Aman gave him a surprised look, not expecting such a quick reaction from this spendthrift. Her grandfather had asked her the same question back then, but she couldn't respond either, not realizing what connection there could be between Atsuta and Shimazu, situated on either side of Ise Bay.
But she didn't need to expose her shortcomings, nor did she praise Nozono with "Your brain is actually useful." Instead, she said directly: "Exactly, the north side of Atsuta port is indefensible, and there are no powerful noble families locally, just a run-down Atsuta estate that could be counted as something, divided between the Matsuo and Chiaki families, barely counting as someone if added together! Uh, the Sasaki and Kato families could be half-counted as well, but they're all weak, couldn't find a truly strong fighter among them. So whoever controls Nagano Castle can control Atsuta port too.
Oda Nobuhide, thanks to his deceased father's good fortune, already possesses trade routes along West Sea Road, Seto Inland Sea coast, and Shimazu. Now, by seizing Atsuta port, he can open the trade lines through Atsuta, Sanhe Bay, Jumogawa, Kanto, North Land, and even Ezo, encompassing half to all the land. And he indeed did it; he got Nagano Castle by selling his ass and successfully controlled Atsuta port, suppressed the Lin Family, who were eager to expand westward at the boundary of Owari and Sanhe and envied Atsuta port. Lin Xiuzhen joined him during that time."
"I see! That's why Oda Nobuhide's power increased so much, subduing the whole of Owari Province with these two ports?"
"Of course!" Aman waved her small hand, "Do you know how much money he can just get lying around each year, by charging toll fees (similar to tariffs) from his two port lines, Atsuta and Shimazu?"
"How much?"
Speaking of this matter, jealousy was almost spilling over Aman's face, her eyes starting to turn red, "According to my grandfather, at least forty thousand kan! Every year! In good times, sixty thousand kan a year!"
Nozono fully understood the mystery behind the Oda Dan Zhengzhong family's rise, nodding slowly, "Quite a sum indeed."
Turns out Oda Nobunaga is a rich heir, not just rich but rich generations deep. Never saw this mentioned while playing "Taiko 2"; used to think that his ancestors left him a terrible mess, and he reversed the fate with personal ability, harder than starting from scratch. But no, the ancestors were wealthy, almost born on the finish line.
At least his becoming "First man of the Warring States" relates significantly to ancestral accumulation.
"It is quite a lot!" Aman was annoyed by Nozono's dismissive attitude, thinking this young master didn't understand what strength sixty thousand kan represents, emphasizing with waving hands, "Owari Province has only twenty-six thousand stones in total, and he alone generates eight or nine thousand stones more like phantom territory, just by lying down and collecting money. Plus, on land, he connected Atsuta and Shimazu with one castle after another, setting checkpoints, charging fees like crazy every year—gold mountains and silver seas, also several thousand more phantom territories!
My grandfather said that the guy's apparent few thousand stones seems like not a big territory but actually the hidden strength could be thirteen thousand stones, possibly sixteen or seventeen thousand stones, all forces under personal control. Even all the noble families of the eight counties in Owari combined couldn't beat him."
Moreover, he relied on having some foul money to get the Dan Zhengzhong official position, pretending to be a courtier, arrogantly scolding whoever he wanted, often accusing those who opposed him to the royal court as rebels, forcing others to join him in gang-beating, not joining also means rebellion and would be gang-beaten by him, truly shameless!"
Nozono raised his brows in surprise and said, "The Dan Zhengzhong position was bought? Not inherited?"
"Inherited my ass! His ancestors were just dung-sized Katsuhata Guardians, dung beetle-like creatures!" Aman showed a face of disdain, "He sent Hirata Hideyoshi to Kyoto every year, giving money to that puppet emperor. When the emperor repairs a room, he gives four thousand kan; fix a shrine, a thousand kan; offer a Buddha, five hundred kan; continuously sending swords, horses, tea utensils, almost sending his wife too, embarrassing that shameless old emperor to the extent he sent ministers thousands of miles to thank him, wrote poems praising him, named him 'Owari's Marvel.' Even had an imperial lady-in-waiting personally write a thank-you letter for him, finally conferring an official position of Dan Zhengzhong on him.
Grandfather said that although the Dan Zhengzhong position is only from the sixth degree, seemingly small, the Imperial Court Platform-like position enables random cursing of senior officials, royals, meddling in anything, readily accusing others, with high prestige and rank among courtiers, usually reserved for court officials and nobles' sons. Were it not for his ample donation, would it have fallen to him, the country brute?"
Perhaps due to jealousy, maybe also hatred towards the wealthy, Aman spoke more increasingly disdainful, "Most people don't know these things, thinking him very capable, believing him high-born with innate talent, dubbing him 'Tiger of Owari', treating him as a renowned general, huh!
If I sat in his position, I could be as capable as him!
Having so much money allows raising a huge group of Lang Faction household retainer, buying many pieces of armor. Whenever going to war, others have one or two-tenths of Armoreclad soldiers against eight nine-tenths without armor. His Armoreclad soldiers almost make up half of them! More than forty percent armored, slaughtering unarmored like chickens, how possibly could he not win?!
She spoke angrily, seemingly wishing she could take Oda Nobuhide's head from thousands of miles away. However, as she talked, she surprisingly became cheerful, gleefully saying: "No, now he can't win anymore, losing all lifetime's savings in Minoh, getting beaten miserably!"