"Twenty kilograms of gold! The one-armed Tietian Zongyi actually exchanged for twenty kilograms of gold?!..."

"Buddha! When converted to grain, isn't this old craftsman worth 2,700 koku of rice? Does he, alone, equate to the annual income of a hundred Samurai?"

"Ah! Golden gold, shiny gold, heart-stirring gold!... Stop it, stop it!"

With the heavy gold on his back, it felt like a golden illusion pressing so hard that Mori no Kiyoshi couldn't straighten up. Initially, he was ecstatic, dazzled for a moment, before hastily using his profound Buddhist Law cultivation to suppress the surging greed. He then immediately handed the "harm to the Buddhist teachings", the bamboo basket filled with gold, to Matsushita Zou Jirou, instructing him to quickly take it back to the ship.

"Namo San! If one can transform things, then one is like the Tathagata; if one is transformed by things, then one is in samsara... Stop it!..."

As the gold left his hands, Mori no Kiyoshi silently recited scriptures for a moment, and when he looked up again, his eyes were once again clear. To be able to maneuver among the many nobles in the Capital City and do large-scale rice house business, naturally, he was someone with thoughts as swift as lightning! And he was also best at deciphering others' intentions, and after pondering for a brief moment, he had a slight understanding.

"Buddha sees the human heart!… The extra ten pieces of gold that the Golden Chief presented, it seems, was not meant for me to see, but rather… for Tietian Zongyi to see? Typically, one would view a purchased craftsman as a submissive servant, yet the Golden Chief respects him as if he's a Nobles?… Strange, really strange!"

In deep thought, Mori no Kiyoshi looked at the old craftsman Tietian Zongyi. The disabled old craftsman had been eloquent during the introduction of forging, but now he kept his mouth shut, quietly lowering his head to wipe the corners of his eyes. Then, he said nothing, only bowed deeply towards Zuwaro!

"Divine Chief's blessing! No need to perform such a grand etiquette! Once you reach the Kingdom, your status... Hmm... Tamicao, first take this master blacksmith to the cabin to rest!..."

"Yes! Captain!..."

The Samurai Captain Tamicao supported the old craftsman Tietian Zongyi and was about to head to the ship. Tietian Zongyi hurriedly turned around, looking at the group of craftsmen. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he just called out.

"Iron Hammer! Bring Ling'er and the others over!"

With this summon, five younger ironsmith apprentices and Tietian Zongyi's two granddaughters emerged from the crowd. Mori no Kiyoshi's eyes flickered, watching the situation unfold and smiling as he spoke.

"Respected Golden Chief... I have carefully selected a master craftsman, seven senior artisans for this trip... Each of them is accompanied by several apprentice family members... According to your agreement with the Kaozaki Family Head, craftsmen and apprentices should be priced according to their skills!..."

"However, the gold you have given is indeed too much! These five ironsmith apprentices, I won't count them against you, consider it forming good karma... May Buddha's mercy bless them to resettle in the Land of Shandan, establish themselves, and accrue blessings for this life through their craft!..."

Hearing Mori no Kiyoshi voluntarily waive the amount, Zuwaro was quite surprised. Despite being evidently fond of gold, this so-called "Kyoto merchant" managed to suppress the greed in his heart. Whether in perspective, demeanor, or capability, he was evidently more formidable than Kaozaki Mitsuhiro!

"Hmm... You are good, very good!"

Zuwaro took a deep glance at Mori no Kiyoshi before smiling and speaking.

"Friend, bring forth the seven senior artisans you mentioned! As long as they possess genuine skills, I will hire them at five gold talismans each, as I did with Kaozaki Mitsuhiro's brother!..."

"Good! Straightforward!..."

Mori no Kiyoshi clapped his hands lightly, and seven people were brought forward by monk soldiers.

"This here is a senior pottery master from Omi's Shino style, known as 'Pottery Xin Lang'. He not only excels at firing water jars and large rice storage jars but can also construct climbing kilns and pit kilns! His most outstanding skill is blending clay, sketching and carving, and firing colorful patterns on pottery surfaces!..."

"Senior pottery master? The kilns built above and dug below? Shino style? Color pottery?..."

Listening to the translator's earnest explanation and gestures, Zuwaro stroked his chin, signaling last year's potter Ichiro to try testing the other's skills. After just a brief dialogue, potter Ichiro bowed to Pottery Xin Lang and then returned to dutifully report.

"Great Chief, this is a master from Omi with a proper lineage, far more skilled than ordinary craftsmen like me. What he speaks of, 'climbing kilns and pit kilns', climbing kilns are multi-chamber kilns built along slopes for mass-producing ordinary pottery; pit kilns are inclined dug in the ground for firing premium color pottery. As for what he mentioned 'Fire and Earth Mixture', 'Kiln Transformation'... these are the mysteries of firing color pottery. I don't quite understand, but I'm certain it is extraordinary!..."

"Oh! Able to construct various kilns, able to fire colorful pottery?… This level of pottery making might be stronger than both the Alliance and the Kingdom, right?..."

Zuwaro pondered, studying the anxiously apprehensive Pottery Xin Lang, and patted Hu Nu again.

"Hu Nu, bring out five gold talismans! For the one wearing the hat!..."

"Clap!..."

Another five pieces of Gold Talisman were slapped in front of Mori no Kiyoshi. This Kyoto merchant touched his nose and respectfully performed a courtesy before giving orders.

"Zou Jirou! Collect the gold! … Let those four pottery apprentices and their families pass as well! The Golden Chief is generous, and I am not a petty person either, don't stop the apprentice families behind! …"

"Someone, invite three Master Craftsmen in woodworking to come over!"

After the initial establishment of interactions, the trades between both sides started to become straightforward. Mori no Kiyoshi clapped his hands, and the three Master Craftsmen stood nervously in a line, all staring at their feet, not daring to look at the "fierce and evil" Shandan barbarians opposite.

These three Master Craftsmen, the first was called "Chemu Zhenji." As the name suggests, he could make "vehicles." And horse carriages are rare in Japan; what he makes the most are the "ox carts" for the Nobles' outings. Of course, ordinary wooden furniture, wooden farming tools, and puppets used during rural witchcraft ceremonies are also his expertise.

In the bamboo basket behind Chemu Zhenji, there was a small puppet, with very flexible "head, hands, and feet." During rural festive days, he would also perform a segment of "Puppet Show," cooperating with rural "witches" or even traveling monks in the Town Market. Earning money is secondary in these performances; what's more important is maintaining his position in the countryside, so he wouldn't be extorted by various rangers or evil parties.

"Puppet show? Sounds interesting! … During the Chief Divine's festivals, Temple gatherings, indeed, there is a need for more entertainment activities! Surely, you can't hold blood sacrifices every day? Your Majesty has already issued restrictions within the Kingdom…"

Although he didn't see Chemu Zhenji do woodworking, after hearing the lively puppets manipulated by the other party and singing a few incomprehensible slang ditties, Zuwaro gladly took out gold.

The second Master Craftsman, called "Wood Carving Master," was a woodcarver specializing in sculpting Buddha statues. He nervously gestured, first, he pulled out a lively little Buddha statue and handed it to the Chief Shandan. Then, he smiled broadly, indicating he wanted to carve a wooden statue of Zuwaro, to pray to it like praying to Buddha every day…

"Don't pray to me, pray to the Chief Divine! Hmm, good at carving statues? … Talent needed in the Temple! …"

Zuwaro examined the hands of the "Wood Carving Master," noticing thick calluses and various scars left by carving. However, he also checked the basket with woodworking tools; it was a mess, filled with chisels, carving knives, scrapers, files, and saws of all sizes; at least the tools were plentiful.

"Hu Nu! Give money! …"

"Splat! …"

The third Master Craftsman, spoke little, his face was filled with a sorrowful expression. He was named "Yakushijiro," reportedly an "expert builder" from Omi, but it had been several years since he repaired houses, rather he repaired many villages and trench walls.

These years, chaos erupted in the Capital Region, with various calamities emerging one after another. Yakushijiro's tragic experiences are a microcosm of the war chaos. He was first taken from his Town Market home by the samurai of the Hexagonal family to build fortifications. Then, after the Hexagonal family was shattered by the Shogunate Army, he almost got slashed by the samurai coming from the Western Country!

However, the identity of technical personnel saved him, making him a craftsman for the Shogunate Army. The General kept fighting continuously, dragging him along with the Shogunate Army everywhere to build various villages and camps; he was close to dying from exhaustion. Until Hosokawa Masamoto's coup scattered the Shogunate Army, he barely escaped back home with a few craftsmen who shared similar experiences.

Upon returning, he found that his old home in Omi had already been burned down by chaotic troops! His wife and son were dead, buried in the mass graves by monks. Grief-stricken, he wretchedly took two similarly bereft craftsmen intending to go towards the land of the Kaga Ikko Sect, hoping to seek "True Word Transcendence" for his deceased family… unexpectedly, halfway, they were intercepted by monks from the Tiantai Sect, along with Monk Soldiers, and transported to Ezo in one go!…

"Hmm, you've experienced significant wars in the South? Are you skilled in complex defensive constructions?… What kind of works?…"

"Ah? Shandan barbarians… Master… fighting requires building forts, platforms, fences, ditches, embankments…"

Yakushijiro stuttered, maybe from nerves or fear, or perhaps it was his natural disposition. He arduously gestured, narrating circumstances on the Capital Battlefield from a craftsman's perspective, which made Zuwaro's eyes glimmer.

"What? To prevent cavalry charges, digging potholes and pits? Setting platforms at high places, stationing a dozen archers long-term? Digging trenches, guiding rivers, surrounding vital camps? Constructing hole-ridden low walls and wooden fences, then shooting arrows from the back? Moreover, half-high fences, followed by embankments, allowing pike warriors to thrust from above?…"

"Chief Divine! These Southern Japanese warfare techniques… seem much more complex and mature than those of the Alliance and Kingdom?… Indeed, the further South, the harder it gets with those mighty farming Great Tribes… wait a moment! This Japanese merchant comes with such a Master Craftsman, intentionally steering the conversation… is it subtly reminding me they shouldn't be provoked?…"

Zuwaro stroked his chin in silent contemplation. Subsequently, he felt something, glanced at the grinning merchant Mori no Kiyoshi, who once again "drew out the tiger skin."

"Hu Nu! Fetch five pieces of Gold Talisman strung with rope!"

"Great Chief?…"

"To my friend, the great merchant from the Japanese Tribes, personally put it on!"

"Alright!…"