Chapter 14: The Duality of Creation and Destruction.
"Woohoo!!!"
Contrary to what I was expecting, the female Kusanagi lord was actually exhilarated with the train ride.
"Uwa-ah! L-lady Kusanagi! Stop sticking your head out of the window!"
Oh, I forgot to mention her before since she came late due to her work of guarding the rear of the delegation, but the meat headed Kusanagi clan general is also back. Her name is Ayanami Mitsuha.
"Is the Princess alright?"
"Yes, your grace. It's just that it's everyone's first time to ride such a… fast vehicle."
It was fortunate that the passenger cab we were using is still partially unfinished because the princess refused to get out of her palanquin. The empty corner of the cab that has no chairs yet was just big enough for her rickshaw.
"If I may direct the attention of everyone to the left side of the train, you can see the provincial highway that is still undergoing construction. With the assistance of scholars and engineers from Hikigaya-dono's castle, we were able to plot the right place to create this road which has eased the transportation of goods and military force across Kiko."
I spoke and everyone looked at the left side of the train where a mix of volunteer soldiers and hired workers are again working to finish the road leading to another bridge over Iso river.
"Is that the road you've been telling me about that would link Shinka and Kiko province?"
"It is. Although I must say, you've been obstinate about not receiving my engineers to guide the road construction at Shinka. How are you progressing over there, Lady Kusanagi?"
I asked plainly, not showing any expression that might turn it into something of offense to her.
"It's going well for the most part. I've mostly left it to my subordinate who also maintains Fumetsu castle. After all, those who has experience on those things are the best people to ask for it."
Being her semi-independent daimyo, I had many opportunities to share my plans with her. It wasn't included in our agreement, but I made sure to send the surplus harvests of grains and fruits to her land in order to show goodwill for her and her people. As they say, it's best to give out any excess to other people rather than letting it rot or stuffing yourself with too much of it and suffering later for your greed.
"When you said that this vehicle ran on steam before, I didn't expect it to be actually real. But now, I'm amazed that something like this actually exist."
"It is. Although if you're going to ask for something like this to also be done in Shinka, I must say no unless you're prepared to fork out every bit of gold in Shinka."
I spoke with a mild smile and a soft giggle to make it sound like a playful gesture.
"Tsk-! I didn't expect you to do it anyway. I already had my taste of your shrewdness when you forced me to sign that treaty at Naka…"
"We have a lot of time in our schedule for things like that. After all, I'm not really positive about how things are going on beyond the southern triad."
"So, you've also been looking out from outside your province, huh? I didn't expect something like that from you."
Seeing my concerned expression, she too, seemed uncomfortable of what I said. However, a soldier from the engine cab came to me and whispered something in my ear.
"Lord Iwasawa. We're about to enter Aoya."
"Mm. How long will the train stay to refuel?"
"About an hour, said the operator."
"Okay. Has General Shimura prepared the station by now?"
"Yes. He said that the dissenters has already been calmed and the Kusanagi lord's visit with be placid even with the presence of the Kusanagi general."
After our exchange, I announced to everyone in the passenger cab that the next destination would be the first stop-over and inspection site of the Daigo princess.
"Welcome to Aoya. I believe this isn't the first visit of everyone save for our Daigo clan guests."
I spoke after everyone disembarked on the partially empty train station of Aoya. It was then did I saw that Kyoko and Mitsuha has their hands on their katanas seeming wary of an invisible enemy.
"Hey, that old baldy isn't here, is he?"
"As a matter of fact, I am here well and alive, Kusanagi Kyoko."
"Tch-! You again…"
With a small group of soldiers behind him, the local clan leader of Aoyama clan emerged from the entrance of the station and responded to her question.
"Aoyama-dono, Kusanagi-dono… if I may request…"
"As you wish, no hostilities as you have asked."
Hearing that, the soldiers behind him saluted and turned on their heels in military fashion before exiting the station.
"I acknowledge the request. But if you try to pull off something, I'll place that egg-shaped head of yours on a stake and raze this village of yours to the ground."
"Kusanagi-dono… Have you heard what I have said?"
"Tsk-! I know, I know."
With Aoya now being more like a huge town rather than just the small village I used to live on, I knew that it would be tiring for everyone to walk around so I arranged for an open-air carriage to tour us around the newly refurbished area.
"One of the concerns around Aoya for a long time is the maze-like structure of the town that can confuse many visiting people. With the help of an architect from the Hikigaya domain and the cooperation of the people of Aoya, we re-arranged the houses and stores of the residents into wider and more breathable areas that limited wasted spaces."
Unlike the village that I used to live in, Aoya now has a landscape that is cleaner and more navigable to go through. The alleys has been limited to walkways and roads and most homes now has a small yard that helped make it more vibrant and breathable.
"But one of the most important things we've implemented is the change of materials used at homes. Back then, most houses are constructed with wood, straw and paper door panels that increased the risk of fire in the village. But with the introduction of cement mixed with sand and gravel, we've mostly cut down the cases of house fires while still maintaining the traditional appearance of the homes."
As I said that, we passed by the Aoyama manor that has almost already been finished from its renovation to a more durable form. Aoyama-dono has been supportive of this as Aoya and its neighboring villages usually catches easily on fire and he even forked out a massive fortune to partially support this change.
"Interesting… I have never seen a village like this before."
"Did it pique your interest, Daigo-hime-sama?"
"It has. Your work to serve your people can be reflected with this act of creating roads and renovating whole settlements for their convenience and safety. I commend your actions so far, Iwasawa-kou-dono."
"I am honored of such a praise."
Moving forward, I brought them to the new town center where a statue is being placed inside the plaza's fountain. This was discovered by a landscape engineer when the dowsing rod he was provided suddenly dipped at the place and when he ordered for it to be dug, huge amounts of water spurted out and to stop it, he ordered the place to be sealed off but Aoyama-dono said that it can be of use to the village and relocated the town square to that place.
"That statue… a farmer, fisherman and a weaver."
"The three trades of Kiko, huh?"
The Kusanagi lord and general spoke and was answered by Aoyama-dono.
"Indeed. There is no other thing we can hold in high regard other than our traditional crafts passed down for hundreds of years already."
"And I thought you'll have your face placed in there, are you getting humble now, Asura?"
"Haha… Asura, huh? It's not a name that I desire to use again."
Like me, Aoyama-dono has also been going through a state of contemplation since we collaborated to massacre and raze the pleasure quarter of Aoya 10 months ago. It wasn't his fault that his village became like that in the past, but it was still his responsibility to correct the wrongs as the leader of the settlement, even if it means that some of his people would be sacrificed for it, namely the villagers that worked in that place.
"This new town center has become an open-trade hub for a lot of merchants and artisans. In conjunction with the train station and highway leading to the trade town of Tohou, it has helped to drive down the prices of daily necessities and even non-essential items as you can see at the hands and necks of the beautiful maidens of Aoya."
When I said those words, the women who are wearing jewelry that I mentioned noticed me and a few joyful shrieks mixed with the repeated mention of my name followed after.
"Iwasawa-kou-sama, if I may interrupt."
"Um, yes. What is it, Hime-sama?"
"Can I view these… non-essential stores that you speak of?"
Oh, I see. She's an ojou after all. I shouldn't be surprised that she'd ask for a shopping run when we passed by here.
"As you wish, Hime-sama. I'll order them to stop the carriage for an hour so you may peruse the stores nearby."
Once the carriage stopped, her servants took out her palanquin from the rear of the carriage and she rode it again while her other attendants bearing casks and chests of gold followed after.
"Wow. She really is a Daigo princess…"
"Such is the extravagant nature of a Daigo clan woman… You'd be surprised of how bottomless the allowance of one of their members can have."
Walking towards me, Kyoko spoke slowly while removing the creases from her yukata while her general adjusted her breastplate that loosened during the trip.
"Aoyama-dono, make sure that the merchants here has properly paid their taxes or else, you're free to punish them later."
"As you wish."
He spoke and followed the Daigo retinue to scare the businessmen to not skimp on their fees.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to take this opportunity to collect money so quickly."
As the Daigo princess would take her time shopping around, I took initiative and invited the two other guests to a couple of places where I thought their interests would be fulfilled.
"Oh, Iwasawa-kou-sama! It is an honor for you to visit our place!"
"Hello there, Kurayama-san. It's been a while since we met. I think it was 7 months ago when you invited me to the opening of this store."
We went through a huge road leading out of the town square and stepped into a huge building with an oriental motif. Inside of its huge slightly empty chamber, a familiar woman greeted me.
"It is. Oh, you have guests today? Come in, we have just replenished our pantry today, so our ingredients are fresh."
This is Kurayama Rie, the wife of Kurayama Daichi who was one of the patients that died while I was the local doctor of Aoyama. 7 months ago, a letter came to Naka castle inviting me to the opening of a restaurant. I thought of just sending a word of congratulations until I saw the name of the sender and ran to Head Maid Asada to send a caravan filled with half of the ingredients in the castle's pantry to come with me to Aoya.
"This is our menu, esteemed guests. Please inform me once you have picked your dishes."
"It's surprising to see your diner slightly empty like this. Can I ask why?"
"Oh, that's because it's still early in the morning. Most of our patrons come here during lunchtime or at evening during dinner. For breakfast, most Aoya residents prefer to eat at home or at the other eateries near their workplaces."
"Hmm… I see."
I don't know if it was a sense of familiarity or her cooking is just indescribably delicious, but there was no other person in Kiko who is better than her after she opened her restaurant near the town square.
"T-this is-!"
"Delicious… I can't believe it!"
I treated the two ladies and our small retinue of guard soldiers to eat there.
"Rie-san's diner has grown so much in just 7 months. Some merchants that are just passing by Aoya to rest for the night has repeatedly been drawn here by good rumors and since then, this restaurant has never closed its doors."
"I can see that being the case with how good the food is. But if it never closes, how do they operate for the night, surely this place can't be lighting hundreds of lamps every night."
"Oh, that? Rie-san, can you open the lights?"
"As you wish, Lord Iwasawa."
"W-Waaa!!!!"
"What the-?!"
With a flick of a switch, the slightly dim dining chamber of the restaurant lit up that slightly surprised the visitors from Shinka who thought it was an explosion or a thunderstrike.
"Lady Kusanagi, Lady Ayanami, may I introduce you to the electric lightbulb. An improved form of a lamp that I am steadily putting into place in the major cities of Kiko."
"That's… that scared me…" spoke Kyoko.
"What kind of sorcery is this?"
The response came from the female general who took her hand away from her sword.
While they were recovering from their shock another noise surprised us from the direction of the soldiers' tables.
"W-wait! What?! Why is Naka Sake so cheap here?!"
"A-ah! S-sir, please don't pull me by the wrist!"
It seems like a soldier from the Shinka group was surprised with the value of their beloved wine in here and invertedly pulled the arm of the waitress serving them.
"I already said let me go!"
I don't know if it was his dull reaction speed or the guy was too shocked to pay attention to her complaint, but in a single moment, the soldier was thrown down to the floor by the waitress before she scurried off.
"Rie-san… that girl is…"
"Yes. She's my other daughter that I was talking about in my letter. Daichi's daughter from his first wife who passed away before we got married."
I have heard about her from her stepmother and Chiyo. She's a really good-looking young woman who seems gentle and refined, but when harmed, she will prove to you that she didn't spent 4 years at a local martial arts school to just be beaten up.
Lately though, after her stepmother started their business, she began to work here after receiving the advice of Chiyo who has fighting skills at the same level of her more feminine skills.
Still, it seems like the transition would take a little more time to sink in for her.
"I would like to apologize in person to the girl in lieu of my men."
"Um, sure. The kitchen is this way."
The female general stood up from the table and was led away by Rie-san, leaving me with the lone Kusanagi lord.
"Now that we're alone… What do you want to ask me?"
"Oh ho… I didn't expect you to notice that I've been holding some questions. Tell me, when did you notice it?"
"When we were at the train while I was showing the road construction.
"I see… That was sharp of you."
"Get to the point."
"…"
"…"
We stared at each other's eyes with a fierce glare until she heaved a sigh and placed down her chopsticks.
"How many men can you field out 3 weeks after this week?"
"A minimum of 4,000 men from my central army. If the other clan leaders are willing to join, that can range from 6,000 to 10,000 men at most."
"I see. With that number, we can hold off until the arrival of Ishigawa-nii and his army… but that would mean wasting lives and supplies holding off sieges at the fortresses in the border…"
She mumbled those words while biting her thumbnail in frustration.
"Which of your neighbors are attacking?"
The Yukogahara-clan. They've been trying to poke us into offensive action these past few days to gain the 3 other lands' approval to collaborate on attacking us. They are small bandit families sharing the same large province. Normally, that kind of place wouldn't be that much of a deal, but with the discord between the provinces and the occupation of the northern daimyos of the capital, they are beginning to be like ticks on Shinka's back.
"…I see not problem in there."
"What?"
"4 Bandit families turned daimyos… If we will help, we can surely drive them off even by just ourselves."
"A-are you nuts?! They have 40,000 people ready to wage war on us. We only have 17,000 at most and a few hilltop castles to defend with. What are you saying about wiping them off?!"
Without a care of who can hear her, she shouted and slammed her hands on the table.
"Once we get to Naka, you will understand what I am saying right now. I should warn you though, Kusanagi-dono…"
I spoke lowly as I turned my eyes on her.
"This war that you're making me join might permanently change the perception of everyone else about these Warring states period that everyone is having. I can guarantee that once they see us in this battle, they will never think of us in the same way again."
I knew already that this would have large impacts on what will be happening after this.
"Let's go. I shouldn't keep you waiting for the answer."
Once we boarded the train, the attendant of the Daigo princess called me to where their master is, and I followed right beside her palanquin.
"You've called, Hime-sama?"
She opened the window of her closed palanquin and spoke from there.
"I've seen plenty of your inventions while I was at the stores of Aoya, Iwasawa-kou-dono. At a clothing shop, I've seen a weaver making string from the fibers of a plant whose boll looks like a cloud and weaving it into a soft and breathable cloth though a spinning machine driven by this thing you've created called electricity."
Oh, I just reversed the thing I did to the water and wind turbines to turn the electricity to mechanical energy again. Aoya and Naka are the only cities with electricity for now since they are the ones nearest to a river dam.
"There is also a sewing machine at that same shop that aided with the creation of these magnificent clothes. I love them."
"I am glad to hear it, Hime-sama."
"Another praise-worthy invention of yours is the machine I saw when we went to a jewelry store. The goldsmith directed his praises to you for creating the object he placed over his eyes to accurately and cleanly etch my name on the locket I bought from him."
"I am honored of the praise."
It's not a machine. It's just regular eyeglasses.
"Iwasawa-sama. We are nearing Naka. Nagisa-sama has already prepared for the arrival of the Daigo princess at the station and Asada-san has prepared the lodgings for her and her men."
"Good job. How about the demonstration for the Kusanagi Lord?"
"It is prepared as well. Shimura-dono said that he already ordered the men to not let a fly get past the secret compound behind Naka mountain."
"Understood."
The trip to Naka from Aoya was the longer one since Naka itself is tens of kilometers away from any other major cities. This is why we confidently marched towards Naka when we deposed the Akizuki lord because we know that even if someone will inform them, they would be too late to get ahead of our march.
By lunchtime, we arrived at Naka and on the platform, three familiar women greeted us.
"""Welcome to Naka harbor, esteemed guests."""
Chief Shrine Maiden Akizuki Hisako, Internal Government Minister Nagisa Masami and my fiancé and manager of the official functions of my Daimyo office, Aoyama Chiyo. The three were there to greet us.
"Wow. The three concubines of this jerk."
"…"
Well, I didn't expect that… But I should have expected it given her usual attitude.
"What? Don't be ashamed. You're a man, that is natural."
"Umm… I am a shrine maiden…"
"I am already betrothed to someone else as the daughter of the Nagisa clan."
When Hisako and Masami answered back, she looked at me as if wanting me to support her.
"…"
"What? Don't look at me like that when your joke fails."
This girl… it's so annoying to deal with her when this happens…
"Ahem! Jokes aside, I'll be leaving the Daigo princess to you two, Nagisa-san, Akizuki-san… Please entertain her while I and the Kusanagi lord is away for the military demonstration."
""As you wish, Kou-sama.""
"Mm. Now, Kusanagi-dono. This way."
Regardless of her offensive joke earlier, I maintained a levelheaded attitude and acted like nothing happened as she, her general and Chiyo followed me to a closed carriage whose windows are sealed off and the inside is lit by a lamp.
"Hmph."
Before we rode it though, Chiyo embraced my arm and pouted at me.
"W-What?"
"Hmph, hmph!"
Oh, I remember. I didn't say anything earlier when Kyoko mentioned the three of them having that kind of relationship with me.
"…"
I looked around us and when I saw that there was no one looking, I quickly embraced her and snuck a kiss on her forehead.
"Mm!"
"What? You asked for an apology, didn't you?"
"…Yes. But that was so sudden."
Her face was beet red when I looked at it, so before anyone can turn their attention to us, I linked my arm with hers and led her to the carriage.
In a matter of minutes, we finally arrived at the other side of Naka mountain that was cordoned off by Nobisuke for the weapons demonstration today.
"Well, this is intimidating…"
"I agree, Kusanagi-sama."
Just after they stepped out of the carriage, Kyoko and her general was met by a few rows of soldiers lined up with full combat gears.
"Iwasawa-kou-sama! First Infantry Battalion Commander Ishida Takeo, reporting for the demonstration! Ten-hut!"
"Banzai!"
With the shout of their leader, the other soldiers shouted a response and raised a salute to me.
"At ease, gentlemen. I am happy to see everyone present for today's activity. As you may already know, it is the time for us to present ourselves to our local allies and prove that Kiko will not be left behind by the times when it comes to defending our lands. Now then! Let us start!"
As the men prepared, we were led to a higher platform to watch the demonstration they prepared. On the platform was my general and the organizer of the event, Shimura Nobisuke.
"Lord Iwasawa, Lord Kusanagi, Lady Ayanami. It's a pleasure to have you over."
"Let me sit already, I wanna see what you guys prepared for today for your lord to hold his answer until here."
Not minding his greeting, Kyoko walked past him and sat on the chair meant for me.
"Just let it go. She's a guest."
"As you wish…"
With the blow of Commander Ishida's whistle, the demonstration started.
"The first presentation would be centered around the riflemen."
"Aim! Fire!"
*BANG! BANG! BANG! Ping-!*
"That-!"
"What the heck is that musket?! How did it fire without reloading?!"
As expected, the merchants during the contract bidding must've kept their silence after I made an example using the Shinju clan. If not, they wouldn't be this surprised of it.
"This is the M5 Seiryuu. A rifle produced by the Nagisa Arms and armor and the common weapon of the combined Kiko armed forces. The design allows for 8 shots before needing a reloading action."
"You… you made this?"
"I have."
I spoke softly as the next presentation started.
"The second presentation is centered around the "Sakana" 30-millimeter cannons and "Rakurai" 105-millimeter artillery pieces of the newly formed artillery corps. Everyone, we highly advice that you cover your ears for this one."
The soldiers removed the tarp over the cannons and quickly loaded them.
"Half load!"
"Half load in place!"
"Fire!"
*Ka-krack!*
As the cannons fired, the air was ripped as the far away target house that was specially made for this event was turned into rubble by the explosions.
"That… in just a moment…"
"How… how…."
They were mumbling it, but I knew already what was in their thoughts.
"Lastly, we will be presenting the newest addition to our armory. The M64 "Tsunami" gatling guns."
Last on the list was a 6-barreled machine gun resembling the British Maxim gun. This was the thing that I was sure would force her to acknowledge my request to her.
"Let them out!"
With that shout, 3 bulls ran across the field towards the position of the two machine gunners but in a span of 5 seconds, those animals fell down with tens of bullet holes in their bodies.
"…They're dead!"
Shouted the soldier that inspected them.
"Iwasawa…"
"What is it?"
"What are you planning with showing us these things?"
Beside me, Kyoko asked while looking a bit pale on the face.
"You asked for a military ally, you now have a military ally."
"That's not my point!"
She shouted and stood up from her seat.
"These weapons… they surely can destroy anyone in your way… but if you wield such a huge advantage from us… why aren't you using it yet?"
"I do not like to admit it… but I too, am afraid of these tools of destruction." Her general spoke in accordance with the words of her lord.
I sighed and asked Chiyo to hand the scroll to me that I prepared on advance.
"This is my demand."
I gave it to her and let her read it out herself.
"I request your assistance to ally with the Yamaguchi clan and the Daigo clan by the end of the next 2 years… If all three of these daimyo families will agree, we will provide them with production facilities, machinery and training to acquire the same equipment that we have along with technical knowledge to secure the civilian population's welfare and convenience."
"This is…"
"A diplomatic request. If you will help me ally with the Daigo clan and Yamaguchi clan, I will allow everyone in that alliance to have these weapons, production and training included."
"What is your plan? Why do you want to unite the southern triad and the Golden coast of Daigo?"
With that question, I dropped the information I received from my spy network near the capital.
"The Amanogawa shogunate's successor is dead. He was murdered by the daimyos of the northern provinces before he can even escape the capital."
"That's… that's impossible! If he is dead, then… wait…"
"It seems like you finally understood."
I spoke and stood up to face her.
"The daimyos of the northern provinces want to hold the capital to find a suitable replacement whom they can force to adopt the Amanogawa name and be their puppet in the imperial court. In order to avoid those who want to challenge them, they created a "living" successor that is hiding somewhere to distract and make the other daimyos fight each other while they are still working on their ploy."
"What…? Then the purpose of this alliance is-"
"To make sure that our provinces and people in this part of the country will not be harmed, I am planning to either defend our lands until the trickery is exposed or if that would be too harmful…"
I extended my hand towards her with a word that I steeled by heart to speak.
"I am planning to attack the capital until we drive them off and let the only other descendant of the Amanogawa clan to take over."
"Haha! And that would be no one else but me."
With a bratty voice, the person I am talking about came to the platform to show herself.
"This is Misanagi Rinne, grandchild of Misanagi Jirou. And the thing that makes her special, is that she is the granddaughter of the late Shogun through her mother's line."
"What-?!"
"This kid?!"
"Hehe! It's time to attack!!!"
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