As the Daimyo, he was a man who cared about his reputation. Even in a furious rage, he could not possibly admit that it was his own fault.
Since he could not do that, he would push the blame onto his advisers.
After all, the Daimyo had chosen to withhold Konoha's money just to vent his anger, and those advisers had certainly played their part in urging him on.
So when Konoha hit rock bottom and rebounded, the first ones to suffer—and to be dragged out as sacrificial offerings—were the advisers.
Besides, the Daimyo had plenty of advisers around him. Killing a couple would not hurt at all.
"Spare us, Daimyo! Spare us!!!!"
The shrill pleas for mercy ended with a scream. The unfortunate adviser lost his head just like that, beheaded by a palace guard of the Daimyo's Court.
He became the first victim of the clash between the Daimyo's Court and Konoha.
"Send someone to deliver the money to Konoha immediately. Write a letter to the Hokage in my name. Considering Konoha's financial difficulties, I cannot bear to see Konoha's civilians living in hardship. Therefore, the Daimyo's Court is willing to send over two years' worth of development funds directly."
Was the Daimyo angry?
Of course he was.
Did he want to give them the money?
No.
But he did not dare gamble.
Because the letter had stated clearly that the Third Hokage had already issued a similar announcement in Konoha. In other words, everyone in Konoha knew that the Third Hokage had cut the military!!
He was reducing Konoha's ninja forces.
It would not take long for this news to spread throughout the Shinobi World.
The Daimyo did not dare gamble on whether the Third Hokage was serious.
If it had merely been a fit of anger,