Great name!

Chapter 283 Governing Settsu
After Oda Nobunaga announced that Settsu would be awarded to Nobutora, Nobutora did not waste any time and immediately brought his troops to Settsu, and he still lived in Arioka Castle.

After Nobutora returned to Arioka Castle, he immediately called everyone to a meeting.

For example, Nakagawa Kiyohide and Takayama Ukon, who were retainers of the Araki family, were acquitted of their crimes because they surrendered to the Oda family in time, and Nakagawa Kiyohide and Takayama Ukon even retained their original positions.

However, in the Tsuda family, their status is naturally not as high as that of other old ministers.

In the hall of Arioka Castle, Nobutora sat at the head of the group, followed by his two sons, Tsuda Naganobu and Tsuda Nobuyasu, and his brother-in-law, Sawaki Yoshiyuki.

Then came the chief family elder, Nobumasa Iitomi, followed by old retainers such as Yamazaki Haramori and the Yamauchi brothers. After them came the four heavenly kings, Maeda Keiji, Shima Sakon, Oniwa Masaaki and Fujido Takatora.

The rest were retainers such as Konchiin Myoei, Takeda Nobunaga, Honda Masanobu, Numata Yumitsu, and Fuwa Mitsumasa.

On the other side were Araki's old retainers such as Nakagawa Kiyohide, Takayama Ukon, and Shiokawa Kunimitsu.

Everyone sat upright and looked at Tsuda Nobutora who was sitting at the top, waiting for the head of the family to speak.

Nobutora didn't let everyone wait too long. With a wave of his hand, Tsurusaki Naoshige immediately stepped forward and spread out the map of Settsu.

Nobutora pointed at the map of Settsu with his fan and said, "Nobunaga-dono and the master of the family asked me to be the lord of Settsu because they wanted me to ensure the safety of Hashiba Hideyoshi's rear when he attacked Sanyo, and to serve as the main force in the attack on Honganji.

Harima is in turmoil now. The Bessho family, the Kodera family and other people in Harima have recently been opposed to our Oda family. Now Hashiba Hideyoshi is leading his troops to suppress these rebels. We just need to pay a little attention.

Here, Hanakuma Castle, Nagatobu, you take people to supervise and demolish Hanakuma Castle, then move all the useful materials from the demolition to Hyogo and build a city here.

In addition, Xinyi, you will cooperate with Naganobu to build docks and streets along the coast of Kobe and Hyogo."

Tsuda Naganobu asked: "Father, now that the Mori navy has occupied Osaka Bay, I'm afraid they will stop us from building the port."

Xinhu smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, I have sent people to find Floyds. I will buy new artillery from them. At the same time, we will build artillery batteries in Kobe and Hyogo with the artillery we have.

As long as the Mori navy comes, we will fire our cannons to drive them away.

Moreover, Nobunaga-dono will not allow the Mori navy to continue to occupy Osaka Bay. The Kuki navy of Ise is already preparing. Next year, the Kuki navy will come to Osaka Bay to fight the Mori navy again."

After hearing this, Tsuda Naganobu took on the task with confidence.

After Nobutora finished speaking, he continued, "We deployed troops in Kobe and Hyogo to guard against the Mori family's navy from raiding Settsu.

Our actual focus is the Honganji Temple in the southern Ishiyama area. This is a cancer in Settsu. If we want to stabilize Settsu, we must solve the problem of Honganji Temple!"

Nobutora looked at Nakagawa Kiyohide and other former retainers of Araki with a serious face, and said in a stern tone: "The hatred between the Oda family and Honganji has lasted for seven years. I hope everyone will not take any chances.

From now on, no matter if you are a samurai or a commoner, no one is allowed to believe in the Jodo Shinshu sect, and are not allowed to have any connection with the Honganji Temple. I can forgive the past, but from today onwards, if you still don't break off the relationship within three days, don't blame me for being ruthless.

You all must lead a team to investigate. Once anyone is found who firmly believes in the Jodo Shinshu sect, arrest him and behead him in public!

Remember, within Settsu, those who believe in the Jodo Shinshu sect will end up dead."

Nakagawa Kiyohide and others were obviously frightened by Nobutora's action. If this was strictly implemented, who knows how many people would die. They wanted to persuade him, but they were all new surrenders and their identities were very embarrassing.

Only Takayama Ukon, who believed in the Nanman religion, had sympathy for them. He said with a look of reluctance, "Sir Jingzhao Yin, please allow me to report that Honganji has been in Ishiyama for a long time, almost a hundred years, and there are countless people who believe in Honganji.

If Lord Jingzhao asked them to change their beliefs in a short period of time, it would be too much to ask, and there would be bloodshed. "

What Takayama Ukon said is indeed very realistic. For devout believers, faith is something that is difficult to change.

But, from Xinhu's perspective, what do these things have to do with him?

In Nobutora's eyes, you are a devout believer of Honganji, which makes you my, Tsuda Nobutora's, enemy. It would be foolish to be soft on your enemy.

As a famous general who was feared by all, and not senile, Nobutora would naturally not make such a low-level mistake.

He looked at Takayama Ukon and said, "Ukon, it's good that you have a good heart, but you don't realize the most important point."

Takayama Ukon was very concerned about Nobutora's rebuttal. He bowed his head and said, "Please give me some advice, Lord Jingzhao Yin."

Nobutora continued, "Ukon, we are enemies with Honganji now. Since those people you mentioned are devout believers of Honganji, who will they help if I go to war with Honganji? I think the answer is Honganji without a doubt.

These people are my subjects, but they are helping the enemy to fight me. Do you think I need such subjects?"

As Takayama Ukon listened, he was unable to refute what was said and could only lower his head.

Seeing that Takayama Ukon did not refute further, Nobutora did not say anything harsh. Instead, he comforted Takayama Ukon and said, "I know many of you are heartless, and of course I am also heartless, but you have to understand that war means death. It's either you or I. Now they are the ones dying instead of you. This is the best outcome."

Iitomi Nobumasa and other family elders applauded in support of Nobutora's words.

Kiyohide Nakagawa and others quickly followed suit and applauded.

Xin Hu waved his hand and said, "This matter is very difficult. I hope everyone can cheer up and concentrate on solving this matter."

After Nobutora gave orders regarding matters related to the war, he asked most people to leave, leaving behind only a few family elders such as Yamazaki Haramori to handle internal affairs.

He pointed to the map and said, “If I want to develop Settsu, I must first repair, widen and strengthen the roads in various places.

In addition, Rakuichi Rakuza was implemented in the existing castle towns to restore the pre-war commercial environment.

There are also samurai stationed in villages in various places that need to be arranged as soon as possible. You must make sure there are some in every village. I want the Tsuda family to be spread throughout Settsu."

Yamazaki Haramori was the most familiar with this matter. He took the lead and assured: "Master, rest assured, I will definitely get this done."

Nobutora attached great importance to the affairs of Settsu. In order to ensure the smooth implementation of his arrangements, he mobilized resources from the territories of Ise, Minami-Omi and Mino and used them in the construction of Settsu.

Back then, he did not spend too much time and effort on governing his territories, because he knew that these territories would eventually be transferred to others, so he just governed the territories according to normal procedures.

Even so, the foundation accumulated over the past twenty years is not comparable to that of ordinary daimyo. In order to ensure deterrence to various places, in addition to the hundreds of samurai who were scattered, he also kept his headquarters of 2,000 troops stationed in Arioka Castle.

In addition, except for the family elders, many of his retainers were arranged by him to serve as assistants to Araki's old retainers and monitor them.

For example, Takayama Ukon was the lord of Akutagawa Castle, so Nobutora arranged for Fuwa Mitsumasa to serve as the castle lord and as Takayama Ukon's right-hand man.

Even though Takayama Ukon knew what Tsuda Nobutora was thinking, he didn't dare to react.

Araki's former retainers were overwhelmed by Tsuda Nobutora's power, and they watched helplessly as Tsuda Nobutora carried out drastic reforms in Settsu.

Nakagawa Kiyohide went to Takayama Ukon to discuss: "If the Jingzhao Yin does this, I'm afraid that many people will seek refuge in Honganji."

Takayama Ukon shook his head slightly and said, "So what? We are just new surrenderers. How much effect can we have even if we try to persuade them?

There is no need to do this useless work. No matter what happens in Settsu, we should just deal with it calmly. I think this is the arrangement of God."

As he spoke, he touched the cross on his chest and began to make the sign of the cross with his hands: "Amen."

Nakagawa Kiyohide let out a long sigh. He thought that he had come here for nothing today. Takayama Ukon was really crazy. He actually believed in the Nanman Religion.

However, Takayama Ukon was right in saying that they can do nothing about the changes in Settsu and can only wait and see.

Nakagawa Kiyohide's concerns were not unreasonable. The implementation of the new policy would inevitably infringe upon the interests of the old forces. Araki Murashige obtained Settsu by taking advantage of the situation and overthrowing the old forces. Therefore, he did not make many changes in his policies, and therefore gained the support of the people of Settsu.

Now Tsuda Shintora has introduced the policies of the Oda family and vigorously abolished the old policies, especially the village-based samurai, which has seriously infringed the interests of local samurai, powerful families, and semi-independent and independent people.

You have to know that the previous national conditions were that the imperial power did not extend to the countryside, and the local warriors had the final say in their own villages. Now that a warrior has come to the village, the local warrior's right to speak will be gradually replaced, and other powers will also be eroded. How can he, the local warrior, continue to exploit the villagers?

So the local samurai were the first to oppose the village samurai.

At the junction of Sumiyoshi County and Higashinari County, there is a manor called Narita. The local samurai who manages this manor is called Narita Miyoshi. Their Narita family has occupied this manor for one or two hundred years and is a well-known and prestigious family in the local area.

However, the Tsuda family doesn't care whether you are from a prominent family or not. According to the Comprehensive Management Committee, a samurai from the Tsuda family must be stationed in Narita Manor.

Narita Miyoshi was immediately annoyed. Narita-sho had always been under the control of his family. Even the Ashikaga Shogun of the Muromachi shogunate had never sent anyone to manage it. The previous Settsu Shugo did not have this rule either.

Now if you send a samurai into Narita Manor, then the affairs of this manor will be handled by my Narita family or by your Tsuda family.

Or maybe this warrior stationed in the village is just the beginning, and after that the entire village might be gone.

Therefore, Narita Sanji did not believe in the village warriors, and he said to the village warriors below: "Go back and tell Lord Jingzhao Yin that we do not need any village warriors in Narita Manor.

He can rest assured that I will pay the annual tribute and serve on time. "

The village samurai Watanabe Toshinaga would not leave easily. He immediately explained, "Lord Narita, my mission is not just this. This time I have to re-register the population of the manor and inspect the land."

When Narita Miyoshi heard this, he didn't want to let Watanabe Toshitsugu come in even more.

He ignored Watanabe Toshinaga and walked down the watchtower and left.

However, he said to the retainers around him: "Keep a close eye on this kid, don't let him find a way to slip in."

This manor is surrounded by a circle of wooden walls, which can barely be considered a fortress. Watanabe Toshinaga would definitely not be able to get in by himself.

He had no choice but to return home and report the matter of Narita-sho to Yamazaki Haramori.

Yamazaki Haramori immediately asked Keibu Saburo to take a group of people to accompany Watanabe Toshinaga.

When Narita Miyoshi saw the elite Tsuda clan, he immediately gave in, but he only gave in verbally and was not convinced in his heart.

As a samurai stationed in the village, Watanabe Toshinaga had three most important things to do: first, to survey the population, second, to inspect the land, and third, to urge the local people to abandon their belief in Jodo Shinshu.

Each of these things is very dangerous, and Watanabe Toshinaga has to be fully focused to solve these problems. If he does it well, his career will be smooth. If he does not do it well, then this will be the end of his life.

Watanabe Toshinaga took a deep breath and began his mission.

He discussed with Narita Miyoshi and planned to survey the population first so that they could investigate the specific situation of the people in the village.

For example, how many people are there in total, how many elderly people, how many able-bodied men, how many women and children, etc.

Most importantly, he could also take the opportunity to ask these people about their beliefs.

With this foundation, the third thing is to just follow the list, which is much easier.

Compared to land inspection, investigating the population is not easy. Watanabe Toshinaga said to Narita Mikichi: "Master Narita, are all the people in the manor here? Don't think about hiding people. Jingzhao Yindian has arranged for the ninjas to conduct an investigation. If I report the population and you are found to have concealed the population, it will not end well."

Narita Miyoshi listened and felt so angry that his teeth itched. In the past, he could just report whatever he wanted for such matters, but now, with such a thorough investigation, all his family assets were exposed.

He turned around and shouted, "There are still some people here. They are sleepy. It's so early. Why don't you tell them to get back here!"

The retainers of Narita immediately ran to the hill behind the farm and called back the more than a hundred people who were hiding there.

Among these people there were more than seventy able-bodied men, and the rest were teenagers.

Watanabe Toshinaga didn't care about the previous episode. He began to register the specific situation of the people in Zhuangzi.

Seeing how carefully Watanabe Toshinaga asked, Narita Miyoshi couldn't help but curl his lips, looking quite dissatisfied.

Because Watanabe Toshinaga asked too many questions, the team moved forward slowly. When many people saw that they couldn't get the farm work done today, they started to make a fuss.

A few brave people shouted: "How long will it take to get there? If we delay for a day, we will lose a lot of harvest!"

With this complaint, the situation got a little out of control!
(End of this chapter)