Japan's Sengoku Period: The Sanada Clan's Ambition

Chapter 115 Discovery of a Gold Mine
Shinano.

After giving his instructions to Masayuki Sanada, Nobuyuki Sanada set off to return to his castle, Nakano Castle. He had been away for several months and felt he had to go back and visit.

Especially Xiaoxing, I really miss her after not seeing her for so long.

The main reason is that I have been holding back my emotions for many days and I need to let them out.

As for discussing the adoption with Yoshimasa Kiso, Masayuki Sanada will handle it himself; there's no need for Nobuyuki Sanada to personally intervene in such matters.

Eager to return home, Sanada Nobuyuki, Yamagami Teruhisa, and others rode their horses swiftly northward along the Chikuma River.

On the way, we even encountered the Chunri Xinda team.

"Lord Genzaburo, are you in such a hurry to return to your territory?" Kasuga Nobutatsu greeted him warmly.

Kasuga Nobutatsu's father, Kosaka Masanobu, was one of the "Three Danjo" of the Takeda clan, along with Sanada Yukitaka, and they had a very good relationship. Kasuga Nobutatsu also fought alongside Sanada Nobutsuna and Sanada Masaki, but unfortunately, both Sanada Nobutsuna and his brother were killed in the Battle of Nagashino.

"Isn't Lord Kasuga also in a hurry?"

“Speaking of which, Nakano Castle is doing quite well lately. Lord Genzaburo’s business with the Uesugi family is doing very well. I wonder if my Kaizu Castle could also join in?” Kasuga Nobutatsu looked at Sanada Nobuyuki with a longing expression.

Kaizu Castle is very close to Nakano Castle; it's only a day's journey by horseback.

During this time, Kasuga Nobutada watched as Nakano Castle transformed from a dilapidated town on the verge of abandonment into the most active trading base in northern Shinano.

How can I not be envious? These are all money!

"If Lord Kasuga also wishes to participate, that would be wonderful. After I return to Nakano Castle, I will have my retainers discuss this matter with Lord Kasuga."

"As long as Haijin City also cooperates in establishing a corresponding freight station, it will be fine."

“No problem, I’ll have someone build a freight station in the castle town as soon as I get back,” Kasuga Nobutatsu immediately assured him.

Nobuyuki Sanada nodded, exchanged a few brief words with Nobutatsu Kasuga, and then left.

Since it was impossible to return to Nakano Castle that day, Sanada Nobuyuki stayed overnight at Izuura Morikiyo's residence, Izuura Castle.

Izuura Morikiyo is still under the command of Sanada Masayuki, so he is considered to be under Sanada Nobuyuki's command.

"Tsushima-no-kami, the situation in Shinano has been changing rapidly lately, so your men need to be on their toes." Izuura Morikiyo is now the head of the Sanada family's intelligence organization, responsible for gathering information throughout Shinano.

Izumi Morikiyo quickly said he understood.

Then, Izuura Morikiyo spoke up again, saying, "There is something that I cannot be sure of at the moment, but I think it is necessary to tell Lord Genzaburo about it."

"What's the matter?"

Izuura Morikiyo got up, closed the door, then sat down next to Sanada Nobuyuki and said with a serious expression, "Gold mine."

"Gold mine?"

“That’s right,” Izuura Morikiyo said softly. “Traces of gold mines have been discovered within the territory.”

Sanada Nobuyuki's breathing also became rapid. In this day and age, if you want to develop military equipment and expand your strength, you can't just rely on hard farming.

However, Shinano had no other resources to utilize. The territory was neither by the sea nor had any high-value crops, let alone any large-scale castle town.

If someone really has a lot of money at home, that could be a huge help.

"Where?" Nobuyuki Sanada asked anxiously.

Izumi Morikiyo took out a section of bamboo tube from his pocket and then poured out a rolled-up strip of paper.

After being unfolded, a very simple map appeared in front of Nobuyuki Sanada. "This is it."

"Mount Dizang?"

Izuura Morikiyo nodded and then said, "It is indeed Mount Jizo."

“I have many practitioners under my command from Mount Togakushi, and they have been active in this area for many years.”

“Last month, a torrential rain fell on Dizang Mountain, and many clods of earth rolled down the mountain, some of which contained gold.”

"Upon learning of this news, I immediately dispatched men to control all the farmers in the vicinity, firstly to ensure that the news would not leak out, and secondly to ask if any of them knew anything about the gold."

"But even the local farmers knew nothing about it, so it seems that no gold mining had been carried out here before." Izuura Morikiyo recounted the information he knew.

Nobuyuki Sanada already knew what was going on.

This is a gold mine that has never been discovered before. In other words, it's unclaimed territory; whoever occupies it owns it.

So the question is, whose territory is this?
"Whose territory is this?" Nobuyuki Sanada asked hastily, as it was important to find out.

If it's Shinano territory, then it's very simple; the Sanada family can mine it directly, they just need to "discuss" it with the local people.

But if it's foreign territory, things will be much more difficult.

Morikiyo Izuura also knew what Nobuyuki Sanada was worried about: "One good news and one bad news."

"The good news is that this place is indeed Shinano territory."

"And the bad news?" Nobuyuki Sanada's expression darkened. Could it be...?
Izuura Morikiyo said with some helplessness, "The bad news is that this place is now under the control of the Uesugi family."

"The Uesugi family's Nechi Castle is located just over 50 miles from Mount Jizo."

Nobuyuki Sanada is numb.

"Isn't this Shinano territory? Why is it under the control of the Uesugi family?"

Izuura Morikiyo quickly explained, "This place is located in the midst of towering mountains, with a sparse population and barren land. No one paid attention to it before."

"There is a narrow mountain road here. Although the main army cannot pass through it, it can still enter Echigo and Etchu." "After Lord Shingen conquered Shinano, Murakami Yoshikiyo fled to Echigo and built Nechi Castle under the orders of Lord Kenshin to defend against the Takeda clan."

"Later, when Katsuyori allied with the Uesugi family (during the Otate Rebellion), the Uesugi family ceded this land to the Takeda family, which then belonged to Lord Nishina (Nishina Morinobu)."

"When the Takeda clan was destroyed by the Oda clan, the Uesugi clan sent troops to seize this place."

"After that, the main family and the Uesugi family did not negotiate on this matter, and since this place was not an important territory, it has always been controlled by the Uesugi family."

After hearing Morikiyo Izuura's explanation, Nobuyuki Sanada understood.

This is a godforsaken place, a region that nobody would want even if it were given away for free. The Uesugi clan only built a castle here to defend against small-scale infiltration from Shinano.

If it weren't for Urasori Kiyoshi mentioning that there was a gold mine here, even Nobuyuki Sanada wouldn't have been interested in this place at all.

“However, although the Uesugi family controls this region, it mainly controls the valley north of Mount Jizo, while the village of Odani south of Mount Jizo remains under the control of the main family,” Izuura Morikiyo continued.

Sanada Nobuyuki suddenly saw hope again, "What's the situation in Otanimura now?"

"Ogura Village was originally the territory of the Dairi clan."

"After Ogasawara Tosetsusei launched the uprising, the Daihikata clan supported the Ogasawara family. Later, when Lord Kisaburo regained the position of head of the family, many members of the Daihikata clan returned to their hometowns to farm."

“However, some samurai choose to serve their own clan,” Izuura Morikiyo replied slowly.

The Dai-Nichi clan were a small group of people from a small province in Azumi and Minouchi districts. They had little presence, their territory was small, and they were basically ignored.

Sanada Nobuyuki thought for a moment, then continued, "Who is the current acting magistrate of Otanimura?"

"That's a village called So-mura."

Nobuyuki Sanada:.
Now things are really messed up. The territory isn't directly controlled by the Sanada family, and the surrounding area is controlled by the Uesugi family. Isn't this like having the meat right in front of your mouth but being unable to get it?
Does Father know about this?

"I have already reported to the lord. The lord's idea is for me to send a reliable person to investigate in person and confirm the authenticity of the information."

"However, the roads in Jizang Mountain are rugged, and there are many places where there are no roads at all. We also don't know the exact location of the gold mine, so it will probably take some effort." Izuura Morikiyo was also quite troubled.

Sanada Nobuyuki lowered his head and thought for a while, then said, "This matter must be carried out in secret, and it must be done by someone you trust, Masamune."

"Once it is confirmed that there is indeed a gold mine here, you can handle the relevant personnel as you see fit. I will not ask about the process, I just want to keep it confidential."

When Nobuyuki Sanada said this, his eyes were unusually sharp, and Morikiyo Izuura could understand the meaning behind his words.

We must not let the news leak out.

Nobuyuki Sanada was helpless; once news of the gold mine spread, the Sanada family, with its strength, would definitely have no chance.

The final result will most likely be the same as that of Sado Kinzan, where it will be directly taken over by Hashiba Hideyoshi, and then the Sanada family will have worked in vain.

After resting for a night, Nobuyuki Sanada continued his journey back to Nakano Castle.

After entering Takai County, Sanada Nobuyuki was delighted to see a constant stream of caravans along the way.

While the Sanada family did not charge tolls or merchant fees, the potential income would increase significantly once merchants gathered there.

For example, if you, as a merchant, bring goods here, you need a place to store them, right?

It would be reasonable for Sanada Nobuyuki to charge management fees and warehouse rent for the warehouses and freight stations he built in Nakano Castle, right?

"Lord!"

"Greetings, my lord."

Upon entering the Nakano House, Kasuga no Yoshinada and the others quickly greeted Sanada Nobuyuki.

Nobuyuki Sanada waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue their work, and then went into the backyard.

Upon hearing the news, Xiaoxing excitedly ran out and threw herself into Sanada Nobuyuki's arms.

"Lord Genzaburo, you're back."

Xiaoxing held on tightly, as if afraid that Sanada Nobuyuki would disappear again.

Smelling the fragrance of the woman in his arms, Nobuyuki Sanada immediately transformed, lifting her up with a forceful effort.

"Lord Genzaburo, please put me down!"

"It's still daytime."

Several maids blushed and turned their backs, while some bolder ones peeked out curiously from behind a pillar.

Soon, a fierce confrontation erupted inside the house, as violent as a volcanic eruption.

An hour later, Sanada Nobuyuki, his face glowing, pushed open the door.

Inside the room, Xiaoxing lay on the tatami mat, staring blankly at the ceiling, looking utterly bewildered.

Xiaoxing only slowly came back to her senses when a maid asked at the door if she needed any service.

"If this continues every day, how can I possibly endure it?"

"That princess of the Oda clan, why don't you hurry up and come here?"

Xiaoxing stretched out her hand, exhausted; she was too tired to stand up.

"What are you standing there for? Come in and help me up..."

(End of this chapter)