The matter of mutual trade mentioned by Chiyo filled Chiron and Ebizō with yearning. Even though Ryun Uchiha had not yet proposed a price, saying it would be discussed after returning to the village, the three of them unanimously believed it would not be a major issue. How expensive could Konoha's pricing be? Could it possibly be more expensive than the merchants in Sunagakure? Selling a bottle of water for 100 ryo was simply robbery!
Yet the villagers of Sunagakure had no choice but to buy it. Vast amounts of gold flowed into the hands of the nobles and the Daimyō of the Land of Wind, who then purchased water at low prices from other countries and sold it within their own country.
Those aristocratic classes simply did not care about the lives of the common people. All they cared about was whether their own interests were affected.
Regarding this, Chiyo and the others could do nothing but silently endure and bear it all. But now, Ryun Uchiha said Konoha was willing to engage in mutual trade with them. This news, for them, could be said to solve a major problem!
However, walls have ears. Not all shinobi of Sunagakure were wholly loyal to the village.
A shinobi who had connections with the Daimyō had already gone to report to the Daimyō's residence.
The Daimyō of the Land of Wind sat in the main seat, looking at the Suna-nin reporting below. He frowned. "Are you certain what you say is true? That Uchiha Ryun said he wants to open mutual trade with Sunagakure?"
"Every word is true, Daimyō. The deadline is one week from now! Daimyō, this boy Ryun Uchiha is seriously hindering the development of our Land of Wind!" The shinobi knelt on the ground, speaking with utter loyalty.
The Daimyō of the Land of Wind nodded. He waved his hand. "Alright, I know. You may leave now. By the way, guards, fetch him one hundred crates of water and thirty thousand bread loaves."
"Yes!" a guard said solemnly.
"Thank you, Daimyō-sama. Thank you, Daimyō-sama. This humble one will definitely go through fire and water for you, Daimyō-sama, without hesitation." The shinobi grinned, his eyes nearly disappearing into his smile.
He happily went with the guard to collect the supplies. Those supplies were enough for him and his family to live for two, even three years.
The Daimyō of the Land of Wind chuckled. After the shinobi and guard left, his expression changed, becoming furious. "Gentlemen, Konoha. They simply do not put me, the Daimyō, in their eyes!"
Advisor 1: "This Hokage Uchiha Ryun is truly lawless. Eight years ago, he plundered the Land of Earth's Daimyō's treasure vault, trampling the Land of Earth Daimyō's face into the ground!"
"Who would have thought that after so many years, he would now try to lay hands on our Land of Wind. It is simply intolerable!" Advisor 2
"Daimyō, I suggest issuing an order for Sunagakure to attack the Land of Fire, to let them know the consequences of offending us!" Advisor 3
Advisor 3's words drew the attention of the entire room. Everyone looked at Advisor 3 as if he were an idiot. How could such words come out of your mouth?
We feel ashamed to share the title of Daimyō's advisor with you in the Land of Wind! Who is Uchiha Ryun? He is a figure like a War God. Since his debut, he has never lost a battle.
His strength has even reached the top of the shinobi world. Even the Daimyō of the Land of Fire can only hope in his heart that Ryun Uchiha will remember his familial ties with Tsunade and go easy on him.
Forget about whether Ryun Uchiha respects the Land of Fire Daimyō much, just getting Ryun Uchiha to give him some face would be an achievement. How, in Advisor 3's mouth, did Konoha become an object that can be arbitrarily attacked?
Advisor 3, full of righteous energy, stood up. He looked at the assembled ministers with disdain. 'You, who only know how to spout grandiose talk without any real contribution, what right do you have to look at me like that?'
The Daimyō of the Land of Wind's mouth twitched. "Gag him, drag him out, and give him twenty heavy strikes with the board." The Daimyō's finger trembled with anger as he pointed at Advisor 3.
Advisor 3's eyes widened. "Daimyō, my words are all loyal to the country and loyal to the lord!" However, the Daimyō looked impatient. "Guards, drag him down! Yes! Gag his mouth too!"
"Yes!" Two guards, one on the left and one on the right, hauled Advisor 3 up. Then, they found a ragged cloth from somewhere and stuffed it into his mouth.
The intense smell made Advisor 3 nauseous, and he finally fainted. Until the end, he could not understand why his loyal, patriotic action was met with such persecution.
The other advisors either shook their heads or sighed. Ryun Uchiha's strength was too formidable; he could no longer be restricted like a normal shinobi.
Now, they should think of a way to make Ryun Uchiha pull his hand back and not stretch it out so far.
Advisor 1: "Daimyō, I suggest seeking help from your brother-in-law, the Land of Fire Daimyō. Have him restrict Ryun Uchiha, restrict Konoha, and forbid Konoha from engaging in external mutual trade!"
Everyone's eyes lit up. Even the Daimyō of the Land of Wind couldn't help but nod. This was a good idea. It could achieve the goal with the smallest cost, adding the element of family ties. The Land of Fire Daimyō would certainly help, and it was the easiest solution.
Advisor 2: "Daimyō, I suggest reducing costs, lowering selling prices, and reducing the price of water from 100 ryo to the same price as Konoha."
Advisor 2's words were for the benefit of the country and its people, but they aroused dissatisfaction among the numerous high-ranking officials in the Daimyō's residence. Having enjoyed high salaries and benefits, how could they allow the Daimyō's and their own interests to be damaged?
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality. The Daimyō also frowned at this moment, his gaze shifting uncertainly. He knew in his heart that Advisor 2's words made sense.
But, his mind clouded by profits, how could he agree! This Land of Wind was his Land of Wind. Sunagakure was merely a subordinate village of his Land of Wind! They should obediently listen to his leadership, follow his commands!
"I let them eat and drink their fill, and now they seek mutual trade with a foreign country! Bastards!" The Land of Wind Daimyō roared. His long-term life of pampered ease made him now seem like a fierce tiger.
After these words, the ministers present all trembled, pleading and begging the Daimyō to calm his anger and not bother with the ants.
Advisor 1 did not speak, just knelt on the ground, his eyes shifting uncertainly. Advisor 2 sighed inwardly. He had actually known for a long time that the Daimyō would not implement the policy he proposed.
But if he didn't try, he felt he would be failing his conscience, failing his position as a subject. Therefore, he said it. At least he would not fail himself, nor his principles.
The Daimyō of the Land of Wind came to his senses. He spoke. "Advisor 1's policy is adopted. Immediately dispatch an envoy to the Land of Fire! Have an audience with the Land of Fire Daimyō."
"Explain the reason for this matter. Have Advisor 1 write down the full details. Also, bring five chests of gold, silver, and jade artifacts to present to the Land of Fire Daimyō. We must request his help."
"In addition." The Land of Wind Daimyō glanced at Advisor 2. "Advisor 2's policy will be the backup plan. If the first policy cannot be implemented, then implement Advisor 2's policy, allowing the people to recuperate."
After speaking, the Land of Wind Daimyō declared the meeting over. The advisors filed out.
They all wore worried expressions. Some even came before Advisor 1 to flatter him. "Sir, the happy lives of our compatriots depend entirely on you. You must succeed."
Advisor 1 swept a glance over them. "I am only responsible for writing and proposing the policy. As for whether it succeeds or not, I do not know. Please do not place your hopes too high. After all, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment!"
The few showed hesitant expressions, but knowing Advisor 1 spoke the truth, they couldn't help but sigh. As for Advisor 2, that guy who didn't consider his colleagues' interests, no one paid him any attention.
Advisor 2 walked out, alone, heading towards his home. He didn't care if any colleagues accompanied him. What he cared about was whether the people under the Land of Wind's rule could live good lives, whether they could eat their fill and drink well.
His path was different from the other ministers. He didn't care if anyone could follow him. He only sought a clear conscience, without shame towards himself or the people.
Evening.
The Land of Wind's envoy arrived at the Land of Fire Daimyō's residence and received a warm welcome and attentive hospitality from the Land of Fire Daimyō. The Daimyōs of the Five Great Nations all had some degree of familial relationship.
"Your esteemed envoy's visit to my Land of Fire, is there some important matter you need me to handle? As long as I can help, I will certainly help." The Land of Fire Daimyō said with a smile.
The envoy first had the five chests of jewels brought up for the Land of Fire Daimyō to accept. The Land of Fire Daimyō did not accept them immediately, instead smiling. "Please, esteemed envoy, tell me the matter first."
If the matter was too troublesome, he didn't want to help. Although he and the Land of Wind Daimyō were relatives, if it was too troublesome, it was better not to get involved.
"It's not troublesome, not troublesome at all. For you, Daimyō, it's a mere trifle!" The envoy said with a smile.
The Land of Fire Daimyō remained motionless, waiting for the envoy to continue. Seeing the Land of Fire Daimyō was not easily fooled, the envoy slowly said, "Daimyō, I beg you to uphold justice for our Land of Wind!"
"Rise and speak. Doesn't your Land of Wind have a Daimyō to uphold justice? Why do you need me to do it? What exactly is the matter?" The Land of Fire Daimyō frowned. He increasingly felt the matter was not simple.
The envoy wept bitterly. "Uchiha Ryun from your country's Konoha Village wants to open mutual trade with our country's Sunagakure. Moreover, they dared to make this decision without the consent of our Daimyō and you!"
The envoy did not forget to make a petty report to the Land of Fire Daimyō. When the Land of Fire Daimyō heard Konoha Village was involved, he knew the matter was thorny. He couldn't help but frown. "Mutual trade is just mutual trade. It's not trade with your country. It's just mutual trade between their two shinobi villages. There's no problem with that!"
In terms of familial relations, the Land of Fire Daimyō was closer to Ryun Uchiha. He wouldn't care about such a small matter. He really didn't know what the people of the Land of Wind were thinking.
The envoy hesitated repeatedly, finally revealing the Land of Wind's scheme. The Daimyō couldn't stop his eyebrows from twitching wildly. "So you've been scamming your own people, and now you can't keep it up, so you want me to clean up your mess?"
The envoy said nothing, bowing his head, putting on a fawning smile. "Daimyō, you won't refuse to help, right?"
The Land of Fire Daimyō, however, waved his hand. "Handle your own affairs. I cannot intervene." Saying this, the Land of Fire Daimyō had the guest seen out. He did not take a single piece of the treasure.
"What nonsense. Thinking you can damage my relationship with Uchiha Ryun with this little money? Are you dreaming?" The Land of Fire Daimyō laughed coldly.
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