Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era - Chapter 67

Chapter 67




1569, late June

Nobunaga, who showed no signs of invading Ise, was causing headaches for the spies sent by various countries as they struggled to report to their superiors.

There were no special movements towards marching, and there were no instructions other than dealing with sudden incidents.

In his free time, he would organize small-scale martial arts tournaments and participate in them himself, competing and sweating. Sometimes he would disappear for a few days without a word.

(In reality, he visited Shizuko’s village and relaxed in the hot springs.) Although he was not constantly being monitored, judging from Nobunaga’s actions that leaked out, it seemed that he was simply enjoying himself.

Thanks to this, the spies could only report, “Nobunaga remains unchanged day by day and enjoys himself in his free time.”

Naturally, the employer who repeatedly heard such reports suspected the spies’ negligence and finally became furious, scolding them severely.

Since they were scolded for reporting the truth, the spies went to great lengths to obtain the information desired by their employers, resulting in their capture, falsification of the report content to match the employer’s desires, and ultimately complete fabrication.

As a result, the reports that came from multiple sources became inconsistent and incoherent, trapping the spies in a vicious cycle of blaming them.

In reality, the initial reports from the spies were accurate. Nobunaga was focusing on games such as Go and Shogi.

During the Warring States period, the rules of Go and Shogi were not unified, and there were several schools of thought.

Nobunaga studied them and integrated them, establishing new rules unique to Nobunaga called Owari Go and Owari Shogi, and creating rule books to spread them.

At that time, she also conducted interviews with Shizuko.

When Shizuko was in the modern era, she played Go and Shogi with the elderly people in the village, so she was familiar with the basic rules.

By integrating the refined modern rules that have been passed down and the rough but distinctive rules of the Warring States period, she selected and discarded rules that Nobunaga deemed rational.

From the perspective of those around him, it seemed that he was simply enthusiastic about entertainment, but Nobunaga saw potential in these games.

It was a way to train “imagination.” Nobunaga looked back on his past and realized that capable individuals had rich “imagination.”

However, training this “imagination” was not something that could be easily achieved. If one could easily acquire “imagination,” the world would be filled with capable individuals.

Nobunaga thought about what to do, and he came up with games. He planned to use games such as Go and Shogi to enhance the “imagination” of his subordinates.

If it was a game, individuals could enjoy it without feeling burdened by their responsibilities. And externally, it would appear that he was promoting cultural activities as a cultured person, rather than a warrior.

In fact, none of the spies accurately understood the reason why Nobunaga was focusing on games.

This was because the target of his promotion was not limited to his vassals.

Nobunaga distributed rule books and equipment to merchants and farmers, and frequently organized game tournaments that anyone could participate in, awarding the winners with prize money and the honor of being a master.

“Give it your all no matter who your opponent is. It shows respect for your opponent. And don’t belittle your opponent just because you have no chance of winning. That would nullify all your previous efforts. If there are any fools like that, come forward. I will personally give them a beating!”

During the game tournaments, Nobunaga would say this to everyone as a reminder.

He behaved in a way that did not undermine his dignity as a feudal lord, but appeared as a cultured person promoting the arts.

“It doesn’t matter what your status is. If you think you are the one, step forward.”

In the bustling Owari, as the game tournaments were held, Mitsuo and the others who had set out to find various livestock returned.

However, they brought back something unexpected for Shizuko and the others.

A strange atmosphere filled the room.

Mitsuo did bring back the Aguu, a breed of pig derived from the Ryukyu native pig. It was unclear what he did, but he had also received a gift from the king of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

He also obtained goats, and it could be said that he was very successful. Kyujiro, who accompanied him, also obtained bamboo and crop seeds, so he had also achieved his goal.

It was not a matter of concern that they received gifts from the Ryukyu Kingdom.

“By the way… who is that person over there?”

The problem was that two more people had joined since they left. One was a young girl dressed in a gorgeous kimono. The other was a woman in her thirties who seemed to be her attendant from her attitude.

At first, Shizuko thought they had bought slaves, but she learned that the young girl, who was eight years old, had a dignified demeanor and did not look like a peasant.

“It would take a long time to explain…”

“We don’t need a long explanation. Just give us the key points.”

Ashimitsu cut off Mitsuo’s words mercilessly.

“I went to Ryukyu and had a drinking contest, got caught when I came back to Satsuma, and was told that if I won the drinking contest in exchange for my release, I would marry the princess. I’m in a bind.”

It was a difficult situation to judge. First of all, the reason for having a drinking contest was completely unclear.

“Mitsuo… You didn’t think of having a drinking contest to have a child just because you’re good at alcohol, did you?”

“Old man, that’s not it at all.”

“Wait a minute. Why do you think I would come up with such an idea? It’s a terrible misunderstanding.”

“Then, did you think of having a drinking contest to gain an advantage?”

While listening to the conversation of the old men (Mitsuo, Ashimitsu, and Gorou), Shizuko crossed her arms and pondered what to do with the girl.

Eventually, she gave up thinking and said to Mitsuo, who was struggling to respond to Ashimitsu and Gorou’s comments.

“Enjoy your second married life.”

If she interfered, she would only get involved in unnecessary trouble. Shizuko understood this and looked away.

Mitsuo looked at Ashimitsu with a face that seemed about to cry. In an instant, he also avoided Mitsuo’s gaze.

Not to mention Gorou, Nagayoshi, Keiji, and Saizo.

“What should I do?”

“Well, even if you ask me… They officially asked me to be a wife from the Shimazu family. So just give up and live as a married couple.”

“That’s right, Mitsuo. Don’t worry about it.”

“That’s right, old man.”

Ashimitsu and Gorou replied with a nonchalant attitude. They understood that there was no one to support Mitsuo, so they sighed heavily.

It was unfortunate, but there was no choice but to give up. After all, if she rejected the official proposal as a wife, it would ruin the face of the Shimazu family. If that happened, no matter how much Mitsuo was liked, it wouldn’t end well.

“…Anyway, let me introduce them. She is Tsuruhime, and the woman is Shiba, her attendant.”

The two introduced themselves with a deep bow.

Shizuko’s aquaculture was focused on soft-shelled turtles.

Last year, Nobunaga was the only one who gave a favorable evaluation, and the fact that there were snails living in the rice fields was the reason.

In modern Japan, there is a snail called the “Jumbo Tanishi” that is feared as a pest.

Fortunately, the Jumbo Tanishi was imported from Taiwan to Japan for food purposes in 1981 and became an invasive harmful animal that caused damage to rice crops.

In other words, the Jumbo Tanishi did not exist during the Warring States period.

However, snails themselves existed, and although there were snails such as the Mametanishi that served as intermediate hosts for liver flukes, they were generally beneficial creatures that ate garbage accumulated in muddy bottoms.

They were beneficial animals in general, but for some reason, in Owari, snails were causing a problem by mass breeding in rice fields and irrigation canals.

During the Warring States period, rubber boots and the like were not available, so snails that pierced the feet while working in the rice fields were a common enemy of farmers.

They could be used for food, but there was difficulty in handling them due to the possibility of parasitic worms. Therefore, Shizuko thought about whether soft-shelled turtles, which are omnivorous, could be used as food for snails.

Soft-shelled turtles have been successfully eradicated by releasing soft-shelled turtles, and there have been cases where people have stolen the released soft-shelled turtles due to their high value in modern Japan.

However, in the Warring States period, wild soft-shelled turtles were found everywhere. Even if they were caught to some extent, there was no problem.

Moreover, Shizuko was allowed a certain degree of logging and capture by Nobunaga, the ruler of Owari. She could catch soft-shelled turtles and eels from the rivers in the area and bring them home without being blamed by anyone.

She was meticulous enough to inform people if there were residents, report the number of captures, and make sure she didn’t take too many.

Thanks to this, she had a certain level of interaction with neighboring villages and was treated as a “strange important person who collects things that no one understands.”

“Secure twenty pairs of soft-shelled turtles! Since we no longer need a hatching facility, I was thinking if we could use the hot spring water for something… but these soft-shelled turtles are perfect. We can catch plenty of snails.”

Since poultry farming had spread throughout Owari and Mino, maintaining a special hatching facility for chicks had become less necessary.

Thinking it would be a waste not to use it, she decided to use the hot spring water for the cultivation of soft-shelled turtles.

It happened to be the spawning season for soft-shelled turtles (from June to August).

To prevent the escape of soft-shelled turtles, the bottom of the breeding pond was dug deeper and made one step lower, and a rocky area was also created in the center of the breeding pond for soft-shelled turtles to sunbathe.

After that, mud was laid on the coastal area and water plants were placed on top to provide hiding places for soft-shelled turtles. Soft-shelled turtles are very timid animals and feel stressed without a hiding place.

If this stress continues for a long time, soft-shelled turtles will resort to cannibalism and die. Therefore, creating hiding places for soft-shelled turtles is important in establishing a soft-shelled turtle breeding ground.

Finally, a sandpit for egg-laying and an entrance to the sandpit were installed, and the facilities were completed.

The incubator did not require detailed environmental conditions like chickens, and as long as there was soil and a sprayer, there was no problem. Now that the bamboo sprayer was completed, there were no obstacles to breeding soft-shelled turtles.

The size of the hatchery and the training pond indicated a capacity of about 20,000 turtles. However, even if the capacity was exceeded, there were countermeasures.

Water was poured into fallow fields, a roof was installed to prevent direct rain, and fences were installed to prevent soft-shelled turtles from escaping.

With this, all that was left was to feed them adequately. Furthermore, the nutrients would return to the rice fields as a byproduct.

“Soft-shelled turtles… I ate them last year, right?”

“That’s right. Snapping turtles… I thought they were a type of omnivorous creature, but they had a delicious taste that permeated the body.”

“I saw him baking a large number of thick-bottomed clay pots, so he must be planning to breed them in earnest.”

Keiji, Saizo, and Nagayoshi were watching Shizuko’s work from behind, while having a heated discussion about the taste of soft-shelled turtles.

“I have a headache…”

However, what they were saying was not necessarily wrong.

Soft-shelled turtles are a treasure trove of amino acids, calcium, and vitamins, and they also have excellent blood purification effects. Today, it is not a commonly known ingredient as a high-class cuisine, but in the Edo period, it was an inexpensive food that even common people ate.

However, like foxes and raccoon dogs, soft-shelled turtles were considered yokai in some areas.

Soft-shelled turtles also have parasites in their internal organs and blood. Therefore, it was necessary to be very careful with raw blood.

“Mixing raw blood with shochu to make an aphrodisiac is also a good idea. With the distiller, thanks to Factice, it seems possible. Since I’m afraid of parasites, should I use the internal organs as raw garbage compost? The remaining meat can be used as food, and the soft-shelled turtle shells can be sold as Chinese medicine.”

The dried shell of a soft-shelled turtle is called “Dobekko”. When it is powdered, it is used as a Chinese herbal medicine and is often used as an ingredient in aphrodisiacs and health foods.

The parts that could not be used were buried in a deep hole with quicklime to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

“Well… I guess I’ll go fishing for soft-shelled turtles again for the sake of the trio making a fuss behind me.”

Shizuko muttered this while watching the trio arguing about the taste of soft-shelled turtles from behind with a warm gaze.

The spawning period of soft-shelled turtles is from June to August, and they lay about ten to fifty eggs in one spawning. On average, a female lays about thirty eggs, but it depends on the individual.

It takes about five to six years for soft-shelled turtles to become sexually mature. In other words, the pairs caught this time were already mated. Nevertheless, the reason for catching the males was to avoid problems with males in the following years and to gain experience in breeding and rearing.

Soft-shelled turtles do not hatch until the humidity is high, so moss was placed in the hatching barrel. Since directly wetting the eggs would cause suffocation, the surrounding moss was wetted to increase the humidity.

The hot spring water had a certain level of humidity, so there were no major problems with temperature and humidity.

After that, misting was done in the morning and evening, and if they persevered for about sixty days, they might hatch.

“If things go well, about ninety percent of them should hatch. However, this is the first attempt, so it may not be so easy… Well, it’s more constructive to think about how to make it work than to think about why it can’t be done.”

The breeding of soft-shelled turtles was going well. However, it was only in terms of “breeding soft-shelled turtles.”

If there were any problems, it would be that the merchants who came and went for the newly started soft-shelled turtle breeding were showing great interest, and there were also requests from Nobunaga and others who wanted to eat soft-shelled turtles.

Kyujiro seemed to have no intention of hiding anything and brought up the topic with a more suspicious smile than usual.

Late June.

Of the captured soft-shelled turtles, the females were released into the breeding grounds for egg-laying, and only the males were kept for consumption.

After soaking them in clean water for a few days to remove the mud, they began the preparation of the soft-shelled turtles for cooking.

However, Shizuko, who didn’t know how to cook soft-shelled turtles, decided to leave it to Ashimitsu and Mitsuo.

Ashimitsu had been catching and eating wild soft-shelled turtles since the Sengoku period. Mitsuo had also made soft-shelled turtle hot pot before and knew how to cook them.

“After the hot pot, we can make a delicious porridge using the broth. Let’s finish it with leftover eggs.”

“Hmm, they are smaller compared to chicken eggs, but will nine be enough for nine people?”

“If we put too many eggs, the taste will be diluted, so this amount should be just right.”

“I have prepared the shells, bones, and kombu. Should we add sake as well as water when simmering?”

The three of them worked efficiently.

The people who would be eating the soft-shelled turtle hot pot and porridge this time were Hideyoshi, who was sent by Nobunaga for various reasons, and the Takenaka brothers. Keiji, Saizo, Nagayoshi, Aya, Mitsuo’s wife Tsuruhime, and the maid Shiba were the taste testers, making a total of nine people.

However, preparing the soft-shelled turtle hot pot took time. They had to start the preparations a few hours before everyone gathered.

“Soft-shelled turtles that live in constantly flowing streams are one thing, but since we are cultivating them in mud, we add sake and ginger to remove any unpleasant smell.”

“I see. We used sake and mirin made from the shaved parts of premium sake for cooking, but I wonder how it would taste with cloudy sake?”

“I leave that to your imagination.”

They prepared a special clay pot for the soft-shelled turtles, lined it with dried kombu and thinly sliced fresh ginger, and placed the cleaned soft-shelled turtle meat and diagonally sliced kujo onions on top. Then they poured in cooking sake.

“Oh, we’re not using a lid?”

“Normally, not using a lid allows the smell to dissipate, but when camping, it’s inconvenient if a strong smell rises, so we intentionally use a drop lid.”

From here, Ashimitsu focused on removing impurities and simmering for about twenty minutes. At this stage, they poured hot water over the shells to remove the thin skin on the surface and discarded it, as it would make the pot smell muddy and unfit for consumption. Since they put nine servings of soft-shelled turtles in a large pot, there was a lot of impurities, and they kept removing them. Mitsuo adjusted the simmering level while tasting the broth, and Shizuko welcomed the guests.

Once the soft-shelled turtles were cooked, they added seasonal vegetables and shiitake mushrooms to the pot, seasoned it with soy sauce and mirin, and brought it to a boil. When everything was done, they divided it into individual clay pots with the broth.

They took out the kombu and bonito flakes that had been soaked in soy sauce, vinegar, and yuzu juice overnight, and strained the solid ingredients using a sieve. This was a reproduction of modern ponzu sauce as much as possible. They added grated ginger and put it in a deep dish.

Even without the preparations from the previous day, it had been over three hours since they started cooking.

“We apologize for the wait.”

As Shizuko said that, she quietly opened the entrance. The fragrant aroma of the soft-shelled turtle hot pot filled the room, even though the clay pots were covered. First, the aroma of ginger and soy sauce, followed by the taste reminiscent of sea bream soup, stimulated everyone’s appetite.

Even Takenaka Hanbei, who was usually quiet, couldn’t help but stare at the soft-shelled turtle hot pot, swallowing his saliva.

Shizuko placed the clay pots with the soft-shelled turtles on the specially prepared charcoal grills that she had obtained for the cultivation of soft-shelled turtles, for Hideyoshi and the Takenaka brothers. Ashimitsu placed them for Keiji and the others, and Mitsuo placed them for Tsuruhime and Shiba.

After the serving was done, Shizuko sat down, followed by Mitsuo and Ashimitsu.

“This is the soft-shelled turtle hot pot that we hope will become a specialty of Owari. Please enjoy it with the ponzu sauce in the serving dish. After the ingredients are gone, we will make porridge with the broth, so please save some broth. Now, please enjoy.”

As if they had been waiting for it, Keiji was the first to pick up his chopsticks. He skillfully took the soft-shelled turtles out of the clay pot and ate them without dipping them in ponzu sauce.

“Mmm, delicious! The soft-shelled turtles I had before were also delicious, but this is even better!”

The texture of the soft-shelled turtle meat was different from chicken or duck. If he had to describe it, it would be similar to the firmness of chicken breast. It had a dense texture like chicken breast, but it was also bouncy and had a burst of fatty flavor when chewed.

The unique flavor of the soft-shelled turtle, which achieved a contradiction of being similar to the clear soup made from chicken bones, was sublimated into a bewitching taste. The unique taste of the soft-shelled turtle, which was different from other meats or fish, spread in the mouth.

He slowly chewed and enjoyed the taste of the meat, then enjoyed the soup, fat, and meat juices mixing on his tongue, and finally, when it passed through his throat, the aroma of green onions and ginger wiped away the slight gamey smell, leaving only the lingering taste of umami in his mouth.

Although Keiji had only eaten a few bites of the meat, he was already captivated by the charm of the soft-shelled turtle hot pot.

“It’s incredibly delicious even without the ponzu sauce, but when you eat it with the ponzu sauce, you can clearly taste the outline of the umami.”

Saizo quickly dipped the soft-shelled turtle’s empura (the soft part around the edge of the shell) in the ponzu sauce and put it in his mouth. The combination of the rich and flavorful soup and the acidity of the ponzu sauce, along with the gelatinous texture that didn’t have a strong taste like nata de coco, melted in his mouth, leaving a lingering taste on his tongue. When they passed through his throat, the acidity of the ponzu sauce and the sweetness of the soft-shelled turtle turned into a deep umami, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste in his throat.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and started eating the soft-shelled turtle. They couldn’t help but be drawn in by the multi-layered symphony created by the pot, where the soft-shelled turtle was the main character and the other ingredients played supporting roles. Everyone’s appetite decreased as they focused on savoring the overwhelming deliciousness.

The soft-shelled turtle hot pot was quickly finished, but there was still porridge made with the broth waiting.

They quickly rinsed the rice and added it to the pot, being careful not to make the broth cloudy. They brought it to a boil and added beaten eggs. Once they removed the charcoal used for heat adjustment, it was done.

“This is the soft-shelled turtle porridge. Please serve it in small dishes with a wooden spoon. It’s also delicious with soy sauce or ponzu sauce, if you prefer.”

Since there were people of various ranks gathered, normally there would be various etiquette and manners to follow, but Shizuko decided to ignore them. As expected, everyone served themselves with a wooden spoon and enjoyed the soft-shelled turtle porridge without any concern for etiquette.

Even though they were sweating, everyone mindlessly devoured the soft-shelled turtle hot pot and porridge.

Hideyoshi’s purpose was to inspect Shizuko’s soft-shelled turtle cultivation in place of Nobunaga, and to deal with the sudden appearance of Tsuruhime. For Mitsuo, Tsuruhime was just a child, but for Hideyoshi and Takenaka, it was a national defense issue for a princess from another country to marry a vassal without permission. Normally, Mitsuo would be severely punished, but because Shizuko saw him as an important person for the new dairy farming business, it was difficult to do so.

“I understand Kinoshita’s concerns. However, I will not return to the Shimazu family, let alone work for them. Of course, I understand that words alone cannot be trusted.”

“Yes, I understand. Considering the relationship between Owari and Satsuma, I understand that it is not easy for you to have direct contact with the Shimazu family. However, as someone who protects the country, I cannot be reassured by just words.”

The discussion reached a stalemate.

Mitsuo seemed to want to say something, but he had been warned not to say a word before the discussion started. He was undoubtedly looking at Tsuruhime with a modern perspective. The difference in perception was too dangerous in this discussion. At worst, Mitsuo could be suspected as an accomplice. If that happened, Mitsuo would have no backing, and there was even a possibility of being executed.

So, Mitsuo kept quiet, and Shizuko and Hideyoshi accepted Ashimitsu’s proposal without any objections.

Nobunaga visited the Sakurano Shrine, which he had modified, to pay his respects. However, he was not the only one visiting the shrine. His wife, Nohime, was with him. Although she had come to the shrine, she showed no intention of praying. Rather, it seemed that the real event would start after Nobunaga’s visit.

“Nobunaga-sama, you spend too much time in prayer. There are more interesting things to come, and you’re making us wait.”

“…I told you not to do any unnecessary acting. What is the purpose of today’s conversation?”

Nohime is not the kind of person who would visit a shrine without reason, and Nobunaga knows that best.

“Hehe, this time we will have a meeting with the dead.”

“The dead…?”

“Well, let’s go together. I assure you, it won’t be anything bad.”

Even though he said that, Nobunaga had no choice but to go along. If he backed down now, he didn’t know what Nohime would say to him, and if he showed fear of something spiritual, it would affect his reputation.

Reluctantly, Nobunaga walked with Nohime, following her lead.

They entered the heiden (a building connecting the haiden and honden) and reached the honden (main hall). The heiden and honden were considered sacred and forbidden areas, and even spies from other countries wouldn’t easily sneak in. In the Sengoku period, people had a fear and respect for gods and Buddhas, even if they were ruffians. Therefore, it was difficult for others to know what was said in secret conversations in the honden.

“For humans whose fate is determined by luck, incurring the wrath of the gods and Buddhas is more terrifying than anything else. That’s why a secret conversation is perfect for us.”

Saying that, Nohime opened the entrance without hesitation and entered the honden without any sense of reverence.

“…I told you not to do any unnecessary acting.”

The inside of the honden was beautiful. In the center of the room, Ashimitsu was sitting in formal attire.

“Allow me to introduce him, the caretaker of this shrine and also a dead person.”

“What… do you mean?”

“Hehe, you’re being too dramatic. Let’s sit down first. The interesting part comes after that.”

Nobunaga sat down wherever he was told. When Nohime acted like this, it was best to listen obediently, as he had learned from experience. Nohime smiled satisfied at Nobunaga, who obediently sat down, and then spread her arms somewhat dramatically as she spoke.

“Now, my lord, do you remember? The great incident that happened in Kyoto a few years ago… the attack on Nijo Castle (Eiroku Incident).”

“Yes, I remember. It was the incident where I expelled the Miyoshi Trio and Matsunaga, who surrendered to the former shogun at the time. What about it…?”

Nobunaga organized the information in his mind as he spoke. Putting the pieces together one by one, he arrived at a certain hypothesis. He carefully observed Ashimitsu’s face as if to confirm the hypothesis. Eventually, he understood that the hypothesis was correct and let out a heavy sigh.

“…So, you’re saying he’s a dead person.”

Nobunaga thought it was foolish to say it out loud after saying it himself. Either it was a foolish joke or a scam by a swindler. However, Nobunaga knew that Nohime was not a foolish woman who couldn’t see through such lies.

“That look in your eyes… there’s no mistake. He died at that time, in that place. What’s here is the remnants of that man.”

“But you’re not a silent corpse, but a dead person who speaks. In that case, shall we use your power for the sake of my lord?”

“…I don’t mind. But let me give you one piece of advice. Even if you develop the most advanced weapons, they will eventually be stolen and imitated. No matter how much you try to keep it a secret, secrets will always leak. They can be damaged or lost on the battlefield, or they can be captured. With stolen information, slightly inferior replicas of the weapons can be made. The weapons will be refined through trial and error and eventually, equal or even better ones will be created. It is the beginning of the birth of a weapon that surpasses the new killing weapon.”

“…Hmm, I finally understand the conversation. Then… Ashimitsu, how would you defeat the enemy? Let’s use the Kitabatake family in Ise as a hypothetical enemy.”

“Oh ho, then how shall we solve this?”

“The first step is already done. I used my spies to intentionally spread measles in Ise. Oda-dono and Nohime-dono should ask Shizuko for more details. Only a few people know the treatment for measles.”

“I see. They lack knowledge about measles. We can use that as a weakness and attack.”

“The next step is to destroy the fields. But not by burning them down. By destroying the soil, we can intentionally cause a poor harvest.”

“Destroy the soil of the fields?”

“Shizuko knows more about this, but the condition of the soil is crucial for crops to grow well. That girl separated the rice seedlings from the farmers and distributed them after growing them. The quality of the soil affects that.”

To grow crops, it’s not enough to simply sow seeds in the soil.

As the term “soil cultivation” suggests, it is necessary to conduct soil analysis to determine the optimal soil conditions for growing crops.

Soil pH, which is often mentioned, also varies greatly depending on the crop. For example, for rice seedlings, the optimal pH is said to be between 5.0 and 5.5.

However, when grown in paddy fields, a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is considered optimal.

In agriculture, it is crucial to create soil that has high water retention, easy drainage, good ventilation, and high fertility.

The success or failure of soil cultivation greatly affects the harvest of crops.

Moreover, Shizuko separated the rice seedlings from the farmers not only for soil cultivation but also to select superior individuals and to ensure that the farmers would not be affected if they accidentally ate the seeds.

“The farmers are unaware. They don’t know that there are tricks hidden in the soil beneath their feet. Since this won’t have as long-term effects as a famine, it would be best to implement it in the year the war begins.”

The impact of a famine is that when there is a poor harvest, the amount of food decreases, causing food prices to rise.

When it becomes difficult to obtain food, people fight over the limited supply.

On the other hand, if the farmers also have less food, they may end up eating the seeds in the worst case scenario.

As a result, the harvest will further decrease the following year.

Once caught in this vicious cycle, food becomes chronically scarce, and people have no choice but to resort to looting from other countries in order to survive.

From the Sengoku period to the modern era, all wars in the world have started with a struggle for food to compensate for the shortage caused by famine.

“Now, let me tell you my advantage. Although it’s not much. If you take that girl with you on a march, don’t let the foot soldiers plunder. That girl knows that looting occurs on the battlefield. But there’s no need to show her the malicious intent of those scum. Sometimes, it’s better not to see it even if you know.”

“What if we don’t take Shizuko with us?”

“In that case, it doesn’t matter. Let the scum do as they please.”

Ashimitsu’s advantage was very clear.

He would intervene when it involved Shizuko, but otherwise, he wouldn’t get involved. In fact, he often took ruthless measures.

“Oh ho, as expected of Ashimitsu. You really care about Shizuko, don’t you?”

“That girl saved my life, both physically and mentally. I’m already a dead man, but it’s only natural for me to use my life for her until my body decays.”

In response to Nohime’s slightly teasing words, Ashimitsu gave a serious reply.

In early July, Shizuko brought pottery jars from the storehouse to her home. Inside were black sugar plum liqueur made with black sugar.

The reason Shizuko made plum liqueur was not so much for enjoying alcohol, but more as a medicinal liquor.

Plum liqueur has the effects of recovering from fatigue, improving blood circulation, improving digestion, increasing appetite, and providing vitamins, minerals, and calcium contained in black sugar and plums.

“Well, I made it with the leftover plums for making umeboshi, so the taste might not be good.”

When making umeboshi, red perilla, which is essential, can be harvested in about two months, so Shizuko prepared a large amount. However, there was a shortage of red perilla compared to plums, and she ended up with a surplus of plums.

Some of the umeboshi she made was presented to Nobunaga, and he even gave some to Uesugi Kenshin.

The secret to the umeboshi was mixing it with honey to create a milder taste.

Speaking of umeboshi in the Sengoku period, it was usually salted and dried, and it was extremely salty.

On the other hand, the umeboshi made by Shizuko used less salt and added sterilizing honey, allowing it to be stored with moisture.

Of course, the combination of the salty and sour taste, and the sweetness of the thick and tender plum flesh, created a harmonious and irresistible flavor that even Kenshin, who had his own opinion on umeboshi, couldn’t resist.

The rumor spread quickly, and Shizuko’s umeboshi became a popular item among the warlords.

“How many should I make this year? For now, I’m making umeboshi with the plums that have arrived, but the quantity is quite challenging…”

Because she was also making mosquito coils using white chrysanthemums, Shizuko felt like writing down the recipe for making umeboshi and sharing it with others. However, due to the nature of umeboshi as a military supply and the difficulty of handling red perilla, she couldn’t easily outsource the production.

When Shizuko returned home, she checked the progress of the black sugar plum liqueur, but as someone who couldn’t taste alcohol, she could only smell the unique scent of black sugar.

When she let Keiji taste it, his reaction was positive, but he commented that it wasn’t a drink to consume in large quantities. Shizuko thought it was strange to think that drinking more alcohol was better, but she didn’t say anything and left it at that.

She also let the soldiers on break taste it, but their evaluations were also mixed, and she didn’t receive any particularly positive feedback.

Based on the results, Shizuko decided to treat the plum liqueur as a medicinal bath rather than a drink.

Plum liqueur is said to be good before meals.

However, in Japan, there is no concept of a pre-meal drink, so Shizuko thought it would be awkward and decided to give the plum liqueur a different name, “Ume Yakutou,” emphasizing that it is not a drink but a medicine.

In reality, if consumed in the right amount, plum liqueur diluted with hot water is good for the body, and in winter, the alcohol has the effect of warming the body.

Shizuko planned to drink it only once every two or three days in the summer and once or twice a week at other times, to prevent dependence on plum liqueur.

In modern times, even if you become unwell, you can simply go to the hospital, but in the Sengoku period, where medical facilities were not sufficient, it was necessary to prevent illness before it occurred.

Maintaining perfect health is impossible, but it is necessary to strive to be close to perfection at all times.

“However, it’s difficult to drink it alone… Ah, I have an idea.”

While thinking about how to handle the plum liqueur, Shizuko remembered that Nohime had made a certain request a while ago.

The content was, “Oichi’s postpartum recovery is not going well. Is there anything good for her?”.

From the content of the letter, Shizuko thought it was about Oichi giving birth, so she thought plum liqueur would be suitable for nutritional supplementation.

Normally, if alcohol such as plum liqueur is consumed after giving birth, it can affect the breast milk with alcohol, but in the Sengoku period, a wet nurse would take care of the child, so it wouldn’t be a problem.

She sent a total of five jars to Nohime, along with a note saying that it should be diluted with hot water or water and drunk after dinner.

She sent five jars because she considered the possibility that Nohime herself would want some.

“Well, she probably won’t like it because it’s alcohol. Oh, right. It’s about time for the pineapple harvest.”

Shizuko remembered that the snack pineapples she had been growing for a year and a half were ready for harvest.

After planting, it takes one to one and a half years, or even up to two years for slower plants, for pineapples to be ready for harvest. Fortunately, the weather in Owari region was good, and she was able to harvest them in about a year and four months.

Note that this is the cultivation period for snack pineapples, and depending on the variety of pineapple, some may take up to three years from planting to fruiting.

“I should check if there are any suckers that can be used for propagation. Oh, and I need to check on the pineapple crowns as well.”

Once a pineapple plant bears fruit, it will no longer bear fruit again.

So how do you propagate the plant? You can use the crown, which is the upper part of the leaves, for stem cutting propagation, the sucker that grows from the lower part of the stem that bears fruit, the shoot that grows from the stem that bears fruit, and the shoot that grows from the underground stem. By taking these and cultivating them, you can increase the number of plants.

However, depending on the variety, leaving suckers may result in the plant bearing fruit again.

“Hmm, it seems I don’t have any. Even in modern times, it’s difficult for ordinary farmers to obtain seedlings. I guess I’ll have to try the ratoon propagation method.”

Suckers are not suitable for seedlings, and there is no guarantee that suckers or shoots will always grow. While it is possible to collect crowns for seedlings, it doesn’t increase the number of seedlings.

Depending on the luck of the suckers and shoots, there may still be uncertainty in obtaining seedlings. That’s why Shizuko decided to use the less familiar “ratoon propagation method.”

Normally, pineapples that have borne fruit are discarded by burying them in the field.

However, there are some varieties, such as the Gold Barrel, where the number of crowns, shoots, and suckers that can become seedlings is extremely small due to the characteristics of the variety. The ratoon propagation method is used to increase the number of seedlings for such varieties.

The ratoon propagation method involves collecting the discarded pineapple mother stem after removing the leaves and roots, and cutting it into two to four centimeter slices.

These slices are soaked in a sterilizing agent to kill bacteria, and then the slices are buried and sprouted. After that, the grown shoots are collected as seedlings and temporarily planted. That’s all there is to it.

With this method, it is possible to produce four or five seedlings from one plant, and with proper temperature and fertilization management, it is not a dream to produce more than ten seedlings from one plant.

However, in the Sengoku period, it was impossible to have perfect temperature control, so only the gods knew how many seedlings could be produced from one plant.

“Well, there are only a few plants, so let’s just focus on harvesting today. Hmm, it’s been a while since I had pineapple. And on top of that, it’s the expensive snack pineapple… I have high expectations for the taste.”

“Oh ho. Is secretly eating that kind of thing your hobby?”

In an instant, Shizuko stopped moving while holding the pineapple. She turned her head like a rusty machine and saw Nobunaga with an expression that seemed to say he had succeeded in his mischief, and Sakihisa (Konoe), who was looking at the pineapple with great interest.

“…Um, may I ask why Konoe-sama is here in this place…?”

“I invited him. Is there a problem?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong. But isn’t it a bit careless not to have any guards?”

“There’s no need to worry. It’s too early for mere spies to take my head. Now, what is that prickly and menacing thing you have there?”

“(Ah, he won’t let me off the hook for this) Ahem… Well, this is a fruit called pineapple from Nanban. In kanji, it’s written as ‘phoenix’ and ‘pear,’ so it’s called ‘Houli’ in Japanese.”

Pineapples arrived in Japan much later compared to the 17th century when they were introduced to Taiwan and the early 19th century. There are records of cultivation on Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara Islands in Tokyo, but there are also records of their introduction to Nagasaki through Nanban trade.

The original country of snack pineapples is Taiwan, and in Taiwan, it is called “Taiwan No. 4.”

As for pineapples, they belong to the Bogor variety in the pineapple family.

“I see. And?”

Nobunaga muttered as he began to clasp his fists together. It was a sign that he didn’t need any more trivia.

“Um… you can eat it by tearing it apart like this.”

The characteristics of snack pineapples are that they are smaller than regular pineapples, have larger air spaces in the flesh, have less acidity, have stronger sweetness, have a high fragrance, and have a soft and sweet core that can be eaten as it is.

They tore the small fruits of the snack pineapple and ate them while sharing their impressions.

In the end, it goes without saying that only the crown remained in Shizuko’s hand.