Chapter 100

"Looks like the Jidori chicken isn't here yet..."

Kouki, who was inspecting Dewa again, also inspected the Yoneshiro River basin before returning from Dewa. He had come to look for the Jidori chicken, a specialty of the planet Neo-Akita, but while there were local chickens, there were no Jidori chickens. Kouki realized that he would have to improve the breed.

"Well, there's no choice... I'll have to keep breeding to create a delicious local chicken."

So, Kouki obtained local chickens from all over the country and even smuggled in a fighting cock from Siam (Thailand), and began breeding to develop a chicken that was delicious, less prone to disease, and easy to breed.

"But the road is long..."

Like pigs and cows, it takes time to improve breeds. After returning to Edo, Kouki entrusted the local chickens from Dewa to the person in charge and returned to the castle.

"Mitsuko, we're having fried chicken today."

"I was in the mood for fried chicken today. As expected, you know me well, Kyouko."

"We've been married for a long time, haven't we?"

They had already surpassed the silver wedding anniversary of twenty-five years. Both Kouki and Kyouko thought they had aged together.

"Is it what they call a perfect understanding?"

"Well? I think we might lose to that couple."

The couple Kyouko was referring to were Seiki and Takako, who still shared similar hobbies.

"I thought about making a work about turning the lord into a beautiful girl and conquering the world. Of course, all the generals like Hashiba, Dan, and Takigawa would be beautiful girls or young women. I'll make Akechi a clever-looking beautiful woman, Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin mature beauties, and Ii Naotora a young girl."

"Sir, I thought about making a story where Murasaki Shikibu is pursued by various men, from a young and beautiful prince to a handsome middle-aged noble."

The two of them were happily discussing their new creative works in their free time. Takako, influenced by her husband Seiki, had become a yaoi fan but also enjoyed creating works in other genres.

"I'm glad... We won't be used in their character settings anymore."

"Why am I a young girl, Mr. Horitai?"

"Naomasa, you'll lose if you think too much about it."

"Ha..."

Horitai Yoshiharu, who had recently stopped being used as a model in Takako's shudō-related books, was now confused because Ii Naomasa had been set as a young girl character in all of Seiki's female character books.

"I'm not giving up on shudō works, but right now, works with a female protagonist and many handsome male characters are more popular!"

This kind of conversation made them seem like a very close couple to Kyouko, and they were known as a similar couple in the Tsuda household.

"About that couple... How is the taste of the fried chicken?"

"It's four types: garlic and ginger soy sauce, curry, salt and koji, and miso."

Kyouko had made various flavored fried chickens as a trial. Recently, chicken production in Edo had increased, and more commoners were eating eggs and chicken.

"What a luxurious lineup."

"I made a lot of other things too."

That day, the family... only Yuhime was left as the others had either moved out or married... enjoyed the fried chicken together. A few weeks later, Hori Hidemasa, the steward of the Dewa Oda family, visited Edo on business.

"I've been so busy lately that I hardly cook anymore."

He no longer received requests from Nobunaga or Nobufusa, who probably didn't need a cook as a key minister in Dewa. Hidemasa said he hadn't cooked much recently due to his administrative work.

"Isn't that a relief?"

"I thought so too, but I end up cooking on my days off."

"Is that so..."

Hidemasa told Kouki that he had become quite fond of cooking. He had recently acquired the latest cooking tools from the Tsuda domain and was trying out new dishes.

"Mr. Tsuda said that the Jidori chicken is raised in a place suitable for delicious local chickens. However, it's difficult to raise Jidori chickens."

"That's why we need to crossbreed with other chickens to improve the breed. It will be a research project from now on."

"We need to prepare for the production of this new local chicken in Dewa. It could become a good specialty product."

Hidemasa listened to Kouki's detailed knowledge about local chickens and their cooking methods and returned to Shonai Castle with enthusiasm.

"Kutaro, what is this?"

"This is a pot dish called 'Kiritanpo' that Mr. Tsuda taught me. It and the Hatahata pot are the two main pot dishes in Dewa."

"Indeed, it looks delicious. Who made this dish?"

"I made it."

"Is that so... You're quite the cook, Kutaro."

Nobufusa thought it was impressive, but at the same time, he couldn't shake the thought that "Hidemasa didn't have to make it himself, did he?"

"I also learned how to make pure water simmered chicken, grilled chicken, fried chicken, chicken steak, chicken cutlet, smoked chicken, and other dishes from Mr. Tsuda and Mrs. Kyouko. I want to improve the diet of the people in my domain and create specialty products to warm their hearts. This will help suppress the resistance from the remnants of the old northeastern lords."

"That's right (what he's saying isn't wrong, but why is the focus on chicken dishes?)"

Despite his doubts, Nobufusa couldn't resist the temptation of the food in front of him. He and the other retainers tasted the dishes and, impressed by their deliciousness, decided to promote the breeding of local chickens in Dewa to improve the diet of the people.

Later, various local chickens such as Jidori, Seiryo, and Kinpachi became specialty products of Dewa.

When Kouki visited Ishiyama, he suddenly felt like eating chicken dishes. He thought it wouldn't be as easy to get them as in Edo, but Nobunaga was also promoting chicken farming in his domain because chickens could be raised relatively quickly, provided eggs, and their droppings could be used as fertilizer.

When Kouki was about to eat the chicken dishes prepared by the cooks with the local chickens from the Ishiyama area, Nobunaga appeared at the Tsuda residence with Mori Ranmaru.

Kouki was impressed by Nobunaga's sense of smell.

"Chicken farming is also encouraged in the Oda domain, but the cooking methods are limited to grilling or pot dishes. So, I'm here to inspect. Ran, join me!"

"Hai! Mr. Tsuda, I will enjoy the meal."

Nobunaga had recently taken a liking to Mori Ranmaru. Although he had already come of age and was named Naritoshi, Nobunaga still called him by his childhood name, 'Ran.' It had become a kind of nickname, like Mits, Saru, and Inu.

The Mori clan, including the head of the family, Kasei, his eldest son Karyu, second son Chokan, third son Naritoshi, fourth son Chokan, fifth son Choshu, and sixth son Choshige, were all given land or appointed as close retainers and were favored by Nobunaga.

"The 'Kiritanpo' and chicken pot I got from Nobufusa are delicious."

Nobunaga enjoyed the Kiritanpo pot that Nobufusa had sent from Dewa and entrusted to Kouki.

"Dewa also has 'Imoni' (potato stew). This is also delicious."

In Dewa, after the potato harvest, local farmers would gather to eat Imoni. Kouki had added chicken and wild boar to the Imoni, which originally only contained potatoes and a few vegetables, and improved it with miso and soy sauce flavors.

"But, the grilled chicken is the best."

Nobunaga's favorite was the grilled chicken. There were various types, such as negima, skin, tsukune, liver, heart, gizzard, wing tips, bonjiri, and sandgrouse, with salt and sauce options. Nobunaga preferred the sauce, while Ranmaru preferred the salt and was enjoying the salt-grilled chicken.

"These dishes can easily spread in the Oda domain."

"Yes, other meats can be used as substitutes."

It seemed that Nobunaga's preference for these dishes was not just a coincidence. Ranmaru also appeared wise to Kouki and was handsome.

"I'm grateful that I can take the grilled chicken and fried chicken back with me."

Nobunaga was in a good mood as he received the grilled chicken and fried chicken as gifts from Kouki and returned to Ishiyama Castle. However, the next day, he rushed back to the Tsuda residence.

"Mits! All the gifts were eaten by O-Nobu and the others!"

Nobunaga had planned to reheat the dishes the next morning, but they were all eaten by O-Nobu and the others while he was sleeping. The inner chambers of the Oda household were filled with women and children, so they had quickly finished the food.

"That's unfortunate, my lord."

"Yes, they ate all of my precious grilled chicken and fried chicken. Don't you think it's polite to leave some?"

"You're right... How about breakfast?"

"Sure, I'm sorry for the sudden request."

Nobunaga decided to have breakfast at the Tsuda residence. The menu was a bird congee made by simmering rice with broth from leftover chicken bones, adding beaten eggs, and garnishing with chopped scallions. The only side dish was takuan, but Kouki thought that a simple breakfast like this was also good sometimes.

"The congee made from the leftover chicken bones is so soothing. Yes, give me more grilled chicken and fried chicken."

Although it was a bit sudden to ask for more, Kouki was used to Nobunaga's behavior and immediately had the cooks prepare the dishes. Nobunaga, who had three servings of the congee, was delighted to receive more grilled chicken and fried chicken from Kouki and returned to Ishiyama Castle.