Are Sengoku daimyo born to be noble?

Matsubara Naiku was a short, middle-aged samurai with a very kindly face, the sort who gave people the impression of being a harmless old fellow.

After Hachisuka Masakatsu led Yamauchi Kazutoyo and the others into Matsubara Estate, Matsubara Naiku warmly welcomed them into his residence.

"Koroku, it's been quite a while since you last came here."

"This sudden visit isn't just to see an old friend, is it?"

As Matsubara Naiku spoke, his gaze casually swept across Yamauchi Kazutoyo and Horio Yoshiharu. He was clearly wary of these two unfamiliar faces.

Hachisuka Masakatsu quickly introduced them. "These two are Ogawa Saburo and Ogawa Jiro, temple officials from Nagashima Gansho-ji of Jodo Shinshu."

"Temple officials of Jodo Shinshu?" Matsubara Naiku's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly adjusted his sitting posture.

"I haven't heard of any Jodo Shinshu people being active around here lately."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo took over. "We were only just assigned to come to the Kiso River and organize an ikki. Koroku said Naiku was a warmhearted man, so we came seeking your help."

Matsubara Naiku turned to Hachisuka Masakatsu, who nodded lightly.

"If your sect wishes to organize an Ikko-ikki along the Kiso River, why not go to Unuma Castle and seek out the Osawa clan? Why come here to find me instead?" Matsubara Naiku voiced his doubts.

Unuma Castle stood within Mino, facing Inuyama Castle across the river.

The Osawa clan of Unuma Castle had moved from Izumi Province to Mino. Their first head, Ozawa Masatsugu, had been a disciple of Rennyo of Honganji. After arriving in Mino, he established Honryuji Temple, a Jodo Shinshu temple, in Unuma.

Using Honryuji Temple, the Osawa clan accumulated land. After several decades of development, they gradually gained a firm foothold on Mino's border.

"We will naturally go to the Osawa clan as well. But Naiku is one of Inuyama Castle's guards, and I fear we will have many dealings with each other in the future."

"Koroku said he and Matsubara Naiku were as close as friends could be. It would be better to give you advance notice than to make a great commotion later, wouldn't it?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo said with a smile.

Now Matsubara Naiku understood.

"So, sir wishes to secretly reach an agreement with my Matsubara clan?"

"Exactly!" Yamauchi Kazutoyo nodded. "Nagashima Gansho-ji controls the Kiso River's lower estuary, while our Ogawa Band has Jodo Shinshu at our backs. If we can also take the Kiso River's upper reaches into our hands—"

"Surely Naiku understands better than anyone the profits that could bring?"

Hachisuka Masakatsu took the chance to persuade him as well. "Naiku, we've been friends for over ten years. When Lord Ogawa first mentioned this, you were the first person I thought of."

"Come work with us. It's far better than being some guard at Inuyama Castle."

Matsubara Naiku's heart was anything but calm. Lowering his head, he carefully weighed the gains and losses.

He held stipends from eleven villages in Matsubara Estate of Haguri District. He had once served Saito Dosan, then later belonged to the Iwakura Oda clan.

After Iwakura Castle fell, he had sought refuge under Oda Nobukiyo and become one of Inuyama Castle's guards merely to protect himself. His usual work was helping Inuyama Castle patrol the river, with the occasional private job on the side.

"I appreciate Koroku's goodwill, but I'm not like you."

Matsubara Naiku first expressed his thanks to Hachisuka Masakatsu before voicing his concerns.

"You are alone, with no burdens behind you. But my Matsubara clan has lived here for generations. The boats in the estate can take to the water, but these eleven villages cannot be moved onto the Kiso River."

He was a local lord with stipends. Nominally, he had accepted Inuyama Castle's guarantee of his holdings and was thus considered Oda Nobukiyo's retainer.

Life was a little hard now, but he had not fallen so low that he needed to follow Yamauchi Kazutoyo and the others in starting an "Ikko-ikki."

Seeing this, Yamauchi Kazutoyo immediately explained, "Naiku misunderstands. However things are for you now, they will remain so in the future."

"Aren't you serving as a guard at Inuyama Castle? You can continue being a guard there."

"But didn't Koroku say I should work with you?" Matsubara Naiku looked at Yamauchi Kazutoyo in utter confusion.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo smiled faintly. "Those things do not conflict!"

"If we collect tolls on the Kiso River, how could Oda Nobukiyo possibly tolerate us?"

"But he has no navy under his command. When the time comes, won't he still have to rely on Naiku?"

"Before the Ogawa Band came, you served Inuyama Castle to fulfill your military obligations. But now that we are here, you have the confidence to demand terms from Oda Nobukiyo!"

Hmm?

Matsubara Naiku's heart pounded wildly. He suddenly felt as if he had grasped some crucial point, yet he could not put it into words.

"Naiku, I won't waste words. Of the tolls the Ogawa Band collects on the Kiso River from now on, I'll give you one-tenth. How about it?"

Matsubara Naiku rubbed his chin, his expression slightly hesitant. "One-tenth... What sort of amount would that be, exactly?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo said without a trace of humor, "Since this year has only just begun, it may not be too much. Still, I estimate four or five hundred kan a year."

"H-how much?" Matsubara Naiku shuddered from head to toe, instantly losing his composure.

His Matsubara Estate supposedly had eleven villages, yet its annual tribute only amounted to around three hundred kan. And now this man was telling him that the yearly dividend alone would be four or five hundred kan—and this was only the beginning?

"Oh, Naiku, please don't think it's too little!" Yamauchi Kazutoyo said with a hint of apology. "You know there are too many people involved."

"Jodo Shinshu must take the lion's share. At least half of the profits will have to be divided out."

"And the Osawa clan of Unuma Castle and the Maeno family of Matsukura Castle must each receive a share as well."

"But rest assured, it will only grow larger in the future."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo thumped his chest with great confidence. In truth, the three parties he had mentioned did not even exist in this arrangement yet, but that did not stop him from draping himself in a tiger's hide first.

Matsubara Naiku swallowed. It took him quite a while to recover from his shock.

"Yes, yes, it's not little. Not little at all." Matsubara Naiku stroked his chest. At that moment, his heart was beating far too fast.

But after the excitement passed, Matsubara Naiku asked again, "If Inuyama Castle questions me about this, how should I answer?"

"Isn't that simple?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo slapped his thigh. "If he tells you to send troops, then send them. The moment you set out, we'll lie low for a while."

"Once you leave, we'll come out again."

"We can even agree on the times beforehand. In the future, we'll operate in the morning, and you can patrol in the afternoon."

"If you patrol in the morning, we'll operate in the afternoon."

"In any case, as long as it looks acceptable on the surface, that's enough. If Oda Nobukiyo truly has the ability, let him come down to the river and catch us himself!"

Matsubara Naiku was utterly convinced.

Since Yamauchi Kazutoyo had opened every link in the chain and had the support of Jodo Shinshu, all he needed to do was cooperate a little to receive four or five hundred kan. How was that any different from picking up money?

"I'm in!"

"Iemon, are we really giving half to Jodo Shinshu?"

After leaving Matsubara Estate, Hachisuka Masakatsu seemed somewhat unwilling.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo patted his shoulder. "Does Koroku truly intend to risk his life on this Kiso River forever?"

"This is a one-shot deal. Once we finish this year, we'll withdraw and head for a land that truly belongs to us!"

Hachisuka Masakatsu hurriedly asked, "Then where else can we go?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo suddenly stopped. Then he turned around and looked solemnly at Hachisuka Masakatsu. "Koroku, do you want to become a daimyo?"

"A daimyo?"

"Me?" Hachisuka Masakatsu pointed at himself. What kind of wild fantasy was this?

"Just wait and see. It won't be long before our opportunity comes."

"What opportunity?"

"The opportunity to soar into the heavens with one flight, to stun the world with one cry!" After saying that, Yamauchi Kazutoyo suddenly lifted his head toward the sky, leaving Hachisuka Masakatsu only his proud, solitary back.

"Koroku!" Another soft call drew Hachisuka Masakatsu's attention. With his hands clasped behind his back, Yamauchi Kazutoyo declared in a voice that rang like thunder, "Are the great daimyo of the realm born to their stations?"

Hachisuka Masakatsu froze.

He realized that perhaps he had never truly understood Yamauchi Kazutoyo. He genuinely could not fathom the thoughts of the man before him, but the grand vision Yamauchi Kazutoyo painted was damned enticing!

Iemon was right! Go back a few decades, and who knew where Mino's Saito Dosan had been selling oil!

If others could become daimyo, why couldn't I, Hachisuka Masakatsu, become one too?

"Iemon!"

"Hm?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo turned his head.

"Teach me!" Hachisuka Masakatsu seized Yamauchi Kazutoyo by the shoulders, his blazing gaze seeming ready to roast him alive.

"I... I want to become a daimyo so badly. I dream of it!"