When spring came, what I wanted to do was cultivate shiitake mushrooms. During the Sengoku period, shiitake mushrooms were a luxury item, and if they could be harvested in large quantities through artificial cultivation, it would generate cash income. However, cultivation takes time.
First, cut down the Mizunara tree from the base and leave it to wither. Next, cut it into lengths of about one meter and dry it for a month. Then, perform the inoculation process. Using spawn would be easier, but in this era, the only option is to use sawdust spawn. Drill holes in the Mizunara trunk, stuff the sawdust spawn into the holes with a stick, and cover them with caps made by shaving the wood. After that, place the logs in a location that is shaded from direct sunlight but has good air circulation and drainage, and the artificial cultivation of shiitake mushrooms will be complete.
(From my research, a semi-artificial cultivation method, where logs are stacked and the growth of shiitake mushrooms is expected, was already in use in the early Edo period. It was called the "Nata-me method," I think. In any case, increasing food production is a good thing. Eventually, with the use of bed log cultivation, we should be able to harvest enoki, shiitake, and maitake mushrooms as well.)
"Master, we have completed the stacking of the Mizunara trees as you instructed."
"Very well, you have done a good job. Appoint a reliable person as the mushroom field supervisor. Mushrooms will become a specialty of Tanabe. This is an extremely important role, so it must be someone from the Tanabe lineage."
In response to the report from Kichiemon, I gave additional instructions. At three years old, Kichimatsu could not run around in the mountains. Therefore, Kichimatsu used diagrams to explain, and the actual supervision was done by Kichiemon.
"I'm sorry, but my body is not yet fully developed. I keep troubling Kichiemon. Please forgive me."
"Master, do not worry about such things. Thanks to your instructions, Tanabe has become prosperous. I take pride in being a part of that. I feel joy, not hardship."
People lose motivation when they stagnate. If they can feel that things are going well and that they are becoming prosperous, they can work hard. This was exactly the case with salarymen during the period of high economic growth.
"Kichiemon, don't neglect your meals and sleep. I am preparing a hot spring resort at the foot of Osorezan. Although it is a bit far, so you won't be able to visit frequently, I will let you be the first to use it once it is completed."
"Ha ha, what a great honor."
Kichimatsu wanted to develop the Yatsurugi Onsen near the Tanabe Castle or the Tounan Onsen along the Tanabe River, but all of these required "pumping" and were difficult to develop as hot springs in this era. Near Tanabe, places like Osorezan Onsen, Yakuken Onsen, and Yunosawa Onsen, which have natural hot springs, could be easily developed.
"By the way, how are Matsu and Ume getting along?"
"They seem to have adapted quite well. I am considering having them take care of a few people as junior attendants in the future."
The two boys, aged ten, who were taken in as attendants, were quick-witted and had good judgment. Kichiemon was personally teaching them reading, writing, and arithmetic, and they were expected to grow into civil servants. It could be said that Kichiemon was the principal of a civil servant training school. While the Tanabe domain under Kichimatsu's rule was developing, it was not experiencing an unprecedented boom. To achieve that, there were not enough people.
"Rest today. We will be busy again from tomorrow."
After dismissing Kichiemon, Kichimatsu looked at the document. It contained the most efficient method for "saltpeter production" that he knew.
The road construction from Tanabe Castle to the north was ongoing. The road was five ken (about nine meters) wide, wide enough for two carts to pass comfortably. In modern terms, it was the width of a one-lane road with sidewalks on both sides. Kichimatsu set this as the standard for the main streets of the new fields. He remembered that the old Tokaido road was about the same width, so he adopted it.
"It will take time, but this road will extend north to the Ohata family, west to the Kawahata, and east to the Sarugakemori. We will pave it with crushed stone and compact it. But first, we need to complete the road to Osorezan. It will be challenging to open up the mountain, but it is extremely important."
Due to the increased efficiency of agricultural work, about twenty people could be secured as civil engineering workers. They were divided into groups of five and worked for three days, followed by one day off. The new fields provided three meals a day and rice for their families. This was essentially "employment."
"The civil engineering workers will eventually be useful in battle. Currently, there are twenty, but we will increase this to hundreds. It won't be too far off."
According to Kichimatsu's calculations, this would be realized in a few years. The news that Tanabe was accepting people to reduce the population had reached the Ishikawa Castle in Tsugaru, and dozens of people were sent again. Additionally, the rice was growing well, and a good harvest was expected. By expanding farmland and forming a logistics network between villages through the roads, Kichimatsu believed that Tanabe could grow to produce tens of thousands of koku.
"Efficiency. It's all about efficiency. Achieving maximum results with minimum effort. For that, we need to plan, execute, and verify. We must repeat this process tirelessly."
Kichimatsu prioritized promoting those who could read and write and were good with people, appointing them as team leaders. He personally guided them on how to report, teaching them to report bad news first and then good news, rather than giving vague or exaggerated reports.
"Everyone makes mistakes. I make mistakes too. I will not blame someone for failing after trying, but I will blame them for not trying and failing. We must accept failures, identify the causes, think about how to improve, and apply what we learn. That is what learning is."
In his previous life, Kichimatsu was the owner of a construction company, so he was familiar with efficient civil engineering and construction work. However, what he paid even more attention to was safety inspections. He detailed the roll call, communication, and tool maintenance, and if necessary, he would go to the site on horseback to provide guidance. Initially, people followed the rules reluctantly, but after experiencing accidents like finger injuries or getting their feet caught, they learned the importance of safety inspections.
"Osorezan is not that high, but we still need to improve the mountain road for about four ri from Tanabe. At an average of half a cho per day, it will take about 300 days, or two years."
Kichimatsu groaned as he calculated with the abacus made by Suke, the carpenter. Osorezan was not a single mountain like Mount Fuji but a mountain range. It was a forested area with cedars and beech trees, and bears, boars, deer, and wolves also lived there. The workers were equipped with crossbows, but the number of workers was still insufficient.
"The population is increasing, but it still doesn't reach 3,500. If we gather too many people, we will stand out in the Nanbu region. Transporting people from other countries by ship is limited to ten to twenty people. Being a landlocked island is good for defense and information security, but it makes it difficult to increase the population."
Kichimatsu lay down, hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling.
(Frustrating, but it seems I need to take about ten years to steadily develop Tanabe. There are so many things I want to do. In this era, untouched Anbe Castle and the Mutsu mines can produce gold, silver, and copper. Using the cupellation method, we can import impure copper from other countries and refine it into high-purity copper, which can be used to mint good money and further develop trade. I also want to trade with Ezo. In exchange for teaching the Ainu people the technique of making maple syrup from maple trees, I want to get permission for mining development. Even if we can't reach the Kariwazan mine, the Teine mine in Ishikari could yield gold comparable to Sado...)
Hearing footsteps, Kichimatsu sat up. A voice came from the other side of the shoji. As expected, it was Ume.
"Master, we have a report from the port. A ship has arrived."
It was the long-awaited return of Zenemon from Kinkasa-ya.
(=γΟγ=): There are attendants and characters, but no famous generals appear.
(Β΄γ»βγ»`): The New Fields family is minor, so you can create new generals freely!
(=γΟγ=): But this isn't a power-up kit for a certain game, so I don't think it's okay to create new generals who will have a significant impact on history.
(Β΄γ»βγ»`): I'm considering that. The new characters will be civil servants and military officers who worked behind the scenes in history. The protagonist won't appear in the flashy battles.
(=γΟγ=): That would take about ten years in the story, right?
(Β΄γ»βγ»`): ...Let's continue writing.
*If you can bookmark or rate this, it will boost my motivation.
*The third volume of my modern fantasy "Dungeon Busters" will be released in June.
I would be happy if you could read it.
The first volume of this work, "Until the Crescent Moon Becomes My Land," has been published by Earth Star Novels. Please pick it up!