Imai Munehisa somewhat understood what Takada Yono meant, and it turned out that he was expecting money from here.
“At the beginning of spring, the share will be about 30% for Hokuriku Expressway, 60% for Tokaido Expressway, and 50% for Nakasen Expressway.
Now in late summer, the Tokaido Road is in turmoil, and only about 25% of the share is left. There are always people who are unwilling to give up and want to wait and see.
The mountain road of Nakasendo is difficult to walk, and only a few merchants are willing to walk. The share of the Hokuriku Road trade road has increased to 60%. "
Takada Yono narrowed his eyes in dissatisfaction.
"Only 60%?"
Imai Munehisa smiled a little coldly.
"Some people are incapable of thinking and always have to hammer away. Don't worry, they won't last long. I'll make them sensible.
This year, Hokurikudo's 70% share will definitely be completed, and because of the chaos in Tokaido, it will even exceed it by a lot. "
Takada Yono sneered.
"From 30% to 70%, and even more, for goods worth more than 400,000 guan, at least half a percent deposit is required, right?
This time I don’t want money, just food.
Regardless of whether they stole it, robbed it, or how they got it, the deposit can only be paid in the form of food, converted at the usual price of two stones. "
Imai Munehisa thought about it and realized that the half-percent deposit was more than 20,000 yuan. Calculated in this way, 40,000 to 50,000 shi of food will be available.
she asked.
“What if someone has no food and is willing to pay more deposit?
The price of Settsu National Stone is only 300,000 dan, and our deposit will cost 40,000 to 50,000 dan. Even if the merchant is willing to pay, there is not so much food in the market. "
Takada Yono said firmly.
"How can they bargain? I only harvest rice, not even wheat.
Which of these big businessmen who can form a caravan doesn't have any background connections? The Osaka Plain where Settsu Province is located is not available, and Kyushu, Shikoku, and Saikoku are all gone?
From Kitakyushu Hakata Port to Sakai Port on the east coast of the Seto Inland Sea, there are so many ports along the way. Can’t squeeze out any food? Do you really think I'm a fool?
At most, the cost is a little higher, and two or three guans are exchanged for one stone of grain. Aren't they determined to take the East China Sea trade route and must go against me?
Now I magnanimously allow them to go back on their word, what? Still want to bargain?
I used the price of two stones to collect the grain as a deposit. No matter how big the loss was, they would still have to bear it themselves. This is to reassure them that they will be more respectful to the Sibo family in the future.
If you can't bear this punishment and can't afford this little money, then you don't have to come to the Hokuriku Road Trading Road to ask for food. Don't pay attention to such a merchant with no discernment. "
Imai Munehisa nodded in understanding.
Takada Yono is passing on the increased market price cost of buying grain to these merchants who hope to squeeze into the Hokuriku Road trade route, and reap the profits for himself.
Takada Yono said again.
"The Omi National Stone is nearly 800,000 high, and the Nobi Plain Stone is over one million high. The remaining share of less than 40,000 stone should be available from these two places, but we cannot take it lightly.
The Asai family in Kitaomi has been recuperating this year, so there should be some surplus food. I will ask Todo Toradaka to help me find a solution in Kitaomi.
The Rokkaku family was in civil strife in Minami Omi, and the governor's control over the local area was weakened by the Rokkaku clan's shikime.
I will find Otani Yoshitsugi, a Shiba retainer who was born in Minami Omi, and find a way to buy some from the local samurai family.
As for the Nobi Plains, we can only wait for negotiations between Maeda Toshiie and His Highness Oda. Let’s prepare the cargo copper coins.
If the Oda family is willing to sell, the amount of 80,000 koku will only be much higher. If His Majesty Oda doesn't allow it, we will increase the guarantee amount of the Hokuriku Road Trading Route to make up for the shortfall. "
Takada Yoshino also didn't want to push the Sakai Port businessmen too hard and make money by being friendly. Many things went too far, which was not good for anyone.
But if the Oda family couldn't explain it, in order to raise 80,000 koku, Takada Yono could only increase the deposit. Political tasks must be ensured first, and commercial troubles must be dealt with later.
Imai Munehisa has no objection to Takada Harano's arrangements. What she is most worried about is not the food itself, but the Miyoshi family.
"Sir, what should we do with Sanhao's family?
If we buy grain in such a big way, the price of grain in Settsu Country and even in the whole Kingdom will be pushed up. There are even businessmen going to Shikoku to buy grain as a deposit, which affects the stability of the Miyoshi family in Awa Country.
The sun is setting for the Sanhao family, and it is getting worse day by day. But at this time, her family became more sensitive.
What if our food buying behavior caused a violent reaction from the Sanhao family? . "
Imai Munehisa's ideas are very realistic.
Takada Harano is rich and powerful, but she has no sword. The ten Shinsengumi warriors and the swordsmen Miburou can only be used as security forces.
If the Miyoshi family turned against them and marched their troops into Sakai Port to rob the Shiba family's granary, what would Takada Harano do to confront the army?
Takada Yono squinted his eyes and said uncertainly.
"Don't store all the grain collected in Sakai Port. Place it nearby along the trade route, huh..."
Halfway through, she also felt embarrassed.
This is food, rice, the hard currency in troubled times. Not only is it large in size and difficult to store, but the greed of the people underneath makes it difficult to guard against theft.
The more scattered the storage, the higher the cost of management, and the consequences may be worse.
Just as she was hesitating how to solve this problem, there was another knock on the door.
"What's up?"
"Sir, Akechi Mitsuhide has an urgent message for you."
"come in."
"Hi!"
Yuigahama Yui opened the door again and came in. This time Imai Sokaku bowed slightly to her to show respect.
Takada Harano still looked impatient and asked Yuigahama Yui to put down the letter and leave.
This time, she tore open the letter so roughly that she no longer treated her master's letter with the same caution as before.
After reading the letter at a glance, Takada Yono handed the letter to Imai Munehisa with doubts on his face.
Imai Munehisa hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether he should look at it. Takada Yonoichi frowned, she quickly took the letter with both hands and read it quickly.
After reading it, Imai Munaku couldn't help but let out a sigh, carefully looked at Takada Harano's face, and said.
"Sir, what does Akechi Mitsuhide mean by this? She asked us to just collect food and use the name of the shogunate to hide it from the outside world. On the shogunate side, she will deal with it for us."
"The imperial office wants to buy grain. Strictly speaking, it is indeed the shogunate that needs grain.
Although the grain would eventually go to Echigo along the Hokuriku Road trade route, the Miyoshi family did not dare to steal it due to Akechi Mitsuhide's cover.
Ashikaga Shogun suppressed the shogunate and restored the dignity of the shogunate. Over the past year, his power has been growing.
However, the situation of Miyoshi's family is deteriorating. Danba country is in chaos, and I heard that there is no peace in Shikoku. After the death of Miyoshi Nagakei, the two samurai families of Tosa Iyo and I were no longer very obedient.
Akechi Mitsuhide may have guessed my difficulties and pulled a shogunate tiger skin for me to prevent the Miyoshi family from taking the food I bought.
But I always felt that something was wrong. If she did this, although the Miyoshi family would not dare to mess around for a while, the blame would eventually be placed on the shogunate and the Ashikaga Shogun.
The peace agreement that the Lord had brokered for the Miyoshi family and the shogunate might not last much longer. "
