Chapter 68

It was now the fifth year of Tenshō, and Kōki was to develop the newly acquired territories, including those he had recently seized.

A slight redistribution of fiefs by the Oda family took place, but this was limited to the confiscation of the old Uesugi and Tsuda domains in Kōzuke, which were then granted to Takiwaki Kazumasu. In exchange, Kazumasu had his territories in northern Shinano confiscated, yet he still became a daimyō of the entire Kōzuke Province.

Kazumasu was also given many of the Shinano samurai as mounted retainers and was now fighting hard in the Siege of Ishiyama. Many of the Oda family's retainers were concentrated and deployed in the Siege of Ishiyama or on adjacent battlefronts.

Tokugawa Nobuyasu, having been granted eastern Tōtōmi, became a daimyō of two provinces. Dan羽 Nagahide, in addition to Izumi, was granted Kawachi for his achievement in defeating the Miyoshi Yoshinari.

Hashiba Hideyoshi was using the gold mined in Kai to steadily pacify Harima. He had defeated the Akamatsu and Bessho clans and successfully recruited Kuroda Kanbee, a senior retainer of the Kōdō family, bringing him closer to the pacification of Harima, which was to be granted to him upon completion.

Akechi Mitsuhide had successfully destroyed the Akai clan, with whom he had been fighting for many years. His long-time enemy, Akai Naoshige, had died of illness, and the Akai family had fallen quickly after his death. Azai Nagamasa had also successfully pacified Tango by expelling the Isshiki clan.

While Chigata Katsuie had not expanded his territory, he was in charge of the entire siege of Ishiyama and had defeated nearly 20,000 Ikkō-ikki followers. He had also killed many monks and was praised and rewarded by Nobunaga.

Uesugi Kenshin had lost his territories in northern Shinano and eastern Kōzuke but had conquered the Honjō clan in Sado and annexed the territories around Sakata, thus expanding his domain.

Nobunaga, with a wry smile, remarked, "Kenshin, the monk, cannot be taken lightly."

For Kōki, there had been a brief consideration of confiscating Suruga, but this did not happen. The lands north of the Shirakawa Barrier in Ōshū were extremely cold and became impassable when snow fell. The daimyō and powerful clans he had destroyed were all prestigious, and the resistance from their remnants and the ikki was significant.

Nobunaga, considering that governing these lands would initially result in a significant deficit, had shown consideration for Kōki. As a token of gratitude, Kōki went to the capital to meet Nobunaga and was entrusted with a task.

The task was to persuade Matsunaga Hisahide, who was holed up in the Kōriyama Castle in Yamato, to surrender.

"Mitsu, you were on good terms with Matsunaga Danjō, weren't you?"

"Yes."

"Danjō, his former lord, Miyoshi Yoshinari, has been defeated. He should surrender peacefully."

Nobunaga thought Hisahide was a capable person and intended to pardon him if he surrendered.

"However, there is also the matter of the other retainers. If he hands over the Kōtōmyō Heikō spider, I will forgive him."

The Kōtōmyō Heikō spider was a famous treasure, and Nobunaga believed that if Hisahide surrendered it, the other Oda retainers would accept it.

"I understand. I cannot guarantee it, but..."

Kōki, following Nobunaga's orders, headed to Kōriyama Castle in Yamato. The castle was surrounded by the army led by Nobunaga's son, Nobutada, and Kōki was granted permission to enter the castle after delivering a letter from Nobunaga to Nobutada.

"Uncle, are you sure you'll be safe going in alone?"

Nobutada, who had been instructed by his father to treat Kōki with respect, and who was also related to him, was concerned for his safety.

"Lord, in this case, going alone is safer."

Kōki entered Kōriyama Castle alone, carrying a bundle. The gatekeepers, who had been ordered by Hisahide to let Kōki in, quickly guided him inside.

"It's been a while, Tsuda-dono."

Matsunaga Hisahide, whom Kōki had not seen in a long time, looked very energetic and welcomed him with a smile, despite being an uninvited guest.

"Danjō-dono, how are you faring?"

"Terribly."

"Then why did you launch such a reckless rebellion?"

"It's simple."

Hisahide had been raised from a lowly status by Miyoshi Nagayoshi. Although he was accused of plotting to kill Nagayoshi and his clan, this was a misunderstanding. Therefore, when his successor, Yoshinari, decided to defy Nobunaga, Hisahide had no choice but to follow.

Hisahide insisted that he had only followed Yoshinari's decision to defy Nobunaga. Kōki did not think Hisahide was lying.

"Yoshinari is dead. Have you not fulfilled your duty?"

Yoshinari and Hisahide's coordination had been severed, and Yoshinari was defeated by Dan羽 Nagahide. Hisahide had also been defeated by the army led by Nobutada and was now holed up in Kōriyama Castle.

"I have fulfilled my duty, but now I cannot let go of the Heikō spider."

Known for his refined tastes, Hisahide was reluctant to surrender the famous Kōtōmyō Heikō spider.

"I understand your attachment, but shouldn't you endure for the sake of your retainers and family?"

No matter how famous it was, it was just a kettle. It was not worth exchanging for the lives of over ten thousand family members, retainers, and subjects, Kōki thought.

"Tsuda-dono, you are right, but there is no rule that one must always make the right choice. I think it's okay to stubbornly stick to a foolish reason once in a lifetime."

No matter how much Kōki tried to persuade him, Hisahide would not agree.

"There's nothing to be done. You must be tired from the siege. Let me treat you to a new drink."

Kōki opened his bundle and took out what was inside.

"Tsuda-dono, are you planning to poison my father?"

"Stop it, Kunitō! Tsuda-dono is not the type to use such underhanded tactics. He only crushes his enemies head-on."

Hisahide shouted at his son, Kunitō, who suspected poisoning. He explained that even without such tactics, the large army outside led by Nobutada or Kōki's own forces could easily destroy the Matsunaga clan.

"Do you need hot water? I'll boil it in the Heikō spider."

"Boiling water in a famous kettle sounds delightful."

"It's worth it if you appreciate it."

The two moved to the tea room, where Hisahide prepared the water, and Kōki started grinding the roasted coffee beans he had brought with a manual mill.

"The color is black... the aroma is wonderful."

"It's made from the seeds of a tree fruit from the south, roasted, ground, and extracted with hot water."

"This is excellent."

Hisahide was moved by the coffee he had never tasted before. When he saw the equipment Kōki used to brew the coffee, he was impressed by its intricate design. Kōki had commissioned craftsmen he had invited to Edo to make it.

"There are other drinks like this. It's tea from a place called England."

Kōki then started brewing tea. The raw material was the same as tea, and he had also trained craftsmen to produce it.

"The same leaves, but the taste is so different..."

Hisahide was surprised by both the coffee and the tea and was also impressed by the vessels used to serve them. Kōki had commissioned the production of porcelain using cow bone ash to boost the local industry and was experimenting with various ceramics in different regions to improve the income of his subjects and circulate the money produced.

"These are foreign drinks, so there is no established way to drink them like in the tea ceremony. In England, they sit in chairs and drink tea with sweets, but we need to find our own way to enjoy them in this country."

"I see. That sounds like a pleasant time."

Hisahide, who had learned the tea ceremony from Takeno Jōō and was known in society, was considered inferior to Tanaka Yosirō, Tsuda Sōki, and Imai Sōkyū. He thought that if Kōki popularized coffee and tea, he could become a leading figure in their consumption and etiquette.

"I will take these utensils, the coffee, and the tea. Please provide me with the necessary amount."

"Understood."

"Then, you may take the Heikō spider."

Hisahide surrendered the Heikō spider to Nobunaga and, in exchange, devoted himself to daily research on coffee and tea.