Chapter 206 Winning!

Author: Shanyuan Guniao

Chapter 206 Winning!

Under the pressure of internal and external pressure, Kirigakure chose to sacrifice the interests of the Kingdom of Water to cede territory for compensation in order to concentrate on dealing with the menacing Kumogakure ninja army.

Compared with the Tokumitsu Shogunate, Kumogakure is the enemy that may affect the survival of the Ninja Village.

In this way, Uchiha Tokumitsu has to thank Kumogakure's group of barbarians for the amazing assists, which allowed him to pick up a big mistake!

After the armistice document signed by the Third Mizukage and notifying the Ninja Village was delivered to the shogunate camp, Uchiha Tokumitsu ordered the withdrawal of the occupying Ninja troops from the Eastern Islands and Daming Prefecture Kinki.

Only when Loquat Juzo filed a request for the return of the Daimyo Prefecture, Uchiha Tokumitsu put forward another condition, requiring the Daimyo of the Land of Water to personally sign an edict declaring that the Tokumitsu Shogunate's jurisdiction over the Southern Islands was a permanent control supported by the legal principles of a great power.

OK.

Although neither the shogunate nor Kirigakure fully understood the binding effect of such an empty document that could be torn up at any time, Juzo Hako, who was responsible for the negotiations between the two parties, had no choice but to go north again to meet with the daimyo and ask him to issue an edict to agree to the transfer of governance.

.

Since the ninja army of Gotachibana Yagura was defeated in the Battle of Kinki, the garrison of the Water Country daimyo was also moved to the Northern Islands.

However, in recent days, due to Kumogakure's attack, the northern archipelago has become somewhat unstable. Coupled with the negative impact caused by Mizukage's massacre of the elders, the daimyo, ministers and nobles have also been frightened three times a day, and are in panic all day long.

Now the Third Mizukage went beyond him, the nominal supreme ruler of the Land of Water, to secretly negotiate a peace with a foreign warlord and signed an agreement to cede territory, which really made the Daimyo feel embarrassed.

…

"...The people of the shogunate have big plans!"

When Loquat Juzo arrived at the daimyo residence to convey Uchiha Tokimitsu's request, the noble official who came out to greet him delayed for a while on the grounds that he still needed to discuss it in front of the palace.

The daimyo also summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.

The ninjas may not take the edict seriously, but in the eyes of the nobles who are experienced in political affairs, the significance of the edict to cede territories is of great significance.

This is equivalent to establishing a separatist force within the Kingdom of Water that does not listen to propaganda...

The Daimyo of the Land of Water would rather allow the southern and eastern islands to be occupied by the shogunate's ninja troops than issue such an edict to cede territory.

"Your Highness the Daimyo, I know that this matter is a shame to the Kingdom of Water, but I still hope that Your Highness will bear with you for the sake of the country in order to restore order..."

However, the ministers and nobles had long been concerned about their mansions and gold and silver treasures placed in the Daming Palace. They really did not want to continue to worry and be frightened, so they tightened their belts and supported Kirigakure to continue the war with the Tokoku Shogunate.

"Although Mizukage is arrogant and rude, he is the leader of Kirigakure after all. He still needs to lead his troops to resist Kumogakure's tigers and wolves; and although the Tokumitsu shogunate is tyrannical, it can be done to a certain extent by accepting him as a nominal vassal through an edict.

To a certain extent, it can check and balance the Kirigakure Ninja Village. In this way, it can also prevent the ninja power from being dominated by one family. His Highness the Daimyo can just sit in the middle and mediate, sit back and watch the fight between the other generations, and reorganize the government army..."

The eloquent Konoe Atsushi persuaded hard.

Other ministers and ministers also had the same attitude.

No matter how tyrannical and domineering the Tokko Shogunate was, they would not commit such evil acts as Kumogakure, who slaughtered nobles.

Besides, ceding the Southern Islands would only sacrifice the interests of the local nobles. What does it have to do with the ministers of Daming Mansion?

What's more, after experiencing the devastation of the war, the Eastern Islands returned by the shogunate had only ten of the original local nobles left, which was just suitable for the ministers of the Daming Prefecture to enclose the territory and expand their sphere of influence.

This is a win-win!

The Tokumitsu shogunate got the southern islands, and the ministers took the eastern islands. As for the only ones who suffered, the daimyo and the unlucky local nobles were the only ones who suffered.

"Now that Kirigakure has been defeated in many battles, the Ninja army is scattered. It still needs to regroup to face Kumogakure. This is a major matter related to the survival of the country of water... Please put aside your honor and disgrace for the time being and take more responsibility for this country."

The minister of Taizheng also spoke out to persuade.

The daimyo's attitude began to soften a little, but he still had some scruples, "If the shogunate separatizes the southern archipelago, how will the defense of Kinki be arranged? How will business transactions be taxed?"

This is a very practical question.

The former is about whether the daimyo can sleep well, and the latter is about whether the daimyo can eat well.

"Kirigakure can be responsible for the ninja troops stationed in Kinki, and after the war, another 3,000 ninja troops will be mobilized to form a guard force..."

The Minister of Taizheng said: "As for the tax issue... we don't care about sales to foreign countries. Everything going to and from the country must be levied according to the domestic tax rate!"

The smuggling business that Uchiha Tokumitsu once initiated with the Kirigakure Ninja Alliance was well known to the nobles and ministers. In fact, they were also one of the beneficiaries of the smuggling trade.

At that time, specialties from all over the ninja world were continuously transported to the hinterland of the nobles, and all that was required was the meager and worthless catch of the humble fishermen.

As for who suffers the most from the smuggling trade?

Of course he is the one who collects taxes throughout the territory!

However, although the ministers and nobles exist dependent on the daimyo, it does not mean that their interests are consistent with the daimyo.

Especially at this critical moment when the territory of the Eastern Islands is about to be obtained, being able to evade more taxes from the daimyo's tax collectors means that more gold coins can be kept in their treasury.

After rounds of persuasion from close ministers, the daimyo finally relented and agreed to issue the edict, but also requested that envoys be sent to the shogunate's residence to discuss tax issues between the two parties and the location of the concession in the Eastern Islands.

With no choice but to work hard, Juzo Juzo could only take the daimyo envoy and set off south again to continue negotiations with Uchiha Tokumitsu.

…

The person who came to sign with Uchiha Tokimitsu on the order of the Daimyo of the Land of Water was none other than Atsushi Konoe, who had prospered in officialdom since his mission to the shogunate.

Uchiha Tokumitsu was also very interested in this person. He felt that he was a man who knew current affairs and had a soft body. He might be of great use in the future, so he summoned Konoe Atsushi in the meeting hall of the station as usual.

"General Tokuguang, on the orders of the sacred name of our country, came to discuss..."

Before Konoe Atsushi finished speaking, he was interrupted by Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"Should the name be signed or not!"

"The southern islands can be classified as shogunate territory, but there are still other matters that need to be negotiated."

Konoe Atsushi also explained the purpose of his visit: "The first is taxation, and the second is concession. Until these two matters are decided, the daimyo will never issue an edict!"

"Tell me~"

The way Konoe Atsushi kneels and punches is really interesting, and Uchiha Tokumitsu also explained it accordingly.

"...the shogunate shall not restrict the movement of the people under the jurisdiction of the Southern Islands, and they shall be free to choose to stay or return north."

"That's no problem~"

Uchiha Tokumitsu agreed to Konoe Atsushi's first request.

"But the freedom of movement of people is mutual, and the areas under the jurisdiction of the daimyo must not restrict the residents of their territories from moving south."

"no problem!"

Konoe Atsushi also agreed, and then continued: "Secondly, the Southern Islands should implement a tax rate consistent with that of the country."

"...Does the daimyo still want me to pay taxes to him?!"

Uchiha Tokko frowned.

"A tax payable can be deposited into the shogunate's treasury, but the tax rate cannot be changed on its own."

Konoe Atsushi explained.

"Domestic commercial taxes can be implemented according to the water country tax rate, but foreign-related taxation is an internal matter of the shogunate, and the daimyo is not allowed to interfere."

Uchiha Tokko thought for a while and made his own request.

"no problem!"

This is exactly what Konoe Atsushi wanted.

Subsequently, the two discussed and finalized some content regarding the establishment of the Tariff Agreement Department, and the tax issues in the Southern Islands were also finalized.

The last item is the concession issue that both parties are most concerned about.

From the daimyo's point of view, he was naturally unwilling to allow the Tokoku shogunate to retain its tentacles of influence in the Eastern Islands. Even if he could not refuse, he would throw it to an uninhabited island and let the shogunate catch seabirds for fun.

But Uchiha Tokumitsu naturally didn't want to do this. In his eyes, the concession must be located in the county of the Eastern Islands of the Land of Water.

Just like the garrison detachments established by the Eastern Border Defense Force in the eight eastern counties of the Land of Fire, Uchiha Tokumitsu hoped that the concession would become a medium for contacting local noble officials, thereby expanding the influence of the shogunate on the local area.

But the daimyo is not stupid, so naturally he is not willing to let go of this issue.

"The shogunate will set up concessions in each of the seven counties and cities in the Eastern Islands!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu spoke loudly first, "In addition, shogunate consulates and commercial offices need to be set up in various waterways!"

"No way!"

Konoe Atsushi refused, then took out a map and presented it to Uchiha Tokimitsu: "The location of the concession proposed by our country is as shown above. Please use this to open the concession and establish the boundary."

Uchiha Tokumitsu picked it up and looked at it, and immediately cursed: "It is absolutely impossible to set boundaries like this! Does the daimyo still want to continue the war?"

"But General Tokumitsu's request is too much!"

Konoe Atsushi did not give in, and retorted righteously: "The Kingdom of Water is a big country, does it mean that by humiliating a big country like this, it doesn't take into account the criticism of the ninja community?"

"Besides, ninjas seek wealth and nobles seek stability. How about you and I each give in?"

Seeing Uchiha Tokumitsu's face turn cloudy, Konoe Atsushi immediately changed his words and said: "The shogunate can choose three counties and cities to set up concessions, and they can open commercial consulates, etc. within the concession area."

"...plus two more waterway concessions!"

Uchiha Tokko thought for a while and added a condition.
To be continued...