Chapter 2043: Chapter 1492: Let the "Yuan Invaders" See What True Naval Warfare Is!
The Shubuto River runs south to north, traversing from the North Coast to the South Coast of Ezo, stretching over eighty miles and dividing the vast Ezo land into two segments. This is the narrowest location on the Maoshili Peninsula, about eighty miles from the Rivermouth of the Korobetsu River, roughly a day’s journey by oar-sail ship. In the Ainu language, "Shubuto" means "a river with many stones," hence, the Stone River.
The shadowy night descends upon the rocky riverbank. Tall Luwei reeds sway silently in the northern wind. Passing two months of moons, the riverbank’s silence suddenly vanishes. As the morning sun rises over the East Mountain, ten customs ships loaded with Monk Soldiers and three merchant ships, empty except for Gold, were already anchored at the estuary of the Stone River, as if appearing out of nowhere. However, upon closer inspection, the bows of the customs ships faced northeast, while those of the merchant ships pointed southwest...
"Sen, traveling thousands of miles, are you truly intending to return directly to Omi with your three merchant ships? Wouldn’t it be better if you stayed at the Kaozaki Family’s port, waiting another half month or month? Until I purge demons and uphold justice, acquiring another batch of Gold from the Shandan People to escort your merchant ships back, reporting this great deed to our Sect together!..."
"Buddha’s protection! Master Juehui, my ship holds too much Gold. If docked at the Kaozaki Family’s port for long, rumors could spread, drawing unwanted attention!... Moreover, in this Gold trade, we haven’t settled accounts with the Kaozaki Family. According to you, we should swallow all the Gold first, and discuss everything after the tribute trade. Even you want to see if the Kaozaki Family can withstand the Shandan People’s retaliation... Given this, I must return southward ahead of Kudo Chief Retainer, arriving with the Kaozaki Family’s Samurai, to prevent any disputes or emerging calamities!..."
Onboard the customs ship "Lotus Flower Maru," Mori no Kiyoshi’s smile remained polite, but his words betrayed clear dissatisfaction. Master Juehui raised an eyebrow, his face still benevolent, yet his tone turned much colder.
"Sen, regardless of your ties with the Kaozaki Family, whether you’ve served as their House Elder... You are ultimately from our Miao Courtyard and a disciple under our protection!... ’Gather as much Gold as possible, participate in the tribute trade,’ this is the unanimous decision of numerous Monk Masters. Our Sect lent its reputation to the Kaozaki Family, helped them acquire the Japanese Land, and sent ample military supplies earlier, an act of true kindness!"
"Indeed! You represent the decision of the Monk Masters, naturally adhering to Buddhist Law, without error! And my quick southward journey complies with the Monk Masters’ resolution as well! Our Sect’s main figure, Prince Jueyin, mentioned, ’All priorities lie with next year’s tribute trade, quickly transport Gold back and prepare for voyage’..."
Mori no Kiyoshi, still smiling, didn’t relent in his words. Confronted by this opportunistic junior brother and Sect merchant, unexpectedly revealing sharpness, Master Juehui’s kind eyebrows trembled slightly. He restrained his inner fury, responding with a forced smile.
"Sen, this batch of Gold is the capital for our Sect’s participation in Ming Dynasty’s trade validation. You must ensure its complete and safe return! If anything goes awry... don’t blame me for disregarding friendliness, reporting everything to the Monk Judge Team, letting you face the consequences alone..."
"Buddha witnesses! Rest assured, Master. I will load timber and ores at Victory Mountain Manor, then swiftly cross the Tsugaru Strait, retracing each manor’s route for return voyage. As long as news of the Gold doesn’t leak and our voyage remains quick... with our Tiantai Sect’s Miao Courtyard’s Five-Colored Scripture Flags on board, naturally, no coastal Daimyo would venture forth for offense!"
"Moreover, for the continuity of our Sect, for the inheritance of our Miao Courtyard... when this batch of Gold reaches Kansai, engagement with Sakai Port’s tribute merchant group rests on me alone! These complex worldly trades, other brothers can’t handle, truly best done sooner rather than later!"
Saying this, Mori no Kiyoshi turned serious, bowing to Master Juehui. Then, he turned to the silent Monk Soldier General, Fang Official Shiba Zhenwei, advising them solemnly.
"Buddha witnesses! Shiba Official, these five hundred elite Tiantai Monk Soldiers, ten sturdy water battle gate ships, are the core assets of our Tiantai Sect, our greatest capital in Omi! Yet, such vital Sect foundations, due to minor greed, were thrown frivolously into the remote Sea of Ezo in the North, causing me unease and sleepless nights..."
"The Shandan Golden Clan holds noble origin, their tribes exceedingly valiant, warriors fearless of death. And their underlying foundation, as deep as the sea, remains unfathomable. For Gold which could have been traded securely, to recklessly challenge powerful tribes, betting our Sect’s foundation for risky forceful acquisition... in my view, truly an unwise act!"
"The Mahaparinirvana Sutra teaches, ’Rewards of good or evil, follow like shadows. Those seeking departure from suffering, should not sow evil causes.’ I see, Master Juehui’s brow seems dark, unlike the countenance of Buddha’s protection. This northern journey might not yield good outcomes, better to seize the moment, Shiba Official, if matters prove impossible, prioritize self-preservation, returning safely in whole is enough. At the Sect, I shall report to our teacher, advocating for Master Juehui, ensuring the Sect does not mistake your compassionate intentions!"
After these "defeatist strategist" remarks, Mori no Kiyoshi visibly dissociated himself from the forthcoming raid, right before Shiba Official and numerous Monk Soldiers. This sarcasm made Master Juehui’s face turn pale then red, almost trapping him with no exit. He laughed in fury, his kind brows straightened, clutching the Buddha Beads tightly.
"Good, good, good! Junior Brother Sen, I’ve been blind. Only today I see your deep understanding of Buddhist Law, eloquently sharp! When I return to Omi with results of purging demons and upholding justice, bringing Gold from the Shandan People, I’ll seek a chance with you for a true debate on what constitutes ’shattering the unity of the monks’!"
"Ha! Then I’ll be at Miao Courtyard, awaiting Senior Brother’s fruitful return, eager for your insights!..."
Hearing this, Mori no Kiyoshi’s eyes turned cold, yet his mouth curled into a smile. The so-called "shattering the unity of the monks" is the disruption of monastic unity and harmony, one of Buddhism’s gravest "Five Heinous Crimes." Master Juehui’s words revealed true anger and murderous intent.
However, once the Gold trade concludes, next year’s tribute trade, he won’t be in Japan. When he returns from the tribute, bringing a ship full of treasures from the Ming Dynasty, establishing trade routes with them, his status within the Tiantai Sect will be vital!... Moreover, whether the other party can truly bring back Gold, whether it will backfire, remains tightly uncertain!
"Buddha’s verse: Do not associate with evil friends, nor befriend the base. Associate with good friends, befriend the noble."
Mori no Kiyoshi smiled gracefully and recited the "evil friend" and "good friend" from the Dhammapada, respectively bowing to the iron-faced Master Juehui and the silent Shiba Official. Then, he stepped on the plank suspended between the two ships, crossing from the northbound customs ship to the southbound merchant ship, laughing loudly from a distance.
"Good knowledge is like a bright lamp, like a ship captain, like a good doctor... To persist in confusion is to make it difficult for the lamp to illuminate, tough for the other shore to reach, and hard for the good doctor to heal! Fool, fool! Haha!~~"
"!..."
Hearing the final drifting "fool," Master Juehui’s face turned red, and his charitable brows and eyes appeared somewhat grim. He glared at Mori no Kiyoshi’s silhouette until the three merchant ships headed south, then suddenly took a deep breath and forcefully exhaled. This long, profound breath from his cultivation released an astonishing breath of white air on the cold sea. With this inhale and exhale, all traces of anger vanished from his face, leaving only his lowered compassionate brows, softly chanting the Rebirth Mantra.
"Namo Amitabha! Tathagata..."
"Any action must have a cause. Mori no Kiyoshi provoked my anger, but the root is simply that I disrupted his gold trade route and seized his dealings with the Shandan tribe!..."
"He wants to clearly distinguish himself from me, using my failure to prove his correctness? This profit-driven, faithless disciple deviating from Buddhist law! I have no idea what sort of trap he’s laid ahead for me? Hmm, does he have the courage to betray the sect?..."
Thinking of this, Master Juehui furrowed his brow, gazing toward the North over the Sea of Ezo. After a while, he let out a deep sigh and turned to the silent Shiba Zhenwei, the official.
"Shiba Official, you hail from the prestigious Shiba clan and entered my Tiantai Sect, earning the Dharma name of ’Zhenwei’! You have led the Martial Family Army, participating in numerous battles on Lake Biwa, and are truly a general adept at water warfare. These five hundred Monk Soldiers were also taught by you, enabling them to maneuver as seamlessly as an extension of your arm! This time, let the descendants of the Yuan Invasion witness what a true water battle is!..."
"I am a monk master of temples and shrines, unfamiliar with the matters of martial prowess. I entrust the upcoming water battle entirely to you! To head north to Ezo, seize Mori no Kiyoshi’s gold trade from him, I am wagering my line’s reputation with no retreat..."
"Our Buddha is both compassionate and wrathful! The Shandan Tribe is by no means benevolent, akin to Evil Demons. Please, Shiba Official, protect the True Dharma, exercise Vajra Unbreakable, conquer all demonic grievances, and obliterate them! My heartfelt request, Juehui sincerely solicits your help!..."
Upon saying this, Master Juehui clasped his hands humbly and bowed to Shiba Zhenwei. Shiba Zhenwei’s eye twitched, and he could no longer maintain his silent demeanor. He hurriedly supported Master Juehui up, remained silent for a while, then replied with the Buddhist scripture.
"Vajra Unbreakable, conquer the demons; Wisdom light illuminates, uphold the True Path..."
"For the sake of Dharma, life and body are not spared..."
"Master, the time for departure has arrived!"
"Hmm!"
Master Juehui nodded contentedly, patting Shiba Zhenwei on the shoulder. Shiba Zhenwei pressed his lips, pulling out a Dharma conch from his robes, and blew forcefully!
"Boom!... Oooo!... Om!!"
The deep, resonant sound of the Dharma conch echoed across the entire sea region. And with this conch sound, the ten Japanese customs ships, like suddenly awakened beasts, swiftly mobilized.
If Zuwaro stood in this place, he would be astounded to find: at this moment, under the command of the conch and flags, these ten Japanese customs ships engaged in water warfare could maneuver so nimbly and orderly, just like the extended arm of the Samurai!
On the surface of Ezo’s sea, ten warships formed a pack of wolves on the water. They lined up in neat and orderly formation, maintaining almost identical speed, advancing with formidable killing intent, grandly sailing toward the North!
