Chapter 822: Omi Province
Qi Xuansu had barely set foot on solid ground for an hour before he was hastily boarding a Yinglong Warship once again.
The Yinglong Warship took off, heading straight for Omi Province.
The situation in Omi Province was rather complicated, with intersecting factions vying for influence. To the south lay the infamous Koga Domain.
Inside the meeting room of the Yinglong Warship, Spirit Guard Ding Wei briefed them on Omi Province’s situation. “In Fenglin, aside from the Iga Ninja, there are also the Koga Ninja. The Koga Ninja has long stood alongside the Iga Ninja as one of the most formidable ninja clans of the region. In earlier times, they served lords near the Heian Capital, and later pledged allegiance to the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven.
“During Oda Nobunaga’s decade of glory, the Koga Ninja rapidly grew in power under the Oda clan’s patronage. When the Iga Ninja were nearly wiped out, the Koga Ninja even came close to dominating the ninja world. However, this ambition stalled when the Demon King fell during the Honnoji Incident and the Oda clan splintered. Still, thanks to those ten years of accumulation, the Koga Ninja are still a match for the Iga Hattori clan that remained loyal to Chancellor Toyotomi’s Office.
“The Iga Ninja emphasize individual combat skills, while the Koga Ninja are trained in group operations. The latter serve only their lord with unwavering loyalty. In contrast, the former works for the highest bidder. The Iga Hattori clan is known as the Court Ninja, not for their loyalty, but because no one pays better than the Chancellor’s Office.
“The Koga Ninja operate under a unique communal decision-making system called Gunchuso, where all major and minor matters are resolved collectively. The Koga Ninja consist of 53 samurai households, known as the 53 Houses of Koga. Of these, 21 were awarded commendations by the Rokkaku clan and are recognized as the elite 21 Houses of Koga.”
Li Changge remarked, “Sounds somewhat like our Golden Tower Council. These 21 Houses of Koga are akin to the Omniscient Sages, and the rest are ordinary Sages.”
Li Tiangang continued explaining, “After the fall of the Oda clan, the Koga Ninja reverted their allegiance to the imperial family due to their proximity to the Heian Capital. Notably, they specialize in poisons. The field command and regional authorities suspect that the late Kampaku Toyotomi Hidesugu and the previous Chief Elder Masahiro were both assassinated by the Koga Ninja. Their deaths were meant to stir chaos within the Chancellor’s Office, and indeed, the resulting strife between the Totomi and Owari branches proves they succeeded. The Chief Elder’s death further escalated the turmoil.”
Zhang Yuelu asked, “What is the stance of the field command and Daoist Mansion toward the Koga Ninja?”