Mt. Tonba on the border between Echichu and Kaga.

Not far from Mt. Tonba, Mt. Rygara is the battlefield of the Battle of Genpei, the winner of the Battle of Genpei nearly 400 years ago.

In that year, Kiso Yoshinaka defeated the 100,000 Taira general Taira Weisheng Hokuriku Raiding Army here, and it was decided in a battle.

At present, a team of monks and soldiers with cloth on their heads, naginata knives in hand, and high and low burdens on their feet are slowly marching through the valley.

Honganji Shima Yorisho, who was also dressed like a monk, covered with a dress made of plain silk and lined with a belly roll, marched through the valley on foot.

At this moment, the head of Honganji Temple, the Venerable Master, led this group of Kaga monks to go out to Echichu to reinforce Shengxing Temple, and Zuizumenji Temple launched a one-way attack in Echichu.

The Shimoma clan is the hereditary official of Honganji, and they hold great power in their hands, and at present, one of the Kaga Mukai sect believers, it is mainly under the guidance of Shimoma Yorisho and another bo, Nanori Yoritsu.

Therefore, Shimoma Yorisho's status in Kaga at the moment is equivalent to the guardian generation of a country in the samurai family.

"Owner, I still don't understand why we want to support Echichu from Kaga this time, in my opinion, we should follow the instructions of the Dharma Lord and unite all the believers to continue to destroy the Asakura family and destroy the evil demons that hinder Buddhism."

Shimoma Yorisho turned his head sideways to face his eldest son, Nakataka Shimoma, who was walking side by side.

Shimoma Lai Zhao smiled slightly, and said, "Zhongxiao, whether we are going to Kaga or Vietnam, we are acting on the orders of the Venerable Master, and we must not have a view of the door. ”

After a pause, Lai Zhao said, "The Venerable Master has made a great wish to educate the people, so that the people of the world can recite the Amitabha Buddha with sincerity, so that they can go to the Pure Land of Bliss with peace of mind. We are the rulers of the lower family, so we should help the Venerable Master to fulfill this great wish. ”

"And our expedition to Vietnam this time is to get rid of the bad habits of the martial arts, save the people of Vietnam and China from the war, and bathe in Buddhism. Therefore, whether it is Kaga or Vietnam, we must do our best. ”

Shimoma Zhongxiao held the naginata knife in one hand and said with one hand, "I have written down the teachings of the Venerable Master. ”

After speaking, Shimoma Yorizhao took a monk's knife from his waist, respectfully held it between his hands, and said: "This is the famous sword that the Venerable Lotus gave to the ancestor Shimoma Chonglian when he preached in Hokuriku, and it was called Shuzhumaru Hengji. It has been passed down from generation to generation for my family. And there will be a bloody battle in Vietnam, and if I am martyred, you must save this knife on my behalf. ”

Shimoma Nakataka heard his father say this, handed the naginata knife in his hand to others, and took the Shuzhu Pill from his father's hand very respectfully with both hands.

He has heard of this knife for a long time, it is a famous thing passed down from generation to generation in the next family, it is one of the five swords in the world in the legend, and the boy cuts, three Yuezong and other famous knives are equally famous, because they have been worn by the Lotus Buddha, so the people of the Buddhist family believe that it has the best power.

Shimoma Nakataka slowly pulled out the blade, only to see that the inscription on the knife was engraved with the words 'Breaking the Evil and Showing the Right'.

Shimoma Nakataka said with great reverence: "Please rest assured, owner, I will definitely hold this knife to destroy evil and show righteousness and promote Buddhism." ”

Masuyama Castle is not far from Josangjo Castle, located on the right bank of the Wada River, along with Shoushan Castle, as well as Matsukura Castle, the main castle of Shiina, and is one of the three major mountain castles in Echichu.

In the third year of Eiroku, Uesugi Kenshin went out to Echichu for the first time, and Toyama Castle, the main city of the Jimbo family, was attacked, and the Jimbo chief was transferred to the fortified Masuyama Castle to defend it.

In a letter written by Kenshin Uesugi to the chief of the shrine, he said that the matter of increasing the mountain is a difficult place for people to resist the public.

to describe the sturdiness and difficulty of Masuyama.

At present, the Shengxing Temple in Yuezhong, Ruiquan Temple has launched a huge momentum.

The Jimbo family sent a letter to the Shiina family, the Uesugi family asked for reinforcements, and he entered the Masuyama Castle cage castle to defend it, and for the Jimbo family, Toyama Castle could be lost, but Masuyama Castle was an important stronghold to the east to defend Honganji, and it must not be lost.

After entering Zengshan City, he ordered a group of people to guard the mountain city lord Shen Bao Zhang, and the ancient country lord Shen Bao Zhi Guang each led the Lang Party and returned to the city where they lived to defend it.

Masuyama Castle, Shoushan Castle is located in Tonba County, where Honganji Temple is located, and it is an important passage into the territory of the Jimbo family, so as long as these two castles are held, the forces of the Ichisuzu can be resisted outside the territory of the Jimboo family, waiting for reinforcements to arrive.

Li Xiao gathered 1,500 troops from Chengsheng City and rushed to Zengshan City on the road, where he could see the disciples of the Yixiang Sect holding the banner of 'Nan Wu Amitabha Buddha', ten, dozens, hundreds of people, hundreds of people, groups of people, like yellow sand rolling in the direction of Zengshan City.

These disciples were armed with all kinds of weapons, most of them farm tools, and many men brought their wives and children to drag their families with them.

There were also stacks of carts pushed by on the side, and these believers all brought their own food for this expedition, and the poor people even picked up the grain that their families had planted for this spring ploughing as military rations.

Indeed, this sacrifice is nothing compared to the intent of obeying the law.

In fact, during the attack on Masuyama Castle, the Honganji temple official issued an amulet to the disciples who came to his aid, saying, 'Those who hold this amulet, if you go further, you can ascend to Elysium, and if you take a step back, you will fall into the Infernal Hell.' ’

So the disciples of the sect who received this talisman did not dare to disobey, and rushed to it from all directions at the moment, gathering under the city of Zengshan City.

After Li Xiao arrived at the periphery of Zengshan City, he looked at it with great eyes, and all the generals were speechless.

The flatlands, valleys, and hills are full of people like a sea of people.

The voices of people and horses neighed, and the noise shook the sky, and the ears were endless.

All kinds of tents and wooden sheds were rebuilt under the castle, and the castle town under Masuyama Castle seemed to have expanded dozens of times overnight.

The flow of people, the tents are endless, endless.

Such a large-scale army was not only Li Xiao's subordinates, but even Li Xiao himself was dumbfounded.

With such a density of men and horses, where there is a war, it is simply a tribal migration, and the historical crusades are nothing more than that.

It's just that the crusader soldier holding the cross was replaced by a disciple of the sect holding one of the 'Nam no Amitabha'.

Looking at this scene, Li Xiao secretly thought that if he traveled back and returned to the forum, if he said that this Warring States was just a children's shoe for a few township chiefs to fight, he would definitely be dragged out and slapped in the face.

Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh in his heart, 80,000 troops, saying that 80,000 is 80,000, is really a monk who doesn't speak.

Honganji monks, you are so powerful.

In fact, Honganji participated in the battle this time, and the number of disciples mobilized even exceeded 80,000. In addition to the 80,000 people besieging Zengshan Castle, as the initiator of this Yuezhong Rebellion, the abbot of Shengxing Temple, Honganji Xuanzong, also sent some disciples to surround the Shoushan Castle and the ancient Guofu Castle, a branch city of Shoushan Castle.

The 2,000 troops of Yasuyin Shiina, the head of the Shiina family, arrived yesterday, and when he saw the huge formation of Honganji, he immediately retreated five miles to go into battle.

And they came together to support the military forces of the wealthy clans in Zengshan Castle and Yuezhong, such as Terashima Moritoku, the lord of Tomasaki Castle, Ishiguro Naritana, the lord of Mushu Castle, and Kikuchi Takekatsu, the lord of Ao Castle, also saw the military strength of Ichizong, so they stood and watched from a distance, not daring to approach, for fear of being swallowed by this behemoth.

Li Xiao immediately sent a warrior to inform his army of the coming point, although he was here to help, but Li Xiao was also afraid that there would be some misunderstanding, and he would be attacked by the disciples of the sect who did not know the truth.

"It's strange why in the past, there has always been a fight between Vietnam and China, and Kaga Honganji Temple has not provided support." Li Xiao suddenly asked Honda Masanobu.

According to Yokotani Yukishige's information, this time Echichu has always been in the same way, and Kaga, as the base camp of Honganji Temple in Hokuriku, only sent a small number of monks to support, and did not send disciples to fight.

Therefore, Echichu has always been in a fight, and there has never been a strong crowd of nearly 300,000 disciples launched by Kaga Ichijo Sect during the Battle of Kowloon Touchuan, which directly poured into Echizen.

Honda Masatin shook his head at Li Xiao's inquiry, if he said that he still knew a little about the Sanhe Sect, but for the Hokuriku Sect, he didn't know anything.

"Back to my lord, at that time, because of the different factions of Kaga Honganji Temple and Echichu Honganji Temple."

Just when Li Xiao was surprised, another voice came from behind him.

Li Xiao turned his head and looked at it, and the answer that he was the one who was newly included in the flag, Usami's Usami Katsuyuki.

After Usami Katsuyuki became Li Xiaoqiben, although his martial arts skills were far worse than those of the previous real samurai, he wrote a good hand.

In addition, I have a good understanding of the information of the entire Hokuriku regardless of Vietnam, Central and Vietnam.

Such a talent is really necessary for Li Xiao to attack Beilu at present.

So although the origin of this person was not investigated, Li Xiao still promoted him to Youbi so that he could consult immediately.

Li Xiao asked at the moment: "What do you say?" ”

Usami Katsuyuki glanced at the Honganji army at the foot of the mountain and replied, "This starts with the fourth year of Xiangroku, when the power of Kaga Province was in the hands of the abbot of Sanriji Temple, Matsuoka-ji Temple, Kokyo-ji Temple, and Honsenji Temple. The abbots of these three temples decided all matters by themselves, and the head of Ishiyama Honganji Temple could not interfere in the internal affairs of Kaga Province. ”

At the behest of the Venerable Master of the Honzan, the Venerable Master of the Honji Temple, the Honkakuji Temple, which was located under the Sanriji Temple, launched the Shokatsuji Temple, and with the help of the Kagabo official Shimoma clan, they attacked the Sanriji-ji Temple. The abbot of Sanli Temple was either imprisoned or killed. Therefore, since the Joy Rebellion, the Venerable Master of Ishiyama Honganji Temple has actually taken control of Kaga Province. ”

"I see," Li Xiao cut off Usami's words and said, "If the relationship between Echichu Katsukoji Temple and Honganji Temple is compared to the relationship between the head of the family and the retainer of the outside family in the samurai, and Kaga Honganji Temple and the head of the main mountain are equivalent to the head of the family and his subordinates, right?" ”

"Yes, my lord." Usami replied.

Li Xiao finally figured out that the current abbots of Shengxing Temple and Ruiquan Temple were all descendants of the original Lianru Venerable and inherited their own lineage, and the Shiruma family, Qili Family, which presided over the Kaga Ichijo Sect, was a fang official appointed by the current Dharma Master himself.

At this moment, the Yixiang Sect under Zengshan City sent an envoy to signal Li Xiao and his party to enter.

The abbot of Katsukoji Temple, Honganji Genmune, will personally receive them.

Chinese New Year's Eve, New Year's greetings to everyone! I wish you all a lot of money in the new year!

(To be continued)