Chapter 1603: The Bystander May See Clearly

"My lord, this demand is truly too difficult to accept." Ichijō Kaneyoshi's face had already darkened. "Our nation has used the title Tennō for over a thousand years. We simply cannot rashly change it…"

"Honoring antiquity is of course a fine thing, but sometimes one must also adapt to the times and not cling rigidly to the past." Zhou Pu, however, was completely unmoved and remained perfectly composed. "The title Tennō is truly difficult for our Great Han to tolerate, and it further carries the suspicion of offending the dignity of our dynasty's Son of Heaven."

"But we have never offended the dignity of your noble nation's Son of Heaven?" Nijō Yasumichi immediately protested. "The very reason we use the title Tennō is precisely because we were influenced by the culture of the Central Plains. Your nation's Records of the Grand Historian records that after Qin Shi Huang unified the realm, he wished to adopt an honorific title for himself. Chancellor Li Si and others, together with the erudites, deliberated and said: 'In antiquity there was the Heavenly Sovereign, the Earthly Sovereign, and the Great Sovereign; the Great Sovereign is the most honored. Your servants, at the risk of death, present the honorific title: let the King be the Great Sovereign.' Yet the First Emperor was still dissatisfied with this honorific title, and so he chose for himself the title of Emperor. From this it can be seen that in your noble nation's history, the honorific title of Emperor ranks above that of Heavenly Sovereign. That our nation's ruler uses the title Heavenly Sovereign is already an expression of respect for the Son of Heaven of the Central Plains."

Despite Nijō Yasumichi's extensive citations and erudition, Zhou Pu remained completely unmoved.

"Regardless, the presence of the character 'Sovereign' is greatly improper and truly difficult for our imperial court to accept. Previously, I used these titles in private, but that was merely a personal continuation of habitual usage. In official settings, they absolutely cannot be used. Since your noble nation has stated that you wish to rely upon Heavenly grace and will, for generations to come, be obedient and submissive to our dynasty's Son of Heaven, then why are you unwilling to change even a single taboo title?"

His sudden fixation on the title issue was, of course, driven by ulterior motives. The title Tennō had been used by the Japanese court for a millennium and had come to be seen as a symbol of the court itself. If he could force the other side to change their title, it would demonstrate Great Han's power to suppress the Japanese court. Furthermore, even if the other side adamantly refused to agree, he could use the temporary abandonment of this demand as a bargaining chip to secure concessions in other areas.

"For generations we have addressed His Majesty in this manner. If we do not call him Tennō, then what should we call him!" Nijō Yasumichi loudly protested. "This demand, I beg your pardon, is truly one we cannot comply with."

"Before Tennō, was there not already a title?" Zhou Pu countered. "During the Wei and Jin periods, your noble nation's ruler once sent envoys to the Central Plains and received an imperial appointment from the ruler of Cao Wei at the time. To now revert to the title King of Wa — is that not also honoring antiquity?"

His slightly mocking retort made Nijō Yasumichi increasingly uncomfortable. "The title King of Wa carries a derogatory connotation. We beg your pardon, but we cannot accept it!"

"If you find the title King of Wa unacceptable, then you may consider another title. In any case, a title containing the character 'Sovereign' is something we, begging your pardon, find difficult to accept." Zhou Pu's expression also grew stern. "If your noble court finds this demand truly too difficult to accept, then simply refuse it. In any case, we have no desire to force others against their will!"

This utterly unbridled threat left the two ministers momentarily speechless. They exchanged another glance, both unable to make a firm decision for the moment. This sudden demand was something they had not prepared for in advance, and they had no idea what to do.

Yet the envoy from Great Han was already waiting for a result. It seemed that if they did not give a satisfactory answer today, the negotiations might not be able to continue.

After pondering for a moment, Ichijō Kaneyoshi decided to confer with Nijō Yasumichi once more.

"Please wait a moment, my lord. This matter is of great importance; we need to unify our opinions." Without waiting for Zhou Pu's reply, he gestured and led Nijō Yasumichi to a corner of the room.

"Minister of the Right, what do you think we should do about this demand?" He probingly asked Nijō Yasumichi.

"I shall follow your lead in all things, my lord." Nijō Yasumichi gave an answer that left him not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

In truth, in his heart he had already resolved to agree. He had only wanted to find Nijō Yasumichi to share the responsibility. He had not expected Nijō Yasumichi to be even more slick than himself, showing not the slightest inclination to express agreement.

But in reality, this was already tacit consent.

Ichijō Kaneyoshi waited for a long time, but still Nijō Yasumichi did not express an opinion. He had no choice but to speak up helplessly.

"At present, we are truly the ones asking for help. A bit of empty reputation — I think we should not quibble over it any longer. After all, it is just the single character 'Sovereign.' If it must be changed, then let it be changed. If we want others to help us with such a great matter, it is impossible not to pay some price. As long as we can achieve our final goal, some pain and suffering can be endured."

Although he spoke lightly of it on the surface, this matter was of course anything but easy to handle. For the court to strip the character 'Sovereign' from the Tennō would, in the eyes of the realm, only be seen as the court discarding its dignity for the sake of national restoration. It would undoubtedly weaken the court's legitimacy and deal a very great blow to its authority.

For now, he only thought of muddling through. When the time came, they would downgrade the title in diplomatic correspondence between the two nations, while continuing to use the original title in domestic documents.

"Since matters have come to this, I have no other opinions to offer. I can only follow the lead of the Minister of the Left!" Nijō Yasumichi let out a long sigh, seeming to carry some reluctance, but he made no other indication.

Then, the two men returned to stand before Zhou Pu.

"My lord, after our discussion, regarding your noble nation's demand… we have decided to accept it." Ichijō Kaneyoshi looked at the other party with great seriousness. "I trust that, my lord, you can now see our sincerity, and our wholehearted devotion to the Son of Heaven of the Great Han?"

They actually agreed just like that? Zhou Pu was, on the contrary, somewhat surprised.

His sudden raising of such a high condition had originally been intended as a tactic. Even if it could not be achieved, he could make an exorbitant demand and then bargain down, at least seizing some initiative for himself. He had not expected these people to agree directly after only a few verbal protests. This was truly… It seemed that although these people spoke with impassioned fervor, they were not necessarily all that loyal to their Tennō.

Still, since they had agreed, this could be counted as a result. At the very least, he had already probed out their submissive attitude.

"Then what title does the Minister of the Left think would be best?" Zhou Pu asked with a smile.

"If we discard the character 'Sovereign,' using 'King' should be acceptable, shouldn't it? Calling him the King of the Nation of Japan would not be taboo, would it?" Ichijō Kaneyoshi asked cautiously. "I have heard that Goryeo handles it in this manner."

"That… should be acceptable." Although Zhou Pu had not received instructions from home, this matter did have a precedent, so he could grant preliminary permission. "However, if we can accept it, can your noble nation's monarch accept it?"

"For the sake of national restoration, we can endure even the greatest hardships, let alone matters of empty title." Ichijō Kaneyoshi gave a bitter smile. "His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor has already granted us full authority, so the matters we discuss, well…"

As he spoke to this point, he suddenly realized with a start that the four characters 'His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor' were already out of place. He immediately glossed over it smoothly. "He can accept it. As for within the country, I anticipate there will certainly be voices of opposition at the time, but as long as we devote our hearts to pacifying them, they should be able to be pacified…"

"Your lordship's wholehearted devotion is truly moving. Since that is the case, then our nation has no reason not to assist your noble court. As long as we unite with sincere solidarity, the great undertaking can be anticipated!"

"I only hope that day will arrive soon!" Ichijō Kaneyoshi said, both helplessly and expectantly.

After reaching a preliminary consensus on the most important issue, there were not many points of conflict left between them. Next, the three men carefully discussed the method of contact after Zhou Pu returned to Kyushu, especially the method of sending word before Great Han's army advanced. This point was particularly crucial, because the people in Kyoto would rely on this method to determine the timing for rescuing the two Majesties in the future.

By the time they finished their discussion, the hour was approaching late night. Under Ichijō Kaneyoshi's orders, Zhou Pu was escorted back along with Hashimoto Sanekiyo, while Ichijō Kaneyoshi and Nijō Yasumichi remained behind.

Ichijō Kaneyoshi tilted his head back to look at the sky. By now the sky had completely darkened, and the starlight was very dim. The profound darkness seemed capable of swallowing everything.

This deep, profound darkness swallowed up his earlier excitement, and also swallowed up his earlier anger. He was now completely calm, merely staring blankly at the night sky.

Nijō Yasumichi also said nothing, standing beside him to keep him company. Their robes fluttered slightly in the night breeze, giving them, for a moment, an air of unworldly detachment.

"I remember it was right here that you spoke to me about this matter back then…" After an unknown length of time, Ichijō Kaneyoshi finally spoke.

"Looking back on it now, it feels as if a whole lifetime has passed. I truly never imagined that things would progress to this extent so quickly!"

"Then does the Minister of the Left feel it is good or bad?" Nijō Yasumichi asked slowly. "I see your expression is rather strange, as if you are somewhat displeased."

"Fortune is where misfortune hides; misfortune is where fortune lies. Cause and effect cycle endlessly — how can it be clearly explained!" Ichijō Kaneyoshi suddenly let out a long sigh. "If it were before, I would have thought this a great good thing. But seeing it today, it may not necessarily be so. The Shogunate is a vicious wolf, but by borrowing a fierce tiger to drive them away, I fear that in the future we will also be controlled by this hungry tiger…"

"The vicious wolf is close by, wanting everything and seizing everything. The fierce tiger is far away from us, so at least the things it can seize are much fewer. There is still a difference here, is there not?" Nijō Yasumichi countered. "It is only a hollow title they want. I think what harm is there in complying with them?"

"Right now they only want a hollow title. What about later? Will they not want other things later? In the future, controlled by others, I fear we will still end up doing the tiger's bidding." Ichijō Kaneyoshi lowered his gaze dejectedly. "I fear that in the future we will truly have to bear the burden of infamy."

"Doing the tiger's bidding is still better than becoming lonely, wandering ghosts drifting in the wind!" Nijō Yasumichi said firmly. "Since Great Han needs us to maintain Japan, then at the very least we will have a place to stand, which is better than having to rely on the breath of others now. Think about it — with our status, the Shogunate fixes our annual household stipend at merely two or three thousand koku, not even equal to a samurai hatamoto, let alone comparable to a daimyo… Can we endure such humiliation?"

"Naturally, we cannot…" Ichijō Kaneyoshi said through gritted teeth. "But if we comply with them in every matter, sooner or later we will become traitors in the eyes of the realm, and when that time comes, even the place to stand that we sought with such difficulty will not be secure."

"How can we think so far ahead now!" Fearing that Ichijō Kaneyoshi was wavering, Nijō Yasumichi hastily stopped him. "Minister of the Left, now is not the time for hesitation!"

"I am not hesitating. It is just that the situation has developed somewhat unexpectedly, and there are some things I cannot help but think about." Ichijō Kaneyoshi shook his head. "We must give the realm an explanation. At the very least, we must prevent them from coming to hate His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor."

"Those who achieve great things do not fret over minor details. As long as we can reclaim power and position, what does paying a little price matter?" Nijō Yasumichi was somewhat puzzled.

"No, it won't do." Ichijō Kaneyoshi answered gently. "The court's authority depends on the authority of the Cloistered Emperor and the Tennō. If their authority is damaged, the court will be damaged. And if they are damaged, how will the court nobles manage themselves? So we must think of a way to minimize this loss as much as possible."

Then, he voiced his own idea. "Minister of the Right, when Great Han attacks and our secret agreement is proclaimed to the realm, I will take all responsibility upon myself, help His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor disavow any connection, and then resign and retire to the mountains and forests. At that time, the court will have to rely on you."

"Minister of the Left?" Nijō Yasumichi was greatly alarmed. "Why inflict such suffering on yourself?"

"As the elder of the Fujiwara clan and also a member of the imperial family, if the court truly reclaims power and position, for me to continue to lead the national administration would not only be contrary to propriety but would also easily invite suspicion and resentment." Ichijō Kaneyoshi answered calmly. "Therefore, since I must leave my post anyway, I might as well take the blame with me. This way, His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor and you can be much more at ease."

"But… but the realm will not believe that everything was merely your own obstinate doing!" Nijō Yasumichi still found it hard to accept.

"Even if we can deceive just one more person, that is still good. Then the pressure on you will be reduced by one part, and your future actions will be easier by one part." Ichijō Kaneyoshi brought his hands together, the sleeves of his wide robe hanging down with them. "As long as you can strive diligently and consolidate the foundation of the court, then this small sacrifice of mine will not have been in vain."

"But…" Nijō Yasumichi still wanted to say something.

"I have surveyed the history of China. Their dynasties last merely two or three hundred years… completely different from our thousand-year heritage." Before he could finish, Ichijō Kaneyoshi directly interrupted him and continued speaking on his own. "No matter how powerful a dynasty is in its early days, spreading military might across the realm, by its middle period it will quickly decline and decay. The martial and enterprising spirit will be worn away, until its final destruction, never to recover. The Former Han lasted four hundred years, yet the realm fell into great chaos in the middle; the Great Tang lasted three hundred years, yet after the An-Shi Rebellion in the middle, it was already thoroughly decayed. The Song had the Jingkang Incident; the Ming had the Tumu Crisis. They were all like this. Presumably, the current Han dynasty will also be like this… For now, although circumstances are stronger than us, we are, after all, isolated across the sea, beyond the reach of the Central Plains. As long as we endure humiliation and bear the burden, stalling for time and waiting for change, it will not be many years before Great Han falls into internal strife and decays. The day when we completely reclaim Japan will not be far off. We have waited for a thousand years; waiting a few more generations is nothing. Moreover, by then we will have an even deeper foundation and greater financial and material resources."

"Lord Left Minister speaks truly — this is exactly what I have been thinking," Nijo Yasumichi quickly echoed. "Though changing the name is a humiliation, so long as we bear the shame and shoulder the burden, the day will surely come when the clouds part and we see the bright moon. And I feel it will come soon. The Great Han relies so heavily on military force — the day when things reverse after reaching their extreme is inevitable."

"Let us hope so," Ichijo Kaneyoshi said with a bitter smile. "Though we may not live to see that day, at least we can hold onto the hope, so we need not carry guilt to the end of our lives."

"I will feel no guilt whatsoever," Nijo Yasumichi replied, raising his head proudly. "To gain something, one must pay a price. And once the goal is achieved, what does it matter if we paid some small price along the way?"

"You are certainly resolute..." Ichijo Kaneyoshi was somewhat taken aback, but soon his expression eased. "Fine, that is good. When the time comes, the court will need people like you to hold things together. People like me... it matters little even if we are demoted and sent away."

Seeing that Ichijo Kaneyoshi's resolve was already set, Nijo Yasumichi did not try to persuade him further, and simply remained silent.

Ichijo Kaneyoshi turned back again, gazing at the myriad lights of the distant households, and the deep, secluded palace walls hidden behind those faint glimmers. From the temple halls far away, the sound of flutes and mouth-organs drifted over from time to time — sounds deliberately made by the attendants they had brought to mask their secret meeting, a display of carefree revelry. Yet now, hearing it only made his heart feel heavy and stifled.

What is His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor doing at this moment? And how will he regard us when the time comes?

Enough — brooding over so much is pointless. Better to stumble along like a drunkard, swaying with each step. This life is like duckweed on the water — who is not carried along by forces beyond their control?

"Palace walls, moon dimmed, tear-blurred eyes — was there ever clarity in the desolate mound left behind?" The words escaped his lips unbidden.

This verse was originally a poem recited by Emperor Kiritsubo in The Tale of Genji, expressing the grief of losing a beloved. Yet now, spoken here, it seemed eerily fitting.

"The crane's cry pierces the dawn, rousing all from slumber — once more set the realm in order, awaiting a new clarity." After a moment of stunned silence, Nijo Yasumichi composed a line on the spot in reply.

The meaning of the poem he continued with shifted abruptly — the mournful, desolate mood of the first line suddenly transformed into one of spirited resolve and fervor.

"You really are..." Ichijo Kaneyoshi burst out laughing. "Good! Very good!"

After this discussion with the court nobles, to avoid exposure, Zhou Pu no longer dealt directly with Ichijo Kaneyoshi and Nijo Yasumichi. He only passed along the occasional message through Hashimoto Sanekiyo, exchanging information between the two sides. He spent his days staying at the Hashimoto residence, finding his own quiet enjoyment there.

Since the Mitsui trading caravan still had a few days before departure, he even had Hashimoto Sanekiyo and the others show him around the famous scenic spots and historic sites near Kyoto, including the renowned Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji — a satisfying diversion.

Only when the Mitsui caravan set out once more did he resume his journey back to Kyushu.

Compared to the trip here, however, his conduct this time was far more disciplined — his sole concern was returning to Kyushu as quickly as possible.