Warring States Survival Guide
Chapter 78 - 46: Crossing Over Is So Difficult!_3

Chapter 78: Chapter 46: Crossing Over Is So Difficult!_3

The thing with kidnapping people in town, Maeda Toshie didn’t want to bring it up either. After finishing his drink, he straightened up and pressed on: "Anyway, most of the rumors about Lord Oda Sanmaru just aren’t true. It’s only because Lord Oda Sanmaru is proud by nature and never bothers to explain himself. Lord Harano, you really shouldn’t believe the rumors! On the contrary, Lord Oda Sanmaru actually thinks very highly of you and really looks forward to seeing you in action!"

"Oh, is it because of my medical skills?" Harano guessed that was probably his only redeeming quality right now.

"Pretty much!" Maeda Toshie wasn’t too clear on this himself—mostly just guessing. This attempt at persuasion was pretty muddled, and he hesitated as he explained, "Maybe it’s because you’re willing to treat commoners? That really impressed Lord Oda Sanmaru. He always complains that commoners in Owari are too weak. After they’re recruited as ashigaru, they can’t even run fast—there’s no way to win wars with them. He’s said many times he wishes the commoners could at least have enough rice to eat and grow a little stronger. It’s just...that’s really hard, and he hasn’t managed it yet. Now that he sees you’re willing to give out medicine and the commoners’ health is improving, maybe he just feels you two are kindred spirits or something?"

So that’s what this is all about? Oda Nobunaga had apparently once tried to fiddle with rice taxes to let commoners pay a little less. So it wasn’t that his class stance was confused, or that he was planning to be nice to the commoners—he just looked down on the poor quality of his soldiers? Add to that his constant martial arts and horsemanship training and a daily exercise routine, his focus on new weapons—could it be his ambition now is just to become a famed general?

Harano was busy analyzing Oda Nobunaga’s mindset in his head, while Maeda Toshie felt like he’d brought things to a good point. With his one-star eloquence, he couldn’t come up with anything new anyway. So he scooted a few steps backward, bowed deeply, and spoke in a loud voice: "Lord Harano, I’m not great with words, so I can’t explain things well. But my Lord is incredibly ambitious. He has vowed to become an even greater general than Lord Dan Zhengzhong. I swear it on my life! I truly believe my Lord will accomplish great things, and he’ll never waste your skills and ambition. So...please follow my Lord! I’m begging you!"

Well, here it is, just as expected—no escaping it. Harano sighed inwardly again, put on a serious face and asked, "So, you’re saying Lord Oda Sanmaru sent you here to persuade me? This is Lord Oda Sanmaru’s idea?"

If that was the case, he’d have no choice but to run away in the middle of the night and start over somewhere else. No way could he give Nobunaga a "three visits to the cottage" opportunity—honestly, if you turn him down three times, Nobunaga would definitely kill you. Anyone with half a brain could figure that out.

Time-traveling is so hard—turns out it’s just not that easy to clear the stage...

Harano was already starting to plan his midnight escape: who to bring, what to take. Meanwhile, Maeda Toshie looked up sheepishly and said, "Well, no, not exactly. Lord Oda Sanmaru just asked me to drop something off. I just thought I should try persuading you again while I was at it."

Harano stared at him for a while, completely speechless—what the hell, what are you even doing here then? You’re just making trouble for no reason! Almost scared me enough to abandon my home and run off!

He was silent for a bit, then just reached out his hand and said irritably, "So where is it? Look, I really don’t want to serve anyone—if you think of me as a friend, please don’t bring it up again. You’re just putting me in a tough spot! Really, I’m begging you!"

Maeda Toshie had tried so hard but still failed. He was a bit disappointed, sighed as he got up, still not understanding what Harano was thinking, but at least he could respect his wishes so he didn’t keep pushing. He just fished a black-sealed judgment document out of his robe and handed it over, sighing, "That’s such a shame. I really think Lord Oda Sanmaru is going to achieve something great. If you follow him, it’s totally possible to become the Lord of a City one day. It’s a real shame you’re not joining us!"

"I believe that too, but I’ll pass. You just work hard yourself!" Harano brushed him off casually and unfolded the black-sealed judgment document, instantly raising an eyebrow when he saw it.

Now that’s the Oda Nobunaga I know! That whole "three visits to the cottage," clingy stuff is so not his