Chapter 97

Today, Koki visited Sakata in Dewa.

Sakata is the location of the headquarters of the Dewa Oda family.

Although it is slightly off the center of Dewa, the influence of Sakata Port cannot be underestimated.

Koki was busy establishing a trading route along the Sea of Japan, connecting the coastal region, Ezo, Sakata, Naoetsu, and Tsuruga.

Due to Nobunaga's invasion of Korea, trade between Japan and Ming had significantly decreased.

Until now, the Ming had been importing necessary goods through tolerated smuggling, but they have intensified their crackdown on smuggling to weaken the economy of Japan, which was attacking Korea.

Trade continued through the Ryukyu and Luzon routes, as the Ming could not physically stop all trade, but the reduction in trade volume and the increase in trading costs continued.

Many merchants in western Japan suffered a blow, but in their place, tribute trade through the coastal region emerged.

The coastal region pays tribute to the Ming, and initially, its king, Masamune Date, was ordered to destroy the Oda forces in the Korean Peninsula.

However, whether he could actually carry out this order was another matter.

Due to Japan's invasion of Korea, the Jurchen tribes in northeastern China had become restless.

If Masamune sent troops to Korea, the Jurchens might invade the coastal region, increasing the risk.

Whether this would really happen or not, Masamune explained the situation to the Ming.

In reality, the Ming could not control the tribal conflicts among the Jurchens.

The chaos in Korea had made their control even weaker.

The Ming were planning to send the Jurchens as reinforcements to Korea, but it was unclear if all the Jurchens would comply.

There was another issue troubling the Ming authorities.

It was the concern that luxury goods such as furs, pearls, dried fish, and high-end daily necessities from the Tsuda domain would no longer be available.

The wealthy and powerful in Ming, who used these items, were worried about this possibility.

Therefore, the Ming ordered Masamune to maintain trade with the Tsuda domain and Japan.

This was a somewhat illogical solution, as it involved trading indirectly through the coastal region.

Was it mature of the Ming to consider politics and economics separately during a war?

Or was it a sign of the deepening corruption in Ming?

Koki couldn't tell, but the Tsuda family also needed to maintain their economy.

To strengthen trade with Ming through Masamune, he visited Sakata Port, which would be used for unloading goods.

"If trade between western Japan and Ming recovers, Sakata will still be a base for northern development and trade, so there's no loss."

For this reason, Koki was aiding the development of Sakata.

"Jiji"

"That's right! Jiji!"

"Jiji"

"Houmaru is so smart!"

Koki's main purpose for visiting was to see his daughter Ai and his grandson Houmaru, who lived in the newly built Sakata Castle.

Houmaru had been given the same childhood name as his father, Nobufusa.

Although he was not yet two years old, Houmaru called Koki "Jiji," making him very happy.

"I brought a tricycle for Houmaru. He can play with it to his heart's content. I have other things too."

The tricycle was a prototype that Koki had commissioned from a workshop.

With grandchildren being born one after another, he wanted to give them gifts.

He was also working on prototypes of bicycles, but the main issues were dealing with tire punctures and the need for better roads to ensure a smooth ride.

Until these problems were resolved, the prototypes were not ready for mass production.

He also brought many toy prototypes, such as building blocks, crayons, push carts, and puzzles.

These were planned for mass production and sale in the future.

"Father, it's too early for Houmaru."

"But, Ai, children grow faster than their parents think. You did too."

Koki, with Houmaru on his lap, talked to Princess Ai.

"Next time, a girl would be nice."

"Who knows? Maybe a girl?"

Princess Ai was pregnant with their second child.

"If it's a girl, Kyouko will put a lot of effort into sewing clothes."

Kyouko, being a woman, had been prototyping many girls' clothes to keep up with the growing number of grandchildren.

She prepared a variety of children's clothing, including cute dresses, skirts, jeans, T-shirts, hats, socks, and sneakers.

Ii Naotora, who also had a grandchild, was helping Kyouko.

"Father, it's time."

"Work talk... Houmaru, let's have dinner together later."

"Okay!"

"Houmaru is such a good boy."

With a heavy heart, Koki hurried to the council room where Oda Nobufusa and Hori Hidemasa were waiting.

He needed to hear reports on the governance and trade of Dewa.

"That's the situation..."

The Dewa Oda family was governing better than initially expected.

Koki's assistance was minimal, which was excellent, but a significant contributor was Hori Hidemasa, the chief vassal of the Dewa Oda family.

He lived up to his nickname "Master" by governing Dewa smoothly without much trouble.

The fact that he was exempted from sending troops to Korea by Nobunaga, despite the challenges of governance, was a significant factor.

He was working hard on developing the Shonai region, flood control of the Mogami River, expanding Sakata Port, cultivating Shonai persimmons, blueberries, cherries, and dada cha beans, and developing mines.

Hidemasa was responding well to Koki's unreasonable requests and Nobunaga's expectations.

"(Actually, I want to poach Kuta. But that's impossible...)"

Koki thought that with Hidemasa, things would be much easier.

If Hori Hidemasa heard this, he would probably say, "We are much busier..." and scold Koki.

"Father-in-law, how is the situation in Korea?"

"It's not good..."

Koki explained to Nobufusa that the front lines were at a stalemate and that any disruption in Kyushu could cut off the supply lines of the dispatched army.

"Actually, I sometimes receive letters from my brother Nobutaka, and recently they are full of complaints."

Nobutaka was the commander of the first Korean expeditionary force.

He had returned to his domain to govern and develop it, but he was busy because he had entrusted his troops to his vassals and sent them to Korea.

Moreover, due to the death of his younger brother Nobukatsu and the incompetence of his older brother Nobuo, who was now the commander, Nobunaga had approached him to become the commander again.

The fact that Nobunaga had approached him showed his leniency towards his relatives, but Nobutaka could not refuse.

At best, he could delay it, and in the meantime, he was trying to stabilize his domain.

Gradually, he was becoming disillusioned with the war in Korea, which he could not win no matter how hard he tried.

Nobufusa explained to Koki that this was evident from the content of his letters.

"Nobutaka is serious..."

Nobutaka, who was actually older than Nobuo but was made his younger brother due to his mother's low status, had been working hard since childhood to prove himself to his older brother.

Although Koki thought that with such a rival, it was hard to see the point in trying, Nobutaka had become a fine young man.

He was seen as a capable member of the family who could support his older brother, Nobunaga, though not as capable as Nobutada.

Compared to Nobuo, this was even more evident.

He was a serious and hardworking scholar.

Koki thought that he might be weak in such situations.

"But, we can't tell that to the lord."

"That's true..."

There were few people who could give advice to the current Nobunaga.

Perhaps only Dan羽 Nagahide and Takigawa Kazumasu, but Kazumasu was no longer alive.

They had suggested stopping the Korean invasion, but Nobunaga had gently rejected it.

Since they were the only ones who could get away with such advice, the situation for others was uncertain.

Oda Nobunaga had not made any significant mistakes in the past.

Therefore, it was even more frightening to point out his first major mistake, the Korean expedition.

"Father-in-law, you must not say anything."

"That's right..."

If Koki, who was too strong as the number two, spoke out to Nobunaga, it could be perceived as the Oda regime being on the verge of a split.

Given the many Oda vassals who opposed the Tsuda family, Koki had to focus on developing remote regions like Kanto, Tohoku, Ezo, and Karafuto.

"Soon, peace negotiations with Ming might begin."

As the fifth son, Nobufusa had a direct line to Nobunaga.

Nobunaga, who had finally realized the crisis in Korea, had started exploring a temporary peace.

"We can only hope for that..."

"Yes."

With the work talk over, Koki decided to have dinner with Princess Ai and Houmaru.

The menu was a variety of hatahata dishes prepared by Koki.

"Kuta, when you think of Sakata..."

"When you think of Sakata?"

"It's hatahata."

"Hatahata?"

"Yes, there's no other choice. Salt-grilled, dried, sweet-dried, grilled with miso, hatahata soup, sweet and sour, sushi, and fermented fish sauce for hot pots. It's the best."

Indeed, if you come to Sakata, you must eat hatahata.

For Koki, it was a memory of the new Sakata on the planet Neo Yamagata, not this Sakata.

"Delicious."

"Is it good?"

Koki was feeding Houmaru pieces of hatahata.

"There's also pudding later."

"Okay!"

Koki, with Houmaru on his lap, was enjoying the hatahata dishes.

"However, even if they are abundant, you understand, Kuta."

"Fishing quotas and other regulations are necessary. I will instruct the fishermen."

"If we don't limit fishing during the spawning season, they will be overfished and disappear quickly."

As expected of someone called "Master."

Hidemasa understood Koki's intention and promised to implement it immediately.

"Is it delicious, Houmaru?"

"Okay!"

"Good, Houmaru."

Koki tried to spend as much time as possible with his grandson, whom he rarely saw, during his stay in Dewa.

Whenever he had free time, he would hold Houmaru on his lap, feed him, and play with him in the garden.

"Wow! Houmaru is standing!"

"Jiji"

"Houmaru is a genius!"

Koki was acting like a doting grandfather.

"You looked so sad when I married, but now that Houmaru is born, I feel neglected..."

Princess Ai felt a bit lonely seeing her father, Koki, dote on her grandson instead of her.

"That's the same with my father. He dotes on Sanboshi, saying, 'He's the next leader of the Oda family!' Maybe there is a difference between children and grandchildren."

Nobufusa and Ai talked about this while watching Koki, who was obsessed with his grandson.

"When all the schedules are over, Koki will return to Edo..."

"Houmaru! I'll stay in Dewa!"

"Lord, don't be unreasonable! You have a packed schedule in Edo!"

"Houmaru!"

"Alright! I'm sorry!"

Koki was carried away by several vassals and forced to return to Edo.

"You guys! I'm the lord!"

"This is for the sake of the Tsuda family! Please bear with it!"

"Houmaru!"

"I understand! Lord, let's come back to Dewa again, okay?"

Koki, unwilling to part with his grandson Houmaru, was carried away by his attendants and forced to return to Edo.

"Father-in-law, you have many grandchildren in Edo too..."

"Maybe he's more attached to Houmaru because he doesn't see him often..."

Nobufusa and Ai watched as several vassals carried the large Koki away from Sakata Castle, feeling somewhat exasperated.