grass; weed; (arch.) ninja; not genuine; substandard; LOL
leadership; initiative; spearhead
one's own judgement (judgment); decision made without consulting others; arbitrary decision; dogmatism
to plan; to form a plan; to scheme; to envision; to intend to do
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
to freeze; to be frozen over; to congeal
gem; jewel; precious stone
mysterious; bewitching; alluring; enticing; enchanting
one day; (on) a certain day
educational counseling; educational guidance
a country whose laws are based on religious criteria; theocracy
collapse; crumbling; breaking down; (radioactive) decay; disintegration
subtle; delicate; difficult; complex; doubtful; questionable
(enter into, be in) a state of war
shrewd; astute; cunning; alert
way of speaking; intimation
doubt; question; uncertainty; skepticism; scepticism; suspicion
occupying; having (an area) all to oneself; military occupation; possession; capture
national defence; national defense
root; source; origin; foundation; basis; essence
abdomen; belly; womb; one's mind; one's real intentions; courage; nerve
safe (e.g. choice); secure; innocuous; acceptable; passable; satisfactory
military force; military strength
northward; facing the north; nobleman's true wife
large country; major nation; great power; province of the highest rank (ritsuryo system)
support; backing; endorsement; support; holding up; propping
economy; economics; finance; (one's) finances; being economical; economy
given that ... it is only natural that ...; ... being the case, it is unavoidable that ...; (precisely) because ...; contrary to expectations ...
neighboring countries; surrounding countries
on the sea; surface of the sea
means of survival; means of escape; way out of a difficulty
ambition; aspiration; sinister designs; treachery