Chapter eight hundred and seventy-third the difficulty of buying food
Takada Yangai smiled and said nothing.
Shiba Yoshigan left Konge, and the government affairs of Konge Shiba were handed over to Nizi Katsuhisa. Takada Yono, the business executive, was also controlled by Nizi Katsuhisa.
But this time, the Lord stripped all the Shiba family's resources related to the Minato Shouchen from Nizi Katsuhisa and handed them over to Takada Haruno.
Although the power she controls is not as important as Akechi Mitsuhide's diplomacy, Nizi Katsuhisa's internal affairs, and Maeda's military interests.
But in terms of authority, Takada Haruno is already in charge. Nizi Katsuhisa can no longer restrict Takada Haruno's behavior, so nominal reporting can be saved.
What made Takada Harano even more happy was another thing revealed in the letter.
"In the letter, my lord expressed great praise for Ichigo-song's investment in the Hokurikudo Trading Route. He thought that it was all because of this matter that Master Xianru would compromise, and that's why he rewarded me so heavily.
Do you know what this means?"
Imai Munehisa thought for a moment and said tentatively.
"The Imperial Office still doesn't know about the Nanman Sect going to Luo?"
"Of course I don't know."
Takada Harano smiled so happily, she was almost elated, she said.
"The Nanman Sect went to Raku Kyoto and sought the shogunate's missionary rights but was blocked by Akechi Mitsuhide. Master Xianru had no choice but to compromise and could only order the Hokurikudo Ichikai clan to converge and make peace with the Odaisho.
It is obvious that the Master will not mention such a shameful thing in her letter to Hokurikudo. The only thing she can say clearly is to invest in the Hokurikudo Trading Road."
Imai Munehisa came to his senses.
"I understand. Without the right to preach, the Lord is unaware of all the efforts Akechi Mitsuhide has made to force Ichibashi to bow his head.
She got no credit at all this time, all the credit goes to you, sir."
Takada Yono's smile is as bright as a flower, and he is proud of himself.
"This is what makes me happiest.
No matter whether she is as wise as Guangxiu or as cunning as a fox, she will have to suffer the consequences of being dumb and make a wedding dress for me.
Religious disputes are extremely cruel. Even if she wanted to take credit, she would not have the guts to speak clearly about it. If even the slightest bit of information was revealed in black and white, the situation of the Sibo family would be in trouble.
Therefore, it is up to me to accept this reward."
Imai Munehisa said worriedly.
"Master Akechi is not a good-tempered person. Will he take revenge on you in the future?"
Takada Yono snorted and said nothing more.
The relationship between her and Mitsuhide Akechi has long been incompatible. Not only her, but all the Ji warriors who obtained the Shiba facility are her enemies.
The cooperation is only for the sake of the master's Shiba family, so it is difficult to tolerate it. As for the future, who will kill whom is still uncertain.
Without mentioning this, Takada Yono's smile faded and his expression became serious.
"My lord has given me the position of mayor. It is a high and powerful position, and he has something to do for me."
Imai Mune kowtowed to the ground for a long time.
"I await your orders, sir."
"A severe drought in Kanto has resulted in poor harvests, and major famines are expected to occur in the Echigo Plain and Kanto Plain this year.
The Lord needs to buy food from various countries and transport it to Echigo to fill the military food gap in the Kanto strategy. Mr. Okuma Asahide is in charge of Hokuriku Road, and I am responsible for the purchase of Kondo.
In the Noo Plains of Owari-Mino Ryogoku, the Lord sent a letter to Maeda Toshiie, ordering her to try her best to persuade His Highness Oda to sell grain.
If the Oda family is willing to let go, I will provide the copper coins and materials in exchange for food.
The total amount of grain harvested was 160,000 dan, and Mr. Daxiong Chaohide ate half of it. I will handle the other 80,000 dan. I want to ensure that after transportation losses, there will be 40,000 dan in Echigo warehouse.
Imai-hime, if I can make new achievements and leave a good impression on the Lord, I need your support.
please."
Takada Yono bowed deeply, Imai Munehisa quickly returned the bow and said.
"You're welcome, sir. This is my duty."
In fact, she was complaining in her heart that this was not easy to do.
In troubled times, food is expensive. Countries are busy fighting wars, and even their own military rations are not enough. How many of them are willing to sell it?
Even if it is sold, it is to give face, and it can be sold for hundreds or thousands of dan. If you buy 80,000 dan in one go, where can you get so much food? Where can you find so much money to buy food?
Imai Munejiu said with a sad face.
"Sir, it's not that I don't want to be careful, but where does the money come from?
Eighty thousand shi of brown rice is said to cost 40,000 guan. But you know, this price is always an imaginary number.
Winter has just passed, and the summer and autumn harvests have not yet been put into storage. There is not much food in various places, and the actual price has already skyrocketed.
Especially here in Settsu Country, Miyoshi and three others collected a large amount of food to fight in order to suppress the rebellion in Danba. Now that the war is intense and the suppression of the rebellion is ineffective, the price of food will only be higher.
It doesn't matter if we buy a few hundred dan. If we buy more, the price of food in the market will go up. I'm afraid the Miyoshi family's Sakai Port Customs Office will come to grab the food with knives.
You can find a way to buy some from Omi Country, but the price won't be low.
I just did a mental calculation and found that these 80,000 shi of grain cannot be purchased without 100,000 guan. Even if there are 100,000 guan, it may not be possible to buy them.
Now we are short of money and cannot find food, so this matter is really difficult to handle."
Takada Yono sneered.
"If this thing is easy to do, why would my lord allow me the power of the town leader and make me independent from the three closest concubines such as Akechi Mitsuhide, Niko Katsuhisa, and Maeda Yoshida.
The Lord also said in his letter that he has given orders to the three concubines in the near future to fully cooperate with me in buying food.
Although I have real power, it is best not to mobilize the grain from recent weeks.
The total wealth of the three branches of Beidawa, Iga and Todo is only 210,000. They have been experiencing constant wars in the past two years and they also need to recuperate.
If I disturb their food and cause instability in recent waves, it will appear that I am incompetent.
My idea is to find a solution in the Osaka Plains, Omi Province, and Noo Plains. The Lord wants 80,000 koku, but we cannot be satisfied with just 80,000 koku. We must do our best and buy as much as possible.
I already have an idea about money. Are the owners of the Tokaido Caravan companies coming to see you these days?"
Hearing this, Imai Munehisa couldn't help but smile.
"Ever since the Tokaido War, these caravans have been like ants on a hot pot.
The caravans taking the Tokaido Road in the spring have been robbed several times. Even if they were not robbed on the way, they would not be able to find a place to stay in Suruga Country.
Sunpu Castle was captured by the Takeda family. These savages in the mountains did not know how to run a merchant town. They only burned, killed and looted. If Sunpu Castle was uneasy, merchants would not dare to do business.
The goods brought by the caravan could not be distributed, and the logistics of the entire Tokaido trade route came to a standstill. The caravan on the Sakai Port side did not dare to set off again, and the goods were piled in the warehouse and they were stomping anxiously.
These days, many people have come to me for help, and I have collected three houses of gifts alone. I am still sorting out the specific number, and will send you a list later."
Takada Yono waved his hand and said generously.
"As long as you accept the gifts that others give you with peace of mind, I won't be so stingy and greedy.
I’m just asking you, how much has the share of the Hokuriku Trading Road increased to? How many merchants are willing to pay a deposit, change their business, and participate in the Hokuriku Trading Road.”