The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 125 Guardian Deity Mahakala

Sawayama Castle is not far from Azuchi; it can be reached in half a day by horseback.

Hattori Haruyasu had already completed the renovation of the mountain castle last year. From a distance, the stone walls were layered and the layout was well-organized, clearly showing that he had put a lot of effort into it.

With Sawayama Castle right under Nobunaga's nose, Nagayoshi had no intention of investing any more manpower and resources to build three more castles.

After all, building a fortified city in the heart of the lord's territory would only arouse suspicion.

"My lord!"

At the city gate, Maeda Keiji had been waiting for a long time. He looked the same as before, but his clothes were even more flamboyant than the last time I saw him, and a bright red gourd of wine hung from his waist. When he saw Nagayoshi, he waved his arms from a distance.

"My lord! I didn't expect to see you again so soon!"

Changqing laughed and asked, "Where is Zhengxin?"

"He went to inspect the territory." Keiji patted his sake gourd. "I was just thinking that my lord was coming, so I had to greet him."

"Are you trying to drag me out for drinks?"

Keiji chuckled, neither denying it nor denying it.

Changqing only brought Ishida Sakichi with him on this trip.

"Would the lord like to enter the city and rest first?"

"No need. Where is Zhengxin? Let's go find him directly."

Keiji led the way, and the group walked north along the shore of Lake Biwa.

June is the most bountiful time of year in Omi. The lake water is azure, merging with the sky, and the rice paddies along the lake stretch endlessly to the foothills.

The rice ears are just beginning to fill out, a vibrant green that ripples like waves when the wind blows.

Changqing reined in his horse and looked around for a moment. He remembered that when he conquered Omi, this place was not so rich.

"These rice paddies, were they newly created in the last two years?"

Keiji nodded in agreement.

"The recovery was quite fast."

"My lord, you may not know this," Keiji said, unusually serious, "but Omi is a place with fertile land and Biwa Lake is good for fishing. As long as there are people, it will soon become prosperous."

After traveling several more miles, they saw Honda Masanobu outside a village.

Zhengxin was standing on the edge of the field, chatting and laughing with several local servants. These servants were simply dressed, but they were the actual rulers of the village. Zhengxin said something, and they all laughed together.

"True faith!"

Honda Masanobu turned around and saw that it was Nagayoshi. He quickly led his attendants to greet him and pay their respects.

"My lord, what brings you here?"

"I've come to inspect your achievements!" Changqing dismounted, his gaze sweeping over the attendants. "You've all worked hard."

Surprisingly, the attendants were not afraid of him; instead, they greeted him with smiles.

"Masanobu, this is my first time inspecting Omi's territory, why do they seem to know me so well?"

Honda Masanobu smiled slightly: "My lord, you did two things for me."

"Oh?"

"Firstly, you spared the life of Azai Nagamasa. The Azai clan ruled Omi for three generations, establishing a deep foundation. Nagamasa himself was known for his benevolence, and the people all remembered his kindness. You did not kill him, but instead placed him in a safe place, which made the local people feel that you were not a vicious person."

Changqing nodded; this was also his initial consideration.

"Secondly, you spared Gansho-ji Temple. The Ikko-shu and Tendai sects of Omi Province are quite powerful, and Gansho-ji Temple is one of the most prominent temples among them. After Lord Nobunaga burned Mount Hiei, the monks of Omi lived in constant fear. After you took over, you not only did not harm them, but also restrained your soldiers from harassing them. With the temple's incense burning continuously, the people's hearts were naturally at ease."

It turned out to be the case.

Changqing didn't expect to reap such a quick reward when he did these two things.

"So, my lord," Honda Masanobu said with a smile, "these earth servants don't serve me, they serve you. I'm just running errands for you, conveying your good intentions to them."

Chun'an has taught Zhengxin a lot about emotional intelligence.

Changqing patted Zhengxin on the shoulder: "Well done."

The group continued their inspection of the territory.

Wherever they went, the rice paddies were green, smoke rose from the village chimneys, children played in the streams, and farmers worked in the fields.

Occasionally, someone would glance up at the passing cycling team, then lower their head and continue with their work.

A thought suddenly occurred to Changqing.

He wanted to build a large shrine here.

Although the Daikoku Shrine in Iwamura was built, it had little effect, and most of the worshippers were soldiers.

The religious offensive cannot stop, and some changes must be made in light of the current special circumstances.

"Zhengxin, are there any temples nearby?"

Honda Masanobu, being a Buddhist, brightened up upon hearing this: "My lord, are you going to become a Buddhist?"

Changqing smiled and said, "I guess so."

After crossing a small hill, a clear stream meanders by. There is a small temple on the riverbank, with incense smoke swirling around it.

"This place is called Keiun-ji Temple, and it is the most prosperous village in Aichi County." Honda Masanobu rode forward. "This stream is a tributary of the Inukami River, irrigating thousands of koku of land downstream."

Qingyun Temple.

Using one character from his own name, "Qingyun," is quite auspicious.

"Please have the host come out and see me."

A moment later, a middle-aged monk rushed out. His face was somewhat pale, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes when he saw the attire of Changqing and his group.

"My lord, this humble monk's temple is neither the Ikko-shu nor the Tentai-shu sect—"

Changqing understood what he was afraid of. The news of Yanli Temple being burned down and thousands of monks being killed had already spread throughout Jinjiang. Every monk in every temple was afraid of being next.

"Don't panic. I've come to ask you something. In Buddhism, which deity or Buddha is the embodiment of Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it is the guardian deity Mahakala."

After Daikokuten was introduced to Japan, it was combined with Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto of Shintoism and regarded as the incarnation of the god of war and the god of wealth.

The common people prayed to him for a bountiful harvest, and the warriors prayed to him for victory.

"Alright." He turned to Honda Masanobu. "Masanobu, go back and allocate 1,000 kan to all temples in Omi Province to enshrine Daikokuten in my name. Provide financial assistance to all temples in my territory that enshrine Daikokuten."

"yes!"

On the way back to Sawayama Castle, Nagayoshi kept thinking about this.

Offering sacrifices to Mahakala is the ostensible thing. But that alone seems to lack something.

He needed a faster and more effective way to spread the faith of Mahakala and Okuninushi quickly.

Sakichi Ishida suddenly spurred his horse forward.

"My lord," he whispered, "Zogi has something to say."

"explain."

"Since the lord intends to worship Daikokuten within the territory, Sōkichi suggests that a nursery rhyme be used instead."

Changqing reined in his horse.

Nursery rhyme? Beautiful! No wonder he's the cunning boy who serves tea three times.

"I'm leaving this matter to you. If you do a good job, I'll make you a retainer with a salary of fifty koku of grain."

"Zogi will certainly live up to my lord's expectations!"

For the next few days, Nagayoshi stayed in the territory of Sawayama Castle.

He traveled to every village in Aichi County, saw every rice paddy, and met every local servant. Some villages were so poor that they only had a few thatched huts, while others were so wealthy that they had granaries.

Honda Masanobu's governance was indeed effective. The local attendants spoke of him with a certain respect in their tone.

Now that Nagayoshi is also a senior retainer of Oda with a stipend of 170,000 koku, he will not be stingy in rewarding his retainers.

The retainers who participated in the last battle against Takeda Shingen have all received a raise.

Zhengxin and Chun'an did not participate in the war, but they were rewarded for their merits in governing their territory. Therefore, Changqing added 200 shi of grain to each of their responsibilities.

At the end of June, news came from Azuchi: Ieyasu had already departed from Hamamatsu Castle.