The first thousand and fifty-one chapters feel happy birthday
Tsutsui Junkei was in a dilemma, so he had to temporarily stay in Todaiji Temple, not far northeast of Kofukuji Temple, to think about countermeasures.
Just when she was in a dilemma, bigger trouble came to her door.
In the quiet room, Tsutsui Junkei sighed.
"People want to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop. Akechi is bright and pine is beautiful. I am so lucky to be friends with them."
Seeing the master speaking angrily, Matsukura Shigenobu, who was sitting with him, smiled bitterly and shook his head.
There are three letters on the slip, one from Hosokawa Fujitaka, one from Matsu Nagahide, and one from Akechi Mitsuhide. They are all aimed at the remains of the Ichijoin Gate of Kofukuji Temple and Master Kakukei.
Tsutsui Junkei concentrated on the game with Kofukuji Temple, trying to overwhelm the sect and become the Lord of Yamato. Although she did not dare to take action against the Shiba territory of Kokuyamato, the nuns of Kofukuji Temple were indeed easy to deal with.
Unexpectedly, the two close friends of the samurai family she made in order to eliminate external troubles revealed the truth. Tsutsui Shunkei was 100% sure that the death of Ashikaga Yoshiki was inseparable from these two people.
All members of Ashikaga Yoshiki's family died, and the closest blood relative of the Ashikaga family was the Ashikaga twin daughter from Kofukuji Temple, Kakukei.
Hosokawa Fujitaka sent a letter asking for help, bluntly stating that the Miyoshi family was plotting rebellion, and asked Tsutsui Junkei if he was following the thieves to cause chaos, or if he was trying to bring order to the chaos.
On behalf of Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, Matsunagahide sent a letter asking for someone, and his words were sincere and threatening. The success of Miyoshi's family in Luo was the icing on the cake, and he advised her to know what is good and what is good, and not to make mistakes.
The two letters confused Tsutsui Junkei. She was a nun from the samurai family and did not want to get involved in the shogunate's messy affairs, but she couldn't push it away when trouble came.
Who asked her to surround Xingfu Temple now, sharpening her sword against Master Changjue? Jueqing is in the temple, and if the big guys from the Wu family aren't looking for her, who are they looking for?
Tsutsui Junkei was depressed. She was sitting at home, and trouble came from the sky. Before she could figure out how to deal with it, a letter from Akechi Mitsuhide also arrived.
Seeing the gloomy and unclear expression on his master's face, Matsukura Shigenobu asked carefully.
"Lord, what should we do now?"
Tsutsui Junkei thought about it over and over again. No matter if she gave Kakekei to the Hosokawa family or the Miyoshi family, she would offend the other family.
Who knows which side will have the last laugh in the future, it’s too early to take sides now. For now, we have to try Mitsuhide Akechi’s method.
She gritted her teeth and said.
"We withdrew our troops and returned to Tsutsui Castle, handed the letter from Hosokawa Miyoshi to Master Nagakaku, and let Kofukuji Temple take care of its own affairs.
As for Mitsuhide Akechi's letter... send it in too."
Akechi Mitsuhide's letter did not ask anyone, but only mentioned many disadvantages of the Ashikaga twins falling into the hands of both parties. Tsutsui Junkei was afraid that Master Nagakaku would misjudge, so he might as well show it to her and give her a warning.
The dispute over the Buddhist kingdom between Kofukuji Temple and the nun samurai family was an internal matter of the sect. Tsutsui Junkei did not want Master Nagakaku to get involved in the whirlpool of the shogunate, and eventually bring the Yamato Buddhist kingdom into it.
Matsukura Shigenobu said with a pity expression.
"Master, are we just going to withdraw like this?
There is chaos in Kyoto, and Lord Shiba Kenshin will definitely rush back from Kanto. If we don't get things done now, we will have no chance when he comes back."
Tsutsui Shunkei glared at her, sighed and said.
"Do you think I am willing? But this is something we can get involved with?
Ashikaga Shogun was the lord of the world, and his whole family died tragically in Kyoto. The Miyoshi family went to Raku to carry out a great rebellion, and all parties in the shogunate were red-eyed.
If I don’t retreat now, I won’t even think about retreating. The four armies of Hosokawa, Mibuchi, Shiba, and Miyoshi are coming to attack them. Who can I defeat?
If a war breaks out between the five armies at Kofukuji Temple, let alone a war with them, even if they fight each other, we will not be able to withstand this military and man-made disaster.
The Yamato Buddhist Kingdom I want is a rich and precious land, not a scorched earth. Hurry up and give the letter to Master Nagakaku, and ask Kofukuji Temple to come forward and banish that Jakuqing to leave Yamato Kingdom and go to other places to torment."
Tsutsui Junkei sent three letters to Kofukuji Temple, announcing that the banditry had been eliminated, peace and order was over, and the protection of Kofukuji Temple was over. Then she led the army to pack up their bedding and run away overnight, returning to Tsutsui Castle.
———
Kofukuji Temple, Zhongjindang side hall quiet room.
Changjue asked in astonishment.
"Is Tsutsui Junkei really quitting?"
Yinrong nodded, not looking happy, but a little heavy.
"It is true that the army has withdrawn."
Jue Qing was also present, and the three of them looked at the three letters on the slips at the same time, with different thoughts.
Tsutsui Junkei has been decisive in killing in the past two years. Taking advantage of Shiba Yoshigan's absence, he quickly integrated the nun samurai family and took control of the situation in central and southern Yamato.
The head of Kofukuji Temple was constantly defeated by her repeated tactics, and in the end he could only pretend to be dead in seclusion to wait for the opportunity.
But today, this aggressive nun and the leader of the martial arts family retreated in panic, making the nuns of Kofuku Temple dare not underestimate the meaning behind these three letters.
Chang Jue glanced at Jue Qing who was present and asked.
"What do you think about this matter?"
The two main gates of Xingfu Temple, the Mahayana-yuan and the Ichijo-yuan, are in charge of Changkyuu and Jueqing respectively. Jueqing himself is a high-ranking nun with the right to consult.
The nuns of the Hoho-in Temple are the nuns in the temple who maintain the safety of Kofukuji Temple. The host Yinrong is also an expert in spear skills. Last time, he used the ingenious move of abandoning martial arts to deal with Tsutsui Junkei, and he was trusted by Master Nagakaku.
The three of them discussed the matter behind closed doors and will decide the attitude of Kofukuji Temple.
Yinrong said immediately.
"Ignore it!
Xingfu Temple is a place outside the country and does not participate in worldly disputes. Master Jueqing is the gate of my Yicheng Temple. He worships the Buddha with peace of mind and has long since stopped caring about worldly matters.
Kofukuji Temple cannot agree to the request of dignitaries of the Miyoshi family and Hosokawa family, and Akechi Mitsuhide's advice is even more nonsense.
Escape? What escape? The purpose of becoming a monk is to seek liberation. If you jump out of the Three Realms and are not in the Five Elements, where else can you escape? To escape into the quagmire of mortal world?"
Yinrong sharply pointed out the problem.
Miyoshi and the Hosokawa family want to use Kakukei as a gunman, and Kofukuji cannot be an accomplice, otherwise the Shingon sect will not be a human being inside and outside, and it will not be in line with the interests of the sect.
And Akechi Mitsuhide's advice contained evil intentions. It would be fine for Kakukei to stay at Kofukuji Temple, but once he leaves, it will inevitably cause more people to worry.
At that time, she doesn't want to get involved, and she can't help but refuse. If you, a nun, don't stay well in the temple, why do you come out? Do you have any ambitions?
At this time, whatever Kofukuji did was wrong, they simply covered their heads and pretended to be dead. As a monk, if I think I can't see, then I can't see anything.
Changjue didn't agree with Yinrong's idea, she said worriedly.
"These samurai are obsessed with interests and will do anything to gain the so-called righteousness of the shogunate. What should we do if they forcefully come to rob us?
We must ensure the safety of Kofukuji Temple and not let the temple fall into the danger of military disaster."
Yinrong sneered and said.
"What are you afraid of? Do the Miyoshi family and the Hosokawa family really dare to fight in Yamato University?
To the northeast of Kofukuji Temple is Todaiji Temple, to the northwest is Koriyama Castle, and to the north is Tamonzan Castle, the new residence built for Lord Shiba Kenshin.
I would like to see if Hosokawa Fujitaka dares to occupy Tamonyama Castle, and whether Matsunagahide dares to start a war at Todaiji Temple and destroy the ruins of this ancient temple.
Do the important ministers of the Shiba family dare to let the recent Shiba leaders fall into war? What will they say when Duke Kenshin comes back?
The strong words in their letter are just threats, and it is not that simple to actually take action."
If Changjue thinks about it carefully, this is really the truth.
When she gave Peking University to Shiba Yiyin, she seriously violated the interests of the nun samurai family headed by Tsutsui Junkei, and she was unable to get the support of the nuns in the two years of struggle.
But on the other hand, because of the buffers of Peking University and Shiba, any threat to Kofukuji Temple must first pass through the Shiba family.
Nizi Katsuhisa dared to lend a road to Hosokawa Fujitaka, but did she dare to let the Hosokawa family and the Miyoshi family go to war in Beidahe? Or in the Tamon Mountain area of Shiba Yoshigan Shinju Castle.
You must know that Yamatoguchi, not far from Mount Tamon, is an important road between Yamato and Iga, connecting the two areas of Shiba Territory. If there is a fight in this place, the group of Shiba retainers who are left behind cannot explain it to Yoshigan Shiba.
Yinrong saw that Changjue was moved, and added another chip to the balance in her heart, and said.
"I heard that the general's body is now in Xiangguo Temple. In order to perform the ceremony for the general, the Tiantai Sect and the Linji Sect had a very unpleasant quarrel."
Changjue suddenly woke up, nodded to Yinrong, and then looked at Jueqing, who was lowering his head and reciting the scriptures silently, seemingly in a state of wandering mind.
When the Kamakura shogunate built the Five Great Official Temples in Kamakura, it was a Zen temple. When the Kamakura shogunate fell, Kyoto imitated the Five Mountains of Kamakura and established the Five Mountains of Kyoto, which also belonged to the Zen sect.
Among the three branches of Zen Buddhism, the Rinzai Sect was the most important supporter of the sect in the early days of the Ashikaga Shogunate, and it naturally took advantage of the Five Mountains.
In particular, Sokokuji Temple, one of the Five Mountains, was founded by the powerful Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, which greatly increased the strength of the Rinzai Sect Sokokuji Temple.
In recent years, the two schools of peace have gradually overtaken the three schools of Zen.
The Shingon sect made great efforts in the old area of Nara, merged with the Hosō sect, and captured Kofukuji Temple. The Tendai sect followed the path of the upper echelons of the shogunate and had a very close relationship with the Odaisho.
The Nichiren sect and the Pure Land sect, which were separated from the Tendai sect, also took a new path. The Nichiren sect spread the faith among the merchants and townsfolk, while the Pure Land sect was the dominant one in Kanto.
The heresy of the Pure Land Sect, the Pure Land Shinshu is also known as the Ichigo sect, and is a great name in Buddhism during the Warring States Period. It has always attracted the attention of the world.
The Six Nandu Sects and the Three Zen Sects are no longer able to compete with the two Ping An Sects at the secular level.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the three Miyoshis gave the body of Ashikaga Yoshiteru to the Rinzai Sect Shokokuji Temple, giving the Zen sect a huge advantage.
The Tendai Sect was bound to be furious. The Ashikaga Shogun family had the closest relationship with them, so it was unbearable that such an important ceremony as the funeral was not held in the hands of the Tendai Sect.
The most important thing about religious belief is that it involves life and death. This is the most important thing for a sect to increase its influence. As the master of the world, Ashikaga Shogun must steal her rituals.
At this time, Yin Rong mentioned that the Linji Sect and the Tiantai Sect were making a fuss at Xiangguo Temple, and he was not instigating Master Changjue to follow them to grab them. The Shingon Sect was far less powerful in Kyoto than the Tiantai Sect, and they could not rob them even if they wanted to.
She was reminding Nagakaku that this change in the shogunate has involved a new round of shuffling among the various sects. The Shingon Sect holds the good card of Kakukei and should not throw it away casually.
No matter who becomes the new shogun in the future, Kakuei, the orphan of Ashikaga, cannot be bypassed, and the benefits of the Shingon sect are indispensable.
The current situation is too chaotic, and it is difficult to see the pros and cons. It is better to remain silent than to move. Silence and pretending to be dead is the best option for Kofukuji Temple.
Changjue was finally convinced and said solemnly.
"From today onwards, Xingfuku Temple will close its doors to thank guests and ignore mundane matters."
She glanced at the three letters on the case.
"Burn these letters."
"Wait a moment."
Chang Jue and Yin Rong looked at Jue Qing at the same time, not expecting that she would speak out when the matter was settled. Jue Qing looked at their surprised expressions and smiled slightly.
Standing at Kofukuji Temple and the Shingon sect, these two took the matter into consideration very appropriately. Unfortunately, they did not understand Kakuei's thoughts.
Jue Qing picked up the three letters, which she had read before. At this time, she wanted to read them again to help herself make up her mind.
I first read the Miyoshi family's letter, then the Hosokawa family's letter, and finally read Akechi Mitsuhide's letter carefully twice.
Chang Jue and Yin Rong looked at each other with solemn expressions. Judging from Jue Qing's behavior, they seemed to understand something.
Starting from the emperor's court, becoming a monk or a layman has been a rule of the game for the nobility. The high family status of Buddhist temples is another kind of family status prepared for the heirs of these nobility.
Japanese society has strict hierarchies, with dragons giving birth to dragons and phoenixes giving birth to phoenixes. The order of superiority and inferiority is deeply rooted in the bones. Even places outside the country are no exception. The pattern of gates and temples is the distinction between high and low in Buddhism.
Kakukei can easily inherit the legacy of the Ichijoin clan because she has the blood of the direct line of Kawachi Genji and the Ashikaga family flowing in her body.
In order not to compete for inheritance rights, nobles often sent their extra children to monasteries to become high-ranking nuns. Once the family died of heirs, it was common for them to welcome back their heirs to inherit the family business.
Not only the nobles were like this, but also the emperor and the generals. Not to mention, the Ashikaga family themselves had done this kind of thing. Kakukei was obviously tempted, after all, it was the position of a general, the lord of the world.
The two Taoist Gaoni waited silently for her answer, thinking a lot in their minds.
If a new general with close ties to the Shingon sect appeared in the Ashikaga shogunate, wouldn't it be more influential than the funeral ceremony in which the Tendai sect and the Rinzai sect broke their heads to compete for Ashikaga Yoshiteru?
It would be false to say that I am not moved, but the risks are also very high, which makes people's minds flooded and difficult to make decisions. The three senior nuns are each thinking about their own things, and the only sound in the quiet room is Jue Qing's reading of letters.
I don't know how long time passed, but Jue Qing's forehead was already sweating. This decision was too difficult.
If you take this step, it may be heaven, it may be hell, maybe even hell is a luxury, and you will step into a state of eternal destruction.
But it is too difficult to make her give up.
It has been 20 years since I celebrated the ancient Buddha of Qingdeng. I only recently learned about my life experience through curious inquiries from the shogunate samurai who came to offer incense at my door.
Ashikaga twin girls, one becomes the master of the world and controls the shogunate and dominates the shogunate. However, the other has to chant sutras and worship Buddha at Kofukuji Temple, keeping a pure heart and few desires.
Why? Why!
After the Ashikaga clan was destroyed, Kakukei was not bad at learning. Of course he understood the principle of finding a place to live in rare things, and his many years of practice could not quench the sudden fire of desire in his heart.
Finally, Jue Qing placed the three letters in his hand close to the candle on the desk and watched as their corners caught fire and burned to ashes.
"Master, I want to return to secular life and leave the temple."