Now that the candidate for the envoy has been determined for the time being, Tsugawa Soji is ready to talk about the next question. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

"Kiuchi Nagaru, what is the current situation of the material reserves in the family's territory?" Soji Tsugawa said to Kiuchi Nagariru, who was sitting behind Saigo Kizo.

Kiuchi Nagaru hurriedly replied, "My lord! In terms of materials, in addition to rice, the fish from the Omonogawa and Yoneyogawa rivers cannot be used as trade goods, but they can still be supplied to the territory, and when converted into grain, the fish produced by the Omonogawa and Yoneyogawa rivers are roughly 7,000 koku. ”

"In terms of armaments, the family currently has 740 swords, 4,400 spears, 670 pairs of array hats and barrels, and 236 war horses. The iron ore in Tsugawa Castle is expected to be mined for another three to five years, and at the current pace, it will be able to produce 50 swords, 1,400 spears, and 960 pairs of various agricultural tools every year. ”

"There are 290 Maruki bows and 7,400 arrows in Odaka Castle. This is after the ashigaru that has already been equipped, and Otaka Castle is able to make 600 sets of Maruki bows and 14,000 bows and arrows every year. Kiuchi said as a head, "Although there is no shortage of weapons in the current family territory, a new round of military expansion is about to be ushered in in the family territory. At that time, the family's current inventory of weapons and supplies will not be enough. ”

"And the family territory can't produce so many weapons and equipment for the time being, so for the time being, we have to rely on the purchase of weapons from other forces." Kiuchi Nagaru continued.

"Hmm." Soji Tsugawa nodded after hearing this, and then said, "At present, although there are sufficient minerals in the family territory, there is a lack of craftsmen first, and then the craftsmanship is too backward. Next, you can send people to the neighboring areas to recruit craftsmen and learn innovative techniques. But all craftsmen who have contributed to their own family will be rewarded heavily, and even the samurai family will not be stingy! ”

"Hah!" Kiuchi Nagaru and Saigo Kizo and the others hurriedly replied.

"In addition, a trading post can be built at the mouth of the Omongawa River and the Yyogawa River. After the Akita cedar in Akita Prefecture is fell, it can be floated down the Yoneyo River to the trading post, which greatly improves efficiency. In addition, grain and other products in the territory can also be transported directly to Minato Castle through the Omonogawa River. Soji Tsugawa said slowly.

"Hah!"

"Is there anything else you'd like to add to that?" Soji Tsugawa then asked.

As soon as Tsugawa Soji's words fell, Saigo Muzao on the side couldn't help but speak, "My lord." Since his appointment as the Tsuchizaki Minato Commissioner, there have been countless merchant ships passing through Minato Castle, and there are other merchant ships that have gone out to Noto, Kyoto, Echizen, Echigo, and other places. There are also merchant ships from Ezo and other places. ”

"His Majesty thought that the family could increase business with the Ezo area, and the materials produced in Ezo such as Ezo Nishiki (this was mistakenly thought by the RB people at that time to be produced by Ezo, but it was actually produced by the Nuer Gandu Division at that time, and then traded to the Ezo people.) Eagle feathers and furs are popular in the Kyoto area. If the family can master the trade with the Ezo area, it will definitely increase the trade income of the family. ”

"And the Ezo area is not far from my home, so it's just right for my family's newly established trading fleet." Saigo Kizo said with a smile.

After listening to Saigo Kizo's words, Tsugawa Soji also pondered for a moment, and then said, "However, the trade in the Ezo region has always been in the hands of the Anto family and the southern family, so how can the family obtain the right to trade with the Ezo region in the hands of these two families?" ”

"Haha! The lord didn't know anything. Saigo Kizo said with a smile, "There are a total of twelve wealthy families in the Ezo area, and the most powerful of them are the Ezo Guardian Oyster Saki family and the Shimokuni Guardian Shimokuni Anto family. Although these twelve wealthy families are nominally subordinate to the Anton family, in fact, since the main family defeated the Anton family, the situation in the Ezo region has been somewhat unstable. ”

"The wealthy families in the western part of Ezo, led by the Oysayaki family, have been in close contact recently, and they have the intention of becoming independent from the Ando family. If the family takes the initiative to come to the door at this time, I believe that the Oyster Saki family and other wealthy families will not refuse the family, because with the support of the family, then they will not have to be afraid of the threat of the Andong family. Saigo Kizo continued.

"Hmm. Wooden is very much in line with my opinion. Soji Tsugawa agreed, saying, "Although the Ezo area is a peaceful corner, agriculture is not developed, and there are even Ainu people who are in trouble. However, if you can control a few wealthy families of Ezo through subordination, then it will also be of great benefit to your family. ”

Tsugawa Soji didn't plan to conquer Ezo, first, Ezo was too backward, although it was indeed "a lot of land", but the local natives alone were enough to give Tsugawa Soji a headache. Second, the Tsugawa family's current primary enemy is the southern family, and before the trouble of the southern family is solved, Tsugawa Soji doesn't want to go to Ezo to provoke a sao anymore.

"In the past, the reason why the Ando family was able to make a comeback after being defeated by the southern family several times was because Ezo played a very important role in it. The Ezo region alone earns more than 40,000 yuan a year from trade, and that's not counting the various customs duties and commercial taxes. At this time, Shimizu Masayoshi, a former minister of the Andong family, who had been sitting silently, suddenly said, "If the family can really occupy a place in the trade of Ezo, it will be very easy to earn tens of thousands of yuan a year." ”

"In addition, the dominant position of the Anto family in the Ezo region was mainly based on the three guardians of the Oyster family, the lower country, and the lower country Andong family. At present, the lower country and the lower country have been merged, so the Ezo area is currently the Ezo area of the Oyster family and the lower country one east and one west ruler. ”

"The next country is a branch of the Anton family, and it has always been very loyal to the Anton family, so if the family wants to trade in the Ezo region, it can only establish diplomatic ties with the Oyster family." After Shimizu Masakachi finished speaking, he suddenly fell silent.

In fact, Shimizu Masayoshi was also extremely entangled during this time, after all, the Anton family was not thin on himself before, and originally Shimizu Masayoshi planned to avoid it even if he took refuge in the Tsugawa family and fought with the Anton family in the future.

But with what they saw and heard in the Tsugawa family during this time, Shimizu Masayoshi and Kitewa Hiroshi and others were deeply infected by this vibrant atmosphere within the Tsugawa family, so Shimizu Masayoshi and others made up their minds to work for the Tsugawa family. What the? Anton's family, you say? What is that? Shimizu Masayoshi said he had no idea what you were talking about.

Regarding Shimizu Masayoshi's speech, Tsugawa Soji was also very surprised. However, seeing that Shimizu Masayoshi, an old minister of the Andong family, said so, then Tsugawa Soji also thought that Saigo Kizuku's proposal was feasible, so he hurriedly said, "Okay! In this case, then my uncle's mission target is one more Oyster Saki family. ”

"Of course, you can be tough on the Oystersaki family. After all, for a small role like the Oysaki family, the family doesn't have to worry about anything at all. Soji Tsugawa said as he curled the corners of his mouth.