CHAPTER 339: KAZEKAGE NINJA-CHAPTER 128: SHŌGUN OF THE CONQUEST (PART 3)

"Then I’ll speak plainly. You allow your subordinates to plunder the Fire Country’s people and sell off our shops and farmland—are you trying to overthrow our nation’s foundation?"

Masanobu Izu straightened his back, speaking with gravity.

Jinghang merely stroked his chin dismissively.

"Lord Izu, you can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly. Plundering people and selling farmland? Yes, that happened. Overthrowing Fire Country’s foundation? That really didn’t."

"Hmph! Aren’t you just deceiving yourself?"

Masanobu Izu retorted.

"No, no, no!"

Jinghang wagged his finger smugly.

"I’m not deceiving myself—I’m robbing you in broad daylight."

These were completely different things. Self-deception was sneaky theft; he was brazenly plundering in the open.

"So you’re determined to be Fire Country’s enemy."

Masanobu Izu gritted his teeth.

"Not at all. I have no intention of being Fire Country’s enemy."

Jinghang spread his hands.

"Is Lord Jinghang mocking me?"

Masanobu Izu slapped the table, his expression showing anger.

Jinghang immediately turned cold.

"Who are you slamming the table at!"

"What! Does Lord Jinghang want to kill me?"

Masanobu Izu didn’t back down at all.

Oh ho! Didn’t expect this old man to have some backbone.

"Heh, naturally I won’t kill you. I’m a noble—I understand the rule about not killing envoys. But let me make things clear."

Jinghang adjusted his robe’s front.

"First, I’m not invading—I’m counterattacking in self-defense. Lord Izu hasn’t forgotten who struck first, right?"

Masanobu Izu was startled, immediately retorting.

"That was Konoha ninja’s private action..."

"Exactly, so I haven’t touched your Fire Country Daimyō’s assets. That’s already quite considerate."

"Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company are also Fire Country Daimyō’s subjects! You openly plundered them—isn’t that offending Fire Country

’s Daimyō?"

Masanobu Izu’s attitude remained firm.

"Hehe, Lord Izu, that’s rather hypocritical."

Jinghang smiled slightly.

"As I understand it, when Konoha launched this invasion war, Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company provided fifteen billion in war loans behind the scenes. After capturing Amegakure Village, they looted the entire village—except for millstones, grinding stones, and heated beds, they swept away all living supplies, then burned the whole village to ash. Compared to that, we Sunagakure Village have been quite reasonable."

"But what does that have to do with our Fire Country Daimyō..."

"Ah, Lord Izu, watch your words. I’ve already given your lord plenty of face by not exposing this—don’t go looking for trouble!"

Jinghang immediately blocked Masanobu Izu’s mouth with his words.

Masanobu Izu reacted quickly, instinctively covering his mouth.

Fire Country’s Daimyō had also provided Konoha with war loans—exactly fifteen billion. Danzo’s plunder of Amegakure Village’s wealth had also given Fire Country’s Daimyō a share.

Following Masanobu Izu’s own logic, Jinghang’s campaign against Fire Country would be completely justified.

For a moment, even the wise Izu was speechless.

What kind of game is this—holding both Kage and General positions? Having big titles is one thing, but the key is his muscle backing it up. Even the usually domineering Konoha has been blockaded at their doorstep for two months.

Seeing this, Jinghang stopped making things difficult for Masanobu Izu. He never planned to trouble Fire Country’s Daimyō anyway—his main energy had to focus on striking Konoha. Where could he spare forces to attack Fire City?

In Jinghang’s eyes, Fire City was like a half-fat hedgehog—plenty of meat, but lots of spines too. Even if you struggled to crack it open, you’d easily get covered in stench. (Hedgehogs are very smelly.) How could it compare to Fire Eight Pillars, that fat sheep?

"Lord Izu, you’re a smart man. Let’s not mention generals and retainers—shall we speak heart to heart?"

Jinghang also relaxed, uncrossing his kneeling legs and simply sitting cross-legged.

Masanobu Izu knew Jinghang

was about to lay his cards on the table. He had no trump cards left to threaten him—perhaps Jinghang’s only concern was Fire Country’s Daimyō going all the way, desperately supporting Konoha to the bitter end.

Of course, he knew this possibility was slim. Nobles might die for courtesans, but they’d never risk their lives for ninja.

"This Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company—I robbed them."

Jinghang pointed his thumb at his nose, somewhat like a yakuza boss.

"But this isn’t without benefits for your Daimyō. I figure you understand this in your heart too."

Masanobu Izu’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t speak.

Jinghang didn’t mind, continuing.

"This Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company monopolized eight industries in Fire Country, their influence deeply entrenched. Though merchants, they constantly influenced court politics. Tax evasion was trivial—I heard their hands reached into Blazing Palace itself."

Blazing Palace was Fire Country Daimyō’s private palace, reportedly twice as large as Banshan Green Palace.

"Didn’t expect Lord Jinghang to have such detailed intelligence."

Masanobu Izu stopped hiding things.

"I played the villain and removed this tumor for you. From now on, your Daimyō can permanently reclaim these eight industries—private to state-run. Tsk tsk tsk, this profit isn’t small, much better than watching others’ faces to collect taxes annually. Running your own stall while standing beats begging on your knees by more than a little."

Hearing this, Masanobu Izu couldn’t help smiling slightly.

"Lord Jinghang’s words are crude but reasonable. The logic is sound, but no matter how much of a tumor Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company was, it was still Fire Country’s rotten flesh. Rotten flesh is still flesh. You ate others’ meat then said it was for their good—isn’t that rather unscrupulous?"

"Unscrupulous? I’m unscrupulous! I even solved a big problem for you!"

Jinghang said.

"What problem?"

Masanobu Izu asked.

"Land consolidation, naturally."

Jinghang rolled his eyes.

"According to data my subordinates submitted, Fire Country’s farmland—forty percent was bought up by Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company. What is this? This is the source of chaos! If one day the Daimyō is no longer strong, and they raise their arms and shout, with money, grain, and land in hand—that’s when your Fire Country’s foundation truly collapses!"

Jinghang sipped his tea and continued.

"I seized these lands and sold them at discount to Fire Country’s people. Land gets redistributed, completely cutting off this disaster’s root. Your Daimyō’s land tax can collect several more bushels next year, yet you still say I’m unscrupulous."

"Lord Jinghang, don’t switch concepts—that money from selling land went into your pocket."

Masanobu Izu wasn’t fooled at all.

"Ah, I helped your Daimyō such a big favor—surely I should earn some hard work money? Besides, this land is still in your Fire Country. I can’t take it away. When the war ends, I still have to return to my Wind Country. I can’t collect taxes either—the meat still rots in your Fire Country’s pot."

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