Chapter 182: A Art

Early spring.

Wu Ming, the guardian of Izumo Province and commander of the Gen’ichi army, gathered two thousand retainers of his main household along with various local clans, forming a force of eleven thousand soldiers. They marched into Aki Province in a grand procession, advancing swiftly and decisively. Many local clans and regional warriors successively pledged allegiance.

The Mouri clan, on the other hand, was caught completely off guard.

After all, Aki Province had been embroiled in conflicts among several clans, including the Mouri and the Daizoji. None had yet demonstrated the capacity to unify the province, so most clans remained neutral.

However, just as the Daizoji clan had been defeated, the Mouri clan needed only a little time to consolidate their position and bring the local clans under their banner, forming a unified force.

But the timing chosen by Gen’ichi was precisely when the Mouri had just defeated the Daizoji clan and had not yet transformed their victory into tangible strength. It was a classic move—striking when the enemy was in transition, at the halfway mark. This strategy embodied the essence of military wisdom.

Under such overwhelming pressure, Gen’ichi’s forces achieved consecutive victories. The castles of Kagamiyama and Sarugake fell one after another, pushing the frontlines to the Mouri stronghold—Yoshida Koriyama Castle!

The opposing camps stretched along the battlefield, creating a grim and solemn atmosphere.

“Although the Mouri clan appears to be retreating, they are actually consolidating their strength!”

Wu Ming and Sakamoto Katanosuke observed the battlefield from the frontlines, feeling a sense of apprehension. They realized that although the Mouri seemed to be losing castles and suffering setbacks, their main force remained intact. They were now regrouping and resting within Yoshida Koriyama Castle, with intelligence reports indicating a force of five thousand soldiers—certainly not a force without fighting capability!

“If that’s the case, then what is the Mouri clan waiting for?”

Wu Ming asked casually.

“They must be waiting for their in-laws, the Ōuchi clan!”

Sakamoto Katanosuke replied without hesitation, “The Ōuchi clan is formidable. Once the two clans unite, they could pose a serious threat to us and even attempt a decisive battle!”

“And which direction will they come from?”

“By sea! The Ōuchi navy is famous throughout Japan… Unfortunately, our clan lacks capable naval commanders.”

Sakamoto Katanosuke sighed.

Gen’ichi’s rise had been too rapid, leaving many aspects underdeveloped and lacking in depth.

“Haha… With you as the chief strategist, my son has nothing to worry about!”

Wu Ming laughed heartily, “Come with me!”

He immediately led Sakamoto Katanosuke to where Gen’ichi Yoshiyuki was stationed.

“Lord Father!”

Gen’ichi Yoshiyuki, as the commanding general, was the first to bow. The four samurai beside him also knelt down: “We greet the National Teacher!”

“Alright, rise!”

Wu Ming waved his hand. Seeing the four warriors’ auras and martial prowess, he smiled: “My son has gathered many talents indeed!”

Sakamoto Katanosuke looked curiously and recognized two of the four samurai—Amakusa Shisarō and Banzaemon—who had grown up together with Yoshiyuki at Honnō-ji. The other two were unfamiliar faces.

“My name is Murakami Takehisa. It’s an honor to meet both of you!”

“I am Musashibō Benkei. Please take care of me!”

The two samurai bowed again. Gen’ichi Yoshiyuki smiled and said: “Musashibō Benkei is a newly recruited warrior of mine, a formidable swordsman. As for Murakami Takehisa, I’m sure both of you have heard of him…”

“Could he be from the Kumashima navy?”

Sakamoto Katanosuke’s eyes lit up, “The naval commander who dominates the seas?”

In fact, Murakami Takehisa was merely a notorious pirate in nearby waters. However, for the Gen’ichi clan, which severely lacked naval forces, any naval commander was a welcome addition.

“Exactly! Murakami Takehisa has brought a thousand soldiers from the Kumashima navy and ten large ships to join my clan. I have appointed him as a retainer commander and head of our navy to confront the Ōuchi fleet!”

Gen’ichi Yoshiyuki spoke with a confident and composed tone.

“Indeed, once fortune favors you, everything changes. This Musashibō Benkei is clearly a swordsman of the third rank, with formidable ninja skills as well… Murakami Takehisa also possesses martial prowess, a rare talent indeed…”

Wu Ming glanced at the two men, silently pondering, “It seems that being a retainer under someone else’s banner is vastly different from being the master of one’s own domain!”

He knew that before, while Gen’ichi Yoshiyuki had been under his protection, despite his talents, he had only been able to display a fraction of his potential, let alone bestow favors upon others.

But now, having assumed leadership of the clan and the title of guardian of Izumo, he was like a dragon released into the sea, free to unleash his full capabilities. Talents destined to join him gradually gathered around.

“With Yoshiyuki and you all here, I can rest assured!”

After a few more words, Wu Ming left Sakamoto Katanosuke behind and departed from the military council.

After all, having barely managed to free himself, it would be unwise to recklessly get involved again.

During this march, he had deliberately restrained himself from participating in decision-making. Although he couldn’t completely distance himself from responsibility, he managed to reduce his share of the accumulated misfortune.

Moreover, he had his own tasks to attend to.

Stepping outside the camp, Wu Ming dismounted his horse. As he seemingly wandered aimlessly across the land, subtle and mysterious forces flowed from his feet into the underground veins, as if silently organizing something.

Boom!

Who knew how long had passed, when a sudden tremor arrived, carrying a familiar and intimate sensation.

“It’s done!”

Wu Ming’s face lit up with joy. Opening his celestial eye, he saw a network of fortune and law surge from Izumo Province, connecting the captured castles in Aki Province, pushing aside the old order.

“With the reconstruction of the legal network and the regulation of the land’s energy, this region is now truly under the rule of the Gen’ichi clan, both in name and reality… My supernatural abilities can now extend here as well!”

A national teacher, bearing the dragon’s aura and combining it with the land’s energy, possesses boundless supernatural powers!

Previously, every time Gen’ichi’s army captured a location, Wu Ming had deliberately lagged half a step behind, organizing the relationship between the new territories and the clan. This was not only about capturing and assimilating each location but also about safeguarding his own life and fate.

If he stepped beyond the jurisdiction of the Gen’ichi clan’s legal framework, although he could still wield the dragon’s aura, his power would be limited to that of a mere grand master, lacking the support of the land’s energy. This would prevent him from achieving the status of a “half-step earthly immortal,” making him vulnerable to threats. Naturally, Wu Ming would not be so foolish.

“The true battlefield in Aki Province has one front there, and another one here!”

…

While the Kumashima Murakami navy was locked in a desperate battle with the Ōuchi navy at sea, the Gen’ichi forces launched a full-scale assault on Yoshida Koriyama Castle.

“Firearms unit! Fire!!!”

After thorough testing, the effectiveness of firearms and large cannons had been proven. Gen’ichi Yoshiyuki especially favored the tactical combination of firearms and large cannons, equipping 1,500 firearms soldiers and 500 large cannon troops. At this moment, the simultaneous firing of guns and cannons overwhelmed Yoshida Koriyama Castle.

“Now! Attack!”

Numerous clan samurai waved their swords, leading the charge alongside foot soldiers toward the stone-built castle walls.

“Archers! Fire!”

However, this castle was after all the Mouri clan’s stronghold, with high walls and deep moats. A bow commander shouted, and a hail of arrows rained down, killing many advancing foot soldiers. One samurai, despite being hit by a dozen arrows, managed to climb the wall but was hacked to death and thrown down.

After this wave of assault, the vanguard forces retreated in disorder, leaving behind a chaotic battlefield.

The defending samurai fought fearlessly, exchanging fire with the firearms unit while continuously dispatching craftsmen to repair the damaged walls. Coupled with the limitations of the firearms at the time, the battle remained deadlocked for the moment.

Ultimately, Gen’ichi Yoshiyuki still had some limitations compared to Wu Ming. Wanting to display his benevolence, he refrained from deploying fire-using ninja units, thus relying mostly on traditional siege tactics. This would likely prolong the stalemate for a considerable time until one side could no longer hold and collapsed.

Meanwhile, Wu Ming remained at the rear, commanding the Gen’ichi ninja group and some other ninja forces to suppress rebellious shrines, rogue samurai, and troublesome yokai, effectively eliminating all obstacles and consolidating the foundation of their rule.

At this time, an unexpected visitor arrived, piquing Wu Ming’s interest in meeting him.

“It’s such a pleasure to see you, Mr. Ito!”

Wu Ming held his tea bowl, seemingly in admiration.

Before him stood Ito Kagehide, who had once fought alongside him in the battle against the demon Shuten-dōji. Now in his early thirties, Ito was clad in a white hunting robe, adorned with a jade sash and a black hat, still radiating grace and charm. Yet, a subtle hint of bitterness lingered in his expression.

“On the contrary… I am truly amazed and ashamed by Lord Gen’ichi’s progress!”

Ito Kagehide knelt on both hands, speaking respectfully. In the past, when they had fought against Shuten-dōji together, although there was a hierarchical relationship, it was relatively equal.

But now, one had risen from nothing to become a national teacher of a powerful daimyō ruling over hundreds of thousands of koku, while Ito himself had made no progress, naturally prompting a more respectful attitude and a sense of bitterness within.

“Mr. Ito, have you come to my house seeking employment?”

Wu Ming blew on the steam from his tea bowl and said slowly, “Then I should inform you of our clan’s system. Our clan has established the Yin-Yang Bureau, which includes twenty attendants, ten assistants, six Yin-Yang students, three Yin-Yang masters, and one chief Yin-Yang master! Upon reaching the level of Yin-Yang student, one can be appointed as the leader of our foot soldier group, receiving an income of one hundred koku! In addition, we have established the positions of Imperial Calendar Doctor and Astronomical Doctor, each responsible for calendar and astronomical matters respectively!”

Among these, the attendants and assistants were naturally support staff, selected from children with spiritual potential within our territory. They served the various Yin-Yang masters in daily life, and if they worked diligently, they had the opportunity to be taught Yin-Yang techniques. If they successfully cultivated these techniques, they could be promoted to Yin-Yang students!

These Yin-Yang students were first-level Yin-Yang masters, eligible for the lowest warrior stipend and land grant.

Above them were the Yin-Yang masters and chief Yin-Yang master, second and third-level experts, each with corresponding benefits.

As Ito listened, his heart grew increasingly wary, realizing that although the Gen’ichi clan’s system was simple, it was an effective training framework, indicating grand ambitions.

However, he had come here under a certain directive and with the intention of pledging allegiance, representing the Yin-Yang master faction behind him. He immediately bowed deeply: “I humbly request Lord Gen’ichi to accept me!”

“Excellent! Although this matter requires reporting to the clan head, I can make the decision now. You are at the level of a Yin-Yang master, so you can serve as a foot soldier commander in our clan, receiving an income of five hundred koku!”

Wu Ming spoke slowly. Regardless of whose intentions this might be, he would simply absorb it. Now, he had the strength and capital to do so!