On the 28th day of the first month of the 4th year of Motokame (1571), in the castle of Kishiwada in Izumi, Hirate Hino, who had completed his daily administrative affairs, sat in his study and received two unexpected distinguished guests.

They are Shimoma Yoriren from Ishiyama Honganji Temple, Suginoba Teruma of Shingon Sect's Koyayama Nerai Temple, and Toraya Soyi of the Rinzai sect Myoshinji sect.

The two eminent monks brought an explosive piece of big news.

"What? How did the Miyoshi family do such a heartbreaking thing? Alas! It was such a disappointment to me. After hearing the narration of the comer, Pingshou Fan Xiu was shocked at first, and then he took the case, looking up to the sky and sighing bitterly.

It was as if he had just heard about it.

Although Lai Lian Shimoma is a well-informed character, he still lacks understanding of the sinister nature of people's hearts, and he didn't see through this acting skill and believed the other party's statement.

So the thirty-five or sixteen-year-old monk's expression softened slightly, folded his hands and recited a Buddhist verse, calmed his mind, and continued: "This Nissin...... He is the most studious disciple under the poor monk's seat, and he has always been cautious in his words and deeds, so he is sent to other places to take charge of affairs, how can he gather people to make trouble? I think there's something strange about it. ”

"Alas......" Hite-hode Honxiu sighed and asked tentatively: "According to what I said, Miyoshi Awa Mamoru (Nagaji) is a young man with a somewhat eager temperament, maybe the Lingtu inadvertently did something taboo, right?" ”

“…… This possibility cannot be completely denied. Lai Lian thought about it for a while, nodded slightly, but then frowned again: "Let it be so!" Then it is enough to punish him for the sin, and if the evidence is conclusive, we have nothing to say at Ishiyama Honganji. However, it is a great thing that he is now threatening to expel all other sects except Nichiren. ”

"It's ridiculous!" Huya Zongyi, who was specially called to accompany the guests, also seemed to have just learned about this matter, and showed undisguised anger, "The coffin of Juguangin (Miyoshi Changqing) is still enshrined in the temple of the Rinzai sect!" Miyoshi Awamori did this, it was simply ...... Hmph, I'm afraid there is a suspicion of forgetting my ancestors, right? ”

"Ahem......" Sugi Zhifang, who hadn't spoken much, cleared his throat and helped: "I think this is obviously a crime that you want to add, and there is no excuse." The situation of other families is not clear, but our Shingon sect has been preaching in the country of Awa for hundreds of years, thanks to the alms of the believers, it is considered to have some property, maybe the three good families are eyeing these! ”

"You're right." Pingshou Fan Xiu nodded matter-of-factly, "In that case, while there is no big mess yet, let's quickly send someone to warn and persuade the three good families." Promoting the Fa-rectification and correcting the evil ways is where the great righteousness lies, and the people's aspirations, and I will definitely support it! ”

"Thank you, Lord Punishment!" Suginobo bowed deeply and complimented sincerely: "In this Nankaido region and the coastal land of the Seto Inland Sea, with your approval, it will definitely be twice the result with half the effort. ”

"That makes sense." Lai Lian also agreed, "Only with people outside our side, if we want to restrain the three good families, we are really powerless. The dignity of the gods and Buddhas can only be maintained by relying on the Tie Sho Punishment Department. ”

The Ichijo sect was the direct target of the attack this time, and the Shingon sect was the sect with the highest share in the country, so both forces were very concerned about Miyoshi Choji's actions.

And Tiger Ya Zongyi is a bit of a fuss, and the audience of the Rinzai sect is mainly high-level samurai, and the importance of Shikoku is not so high. He deliberately proposed: "The poor monk feels that this time he needs to show an attitude, just to resist Miyoshi Awamori's misdeeds, not to start a war against Nichiren Sect. ”

"That's a good point." Heite Honshu showed a very approving expression, "I would like to ask Master Toraya Soyi to personally go to Kyoto, Nara, Mt. Hiei and other places to communicate this matter with the Dharma friends of the Tiantai, Huayan, Pure Land and other sects. But don't let people think we're bullying! ”

Everyone nodded yes.

Just as he was about to discuss how to negotiate with the Miyoshi family, suddenly a five-short samurai with a flying figure came in from outside the door of the study, hurriedly walked to the side of Hiratade, and whispered a few words in his ear.

At a close look, this person is the head of the Hirate family, Hattori Hideyasu.

Hearing this, Pingshou Fanxiu changed color, waved his hand and ordered: "Hurry up and report this news to all the monks here!" ”

"Yes." Hattori Hidean replied, got up and gave a few expectant or worried glances, and said aloud:

"Just now, the Yukawa Temple, which stayed behind in Awa Kamizakura Castle, sent back an urgent secret letter, saying that the Miyoshi family had begun to send troops to encircle and suppress the temple and drive away the monks the afternoon before yesterday! In one day, three monasteries were burned, five monasteries were looted, and at least 350 monks and believers were killed and wounded......"

"Damn! How dare you do that! Lai Lian took the case and opened his eyes angrily, "I have always been from top to bottom, and I will definitely let the murderer taste the consequences of the wrath of the gods and Buddhas!" ”

"This ...... This is a disaster for the Dharma! Sugi Zhifang was stunned, and hurriedly reached out to grab the corner of Pingshou Shoxiu's clothes, "Lord of the Criminal Department, if you don't send troops to this point, I'm afraid you won't be able to calm the Awafa difficulty!" ”

"At this point, we must indeed be ready to use force." Heishou nodded slowly, and then asked, "If Honganji Temple and Genrai Temple send monks, I will provide some convenience." ”

The meaning of the draw is that he is not willing to send troops to Shikoku easily.

Not sending troops means that there is no interest in the fruits of victory, which is not all bad for the Shingon sect and the Shingon sect.

But the question is, without the army of the Tieshou, will the monks and soldiers have the ability to solve the problem?

The Shingon sect is an old sect that has been passed down for a long time, and the Shingon sect has passed forty or fifty years of peace, and now although they still control countless monasteries and many monks and soldiers, they are only defending the territory in vain, and they are unable to expand the territory.

For thousands of years, samurai have been killing each other, and the slightest negligence will fall in a pool of blood, so they have always maintained their freshness. Although the monks also deceived themselves, the losers were generally only degraded rather than exterminated, and the overall living environment was much more gentle and orderly. After achieving wealth, the monastic leadership as a whole tended to be conservative, lacking the fighting spirit for internal change and external progress.

During the Warring States period, if any daimyo dared to attack Mt. Hiei, Ishiyama, and Koyasan, it would be met with fierce resistance. But if they only fight certain sects in their own territory, the monks really have no good way to deal with it.

After listening to the suggestion of Tieshou Honxiu, Suginobo was not happy but was a little embarrassed: "Alas, it is spring ploughing now, and the monks and soldiers have to go home to farm...... It is estimated that in the next two months, Genraiji will be able to organize a maximum of 1,000 to 2,000 people to fight across the sea to Shikoku. ”

"The timing is really unfortunate...... Could it be ......?" a suspicious look appeared on Shimoma's face.

The two monks glanced at each other with a keen eye and nodded slightly.

They thought they had discovered the truth: probably Miyoshi Changzhi took advantage of the spring ploughing and the monks could not attack with all their strength, so they would so arrogantly drive away the monks and plunder the Buddhist temple.

It seems that it was premeditated to be the enemy of the Shingon Sect and the Shingon Sect!

Then he can't be satisfied!

Lai Lian, who had deep pockets, immediately donated generously: "The population of Shishan is not as good as that of Koyasan, and in this busy farming season, I am afraid that even 500 people will not be able to be dispatched, and mobilizing the local people may not be able to achieve good results." But we are willing to allocate 5,000 troops to pay to friends who are willing to send troops to help. ”

Honganji occupies a central area with fertile land and dense crowds, and 5,000 kan is not a problem.

As a "poor man", Suginobo could only follow and say: "Then let's take out 3,000 koku of rice and use it as military rations for the expedition!" In addition, the poor monks would persuade the people of Kii who knew each other to participate as much as possible. ”

Yoriren Shimoma also picked up the conversation: "The poor monks will also ask the believers in Kii, Izumi, Settsu and other places to contribute. ”

The two monks sang and harmonized, although they also vaguely clashed, but in general, they hoped that the tie would send troops to do things.

It seems that even the hardcore hawk in Honganji Temple, Shimoma Yoriyo, is not confident enough to fight across the sea while plowing in the spring.

It is indeed very troublesome to go out on an expedition during the busy agricultural period, and the defending side can say that it can return to the field at any time after the battle, and if the attacking side recruits the militia to participate in the expedition, it is bound to leave the field for a long time, so as to delay production. This will obviously have a significant impact on food revenues in the autumn and is likely to provoke public outrage.

Hiring ronins and mercenaries is a temporary solution, but ronins are not reliable in all aspects, and Suzuki Tsuchihashi, who is in the mercenary business, is also a half-farmer and half-soldier force, which is also affected by the season.

So generally speaking, during the spring ploughing and autumn harvest, the daimyo will organize their own internal affairs and will not provoke a joint war.

Unless it's—

"In my flat house, in addition to the contemptible personal guards, there are still seven reserves on standby, totaling about 2,900 people." Tie Tsunohide pretended to reveal his strength inadvertently, "But two of the reserve teams are newly formed and have not yet been tested, which makes people a little worried......

"With the 3,000 soldiers of the Pingshou family as the core, and then try to recruit some troops, it should be no problem to reach 8,000 people." Suginobo said in a hurry, "It's enough to suppress the Miyoshi family!" I think Miyoshi Awa is so perverse, there won't be too many retainers to follow him! ”

He was really anxious in his heart, and he didn't care if the other party was suspected of asking for a sky-high price.

The Shingon sect has built more than 20 large and small temples in the territory of Awa Province, and the annual tribute to Koyasan is as much as seven or eight hundred, which is not a small amount of money for Genraiji Temple.

Give Miyoshi a month or two for a long time, and he may raze all the temples to the ground, and no matter how much revenge he takes, he won't be able to make up for the losses.

Lai Lian was a little more sensitive, and vaguely felt that Pingshou Tsuno's words and deeds were a little strange.

In fact, there are less than four strongholds in the whole territory of Awa, and the total number of monks is less than half a hundred, and the relationship of interests is very shallow.

However, they were slapped in the face too badly in this "legal difficulty", and they were not convinced after all if they didn't find the field.

Besides, it also involves his own apprentices!

At this time, as an old drama bone, Pingshou Fanxiu tried his best to keep his face from laughing, and endured very hard.

Because the current situation is more favorable than the best result expected.

The big names of the Shingon Sect and the Shingon Sect are all in a hurry, waiting for their own conditions, and such good things are too gratifying.

Miyoshi Nagaji, that fool, was unexpectedly stupid, with his little strength, he actually dared to break the delicate balance between secular forces and the religious realm.

And the attitude he showed was even more intense than Nobunaga's.

With such an easy enemy, I really want to fight again.

"The contemptible person has a suggestion for the follow-up of this matter, please consider the two masters......"