Who is the most favorite historical figure among the Japanese?
It's Oda Nobunaga!
It's not because Oda Nobunaga had any unusual preferences, but because of the vast territory he conquered and the remarkable strategies he implemented during the Sengoku period.
When Altair had previously hinted that he had more samurai and did not need to rely on Hayajiro anymore, Kenshou immediately understood that Altair had the spirit of the Sengoku period legend.
Aragane Station could only be considered a second-tier city, and the resources around it weren't abundant. In the struggle for dominance, it didn't hold much advantage. But after Altair arrived, everything changed.
City size? It didn't matter, because the samurai guarding the city walls were now almost bored out of their minds. If it weren't for the rules, they would have wanted to go out and capture Kabane, as there were bonuses for catching them.
Resources around the city? That mattered even less. Under the protection of the samurai, the commoners had already started chopping wood and building new houses. Mining operations would begin soon, and the limited resources within the station were no longer a concern. There were plenty of resources outside!
Following the plan set by Altair, this second-tier city could soon build another outer wall beyond the original one, creating an outer city.
When that time comes, Aragane Station will become a first-tier station, perhaps even the largest in Hinomoto!
And the person leading Aragane Station would become the most esteemed figure in all of Hinomoto!
Thus, in Kenshou's eyes, their lord, Altair, possessed the same commanding presence as a legend like Oda Nobunaga! And now, they could see with their own eyes how Altair was leading them toward domination over Hinomoto!
The Shogun? Who's that? Is he more important than Altair-sama?
Although he was no longer the city's lord, Kenshou thought that once Altair conquered Hinomoto and became the most powerful figure, he would be second only to Altair!
Oh, wait, not just him, but also his daughter, Ayame, who was Altair-sama's personal attendant. Her status would also be quite high!
It's a shame that Altair didn't seem interested in his daughter. Two months had passed, and there had been no developments.
Kenshou, whose mind had already started painting a beautiful picture of the future, was more determined than ever to follow Altair.
"Altair-sama, what should we do next?"
"When the envoy from Kongoukaku arrives, kill them immediately. The cowards in Kongoukaku are worthless. Also, tell me how many children the Shogun has."
Amatori Biba is the Shogun's son, and as the eldest son, that means there are other children. So Biba is just a discardable pawn. If the Shogun had only one son, even with his questionable decisions, he wouldn't abandon him.
"The Shogun has four sons and seven daughters."
Wow, seven daughters? Quite productive, huh?
"Besides Amatori Biba, there are three other sons. Currently, two are in Kongoukaku, and one is in Hokkaido."
"Hokkaido? Interesting. Is that meant as a backup plan?"
Although the Kabane are strong, they follow the laws of nature. In colder regions, their ability to move decreases. Hokkaido is naturally colder than the main island, and in winter, it's covered in snow for nearly three months, which severely restricts the Kabane's movements.
"That's possible. The one in Hokkaido is the Shogun's second son, while the third son and youngest are in Kongoukaku."
"So, the youngest and the third are in the capital, while the second is stationed on the frontier. This setup could be the plot for a drama."
"Excellent. Kenshou, for the next while, you'll be in charge of Aragane Station. If anyone wants to buy antidotes, delay them. Don't let them buy it right away, but don't give them any hope either. Just tell them that production takes time and the price is high."
"But we've told the people of Aragane Station that all samurai will have access to the antidote. Will they believe it?"
"The antidote is in my hands. Does it matter whether they believe it?"
"My apologies, I was foolish."
"In any case, stall them. Understood? I will depart tonight for Kongoukaku."
"You're going to Kongoukaku, Altair-sama?"
Kenshou was shocked. Kongoukaku was the Shogun's stronghold, with a population of tens of thousands and over ten thousand samurai.
"Yes, I'll go alone. I'm going to meet the Shogun and discuss the succession of his position."
"You're planning to…"
"Do you remember how I entered the manor back then?"
Kenshou froze, excitement flickering in his eyes as he looked at Altair.
"I understand now."
When Altair first entered the lord's manor, no one noticed. The entire Aragane Station remained undisturbed. Altair suddenly killed the six captains of the city and then entered the lord's manor. Though Kenshou had learned over the past two months that Altair had all sorts of magical abilities, like pulling objects out of thin air, he now remembered the incredible skill Altair first displayed... his unrivaled assassination ability!
Altair could enter Kongoukaku without anyone knowing and assassinate the Shogun. Once the Shogun died, Kongoukaku would descend into chaos. With no Kabane outside and no other local lords threatening Kongoukaku, the power center would erupt into internal conflict.
History has shown that during feudal times, the transfer of power was the most unstable period for a nation.
With the second son guarding Hokkaido as a backup, the third son at the center of power, and the seemingly powerless youngest son, not to mention the daughters who appeared to have no chance of controlling the throne... what kind of sparks would fly between them?
With the Shogun being the kind of man who threw his eldest son under the bus, it was hard to imagine his children getting along peacefully!
"Once the Shogun dies, Kongoukaku and northern Hokkaido will be consumed by chaos. This turmoil will last for at least several months. In that time, we'll have control over Kansai, Kyushu, and Shikoku."
Altair sat in his chair, striking the pose of a scheming mastermind from historical dramas. Well, he was indeed the mastermind now.
"By the time they've stabilized, we'll control half of Hinomoto. Then, those still hiding behind walls will be trapped like fish in a barrel, completely unable to resist us!"
"Yes, Altair-sama. Hinomoto will walk toward a bright future under your leadership!"
"Go and prepare. The next few months will be busy for you!"
"Yes!"
Kenshou stood up, excitement shining on his face. He, Yomogawa Kenshou, who had once been just a small city lord, was now about to become the first vassal of the one who would dominate the world!
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