Mount & Blade: Warband in the Sengoku period of Japan

There's a rather peculiar practice within the North American knife-making culture.

Some guys, in order to satisfy their desire to "be rich and willful" and "show off at knife shows," will commission some rather bizarre and outlandish knives.

For example, there are kukri knives that are one meter long, oversized Bowie knives that are two feet long, and all sorts of strange and large-sized machetes. Not only do they have to be big, but they also have to be made of the most expensive high-end steel.

Aside from being displayed in the collection room and knife exhibition booths to attract attention, the only use for these strange gadgets is probably chopping up tree stumps and plastic bottles in the backyard.

Chen Daoyuan's old friend Silvio did the same thing.

Before meeting Chen Daoyuan, Silvio had spent a lot of money to commission a "Nodachi" made of 3V steel.

If it were just a proper nodachi, that would be fine; Chen Daoyuan's physique would allow him to wield it. However, whether the old man Silvio was misled or simply acted on his own whim, he ordered a bizarre and expensive item that was a standard Japanese katana enlarged to the size of a nodachi.

This knife has a blade length of 121.92cm, a root width of 5.72cm, a tip width of 4.45cm, a root thickness of 12.7mm, and a tip thickness of 9.5mm. Including accessories and fittings, it weighs a total of 8.16 kg... Don't ask Chen Daoyuan why the dimensions are in whole and round numbers; it's just that the US uses the imperial units.

Even with Chen Daoyuan's physique, he could only barely swing the eight-kilogram, over-a-meter-long weapon a few times. A few more swings and Chen Daoyuan would feel his arm bones about to fly out of his shoulder joint, and his entire back muscles would scream in despair to resist the enormous rotational inertia.

Therefore, in modern times, this knife is nothing more than a remarkable display piece on a shelf in Silvio's basement.

However, when Ah Xue got her hands on the knife, her eyes instantly shone with a light several times brighter than when she saw piles of grain.

Ah Xue raised the large sword with both hands, walked to the center of the training ground, and began to wield it.

The girl was wearing a somewhat loose kimono, but Chen Daoyuan could still feel the smooth and steady power exerted by the muscles in her body.

The blade of the greatsword sliced ​​through the air, producing a series of buzzing sounds.

After swinging her sword a few times in the air, Ah Xue spread her legs, firmly planted her feet in a horse stance, held her sword horizontally in her hand, took a deep breath, and her entire back visibly straightened up. She then slammed her right foot into the ground, and the huge blade transformed into a flash of silver light. In this dazzling silver light, the sword target in the center of the training ground, which was thicker than Chen Daoyuan's thigh, was as easily shattered into two pieces as if it were air.

"Yanlong, what do you think?" Chen Daoyuan took a deep breath, secretly smoothing the hairs standing on end on his forearm, and asked the samurai beside him who was always confident in his strength.

Yanlong's face turned deathly pale. He stretched his neck and swallowed hard. "Uh... Your Excellency is wise. If such a ferocious monster were to fall into the hands of another family and be sent to the battlefield, the consequences would be unimaginable..."

"Monster? Where is the monster?" Ah Xue, who was carrying a sword and walking down from the training ground, heard some snippets of conversation and immediately perked up.

Yan Long shuddered and instinctively hid behind Chen Daoyuan, not daring to say another word.

Chen Daoyuan laughed and said to Ah Xue, "It's alright, put down the knife and let's go eat. Two more piglets died today, and they're already roasted in the kitchen."

Ah Xue immediately forgot about monsters and tossed the greatsword in her hand to a group of servants to take care of it. She then followed Chen Daoyuan happily towards the canteen.

The so-called canteen was a large wooden hut built between the training ground and the main castle of Shingozen Castle, where Chen Daoyuan's three hundred hesitant men ate in shifts.

Upon entering the cafeteria, Chen Daoyuan was slightly surprised to find Bei Xin'ai sitting there, leisurely eating rice with roasted pork, dried fish, and pickled radish.

"Sun Jiro-sama, what are you doing here?" Chen Daoyuan greeted him and then naturally asked the question that had been bothering him.

As the only named retainer under Chen Daoyuan, Bei Xin'ai built his own residence not far outside Xin Yuqian Castle. He usually eats at home and rarely comes to the canteen.

Bei Xin'ai did not answer immediately. Instead, she carefully chewed and swallowed the food in her mouth before straightening her posture and replying, "I have something to report to you today, but you are currently practicing martial arts, so I did not want to disturb you. Therefore, I came to the cafeteria to eat first."

Chen Daoyuan glanced at the roasted meat in front of him and couldn't help but chuckle. Although Bei Xin'ai was young, his daily behavior was rather conservative. Take this wild boar meat, for example. When Chen Daoyuan returned from hunting, he brought him some processed dried meat, but Bei Xin'ai returned it because it didn't violate the "meat ban"...

However, young people's bodies are very honest. Last time, when it was the same roasted pig, Bei Xin'ai, who came to discuss matters, was invited by Chen Daoyuan to eat in the cafeteria. This time, he took the initiative to find an excuse to come and eat.

Without revealing anything at the moment, Chen Daoyuan told Ah Xue and the others to prepare the food themselves, and then sat down in front of Bei Xin'ai: "Sun Jiro-sama, is there anything you want to discuss?"

"The Oura family sent a message saying they are willing to cooperate."

Chen Daoyuan immediately perked up.

Currently, his plan consists of two main focuses: the primary focus is, of course, preparing to take over the Yokote Basin, while the secondary focus is based on suggestions from Kita Nobuyasu and Nobuko.

That was to establish contact with the Oura family in the Tsugaru region of the northwest, starting with trade cooperation and gradually trying to persuade them.

Kita Nobuya and Nobuko were interested in the power of the Oura family. The Oura family was nominally a vassal of the Nanbu family. They entered the Tsugaru region at the behest of the Nanbu family. However, after several generations of hard work, the Oura family established itself in Tsugaru and became somewhat estranged from the Nanbu family. After all, the Ou Mountains separated them, and the emperor was far away.

Since everyone doesn't get along well with the Nanbu clan, it's natural to try and befriend them.

Chen Daoyuan saw it from another perspective: the Oura family controlled Tsugaru, which meant they controlled the route to Hokkaido.

Hokkaido... that's a wonderful place, a rare resource treasure trove for Japan.

Putting aside other resources, the coal in Hokkaido alone is something Chen Daoyuan covets: coal is probably the only industrial resource that Japan doesn't lack. Apart from a large coal mine in Kyushu, the majority of Japan's coal resources are in Hokkaido.

According to historical records known to Chen Daoyuan, before its development, the mountains near Ishikari Bay in Hokkaido contained large reserves of bituminous coal. Although bituminous coal is not as easy to burn as anthracite, it is even better for dry distillation to extract ammonia. These coal mines were essential for further increasing the production of ammonium sulfate.

"What did the Oura family say?"

Kita Shin'ai replied, "The Oura family has already heard of the miraculous effects of futa powder and divine steel. If you are willing to sell these two items, they are willing to send ships to sail around the Kakizaki clan's territory to establish a port and fortress at the mouth of the Ishikari River. Next spring, we will begin mining carbonaceous ore on Ezo Island as you have instructed, sir."

Chen Daoyuan smiled and said, "Alright, agree to their terms."

Bei Xin'ai frowned slightly: "My lord, both the Fertilizer Powder and the Divine Steel are important weapons in our hands. Is it appropriate to sell them so easily?"

Chen Daoyuan looked at Kita Shin'ai, his voice slightly lowered: "What arrangements have you made for Mitsushiro and his apprentice?"

"They are all staying at Mikabori and are not allowed to go out unless necessary. The Imperial Household has also sent people to protect them."

"So, what about those old farmers who were responsible for spreading the fertilizer powder here?"

"We all work as gardeners and florists in Your Majesty's Imperial Castle, and we are not allowed to go out unless necessary, as we are watched by ninjas from the Kirihara."

Chen Daoyuan laughed: "Then what are you worried about? You should know, right? Although our divine steel is good, the quenching process for swords is very different from that of ordinary swords. The fertilizer powder must also be spread according to a specific ratio and process, otherwise the crops will be easily burned by the fertilizer water... In that case, what's wrong with selling it to the Dapu clan?"

Bei Xin'ai's expression relaxed a little: "I see."

"Moreover..." Chen Daoyuan's smile gradually turned cold: "The Oura family probably only has one or two years left to live well. After we take over Dewa, it will be about time to take over the shipping routes and ports and mines that the Oura family has scouted out for us."

"Yes, I understand."

"Yes, I understand. Go back and compile the relevant information into a booklet and send it to Takamizu-dera Castle. This matter still needs the Lord of the Palace to make a decision."

"Hi."

After discussing with Bei Xin'ai, Chen Daoyuan looked up and was startled by the scene before him.

Ah Xue was enjoying a large bowl of rice and millet mixed grains. The bowl of mixed grains was piled high, almost burying Ah Xue's head in it.

Despite having met her many times, Chen Daoyuan couldn't help but exclaim: This girl can really eat!

Ah Xue ate very regularly, shoveling several mouthfuls of rice down her head, then stuffing two pieces of pickled radish into her mouth with her chopsticks, chewing with puffed-out cheeks, stretching her neck to swallow the food in her mouth, and then picking up a small piece of dried salted fish with her chopsticks and stuffing it into her mouth before continuing to shovel rice down her head.

Seeing that she was eating with relish, Chen Daoyuan pushed the roast pork in front of him over: "Axue, have some meat too."

Hearing the sound, Xue looked up, stuffed two more chopsticks of pickled radish into her mouth, and then shook her head: "The meat of this little mountain whale is delicious. I'll eat it slowly after I'm almost full."

Hmm, turns out he's a seasoned foodie.

After finishing his meal, Chen Daoyuan decided to go to the pig farm to check on things. It had been more than half a month since the start of the hunting plan, and he had captured more than 400 wild boars. However, many of them had died in recent days, so Chen Daoyuan was very concerned about the condition of the piglets.

Riding Special Week out of Shingozen Castle, the castle town of Shingozen Castle has now developed into a considerable size. In addition to the families of the hesitant crowd, many merchants have also come here to settle down. Although Chen Daoyuan has not yet settled down, commerce has begun to flourish in this small town.

Once outside the castle town, a thriving and prosperous scene unfolded before my eyes.

The Iwate District, a land where three rivers converge, is flat and fertile. After the constant raids by the Nanbu clan samurai, the settled fields were nourished by ammonium sulfate. Not only were the paddy fields lush and green, but the millet in the dry fields and even the barnyard grass in the mixed fields were growing very well.

It's late July now, a crucial time for rice to finish heading and begin filling the grains. Farmers are busy applying fertilizer to the fields.

The lush green crops in the fields were the best embodiment of Chen Daoyuan's governance, so along the way, the farmers saw Chen Daoyuan with sincere admiration on their faces.

This pleased Chen Daoyuan greatly, and he was in a very good mood.

However, this good mood dissipated somewhat when they arrived at the pig farm.