Get-Rich-Quick Scheming

Many of Musui's exploits involve troubles with money. This is related to a larger life philosophy which might be summed up best as "easy come, easy go." Musui is seemingly able to amass large amounts of money—though legitimate business enterprise, or through deceit or crime—only to spend it just as quickly, most often on prostitution, but sometimes on failed business ventures, as when he organizes donations for a sacred mirror and gets fleeced by a con man. There is also the fact that much of Musui's wealth (by his own admission) goes toward keeping up appearances by pretending he is wealthier and more important than he is.

Some "get-rich-quick" schemes include: stealing rice money (essentially taxes paid by peasants based upon the amount of rice a fiefdom produces) from his administrator brothers; offering "protection" in exchange for gift money from brothel owners and...