Chapter 48

Under the leadership of Kisaburo, Masahiro soon arrived at the courtyard of the original Itabashi family, located at the highest point in the center of the mountain stronghold. The structure of the courtyard was similar to that of the Oishi family, but this one was larger in area. All the people in the courtyard had been gathered at the gate of the stronghold, and now only two foot soldiers of the Ro family were guarding the courtyard entrance.

After a quick tour of the courtyard, Masahiro sat down in the council hall, preparing to rest for a moment. After a fierce battle in the morning, he immediately rushed over the mountains to the stronghold of the bandits in the afternoon, engaging in several intense battles, both physical and strategic. Masahiro felt a bit tired, and soon fell asleep. After an unknown amount of time, Masahiro felt someone calling him. He opened his eyes groggily and saw that Zaburo and Kisaburo were standing beside him.

Masahiro immediately sat up straight, looked down at his watch, and saw that it was already past four in the afternoon, meaning that the outside had been organized for more than two hours. "Zaburo, how is the situation outside?"

"Your Highness, Lord Togo, Lord Kuni, and others are in the outer courtyard, ready to report to you," Zaburo immediately bowed and replied.

"Um, please have them all come in," Masahiro said, surprised that they had cleared the stronghold so quickly. Zaburo quickly walked out of the council hall to gather everyone.

Soon, Togo Heiji, Oishi Kuni, Tsuda Masaharu, Kousuke, and Tadajiro entered the council hall one by one. After everyone had bowed, Togo Heiji knelt down first and said, "Your Highness, we have achieved a great victory. In this battle, the Ro family eliminated the bandits that have plagued us for years without a single casualty, and the spoils are enormous. This can be considered the greatest victory of our family," his voice trembling with excitement.

"Ha!" Masahiro, who had just taken a sip of warm water handed to him by Kisaburo, almost spat it out. A battle with just a few dozen people is called a great victory? It's a bit embarrassing to say. Moreover, he didn't consider the situation around him, at least noticing that there were two bandits who had just surrendered. Wasn't this insulting them? Masahiro quickly looked at everyone's reactions and found that everyone was excited, looking at him with admiration, even Kousuke and Tadajiro.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Masahiro felt a sigh of relief and cleared his throat, pretending to be calm, "So, Heiji, tell me about our spoils."

Togo Heiji seemed well-prepared. Upon hearing Masahiro's instructions, he solemnly took out a yellow paper from his chest, which appeared to have been seized from the stronghold. After bowing to Masahiro again, he unfolded the paper and read, "In terms of food, we seized 2,625 koku of mixed grains from the Oishi family and 3,810 koku from the Itabashi family. Adding the mixed grains already in our territory, we now have a total of 6,525 koku of mixed grains."

So much? Masahiro was shocked, even feeling like he had become a nouveau riche. Before eliminating the bandits, our territory only had 90 koku of mixed grains. With so much added, no wonder Togo Heiji was so excited. Masahiro was momentarily stunned by the surprise.

"In terms of weapons, we found 26 swords and 135 spears, 13 sets of crude armor from the stronghold and the villages outside; 11 swords, 13 spears, and 8 sets of crude armor from the captives; and 73 swords, 156 spears, 2 heavy bows, 5 wooden bows, and 25 sets of crude armor from the secret warehouse. Adding the 10 spears and 9 sets of crude armor not yet distributed in our territory, we now have 110 swords, 314 spears, and 55 sets of crude armor not yet distributed. We have already distributed 15 swords, 29 spears, and 11 homemade bamboo bows." Seeing Masahiro's calm expression, Togo Heiji was deeply impressed by the lord's composure and felt ashamed of his own loss of composure. He immediately suppressed his emotions and continued to report.

"Hmm, it seems we won't have to worry about weapons for a while. But a sword usually costs hundreds of coins, and a well-made sword can cost several thousand coins. How did the bandits have so many swords?" Masahiro, who had just recovered from his shock, heard about the number of undistributed weapons and was both happy about the spoils and puzzled by the large number of weapons seized.

"Yes, Your Highness, our family currently has 40 foot soldiers, and the weapons are sufficient," Oishi Kuni said. "As for why the bandits have so many swords and other weapons, I speculate that since Tōmatsu is located by the sea, the maritime trade is busy, and there are many pirates and bandits. As various forces constantly fight, the demand for weapons is high. Merchants see the profit and sell weapons here. The weapons in the stronghold have been accumulated over several generations of bandit leaders, which is why there are so many."

"I see," Masahiro nodded. It seems being a pirate is a good profession. "Heiji, continue."

"Your Highness, in terms of money, we found 327 gold coins and 53 copper coins, 11 gold pieces, and 230 silver pieces in the Oishi and Itabashi families; 1,327 gold coins and 780 copper coins, 143 gold pieces, and 720 silver pieces in the secret warehouse. Adding the money seized from the captives and the money already in our territory, we now have 1,680 gold coins and 510 copper coins, 154 gold pieces, and 970 silver pieces." Togo Heiji, who had just calmed down, was once again excited by these spoils. Oishi Kuni and Tsuda Masaharu exchanged glances, clearly stunned by the spoils. Who would have thought that a small bandit stronghold could be so wealthy, almost equivalent to a medium-sized wealthy family.

"Ha ha ha, good. I didn't expect such a large haul. By the way, how is the exchange rate for gold and silver now?" Masahiro was also in high spirits after hearing about the money.

"Currently, the exchange rate in Tōmatsu is 1 gold piece for 50 silver pieces or 4 gold coins. After exchanging the gold and silver in our territory into copper coins, we now have 2,374 gold coins." Oishi Kuni quickly analyzed. "Sigh!" Upon hearing the final amount of money, everyone took a deep breath, even Kousuke and Tadajiro, who were originally from the stronghold. 2,374 gold coins, enough to buy nearly 5,000 koku of mixed grains.

"Hmm. Heiji, continue," Masahiro observed everyone's expressions and calmly instructed.

"Your Highness, we also seized several thousand pounds of copper and over a thousand pounds of iron in the stronghold. Adding the copper and iron already in our territory, we now have about 3,225 pounds of copper and 1,325 pounds of iron. Additionally, we have 320 to of salt and over 50 bolts of cloth," Togo Heiji reported.

"Suddenly having so much iron is a happy problem. Does anyone know if there are any blacksmiths nearby?" Masahiro frowned and asked.

"Your Highness, we have a blacksmith," Kousuke interjected, looking at Tadajiro beside him.

"What? We have a blacksmith? Where?" Masahiro asked with delight, following Kousuke's gaze to Tadajiro.

Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Tadajiro rubbed his bald head and smiled, "Hehe, Your Highness, I used to be a small blacksmith in Bizen. After coming here, I was responsible for the daily ironwork in the stronghold."

"Bizen? Nagafune Village?" Masahiro sat up straight, staring at Tadajiro urgently.

"Hehe, Your Highness, Nagafune Village is in the former Bizen. I was just a small blacksmith in Bizen. Since my older brother inherited the family, I became a ronin and eventually a bandit. I am not skilled in forging weapons, but I can repair damaged weapons and forge farming tools and ironware," Tadajiro corrected.

"Good, very good." Even if he is not skilled in forging weapons, being able to repair weapons and forge farming tools and ironware is already quite good. "I hereby appoint you as the head of the weapons department, responsible for the forging and maintenance of weapons and farming tools in our territory. Yes, your previous subordinates will continue to work under you, and I will assign a few patrol team members to be your apprentices. Perform well, Tadajiro. If the shortage of farming tools in our territory can be resolved within a month, I will promote you to a foot soldier commander," Masahiro immediately appointed Tadajiro and gave him a task.

"Ah?" Tadajiro was first stunned, then immediately bowed and said excitedly, "Your Highness, I will definitely complete the task and work hard for the Ro family." Tadajiro didn't expect such sudden good fortune. He had been worried that Masahiro would go back on his word and settle accounts with the surrendered bandits, but instead, he was quickly given an important position. Grateful, he immediately bowed and reported, "Your Highness, in addition to the blacksmith, there are also carpenters and masons in the stronghold, such as Yubei and Shinji, who were captured by Itabashi Dairo. Their families are farming in the nearby territories. Without them, their families will struggle to survive."

"Oh? Tadajiro, tell them that I will appoint them as foot soldier leaders, and their families will be arranged to be brought to our territory to reunite with them. They will be responsible for the wooden tools and construction in our territory. If they work well for me, I will not treat them poorly. Additionally, Heiji, you will settle them, and they will be under your command," Masahiro was delighted to hear this good news, never expecting that a small bandit stronghold would have such hidden talents.

"Yes, Your Highness," Tadajiro and Togo Heiji replied simultaneously.

"Then I can ensure that they will settle down and work for Your Highness," Tadajiro said again. Hearing Masahiro's appointment, Tadajiro judged that Masahiro was currently lacking craftsmen, so he boldly recommended two craftsmen and subtly indicated that to make them settle down, their families must be reunited. Of course, making such a suggestion, Tadajiro was also nervous, as it was somewhat presumptuous for a newly surrendered bandit. Fortunately, Masahiro did not pursue it.

"Have all the people been gathered in the open space in front of the stronghold gate?" Masahiro continued to ask.

"Your Highness, they have all been gathered at the gate, guarded by foot soldiers. Tadajiro's subordinates are calming the frightened villagers. The loyal bandits and male relatives of the original bandits have been beheaded, but what about the women and children?" Oishi Kuni said, not continuing, but looking at Masahiro, hesitating, as if waiting for Masahiro to make a decision.

"Your Highness, most of the women were forcibly taken to the stronghold, and the children were born later, with little attachment to the original bandits. Please show mercy and spare their lives. Killing them will cause panic among the other villagers," Tadajiro immediately bowed and pleaded. As an "old-timer" in the stronghold, he knew the situation well and was determined to advise Masahiro, as excessive killing was not good.

Masahiro found it a bit amusing; he had never said he would kill them all. "Let the women and children return to their homes in the stronghold, help them become self-sufficient, and encourage them to remarry. No one is allowed to insult them. If they cannot become self-sufficient, they will be taken care of by Matsu. As for the men, Heiji, Kuni, Kousuke, and Tadajiro will jointly decide. Regardless of age, anyone who shows hostility towards our territory will be immediately executed." Masahiro did not want any potential assassins lurking in his territory.

"Your Highness, there are 83 villagers in the stronghold. Additionally, we found 25 young women in the stronghold's prison, all captured in the past six months, and 42 laborers responsible for mining copper, also captured from the mountains," Togo Heiji continued.

"Those women, if they have families in our territory, they will be returned to their families. If their families are outside our territory, we will arrange for their families to come to our territory to reunite with them. Those without families will be taken care of by Matsu." Recently, Matsu and several widows had applied for new farmland, and they were short of labor. "As for the laborers, they will continue to mine for now. We will provide food, and each will receive 4 to of mixed grains per month. We will also arrange for their families to come to our territory and be allocated housing and farmland."

"Those families outside our territory may not be willing to come to our territory," Oishi Kuni said, worried.

"Then we will bring them by force," Masahiro said casually. With only about 300 people in the territory, after obtaining a large amount of food, the next step was to consider the population. A larger population base meant more soldiers. With only 40 foot soldiers, it was impossible to defend against the surrounding powerful families and bandits. For those farmers unwilling to come to his territory, he would have to "kidnap" them. After all, most powerful families did not care if a few farmers went missing from their territories.

"Kuni, find some clever foot soldiers to pose as laborers and infiltrate the territories of the nearby powerful families. Keep a close eye on their movements and immediately report any abnormalities. Also, arrange for the families of relevant personnel to be secretly brought to our territory. Kousuke, assist with this," Masahiro looked at the council hall door, thought for a moment, and then arranged, "Masaharu, arrange for foot soldiers to guard the entrances and exits of our territory day and night. Without my permission, no one is allowed to leave, and the current situation of our territory must not be leaked. Everyone, although the bandits have been defeated, the surrounding powerful families and bandits are still watching us closely. Now is not the time for us to relax."

"Yes, Your Highness," everyone was startled, carefully considering the lord's words, and all agreed. The joy from the large spoils quickly turned into a heavy mood.

"Alright, let's go and inspect the new neighbors who have joined our territory," Masahiro, seeing everyone deep in thought, was satisfied with the effect of his "cold water" and stood up first.

"Yes, Your Highness," everyone replied.

(PS: This is the third week of the new book release, already A-signed, with over 130,000 words updated, and will not be discontinued, with at least 1.5 million words. This week it is on the Sanjiang Potential List, and next week it will be on the New Book Recommendation List. Please do not leave lightly. Please click, collect, and recommend. Old Fish 360-degree nakedly kneels and begs for clicks, collections, and recommendations. Enjoy writing, enjoy loneliness.)

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