“The Ashigaru Group Leader is the lowest-ranking samurai, followed by the Ashigaru Commander, who commands no fewer than fifty Ashigaru when deployed in battle!”
“Above the Ashigaru Commander are the intermediate-ranking samurai of our clan, known as the Sashidaka and Busho, who can lead an independent army of no fewer than three hundred men!”
“There are also the Karo, the core of our clan. Naturally, the current Sashidaka and above will be useful in the future…”
“Shimoda Shota, Shimoda Ken’ichi, you both have performed admirably in this campaign, so I hereby promote you both to the rank of Ashigaru Commander of our clan! Each of you shall also receive an additional stipend of one hundred koku!”
“Hai!”
Everyone respectfully accepted their orders, but Tachibana Shigemori wore a worried expression: “My lord, with all due respect, our clan’s total koku may not be sufficient…”
Snap!
Wu Ming clapped his folding fan shut: “Precisely for this reason, we must strive to expand our territory! The system is now in place; all of you must work diligently! Anyone who performs well shall be promoted!”
“Hahahaha!”
Everyone bowed their heads in unison, seeing boundless opportunity ahead, their eyes burning with ambition.
Observing this scene, Wu Ming nodded inwardly in approval.
Previously, he had fought against Ye Bai, who had been killed but then mysteriously revived and was now hiding somewhere, licking his wounds.
Moreover, Ye Bai was likely terrified and dared not confront Wu Ming directly, but might resort to some underhanded schemes.
“He has lost the chance for an instant killing blow, so he can only gradually wear me down through broader strategies…”
Wu Ming was well aware that after their encounter, both had gauged each other’s strength, realizing they were evenly matched and now more cautious. Thus, the possibility of resolving the conflict with a single decisive strike had become nearly impossible.
What they could do next was merely to use external forces to their advantage, manipulating the broader situation to strike at each other.
“In this regard… Ye Bai has a shady background, and his possession of the Hebi bloodline is also problematic. He probably dares not attract the attention of deities as powerful as the Three Noble Kami. At most, he can mobilize minor daimyos like Yamada and Mori… To counter this, I must develop the Oniichi family and begin forming our own ninja forces…”
Wu Ming’s eyes darkened.
Both he and Ye Bai had reached a plateau in their strength, and there would be no sudden breakthroughs in the near future. What remained was merely to accumulate strength over time, a long and drawn-out process.
…
Five years passed in a flash.
Inside Honnoji Temple.
“The essence of military strategy lies in the four principles: wind, forest, fire, and mountain. However, the most crucial factor in forging a truly elite army is the quality of the Ashigaru…”
Wu Ming, disguised as the mountain monk Seibou, spoke eloquently: “For this reason, our clan has established the Hatamoto samurai and implemented the policy of separating soldiers from farmers, supporting full-time Ashigaru training…”
“Are Ashigaru trained daily better than those who spend their days in the fields and are only summoned in times of war?”
Onimaru Takeda mused thoughtfully.
At this time, the Ashigaru employed by various daimyos across Japan were originally farmers, only conscripted during wartime. Such armies were not only undisciplined but also poorly trained and unprepared for battle.
In view of this, the Oniichi family had gradually implemented the “separation of soldiers and farmers” policy five years ago, assembling a dedicated group of Ashigaru who did not engage in production but were trained daily.
Of course, this was a massive expense. Even with the legacy of Uzumaki, it was not sustainable. Since forming the ninja forces, the Oniichi family had developed many secret sources of income—through means quite dark indeed.
“Now, the Oniichi family has accumulated five thousand koku in stipend, and secretly controls numerous clans throughout Iizushi District, with growing tensions against the Yamada family… In other words, a major war is about to erupt?”
Onimaru Takeda remarked.
Hearing this, Wu Ming felt a sense of satisfaction. This young boy had developed remarkably sharp insight, undoubtedly a result of his own cultivation.
“Indeed, the time has finally come for our clan to engage in decisive battle, to dominate Iizushi District, and even Izumo Province!”
Wu Ming glanced at Onimaru Takeda’s fortune and saw a surge of purple energy above his head, indicating the time for his rise had arrived. Within his aura, two particularly bright streams of white and red energy signified his mastery of swordsmanship and Yin-Yang techniques at the second level’s peak.
He smiled slightly: “Onimaru, you are already fifteen this year, right? It’s time you shouldered some responsibility!”
“Hai!” Onimaru knelt, a strange sensation stirring in his heart.
“The ceremony of Genpuku marks a man’s coming of age in our land. My lord has told me he is willing to be your Oyakko no Oya (ceremonial father)…”
Wu Ming said slowly.
“My lord…”
A swirl of emotions surged within Onimaru.
This “Genpuku” was the coming-of-age ceremony in ancient Japan. After undergoing this ritual, one was considered an adult, capable of bearing obligations and responsibilities.
Typically, this occurred between the ages of fifteen and twenty, though exceptions existed, especially during times of war, as was the case with the hostage from the small island clan who underwent Genpuku early to assume his role.
“My lord has placed such trust in me; naturally, I have no objections!”
Onimaru replied solemnly.
This Genpuku ceremony was quite similar to the “Guantli” (capping ceremony) of Wu Ming’s past life, with the “crown” being of utmost importance. In samurai families, the Oyakko no Oya would present the Genpuku individual with a black-lacquered cap, signifying the formation of a father-son-like bond. The Genpuku individual would then be protected by the Oyakko no Oya, who was typically chosen from the most powerful figures within the clan.
Now, Oni’ichi Hogen was to bestow the cap upon Onimaru, the meaning was clear.
“Excellent… After the Genpuku, my lord will surely promote you to the rank of samurai and assign you to our clan’s army. From there, it will depend on your efforts!”
Wu Ming encouraged him, then turned his gaze to the two figures behind Onimaru: “Amakusa Shiro! Hapaku Maru!”
“Master!”
The two youths knelt, their fortunes impressive, and both had attained the level of swordsmanship.
“From now on, you shall serve under Onimaru and do your utmost for the Oniichi family!”
This Hapaku Maru was another fortunate youth discovered over these past five years and had naturally been recruited by Wu Ming to serve alongside Onimaru.
“Hai!”
The two youths respectfully replied, and the clouds of fortune above them subtly shifted, merging with Onimaru’s, radiating vitality and a powerful ambition.
The wind begins at the tip of the tiniest blade of grass; a single leaf can herald autumn!
“The great tide is about to rise; the true struggle for the realm has begun…”
Wu Ming’s eyes carried an inscrutable smile as he thought silently.
…
Inside the tenshu of Tsukayama Futarayama Castle.
Three years ago, the original Futarayama Maru had been renamed Tsukayama Futarayama Castle, satisfying Wu Ming’s somewhat mischievous inclinations while also declaring his ambitions over the entire Izumo Province.
Of course, no one else could see this, which left him somewhat disappointed.
A monthly clan evaluation was underway, a routine meeting where a daimyo summoned his retainers to review monthly work, assign tasks, and announce major decisions.
“Greetings to our lord!”
Inside the council chamber, Wu Ming sat at the head seat, holding his position high, while rows of samurai knelt and bowed with their hands on the floor.
“Hmm, all of you have worked hard!”
Wu Ming slightly raised the bat-shaped fan in his hand.
Due to his cultivation, the five years seemed to have left no mark on him; instead, he appeared even more vigorous and spirited.
Looking down, he saw Matsushita Shota, Tachibana Shigemori, and other important civil and military officials present, along with some unfamiliar faces—talents he had carefully gathered over the past five years and those drawn by Onimaru’s fortune—forming a strong retainer group. A look of satisfaction involuntarily appeared on his face.
“Now, each of you shall report on your respective work!”
“Hai!”
The first to step forward was Tachibana Shigemori. After being promoted to samurai, he had become more composed; the timidity and inferiority of a mere retainer had long faded, and his abilities were gradually being recognized: “Through the development of Yamada and the acceptance of land cessions from other clans, our clan now has a total stipend of five thousand koku. Our granaries hold six hundred thousand koku of stored grain, and our treasury contains five thousand kan of silver. My lord can rest assured!”
“Excellent!” A look of satisfaction appeared on Wu Ming’s face: “With these resources, our clan has the confidence to wage war!”
Glancing sideways, his gaze shifted to the military retainers.
Surprisingly, the leading figure was neither Matsushita Shota nor Matsushita Ken’ichi, but another samurai.
This was actually quite normal, considering that the two were originally bandits and had trained in ninja swordsmanship. Although they retained their sanity, personal combat prowess and command capability were entirely different matters, and Wu Ming was well aware of this distinction.
“Reporting to my lord, our clan now maintains a standing force of five hundred men. In times of crisis, we can mobilize another five hundred Ashigaru. If we rally the forces of our allied clans, we can assemble an army of two thousand!”
The samurai speaking was Yamanaka Katsuhisa, a rare combination of bravery and strategic acumen, whom Wu Ming regarded as a promising general.
“The Ghost Unit One is always ready to die for our lord!”
Following Yamanaka, Matsushita Ken’ichi declared loudly.
After multiple expansions, the current Ghost Unit One consisted of one hundred members, all exceptional ronin samurai trained in ninja swordsmanship. Their combined strength was formidable. Matsushita Shota and even Saito Ken’ichi were among them, all having reached the peak of the second level.
This was also the limit of the seed of Uzumaki’s flesh and blood. Wu Ming estimated that unless he could directly consume another powerful yokai, reaching the third level would be impossible for the rest of their lives.
Even so, Ghost Unit One remained the strongest force within the Oniichi family, having once created the feat of defeating an army of several thousand with just one hundred men, creating a sensation throughout Izumo Province.
“I naturally have complete faith in the loyalty of you all!”
Wu Ming then inquired about the progress of other tasks, his expression gradually turning serious: “My lords… The rise of the Oniichi family rests with you all!”
This solemn attitude immediately filled the retainers with a mix of excitement and reverence.
Especially among the military retainers, several of them had a bloodthirsty gleam in their eyes.
The long-awaited war was finally about to begin, wasn’t it?
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