Chapter 92

"Thank you for coming, General Tsuda Sakon no Kami."

"Thanks to the special consideration from His Majesty, the number of people who have to suffer in Kanto and Oshu has decreased. I believe this is due to the Majesty's prestige."

Tsuda Mitsuaki visited Emperor Go-Nijo to express his gratitude for being granted the position of Sakon no Kami, a rank of Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank). Although he had learned the necessary court etiquette since becoming a court noble, he still lacked confidence due to the lack of opportunities to practice. However, he managed to perform the rituals without disgracing himself, much to his relief.

The position of Sakon no Kami that Mitsuaki was granted was one of the newly increased positions in the court. Under the Oda regime, a large number of samurai had to be granted ranks and positions, so the increase in the number of positions was ordered by Nobunaga. The court nobles, concerned about the reduction of their own ranks and positions, agreed to this in exchange for additional estates.

The Sakon no Kami and Ukon no Kami, who were the heads of the Left and Right Guards responsible for the palace's security, were originally one each. However, due to Nobunaga's forceful interpretation that there could be four, one for each direction, they became two each.

There was an unwritten rule that two were from the court nobility and two from the samurai. Since the samurai Sakon no Kami did not actually guard the palace, there was no problem with the number being doubled.

The Ukon no Kami was effectively treated as a deputy shogun, but Mitsuaki seemed to interpret his position as slightly lower than that. To Mitsuaki, such distinctions were unclear, and he preferred that the court and Nobunaga handle it as they saw fit.

"The court does not move without precedent, but sometimes a powerful ruler comes along and forces change."

Mitsunari Fujihara, who specialized in court affairs for the Tsuda family, was somewhat exasperated by Nobunaga's forcefulness.

"Is this the flow of the new era...?"

"It's not as if anyone has lost anything, and our lord is like this anyway."

"Indeed... To the common people, it doesn't matter how many Sakon no Kami there are."

Fujihara agreed with Mitsuaki's point.

"This time, I am very sorry for the trouble."

"No, I am ashamed that I could not bring anything more substantial."

Of course, this was a form of modesty, but it was a rule to say so, so Mitsuaki deliberately said it.

"Is it canned food? I've heard about it, but it's quite impressive."

The canned food produced in the Tsuda domain was already a topic of conversation in the court, but few had managed to obtain it. Only a few nobles had received a few cans from Oda retainers who had received them as gifts from the Tsuda family.

However, Mitsuaki had presented five thousand cans to Emperor Go-Nijo, who was eager to open and try them himself. Holding a can opener, the emperor was excited.

"I am also sorry for the furs."

"Recently, trade has increased."

Date Masamune needed a large amount of food, weapons, money, and daily necessities to govern the coastal region smoothly. Naturally, this could not be free, so Masamune exported animal furs, which were abundant, to the Tsuda family. Among them, sable furs were particularly valuable.

Using these, Mitsuaki made ermine and coats and presented them to Emperor Go-Nijo.

"The texture... it's addictive."

Emperor Go-Nijo was delighted with the sable fur coat. However, the person who made the prototype, Kyouko, did not use fur products. Mitsuaki also did not, as before moving to this era, excessive harassment of people using fur products by animal rights activists had become a social issue.

People walking in the streets were sometimes splashed with water or paint. In his previous job in transportation, Mitsuaki had heard stories of clients refusing to do business because they were against the use of fur. This had led to a habit of not wearing fur.

In fact, the main reason was that it was a waste of money, but this was a secret. In the future, there was a lot of criticism of people wearing fur in public, and most wealthy people only wore it at private parties.

"Oichi and Hazu, feel free to wear them."

Kyouko had given fur coats to Oichi and Hazu through Mitsuaki, thinking it was unfair for them not to be able to wear fur due to her personal preferences.

"Thank you, my lord."

"It's so warm."

Oichi and Hazu, being ordinary women, were very happy to receive accessories and clothes from Mitsuaki. This also raised his evaluation as a husband, and he was grateful to Kyouko.

"I am also sorry for my wife's share. The design is different for men and women, isn't it?"

Emperor Go-Nijo was impressed not only by the fur but also by the design of the coat. This was the work of the Tsuda family's leading clothing workshop. The fur coats were designed separately for men and women.

"Material is important, but so are design and sewing techniques."

"Indeed. However, I have received a truly wonderful gift."

Emperor Go-Nijo was very pleased with the fur coat and began to wear it whenever he went out in the cold.

"His Majesty, what wonderful fur."

"The fur coat is a gift from Tsuda Sakon no Kami. It is made from sable fur from the north of Ezo, and the processing was done in the Tsuda domain's clothing workshop."

Emperor Go-Nijo always talked about the fur coat when he went out, looking very pleased.

"I see, so it's from the Tsuda domain. That makes sense."

In the Tsuda domain, the textile and clothing processing industries were gradually developing, producing silk, cotton, hemp, and ramie. Special items like suits were expensive and rarely available on the market, but men's briefs, women's panties, undergarments, long johns, neck warmers, fur and wool hats, and socks were popular among the common people.

Kanto and Tohoku get cold, so products that help with warmth sold well. Because of the need to wear hats, more men in Kanto and Tohoku were cutting their hair short instead of tying it up like Mitsuaki and Nobuteru.

In addition, work clothes and overalls for craftsmen and innerwear for the guards were also being supplied. The demand was high, and the clothing workshops were very busy. Skilled women were earning a good income, and many were moving to Edo to work.

"How much does sable fur cost?"

The nobles, samurai, and wealthy merchants who saw Emperor Go-Nijo's fur coat wanted one for themselves. When they inquired with the Tsuda family, the price was shockingly high.

"Sable fur is valuable, and the design and sewing are also very meticulous. It's expensive, but..."

Since it was a product used by Emperor Go-Nijo, it was worth the price. They bought the fur coats without hesitation.

"Our business is leather, so we can't afford not to have it."

The main buyers were wealthy merchants like Imahashi Sanehide, who had the financial means to purchase expensive fur coats.

"My wife also wants one."

Of course, some were pressured by their wives. Some bought them to give to their concubines or women they intended to make concubines.

"We are of a certain status, so we need to have at least one."

The old meeting of Sakai, which had moved to Ishiyama by Nobunaga's order, as well as large merchants from all over the country, daimyo and their wives, and even the Ming and the Europeans, began to import them due to their good reputation.

"Kyouko-sama, why do these outrageously expensive coats keep selling out?"

"Naotora, there are more people with money than you think."

"It seems so..."

Naotora Ii, who was now in charge of fur coat production at the clothing workshop, was genuinely surprised by the high sales despite the exorbitant prices.

"Didn't we first present them to the imperial couple?"

"Yes, I thought it was a waste, but..."

"Since the imperial couple uses them, there is no better endorsement in Japan."

Kyouko knew that in the future, items used by the royal family or nobility were expensive but sold well. She considered the gift to the imperial couple as advertising expenses.

"If the reputation in Japan improves, it will spread overseas."

As a result, Naotora was very busy. Her adopted son, Naomasa, had also married and moved to a new house. Her salary had increased significantly, and she found her work fulfilling, with no particular complaints. In fact, she felt quite fulfilled.

"I have a question..."

"What is it, Naotora?"

"Isn't Ming under a maritime ban and not trading with Japan? How are you selling to Ming?"

"That's because the product is so valuable, we are conducting formal trade."

The formal trade Kyouko referred to was through the territory of the coastal king, Date Masamune, who was under the Ming's suzerainty.

"Kotaro, what do you think?"

"We can make similar products."

"Is that so, then!"

"However, they will be inferior to the real thing. The value of the expensive sable fur will be lost if not processed by the Tsuda family's techniques."

The trade route with Ming was through the Date family, who had learned the correct processing methods for animal furs from the Tsuda family. The furs were exported to the Tsuda family, processed into high-quality clothing, and then re-exported to the Date family.

The Date family sold them to Ming, earning a profit.

"The processed fur products are so expensive that it seems the Date family is losing money..."

"Without the technology, there's nothing they can do."

"We need to hurry and train more craftsmen."

"We are, but..."

The Date family currently lacked manpower, especially Japanese. Until their rule was more stable, they had to allocate more people to the military. Skilled workers were also needed for weapons and town construction.

There was little room for training craftsmen, and they were stretched thin.

"Since we are making a profit, we have to endure for now."

The Tsuda family did not engage in smuggling fur products and only traded with the Date family as the official channel to Ming, as the Date family was officially under Ming's suzerainty.

"Indeed, they sell for more than twice the purchase price."

Even Nobunaga was surprised to see how quickly the fur products sold at high prices in Ming. There were many wealthy people in Ming who were willing to pay a lot for expensive fur coats.

However, Nobunaga did not know that the Ming merchants who bought the fur coats from the Date family were selling them to the wealthy in Ming for several times the price.

"Well, we'll use the money earned from this trade to further develop our territory! Then, one day, we will be able to defeat the Tsuda family and unite Japan under the Date family!"

"That's right (but all the money they earn will go back to the Tsuda family for weapons, medicine, and construction materials...)."

Kotaro did not say this out loud, as Nobunaga must have been aware of it. Essentially, Nobunaga's talk of defeating the Tsuda family was a goal, not a guarantee.

The main vassals were also aware of this and did not press the issue, a skill necessary for a Date family retainer.

"Defeat the Tsuda family and unite Japan under the Date family!"

Despite the contradictions, Kotaro returned to his work, determined to fulfill his duties. Kotaro was a mature adult who could read the room.

"Lord, a letter has arrived from the Great Lord."

"What is it?"

A few months after sending the fur coats to Emperor Go-Nijo and his wife, Mitsuaki read the letter from Masahide and found this written inside:

"Send women's fur coats and neck warmers as soon as possible! It's urgent!"

"Was Oichi pushing for it?"

"Probably..."

Mitsuaki promptly sent the items requested by Nobunaga to Ishiyama.