Japan's Warring States Period: The Rise of the Wakasa Tiger

Chapter 102: Music City Music Seat
The first urgent matter that Yoshishige faced was the sluggish and shrinking business in his territory.

Compared with Tsuruga, where trade was flourishing, Wakasa, where civil wars were frequent, and Tango, which was torn apart, had a long-term economic downturn, declining business, and hardship for the people. Especially after experiencing two major wars, the situation worsened. Although Obama and Tsuruga, two good ports, and the compensation from the Asakura family could solve the urgent problem, if they wanted to truly boost the economy, they had to find another way out.

Coincidentally, just when Yishige was feeling depressed, Takeno Shaoou came uninvited, giving him a glimmer of hope.

Wakasa has long supplied fish and sea salt to Kyoto and Nara, relying on the rich natural resources of its coastal areas. In the eighth century, Wakasa was chosen as the "Goshoku Province," meaning "the country that provides food for the court," and has since regularly sent seafood, seaweed, and sea salt to Kyoto as tribute.

Among these seafood, mackerel is the most popular. Because it is easy to spoil during transportation, fishermen in Wakasa usually salt the freshly caught mackerel, and then merchants walk more than 140 miles to bring it to Kyoto. After salting, the mackerel becomes firm and the seasoning is just right. Over time, mackerel became more and more popular in Kyoto, and the route between Wakasa and Kyoto was called "Mackerel Road".

Takeno Joou came to Wakasa this time to inspect and select mackerel suppliers. However, since he was returning to his "hometown", he naturally had to visit the head of Wakasa. As a wealthy merchant, Takeno Joou was not stingy with the gifts he prepared. There were not only luxurious clothes and cloth, precious tea sets and inkstones, but also a large number of armor and weapons, in addition to a certain amount of gold and silver, and 1,000 strings of Yongle coins.

When the oxcart carrying these gifts stopped in front of the Takeda clan's mansion, it attracted the Takeda clan's retainers and the surrounding people to stop and watch, and at one point the street in front of the mansion was blocked.

Upon hearing that Takeno Shaoou was coming to visit, Yizhong was overjoyed. Not only did he go out to greet him in person, he also took him to the newly renovated tea room for tea.

Seeing Yoshishige frantically making tea, the tea scoop fell to the ground and the whisk was knocked over, Wu Ye Shaoou smiled dumbly: "Your Highness, your tea making skills need to be improved."

Although he was laughing, Wu Ye Shao Ou finally asked Yi Zhong to hand him the tea spoon and let him order the tea himself. After a while, two cups of elegant and fragrant tea soup appeared in front of Yi Zhong. The elegance of Wu Ye Shao Ou's tea ordering process really impressed Yi Zhong.

"Excuse me, sir, what is the purpose of your visit to Wakasa?" Yoshishige asked politely, taking a sip of tea.

"Isn't Obama holding the 'Rokusai Market' these past two days? I happened to be here to investigate the seafood business and would like to stop by to bother Your Highness. I am very grateful for your warm hospitality." Takeno Shaoou bowed and replied.

The so-called Six Fast Market is a kind of market held in the territories of various countries. It originated from the Buddhist routine ceremony "Six Fast Days" and is held regularly six times a month, basically every five days.

"Rokusai Market?" Yoshishige suddenly became interested. "I heard that markets are held every few days around temples and shrines in Obama and Takahama, but I've never been there."

"This is my first time in Obama. Although the market here is not as big as those in Kinki, such as Kyoto and Sakai, it is still quite grand. The stalls set up along the street, the shouts of the shopkeepers, the bargaining of the merchants, and the bustling crowds are quite lively."

Hearing this, Yoshishige couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "Don't be fooled by the excitement of the market. Not much of the revenue generated by the market can actually go into the pockets of my Takeda clan. Most of it is monopolized by the seat-holders and the temples and shrines behind them."

The so-called "Zuo" refers to a group of industrialists, businessmen or entertainers who paid money to the court, nobles and temples in exchange for the exclusive right to sell or sell goods. For example, those who buy lighting oil are called "Oil Zao", those who sell aquatic products are called "Fish Zao", those who sell knives, sickles and other metal products are called "Forging Zao", and those who sell Ming imported goods are called "Tang Ren Zao".

These "Zao" showed strong monopolistic tendencies, controlling the economic production activities of their members in every link of the production and exchange fields, and excluding outside competition. "Isn't this normal? It's the same in Kinki." Takeno Joou was already accustomed to the existence of "Zao". As a trader, he sometimes had to bow to those "Zao" and the forces behind them.

"What do you think are the factors that are hindering merchants from coming and selling their goods?" Yoshishige put the matter of the "seat" aside for the time being and turned to Takeno Joo for advice on how to get more merchants to come to Wakasa to do business.

"I think there are only two reasons. One is the right to sell, and the other is the tax." Takeno Shoou analyzed it for Yoshishige:

"You should know that the right to sell goods has always been in the hands of the local 'seat'. Foreign merchants cannot obtain the right to sell goods, so they will naturally not come to Wakasa to do business.

As for taxes, I don't know what Wakasa is like, but there are many taxes levied around Kyoto. In addition to the market fee for entering the market to do business, the land rent to set up a stall, and the customs fees to pay when passing through the customs, etc., it is a very large expense. "

After listening to Takeno Joou's analysis, Yoshishige suddenly had an idea: "If I abolish the 'za' and allow merchants to trade freely, and stipulate that merchants who come to my castle town instead of around temples and shrines can be exempted from market fees and land fees, then will more merchants come to Wakasa?"

"That's inevitable," Wu Ye Shao'ou nodded, but said with some concern: "But if that happens, the Takeda family's current tax revenue will be reduced a lot. Not only that, but we will also face opposition from temples and shrines. You have to think these things through."

"I've always been thinking about how to make the castle town prosperous instead of letting those temples and shrines make a lot of money." Yoshishige said firmly:

"Although there will be a temporary loss of some profits, merchants are group-oriented and profit-seeking. As long as there is a wave of merchants coming to my castle town, there will be more and more, and eventually all the money paid to the temples and shrines will be transferred to my pocket. By then, not only will the interests of the Takeda family be expanded, but the power of the temples and shrines can also be effectively curbed and weakened. Therefore, from a long-term perspective, the benefits will definitely outweigh the disadvantages. By the way, I plan to call this set of measures 'Rakuichi Rakuza'."

"Le Shi Le Zuo?!" Takeno Shaoou was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that the young daimyo in front of him would have such advanced ideas and courage, which made him admire him.

"Raku means freedom. I will reduce taxes in the castle towns and abolish the privileges of the 'za' merchants. I call this 'Rakuichi'. I will abolish the middlemen's exploitation rights such as the za, abolish the 'za', and allow free trade. I call this 'Rakuza'. Through 'Rakuichi Rakuza', I will transfer the monopoly of temples and shrines over commerce to my Takeda family."

"If Your Highness can accomplish this, Wakasa's prosperity will surely reach a higher level." Takeno Jo'ou responded.

"Not only what I just said, if all goes well, I will also abolish most of the checkpoints between Wakasa, Tango, and Tsuruga, and reduce the customs fees for merchants traveling between the three places, allowing them to travel freely and unimpeded."

Hearing what Yoshishige said, Takeno Joou said with deep emotion, "I was not mistaken. Your Highness is indeed far-sighted and different from ordinary people. In the future, the three regions of Wakasa will definitely become more prosperous."

(End of this chapter)