Fearing that the Finance Minister would not make it to Daimyo City, the guards took a shortcut down a small path, galloping wildly. The carriage bounced along, splashing mud, leaving long tracks on the ground.
They returned to Daimyo City in half the usual time. Upon reaching the city gate, one of the carriage wheels fell off, and the mud-splattered carriage overturned.
The Finance Minister was thrown from the carriage, spun two and a half times in the air, and landed heavily face-first on the ground, then rolled several meters further.
The guards lifted the Finance Minister, shouting anxiously, "Move aside, move aside! Get out of the way, don't block the path! Lord Higashino is injured, quickly go and call a doctor!"
Their shouts could be heard hundreds of meters away, but unfortunately, the Finance Minister's hundreds of pounds of weight was a bit much for them to carry. They shouted loudly but walked slowly, advancing less than a hundred meters after shouting for a long time.
The guards finally succeeded in carrying the Finance Minister, Higashino Takeshi, into the mansion. Inside, gasps of surprise could be heard, accompanied by faint sobs.
"Lord Shimotsuki, the mission is perfectly completed. I have killed the Finance Minister without anyone knowing."
Mitsuki Kōmei drank his tea, listening intently as Tanaka Ken recounted the events.
"Excellent! Harukawa Rin and the Finance Minister have given me a great surprise." He laughed heartily, having achieved his desire. "Chief Yū, order someone to seal the city gates."
"Let's go to the Finance Minister's mansion. He has over-fulfilled his mission, and as the Daimyo, I must show him some concern."
The tables had turned. Mitsuki Kōmei changed into a red ceremonial robe and boarded a luxurious carriage, with a guard escort in front and his exclusive band following behind.
Listening to the tune played by the band, he rubbed his ears vigorously. "This music is terrible. Chief Yū, bring the band conductor over."
"You are the band conductor? I don't like sad music. Play some cheerful and lively tunes. Let's go!" Mitsuki Kōmei pulled the curtain shut.
"The Finance Minister's death is a good thing!" Yū Bohe said to the bewildered band conductor.
"Oh! Thank you for the guidance, Chief Yū. I know what to do now!" The band conductor suddenly understood.
Accompanied by cheerful music, Mitsuki Kōmei rode in his carriage, parading through the city towards the Finance Minister's mansion.
The Common People along the way stopped to watch, discussing amongst themselves, secretly guessing what joyous event had occurred at the Daimyo Manor. Could it be that the Daimyo had a child?
"What's the use of guessing? We'll know if we follow along and see."
The Common People thought they were right. Having nothing else to do, they followed the procession from a distance. As more and more Common People joined, Mitsuki Kōmei pulled back the curtain and smiled knowingly at the thousands of Common People following the carriage.
Dozens of meters from the Finance Minister's mansion, Mitsuki Kōmei ordered the band to stop playing.
Mitsuki Kōmei saw the Finance Minister's son come out to greet him, jumped off the carriage, and, suppressing his disgust, asked with concern.
"Higashino Anji, how are your father's injuries?"
"Lord Shimotsuki, he is dead. Harukawa Rin beat him to death!"
Higashino Anji grabbed his hands, tears streaming down his face as he spoke.
"My father went to Harukawa Territory for Daimyo City. You must uphold justice for my father, for The Higashino Family!"
Mitsuki Kōmei forcefully pulled his hands free and meticulously wiped them clean with a handkerchief.
He muttered softly, "Good riddance. Dying like this is too easy for him."
Mitsuki Kōmei climbed onto the carriage, stood on the shaft, and looked at the festive crowd of Common People, saying loudly.
"Don't be in such a hurry to be happy. Wait until I finish speaking, then you can laugh. I'm talking about you, the one with such a big mouth, laughing so exaggeratedly that your mouth is almost reaching your ears."
Interrupting the Common People's laughter, Mitsuki Kōmei continued.
"Was the Finance Minister's death unjust? Unjust and yet not unjust! He committed countless wrongdoings; he basically did every bad thing imaginable, except for good deeds. From this perspective, his death was not unjust."
"On the other hand, he went to collect money for the Daimyo Manor and was beaten to death. In that sense, his death was a bit unjust."
Mitsuki Kōmei paused.
"The Land of Water suffered a once-in-a-century wind disaster, leaving countless victims, without clothes to wear or food to eat."
"The head of the Harukawa Family called the Common People 'lowly commoners,' preferring to spend money on prostitutes rather than give a single coin to the Common People! They'd rather feed grain to pigs than use it to relieve the disaster victims!"
Mitsuki Kōmei stirred up the Common People's anger, continuing his speech.
"The Finance Minister's misdeeds are too numerous to count; dying a thousand times would not atone for his sins."
"But he should be judged by the law, by the victims he persecuted, and by the tens of thousands of righteous Common People!"
"Harukawa Rin beating someone to death is a crime! The Daimyo Manor vows to bring the murderer to justice!" Mitsuki Kōmei raised his right hand.
"Yes! The Finance Minister should be judged by us! The Harukawa Family disregards human life, severely punish the assailant, support Lord Shimotsuki!"
"Double happiness! That scoundrel Finance Minister is dead, and Harukawa Rin took a liking to my cousin, causing my uncle's Family to be ruined. Judge him, support Lord Shimotsuki!"
Mitsuki Kōmei stopped roaring. "Chief Yū, arrest them and confiscate their property! Band, continue to play and dance!"
Mitsuki Kōmei found a reason to declare war on Harukawa Territory, and the Common People had already accepted it. Mission accomplished.
He turned and returned to the carriage, pulled back the curtain, listened to the cheerful melody that had resumed, and watched Yū Bohe lead his men to surround The Higashino Family mansion.
"Grab your weapons and follow me in to arrest them! Those who dare to resist will be killed without mercy!"
Yū Bohe kicked open the Finance Minister's mansion gate, charged into The Higashino Family first, grabbing anyone he saw. He used Fire Release to kill the Ninja guards and servants.
"Mitsuki Kōmei, by what right do you arrest my Family!"
Higashino Anji, pinned to the ground, struggled wildly, trying to get up, roaring unwillingly.
"Why are we arresting you? You know better than anyone else, haven't you done enough bad things over the years?"
"Disregarding human life, bullying and monopolizing markets, violating laws and regulations, a history of bad deeds, monstrous crimes, too numerous to record."
Yū Bohe's actions were swift; in less than half an hour, all members of The Higashino Family were arrested, not even the guard dogs were spared.
The enormous wealth accumulated by the Finance Minister through years of illegal activities was all uncovered.
Mitsuki Kōmei looked at the several Seal scrolls filled with money before him, tears in his eyes, feeling pained but quickly taking them, grabbing them all.
"Whether it's one fish or two fish, it's still fishing. Chief Yū, Tanaka Ken, you two work a little harder, each lead a team of guards and quickly go to the other ministers' homes."
"This afternoon, I will publicly try several ministers in the open space outside the city. Any Common People who have suffered oppression and persecution from them or their families can go to the scene to appeal for justice, and I will uphold it for you."
The surrounding Common People dispersed, satisfied, calling friends and relatives to spread the news of the public trial. Also spreading were the news that The Harukawa Family called the Common People 'lowly commoners,' that Harukawa Rin beat the Finance Minister to death, and Mitsuki Kōmei's swift actions in overthrowing several noble ministers.
The two groups completed their missions; the families and servants of the Finance Minister, Minister of Justice, Minister of Rites, Military Minister, and Minister of Resource Management were all arrested and imprisoned.
Dozens of shops were confiscated, millions of acres of fertile land, and the large amount of money that Mitsuki Kōmei had been longing for.