Chapter 451 9. Hearing the Holy Voice Under the Morning Star
"Shoji-dono, Lord Yajima has gone to Shimokusa, and seems to be trying to rely on the power of the Rokkaku clan."
"As expected, the previous two generations of shoguns relied on the power of the Rokkaku clan to enter Kyoto. Sasaki Danjo and Sasaki Kyosho were both generals whose military reputations shook Kinai."
The Rokkaku clan successively competed with the Hosokawa clan and the Miyoshi clan for hegemony in Kinai. Rokkaku Sadayasu was a rare master of governance in the world. The first retainer in Japan was ordered to be appointed as a retainer by the Rokkaku clan. The 30,000 Rokkaku clan soldiers invaded Ryokyo several times and helped the shogun several times.
Ashikaga Yoshiharu and Ashikaga Yoshiteru had both received favors from the Rokkaku clan. When the Ashikaga family was at its most destitute, the Rokkaku family even offered a county of money and grain for the use of the Ashikaga shogun. It was not an exaggeration to say that they were "the most loyal retainers of the shogunate."
"Should we send someone to greet them?"
Kobayata meant to send another 100 kan and 200 kan to let Ashikaga Yoshiaki know that the Yamanouchi family still cared about him. By the way, find out his future movements to prepare for the situation.
"Yes, it should be." Yamauchi nodded.
"There is one more thing. I am afraid that the Hirashima-dono of Sakai will be dismissed." The general was named Ashikaga Yoshiei after all.
"My elder brother passed away, and there is no one who is sincere to work for the Yajima-dono in the capital. Kasugayama Kanrei is fighting in Kanto and has no time to take care of Kyoto affairs. Alas..."
"I am afraid that the Yajima-dono will not be able to get what he wants." Kobayata certainly knew that Ashikaga Yoshiaki would be very hard up in the past two years, and everyone even gave him the title of "poor shogun".
The Rokkaku family, the vanguard of the Kyoto invasion, was in turmoil and powerless, and the Asakura family and the Wakasa guardian Takeda family fought fiercely. The two teammates who could have led the army to Kyoto were both dead. Kanrei Hosokawa was even more finished, and Kanrei Hatakeyama Takamasa was pressed to the ground by various forces.
There was no fierce fight in Harima, but the Miki Bessho clan, the Himeji Kodera clan, and the Akamatsu clan were fighting openly and secretly, and Akamatsu Yoshisuke only had the title of guardian, which was almost nothing.
To put it bluntly, there really was no daimyo who could support Ashikaga Yoshiaki to go to Kyoto. All the big brothers with a good reputation were dead, and the remaining little brothers were unwilling to obey each other. Either the little brothers would fight to become a new big brother, or a strong dragon from outside would come to suppress the heroes and become the new big brother.
"The chaos in Kinai is hard to stop!"
…………
We still took a boat back. It was about four or five in the afternoon when we arrived in Hamamatsu. It was dark and there was not much light.
Yamauchi Shukei picked up Chashoumaru, stepped over the wooden board, and got off the boat. He seemed to like this child very much. In addition to a little boy named Ueda who served as a servant for Chashoumaru, the Oda family had no other complicated personnel.
Oda Nobunaga was also very generous. He sent his son away without any hesitation.
There were no people on the shore to greet him. The sea breeze was strong in winter, and there were few merchant ships. Hamamatsu Port was a little lonely.
The group did not plan to stay in the city. There was a annex built when Hamamatsu Castle was expanded outside the city. It was convenient and spacious. It was close to the castle town and had a more lively atmosphere.
Hamamatsu Castle Town was also very prosperous. There were hundreds of weaving machines in the city, and there were other shops upstream and downstream. The shells spread out in the port were piled up into a small mountain because they could not be fired in time. The earthen kiln for burning shell ash was still smoking.
Due to the local specialties and the stable environment in the past ten years, the population of Hamamatsu Castle has increased day by day, and there is even a trend of replacing Suruga Fuchu Castle Town and becoming the first in the sea route.
"Hamamatsu is so prosperous, and you have made a great contribution, Kobayata."
"I dare not take credit for it, it's all my job."
The two did not ride horses, and talked while walking. Anyway, they didn't have to rush back to Yamanouchi in Hamamatsu, so they were not in a hurry. They flattered each other and improved their friendship.
"Kobayata, did you hear any singing?"
"Singing? It's almost night, how could someone sing?"
"No, there is, it's sung..."
Kobayata didn't hear it clearly, it was intermittent, and he couldn't confirm that there was singing.
Just at the intersection ahead, there was a town resident holding a spear and guarding the street. Kobayata went up to ask the town resident, the man didn't know Kobayata, but several of them were dressed as samurai, and they didn't look like people who were easy to mess with.
"Two streets ahead, there is a Nanman Church Hall. They should be singing there!"
The town resident simply pointed to a road. Looking ahead, there seemed to be a spire building in the shadowy townhouse, and there was indeed a cross on the spire.
The Yamauchi family and Kobayata looked at each other and walked towards it at the same time.
Not long after, a Christian church appeared in front of them. To be honest, it looked very simple to Kobayata. The church was made of wood, not like the magnificent stone buildings of European and American cathedrals. There were two foot soldiers on duty outside the church, and they were actually praying with their hands folded.
When a few people walked in, the two foot soldiers seemed to know Kobayata and knelt down immediately.
Kobayata had no time to care about them, and the door of the church was not closed. Walking in, the lights were brilliant, and countless candles illuminated a statue of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus, and the church was full of sacred glory.
The Three Wise Men, John of Bethlehem, the five loaves and two fishes, the birth of the manger...
The walls are hung with Bible stories one after another, and the bright colors shine brightly under the sun. Especially the picture in the middle of the resurrection and ascension of the Son of God, the picture is very vivid, and the rendering color is warm and soft. If believers see it, their faith will definitely be more devout.
There were 20 to 30 children singing Spanish hymns on the stage, which were beautiful and touching. A clergyman in a black robe and with a shaved head played a harpsichord that should not be here at all. The combination of the two was natural.
There were hundreds of men and women below the stage. Whether it was the first or second floor corridor, it was crowded with believers of all kinds. There were white-haired grandmothers, children of four or five years old, warriors with swords, and farmers in tattered clothes.
But the same thing was that a kind of brilliance that ordinary people could not understand splendidly shone on their faces. The respectful and pious hearts were revealed, and everyone knelt on the ground, holding the cross and praying.
Ota, who was originally striding without scruples, was shocked to find that the inside and outside of this hall were two different worlds. Outside the hall was the Warring States period of chaos with murder and looting every day, but inside the hall was a "little paradise" where everyone loved each other and was peaceful and beautiful.
The foot that was about to step down heavily was involuntarily retracted gently. I was afraid that the noise would break the beauty and sacredness in front of me.
Even Yamauchi Shukei and Kobayata were infected by this indescribable atmosphere. They sat on the benches and bathed in the brilliant light, as if they were in another world.
The whispered prayers of male and female believers gathered together and resonated in the not-so-large hall.
In an instant, Kobayata seemed to understand something!