Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1942 1412: Transshipment Trade, Opening the Japan Trade Route

"Bodhisattva! Another ship has arrived at the port!…""Quick! Quickly unload the cargo!…"

"Did the family head buy rice from the rice house again? Huh! Are there cows and horses on the ship? Are these… swords, spears, armor?…"

"Sukezaburou, stop staring! Go! Lead the new settlers off, and take them to the shacks at the back!…"

"Yes! River Wild Group Head!…"

April was more than halfway gone, and the spring light shone back on the earth. The sea breeze was warm, and the snow had melted completely. Five large rice house merchant ships docked at the port outside Victory Mountain Manor, and several dozen samurai and peasant soldiers were once again busy.

"These merchant ships seem larger than the ones before. They might even match that Ocean Shielding Ship from a few years ago, and there are five of them!…"

Group Head Kono Kenichi squinted, observing the rare large merchant ships at the port in Ezo land. They were almost the highest level of shipbuilding technology from the homeland of Japan, the newly emerged "Biancai Ships." Their single-mast, vertical sail, and flat-bottom design showed clear influence from Tang Ships, especially resembling Sand Ships.

Currently, each "Biancai" merchant ship at the port has a cargo capacity of 400 koku! Calculating each koku as 120 kilograms, it is about a 50-ton load. In the late 15th century, these could be described as Japan's real "large ships"!

"Pointed bow, square stern. A very high and large mast with a square-shaped vertical sail. A flat bottom, with two rows of oar positions on either side of the ship, using both oars and sails… Kyoto's great merchants are indeed lavish, able to ship goods with such large vessels!…"

"Hmm, these ships are fully loaded and arrived at this time, yet only partially unload… Could it be that they are planning to go north with the main family next month?… Hiss! Each ship has several monk soldiers on board, who look very formidable? Is this Shandan Trade really so large-scale this time?!"

Seeing the Tiantai Sect monk soldiers wielding naginatas and carrying Japanese bows, Group Head Kono Kenichi's expression turned serious, his brow slightly furrowed.

The samurai of the Kaozaki family had mostly participated in last year's northern expedition and the subsequent Shandan Trade. Trading farm workers, craftsmen, and livestock for gold with the Shandan people was an open secret among everyone, spoken of with discretion. Like this time, the main family distributing rice and reducing taxes was an unprecedented generous reward from any past family head. The samurai were all smiling widely, fully aware of where this "windfall" came from!

However, the fact that the main family did not monopolize this gold-rich trade route but brought in great merchants from Kyoto? If Kyoto's merchants take a share, wouldn't that mean less for the Kaozaki clan? In the end, could an even stronger daimyo enter the scene, kicking the main family aside?…

Such concerns among the samurai circle in River Wild Group Head's mind, but for the family head Kaozaki Mitsuhiro, they did not exist!

The production in Ezo land was limited after all, and large quantities of goods for Northern Trade could only be obtained through Mori no Kiyoshi's channel. Similarly, the gold traded from the Shandan people needed Mori no Kiyoshi's channel to turn into tangible "rice"!

Currently, Mori no Kiyoshi had become a "House Elder" of the Kaozaki clan, becoming his "uncle," completely one of them. They had long discussed and agreed on specific responsibilities and shares: Mori no Kiyoshi transported the goods, procured goods from various countries, and transported them to Victory Mountain Manor with large ships. The Kaozaki clan, as the local power, deployed samurai militia to ensure trade safety and handle contacts with the Shandan tribes…

As for the final settlement, nominally it was fifty-fifty. But with the added condition that Mori no Kiyoshi provided the needed materials for the Kaozaki clan, exchanged at a fair price for four-tenths of the gold…

This meant Mori no Kiyoshi took away ninety percent of all the gold, and while providing Shandan trade goods, he also supplied the Kaozaki clan with the materials needed for their territory! This agreement seemed like a great loss and concession for Mori no Kiyoshi, which even moved Kaozaki Mitsuhiro. But as long as the gold was secured, the actual astonishing profit was known only to this Kyoto merchant!

"Mitsuhiro, in this shipment, I brought you 50 sets of samurai armor, all made by craftsmen from Nara and Kyoto, well-protected, and more robust! I will count each set, at the price I received, as 6 kan… Additionally, there are 20 heavy bamboo bows, 2 kan each. 40 wooden bows, 1 kan each. 80 tachi swords, 1 kan for 2. 200 spears, 1 kan for 6… Altogether, it's about 450 kan, still calculated at the rate of 90 kan per one jin of gold…."

"Not bad! The quality of these armors and weapons is truly excellent! Indeed, products of Nara and Kyoto. Before trading with the fierce Shandan people, it's best to be fully armed to feel at ease!… Uncle, here are five gold talismans, for you!…"

"Haha! Mitsuhiro, no hurry, no hurry."

Seeing the forthright Kaozaki Mitsuhiro, Mori no Kiyoshi nodded and smiled. He didn't rush to take the gold but continued with the settlement.

"Mitsuhiro, the 1200 koku of rice transported in three batches, we calculated before, comes to 720 kan, 8 jin of gold. The wine and tea needed for the territory, from the last batch, is roughly 90 kan, 1 jin of gold…"

"Twelve plow oxen, 15 kan each, all strong from Omi, totaling 180 kan, 2 jin of gold. Twelve Mutsu warhorses, 30 kan each, totaling 360 kan, 4 jin of gold. Twelve breeding mares, priced at half the warhorses, 2 jin of gold…"

Hearing the price of these horses, Kaozaki Mitsuhiro felt a bit heartache, but he didn't show it on his face. The Kaozaki clan, located in Ezo land, originally didn't lack warhorses, and could even export them. But last year, inexplicably, a battle with the Shandan tribes lost over a dozen warhorses, and then a large batch of mares was sold, so replacements were necessary. After all, it's just six gold talismans, even if not for personal use, selling to the Shandan people could at least double, no, triple!…

"Twenty-two gold talismans…"

Kaozaki Mitsuhiro pursed his lips, calculating the total debt. The twenty-four gold talismans earned from the first Shandan Trade quickly turned into a large batch of assorted goods, satisfying the lords, samurai, and retainers, leaving only two pieces…

"Hmm, Zou Jirou! Bring up that set of renowned tea utensils!…"

"Yes, House Head!"

Matsushita Zou Jirou bowed his head, carefully brought up an exquisite wooden box, and placed it on the mat. Then, he gently lifted the lid, revealing a celadon tea set with green and yellow glaze engraving and carved flower comb patterns that shimmered in the soft light, looking like a treasure born in the forest!

"Hiss! Uncle, is this? This is!…"

"Oh! Mitsuhiro, didn't you ask me before to look out for any outstanding tea sets? This set of 'Lustrous Celadon Porcelain' was used by Murata Shugetsu, the tea ceremony master from Sakai Port, and is a treasure from Min in the Tang Country!…"

Mori no Kiyoshi smiled as he detailed the origin to the wide-eyed Kaozaki Mitsuhiro.

"Buddha bear witness! Murata Shugetsu was truly a master of the tea ceremony, only second to the late Masters Yixiu and Nengami in Kyoto!… He pioneered the 'Cha Cha,' which emphasizes harmony of song, music, tea, and Zen, capturing the Beauty of Wabi-Sabi…"

"Ah! A true tea ceremony master?… Uncle, what is the Beauty of Wabi-Sabi?"

"Oh! The so-called 'Wabi-Sabi' is about appreciating 'the elegant simplicity' in 'the impermanence of all things as they age.' This is truly profound Buddhist philosophy, beyond words, only to be understood through the heart. And with this tea set, perhaps one can more closely approach Buddha's True Teachings, and undoubtedly, it will enhance the heritage of our family…"

"Ah… approaching Buddha's True Teachings, enhancing the family's heritage?…"

At this moment, Kaozaki Mitsuhiro's eyes gleamed. Looking at the "Lustrous Celadon Porcelain" exuding the Beauty of Wabi-Sabi, he couldn't look away. He hesitated for a moment but couldn't resist the desire in his heart and softly asked.

"Uncle, how much offering is needed to bring this treasure of Lustrous Celadon Porcelain home?…"

"Hmm… This tea set was a gift to me from Master Shugetsu… not appropriate to measure with worldly goods…"

Mori no Kiyoshi showed a reluctant expression, caressing the tea set for a while before softly sighing.

"Mitsuhiro, you are now the head of the family, the family head of the Kaozaki clan, indeed needing a tea set to demonstrate the heritage of the family in front of retainers and guests…"

"Buddha's blessing! I will let you have this tea set! As for the offering, I will give a gift to the Master, copper coins and silver taels are too mundane… just two gold talismans!…"

"Ah! Two gold talismans?…"

Kaozaki Yoshihiro widened his eyes, looking at the last two gold talismans in his hand and then at the "Lustrous Celadon Porcelain" shimmering with clear light. Twenty-two gold talismans were spent for the family's grand endeavors, invested in essential matters. So should these remaining two not allow him to enjoy a little? Moreover, this tea set is indeed a necessary tool for samurai interaction, a treasure that will add luster to the family's name... After a while, Kaozaki Yoshihiro finally bit his lip, nodding.

"Alright! As Uncle says, two gold talismans!…"