Crossover: A Different Inuyasha.

"Reply to Inuyasha-sama."

The Nine-Nine Toad continued to possess the city lord's body, adjusted its posture, and then spoke.

"The territory has a total population of over 15,000, of which about 4,200 are able-bodied men who can perform corvée labor. It has over 4,000 chō of cultivated land and an annual tribute of about 42,000 koku of rice."

The cultivated land is more than 4,000 chō, which is about 60,000 mu, and the 42,000 koku is about 6,000 tons.

"There is a castle town under its jurisdiction with a population of about two thousand; there are forty-three villages scattered in the valleys and mountains, and the people are self-sufficient in food."

"However, there will still be a shortage in years of severe famine, and we will need to purchase grain from neighboring countries for future use."

"There are also 200 regular foot soldiers, and the number can reach 1,200 in wartime. The quantity of weapons, armor, and horses is adequate, but good horses are scarce, and most of the horses raised are mountain dwarf breeds."

The toad, Jiujiu, began to tell the story in a gentle and detailed manner.

From hunting beautiful mountain girls to accidentally bumping into Inuyasha, being knocked to the ground and becoming his lackey, and finally transforming into a "city lord," he has thoroughly studied the accounts of his territory in the past few days.

"If Lord Inuyasha needs it, the territory can requisition 10,000 koku of grain every six months, which will not affect the planting and food reserves of the people next spring."

Including adults and children, and averaging two shi of food per person per year, 10,000 shi would be enough to feed 5,000 people for a year, which would be sufficient to satisfy the newly established Zenkenkyo and Rashomonkyo.

As for the next steps for the two new cities, you can roughly refer to the "Cheng Guanxi" and "Xi De Fei" models.

Inuyasha pondered for a moment before speaking.

"From this day forward, taxes and corvée labor shall be reduced, and the focus of the territory's development shall be shifted to the reclamation of wasteland. Before the spring of next year, the cultivated land shall be doubled, all land that can be plowed shall be plowed, and all wasteland that can be burned shall be burned."

"Don't keep all the ponies in the stables eating hay. Lend them to commoners to pull plows and turn the land. Whoever is willing to contribute their labor can lend them the ponies. Give away seeds for free. For newly cultivated land, only half of the land tax will be collected for the first three years."

People eat for food.

Whether you're a monster or a human, nothing you say will matter if you're hungry.

Farmland is the foundation of everything.

Inuyasha took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and after a moment's thought, continued.

"All orphans within the territory, regardless of whether their parents died in war or from demonic calamity, shall be gathered together and sent to Zenkenkyo for resettlement."

"A separate proclamation will be issued to recruit skilled craftsmen from all over the country—carpenters, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, stonemasons. Anyone with a skill who is willing to go to the capital will be provided with land to settle down."

Once the problem of basic needs is solved, the focus shifts to talent acquisition and future considerations.

However, during the Warring States period, all other professions were considered inferior, with only studying being considered superior.

Monks and nobles who wrote calligraphy were treated as honored guests, while craftsmen who wielded hammers and chiseled stones were mostly classified as "lowly professions".

The term "talent" seems like a luxurious compliment when applied to these people with calloused hands.

Upon hearing this, the Nine-Nine Toad lowered its body, its words full of flattery.

"Lord Inuyasha is wise. In this way, Zenken Kyo will not have to worry about not having anyone to use."

"Stop flattering me," Inuyasha waved his hand, his tone lazy and impatient.

"I only give the orders; how the subordinates run the errands is your business."

After he finished speaking, he picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, put the cup down, stood up, and walked to the railing by the window.

The autumn sun was shining brightly, warmly bathing the streets below and the fields in the distance.

A few wisps of smoke rose from between the houses, stretching straight into the sky on a windless afternoon.

Inuyasha leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance. His long silver hair was ruffled by the mountain breeze, shimmering with tiny glints of light in the sunlight.

"Nine-Nine Toad, you better remember this—good deeds will be rewarded, and mistakes will be punished. In your territory, keep things in order and maintain stability."

"We have plenty of time."

"Ten years from now, I will ensure that the people of this land are well-fed, clothed, have houses to live in, have land to cultivate, and that everyone is united in their hearts."

"As for those lords who are still scheming to exploit the land and line their own pockets with the people's wealth—"

Inuyasha turned his head to the side, and the winding mountain ridge on the horizon was reflected in his pupils, undulating and stretching, seemingly like a blue dragon stretching across the ends of the earth, about to raise its head and soar into the sky.

"Raise a righteous cause and raise an army to attack them."

"We belong to the Heavenly Army!"

The wind blew in from the mountains, making the wind chimes on the eaves ring out once, clear and melodious.

A large, bright green tadpole lay on the floor, its flat, round body almost pressed against the wood grain, its two bulging, blood-red pupils lowered.

"Yes, sir."

In the distance, a crow swept across the treetops at the foot of the mountain, leaving a short cry that was quickly swallowed by the wind.

After lunch, Inuyasha and Kaede, no longer in a hurry, walked back along the mountain path.

Feng walked half a step ahead, his wooden clogs rustling softly as they stepped over the fallen leaves.

After a moment of silence, the priestess spoke first, "Were you serious about what you said—light taxes and levies, taking in orphans?"

Inuyasha, hands behind his head, looked languid. "When have I ever said anything unserious?"

Feng glanced at him sideways, but ultimately didn't say the words, "You always say one thing and do another, you're quite unreliable."

She rephrased it, "I just didn't expect you to care about those things. Population, land tax, artisans... You used to not even care much about what you ate each day."

"The past is the past."

Inuyasha's tone was unusually serious for a moment, "Before, I was all alone and didn't have to worry about anything, but things are different now."

"What's different?"

"Now people are eating with me."

"...Just because of that?"

"Otherwise what?"

Inuyasha laughed, "Cultivate oneself, manage one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world."

"Men, when they reach a certain point, will always gravitate towards these four points."

"and……"

Inuyasha's eyes flashed back to the past, "Children without a home, how pitiful!"

"With parents alive, life still has a source; with parents gone, life only has a destination."

"Sometimes I really wonder what the meaning of my existence is."

"It was only after meeting Kikyo that I realized this world was still worth living in."

"Now I feel even more strongly that if I don't do something earth-shattering, I've wasted my life."

Feng turned around to look at him.

Looking at this face, for a moment it seemed to overlap with the prickly half-demon in my memory—yet it also seemed completely different.

"...You've changed."

"Will it get better or worse?"

Feng paused for a moment, then turned around and continued walking forward, his voice carrying a hint of a smile.

"He's become cunning. He used to bare his teeth at everyone and only knew how to throw punches, but now he's learned to use his brain and even knows how to say nice things."

"Hey, hey, I'm pretty clever, okay?" Inuyasha caught up in two steps. "Besides, how is that considered polite talk?"

"That's called 'righteousness'!"

"Yes, yes, yes—"

Feng turned around with his hands behind his back, smiled with narrowed eyes, and said, "My 'righteous' gentleman."