Food's Loyalty

The blunt way that Yumi put it didn’t help him. At least he had lived a life unlike his sons, but it was the reality. Apart from the soldiers that they lose in minor fighting, only losing three people to conquer an entire area did feel better than the bloody way that Aya went about it. She wanted subjugation and revenge.

It did make Seiji wonder where the end would be for Aya. Yumi didn’t seem to feel like revenge was enough for her. Given the look that he saw in her during the campaign against him, he felt inclined to agree with Yumi. But what was the point of conquering, it didn’t seem like she had an interest in unifying Japan like those in history had. It seemed like an afterthought. Almost like the effort was more of interest to her than the result.

“I had a feeling that’d be the case. You never said as much, but it just seemed natural as much as I hate phrasing it like that.”

“It’s the unfortunate reality. So accept the offer from Masahiro, Seiji.”

“What about gathering the support we needed?”

Yumi went back to the desk and shuffled around some papers and scrolls. Once she found what she was looking for, she scanned it over and handled it over to Nerine. “We’ll handle that while you’re away. The younger brother supporting you will win more and when you settle things with the siblings and capture Komagata everything will be on your side.”

She mentally went through the remaining Lords and advisors that they had to win. Checking through what she knew of them and how things played out she could cross a few off the list. It would still be some of the traditional old guard that she needed to win. ‘In the end, when Seiji’s the only one left they’ll have little choice but to support him. Most are going to accept rule under Matsushima with Seiji as the regent Lord. So that won’t really be much of an issue. They’ll keep their status and possibly even improve as a result.’

More of the worry would come to those that were long established and wouldn’t like the changing of the guard. ‘Aya would just have them executed to quickly settle the issue that way, but that’s not the path I’m taking. It’s more work doing it this way, but I’ll show her that this works too.’ In the end, she would get them all to accept the change. Seiji presented himself as an ideal candidate. The only thing that would shake things up would be the flip at the end that he was already pledged to Aya.

It would work out.

Chapter 546 – Food’s Loyalty

Two days passed quietly for Yumi. The plan continued as it had before, though with Seiji away. She only had Nerine nearby and it started to feel more isolating. It was all just orders and people to move. No one stayed by her. There were only three of them, so it made sense, but it did get lonely.

It would still be a fair bit of time before they were finished. The region was small, but Seiji had a careful dance to play around matters as part of the plan. She monitored things as best as she could from the status updates from Nerine, but missed how things would have been in her world with technology. It would be so much easier to know what happened, but then the whole strategy would change as well.

A lot was learned from watching Aya and what this world taught her, but she worried how much of it would transfer back with her to the real world. ‘I’d like to be able to take advantage of all this, but the whole situation is so different. Between super powered humans, modern technology, satellites, it might be too much of a change for me to apply these strategies.’

In a way she was excited to get back to the real world after resolving things with Aya just so that she could try out what she learned. This whole ordeal had been about controlling her mind, but she gained more from it than just that. Though, she honestly didn’t know how what she did with Masa and Sumiko really put them under her control. But that was the point and it all seemed to be what it was created for. So she could only accept that this was how it was supposed to be done, at least for her.

Nerine knocked on the door with the signal before entering. Her long moment of peace came to an end. “What’s the latest?” she asked, turning towards her as she walked forward.

“That’s still going how we expected. I had to send Komagata around or Kichiro’s forces would have run into them.”

“Good, these little games are only something we can get away with controlling all of the information. And how are the troops holding up?”

“The way things are going, they’re on the edge of abandoning their Lord up in the mountains. His favor is dropping hard.”

“Looks like it’s going to be time for Seiji to step in shortly.” Yumi stood up and walked over to the window looking out briefly before returning. Taking the walk gave a little exercise. “Have a message from Seiji make it to a few of the Captains in Kichiro’s troops. It’s time to direct their emotions in a productive way.”

“I’ve also made arrangements for a meeting tomorrow. I still think it’s unnecessary for you to go.”

“I’m an unknown here mostly. My name might carry something, but my face is blank to the rest. So it shouldn’t be much of an issue. And you’re busy.”

“We can make it another day.”

“It’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going as myself. We’re just shoring up the support Seiji needs to complete this. It’s an important piece to put into motion. If things played out differently, it would be him doing this not me. But we don’t have that choice.”

“Yes, things seem to be going in more than a few unplanned ways.”

“I’m aware. I’ve got a lot to learn still, but we’re still on track. Don’t worry, I can defend myself if necessary.”

Seated at the table across from the advisor Takehiko Modegi, Yumi slowly worked on the tea placed before her. The arrangements that Nerine made were outside of the estate at a quiet restaurant near the edge of town. At the time that they held their meeting, few customers visited.

Takehiko was one of the newest additions to the Nakanoi court, but earned himself a lot of recognition for his efforts in cultivating the lands to the north that were deemed too rugged for farming. As was often the case in this period, well supplied food stores had the same weight as gold. It changed the power dynamic in the region as they were able to provide exports to neighbors and secure safety from conflicts.

Such a deal quickly brought the young man to a position of power, though not of noble or clan status, to be able to be a Lord. He had a lot of ambition and was quite clever to be able to achieve what he had. It made him a difficult individual to deal with, but also a powerful ally to have. And unlike a lot of the smaller fish in the court, he hadn’t given his approval to Seiji yet, likely seeing his quick rise as threat to his own position.

“I’m pleased to be able to meet with you, Mr. Modegi,” Yumi began. Nerine set her up as one of her connections and attached her directly to Seiji as someone that he brought with him during the escape. “I’m sorry my Lord could not meet you.”

He watched her carefully, suspicious of her, likely of the change in plans. “There’s little you can do when a Lord of Nakanoi requests you. It would seem that the hunt continues to be difficult, even for someone as talented as him.”

Yumi smiled, keeping up a careful face before the man. “Yes, my Lord was honored to be able to serve.”

“The mountains are dangerous. I hope nothing happens.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know anything about them. I was just instructed to stand in for my Lord.”

The man never broke his piercing stare trying to look for any break or hint of misdirection from Yumi. Fortunately, Yuki had helped her training with that during Masa and dealing with the politics of the Matsushima court refined her poker face. Yumi could tell he found her annoying. She acted as though she didn’t belong, but he knew from how impossible to read that she had something more about her. That was the way she wanted it for him.

It made it easier to deal with this sort of individual that reads people to judge them. She didn’t have to do a lot to explain herself to him. He could tell that she was a serious player and he just poked to see how she reacted. This meant that he would take her word with weight rather than someone inexperienced.

“Your Lord has quite the reputation. Even before he arrived at the Nakanoi’s step, I knew of him.”

“He’ll be pleased to hear that.”

“And what does your Lord want to talk about with me? I deal in food and trade, not very interesting subjects for a military man.”

She drank some more of her tea. “Not at all, food is the lifeblood of an army and my Lord knows its value greatly.”

“Food is precious. Especially in terrain such as this.”

“Indeed. Food controls so much as my Lord understands. And such food would be of great interest to him.”

“Your Lord has long stretching vision.”

“He has a lot of mouths to feed.”

“The old man has him training the men.”

Even as they spoke, neither broke eyesight with the other. A clever man made for an easy talking partner in Yumi’s mind. And she could tell from how he spoke that he picked up her words. “There’s a lot to go around these days. It’s getting to be more than he can muster on his own.”

“So he needs my food then.”

“You are the best place to go. And he values loyalty and stability.”

“He’s looking for a long term partner. That is quite the offer.”

She continued to drink her tea. It seemed the meeting was going well. He bit the bait. “It’s important to him to have a healthy supply for the future.”

It was then that Takehiko broke sight with Yumi. He picked up the subtext in her words. Such things were a dangerous thing to say. It was her test to see what sort of guts the man had. Everything that she read and heard about him said that he would accept. But as Seiji was fond of reminding her, they were human and not perfect to predict.

He looked around slowly at the restaurant before returning to Yumi. There were calculations being done in his mind quickly. Different angles to find and weigh against. But it seemed that he found his answer. “Your Lord is a forward thinking man. I can appreciate someone that understands the value of food. I think we can do business.”

“Thank you so much. My Lord will be most pleased to hear this.” Internally, Yumi smiled with the final piece of the puzzle put together. ‘He’ll be enough to work on the rest while Seiji is finishing the fighting. It’s only a matter of time now before this all ends…I’m coming for you Aya… Just wait for me!’