Li Yuan's overwhelming strength had left a profound impact on Kozuki Oden. Even five of him couldn't match Li Yuan, let alone five lesser daimyos! However, he couldn't bear to see his elders fall to Li Yuan's sword.
"Oden, enough. Wano cannot be surrendered."
"If anything is to be lost, it will be the lives of us samurai first."
"As long as Wano stands, so do we samurai!"
Shimotsuki Ushimaru declared firmly.
"But, Oden is right. We must prepare for the worst and not stake everything on this battle."
"If we fail, we must preserve the seeds of Wano to reclaim it in the future."
Kozuki Sukiyaki added.
"Our Shimotsuki clan has a passage to the outside world, passed down through generations. Before the battle, we can send some of our people through it."
"In the outside world, our clan has settled before, so let's send the seeds there."
Shimotsuki Yasuie suggested.
"Is it true? Does the Shimotsuki clan really control a passage to the outside world?"
Kozuki Oden was surprised, having always wanted to find a way to see the outside world.
He had never found it, not knowing the passage was controlled by the Shimotsuki clan all along.
"It is true, but our ancestors instructed us to remain isolated from the outside world."
"Now, with Wano's survival at stake, we must disregard those teachings."
Ushimaru explained.
"Very well, Oden, heal quickly. We will muster all samurai in Wano and prepare to attack Kurazukuri!"
With their decision made, the daimyos left the Flower Capital to rally their samurai and prepare for war.
Only Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Sukiyaki remained.
"Oden, if we lose, you must escape and survive. You are the sole heir of our Kozuki clan, and you must be safe!"
"Also, though you've opposed marriage, with Wano in peril, you must ensure the Kozuki bloodline continues."
"I've arranged for fifteen maidens. In this time, do your part, and I will send them out of Wano with you."
Kozuki Sukiyaki said, leaving Oden alone in contemplation.
"The Unlimited Sword School has been established, rumored to be founded by Lord Li Yuan. Anyone who passes the exam can join and learn swordsmanship, becoming a samurai in the future!"
"That's not all. Students are well-fed, with meat at every meal, and they only need to practice swordsmanship, no labor required."
"Hurry, send our child to try out. This great opportunity can't be missed. If he joins, he won't worry about food and clothes."
"..."
The news spread quickly in Kurazukuri, and on the day of its founding, nearly everyone knew about the Unlimited Sword School.
People rushed to enroll their children, and many hoped to join themselves, seeing it as a path to rise in status.
The news reached other islands in Wano, drawing interest from those wanting to join the school.
"This is outrageous! The Unlimited Sword School is breaking Wano's traditions by publicly teaching swordsmanship!!"
While the common people celebrated, traditional samurai were displeased.
In Wano, samurai were above commoners, a tradition upheld for centuries, essential for samurai lineage and legacy.
Why had only a few families endured through time, while others faded into history's flow?
It was the preservation of swordsmanship and Ryuo traditions that kept these great families strong, producing swordsmen and great swordsmen each generation, maintaining their esteemed status in Wano.
Without the advantage of heritage, they could be replaced by other families.
"He must be killed!!!"
Upon hearing about the school, the daimyos resolved to eliminate Li Yuan, even at the cost of their own lives!
"Hahaha, Li Yuan is remarkably generous, establishing the Unlimited Sword School, teaching his swordsmanship to commoners!"
"Such magnanimity has unsettled Wano's elders, prompting them to rally samurai against him."
Kurozumi Orochi, a native of Wano, was well-informed about local affairs.
The daimyos' actions might be hidden from Li Yuan, but not from the Kurozumi clan.
"Pirates think differently from those daimyos—they care about benefits, not traditions."
"Teaching swordsmanship brings Li Yuan more benefits, so he doesn't mind."
"As for surpassing Li Yuan with his techniques, that's impossible. Not everyone is a prodigy capable of breaking the Great Swordsman record like him."
Kurozumi Kanjuro remarked.
"You're right, but it doesn't concern us."
"Kozuki Sukiyaki wants me to join against Li Yuan, but that's not happening."
"However, we can inform Li Yuan of Wano's movements, so he can prepare."
"Our Kurozumi clan will stay out of this war, let them fight to mutual destruction, and we'll benefit!"
Kurozumi Orochi laughed arrogantly.
"Oh? It seems my plan succeeded!"
Li Yuan chuckled, reviewing the intelligence from Kurozumi Orochi.
With Kozuki Oden, Wano indeed had the resolve to fight to the end, gathering all its forces for a decisive battle.
If Oden had been killed, Wano might have been in chaos, its leaders contemplating retreat.
"Since Orochi won't join the war, let him stir trouble among Wano's people during the fight."
Thinking of Orochi, Li Yuan smiled.
He was a tool for directing Wano's hatred, one to be fully utilized.
"Wano's greatest artisan skills are with the Shimotsuki clan? I'll have to keep an eye on that."
Li Yuan continued reviewing Orochi's reports on Wano.
Beyond its rich sea stone mines, Li Yuan was interested in Wano's unique artisan skills, capable of crafting Great Grade Swords.
With the right materials, Wano's artisans could forge swords of such caliber.
Such craftsmanship was Wano's greatest achievement besides its samurai.
Li Yuan's future forces would need many swordsmen; the demand for quality swords, if not Great Grade, would be high.
Seven days passed swiftly.
During that time, all of Wano was in turmoil.
To keep Li Yuan unaware, the daimyos didn't explain their large mobilization of samurai, conducting it secretly.
Meanwhile, Kurozumi Orochi played his part, seizing territories with his family's warriors as samurai left their regions.
His brutal methods sparked public outrage, with many demanding the shogun expel the Kurozumi clan.
But the shogun and daimyos ignored these actions, leaving the people without recourse.
Their resentment simmered, waiting for the day it would erupt.
"Captain, bad news! A massive force of Wano samurai is invading Kurazukuri, led by the daimyos themselves!"
"The samurai number over fifteen thousand!"
Ashura Doji rushed into Li Yuan's room, alarmed.
"Stay calm; numbers don't matter to me."
"I let Oden go for this day."
"Gather the men, bring chains and cuffs. We're going to capture those samurai!"
"Invite Kurazukuri's people to witness how I defeat Wano's so-called samurai!"
Li Yuan said calmly, leaving Ashura Doji stunned.
He couldn't comprehend Li Yuan's plan, using chains and inviting an audience—was this a performance?
"Never mind, following the Captain's orders should be right!"
Ashura Doji bit his lip, proceeding with Li Yuan's instructions.
"Have you heard? All the daimyos and the shogun are coming to Kurazukuri to challenge Lord Li Yuan."
"How is that possible? Lord Li Yuan has treated us so well. Could this be a misunderstanding?"
"There's no misunderstanding. I heard it's because Lord Li Yuan founded the Unlimited Sword School, breaking the samurai tradition, so they're here to wipe him out!"
"What? Just for that? The Unlimited Sword School offers us a path to becoming samurai, a chance to change our fate, and they're stopping it. It's infuriating."
"Yes, I hope Lord Li Yuan wins so my son, already in the school, can succeed."
"..."
Besides preparing for battle, Li Yuan spread rumors in Kurazukuri to gain public favor.
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