CHAPTER 249: CHAPTER 181: THE FLAME OF AMBITION GRADUALLY EXTINGUISHES

Hoyoshimaru is quite skilled at taking care of horses. After carefully examining the disease in the horse’s eye, he quickly concocted an herbal solution, and gently soothed the horse, continuously massaging its belly, brushing its coat, and attentively cleaning its eyes. Even when the horse was irritated, it remained calm, at most occasionally swishing its tail or snorting, completely losing its previously restless demeanor.

He is indeed an excellent groom and horse doctor, thoroughly familiar with equine nature.

Maeda Toshie felt a sense of pride upon seeing Hoyoshimaru’s performance, repeatedly signaling to Harano that this was his recommendation. Hoyoshimaru, meanwhile, was entirely focused, waiting until the medicine was applied and the horse had fully calmed down. Only after feeding the horse a handful of straw did he finally say with satisfaction, "It’s done. As long as the medication is applied on time, it will be cured in at most seven days."

"You’ve worked hard." Harano also set aside any airs, immediately expressing his gratitude warmly.

Hoyoshimaru hurriedly replied, "Not at all, Lord Nozawa, it’s but a small matter." As he finished, he looked around the stable, an expression of hesitation appearing on his face.

Harano followed his gaze, smiled, and asked, "Is there something wrong here?"

Hoyoshimaru promptly said, "The stable is a bit damp. It needs dehumidifying or it won’t be good for the horse’s health. The ventilation ports are also set a little too low, and the smell here is rather strong, which the horses won’t like..."

He went on to point out five or six issues in the stable, covering feed storage, rationing, and even the lighting inside the stable. The surrounding grooms, upon hearing this, began to feel uneasy—this residence was given by Oda Nobunaga, and it was like this when they took over; changing anything had never crossed their minds. Now, hearing so many issues, they worried that Harano would blame them.

Naturally, Harano would not find fault over such trifling matters. They were just ordinary grooms, most of whom had only become grooms after arriving in Wanjin, so a lack of skills was to be expected. He gently instructed them to try implementing Hoyoshimaru’s suggestions, then invited Hoyoshimaru inside for tea and a rest. After all, since Hoyoshimaru came to help, it would be improper to send him away once he finished; some hospitality was in order.

Incidentally, he also wished to consult on experiences with centralized horse care and breeding. Over in New Wanjin, they were building a horse-drawn light rail to speed up cargo transport. Horse injuries and illnesses were frequent in daily routine, and horse management had become a growing challenge. Constantly buying horses was draining, and he planned to establish his own stud to supplement consumption. Just then, having encountered a professional, he naturally wished to seek advice.

Though Hoyoshimaru was merely a member of Oda’s Lang Faction, a huge social gap from Harano, he showed no timidness. Seeing Harano’s cordial invitation, he did not act overly deferential and agreed readily, following Harano indoors. Maeda Toshie, still preoccupied with his own household matters, saw there was nothing further for him and left directly.

Harano and Hoyoshimaru entered indoors, sat down as host and guest, and after instructing for tea and snacks to be served, exchanged some customary pleasantries before inquiring about horse care and breeding.

Hoyoshimaru answered his inquiries very earnestly, holding nothing back whatsoever. He offered in-depth discussion on everything from daily horse care, rational allocation of horsepower, to reducing injuries and illnesses. In response to Harano’s specific questions, he even devised several solutions to minor problems that had arisen in the use of horse-drawn light rail. Although he did not actually understand what a horse-drawn light rail was, he demonstrated keen adaptability, and his ideas were quite feasible.

The more Harano asked, the more he couldn’t help but become fond of such talent. This man had a clear mind, substantial knowledge, refined speech, and sometimes even quoted poetry and song. Hearing him, he seemed well versed in arithmetic, and in comparison even seemed, in some ways, superior to Maeshima Shichiro—a remarkable level of knowledge for a member of the Lang Faction, surpassing that of many samurai.

When the horse topic drew to a pause, Harano could not help but ask curiously, "Lord Hizi, have you ever pursued a formal education?"

He used the honorific, and a trace of delight flashed across Hoyoshimaru’s face, but he quickly bowed his head. "My lord, please just call me Hizi; I hardly deserve such distinction." After this modesty, he respectfully replied, "As a child, I spent some years studying at Bright Guanyin Temple’s terakoya, where I learned a little of the basics."

He paused, seeming to feel this explanation was inadequate, then added, "A few years ago, I also served as an accountant (akin to a treasurer) in the Matsushita family, receiving much guidance from Lord Matsushita Guest Guard. There I read more books and also participated in running their stud farm."

Harano had heard of Bright Guanyin Temple—it was affiliated with Hosokawa Guanyin Temple—but he could not place the Matsushita family, so he asked, "The Matsushita family is located...?"

Hoyoshimaru hurriedly answered, "The Matsushita family is not far from Anxiang City."

Harano suddenly understood—it was not within Owari, and the Matsushita family was likely a vassal clan of the Imagawa family. In other words, Hoyoshimaru had once worked for the Imagawa family.

But it made no real difference. In these days, many samurai had to drift about seeking employment; it was a matter of survival. Moreover, it was clear Hoyoshimaru was not of samurai birth, making his job-seeking path even harder. Wandering about was quite normal.

After reflecting for a moment, Harano asked with concern, "Then, after leaving the Matsushita family, did you come to the Oda family? May I ask what position you currently hold in the Oda family?"

Hoyoshimaru straightened his back, his expression turning more solemn, and answered, "Yes, that’s correct. After leaving the Matsushita family, I returned to my hometown, then entered Qingzhou City for work, and now serve as head of the Horse Hall in the residence of the Lord of Upper General."

Head of the Horse Hall, is it?

Harano had fallen on hard times for several years now; his grasp of the era’s norms was finally filled out. He understood what the "Horse Hall" was and didn’t need to ask Ah Man—horses were critical partners, assets, and tools in battle for samurai, so the stable was a vital part of any household. In Japan’s Middle Ages, deep-rooted superstition flourished; thus, such an important place required the protection of deities, and places for enshrining all manner of horse-related gods became known as "Horse Halls."

Of course, with time, the role of the Horse Hall evolved. Besides enshrining its "horse gods," it became both a resting place for visiting guests and the grooms’ break room. The "head of the Horse Hall" meant the chief groom or stable manager.

This was already a fine post for a member of the Lang Faction, with frequent access to the family’s upper ranks, some fringe benefits, relative safety, and no need to fight on the battlefield—a highly coveted management role. Hoyoshimaru had managed to attain the post in a short time, which, even if thanks in part to other factors, still reflected significant competence.

Harano quietly pondered for a moment and, finding Hoyoshimaru quite outstanding, probed gently, "Lord Hizi, have you considered working elsewhere?"

Hoyoshimaru’s eyes suddenly brightened, his posture straighter—as if he’d grown from just over five feet to nearly five foot three—and he softly asked, "My lord, you mean...?"

Seeing no resistance, Harano spoke plainly, smiling warmly, "As I mentioned, Wanjin currently has many horses, but their use is in disarray. I’ve always wished to find someone truly skilled in this field for management and coordination. Eventually, I intend to establish a horse farm as well. May I ask whether Lord Hizi might be interested?"

Indeed, he had wanted a coordinator to manage all the "horsepower" so each department wouldn’t keep its own stock, creating chaos and facilitating corruption. As things stood, some horses were being worked to death, while others idled and grew long coats. But finding such a talent—knowledgeable in both horses and management—was difficult. His present civil staff were not up to the job, but Hoyoshimaru seemed perfect: an expert in horses, a horse doctor, with horse-farm experience, literate and numerate, and so at least worth a try.

Most importantly, he was not a samurai—this was ideal and matched his requirements perfectly.

As for poaching Oda Nobunaga’s staff, Hoyoshimaru wasn’t exactly crucial—just a head groom—so he figured Nobunaga wouldn’t mind, and it wouldn’t be an issue.

On hearing this, Hoyoshimaru’s eyes shone even brighter; it was as though a fire of ambition had been lit. He swallowed and asked with difficulty, "My lord, do you mean...you wish to recruit me as a Household Retainer?"

As he asked, his body seemed poised to move—if Harano just nodded, he would probably kneel in allegiance on the spot.

Harano was surprised and hurriedly waved his hands. "That’s not what I meant. I simply wish for you to work for me." He did not recruit Household Retainers, nor did he want a Samurai Group forming within Wanjin. Maeshima Shichiro’s previous recruitment had been an accident, stemming from his earlier lack of planning and manpower. Even now, Maeshima Shichiro was not a Household Retainer, and had recruited none of his own—he had considered doing so, but it seemed Endo Chiyoda had warned him off, so he quickly dropped the idea.

Hoyoshimaru was momentarily startled; the fire of ambition in his eyes slowly faded, and his eager posture disappeared.

Perceiving something amiss, Harano quickly added, "Though I cannot take you as a Household Retainer, you need not worry about compensation. How about an annual salary of one hundred strings of Wen? Housing and horses can also be provided—your treatment would be second to none, not inferior to any samurai."

Hoyoshimaru hesitated for a moment, gently shook his head, and quietly replied, "My lord, I hope to become a samurai. That has been my dream since childhood. If you are willing to take me as a Household Retainer, I will loyally follow and devote my all to you. If not, then..."

"I see..." Harano hadn’t expected that Hoyoshimaru cared nothing for material compensation and asked only for samurai status—a request he simply could not grant. He did not try to tempt him with more money, but smiled apologetically after a moment’s reflection. "I’m sorry, Lord Hizi, for troubling you."

"It’s nothing, my lord." Hoyoshimaru took it with admirable composure, showing not a trace of disappointment, his demeanor soon back to normal as he raised his tea and chatted of other things. "My lord, this tea you’ve brewed is quite unique in style—is it the latest Ming Country pan-fried tea?"

"Yes, I prefer a lighter flavor."

"I see. When I was in Kyoto, I heard of something similar..."

Hoyoshimaru then went on, using the tea as a segue to recount some anecdotes from his time at temples in Kyoto. He appeared quite young—perhaps only a little older than Maeda Toshie—but had been to many places, dabbled in commerce, and had a wealth of life experience. He could hold conversation on any topic and made for excellent company in discussion.

Harano was greatly interested in accounts of distant lands, especially experiencing this era from the perspective of an ordinary contemporary person. It was all the more fascinating, and chatting leisurely with Hoyoshimaru, he talked away over an hour, and felt faintly reluctant when Hoyoshimaru finally took his leave.

This fellow is truly a talent, more interesting than Maeshima Shichiro. What a pity he insists on being a samurai—if only he would join Wanjin!