The only regret is that his exploits are not perfect -- this defeat of Shinmasaki is the first defeat he has encountered since he led his troops into battle!

Although this battle was a big blow to Date Masamune, it also aroused his belligerent heart, and where he lost it, he got it back!

However, just as Date Masamune was carefully looking through the map and was planning the second operation against the Uesugi family, he saw Zhikura Tsunecho panting and running in with a solemn expression.

【Lord! Big things are wrong! 】

Date Masamune looked at Zhikura Tsuenaga suspiciously, what else could happen at this juncture?

[What's wrong?] Could it be that Uesugi Keitora and Akechi Kogoro called? This can't be, I only got a report from the ninjas half an hour ago, and the Uesugi army hasn't taken a definite action yet, and it hasn't even been able to assemble in a formation......]

【Lord! No! The people of the Uesugi family are very honest, but compared to this, our military camp is a big deal right now! 】

[Nani?! Everyday! To be clear, what the hell is going on? 】

[Lord, didn't you tell me and Kojuro before that we had to respect the opinions of the Lord Regent and the old ministers in the family, and reduce the amount of the ransom before we could exchange Fujigoro and those captured generals back? 】

[Yes, isn't it all about taking care of my father's feelings? What's the matter, now my father and the old guys have changed their minds? Hehe......]

Date Masamune sneered twice.

[It's a pity, [hindsight, like pigs beforehand], the people of the Uesugi family don't plan to let go, they see us bargaining like this. I was not happy in my heart, and I left immediately after we couldn't talk, do you still want me to get him back? Those old guys can be shameless! But I, Masamune, am a faceless person! 】

Zhikura Tsunecho frowned, it was obvious that Date Masamune was making a fuss, this kind of scene he had often seen before, because the latter itself was not a good stubble, with a fierce temper, and it was easy to quarrel with others.

But the current situation can't help but let him be emotional.

Took a deep breath:

[Lord, now is not the time to talk about this...... When the soldiers heard the news, they all thought that the lord had given up the captured generals because he was worried about money, and they gathered outside the camp and made a lot of trouble! 】

[What?! 】

[They said that the lord did not cherish the lives of the soldiers, but preferred to cherish the money, which made them feel cold. 】

[Nonsense! Why don't they go find those guys to make trouble?! 】

As soon as he mentioned this, Date Masamune was on fire, as a general who commanded the army, of course, he had read the art of war, and knew which was more important than [talent] and [gold], and among them was his friend Itashi. But although he had plans to redeem people, he was also suppressed by his father and the old guys.

The old guys think that 30,000 taels of silver is too much, and more than 40 middle- and lower-level generals are only worth five or six thousand taels at most, and 30,000 taels is simply a lion's mouth, and some people think that even if it is 5,000 taels, it is too much.

[Alas, my lord, those big characters who are soldiers are not one, they know the set of our officialdom, and they are unaware of the decisions of the bosses...... Of course, this [also] must not be known to them, otherwise your authority will surely be shaken. 】

[Hehe, Gorouemon, you know my situation now, soldiers and old guys, I can't offend on either side, but now it seems that if I please one, I must offend the other...... TMD!】

Date Masamune suddenly folded the folding fan in his hand into two pieces and slammed it to the ground.

[I am really a virtue with the king by the river now, stretching out the head is a knife, and shrinking the head is also a knife! ] What a! 】

Zhicang Changchang listened and wanted to laugh in his heart, how could anyone compare himself to the eighth king of the turtle?

Of course, although he wanted to complain, he also knew that now was not the time to do such a thing.

[Lord, there is a sentence I don't know whether to say or not? 】

[You don't think I'm annoyed enough now, are you? If you have anything to say, I will go and appease those who make trouble! 】

[Appeasement is definitely needed, but my lord, if you want to calm down the emotions of the soldiers, the best way is to redeem those who have been captured. 】

Of course I know that. 】

[But if you redeem people now, I'm afraid it won't be a matter of 30,000 taels, and I'm afraid that after the winter vacation, I am afraid that we will be blackmailed with a higher price, my lord, you have to be mentally prepared. 】

Date Masamune thought about it, and his brows furrowed more and more tightly -- he was not a person like Grandet who regarded money as his life and was stingy, and he still had the skill and courage to spend money lavishly, but it would be wrong to regard him as a "wronged leader" because of this. Money has to be spent on the blade, and I don't want to be [slaughtered] for no reason.

But now it seems that it is impossible not to be slaughtered, the original 30,000 taels is already a lion's mouth, and now in the second negotiation, this [lion]'s mouth will definitely open even more.

[But lord, this is not entirely a bad thing? 】

Tsunecho Zhikura suddenly said coldly, which aroused Date Masamune's idea.

[Not a bad thing? 】

[Lord, this may be an opportunity, if you can do it well, not only can you get through the difficulties smoothly, but also make your authority more stable, and the elders of the family will not hinder you everywhere. 】

[Gorou Uemon, you speak more carefully. 】……

Tsunecho Shikura leaves Date Masamune, who is to hold a meeting to negotiate a ransom. The task of the chief of the branch warehouse is to temporarily calm the emotions of the soldiers, so that they will not make trouble for the time being, and if the soldiers of other reserve units are also stirred, it will be extremely bad.

[Soldiers, be quiet and listen to me. 】

When he walked in front of the troublemakers, everyone immediately fell silent.

Tsunecho Shikura is not a big official, and his status is not even comparable to that of a rising star like Kojuro Katakura.

It's just that as a staff member, he often appears around Date Masamune, so the soldiers have seen him and regard him as Date Masamune's spokesperson.

Chang Chang glanced at everyone, and almost didn't startle -- good guys, there are really a lot of people gathered here, and he roughly estimated that there should be at least two hundred people, and if they continue to make trouble, this number will have to rise.

[Listen to me first!] 】

Chang Chang of the branch warehouse crossed his hands on his waist, stood on an earthen platform, looked majestic, swept more than 200 officers and soldiers, and said:

[I know you are very wronged, and I know that you are very unfair, my mood is exactly the same as you! 】

As soon as these few words were shouted, the officers and men immediately cheered loudly, and everyone was excited and moved.

Tsuneko Zhikura is actually not very good at shouting and other work, but he still said very imposingly:

[Now I'm going to release a secret for you to know, so that you can understand what this is all about? Why is this happening! 】

Immediately, the crowd began to clamor again.

[At this time, the conspiracy of the Uesugi family, in order to blackmail the family, they actually offered a high price of 70,000 taels in one go, and it was not 70,000 copper coins, but genuine silver taels...... Brothers, ......]

He pretended to be extremely sad, and even changed his title to "brothers".

[It's not that the lord is unwilling to pay this money, but this amount is too big, think about it, how much does the family earn a year now? You can't make so much money by smashing pots and selling iron. 】

Okay! In order to put all the responsibility on Uesugi Jinghu, Changchang Zhicang insisted on doubling the amount of the ransom more than doubled, anyway, Uesugi Jinghu is not in front of him now, do you still expect him to come over and confront Changchang Zhikura?

In fact, Date Masamune's income is very rich now, and the territory of more than one million stones, if he ignores the people's feelings and forcibly levies taxes, he can get 30,000 taels of silver, but if Date Masamune's mind is not confused, he will not do such a stupid thing that loses the hearts of the people.

And the soldiers who made trouble were dumbfounded--70,000 taels? Oh my God, what kind of concept is this?!

In particular, in ancient times and modern times, because of the differences in the environment, the amount of income in various parts of Japan was not the same, and the [salary level] of the local government was also different, such as the Oda shogunate, which occupied the Gyeonggi area and had a very rich income, and the [civil servants] under its command were relatively high, while in poor rural areas such as Shikoku or Tohoku, not only the local government (lords) did not have a high income, but even the retainers and even soldiers who worked for them could not earn much money a year.

For example, Idashi, who is now depressed and eating prison food at the Uesugi Army Numbara Camp, has run away and wandered around because of his feud with Date Masamune in the original history.

Historically, Uesugi Keikatsu, the head of the Uesugi family, heard of Itami's reputation and wanted to recruit him as a retainer, so he offered him a high salary of 50,000 koku to join the Uesugi family, and Tokugawa Ieyasu also offered a salary of 50,000 koku after learning the news, trying to persuade this famous man who was not even able to receive the account of Taiko Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

As a result, we all know that Date Masamune did not agree to the invitations of either family, and later before the Battle of Sekigahara, he returned to Date Masamune's side, was forgiven by the latter, regained his status as a minister, and spent the rest of his life in Watari Castle with an income of less than 30,000 koku.

The Japanese are very appreciative of Itami's integrity, and they are also amazed by Uesugi Keikatsu's eagerness to seek talent, but they don't have such a good eye for Tokugawa Ieyasu, and they all think that he is an old ghost.