In 1514, the second year of Yongle in the Tang Dynasty, and the eleventh year of Yongzheng in Baiyuan after the eleventh district.

As mentioned earlier, the Muromachi Shogunate, which was the de facto government in Kyoto, had strict economic problems since its founding, and the shogunate itself did not have a thorough rule over the guardians (daimyos) and landholders (samurai landlords) of each region.

The main source of the shogunate's revenue came from the more than 200 "Imperial Offices" directly under the shogunate, which were scattered throughout the country, and were managed by the shogun's close ministers, who collected "annual tribute rice" and "annual tribute money" on behalf of the shogun as living expenses for the shogun's family, and distributed stipends to shogunate officials.

Although the Muromachi shogunate often taxed the local guardians and landowners in order to solve the problem of financial constraints, the guardians and landowners, who were quite independent, often evaded the shogunate's taxes under various pretexts. As a result, the shogunate had to set up "sekisho" on various transportation arteries close to Heiankyo, Kyoto, and collect "seki money"; The collection of "tsuri" at the ferry port is also a scene that Kikyo and Shoyo often see during their two-day trip to Kyoto.

At the same time, the shogunate also levied taxes on tsukura (pawnshops) and sake breweries in and around Kyoto, and from time to time levied money from the common people inside and outside Kyoto, and if the funds were not enough, they also semi-forcibly borrowed from the virtuous (wealthy merchants).

However, even if this was done, the Muromachi shogunate's fiscal revenues were still very unstable, which is a matter of course, and the reason for saying all this is to explain the scene that Kikyo and Merchant Sheep saw after they entered Kyoto.

Dilapidated, old, this is the first impression that the current Heiankyo in Kyoto gives to the merchant sheep and the bellflower, and the common people of Kyoto guard their dilapidated houses, and do not have any extra money to repair them, and in their barely surviving lives, they have to wait for the shogunate to collect another temporary tax.

The Imperial Palace in Heiankyo in Kyoto had not been repaired for decades, and the walls of the palace in many places had become dilapidated, and even the Shogun's Imperial Palace, located in Kyoto, the center of the shogunate, was barely able to maintain the prestige of the Ashikaga Shogun's house, which was useless compared to the entire dilapidated Kyoto.

Even now, the current Go-Kashiwahara god has been on the throne for 14 years, but the shogunate has still not been able to come up with a sum of money to hold an official enthronement ceremony for the current god of life.

The occurrence of such unimaginable events shows the extent to which the Muromachi shogunate has declined today. Since the Onin War, the ascension of each shogun to the throne has been accompanied by wars between supporters and oppositionists.

The Ashikaga shogun, who ruled the world in the past, has long since become a puppet like a god in the world, and almost all the power of the shogunate has been usurped by the powerful shogunate daimyos, and the shogunate daimyo of each side have used their chosen shogun's heirs as pawns, and wars have been set off again and again around the shogun's succession.

The long Warring States period was constantly taking the lives of the people living in this land, and the Warring States Period, which lasted for 47 years after the Onin Rebellion, did not see the slightest light of peace, but pushed this land more and more into the desolation and murderous war.

Heiankyo, Kyoto, spring is getting stronger.

As soon as I walked into Kyoto, the smell of blood and resentment in the air made Kikyo frown slightly, and raised his hand to cover his face with his sleeve.

The smell of blood and the smell of resentment are not the "smell" of common sense, but the product of another field, the smell of blood is the condensation of the anger of people who have died because of years of war for decades, and resentment is the confusion, despair and resentment of people who have been robbed of their lives by this troubled era of the Warring States.

"The capital of mortals," after sending away the absent-minded soldiers guarding the Kyoto city gate with the usual money, Shang Yang also walked to the side of the seemingly thoughtful bellflower and shrugged his shoulders, "Now it is more like an evil place infested by demons." ”

"It was my mistake," Hearing this, Kikyo turned slightly sideways, and his clear gaze turned to Shang Yang, who was a little puzzled by her words, and his tone was calm, "I'm sorry, Shang Yang, let you come with me." ”

"Tomorrow, we'll go back."

"I'll go back tomorrow?" Hearing Kikyo's words, Shang Yang was slightly stunned, and asked in some surprise, "What do you say?" ”

"There's no need to stay...... "Kikyo said lightly, "This Kyoto doesn't need shrine maidens. ”

“…… And there is no place for me. ”

At the same time, on the other side of Kyoto, there was a Japanese-style mansion belonging to the nobles of the princess.

Although it was only afternoon, far from the time of nightfall, in this minister's mansion, it was almost as if it had already reached evening, and a large area of dim room shadows were reflected on the ground, and in the main hall in the center, it was even more dim. The servants who served this family had long since been waved away by the sons of the ministers, who were kneeling on the mats made of fine bluegrass, and what was going to be discussed was not for any servant to hear.

“…… The rumored Jade of the Four Souls, "Behind the dim main seat of the main hall, there is a huge three-leaf maple family pattern, and sitting on the main seat, wearing a black robe, wearing a high crown, and gray hair, the voice of the old family master is gloomy, echoing in the main hall, like the voice of a night owl echoing over the cemetery at night, "Has it been brought into Heiankyo......"

"There is no doubt about it, the head of the family," the first on the left, the same old man, bowed his hand to the old man in the main seat, and his voice was equally gloomy, "A year ago, the family received news that the rumored Jade of the Four Souls appeared in the countryside of Musashi Province and was guarded by a powerful shrine maiden. ”

Speaking of this, the old man on the left couldn't suppress the greed in his heart, suppressed his tone, and slowly spoke.

"But, family master, it's different now, we waited for a golden opportunity, the shrine maiden who guarded the jade of the four souls entered Kyoto, with the power of our own family in Kyoto, the jade of the four souls that can greatly enhance the demonic power is something that we have at our fingertips......"

PS: This is today's update~ Well, I haven't seen you for a week, everyone is okay~

So, from today, the official resumption of the fù update ~ Let's do what we say ~ Just like the previous one, the update after that is about six chapters a week ~ The speed is about the same as the summer vacation, and it shouldn't have any big impact.

All in all, as we said, in terms of leave and renewal, our discipline is still very sufficient~

Ah, also, please continue to recommend votes to support it~Above~