Awake, I hold the power of the world; drunk, I rest upon a beauty's lap!

The night passed without incident, only the sound of cheerful applause echoing for half the evening.

When the first rays of morning sunlight streamed in, Chiba Ran awoke.

The Dancer beside him was still fast asleep, her dark hair scattered across the brocade quilt, her cheeks still flushed.

Like a beautiful flower watered by dew and rain.

Chiba Ran's gaze lingered briefly on the curves of her figure, then settled without a ripple.

Last night's intimacy had been wonderful, but nothing more.

He rose from the bed, stepping barefoot onto the cool, smooth floor tiles.

The waiting maids outside the door filed in, heads bowed, their movements gentle and practiced, daring not to make a sound.

One offered a hot towel, another brought a cup of salted water.

Chiba Ran spread his arms, letting them dress him.

Throughout the process, only the faint rustle of fabric could be heard.

By the time he finished washing and sat down at the table, the Dancer only then stirred awake.

Seeing Chiba Ran seated upright, her expression flustered, she moved to rise and bow.

"No need."

Chiba Ran's voice was flat.

"Your dance was good. A reward."

"Minamoto will arrange your lodging."

He didn't look back, merely waved a hand.

The Dancer froze for a moment, then a look of delight spread across her face.

She knew she had caught the Daimyo's eye.

She knelt respectfully, kowtowed, then quietly withdrew with the maids.

After finishing breakfast, Chiba Ran strolled to the study.

He stood with his hands behind his back before the massive map of the shinobi world.

In his mind, the results of the system's simulation from days ago were evolving into more concrete details.

Economic Shock and Military Deterrence

This was the strategic direction the sand table had provided.

But it only gave a macro-level course, without specifying the exact means of execution.

How to execute it, however, was the true test.

Chiba Ran pondered.

The Land of Earth was bitter and cold; the Land of Wind was barren and poor.

These two countries had a natural craving for external resources.

But simply selling them food and weapons would be aiding the enemy.

It had to be something non-essential, yet irresistibly tempting.

Something that could corrode their will from within.

Chiba Ran's thoughts gradually sharpened.

It was as if he could already see the future scene.

In the Land of Earth's cold stone palaces, soft carpets from the Land of Fire would be laid.

In the Land of Wind's dust-swept afternoons, nobles would taste sweet red tea like never before.

Once these nobles grew accustomed to such a life, there would be no turning back.

With the right strategy, the economic dependence of the Lands of Earth and Wind on the Land of Fire would reach staggering levels, and their domestic interest groups would become deeply entangled with the Land of Fire.

When the seeds of desire sprouted, they would willingly become pawns in his hands to maintain their luxury.

Chiba Ran picked up the warm tea on the table and took a sip.

Everything was in place, only lacking an obedient executor.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The study door was rapped.

"Enter."

Minamoto pushed the door open and bowed in report: "My lord, Tanaka Shigeru requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Chiba Ran sat back in his chair, his demeanor returning to languid ease.

Soon, the slightly plump Tanaka Shigeru strode in quickly.

He was dressed with unusual formality today.

"I pay my respects to the Daimyo!"

He knelt low, performing a grand bow.

"Rise! Be seated."

"Thank you, my lord."

Tanaka Shigeru sat down cautiously, his posture humble, then presented a scroll.

"My lord, this is the preliminary budget proposal for the Imperial Concubine Selection Ceremony. Please review it."

Chiba Ran waved a hand and said, "Such trivial matters—discuss them with Minamoto and handle it as you see fit. There's no need to consult me on everything."

"Yes... Your subject understands!"

Tanaka Shigeru quickly withdrew the scroll.

Chiba Ran cut straight to the point, "I called you here to discuss another matter."

Tanaka Shigeru immediately straightened his back. "Please, my lord, give your command!"

"The war is over. The nation needs to recuperate, and the people need to live and work in peace."

"I intend to further strengthen trade relations with the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind."

"What do you think we should sell to them that would be most suitable?"

Tanaka Shigeru's mind raced.

Strengthen trade with the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind?

Why those two countries in particular?

What about the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water?

Having drifted through officialdom for decades, he sensed something amiss.

He pondered for a moment, then spoke tentatively: "Your lordship is most wise! Post-war reconstruction and mutual exchange of goods is indeed the best policy to enrich the nation and strengthen the people."

"The Land of Earth is bitterly cold, and the Land of Wind is barren. If we could sell our surplus grain and cloth to those two countries in exchange for their ores and specialty products, it would be a move that reaps multiple benefits!"

Chiba Ran let out a light laugh at this.

The laugh was soft, but it made Tanaka Shigeru's heart sink heavily.

He had said the wrong thing.

"Tanaka."

Chiba Ran spoke softly. "You're a good hand at managing finances, but your vision is still a bit lacking."

"We can't sell too much grain and cloth."

"Sell too much, and they'll eat their fill, wear warm clothes, and then have the strength to pick up weapons and oppose us again."

"We need to make money, not subsidize them and make them stronger. Do you understand what I mean?"

Tanaka Shigeru understood in an instant.

The Daimyo's goal was never about mutual exchange of goods!

This was a grand scheme!

A shocking scheme that used the national economy as a weapon!

And his earlier answer had been childish!

He sat in his chair, his mind spinning wildly.

Not subsidizing... not grain and cloth...

Then what should he sell, something that would make a country dependent without strengthening its power?

Something that would instead weaken it?

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning!

Luxury goods!

Silk, porcelain, tea leaves, fine wine!

Those exquisite, peerless things unique to the Land of Fire!

"Your subject understands! Your subject knows what to sell!"

"Keep the grain and cloth trade as it is. What we truly need to sell are things they don't have, but once they use them, they can never do without!"

"For example, silk! Those noble ladies and young misses in the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind—who wouldn't want to wear gorgeous clothes? Who would be willing to face rocks and sand for their whole lives?"

"And our porcelain! They must need the finest tea sets to flaunt their status!"

"Also, sugar! That sweet taste—no one can refuse it! Once commoners get a taste of the good life, they'll never tolerate their old bitter days again!"

"These things, we have as many as we want, and they can only spend money to buy them!"

Tanaka Shigeru spoke faster and faster, his whole being growing excited.

He felt as if he had pushed open the door to a whole new world!

These things...

Were all intoxicating poisons that led to decadence!

They wouldn't make a nation stronger—they would only make those in power weaker, sinking them into indulgence!

Chiba Ran listened quietly, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

Good.

This old man still had his uses.

Just as Tanaka Shigeru thought he had grasped everything, Chiba Ran casually asked a question.

"Speaking of which, the Land of Lightning still refuses to sign the Peace Treaty?"

"Truly a bunch of muscle-brained fools."

"What a pity—so many fine things, and they probably won't get to enjoy them."

That single sentence made Tanaka Shigeru freeze on the spot.

Strengthening trade with the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind...

Deliberately leaving out the Land of Lightning...

Using luxury goods to corrupt the high-ranking officials of those two nations, making them dependent...

All the clues instantly connected, pointing to one goal...

Isolate the Land of Lightning!

Strangle the Land of Lightning!

This Daimyo had never intended to cease hostilities!

He planned to choke the Land of Lightning to death outside the battlefield—with money, with trade!

Tanaka Shigeru didn't even dare to breathe.

While he was still trembling from this realization, another question surfaced.

The Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, the Land of Lightning... what about the Land of Water?

Summoning his courage, Tanaka Shigeru asked in a trembling voice, "Then... my lord, what should we do about the Land of Water?"

"What do you think?"

Chiba Ran tossed the question back at him.

Tanaka Shigeru dared not show the slightest hesitation and sank into thought once more.

The Land of Water... Kirigakure...

Kirigakure was currently mired in internal strife, closed off from the world.

A nation consumed by infighting, unable to look after itself...

And the Fire Country's greatest enemy right now was the Land of Lightning—a nation with full strength and a hardline stance!

Tanaka Shigeru's thoughts cleared in an instant, and he replied respectfully, "Your subject understands!"

"The Land of Water is trapped in the Blood Mist Civil War, unable to tend to itself. It can neither interfere with us nor become our ally."

"Our primary target is the Land of Lightning. We should not create unnecessary complications."

"As for the Land of Water, we need only maintain the status quo—keep basic trade running, neither support nor suppress, and let it fend for itself!"

"Mhm."

Chiba Ran was finally satisfied.

"Then go ahead. Draft a detailed trade list and an execution plan."

"To improve efficiency, you will take the lead. Establish a Department for the Promotion of Foreign Trade to handle this exclusively."

He had bet correctly!

Tanaka Shigeru's heart surged with joy as he quickly acknowledged the order.

"By the way," Chiba Ran added, as if something had just occurred to him, "I have a few young men who are quite sharp—good economic minds. Let them join this new department as your deputies. Give them some training."

Tanaka Shigeru immediately replied, "Yes! Your subject obeys!"

He knew the Daimyo was planting his own trusted people.

But he felt no resentment—in fact, he was relieved.

At the very least, it meant that in the Daimyo's eyes, he still had value.

"You may withdraw."

"Your subject takes his leave!"

Tanaka Shigeru bowed and carefully backed out of the study.

The study was left with only Chiba Ran.

He slowly rose and walked over to the massive map.

His gaze fell on the Land of Lightning, his eyes filled with the look of conquest.