Warring States Survival Guide
Chapter 117 - 72: A True Confidant! _2

Chapter 117: Chapter 72: A True Confidant! _2

Harano actually isn’t very good at conversation; he’s a tech guy who’s great with his hands, but not so much with his mouth. So he just let Nobunaga talk to himself, didn’t respond at all, and simply returned Ikegami Keisuke a polite smile as Keisuke offered him a cup of hot tea. Keisuke also gave him a gentle smile back—seemed like a real easy-going, kind person.

Harano preferred being around people like Ikegami Keisuke, but hadn’t had the chance to get close. Meanwhile, Oda Nobunaga was still gazing at Hosokawa Castle, almost as if he could see something beyond that half-built ruin. His expression showed even more distaste. "They’re all mediocrities, people who can’t see farther than an inch beyond their noses. What the hell am I supposed to do with them?"

He’d asked the rural nobles to build roads before, and not a single person had responded. He rallied everyone for military mobilization, and all he got was a chorus of complaints—only his own uncle showed up. By now, he loathed those local lords to his core, considered them all a bunch of short-sighted fools—there were people and resources everywhere in Owari, yet he couldn’t marshal them. The old household retainers and rural nobles refused to obey, doing nothing but obstruct him at every turn.

He even just wanted to let the commoners eat a little rice, get a little stronger so they’d be better for future wars, but even that was impossible!

Those guys couldn’t even bear to spare a mouthful of rice. Just like Maeda Toshimasa—stingy and too timid to make any decisions, a pure-bred coward. If Maeda Toshimasa at least had the guts to attack him together with the Qingzhou army, Nobunaga could respect that, but Maeda didn’t even have that much nerve. All he deserved was a curt "Get lost."

Harano could guess what he was thinking, but still didn’t reply—just drank his tea quietly. After all, there was no one else Nobunaga could talk to about these things. He was surrounded by sons of noble families; only Harano, as someone with no ties to Owari, offered him a chance to speak freely. All Harano had to do was listen.

He wanted to be a good listener, wanted to enjoy his tea—Nobunaga really knew how to live, though who knows where he got this tea from. The fragrance was delicate, the aftertaste lingering—better than anything Harano had paid high prices for. Giving it to Nobunaga was honestly a waste. But Nobunaga refused to let him off, turning his gaze on him, repeating, "So, what do you think I should do?"

"I don’t know." Harano gestured to Ikegami Keisuke to refill his tea, not trying to show off.

After all this nonsense, Nobunaga did have some of his own thoughts, and now felt like putting them in order. Stroking the soft fuzz newly sprouting on his chin, he asked, "What if I moved them all into Nagano Castle? How would that work?"

Harano glanced at him, realized he couldn’t dodge this time, so told the truth: "Separation of farmers and warriors is a good idea."

"Separation of farmers and warriors?" Nobunaga couldn’t help but ponder aloud when he heard that. The term fit perfectly, encapsulating some half-formed ideas floating in his mind. For once, he grew serious, leaning closer: "Do you think it’s doable? Would they actually go?"

The "warriors" here, he meant the Samurai, not mere soldiers.

He wanted to bring all the local nobles’ people under his direct control—he’d been thinking about moving all the local lords and their people to the castle town of Nagano Castle, where he could keep an eye on them and mobilize manpower as needed, leaving them no room to refuse.

The problem was, this was easier said than done. How could he force the local nobles to move to the castle town of Nagano Castle without pushing them into outright revolt? He’d never figured out a solution. Now, discovering that Harano could follow his train of thought, he couldn’t help wanting to discuss it further.

Well, maybe not exactly "discovered" now—he’d always thought Harano was talented, someone with convictions, a unique temperament, and an elegant style—very much like himself. A true Oddity, with an uncanny, novel perspective—someone able to see a future invisible to ordinary mediocrities. Both were, in other people’s eyes, abnormal.

Now that they were speaking in detail, his judgment was proven right!

But in truth, Harano wasn’t that knowledgeable—he wasn’t even a history student, just someone who knew a few terms. Still, he was happy to help Nobunaga with minor things; after all, the sooner Nobunaga sorted out Owari’s mess, the sooner Harano could safely do business, the sooner he could win himself freedom of movement.

This worked for him as well. He put some thought into it, then shook his head. "It’s very difficult right now—nearly impossible."

"Is that so?" Nobunaga wasn’t too disappointed. After all, he’d mulled it over for quite a while with no good answer himself, only a few vague ideas. It was normal that Harano couldn’t just solve it on the spot. Even if he was irritable, he wouldn’t get angry over this, only drift into silent contemplation.

"Maybe—you can start with separating farmers and soldiers," Harano said, still thinking, organizing his thoughts as he spoke.

"Separating farmers and soldiers?" Nobunaga was nothing if not quick-witted. He instantly caught the inversion, nodded thoughtfully. "You mean, recruit more Lang Faction?"

"In Owari’s current situation, only overwhelming force would make them hand over their power. There’s simply no other way." Harano drained his tea; Ikegami Keisuke promptly refilled his cup, his eyes bright and attentive. Harano took another sip and continued, "Most of the Lang Faction still have to farm; recruiting more of them doesn’t matter much. Better to recruit some...people who do nothing but fight."

Nobunaga fell silent for a while, thinking it was a clever idea. Given the slow mobilization of the local nobles—even just rounding up all the farmers from the villages and arming them took two or three days. But if he had a force ready to fight at any time, he could strike the enemy off guard, and with long-term training, insure the army’s combat strength...