Chapter 8

"Ani, doesn't it smell really bad here?"

"Yeah, it does. This is a warehouse where we're conducting the nitre mound method."

It was the end of the year, just a few weeks before the fourth year of Eiroku, and in a huge warehouse at the port of the Shinchi domain, Kōki and Seiki were talking.

The warehouse was filled with the smell of what is commonly known as 'countryside perfume.'

"Nitre mound method... Is it really okay?"

"The database had detailed instructions. If it doesn't work, we can synthesize it in the ship's factory."

The nitre mound method is a way to produce saltpeter, a key ingredient in gunpowder.

In a shed, soil, grass, and human and animal waste are mixed to form a mound, and more waste is added periodically.

According to the database, this process completes the soil suitable for extracting saltpeter in a few years.

However, Seiki thought, 'Why not just produce gunpowder in the Kanagawa production facility?'

"The Kanagawa production facility is almost at full capacity. We want to produce as much as possible outside."

Also, there were the eyes of the surrounding people to consider.

"Indeed, that is a problem."

Kōki and his group, who had plenty of money, were increasing the number of people they hired to do various jobs.

This nitre production was part of a process where they produced fish fertilizer at the new port in the Shinchi domain, exchanged it for human and animal waste in Nagashima and Kuwana, and created multiple nitre mounds in one of the large warehouses.

They also hired people for management, and they were currently receiving waste outside.

They offered high pay due to the smell, and both Kōki and Seiki were surprised by the number of applicants.

Moreover, all the money paid by the Shinchi family was high-quality Eiraku coins.

Some samurai and merchants would try to pay with inferior coins, but the Shinchi family had quickly gained trust by paying with high-quality coins.

Most of the Eiraku coins came from private minting in the Kanagawa ship's factory, but no one had the technology or knowledge to detect this yet.

"Firearms, huh..."

The three of them had ring-shaped laser guns for emergencies, but their other equipment and weapons were adapted to this era.

They could mass-produce guns in Kanagawa, but doing so would likely cause various problems, so they were only producing matchlock guns and spares for the security forces.

They had produced five hundred matchlock guns, with standardized parts for the stock, sights, and leather shoulder straps. The security forces were now in training.

As a precaution, the guns could also be equipped with bayonets, allowing for combat even without bullets or gunpowder.

They were still in the early stages of the nitre mound method, so the initial supply of gunpowder was synthesized.

Kōki wanted to prioritize the production of other civilian goods and food, but since this was a time of war, he produced a large amount to last for a while.

He told his vassals that the gunpowder was imported from overseas.

The lead for the bullets was extracted during the process of remaking copper coins into Eiraku coins.

Most of the security forces had no experience with firearms, so Kiyoko and Kōki occasionally provided training.

Despite being seen as someone uninvolved in violent affairs, Kōki had three years of military experience.

He had been involved in gunfights with Chinese Federation soldiers disguised as pirates, and had even managed to damage a pirate ship by deploying mines while fleeing.

He had received a medal for this, but he wondered, 'Where is that medal now?'

Kiyoko, on the other hand, had survived through extensive combat experience.

The only one with less such experience was Seiki, who had moved from a state-owned transportation company to the Ashikaga Transport Company.

However, being a spaceship crew member is a dangerous job.

They receive training to deal with pirates, so he was not completely unskilled in combat.

He had even killed people in the past.

One reason spaceship crew members are disliked by the general public is the perception that their job is dangerous and criminal.

Kōki did not deny this.

Pirates are cruel people.

When they seize ships and cargo, crew members are either killed, kidnapped for ransom, or sold into slavery on undeveloped planets.

Female crew members are often raped and sold into illegal brothels.

Therefore, people from ordinary families are less likely to want their daughters to become spaceship crew members.

This is understandable.

However, spaceship crew members are not just passive victims.

They often arm their ships and counterattack pirates.

Sometimes, they board pirate ships and seize them.

When crew members kill pirates in these situations, they are treated as acts of self-defense and are acquitted.

Since pirates are almost always sentenced to death, the military finds it convenient.

Some human rights groups have protested about the rights of pirates, but they are largely ignored by reasonable people.

Even in the Ashikaga Transport Company, there was a battle with pirates shortly after Seiki joined, and Kiyoko distinguished herself by seizing a pirate ship.

Seiki also killed pirates during this battle.

Matchlock guns and laser guns are different, but according to Kiyoko, with practice, even a novice can fire three shots per minute with a matchlock gun.

They were also supplied with paper-wrapped cartridges and ammunition belts, and on practice days, everyone fired hundreds of shots.

"Lord, is it really okay to use so much gunpowder?"

"Improving the skills of Yoshiharu and the others is more important. We have plenty of gunpowder."

Gunpowder was very expensive in this era.

Yoshiharu was embarrassed by the amount of gunpowder he used, but Kōki emphasized the importance of training.

'This person is incredible.'

Not only Yoshiharu, but none of the vassals looked down on Kōki and his group just because they were not samurai.

Their lives had improved significantly, and they had received various forms of education.

"I think I'll go with a gun. I'm getting some training in bayonet techniques from my sister-in-law from time to time. But it's better that we didn't receive a military order from our lord."

"That's why you can't go."

The current Nobunaga was negotiating with small daimyo and local samurai in Owari and Mino while also consolidating his domain in Owari.

With money, he was hiring farmers during the agricultural off-season to develop land, manage water, and repair and consolidate castles and forts.

"We can't overwork my sister-in-law either."

Just yesterday, Kiyoko found out she was pregnant, and both Kōki and the vassals were overjoyed.

"The heir to the Shinchi family! Congratulations!"

Representing the vassals, Yasuharu was delighted, but if the Shinchi family were to die out, they would become ronin again.

So, they were relieved that Kiyoko was pregnant.

"I've told Kiyoko not to overexert herself."

"How will that go? It's Kiyoko, after all."

"It'll be fine... probably."

Pregnant Kiyoko was still directing training while sitting in a chair.

Horie Masaharu, Yoshiharu, Ujiaki, and Ietoyo were getting used to it, and Kōkoku was also learning quickly. Kiyoko guaranteed that they would become excellent military officers in a few years.

"Well, let's head back to the office..."

"Mitsuchan! Kiyochan! It's an emergency!"

At that moment, Kiyoko rushed in.

"Hey! No running while you're pregnant!"

"But, Lord has ordered us to lead the army."

"What!?"

Kōki and Seiki thought that perhaps Oda Nobunaga was an incredibly harsh boss.

"Mitsuchan, good luck."

"Will it be okay?"

"About Hattori? If they attack, we'll just fortify and use them as shooting targets, so it'll be fine."

"Seems like it... Yasuharu, I'm counting on you while I'm gone."

"Leave it to me."

"Mits, you came!"

When Kōki reluctantly led his troops to Kiyosu, he was greeted by Nobunaga's high-pitched voice.

"Do we need to prepare for Hattori?"

"Yes."

The Shinchi family's force numbered one hundred, with Kōki as the commander, Horie Masaharu as the deputy, Horie Yoshiharu as the vanguard, and Yamanouchi Ietoyo participating for his first battle.

"Not that few, and do they all have matchlock guns?"

"Managed to get them through connections."

Nobunaga was surprised that all one hundred of the Shinchi troops had matchlock guns.

"Seems like you have connections overseas. So, for this battle..."

The story goes back to last year when Nobunaga defeated Oda Nobutaka.

His cousin, Oda Nobukatsu, had also cooperated, but they later clashed over the distribution of Nobutaka's former territories.

Nobukatsu had taken the lead by capturing the Takada Castle, so Nobunaga was now counterattacking.

"I'm counting on you, Mits."

"Lord, you're asking too much."

"A typical response from you."

Nobunaga laughed at Kōki's un-samurai-like response, but he was serious.

Kōki had no experience commanding troops, so he was relying entirely on Masaharu and the others.

Still, they followed orders and headed for the recaptured Takada Castle to retake it.

"Charge!"

At Nobunaga's command, both sides began firing arrows.

The Shinchi troops also brought thirty bows and joined in, firing arrows one after another.

In front of Kōki, the battlefield unfolded with the terrifying reality of arrows hitting and wounding people, causing them to scream and roll around, and others being immobilized by bad hits.

"Lord, calm for a first battle."

Masaharu was impressed by Kōki's composed attitude, but Kōki himself felt detached and dazed.

"Charge!"

The vanguard, Yoshiharu, led about twenty soldiers, including Ietoyo, who were judged to be skilled in martial arts, and stormed into Takada Castle.

"The first to enter is Horie Yoshiharu of the Shinchi family!"

In his first battle, Yoshiharu not only took the first head but also became the first to enter the enemy castle in his second battle.

Ietoyo followed, successfully taking a helmet as a trophy.

Takada Castle fell in about two hours, and Nobunaga was in high spirits as he began inspecting the heads.

"Your vassals are doing well."

"Thanks to the good vassals you introduced. I'm not much myself."

In reality, Kōki had just stood there looking important.

Everything else was left to his vassals.

"No, you have good soldiers and equipment. I'll praise you."

"Thank you, Lord!"

Kōki, along with Yoshiharu and Ietoyo, was praised, and he thought it was a happy ending, but it wasn't.

"I'll finish off Nobukatsu! Let's continue!"

Nobunaga decided to continue the campaign.

Of course, Kōki had no right to refuse.

While he really wanted to return to Kiyoko, he had to continue the military action as the CEO's subordinate.

It was winter and the agricultural off-season, and Nobunaga was generously distributing rewards, making the other vassals and soldiers eager.

In exchange, looting and violence against women were prohibited.

While this wasn't always the case in this era, Nobunaga likely wanted to prevent the conquered territories from being devastated.

Instead, Nobunaga was generously rewarding the soldiers and vassals who fought bravely.

Violators were mercilessly executed as a warning.

Kōki also distributed money to those who achieved feats to maintain the morale of his soldiers.

"Is this finally the end?"

The money-spreading strategy seemed to work.

In about a month, Oda Nobukatsu's territory was reduced to only Inuyama Castle.

Nobunaga had bought food from the villages in Nobukatsu's territory at a high price, causing the villagers to abandon him.

Money always seems to be the end of relationships, even in any era.

"Nobukatsu, you're counting on Yoshitatsu's reinforcements, but he won't come."

The Saito army had suffered losses a few months ago, and rumors of Yoshitatsu's poor health were becoming more credible.

As a result, no reinforcements from the Saito family were in sight.

"This is the end! Prepare yourself, Nobukatsu!"

With the fall of Nobukatsu, Nobunaga would almost unify Owari.

That's why he loudly issued the attack order.

Attacked, Nobukatsu, whose forces had been reduced and whose morale was low, saw Inuyama Castle fall in a short time.

"Find Nobukatsu! Dead or alive!"

They were to capture or kill his family and main vassals, but Nobukatsu himself was nowhere to be found.

Nobunaga ordered a search to prevent him from escaping and launching a revenge attack.

"Masa, can you find him?"

"No, where did he go?"

The Shinchi army searched the area around Inuyama Castle but found no sign of the escaped Oda Nobukatsu.

Masa was another name for Yoshiharu, as everyone called him that, and Kōki had started using it too.

"Did he escape?"

"With so many people searching, someone will find him."

Just as Ietoyo said that, the bushes rustled.

Thinking it was a boar, Kōki and the others looked and found a person who looked like Oda Nobukatsu.

"Capture him!"

Outnumbered, Nobukatsu was easily captured and brought before Nobunaga.

"Do you have anything to say?"

Nobunaga didn't immediately behead Nobukatsu.

He might have been considering his sister, who was married to him.

"No, I was defeated due to poor luck. That's all."

"I'll leave you enough to live on."

Surprisingly, Nobunaga spared Nobukatsu's life.

His territory was drastically reduced, and he was made to retire, taking the name Inuyama Tetsuzai. His young heir was named Nobemasu and given the surname Azuma.

From then on, Nobukatsu never opposed Nobunaga again and served the Oda family.