Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1833 - 1320: Radiant Heavenly Son, Takeda Nobuhiro’s “Buddhist Law”
Six days later, in the Ezo land, the country of Kaozaki Family, Victory Mountain Manor.
Wisps of blue smoke rose from the lit clay furnace, like the unpredictable twists of thoughts. The scent of pine resin filled the meeting space, masking the herbal smell and the scent of death emanating from the old man.
The aged Takeda Nobuhiro sat cross-legged in front of the table. He looked extremely emaciated, and the wide Family Head robe on his body seemed even broader than ever. His face appeared very old as he observed the shiny table in front of him, remaining silent without speaking.
At this moment, twenty-four gold talismans, each weighing one jin, were spread out on the table. The bright golden color was so dazzlingly tempting, yet so heavy and solid. They pressed heavily on the table, equivalent to a year's revenue for the Kaozaki Family, equal to over two thousand koku of unpolished rice!
"…?"
Seeing that his father hadn't spoken for a long time, the kneeling Kaozaki Mitsuhiro finally raised his head. His youthful patience was clearly inferior to that of the seasoned old general, Kudo Shigeyasu, who also knelt with head bowed beside him. Or perhaps it was the dazzling glow of the gold that weakened his composure. At this moment, wanting to prove something, he spoke with anticipation.
"Father? This is the harvest from my first trade with the Shandan leader! This is a full twenty-four jin of gold, the annual revenue of the main family!"
"Mitsuhiro."
The aged Takeda Nobuhiro lifted his head, gazing at his young son. He looked like a veteran old eagle, staring into his son's eyes. That gaze was so sharp that Kaozaki Mitsuhiro instinctively avoided eye contact.
"You rushed back without campaigning eastward against the Ezo people, just to show me this gold?…"
"I… Father?…"
"Call me Lord Nobuhiro."
"Yes! Lord Nobuhiro!"
Kaozaki Mitsuhiro broke out in a sweat, bowed his head to the ground, and then softly replied.
"Buddha's blessing! Bringing this gold to the army is inappropriate. This is why I traveled day and night, together with Kudo Chief Retainer and several trusted retainers, to quietly bring the gold back first. Meanwhile, the main family's troops are still stationed at the base of Ezo Fuji, led by Hougai Elder. Next, the strategy to campaign eastward against the Ezo remains unchanged. And I will also rejoin the army to complete the campaign strategy!"
"Kudo, how is the northern military situation?"
"Family Head! The northern military situation is very stable! The camp under Ezo Fuji was built under my personal supervision, backed by mountains and facing water, very solid. And Hougai Elder is a prudent old general, and there will definitely be no mistakes!"
"What about the movement of that Shandan armored troops?"
"Family Head, they have already sailed north. The main family has Scouts watching the Beiyu Various Factions, and there hasn't been any sign of moving south. Prior to our southward movement, there were no signs of any contact or collusion between the Beiyu Clan and the Sumunkur Clan."
"Hmm. The military power is the foundation of the main family and must not be lost."
Takeda Nobuhiro pondered for a moment, nodded slightly, not as stern as before. He looked again at his son Mitsuhiro, still not mentioning the gold, and simply asked.
"Mitsuhiro, how are you handling the defeated Ishikari Clan?"
"Fathe–Lord Nobuhiro, I dispatched an envoy to appease the hearts of the Great Chiefs of all tribes, and reassured them of the main family's alliance with each tribe. I informed several Great Chiefs that if the Beiyu Clan invaded with the Shandan armored troops, the main family would aid them… I also asked them to always monitor the Beiyu factions and promptly report any news to the main family!"
"Not enough. Such appeasement is not enough."
Takeda Nobuhiro shook his head, for the first time extending his hand, resting it on two gold talismans.
"Mitsuhiro, in the previous battle with the Shandan, the Ishikari factions suffered significant losses, losing at least two hundred warriors. After the victorious Eastern Campaign against the Sumunkur Division, take supplies worth two gold talismans to support the most severely affected Ishikari large tribes, and renew the alliance with the Great Chiefs of the Ishikari factions!"
"Additionally, allow the most friendly Ishikari Clan to send young members of their clan over to learn the blacksmith skills they've long desired, starting as apprentices! And the younger generations of each Great Chief can also come to the main family to train in martial arts, serving as retainers by Mitsuhiro or Yoshihiro."
"Huh? Lord Nobuhiro, is the Main Family going to provide the Ishikari Faction with so much support? After the trade, our resources are already scarce. Moreover, these resources can be exchanged with the Shandan division for gold... Isn't it a bit too much?..."
"No. It's not too much, and it's still insufficient."
Takeda Nobuhiro furrowed his brows for the first time, seemingly pondering a difficult decision. After a while, he let out a long breath and instructed his son.
"Mitsuhiro, during the alliance with the Ishikari faction, you must inform these Great Chiefs! You are to betroth your twelve-year-old second son, Takahiro, to the daughters of the Chieftains! When Takahiro becomes sixteen, then hold a formal wedding, and intermarry with their clan!..."
"What! Father?! To have Takahiro intermarry with the ignorant Ezo people and not with the noble Martial Family?! This... this will destroy Takahiro's reputation within the Martial Family, ending his future there!..."
Upon hearing such an arrangement from Takeda Nobuhiro, Kaozaki Mitsuhiro's eyes widened in disbelief, exclaiming aloud.
"How can this be? He is my second son, one of your legitimate grandsons!… This?!…"
"Mitsuhiro! This is my arrangement!"
Takeda Nobuhiro's gaze was sharp, and his beard and hair bristled. He stared at his legitimate son like an aging lion. The agitated Kaozaki Yoshihiro's voice faltered, and he lowered his head again. The silent Kudo Chief Retainer finally bowed on the ground and opened his mouth to admonish.
"Family Head, why to such extent? Letting Takahiro marry an Ezo wife, sacrificing the future inheritance of the Martial Family, it's too unfair to the child…"
"Huff!..."
Upon hearing his long-time retainer speak up after forty years of shared life and death, Takeda Nobuhiro finally retracted his anger. He remained silent for a few breaths, offering a rare detailed explanation, not only to his most trusted retainer but also to his son Mitsuhiro, who had bowed his head.
"Kudo, the northern Ezo land's situation has completely changed with the appearance of the Shandan People... Such a powerful Shandan Armored Troops, hidden behind it are unknown great tribes with unknown intentions. Their collusion with the Beiyu clan means they have practically intervened in the various Ezo tribes, holding an astonishing financial power... This fog of unknown enemies and purposes truly makes me uneasy and unable to sleep peacefully!"
"Currently, we have lost the position of sole dominance in the Ezo land. Hence, the allies of the Ishikari clan become increasingly important. The Kaozaki family must strengthen relations with the Ishikari faction. We absolutely cannot let them be easily drawn in or even intermarried and annexed by the unknown Shandan tribes..."
"In such a crucial situation for the Main Family, Takahiro's marriage is naturally beyond his control, nor Mitsuhiro's! Moreover, it's just a betrothal now, with a four-year period of buffer... Within these four years, if those mysterious Shandan tribes indeed have no designs on the Ezo land... then there is room for adjustment in Takahiro's marriage. Otherwise..."
Takeda Nobuhiro spoke clearly. This marriage arrangement concerns the Kaozaki family's broader picture and long-term future. Shigeyasu Kudo sighed and had nothing more to say. Meanwhile, Takeda Nobuhiro glanced at his silent son and slightly softened his tone.
"Mitsuhiro, you have redeemed the Samurai for the Main Family, and exchanged for this amount of gold. It is enough to offset your previous defeat, and certainly is a great achievement! The knowledgeable House Elders will see this and acknowledge your accomplishments..."
"But the current key is not in the gold from trade! Mitsuhiro, this gold has clouded your heart, unsettled your resolve, and blinded you to the bigger picture. Blinded to the long-term future of the Main Family in Ezo land..."
Sighing slightly, Takeda Nobuhiro felt disappointed in Mitsuhiro's performance. His life was nearing its end, and the future of the Kaozaki family would rest in Mitsuhiro's hands.
Yet Mitsuhiro's resolve was consistently lacking, unable to transcend immediate interests and perceive the truth amidst numerous desires. How unfortunate! With little time left, he feared he couldn't enlighten his son…
"Buddha! Unexpected changes, yet what fate does this signify, is it a curse or enlightenment?..."
The aging Takeda Nobuhiro sighed, staring at the golden light of the Gold Talisman. That golden light also shone upon him, like a layer of genuine Buddha Light. Then, with dignity and grace, he used the last of his Buddhist Law to enlighten Mitsuhiro.
"The Lotus Miao Fa Sutra orderly states, all beings possess greed, fond of precious things. And the Radiant Heavenly Son understands this, emanating radiant light to fulfill the wishes of all beings. When wishes are fulfilled, the Bodhi Heart awakens..."
"Mitsuhiro, this gold light is like Treasure Light, fulfilling your desires. But are you to be the beings enamored with Treasure Light, or the enlightened one who arouses the Bodhi Heart after desires are fulfilled?..."
"And in comparison, that Shandan Chieftain who views gold as nothing, is akin to the Radiant Heavenly Son, fulfilling the wishes of all beings. But if he is the Sun Emperor, with golden light all around, holding the hearts of all Ezo tribes, even holding your heart... Can you still secure the future of the Ezo land?..." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Thus, the key now is not in the golden treasure light, nor in the fulfillment of desires, but in what the Treasure Light implies. We must figure out the origins of this Shandan tribe and their designs! If there is indeed a Great Bodhisattva from the North securely sitting upon the Shrine in Ezo land, then does the Kaozaki family's small temple in the South still have a place?..."
