different warring states of japan

Chapter 2089: Hachiman Shrine in the Lightning and Thunder

Ashikaga Yoshiaki looked at Kari Yoshinaga who was bowing respectfully in front of him. This captain of the guards was someone she brought out from the temple when she returned to secular life, and he was one of the few people she could trust now.

Wada Koremasa betrayed himself and still could not escape death, Ninki Yoshimasa fled back to his hometown and lived in seclusion, and Yagyu Muneaki relied on the protection of his daughter to survive.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who once thought himself noble, was extremely opposed to Sasaki Yoshikane sharing the glory of the Kawachi Genji line.

But when all her wings were plucked out and she was tricked out of Kyoto by Akechi Mitsuhide, she found that the jackals and tigers outside were not as good as Sasaki Yoshigaki.

The ambitions he once had had long since been worn away, and Ashikaga Yoshiaki was so confused that he didn't know what to do.

The only thing she was unwilling to let go of was the noble family status of the direct descendant of the Kawachi Genji.

But in the eyes of the utilitarian samurai, the outdated Ashikaga Shogun was worse than a dog. What was the meaning of his noble bloodline other than satisfying his own self-esteem?

This return to Kyoto was not Ashikaga Yoshiaki's original intention from the beginning to the end.

The Mori family wanted to get rid of this political burden, Ichijo Hideyoshi wanted to interfere with the reforms of the Sasaki family, and the high-ranking officials of the shogunate hoped to use the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki as a bargaining chip to negotiate with Sasaki Yoshikin.

Everyone had their own demands, but no one asked Ashikaga Yoshiaki what she thought.

Being a general at this level was boring to Ashikaga Yoshiaki, but even if he was asked to be as strong-willed as Ashikaga Yoshiteru and fight to the death, he couldn't do it.

Although the Ashikaga sisters looked similar, their personalities were very different.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru received military education since childhood, was proficient in swordsmanship, and had an extremely strong temperament. He was known as the strong-willed shogun. She was really willing to perish together with her.

  However, Ashikaga Yoshiaki grew up in a temple and had a gentle temperament. How could he have the bravery and courage of Ashikaga Yoshiteru?

In the face of oppression, Ashikaga Yoshiteru would rise up in resistance, while Ashikaga Yoshiaki would only retreat helplessly again and again until he was completely reduced to a puppet general.

After venting a few complaints about the injustice of the world and the disloyalty of ministers, Ashikaga Yoshiaki finally stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked out.

Ke'er Jichang had long been accustomed to the king's stern appearance and cowardice, so he just followed her silently and walked towards the main hall for the sacrifice.

---

Outside the main hall, when Ninagawa Chikayo saw Ashikaga Yoshiaki coming obediently, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and his brows relaxed.

Beside her, Hatakeyama Takamasa couldn't help but curl up the corner of his mouth and said sarcastically.

"I told you long ago that the General had no choice but to follow the path we arranged for her."

Ninagawa nodded.

"Just be obedient, just be obedient."

The two shogunate bosses who were waiting looked respectful, but their private conversations were unscrupulous and they increasingly looked down on Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

As the saying goes, good people are often bullied, and horses are often ridden upon. This is also true in politics.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki was forced to participate in the sacrifice and confess his past in front of Hachiman Daiboku Bodhisattva, which fulfilled the conditions for becoming a saint. With a saint's heart, he would naturally fulfill his promise of reconciliation.

Looking at Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who was being led by priests and shrine maidens in the main hall like a walking corpse, Hatakeyama Takamasa said in a low voice.

"As soon as the sacrifice here is over, we will immediately send the general to the other side of the river by boat and let her confess her mistakes to the saint in person. Then great things can be accomplished."

Ninagawa Chikayo asked hesitantly.

"Is this...safe?"

Hatakeyama Takamasa sneered.

“Of course it’s safe.

  The sage's words are as good as gold and their implementation is law. He said that reconciliation can be achieved after the sacrifice. Who dares to refute him?

Furthermore, the area around Hachimangu Shrine has been thoroughly explored and there are indeed no hidden threats.

The sage is now on the other side of the river. As long as the general crosses the river, he will be walking under the sage's nose. Even Akechi Mitsuhide did not dare to suddenly kill people in front of the sage, let alone others.

Just listen to me, it's okay."

Ninagawa Chikayo smiled bitterly and nodded.

  “Now that things have come to this, what else can I say?

The money has been spent and the work has been done. I just hope that the saint will be merciful and slow down the reform for the sake of the general, so that the shogunate can have a decent end. "

What Hatakeyama Takamasa couldn't stand the most was Ninagawa Chikayo's indecisiveness. He wanted to take benefits but didn't take any responsibilities. How could such a coward accomplish anything great?

After the success, the first thing Hatakeyama Takamasa had to do was to kick out Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Ninagawa Chikayo, and then turn around and surrender to the saint. Hatakeyama Suwa was a relative of Ashikaga, a descendant of the three kanrei, and Hatakeyama Takamasa himself was the current kanrei of the shogunate. The saint always valued the name of the family, so he would probably give him a good way out and buy the horse bones for a lot of money.

Hatakeyama Takamasa had wishful thinking, but Ninagawa Chiayoko, who was sitting opposite her, actually had the same idea.

Once the big thing is over, Ninagawa Chikayoshi will immediately go to the saint to apologize and sell out Hatakeyama Takamasa completely.

The two bigwigs of the shogunate stood outside the main hall, looking at Ashikaga Yoshiaki who was offering sacrifices with a respectful look on their faces. They said words of betraying the general, but in their hearts they were thinking about betraying their colleagues.

  The shogunate has been in this situation for two hundred years, and with such talented people as Hatakeyama and Ninagawa, how can it not collapse?

Even the last remains of the shogun were sold out, it was really an undignified death.

---

In the main hall, Ashikaga Yoshiaki had a numb look on her face, although she was wearing an imperial sword and a golden seal on her waist, her full dignity represented the orthodoxy and righteousness of the Ashikaga world.

But at this moment, standing in front of Hachiman Bodhisattva, Ashikaga Yoshiaki felt only humiliation in his heart.

Looking at the Ashikaga Goshirohata enshrined together with the Hachiman Daibutsu, Ashikaga Yoshiaki couldn't help but feel distracted.

If the ancestors really have spirits and the gods are blessing us, please protect Ashikaga and keep the world. Let the thunder from heaven kill those evil-minded traitors.

It seemed that Ashikaga Yoshiaki's sincerity moved the heavens, and the originally clear sky was suddenly covered with a shadow.

There was a loud thunder in the plain and faint flashes of lightning could be seen in the clouds.

The whole shogunate looked at the sudden change in the sky in astonishment. A hint of surprise just appeared on Ashikaga Yoshiaki's numb expression, but it quickly turned into fear.

As the wind began to blow, the 108 white flags outside the main hall were blown up by the strong wind, fluttering in the wind, with their iron poles standing straight.

The gathered lightning in the sky seemed to have found a channel to vent, and it poured down like countless electric snakes, smashing heavily towards the Ishiyama Hachiman Shrine.

---

Countless thunders exploded in the sky, and lightning struck towards Ishiyama Hachiman Shrine. Because the speed was so fast, it looked like a thick and huge white light, smashing hard towards Nanshan.

Akechi Mitsuhide and Hosokawa Fujitaka, who were watching from a distance, were also frightened by the sudden power of heaven and could not move.

Instead, Yiyin slowly walked in front of them, silently watching the lightning and thunder exploding in the distance and ravaging the earth.

Akechi Mitsuhide almost forgot to breathe, her body trembled constantly, and the fragility of mortals in the face of the power of heaven was undoubtedly exposed.

The awe of the power of nature has always been deeply buried in the hearts of human beings, which is why we have sacrifices, gods, and religions.

Even the human elites who pride themselves on their wisdom appear insignificant and powerless before the true might of heaven.

Yiyin slowly turned his head and asked teasingly.

"Why are you silent? Weren't you very eloquent just now?"

Akechi Mitsuhide swallowed and spoke slowly.

"This... this is your... your...

There is not only Ashikaga Yoshiaki at Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, but also Ninagawa Chikayoshi, Hatakeyama Takamasa, and the diehards of the shogunate, there are many, many people. "

Yiyin looked at the Nanshan Mountain which had been burned into a sea of ​​fire by the thunder. Not only the wooden buildings of Hachimangu Shrine, but the forest of the entire mountain had been set on fire.

What’s even more terrifying is that the thunder has not stopped yet, the lightning has not stopped yet, the power of heaven continues to rage, and the people in it must be so desperate at this moment.

Such a brutal and brutal elimination of the power of heaven did not seem like the work of a benevolent saint at all, which made Akechi Mitsuhide unbelievable.

Yiyin said calmly.

“I guess I’m not mature enough to forgive betrayal.

And you, sometimes, are too spoiled and arrogant. "

As Yoshigane spoke calmly, Hosokawa Fujitaka slowly knelt on the ground. Her heart was beating wildly, her knees were too weak to support her body, and her breathing became more and more rapid.

Beside her, Akechi Mitsuhide looked at the thunder exploding and lightning falling in the distance. His mind was blank. He had lost the ability to think and the courage to speak.

God.. Is there really a God in this world?.