The Young Lady of the Honda Family

The Ming Dynasty was an era that produced many eccentric emperors. It had a well-established cabinet system, with several Grand Scholar serving as the emperor's secretaries, handling various affairs. The emperor's role was simply to make decisions and affix his seal. In fact, even without the emperor, the Ming Dynasty government could continue to function.

So, with the emperor having more free time, all sorts of strange things happened, with many astonishing feats, some of which seemed ridiculous and unreasonable.

In fact, this was not the case at the beginning. Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor, was a very diligent and capable emperor who firmly held power in his hands.

Lord was approachable in his dealings with the people, but ruthless towards officials. Born into a poor peasant family, he had been a monk and a beggar. Through self-taught education, he became emperor and implemented sweeping reforms. Sometimes, the bad things he did on impulse actually led to some positive results.

As a ruthless ruler, Zhu Yuanzhang formulated all sorts of regulations and required future emperors to abide by them. He even designed a basic manual on how to be an emperor, believing that as long as his descendants followed it diligently and worked more than ten hours a day, they could smoothly continue to run the Ming Dynasty.

However, apart from Zhu Di, none of the Ming Dynasty emperors were workaholics. Although Chongzhen was very diligent, he had flaws, had a bad relationship with his court officials, and the country was already in dire straits and beyond saving.

Problems arose with the third generation. Zhu Di's son, Zhu Gaochi, died of obesity in less than a year after ascending the throne due to his excessive eating and drinking. With the emperor's incompetence, more ministers were needed to share the responsibilities, and thus the power of the cabinet ministers, who served as the emperor's secretaries, grew increasingly greater.

However, although these emperors were eccentric, they were also very obedient in following the rules established by their ancestors. As a result, the system, whether good or bad, was preserved without any understanding of how to adapt to changing times.

Because of the rules set by Zhu Yuanzhang, the salaries of the Ming Dynasty officials were extremely low, so low that they simply couldn't survive without earning extra money. Furthermore, the monetary system was initially ruined by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Only Baochao and copper coins could be used, but prices were high in this era, and copper coins, like modern coins, were no longer practical. It was really inconvenient to carry dozens of kilograms of copper coins when going to the market.

Despite the fact that the technology for minting coins already existed in the Qin Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang set a strict rule prohibiting the use of gold and silver to make coins, so everyone could only use scales to weigh small pieces of silver.

During the Song Dynasty, there was Jiaozi, which was a magical tool for the government that could conjure up large sums of money simply by stamping a piece of paper. However, it was also a cause of inflation.

Moreover, during the Ming Dynasty, paper money became a one-way exchange instrument; one could exchange silver for paper money, but not paper money for silver. As a result, paper money completely lost its credibility and depreciated drastically. At its lowest point, its purchasing power was less than half that of silver, and it was eventually used entirely by the people.

Just like the US Treasury bonds in later generations, everyone would buy them because the US has plenty of gold in its banks and national credit as a guarantee. But if the US says that you can buy Treasury bonds but can't exchange them for their original value, and if US Treasury bonds keep falling and depreciating, making it impossible to profit, then no one will buy them.

However, due to the rules set by Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty government was not allowed to mint gold and silver coins, so it could only allow small pieces of silver to circulate among the people, using scales as the standard, thus losing an important financial instrument.

It's worth noting that when Sir Newton left physics and became the Master of the Mint, he implemented a system where 70% pure gold was used as if it were 100% pure gold. Guaranteed by the reputation of the Sun Never Sets Empire, gold worth 70 dollars could be used as if it had the purchasing power of 100 dollars.

Thus, the Ming Dynasty's finances were ruined from the very beginning. Initially, everything was being rebuilt, and the problems were not apparent during the reigns of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di. However, after that, the imperial family and powerful clans grew increasingly bloated, and their descendants mostly pursued luxury, making the original income insufficient.

Powerful families began to abuse their privileges by lending money at exorbitant interest rates, and they could buy land without paying taxes. When people suffered unexpected injuries or their family members fell seriously ill, the people who had sold their land were forced to become homeless and had no choice but to work as laborers or farmhands for the wealthy. As a result, the power of the powerful families grew, and the suffering of the common people increased.

The national treasury was dwindling, forcing the government to increase taxes, which plunged the people into misery. The Ming Dynasty was on the verge of collapse due to its empty treasury.

Later, Zhang Juzheng's Single Whip Law allowed the Ming Dynasty to linger on for several more decades. However, after Zhang Juzheng's death, the Ming Dynasty's treasury returned to a state of gradual decline. Although it could cope with minor disasters and barely survive, it no longer had the resources to resist large-scale disasters or foreign invasions.

Not to mention the arrival of the Little Ice Age at the Late Ming Dynasty, which would cause a significant drop in global temperatures. Rivers that were normally navigable year-round might freeze over, and spending a night on a southern street could result in freezing to death. This would lead to reduced food production and a sharp decline in population.

This is a super disaster that will last for decades, a catastrophe that would be devastating no matter which dynasty it occurs in. Each time, it will cause a massive reduction in the number of life on Earth. China has experienced four Little Ice Age, and in the first three, the population was reduced by four-fifths.

By the Late Ming Dynasty, thanks to the presence of the Americas, the drought-resistant plants cultivated by Native Americans, such as potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes, reduced this number to half.

But the situation was still dire. At this time, due to temperature changes and drought, crops in large areas could not be grown and died inexplicably. According to records at the time, a great famine broke out in northern China, especially in Shaanxi, which suffered from severe drought every year. Thousands of miles of fertile land became barren.

Another area was hit by severe flooding, submerging homes of thousands. With drought on one side and floods on the other, a locust plague struck in the autumn, and the disaster area continued to spread outwards, from Shaanxi to northern Shaanxi, and then to Henan...

The people in the disaster area could only eat wild grass and tree bark. When those ran out, all that was left was Guanyin soil would cause bloating and death if eaten in excess. It is said that when walking on the road, out of every ten people seen, three were corpses, three were sick, and the remaining four became thieves and robbers.

The appearance of thieves destabilized the local political situation, and corpses lay everywhere, some lying on the ground, having died of starvation. A terrible plague followed.

As a result, cannibalism began, and bandits and robbers proliferated. The starving peasants naturally wouldn't just stand by and watch the rich feast on meat and wine, only to sit and wait to die, becoming frozen bones by the roadside.

Thus, uprisings began in various places, eventually leading to the tumultuous life of a minor official named Li Zicheng in a post station in northern Shaanxi.

Emperor Chongzhen committed suicide, and Li Zicheng, the King Chuang, occupied the capital. His men slaughtered the corrupt officials who opened the city gates and surrendered with gold and silver. In fact, most of the peasants at the time did not hate the emperor. Even Li Zicheng admitted that Emperor Chongzhen was not a bad emperor. They could not blame the emperor, who was also poor and hardworking, for their lack of food. Instead, they blamed the corrupt officials and local gentry.

Afterwards, the King Chuang leader declared himself emperor and indulged in a life of luxury with his men, dividing up the spoils of war. By this time, the rebels had lost their will to fight, and were subsequently defeated by Wu Sangui. The Manchu, along with their Eight Banners, Mongol Eight Banners, and Han Eight Banners, entered the pass.

Thus, through the efforts of several emperors of the Qing Dynasty, the country was finally stabilized during the reign of Qianlong. As Manchu emperor, he did a very good job, although he has been both praised and criticized in history, and has left behind various controversies for posterity.

Although the Manchu adopted Han system and assimilated into the Han ethnicity in order to rule China, they ultimately lacked a broader perspective and a spirit of keeping up with the times.

He could not match the Song Dynasty's reverence for scholar-officials, nor could he build world-leading large ships like Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty, sending Zheng He on voyages to the Western Ocean to travel across Asia and Africa, making all nations pay tribute to him.

They also wouldn't allow the freedom of speech advocated by Confucianism, and the idea that "the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners" is utter nonsense.

Moreover, because the Manchu had suffered greatly from the Ming Dynasty's firearms, they sealed them off and strictly prohibited their circulation. By the time the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded, the continent that had first invented gunpowder could no longer find enough craftsmen who knew how to manufacture and maintain these firearms.

Over two hundred years, although the Manchu assimilated into Han Culture, they ultimately failed to learn the most fundamental spirit of the Han people. Their Emperor lacked basic integrity and responsibility. When they were strong, they were tyrannical and unreasonable butchers; when they were weak, they exposed their greed, cowardice, and shortsightedness, ceding territory, paying indemnities, and signing unequal treaties. As long as they could keep their throne, they were willing to be puppets.

Because the land was never theirs to begin with, and they never considered the people as their compatriots, they could abandon and discard them at will.

However, history is written by the victors, Qing Dynasty indeed relied on incredible luck, seizing all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support to become one of only two non- Han ethnicity empires, along with the Yuan Dynasty, to unify the land of China. Moreover, unlike Genghis Khan, who used overwhelming military force to suppress the Han warlords, the Qing Dynasty thoroughly studied their weaknesses and employed various intrigues and strategies. With its superior system of rewards and punishments, it advanced step by step, overcoming the stronger with the weak, and ultimately achieving a miracle of success.

From then on, China's recognized leadership among the countries in the Han Culture was completely destroyed. Although Korea and Ryukyu still paid tribute to the Qing Dynasty, they no longer held the same reverence for the Han, Tang, and Ming dynasties in their hearts.

Because at this time, the spiritual culture passed down from generation to generation by figures like the Duke of Zhou and Confucius had been severed on this continent. How could someone who couldn't even guarantee the most basic clothing, with half their head shaved and only a pig's tail left, possibly be the true inheritor of Chinese tradition?

These countries, which have preserved Han Culture traditions such as Gofuku, Shakuhachi (a type of Chinese flute), temple fairs, Tea Ceremony, flower appreciation, and Sumo, are the true inheritors of the orthodoxy of the Duke of Zhou and Confucius. The malicious invaders, however, have been spreading the idea that "after the Yamen Cliff, there was no more China," thus disregarding the past relationship of having received favors from the Chinese people.

Backwardness and poverty, those dark hundred years or so, further confirmed this idea for these small countries. That's why even today, the surrounding small countries are so arrogant, even though they share the same culture and could have lived in harmony and developed together.

Instead, they chose to be hostile, refusing to admit their mistakes, each one like an ungrateful wretch.

The dignity and legitimacy of the Chinese nation can only be re-established by future generations who possess the spirit of the Chinese nation and proven through their own strength. One day, when China truly rises, it will not only be in military and economic terms, but also in spiritual and cultural terms.

At that time, the surrounding small countries will only be able to look up to China, and will naturally revert to what they were hundreds of years ago: completely convinced, eager to please, and vying to establish friendly neighborly relations, just as they are doing to a certain major power that is currently fawning over it.

"Please tell me about the monsters," Shirou urged.

"What I'm saying isn't entirely unrelated to monsters," Ieyasu replied.

"Oh? Please speak." Shirou looked at Ieyasu with a puzzled expression.

"Monsters only started appearing in Japan after Toyotomi Hideyoshi appeared, and in cities where he stayed, there were always an unusually large number of monsters. In fact, we have suspected that these monsters might be related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi," Ieyasu said.

Now, when Shirou hears Ieyasu say that Toyotomi Hideyoshi is actually planning to compete with the Manchu for the fate of the nation, he thinks Shirou is simply insane, and the most dangerous kind of insane.

The reality is harsh: the resources of East Asia can only allow for one dominant power. Countries like Korea and Vietnam are simply too small and inherently disadvantaged. Once the Manchu of the grasslands lost their advantage, the only country that could potentially compete with China was the Kingdom of He, which used the sea as a natural barrier. After lying low for over two thousand years, they finally had a chance to seize national destiny and reverse their fortunes.

Landlocked countries have convenient transportation, which facilitates trade and land expansion.

But islands have their advantages. Before the development of shipping, they had to be self-sufficient, thus avoiding the dependence of small inland countries on large countries and naturally gaining a layer of protection. Even the most aggressive Mongolia army failed to conquer the country due to storms at sea.

Taking advantage of its island nation status, Britain maintained its own security in many areas during its struggles with Western Europe, waiting for the right moment to act and gain the greatest benefit.

The United States, meanwhile, stands idly by, quietly profiting from war after war.

Places like Heguo, plagued by disasters, were simply beyond the reach of the authorities in ancient times. Even if they had the ability to conquer them, they lacked the resources to develop them.

However, if China wants to rise to become a truly great power, it cannot bypass the formidable obstacle of China.

Shirou felt that the Toyotomi Hideyoshi he had never seen before was like a giant demon, grinning maliciously as he looked down upon this land, plotting some unknown scheme.

Chapter 346 The Young Lady of the Honda family

"If the monsters that roam all of Japan are truly under the control of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, then it means he won't wait for us for fifty years. In fact, some daimyo have already died mysteriously, and as for those who openly oppose him, only Shibata Katsuie was left, but she was killed long ago." Ieyasu's expression darkened as he spoke in a deep voice.

"Her? Never mind, please continue." Shirou paused for a moment, then uttered a surprised sound.

Ieyasu looked at Shirou strangely and explained:

"There have been many outstanding female warriors throughout history, such as Tomoe Gozen, who was Himegishi Tomoe Gozen under Kiso Yoshinaka, and Shizuka Gozen, who served under Minamoto no Yoshitsune. They were both first-rate warriors."

Furthermore, among the legendary Four Heavenly Kings under the command of the great general Minamoto no Raikō, there was Watanabe no Tsuna no Tsuna, renowned for her swordsmanship, wielding the greatsword "Onikiri" and the one who severed Ibaraki Doji's arm. These were all heroines. Especially in the last ten years or so, almost all the junior generals who have distinguished themselves on the battlefield are women. However, daimyo and castle lords are more often men.

"Haa..." Shirou nodded silently. The first two examples were relatively easy to understand. But in this world, it turns out that the Four Heavenly Kings are also women. Shirou hadn't met Watanabe no Tsuna, but Shirou was very familiar with the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings, although that kind of enthusiasm was really hard to bear.

"I wouldn't have believed it before either, but if these suddenly appearing ghosts hadn't caught us so off guard," Ieyasu sighed. "The legends of slaying demons have survived, but the techniques for doing so have been lost. If there were samurai like that around now, we wouldn't have to fear those demons and monsters."

"So ordinary swords really can't hurt those monsters?" Shirou thought to himself, feeling that the monsters here had something in common with the mythical beasts.

Shirou asked, "Is there really no other way to deal with that kind of monster in this city?"

"Yes, apart from those famous swords, how many of those famous swords are left in the world? Ironically, even Minamoto no Raikō's Dojigiri Yasutsuna has fallen into the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. So we are really happy to meet Mr. Shirou." Ieyasu said with a sincere smile.

"I will complete the forging on schedule," Shirou nodded in agreement, but then, after a moment's thought, he asked, "But aren't there any monks or Onmyoji here who specialize in dealing with monsters?"

Ieyasu shook his head with amusement and said, "Those guys are all liars. The ones we hired either ran away or turned into real people who dared to face monsters. It's been a long time since we've seen anyone with that kind of ability."

"Is that so?" Shirou nodded, somewhat understanding the current situation. When he first arrived here, he thought it would be a world of pure samurai, where even if there were sword techniques strong enough to involve True Magic levels, there would be no Magecraft.

However, the presence of the monsters among the bandits and the existence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi were both beyond his expectations.

It's possible that these monsters, like Toyotomi Hideyoshi, were outsiders, which is why they were out of place in this world.

Another possibility is that those capable individuals have hidden themselves away for some reason.

The sage is ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs. The hidden capable people in the country are probably like the immortals and cultivators of China, and the Magecraft of the West, who do not regard the lives of ordinary people as important. They are far removed from the world, detached from worldly affairs. Whatever happens in the world of ordinary people is none of their concern; they will only observe with indifference.

The changing of dynasties, wars, and disasters seem to have no effect on them. These mysterious beings are present in the stories that have been passed down, but they are very careful, hiding their tracks, avoiding worldly affairs, and rarely interfering in matters of the mortal world.

But some things just have to be shouldered by someone.

Having made up his mind, Shirou asked, "What exactly is going on with the monsters in the castle?"

"No, I don't know much. When I was young, there were no monsters in the city. It's only in recent years that we've started to hear about monsters hurting people. But now everyone's used to it." Ieyasu shook his head and continued.

"..." Shirou nodded thoughtfully.

"Alright, the tea is finished, so let's end our conversation here. I'll take you back to your resting place. Father should have already arranged a place for you." Ieyasu smiled at Shirou and stood up to say this.

"Okay, thank you for your hospitality." Shirou replied and stood up as well.

So Ieyasu, with Shirou in tow, returned to the place where the VIPs were to rest. There, they saw the merchant standing expectantly at the door, with a burly general standing beside him.

"Alright, now let General Honda show you around the city. He'll arrange your lodgings and workplace," Ieyasu said to Shirou.

It was the same burly, tall middle-aged general who had drawn his demonic sword and cut his own blood to stop his murderous intent. He was a retainer who had served the Matsudaira family for generations, and now, as a general, he held a place in the Matsudaira family head's heart because of his daring and fighting spirit. At this moment, he greeted Shirou with a cheerful smile.

"Haha, kid. We meet again! Come with me."

"Wait, General, what about me? What about me?" the merchant stepped forward, pointing to himself as he asked.

"You stay here!" the general said coldly.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General." Shirou nodded.

"Haha, no problem, no problem. By the way! Can you ride a horse?" The general paused, stared at Shirou, met his eyes, and asked with a smile.

"Excellent!" The general looked at Shirou, stroked his thick beard, and nodded with increasing satisfaction.

Shirou bid farewell to the merchant, receiving a large bundle pushed towards him as he left. Then, following instructions, he rode alongside General Honda, followed by a group of cavalry, to Honda family.

Entering through the main gate, one can see a large, Japanese-style house. A servant came to help them take their horses. General Honda and Shirou did not go inside, but instead walked to the right side.

"Look, that's the blacksmith's workshop we've prepared for you. The other necessary tools will also be delivered here today."

General Honda took Shirou to see the location of the forge. It used to be a small, detached house with a chimney that emitted exhaust fumes.

Outside the hut is a small courtyard, about the size of a plaza. Including the blacksmith's hut, there are three buildings forming a triangle with the blacksmith's hut at the center. One side of the building faces the plaza, while the other side faces away from here, but has a back corridor. You can see the back by pushing aside the wallpaper.

Just then, a woman's shouts, seemingly from across the way, came from the opposite side. Although her voice was clear and steady, with each breath coming in a rhythmic pause, one could sense the seriousness with which she was practicing.

"This child, is he still practicing martial arts?" General Honda said, sounding both complaining and somewhat dejected.

"Who lives there?" Shirou looked at the man with a puzzled expression, sensing that he didn't seem very happy.

Shirou followed the sound and looked at the house across the street. It was a rather unique house, and the people living there seemed to be of high status.

General Honda said, "That's my worthless daughter." He turned around and called out loudly, "Madam! Madam!"

"Hey! Hey! Hey! You're back, that's all! What are you yelling about?!" A voice came from inside the main house, and a lady rushed over, scolding her.

"Ahem, Madam, I've brought a guest back. This is Mr. Shirou, whom even the lord highly values, and he specifically asked me to take care of him," General Honda introduced.

"Shirou... sir?" The middle-aged woman turned around and carefully examined Shirou from head to toe.

"This is just a small gift, nothing special." Adhering to proper etiquette, Shirou remembered the package he received from the merchant, took out several gift boxes of various sizes from it, and handed them over with both hands.

The lady's eyes lit up as soon as she received the gift. Inside were the latest cosmetics such as rouge and face powder, as well as a box of fine pastries.

She smiled with satisfaction and said, "Shirou! What a thoughtful and polite boy. You certainly come from an extraordinary family, don't you? Hahaha, no need to explain, welcome! Come in and have a seat. Chat with Auntie. Hehehe... How many cows do you own? And how much land do you own?"

"..." Shirou was speechless. He hadn't said anything, and everything was blocked from him. He didn't know how to respond.

"Hey...isn't it unnecessary to say all this?" General Honda tugged at his wife's sleeve.

"Aren't you worried about your daughter's marriage? She's almost fourteen! If she's not married in two years, she'll be an old maid!" The wife angrily pinched her husband's waist from behind.

General Honda groaned in pain after being pinched, Shirou quickly turned his head away, pretending not to have seen what happened.

"Hachi-chan! Hachi-chan! Come over here for a second!" The general's wife called out to the house over there in a voice no less loud than the general's.

A girl with long black ponytail ran over, carrying a wooden sword, and asked, "Yes! Mother? Father! You're back."

The girl was quite tall, over 1.7 meters, and looked to be about 17 or 18 years old. However, her slightly chubby, round face made her look a bit immature, perhaps only 13 or 14. She was drenched in sweat, her entire body soaked through. Her black training clothes clung to her body, outlining her impressive curves. Yet, her eyes remained innocent, seemingly oblivious to the difference between boys and girls.

General Honda nodded, grunted, and said, "This is Mr. Shirou, a top-tier blacksmith and a rare scholar of great learning. Why don't you pay your respects?"

"Yes! Hello, Mr. Shirou," the girl quickly bowed.

"Hello, Miss Honda." Shirou nodded. He had seen this child in the forest when he first encountered the Forest Witch, although her appearance and age were different back then when she was summoned by possession.