Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era - Chapter 73

Chapter 73




Early March, 1570.

In late February, when the cold of winter began to ease, the trend of drinking hot sake among the Oda clan’s retainers started. While cloudy sake can also be heated, there are many types of sake that develop a unique flavor or become more acidic when warmed.

On the other hand, heating sake enhances its aroma and expands its compatibility with food. It provides a sense of satisfaction from the first sip, and if consumed at an appropriate pace, one can get pleasantly intoxicated with a small amount. Furthermore, heating sake increases its ability to warm the body, making it suitable to drink hot sake on cold days.

While it is difficult to heat cloudy sake, it does not mean that it is inferior to clear sake. Cloudy sake, which becomes more flavorful and smooth when chilled, has a different taste compared to cold sake (chilled clear sake). It also undergoes changes in quality more easily than clear sake, allowing one to enjoy the aging process. There are also retainers of the Oda clan who prefer cloudy sake, so not everyone follows the trend of drinking hot sake.

Unlike chilled cloudy sake, there is one drawback to heating clear sake. It increases the desire for side dishes. Alcohol increases the secretion of gastric juice and promotes digestion. Therefore, while one may also crave side dishes when drinking cloudy sake, the warming effect of alcohol in hot sake greatly stimulates the appetite. This is not limited to Japanese sake, as it is said that shochu mixed with hot water, beer with bitter hop components, and carbonated beer also have a high appetite-enhancing effect.

If one is only looking for sake accompaniments, it is possible to find them in Gifu as well, but Owari, which faces the sea, offers a wider variety. In that sense, the place where Shizuko is located was ideal. The accommodations were well-equipped, with a wide variety of sake accompaniments stored. It was conveniently close to Gifu and also close to the sea. The next day, one could soak in warm water. With all these factors, it was no wonder that it became popular. Depending on the season, various types of side dishes were favored, such as simmered eggplant, dried horse mackerel, smoked cold smelt, lightly grilled fish bones, nikujaga (meat and potato stew), octopus with vinegar miso, and chilled tofu. However, the most popular one was karasumi. Salty and delicious karasumi pairs well with Japanese sake, and it is favored because one can adjust the thickness of each piece.

When it comes to karasumi in Japan, it is strongly associated with the roe of mullet. However, mullet roe is just one type of karasumi, and along the Mediterranean coast, various types of fish roe are used. Kagawa Prefecture uses the roe of mackerel or sardines. Therefore, regardless of the type of roe used, as long as it is made according to the karasumi production method, it becomes karasumi.

Due to the time and effort involved, the price of karasumi is high, making it difficult for those with limited means to afford it. However, with the emergence of a similar product called “misozuke hoshi” (miso-marinated dried roe), even lower-ranking samurai can enjoy a taste similar to karasumi. The process is simple: mix miso, garlic, mirin, and sake, then layer miso, cheesecloth, roe, cheesecloth, and miso in a storage container such as a Tupperware, and store it in a cool, dark place for about ten days. After that, simply sun-dry it until the surface becomes firm, just like karasumi. This low-priced and moderately salty product became popular, but it also led to an increase in alcohol consumption, which hit people’s wallets.

Among the retainers, there was a heated debate about what is the best accompaniment for hot sake, but their lord, Nobunaga, was more interested in the quality of his mantles than in sake. At first, he wore mantles made by Shizuko, but later, he found various points he didn’t like when he saw a velvet mantle presented by a missionary.

This was unavoidable due to Shizuko’s personality, as she prioritized functionality over appearance. Furthermore, she preferred calm colors, so the vibrant colors of the mantles were unsatisfactory for the flamboyant Nobunaga. Nobunaga requested mantles with a bright red color and had samples dyed with safflower made by craftsmen multiple times. Eventually, a red color that suited Nobunaga’s taste was adopted using a method suitable for his glasses.

But the story didn’t end there. Nobunaga made many other modifications besides the color of the fabric. He processed the edges of the mantles and embroidered them with gold and silver threads. On the back, a pattern was drawn all over, and it was also embroidered with gold and silver threads, just like the edges. The fasteners were also exquisitely crafted.

In this way, Nobunaga’s preferences were incorporated into every detail, and the priceless Nobunaga-exclusive mantles were completed. Extremely satisfied with the outcome, Nobunaga rewarded the craftsmen involved and praised them without reservation.

“Hahaha! How about my mantles! I may have spent a fortune, but the result is worth it!”

Nobunaga wanted to boast about the completed mantles to someone. At that moment, he spotted Shizuko, who had come to the residence to report on the progress of the seedlings and present dried persimmons. He immediately caught hold of her and showed her the finished mantles. As Nobunaga happily flipped the mantles, Shizuko pondered in her mind how to respond.

“T-They suit you very well.”

“Hmm! That’s right, that’s right!”

Shizuko realized that as long as she praised him, anything would do, judging from Nobunaga’s cheerful attitude. However, she needed to be cautious because his response could change instantly if his mood shifted even slightly.

“Now, let’s change the subject, Shizuko. When can we have the carts running in the technology district?”

“Um, are you referring to the carts? We have resolved major issues, and we are currently in the process of mass production. We expect to produce about a hundred units by the end of April.”

“Hmm… Since we are using rice, excessive production may be difficult. However, I want to put the carts to use for logistics as soon as possible. Deliver ten carts to the Fifth Army.”

“Understood.”

Shizuko had a premonition that she would be busy from now on. After all, the rubber tires of the carts were currently being substituted with factice. It was indeed a suitable substitute for rubber, and factice had performance close to rubber. Although it had lower durability against high temperatures compared to rubber, there was no need to use the tires in high-temperature environments at present. Factice, which could be considered equivalent to commercially available rubber, opened up the path for the evolution of agricultural tools for Shizuko.

(Ideally, I would like natural rubber… but currently, there is only Indian rubber tree. I might have to import rubber latex for a while.)

In modern times, rubber latex extracted from the Para rubber tree is commonly used. The reason why the Para rubber tree is famous is that the British secretly brought back the Para rubber tree, which was prohibited from being taken out of Brazil, and succeeded in cultivating it in their colonies after many hardships. This was largely due to the fact that Britain had colonies in tropical rainforest areas similar to the original habitat of Brazil. Furthermore, in the native South America, the rubber trees could not be easily increased due to South American leaf blight caused by a fungus. Therefore, in the original habitat, rubber latex is still collected from naturally growing trees.

While the Para rubber tree has a larger amount of latex than the Indian rubber tree, the quality of the latex from the Indian rubber tree is superior. Additionally, the Indian rubber tree has excellent shade tolerance, heat tolerance, and cold tolerance, and it has been cultivated as an ornamental plant in Japan since before the war. In some regions, there are Indian rubber trees that have grown into large trees in garden plantings.

(If I could get rubber seedlings… Glass processing is also on track, and the achievement of Ward’s boxes is remarkable. If we can make binoculars or field scopes by the Battle of Ishiyama, it would be quite an achievement.)

Ward’s box, which became the precursor to terrariums, is a groundbreaking invention that encapsulates a self-contained environment separate from the outside world, allowing the transportation of plants while maintaining their growth environment. It was invented by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, a surgeon, around 1829 in London, where air pollution was severe. This glass container enabled the preservation of a certain independent environment, enclosing the growth environment of plants while being transported. It greatly assisted the activities of plant collectors who gathered plants from around the world and is highly regarded as a pioneering plant cultivation container.

As an example of utilizing the portable Ward’s box, Scottish botanist Robert Fortune transported 20,000 tea plants from Shanghai, China to Assam in northeastern India. In addition, the United Kingdom, which secretly brought back Para rubber seeds from Brazil, succeeded in germinating them. They used these boxes to transport the seeds to Ceylon Island in Sri Lanka and establish a large rubber plantation in their own territory, Malaysia.

In modern times, various techniques have been invented for breeding, cultivation, and appreciation within containers, such as terrariums for breeding and cultivation in a terrestrial environment, aquariums for breeding and cultivation in a water environment, and aquaterrariums for breeding and cultivation in mixed water and land environments, similar to Ward’s boxes.

(But glass polishing still relies on the craftsmen’s intuition, so mass production is challenging.)

Although glass manufacturing is on track, glass products are still considered rare. Poor-quality glass products or those that craftsmen are not satisfied with do not enter the market and are finely crushed to be mixed back into raw materials. However, the main reason is the scarcity of glass craftsmen. Even if soda ash is added to the raw materials, achieving high transparency requires excellent polishing techniques.

There are very few glass products on the market, and the only ones in Japan who own Owari kiriko are Nobunaga and his retainers Mori Yoshinari, Niwa Nagahide, and Asai Nagamasa, who received it as a gift for Emperor and Chacha’s childbirth from Nobunaga.

“What are you mumbling about?”

“Oh, um, I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought.”

“Hmm… well, never mind.”

Nobunaga didn’t press Shizuko further, thinking it was the usual. After that, Shizuko planned to present the dried persimmons and conclude the conversation, but unfortunately, her act only added dried persimmons to Nobunaga’s mantle boasting.

In early March, Shizuko visited a village that engaged in sericulture. It was not for the purpose of carrying out Nobunaga’s orders, but simply for personal reasons.

“They’re quite rare, aren’t they, higoi?”

The personal reason was to search for higoi, a variation of the red carp.

Carp have been bred since ancient times, as evidenced by the description in the “Nihon Shoki” that Emperor Keiko released them into a pond. Since the pupae of silkworms, a byproduct of sericulture, are used as food for carp, Shizuko started carp farming in the village where sericulture was practiced. Carp is a perfect freshwater fish for aquaculture, as it is highly nutritious, known as medicinal fish or therapeutic fish, and has a high adaptability to polluted water. Shizuko also wanted to cultivate catfish, but it was difficult to raise them from hatching to fry, and there was little meaning in cultivating catfish, which can be found in any rice field, unlike carp.

“Such vibrant koi, huh? I’ve never seen them before, but what about Saizo?”

“No, I haven’t either. That’s why I’m intrigued.”

“Neither of us have seen them, huh. I’m talking about individuals that are not completely black but have vibrant red bodies… It seems like it’s not easy to find a sudden mutation species.”

However, it’s not impossible. The higoi, which is the origin of nishikigoi, is a variety that was born when breeding edible carp. So, there is a possibility that higoi could be born somewhere in a village that is engaged in sericulture.

“That’s right, let’s go to the village that practices rice field carp farming.”

Rice field carp farming is a method of breeding carp by releasing fry into rice fields and growing them alongside rice cultivation. Similar to the duck farming method, when carp are released into rice fields, the abundant appetite of the carp greatly reduces pests and weeds. Additionally, the swimming of the carp prevents the water from becoming turbid and prevents the growth of weeds. Although there is a rare chance that carp may damage the rice plants, there is a benefit in simply allowing them to grow without confinement. However, the majority of carp are harvested for consumption within a year, and it is rare for carp to be bred for several years.

On the other hand, in villages where sericulture is thriving, pond or net pen farming is popular because silkworm pupae, which serve as feed, are easily obtained. The number of years for shipment can be adjusted from one-year-old carp to three-year-old carp, and each pond is divided, so there is no worry about different ages of carp mixing, as in rice field carp farming. However, both rice field carp farming and pond carp farming do not take more than four years for breeding. This is because carp over four years old become tough and lose nutrients through spawning, resulting in a decline in taste.

“Hmm… it seems hopeless after all.”

After visiting the five villages where rice field carp farming was introduced, it was no surprise that no sudden mutation species of carp were found. In the end, Shizuko’s search for higoi ended with just informing the village chief that she would buy koi with vibrant appearances at high prices, regardless of their size.

“It was a good idea to bring Shiro for a walk. This fluffy little one heals me.”

Feeling down, Shizuko admires the Osprey perched on her arm. Shizuko had struggled with naming it, but she settled for the simple name “Shiro” because of its white feathers. The woodpeckers were named “Aka” for the older brother and “Kuro” for the younger brother. They were simply named after metals, but surprisingly, the woodpeckers and the Osprey accepted the names. However, since all their names end with “gane” (metal), if Shizuko calls them by their full names, all of them respond. Therefore, she calls the Osprey “Shiro,” the older woodpecker “Aka,” and the younger woodpecker “Kuro.”

After arriving home without any incidents and putting away the luggage, Shizuko heads to a pond located a short distance away from her house.

“It’s a shame that I made this pond and yet it feels empty…”

The pond was designed to gradually deepen from a shallow area suitable for goldfish and higoi to a maximum depth of 80 cm, allowing birds to escape. Gravel was laid and aquatic plants were planted, incorporating a system that purifies the water through microorganisms. However, if there are no carp or goldfish, it’s just an ordinary pond. The shallow area of the pond, which was designed to resemble a Japanese garden with natural stones, had become a bathing spot for red-billed and black-billed magpies instead of small birds. The two magpies were happily bathing in the shallow area. Although the surroundings were flooded, the black-billed magpie was fluttering its wings without a care. As for the red-billed magpie, it was skillfully floating with its wings spread out. Its appearance was similar to a person lying on a beach mat floating in a resort pool.

“Hey, aren’t you guys too relaxed?”

Shizuko pokes the red-billed magpie floating in the pond, but it doesn’t react much. In various ways, Shizuko starts to worry about the future of the two magpies.

As the season of cherry blossoms approached, Nobunaga intensified his espionage against Nagamasa. He sent gifts, exchanged letters, and occasionally had face-to-face conversations, actively trying to win over Nagamasa to his side. Hisamasa, Nagamasa’s father, noticed Nobunaga’s intentions and tried to interfere, but his efforts were not very successful. This was because Nobunaga’s economic policies stimulated the economy of Omi Province, and the strategic location connecting Kyoto and Mino became more active in terms of logistics. As long as the profits were concentrated in Nobunaga’s hands, it would be a different story, but because the people living in Omi Province were benefiting from the warm economy, many of them ignored Hisamasa’s concerns.

Hisamasa’s resistance against Nobunaga grew stronger, thinking that they were just scavengers receiving the leftovers from Nobunaga. Although Nagamasa had a certain level of respect for Nobunaga, he wasn’t as devoted to him as Hisamasa feared. Omi Province was a key area that connected to Kyoto, but due to Lake Biwa, its population was small. In order to activate the economy, it was necessary to increase the movement of people. Nagamasa understood this, which was why he appreciated Nobunaga’s economic policies. At the same time, he was starting to get tired of the reality of his father Hisamasa and his followers’ lack of vision.

While intense negotiations were taking place between Nobunaga, Nagamasa, and Hisamasa, Nohime, along with Matsu, Nene, and Ei, gathered around Shizuko.

“Oh, finally we can eat.”

“Yes, I apologize for taking up so much of your time. But finally, dairy farming is on track, and we have the opportunity for you, Nohime-sama, to taste our products.”

Their purpose was to serve dishes made from Kurobuta pork. In addition to that, they also served rare dishes from the Sengoku period, such as sheep and beef dairy products and meat. However, in order to make beef delicious, it is necessary to fatten them without exercise and adjust the fat content. Of course, there are also various methods to make lean meat tender, such as marinating it in daikon radish or pineapple juice.

“Don’t worry, waiting is also part of the enjoyment. Now, let’s not waste any more time and savor the dishes.”

“Yes, first… please try the drinks that are popular in Nanban, ‘milk’ and ‘goat’s milk.'”

Glasses of milk and goat’s milk are placed in front of Nohime and the others. Both are exactly what they are called, milk from cows and milk from goats. Due to the limited number of glasses produced, both were served in porcelain mugs. Mitsuo felt a slight resistance to pouring milk into a mug, but after thinking for a while, he closed his eyes and decided to do it. Fortunately, Nohime and the others didn’t show any disgust at having milk in a mug. They stared at the milk with a curious expression.

It is often thought that drinking milk was not a custom in Japan during the Sengoku period, but in reality, limited amounts of dairy products were consumed at the dining table since around the 6th century. There are records of milk being presented as medicine to Emperor Kotoku around that time, and a title of “Yamato Kushi no Omi” was given to oversee milk management. From then on, dairy farmers called “nyuuko” increased in Kyoto and Nara, delivering milk to the imperial family. With the expansion of dairy farming, the production exceeded the consumption, and a concentrated milk product called “so” was introduced, which involved boiling milk to one-tenth of its original volume. This led to the establishment of the “kousou” system, where “so” was paid as a tax.

As production increased, “so” became not only favored by the imperial family but also by powerful aristocrats such as the Fujiwara family, as a health food or medicine. However, with the rise of samurai and the importance placed on horse breeding over cattle, milk disappeared from the spotlight.

To bring milk back into the spotlight, we need to fast forward to the Edo period. The 8th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, Yoshimune, was recommended by a Dutch veterinarian to use milk and butter for horse treatment. He imported three white cows from India, which are considered the pioneers of modern dairy farming, and raised them at the Mineoka Ranch in Chiba. From the milk of these cows, a product called “hakugyuu raku” was made, which was used in the meals of the shogun and daimyo.

Goat’s milk also has a long history, and it is said that the world’s oldest cheese was made from goat’s milk. Although it was introduced from China around the 15th century, it remained limited to certain regions such as Kyushu and Okinawa, where it was only raised for meat. Genuine milk-producing goats were brought in during the Kan’ei era when Admiral Perry visited Japan. Therefore, although the goats Shizuko is raising are for meat, they will naturally produce milk if they become pregnant. The only difference is that the amount of milk that can be collected is less compared to dairy breeds.

“I thought I would be hesitant about drinking animal milk, but surprisingly, it has a pleasant taste. I prefer goat’s milk.”

Mitsuo was worried that he would be repulsed by the idea of drinking animal milk, but Nohime was not someone who would be bothered by such things. Of course, not only her, but Matsu, Nene, and Ei felt the same way.

“I prefer cow’s milk. What about you, Matsu-dono?”

“I’m fine with either.”

“However… hehe, I never thought I would drink milk again now that I’m an adult.”

“In Nanban, milk and goat’s milk have been considered good for health and have been enjoyed for a long time. Especially goats, being omnivorous but having a small appetite, and having a higher adaptability to the environment than cows, they have been highly valued as a valuable source of nutrition for people living in mountainous areas and other special environments.”

Originally, goats are animals with high physical abilities that can live even on cliffs in mountainous areas. Therefore, they can survive in harsh environments, such as the Himalayas, which is the highest region in the world.

“Hmm… not bad. However, today’s main attraction is the Kurobuta pork imported from the Ryukyu Kingdom. Even if cow’s milk and goat’s milk are good, it’s meaningless if the Kurobuta pork is not good.”

“That’s a harsh comment. But please rest assured, today’s menu is filled with Aguu dishes. Furthermore, we have prepared Nanban sweets for dessert. Now, please enjoy.”

The words caught the attention of the attendants, and the dishes were placed in front of Nohime and the others.

“Allow me to explain. We have Aguu ginger pork bowl for the rice dish, and tonjiru (pork miso soup) for the soup. In addition, we have prepared steak cubes, cutlets, and sausages for you to enjoy the meat separately. For palate cleansing, we have several types of pickles.”

“It resembles a feast, but there is no miso soup. Instead, the meat is served with a sauce.”

“To remove miso soup is an innovative idea. We commoners would never come up with such a dish.”

“Isn’t it a good thing? New dishes are born and spread through unexpected means.”

“Indeed. Regardless of appearance, if it tastes good, it’s good. If it tastes bad, it’s bad. That’s all there is to it.”

The origin of donburi and chirashi sushi is said to be the houhan, where fish and vegetables are chopped and placed on top of rice, and miso soup is poured over it. However, in Japan where it is considered basic to serve rice and side dishes separately, there are still people who avoid putting side dishes on top of the main dish.

(It was quite an adventure, but above all, I needed impact. I wonder if when artists ask patrons for support, they also anxiously await their reaction with a stomachache like I do now.)

If mishandled, it could have enraged Nohime and the others, but that didn’t happen. They happily chatted while finishing their meal. Mitsuo thought that if they were in a good mood, it would be easier to make a request. However, before Mitsuo could say anything, Nohime anticipated what wish he would express.

“It was delicious, Mitsuo. With something like this, the lord will surely be pleased. I will also put in a good word for Princess Tsuruhime.”

“Thank you very much.”

Tsuruhime, who married into the Shimazu family, had restrictions on her movements in Owari and Mino. Especially for important bases, the restrictions were quite strict. Naturally, it was difficult for her to come to Shizuko’s place. Furthermore, there were also limitations on obtaining tools and equipment, making her life inconvenient. However, if Nohime put in a good word for her, Mitsuo thought that her life would become somewhat easier.

“(I don’t remember explaining the situation… but as Nobunaga’s legal wife, it’s not strange for her to know) After the meal, please enjoy the Nanban confection, Baumkuchen. It required special cooking utensils, but thanks to Shizuko-san’s cooperation, we were able to make it.”

“Is that so? What about Shizuko? It’s strange that she hasn’t mentioned anything about this kind of thing.”

“Today was my Aguu tasting event, so I decided to stay behind and work behind the scenes instead of being intrusive.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. This time, let’s seriously enjoy Mitsuo’s cooking, taking Shizuko’s feelings into consideration.”

“Thank you very much. (It’s better not to mention that she said she would run away if she was played with)”

As Mitsuo had thought, Shizuko had completed her strategic retreat before Nohime and the others could anger her.

While Nohime was praising Kurobuta Aguu, Shizuko was in the orchard with Ashimitsu.

“Meat dishes definitely need pepper, don’t they?”

“I wonder if it’s difficult to cultivate pepper in Japan’s environment.”

Pepper is a climbing plant of the Piperaceae family native to India. To cultivate it in Japan, a greenhouse environment for cultivating tropical plants is necessary. Furthermore, knowledge and cultivation techniques for pepper are required, making it unsuitable for general home gardening.

“It’s certainly difficult. Above all, the germination rate of the seeds is too low. But… once they germinate, as long as there is a greenhouse-like place, it should be fine.”

“…I think Shizuko mentioned that it doesn’t make economic sense.”

“In modern Japan, yes. I did challenge pepper cultivation in that era… but that was just my stubbornness. However, if pepper cultivation is possible in the Sengoku period, it would become an excellent trading commodity.”

“That’s why a greenhouse is necessary, right?”

“Glass houses require advanced architectural skills. Well, we are experimenting with building one… but it’s difficult. Oh, the rootstocks for grafting mandarins and lemons are growing well.”

Both mandarins and lemons belong to the citrus family, so the trifoliate orange is the most suitable rootstock. Grafting is a technique generally used to shorten the breeding period, but there is also a technique called “takatsugi” (high grafting). This is a technique used to quickly replace unprofitable varieties with new ones. With this technique, multiple fruit trees can be grown on a single tree. For example, with apples, a single apple tree of a certain variety can produce Fuji, Tsugaru, and Mutsu apples. However, the success rate of “takatsugi” varies depending on the variety, and it is possible that all ten grafts may fail.

“Is grafting not a problem? Going back to the previous topic, how do you plan to measure the temperature for pepper cultivation?”

“Hmm? We have already practicalized a simple straw thermometer, you know? But it’s not very useful unless it’s in a greenhouse-like place.”

“…If the temperature drops below seven degrees, the pepper will wither, right? So if you can obtain pepper seedlings or seeds and build a greenhouse, you can start pepper cultivation.”

“In reality, there are probably more complicated issues. Obtaining seedlings and seeds requires a lot of money, and it’s uncertain whether they will germinate in Japan during the Sengoku period.”

It takes three years from planting pepper seeds to harvesting the fruit, and then it can be harvested for fifteen to twenty years. The biggest obstacle Shizuko faced in pepper cultivation was the poor germination rate. It was extremely difficult to germinate pepper seeds, to the point where it made sense to propagate them through cuttings rather than seeds. In the end, Shizuko consumed about twenty bags of seeds worth five hundred yen each, meticulously recording the temperature and water levels to find the optimal conditions. Even Shizuko, who was known for her perseverance, gave up on cultivating from seeds and adopted the method of propagation through cuttings.

“(I didn’t expect her to ask for cuttings from her rival’s pepper field to interfere with their cultivation… well, luckily she seems to be transporting more seedlings and seeds than planned. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.)”

Shizuko, who had trade routes with Nanban and Ming, had been eyeing pepper cultivation for a long time. However, pepper was a valuable spice in Europe. Even with the cooperation of the Jesuits, there were few merchants willing to trade. Furthermore, the pace of negotiations was slow due to dealing with Kyujiro.

Nevertheless, someone finally responded to the Jesuits’ proposal. The Jesuits provided that person with a paper detailing how to make pepper cuttings. However, that person misunderstood the method taught by the Jesuits and resorted to the outrageous act of taking cuttings from a rival’s pepper field to hinder their harvest. When Shizuko heard about it through Kyujiro, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. However, thanks to that, she was informed that she would be transporting more seedlings and seeds than planned, which made her wonder if it was a good thing or not.

“Well, most of them are probably dead. If the surviving strong individuals can be used and cultivated in a miniature greenhouse, it should go well… but if it fails, starting from scratch would be tough.”

There was no room for complacency. Unlike in modern times, it would take at least a month to transport pepper cuttings. During that time, almost half of them would probably rot, she thought. She doubted if they would be handled seriously. Furthermore, she had only informed the Jesuits about “pepper research” and not the true purpose of “pepper cultivation.” Although it was questionable whether they took it seriously, it was better to eliminate as many uncertainties as possible. It may seem like she was deceiving them, but without doing so, it would be impossible to obtain the cuttings, and there was a possibility that they would become enthusiastic about invading Japan. It was best to keep unnecessary information to herself.

“(According to the report, there were a hundred cuttings and seventy seeds for propagation. It cost a fortune, but… if it goes well, I can recover it in five years.)”

It had become difficult to import seedlings and seeds to Japan due to the excessive amount of work involved. Shizuko was struggling to purchase seedlings and seeds of tropical crops other than pepper. The plan to create a virtual tropical rainforest climate would be in vain if she couldn’t obtain the necessary seedlings and seeds.

“Oh, by the way, I have a favor to ask Ashimitsu-san… Is that okay?”

“It’s rare for Shizuko to rely on me like this. Don’t hesitate, tell me anything.”

“It’s not that big of a deal. I want you to engrave rifling on the matchlock gun I have.”

“…Minié bullets, huh?”

Shizuko nodded slightly at Ashimitsu’s words.

On April 14th, Nobunaga finished preparing for the Asakura campaign, which he had been arranging since the end of February. The reason he was preparing for the Asakura campaign was because in January, he sent a letter to the Kinai region and neighboring countries stating that they should “come to Kyoto to repair the Imperial Palace and perform duties for the shogunate.” On the surface, it was to restore the prestige of the court and the shogunate, but in reality, it was to sift through the forces that were hostile to Nobunaga and those that would submit to him.

Those who directly responded to this call were Tokugawa Ieyasu, Kitabatake Ujihide, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, Matsunaga Hisahide, and others, while the countrymen who were far away, such as Otagaki and Oyamada, sent messengers. However, Nobunaga considered Asakura Yoshikage, who did not respond to this call, as his first enemy. But on the surface, he declared not the Asakura campaign, but the “Wakasa Takeda clan and their vassals, the Muto clan, campaign.” At that time, the last head of the Wakasa Takeda clan (9th generation), Takeda Motoaki, had been abducted by the Asakura clan when they invaded Wakasa in 1568 and taken to Ichijodani.

The reason the Wakasa Takeda clan used the name Takeda was because they were related to the main line of the Kai Genji clan, the Kai Takeda clan. The Kai Takeda clan, the main line of the Kai Genji clan, was the Kai guardian at the time of the establishment of the Kamakura government, but after the Jokyu War, they also acquired the Aki guardian position. And during the time of Takeda Nobutake, the 10th head of the Kai Takeda clan, the Kai guardian position was inherited by his eldest son Nobunari, and the Aki guardian position was inherited by his second son Ujinobu. At this time, Ujinobu became the ancestor of the Aki Takeda clan.

Even though the last head, Motoaki, was in Ichijodani, the Wakasa Takeda clan’s rule had practically come to an end. But it didn’t matter to Nobunaga. His goal was the Asakura campaign. If there was a convenient justification right in front of him, there was no reason not to use it.

As long as the last head of the clan, Motoaki, is in Ichijodani, the Takeda clan’s control over Wakasa is effectively coming to an end. However, this is irrelevant to Nobunaga. His goal is the conquest of the Asakura clan. If there is a convenient justification right in front of him, there is no reason for him not to use it.

On April 20th, Nobunaga led his army of 30,000, including the allied Tokugawa army, and set out from Sakamoto towards Wakasa, the pretext being the subjugation of Muto Tomomasu in Wakasa Province, who had defied the shogunate’s orders. However, it was clear to everyone that the true objective was the conquest of the Asakura clan. In order to dispel any doubts, Nobunaga had his retainers and court nobles accompany the march, showing that it was not a unilateral expedition but a campaign conducted by the official forces.

When they set out, the army numbered around 30,000 to 40,000, but as they entered Wakasa Province from the Omi Province route, troops from various regions, including the Wakasa locals, gathered, swelling the total number to 100,000. Some of the Takeda clan in Obama, Wakasa, and some of the vassals had voiced their opposition to Nobunaga, but Awaya Etchu no Kami Katsuhisa, a hereditary vassal of the Wakasa guardian Takeda clan, was secretly in league with Nobunaga.

On April 22nd, Nobunaga arrived at Kumagawa-juku, the gateway from Omi Province to Wakasa. At that time, Ieyasu stayed at Tokoji Temple. It is said that there is a pine tree (Ieyasu’s sitting pine) at Tokoji Temple, where he sat when he departed for Tsuruga.

On April 23rd, the era name was changed from Eiroku to Genki in Kyoto. This decision was not made by Nobunaga, but was Yoshiaki’s unilateral decision. Needless to say, this intervention in the era name change by the imperial court only increased dissatisfaction towards him.

On April 24th, Nobunaga entered Kokuyoshi Castle, located on the border between Wakasa and Echizen. Awaya Etchu no Kami Katsuhisa, the lord of Kokuyoshi Castle, had long been opposing the Asakura clan’s invasion of Wakasa. It was here that Nobunaga temporarily halted the army’s advance. It was at this point that Ieyasu finally noticed something strange about Nobunaga’s army.

“Hanzo, have you seen Mori-dono among Oda-dono’s forces?”

“……I have not seen him since we were in Kyoto.”

What was strange was the absence of Mori Yoshinari, Nobunaga’s right-hand man. In such a large-scale battle, it was odd that he was not present. Ieyasu pondered why Nobunaga did not bring Mori Yoshinari, who was skilled in martial arts, for the Asakura campaign. While he was contemplating this, one of Hanzo’s subordinates appeared out of nowhere and reported to Hanzo. Upon hearing this, Hanzo slowly turned towards Ieyasu and spoke.

“My lord, according to the report, there are two Oda armies, one gathering around Sekigahara. The number is estimated to be no less than 30,000.”

“Considering the possibility of Asai betraying us, I suppose.”

“Most likely. Asai Bizen no Kami-dono and Saheiji-dono are in a state of complete opposition. Therefore, Oda-dono stationed troops at Sekigahara to prevent Saheiji-dono from betraying and launching a surprise attack from behind.”

“In that case, the one leading the Oda army at Sekigahara is… Mori-dono.”

Sekigahara in Mino Province (present-day Sekigahara-cho, Fuwa-gun, Gifu Prefecture) was the site of the Battle of Sekigahara, known as the decisive battle for control of Japan. The Battle of Sekigahara is generally described as a field battle between the “Bunji-ha” faction, responsible for political affairs, and the “Bugei-ha” faction, responsible for military affairs. However, both the central figure of the Bunji-ha faction, Ishida Mitsunari, and the central figure of the Bugei-ha faction, Tokugawa Ieyasu, were both retainers of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Therefore, the reason for their conflict was a power struggle within the Toyotomi regime.

Sekigahara was a strategic location connecting the eastern and western regions of Japan, and almost everyone had to pass through Sekigahara to travel from the east to the west or vice versa. Nobunaga understood this well and considered Sekigahara an important point where a large army could be deployed. He built numerous defensive structures and laid out multiple layers of defensive positions. However, due to many unfinished parts, it was only recognized as a defensive point by the surrounding areas.

The Oda army of 30,000 had gathered at the fortified Sekigahara. The supreme commander was Mori Yoshinari, and the deputy commander was Shibata Katsuie. Shibata Katsuie, the most formidable general of the Oda clan, and Mori Yoshinari, renowned for his martial prowess as one of the “Three Lefts of Attack,” were both stationed at Sekigahara. The one who was most surprised and intimidated by this was undoubtedly Asai Hisamasa. He had planned to coordinate with the Asakura clan and launch a pincer attack on Nobunaga when he invaded the Asakura territory. However, with Mori Yoshinari stationed at Sekigahara, the plan to pincer attack the Oda army was no longer feasible. If they were not careful, they themselves would become the target of a pincer attack. Hisamasa realized that they could do nothing but watch Nobunaga’s march.

“Whether Asai Saheiji-dono will betray us or give up depends on the actions of the lord of Odani Castle.”

Mori Yoshinari, who was stationed at one of the castles in Sekigahara, murmured in a very relaxed manner. He believed that being too tense would only wear down his spirit, as they were likely to stay for a long period of time. However, to his retainers, Mori Yoshinari always seemed to be in a state of readiness, even while appearing relaxed.

“Lord Odani has not moved from Kokuyoshi Castle for four days. There are rumors that the Asakura army is advancing, but is it really safe to be so leisurely?”

“Don’t worry. Lord Odani’s objective is the subjugation of Muto. There is no just cause for the Asakura clan to attack there. If by any chance the Asakura clan launches an attack, we can proudly declare it as the subjugation of the Asakura clan. And Saheiji-dono will have no argument against the subjugation. No… it would be more convenient for us if we could cooperate with the Asakura clan and have a battlefield to fight on.”

Mori Yoshinari took on a playful attitude, causing all his retainers to laugh.

“I have a report. Lord Odani has not moved. Asai and the Asakura army have advanced from Ichijodani.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Is there any news from Shibata-dono?”

“Yes. He complained that his skills were getting dull.”

Mori Yoshinari’s retainers laughed at Shibata’s complaints. They were not being careless. By staying in Sekigahara, they had already achieved half of their objective, so they had a sense of ease.

Two days later, on April 30th, Nobunaga finally made a move. However, it was a move to surprise Asai and the Asakura clan. In Kokuyoshi Castle, Nobunaga, who was accompanied by the Tokugawa army, disbanded the official forces on the spot, cautioning them not to enter Asakura territory and aiming for Nagamasa’s castle. With the disbandment of the official forces, the shogunate officials and court nobles used the marching route to return to Kyoto. Mori Yoshinari, who was in Sekigahara, led an army of 10,000 and began marching towards Nagamasa’s castle, following Nobunaga’s advance.

Considering the distance between Nobunaga’s Oda-Tokugawa allied forces and Mori Yoshinari’s Oda forces, Mori Yoshinari’s march would be several days behind Nobunaga. However, Asakura was surprised and terrified by the fact that both forces marched almost simultaneously, going against their expectations. At the location where they crossed the Kome Pass, Asakura halted their army, attempting to gather information and retreat.

However, their retainers protested against Asakura’s decision to retreat without taking any action, despite being treated with contempt by Nobunaga. This backlash left Asakura in a situation where they couldn’t move forward or backward. Mocking the Asakura army, which was stuck at the Kome Pass, the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces advanced, skirting the border of Echizen.

In the end, Asakura chose to retreat, citing the lack of a just cause to respond to Nobunaga’s provocation. Upon receiving the report that the Asakura army had returned to Ichijodani, Hisamasa secretly disbanded the army he had gathered. Both Asakura and Hisamasa regretted missing the opportunity, but they did not consider the true purpose behind Nobunaga’s failure to advance.

“How did it go?”

“Everything went well.”

The reason Nobunaga led the official forces was not for the subjugation of Muto Tomomasu or the Asakura clan. His true objective was to gather information on Hisamasa’s military and the Asakura army. Of course, he did not lie. The subjugation of Muto Tomomasu was the objective, and if possible, the subjugation of the Asakura clan as well.

The Asakura army mobilized 20,000 troops, leaving 6,000 behind in their territory and leading 14,000 troops to march out of Ichijodani. The Asai army could mobilize 18,000 troops, but with only Hisamasa and the pro-Asakura faction, they could only muster 8,000. Even if the Asai and Asakura forces were combined, their military strength would not exceed 30,000. With the information obtained about the enemy’s forces, Nobunaga had achieved half of his true objective. Furthermore, he successfully forced both the Asai and Asakura armies to waste their resources, resulting in a reasonably successful outcome.

However, gathering information on the enemy’s forces was not the end. In order to achieve his other objective, Nobunaga headed towards Nagamasa’s castle, Kotani Castle.

“Thank you for coming all the way from afar, my brother-in-law. What brings you here today?”

Nagamasa greeted Nobunaga with a polite greeting, but many of his retainers felt uncomfortable with his behavior. To them, Nagamasa’s words and actions seemed like he was being subservient to Nobunaga. However, this perception was mainly held by Hisamasa’s faction. Nagamasa’s belief was to treat everyone with courtesy when they deserved it and respond with rudeness when they deserved it.

“(It seems that he hasn’t received it.) I have received troublesome news regarding the Muto subjugation.”

“If I may be so bold, does the troublesome news you speak of have any relation to your visit to our castle?”

“It is somewhat related. Firstly, Muto Tomomasu, who defied the shogunate’s orders, had his lord, Wakasa Takeda, abducted by the Asakura army a year ago. Muto Tomomasu likely had reservations about going to Kyoto himself, bypassing his lord, and chose to sit and fight, which can only be seen as admirable loyalty.”

Hisamasa’s faction murmured in slight discomfort at Nobunaga’s unexpected praise. They still held the mistaken image of Nobunaga as a rustic local lord who had risen to power through sheer military force and was a rough individual.

“It would have been possible to go to the aid of Wakasa Takeda, but when the opponent is the Asakura clan, things don’t go so smoothly.”

“I disagree. Even if we were to confront the Asakura clan, it would only serve as a just cause for the subjugation of the Asakura clan. And there is no need to worry about the difference in military strength.”

“Have you forgotten? If we were to confront the Asakura clan, I made a promise to discuss it with you. That’s why when I learned of the Asakura clan’s advance, I sent you a letter to discuss this matter. But judging from your attitude just now, it seems that the letter did not reach your hands.”

While pretending to be lost in thought, Nobunaga directed his gaze towards Hisamasa.

“Are you suggesting that I am hiding that letter!?”

Hisamasa, who felt as if that gaze was blaming him, reflexively stood up and shouted loudly. It was the attitude of someone who had something guilty in their heart, but Hisamasa, whose blood was boiling, didn’t realize it.

“What suddenly happened, Lord Sahebi?”

“You, bastard!”

“If you get so excited, it’s poison to your body. Let’s calm down and talk rationally. If I have done something wrong, I apologize first.”

In response to Hisamasa’s rage, Nobunaga replied calmly and bowed his head along with his apology. It was already clear who was right and who was wrong, but Hisamasa even felt that Nobunaga’s apology was making a fool out of him.

“Step back!”

Hisamasa was about to say something more, but Nagamasa’s shout drowned it out. Hisamasa, who directed his angry expression towards Nobunaga, was met with Nagamasa’s clear and calm assertion.

“I am the head of the Asai family. You have no place here.”

It was a decisive line. The retainers of the Asai family instantly understood that the relationship between Nagamasa and Hisamasa had deteriorated to an irreparable extent.

“Brother-in-law, I apologize for my father’s rudeness.”

“I don’t mind. And there’s no point in dwelling on the past. Let’s get back to the topic. I want you to handle the matter of Wakasa Takeda. It seems that Asakura-dono dislikes me and refuses to listen to me, and people around me tend to think that I only solve things with force. I thought it would be better for the Asai family, which has a deep connection with the Asakura family, to resolve it rather than me getting involved any further.”

“I am grateful for your thoughtfulness, brother-in-law, who even considered the possibility of being attacked from behind.”

“Then I leave it to you.”

It was the Asai’s job to send Asakura to Kyoto, and with that assurance, Nobunaga quickly ended the meeting.

After that, he went with Nagamasa to Oichi and then to the baby ChaCha. He exchanged greetings with Oichi and picked up ChaCha, but the moment ChaCha was picked up by Nobunaga, she burst into tears.

“It seems that Princess ChaCha doesn’t like my rough arms.”

The people around him panicked, but Nobunaga didn’t pay much attention to it. On the contrary, he laughed heartily. However, he was secretly frustrated that he couldn’t pick up ChaCha successfully, so he tried several times. But no matter how many times he tried, ChaCha cried and he couldn’t pick her up properly.

“Hahaha, Princess ChaCha doesn’t back down at all. It’s like watching the old Oichi, and it’s quite amusing. When she grows up, she will become a fine young lady.”