Shōgun

by James Clavell

  “Oh, Anjin-san, that is very much time.”

  “Three then. But you’ll be aboard with me. I’ll take you back with—”

  “Thy promise, my darling! Nothing that is, neh?”

  “Thou art right. Yes. But with Fujiko, so many bad things could happen. I don’t think she would want my child.”

  “You do not know that. I do not understand you, Anjin-san. It is your duty. She could always prevent a child, neh? Don’t forget, she is your consort. In truth, you take away her face if you don’t invite her to the pillow. After all, Toranaga himself ordered her into your house.”

  “Why did he do that?”

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. He ordered it, therefore it is the best for you and best for her. It has been good, neh? She’s done her duty as best she can, neh? Please excuse me, but don’t you think you should do yours?”

  “Enough of your lectures! Love me and do not talk anymore.”

  “How should I love thee? Ah, like Kiku-san told me today?”

  “How is that?”

  “Like this.”

  “That is very good—so very good.”

  “Oh, I forgot, please light the lamp, Anjin-san. I have something to show thee.”

  “Later, now I—”

  “Oh, please excuse me, it should be now. I bought it for you. It’s a pillow book. The pictures are very funny.”

  “I don’t want to look at a pillow book now.”

  “But, so sorry, Anjin-san, perhaps one of the pictures would excite you. How can you learn about pillowing without a pillow book?”

  “I’m excited already.”

  “But Kiku-san said it’s a very first best way of choosing positions. There are forty-seven. Some of them look astonishing and very difficult, but she said it was important to try all…. Why do you laugh?”

  “You’re laughing—why shouldn’t I laugh too?”

  “But I was laughing because you were chuckling and I felt your stomach shaking and you won’t let me up. Please let me up. Anjin-san!”

  “Ah, but you can’t be cross, Mariko my darling. There’s no woman in the world who can be really even a little cross like this….”

  “But Anjin-san, please, you must let me up. I want to show you.”

  “All right. If that—”

  “Oh, no, Anjin-san, I didn’t want—you mustn’t—can’t you just reach out—please not yet—oh, please don’t leave me—oh, how I love thee like this….”

  Blackthorne remembered that loving. Mariko excited him more than Kiku had, and Fujiko was nothing compared to either. And Felicity?

  Ah, Felicity, he thought, focusing on his great problem. I must be mad to love Mariko, and Kiku. And yet … the truth about Felicity is that now she can’t compare even with Fujiko. Fujiko was clean. Poor Felicity. I’ll never be able to tell her, but the memory of her and me rutting like a pair of stoats in the hay or under rancid covers makes my skin crawl now. Now I know better. Now I could teach her but would she wish to learn? And how could we ever get clean and stay clean and live clean?

  Home is filth piled on filth, but that’s where my wife is and where my children are and where I belong.

  “Don’t think about that home, Anjin-san,” Mariko had once said when the dark mists were on him. “Real home is here—the other’s ten million times ten million sticks away. Here is reality. You’ll send yourself mad if you try to get wa out of such impossibilities. Listen, if you want peace you must learn to drink cha from an empty cup.”

  She had shown him how. “You think reality into the cup, you think the cha there—the warm, pale-green drink of the gods. If you concentrate hard…. Oh, a Zen teacher could show you, Anjin-san. It is most difficult but so easy. How I wish I was clever enough to show it to you, for then all things in the world can be yours for the asking … even the most unobtainable gift—perfect tranquillity.”

  He had tried many times, but he could never sip the drink when it wasn’t there.

  “Never mind, Anjin-san. It takes such a long time to learn but you will, sometime.”

  “Can you?”

  “Rarely. Only in moments of great sadness or loneliness. But the taste of the unreal cha seems to give a meaning to life. It is hard to explain. I’ve done it once or twice. Sometimes you gain wa just by trying.”

  Now, lying in the dark of the castle, sleep so far away, he lit the candle with the flint and concentrated on the little porcelain cup that Mariko had given him which now he always kept beside his bed. For an hour he tried. But he could not purify his mind. Inevitably the same thoughts kept chasing each other: I want to leave, I want to stay. I’m afraid of going back, I’m afraid to remain. I hate both and want both. And then there are the “eters.”

  If it was up to me alone I wouldn’t leave, not yet. But others are involved and they’re not eters and I signed on as Pilot: ‘By the Lord God I promise to take the fleet out and through the Grace of God bring her home again.’ I want Mariko. I want to see the land Toranaga’s given me and I need to stay here, to enjoy the fruit of my great luck for just a little longer. Yes. But also duty’s involved and that transcends everything, neh?

  With the dawn Blackthorne knew that though he pretended he had put off the decision again, in reality, he had decided. Irrevocably.

  God help me, first and last I’m Pilot.

  Toranaga uncurled the tiny slip of paper that arrived two hours after dawn. The message from his mother said simply: “Your brother agrees, my son. His letter of confirmation will leave today by hand. The state visit of Lord Sudara and his family must begin within ten days.”

  Toranaga sat down weakly. The pigeons fluttered in their roosts then settled back once more. Morning sun filtered into the loft pleasingly though rain clouds were building. Gathering his strength, he hurried down the steps into his quarters below to begin.

  “Naga-san!”

  “Yes, Father?”

  “Send Hiro-matsu-san here. After him, my secretary.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  The old general came quickly. His joints were creaking from the climb and he bowed low, his sword loose in his hands as ever, his face fiercer than ever, older than ever, and even more resolute.

  “You’re welcome, old friend.”

  “Thank you, Lord.” Hiro-matsu looked up. “I’m saddened to see the cares of the world are in your face.”

  “And I’m saddened to see and hear so much treason.”

  “Yes. Treason is a terrible thing.”

  Toranaga saw the firm old eyes measuring him. “You can speak freely.”

  “Have you ever known me not to, Sire?” The old man was grave.

  “Please excuse me for keeping you waiting.”

  “Please excuse me for troubling you. What is your pleasure, Sire? Please give me your decision about the future of your house. Is it finally Osaka—bending to that manure pile?”

  “Have you ever known me to make a final decision about anything?”

  Hiro-matsu frowned, then thoughtfully straightened his back to ease the ache in his shoulders. “I’ve always known you to be patient and decisive and you’ve always won. That’s why I can’t understand you now. It’s not like you to give up.”

  “Isn’t the realm more important than my future?”

  “No.”

  “Ishido and the other Regents are still legal rulers according to the Taikō’s will.”

  “I am the vassal of Yoshi Toranaga-noh-Minowara and I acknowledge no one else.”

  “Good. The day after tomorrow is my chosen day to leave for Osaka.”

  “Yes. I’ve heard that.”

  “You’ll be in command of the escort, Buntaro second-in-command.”

  The old general sighed. “I know that too, Sire. But since I’ve been back, Sire, I’ve talked to your senior advisers and gener—”

  “Yes. I know. And what is their opinion?”

  “That you should not leave Yedo. That your orders should be temporarily overruled.”


  “By whom?”

  “By me. By my orders.”

  “That’s what they wish? Or that is what you’ve decided?”

  Hiro-matsu put his sword on the floor nearer to Toranaga and, now defenseless, looked directly at him. “Please excuse me, Sire, I wish to ask you what I should do. My duty seems to tell me I should take command and prevent your leaving. This will at once force Ishido to come against us. Yes, of course we will lose, but that seems to be the only honorable way.”

  “But stupid, neh?”

  The general’s iron-gray brows knotted. “No. We die in battle, with honor. We regain wa. The Kwanto is a spoil of war, but we’ll not see the new master in this life. Shigata ga nai.”

  “I’ve never enjoyed expending men uselessly. I’ve never lost a battle and see no reason why I should begin now.”

  “Losing one battle is no dishonor, Sire. Is surrender honorable?”

  “You are all agreed in this treason?”

  “Sire, please excuse me, I asked individuals for a military opinion only. There’s no treason or plot.”

  “You still listened to treason.”

  “Please excuse me, but if I agree, as your commander-in-chief, then it no longer becomes treason but legal state policy.”

  “Taking decisions away from your liege lord is treason.”

  “Sire, there are too many precedents for deposing a lord. You’ve done it, Goroda did it, the Taikō—we’ve all done that and worse. A victor never commits treason.”

  “You’ve decided to depose me?”

  “I ask for your help in the decision.”

  “You’re the one person I thought I could trust!”

  “By all gods I only wish to be your most devoted vassal. I’m only a soldier. I wish to do my duty to you. I think only of you. I merit your trust. If it will help, take my head. If it will convince you to fight, I gladly give you my life, my clan’s life blood, today—in public or private or whatever way you wish—isn’t that what our friend General Kiyoshio did? I’m sorry but I do not understand why I should permit you to throw away a lifetime of effort.”

  “Then you refuse to obey my orders to head the escort that will leave for Osaka the day after tomorrow?”

  A cloud passed over the sun and both men looked out of the windows. “It’ll rain again soon,” Toranaga said.

  “Yes. There’s been too much rain this year, neh? The rains must stop soon or the harvest’ll be ruined.”

  They looked at each other.

  “Well?”

  Iron Fist said simply, “I formally ask you, Sire, do you order me to escort you from Yedo, the day after tomorrow, to begin the trek to Osaka?”

  “As there seems to be advice from all my counselors to the contrary, I’ll accept their opinion, and yours, and delay my departure.”

  Hiro-matsu was totally unprepared for this. “Eh? You won’t be leaving?”

  Toranaga laughed, the mask fell off, and he was the old Toranaga again. “I never intended to go to Osaka. Why should I be so stupid?”

  “What?”

  “My agreement at Yokosé was nothing more than a trick to gain time,” Toranaga said affably. “Ishido took the bait. The fool expects me in Osaka within a few weeks. Zataki also took that bait. And you and all my valiant, untrusting vassals also took the bait. With no real concession whatsoever I’ve gained a month, put Ishido and his filthy allies in turmoil. I hear they’re already scrambling for the Kwanto. Kiyama’s been promised it as well as Zataki.”

  “You never intended to go?” Hiro-matsu shook his head, then as the clarity of the idea suddenly hit him, his face broke into a delighted grin. “It’s all a ruse?”

  “Of course. Listen, everyone had to be taken in, neh? Zataki, everyone, even you! Or spies would have told Ishido and he would have moved against us at once and no good fortune on earth or gods in heaven could have prevented disaster to me.”

  “That’s true … ah, Lord, forgive me. I’m so stupid. I deserve to lose my head! So it was all nonsense, always nonsense. But … but what about General Kiyoshio?”

  “He said he was guilty of treason. I don’t need treasonous generals, only obedient vassals.”

  “But why attack Lord Sudara? Why withdraw your favor from him?”

  “Because it pleases me to do so,” Toranaga said harshly.

  “Yes. Please excuse me. That’s your sole privilege. I beg you to forgive me for doubting you.”

  “Why should I forgive you for being you, old friend? I needed you to do what you did and say what you said. Now I need you more than ever. I must have someone I can trust. That’s why I’m taking you into my confidence. This has got to be secret between us.”

  “Oh Sire. You make me so happy ….”

  “Yes,” Toranaga said. “That’s the only thing I’m afraid of.”

  “Sire?”

  “You’re commander-in-chief. You alone can neutralize this stupid, brooding mutiny while I’m waiting. I trust you and must trust you. My son can’t hold my generals in check, though he’d never show outward joy at the secret—if he knew it—but your face is the gateway to your soul, old friend.”

  “Then let me take my life after I’ve settled the generals.”

  “That’s no help. You must hold them together pending my pretended departure, neh? You’ll just have to guard your face and your sleep like never before. You’re the only one in all the world who knows—you’re the only one I must trust, neh?”

  “Forgive me for my stupidity. I won’t fail. Explain to me what I must do.”

  “Say to my generals what’s true—that you persuaded me to take your advice, which is also theirs, neh? I formally order my departure postponed for seven days. Later I’ll postpone it again. Sickness, this time. You’re the only one to know.”

  “Then? Then it will be Crimson Sky?”

  “Not as originally planned. Crimson Sky was always a last plan, neh?”

  “Yes. What about the Musket Regiment? Could it blast a path through the mountains?”

  “Part of the way. But not all the way to Kyoto.”

  “Have Zataki assassinated.”

  “That might be possible. But Ishido and his allies are still invincible.” Toranaga told him the arguments of Omi, Yabu, Igurashi, and Buntaro the day of the earthquake. “At that time I ordered Crimson Sky as another feint to throw Ishido into confusion … and also had the right parts of the discussion whispered into the wrong ears. But the fact is, Ishido’s force is still invincible.”

  “How can we split them up? What about Kiyama and Onoshi?”

  “No, those two are implacably against me. All the Christians will be against me—except my Christian, and I will soon put him and his ship to very good use. Time is what I need most. I’ve allies and secret friends throughout the Empire and if I have time…. Every day I gain weakens Ishido further. That’s my battle plan. Every day of delay is important. Listen, after the rains, Ishido will come against the Kwanto a simultaneous pincer, Ikawa Jikkyu spearheading the south, Zataki in the north. We contain Jikkyu at Mishima, then fall back to the Hakoné Pass and Odawara, where we make our final stand. In the north we’ll hold Zataki fast in the mountains along the Hosho-kaidō Road somewhere near Mikawa. It’s true what Omi and Igurashi said: We can hold off the first attack and there shouldn’t be another great invasion. We fight and we wait behind our mountains. We fight and delay and wait and then when the fruit is ripe for plucking—Crimson Sky.”

  “Eeeeee, let that day be soon!”

  “Listen, old friend, only you can hold my generals in check. With time and the Kwanto secure, completely secure, we can weather the first attack and then Ishido’s alliances will begin to break up. Once that happens Yaemon’s future is assured and the Taikō’s testament inviolate.”

  “You will not take sole power, Sire?”

  “For the last time: ‘The law may upset reason but reason may never upset the law, or our whole society will shred like an old tatami. The law may be used to confound re
ason, reason must certainly not be used to overthrow the law.’ The Taikō’s will is law.”

  Hiro-matsu bowed an acceptance. “Very well, Sire. I will never mention it again. Please excuse me. Now—” He let his smile show. “Now, what must I do?”

  “Pretend that you’ve persuaded me to delay. Just keep them all in your iron fist.”

  “How long must I keep up the pretense?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I don’t trust myself, Sire. I may make a mistake, not meaning to. I think I can keep the joy off my face for a few days. With your permission my ‘aches’ should become so bad that I’ll be confined to bed—no visitors, neh?”

  “Good. Do that in four days. Let some of the pain show from today on. That won’t be difficult, neh?”

  “No, Sire. So sorry. I’m glad the battle begins this year. Next … I may not be able to help.”

  “Nonsense. But it will be this year whether I say yes or no. In sixteen days I will leave Yedo for Osaka. By that time you will have given your ‘reluctant approval’ and you will lead the march. Only you and I know there will be further delays and that long before I reach my borders I’ll turn back to Yedo.”

  “Please forgive me for doubting you. If it wasn’t that I must remain alive to help your plans I could not live with my shame.”

  “No need for shame, old friend. If you hadn’t been convinced, Ishido and Zataki would have seen through the trick. Oh, by the way, how was Buntaro-san when you saw him?”

  “Seething, Sire. It will be good to have a battle for him to fight.”

  “He suggested removing me as liege lord?”

  “If he’d said that to me I would have removed his head! At once!”

  “I’ll send for you in three days. Ask to see me daily but I’ll refuse until then.”

  “Yes, Sire.” The old general bowed abjectly. “Please forgive this old fool. You’ve given my life purpose again. Thank you.” He left.

  Toranaga took out the little slip of paper from his sleeve and reread the message from his mother with enormous satisfaction. With the northern route possibly open and Ishido possibly betrayed there, his odds had enormously improved. He put the message to the flame. The paper curled into ash. Contentedly, he pounded the ash to dust. Now, who should be the new commander-in-chief? he asked himself.