As the sun set and the autumn breeze was bleak, Nakano Marutaro returned to his room in a sullen manner despite the drizzle, threw down his hat and collapsed to the ground, lamenting and sighing.

Even the baby daughter poured him water to drink, but he didn't bother to reach out and take it.

Repeatedly, all I could say was, "It's not good, it's not good...... You have to find Nagashima Temple...... The samurai lord is really ruthless...... "Something like that."

During the day, he walked to Kobe Castle, turned several corners, took a path he followed, invited people to drink good wine, grovelled and asked about the truth of the "land inspection", and then he licked his shoes. Unexpectedly, the other party refused to reveal it, and at the end it was still a sentence "The adults haven't really decided yet, so wait and wait with peace of mind." ”

How can this be reassuring?

Only yesterday did a reliable friend reveal that there are already a small number of well-informed people in the neighborhoods of Shili and Eight Townships, who have obtained some inside information from their brother-in-law and aunt-in-law.

It is said that the government that presided over this matter has set hard targets directly for each village, and strictly ordered them to follow them, and the final results of land inspection can only be more and not less.

It seems that it is Taiping Village or Dafu Village, and the annual output is only three or four hundred stones, and it is good to pay sixty or seventy stones, but it turned out to be hand-picked, and after the land inspection, at least one hundred and eighty stones of grain must be paid every year.

This is certainly unacceptable.

What will happen to our village?

Nakano Marutaro thought about it, pondered it repeatedly, and finally made up his mind, gritted his heart with his teeth, got up suddenly, grabbed his hat and walked outside.

The eldest daughter in the house, Yihua, was carrying a wooden basin to wash the pulp, and was surprised to see it: "It's late and it's raining, where are you going?" What can't I ...... tomorrow?"

"I just remembered that there are more than ten accounts due to be collected, and it may take three or two days to come back! Don't worry, it's not a big deal, you and your sisters just take care of the home. ”

Nakano Marutaro casually made up a reason, strode forward, and disappeared into the rain in a moment.

Yihua was stunned for a moment, reacted and exclaimed, hurriedly put the basin on the ground, trotted all the way to the room, and called: "Daddy seems to be really going to find Yixiangzong!" Will it be implicated afterwards? What should we do? ”

……

It is said that on the Nagara River, two nearby bridges were destroyed by the floods in the middle of the year. Nakano Marutaro walked out of the house and walked all the way to the riverbank, where he finally caught the last ferry and was able to cross the river.

Originally, the charge was one penny per person each time, but the copper plate was taken out, and the captain who supported the boat disliked the wear and tear too much, and said, "Guest, you can be said to be the evil money in the evil money, and I am afraid that it is only two articles to be a writer." ”

Nakano Marutaro had something to do, and he was not in the mood to discuss it, so he searched for another one casually, and before he could take a closer look, he put it in the other party's hand.

The captain took it and looked at it quietly, and found that it was an intact Yongle money with smooth edges, which was enough to be worth four or five bad money, and he was both happy and a little uneasy, and was hesitating whether to return the money to tell the truth, but seeing that the guest did not stay on the shore for a moment, he left in a hurry.

So I accepted it with peace of mind.

Nakano Marutaro didn't know that he had lost a lot of money, and he was only thinking about moving forward.

After passing the Nagara River, another thousand or hundreds of steps, a second great river appeared in front of me, which was the Ifi River. This area is already part of the Nagashima Temple, so the roads are managed, the bridges are repaired, the embankments are intact, and you can see many freshly cut rice fields with no signs of damage.

Walking on the bridge, this scene has been seen countless times, but only this time, Nakano Marutaro is very envious.

The desire to find justice for the sect has become more and more determined.

After crossing the bridge, you will find the boundary of the Long Island Delta. After a few more turns and crossing two small streams, I finally saw the temple gate before the sun set completely.

After respectfully stepping forward and informing the doorman of his name and intention, Nakano Marutaro waited nervously.

Thinking about what kind of person the senior monk of the Sect was, he used to visit early in the morning, and he often had to wait until the afternoon to see him. It's even more rude to come in the rain this evening, I'm afraid I won't be hung until tomorrow?

It was also impulsive, and it should have been properly prepared, and it was only right to pay a careful and formal visit.

But time is very urgent, what if the land inspection is announced tomorrow morning?

Intervening before something happens and stopping it after it happens, obviously the former is many times less difficult and has a much higher success rate.

This truth is also understood by small landlords with a little knowledge.

Seeing the doorman squatting under the eaves with a big grin, listless, no one in his eyes, and a very impatient face, Nakano Marutaro stood outside in the rain and waited with trepidation, for fear that the muddy water on his body would splash on the other party.

From time to time, pessimistic thoughts popped up in his heart, and he constantly had the psychology of luck, which was very contradictory.

Unexpectedly, after only half an hour, a middle-aged monk in plain clothes went out with an umbrella and invited him inside with a pleasant face.

He also scolded the doorman: "When the people ask for help, is that how you treat it?" Why don't you let him in first to shelter from the rain? Have you forgotten the way we are sectarian? Punish you for halving this month's support! ”

The doorman was so frightened that his face was red, and he knelt on the ground and trembled, and he didn't dare to come out.

Nakano Marutaro felt a sigh of relief in his heart.

At the same time, he knew in his heart: "It turns out that these hateful little people are all playing music below!" The senior monks of the Sect are still standing with us ordinary people as before! Rumors that they will become corrupt and degenerate when they have power, needless to say, must be all rumors! ”

The middle-aged monk took Nakano Marutaro left and right, came to a quiet side room, and then pointed inside with a smile: "The abbot of the temple, the master of the testimony is inside, and his old man should listen to your affairs." ”

Witness the Academy!

Hearing this, Nakano Marutaro suddenly weakened his legs and his tongue was numb.

The abbot of the Wish Temple, the Master of Enlightenment, who is that? It's a descendant of Honganji!

In the simple hearts of the peasants, the highest status in the religious world is, of course, Amitabha Buddha, but the Buddha is high, and ordinary people have no right to see it, and the pinnacle that can be seen in the present world is the Manifestation Master of Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which is equivalent to the incarnation of the Buddha.

The status of the witness master in the Yizong sect is second only to the Venerable Master, ranking second in the group, and it is probably a bodhisattva incarnation or something?

Anyway, it's very high!

Nakano Marutaro didn't dare to stand and walk, with the help of the leading monk, he used his limbs together, crawled to the door of the wing room with his head down, bowed his five bodies to the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Villain...... Villain...... Lucky...... Lucky...... See...... Ever seen...... Witness the Venerable! ”

He didn't understand the rules of Buddhism, only that a monk with a high status should be called a master.

A hearty and heavy voice came from the room: "The poor monk is not qualified to be called 'Venerable', and the benefactor just calls me 'Yuanjia'. Don't be formal, take two steps closer and keep your head up! ”

"Yes, yes! Xie Yuanjia! Xie Yuanjia! Nakano Marutaro crawled forward a few times, timidly raised his head to look, and quickly lowered it again.

He felt that the old monk in front of him was solemn, not angry and self-assured, and his body was shining with a circle of bright Buddha light.

Testimony said: "I heard that the donor came to ask for help for the matter of land seizure? ”

"Yes! Be! Nakano Marutaro hurriedly responded: "That, land inspection...... That, the national capital is abundant...... That, what do you say, hard indicators...... That, I can't afford it, and the people are miserable...... That ......"

Maybe he was too excited, he was completely incoherent, stumbling, and couldn't even form a complete sentence.

Then the testimony did not show the slightest look of disgust and impatience, and listened carefully for a long time before slowly nodding and replying: "I have roughly understood what the donor meant. Nakano Village, where the donor is located, has always offered to the temple, but now he is in trouble and asks for help, and the poor monks cannot ignore it. ”

"Thank you!" Nakano Marutaro was overjoyed when he heard this, and kowtowed like pounding garlic.

However, ......" testimony is difficult to do: "Everything in the world cannot transcend a truth." Since the leader of the main land inspection has his own reputation, it is impossible for the temple to interfere rashly. So...... Well...... First of all, I hope that you can gather as many villagers as possible and jointly submit an appeal to show that this is the public will of the people. Secondly, please talk to the poor monk about all the matters in the village over the years, and the real estate situation, and see if you can find any reasons for refusing to seize the land. ”

“…… Yes, sir! Just do what the hospital says! A brief trace of doubt flashed in Nakano's heart, but it was quickly forgotten.

No matter how you look at it, the approachable and always high-ranking monks are always much more credible than the lord's dedication and soldiers.

And with this identity, why are you lying to you?

It will definitely solve the problem!

"That couldn't be better." Zhengyi smiled and nodded, "Please rest assured, the poor monk will do his best to save the people from being treated and exploited." ”