The Heart of Senji Muramasa / Demon Nobunaga Attacks

The retainers were puzzled, but they still raised their hands in response to their lord's question.

"Long live! Long live!" The fat city lord raised his hands high, raising and lowering them repeatedly, shouting with ecstatic joy.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The surrounding retainers cheered along with him.

For so many days, they've been tormented by that monstrous woman, who even claims to be Oda Nobunaga's madwoman. To satisfy her interest in the Southern Barbarian, they have to search everywhere for Western products to entertain her. If they can't satisfy her, they'll get a beating. Everyone in the lord's mansion has been thoroughly tormented.

Now that this crazy woman is finally gone, they can't help but be happy.

The burning city lord's mansion was like a giant bonfire, with the city lord and his retainers surrounding it, raising their hands and cheering as if they were performing some kind of wonderful dance.

When the firefighters who rushed from outside arrived, they saw a group of people dancing and shouting "Long live!" next to the burning houses.

So much so that by that afternoon, rumors were spreading throughout the small town that the fat lord had gone mad. Even Shirou and his companions in remote areas had heard about it.

However, the fat city lord's carefree days were destined to be short-lived. When the lords of neighboring cities heard the news, they began to plot to conquer the city, and war was about to break out again.

At this moment, Shirou led the girls back to their residence. As they walked into the alley, they saw one of the farmers who had made the request in the distance. He saw the farmer waving his arms happily as he ran up to them, as if something good had happened.

"Sir, we've found him! Another highly skilled warrior is willing to help us!" the farmer exclaimed joyfully.

Chapter 220 The Heart of Muramasa

The sun in the sky had moved from its zenith to the west, and the scorching sunlight had taken on a pale orange hue. It was already afternoon, and soon, when the sun touched the distant mountain peaks, it would be dusk.

They walked through dilapidated, leaky wooden huts, surrounded by alleys filled with ragged, poor people, but all of this couldn't conceal the joy of the farmer leading them inside.

He was filled with joy at seeing life, whether it was his weathered, dark, wrinkled old face, the dust on the ground, or everything in the world; at this moment, he felt immense joy.

Yukino also laughed as she watched, and asked curiously, "What kind of people are samurai?"

"He's a martial monk!" the farmer grinned.

"A warrior monk? Could it be a monk who carries various weapons and wears a headscarf?" Shirou asked.

"No, it was a bald monk with a gun, but he looked very strong," the farmer said with a smile.

When Shirou led Soji and Nobu to their residence, they saw that in addition to the four farmers and the kind-looking man with blue hair, there was also a warrior monk.

"Welcome back, General! I was just about to send someone to find you. Here, this is the compassionate monk who is willing to join us in defeating the mountain bandits." Tawara Toda introduced his new companion to Shirou and the others.

"I dare not accept such praise. I am but a somewhat reckless monk, and it is a pleasure to meet a master like you here," the warrior monk said with a smile.

"I am Shirou, the one who initiated this battle. Please take good care of me," Shirou said, stepping forward and bowing to the monk.

The other person quickly stood up. He was a lean monk, about half a head shorter than Muramasa, around 1.7 meters tall, but his eyes were bright and piercing, and it was clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.

The other party returned the greeting:

"My name is Houzoin Inshun, and I am willing to contribute my efforts to this campaign."

"Hozoin!" Upon hearing this name, Soji exclaimed in surprise.

If Sanada Yukimura represents the most famous military commander who used a spear, then Hozoin is the most famous martial artist who used a spear.

"Hahaha, even among the fierce generals of the Taira clan, I've never seen anyone with such skill in spear fighting." Hōfuji laughed heartily, praising without reservation, as if this monk could accept any praise for a warrior.

Although the so-called Hozoin is not large in scale, to some extent, its status in the hearts of the Japanese people is like that of the Shaolin Temple in China. Its founder, Hozoin Inei, created the most famous and practical Jumonji spear in Japan. After gaining fame, he abandoned martial arts and became a monk in the temple he built, living a life of chanting sutras and reciting Buddhist scriptures.

However, he did not give up his spear skills, which he had devoted half his life to. So the monks in the temple also began to practice spear techniques. Over time, Hozoin became a famous martial arts mecca, and martial artists often came to challenge him.

The man before them, Yin Shun, was the most outstanding among them. As the second-generation successor of the Hozoin-ryu Spearmanship, he surpassed his master, creating new moves based on the original spear technique and elevating the Hozoin spear technique to a divine level.

In folk tales, the story of Miyamoto Musashi forcibly breaking open the temple gates and demanding a life-or-death duel with Houzoin Inshun is well-known to the people of Japan.

At the time, Miyamoto Musashi used a real sword, while Houzoin Inshun used a practice stick with a spearhead attached. In the end, neither of them could kill the other.

The tall, thin man wore a blue-gray monk's robe with large white prayer beads hanging from it. He had a distinctive X-shaped scar on his forehead and always carried a trident-like cross- Jumonji Kama Yari in his hand.

Although he was a monk, he possessed one of the most exquisite spear techniques in Japan. As long as he had this Jumonji Kama Yari in his hand, he could miraculously withstand any attack or counterattack, no matter how unfavorable the situation.

"Welcome, Your Highness Yin Shun! We are truly grateful for your help," Shirou said happily. The formidable enemy they were about to face was indeed difficult, and having such a skilled fighter join them was the best thing ever.

"No, monks are compassionate. I just don't want to see those farmers starve to death because their hard-earned grain is stolen. Rather, it's more commendable that Prince Shirou, was the first to agree to help the farmers and even helped organize and gather manpower," Houzoin Inshun said admiringly.

"Please sit down and talk. I'm not that great, but I couldn't just leave it alone, and I've been searching for an answer, so I'm just going with the flow," Shirou said, shaking his head.

"The answer?" Houzoin Inshun sat back down on the wooden floor and asked curiously.

"Yes, it is the answer to resolving this chaotic world, or rather, the answer to the fate of people suffering," Shirou replied.

"This is indeed a major issue, destiny... To solve this problem is almost like the great vow of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, 'I will not become a Buddha until hell is emptied,' isn't it?" Houzoin Inshun's mouth dropped open in surprise, never expecting that the man in front of him would have such a great wish.

Shirou, once again infected by the lingering consciousness within his body, felt a sense of disheartened dejection. He shook his head with a wry smile and said, "That's why I said I just wanted an answer. I'm not the kind of wise and sage who can do everything perfectly and be praised and remembered by everyone."

I also understand that it's impossible for me to do it on my own. But if I don't find the answer, I'll be confused for the rest of my life. If I can find the answer, at least I can do my best to achieve this goal.

At this moment Houzoin Inshun looked at Shirou with even greater admiration, praising him and saying, "Shirou, you don't need to be so modest. You are like Siddhartha Gautama, who, in order to save all sentient beings, gave up his throne, shaved his head to become an ascetic monk, and sought enlightenment to help people save the world."

At this moment, Shirou mind was filled with Muramasa's memories, continued under the influence of his remaining consciousness, saying, "In order to understand the world, I traveled to various places, visited elders in different regions, and learned knowledge in various fields, such as Zen, Confucianism, history, military strategy, and blacksmithing... but I still haven't found the answer."

"Buddhism advises people to kill less, but due to prolonged wars, it has become a spiritual refuge for people and has become increasingly prosperous. The surrounding residents are starving and emaciated, but large temples can cast golden statues of Buddha and support strong and healthy monks to guard the temples."

"That is the truth, and I cannot refute it. However, our temple will shelter believers who flee to the temple, but we cannot save more people," said Houzoin Inshun with a sigh.

"So why not just burn it down?" Nobu muttered from the side.

"In the military, because some people achieve merit and are granted official positions and titles, even if the higher-ups no longer want to fight, there are still people in the middle and lower ranks who yearn to change their fate through war. When hatred and desire are mixed together, war cannot be stopped. During the Northern Dynasties and Southern Dynasties and the Warring States period, even if the shogunate could temporarily suppress the local warlords and daimyo, once the shogunate weakened, war would return."

"Well, we rely on these wars to make a living," Tawara Toda smile.

"And then there's Confucianism. Its principles of loyalty, righteousness, etiquette, and the idea that the people are more important than the ruler are all very good, but they are difficult to put into practice," Shirou continued.

"Do you mean to say, Shirou, that changing the samurai of Wa (Japan) into scholars like those in China would change this era of constant warfare?" Nobu asked, arms crossed, her lips pursed, clearly disagreeing with this idea.

"No, the Imperial Examination System is not something that a country can manage." Shirou shook his head. Besides, he was just an old soldier skilled in blacksmithing. He might be able to take over a few cities by force and with superior weapons, but he could never lead a country to reform its system.

Ultimately, his lone wolf personality meant he couldn't lead many people to follow him and fight for his ideals, which he saw no possibility of achieving.

Managing a country and reforming its system are extremely difficult.

It's like that famous event that occurred 30 years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

As the emperor who rightfully gained power, Zhu Yuanzhang, who came from humble beginnings, had been a monk and a beggar, and was elected by the people through peasant uprisings, can be said to be a 'just' figure who unified the country and brought peace.

In the imperial examination held in the 30th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, 51 candidates were admitted, but it was discovered that all of them were from the south. The northern scholars, dissatisfied with this, beat the drum to appeal for justice, which angered Zhu Yuanzhang.

After an investigation, it was discovered that there was not a single case of cheating. Even the top scorer from the north was far inferior to the score of the unsuccessful candidates from the south.

It wasn't that the imperial examination system was unfair, but rather that the top students from the South were simply too dominant.

This was unavoidable, as the south had always maintained stability in ancient times, and with its smooth waterways, developed economy, and renowned Confucianism teachers, its academic performance naturally improved.

At that time, the environment for students in the north was somewhat similar to that during the Beiyang government period. First, there was the tyranny of warlords, and then the Japanese invaders. Most of the northern regions were occupied or constantly in the midst of war, making it impossible to study properly. There were also no good teachers left there, so there was no room to cultivate high-level talents.

The government that used the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag was based in Guangzhou, so many generals, high-ranking officers, and intellectuals from the south came from both the previous and present dynasties.

In the war-torn northern regions, the only people comparable to them were the wealthy children whose families could afford to send them to study abroad. Students caught in the war and busy fleeing had no chance to study properly.

Zhu Yuanzhang later executed all the examiners in charge of the imperial examinations, including the top scholar he personally selected in the palace examination, who was torn apart by chariots less than twenty days after passing. After that, Zhu Yuanzhang reopened the imperial examinations, this time admitting only 61 people from the north and none from the south.

The first list was called the 'Northern List' because it was held in February, and was also known as the Spring List. The second list was called the 'Southern List' because it was held in June, and was also known as the 'Summer List'. This is the famous 'Northern and Southern List Case' in history. Subsequent imperial examinations limited the number of candidates and selected scholars from the north, south, and central regions.

If this wasn't done, the Southerners, who were the originators of the dynasty that conquered the North from the South, would be suspected by all Northerners of favoritism, as if the Yuan Dynasty had placed Southerners on a superior status. If this dynasty were in charge, would Northerners suffer all kinds of discrimination?

During the reign of Emperor Renzong of Ming, the Imperial Examination System was formally divided into two regions with limited enrollment: the South, the North, and the Central region, with each region accounting for 55%, 35%, and 10%, respectively. This system continued until the abolition of the imperial examination system at the Late Qing Dynasty.

Even today, this rule still exists in China. University admissions are based on regional quotas. The same score might not even get you into a bachelor's program in a province known for its strong exam-taking ability, but it could be enough to get you into a top-tier university in another province.

For example, students from provinces with large populations and only 211 universities without 985 universities have to squeeze out to other places. How heartbreaking that must be! They wish they could be reborn in Tibet or Fujian.

The problem isn't scarcity but inequality. In the face of politics, all principles become extremely complex. "Should we prioritize fair examinations?" or "Should we aim for just regional distribution?" These questions are often quite different from what people imagine.

The same applies to justice; it is extremely complex and unfathomable...

"So I still haven't found the answer, haven't figured out what I should be doing in this world. Sorry for saying all this boring and unpleasant stuff," Shirou said apologetically.

"No, no, General, I am extremely grateful that you are willing to speak so frankly with us. At least I think it was the right choice to follow you into battle this time," said Tawara Toda a hearty laugh.

"As expected of Master, although I don't quite understand, I will follow you." Yukino, who had been listening quietly to the lecture, said to Shirou with admiration.

Houzoin Inshun laughed heartily and said, "Hahaha, this world is truly amazing! There are so many interesting people here. Even here, he is a remarkable figure."

Tawara Toda's archery and swordsmanship are both superb; he is a rare and formidable warrior, yet his personality is both bold and approachable, which is truly commendable. Shirou, on the other hand, is like a man forged in fire, shining with the power of iron. It is an honor for the nation to fight alongside you."

Thus, a very reliable comrade-in-arms, the warrior Houzoin Inshun, joined the team, and the samurai members were now three in number.

"Speaking of which, General, could you introduce these gentlemen you brought back to us?" Tawara Toda asked, looking at the two girls who had followed him.

Chapter 221 The Demon Nobunaga Attacks

To Tawara Toda's question.

The black-haired girl, Nobu, stepped forward and, in a cute tone, proudly raised her head, declaring, "I am Nobunaga! Everyone! Feel free to praise me!"

The girl's voice was unique; it was full of arrogance, yet even when scolded in a capricious and unreasonable manner, it still seemed adorable, and she didn't get angry at all.

"Nobu? Are you famous, young lady? Although the name sounds familiar," Tawara Toda asked with some doubt.

"Miss Nobu, is it? Nice to meet you." Houzoin Inshun, as expected of a monk, said without much hesitation.

No one suspected that the handsome, mustachioed man with the incredibly charming voice was the one in question.

"Pfft, hahaha, nobu, how pitiful! Nobody connected you with the person you were before you passed away." The pale pink-haired samurai girl next to her burst into laughter, pounding the wooden planks on the steps.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up! Okita, hurry up and introduce yourself, let's see what they say!" Nobu was so angry that his long black hair seemed to turn fiery red as he cursed repeatedly.

Soji bowed solemnly to the two senior figures and introduced himself, "Greetings, Your Tawara Toda, Your Hozoin. I am Okita Souji, a swordsman who practices the Tennen Rishin-ryū. Nice to meet you."

"Tennen Rishin-ryū?" Houzoin Inshun asked curiously, seemingly having no memory of his later life.

"Ah, the Tennen Rishin-ryū is a new school created by the founder who studied the 'Shinmei-ryū' from the Warring States period, added his own understanding and experience," Soji explained.

"Ah, so you're the descendant of Ienao-kun. He was an outstanding warrior in the early Muromachi period, and it's said he never suffered a defeat in his life. You're his successor, aren't you? I can tell you're quite skilled; you must be a very famous swordsman," Houzoin Inshun praised.

"No, I'm actually still immature, cough cough!" Soji touched the back of her head embarrassedly. She was a little proud to be praised by the legendary martial artist, but her good mood didn't last long. She collapsed on the floor again and started spitting blood.

"Hey, are you alright?" Tawara Toda asked worriedly from the side.

With blood trickling from his lips, Soji smiled and said, "It's alright, this illness no longer affects my health. I'll just get used to it. Pfft!"

Houzoin Inshun's eyes were sharp, as if he understood something. He smiled and said, "Hmm... could this coughing up blood be a disguise? I seem to sense a chilling killing intent emanating from you. Are you an assassin?"

"No! I am a genuine swordsman!" Soji retorted excitedly.

"Pfft, Soji, with a panel like this, even in the world of samurai, you'd definitely be better suited to be an assassin." Nobu covered his mouth and chuckled.

"Hmm! I'll cut you down! Nobody believes your identity, you nobu." Soji raised the hilt of his sword with his fingers, Kaga Kiyomitsu was slightly drawn from his sheath, gleaming coldly, ready to unleash a swift Drawing Sword Slash at any moment.

"I'm furious! I'm not afraid of your trash Soji, Ouji! Bring it on if you want!" Nobu drew her sword with one hand and summoned her only musket with the other, pointing it at her opponent.

"Shirou only needs me. Nobu, you're just causing trouble. You might as well leave right here."

"No, it's the Soji who's always coughing up blood at crucial moments. We don't need you here."

The two girls stared at each other, their eyes gleaming coldly.

"No, we weren't actually planning to have Soji and Nobu participate in this battle," Shirou suddenly said.

"Huh?"

"Nu Nuo?"

"Ah..." Yukino nodded knowingly, thinking, 'Master really thinks highly of me. I have to appear more capable than these two to be chosen. But with these two good-for-nothings around, maybe I'll seem more reliable!'

Yukino secretly clenched her little fist, full of determination.

"Wait! What's going on?"

"Hey! Shirou, don't you want us to participate?"

Shirou looked at the two girls, then fell silent.

"Why are you silent?!" Soji asked in surprise.

"Say something already!" Nobu protested.

The two girls ran up to Shirou, looking determined to get to the bottom of things.

"No... well, Soji, Nobu, of course I know you are very strong if you can perform normally. Oda Nobunaga, the overlord who laid the foundation for the unification of Japan and the Oda Nobunaga; Okita Souji, the genius swordsman of Mibu Wolf, are also very famous." Shirou waved his hand and said.

"Then let's join!" Soji and Nobu pushed each other and squeezed in front of Shirou, saying.

"No..." Shirou smiled wryly. He just happened to encounter two girls who looked quite pitiful, so he brought them back, intending to take care of them as well. However, he really had no intention of taking them into battle. After all, he didn't know what kind of enemies they would face later, and he always felt that they would let him down at a crucial moment.