There is an indescribable beauty in Shenmu City in winter, and the entire city and the mountains below it are covered in silver makeup. From a distance, the sacred tree seems to be in harmony with the city, and it looks like the residence of the legendary god Amaterasu, Takamagahara. Since it was winter, the people of the Shenmu Domain, who had been busy for a year, were also able to spend a little leisurely. It is a sad thing that everyone loves spring and summer, but only the poor people love autumn and winter. However, at such a leisurely moment, Shenmu City held an extremely serious meeting, and the outcome of this meeting would determine the fate of the entire Shenmu Territory.

At this time, Matsugami Yoshimitsu sat at the top of the assessment office of Shenmu Castle, and the retainers who had already established themselves were divided into two columns under the leadership of Saigo Kanhisa and Yoshiki Nagamasa.

"Ladies and gentlemen, since the Santugawa incident a month ago, the old party of the Shenmu family has been wiped out. Now the family has completely mastered the land of 1,500 stones in Shenmu City. However, there are still many problems that can be solved in the Shenmu Collar. After considering the main hall in recent months, we have decided to make a reform to strengthen the family, and you are willing to help the main hall. Matsugami Yoshimitsu looked at the retainers who were both civil and military, and said loudly.

"Haha." All the retainers sang in unison to show their obedience to Matsugami Yoshimitsu.

"The main hall now proclaims the following decrees. This first decree is that the family will take inventory of the entire territory from now on. Many of the landowners or farmers in the family's territory took advantage of the demise of the Shenmu family to encroach on hidden land, making it difficult for the family to collect military service and taxes. The main hall decided to take 300 steps to reverse, one anti is equal to 10 acres of scale unified land inspection. I'll leave this matter to you for a long time. Whoever has hidden land will be dealt with severely. Matsugami Yoshimitsu said to Saigo Kanhisa after announcing the first decree.

"Haha." Saigo Guan Jiu bowed to the chief's order.

Matsugami Yoshimitsu continued after seeing Saigo Kanhisa receive the order. "This second decree is to carry out sword hunting on the entire territory of the family. As you all know, the main hall was assassinated at Inada Shrine. Although most of the remnants of the evil party of the Shenmu family have been buried now, it is inevitable that there will be fish that have slipped through the net. There may also be many people in the world who have a grudge against their family. For this reason, the main hall decided to collect all weapons from the clan domain that were not samurai and ashigaru. As soon as I was flat, the main hall would hand over this matter to you. The temple will give you one month, and after one month, anyone who violates the prohibition of possession of weapons will be severely punished. ”

"Haha." Yoshiki Kazuhei also leaned over to receive the order.

Matsugami Yoshimitsu continued. "From today, the family will determine the field tax for military service. After careful consideration, the main hall decided to collect a land tax at the ratio of 6 koku and 4 peasants, and in addition, the main family would levy military service at the ratio of 300 people for every 10,000 koku. The family now has about 50 soldiers. Changzheng, the matter of the family's conscription will be handed over to you. But there is something this temple has to tell you, and you must keep it in mind. That is, the proportion of the villagers of the original Liangmu Village and the people of the original Shenmu City in this conscription should be half each. Got it?" Although it would have been easier to recruit directly from the good woods, Ashigaru's loyalty would have been more secure. However, Matsugami Yoshimitsu still insisted on recruiting troops separately in the two places, hoping to make the people of Genshin Wood Castle integrate into his rule more quickly.

"Haha." Yoshiki Nagamasa also immediately bowed down to receive the order.

Matsugami Yoshimitsu thought for a moment and added. "Given that the combat effectiveness of the conscription system is too weak. The main hall decided to change all the ashigaru requisitioned this time to a standing ashigaru, and to conduct unified military training in peacetime. ”

"My lord, this is very inappropriate. None of them responded to the lord's conscription in the form of labor. The family is also not financially abundant, and it cannot compensate for the standing ashigaru. If the lord changes it to a standing ashigaru, I'm afraid it will attract opposition from the people!" After listening to Matsugami Yoshimitsu's decision, Yoshihei Ryoki immediately persuaded him. The other retainers said a lot and seemed to be against the move.

"That's right." Matsugami Yoshimitsu thought for a moment before continuing. "Let's change the land tax for families that are subject to standing ashigaru to 4 koku and 6 people. In this case, they must have no opinion. "Now Ryoki Yihei has nothing to say.

Matsugami Yoshimitsu said when he saw that everything was almost done. "This concludes today's assessment. Everyone, please do everything. ”

"Haha." The retainers leaned down and took the order.

The second day. Matsugami Yoshimitsu took a few retainers to inspect the territory as usual, and he always thought that as a small lord, he must go to the people. If you are not accepted by the people, then your rule cannot last. Soon, Matsugami Yoshimitsu and his retainers arrived at the destination of this time, Hirano Village. It is a beautiful village at the foot of a mountain.

"What's going on there? Ippei, go and ask what's going on. ”

"Yes, my lord." As soon as Matsugami Yoshimitsu entered the village, he found that a family was holding a funeral, and he immediately ordered Yoshiki Ichihei to inquire about the situation. After all, the affairs of the people are no small matter. After a while, Yoshiki Ippei returned, and he reported to Matsugami Yoshimitsu.

"My lord, I've made a clear inquiry. The man in that house froze to death last night. ”

"What?" Matsugami Yoshimitsu was taken aback. Because the mountains near Hirano Village are covered with abundant forests, the villagers should be able to survive the winter even if they only pick up dead branches. How could he freeze to death? Matsugami decided to find out why.

"This master, how did this person die?" Matsugami Yoshimitsu asked a monk who was presiding over the funeral.

"Amitabha, the owner of this family couldn't afford firewood in the poor winter and was frozen to death." The mage said compassionately.

"What!" Matsugami asked in disbelief, skeptically. "Let's take a look at the woods in the mountains near this Hirano Village. Why didn't they cut down some dead branches? Wouldn't that make it possible to survive the winter in peace?"

"This samurai lord doesn't know! The trees on this mountain, including the dead branches, belong to the lord. How dare we use it with permission? This is punishable by heavy penalties. Before the mage could reply, one of the villagers beside him said with some sadness.

Matsugami was silent. In his previous life, although he learned through various active and passive information, the oppression and exploitation of the lords in the feudal era was very harsh. But he didn't expect this kind of harshness to reach such a point, and the people here would rather freeze to death than suffer the punishment of the lord. The era of not being afraid of life and death, but fearing the wrath of the lord, is very deplorable.

Matsugami Yoshimitsu immediately said emotionally. "The main hall is the lord of this place, Matsugami Yoshimitsu, and now gives the lord the right to cut down the branches at will." Originally, the villagers of Hirano Village did not believe the words of a stranger. But someone recognized Yoshihei Yoshiki next to Yoshimitsu Matsugami. Only then did the villagers believe Matsugami Yoshimitsu's words and bow down and give thanks. ......

Later, the name of Matsugami Yoshimitsu Hitoshi spread throughout the territory. Although Matsugami Yoshimitsu was indispensable to this, at least at the time he was sincere. This is the difference between a lord and an ordinary person.