Chapter 1602: On This Title

(Yoriki and Dōshin are organizational titles within the shogunate's military and civil affairs systems. Yoriki are officers, while Dōshin are low-ranking soldiers, equivalent to ashigaru. At the same time, because Yoriki and Dōshin bear the duty of maintaining public order, yet the shogunate provides extremely few official posts, officials, in order to fulfill their responsibilities, also hire many commoners not on the official roster to serve.)

"My lord, our numbers are few, so our greatest safeguard in action lies in catching them off guard. Therefore, please agree with us beforehand on a signal. When the Great Han is about to send troops, you must immediately send this signal here to Kyoto." Then, Nijō Yasumichi promptly looked toward Zhou Pu again. "The moment we receive word, we will storm the palace. Then, coordinating with the guards inside the palace who are loyal to us, we will take the Cloistered Emperor, His Majesty the Emperor, and the Three Sacred Treasures all away together, moving them out of the palace. After that, we will find a way to flee south. It would be best if we can escape to Kyushu; at the very least, we will hide in the countryside and await your lordships' northward advance. What do you think?"

"Lord Ufu's thinking is thorough and meticulous. I fully agree—this is indeed how it should be done!" After considering for a moment, Zhou Pu felt this plan was truly excellent, so he nodded in agreement.

He discovered that, unlike the other court nobles, this Lord Ufu was extremely driven, full of galvanizing force, and he also maintained a very pragmatic attitude, willing to assess the situation and act without being bound by rigid conventions. He vaguely sensed that this man was not only very useful to him now, but might prove equally useful in the future. Therefore, he also regarded Nijō Yasumichi with special esteem, growing ever more respectful.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came again from the doorway. Everyone exchanged glances, then all fell silent and resumed drinking. However, their worries were soon dispelled—the Minister of the Left, Ichijō Kaneyoshi, led by a monk, entered the hall.

Ichijō Kaneyoshi's steps were very slow, his manner composed and his expression as usual. Upon entering, he swept his gaze over everyone in the hall, offered a slight smile to Zhou Pu, then walked briskly to the host's seat, appearing graceful and poised.

"It seems you gentlemen have already been enjoying yourselves quite thoroughly…" Looking at the mess on everyone's tables, he said with a smile.

Thereupon, Nijō Yasumichi introduced his identity to Zhou Pu.

"My lord, this is the Minister of the Left of our Imperial Court."

"I pay my respects to Lord Safu." Zhou Pu had long been mentally prepared, so he immediately saluted him.

Although, judging by the current circumstances, this imperial envoy's official rank within the Great Han court would not be very high, because they were now the ones asking for help, Ichijō Kaneyoshi had absolutely no intention of putting on airs.

"The imperial envoy has arrived, and we failed to welcome you from afar. We are ashamed."

Then, he immediately reached into his robe, took out a letter, and raised it to a level even with his neck.

"My lord, thanks to Lord Ufu's combination of wisdom and courage, news of the imperial envoy's arrival has already been conveyed to His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor. Because His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor is truly greatly inconvenienced at present, His Majesty has now issued a handwritten decree, authorizing me to temporarily receive Your Excellency on His Majesty's behalf. Moreover, whatever content we discuss, His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor will subsequently grant full ratification."

"He is both the highest-ranking minister in the Imperial Court and the Cloistered Emperor's own younger brother. Therefore, he is the sole person negotiating with Your Excellency on behalf of the Cloistered Emperor—fully justified and beyond reproach." Nijō Yasumichi also chimed in from the side.

"In that case, there is no time to lose. Let us all begin discussions now. As it happens, I also have quite a few matters that I need to clarify for you gentlemen." Zhou Pu did not dwell on this issue and quickly agreed to their arrangement.

"My lord, earlier today the spring weather was clear and fine, and now at dusk a cool breeze is stirring. The weather is truly quite pleasant. This hall is a bit stuffy—why don't we go outside to talk?" Ichijō Kaneyoshi, in contrast, seemed unhurried and unflustered. Smiling, he made this proposal to Zhou Pu, then pointed a finger at him, and then at Nijō Yasumichi.

Zhou Pu quickly understood—they did not intend to talk in this place, but wanted to hold a private discussion among the three of them.

That was fine by him. He immediately nodded.

"Then let us proceed entirely according to Lord Safu's wishes."

"Please follow me." Nijō Yasumichi walked to Zhou Pu's side. "Although this temple is small, it still has a few secluded spots."

Then, Zhou Pu followed the two men—the Ministers of the Left and Right—out of the hall. The others remained inside, continuing their banquet, and even deliberately made loud sounds of laughter and merriment, so as to allow them to negotiate privately with greater ease.

Following a small path enveloped by trees, they climbed a stretch of high earthen wall, then sat down on several low stone stools atop it.

By this time, the sky was about to darken into night, so all around was dim. Only where the sun had set were there still a few threads of yellow afterglow, providing the last faint light to the earth.

Standing atop this stretch of piled-earth high wall, gazing out at the scattered lights of Kyoto in the distance, Nijō Yasumichi drew a deep breath, suddenly feeling his heart surge with emotion.

Two months ago, it was right here, likewise taking advantage of a banquet, that he had explained his plan to Ichijō Kaneyoshi. At that time, though his heart was full of fervent passion, he could never have imagined that merely two months later, his plan would have already reached such a stage, and that the hope of success was already in sight. It seemed Heaven was indeed sheltering people like them; the glory of their ancestors could surely be restored by their own hands.

"Before I arrived just now, the imperial envoy had already been in discussion with Lord Ufu and the others, correct?" Just then, Ichijō Kaneyoshi beside him had already struck up a conversation with Zhou Pu. "May I ask the imperial envoy, if we truly flee Kyoto with Their Majesties, would there be a way to send men to escort us to Kyushu?"

"If you flee before our troops advance, I have no real way to send men ahead to escort your country's sovereigns away. Kyoto and Kyushu are separated by mountains and passes, and there are still many pro-shogunate domains in between. It would truly be difficult to dispatch troops in advance without alerting the enemy." To prevent the other party from developing any unrealistic notions, Zhou Pu answered quite honestly. "Therefore, I can only ask Lord Safu to assess the situation at that time and rely on your own strength to flee. If you can seize a gap and escape to Kyushu, that would be best. If not, then simply hide among farming households around Kyoto, and join us after our dynasty's great army advances north."

"Then it seems we can only take the risk." Ichijō Kaneyoshi gave a bitter smile. "In any case, whether fleeing to Kyushu or going into hiding, we must give it a try. We absolutely cannot allow the shogunate's men to take the Cloistered Emperor and His Majesty the Emperor hostage back to Kantō. That would create countless troubles for everyone."

After a pause, he continued, "My lord, once we escape Kyoto, we can have His Majesty issue an imperial decree, declaring the Tokugawa house an enemy of the court, to be jointly struck down by all under Heaven. If any domain lord along the way dares to resist the imperial decree, they can be deemed an enemy of the court. We ask the Great Han not to show mercy, but to destroy them thoroughly, so as to leave no future troubles. Furthermore, the Tokugawa house's fudai daimyō and shinpan daimyō are also accomplices to the rebellion. We ask the Great Han to eliminate them as well—best to slaughter them all, along with their trusted samurai. We, the court nobles, can serve as local officials to assist the Great Han army in requisitioning funds and grain, and in garrisoning the regions."

Although asking the Great Han to deal such a heavy, lethal hand against his own countrymen seemed somewhat excessive, in Ichijō Kaneyoshi's view, this was indeed a necessary measure. In the past, the reason the Imperial Court had been reduced to a figurehead was precisely because the authority to govern the provinces and the wealth thereof had been intercepted by the warrior houses. The court's authority could not reach the localities, and it had even less financial and material resources to draw upon, leaving it to be bullied by the warrior houses everywhere.

If after this war the same structure remained, then obviously nothing would change, and all this painstaking effort would have been completely in vain. To solve this problem, naturally, only people directly subordinate to the court could be appointed as local officials, controlling the financial power over a region. The original local powers had best be uprooted entirely, so they could never again bring disaster and chaos to the court.

"Your country's Imperial Court has not touched governmental affairs for several hundred years. Talent for governance must surely be extremely lacking. Would this not bring trouble?" After thinking for a moment, Zhou Pu raised his own opinion. "If those taking over the localities lack experience, not only will they be unable to govern well, I fear they will also throw local order into chaos, affecting the war effort."

This counter-question made Ichijō Kaneyoshi falter slightly.

Although he very much wanted to refute the other's words, he also knew that they were very reasonable. The court nobles had been removed from political affairs for too long. Even if they truly got the opportunity, they could not really administer governance for the time being, and mishandling it might well invite a wave of chaos.

Yet doing nothing was also not an option. Japan had no imperial examination system, nor did it currently have a formed educational system. The only educated people were the court nobles, the warrior houses' samurai, and a small number of domain samurai. If the court nobles could not govern the localities, it was very likely that local political power would again fall into the hands of those old domain samurai.

"Then why not have the Great Han first send some local officials to serve as magistrates governing the people? The young men of the court noble families can serve as apprentices and observers to these officials, studying governance for a period of time, and then take over afterward. What does Your Excellency think?" After pondering for a moment, he asked Zhou Pu again.

In his view, this was the best approach. The local officials sent by the Great Han would all possess experience in local governance and could quickly restore order and production to war-torn areas. Moreover, they would have no connections to the local powerful families, so there would be no risk of real power slipping away. Even better, these local officials would not understand Japanese and could only govern through their deputies—that is, the young men of the court noble families. These people could thereby gain real experience, and then very quickly be able to take charge on their own and assume the authority to govern the localities.

Ichijō Kaneyoshi's suggestion startled Zhou Pu slightly.

To actually take the initiative in wanting us to send people to serve as local officials—this Chancellor of the Left truly has no scruples whatsoever.

After mulling it over briefly, Zhou Pu felt this course of action was not quite appropriate. Every part of Japan had long been carved up by powerful clans. If they really sent local officials to govern jointly with the court nobles, it would inevitably obstruct the powerful clans' influence over the localities, which would provoke even fiercer resistance from the powerful clans everywhere, needlessly creating trouble for the Great Han army.

Considering that Japan was a country with a population exceeding ten million, the Great Han had no intention of forcibly annexing its territory. They merely wanted Nagasaki Port as a trading port. Previously, they only had plans to station troops, not to directly send local officials to rule.

One very simple principle—if you rule directly, you must bear the costs of governance yourself. If you only control remotely, then no matter how much you exploit, the resistance will be shared by collaborators and puppets.

Furthermore, the Great Han was dispatching troops not solely to support the Japanese Imperial Court. If they helped the court nobles to this extent, it would then become difficult to maintain a balance among the various factions, and would also go against the original purpose of sending troops.

"What Lord Safu is thinking is indeed very reasonable. However, our country has only just been established, and a hundred tasks await revival. Everywhere needs officials with the talent to govern the people and manage affairs. It is truly difficult to transfer them outward." With such thoughts in mind, Zhou Pu gently shook his head to decline. "Moreover, our dynasty sends troops to help your country suppress rebellion, and absolutely has no intention of using this opportunity to encroach upon your country's territory. If we send local officials to govern your country's people, it would make our dynasty's intentions appear insincere."

You're already about to send troops to invade, so what's the point of saying such pretty words?! Hearing his words, both Ministers of the Left and Right cursed inwardly at the same time. But they were utterly helpless against Zhou Pu, so they could only suppress their impatience and continue reasoning with him.

"Your Excellency may not be aware, but our country's Imperial Court has been sidelined for several hundred years, and its authority has long been almost completely depleted. If there is no vigorous revitalization, I fear there is a danger of total decline." Ichijō Kaneyoshi reined in the anxiety in his heart. "I have heard an ancient saying from your esteemed country: a severe illness requires strong medicine. To cure a sickness that has penetrated deep into the marrow, one must employ extraordinary measures. I beg Your Excellency to understand our difficulties. Otherwise… if we lack real strength, I fear we will also be unable to sustain ourselves after the war, and even less able to maintain order in Japan for your esteemed country. Would that not make your esteemed country's military expedition a wasted effort?"

This candid confession was both deeply earnest and yet also carried an implicit threat. Neither servile nor overbearing, it truly put Zhou Pu in a difficult position.

The cooperation of the Japanese Imperial Court was still helpful to him. If he refused to make any concessions at all and chilled their hearts, wouldn't all his hard work on this trip have been in vain?

"Then… what is the minimum condition your esteemed country's Imperial Court must achieve to be satisfied?" He softened his tone slightly. "I can record it on my end first, and then consult our country after I return."

Seeing that the Great Han envoy had finally been pressed into conceding ground, Ichijō Kaneyoshi and the Minister of the Right exchanged a glance, both showing delight.

"To maintain the court's standing, we must have a sufficiently large domain. At the very, very least, we must occupy the Kinai region." Ichijō Kaneyoshi did not let the opportunity slip and immediately began speaking eloquently. "After the war, it is imperative that all the domains in the Kinai region come under the direct control of our country's Imperial Court. The Kantō region must also be broken up and divided. We absolutely cannot allow another warrior-house separatist power capable of threatening the court to emerge in Kantō again."

Ever since Minamoto no Yoritomo established the shogunate in Kamakura, Kantō had been the flourishing ground of the warrior houses, the source of countless rebellions and upheavals, and in the eyes of the court, the root of Japan's chaos. It had to be thoroughly cured. Ichijō Kaneyoshi and Nijō Yasumichi had previously estimated that, given the court's current capabilities, restoring direct rule over the entire country at once was unlikely. Therefore, they simply planned to divide and rule Kantō, so that no one there could oppose the court.

What they had not anticipated, however, was that the Great Han had no intention from the start of creating a post-war situation where the Japanese Imperial Court dominated alone. Thus, their wishes were destined to go unfulfilled.

"Supporting your esteemed country's Imperial Court is something we absolutely must do." Zhou Pu smiled, deliberately avoiding making any substantive promises. "After we have propped up your esteemed country's Imperial Court, we will not interfere in your esteemed country's internal affairs. Your esteemed country's Imperial Court may handle things however it wishes."

Ichijō Kaneyoshi and Nijō Yasumichi interpreted these words as Zhou Pu having fully agreed to all their conditions, and so each was elated and inspired. "Many thanks, Imperial Envoy!"

Because the situation had gone even more smoothly than they had anticipated, both were extremely pleased and did their utmost to flatter Zhou Pu, treating him as a benefactor.

"Since we are here today, there is one more matter I would ask Lord Safu to take note of." Zhou Pu's expression suddenly became serious. "If our country sends troops and attacks, in future dealings between our two countries, your esteemed country's sovereign can no longer publicly call himself an Emperor. Please change the title."

"Change the title?" The two men, who had just been overjoyed, felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over their heads upon hearing this demand. Their expressions immediately grew grave. "What does Your Excellency mean by this?"

"There's really nothing much to say about this, is there?" Zhou Pu looked at them calmly. "Since both of you Excellencies are well-versed in our country's culture, you will naturally have heard the old saying: 'The sky has no second sun, the people have no second sovereign.' Looking across the world, there can be at most only one person who can be called Emperor. Since our Central Plains Son of Heaven is already the Emperor, how can your country's ruler also call himself Emperor? It would be best to change it."