Viet Chu, Shengxing Temple.

Katsukoji Temple was built on the Takagiba Takagi Farm of Kanataniso in Tonami-gun, but it was destroyed by a fire.

In the 16th year of Yongzheng (1519 A.D.), Honganji Temple Shigen rebuilt this temple.

In the following 62 years, Shengxing Temple and Jingba Ruiquan Temple were established side by side to become the initiation of the Vietze-Chung Temple.

It wasn't until the ninth year of Tensho in history that the Oda Family's Northern Army Regiment invaded Vietnam, and the Oda Family's general Ishiguro Narita set fire to Shengxing Temple.

It was only after that the temple was moved to its current location in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture.

When Honda Masanobu stood on the stone steps of Katsukoji Temple, he looked at the castle walls, Horikiri, curved wheels, arrows, and monks with iron cannons on their shoulders and naginatas passing by.

No matter how you look at it, Honda Masanobu feels that Katsukoji Temple is more like a castle of a Warring States daimyo.

Honda Masanobu shook his head, this scene was not as good as even when the Three Rivers Pure Land True Sect was in its heyday.

Under the guidance of the monks, Honda Masanobu walked into the main hall of the temple.

The abbot of Katsukoji Temple, Honganji Genmune, is sitting on a futon with his hands folded and his eyes closed, while behind him is the golden statue of Amitabha Nyorai, the main figure of Honganji.

When Honda Masanobu took off his shoes and entered, the other party seemed to sense someone coming, and opened his eyes gently.

Honda Masanobu looked at the abbot of Katsukoji Temple, Master Xuanzong of Honganji Temple, wearing a crimson monk's robe, with white eyebrows on his face, looking quite kind and serene, and had the demeanor of a high-ranking monk.

Seeing this, Honda Masanobu added a little respect to this long-known master Xuanzong.

After the meeting, the two parties greeted each other and sat on their knees.

Honganji Genzong obviously had a deep understanding of Honda Masanobu, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he said to Honda Masanobu: "I already know about the matter of the three temples of the Three Rivers, and the Venerable Master, when he heard about it in Ishiyama, was also indignant at the behavior of Matsudaira Temple. ”

The so-called three rivers and three temples are the temple, the temple of Shanggong, and the temple of Shengman.

Honda Masatin sighed after hearing this, and said: "Buddhism is in trouble, it is already unfortunate, the past has passed, and it is meaningless to mention it again, the disciple has already run away from the Matsudaira family, and now he is under the command of Li Xiao, the old man of the Takeda family. ”

"Oh? Li Xiao. Xuanzong of Honganji Temple heard Li Xiao's name, his two white eyebrows trembled slightly, and he said: "Zhengxin, are you here to be a lobbyist for him this time?" ”

Honda Masanobu nodded and said, "I don't dare to deceive the abbot, the lord is puzzled by the matter of preaching and preaching in the collar and this sect, so he sent a disciple to inquire." ”

Honganji Xuanzong smiled indifferently, took out the rosary and wrapped it around his wrist, and said: "Since you are the true believer that you came in person, I will tell you the truth, yes, this time I set up a 'lecture' in the city of Chengsheng, and I instructed Xuanli to do it." ”

"Oh, why did the Master do this? Could it be that it was against the Takeda family? If the lord of the disciple is a brutal man and sends troops to wipe out the villages that refuse to pay taxes, then more followers of this sect will die in vain. ”

Xuanzong clasped his hands together, recited lightly, 'Nan Wu Amitabha', and said: "If he really dares to do this, I will mobilize tens of thousands of believers in the entire Yuezhong to attack Chengsheng City and destroy him." ”

Honda Masanobu shook his head and said, "But the master, in the lower lord, didn't do it, did he?" ”

Xuanzong shook his head and said: "The matter of Xuanli, the official of this temple, was killed under the city of Chengsheng, there is something strange, and then some people swaggered, saying that this temple wants to break down the door of the believers of Chengsheng City because of this matter, so the believers are afraid and gather outside the temple from Chengsheng City to plead. I guess all of this isn't just a coincidence. ”

Honda Masatin also guessed that this matter might be Li Xiao's trick, but everything was just speculation, and Xuanzong did not have any evidence, pointing out that Li Xiao was behind the scenes.

Honda Zheng said: "I don't know the specific reason for this matter, but the lord has already made a deal in the territory, and he asked me to come here to convey the goodwill of the family, he is willing to work with the sect, but he doesn't want the sect to interfere in the affairs of his territory, I don't know if the master is decided?" ”

When Xuanzong of Honganji Temple heard this, his eyes stared at Honda Masanobu, and he said: "Masanshin, you have to know that Yuezhong is different from Sanhe. ”

After a pause, Xuanzong stood up and said: "When the mountain gate was opened by the Venerable Master Qinluan, the Yuan Lai Dynasty had also created the shogunate and ruled the world with the samurai. However, you see that in the past 400 years, the world has become more chaotic due to the strife of the samurai. Since the Yingren Rebellion, the big names of various countries have competed for the power of the martial arts, and the world has been even more miserable. ”

"After the Onin Rebellion, the first lotus was forbidden by people to spread the Dharma, and came to Hokuriku from Kyoto to avoid disaster, so the Hokuriku Pure Land Shinshu all adhered to the great wish of the Venerable Master, hoping that the Dharma could be read by the king. At the beginning, Kaga guarded the Fuken clan without a way, but the Venerable Master Renru allowed the followers of this sect to destroy evil and show righteousness, so he overthrew the Fujian clan and made my Kaga country a true Buddha country. ”

(The history of the peasant uprising in Honganji Temple is called the proletarian revolution in the history of the fifties and sixties, and it is greatly praised.) At that time, Honganji Renru was originally opposed to this armed rebellion, but those believers were coerced by Shimoma Chonglian and other officials, and the 'Jiaozhao' launched a riot. In the history books, Honganji Renru was also criticized for taking a wrong position and moving against the tide. Honda Masanobu listened to the words of Genzong of Honganji Temple and asked, "According to the master's opinion, not only Kaga, but also in Echichu, the samurai and the temple cannot coexist?" ”

Xuanzong of Honganji Temple smiled slightly and said: "Righteousness, what this sect seeks is to educate the people, so that the people of the world can sincerely recite the Amitabha Buddha in the south, so that they can go to the Pure Land of Bliss with peace of mind." If the 66 kingdoms of this book are like Kaga, and the temples replace the samurai, so that the people of the world can bathe in the Buddha kingdom, and the strife will cease from then on, what is the difference? ”

Honda Masanshin was surprised when he heard this, and sure enough, as Li Xiao said, the descendants of Honganji Renru had already inflated their selfish desires, turning the original non-violent evangelistic movement into an ambition to usurp the world.

After the Mikawa Rebellion, Honda Masanobu deeply felt that the Ichijo sect he had always believed in was deviating from his original track little by little.

Nan Wu Amitabha Buddha, Honda Masanobu recited the Dharma horn and said: "Master Xuanzong, no matter what, the disciples believe that preaching will be better if they do not fight and stop fighting. The disciples will do their best to maintain the harmony between their own family and the Yizong sect, and if there is really a day when the soldiers meet, the disciples will have to die with their bodies. ”

After a pause, Honda Masashi said again: "Master Xuanzong, the Venerable Lotus once said that the evil is broken and the righteousness is revealed, and now for this sect, the evil is the Echizen Asakura family, and the Echigo Kamisugi family, right?" ”

At the mention of the names of the Asakura family and the Uesugi family, Honganji Genzong's face changed slightly.

The Asakura family and the Uesugi family are east and west, blocking the route of Kaga Honganji to both sides.

The immortal general of the Asakura family, Asakura Zongdi, was twice severely injured in the battle of the Kowloon River and the battle of the Great Sage Temple. Although Kuramune passed away, the infiltration of Kaga Isōmune in the direction of Echizen has not progressed.

As for the Uesugi family, needless to say, it is the sworn enemy of the Echichu Ichijo sect, and the three generations of the Nagao family are the sworn enemies of the Ichijo sect.

Uesugi Kenshin's grandfather, Nagao Nokei, was killed in the battle of the Hannyo Field, which had always been a struggle against Echichu, and his father, Nagao Weijing, regarded the crusade against Echichung Ichikozong as a long-term campaign.

Not to mention Kenshin Uesugi.

Honganji Xuanzong nodded and said, "That's right. ”

"But master, if Uesugi Huihu connects with the Jimbo family and invades Yuezhong, and wants to destroy our sect, when the time comes, although this sect has the support of Buddhism and thousands of believers, can it resist the tiger and wolf army of the Uesugi family?"

Honganji Genzong remembered that three years ago, the Echichu Ichijo Sect attacked the Haruyama Castle of Echigo on the orders of the Lord, but was killed by Uesugi Kenshin and was defeated.

Honganji Xuanzong couldn't help but shake his head and said, "Uesugi Huihu is the incarnation of Bishamon Heaven, and mortals like us can resist it. ”

Honda Masanobu said in a deep voice: "Yes, Master Xuanzong, the scene of the destruction of the Sanhe Mountain Gate by the Matsudaira family must not be repeated in Yuezhong, and now the Shenbao family has subdued Uesugi Huihu." If Uesugi Huihu sends troops to Yuezhong again, then my Shengxing Temple and Ruiquan Temple in Yuezhong will be in danger. ”

Honganji Xuanzong also heard Honda Masanobu's voice, and asked out loud: "Masanshin, you want me to ally with Li Xiao to fight against Uesugi Kenshin, but with all due respect, I know that Li Xiaoxiao is brave and good at fighting, but with his hundreds of people, he is not the opponent of Bishamen Heaven at all." ”

Honda Masanobu smiled and said: "Master, the lord who underestimated his disciple, according to the disciple's opinion, he is one of the few brave generals in the world who can match Uesugi Kenshin, under Kamioka Castle, he can break Saito with 500 people, and the Jimbo family has a thousand troops, so the strength can be seen." ”

Honganji Genshu pondered, he had recently heard a lot of rumors about the main mountain Ishiyama Honganji Temple, such as Takeda Shingen sent people to secretly go to Ishiyama many times, and through the sisterhood of the Dharma Lord Shomuro Ruharuni and Takeda Shingen Masanomuro Sanjo, he visited the Venerable Master, and wanted to form an alliance between Honganji and the Takeda family.

And it is obvious that the Venerable Master is under the pillow wind of Ruchunni, and he also has plans to formally form an alliance with the Takeda family.

If the Takeda family and Honganji were formally allied, it would mean that the two families could form an offensive and defensive alliance in Vietaka to jointly resist Uesugi Kenshin.

Honda Masanobu also said: "Master Xuanzong, Uesugi Kenshin is the great enemy of the Takeda family, and this time the lord letter Xuangong ordered the order of the Emperor to send troops to Echichu, precisely to crusade against Uesugi Kenshin, so Honganji and my Takeda family are consistent with each other on the point of facing the common enemy Uesugi Kenshin. ”

Honganji Xuanzong pondered for a moment and said: "Zhengxin, do you think that your lord Li Xiao, if he is in Yuezhong, really has the intention of making peace with this temple?" ”

Honda Masanobu said without hesitation: "As long as the disciple is in the Takeda family, it will definitely ensure the harmony between the Honzong and the Takeda family." ”

After speaking, Honda Masatin took out a letter and said: "My lord, I have already said in the letter that if the temple does not interfere and he is in the internal affairs of the territory, he is willing to offer 2,000 stone of military rations to add to the temple's sesame oil. ”

Xuanzong of Honganji took the letter, smiled slightly, and said: "Very good, Zhengxin, you and Li Xiao have hearts, this kindness has been received by this temple." In this case, I will trouble Masanobu to be the protector of the temple, and if the Uesugi family comes to attack the Nakahonji Temple without reason and endanger the Dharma, I will also ask the Takeda family to send troops to help when the time comes. ”

Honda Masashi was overjoyed and said, "Of course, the master can agree, so the disciple will be relieved." ”

Xuanzong of Honganji Temple smiled when he heard this, and said: "Since Lord Li Xiao is so hearted, this temple also has a generous gift, and this temple has just purchased fifty iron cannons from Genlaizhong, so it will be regarded as a gift to Lord Li Xiao." ”

Honda Masanobu was overjoyed when he heard this, and these fifty iron cannons were much more valuable than the two thousand stone military rations that were sent.

(To be continued)