“As long as you all work hard from now on, I will promote you just the same!”
With an example set, Wu Ming immediately addressed the remaining people: “Now, Kazuki Matsushita, take some people and clean up the entire fortress. The rest of you, form groups by family unit and assemble at Shota Matsushita’s location, where I will register and record you, and then distribute houses and food supplies. The farmland outside can still be rented to you for cultivation!”
Within the original fortress, traces left by demons were discovered. Some of the demon-made wine and dishes made with human flesh let Wu Ming know that the status of these people within the fortress was mostly quite low, with some even rescued directly from captivity.
Upon hearing this, they couldn’t help but be moved to tears.
“Of course… there are also those who have acted as henchmen for the demons…”
Wu Ming’s eyes swept over Shota, Kazuki, and several sturdy members of the Tsuchigumo clan.
“Hmm… living alongside demons for a long time, their bodies have even been infused with demonic energy… they really are good material… that idea of mine seems like it can now be put on the agenda!”
…
Matsuda Castle.
Inside the main keep.
“What? That Oniichi Hōgan not only captured a fortress, but also obtained goods worth at least three thousand kan?”
Although delighted that the young lady had been rescued, Yamada Toramori soon showed surprise mixed with greed.
“Yes, and my subordinates estimate that there are at least six hundred koku of farmland near the fortress!”
The ninja named Kurazan reported kneeling, not daring to hide anything.
“Six hundred koku of land, goods worth three thousand kan… and he also wants me to grant him a certificate of land rights? How annoying!”
Yamada Toramori said discontentedly.
“My Lord!”
At this moment, Toda Mitsu Masahira gritted his teeth and knelt forward, bowing low with both hands on the floor: “Oniichi is an extremely powerful warrior who has even achieved the feat of slaying a hundred men!”
Seeing that Yamada Toramori was still hesitating, he continued solemnly: “Moreover… he is also a powerful Yin-Yang master. According to the account of Itō, Oniichi’s mastery of magic far surpasses his!”
Anyone who could achieve a hundred kills must be a formidable swordsman, possibly even a ken’ō (sword hero)!
And being an onmyōji (Yin-Yang master)… this is another very significant factor!
If he truly is a ken’ō, he can certainly force Yamada Toramori to back down, not to mention the fear of curses from an onmyōji.
“If that’s the case, then Mitsu, you can take the certificate of land rights and give it to him!”
After a long while, Yamada Toramori said with a bitter smile.
At this point, he had already realized that once the other party occupied the fortress, he had no other choice.
After all, the opponent was a warrior with the strength of a hundred men and possessed a strategic fortress. Even if he sent samurai, could he really take it back?
Since there was no way around it, he could only acknowledge the situation, allowing both sides to save face.
“Hai!”
With a wave of his hand, Toda Mitsu Masahira and the ninja Kurazan left. The sliding door to the adjacent room was then opened, revealing the figure of Naitō Takanaga:
“My Lord! Please, bear with it for now!”
Seeing this, Yamada Toramori couldn’t help but sigh in resignation. In these turbulent times, even being a daimyō meant there were many things beyond one’s control.
…
Tsukimi Mountain.
The former fortress had already been cleaned up, especially after Wu Ming personally identified several hidden demons, and conducted a purification ceremony, making the entire fortress look brand new.
Furthermore, following the customs of this world, this fortress was named “Tomodamamaru”!
“Of course… it’s still quite small now. If it develops further, it can become the foundation of a powerful clan… and even if we can obtain more than ten thousand koku nearby, perhaps this Tsukimi Tomoda Maru could be renamed Tsukayama Tomoda Castle, and I would be the daimyō ruling this city…”
Wu Ming rubbed his chin, quite satisfied with his own playful idea.
At this moment, he was strolling along the ridges outside, listening to Kazuki Matsushita’s report:
“Lord, after surveying the land, we found that the surrounding land of Tomodamamaru totals six hundred and fifty koku! And most of it has already been sown. With proper care, we will have a harvest in the fall!”
Kazuki’s face was flushed with excitement.
After all, the difference between possessing something as one’s own versus someone else’s was huge.
Moreover, six hundred and fifty koku was no small amount. Even a minor clan could consider themselves lucky to control around a thousand koku.
“Six hundred and fifty koku is still not enough!” Wu Ming shook his head. “We must recruit more people and continue to cultivate more land! We should aim for over a thousand koku. That way, our household can support three hundred to five hundred people, and when necessary, mobilize one hundred to one hundred and fifty soldiers, only then will our foundation be stable!”
At that time, rice was the main staple food, and the consumption was enormous, with different portions for men, women, and children.
However, Wu Ming estimated that no matter how much meat and wild vegetables supplemented their diet, an average of two koku per person per year was still indispensable.
Thus, in theory, the maximum capacity would be to support the living of five hundred people, and mobilizing a hundred ashigaru would be more than enough.
With this, one could already be considered a local clan lord. Look at the Yamada family of Matsuda Castle, even as a daimyō, their maximum mobilization was only a thousand soldiers.
“There’s something about recruiting people I wanted to report to you, my lord!”
On the other side, Shota Matsushita hurried over, exchanging a glance with Kazuki Matsushita, which carried a hint of rivalry and comparison.
Seeing Kazuki Matsushita working so hard, it was also a challenge for Shota Matsushita, pushing him to strive even harder.
“My Lord! The wild people who had previously fled have mostly returned these days. Following your instructions, I have announced that existing families need not be broken up, and have encouraged marriage, and we have already registered forty households!”
At this point, a slight blush appeared on Shota’s face.
Taking this opportunity, both he and Kazuki had also chosen two outstanding women to start their own families, which was almost unimaginable during their previous life as wandering rōnin and Tsuchigumo.
But now, they had achieved it all at once, even gaining their own stipends.
“Ah! I must surely repay my lord’s kindness with my life!”
This was what he thought in his heart.
“Hmm… those who fled before have now returned?”
A slight smile appeared on Wu Ming’s lips, which was actually quite normal.
After all, leaving here meant they could only become wild people, without food or the protection of a fortified castle. Perhaps in just a few days, they would die of cold and hunger or be hunted by demons and wild beasts!
Hunger and death left them with no choice but to either flee far away or submit to someone’s protection.
However, in Yamato, where land was scarce and population was dense, besides himself, how many others would be willing to accept them?
“Of course, they can be taken in, but I have several requirements!”
Wu Ming thought for a moment and said: “First, most of you men previously followed Shuten-dōji, but that’s not a big deal. The key is whether you have deadly enemies among the people here, or have a particularly bad reputation—in such cases, just arrest them!”
As he spoke, both Shota and Kazuki had some cold sweat on their foreheads.
“And the second point concerns the children…”
Wu Ming looked at Shota and Kazuki again as he spoke, “You two have gotten married, right? But you don’t have children yet. How about adopting an orphan? They could help around the house!”
In the case of bandit marriages, what formalities were needed? They just led the woman into their own house and that was it.
Shota and Kazuki were moved, yet puzzled, that their lord would even pay attention to such a detail.
“As for the adopted child… naturally, they won’t have inheritance rights. However, they can earn their own merits when they grow up. Besides, most of the remaining dozen or so children already have parents. We just need to find two more families, and all the children will be taken care of…”
In fact, in Yamato households, only the eldest son usually had inheritance rights.
Other sons, like the second or third sons, if they couldn’t find a place to go after reaching adulthood, would face a very bleak fate. They often had to work like oxen and horses for their elder brothers, just to earn the right to live in the household and receive food, and even then, they might not be allowed to marry.
Wu Ming only needed to mention this briefly for Shota and Kazuki to understand.
Although it would initially consume a bit more grain, in the future, it would provide a good source of free labor.
They immediately said: “We are both willing to do so!”
“Good… In this way, each of the forty families will be given ten acres of land. Tell them that I am renting it to them, and the annual rent is only half. Moreover, after farming for three years, the land will be granted to them!”
“Also, it must be stipulated that each family must provide one male member to train during the agricultural off-season. Each year, they must serve the household for one month without pay, including tasks such as construction, road repair, and canal maintenance. In times of war, they must serve as ashigaru (foot soldiers). This must be obeyed; otherwise, their land will be confiscated, and they will be expelled from Tomodamamaru!”
“Hai!”
This was a fundamental matter. Wu Ming gave the orders casually, but Shota and Kazuki could only listen solemnly and comply.
Wu Ming then noticed that as he established the laws, wisps of fortune began to gather over the fields, forming a network that spread throughout the entire Tomodamamaru and eventually returned to himself.
Within the external fortune, the samurai family’s fortune seemed to be replenished and slightly strengthened, glowing with a red brilliance.
“This is the way of fortune… officially gaining replenishment…”
The path of fortune lies in legal systems and institutions, enforced with authority to establish supreme power over life and death.
Although Tomodamamaru was still very small at this point, it was now a whole. Once the most basic system was established, the effects were immediately visible.
The 650 koku of land only brought wisps of white fortune; if Wu Ming had a large family and the fortune was dispersed, it might only appear pale white.
But now, as the founder of this new domain, without any burdens, the fortune was concentrated on one person, appearing pure white, with slight red threads. When combined with the samurai fortune, it subtly churned, as if it were about to take form.
“However, the concept of dragon fortune comes from Chinese thought. In foreign lands, there might be differences. Although the essence remains the same, externally, it might not manifest as snakes, carp, or yamata no orochi…”
Wu Ming’s expression became very strange: “Could it possibly be Yamata no Orochi?”
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