Six days later, Ezo Land, Kaminokuni, the Kakizaki Clan's seat, Katsuyama Castle.
Wisps of blue smoke rose from the lit clay brazier, like thoughts shifting without pattern. The scent of pine resin spread through the meeting room, masking the smell of herbs—and the smell of death on the old man.
The aged Takeda Nobuhiro was sitting cross-legged before the low table. He had grown terribly thin, and the broad robes of the family head looked broader on him than ever before. His face was very old. He stared at the gleaming tabletop before him, silent and saying nothing.
At that moment, a full twenty-four one-jin Gold Talismans were spread across the table. That bright golden color was so dazzling and tempting, and so heavy and solid. They pressed down on the low table just like that, directly equal to the Kakizaki Clan's annual income—equal to more than two thousand koku of brown rice!
"...?"
Seeing that his father had not spoken for a long while, Kakizaki Mitsuhiro, kneeling with his head lowered, finally raised his head. His young patience was plainly no match for the old general Kudo Shigeyasu beside him, who was also kneeling with his head bowed. Or rather, under the dazzling radiance of gold, his composure had been weakened. At that moment, as if wanting to prove something, he spoke with expectation.
"Father? These are the gains from my first trade with the Sanda leader! This is a full twenty-four jin of gold—the clan's income for an entire year!"
"Mitsuhiro."
The aged Takeda Nobuhiro raised his head and gazed at his young son. He was like an old goshawk, staring into his son's eyes. That gaze was so sharp that Kakizaki Mitsuhiro instinctively looked away.
"You hurried back without marching east to subjugate the Ezo People. Was