Inari wants to live in peace

Refugee

In the spring of Yongroku 6, rumors were heard of in the countries surrounding the Mikawa River.

It seems that Inari God has descended on the land of the Three Rivers, bringing richness to the poor peasants.

Normally, you should suspect lies and fraud, and I don't believe it until I see it with my own eyes.

A lot of people laughed and didn't want to seriously listen to people who seriously believed that they were crazy.

But it is no exaggeration to say that this is the world of war, that money and food are monopolized by the powerful, and that to the socially weak peasants, it is indeed a living hell.

Whether it's war or hunger, sickness or cold, I'm always worried about tomorrow.

Therefore, even if the rumors were unreliable, some people wanted to scratch the straw rather than wake up and lose their lives.

Therefore the poor village will be abandoned, and the refugees will continue to leave.

On the way to the Three Rivers, I joined others who heard the rumors of the Inari gods, and at some point, the number of them became more than a thousand.

However, many people died from hunger, illness, or injuries along the way, but the refugees' quest for help from the bottom of their hearts never stopped.

Because now that we're back home, we're just waiting for death.

We survived last winter until spring, but we no longer have enough room to survive this year.

The lord promised to save the rice, but he still suffered from hunger and could not pay his annual bonus properly this year.

Even though we did farming as we did last year, the village's labor force was completely inadequate because a large number of people did not return from the recent battle.

Therefore, it was not impossible or impossible for many villagers to abandon their homeland and seek salvation from the rumored Inari god.

They were refugees who wanted to travel to Mikawa with such a straw in mind, but they all traveled a long distance on foot because it seemed like they would starve to death if they did not eat the livestock they had brought with them for many years.

Besides, the little food I brought before I left the village was long gone, and I split it into mountains and forests, picked nuts or mushrooms, or wild grass around them, and ate them, and drowned in rain and river water.

I wonder if the tiredness of the long journey accumulated along the way, or if my son, who has just reached the age of ten, stopped his feet and entered the narrow corner of the street.

Holding on to my thin, visible stomach, he called out to me.

"Dad, I'm hungry."

My wife also stopped walking with a tired expression and came to my son, and everyone in the village looked anxious.

Incidentally, we are outside the village along the border of the Three Rivers.

His Highness ordered him to send in many soldiers and officials and follow instructions if he did not want to die, so he was forced to wait along the street without entering.

So the officials were trying to figure out the exact number of refugees first.

"After the samurai's work, I can go to the temple and get food.That's why you have to be patient. "

"Yeah, I got it, Dad."

When it comes to food, I gently stroke my energized son's head.

Rest assured that it is okay to say that even if it is a cookie laugh, and wait silently until the official's work is finished.

(That's what I told my son, but does the temple's job share food with the refugees?)

I appreciate not pushing them back without asking questions, but I don't know what officials are going to do with them after this.

Moreover, even if there is food in the temple, there are cases where refugees are not given money.

It's more than a thousand people, no matter how big it is, it's not going to be enough to divide it.

But I didn't feel like telling my innocent son that such a cruel reality could finally be eaten.

Though I came to the land of the Three Rivers in search of the salvation of Inari God, the actual treatment of refugees is quite harsh.

It was still a good person if they were to be reduced to a status lower than slaves or peasants, and it was also possible that they could be cut off on the spot if there was nothing else to do but a man who could work hard.

It's a world where war breaks out, but in that case, I don't care what happens to me, so I consolidate my determination to beg only my wife and son for help.

Then one of the officials who had counted the refugees realized that he was calling out loudly.

"Name the village representative!"

"Officials! I'm sorry!The village chief was on his journey ─ ─ "

The lack of food and old age overlapped during the winter, causing her to catch her breath on the way.

The villagers mourned together, but they only dug and buried shallow holes in the corner of the street.

Still, I had to give up and pray for happiness, and I managed to get here to avoid wasting the village chief's death.

"Hmm, I see. Now, who's in charge?"

"Now I'm representing the village chief."

I used to work like a village mayor when I was told to tell the number of people and tell them to calm down and follow instructions.

There was no one else who wanted to do it, so I had no choice.

"Then I will treat you as the representative of the village!

I will explain how to cook salted porridge, so please follow me after only one representative! "

After I replied that I had understood the official, I noticed something strange.

I heard you cook salted porridge.When I wondered, I immediately asked in a hurry.

"Officer, I have a question for you."

If you want to ask me something, just be quick.

"Will you feed us refugees?"

Normally, God and Buddha cook, and it was not possible in our village for officials to give money to refugees.

At best, it's just a small amount of saving rice for you to enjoy, and it's not common sense to let people eat the food as it is.

"Salty congee is a gift from Inari God!Thank you for your mercy! "

"" Hahaha!!! Thank you more than the sea!!! ""

At the moment, the other villagers who were listening to the conversation everywhere naturally lowered their heads at once.

As the official said, I greatly appreciate God Inari's mercy.

I still don't know what's going to happen, but I don't think I'm going to starve to death right now.

Not only our family, but all the villagers finally felt relieved from the bottom of their hearts as they turned their gaze to the back of the official who guided the representative for future explanations.

Coming to the assembly point of the cooking, in front of many large pans lined up side by side, there were rows of long snakes of refugees, all smiling very well, receiving porridge one cup at a time.

"We don't have enough to get full, but we don't have infinite food!Protect each and every one of you! "

Got it!

Remember the official's orders in your heart many times.

I'm very grateful to just eat porridge.Moreover, the saltiness of the product was a bad treatment.

Now that we have managed the first meal, we are still a little worried about the subsequent development.

I was just about to open my mouth to ask here to make time for preparation, and an official spoke to me first.

"Future treatment of the refugees, but after a night's rest here, I will relocate my base to Takumi Village."

While observing the cooking from a slightly distant position, the official explains lightly.

But I don't know what the words are, so I ask again.

Um, what is Takumura?

"As I said, it's about your new village.

God Inari will guarantee food, clothing, and housing for a year, but from the second year, we will receive an annual contribution from the four lords and six people. "

There was no word. There is no guarantee of a year's life, and from the second year, there are no four or six citizens.

In my village, I was a Six Duke and Four Citizens, so I realized it was even worse treatment.

So when he opens his mouth to try to answer back, the official opens his head in trouble and explains first.

"I'm telling you, it's not a mistake.It was all decided by Inari God. Shut up and obey. "

"Hahaha! Thank you, I know happiness!"

Anyway, I did my best to respond.

But the most important question here is how to disclose the facts that have just been heard to the villagers.

There is no doubt that it is a lie because it is too convenient for us.

If they succeed, they will suspect that they have been acquired, and they will struggle to convince everyone anyway.

"Um, official."

"You explain it to all the villagers!I will never help you!It's punishment to be worshipped on behalf of Inari God! "

When I tried to ask for help, officials who had been calm until now openly rounded up their voices.

When asked in detail about the situation afterwards, he explained directly to the villagers on several occasions in the past.

However, it seems that from the villagers who were impressed by the good treatment, they looked behind him at Inari God and were offered prayers, and tears were shed with gratitude.

"Takumi Village facilities are provided with all tools free of charge.But instead, this is our instruction.In other words, you must obey God Inari's teachings. "

Got it!

Forcing absolute obedience is like being a slave.

But we can have a year of security and our own village again.

Furthermore, there should have been no complaints since next year there will be a high level of treatment for the Four Kings and Six Nationals.

"The teachings of Inari God do not depend at all on common sense.So don't doubt it, just follow it quietly. "

"What is the teaching of Inari God?"

"I can't explain all this to you, but I can't understand you right now."

Officials don't want to waste anything, and nod silently.

Afterwards, when the rows that are now lined up in the cooking pan are cleared, they say that the next one is our village.

So he hastened to inform his beloved wives and sons, and the people of the village who will continue to suffer together.

Having come to Mikawa gave me hope for the future.

I can only truly thank Inari God.In order to reward my gratitude, I firmly followed the teachings and renewed the determination of all villagers to encourage development.