Of course, he wasn't destitute. He was now a young retainer under Oda Nobunaga, who was a supremely wealthy third-generation rich man. His income was actually quite good, with an annual stipend of 25 kan, plus an equivalent amount of rice support. But this money and rice were not solely for him. He had military obligations, following Oda Nobunaga in battles. The money and rice were needed to recruit a small number of household retainers to assist him in combat and also to equip himself and the retainers with horses, armor, and weapons. So, it was just barely enough.
Especially since he was young and spent money extravagantly. He had just bought a fine horse, almost depleting his funds, and even borrowed some money from Sawaki Fujihachirō Ryōji, his younger brother who was sent as an adopted son to the Sawake family. Now, his purse was as clean as his face.
