Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era - Chapter 48

Chapter 48




1568, mid-June.

On June 23rd of the same year, Nobunaga met Yoshiaki at Risho-ji Temple. Going back further, Yoshiaki departed from Ichijodani on June 12th to meet Nobunaga. It’s not directly related, but on June 25th, Ieyasu arrived in Gifu with his troops. And on June 26th of the 11th year of the Eiroku era (1568), Gifu, which was Nobunaga’s stronghold, was bustling with people.

“Oh, truly impressive.”

Shizuko, who is adorned with the current world’s equipment, murmurs as she observes the crowded scene. Normally, Shizuko uses horses, but when it comes to military marches, it’s a different story. She didn’t have time to prepare feed or hire horse caretakers, so she had to march on foot.

Shizuko walks around, searching for the specified location. The difference in the male and female bodies is not completely hidden by the armor, and upon closer inspection, it is immediately apparent that Shizuko is a woman. Therefore, most soldiers gaze at Shizuko with curiosity, but quickly avert their eyes. To her left is Saizo, dressed in ordinary attire, and to her right is Keiji, dressed in flamboyant clothing. And behind her are Kaiser and König, two beasts. If all of them were to be stared at simultaneously, it is only natural for the soldiers to avoid any involvement and avert their gaze.

Before that, Shizuko’s appearance was also peculiar to the foot soldiers. She was carrying a large backpack. Made of leather, it had multiple compartments where she could store various items such as a bamboo water bottle, food, maintenance tools, a travel kit, and a knife she used for deer butchering, all neatly organized. Originally intended for deer hunting, the backpack was versatile enough to be useful on the battlefield depending on its contents. She also brought a compound bow that she thought looked good, along with arrows made from bamboo and a quiver to hold them.

The compound bow boasts a high accuracy rate on land, making it ideal for deer hunting. However, Shizuko has never shot a person before, and all her previous targets have been animals. While the compound bow is a low-power, high-rate-of-fire type with impressive accuracy, it does not surpass the performance of a traditional Japanese bow. Additionally, it requires more maintenance. In a negative sense, it can be described as a “mediocre” bow. However, to those unfamiliar with such tools, Shizuko’s appearance in armor with a backpack and a compound bow seemed highly suspicious.

(I adjusted the compound bow to increase its power… probably around 60 pounds. Well, I won’t really have a chance to use it anyway. It’ll just be a tool to obtain food while on the move.)

Shizuko, who thought that as long as she looked good, it would be fine, but in reality, her appearance was as eccentric as a dandy.

Just a little while before arriving at Nagayoshi’s place, Keiji suddenly spoke up.

“…By the way, wasn’t that guy Katsuzo (Mori Nagayoshi) still not coming of age?”

When Nobunaga went to Kyoto, Nagayoshi was 10 or 11 years old. In historical records, he was officially recognized as an adult at the age of 13 or 14, after his father, Mori Yoshinari, and his older brother, Mori Yoshitaka, died, making him the rightful head of the Mori family. Keiji was puzzled as to why Nagayoshi was allowed to accompany Nobunaga to Kyoto.

“It seems that Lord Katsuzo (Mori Nagayoshi) was granted permission by Lord Oda to accompany the army on this expedition, as a reward for his previous sumo wrestling tournament.”

“I see, so that’s why even though you’re a child, you were able to participate… Oh, looks like we’ve arrived.”

Keiji’s words made the two of them turn their gaze forward. There, they saw Nagayoshi sitting on a horse with a dignified expression. Although Yoshinari Mori was nearby, they couldn’t spot any man slightly older than Nagayoshi. His older brother, Yoshitaka Mori, was no exception and was currently guarding the Mori clan’s former territory in Owari.

“This one is Shizuko, and I have come at the behest of our Lord.”

“I am Keiji Maeda, retainer of Lady Shizuko, and I have also come here at the order of our Lord.”

“Likewise, I am Kani Saizo. And I have also come at the command of Lord Oda.”

As soon as they arrived at Nagayoshi’s place, they greeted Mori Yoshinari in the forest.

“Yes, I understand what you’re saying. The three of them will accompany Katsuzo (Mori Nagayoshi) on this mission.”

“Understood. I will do as you say.”

After exchanging greetings and having a brief meeting, the three of them moved towards Nagayoshi. Although he was just a child, he was able to participate in the battle in Kyoto. However, he was not able to fight on the front lines and mainly observed from the rear. Nevertheless, he never neglected his preparations for combat and carried a cross-shaped spear. The only peculiar thing about him was that he also equipped himself with a compound bow. Unlike Shizuko’s compound bow, his bow had been modified to handle arrows for traditional Japanese bows as well. Despite its larger size, the overall weight was compensated for by a leather shoulder belt.

“Oh, Shizuko. I’m impressed that you’re participating in this trip to Kyoto.”

Nagayoshi shrugged his shoulders and joked as he watched Shizuko. Although he himself was an unusual participant, he had a confident attitude that did not pale in comparison to Shizuko or anyone else around him.

“Nice to meet you from today. Well, anyway, Katsuzo (Mori Nagayoshi) is one thing, but I’m definitely just going to be observing from behind.”

“Oh, really? I think your archery skills are quite something. I still lose in terms of accuracy.”

“Well… I’m doing it to exterminate beasts, you know.”

In the village where Shizuko lives, there are deer living in the surrounding area. Due to the activities of hunters, the mountain environment has improved. Naturally, the deer’s habitat has expanded, resulting in the dispersal of the previously clustered herds. Originally, the hunters’ area was not a viable living space, and the deer only gathered because there were abundant feeding grounds. If the mountain environment is restored, the deer will naturally disperse. And the dispersal has not reduced their numbers, on the contrary, the deer population has increased compared to a few years ago due to the increase in feeding grounds. While it is a happy situation for the hunters who can obtain deer hides and meat, it is a problem for Shizuko and others who engage in farming activities.

Until now, the hunting of deer had been left to the two hunters, but now Shizuko and the others needed to do it as well. So, Shizuko made use of the training as an excuse and had Nagayoshi, Keiji, and Saizo help with the hunting.

“I underestimated the large increase in deer population… Not only does it cause deforestation, but if we don’t regulate their numbers properly, the mountains will quickly become barren.”

In modern Japan, even the overpopulation of deer is causing extensive damage to trees. The deer’s feeding habits are severe, to the point where even densely forested areas become barren. The environment that has been carefully cultivated to maximize the natural abilities of the mountains is being destroyed by the deer. In order to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to reduce the deer population to a suitable number and constantly monitor for any signs of deforestation.

Due to frequently participating in deer hunting, Nagayoshi had become skilled enough to rival even experienced hunters. The compound bow boasts a high accuracy due to its ability to aim while the arrow is drawn. On the other hand, the traditional Japanese bow, or “yumi,” requires time to master and is not very useful with only short-term training. The only problem is that Nagayoshi did not have a spare yumi prepared, so if he suddenly needed to switch to the yumi, it is unlikely that he would hit the target.

It may seem like a good thing, but in the end, the compound bow is only good in terms of accuracy, and it doesn’t have much impact in terms of transitioning from bows to matchlock guns. To put it in a negative way, bows are already considered “mediocre weapons.” No matter how powerful the compound bow is compared to its simple concept and principles, it doesn’t have the same performance as a traditional Japanese bow.

“Well, I guess neither you nor I will have a role. The exceptions would be Keiji and Saizo, I suppose.”

“Well, that’s true.”

While chatting with Nagayoshi, a person who seemed to be a messenger was riding a horse and saying something. Unfortunately, due to the distance, I couldn’t catch almost half of what was being said, but I could guess the content of the message from the words that I could hear leaking through.

“It seems that the march to the capital has begun. They were talking for quite a while, but well, this is the central army after all.”

During the Sengoku period, the military would typically divide into three units: the vanguard, the center, and the rear guard. The vanguard would advance while sending out scouts, and the center unit would advance while deploying scouts on both sides.

“I can faintly hear the roar of the vanguard. I wonder if Lord Castle said something… Damn, I wanted to hear it too!”

In the Sengoku period, the morale of the army was extremely important. Generally, before a battle, there would be verbal disputes (kotobatakai) where soldiers would assert the legitimacy of their own army and loudly criticize the injustice of the enemy. However, while these disputes were crucial in influencing the morale of the army, there were also cases where they inadvertently provoked the enemy and heightened their fighting spirit, or unexpected battles occurred. Some individuals, driven by hot blood, would even reveal military secrets, so some armies issued orders that those who engaged in verbal disputes would be sentenced to death.

“Hmm, it looks like it’s going to take some time for the march to start around here.”

Amidst the soldiers being inspired by the roaring of the former army, Shizuko calmly observed the state of the military.

When preparing to go up to Kyoto, the only obstacle standing in Nobunaga’s way was the Rokkaku clan, who ruled over southern Omi. A month ago, negotiations to persuade the Rokkaku clan to join the army going up to Kyoto had failed after seven days of discussions. As a result, Nobunaga decided to subjugate the Rokkaku clan. Before doing so, he employed a certain strategy. He dispatched Wada Koremasa from the Oda family to Omi and Yamashiro, where he worked to convince local lords and shogunate retainers to support the army going up to Kyoto. Furthermore, he approached the Rokkaku main family, who were not pleased with Rokkaku Yoshikatsu, a branch family member, becoming the guardian of southern Omi, and convinced the local lords in Omi to side with the army going up to Kyoto. Through this strategy, Nobunaga successfully gained the support of many influential figures in the Kinai region and weakened the Rokkaku clan in return.

The day after Yoshiaki declared his intention to go to Kyoto at Rishakuji Temple, Nobunaga arrived at Omi Takamiya. It had been arranged for him to marry Oichi, his sister, and form an alliance with the Asai forces, but due to some problem that arose, the plan was changed to meet with Nobunaga and Ieyasu on the following day, the 28th.

“Well, even without that, we can’t rest the horses and ourselves for two days… What’s wrong, Shizuko? Did you have an upset stomach or something?”

“I was just wondering why you’re here?”

Shizuko, with a look of disbelief, squints her eyes and gazes at the peculiar Kimyomaru (Oda Nobutada) sitting across from her.

“What? I haven’t been told to study by my father. It must mean that there is no training better than practice. Of course, I cannot participate in battles.”

“I don’t really care about that, but I’m wondering why people eat food made by others as if it’s a given.”

It is around the beginning of summer, but during the Sengoku period, which was during the Little Ice Age, the average temperature was lower than it is today, and the nights were quite cold. Thinking of something warm, Shizuko decided to make a porridge using dried rice. The method is simple: boil water in a deep-bottomed frying pan, then add dried rice, dried meat, and dried vegetables in that order. Season with salt and soy sauce, and finally add a pickled plum to enhance the sterilizing effect. It’s hard to say it’s delicious, but it’s better than not being able to have a satisfying meal while on the march. After completing the wartime porridge and feeding it to Kaiser and König, Kimyomaru (Oda Nobutada) appeared.

“Well, that’s the relationship between you and me, I suppose.”

“…sigh, please make sure to return it later. After all, I only have enough food for myself, and I didn’t have much time to prepare extra.”

“Don’t tell everyone who understands, I’ll tell Father later and ask him to distribute supplies from the extra baggage.”

“Please spare me from being sidetracked.”

“What are you saying? I just want to be formally separated… Oops.”

As the porridge almost spilled from the spoon, Kimyomaru (Oda Nobutada) quickly balanced it. After exhaling a sigh of relief that it didn’t spill, he put the porridge on the spoon into his mouth.

“But it was the soy sauce you made, wasn’t it? Father was quite fond of it. He’s planning to start full-scale production from next year.”

“It’s not something I came up with, though. Well, since the lord prefers strong seasoning, I think soy sauce matched their taste.”

“I guess so. I really liked the soy sauce simmered fish before, so much so that I even gave a tip to the chefs.”

“…That’s right. By the way, Chamaru, I’m not impressed with you going out alone, even if it’s the headquarters.”

“Ugh, so noisy, so noisy. Don’t start sounding like an old man preaching too. From being sick until today, it’s been all about studying, training, and studying. Let me have a little fun.”

“Well, it’s okay because it’s Chamaru-kun who will be scolded later… I guess.”

After the meal, I soaked the utensils and cooking tools for two people in a wooden barrel filled with water. Like everyone else, I thought it would have been better to buy food from the merchants who accompanied us on the march, but I realized it too late after it was already finished. Kaiser and König relaxed as Shizuko stroked their heads, closing their eyes in contentment. However, their ears were still turned towards the direction of the strange round object, so they were on minimal alert.

“By the way, why doesn’t Rokkaku join the army heading to the capital?”

Kaiser and König are engaging in physical contact with Shizuko, and Kimyomaru throws a question at her.

“Ashikaga-dono used to be in the territory of the Rokkaku clan in the past. However, it was attacked by the Sanmoto Three, so the Rokkaku clan might think that Ashikaga-dono holds a grudge against them.”

“You should lament the current state of the shogunate, which cannot even protect its own body.”

“It’s easier for humans to blame someone else. Well, ever since the previous thirteenth generation lord of the Shogunate family was assassinated, the family has been in decline, so I guess they thought there was no point in lamenting about it now.”

“Hmm… I suppose I won’t be able to go to the capital without my father’s help.”

As he murmurs so, Kimyomaru drinks amazake (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazake) after a meal.

“Ginger juice makes it easy to drink. By the way, was it Shizuko who suggested making one-night sake a staple in the military? What exactly is the meaning behind this?”

“…There’s this word called ‘nutrition’. It’s a general term for things that are necessary for maintaining and enhancing the functions of the human body. It requires a detailed explanation, but in short, you can think of it as something you can get by eating rice. There are several types of nutrition, and if they are lacking, it can cause functional disorders in the body.”

“Has Father’s diet changed because of that? I have also received various criticisms.”

“Well, that’s because it’s necessary for building a strong body. And the overnight sake made from rice koji is efficient in replenishing those nutrients.”

Amazake contains a variety of nutrients such as B vitamins, plant fibers derived from rice, amino acids, and a large amount of sugars, mainly glucose. It is composed similarly to lactated Ringer’s solution, a nutrient solution used in intravenous drips, with the addition of rice-derived ingredients. Amazake is sometimes referred to as a “drinkable drip.” Similarly, there is oral rehydration solution, also known as a “drinkable drip.” This is obtained by dissolving a small amount of salt and a larger amount of sugar in water. It is more easily absorbed than simply drinking water and has the advantage of quickly providing energy and electrolytes. Adding precursors of citric acid or other bicarbonates can further enhance absorption efficiency. The rice porridge that Shizuko ate earlier, which included pickled plums, can also be considered a Japanese version of an oral rehydration solution. Both amazake and oral rehydration solution are excellent beverages, but during the Sengoku period, sugar was a precious commodity, so Shizuko recommended making amazake from rice koji.

“Which do you think is stronger, a hungry and dizzy soldier or a healthy and clear-minded soldier?”

“Well, that’s more of the latter. No matter how hard you try, it’s hard to raise the morale of hungry foot soldiers.”

“That’s right. Even if there are ten thousand soldiers, they won’t be able to exert their full strength if they are in a malnourished state.”

Improving the nutritional status of soldiers alone can significantly change the strength of the military. However, improving the food situation is not so easy. First, it is necessary to increase the productivity of crops to the extent that there is an excess supply. It is essential to have an ultra-efficient agricultural system that does not fall below the required supply even if the farming population decreases due to war. By increasing the productivity per capita, it becomes possible to create surplus personnel. And to consider this ultra-efficient agricultural management, a vast amount of data on cultivated area, harvest volume, yield per 10a is necessary. To record this data in a unified format, a mimeograph machine is required. It may seem like an overwhelming task, but mimeograph machines can still be used in the future, so Shizuko is researching if it can be reproduced in the technology district.

“(I think galley printing can be done even in the Sengoku period since Thomas Edison created the prototype around 1893… but well, it’s not something to think about now.) Anyway, marching involves a lot of effort, doesn’t it? I think it would be easier if we made improvements to eliminate waste.”

“I never thought about it, but exactly which part did you think was pointless?”

“There are various issues, but the biggest problem is logistics.”

“Logistics…? Isn’t that just a trivial matter with Konida (https://www.japanesewiki.com/history/Konida.html)?”

Konida is a transport unit directly attached to the military forces for the transportation of supplies, and it is different from the logistics unit that provides various support from the rear.

“It’s completely different. I’m not talking about the small baggage teams that come to the front lines together. Logistics refers to the rear support, such as the transportation of military supplies, replenishment of goods, and ensuring communication networks.”

Kimyomaru tilted his head in confusion, as if he couldn’t understand even though I explained while drawing a diagram. However, it’s not surprising that he couldn’t understand. Even the renowned military strategists Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, known as masters of warfare, would load up their supplies on packhorses, engage in battles with the enemy, and return to their home territories once their supplies ran out. This was the established strategy of warfare during the Sengoku period, and it was an unquestionable common sense until Hideyoshi monopolized rice along the Tokaido highway and attacked the Hojo clan.

“Well, creating a rear support unit is more troublesome and time-consuming than creating a regular army. It’s because you never know when the effects will show up.”

When she finished speaking, someone gently tapped Shizuko’s shoulder. Both Kimyomaru, who had been listening to the conversation, and Shizuko, who had been talking to him, turned their faces towards the person at the same time. When they understood who the person was, both of them froze in shock.

“It seems like you’re having a fun conversation. For the sake of learning, could you please tell me Shizuko’s story?”

The leader of the army, Nobunaga, smiled kindly and said to the two of them.

Shizuko’s heart was not calm as something serious had happened. After leaving the luggage to Keiji, Saizo, Kaiser, and Koenig who had returned, Shizuko was taken away by Nobunaga along with Kimyomaru, which was a good thing. However, after that, Nobunaga said he needed to prepare and left the room. A little while later, he returned with a large blackboard and his prominent retainers.

“This is a perfect opportunity. Let’s make them participate too.”

The prominent vassals, including Shizuko, couldn’t refuse. Shibata Katsuie, Sassa Narimasa, and other warrior vassals had dissatisfied expressions, but Shizuko pretended not to see. There was nothing Shizuko could do even if she was glared at. On the contrary, Takenaka Hanbei, his brother Shigekatsu, and Niwa were full of curiosity.

“Well, first let’s talk about the difference between logistics and Konida. They may sound the same to me, but could you explain the difference to me?”

“Yes, well… The Konida is a transport unit that carries supplies for the military. On the other hand, Logistics is responsible for maintaining and improving the combat capabilities of the army. In other words, strategically, it is responsible for everything other than combat operations, and tactically, it is responsible for sustaining and maintaining combat actions.”

“Shizuko-sama, is it alright?”

Takenaka Hanbei raises his hand and asks a question. Shizuko, thinking that he must have had a question come to mind, urges him to continue.

“I may be included in this, but perhaps none of us here fully understand the words ‘tactics’ and ‘strategy’. If it’s alright, could you please explain them to us?”

“Understood. First, strategy refers to a long-term plan to effectively achieve a goal. Tactics, on the other hand, refer to short-term methods to effectively carry out combat according to the established plan. Using this situation as an example, the strategy would be ‘To make Lord Ashikaga the shogun.’ The tactics would be methods to achieve that, such as ‘Conquering the Rokkaku clan’ or ‘Conquering the three Miyoshi clan members in Kyoto.’”

There is no clear criterion for determining the scale at which something becomes a strategy or a tactic, but they are conceptually distinct. Strategy refers to the tactics used to achieve victory in the entire war, while tactics refer to the tactics used to command and control combat units on the battlefield to achieve actual victory. One reason why it is difficult to clearly distinguish between the two is that they both share the common characteristic of being means to achieve a goal. Of course, there are also decisive differences, such as the size and scope of the problems to be considered.

“There are other minor points as well, but for the sake of simplicity, I will only mention these two. Now, when it comes to waging war, the necessary things can be broadly categorized as daily necessities such as water and food, weapons such as armor, swords, spears, and bows and arrows, and feed for cattle and horses. And we also need soldiers to transport these things. The act of organizing and supplying these resources is called logistics.”

Many Japanese people do not understand the concept of logistics, although it is unclear what is causing this lack of understanding. When such individuals are in positions of power, they may disregard those who would otherwise die without treatment by attributing it to a lack of determination, or they may neglect to extend supply lines to dangerous levels, or even starve people to death by denying them necessary food. In fact, it is said that only Nobunaga and Hideyoshi had a somewhat understanding of the concept of logistics during the Sengoku period. The reckless marches repeated by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II can also be attributed to the fact that the word “logistics” only appeared in military textbooks without actually functioning properly. In other words, it is evidence that the modern Japanese military had no understanding of the obvious fact that “the side with a strong logistics capability wins.”

“…I hear there is a problem with the Konida. I would like to know what exactly the problem is.”

The one who quietly raised their hand was Niwa Nagahide.

“There are advantages to having Konida. I don’t say that Konida are always bad. However, as the scale of military operations becomes larger, there are certain problems that arise with Konida. I will explain this using the examples of Uesugi, Takeda, and Hojo in the eastern provinces.”

The reason for choosing these three parties is because they are the most convenient when discussing the issue of Konida. And one of the reasons why the outcome of the battle between these three parties was difficult to determine is because of the issue of Konida.

“Takeda and Uesugi did surround Odawara Castle, where the Hojo clan was holed up, but ultimately they did not achieve significant results and had to withdraw to their respective territories. In fact, during their withdrawal, they suffered severe losses due to a counterattack by the Hojo clan. One reason for the Hojo clan’s decision to take refuge in Odawara Castle, known as the strongest fortress in the eastern region, was the fact that they had exhausted their supplies.”

When the provisions carried by the soldiers are exhausted, they cease further combat and withdraw to their home country. This is a common strategy in Japanese battles, where if a castle has sufficient food supplies and maintains a strong defense, the opposing side usually loses. It is only natural that the side that is surrounded runs out of food first. It is because of such circumstances that warfare continued incessantly from the Nanboku-cho period to the Sengoku period.

“Konida has the advantage of being nimble and capable of flexible movements according to the situation. However, it has the disadvantage that military operations will end once the supplies being carried run out.”

If I were to give further reasons, most places hire farmers as conscripts or foot soldiers, so they can only engage in battles during the agricultural off-season. Once the off-season ends, the conscripts long for agricultural work, and the morale of the army significantly declines.

“But the situation changes when we have a supply soldier called a logistics officer. Imagine, in a situation where we don’t know when the war will end.”

Could you imagine even the smallest details, some of the military commanders trembled slightly. Among them was Shibata, but Shizuko pretended not to see it.

“The ability to continue fighting is a threat in itself. And because it is invisible, it instills an unfathomable terror in the opponent.”

“I see, the lines have finally connected.”

Nobunaga, who had been silently listening to Shizuko’s story, suddenly grinned and said, “I’ve been listening all along.”

“A few years ago, ever since I picked you up, you have consistently had no hesitation in spreading your skills. I thought it was to enrich the peasants until recently… but to think you also took into account logistics. Truly an impressive girl.”

“…eh, um, well?”

Shizuko, feeling that she received an unexpectedly high rating due to a huge misunderstanding, tried to deny it in a panic but couldn’t find the right words. Meanwhile, Nobunaga’s evaluation of Shizuko was skyrocketing.

“First, we must carry out agricultural reforms to obtain high productivity. Without that, we will not be able to acquire the ability to supply food stably. Next, we need to spread this knowledge and increase our country’s productivity. It will become known to other countries, and we cannot keep it a secret forever. And finally, we must incorporate the power of logistics into our military. Hmm… this is what they call ‘enrich the country and strengthen the military,’ I suppose.”

“I see. Indeed, without the productive capacity to support the march, the concept of logistics becomes a mere fantasy.”

“She spread things like rice, salt, soybeans, and many other crops. It was quite difficult to secure large quantities of these supplies, as they were all essential for sustaining life.”

Along with that, the evaluation from the retainers had also skyrocketed. At this point, Shizuko thought that it was too late to say anything, and she completely gave up.

(Ha, ha… What should I do…)

Shizuko consistently upholds the principle of “improving the standard of living.” In order to achieve this, she promotes agricultural techniques and engages in the production of silk, hemp, and cotton, establishing a district for research and development. By stabilizing the basic necessities of clothing, food, and shelter, people can finally have some leeway, and with that leeway, if education is pursued, the country will prosper. Throughout history, knowledge has been monopolized by those in power, for better or worse. This is because knowledge is the power that the people possess to resist those in power. However, even considering that, it is necessary to ensure that all citizens receive an education. The importance of this is emphasized in Fukuzawa Yukichi’s “An Encouragement of Learning.”

From the phrase “天は人の上に人を造らず人の下に人を造らず” (Heaven does not make man above man, nor man below man) in the first chapter, it is easy to misunderstand that “Gakumon no Susume” (Encouragement of Learning) is a work that advocates human equality. Because of this, Fukuzawa Yukichi is also seen as a saintly figure. However, “Gakumon no Susume” actually includes the following content after that phrase: “But in reality, there are intelligent and foolish people, poor and wealthy people, and people of high and low social status in the world, right? What do you think is the difference? It is whether or not they have pursued learning.” Throughout the seventeen chapters, Fukuzawa emphasizes the importance of pursuing learning, with statements such as “If you don’t want to become a fool, study,” “If you don’t want to be oppressed by those in power, study,” and “If you don’t want to be invaded by foreign countries, study.” From this, it can be understood that he is an extremely hawkish father figure, combining the qualities of Machiavelli and Napoleon. Additionally, in “Gakumon no Susume,” he writes dangerously provocative statements such as “The Akō Rōshi? Sonnō Jōi? Are they idiots?” and “What use is Confucianism?” and “Scholars haven’t changed since ancient times,” showing his sharp-tongued nature.

“Well, let’s start considering it right away.”

“(I haven’t really thought about logistics. I just know about it because I was reading my sister’s book…)” Yes…”

Shizuko, who couldn’t bring herself to say such a thing even if her mouth were to split open, responded to Nobunaga’s words with a distracted state of mind.