Join in the Grand Endeavor!

The Ogawa Band developed at an astonishing pace along the Kiso River, far exceeding Yamauchi Kazutoyo's expectations.

At first, Yamauchi Kazutoyo had found it strange as well. After investigating from every angle, he learned a reason that left him both amused and exasperated: the Jodo Shinshu name was simply too useful.

Merchant ships traveling the Kiso River had previously had to pay a toll to the Saito clan after setting out from Hida or Shinano, then pay Oda Nobukiyo again upon reaching Inuyama Castle.

Oda Nobunaga had waived the toll at Tsushima Harbor, but Nagashima Gansho-ji next door and the Hattori League of Kaisei District would still stick their hands in.

But now, once they paid the Ogawa Band's toll, they no longer had to pay at Inuyama Castle. Nor did they need to pay again when passing through Jodo Shinshu territory such as Nagashima and Ichiejima Island.

The "receipts" issued by the Ogawa Band were likewise recognized by Jodo Shinshu. In return, merchant ships departing from Nagashima Gansho-ji could pass through Ogawa Band territory free of charge.

Moreover, the Ogawa Band collected only tolls and asked nothing else. They neither searched for contraband nor gave smugglers a hard time. Trade that had once been conducted furtively could now be carried out openly.

In short, no matter what goods you were carrying, as long as you paid, you could pass—and your safety along the route was guaranteed.

After this combination of blows, merchant ships became wildly eager to pay the tolls. River transport on the Kiso River not only remained unaffected, but grew even more prosperous!

At the same time, Osawa Masatsugu of Unuma Castle opened Honryuji Temple's market district for the Ogawa Band's use. Yamauchi Kazutoyo had Horio Yoshiharu remain at Unuma Castle to take full charge of transferring supplies.

After Sobue Kan'emon escorted Hoshūni to Kitagata Castle, he also opened up the Nagara River and Ibi River routes. The Ogawa Band's "merchant ships" could now travel smoothly between Kitagata Castle and places such as Nagashima.

Once their reputation spread, fishermen from villages along the route flocked to join them. Before long, the Ogawa Band had more than fifty small boats and had essentially monopolized river transport in the upper reaches of the Kiso River.

Meanwhile, construction began on a harbor and fortifications at Igi Mountain. Osawa Masatsugu mobilized more than a hundred men from his territory to toil away at Igi Mountain.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo also sought out Maeno Tokiyuki to request the purchase of timber. This time, however, Maeno Tokiyuki did not agree outright.

"Uncle, is there some difficulty?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo asked.

Maeno Tokiyuki gave Yamauchi Kazutoyo a long, deep look. "Iemon, you've done quite the thing."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo's heart lurched. The corner of his eye immediately swept across the room's corners.

Only after confirming there was no one else in the room did Yamauchi Kazutoyo breathe easy and say leisurely, "What do you mean by that, Uncle?"

Maeno Tokiyuki lightly stroked his beard. "If you don't want others to know, then don't do it in the first place."

"The Ogawa Band has been in the limelight on the Kiso River these past days. Others might truly be fooled by the Jodo Shinshu banner, but the Maeno family is not among them."

As Maeno Tokiyuki spoke with calm assurance, Yamauchi Kazutoyo's expression gradually grew solemn.

Yet Maeno Tokiyuki seemed not to notice the change in his expression and continued as if speaking to himself. "Iemon, you truly have been cautious in every respect. You hid it very tightly. But you are still somewhat young, and you overlooked one crucial link."

"Please enlighten me, Uncle."

Maeno Tokiyuki smiled faintly. "Horio Yoshiharu and Hachisuka Koroku disappeared along with you, Iemon."

"Jikan-ko is not so easily fooled. Once he linked that with the recently famous Ogawa Band, it was only natural that he would spot the clues."

When Yamauchi Kazutoyo thought it over carefully, that was indeed true.

Though Hachisuka Masakatsu and Horio Yoshiharu were not particularly renowned, like Yamauchi Kazutoyo, their names were registered under Maeno Muneyasu.

Those two had vanished at the same time as Yamauchi Kazutoyo, and then an Ogawa Band had appeared out of nowhere on the Kiso River. Maeno Muneyasu was no fool. As an old hand, it was hardly strange that he had seen the problem at a glance.

With matters laid out this plainly, Yamauchi Kazutoyo knew there was no need to keep hiding it.

"Since Jikan-ko has already seen through the Ogawa Band's identity, how does the Maeno family intend to deal with this?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo asked in a low voice.

"Hmph!" Maeno Tokiyuki slammed his palm on the table, speaking in outrage. "You, Iemon—do you not consider your uncle family at all?"

"With such a good opportunity, how could you keep it all to yourself?"

Huh?

Yamauchi Kazutoyo was completely thrown by the sudden turn.

Maeno Tokiyuki glared, his beard bristling. "Hachisuka Koroku and Horio Kichisuke are merely outsiders, yet you brought them along to make a fortune."

"The Maeno family is your kin no matter what. How could you forget your uncle?"

"I... I'm short on funds too!" Maeno Tokiyuki said, rubbing his hands with an embarrassed look.

Maeno Tokiyuki—or rather, the Maeno family—did not think Yamauchi Kazutoyo had done anything wrong. If there was one thing he had done wrong, it was making money without bringing them along!

The Kiso River was unclaimed land. Now that the mountain had no tiger, it was precisely the time for every faction to thrust a foot into the door.

Before, no one had dared to be the first bird to stick out its head. But now that the fearless Ogawa Band had taken the lead, how could the others possibly remain seated?

Yamauchi Kazutoyo wiped the sweat from his brow and said cautiously, "Uncle, I only feared that involving the Maeno family would bring harm upon you."

"After all, the Maeno family must survive between Inuyama Castle and Kiyosu Castle. If you become involved, I fear it will be difficult to account for it to either side."

"What does that matter?" Maeno Tokiyuki's expression turned stern. "If you don't say it and I don't say it, who would know the Maeno family was involved?"

"You, Yamauchi Kazutoyo, can call someone Ogawa Saburo. Can't the Maeno family send out an Ogawa Shirō?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo: ...

Without waiting for Yamauchi Kazutoyo to reply, Maeno Tokiyuki continued, "Jikan-ko said Matsukura Castle has all the timber you could want. He can even give it to you free of charge."

"But Iemon must agree to one matter for the family."

What else was there to say? Yamauchi Kazutoyo had already guessed what Maeno Tokiyuki was about to say.

"Then may I ask, Uncle, who is Matsukura Castle sending to join the Ogawa Band?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo asked.

Maeno Tokiyuki muttered something Yamauchi Kazutoyo could not make out, but then his voice gradually rose.

"Originally, I wanted to go personally, but... but Jikan-ko wishes Maeno Kōemon to step forward." Maeno Tokiyuki spoke with obvious reluctance.

Having no standing or voice in one's own household was truly troublesome.

The Maeno Kōemon Maeno Tokiyuki spoke of was Maeno Nagayasu, Maeno Muneyasu's son.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo asked doubtfully, "But hasn't Maeno Kōemon already gone to Kiyosu Castle to join the Oda clan?"

"That was before."

"Not long ago, Kōemon got into a dispute with a colleague. It reached Oda Kazusa-no-suke, and Kōemon was driven out."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo instantly understood why the Maeno family had come to him at this moment. So Maeno Nagayasu could no longer make a living under Oda Nobunaga.

Still, that was hardly surprising. Oda Nobunaga's rice bowl was indeed not easy to hold.

"Then where is Kōemon now?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo continued.

Maeno Tokiyuki answered, "At Matsukura Castle. But I heard that an Oda Kazusa-no-suke horse guard came with him as well. He too was thrown out for making a mistake."

As he spoke, Maeno Tokiyuki scratched his head, a slightly bewildered look appearing in his eyes.

"Strange, when you think about it. Why is everyone running to Matsukura Castle?"

"Could Matsukura Castle be some kind of geomantic treasure ground?"