"The fragrance of night dew tea under the moonlight. A gentle breeze brushes through the leaves, and the sweet dew enters my heart..."

"The Chief Divine bears witness! This 'tea' indeed has a refreshing aroma and a sweet aftertaste. Although it's not as fragrant as the highland flower tea, nor as tranquil as the Divine Smoke of the Priest... it has a unique flavor, making one feel as if soaring in the clouds~"

The sunset gradually fades, and the bright moon rises from the East Mountain, illuminating the fleet by the seaside. The samurai of both sides, who had faced off all day, now relaxed, began to cook over the fire on either side of the river.

Beside the river, a campfire simmered with a copper pot, using the pure waters of the Ezo. Zuwaro and Mori no Kiyoshi sat facing each other, each holding a porcelain cup. Monk Soldier Shiba Rongdong knelt on the grass, carefully preparing tea, filling both cups. Although Zuwaro couldn't understand the technique, he found it pleasing to the eye, seemingly having its own set of rules.

"Mori, this samurai of yours, preparing the tea... he seems a bit different from the other samurai, bearing a hint of nobility?..."

"Zuwaro, your observation is indeed sharp... Rongdong is a descendant of the prestigious Shiba Family, his grandfather was Minister of Governance Shiba Yoshinari... In the continuous turmoil of the Shogunate, every time, the Shiba has taken the wrong path... Within just thirty years, the Shiba has fallen from the mightiest of the Three Lords to puppets of various Guardian Daimyos..."

"Buddha's mercy! When the Shiba was strong, they were closely affiliated with our Omi Business Group and our Tiantai Sect. That's why they entrusted the child to our sect. Considering bloodlines, the position of Guardian of Echizen should belong to this branch of Shiba Yoshinari... Unfortunately, as the Asakura family rises... if this child leaves the mountain gate, I'm afraid he won't last long!"

Mori no Kiyoshi sighed. Only in front of the Shandan Chieftain, far from Japan, could he frankly disclose the hidden cruelties in the clan's power struggles.

From the previous Ryuzoji Clan's Watanabe Masumi to the current Shiba family's Shiba Rongdong, countless samurai heirs have sought refuge within renowned temples and shrines. This close relationship between temples and samurai is a unique characteristic of Japanese politics. These samurai become monks outside the world, become clan heirs within the world, the future unknown. Compared to the Shiba family's claim over Echizen, the Ryuzoji Clan's sibling disputes were trivial…

"Rongdong, do not fear! This generous Golden Chief is my noble benefactor. Perhaps, he is your benefactor too!"

Mori no Kiyoshi extended his hand, gently patting the trembling Shiba Rongdong. Zuwaro's eyes shone as he discerned the unspoken intent of Mori no Kiyoshi, pondering the implications. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

With the kingdom's current power on the Western Sea Continent, it naturally cannot interfere in the internal political disputes of the Japanese. But by bolstering the kingdom and the Gummy People Tribal Group with golden strength, perpetually fortifying their power, perhaps in the distant future…

"Zuwaro! You are a remarkable individual, not only inheriting bloodlines and gold, but also uniting warriors and commanding the hearts of the samurai! I believe in your wealth and strength while seeing vibrant ambition and future in your eyes..."

"Just hope, in the future, you do not become enemies with the Kaozaki Family! After all, we can always find a mutually satisfying direction, bringing shared joyous benefits! This is the wonder of Buddhist Law..."

At this moment, Mori no Kiyoshi spoke with a smile, inexplicably giving Zuwaro a sense of a Shaman Sage. After a brief silence, without any commitment, Zuwaro simply glanced at the tea-ceremonial monk soldier, responding with a light smile.

"Mori, this copper pot is nice; leave it with me! But this ceramic tea cup is too fragile... up in the icy cold of the Northern Land, it won't survive! You'd better take it back with you!"

"Hmm... alright!"

After a moment of reflection, Mori no Kiyoshi glanced at the oblivious Shiba Rongdong, lightly nodding. Having obtained the result of his probing, he felt slightly disappointed yet somewhat relieved. Clearly, this Shandan Chieftain had no intention of invading Japan nor meddling in its internal power struggles.

So be it, let the descendants of the Shiba remain within the sect! Whatever becomes of the Asakura family in the future is not certain. Even if the Asakura rises, they wouldn't dare seriously harm the Shiba scion within these temples and shrines, would they?..

"Zuwaro, esteemed Golden Chief! The moon has risen, and our transactions are complete. Though I'd love to continue sipping tea under the moonlight, discussing the past and present with you... I'm afraid the Kaozaki samurai would find it hard to stay here overnight... So, farewell!"

Mori no Kiyoshi stood, bowing deeply at ninety degrees in respect. He then removed the folding fan from his waist, gifting it to Zuwaro with a smile.

"As the Tang people part with willow branches… there's no willow here, so I give you this fan from the Capital City as a farewell gift! After the harvest in October, I shall return northward by sea to continue our trade!"

"Very well! Mori, since you have given me a gift, I'll return the favor with one! Here is the Chief God Priest's Obsidian Necklace. Wearing it endows you with divine protection, ensuring smooth and safe travels!"

"Oh! Such beautifully lustrous glass beads, even the Buddha would be pleased to see! This craftsmanship is extraordinary! ... Then, I shall humbly accept it!"

Mori no Kiyoshi donned the Obsidian Necklace, and Zuwaro tied on the folding fan. Both glanced at each other, bursting into hearty laughter.

This time, Zuwaro exchanged merely "a mere" two hundred pounds of gold in the trade for three silk garments, over fifty cattle and horses, dozens of craftsman apprentices, four hundred stones of rice, armor to equip two hundred samurai, weapons to arm a thousand tribal soldiers, salt sufficient for several thousand people for years, and two large ships…

Of course, what delighted Zuwaro the most, filled with joy, was that the Kingdom obtained eight true Master Craftsmen! Once these Master Craftsmen return to the Kingdom, they will bring the top-notch technology from the Western Sea Continent, truly advanced skills!

"Chief Divine bless! As the seal of the Far North is thawing... If the subsequent Kingdom's support fleet sets sail in May, they can probably arrive by June or July?... Hmm, let's see how many ships can successfully arrive this time... So I can spare two ships to send a batch of craftsmen and cattle and horses to the Divine Revelation Archipelago and the Far North Coast!"

"May the Chief Divine bless! Bless the warriors of the Kingdom, to cross the vast waves and reach the Western Sea smoothly!..."

At this moment, Zuwaro's heart was filled with the surging vast sea, the arduous Divine Revelation Archipelago, and the blessing of the Chief Divine's revelation! Meanwhile, Mori no Kiyoshi's thoughts were much simpler. At this moment, his mind was filled with nothing but golden light, a vast ocean of gold!

"Oh Buddha! A single gold trade from Ezo yielded a huge fortune of 223 pounds of gold! This sums up to a full twenty thousand coins, real twenty thousand coins in income! This trade income equals the total profit of the entire rice house for five years!..."

This time, Mori no Kiyoshi brought a total of five ships of people and goods. Two ships of cattle and horses exchanged for 23 pounds of gold. One ship of craftsmen exchanged for an astonishing 60 pounds of gold. The remaining two ships of rice and military supplies exchanged for another 50 pounds of gold!

Besides, the 50 pounds of deposit from opening the Korean trade route and the 40 pounds deposit from selling two large ships are also exclusively Mori no Kiyoshi's, another unimaginable huge fortune!

"223 pounds of gold, twenty thousand coins! Merciful Buddha! How many people in the entire Japan have seen so much currency? And it's heavy, shiny gold!..."

"Of course, the 130-plus pounds of gold from the five ships of people and goods needs to be profit-shared with the Kaozaki Family. After deducting the 'costs written in the account book,' one third of the cost, the remaining profit is split in half... which means giving 45 pounds of gold to the Kaozaki Family! Hmm, these golds will mostly be exchanged for goods. Apart from bulk rice and military supplies, there are expensive teas and wines, and more valuable 'silk, porcelain, tea sets, famous swords, famous bows'... Surely, the entire Kaozaki Family will be willing to come up with some property for such treasured items from the Capital City!"

"And even if we deduct the Kaozaki Family's share, and the actual, not-much cost... this Ezo gold trade brings a benefit to the rice house of at least 140 pounds of gold, more than twelve thousand taels, which is the annual income of a fief of one hundred thousand stones!..."

This huge profit excited Mori no Kiyoshi so much that even after returning to the deck of the flagship, he couldn't stop from trembling with excitement. You know, even those always extravagant merchants of Sakai Port, barely anyone can come up with 'ten thousand coins' in currency all at once!

Which means that just one trade of gold from Ezo land has made him the foremost 'great tycoon' in all of Japan! The only trade that could rival such astoundingly profitable business is the validation trade with the Ming Dynasty, isn't it?! But the validation trade with the Ming Dynasty only happens once every few years, if not a decade. And the gold trade with the Shandan is twice a year!

"Oh Buddha! Such a profit, more than four times, all settled in currency... Which merchant could resist being infatuated and mad with enthusiasm?! Sacrificing oneself for justice is always the hardest Buddhist virtue. But sacrificing oneself for profit, is a 'greed' that is ever-win!..."

"Lord Nobuhiro, I finally understand, understand those words you said on your deathbed! This business is too big, Mitsuhiro is too young to handle it! Even I can barely manage... And the more astonishing future profits, I alone, even the entire rice house, simply cannot bear..."

"Buddha bear witness! To catch such big profits, I must cleverly introduce the forces of the Tiantai Sect, the power of the Martial Families along the way, and the influence of the Omi Business Group, to achieve a balance of tied interests!"

The evening tide rose, carrying the three wide merchant ships southward. Over two hundred Kaozaki warriors abandoned their messy luggage and crowded onto the ships. Only then could they relax their all-day vigilance and escape the urgent threats of the Shandan warriors.

This meeting, handled by Mori no Kiyoshi, was full of the Shandan people's gold in his eyes. But in the eyes of these samurai, they could only see, across the Great River, those terrifying Shandan warriors and archers! So many!

The original return plan was for the five empty ships to take people back, but because Mori no Kiyoshi sold two ships, the Kaozaki warriors had to suffer a bit. But for the sake of gold, everything was worth it.

Mori no Kiyoshi generously promised, that when the next fleet arrives, every samurai participating in the escort will receive one bale of brown rice from the rice house!

"Hooray! Long live the rice!..."

The exhilarating cheers echoed on the three ships, breaking the waves heading south. However, the old general Shigeyasu Kudo didn't cheer, he just stared blankly at the disappearing Korobetsu River as if saying goodbye forever to this vast Northern Ezo land!

"After this trade, the northern Shandan Tribes will only become stronger! And the traded swords, guns, bows, and armor will certainly flow into the hands of the Shandan's vassals in Ezo, arming the originally weak Ezo people... And in the future, will this vast cold and magnificently beautiful landscape still belong to the Kaozaki Family? Is there any possibility for it to belong to the Kaozaki Family?..."

"Buddha who can see the future! Is it true that the future fate of the Main Family, like this turning cape, will be driven by the lure of gold, turning completely southward, and once more plunge into the mire of the Martial Family slaughter?..."

The sea wind blew in gusts, and the bright moon gradually hung high. Shigeyasu Kudo gazed up at the bright moon, as if seeing the enigmatic smile of Takeda Nobuhiro before his death. He sighed deeply and recited a line of Tang poetry, which was the most familiar Bai Juyi to the Japanese.

"The vast pure light is unimaginable, adding sorrow and resentment around the ends of the earth. Who is long stationed beyond the pass, where in front of the courtyard is the new parting?..."

"Ezo is far and no longer can be seen. But the sword lights and sword shadows of Honshu Mutsu, after my death, will surely be seen by later generations!"