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"...and then, my lord."
After looking at Ichihime and Haruhime one after the other, Naotsune asked me a question with an expressionless face.
"What was the reason you left me and Lord Shigeharu behind?"
Why have I been invited into such a chaotic situation?! I will die on the battlefield, not in a chaotic scene!
Though expressionless, his eyes gleamed intensely, conveying that very message.
"Well, actually, I wanted to discuss something fairly important with you. That's why I asked Shigeharu to stay."
"...law"
Naotsune stares at me with eyes that seem to be trying to read my mind.
I'm sorry, but I actually wanted to put an interim measure before introducing Ichihime and Haruhime.
Well, of course, that's not the only reason; there are other serious reasons as well.
"This incident has given me something to think about."
"..."
All three of their eyes are on me. Now, this is where my conversational skills come into play. I have to convey my requirements clearly while also increasing Ichihime's favorability towards Haruhime.
This is because Ichihime is unaware that Osamuhime saved Asai, and for now, she probably only sees her as "a mysterious woman trying to get close to my husband."
"Hisamasa's betrayal has led to the Asakura, Wakasa Takeda, Rokkaku, and Saito attacking our territory...that fact is serious. And Shigeharu, if you hadn't risked your life to plead for help from Lord Nobunaga—by now our heads would have been separated from our bodies and taken to some distant land."
Ichihime looked at Osamuhime, whose face still bore a blue bruise, with a puzzled expression.
"But why couldn't we have foreseen it beforehand...? Whether it was Hisamasa's machinations or the enemy's movements, we were always on the defensive. If Shigeharu hadn't taken action, we would have perished while remaining passive."
"surely..."
After Naotsune glanced at Ichihime,
"If Lord Shigeharu hadn't intervened this time, the Oda clan probably wouldn't have rushed to our aid. And without the Oda clan, there's a possibility that Sugawa Castle would have fallen into the hands of the Saito forces."
Ichihime looked at me and Naotsune, then turned her gaze to Haruhime.
Her expression remained a mixture of loneliness and resignation.
"So, what you're saying, my lord, is that we must strengthen the Asai family's intelligence network, is that correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
I nodded and asked Naotsune.
"So, I wanted to ask Naotsune what we should do to achieve that."
"Hmm..."
Naotsune took a breath and leaned forward.
"It's a standard procedure, but hiring a ninja would be the best option."
"A ninja..."
I had somewhat anticipated it, but I guess that name did come up after all.
"That is correct. However, since many of those people are riverbank dwellers, they cannot be trusted very much..."
Incidentally, the term "kawaramono" does not refer to people who live by the river, but rather to discriminated groups. This group includes skilled craftsmen and is not a term that refers only to beggars or similar people.
In fact, during the Sengoku period, ninjas were not generally employed on a permanent basis by daimyo or feudal lords, but were hired only when necessary for each battle.
In particular, in areas like Iga and Koga, local lords united and tirelessly honed their skills in espionage and guerrilla warfare to protect their territories.
And those who actually acted as ninjas were mostly riverbank dwellers who were prepared to die at any moment.
"Nevertheless, their intelligence gathering and communication capabilities cannot be ignored when it comes to gathering information on the affairs of other countries...but continuing to employ ninjas will require a considerable amount of money."
"Hmm..."
In other words, the ninjas' argument is that they should be paid a fair price for their life-threatening activities, where they don't know when they might die.
That's a perfectly valid point. However, you can't take your money to the afterlife.
"If maintaining employment is too expensive...then why not give us some land instead?"
"—What?!"
Naotsune was astonished by my words, and Haruhime also seemed unable to hide her surprise.
Well, that's only natural, I suppose.
In short, they were offering land, the greatest and most valuable asset in the Sengoku period, to this discriminated class.
Even if the world were turned upside down, there would be no daimyo who would actually carry out such a thing.
"What's the problem? There are still many untouched lands in Omi. We can settle them there and use them as pioneers."
That's what I tell Naotsune.
"Even if it's barren land, if we just offer them land, they'll come over with joy. We'll let them cultivate the land, and then collect a certain amount of tax from it starting a few years later. Nobody loses. We receive the ninjas' intelligence capabilities and the resources they can harvest from the land they cultivate as tax, and the ninjas get land they never even dreamed of before—I think we can maintain a good relationship with each other."
"My lord... truly... no, I, Naotsune, am at a loss for words...!"
As Naotsune exhaled deeply, trying to suppress the trembling in his body, the fierce general, the pride of the Asai family, expressed his feelings with deep emotion.
"That is correct. What I, Naotsune, learned from my lord was the folly of being bound by preconceived notions! Certainly, ninjas, though of humble status, are extremely useful. In fact, it might be cheaper in the long run to give them land rather than money to employ them permanently... Oh dear, I am at a loss!"
Naotsune laughed without any regard for others, "Hahaha."
Then, straightening his posture, he faced Nagamasa again and prostrated himself before him.
"In that case, please leave this matter to Naotsune. I'm sure he will hire some ninjas and bring them to our side, just as Lord Nagamasa desires."
"ask"
Having said that, Naotsune quickly left the mansion.
Knowing him, I'm sure he'll do a great job.
And if the Asai family's intelligence network were to be established, information such as the enemy army's composition and advance routes would be obtained, allowing them to strategically conduct their counterattacks instead of the haphazard ones they had been doing until now.
I don't know what kind of people the Kawaramono, a discriminated class, are.
However, if they are willing to risk their lives to fulfill their duties, I have absolutely no intention of discriminating against them; on the contrary, I believe we must ensure they have a stable livelihood.
You must reciprocate kindness with something of equal value. That is what courtesy is all about.
And the same could be said of Haruhime, who had remained silent the entire time.
I had to repay her no matter what for saving Asai. Otherwise, it would be a breach of my principles.
"Now then... City"
When I spoke to my wife, who was sitting next to me, Ichihime straightened her back and began to exude a dignified aura, as if to say, "It's finally happening..."
Then Princess Osamu shrinks back, looking somewhat embarrassed.
(Oh no, this is bad...)
As expected of Oda Nobunaga's younger sister, the aura that Ichihime exudes when she's "in the mood" is quite intimidating.
Furthermore, Haruhime had only recently arrived at the Asai family's home, and on top of that, she was a woman.
Their position is as weak as it could possibly be.
And given Haruhime's personality, there's no way she would directly challenge Ichihime to a fight; in fact, it's clear she'd be intimidated and hesitant out of respect for my wife.
(But I want to create an environment where she, burdened by such a horrific past, can at least live in peace...)
I made up my mind, stood up from beside Ichihime, sat down next to Osamuhime, and with a serious expression, told my beloved wife:
When I came to sit next to her, Haruhime looked a little relieved.
"Let me introduce you. This is Takenaka Shigeharu—no, Takenaka Osamu. He is a general renowned throughout the land, and he is the one who assisted us in this battle and saved my life and Ichi's. From now on, he will serve the Asai family. As fellow women, I would appreciate it if you would be kind to him."
"I am Takenaka Osamu. Rumors of Princess Ichihime have reached even within my territory of Mino... I humbly request your kind consideration."
Haruhime bowed to Ichihime with a proper posture.
"As expected of a princess from the Takenaka family," I thought, but Princess Ichi's expression remained stern.
"My wife is Oda Ichi, and I am the wife of Asai Bizen-no-kami Nagamasa. I am truly grateful for your kind greeting, Mr. Takenaka."
Ichihime returned the bow with a graceful smile and a dignified posture, but her eyes held no trace of laughter.
When two women meet for the first time, it often becomes a process of trying to figure each other out.
However, when it comes to this happening between my wife, whom I love more than anything, and the important general who saved not only me but the entire Asai family, I can no longer remain a bystander.
However, it seems likely that this game of trying to figure each other out will be a one-sided affair on Ichihime's side.
The lovely chirping of Japanese white-eyes can be heard from outside the house.
However, inside the mansion, two lovely, or perhaps beautiful, princesses are about to begin a verbal battle whose outcome is unpredictable.
While lamenting the lack of stomach medicine in this era, I gazed intently at the luscious lips of Ichihime, the lips that would normally whisper sweet nothings to me, as I considered how she would approach me.