Chapter 65: The Cunning Tsuda Family (Seeking Recommendations)

  Kira Kosuke and Tsuda Munehisa exchanged opinions on business matters of common concern in a friendly atmosphere, although they did not reach a complete consensus. The meeting was generally very successful and meaningful... In fact, the two men stared at each other for a while on the spot.

  Kirishima Manzumaru is also a seasoned staring master, having even stared down Yamamoto Kansuke's one eye for ten minutes. What would he be afraid of? Finally, Chūin Asayuki coughed lightly and reminded him, "It seems that there are guests arriving outside, shouldn't the Sōjit-in take care of it?"

  "Got it! I'll go take care of it now, excuse me!" Tsubata Soichi bowed and ran off.

  "Killing with a glance? Ha! I've never been afraid of anyone!" Kiryu Manzoumaru closed his eyes to rest his overused organs, not thinking about his own status. He even went incognito and discussed business with merchants, being stared at for half a day, which would surely spread fear if it got out.

  Half an hour later, when Sojiro returned to the Tennojiya, the future master of the house had regained his composure and threw out a super order without saying a word.

  "Fifty passenger carts, two hundred freight carts, indeed a big deal." Kiryu Manzaburou priced the two types of carts clearly, with passenger carts at 150 monme per cart and freight carts divided into two models based on size, with the first type at 20 monme and the second type at 30 monme. The total for both types of carts was 5,000 monme for 100 carts each, and 7,500 monme for 50 passenger carts, adding up to 12,500 monme. Even with a conservative estimate, the pure profit would be around 8,000 monme. This isn't a big deal? What's considered an even bigger deal?

  "It's no wonder that you're a renowned merchant in the region, we daimyos from afar can't help but feel inferior. With a few perfunctory words of praise, Tsunetami didn't think much of it and went on to propose an agency agreement for Kiriyama's refined sea salt, for which he would establish a Shōin temple salt warehouse."

  Kira Mansaburou showed no interest in his proposal for the time being. He had no idea what Mikawa was like, and with what capital he could open up trade routes. If he took the overland route, the Oda family would take a cut, if he took the sea route, the pro-Oda naval forces of Saeki would take a cut, and in the end, the last bit of profit would be swallowed up by the checkpoints - what was there to gain?

  It's pointless to continue talking about business, so Tsunetaka changed the subject to casual conversation. He talked about how his business career started two years ago when he took over his first client, and now he is a relatively well-known merchant in Tennojiya. In the future, he will gradually take over the family business of Tennojiya and make it even more prosperous. He has always been determined to surpass his grandfather and father, and become an outstanding great merchant.

  "In Tennojiya in Sakaimachi, there are many merchant houses that can be used for meetings. If Lord Kira needs them, they can be borrowed at any time."

  With the last promise, Kiriyama Mantsumaru left Tennojiya. Shortly after he left, Tsuda Munemitsu came from the back hall and said, "You did well. Since the Nara period, the emperor has been visiting nearby Kyoto, so the roads in the capital are wide and flat. The fifty carriages you bought for the imperial court are not a loss. The influential nobles of the imperial court, the five mountains and five temples of Yamato, the Ishiyama Honganji Temple's Shōnyo, and even Miyo Masaie are also very cost-effective."

  "Yes! Father! That's what I was thinking when I agreed to this deal. And besides, it would be easy for the skilled craftsmen of Sakai-machi to make a few carriages, so even if that Lord Kira found out, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it!" Tsunada Munemoto smiled triumphantly, like a fox who had stolen a chicken.

  "This shogunate's high-ranking officials can be respected from a distance, but in terms of importance, it's better to continue to curry favor with the imperial court. The shoguns have been driven out by the warrior class time and again, but only the powerful nobles in the imperial court are eternal and unchanging. You must remember! Associating with cultured people will be beneficial for Tennojiya's business. Whether it was Hosokawa Harumoto yesterday or Miyoshi Nagayoshi today, or whoever comes to rule over Kinai tomorrow, they can't do without these cultured people. Today's business with the Naka-no-in house is not bad, but from tomorrow on, the business in the eastern provinces will be handed over to you to take care of."

  "Yes! Thank you for your kindness, Father!" Tsunoda Munekazu hastily bowed down to thank him.

  ……

  Going south from Izumi town is Izumi Province, and the eastern part of the country is Kawachi Province, which is the next destination. The Minamoto clan originated in Kawachi, and this province now belongs to the Hatakeyama family, one of the three administrators. On the road to Kawachi Province, dozens of riders from the Kira family are slowly advancing.

  "Master of the inn! How on earth does the Tsunoda family have so much money? They spent 6,000 mon just like that before, it's really amazing!"

  "Idiot! That's just a down payment. When the carriage is finished, there will be another 6,500 yuan to pay as the balance."

  "The master of the house hasn't answered my question yet?"

  "What's wrong?"

  "Why is he so rich? He's even richer than us samurai who work ourselves to the bone just to earn a meager stipend!"

  "Does Zenjiro want to be a merchant?"

  "What? No way! How could Zenjiro, a good man like me, stoop so low as to become a merchant?"

  "That's it." Kira Yoshinaka muttered, spurring his horse to accelerate and leave him behind. Not long after leaving Sakai-machi, Nakaino Asamitsu parted ways with Kira Yoshinaka, taking charge of escorting the 6,000 kan back to Sakamoto, accompanied by half of the Seitekishi and mounted samurai, who would return to report with Kira's message.

  He has been in a bad mood for the past few days, because Hattori Masahide told him that during his conversation with Tsuda Sōgyū in Sakai-chō, Tsuda Sōgyū returned from Sakainan-shō, but what's strange is that he didn't show up even after returning, and has been hiding in the store pretending to be mysterious, which is a bit too much. The Tsuda family, being of merchant origin, should not dare to put on airs in front of him.

  The merchant's identity is not even qualified to compare with the warrior, and seeing the noble guest being so rude, the motive becomes very simple. "Eight out of ten, it must be because of the face of the Nakano family that they contacted our family... If it weren't for our family's carriage being quite good, they would have given us a business deal worth one or two thousand kan to satisfy our family... Hmph! What do they take our family for?"

  Kiriyama Manzaburou was getting angrier by the minute, and his anger was about to boil over. He reined in his galloping horse and jumped down, walking to the side of the road where he let out a torrent of abuse in some dialect: "What famous people I've seen through! Either they're idiots with something wrong with their minds or they're just lowlifes with nothing but flowers in their brains. Not one of the vassals came to visit me after staying at Sakamoto's residence for a few days, don't they know the benefits of striking while the iron is hot? If you don't come to worship this great Buddha now, it'll be too late to try to curry favor later!"

  It's a relief to let out the words that have been bottled up in your heart, but he surprised Mabuchi Bokuden by doing so. It took more than half a day for him to come around, and it was Yamagata no Jirōzaemon who ran over and shouted loudly: "The master is practicing the secret method of the Zhenyan sect! Everyone remember, this is a top-secret that must not be leaked!"

  "Right! This is the Shingon sect's secret mantra! I've heard it before!" Taki Kōjirō swore, and everyone believed him. Who knows where this young whippersnapper from Shimousa countryside had learned about the Shingon sect's secret mantra on Mt. Koya? Anyway, everybody soon took it for granted. Honda San'ya pulled at Taki Kōjirō's sleeve and said: "I want to learn that mantra too! Teach me, Kōjirō-san!"

  "Baka!" Takigawa Keijirou knocked two lumps on his head with the scabbard of his sword, and only then did the very curious Motoda San'ya hold his head in his hands and become more obedient.