CHAPTER 300: CHAPTER 215: THE DOOR OPENED

The Imagawa family controls three excellent ports: Shimizu Port, Qingshui Port, and Paoquan Port.

The first two are located in Jumogawa Province, while the last is in Tone Province, but both Qingshui Port and Paoquan Port sit inside Qingshui Bay, much like Shimazu Port and Atsuta Port, each holding one end of the bay.

After Harano led his fleet out of Chenjin in Sankei Province, it was natural that he first arrived at Paoquan in the northwest corner of Tone Province.

The Imagawa family also places great importance on its ports. Just like Oda Nobunaga, they collect high "customs ship fees" to maintain their army, so naturally, a large port like Paoquan is tightly guarded: not only have they built many beacon towers and rock fortresses, but naval units are also stationed there.

Now that Harano had swept in with over a hundred ships, the beacon towers near Paoquan immediately billowed thick smoke to warn their allies, while all sorts of navy vessels left port and sailed out to sea to prepare for battle.

The Wanjin fleet quickly split into two parts as well. More than twenty warships, led by the "Chita," advanced, while eighty-odd armed merchant ships stayed behind, and rowboats carrying envoys set off for Paoquan Port.

A naval battle was highly likely, but since Harano was clueless about commanding sea battles, he sensibly ceded the command post and courteously asked Da: "Are you confident?"

Da was an old water thief whom Harano had once invited to help explore a saltpeter route. Originally, he planned to risk his life once and then live quietly with his wife and young children, but Harano’s pay was far too generous, the respect he received was great, and, with a son to provide for, his ambition was reignited. He never did leave the Wanjin Navy—in fact, he became even more enthusiastic about the job.

Now, facing his "patron" Harano and with the "Chita," such a "Great Anzai Copper Ship," in his hands, he answered without hesitation: "I am, my lord!"

"Then I’m leaving it to you!"

"As you command, my lord!"

Da accepted the responsibility without protest, his words as concise as ever. Granted command, he immediately began issuing orders: arranging the ships for battle, distributing iron gunners to various points, while sailors donned armor, ready to repel any boarding. Harano did not stand by to watch; he took A Qing below deck and regrouped with his Internal Guard Team, preparing his big killer move as the last line of defense if the situation soured.

Of course, it might not come to fighting, but it’s always best to be prepared.

The Wanjin Navy was busying itself, and the envoy teams met no obstacles, sailing under Harano’s banner straight through the Paoquan navy and into Paoquan Port, where they quickly met the city lord, Ishiyama Heisuke, and delivered Harano’s handwritten letter.

Ishiyama Heisuke scanned the letter at a glance, then gazed silently out to sea at the gleaming "Chita."

The samurai and Lang Faction clerks around him were impatient and asked, "My lord, what is the Nozawa family planning?"

"They’ve made some requests—want us to... sign an alliance," Ishiyama Heisuke replied, handing the letter to his subordinates and turning to question the envoy: "If we refuse, will Lord Yehua attack Paoquan Port?"

"No, Lord Ishiyama, we’re only here to do business," the envoy said sincerely. "Lord Yehua has always had friendly ties with the Imagawa family. We would never be so rude. But precisely because both sides are on good terms, we hope to get Imagawa’s help: exemption from the Wanjin merchant ships’ customs ship fees, and future protection for Wanjin’s merchants, their safety and property."

Ishiyama Heisuke stared at the envoy, the fat on his face twitching. Since when were the Imagawa family and Harano on good terms? In the past, they’d only been forced to swear mutual non-aggression because neither could finish off the other; both bore the other’s blood, no different than enemies, really.

Still, they had never truly fallen out, and Harano had kept his word by not joining the Battle of Tōkantsu and had never attacked the Imagawa family.

He was silent for a while, then asked the samurai around him, "What do you think?"

"Absolutely impossible, my lord—we can’t agree to this!" a samurai in his twenties immediately protested. He’d read the letter; things like free protection for merchants and ships might be fine, but waiving the customs fees was unacceptable. The Imagawa family levied heavy taxes on merchant ships. Take tea leaves, for example: import or export, they took a 30% cut, and for certain strategic goods, like ironware, they took 40%—in kind, not cash.

That is to say, if someone brought ten iron tools, the Imagawa family would take four for free.

This may sound absurd, but even in modern times 100% tariffs aren’t rare, though that’s usually a result of trade wars or to protect domestic industries. The Imagawa family, though, just did it to grab money—each year, the three major ports brought in nearly two hundred thousand kan in taxes, or Imagawa Yoshimoto couldn’t have lived so lavishly, nor had the capital to march to Shangluo.

Nor did the Imagawa worry about a lack of merchant ships: in those days, the losses on the land routes were far worse. Everywhere had checkpoints: the Daimyo charged tolls, the powerful clans charged tolls, even temples, shrines, river pirates, and mountain bandits—everyone charged tolls. Only a fool would haul ten farm tools by land and still have one by the time he reached Tone; if he did, he was a hell of a fool!

More likely, he wouldn’t survive to see it!

On land, if the local toughs wanted to ambush a caravan, it couldn’t be easier. They could wipe out the whole thing and leave it a mystery.

So now Harano had come by sea, but didn’t want the Imagawa family getting 30–40% of Wanjin’s goods for nothing. The warriors of Paoquan didn’t want to just give up that much money either. The conflict was hard to resolve, and the Imagawa samurai, all at once, bore down on Harano’s envoy, some even drawing blades, saying Harano was here to insult them and that they might as well kill the envoy on the spot.

The envoy wasn’t scared. He’d followed Harano through the defense of New Wanjin and had killed Imagawa samurai himself; he had the psychological edge. He also knew the Imagawa samurai wouldn’t dare harm a hair on his head; if they did, Harano would have every reason to sweep into Paoquan Port and clean it out.

So even if he died, it would be worth it. He’d be buried in the Wanjin cemetery and his family would be looked after for life.

The envoy wasn’t scared in the slightest. If he were timid, he wouldn’t have been chosen. He simply stared at Ishiyama Heisuke, waiting for a response.

Ishiyama Heisuke, seeing he hadn’t scared the envoy, waved his hand for everyone to be silent and asked the envoy, "If we refuse, what will Lord Yehua do?"

The envoy remained sincere, lowering his head: "My lord, Wanjin suffered disaster the last two years. These goods must be sold. If you will not allow us to trade in Paoquan Port, then we can only find somewhere else nearby to sell. I hope you won’t take offense."

The room fell silent, then the samurai exploded in anger.

This time, they were truly angry, and someone yelled, "All the land here belongs to the Imagawa family—does the Nozawa family want war?"

"We’ll pick a patch of wasteland, sell our goods, and leave!" the envoy answered coolly, undaunted. "We won’t use it as a pretext to claim any Tone land; I can swear it on the Shrine."

"No one will trade with you!"

"Then we’ll just wait until someone does," the envoy said, meeting the warrior’s gaze without backing down. "Or, we can block the mouth of the bay and divert all the out-of-town merchants there to trade."

The man was momentarily speechless, then another bellowed, "Over a hundred ships won’t scare us! If we wanted, we could sink you any time!"

The envoy was angry now, too, raising his voice: "Any provocation against Wanjin will be treated as an attack! My lord, I dare you to say that again—I’ll walk out and let war between our houses be on your head!"

The room fell silent again, even the insulted samurai just opening and shutting his mouth, not daring to repeat himself.

The envoy looked around, breathing deep and trembling with excitement—this was the high point of his life. Even if he were ground into mincemeat afterward, it didn’t matter. Ishiyama Heisuke waved for silence and addressed the envoy in a gentler tone: "Envoy, it’s impossible not to collect customs fees at all. How about 20%? For Lord Yehua’s sake, for all Nozawa merchants, whatever the goods, we’ll only charge 20%."

The envoy shook his head at once: "No, my lord! Three tenths for normal goods, four tenths for special goods—these customs fees are already unreasonable, even reducing them to twenty percent would be too much. Wanjin merchants are under Lord Yehua’s protection, and they can’t accept unfair terms. So... we’re asking for a total exemption from customs fees."

Ishiyama Heisuke’s brow furrowed, and the arrogance of this commoner angered him, but he didn’t lose his temper, only reminding, "You should consult Lord Yehua."

"There’s no need. I am Lord Yehua’s plenipotentiary envoy; I’ve been fully authorized—my word is his," the envoy said, pulling out a document and displaying it, then adding, "Lord Ishiyama, please make your decision. Do you accept Lord Yehua’s request?"

Ishiyama Heisuke took a deep breath. He dearly wished he could order this envoy beheaded and send the head back to that damn rascal Harano, but he didn’t dare. After a moment, he took another step back, sighing, "What about ten percent?"

The envoy shook his head again: "My lord, I’ve made it clear: Wanjin people aren’t those merchants who let samurai trample them—they’re under Lord Yehua’s protection. And with his strength, he has every right to demand special treatment from the Imagawa. So... the Wanjin won’t pay a single coin in customs fees. That’s Lord Yehua’s demand—I suggest you accept it!"

Ishiyama Heisuke was silent for a bit, then shook his head: "That’s not for me to decide. Lord Yehua must wait a few days—we need to see what Shimizu decides."

This was a stalling tactic, but the envoy wasn’t having it. He stood and said, "If that’s your decision, so be it. But until then, we’ll begin landing and building defensive rock fortresses. Please do not interfere. Per Lord Yehua’s instructions, I formally declare: Any approach within fifteen li of the Wanjin Army—on land or sea—will be considered an attack, and all resulting consequences will be your responsibility, my lord!"

With that, the envoy turned to leave, not willing to stay another moment. Ishiyama Heisuke hesitated, but finally reached out and sighed, "Fine, envoy. No customs fees, then. Let’s talk alliance timing instead."

He really had no choice; humiliating as it was, the Imagawa family had tangled with Harano before—back on the Chita Peninsula, both sides left corpses everywhere. He had no wish to repeat that.

Besides, Matsudaira Mototaka had already conquered East Sankei, sharpening his knives at Tone. Now was no time to provoke the Nozawa family—best swallow the humiliation for now.

Otherwise what? Face the Matsudaira family to the west, and Nozawa out at sea? If Harano could bring a hundred ships now, next time he could ferry thousands of Lang Faction and Ashigaru, sandwiching Matsudaira between them...

For a little customs money, it’s not worth the risk—this is the only way!

But if the Imagawa were as strong as before, would it ever have come to this...

For a moment, Ishiyama Heisuke felt as if he had aged ten years.