Crossover: A Different Inuyasha

"The territory has a total population of over 15,000, of which about 4,200 are able-bodied men who can serve in the government. It has over 4,000 chō of cultivated land and an annual tribute of about 42,000 shi 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 need to purchase stored grain from neighboring countries for backup."

"There are also 200 regular light infantry, 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, we can roughly refer to the "Chengguanxi" and "Xidefei" 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. Seeds will be given away for free. For newly cultivated land, the land tax will be reduced to half 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 due to war or demonic calamity, shall be gathered together and sent to Shanjianjing 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, with a hint of lazy impatience.

"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, don't let anything go wrong; keep things stable."

"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, "What you said—light taxes and levies, taking in orphans, were you serious?"

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."

"It used to be before."

Inuyasha's tone became 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?"

"if not?"

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

"When men reach a certain point, they will always tend to gravitate towards these four points."

"and……"

Inuyasha's eyes flashed back to the past, "Children without a home are so 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 time here."

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 he met and only knew how to throw punches. Now he's learned to use his brain and has also learned to say nice things."

"Hey, hey, I'm pretty clever, okay?" Inuyasha caught up in two steps. "Besides, how can that be 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."

Chapter 39 Monsters Without Women

Three months later, Zenkikyo.

The first snow of winter fell slowly, accompanied by the north wind.

By afternoon, the snowflakes had turned into goose feather-like flakes, fluttering and swirling, enveloping Shanjianjing in a vast expanse of pure white.

After a busy quarter, the city's first bluestone road—Shanjian Road—was officially completed.

The road was wide and flat, and the drainage ditches on both sides were neatly paved with pebbles from the nearby stream. The houses stood in symmetrical rows, and although there were not many people, it was already showing signs of bustling activity.

A group of men wearing thick cotton-padded coats were gathered in an open space at the end of the street, around a bonfire that was burning brightly, watching an old craftsman with gray hair and beard demonstrate the mortise and tenon technique.

"When you chisel, you have to be at an angle of three-tenths of an inch. You can't go straight in and out. Otherwise, the tenon won't be able to hold the weight and it will come loose in three to five years."

The old craftsman held a chisel and gestured on the wood, his voice hoarse yet loud.

Former criminals, now apprentices, are craning their necks, diligently learning the skills to make a living in the future.

The sense of accomplishment from building a home with one's own hands is indescribable.

At least, they were happy with it.

A hundred steps further on, Shanjian Road has been cleared out as a rest park, where dozens of children are running wildly in the snow.

They were all orphans who had been taken in over the past few months. At first, they were all thin and pale, with timid or wary eyes. Now, they are well-fed and clothed, and have playmates. Their faces have finally regained some of the rosy glow that children should have.

"Gotcha! Gotcha!"

A little girl with her hair in a topknot screamed and suddenly tackled a boy who was half a head taller than her, laughing and rolling into the snow.

Several women followed behind the children. They were dressed in clean, coarse cotton clothes, their hair was neatly combed, and their faces were round and kind. When they smiled, fine lines appeared at the corners of their eyes.

Every now and then they would shout to the running children, "Slow down, be careful not to fall."

The little girl, tired from playing, nestled into the arms of one of the women, tilted her rosy cheeks up, and called out in a clear voice, "Mother!"

The children then surged over, calling out "Mother!" to the women, their little hands tugging at the hems of their clothes and sleeves, begging for a hug.

The women bent down and pulled each child into their arms, their eyes filled with warm smiles—but beneath those smiles lay a deep-seated greed.

Like an undercurrent surging beneath the ice, it was instantly covered by the light of compassion.

A corner of Yoshimi Kyoto, the children's home.

Inside the courtyard is a rockery, and at its foot is a shallow pond where several red carp can be seen.

Several plum blossoms by the pond were still in bud, their crimson hue peeking out from the snow.

The paper door was half-closed, and glowing red charcoal burned in the brazier, occasionally popping softly.

The rising smoke from the tea, mingled with the warmth of the charcoal fire, made the Japanese-style room dry and comfortable.

Inuyasha sat on a cushion, leaning against the wall, one leg bent, his arm resting on his knee, his silver hair cascading over his shoulders, shimmering in the firelight.

His gaze fell on the woman opposite him, his pupils swirling with complex emotions.

She was an extremely beautiful woman, with a gentle and dignified face, and her eyes and brows exuded nobility and kindness.

She wore a light pink kimono and knelt in front of Inuyasha, her hands folded on her knees, her posture serene and picturesque.

Izayoi – Inuyasha's mother.

But he knew perfectly well in his heart that the woman in front of him was not Izayoi.

His mother had died many years ago.

She is a demon named Wu Nu, formed from the collective obsessions of countless mothers who have lost their children. She has no face of her own, but she can reflect the longing and image of mothers in the hearts of others.

Even the courtyard where he was located was nothing more than a phantom created by the other party.

Inuyasha suddenly felt a little ridiculous—he knew it was a fake, but he still couldn't help but take a second look.

If the people of the Warring States period, a time of chaos and widespread destruction, were to choose between Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha's Infinite Tsukuyomi, how many would choose to remain in that absurd and chaotic reality?

Since we're all going to die anyway, we might as well spend our lives wandering in the most beautiful dreams.

"Don't go around with that face anymore... well, until I ask you to."

Inuyasha picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and his tone returned to its usual nonchalant manner.

"Yes, my lord."

The female steward lowered her head, her voice soft, and then the face of Izayoi rippled like water, revealing her true face underneath—a face as smooth as white paper, without any features.

It's terrifying, yet it reveals a mother's tenderness.

Inuyasha felt much more comfortable this time and looked at Mujou, whom he had appointed as the person in charge.