuko needed to be approached with extreme caution, but Shizuko herself had her own significant problems.
The problem that Shizuko had was her immense business interests. Although she did not find meaning in the numbers on the books, the profits she generated had swelled to surpass even those of daimyo with vast territories. As was customary in this era, Shizuko’s husband would inherit all of her immense privileges. Suddenly gaining wealth, power, and military strength, individuals often found themselves with power that they couldn’t handle, leading to their downfall.
“I will not allow anyone other than the husband Shizuko desires. Even if Shizuko approves, if it brings her any disadvantage, I will kill him.”
Ashimitsu consistently argued that the husband must be someone approved by Shizuko. The men around Shizuko were constantly being evaluated by Ashimitsu. As a result, there were no rumors floating around Shizuko. In this era of warring states, where society was dominated by men, it was natural for men to be present, but those who approached Shizuko as a woman and were easy to associate with were eliminated in advance by Ashimitsu. Therefore, the possibility of such a relationship was nonexistent.
“I understand your words, Lord Ashimitsu. However, if Shizuko remains unmarried, she will feel uncomfortable. In these troubled times, if she is over twenty and still unmarried, she will be subject to criticism.”
Sakihisa (Konoe)’s point is also valid. In modern Japan, it is not uncommon for someone in their thirties to be unmarried, but in the Warring States period, it would be seen as a flaw. This is because the way of the samurai prioritizes “protecting the family (passing on the bloodline)” as the highest duty. It is considered that someone who does not take a spouse and remains unmarried for life lacks the awareness of being the head of the family. However, there are exceptions such as Uesugi Kenshin, Hosokawa Mototsugu, and Ii Naotora, who remained unmarried for life.
“The problem is that Shizuko holds the secret to overturning the world in her mind. The prosperity of the Oda clan is also due to the knowledge and technology that Shizuko has brought.”
Shizuko holds various technologies and unknown information in her mind. Although some of them were made public by Nobunaga himself, most of them were voluntarily disclosed by Shizuko. Even if these technologies may seem insignificant to her, their impact in this era cannot be underestimated. If technology reforms were carried out in places where Nobunaga’s influence did not reach, it would become a problem in governing the territory.
“Furthermore, it seems that Shizuko will continue to work in the fields even after entering a household. In that case, the household will rapidly gain power.”
Even if Shizuko were to enter a household, it was a problem that she would not quietly live as a housewife. It would be fine if she only cultivated enough fields to feed herself, but considering Shizuko’s personality, it was clear that she would expand on a large scale, involving those around her. Unconsciously distributing profits, involving followers and collaborators, eventually becoming a major force that no one could ignore. This range would expand from the household to the village, then the town, and eventually the country.
“The reason Shizuko is still tied to Owari is because she has taken root in that place. Because she can generate wealth and power on her own, she is troublesome.”
“Unintentionally enriching the country, the countrymen misunderstand. In that case, we will return to the chaos of the warring states.”
“If the world could be conquered just by increasing the harvest, I would have become a ruler ten times over by now.”
Nobunaga drank his cup and finished it in one breath. Nobunaga had noticed Shizuko’s intentions. The reason why Shizuko had been gradually revealing her various technologies. Technology is something that needs to be accumulated, and if only the cutting-edge ones are given all at once, they will collapse without a solid foundation. First, the land must be enriched, creating surplus food that allows for long-term planning. Nobunaga appreciated how Shizuko had produced surplus food that could plan for the future, considering the situation where they lacked food to eat. If she had immediately tried to create new firearms, it would have likely resulted in failure.
“I trust Shizuko. But that doesn’t apply to potential husbands.”
“Are there any men who would be considered suitable for Shizuko to marry in the first place? With her talent, living a life of protecting a household would be too boring.”
“….That makes sense. Shizuko wouldn’t settle for a peaceful life even if she entered a household. She would streamline her work, create surplus, and eventually start doing things her own way.”
“She may have become more like her mother.”
As they tilted their cups, the men continued their conversation.
“And what will happen to her generals and soldiers?”
“There may be some who remain in the Oda clan, but most will follow Shizuko. Especially the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) group has a strong loyalty to Shizuko. They have put in so much effort, so it’s only natural.”
“It’s as if I’ve been raising them even before I met Shizuko. They have inherited various technologies from Shizuko, so they are always busy even during peacetime.”
“During peacetime, they build waterwheels and mansions, and during war, they construct camps and fortresses. There is no shortage of work for them. Once, they even started making siege weapons right in front of an enemy-occupied castle. It was quite amusing to see the castle’s inhabitants surrender quickly, frightened by the rapidly growing giant weapons.”
During the Muromachi period, professions had become specialized, but Shizuko’s Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) group had been thoroughly trained in all aspects of civil engineering technology, like Roman soldiers. While there were also completely specialized professions, each individual had a wide range of skills, allowing each unit to maintain a uniform level of expertise even if they were divided into several units.
“I just thought, if Shizuko enters a household, she will likely disband her army. In that case, most of Shizuko’s rear support units will be gone. It would be difficult for her to lose her rear support units in the current situation, wouldn’t it?”
“It would be difficult. The Oda commanders now operate under the assumption of Shizuko’s rear support units. They maintain the roads, transport goods, repair weapons and castles, and set up camps. If they have to handle all of these themselves, it would take a considerable amount of time.”
“Once people get used to an easy life, they can’t go back to the hardships they experienced before.”
Shizuko’s marriage was not only a problem of power. It was also a headache for Nobunaga how to handle her army. Keiji and Saizo, his close aides, were a peculiar bunch, and the soldiers had become a unique force due to Shizuko’s unique ideas. Normally, such a troublesome army would quickly collapse, but it was functioning as a proper army because Shizuko was at the top. Even if the husband were to take over, it would not function properly. If they made a wrong move, the army would disintegrate completely.
“….It seems that choosing a husband will be difficult after all.”
“Considering the current situation, the flaws are too significant.”
“In the first place, Shizuko hasn’t expressed any desire to marry someone. No matter what I or Lord Oda say, it’s pointless.”
“But isn’t a woman’s happiness about having her own child? It feels a little uncomfortable to stop her from doing that for our convenience.”
Whether it was because of the alcohol or because they felt comfortable speaking their minds, Nobunaga’s sentimental words, which were unimaginable from his usual self, slipped out.
“But it’s a problem as it is now. There is a possibility that Shizuko will be caught up in the turmoil around her.”
“Haha, Lord Oda is a worrier.”
“I’m not worried. It’s just that I don’t want Shizuko to be bothered by what others say about her being unmarried. And if another idiotic son appears, I’ll behead him.”
Sakihisa (Konoe) and Ashimitsu thought that it was essentially the same as worrying, but they decided to let it slide rather than pressing the issue.
“That’s true…”
“Well, that’s…”
“Both of you…”
The conversation among the men continued even as the night grew late. In the end, no conclusion was reached, so it was postponed to the next meeting. However, the three men had forgotten one thing. The fact that the number of times they had postponed and carried over the problem had already exceeded ten.
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The anguish of fathers.
Three men gathered in the villa that Sakihisa (Konoe) had inherited from Shizuko. Nobunaga, Sakihisa (Konoe), and Ashimitsu had been meeting frequently lately to discuss a certain matter.
“So, what are we going to do about Shizuko’s marriage?”
Shizuko’s marriage. This was a significant matter that could not be avoided, and it was also a task that needed to be resolved urgently. In the past, when she was the village chief, it would have been a different story, but now Shizuko was a prominent retainer of the Oda clan, which was closest to ruling the country, and unofficially, she was also a princess of the Konoe family, one of the Five Regent Houses. Politically speaking, the selection of a husband for Shizuko needed to be approached with extreme caution, but Shizuko herself had her own significant problems.
The problem that Shizuko had was her immense business interests. Although she did not find meaning in the numbers on the books, the profits she generated had swelled to surpass even those of daimyo with vast territories. As was customary in this era, Shizuko’s husband would inherit all of her immense privileges. Suddenly gaining wealth, power, and military strength, individuals often found themselves with power that they couldn’t handle, leading to their downfall.
“I will not allow anyone other than the husband Shizuko desires. Even if Shizuko approves, if it brings her any disadvantage, I will kill him.”
Ashimitsu consistently argued that the husband must be someone approved by Shizuko. The men around Shizuko were constantly being evaluated by Ashimitsu. As a result, there were no rumors floating around Shizuko. In this era of warring states, where society was dominated by men, it was natural for men to be present, but those who approached Shizuko as a woman and were easy to associate with were eliminated in advance by Ashimitsu. Therefore, the possibility of such a relationship was nonexistent.
“I understand your words, Lord Ashimitsu. However, if Shizuko remains unmarried, she will feel uncomfortable. In these troubled times, if she is over twenty and still unmarried, she will be subject to criticism.”
Sakihisa (Konoe)’s point is also valid. In modern Japan, it is not uncommon for someone in their thirties to be unmarried, but in the Warring States period, it would be seen as a flaw. This is because the way of the samurai prioritizes “protecting the family (passing on the bloodline)” as the highest duty. It is considered that someone who does not take a spouse and remains unmarried for life lacks the awareness of being the head of the family. However, there are exceptions such as Uesugi Kenshin, Hosokawa Mototsugu, and Ii Naotora, who remained unmarried for life.
“The problem is that Shizuko holds the secret to overturning the world in her mind. The prosperity of the Oda clan is also due to the knowledge and technology that Shizuko has brought.”
Shizuko holds various technologies and unknown information in her mind. Although some of them were made public by Nobunaga himself, most of them were voluntarily disclosed by Shizuko. Even if these technologies may seem insignificant to her, their impact in this era cannot be underestimated. If technology reforms were carried out in places where Nobunaga’s influence did not reach, it would become a problem in governing the territory.
“Furthermore, it seems that Shizuko will continue to work in the fields even after entering a household. In that case, the household will rapidly gain power.”
Even if Shizuko were to enter a household, it was a problem that she would not quietly live as a housewife. It would be fine if she only cultivated enough fields to feed herself, but considering Shizuko’s personality, it was clear that she would expand on a large scale, involving those around her. Unconsciously distributing profits, involving followers and collaborators, eventually becoming a major force that no one could ignore. This range would expand from the household to the village, then the town, and eventually the country.
“The reason Shizuko is still tied to Owari is because she has taken root in that place. Because she can generate wealth and power on her own, she is troublesome.”
“Unintentionally enriching the country, the countrymen misunderstand. In that case, we will return to the chaos of the warring states.”
“If the world could be conquered just by increasing the harvest, I would have become a ruler ten times over by now.”
Nobunaga drank his cup and finished it in one breath. Nobunaga had noticed Shizuko’s intentions. The reason why Shizuko had been gradually revealing her various technologies. Technology is something that needs to be accumulated, and if only the cutting-edge ones are given all at once, they will collapse without a solid foundation. First, the land must be enriched, creating surplus food that allows for long-term planning. Nobunaga appreciated how Shizuko had produced surplus food that could plan for the future, considering the situation where they lacked food to eat. If she had immediately tried to create new firearms, it would have likely resulted in failure.
“I trust Shizuko. But that doesn’t apply to potential husbands.”
“Are there any men who would be considered suitable for Shizuko to marry in the first place? With her talent, living a life of protecting a household would be too boring.”
“….That makes sense. Shizuko wouldn’t settle for a peaceful life even if she entered a household. She would streamline her work, create surplus, and eventually start doing things her own way.”
“She may have become more like her mother.”
As they tilted their cups, the men continued their conversation.
“And what will happen to her generals and soldiers?”
“There may be some who remain in the Oda clan, but most will follow Shizuko. Especially the Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) group has a strong loyalty to Shizuko. They have put in so much effort, so it’s only natural.”
“It’s as if I’ve been raising them even before I met Shizuko. They have inherited various technologies from Shizuko, so they are always busy even during peacetime.”
“During peacetime, they build waterwheels and mansions, and during war, they construct camps and fortresses. There is no shortage of work for them. Once, they even started making siege weapons right in front of an enemy-occupied castle. It was quite amusing to see the castle’s inhabitants surrender quickly, frightened by the rapidly growing giant weapons.”
During the Muromachi period, professions had become specialized, but Shizuko’s Kurokuwa (civil engineering workers) group had been thoroughly trained in all aspects of civil engineering technology, like Roman soldiers. While there were also completely specialized professions, each individual had a wide range of skills, allowing each unit to maintain a uniform level of expertise even if they were divided into several units.
“I just thought, if Shizuko enters a household, she will likely disband her army. In that case, most of Shizuko’s rear support units will be gone. It would be difficult for her to lose her rear support units in the current situation, wouldn’t it?”
“It would be difficult. The Oda commanders now operate under the assumption of Shizuko’s rear support units. They maintain the roads, transport goods, repair weapons and castles, and set up camps. If they have to handle all of these themselves, it would take a considerable amount of time.”
“Once people get used to an easy life, they can’t go back to the hardships they experienced before.”
Shizuko’s marriage was not only a problem of power. It was also a headache for Nobunaga how to handle her army. Keiji and Saizo, his close aides, were a peculiar bunch, and the soldiers had become a unique force due to Shizuko’s unique ideas. Normally, such a troublesome army would quickly collapse, but it was functioning as a proper army because Shizuko was at the top. Even if the husband were to take over, it would not function properly. If they made a wrong move, the army would disintegrate completely.
“….It seems that choosing a husband will be difficult after all.”
“Considering the current situation, the flaws are too significant.”
“In the first place, Shizuko hasn’t expressed any desire to marry someone. No matter what I or Lord Oda say, it’s pointless.”
“But isn’t a woman’s happiness about having her own child? It feels a little uncomfortable to stop her from doing that for our convenience.”
Whether it was because of the alcohol or because they felt comfortable speaking their minds, Nobunaga’s sentimental words, which were unimaginable from his usual self, slipped out.
“But it’s a problem as it is now. There is a possibility that Shizuko will be caught up in the turmoil around her.”
“Haha, Lord Oda is a worrier.”
“I’m not worried. It’s just that I don’t want Shizuko to be bothered by what others say about her being unmarried. And if another idiotic son appears, I’ll behead him.”
Sakihisa (Konoe) and Ashimitsu thought that it was essentially the same as worrying, but they decided to let it slide rather than pressing the issue.
“That’s true…”
“Well, that’s…”
“Both of you…”
The conversation among the men continued even as the night grew late. In the end, no conclusion was reached, so it was postponed to the next meeting. However, the three men had forgotten one thing. The fact that the number of times they had postponed and carried over the problem had already exceeded ten.
The anguish of fathers.Three men gathered in the villa that Sakihisa Konoe had inherited from Shizuko. Nobunaga, Sakihisa Konoe, and Ashimitsu had been meeting frequently lately to discuss a certain matter.So, what are we going to do about Shizuko's marriage?Shizuko's marriage. This was a significant matter that could not be avoided, and it was also a task that needed to be resolved urgently. In the past, when she was the village chief, it would have been a different story, but now Shizuko was a prominent retainer of the Oda clan, which was closest to ruling the country, and unofficially, she was also a princess of the Konoe family, one of the Five Regent Houses. Politically speaking, the selection of a husband for Shizuko needed to be approached with extreme caution, but Shizuko herself had her own significant problems.The problem that Shizuko had was her immense business interests. Although she did not find meaning in the numbers on the books, the profits she generated had swelled to surpass even those of daimyo with vast territories. As was customary in this era, Shizuko's husband would inherit all of her immense privileges. Suddenly gaining wealth, power, and military strength, individuals often found themselves with power that they couldn't handle, leading to their downfall.I will not allow anyone other than the husband Shizuko desires. Even if Shizuko approves, if it brings her any disadvantage, I will kill him.Ashimitsu consistently argued that the husband must be someone approved by Shizuko. The men around Shizuko were constantly being evaluated by Ashimitsu. As a result, there were no rumors floating around Shizuko. In this era of warring states, where society was dominated by men, it was natural for men to be present, but those who approached Shizuko as a woman and were easy to associate with were eliminated in advance by Ashimitsu. Therefore, the possibility of such a relationship was nonexistent.I understand your words, Lord Ashimitsu. However, if Shizuko remains unmarried, she will feel uncomfortable. In these troubled times, if she is over twenty and still unmarried, she will be subject to criticism.Sakihisa Konoe's point is also valid. In modern Japan, it is not uncommon for someone in their thirties to be unmarried, but in the Warring States period, it would be seen as a flaw. This is because the way of the samurai prioritizes protecting the family passing on the bloodline as the highest duty. It is considered that someone who does not take a spouse and remains unmarried for life lacks the awareness of being the head of the family. However, there are exceptions such as Uesugi Kenshin, Hosokawa Mototsugu, and Ii Naotora, who remained unmarried for life.The problem is that Shizuko holds the secret to overturning the world in her mind. The prosperity of the Oda clan is also due to the knowledge and technology that Shizuko has brought.Shizuko holds various technologies and unknown information in her mind. Although some of them were made public by Nobunaga himself, most of them were voluntarily disclosed by Shizuko. Even if these technologies may seem insignificant to her, their impact in this era cannot be underestimated. If technology reforms were carried out in places where Nobunaga's influence did not reach, it would become a problem in governing the territory.Furthermore, it seems that Shizuko will continue to work in the fields even after entering a household. In that case, the household will rapidly gain power.Even if Shizuko were to enter a household, it was a problem that she would not quietly live as a housewife. It would be fine if she only cultivated enough fields to feed herself, but considering Shizuko's personality, it was clear that she would expand on a large scale, involving those around her. Unconsciously distributing profits, involving followers and collaborators, eventually becoming a major force that no one could ignore. This range would expand from the household to the village, then the town, and eventually the country.The reason Shizuko is still tied to Owari is because she has taken root in that place. Because she can generate wealth and power on her own, she is troublesome.Unintentionally enriching the country, the countrymen misunderstand. In that case, we will return to the chaos of the warring states.If the world could be conquered just by increasing the harvest, I would have become a ruler ten times over by now.Nobunaga drank his cup and finished it in one breath. Nobunaga had noticed Shizuko's intentions. The reason why Shizuko had been gradually revealing her various technologies. Technology is something that needs to be accumulated, and if only the cutting-edge ones are given all at once, they will collapse without a solid foundation. First, the land must be enriched, creating surplus food that allows for long-term planning. Nobunaga appreciated how Shizuko had produced surplus food that could plan for the future, considering the situation where they lacked food to eat. If she had immediately tried to create new firearms, it would have likely resulted in failure.I trust Shizuko. But that doesn't apply to potential husbands.Are there any men who would be considered suitable for Shizuko to marry in the first place? With her talent, living a life of protecting a household would be too boring..That makes sense. Shizuko wouldn't settle for a peaceful life even if she entered a household. She would streamline her work, create surplus, and eventually start doing things her own way.She may have become more like her mother.As they tilted their cups, the men continued their conversation.And what will happen to her generals and soldiers?There may be some who remain in the Oda clan, but most will follow Shizuko. Especially the Kurokuwa civil engineering workers group has a strong loyalty to Shizuko. They have put in so much effort, so it's only natural.It's as if I've been raising them even before I met Shizuko. They have inherited various technologies from Shizuko, so they are always busy even during peacetime.During peacetime, they build waterwheels and mansions, and during war, they construct camps and fortresses. There is no shortage of work for them. Once, they even started making siege weapons right in front of an enemy-occupied castle. It was quite amusing to see the castle's inhabitants surrender quickly, frightened by the rapidly growing giant weapons.During the Muromachi period, professions had become specialized, but Shizuko's Kurokuwa civil engineering workers group had been thoroughly trained in all aspects of civil engineering technology, like Roman soldiers. While there were also completely specialized professions, each individual had a wide range of skills, allowing each unit to maintain a uniform level of expertise even if they were divided into several units.I just thought, if Shizuko enters a household, she will likely disband her army. In that case, most of Shizuko's rear support units will be gone. It would be difficult for her to lose her rear support units in the current situation, wouldn't it?It would be difficult. The Oda commanders now operate under the assumption of Shizuko's rear support units. They maintain the roads, transport goods, repair weapons and castles, and set up camps. If they have to handle all of these themselves, it would take a considerable amount of time.Once people get used to an easy life, they can't go back to the hardships they experienced before.Shizuko's marriage was not only a problem of power. It was also a headache for Nobunaga how to handle her army. Keiji and Saizo, his close aides, were a peculiar bunch, and the soldiers had become a unique force due to Shizuko's unique ideas. Normally, such a troublesome army would quickly collapse, but it was functioning as a proper army because Shizuko was at the top. Even if the husband were to take over, it would not function properly. If they made a wrong move, the army would disintegrate completely..It seems that choosing a husband will be difficult after all.Considering the current situation, the flaws are too significant.In the first place, Shizuko hasn't expressed any desire to marry someone. No matter what I or Lord Oda say, it's pointless.But isn't a woman's happiness about having her own child? It feels a little uncomfortable to stop her from doing that for our convenience.Whether it was because of the alcohol or because they felt comfortable speaking their minds, Nobunaga's sentimental words, which were unimaginable from his usual self, slipped out.But it's a problem as it is now. There is a possibility that Shizuko will be caught up in the turmoil around her.Haha, Lord Oda is a worrier.I'm not worried. It's just that I don't want Shizuko to be bothered by what others say about her being unmarried. And if another idiotic son appears, I'll behead him.Sakihisa Konoe and Ashimitsu thought that it was essentially the same as worrying, but they decided to let it slide rather than pressing the issue.That's trueWell, that'sBoth of youThe conversation among the men continued even as the night grew late. In the end, no conclusion was reached, so it was postponed to the next meeting. However, the three men had forgotten one thing. The fact that the number of times they had postponed and carried over the problem had already exceeded ten.
