Chapter 86

"Are you really abstaining from alcohol?"

"I have been told by Lady Tomiko that I must die. Kagekatsu is still young. If I don’t provide more support, the Uesugi family will not be able to maintain our territory. I must live."

While Shingen's eldest son, Nobuharu, was on a campaign, Uesugi Kenshin visited Edo.

After a brief conversation, they started to eat together, but Kenshin did not drink a single drop of alcohol, only tea.

Shingen had heard that Kenshin used to drink like a fish, so he was impressed by Kenshin's strong will.

The dishes served were also prepared with health in mind, to suit Kenshin.

Shingen and Tomiko thought it would be good to pay attention to their health from time to time, so they were eating the same meal as Kenshin.

However, since the menu was planned by Tomiko, it wasn't overly plain.

Instead of using too much salt, they enhanced the flavor with broth and acidity, and the vegetables were cooked deliciously. Shingen thought that such a menu was nice to have from time to time.

It might be difficult to do every day, though.

"Is the final dish today going to be salmon tea bowl? Is salmon roe okay?"

"It's fine."

Shingen wondered if salmon roe was okay for Kenshin, who had gout, but Tomiko assured him it was fine.

"Purines are found in large amounts in the internal organs of meat and fish. Salmon roe and herring roe are fine. The amount is also kept small."

"I see."

Shingen had no knowledge in this area, so he relied entirely on Tomiko for his daily diet.

Because they wanted to eat delicious food, the Tsuda family paid attention to the nutritional balance of their meals.

"(Purines? I've never heard of them, but Lady Tomiko's medical knowledge is truly impressive.)"

Kenshin was amazed by Tomiko's extensive medical knowledge.

"Where is today's salmon roe from?"

"Um, where was it? I think it's from near Sendai. It was a gift from Yoshimitsu."

"Ah, Yoshimitsu...?"

Yoshimitsu, who had become the lord of Sendai Castle, had also volunteered to be the head of a project.

The Tsuda family's territory in northern Kanto and Tohoku had many famous salmon-producing areas.

However, they believed that just catching salmon wasn't enough, so they actively engaged in salmon artificial hatching and release programs to prevent a decline in salmon populations and hopefully increase yields.

Yoshimitsu had volunteered to be the head of this project.

Not only in the Tsuda territory but also in parts of Ezo, he was responsible for the salmon artificial hatching and release programs, and despite his busy schedule as the lord of Sendai Castle, he traveled to various places whenever he had time.

"Yoshimitsu seems to like salmon."

"I knew that too."

"Why does Lord Kenshin know that?"

"Well, before the Uesugi family submitted to the Oda family, after a battle ended in a truce, Kenshin often sent salmon, a specialty of Echigo, to the daimyo he had defeated. He sent some to the previously defeated Mogami Yoshimitsu, and received a very polite thank-you letter in return."

"The salmon from Echigo is said to be different from the local variety."

If he could say that, Yoshimitsu must really love salmon.

"By the way, Echigo is also famous for salmon, isn't it? Like Naoetsu."

"Yes, the salmon from Naoetsu is famous. It's even sold in the Kinai region."

Although the Tsuda family imported salmon from Ezo and increased production in their territory, salmon was still considered a luxury item.

With the stability of the Oda family's rule in the Nobi and Kinai regions, the circulation of money increased, and the economy improved.

Even commoners began to eat salmon on special occasions, and the demand was so high that the prices in the Oda territory remained high despite the imports.

"I've heard that the Tsuda family is also breeding other trout."

"Yes."

Iwana, Yamame, Biwamasu, Sakuramasu, Satsukimasu, Hime-masu, Kunimasu, and Amago.

Using high-altitude lakes and cold rivers, they engaged in artificial hatching, release, and breeding, and processed these fish into dried, salted, or smoked products for export to the Kinai region.

Lakes such as Chuzenji, Ashi, and Kizaki were becoming famous for the breeding and release of trout.

Preparations for breeding projects were also starting in many other high-altitude lakes.

"Does Echigo also need to manage resources to prevent a decline in catches?"

"Yes, in the future, overfishing could reduce the population. That's why we're doing artificial hatching and release."

They had considered marine farming of salmon, but it was still in the research stage and not yet practical.

Light might think that increasing production by claiming Ezo and Karafuto would be better.

"I want to strengthen salmon fishing in Etchu and Noto. For that, artificial hatching and resource management technology is necessary..."

Kenshin thought for a while but, of course, he couldn't give away the technology for free.

If other territories overfished, it would benefit the Tsuda territory's salmon and trout industries.

"It would be troublesome if it leaked to Echizen."

In Echizen, there was Shibata Katsuie, who was known for his dislike of Shingen.

Echizen was also a famous salmon-producing area, and Katsuie had ordered an increase in salmon catches.

However, there was no sign of breeding or artificial hatching, and Shingen had no obligation to warn Katsuie about the decline in salmon due to overfishing.

He was waiting for Echizen to self-destruct.

However, he was hesitant to teach the technology to the Uesugi family, considering the risk of information leaking to the Shibata family.

"Echizen... Katsuie is a troublesome man."

Kenshin also didn't seem to like Katsuie very much.

The way he treated him suggested a lack of good feelings.

"Even an accidental clash could lead to a war with the Shibata army, and Nobunaga might decide to attack the Uesugi family. Knowing this, Katsuie repeatedly provoked us. I had to work hard to keep my retainers from attacking."

In the border areas of Kaga, Etchu, and Noto, the Shibata army often provoked the Uesugi army, and Kenshin had to restrain his bloodthirsty retainers who wanted to attack the Shibata army, as he explained to Shingen.

"(That old man really loves war...)"

Of course, it wasn't just that. Katsuie had probably wanted to provoke Kenshin, who was wary of Nobunaga, to attack first and use that as an excuse to attack the Uesugi family.

Kenshin, who saw through Katsuie's plan, had to work hard to restrain his retainers.

"Therefore, I will not let the technology leak to the Shibata family. Will you sell the technology to us?"

Kenshin didn't ask for the technology for free.

He asked Shingen to sell it to him, showing that he wasn't that shameless.

"Well, if you're willing to buy it..."

However, Shingen had no intention of selling the technology.

He proposed an exorbitant price to make Kenshin back down.

"Very well, I will have the money delivered later."

But Kenshin was one step ahead.

He was willing to pay the enormous sum in full.

"Is such a large amount really okay?"

"The gold mine in Sado has been discovered, so the payment is no problem."

Kenshin explained that he had been intensifying the exploration and mining of mines to finance the development of his territory and the import of food, and had discovered a gold mine in Sado, which was thought to contain only silver.

"Therefore, I will pay in full. I request that you send someone with the technology to Echigo."

"Yes..."

Shingen couldn't say no, so he ended up selling the salmon and trout-related technology to Kenshin.

"Gold and silver mines will eventually be exhausted. Before that happens, we need to develop the plains of Echigo and cultivate new industries."

Kenshin said this with a victorious smile.

"Next time, I will send you some salmon from Echigo. The salmon from Echigo is quite good. Various dishes have been developed, such as Hidamari pickled salmon roe, salted salmon roe, and the heart and other internal organs are also delicious."

"Lord Kenshin, unfortunately, salted salmon roe is too high in salt, and the internal organs are too high in purines, so they are forbidden."

"Ugh..."

Even Kenshin, who was better at it than Shingen, was defeated by Tomiko's health advice.

Currently, the biggest enemies for Kenshin were salt and purines.

"Brother, that old man really paid in full, didn't he?"

After a while, a large amount of gold arrived as payment for the technology.

Since he had received the payment, Shingen had to teach the salmon and trout-related technology to the Uesugi family.

He immediately started selecting the person to send to Echigo with Seiki.

"Speaking of salmon, wouldn't Yoshimitsu be a good choice?"

In the Tsuda family, when it came to salmon, it was Yoshimitsu.

Despite his busy schedule as the lord of Sendai Castle, he actively participated in salmon and trout-related projects and achieved good results.

Many people in the Tsuda family thought of Yoshimitsu when they thought of salmon, and he took pride in it.

"Salmon and trout are similar species that have been landlocked, I see."

Yoshimitsu spent his free time reading books about salmon and trout and accumulating knowledge.

He was also working hard to select a place to start salmon breeding experiments.

"But, Yoshimitsu has his duties as the lord of Sendai Castle. Wouldn't it be too much for him to be sent to Echigo? Considering his schedule?"

"You're right... Then..."

Another person who knew a lot about salmon came to Shingen's mind.

He was less prominent than Yoshimitsu and had been involved in salmon and trout for a shorter time.

However, he was enthusiastic.

After all, his surname was Sakurayama.

"How about Sakurayama Hidenori? He's the second most knowledgeable after Yoshimitsu."

Sakurayama Hidenori was a person who had almost died in a battle against the Tsuda army.

He had gone missing during the battle and was initially declared dead, but he had survived with severe injuries.

Due to the aftereffects of his injuries, he could no longer fight, but he served the Tsuda family as a civil servant and participated in the salmon and trout-related projects led by Yoshimitsu.

Hidenori, who had originally belonged to the Mogami family, was a great help as Yoshimitsu's assistant.

"Sure, I think Hidenori would be good too."

"Then it's settled."

Thus, Sakurayama Hidenori was chosen to be sent to Echigo from the Tsuda family.

"I will definitely complete the task."

Hidenori would spend several years traveling between the Tsuda and Uesugi territories, teaching the Uesugi family about salmon and trout artificial hatching, release, and breeding.

Later, Hidenori was praised by Kenshin for his contributions and received a commendation and a reward, and his name would be remembered as the person who brought salmon and trout-related technology to Echigo.

After this experience, Hidenori was appointed as the head of the salmon and trout-related technology and projects in the Tsuda family, taking over from the busy Yoshimitsu.

"Damn! If I weren't so busy, I could have taken that position!"

The only one who complained about this appointment was Yoshimitsu, who was too busy with other work to be in charge of salmon and trout.

He was, after all, a salmon lover.