The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 45

Clearly, the decision has already been made by the higher authorities.

Although it may be a very difficult position, for now we can only try to improve the situation with a positive attitude.

The first and most important step is, of course, to gather information.

We need to find out exactly where the Tada copper mine is located, what its current situation is, and why it's said to be declining recently.

Where does the information come from?

I definitely need to consult someone knowledgeable, well-informed, and most trustworthy!

Without a doubt, it was Master Myoshu, the abbot of Kōfuku-ji Temple.

The old monk used to frequently go to Yagi Castle to listen to the "evaluation meetings," but this time he didn't come for some reason.

So after the meeting, Shinzaburo took his entourage to visit Kofuku-ji Temple.

As a matter of course, they were warmly received by the monks and were allowed to enter without prior notice.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that Master Mingzhou had probably caught a cold because he hadn't paid attention to adding or removing clothing during the change of seasons; he had a cough and a runny nose.

The symptoms weren't severe.

Shinzaburo thought to himself, "The old monk is actually over fifty years old. Although he has always been in good health, he has entered a period of decline."

So he inquired about his well-being carefully and advised him to rest and recuperate. After exchanging pleasantries, he took out his official documents and began to explain that he had been appointed as the "Copper Mining Commissioner".

Master Mingzhou was shocked upon hearing this and exclaimed three times, "This is outrageous!"

Then he slapped his thigh and said he would go to Kyoto immediately to ask his senior brother Zongtao for help in settling the matter.

Shinzaburo quickly advised him to calm down, saying that even if he wanted to try to mediate, there was no need to rush and that it would be better to explain things clearly first.

Master Mingzhou sighed twice more before beginning his explanation.

In the northern part of Settsu Province, there was a village called Tata, which is considered to be the birthplace of the Kiyokawa Genji lineage.

Nearby is Tada Shrine, built hundreds of years ago by Minamoto no Yorimitsu's father, Minamoto no Mitsunaka, and considered one of the ancestral shrines of the Ashikaga family of the Muromachi Shogunate. To this day, more than fifty samurai families, known as "Tadain Gokenin," live and work there, taking on the task of "guarding the graves."

Of course, the Muromachi Shogunate is now defunct in name only, and Tada Shrine has lost its former glory.

Why is it called "one of the ancestral temples"? Because after the general died, he was mainly buried in Kyoto, but sometimes a small part of his remains would be sent to Tada Shrine for burial.

From a time traveler's perspective, this is indeed a very unique custom...

Copper mines were discovered and developed in the mountains near Tada Shrine a long time ago.

Some even say that Minamoto no Yorimitsu used the wealth he gained from mining to recruit warriors and bribe the Fujiwara clan, thus laying the foundation for the Minamoto clan.

This is the origin of the so-called "Tada Copper Mine".

Until three years ago, this copper mine was still being controlled alternately by the Shiokawa family, the chief of the "Tadain Gokenin" (a powerful family in Taiwan), and the Nose family, the second chief.

However, in recent years, the Shiokawa family and the Nose family responded to Hosokawa Harumoto's call and participated in the conspiracy against Miyoshi Nagayoshi. They were both severely punished, and the copper mine was confiscated as a matter of course.

Nominally, it was presented to Hosokawa Ujitsuna, the shogunate's chief minister, but in reality, it was controlled by the Miyoshi family.

When the money actually arrived, it turned out there was no profit at all.

So... why is the copper mine that helped Minamoto no Yorimitsu achieve great things back then no longer profitable?

The reason is simple: times have changed.

In fact, when the "Tada Copper Mining Office" first opened, the era of the "Imperial Twelve Coins" had already passed, the imperial court had lost the ability to mint coins, and the value of copper mines was not as high as it had been in the past.

However, that was during a period of booming development for temples, and the monks, having acquired a great deal of resources, developed a competitive spirit and became enthusiastic about creating giant Buddha statues and temple bells.

The wealthiest monks were mostly in Kyoto. The Tada Copper Mining Company, located in Settsu, was extremely close to Kyoto, giving it a unique advantage and allowing it to make a fortune.

Furthermore, across the sea, Daimyo possessed advanced minting technology, but its copper production was insufficient to meet economic needs. Therefore, copper was also one of the most important traded commodities in the "Kanghwa Trade."

The Great Meng Emperor often used paper money, so hard it was barely enough to wipe his bottom, to pay his debts, essentially getting something for free. However, in addition to this, tribute missions were also allowed to trade with private merchants, who paid in cash.

In this era, mine officials, whether magistrates or deputy magistrates, did not receive a fixed salary but instead received a share of the profits. Since the copper mining business was booming back then, the "copper mining magistrates" naturally made a fortune as well.

however--

As time went by, the favorable conditions of the past gradually disappeared.

The once-thriving "Kanhe Trade" was permanently halted after the scandal of "Ningbo's Tribute Competition." The lucrative business of selling copper to Da Meng was thus impossible.

The monks still possessed some wealth, but their properties were gradually seized by the samurai, and they were far less prosperous than before.

Moreover, Zen Buddhism rose rapidly after Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, overshadowing traditional sects. Zen monks preferred the style of "dry landscape gardens" and did not like to create grand Buddha statues.

Copper, being a common metal, is not entirely without use.

People still need to use some bronze items, and temples will not completely stop purchasing them.

However, as the market shrinks, the money earned from mining decreases significantly.

Today, with crude copper experiencing sluggish sales year after year, copper mines have been forced to continuously reduce production, resulting in increasingly thin profits and a state of dismal operation, barely managing to stay afloat.

Moreover, this situation will obviously not improve simply because a different person is appointed to it.

Are you capable of persuading the Great Meng Emperor to reopen the Kanho trade, or of getting the samurai class to return the land to the monks?

Not to mention the minting of coins.

Given the current rampant problem of privately minted, substandard coins in Japan, coins that are half copper and half iron are considered somewhat ethical, while those that are two parts copper and eight parts iron, or even pure iron, are commonplace. Unless advanced technology is mastered and the market is vigorously regulated to promote "good coins," minting coins from pure copper is not very profitable.

It can be said that whoever takes on this role as "copper mining director" can only watch the business deteriorate, then end up with a bad record and be transferred away in disgrace.

As Master Mingzhou spoke, he became increasingly anxious and broke out in a sweat, which greatly relieved his cold symptoms.

Finally, the old monk concluded: "Among the Sanyo family, Hinata is the head of the 'genjō' (oldest disciples), while Tanjō is the chief of the 'shinzan' (new disciples). I have long heard of their long-standing differences. But in any case, there is no reason for them to involve my son-in-law!"

Hyuga refers to Miyoshi Nagayoshi; Dansho refers to Matsunaga Hisahide.

Master Mingzhou was truly anxious and agitated, and in a moment of losing his composure, he blurted out the words "my son-in-law".

Shinzaburo sincerely advised, "Uncle, please don't worry and ruin your health! Now that the letter of appointment has been signed and sealed by Hosokawa Ukyo, it's impossible for him to deny it immediately."

Master Mingzhou sighed and nodded helplessly: "That's true. We have to give the new commander some face. Even if we want to find another job, we'll have to wait until things have changed."

Shinzaburo thought about it carefully and said, "Actually, if we work on firearms or coinage, things might still turn around."

Master Mingzhou frowned and pondered for a moment, then gradually calmed down and shook his head, saying, "This old monk doesn't understand these things. In any case, we'll try any method we can find. If there's no improvement by next year, I'll risk my reputation and make a scene."

Shinzaburo smiled, bowed, and said, "Uncle, you're covered in sweat. Go and take a bath and change your clothes quickly, lest you catch a chill in the night wind and fall seriously ill again."

Master Mingzhou nodded, called the young novice monk over, and instructed him to make preparations, while also arranging meals for Shinsaburo.

Shinzaburo looked out the window and saw that it was getting late. He decided to stay overnight at Kofuku-ji Temple and take advantage of the tranquil environment of the Zen temple to think about his next steps.

Some time later, the two reunited at the dinner table.

Master Mingzhou changed his clothes and looked more refreshed. He calmly said, "First, we need to find out whether he was accidentally involved in the political struggle or was deliberately framed."

Shinzaburo nodded and then smiled, "I've heard that I can now refer to myself as a 'Taishu Naishū' directly under the Hosokawa Kanrei family. Has my status been elevated?"

Master Mingzhou said with a lack of interest: "This identity has become so common that it's barely worth mentioning for the Kubo family name."

087 Layered Intensification and the Art of Manipulating People's Minds

After spending the night at Kofuku-ji Temple, he returned to Noguchi Castle the next day and announced his transfer, which surprised everyone.

The others were confused and didn't understand that "Tada Copper Mine Manager" was a terrible position; they just felt that things had happened rather suddenly.

Jin Bingwei's father frowned and muttered a couple of times, "It seems like copper mines aren't making much money these days," but he wasn't entirely sure, so he didn't say anything publicly.

Lady Azumi, poised and elegant before everyone, smiled and said, "To become a magistrate directly under the Lord of the Household is a blessing for the Kubo family!"

Then she calmly directed the maid to help Shinzaburo pack his belongings.

But once we got back to the bedroom where no one else was around, it suddenly hugged me from behind like a koala, whimpering and rubbing against my back a few times.

This made Shinsaburo suddenly not want to go to the copper mine to take up his post.

The saying "a gentle embrace is a hero's grave" is certainly true.

……

Shinzaburo decided to appoint his father as the temporary "Meisha" (representative) under the name "Kubo Kinbei," responsible for the administrative affairs of Noguchi Village. In the event of war, Inato Shigenobu of the Doshinshu group would serve as the "Jindai" (deputy commander), in charge of commanding the reserve forces.

The Oi family didn't understand mining matters, and the monk Jōjō was in charge of brewing, so there was no use bringing them along. They were left to guard the house, with only Kumārajō and Hashibei accompanying them, along with four guards. The four guards were a dozen or so villagers from Kubo, divided into three groups to take turns, with shifts changing regularly.

Matsunaga Nagayori, the acting head of the Tanba Naito family, agreed to the arrangement of "Meisho" and "Jindai" without hesitation.

Moreover, his gaze carried a sense of sympathy and apology.

It is estimated that they thought Shinzaburo would run into trouble in his position as "Tada Copper Mine Manager".

This is the normal thought of everyone in the know.

Even Shinzaburo himself, while saying he would try to solve the predicament, didn't actually have much hope in his heart.

After asking the monk Mingzhou, he consulted other people he knew, and the information he received was similar; they all said that the "Tada Copper Mining Station" was beyond saving.

On the tenth day of the sixth month, having finished preparing, he arrived at Yagi Castle with his entourage.

Upon meeting, Matsunaga Nagayori said with concern, "I heard that the higher-ups hope to obtain 800 kan of revenue from the 'Tada Copper Mining Station' in a year. I'm afraid that won't be easy."

Shinsaburo was taken aback. According to Master Mingzhou, the annual sales volume might not even reach 800 kan now. Where would they conjure up so much money?

Matsunaga Nagayoshi, seeing this, comforted him, saying, "It's just hearsay; it's probably a misrepresentation."

Shinzaburo thought to himself, "We're already here, what else can we do?"

Let's see how it goes.

After waiting for a while, a samurai named "Koizumiyama Castle Lord" arrived from Kyoto. He was fair-skinned, slightly thin, and dressed like a refined scholar, rather than someone who wielded swords and spears.

Matsunaga Nagayori solemnly introduced the man as "Hidekiyo," who was currently the "chief clerk" under Hosokawa Ujitsuna, the current Kanrei (chief clerk) of the shogunate. In other words, he was the top civil official.

As expected, it's a character who has never appeared in Koei Tecmo games before.

The "Kami of Koizumiyama Castle" was quite polite, without the arrogance of a Kyoto native. Instead, he said, "We will be colleagues in the future, and I hope you will take good care of us."

Shinzaburo quickly returned the greeting respectfully.

However, the "Koizumiyama Castle Governor" then made an outrageous demand: "The Tada Copper Mine is not in the same situation as before. If Kubo Genban could contribute 600 kan of 'transport money' every year, of which 450 kan would be given to Miyoshi Chikuzen as arrow money and 150 kan would go into Hosokawa Ukyo's treasury, I would be extremely grateful!"

The so-called "transportation fee" is actually a type of tax.

Because the political system in ancient Japan was not very well-developed and there was a severe shortage of local officials, they were unable to accurately calculate commercial taxes. Therefore, a system of collecting fixed-amount "transportation fees" was adopted for mines, towns, ports, and workshops.

The current plan of "Koizumiyama Castle Defender" is to collect 600 kan a year, with the nominal boss Hosokawa Ujitsuna taking a quarter and the remaining three-quarters "rewarded" to the actual boss, Miyoshi Nagayoshi. It's quite a thoughtful plan.

This number would not have been a problem in the past.

According to the information Shinzaburo has gathered over the past few days, at its peak, the Tada Copper Mine should have been able to sell over 100,000 catties of crude copper annually. At a bulk price of 25 mon, that's 2,500 kan in revenue. After deducting various miscellaneous costs, the profit would be at least half. The 600 kan "transportation fee" was easily achieved, leaving him with a large sum of money for his own small coffers.

But that's in the past!

In recent years, the average sales volume has reportedly fallen below 40,000 jin. That would mean sales revenue of less than 1,000 guan.

The miners need to eat and wear clothes, and the pits and tunnels need to be maintained every year. Also, although they sell crude copper, basic smelting is still required, and fuel costs cannot be reduced.

Sales of crude copper have decreased significantly, but costs have not decreased year-on-year.

The "six hundred kan" of this "Koizumiyama Castle keeper," although less than the "eight hundred kan" that Matsunaga Nagayori originally said, was still an almost impossible number to achieve.

Faced with this outrageous request, Shinzaburo abandoned all pretense and said bluntly, "I'm afraid your request cannot be fulfilled."

However, the "Koizumiyama Castle Commander" showed no sign of annoyance and said with a smile, "If someone else were to be the magistrate, it would certainly be impossible to accomplish. But Kubo Genban is the famous 'Tanba Zhongkui' and a planning talent that Matsunaga Danjo highly praises. Perhaps he can find a way to do it."

One cannot hit a smiling face. Since the other party was so polite, Shinzaburo couldn't bring himself to scold him. He could only awkwardly say, "Forgive my limited strength and wisdom, I really can't think of any way to respond to such lofty expectations."

The "Koizumiyama Castle Defender" remained unperturbed, rolled his eyes, and said, "I've heard that Kubo Genban is deeply protected by gods and Buddhas, and that the Venerable Fudo Myoo once appeared in his dream. The turning point for the 'Tada Copper Mine' probably lies here."

Upon hearing this, Shinzaburo was at a loss; he couldn't very well publicly admit that the matter was false!

But I still felt quite uncomfortable. After pausing for a moment, I couldn't help but shake my head and sigh, "If the protection of gods and Buddhas is so effective, why do temples and shrines still need believers to donate? Why don't they just ask the gods and Buddhas to fill the offering boxes directly?"

It was just a muttered complaint to himself. Unexpectedly, "Kami Koizumiyama Castle Keeper" had sharp ears and overheard it.

Then the man burst into laughter, clapping his hands and saying, "Kubo Genban's witty remarks are truly remarkable; he is indeed a man of exceptional intelligence and resourcefulness. Under your leadership, the 'Tada Copper Mining Station' will surely make a comeback!"

Shinzaburo was too lazy to talk to this person anymore.

He felt that the other person's specialty might be arguing and being sarcastic.

No wonder he's from Kyoto.

……

Even when moving on foot, a small group can move much faster than a large army.