The Ninja from the manor disappeared without a trace, and the two ministers, panicked, hid in their manors for several days, not daring to show themselves.
"New Year's Financial Report." The Finance Minister tossed a few papers onto the table.
Mitsuki Kōmei glanced at the report from afar, his eyes catching numerous undisguised alteration marks. He feigned impatience and waved his hand.
"Is it time to collect money again? I don't understand the report. Just tell me directly, how much money can I get?" Mitsuki Kōmei asked.
The Finance Minister grinned, revealing two large gold teeth in his mouth.
"This year's tax revenue is 2.7 billion ryō, and expenditures are 210 million ryō more than last year, leaving a rounded net surplus of 700 million ryō."
Mitsuki Kōmei sat up straight, grabbed the financial report, and eagerly said to the Finance Minister.
"Good, good, good. Send the money over as soon as possible. I've taken a liking to a few Hime, and I'm short on cash."
The Finance Minister left, and Mitsuki Kōmei's smile faded.
He thought to himself, the bronze pillars have been cast, the pot is on the stove. Feudal Lords and Nobles? I'll stew all of you in one pot.
Dark clouds gathered over the Land of Water, growing thicker and thicker above the Daimyo Manor.
After a day of sparring with Yū Bohe, Mitsuki Kōmei prepared to soak in a hot spring.
In the steamy hot spring room, he was submerged up to his chest in the hot spring pool, with warm sake and an exquisite fruit platter beside him.
Two lightly dressed, delicate-faced maids knelt on either side behind him, their soft, boneless hands gently massaging his shoulders.
"Just a short soak, and my whole body feels relaxed. Come soak with me for a bit, let's relax," Mitsuki Kōmei said to the young Ninja beside him.
The Ninja Yū Bohe had arranged for him was named Guo, even younger than him, and always wore a mask and forehead protector, revealing only a pair of black eyes.
Guo quickly shook his head and used a Body Flicker Technique to leave the hot spring room.
Mitsuki Kōmei was utterly confused and set the matter aside. He said to Yū Bohe, whose expression was odd.
"Chief Yū, please invite the Minister of Justice tomorrow and bring him to the Deliberation Hall."
"Yes, Young Master. Is there anything else you need to arrange? With the New Year approaching, what preparations should be made?"
Mitsuki Kōmei thought for a moment, then shook his head. "You handle it. You manage everything in the manor, so you know better than I do what's needed. Give the manor's servants an extra two months' pay as a bonus."
Under a sky with a bright moon and sparse stars, Mitsuki Kōmei stood by the window, staring at the map of the Land of Water in his hand.
Three regions were clearly demarcated: the Daimyo Manor in the east directly governed 40% of the Land of Water's territory, the Hidden Mist Village in the southwest occupied 10%, and the remaining half of the territory belonged to thirty to forty large and small Feudal Lords.
There were two larger Feudal Lord territories: the Qingchuan Family and the Gongyang Family. Qingchuan Territory was adjacent to the Daimyo's jurisdiction. The Gongyang Territory was located in the northwest, by the sea.
Mitsuki Kōmei had a rough plan: first, to cause an incident in the Land of Water to attract the attention of the Feudal Lords. He would then swiftly take down Qingchuan Territory and the surrounding smaller Feudal Lords.
Afterward, he would use profit as bait to draw out the Hidden Mist Ninja, helping him sweep away the remaining Feudal Lords and Nobles.
The next morning, Mitsuki Kōmei met the Minister of Justice in the Deliberation Hall. He had a sharp nose, monkey-like cheeks, and calloused fingertips.
Mitsuki Kōmei praised the Minister of Justice highly.
"Lord Harada, the public order of the Land of Water has always been excellent, and your contributions are undeniable. You are a pillar of the Daimyo Manor, the stabilizing force of the Land of Water. You have worked hard."
"Thank you for your praise, Lord Shimotsuki. How can I, with my meager virtues, deserve such an evaluation?"
His eyes swept over Harada, who was humble in words but had a smirk on his face. He felt a wave of nausea, wanting to vomit at the mere sight of him.
"You are too modest. Lord Harada, currently, how many prisoners are there in the Land of Water's jails?"
"Three thousand condemned prisoners, five thousand serious offenders, and just under ten thousand minor offenders."
"Two years ago, according to custom, there should have been a general amnesty. But considering their numerous misdeeds, I felt it was inappropriate," Mitsuki Kōmei continued.
"I want to give them a chance: send them to various villages for reclamation labor. If they show good behavior for ten years, they can gain freedom. What do you think?"
Mitsuki Kōmei picked up his teacup and took a light sip.
"In principle, it's possible. I'm just afraid the prisoners won't be disciplined and will cause trouble or escape."
"A few thousand prisoners want to overturn the heavens?" Clap! Mitsuki Kōmei slammed the table forcefully, splashing tea. "With you, the stabilizing force, here, are you still afraid of them?"
Mitsuki Kōmei had seen the Minister of Justice's criminal evidence. A large portion of the prisoners in jail were good people wrongly accused after the Minister of Justice took bribes.
Mitsuki Kōmei finally convinced the Minister of Justice, and the matter was settled.
The New Year arrived. Outside the Daimyo Manor, a stage was set up. For seven consecutive days, song and dance, acrobatics, and circuses performed in rotation. Long buffet tables were set up below, offering free food and drink.
He spent 350 million points entirely on Chakra, bringing his total Chakra to 39 units. He needed a large amount of Chakra for his upcoming actions.
After the New Year, the Minister of Justice discreetly arranged for the prisoners to be placed in various villages, which did not attract anyone's attention.
In July of Konoha Year 23, the Land of Water entered its rainy season.
On July 5th, Mitsuki Kōmei unleashed the Ninjutsu, Violent Storm. Centered on him, strong winds raged within a ten-kilometer radius, and raindrops the size of a baby's fist fell densely.
He precisely controlled every gust of wind and every drop of rain, destroying houses and ruining crops.
The wind swept away the most heinous criminals mentioned in the intelligence, and the rain struck down merchants and landlords who had bought their way out of punishment, as well as notorious delinquents.
For three consecutive days, more than a dozen Feudal Lord territories, including the Daimyo's territory and the Gongyang Territory, were damaged to varying degrees by him.
On July 10th, two days after the storm, the Deliberation Hall of the Daimyo Manor was full of people.
Mitsuki Kōmei slammed the table. "What are you doing sitting here! Go quickly and collect disaster data, and send out rescue teams!"
"The national treasury doesn't have enough money. For the Hidden Mist Village's expenses, all of you must pay taxes. Do you understand?"
Several ministers exchanged glances, then tacitly left together. Mitsuki Kōmei thought, at most a month, my blade must fall upon your heads.
In the evening, in the Finance Minister's reception room, around a dining table laden with exquisite dishes, sat several corpulent ministers. Maids poured wine, and Hime danced and sang.
"Gentlemen, if we handle this wind disaster well, we can make another fortune."
"Indeed, the greater the disaster, the more expensive grain becomes. The grain we hold can see a good price hike." The Minister of Resource Management pointed at the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks.
"The Daimyo is still so foolish. Collecting taxes? He must have lost his mind."
The Finance Minister raised his wine glass. "Hahaha, just a child's temper, not steady. Drink up, drink up."
Three days later, the disaster report appeared in Mitsuki Kōmei's hands. The data largely matched.
Over 200,000 old houses destroyed, over 80,000 delinquent citizens taught a lesson, and over 4,000 true criminals executed. Perfect.
"The Daimyo Manor doesn't have enough grain to relieve the disaster victims. Is the meager money in the national treasury enough for post-disaster reconstruction? What about the Hidden Mist Village's expenses? Have you thought about it?"
Mitsuki Kōmei crumpled the report in his hand, making a rustling sound.
"What should be done? If you can't come up with a solution, every single noble in the territory, without exception, must donate money and grain. No one will escape."
"Lord Shimotsuki, why don't we convene a meeting of the Feudal Lords? The disaster is a shared calamity for the entire Land of Water, and we should all contribute and overcome this difficulty together."
Mitsuki Kōmei clapped his hands. "Good, that's exactly what I want."
Very good, the name of the Hidden Mist Village is truly useful. Everything is developing in a good direction.