The turmoil caused by the daimyo's family was neither too great nor too small. Though it lasted for some time and threw the entire Tea Country into some disorder,
Feng held the moral high ground, commanded an army, and possessed the greater strength. With the right time, place, and support, he soon took complete control of the capital.
As for the rest of Tea Country, Feng did not act personally. He simply ordered Shibata Keiichi and Furukawa Kengo to make a trip to Konoha and issue several missions in the name of Tea Country's new daimyo.
The two then each led a squad from the Guard Corps and a Konoha team led by a Jonin. Within a few weeks, they had quelled the unrest outside the capital.
During that time, he also had Sada Hidemasa bring lavish gifts to the capital of the Land of Fire, expressing Tea Country's continued respect for the Land of Fire and its willingness to remain its loyal little brother.
In doing so, he quietly dispelled any possible suspicions the Land of Fire and Konoha might have held toward Tea Country after the unrest.
At the same time, it also eased Konoha's suspicions toward Sekito, the man who had mysteriously appeared in Tea Country and rapidly risen to dominate its court.
As for the attitudes of other countries and ninja villages toward Tea Country, Feng neither concerned himself with them nor cared.
He only needed to hide his true identity and maintain Tea Country's good relations with the Land of Fire and Konoha. If anything happened, he could still use Tea Country's name to push Konoha, the tall one, out front as usual.
Three months later, in the middle of Konoha Year 52, within the Daimyo Palace in the capital of the now fully stabilized Tea Country.
"Your Highness, Grand General, Generals Shibata and Furukawa, who were recently conducting an inspection tour across the country, have sent word.
There have been no bandits, rebels, or other troublemakers in the country for half a month.
The country can be considered completely stabilized."
Sada Hidemasa, who had been promoted to Left Minister and also served as captain of the Guard Corps, respectfully reported on the nation's current situation to Feng.
By then, Feng had used the daimyo Aiko Hamuro's name to appoint himself Grand General, overseeing all military affairs of the country, while also serving as guardian of the capital and commander of the Samurai Corps.
Hidemasa's appointment should originally have been handled by the Grand Minister, the head of the civil officials. However, that man was a cautious old fox. During the previous civil unrest, he had refused to take either side, presenting himself as a loyal old minister who obeyed only the daimyo's orders.
But how could Feng allow a loyal minister of the former daimyo, especially the head of the civil officials, to remain in the shogunate? So regardless of whether his loyalty was real or false, Feng sent him home on the grounds that he was too old to overwork himself.
As the first person to pledge loyalty to Feng, and a fairly clever one at that, Sada Hidemasa was naturally promoted to Left Minister. Nominally, he was the second-ranking civil official, but in practice, he held the power of the first.
As for the former Left Minister? He had sided with the former daimyo's Eldest Prince and taken part in the rebellion, so he received the full package: dismissal, investigation, confiscation of property, and execution.
Of course, the former Left Minister was not the only one to receive the full package. Most of the officials in the former daimyo's shogunate were given the same treatment by Feng for one reason or another.
Those who replaced them were all people Shibata Keiichi, Furukawa Kengo, and Sada Hidemasa had previously selected as confidants, along with some who had taken part in slaughtering the former daimyo's descendants.
Though this might allow the three to grow too powerful and develop thoughts they should not have, Feng did not care.
Not to mention that the three had been arranged to keep one another in check, even if they joined forces, they were merely a few samurai without even Chunin-level strength, along with several samurai roughly equivalent to Genin and a few hundred ordinary people.
Feng naturally could not defeat them with his own strength, but Uchiha Mikio, whom Feng had summoned through Impure World Reincarnation, could slaughter them a hundred times over.
Thus, there was naturally no need to care.
"Very well. Send orders to Generals Shibata and Furukawa. They no longer need to inspect the entire country.
"At the same time, order General Shibata to lead his Guard Corps and garrison Upper Leaf City, while General Furukawa leads his men to garrison Lower Leaf City.
"Recall the guard units originally stationed in Upper Leaf City and Lower Leaf City to the capital.
"As for Degarashi Port, it will remain under the responsibility of the Wasabi Family and the Wagarashi Family."
Seated slightly below the daimyo's position, Feng pondered briefly after hearing Sada Hidemasa's report before issuing his orders.
As for how matters that should have been handled by the daimyo were now being overstepped and dealt with by Feng, the daimyo's husband, neither the daimyo herself nor the other officials in the shogunate found it strange. Everyone turned a blind eye, as though it were only natural.
That was normal enough. After all, the daimyo had been carefully selected by Feng to be a wife he could easily control.
The officials had also been replaced several times over the past three months. Those who remained were naturally all people who obeyed Feng's every command.
"Yes, Your Highness, Grand General. I will immediately arrange for someone to handle it.
"But Grand General, why leave Degarashi Port...?"
Sada Hidemasa promptly accepted the order.
However, since he understood Feng fairly well and knew his lord was not incapable of accepting advice, he raised his doubts at the appropriate time.
Tea Country was long and narrow, with sea on both sides. Across the western sea lay the sand-filled Land of Wind, which held no value whatsoever.
Therefore, Tea Country's major settlements consisted of three cities and one island.
Namely, Upper Leaf City in the north, which developed through its proximity to the Land of Fire; the capital in the center; Lower Leaf City in the south, which developed through its proximity to the Land of Moon; and Nagi Island at the southeastern corner.
Nagi Island itself possessed no particularly important resources, but its unique geography gave it an excellent seaport: Degarashi Port.
Degarashi Port was also Tea Country's largest port. It traded with many island nations, such as the Land of Sea, southern Red State Island, and Rainbow Country, bringing extremely abundant revenue to the country.
Sada Hidemasa could not understand why his lord had not sought to take control of such an important place as he had with the other cities, instead allowing the Wasabi Family and Wagarashi Family on the island to fight over control.
"If I remember correctly, the quadrennial shrine festival at Degarashi Port should be held before long.
"In past years, to prevent the Wasabi Family and Wagarashi Family from making too much trouble during the festival, Konoha ninja would be hired according to custom to maintain order. Is that right?"
Rather than directly answer Sada Hidemasa's question, Feng posed an uncertain question of his own.
"My lord, that is indeed the case."
After thinking for a moment, Sada Hidemasa answered affirmatively.
"Good. Then that is enough. If there is nothing else, let us adjourn for today.
"Hidemasa, stay behind. I have something for you to do."
Feng still did not explain. He merely waved his hand, announcing the end of the court meeting while keeping Sada Hidemasa behind.
"Hidemasa, I want the Konoha ninja maintaining order at this Degarashi Port festival to be from the Uchiha Clan.
"Do you have any ideas on how to make that happen without drawing attention, while still fulfilling my wishes?"
In the rear courtyard of the Daimyo Palace, Feng got straight to the point with Sada Hidemasa, whom he had summoned alone.
"This... I do not understand."
Sada Hidemasa was even more confused.
"You do not need to understand why. Just think of whether there is a way."
Feng raised a hand, neither confirming nor denying anything.
"My lord, I have no ideas at the moment.
"Fortunately, there is still some time before the Degarashi Port festival begins. Please allow me to return and consider it carefully. I will certainly think of a way before the festival starts."
Sada Hidemasa pondered for a while before answering solemnly.
"Fine. This matter is indeed not urgent. Take your time thinking about it.
"But remember, it must be done naturally and without attracting attention. The Uchiha ninja must be the ones who come."
"Your subordinate understands."
"Good. There is one more matter. I previously had you, Keiichi, and Kengo gather information from the Underground Marketplace regarding the Tailed Beasts of Kirigakure and Takigakure, as well as locate the Mask Hall of the Uzumaki in the Land of Whirlpools, but there have been no results.
"These past three months, we were also busy stabilizing the country and did not pursue it.
"Now that Keiichi and Kengo are away, you will follow up on this matter alone.
"Remember, keep a close eye on it. Make it your top priority above all else.
"If you bring me good news, the position of Grand Minister will be yours."
When Feng finished speaking, a sharp glint flashed through Sada Hidemasa's eyes. He hurriedly replied,
"Yes. Your subordinate will certainly bring my lord good news."
"Fine. You may leave." Feng nodded, then waved him away.
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