Two feet behind me stood a small monk, bowing respectfully. A ninja-turned-squire stood between the two of us, intentionally or unintentionally, and Kusunoki Mitsunari's gaze was also looking him up and down on the side.

This little monk was about thirteen or fourteen years old, and he was dressed in a light gray monk's robe, which was very clean. It looks like he's seen something in the world, and he doesn't show any nervousness under the gaze of a few people, but he also doesn't feel public. "Yes, I'm the Zhuxing Qing Clan!" I looked at him and confessed. "Do you have anything to do with me?"

"That's great!" He looked very happy. "The little monk was ordered by the master to send a letter to His Highness, and he didn't want to meet him here. His Royal Highness's army is mighty, and the little monk is worried and doesn't know how to get in! As he spoke, he took a letter from his bosom and handed it to me.

The letter was inspected by the guard and handed it to me, and when I looked at it, it turned out to be written by the presiding officer of Tofukuji Temple, Asayama Hisakari, to the effect that he wanted to meet me. "Is Master Asayama okay?" I asked as I read the letter. Although I have often been active in the Kyoto area in recent years, I am still reluctant to have too much contact with them out of resistance to the Buddhist gods, and I have only met with this Asama Hisaka a few times in public except for accompanying Xianzhi to incense, so although we have known each other for a long time, we can't talk about a deep friendship.

"Everything is okay with the family teacher...... the little monk said as if he remembered something again: "The family teacher asked the little monk to send a message to His Highness Zhuxing: Originally, he should have come to visit you in person, but because of the delicate relationship between all parties in Kyoto recently, I am afraid of causing you any unnecessary trouble!" So he's disrespectful......"

"Uh-huh......" I nodded, and the letter from Asayama Hisakari repeatedly stated this. Although it was not clearly stated, there was a faint anxiety between the lines, and it seemed that there was something big. I think that in this case, I should still go there, after all, the influence of Buddhism in Japan at this time cannot be ignored. "Okay, then I'll ......"

"My lord! It's all bought, let's go! At this time, Ayuki jumped out of the store, followed by Maeda Keiji and Tokuzo, each holding a large number of things in their hands.

"Oh, Ayuki ......," I remembered what I had just promised her. Except for something, I'm going to go somewhere else first! ”

"Oh......" Ah Xue didn't say anything else, but anyone could see his disappointed expression. As for Keiji Maeda's face on the side, it can only be described by the word "distorted".

"But you don't have to all follow......" I can fully understand their feelings at the moment. I just have a little thing to deal with, so you guys go to Miss Ah Guo with your things first! I'll go over and meet you as soon as I'm done, and I won't miss this show! ”

"This ...... Let's go with you first! Even at this time, Ayuki still didn't forget her duty as a samurai of the guards.

"Then I don't have to, I'm just going to visit a friend! Besides......" I smiled and winked at her and said, "Maybe your sister has already started the show when I go, and if you want to talk to her in detail again, you'll have to wait until the evening, is that okay?" ”

"This ......" Hearing this, Ah Xue was obviously shaken, and it was a pain for relatives who had not seen him for several years to postpone meeting even for a moment.

"Alright, alright! What can happen in broad daylight in Kyoto? Keiji Maeda made the decision for her first. Let's hurry up and go to the Wind Chime Hall, there are Katsu Meng, Shinhachiro and Hikari who won't come out of anything! ”

"Nope! I'm going to the theater too! Shinhachiro shouted loudly that he was not satisfied with Maeda Keiji's arrangement, and just now he heard me going there on the side. It's strange to say! Xianzhi is so devout to the Buddha, but his younger brother Shinhachiro hates all kinds of Buddhism (probably related to his wine and meat monk master).

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I followed the little monk all the way to Tofukuji Temple, and a few others, including Shimakatsu Takeshi and Kusunoki Mitsunari, carefully observed the surrounding situation. It may be because today is not a good day, so there are not many people worshipping Buddha and burning incense in the temple. We walked all the way through the courtyard to the inner courtyard and stopped in front of an elegant detached ashram.

"Please wait!" The little monk bowed to me apologetically, then raised his voice inside and said, "Master, Lord Zhuxing is here!" ”

"Whoa!" The door to the ashram was pulled open from the inside, and Asayama Hitomo appeared at the door. "I didn't expect His Highness to come so quickly, it's really rude that he didn't come out to greet him!" He put his hands together and performed a Buddha salute.

"The master is polite...... "I also bowed, showing enough respect." In any case, he is also an old acquaintance, and although "Degao" does not dare to say "respectful", it is also worthy of the name. "It's not my fault that I didn't come to visit earlier, and I dared to die because I was summoned by the master!"

"Your Highness Zhuxing is polite, it's the old man who is presumptuous!" He smiled kindly and stepped aside. "Your Highness, please sit inside!"

"Okay......" I walked forward, my eyes rolling back seemingly unintentionally.

Nanmu Guangcheng nodded knowingly and stepped back, and several guards stood scattered in various parts of the courtyard. Only Shimakatsu Takeshi followed me into the house, but after carefully looking at the room, he stood by the door with his arms folded. The little monk served tea and then withdrew, leaving only the three of us in the room.

"Master, I wonder what you have taught you to summon you?" I saw that everyone was already flattened, and I didn't think there was any need to beat around the bush anymore.

"His Highness Zhuxing is quick to talk, and the old man is no longer hypocritical! In the past few years, the situation in has been turbulent, and the ...... between Oda and the Buddhist Gate is that "Asayama Hisakari is also straight to the point, and he directly expresses the worries in his heart." "The old man thinks that the conflict between the two sides is mostly due to misunderstanding, and there is actually no fundamental conflict of interest! As long as someone can mediate in the middle, and both sides take a step back, there is still the possibility of resolving grievances, and what this person has done will undoubtedly be an immeasurable merit......"

"I beg your pardon for taking the liberty of stopping you......" Seeing that he is getting more and more energetic in talking to himself, I think it is better to let him sober up a little. Excuse me, Master, do you mean 'this person' by mere inferiority? ”

"That's exactly what the old man meant!" Unexpectedly, this old monk admitted it bluntly.

"This matter has been done by His Excellency Konoe and His Excellency Harura Nijo, and even His Majesty the Emperor has issued an edict, but unfortunately it has not worked! How do you think you can do it with the influence you have below? "I'm going to put him to the test what he knows about me.

"Your Highness Zhuxing is right, maybe the identity and prestige of the above-mentioned people are indeed much higher than Your Highness!" He nodded in agreement, but then changed gear. “…… But although General Oda is now overwhelming, his prestige is incomparable, but all kinds of hidden dangers are also obvious! Looking around the world's powerful domains, the right general can hardly find an ally, so it is not difficult to imagine what kind of situation he will face in the future! And His Royal Highness Zhuxing is wise and brave and has outstanding merits, and he is actually the first pillar of the Oda family. Although the old man is not familiar with military affairs, he has heard the judgment of some people of insight that His Highness Zhuxing controls a quarter of the force of the Oda family! This may be a bit excessive, but it may not be groundless, in this case, I am afraid that the right general will not fail to seriously consider the advice of His Highness the Stars! ”

There may be some truth in the master's words...... "There is no need for me to pretend to be confused in front of him." But I don't think I have the ability to influence the choice of Admiral Oda on the issue of position! Seeing that he opened his mouth, I hurriedly said: "The master must also emphasize that there is no fundamental contradiction between the two sides, but let me ask a few rhetorical questions: What kind of person always makes irresponsible remarks and accusations about the policies of General Oda You?" General Oda may have been a little too wide-ranging, but who was his main target in the first place? Did General Oda's policy really harm all Buddhists, or was it just a handful of vested interests? Are these people really representative of the vast number of Buddhists? What have these people done for Buddhism in addition to benefiting themselves? Is the removal of these people harmful or beneficial to Buddhism? ”

"This ......" my words may have had a certain impact on the Asahyama Hiyanada, and I said after a long time: "There may be some silverfish, but you can't blame the entire Buddha Gate because of this?" Mt. Hiei Enryakuji Temple ......"

"You're right!" I am also open to admitting the obvious. “…… But doesn't this just mean that some scum in robes have brought great calamity to the entire Buddhism for their own selfishness? You are a world-renowned Buddhist master, and you have an unshirkable responsibility for Zhongxing Buddhism! To borrow what you just said, it is immeasurable to eliminate disadvantages and promote benefits, and if you really want to let these scum continue to cause trouble, you will regret it too late when the Tang Dynasty also happened in Japan! Master, make up your mind to break with these people! ”

"You have some truth in what you say, but I ...... alone"

"You are by no means alone, the real Buddhists in the world are on your side!" I continued to "bewitch" to.

"I'll think about it......" Asayama Hisakari finally relented, but not without any worries. Admiral Oda is a man of absolute will, so he is likely to do a lot of irreparable things! I would also like to ask you to pay attention to this, and be sure to take care of the Buddhists as always. Integrating the various sects is by no means an easy task, it will take a long time to work hard, and in the meantime, please work hard to hone in the relationship between the two parties! ”

"You make me blush when you say that!" Seeing that the goal had been achieved, I casually said haha. "Except for the occasional donation for my insiders, I really can't think of any contribution I have made to Buddhism!"

"Is that really the case?" Asayama Hisakari suddenly smiled slyly. "There is another person in the small temple who wants to meet His Highness and come to thank you in person!"

Later, he asked the apprentices outside the door to find two people, a middle-aged monk and a commoner, a short black man dressed as bodyguards. The monk smiled at me when he entered the room, and the black man stood on the other side of the door corresponding to Katsu Shima.

"It's you!" I was shocked to see the middle-aged monk who I let go of at the foot of Mt. Hiei.

"Your Highness the Stars, the grace of saving your life will never be forgotten!" He shook his head deeply.

"Let me introduce you......" The voice of the morning mountain Hisakari sounded again. This is the Master of the Still Water Fox! ”