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

Chapter 52 The Spoils Distribution Meeting at Sharp Stone City!
"Father!"

Even though Sanada Nobuyuki didn't have any specific ideas in mind at the time, he couldn't just leave such a large territory unattended; he had to start managing it first.

The war between the Tokugawa and Hojo clans was not yet over, and this was a golden opportunity for the Sanada clan.

Otherwise, if Tokugawa and Hojo attack, they won't let you finish conquering their territory before taking action against you.

“I have brought back the Oda clan’s permission letter. Why don’t we gather the people together first and announce the Oda clan’s decision, so that everyone can understand the legitimacy of my Sanada clan’s control over Shinano?”

"That's the only way." Sanada Masayuki nodded.

Soon, as news spread that the Sanada family would be holding a council meeting at Toishi Castle, the people of Shinano began to set off.

Within two days, the entire population of Shinano had gathered.

Because the number of people accompanying the royal entourage was too large, Toishi Castle simply could not accommodate them all. The Sanada family could only build a simple fort on the banks of the Chikuma River outside Toishi Castle to provide temporary accommodation.

September 16th, the tenth year of Tianzheng.

The first assessment after the Sanada family became the lords of Shinano was held as scheduled at Toishi Castle, and the small assessment room was packed with people.

Sanada Nobuyuki was already seated in the judging room. Familiar members of the national censure were coming in from time to time, and Sanada Nobuyuki greeted them warmly.

For example, Noda Kasuga of Kaizu Castle in Nanako County, Katsunaga Yashiro of Yashiro Castle, Morikiyo Deura of Deura Castle, Masatake Muroga of Oka Castle of Ogun County, Nobuban Ashida of Omoro Castle of Saku County, I Masamitsu Hoshina of Takato Castle in that county, Noriochichi Fujisawa of Minawa Castle, Yoshimasa Kiso of Fukushima Castle in Chikuma County, Sadake Ogasawara of Fukashi Castle, Shigeyoshi Futaki and Hisaichi Inugamo of Azum County, etc.

Kasuga Nobutatsu, Izuura Morikiyo, and others served under Mori Nagayoshi alongside Sanada Nobuyuki, and could be considered to have fought side by side.

Fujisawa Yorichika and Kiso Yoshimasa, among others, were newly surrendered members of the national confidants and had also interacted with Sanada Nobuyuki.

As for the vassals of Takanashi and Imokawa counties in Mizuchi and Takai counties, they all followed Uesugi Kagekatsu to Echigo, and these two counties are now directly controlled by the Sanada family.

The arrival of one person, however, surprised Nobuyuki Sanada.

"Lord Shimazu, I didn't expect you to come here."

Shimazu Tadanao bowed to Sanada Nobuyuki and said with a firm expression, "I, Shimazu Awaji-no-kami, am not an ungrateful person. I have always remembered the kindness of Lord Genzaburo in sparing my life that day."

"Moreover, Shinano is my birthplace, and I really cannot bear to leave it."

"I have come uninvited today in the hope that the Sanada family will grant me another opportunity to serve them!"

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly showed a touched expression, then patted Shimazu Tadanao on the shoulder and said, "I will truthfully report Awaji-no-kami's intentions to my father. Please take a seat."

"what!"

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly called Takanashi Naiki over, whispered a few words in his ear, and then pointed to Shimazu Tadanao in the corner.

Takanashi nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, and then hurried off to find Sanada Masayuki.

At the same time, Sanada Nobuyuki's gaze was constantly sweeping over the lords in the palace. If nothing unexpected happened, these people would be the "backbone" of the Sanada family system for a long time to come.

Of course, there were many unfamiliar members of the national army among them, but they were all low-ranking and powerless bystanders, and Sanada Nobuyuki had no interest in them.

"Our lord has arrived!"

With a loud shout from the Kawahara Tsuna family, Sanada Masayuki walked in from outside the judging room, his chest puffed out.

Sanada Masayuki deliberately slowed his pace, seemingly to display his authority. This was something he had learned from Takeda Shingen.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Sanada Masayuki finally reached the main seat and sat down cross-legged.

Immediately, the people below bowed their heads in greeting.

Once upon a time, Sanada Masayuki's status was equal to that of the local gentry in the house.

But today, Masayuki Sanada sat in the main seat, while his former "colleagues" could only sit below listening to his questions. Sanada felt like he was floating on air.

Is this what it feels like to be a daimyo?
Cool!
"Gensaburo, you will preside over today's evaluation. Let's begin."

Nobuyuki Sanada quickly responded, "Ha!"

Everyone in the hall looked up and turned their gazes toward Sanada Nobuyuki. For a moment, this feeling of being the center of attention made Sanada Nobuyuki feel a surge of excitement.

At the same time, several junior judges emerged from behind the screen carrying a wooden frame, which they then placed in the center of the judging room. Sanada Nobuyuki rose and stepped forward, pulling off the cloth covering it, revealing a complete map of Shinano Province.

Sanada Nobuyuki stood in front of the map, then raised the vermilion seal in his hand, opened it, and showed it to everyone in the judging room.

"Gentlemen, this letter of authorization was issued by the Oda clan and personally written by Hori Hidemasa, the Oda clan's chief steward. It bears the Oda clan's red seal and the signatures and monograms of two senior retainers, Kobe (Oda Nobutaka) and Kitabatake (Oda Nobukatsu)."

"As stated in the verdict, Shinano Province will be temporarily under the jurisdiction of our clan, and all of you present here will serve as our subordinates and obey our orders."

"Does anyone have any objections to the above?"

Nobuyuki Sanada slowly walked around the evaluation room holding the certificate of approval, making sure everyone present could see it clearly.

This is to demonstrate the legitimacy of the Sanada family's assessment to the people of Shinano. Only after this step is completed can the rest of the discussion proceed.

Those present were prepared for this, so there were no dissenting voices. The people were now eagerly anticipating the next segment, which concerned their fundamental interests.

Seeing that no one objected, Sanada Nobuyuki nodded to Sanada Masayuki in the main seat before standing in front of the map.

"According to the orders of the Oda clan, the people of Shinano Province will serve as our main force. The specific arrangements are as follows."

Upon hearing this, the crowd in the arena straightened their backs.

“The four counties of Mizuchi, Takai, Hanishina, and Kōki were originally under the control of Mori Musashi-no-kami, a retainer of the Oda clan. However, after Musashi-no-kami left Shinano, these four counties were transferred to the main Oda clan.”

These words clearly made some people uneasy.

Katsunaga Yashiro, Masatake Muroga, and Nobutatsu Kasuga were the most anxious, as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

All three were local lords from the Hanishina and Karashiki counties. They had submitted to the Oda clan out of fear, and their territories and castles were confiscated.

If the Oda clan gives these two counties to the Sanada clan, wouldn't all their efforts have been in vain?

“But!” Sanada Nobuyuki changed the subject before the three could speak, “But because when Musashi-no-kami withdrew, the people of Hanishina County signed a pledge with our clan to fight side by side.”

"Therefore, the Oda clan has decided that the former territories of the Muroga, Yashiro, and Kasuga families will remain secure." Sanada Nobuyuki reassured the three men, who were looking on expectantly.

Sure enough, after hearing this, the three of them breathed a long sigh of relief. At least their efforts hadn't been in vain.

"Internal Records!"

Sanada Nobuyuki gave a wink to Takanashi Naiki, who immediately stood up and handed the three safety deposit certificates to the three of them.

Kasuga Nobutada looked excitedly at the peace certificate in his hand, which clearly stated, "Peace and security for Kaizu Castle and its 3,700 koku of rice." At the end were the signatures and monograms of Oda clan members.

Katsunaga Yashiro and Masatake Muroga, standing nearby, were equally excited, their faces beaming with smiles. Regardless of the process, at least the lost territory had returned to their hands.

"I'll leave the rest of you to the three of you from now on," said Masayuki Sanada, who was seated at the head of the table.

"what!"

　Let me briefly explain the tax rate issue:

　　The most well-known taxes during Japan's Sengoku period are the so-called "six public taxes and four private taxes" and the Hojo clan's "four public taxes and six private taxes" system.

　　However, at that time, there was no such specific collection ratio.

　　Because daimyo don't fully understand their own territories—simply put, daimyo don't even know how much rice grains are in their territories, so they have no way of knowing how much tax they collect is paid in public or private taxes.

　　Generally speaking, daimyo (feudal lords) stipulate a fixed amount of tax to be paid on 10 mu (10 mu = 100 mu), and the standards are different for paddy fields and dry fields.

　　A piece of land is also called a section of land, which is the origin of the tax called "section money".

　　Therefore, the daimyo did not actually know the exact amount of land output; he only set a standard, namely, how much tax to pay per unit of land.

　　Regardless of how much grain your land actually produces, the amount you pay is fixed. There's no such thing as a specific ratio.

　　This ratio of public to private was deduced by later generations based on output and tax revenue; such a concept did not exist at the time.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)