The night passed without incident, only pleasant sounds echoing for half the night.
When the first ray of morning sun shone down, Shin woke up.
The woman beside him was sleeping soundly, her black hair scattered across the silk quilt, her cheeks still flushed.
Like a beautiful flower watered by dew.
Shin's gaze briefly lingered on her figure before becoming calm again.
Last night's intimacy was wonderful, but that was all.
He got out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold, smooth floor tiles.
The maids waiting outside the door entered in an orderly fashion, their heads bowed, their movements gentle and practiced, not daring to make a sound.
Someone brought a hot towel, someone else brought clear salt water.
Shin spread his arms, allowing them to dress him.
Throughout the entire process, only the faint rustle of fabric could be heard.
By the time he had finished washing and was seated at the dining table, the woman had slowly woken up.
Seeing Shin sitting upright, her expression became nervous, and she tried to get up and bow.
"No need."
Shin's voice was faint.
"Your dance was good. Consider this a reward."
"Takeshi will arrange your residence."
He didn't look back, just waved his hand.
The woman froze for a moment, then her face lit up with joy.
She knew she had caught the eye of the daimyo.
She respectfully knelt and bowed before quietly retreating with the maids.
After breakfast, Shin strolled to the study.
He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the enormous map of the shinobi world.
In his mind, the results of the system's deductions from several days ago were evolving into more specific details.
Economic impact and military deterrence.
This was the strategic guideline given by the sandbox.
But it only provided a broad direction, without specifying the concrete means of execution.
However, how to execute it was the real test.
Shin thought carefully.
The Land of Earth was harsh and cold, the Land of Wind barren.
These two countries had a natural desire for external goods.
But simply selling them food and weapons would be helping the enemy.
It had to be something non-essential, yet extremely tempting.
Something that could corrupt their will from within.
Shin's thoughts gradually became clearer.
As if he could already see the future.
In the cold stone palaces of the Land of Earth, soft carpets from the Land of Fire were laid out.
On a wind-swept afternoon in the Land of Wind, nobles tasted sweet black tea they had never experienced before.
Once these nobles grew used to such a life, they would never be able to go back.
If the strategy was right, the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind's economic dependence on the Land of Fire would reach amazing levels, and their domestic interest groups would also be deeply tied to the Land of Fire.
When the seeds of desire sprouted, they would willingly become pawns in his hand to maintain their luxury.
Shin picked up the warm tea on the table and took a sip.
Everything was ready, just lacking an obedient executor.
Knock, knock, knock.
The study door was knocked.
"Come in."
Takeshi pushed the door open and bowed, reporting, "My lord, Minister Tanaka Shigeru requests an audience."
"Let him in."
Shin sat back in his chair, his expression returning to a relaxed state.
Soon, the slightly heavy-set Tanaka Shigeru hurried in.
He was dressed particularly formally today.
"Greetings, my lord!"
He bowed deeply on the ground.
"Rise. Be seated."
"Thank you, my lord."
Tanaka carefully sat down, his posture humble, then presented a scroll.
"Reporting, my lord, this is the preliminary budget plan for the concubine selection ceremony. Please take a look."
Shin waved his hand and said, "For such minor matters, you and Takeshi can discuss and handle them. You don't need to ask me about everything."
"Yes... I understand!"
Tanaka quickly pulled back the scroll.
Shin went straight to the point. "I called you here because I want to discuss another matter with you."
Tanaka immediately straightened his back. "Please instruct, my lord!"
"The war has ended. The country needs to recover, and the people need to live in peace and prosperity."
"I intend to further strengthen trade relations with the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind."
"What do you think we should sell them that would be most appropriate?"
Tanaka's brain worked rapidly.
Strengthen trade with the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind?
Why specifically these two countries?
What about the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water?
Having been in government for decades, he smelled something wrong.
He thought for a moment, then cautiously began, "You are wise, my lord! Post-war reconstruction, mutual exchange of goods, is indeed the best strategy to enrich the country and strengthen the people."
"The Land of Earth is harsh and cold, and the Land of Wind is barren. If we can sell our abundant grain and cloth to these two countries in exchange for their ore and local products, it would truly be a win-win situation!"
Shin let out a soft chuckle upon hearing this.
The laugh was light, but it made Tanaka's heart sink heavily.
He had said the wrong thing.
"Tanaka,"
Shin said softly, "You're good at managing finances, but your vision is still a bit lacking."
"We cannot sell too much grain and cloth."
"If we sell too much, they'll be full and warm, and then they'll have the strength to pick up weapons and continue to oppose us."
"We want to make money, not to help them and make them stronger. Do you understand what I mean?"
Tanaka instantly understood.
The daimyo's goal was not mutual exchange at all!
This was a grand scheme!
A shocking grand scheme using national economy as a weapon!
And his previous answer was childish!
He sat in his chair, his brain spinning wildly.
Not helping... not grain or cloth... then what should be sold to make a country dependent, yet not strengthen its power?
Instead, it would weaken it?
A thought flashed through his mind like lightning!
Luxury goods!
Silk, porcelain, tea, fine wine!
These exquisite things unique to the Land of Fire!
"I understand! I know what to sell now!"
"The trade of grain and cloth can remain as is. What we truly need to sell are those things they don't have, but once used, they can never part with!"
"Like silk! Which of those noble ladies and young misses in the Land of Earth and Land of Wind wouldn't want to wear beautiful clothes? Who would want to face stones and sand their whole lives?!"
"And our porcelain! They'll definitely need the most exquisite tea sets to show off their status!"
"Oh, and sugar! No one can refuse that sweet taste! As long as ordinary people taste sweetness, they'll never be able to tolerate their former hard lives again!"
"We have as much of these as we want, and they can only buy them with money!"
Tanaka spoke faster and faster, becoming completely excited.
He felt as if he had pushed open the door to a new world!
These things... they were all intoxicating, corrupting poisons!
They wouldn't make the country stronger. They would only make those in power increasingly weak, indulging in pleasure!
Shin listened quietly, his eyes showing satisfaction.
Very good.
This old fellow was still useful.
Just as Tanaka thought he had understood everything, Shin asked a light question.
"Speaking of which, the Land of Lightning still refuses to sign a peace treaty, right?"
"They really are a bunch of idiots with only muscles in their heads."
"It's a pity. With so many good things, they probably won't have the fortune to enjoy them."
That one sentence made Tanaka instantly freeze.
Strengthening trade with Earth and Wind... deliberately leaving out the Land of Lightning... corrupting the high-ranking officials of the two countries with luxury goods to make them dependent... All clues instantly connected, pointing to one goal... isolating the Land of Lightning!
Strangling the Land of Lightning!
This daimyo had no intention of a truce at all!
He intended to use money, use trade, to slowly choke the Land of Lightning to death outside the battlefield!
Tanaka immediately didn't dare to breathe heavily.
He was still trembling from this discovery when another question arose.
Earth, Wind, Lightning... what about the Land of Water?
Tanaka gathered his courage and asked in a trembling voice, "Then... my lord, what should we do about the Land of Water?"
"What do you think?"
Shin threw the question back.
Tanaka didn't dare show any carelessness and once again fell into deep thought.
The Land of Water... Kirigakure... The current Kirigakure was plagued by constant internal strife, closing itself off from the outside world.
A country currently consumed by internal conflict and busy with its own affairs... And the Land of Fire's biggest enemy at present was the Land of Lightning, which had full strength and a strong stance!
Tanaka's thoughts instantly became clear, and he respectfully replied, "I understand!"
"The Land of Water is deeply caught in the Blood Mist internal strife and busy with its own affairs. It's neither capable of interfering with us nor capable of becoming our ally."
"Our primary target at present is the Land of Lightning, and it's not wise to create new problems."
"With the Land of Water, we only need to maintain the status quo, keep the most basic normal trade, neither helping nor suppressing, letting it handle itself!"
"Mm."
Shin was finally satisfied.
"Then go ahead and do it. Draft a detailed trade list and implementation plan."
"To improve efficiency, you'll lead the establishment of a Foreign Trade Promotion Department, specifically responsible for this matter."
He had bet correctly!
Tanaka was overjoyed and quickly agreed.
"Oh," Shin seemed to remember something else, "I have a few good young people, very economically smart. Have them join this new department as your deputies, to get more experience."
Tanaka immediately replied, "Yes! I obey!"
He knew this was the daimyo planting his trusted people.
But he had no dissatisfaction. Instead, he felt relieved.
At least this showed that in the daimyo's eyes, he still had value.
"You may withdraw."
"Yes!"
Tanaka bowed respectfully and cautiously left the study.
In the study, only Shin remained.
He slowly rose and walked to the enormous map.
His gaze fell on the Land of Lightning, his eyes filled with the desire to conquer.