Chapter 1628: The Dagger Revealed Far Too Soon

The Yanagawa Domain lay within Bungo Province, right in the middle of Kyushu, wedged between the Great Han army landing at Hakata Bay to the west and the Satsuma Domain advancing north to the east. Because of his past friendship with Tachibana Muneshige, Shimazu Yoshihiro had hoped to avoid meeting him in battle if at all possible.

That morning, as soon as they entered Yanagawa Domain territory, they were immediately surrounded by domain soldiers arrayed in full readiness. Fortunately, they had come prepared and promptly declared their identities — to prevent any hotheaded common soldier from striking them down in anger, Zhou Pu did not give his own name, instead blending in among the group disguised as one of Shimazu Tadanori's bodyguards.

The moment Shimazu Tadanori announced his name, the faces of the surrounding domain soldiers all changed color. They had already heard how the Shimazu clan, seizing the opportunity of the chaos engulfing the entire island as Great Han attacked Kyushu, had betrayed the shogunate and attacked those domain lords against whom they held old grudges, and so they grew even more on guard.

They first dispatched riders at full gallop to the domain castle to report the situation, then slowly escorted Shimazu Tadanori's party toward the castle.

A domain of one hundred thousand koku was not very large in area, and Yanagawa Castle was not far from the border. By the time they reached noon, they had already arrived beneath the castle walls, and by then the messenger sent earlier had also returned with orders.

"The domain lord commands: bring them into the castle for him to interrogate personally," he said, relaying the order curtly.

And so Zhou Pu's group was led by the domain soldiers into the castle, which was now under heavy guard.

The domain soldiers standing watch on all sides did not bring Zhou Pu much fear, for he knew that since Tachibana Muneshige was willing to summon their party before him, it meant there was already some wavering in his heart — and under the present circumstances, so long as there was wavering in his heart, it was enough to exploit.

Soon, they arrived at the castle keep within the domain castle, and by this time Tachibana Muneshige and his retainers were already assembled in the great hall on the first floor.

The moment Zhou Pu entered the hall, he saw the old man kneeling on a tatami mat in the center of the room. His face was covered in wrinkles and his frame was gaunt; one look told you he was a man deep in his twilight years, appearing even older than Shimazu Tadatsune. Like everyone else, he wore his hair in a shaved-pate topknot, with a black court cap upon his head, and the hair exposed at the cap's edges had gone completely white. Even his face was filled with an indescribable weariness.

Yet even so, one could still discern in his bearing something of the sharp spirit of his younger days. Within that seemingly decrepit body was stored boundless vitality, as though he could rise at any moment to lead an army into battle against the enemy.

At the sight of Shimazu Tadanori and the others entering, Tachibana Muneshige merely gave a slight nod, his face revealing nothing whatsoever. Shimazu Tadanori and Zhou Pu both knelt directly to pay their respects, then sat kneeling on the floor without speaking a word.

"Is your Shimazu clan acting on its own, or in collusion with Great Han?" After a moment, the long-silent Tachibana Muneshige finally opened his mouth to ask. "You have prepared very thoroughly — I fear you made contact with the Han brigands long ago, did you not?"

His voice was not loud, yet it carried with perfect clarity throughout the entire hall.

He began with a question, but his tone toward the end was one of certainty, and he used the term "Han brigands" — it seemed he was still quite unyielding at present.

"May it please the domain lord, our Shimazu clan acted because we have long suffered under the shogunate's oppression, and furthermore certain contemptible wretches, borrowing the shogunate's authority, have treated us with gross disrespect. It is precisely because we have endured these wrongs for so many years that we resolved to take revenge — not because we were incited by anyone," Shimazu Tadanori answered, weighing every word. "The shogunate is now under attack from Great Han, and Kyushu looks set to fall — for us, this is a heaven-sent opportunity, and so we have decided to seize this chance to settle accounts with the shogunate and those who have played the fox exploiting the tiger's might! Our domain lord has always enjoyed excellent relations with you, and he knows well the grievances and oppression you have suffered at the shogunate's hands. That is why our domain lord sent me here — to join with you in planning a great undertaking!"

Shimazu Tadanori's words stirred a ripple of commotion among the house elders present, and everyone's faces grew even more troubled. Those assembled were all shrewd men; they could naturally see that Shimazu Tadanori had not directly answered the question of whether there had been prior collusion with Great Han, but had merely defended the Shimazu clan's actions — clearly the answer was already plain to see.

However, unlike the house elders whose faces had changed color, Tachibana Muneshige was far more composed. It seemed he had long since guessed this answer in his heart.

"The Shimazu clan... truly reckless beyond all bounds." Whether it was praise or mockery, he suddenly laughed coolly. "Colluding with the Han brigands, plunging Japan into misery and suffering — you really have the nerve!"

"Domain lord, I cannot agree with those words." Feeling the sudden pressure bearing down on him, Shimazu Tadanori's expression grew even more solemn. "The oppression our Shimazu clan suffered before — you witnessed it yourself. How greedy and tyrannical the shogunate has been — you too must have felt it deeply... Though we were granted the Aoi crest and the Matsudaira surname, that was nothing but the shogunate's false co-optation. In truth, the shogunate has never forgiven us for having once opposed them! Given everything the shogunate has always done, if we did nothing, sooner or later they would move against us. They would use every kind of pretext to strip away our fiefs, then either transfer us or abolish our domain outright, reducing our Shimazu clan to the same fate as the Fukushima and Tanaka families! Since that is the case, rather than sit waiting for death, we might as well stake everything on one desperate fight, seizing this rare chance to rise up and strike back, so that the shogunate can never again threaten the Shimazu clan! Domain lord, please consider — does the threat the shogunate poses to us not fall upon your head just the same? Is our plight not the same as yours? How could a peerless hero such as yourself endure the humiliation of groveling beneath the Tokugawa clan? Rather than suffer in silence, why not strike back together with us!"

He delivered this speech with great fervor, but Tachibana Muneshige was not moved by it. He merely watched him calmly, as though pondering just how much sincerity lay within those words.

"That the shogunate oppresses you... is indeed true, as everyone can see. But does Great Han not also bully others? Does Great Han not come attacking precisely to extract benefits from Japan?" After a moment, he said coolly, "Under the shogunate's rule now, though we are not comfortable, we are at least still lords of our domains. But if Great Han wins, how much room will they leave for us? Should Great Han prove even harsher than the shogunate, by then I fear we would regret it beyond all remedy. Besides, however bad the shogunate may be, they are still men of Japan. Great Han is a calamity invading from without. We do not help the shogunate eliminate this calamity, but instead assist Great Han in attacking the shogunate — what do you think the realm will make of that? And how much benefit do you think we can gain from it?"

"The shogunate is the shogunate, not Japan. The realm is not the Tokugawa clan's realm. The Imperial Court is the true legitimate authority of Japan. The shogunate has bullied not only us, but the Court as well! The Tokugawa clan, relying on deceit and brutality, usurped the reins of government after the Taikō's death, and repeatedly insulted the Court and the Emperor. It is clear they have no loyalty or righteousness in their hearts, and even less are they qualified to represent Japan! Great Han is the dynasty of the Central Plain. The Central Plain and our country have been on friendly terms for generations and have traded with one another for many years. Yet ever since the Tokugawa shogunate was founded, they have run amok with lawless and outrageous conduct, incurring the wrath of both heaven and the people, and causing relations between our two nations to deteriorate day by day. The Son of Heaven of Great Han, seeing the shogunate bully its sovereign, corrupt the moral order, and act with tyrannical cruelty and reckless abandon, thus resolved to launch a punitive campaign against the shogunate. This is to restore our nation's moral order, to deliver the suffering masses of the realm — it is by no means enmity against Japan! Even the Imperial Court is most satisfied with Great Han's action."

"The Imperial Court... is most satisfied?" The whispered murmurs in the hall grew louder, and even Tachibana Muneshige at last showed a faint flicker of wavering. "The Court has already joined forces with the men of Great Han? How do you know this?"

This news was simply too shocking. The Imperial Court had always been the legitimate authority of the nation of Japan. Though it held little actual power, it possessed the great moral mandate. If the Court supported Great Han and issued a proclamation rousing the realm to crusade against the shogunate, then the Tokugawa shogunate would likely lose much of its moral high ground — at the very least, the shogunate could no longer claim to be resisting the Han brigands on behalf of the nation of Japan.

"Ever since the Son of Heaven of Great Han resolved to use force against the shogunate, he naturally dispatched envoys to understand the actual situation in Japan, and we have been in contact with Great Han's envoys all along." With a hint of barely concealed pride, Shimazu Tadanori raised his head and answered. "It was this very envoy who made contact with the Imperial Court and reached an agreement with them — and before Great Han attacked Kyushu, we had already sent men to notify the Court. The Court must have, according to the prior arrangement, already enabled His Cloistered Majesty and several key ministers to flee Kyoto. At this very moment, Kyoto is likely in utter chaos, and the shogunate, at least in the short term, will be unable to borrow the Court's name to rally the realm against Great Han. Without the moral mandate in hand, relying solely on its own strength, how could the shogunate possibly be a match for Great Han?"

"The Court and His Cloistered Majesty have already fled Kyoto?" Tachibana Muneshige was even more astonished, but having weathered countless storms in his life, he quickly regained his composure. "Great Han... truly has far-reaching stratagems, having accomplished so much while the shogunate remained utterly oblivious..."

"Indeed, so please see, domain lord — what capital does the shogunate still possess now to oppose Great Han?" Shimazu Tadanori smiled. "Great Han has already landed and is engaging the shogunate's forces in several places. As you can see, the shogunate, far from defeating Great Han, cannot even put up a resistance! Nagasaki and Fukuoka have already collapsed... Sooner or later, Great Han will advance across all of Kyushu and sweep away the shogunate's power on the island in one stroke! Combined with our Shimazu clan's strength, maintaining stability across all of Kyushu should be well within reach."

This was both encouragement and a veiled threat — the Yanagawa Domain was on the island of Kyushu. If Great Han could sweep through the shogunate's armies and occupy Kyushu, they would inevitably reach the Yanagawa Domain, and the Shimazu clan would also help them pacify every corner of Kyushu. If the Yanagawa Domain chose to stand against Great Han, it would surely face a pincer attack from both sides.

For the Yanagawa Domain, a domain of one hundred thousand koku, facing the Satsuma Domain alone was already a severe strain, let alone facing the Great Han military edge that was driving the shogunate into steady retreat. No wonder everyone's face lost color at these words.

"The shogunate's forces in Kyushu were few in number to begin with and of uneven quality — it is only natural they cannot defeat Great Han. However, the shogunate still has a large army in Honshu. Great Han may not necessarily prevail, and besides... even if the Imperial Court throws in its lot with Great Han, I fear it will be difficult to win the hearts and minds of the realm." After a long while, Tachibana Muneshige spoke.

"The shogunate does indeed have a large army in Honshu, but that is a thousand li away — how can it attend to Kyushu now?" Shimazu Tadanori was unhurried. "With Great Han attacking all the way like this and the shogunate's forces retreating in defeat after defeat, holding onto their old stronghold in the Kantō would already be a stroke of heavenly fortune — how could they possibly speak of retaking Kyushu? Domain lord, do not forget, Edo is far beyond the horizon, but Great Han's army has already reached your very doorstep. Though their occupied zone is not yet large, several of the shogunate's main armies have already been routed by them. Who knows when they might strike at the Yanagawa Domain?"

Tachibana Muneshige fell silent once more.

In his heart, he knew the other man's words were quite correct. Great Han had now been ashore for three days. Though no definite news had come through, from the chaotic rumors and reports arriving from all sides, he could piece together the rough outline of the truth — at the very least, the shogunate was now completely unable to stop Great Han's landing, and in several engagements the shogunate's forces had collapsed at the first clash. The shogunate had already chosen to retreat and defend the interior. That the Shimazu clan could act so recklessly without the shogunate mounting any counterattack at all also showed the shogunate's current dire straits.

Now, the shogunate could neither stop Great Han nor stop the Shimazu. Its rule over Kyushu was clearly about to end. Could he still stand on the shogunate's side and oppose Great Han and the Shimazu clan?

As time slipped away, the need to make a choice grew ever more urgent.

His own domain had only this much military strength. An enemy the shogunate itself could not defeat, he certainly could not defeat either. Even if he wished to fight for the shogunate, it would likely be futile — nothing more than hurling eggs against a rock.

To die a glorious death, or to struggle for survival. If he were a single man, he could choose a glorious death — but he was not a single man. He was the head of a family and a domain; he could not consider the matter from his own perspective alone.

The choice was not a difficult one to make.

And yet... he did not wish to declare his stance so plainly. He still wanted to secure the best possible terms for himself and for the Tachibana family.

"The shogunate in Kyushu has collapsed, and Great Han's occupation of Kyushu is already an obvious fact — this I do not wish to deny. Your Shimazu clan has, for the moment, placed your bets correctly. If the shogunate never manages to fight its way back, I fear the island of Kyushu will become your domain. But... I am not a man who clings to life in fear of death, nor will I be cowed by threats of force." After a long silence, he finally spoke. "I did indeed have many personal grievances with the shogunate in the past, but Lord Ieyasu and Lord Hidetada also bestowed upon me no small measure of grace. At the very least, it was by their grace that I was able to return to the Yanagawa Domain and become its lord once more. This debt of gratitude I hold in my heart."

"Domain lord, what debt of gratitude can the shogunate possibly claim toward you? They merely returned to you what was originally yours — that is no debt of gratitude at all!" His wavering had already been detected by Shimazu Tadanori, who raised his voice. "They first humiliated you, then gave you a few petty favors — can that truly be called gratitude? The one who truly showed you grace — was that not the Taikō? You must still remember how generously the Taikō treated you back then, do you not? And look at what fate befell the Taikō's family! Tokugawa Ieyasu groveled and fawned while the Taikō lived, but once the Taikō was dead, he showed a completely different face. They took advantage of Lord Hideyori's youth to seize everything of the Toyotomi clan, and then killed Lord Hideyori, wiping out the Toyotomi line entirely... How utterly shameless and vicious! The Tokugawa clan are wolves — what gratitude or righteousness can there be in their hearts? Their co-optation of you now is merely because they wish to use you. Do you think you are safe now? Do not forget that they long to eliminate every domain under heaven, to bring all the land under the Tokugawa name!"

"The matter of the Taikō... is indeed most lamentable." Tachibana Muneshige sighed. "In this affair, the Tokugawa clan truly wounded the hearts of all..."

"Indeed! The Tokugawa clan relies solely on military force to coerce the realm, leaving men of insight fuming in silent rage — what gratitude do they have toward the people of the realm?" Shimazu Tadanori loudly concurred. "Not only is there no gratitude, there is enmity! We, as former retainers of the Taikō, are duty-bound to avenge Lord Hideyori!"

This claim was, in truth, quite unreasonable. Both the Shimazu and Tachibana clans had sent troops to assist the Tokugawa shogunate during its two campaigns against Osaka. Though this had been done under duress and with only token forces, they were at the very least in no position to cry out loudly as loyal retainers of the Toyotomi — and yet that was exactly what they were doing.

"I wish to ask — exactly what terms has Great Han offered your Shimazu clan?" Tachibana Muneshige asked.

This question stumped Shimazu Tadanori, who had been so impassioned all along. For a moment, he hesitated.

The terms Great Han had agreed to were to bestow the entire island of Kyushu upon the Shimazu clan. But the Tachibana family was also on Kyushu — which meant that after the war, the Tachibana family's territory would become the property of the Shimazu clan. This was something he dared not say aloud right now.

He glanced slightly toward Zhou Pu at his side, as if seeking guidance on how to reply.

Zhou Pu, however, merely smiled faintly, then raised his head and looked at Tachibana Muneshige.

"After the war, should Great Han be victorious, the entire island of Kyushu will be bestowed upon the Shimazu clan as a reward for their merit in being the first to follow our Great Han."

No one paid attention to his identity; instead, everyone was stunned by these words.

"What!" Not only did a clamor erupt around them, but even Tachibana Muneshige was shocked. He slammed his hand heavily on the tatami mat before him. "Then what place is left for our Tachibana family! You... you come to recruit us with terms like these? Is this not pushing humiliation too far! We of the Tachibana clan would rather die in battle than swallow disgrace and shame as vassals of the Shimazu!"