unclear

Chapter 398 Japanese Monk 3

Apparently, he had been secretly sent to the distant Hirado Domain since he couldn't remember. He lived incognito in an inconspicuous small port temple, and became a monk who shaved his head and practiced Buddhism, and he was able to take the name freely.

If he continues to live like this, he may inherit the position of presiding and live in Xingzheng Temple until his death. But fate is always prone to twists and turns. Two years ago, a man named Shinji found Xingzheng Temple and took out half a jade pendant and a letter.

This half piece of jade pendant fits perfectly with the half piece hanging around Otani Mitsuru's neck. The letter was written by a woman named Bessho Eeko, and this woman is his biological mother. The Bessho clan held territory in Higashi-Harima State and supported the daimyo of Ichiku. Later, they were defeated by Oda Nobunaga in Miki Castle and were exterminated.

But this woman named Bessho Eko became pregnant due to an affair with Honganji Mianru and was about to give birth. She was secretly sent to a small temple on the property of the Mori family to give birth. Then she was in poor health and was delayed for a year without being able to return to Miki. City, but due to some strange combination of circumstances, he escaped the disaster of genocide.

But from then on, both Honnoji Kianru and Bessho Edako became homeless dogs and were unable to take care of Mitsuomi as he grew up, so they had to secretly send the child to the distant Hirado Domain to become Yuko (and adopted son) of the head of Koshoji Temple. The meaning is similar, but with inheritance rights).

This secret had been hidden for more than thirty years. It was not until the fifteenth year of Chokei (1610) that Bessho Edako told his retainer Hatano Shinji, who had been following him, to go to Koshoji Temple to look for his biological son before his death.

In addition to the keepsakes and autographed letters, Hatano Shinji also brought a killer weapon, the autograph authorization letter from Honganji Kenjo. This authorization letter clearly states that the third son Mitsuaki will succeed as the head of Honganji Temple, but the term will only be ten years. After ten years, it will be handed over to the fourth son Mitsuichi.

Otani Mitsuchi was immediately dumbfounded. He could accept his origin, and it would be impossible not to accept this, but he was not mentally prepared to succeed as the head of Honganji Temple. This is not the abbot of a temple, but the dharma master of Jodo Shinshu believers all over Japan. It is a huge leap.

At this time, Otani Mitsumi did something stupid. He did not listen to Hatano Shinji's advice, and secretly told the matter to the head of Koshoji Temple, hoping that his adoptive father and master would help give him some advice.

The adoptive father was also unambiguous. After hearing the whole situation and reading Honganji's letter of authorization, he suggested that Otani Mitsuichi not to rush forward yet. He should go to Kyoto with the evidence and consult with Honganji in private. and the opinions of the two Buddhist masters of Honganji Temple.

Why are there two Dharma masters? Because Jodo Shinshu was split into two at this time, Hongan-ji Temple also became two, Nishi Hongan-ji Temple and Higashi Hongan-ji Temple. They were presided over by Honganji Kenjo's third son Mitsuaki and eldest son Mitsuju respectively. They both said that they were authentic sects. , opposing each other.

Even if there is only one legal master, it is not easy to smoothly inherit according to the will. Now that there are two legal masters coexisting, the difficulty and complexity can be imagined. Otani Mitsuru felt that his adoptive father was right, so he stayed at Xingzheng Temple and waited patiently.

The little boy had been waiting for two months, but what was waiting was not his adoptive father but a wave of masked people and a fire. Xingzheng Temple ceased to exist, and the only three monks in the temple also perished in the fire. If Hatano Shinji hadn't been well-informed and came to the rescue in advance, the four monks would have been burned to death.

At this time, Otani Mitsuchi realized how correct Hatano Shinji's advice was, but it was too late. Not only was his place of residence lost, but his identity was also known to others. No matter which Honganji Buddhist master sent people to silence him, he couldn't handle it casually. There was only one way to survive, and that was to run away quickly.

Where to run? Otani Mitsudao still had a dark look in his eyes. According to his idea, he should go to Edo first and find a way to let the shogun know about the matter and get asylum. But this idea was firmly opposed by Hatano Shinji. He said that Higashi Honganji Temple was separated from Nishi Honganji Temple under the secret instruction of Tokugawa Ieyasu in order to weaken the appeal of Jodo Shinshu among the people. Sending him to the door at this time is like a sheep entering the tiger's mouth. Otherwise, this wave of killers are sent by the shogunate.

Even if Tokugawa Ieyasu was not the mastermind behind the scenes, Honganji Kenyū's authorization letter had been taken away by Otani Mitsumi's adoptive father. Without evidence, he claimed to be the legal heir to the head of Honganji Temple. Who could believe it?

The best way at the moment is to first go to the Maori family of the Choshu clan, and then slowly find out who is behind this matter through the relationship between the Maori family, and finally decide whether to disclose the identity.

This time, Daido Mitsugu no longer insisted on going his own way, so he followed Hatano Shinji to Nagato Country. Unfortunately, he did not meet Maori Terumoto, but was sent to stay temporarily in the fishing village of Zhou Fangguo by an old-timer of the Maori family.

I have been living there for more than a year. Three months ago, the elder of the Maori family came in person. Half-persuaded and half-forced, he sent Mitsutani Daidou and Shinji Hatano onto the ship. They were transported to Ryukyu in one go and handed over to a local businessman surnamed Cai. take care of.

Before leaving, the Maori family apologized repeatedly, saying that the Maori family had been oppressed by Tokugawa Ieyasu since the Sekigahara War. Not only did they lose the four kingdoms of Bingo, Iwami, Izumo, and Oki, but their ancestors also lived in them. Aki Province, which had existed for hundreds of years, had to abandon it and ran to Hagi Castle in Nagato Province to rebuild his home in despair.

There are only more than 120 koku left in the 30 million koku territory. Apart from shrinking his head and acting like a bastard in order to protect himself, he is unable to uphold justice for Otani Mitsuru. But as a former ally, the Maori family couldn't watch Otani Mitsuchi being killed at will, so they quietly sent the two to the Ryukyu Kingdom.

After the Satsuma Domain was attacked by the Ming warships and had to send the Ryukyu King back, the Ryukyu Kingdom drove out most of the resident Japanese and completely became a vassal of the Ming Dynasty.

The man surnamed Cai is a businessman from the Ming Dynasty. He has strong relations with the Ryukyu Kingdom. With his protection, even if the Tokugawa Shogunate or the Honganji Temple masters knew the whereabouts of Otani Mitsuchi, they would not dare to come here easily to hunt him down. Relatively speaking, It's safer to say.

However, the Maori family elder said again that the best way to ensure safety is to find an opportunity to go to Daming. If you can make a name for yourself in the Ming Dynasty and get to know a few big businessmen, you might really have a chance to make a comeback.

Although Tokugawa Ieyasu is now the general who conquered the barbarians, as long as the Satsuma Domain, Hirado Domain, and Kumamoto Domain, the powerful lords of Kyushu, are willing to come forward to help, Otani Mitsuchi's status as the successor to the Jodo Shinsect can be recognized. The person who can make these famous names nod is not the emperor or the shogunate, but the Ming Dynasty maritime merchants.

Maybe that's what people said, but Otani Mitsuru really took it seriously. When he had nothing to do, he ran to the dock, making full use of his language advantage. While earning some food and drink by working as an interpreter for merchants from the Ming Dynasty, he secretly looked for powerful maritime merchants to join him.

(End of this chapter)