Long Live Lord Daimyo

What can change in a month?

In the shinobi world, perhaps it marks the end of a brutal battle, or the fall of several powerful figures.

But in the Land of Fire Capital, one month is enough to transform it entirely.

"Hey, brother, this batch of spices came from the Land of Wind, right? What's the price?"

At the largest market in the southern district of the Land of Fire Capital, a traveling merchant from the Land of Grass shouted at a local shopkeeper.

His name was Watanabe, and he had worked this trade route for five years.

He remembered that a month ago, this place had looked completely different.

Back then, the civil war had just ended, the streets were full of patrolling samurai, and the air carried a nauseating stench of blood.

The roads were potholed and filled with sewage, business was at rock bottom, and everyone wore expressions of numbness and fear.

But now?

Watanabe looked at the scene before him, feeling like he was dreaming.

The road underfoot was newly laid bluestone, smooth and clean.

The shops lining the streets had all been renovated, their banners fluttering in the wind.

The most astonishing thing was the people.

A sea of people!

Dockworkers, construction laborers, cart drivers, merchants... every face carried something Watanabe had never seen before.

Vitality!

"Hey, Watanabe, you finally made it!"

The shopkeeper poked his head out from behind the counter, his face beaming, "Same as always, the price is negotiable! Come in and have some tea first. Let me tell you, you've come at the right time!"

Watanabe was enthusiastically pulled into the shop, and an apprentice immediately served hot tea.

Unable to hold back, Watanabe asked, "Boss, you folks... struck it rich?"

"Rich?"

The shopkeeper slapped his thigh, his voice rising an octave, "We've gone crazy! The whole Land of Fire Capital has gone crazy!"

"These days in the city, as long as you're willing to work, you'll never starve! Carrying sacks at the dock for a day pays double what it used to!"

"Up north, they're overhauling the sewers; in the east, they're building new residential districts; in the west, they're expanding the workshop zone... everywhere needs people! Everywhere is short of hands!"

"With high wages, people have money in their pockets, so they dare to spend! Look at my shop—this month's turnover is more than the last three months combined!"

Watanabe listened, dumbfounded.

"Is this... all the New Daimyo's doing?"

"You bet!"

The shopkeeper's face was full of admiration, "You have no idea. As soon as our New Daimyo took office, he made those high-and-mighty nobles dig into their own pockets to build roads and cities!"

"I also heard that His Lordship came up with something called the Three-Year Revitalization Plan, aiming to turn the Land of Fire Capital into a goldmine!"

The teacup in Watanabe's hand trembled.

He looked out the window at the endless stream of people, listened to the clanging sounds of construction in the distance, and had only one thought.

This Land of Fire was about to change.

At the same time.

Inside the Ministry of Finance, the lights blazed bright.

Finance Minister Tanaka Shigeru was hunched over a mountain of account books, his eyes bloodshot but his spirit unusually excited.

His fingers traced rows of numbers as he muttered to himself.

"Southern district road repair project, allocated one billion ryo, projected tax revenue increase of thirty percent, actual... forty-five percent!"

"River dredging project, contracted to the Ito Family, employed seven thousand refugees—not only solved the resettlement issue but also revitalized water transport... Next month, just from shipping taxes, we'll collect an extra fifty million ryo!"

"And the three iron mines offered by Kawai no Kami, using new technology, have doubled output! The farming tools and equipment they produce are sold out before they're even finished!"

The faster Tanaka Shigeru calculated, the faster his heart beat.

A month ago, he had knelt before the Daimyo, forced to offer seventy percent of his family's wealth, his heart bleeding.

But who could have imagined!

The Daimyo had immediately turned around and handed the most profitable reconstruction projects to him and his family's merchant guild.

At this rate, within a year, the Tanaka Family would be back to their former state!

The Daimyo had said he would let them earn it back a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

Now it seemed he hadn't lied.

He had used an iron fist to consolidate power, and then bound everyone to the Land of Fire's war chariot with unimaginable profits.

Tanaka Shigeru put down his brush and let out a long breath.

Watching the stream of incoming revenue, his eyes were filled with fervor and reverence.

"To die for His Lordship of Daimyo Manor... is our honor."

He murmured to himself, as if taking an oath.

Daimyo Manor, the study.

Chiba Ran stood before a massive sand table.

He casually picked up a wooden token representing the workshop district and placed it on an empty plot west of the city.

A soft voice sounded behind him.

"My Lord, the tea has gone cold. This servant will brew a fresh cup for you."

Qing Yueye approached carrying a tea tray.

She wore a plain maid's uniform, color had returned to her face, and her movements were no longer stiff. Only when she looked at Chiba Ran did she instinctively lower her eyelids.

In this past month, she had gone from a noble lady who had never soiled her hands with housework to learning how to brew tea, grind ink, and tidy the study.

Every day she followed by Chiba Ran's side, watching as one order after another issued from this study, transforming into the ever-changing face of the Land of Fire Capital.

She listened to those ministers who had once sat as equals with her father, speaking with genuine awe of this man during their reports.

She watched as familiar place names on the sand table were re-planned, turning into projects that generated vast wealth.

She did not understand the complex economic principles.

But she could feel a vast and mighty force gathering at the tips of this man's fingers, reshaping the entire nation.

This feeling was far more terrifying to her than killing and destruction.

"No need."

Chiba Ran did not turn around. "Sit."

Qing Yueye froze, at a loss.

"Sit."

Chiba Ran repeated.

Only then did she hesitantly kneel on the cushion, her back ramrod straight.

Chiba Ran turned, walked slowly behind her, and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently rubbing.

"This past month, how do you feel?"

Qing Yueye's body trembled. She replied in a low voice, "This servant... is merely a maid, unversed in state affairs."

"Is that so?"

Chiba Ran smiled. "I thought you might think I was squeezing the nobles, using their money to win myself a reputation."

Qing Yueye's head drooped even lower. She said nothing.

At first, that was indeed what she had thought.

"You only saw them paying out, but you didn't see that they earned even more."

Chiba Ran's hand began to move downward.

"I took their family assets to shatter the old order they clung to. I gave them projects to let them find their place in the new order I am establishing."

"Fear makes them submit, but profit makes them loyal."

His voice was very calm.

Qing Yueye's face flushed crimson as she forcibly suppressed the agitation in her body.

But deep in her heart, a chill rose.

She slowly raised her head, daring for the first time to look this man straight in the eye.

Before him, her own pathetic pride and hatred seemed utterly insignificant.

"My Lord... why are you telling me this?"

She couldn't help but ask, her voice trembling.

Chiba Ran's hand continued to rub and knead.

"Because you are beautiful."

"A beautiful face, if the mind behind it is empty, would be a terrible waste."

"I know you hate me deeply, but I still hope you can learn to think, rather than just passively accept. That would be far more interesting."

Qing Yueye's cheeks were already flushed bright red, whether from shame and anger or something else.

Knock knock!

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

From outside, Minamoto's voice came through.

"My Lord."

"Speak."

"All preparations for the coronation ceremony are complete. The auspicious day is three days from now."

"Good."

"Additionally, Konoha has sent a reply."

"Oh?"

Chiba Ran raised an eyebrow, withdrew his hand, and returned to his seat. "Enter!"

Qing Yueye let out a breath, her expression a mix of shame and reluctance, with deep-seated hatred buried in her eyes.

Minamoto pushed the door open and respectfully handed over the reply.

Chiba Ran took the letter and unfolded it. It was a joint letter from the Konoha elders.

The letter stated that they fully understood the Daimyo Manor's financial difficulties and were willing to weather the hardship together with the nation.

Furthermore, they would send a delegation to attend the coronation ceremony three days later.

Chiba Ran muttered to himself, "A delegation? Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

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