No Faith, Only Money

Inside the monks' quarters of Shotokuji Temple, Yamauchi Kazutoyo finished speaking and fixed his gaze intently on Shimotsuma Yorinari.

Shimotsuma Yorinari's eyes settled on Yamauchi Kazutoyo, shifting uncertainly as though he were weighing the gains and losses.

"Winning our sect's support will not be so simple."

After they remained locked in stalemate for a while, Shimotsuma Yorinari finally spoke.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo immediately said, "Rest assured, Lord Shimotsuma. We have ships, manpower, and even weapons and equipment. You need not concern yourself with any of that."

"We only want an identity. If we become trapped in an Oda clan and Saito clan encirclement, we need only be able to enter Shotokuji Temple or Gansho-ji for refuge."

Yet Yamauchi Kazutoyo's words did not seem to satisfy Shimotsuma Yorinari.

His purpose in coming here had been to cooperate with Nagashima Gansho-ji in expanding its sphere of influence along the Kiso River, preferably bringing the river's shipping routes under their control.

At present, Nagashima Gansho-ji had backed the Hattori League in Kaisei District, effectively plugging the Kiso River's mouth and cutting off its lower reaches. But Jodo Shinshu could not spare attention for the river farther upstream.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo's arrival had been a lucky accident, fitting perfectly into Jodo Shinshu's "Nobi Development Plan."

But while a band of barely a hundred brigands might be somewhat useful, they were insignificant in the broader Nobi region.

"If you wish to receive our sect's support, you must first prove your capabilities and possess a certain degree of strength."

"Here is the arrangement. I will give you three months. Show me some results."

"Three months from now, I must leave for Omi. Miss the deadline, and there will be no second chance," Shimotsuma Yorinari said gravely.

Omi had not been peaceful lately, either.

The Asai clan was facing the threat of attack from the Rokkaku clan. As the Asai clan had close ties with Jodo Shinshu, it had requested the sect's assistance.

Across the three northern Omi districts under the Asai clan's rule—Ika, Asai, and Sakata—there were a total of 760 temples, 547 of which belonged to Jodo Shinshu.

Thus, the Asai clan and Jodo Shinshu operated in a cooperative arrangement. They were intertwined, you within me and I within you; the Asai clan's control over northern Omi was inseparable from Jodo Shinshu's support.

"Isn't three months a little too rushed?" Horio Yoshiharu asked hesitantly.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo waved a hand and immediately promised, "Three months it is. The Ogawa Band has roamed the Kiso River for years. We have that much confidence."

"Do not speak too soon!" Shimotsuma Yorinari rose to his feet. "Before that, I need to see whether you understand Jodo Shinshu's teachings."

"Come with me."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo did not understand. Were Jodo Shinshu's teachings not simply "Namu Amida Butsu"? What was there to test?

He obediently followed Shimotsuma Yorinari back to the lecture gathering. Shimotsuma Yorinari took the stage, drove off the monk who had been preaching, then beckoned to Yamauchi Kazutoyo.

After Yamauchi Kazutoyo stepped onto the stage, Shimotsuma Yorinari said to the believers below, "This is Ogawa Saburo, a devoted believer of our sect. He will answer everyone's questions."

"If any of you have questions, speak freely!"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo shot Shimotsuma Yorinari a surprised glance. So this was a performance review?

Having said his piece, Shimotsuma Yorinari stepped aside and calmly watched Yamauchi Kazutoyo's back.

"Lord Ogawa!"

Before Yamauchi Kazutoyo had recovered his wits, a middle-aged farmer below eagerly raised a hand. "I am a farmer from Tomita Village. My family has followed the True Sect for generations."

"I am already forty this year, yet I have never had a son."

"I wonder when the Buddha will grant me one."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo gestured for him to sit first, his mind racing.

He was not considering how to answer the farmer's question. He was considering Shimotsuma Yorinari's true purpose in putting him onstage.

There was no way the man had suddenly arranged this just so he could resolve the farmers' doubts.

Then there was only one explanation: Shimotsuma Yorinari wanted to see whether he possessed grassroots organizational ability.

Having figured that out, Yamauchi Kazutoyo knew what to do next.

"You are forty and still have no son?"

"Yes!"

"How many years have you believed in the True Sect?"

"This year makes twenty-seven years!" The farmer was visibly agitated. "I attend every monthly gathering, and I have never once missed an offering payment."

"My four tan of paddy fields and six tan of dry fields have all been registered under Shotokuji Temple. For a devout believer like me, could the Buddha truly have failed to hear my prayers for twenty-seven years?"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo slammed his palm on the desk. "That only proves your heart is not devout enough!"

The farmer was dumbfounded. The other believers were doubtful as well, while Shimotsuma Yorinari alone curled his lips behind Yamauchi Kazutoyo.

Interesting.

"Has anyone here had a son?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo swept his hand over the crowd.

Shimotsuma Yorinari gave someone in the crowd a meaningful look. The man immediately stood and said, "I am thirty-one this year and already have five big, healthy boys."

"Then how much do you donate to this temple in offering money each year?"

"I have donated a full six hundred mon!"

Yamauchi Kazutoyo turned to the first man. "And you?"

The farmer said woodenly, "Three hundred mon."

"See?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo's face flushed red. "That is why you have no son!"

"Everyone else donates six hundred mon, while you donate only three hundred. Does that not explain everything?"

At that moment, another person stood up in the crowd. "But, sir, I also donate six hundred mon every year, and I still have no son."

Yamauchi Kazutoyo did not panic in the slightest. "Which foot do you step forward with first whenever you enter the temple?"

"Uh... my right foot."

"There. That is where the problem lies." Yamauchi Kazutoyo made it up without missing a beat. "From now on, step in with your left foot first. Only then will the Buddha see you."

"So that was it!" The people below immediately looked enlightened.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo spouted nonsense without so much as a blush or a racing heart, while the appreciation in Shimotsuma Yorinari's eyes grew ever stronger.

Then someone else stood. "Sir, can one truly attain Buddhahood by believing in the True Sect?"

"Of course!" Yamauchi Kazutoyo thumped his chest and declared with utmost conviction, "As long as you come listen to our teachings every day, you can possess faith."

"As long as you can recite the Buddha's name, you can cultivate!"

"What?"

"Your son is mute?"

"That is no problem. If there is a Buddha in his heart, then he believes in the Buddha!"

As he went on, Yamauchi Kazutoyo gradually let himself loose. "You are fortunate, everyone. This year happens to be the 386th birthday of Azure Luan, our sect's founding patriarch. Three hundred and eighty-six is an auspicious number."

"As a gesture of gratitude, this temple is offering Buddhist talismans personally consecrated by the abbot!"

"These talismans are wonderful! Carry one on your person, and it will ward off evil and avert disaster. Hang one in your home, and it will turn calamity into good fortune!"

"Today, these talismans cost not 198 mon, nor 98 mon, but only 50 mon! For 50 mon, you can take one home!"

"Action beats temptation! The truly devout believers have already gone over there to line up and pay. What are the rest of you waiting for?" Yamauchi Kazutoyo shouted, pointing at the believers in the distance who were lining up to offer incense.

He had no idea what they were lining up for over there, but there were many people there, so pointing at them could not go wrong.

The moment his words fell, the lecture gathering erupted into motion. Several hundred people surged over in a dark mass to line up and pay.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and cautiously approached Shimotsuma Yorinari. "Lord Shimotsuma, was that acceptable?"

"Not quite," Shimotsuma Yorinari said, shaking his head.

"Huh?"

"Haha! You did very well!" Shimotsuma Yorinari suddenly burst into laughter and patted Yamauchi Kazutoyo on the shoulder. Then, with some regret, he added, "It is only that you sold those talismans too cheaply."

"If I were selling them, each talisman would cost at least five hundred mon."

Damn, these monks are truly black-hearted, Yamauchi Kazutoyo cursed inwardly.

Shimotsuma Yorinari found Yamauchi Kazutoyo more pleasing to the eye the longer he looked. A talent like this was somewhat wasted in Owari.

Had he not had important business to attend to, Shimotsuma Yorinari would have wanted to take Yamauchi Kazutoyo to Ishiyama Gobo for further training.

"Then, Lord Shimotsuma, regarding the matter I requested earlier..."

"Granted!" Shimotsuma Yorinari was in high spirits. "From today onward, you are an official of our sect."

"You may use our sect's banner and enter Gansho-ji. I will issue you our sect's seal and credentials shortly."

"Many thanks, Lord Shimotsuma," Yamauchi Kazutoyo said, overcome with gratitude.

"Do not thank me yet!" Shimotsuma Yorinari's eyes sharpened. "Since our sect can grant all this, we can take it back as well."

"If you fail to produce results within three months, I will not spare you."