Chapter 1598: Rather Give to Great Han Than to the Shogunate

"But... but..." Hashimoto Sanekiyo, however, did not see things so simply. Yet after stammering for a long while, he could not articulate a single coherent reason, his face only flushing redder and redder.

His thinking was naturally much the same as his elder brother Hashimoto Sanemura's; he harbored suspicions about Great Han's motives and doubted even more whether the Imperial Court could truly realize its long-cherished wish after the war, rather than being kicked aside by Great Han. Since Great Han had so deliberately schemed to crusade against the Shogunate... how could it possibly be satisfied with just a little gold and silver? He feared their appetite would be far greater than imagined.

"When your esteemed nation first decided to mobilize troops, you had not considered allying with us, had you? In that case... will your esteemed nation's court agree to our conditions?"

"Now you are mistaken!" Zhou Pu raised his voice to cut the other man off. "Though our dynasty's decision to crusade against the Shogunate was not previously discussed with your esteemed nation's court, a major motive for our deployment of troops is precisely to help your esteemed nation restore order and discipline. Far from harboring any intent to harm your court, we instead have the heart to support and assist it. It is precisely because of this that His Majesty dispatched me here. To be frank with you, I have always had the idea of contacting your esteemed nation's court, but I had simply been unable to find a reliable, secure channel and opportunity—until now. That your esteemed nation's court sent an envoy to Nagasaki has exceeded our wildest hopes."

"In other words... your esteemed nation will still respect our humble nation's Imperial Court?" Hashimoto Sanekiyo asked in a low voice.

"Naturally so," Zhou Pu immediately nodded in confirmation. "To help the nation of Japan restore order and discipline—this is the will of the Son of Heaven, and it is also our own conviction. This conviction will absolutely never change. Furthermore, after the Tokugawa house has been crusaded against, so long as your esteemed nation's court continues to show deference to our nation thereafter, our nation will also perpetually protect your esteemed nation's court and will absolutely never permit a repeat of the military houses bullying the court nobles."

If Great Han truly acted as guarantor, then the court of the Emperor and the court nobles would never again face the crisis of the realm toppling and authority changing hands, would it...? Hashimoto Sanekiyo was moved by Zhou Pu's assurances.

His elder brother had already made it very clear in his letter: Great Han had already deployed its generals and troops and was ready to launch an offensive at any moment. Now that things had reached this point, since there was no chance of turning back anyway, it would be better to simply ride the momentum, cooperate with Great Han's advance according to the original plan, and thereby overwhelm the Shogunate.

He said Great Han's Crown Prince had already given his guarantee that, should victory be achieved in the future and the Imperial Court cooperate, the Court's position would certainly be safeguarded, and the Court would absolutely not be regarded as an enemy. Although there is naturally a distinction between the Crown Prince and the Son of Heaven, his status is nonetheless exceedingly exalted; his words cannot but represent the official stance of Great Han.

This Lord Zhou was quite right: Great Han's deployment of troops had already fulfilled the wish of people like themselves, so why suddenly shrink back the moment their dream came true? That would only earn them groundless contempt.

"My lord, please stay at my residence for a few days," he said. A moment later, having reached the same decision, he bowed deeply toward Zhou Pu. "I shall notify the Imperial Court immediately and will absolutely not let my lord's journey come to naught."

"I shall await your good news." Zhou Pu also mimicked these Japanese formalities, bowing at the waist toward the other man, and then followed the servant away without the slightest worry, thus taking up residence within the Hashimoto family mansion.

Hashimoto Sanekiyo was not lying. After settling Zhou Pu in, he immediately left his residence and then headed straight into the city of Kyoto. His destination was the mansion of the Minister of the Right, Nijō Yasumichi.

Nijō Yasumichi was the chief architect of this plan to borrow troops from the Central Kingdom, and as Minister of the Right, he was also one of the leaders of the court nobles. Hashimoto Sanekiyo would naturally seek his help first. Moreover, the Nijō family mansion was the only one among the Five Regent Houses located outside the confines of the Kyoto Imperial Garden, and thus it was subject to far less surveillance than the other houses.

Hashimoto Sanekiyo was very quickly granted an audience with Nijō Yasumichi himself, and then recounted to him the events he had encountered that day.

Nijō Yasumichi was naturally both astonished and overjoyed, and immediately wished to go see Zhou Pu. He summoned a trusted confidant and sent him to the mansion of Ichijō Kaneteru, to pass along the letter written by Hashimoto Sanemura and the news of the arrival of the emissary from Great Han to this Minister of the Left.

As the exalted Minister of the Right, although the Imperial Court's influence and authority had long since waned, he was, after all, still a personage of some importance in Kyoto. He naturally could not casually go out on a whim like this, and it was even less appropriate for him to personally visit the Minister of the Left, lest he attract the attention of those with ill intent.

Only after nightfall did he dress himself anew, and then, under cover of darkness, make his way into the Hashimoto family residence.

The moment he entered the gate of the residence, he was made somewhat uncomfortable by its dilapidated state, but he quickly endured his inner discomfiture and, accompanied by Hashimoto Sanekiyo, arrived at the innermost part of the mansion.

At this moment, Zhou Pu had just finished his evening meal and was lying on the tatami resting. Although the food the Hashimoto household could provide was extremely simple due to their financial constraints, he had eaten it with great relish.

Just as he was still on the tatami enjoying this rare moment of rest during his journey, the door to the room was slid open. Zhou Pu looked over and saw two people entering: one was Hashimoto Sanekiyo, and the other was a young man of about thirty, not very tall in stature and with a refined demeanor. Though this man was plainly dressed, he nonetheless possessed a certain bearing, and Hashimoto Sanekiyo was exceedingly deferential toward him.

Having formed a rough idea in his mind, Zhou Pu hurriedly sat back up into a kneeling position, facing this young man directly.

Sure enough, this young man walked before Zhou Pu with a solemn expression, knelt down in the same manner, and then bowed his shoulders in salute to Zhou Pu. "I am Nijō Yasumichi, currently unworthily occupying the post of Minister of the Right in the Imperial Court. I greet the Heavenly Envoy."

"I am Zhou Pu, and I am honored to meet the Lord Minister of the Right." Because he had heard introductions from Hashimoto Sanemura before, Zhou Pu became considerably more respectful upon learning that the other party was Nijō Yasumichi himself. "When I previously heard the envoy's descriptions, I had long since conceived an admiration for you, my lord. Meeting you today, you are indeed astute and capable, truly worthy of being the youngest and most promising among the court nobles."

Having this tall hat of "the youngest and most promising among the court nobles" placed upon him by Zhou Pu, although Nijō Yasumichi clearly knew the other was mostly speaking polite pleasantries, he still could not help but feel extremely pleased.

Since the Great Tang dynasty, the Central Plain dynasties had never again formally dispatched envoys to the Imperial Court's capital. The Imperial Court, too, had grown increasingly feeble and neglected amidst the Genpei War. Now, at last, an official from the Central Kingdom had come to Kyoto. This undoubtedly signaled that the Imperial Court was once again returning to the political stage, once again becoming a force capable of influencing the destiny of the nation of Japan.

After sending Hashimoto Sanemura off, Nijō Yasumichi had been constantly plagued by anxiety, on one hand hoping everything would go smoothly for him, yet on the other hand unable to stop worrying, fearing he might return empty-handed, or even simply never return at all due to some unforeseen mishap. Hashimoto Sanemura's failure to send back any news for over a month had also shaken his confidence more and more, and he had begun to suspect that this gambit had already failed.

Yet, just when he was disheartened and disappointed, Hashimoto Sanemura had given him an enormous surprise: an official of Great Han had truly come to Kyoto, and had brought with him tremendously good news.

Although this Lord Zhou was not a formally dispatched envoy, this was still the first such grand event in nearly a thousand years, and he had become the orchestrator of this grand event—how could this not make him feel delighted and proud?

He knew that countless difficulties and perils still lay ahead, and that they might even fail on the verge of success, but whether the road ahead was bright or stormy, at least it was better than the stagnant pool of water that had existed before.

He was certainly afraid, but what he felt even more was an eager, restless excitement. Rather than living according to the current situation, letting himself and his descendants live on like puppets forever, it was better to rise up and gamble, to see if they could restore the glory of their ancestors. Withered grass might endure the bitter cold, but how could it ever compare to the splendor of a night-blooming cereus in its brief moment of glory?

"I am merely loyal to the royal cause; how could I deserve such lavish praise from the Heavenly Envoy? It is rather the Heavenly Envoy who, to accomplish his mission, willingly braved extraordinary peril, first coming to Kyushu and now arriving in Kyoto—this is truly admirable... If our nation had more heroes like the Heavenly Envoy, utterly devoted to national affairs, how could the Imperial Court have fallen to its present state?" Nijō Yasumichi replied with the utmost respect. "I only regret that, compelled by the present circumstances, we are unable to give the Heavenly Envoy the highest form of hospitality, and must instead meet in a place like this. It is truly shameful. I beg the Heavenly Envoy's understanding!"

The person who had come was an official from the Central Kingdom. As a court noble aristocrat who prided himself on propriety and refinement, whether out of practical necessity or the need to save face, he could not permit himself to commit even the slightest breach of etiquette.

"The difficulties of your esteemed nation's court are naturally known to me. Had the circumstances not compelled it, your esteemed nation's court would not have come to beseech our nation to dispatch troops," Zhou Pu said, unconcerned. "So long as the great undertaking can be accomplished and the power of the Tokugawa house resolutely repelled, what does a little hardship now matter?"

"If we can truly crush the Shogunate and restore our humble nation's Imperial Court, we shall forever be grateful for the immense grace and great kindness of Great Han and the Heavenly Envoy!" Nijō Yasumichi bowed his head to express his thanks. "When the time comes, whatever Great Han requires within our humble nation, our humble nation shall offer it all up to Great Han!"

Upon learning that Great Han had long been plotting an attack on Japan, he too was initially quite shocked. However, compared to the Hashimoto brothers, his thinking was far more direct. In his view, the wealth of Japan rightfully belonged to the Imperial Court in the first place. Since the Imperial Court had fallen on hard times, it could naturally use that wealth to hire others for help. No matter how greedy Great Han might be, what they sought was nothing more than wealth. If they were simply given riches to satisfy their appetite, why would they make trouble for the Imperial Court?

"Great Han dispatches troops for the sake of justice and righteousness, for the sake of restoring your esteemed nation's order and discipline; it was never for mere wealth to begin with," Zhou Pu first placed a tall hat upon himself and his court, then shifted his tone. "But the Lord Minister of the Right need not worry. We certainly cannot let the blood of our officers and soldiers be shed in vain. The military expenses for the expedition must be recouped, and the compensation for the soldiers' pensions and for the Shogunate's disruption of trade must also be recovered."

"That is naturally no problem at all. These are all expenses incurred by Great Han in coming to assist our nation, and it is only right and proper that we should bear them. Why would the Heavenly Envoy need to give it special attention?" Nijō Yasumichi raised his long eyebrows, appearing very confident. "After the matter is accomplished, our humble nation's court should not only bear these costs, but should also raise a large sum of additional funds as a token of gratitude and consolation, to be presented to your esteemed nation's officers and soldiers, to express our nation's thanks!"

Seeing Nijō Yasumichi speak with such understanding, Zhou Pu was inwardly delighted.

"Lord Minister of the Right, please rest assured. Our dynasty merely needs to recover its military expenses and restore normal trade between our two nations; everything else can remain as before. We will absolutely not make things difficult for your esteemed nation's court. Only, at that time, we ask that your esteemed nation's court not act in the same manner as the Shogunate did, and not allow relations between our two nations to stir up trouble again."

At present, he needed the cooperation and assistance of the Japanese Imperial Court, so he tried his best not to mention overly harsh conditions, and even more so did not want to reveal now the exorbitant reparations figure that his own court had decided upon in its national affairs council. He would pull the Japanese Imperial Court over to his side first.

Later, after defeating the Shogunate, when he led a great army into Kyoto and had become the true master of Japan, he could naturally raise all sorts of demands, and they would have no choice but to agree.

"The lofty righteousness of your esteemed nation truly moves one to tears of gratitude!" Nijō Yasumichi's voice even became somewhat choked with emotion. "Our humble nation's court has now been reduced to such dire straits. If we can, with the aid of Great Han, recover our authority and position, that would be an eternal debt of grace. If, after this, there remains anyone within our humble nation's court who shows disrespect toward Great Han, may Heaven and Earth together strike them down!"

Only after swearing oaths for a moment did he finally regain his composure. "The Heavenly Envoy has only just arrived in Kyoto today. The Imperial Court has not yet made preparations to respond, and this is truly not a good time to discuss these matters. I must ask the Heavenly Envoy to wait a few more days. By then, the Lord Minister of the Left will also be informed, and even His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor within the palace will receive the news. At that time, we can obtain the personal authorization of His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor before coming to discuss matters with the Heavenly Envoy. Only in this way will it be proper and legitimate."

"My lord has considered everything thoroughly; this is indeed how it should be done," Zhou Pu nodded, then pressed in a low voice, "However, I would like to ask, my lord, would it be possible to arrange for me to meet once with your esteemed nation's His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor?"

"His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor resides within the Imperial Palace. A single excursion would cause a great commotion, and his status is special. The Shogunate has placed many people around him; even the Empress Dowager is a daughter of the Tokugawa house. With all these difficulties, it is truly hard to accomplish... Even we only manage to maintain contact with His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor through various indirect means." After thinking for a moment, Nijō Yasumichi ultimately shook his head with difficulty. "The risk is too great; it is truly not worth it. I must ask the Heavenly Envoy to set aside this idea for now. However, please rest assured, Heavenly Envoy, everything we do is in accordance with the will of His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor; there will absolutely be no overstepping. If the Heavenly Envoy is not at ease, we can also have His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor write another imperial letter, clearly stating his intentions."

"I have absolutely no intention of doubting you, my lord! It is merely out of admiration for the dignified bearing of your esteemed nation's Cloistered Emperor that I wished to request an audience," Zhou Pu hurriedly waved his hands. "The matter we are undertaking is of immense importance, and safety must take precedence in all things. Since this request causes you such difficulty, my lord, please do not take it seriously. I shall simply follow whatever arrangements you, my lord, see fit to make."

"Thank you for your understanding, Heavenly Envoy." Nijō Yasumichi bowed at the waist once more in salute, then suddenly rose to his feet, swaying slightly. "The night is already late. I cannot remain outside for too long. I shall take my leave now. Please, Heavenly Envoy, rest well for now. I will find another way to pay a visit another day."

"Take care, my lord." Zhou Pu hurriedly stood up to respectfully see the other man off.

Although he had only met this Minister of the Right today, and they had only spoken in broad terms without touching upon substantive issues, he was already feeling quite satisfied, because this signified that he had officially, as the representative of Great Han, achieved initial contact with the Japanese Imperial Court—and the results, by all appearances, were quite good.

Under his watching gaze, Nijō Yasumichi turned and departed with a resolute air. It had to be said that Nijō Yasumichi, dressed in his straight robe with its trailing hem, did indeed carry himself with a certain style in his movements.

When he left, Hashimoto Sanekiyo also departed together with him.

Hashimoto Sanekiyo had remained silent the entire time. Only after they had reached the courtyard, far away from Zhou Pu, did he ask in a low voice, "Lord Minister of the Right, this envoy from Great Han seems to speak with less than full sincerity... Although I have never dealt with foreigners before, I have heard that Great Han has always been expansionist by nature. In dispatching troops, they would absolutely never be satisfied with merely recouping their costs; their appetite will certainly be very great."

"I am naturally aware of these things," Nijō Yasumichi replied, still walking forward unhurriedly, merely casting a sidelong glance at the other man. "But the Son of Heaven of Great Han was never a sage to begin with; what is so strange about him having a large appetite? So long as they are willing to send troops, we could ask for nothing more..."

"But..." Hashimoto Sanekiyo still hesitated somewhat.

"There are no more 'buts'! In the current situation, for us to be able to restore the nation is already a blessing from Heaven. What qualifications do we have to be picky and choosy!" Nijō Yasumichi raised his voice, almost to the point of rebuke. "The wealth of the realm rightfully belongs to the Imperial Court in the first place. What does it matter if we give some away? I would rather give a portion to Great Han than allow those servants of the Tokugawa house to monopolize it all!"

After Nijō Yasumichi's loud rebuke, Hashimoto Sanekiyo shrank back, not daring to say more.

"Once the great undertaking is accomplished, the family rank of the Hashimoto house will naturally be elevated," Nijō Yasumichi said, having regained control of his emotions by the time they reached the gate, and then looked coldly at the other man. "So, take good care of this Heavenly Envoy. Do not let your elder brother's painstaking efforts come to nothing."