Chapter 1639: Using the General Situation for Private Ends

Under the soldiers' watchful eyes, as if facing a formidable enemy, Mori Motonobu was brought before the tent where Bi Su was stationed.

Having had the experience of receiving the Tachibana family in the Yanagawa Domain, Bi Su did not appear lost or at a loss this time. Instead, he stood before the man with an arrogant expression. His tall and sturdy frame, much taller than Mori Motonobu, further projected the oppressive force of a great nation over a small domain.

Since they had already begun setting up camp, many Great Han soldiers were starting fires to boil water and soak their dry rations and noodles. Cooking smoke was everywhere, thick and heavy, reducing visibility in a scene of bustling activity.

The smoke stung both their noses, but Mori Motonobu still paid his respects to Bi Su with the utmost deference, kneeling down without a care for the trampled mud beneath him.

"Greetings to the General of the Great Han army."

"Are you the envoy from the Mori family of the Chōshū Domain?" Bi Su waved his fingers, gesturing for Mori Motonobu to stand. "What business do you have?"

"The domain has entrusted me with several matters; I beg the General's permission to relay them one by one." Mori Motonobu rose calmly. "First, our greatest concern is the Great Han's attitude toward our humble domain. We have seen the manifesto issued by your esteemed nation's envoy. It explicitly lists the Shogunate and certain daimyo as enemies, declaring they will be utterly destroyed... May I ask, then, what the Great Han intends to do with our Chōshū Domain?"

"We came to Japan to punish the Shogunate and restore order to your nation. We do not wish to make an enemy of all Japan, nor do we wish to attack anyone without cause. I trust your domain has also seen that, although we intend to chastise several daimyo besides the Shogunate, our manifesto has already listed their crimes. They are targeted only because of their obstinate refusal to change and their subservience to the Shogunate."

Following the Great Han's established strategy, Bi Su answered Mori Motonobu's question. "Therefore, if your domain has not aided the Shogunate in opposing us, we will not consider your domain an enemy and will guarantee its safety."

"But if our humble domain were to follow the Shogunate or oppose the Great Han's military might, we would then be deemed enemies and struck down without mercy, correct?" Mori Motonobu pressed.

"Correct." Bi Su answered without any hesitation. "So it all depends on the choice your domain makes."

Seeing the Great Han officer so uncompromising, Mori Motonobu hesitated slightly, but quickly regained his composure.

"Our humble domain has always harbored deep-seated hatred for the Shogunate. Previously, we only feigned compliance out of fear of the Shogunate's power, but in our hearts, we have never forgotten the old grudges." Mori Motonobu immediately declared his stance. "Before I was dispatched, a consensus had already been reached within the domain—we will absolutely not fight to the death for the Shogunate and make an enemy of your esteemed nation."

During the previous Warring States era, the Mori family was also a regional power. After generations of management, they occupied a vast territory. At their peak, they controlled lands across seven provinces yielding nearly two million koku and harbored ambitions of seizing all of Japan. However, after the successive rises of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, they suffered major setbacks.

To realize his ambition of unifying Japan, Oda Nobunaga campaigned in all directions, his power expanding day by day until it finally reached the Mori family's sphere of influence, making conflict between the two families inevitable.

After the war began, Oda Nobunaga dispatched his subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi to lead the campaign. After many battles, the Mori family found themselves at a disadvantage. Yet just at that moment, at the height of his power, Oda Nobunaga was assassinated by his general Akechi Mitsuhide in the Honnō-ji Incident. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was forced to withdraw his troops under the condition that the Mori family cede three provinces, returning to join the struggle for Oda Nobunaga's political legacy.

Because of this war with Hideyoshi, after internal deliberation, the Mori family concluded that Japan would fall into Toyotomi Hideyoshi's hands. They thus had no choice but to temporarily rein in their ambitions and become staunch supporters of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

To repay the Mori family's support, Toyotomi Hideyoshi consistently courted and treated them with great leniency. Before the Taikō Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death, Terumoto was appointed as one of the "Council of Five Elders," responsible for deliberating policy and jointly assisting the young lord Toyotomi Hideyori until he came of age.

The Council of Five Elders included Tokugawa Ieyasu, Maeda Toshiie, Ukita Hideie, Mōri Terumoto, and Kobayakawa Takakage (after Kobayakawa Takakage's death, Uesugi Kagekatsu replaced him). Among them, Mōri Terumoto's power was ranked second only to the Inner Minister Tokugawa Ieyasu, with an annual income approaching 1.12 million koku.

However, with Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death, a situation of a young lord and powerful vassals, coupled with internal discord and strife among the Toyotomi retainers, the Mori family's ambitions began to stir once more. Amidst the fierce struggles, the powerful figures coveting Toyotomi Hideyoshi's political legacy gradually split into two factions. One was led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, while the Mori family's then-head, Mōri Terumoto, joined the other faction and became one of its leading figures.

The two factions grew increasingly irreconcilable through repeated conflicts, and finally resorted to arms to decide the outcome. Mōri Terumoto, as the Supreme Commander of the Western Army, became Tokugawa Ieyasu's primary opponent.

However, in the decisive Battle of Sekigahara, the Western Army suffered a crushing defeat due to factors such as the divided loyalties of its commanders, poor coordination, and the exhaustion of a long expedition. As the main force of the Western Army, the Mori family's troops consequently sustained massive losses.

An even greater blow followed. After defeating the Western Army and establishing his dominance over Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu began to methodically weaken the Mori family through various means. The most direct and effective method was the reduction of their fief—the Mori family's territory was slashed from 1.2 million koku to 370,000 koku, limited to just the two provinces of Suō and Nagato. Even their ancestral homeland, Aki Province, was forcibly stripped away by the Shogunate.

Although the Mori family accepted this punishment due to circumstances beyond their control, the seeds of hatred were planted deep in their hearts. From the lord down to the retainers, they never forgot their desire for revenge, seeking every possible way to reclaim everything they had lost in the past. Thus, now that the Great Han had arrived and Tokugawa rule was visibly crumbling, at least in the western provinces, the Mori family privately began to entertain other ideas.

They sent Mori Motonobu firstly to ascertain the Great Han's attitude—to see if they were determined to make an enemy of the Mori family—and secondly to explore opportunities for cooperation between the two sides, or at least a chance for the Mori family to act in their own interest under the circumstances.

The Great Han army had demonstrated overwhelming combat power from the very start, maintaining crushing military superiority both on land and at sea. Even though the two sides had yet to clash, everyone in the Chōshū Domain understood that their current military strength absolutely could not withstand an assault by the Great Han army.

Therefore, after Bi Su explicitly stated that the Mori family would not be considered an enemy as long as they did not fight to the death for the Shogunate, he immediately clarified his stance, deeply fearful of inviting undeserved calamity because of the Shogunate.

"Your domain is indeed deeply cognizant of the greater good." Seeing the other party so sensible, Bi Su smiled calmly. "Then I can give you my assurance."

Although the Mori family's strength might not be particularly great, they held the southernmost tip of Honshū, the necessary route for the Great Han army's northward march to Kyoto. If they could cooperate with the Great Han army, it would naturally be a good thing. For the Great Han army, the fewer enemies to face, the better.

However, precisely because of this, he could not show any secret delight before them. He deliberately acted very reserved, as if the Mori family's attitude held little importance to him.

"Many thanks, General. With this, our humble domain can set its mind at ease." Having received Bi Su's personal guarantee, Mori Motonobu visibly relaxed. "Our Mori family's enmity with the Shogunate runs too deep; there is absolutely no reason for us to help them. We only wish that the Great Han can press on with full force and thoroughly defeat the Tokugawa Shogunate, venting our long-held frustration!"

Although he spoke these words, Mori Motonobu could also see that this man was merely a battlefield officer of the Great Han. While his rank was high, he likely could not make a definitive decision on behalf of the Great Han court. Therefore, his statement could not be fully trusted.

Although after lengthy analysis, the Chōshū Domain leadership had concluded that the Great Han would treat leniently those daimyo who remained neutral or defected to them—and their treatment of the Shimazu and Tachibana families had already demonstrated this—without a reliable guarantee, their hearts remained uneasy.

They still had to meet the Great Han's Supreme Commander and the Great Han envoy who issued the "Kyushu Reward and Punishment Decree," establish contact, and confirm their stance.

After a moment of silence between the two, seeing that the Great Han general before him showed no intention of speaking, Mori Motonobu had no choice but to continue.

"We understand the General's meaning, and we will certainly cooperate with the General's actions. As long as the Great Han army wishes to march north and engage the Shogunate, our humble domain will absolutely offer no obstruction. Now that the Great Han army has achieved illustrious military success in Kyushu, I presume the advance on Kyoto will soon begin... General, might you permit us envoys to go and pay our respects to your army's Supreme Commander and the envoy sent by your nation's Son of Heaven?"

"If you wish to pay your respects, you are naturally free to go." Bi Su had no intention of making things difficult for them. "Our Great Han's Supreme Commander and envoy are now stationed in Nagasaki Castle. If you wish to go, then go. I will have some soldiers escort you. However, order on Kyushu Island is still somewhat chaotic, so the envoy must be careful on the road."

"Many thanks for the General's kind consideration; we will naturally be careful." Although hearing that Nagasaki had fallen into Great Han hands and become the station for their top military and political officials was somewhat stirring, Mori Motonobu once again bowed to Bi Su.

Then, he suddenly lowered his voice.

"If your esteemed army truly holds a deep prejudice against the Hosokawa family and wishes to use their lives to assert authority, our Mori family could perhaps assist."

Before Bi Su could express an opinion, Mori Motonobu suddenly smiled somewhat slyly. "To be frank with the General, within Kokura Castle right now, many are already dissatisfied with the Hosokawa family. None of them wish to follow the Hosokawa to their deaths. If the General truly desires their lives, we can mediate in secret."

Because he inwardly hoped the Mori family would come to his aid, ever since the Mori envoy arrived, Hosokawa Tadatoshi had been extremely attentive to them, without much guard. The Mori family originally had frequent dealings with the Kokura Domain, and this time they took even greater advantage of the opportunity to secretly hold talks with some important figures within the domain—indeed, few were willing to die as martyrs for the Hosokawa family and the Shogunate.

Planning to use the Hosokawa family as a tool to curry favor with our Great Han? Bi Su sneered inwardly.

Still, if it could help the Great Han army suffer fewer losses, it was always a good thing.

"Then let it be as the envoy suggests." He laughed heartily. "Please go back and tell those with such intentions: if they surrender the castle within three days, we only want the lives of the entire Hosokawa clan. If it is not done after three days, then do not blame us!"

"I trust they will make a wise judgment." Mori Motonobu still wore a smile.

That same day, Mori Motonobu returned to the castle and relayed to the domain lord, Hosokawa Tadatoshi, the news that the Great Han army was willing to spare the Hosokawa family. However, his joy did not last long. That very night, several high-ranking domain officials who had received the true information launched a mutiny in the dead of night. Hosokawa Tadatoshi and his children were all killed.

Only one day of the three-day deadline Bi Su had given had passed before Kokura Castle fell with the Mori family's help. The Great Han army advanced to the northernmost tip of Kyushu Island, thereby officially gaining control over the entire island.

This was a brilliant victory, though for them, it was merely the completion of the first part of their overall objective. The road ahead remained long.

After taking Kokura Castle, a group of Great Han soldiers escorted Mori Motonobu south to Nagasaki, preparing for him to pay his respects to the Great Han's Supreme Commander and envoy. However, their trip was in vain, for at that time, Zhao Song, Zhou Pu, and the others had already taken the various domain lords who had joined the campaign to attack Kurume Castle.

Unwilling to waste time waiting, Mori Motonobu simply set out again, advancing from Nagasaki toward Kurume Castle. This time, he finally caught up with Zhou Pu and the others.

Because the Kurume Domain had been completely pacified, Zhou Pu and Zhao Song had originally planned to return with the army. But upon hearing news of the arrival of an envoy from the Mori family of the Chōshū Domain, Zhou Pu still made time to receive this envoy.

"I am Mori Motonobu, here to pay respects to the Heavenly Envoy!" Upon meeting, Mori Motonobu immediately bowed to this envoy with the utmost deference.

Based on what he had witnessed along the way, especially the devastation in Kyushu and the military might of the Great Han army, his determination to ensure the Chōshū Domain avoided this military disaster and did not die as a blindly loyal martyr for the Shogunate had grown even firmer.

On his journey to Kurume, he had pondered several times how to more gracefully pledge allegiance to the Great Han, and especially how to demonstrate his domain's status and role to increase the Great Han's regard for them, securing a more important position for the post-war Mori family.

Therefore, upon meeting Zhou Pu, he was filled with awe and trepidation, intent on showing him the utmost respect, for he knew that this man represented the Great Han Son of Heaven, and a few casual words from him could determine the Mori family's standing in post-war Japan.

"You may dispense with formalities." Zhou Pu casually bade him rise.

After this period of dealing with those awestruck and fearful daimyo, Zhou Pu had grown accustomed to others treating him with extreme deference. His every gesture now carried a bit more of the dignity and pride befitting a great nation's envoy—though, because his previously shaved head had only now grown out some short stubble, he looked somewhat incongruous. Yet no one dared show him the slightest disrespect because of it.

"Since your domain has sent you to see me, I presume you have already reached a decision?" Zhou Pu came straight to the point.

"Yes, our domain wishes to pledge allegiance to the Great Han, just as the Shimazu and Tachibana houses have done." Mōri Motonobu knelt to the ground once more, then touched his forehead to the floor. "We beg the Heavenly Envoy to show mercy and allow our domain to retain its original lands and population."

"We have come to suppress the shogunate, not to make enemies of the various domains. All daimyō who pledge allegiance to us may keep their lands, and may even receive additional enfeoffment." Zhou Pu calmly offered them a lure of gain. "However… your domain is, after all, on the island of Honshū, where territorial entanglements are many. Has your entire domain truly reached a unanimous agreement to pledge allegiance to our nation?"

"Our domain has long harbored a blood-deep hatred for the shogunate. The Tokugawa shogunate reduced our fief without cause, inflicting enormous losses upon us. The previous daimyō died with this grievance festering in his heart, and even now, recalling it fills everyone in our domain, high and low, with gnashing hatred… Now that an opportunity to resist the shogunate has come, how could we let it pass!" Mōri Motonobu answered with considerable fervor. "Pledging allegiance to the Great Han and loyally serving the royal mandate — this is the unanimous position of our domain's senior ministers, and the daimyō's decision as well, so it can certainly be carried out. Of course, there are some obstinate and benighted fools within the domain who fail to recognize the times, but we can eliminate them ourselves without troubling the Heavenly Envoy…"

Zhou Pu had no way of knowing that the "obstinate and benighted fools" he spoke of were, in fact, none other than certain senior ministers within the Mōri house itself.

After the defeat at Sekigahara and the severe reduction of his domain's fief, Mōri Terumoto had been filled with despair and deep dejection. He had passed the position of family head to Mōri Hidenari very early on, but because Hidenari was far too young at the time, Terumoto continued to hold real power all along.

Eight years ago, Mōri Terumoto passed away. By then, Mōri Hidenari was already thirty years old. The administration of the domain should have rightfully and legitimately passed to Hidenari as daimyō, yet a problem arose.

The Mōri house senior minister Mōri Hidenari, having previously served as Mōri Terumoto's adopted son and senior general, had achieved illustrious military merits and become a person upon whom Terumoto heavily relied. During the Sekigahara campaign, he had fought strenuously for the Mōri house. However, after Sekigahara, seeing the shogunate's overwhelming power, he had thrown himself under the Tokugawa house's banner and was appointed by the shogunate as daimyō of the Chōfu Domain, a branch domain of the Chōshū Domain, and resided permanently in Edo, becoming a trusted confidant of successive shōguns.

He served the shogunate with all his heart, married an adopted daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and repeatedly schemed to further weaken the Chōshū Domain, once even plotting to entice Mōri Naritaka, the daimyō of another Mōri branch domain, to break away from the Mōri main house.

After Mōri Terumoto's death, he set himself up as Mōri Hidenari's guardian, constantly manipulating the affairs of the Chōshū Domain from afar within Edo Castle, and was deeply resented by the daimyō Mōri Hidenari — which was a major reason why Mōri Hidenari had so readily resolved to betray the shogunate.

Therefore, Mōri Hidenari intended to use this opportunity to purge Mōri Hidenari's adherents within the domain, denouncing them all as shogunate traitors — even though they, too, might very well have wished to surrender to the Great Han.