Only by allowing the upper, middle and lower-level samurai families to benefit from the Shiba family and tie them to Shiba Yoshigan's chariot can they ensure their loyalty and preserve the Maeda Toshi family's hope of marrying into the family.
In Yoshigan's view, in order to maintain the centripetal force of the Owari Shiba leader towards the Shiba family, it was not easy for the Maeda Toshiie to climb mountains and wading rivers to Nanao Port, and then specially take a boat to see him.
No matter how much impure admiration is mixed with her loyalty, Yiyin must accept it.
Yiyin asked softly.
"It's not a good journey, isn't it? How is Owari Shiba's side doing lately? Have you encountered any difficulties in doing business at Nanao Port?"
Maeda Toshiie bowed and said.
“When the territory was still in Owari Province, Ise Bay was not far away, so I didn’t find it difficult to participate in trade.
But since arriving in Gujo County, Owari Shiba's external communication channels have been completely monopolized by the Oda family. His Majesty Oda did this to restrain Owari Shiba, and I cannot let it go.
The situation in the Shiba collar at the end of this year is quite good. After the spring plowing, we started preparing for the first annuity payment. The grain was raised directly from the Meino Country by the Zhong Fund, and there were no problems with transportation.
Your Highness Oda doesn't seem to want to embarrass me on this matter, maybe because she is afraid of offending you. After all, she is currently in a difficult situation in Japan. "
Yiyin sneered.
"The food stamp system will be gradually implemented in Shiba Territory after that. You have to find a way to contact the caravans in Hokuriku to ensure that daily necessities can enter Owari Shiba Territory via mountain roads from Hokuriku Road.
We need to use the Oda family’s channels, but we also need to keep a back-up. Oda Nobunaga, forget it, let's not talk about her, she is in trouble right now and can't take care of the Shiba family for the time being. "
Maeda Toshiie nodded.
“I sincerely follow your teachings.
From Gunjo County to Hokurikudo, the shortest distance is between Echizen Province and Kaga Province, but the Tsuruga Port in Echizen Province is too far away. The Kaga Ichigo clan is causing trouble from time to time, and the ports and towns along the coast are in decline.
This time I came to take the route from Hida Province to Yuechu China and finally to Noto Province. "
Yiyin thought deeply.
"This road is a bit far. I'm afraid the caravan is not willing to take it. Even if it is willing, Owari Sporing will still have to bear a lot of logistics cost pressure."
Maeda Toshiie said.
“The Ryoshiro Mountains and the Hida Mountains are so towering that they are difficult to cross. The two countries of Echizen-Kaga seem to be close to each other but are actually far apart. On the contrary, the Hida Plateau between the two mountains is easier to walk.
There are several rivers in the Hida Plateau extending northward into Toyama Bay across China. In particular, the Shogawa River leads from the south of Tonami County to the west side of Fuji Bay, very close to Nanao Port in Noto Province.
Through the port town near the Shogawa estuary, Owari Shiba's goods can be smoothly connected to Nanao Port. Although the journey is a bit far, it still has some commercial value and is suitable for long-term business. "
Yiyin nodded.
"Tobo County, Zhuangchuan, the terrain there is familiar to me. When Yuezhong went into battle, I fought there with Yuezhong Yixiang Zong.
You are right, this waterway is indeed feasible, but the mountain road in Hida Plateau is difficult to travel, and the transportation cost will be very high. Most caravans will not be willing to go, so you must be mentally prepared.
I will ask Takada Yono to think of a way to help you contact some caravans. Naoejin will also provide some preferential tax exemption policies to help you negotiate with the caravans. "
Seeing that Maeda Toshie was a man of travels, it turned out that he had climbed over from the Hida Plateau, which made Yoshigami feel pity for them.
He is determined to support the policy, and the pressure on Maeda Toshiie will be much less. The Hokuriku Road trade route is dominated by the Shiba family. The boss of Shiba has said that if the caravans along the route are not given face, they should stop messing around in the future.
But Maeda Toshiie shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty, if you send the caravan with administrative orders, they will naturally not dare to disobey.
But flowers never bloom, and no matter how many benefits the Hokuriku Road trade route has, there is always a limit. Owari Shibo cannot always rely on policies to maintain trade routes. Such risks are too great and are not conducive to long-term peace and stability. "
Yoshigan sighed, pointed at Maeda Toshiie and said to Kamao clan.
"Listen, this is what an old man says when he plans for a country.
There are so many people in the three places of Spur Territory, inside and outside the Kanto Palace, who want to make more money on the Hokuriku Road trade route. Who is willing to calm down and think about the future?
Toshiie, you are right, but the situation with Owari Shiba is different. It was because you tipped me off that you were despised by Oda Nobunaga and put Owari Shiba in trouble.
It is not easy to survive in the mountain territory, and all kinds of daily necessities have to be imported from the outside world. That bastard Oda Nobunaga just wants to use supplies to trap you.
I must help you find a way out at all costs, otherwise Owari Shiba will definitely be caused by Oda Nobunaga in the future.
Don't be stubborn and accept my kindness with peace of mind. "
Yiyin understands the sadness of the mountain people.
When the Takeda Shingen and Imagawa Hojo families turned against each other, the other side used the salt control strategy, intending to cut off salt and other daily necessities in Kai and Shinano countries, forcing the Takeda family to fall into disarray.
If Echigo Kingdom hadn't imported supplies to Hoshin behind his back, Takeda Shingen might not have been able to survive this disaster so smoothly and enter Suruga Kingdom.
In the same way, Sanada Nobushige, whose territory is mainly in the mountains, also relies on the welfare and blood transfusions of the Kanto Palace to maintain the elite of the Sanada clan's hundreds of people.
When Yoshigan was angry and wanted to cut off this blood transfusion, Sanada Nobushige had to beg for mercy with snot and tears. A penny is too much for a heroic girl, and she goes out to hang out in circles. If she has no money or food, just say JB.
Sanada Nobushige's current situation is that she has found a few good people to help her develop the commercial value of dried matsutake mushrooms, and relies on the business resources of Naoetsu, the big boss Yoshihiro Shiba, to make money.
Maeda Toshiie was sealed in the Gunjo County by Oda Nobunaga. Behind her were the Ryoshiro Mountains on one side and the Hida Mountains on the other. If the Hida Plateau in the middle was not a place where merchants could still walk, she would not be able to fly even with her wings.
Yoshigan asked her to build a trade route to Hokuriku Road regardless of the cost, because he was worried that Oda Nobunaga would completely block Owari Shiba's territory in the future and destroy the Maeda Toshi family.
But Yoshigoshi tried to persuade him with good words, but Maeda Toshiie shook his head firmly and said.
"Your Majesty, it's not that I'm stubborn, it's just that I don't need your Majesty to deliberately pass administrative orders to help Owari Shiba lead the development of trade routes.
I have found something that can arouse the interest of the Yamagai caravan and make them voluntarily go to the Hida Plateau to trade with me.
I also hope that your Majesty can negotiate with the relevant forces along the Vietnam-China route and the Nanao Port in the country, so that they will not embarrass the caravans taking this trade route, so that I can earn materials and money. "
When Yiyin heard this, he became interested.
"No problem, I have acquaintances at Ichigo Temple in Tonami County, and Hatakeyama Yoshitsuna of Noto will also give me face.
But I am very curious about what good things there are in the mountains of Gujo that can make businessmen flock to them. They are willing to cross the mountains and Hida Plateau to trade with you. "
Yiyin said it implicitly. Back then, he and his Baiqiji warriors killed Yixiang Zong in Yuezhong, killing them seven times in and seven out. The Zhuang River was blocked by corpses and cut off.
The acquaintances there were either prisoners back then or defeated generals under his command. Who dared not agree to his orders when these people heard him?
As for Hatakeyama Yoshitsuna of Nanao Port, she was able to secure Nanao Castle and control Nanao Port all because of Yoshigan Shiba's help in supporting her and balancing the various forces in Noto.
Without Yoshigan, Hatakeyama Yoshitsuna would not be able to sit still for a day in Noto country and would be ready to run away at any time. Yiyin went out of his way to say hello to her. How dare she not take this matter seriously?
Maeda Toshiie's request was just a matter of words to Yoshihiro.
Seeing that Yi Gin was very interested, Maeda Toshiie didn't show off. Among the three people in the room, Kamao clan is a close minister of Yoshibank. Maeda Toshiie is not worried that she will reveal her business secrets to the outside world, so she speaks directly.
"Salt and saltpeter."
Yiyin was stunned and asked.
"what?"
Maeda Toshiie said.
"It is recorded in the book "Tiangong Kaiwu" of the Celestial Dynasty that saltpeter and salt are of the same parent. When the tide rises and evaporates under the earth, the thin soil near the water is salt, and the thick soil near the mountains is saltpetre.
Yiyin narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before asking.
"You mean that there are saltpeter producing areas in the mountains of Junshang County?"
Maeda Toshiie shook his head.
“Gunjo-gun does not have such blessings, it is in the Hida Plateau.
In the southern part of Tonami County, at the source of the Shogawa River lies Shirakawa Township. Going south from Shirakawa Township into Hida Province, there are five valleys: Akao Valley, Kamiri Valley, Shimoriya, Kodani, and Toga Valley, which are called Goka Valley.
The origin of saltpeter is in the Goka Mountain here. I also accidentally discovered this place by chance. With saltpeter as a specialty product in hand, merchants will definitely be interested. "
Yiyin frowned.
"Crossing the border between China and Hida Province, it's a bit far away from Mino Country's Upper County."
Maeda Toshiie shook his head and said.
“The mountains are barren and inaccessible. You may not be able to see a village or a single person even if you walk for a whole day.
Wuxi Mountain seems to be far away from Junshang County, but there are no traces of people in the area. Salt and nitrate evaporate into saline-alkali land, where livestock and vegetation cannot survive, and no one lives on the bare barren mountains.
As long as I secretly set up a workshop in the valley and boil saltwater out of the mountains, I can use the nearby Zhuangchuan water transportation and make a huge profit.
It's just that this method is useless if it is revealed. Please keep it a secret for me, Your Majesty. "
Yiyin smiled.
"I'm very satisfied that you can be self-reliant, so how can I ruin your good deeds? I'm here with Pu Shengji, so don't worry.
But you have to be careful yourself, don't let the news leak out from yourself, then you can't blame me. "
Maeda Toshiie smiled.
"It's just a windfall that I stumbled upon accidentally. It's God's will to make it happen within a few years. How dare you expect to be able to hide it from the eyes of the world forever?"
Yoshihiro nodded. It seemed that Maeda Toshiie was not optimistic that the current tacit understanding between the Shiba and Oda families would last too long.
Owari Shiba's dilemma stems from Oda Nobunaga. One day the two families really turn against each other, Owari Shiba's current situation will be solved.
No matter whether the outcome is good or bad, it must be known, and Maeda Toshiie no longer has to stay in the mountains and suffer.
Yiyin smiled.
"If you find the saltpeter, you will be considered rich. No wonder you dare not ask for my help."
Making gunpowder requires saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. The island country has many volcanoes and there is no shortage of sulfur, and there is enough charcoal, but saltpeter has always been a big problem.
As the new technology of iron cannon was gradually matured in military use, martial artists from all over the country began to equip iron cannons. The related gunpowder and lead shot were in increasing demand as consumables.
Saltpeter and lead were mainly imported through Nanman trade and were not easy to obtain.
Maeda Toshiie actually discovered the saltpeter producing area in the island. No wonder she was sure that merchants would be willing to cross the mountains and come to the mountains to do business with her.
Hearing Yoshigan's teasing, Maeda Toshiie said modestly.
"Your Majesty, it's a joke. The quality of the saltpeter made by the local method is not as good as that of the Nanman. One stone of soil saltpeter can only be exchanged for fifteen stones of brown rice at most, which is far worse than the Nanman product."
Yoshigami shook his head helplessly, Maeda Toshiie was showing off his wealth.
It is indeed difficult to boil saltpeter in the mountains. The workers responsible for boiling it are probably short-lived ghosts. There is no such thing as chemical protection these days. They are all laborers with ordinary consumables.
But no matter how difficult it is to make saltpeter, can it be more difficult than farming?
There is not much good land on this damn volcanic island, and intensive farming for a year is not enough to provide enough food for people. Being able to exchange one stone of soil and saltpeter for fifteen stones of food is a great thing that you can't even dream of.
Maeda Toshiie's territory in Gunjo County was only 20,000 koku, and it was still a barren land in the mountains. The four officials and six citizens were considered well-to-do, and they could only dig out eight thousand koku of grain from the ground.
If she can produce five hundred stones of soil and saltpeter a year, she can cover the territory's land output. If she can produce one thousand stones of soil and saltpeter, wealthy people like Yi Yin can't help but take a look.
Regardless of how much Yiyin earns, he spends even more. He spends money to fill the gap in everything he does. Even with a net income of 10,000 to 20,000 dan, he would be jealous for a long time.
Looking at Maeda Toshiie's pretty face that looks slightly tired, she can see that these five years of experience have made her more mature than she was then, even with a hint of vicissitudes.
Yoshigan vaguely recalled that Maeda Toshiie was nearly twenty years old at the time, and should be twenty-four or five at this time. In this medieval era when thirty was considered an old woman, she was no longer considered a young person.
She dedicated the best five years of her youth to Yiyin, and Yiyin was able to enjoy the benefits without paying anything.
Yoshihiro suddenly felt a little ashamed. Maeda Toshiie was like a young man who graduated from civil engineering in his previous life and worked at the construction site until he was thirty-five years old.
They are the women that society needs most. Just shouting a slogan and injecting a little chicken blood can drain their bodies.
Yiyin felt palpitations in his heart, because he still had a conscience, which was far less mature than his previous life.
Looking at Maeda Toshiie, Yoshiyin knew what she wanted and what he could give her.
The marriage dispute was a trick by Akechi Mitsuhide to mislead Shiba's ministers, but Shiba's information was indeed the evidence leading to Yoshigan's harem.
Others' certificates were issued by Yi Bank on their own initiative. Only Maeda Toshiie's certificate was obtained by his own hands and feet, and was more valuable.
Yoshihiro could not favor one over the other, he wanted to make this visit to Maeda Toshiie worthwhile.
So, he said.
"Bama Shengji, I have something to discuss with the Lee family alone. You go out and guard the yard so that no one disturbs our conversation."
Maeda Toshiie looked calm, she still didn't know what Yoshigami meant by this. However, the Kamao clan is the old guard dog, and at this time, there is a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.
As expected, your Majesty is related to Maeda Toshiie. . Kamoji's heart felt slightly sad. As she grew older, she understood more and more what sorrow was.
Pretending not to care, he bowed and resigned. Kamao clan left the room to the lonely man and the widow, leaving the sadness to himself and left sadly.
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