Chapter 1653: At My Mercy

1653. Chapter 1653 – At My Mercy

Just as Zhou Pu was making his bold declaration, the main body of the Han army had largely finished disembarking. They reassembled their formations according to their units and mustered on the shore, standing behind Zhou Pu in battle-ready posture — a silent annotation to his proud words.

To prevent the Mōri clan from wavering, he had previously concealed the true size of the Han army and the number of troops prepared to advance north. But now, with the entire force marching toward Kyoto, even if the other side discovered the truth, it was already too late — they could only advance at the Han's pace. Having already raised the banner of rebellion and formally opposed the shogunate, there was no road back for them.

Mōri Hidenari's expression stiffened for a moment, then quickly relaxed again, even showing a trace of delight.

Although Zhou Pu's words just now had clearly carried some mockery and contempt toward him, he could not afford to dwell on that now. Instead, he felt relieved that the Han army had deployed in this way, sparing him from bearing the greatest responsibility and risk.

If the Han relied on their naval strength to strike directly at Kantō and force a decisive battle with the shogunate, the shogunate would surely muster every last soldier to fight them, defending the ancestral heartland and seat of their capital — and that meant their defense of Kyoto would certainly not be at full strength. The resistance he himself would face would not be especially fierce.

For him, this was of course excellent news.

And not just for him — even the domain officials behind him wore expressions of relief. When they had first heard that the Han were sending only a thousand troops to accompany them in the march on Kyoto, they had all been badly startled. Now their worries were finally dispelled.

Though they did not know exactly how the Han planned to fight the decisive battle against the shogunate, for the Mōri clan — who only wanted to recover their family's old territories and had no ambition to dominate the realm — as long as the western provinces were pacified and the shogunate in the east was too weakened to strike back, they need not trouble themselves with anything else.

"My lord, to welcome you and the heavenly troops, we have already prepared lodgings and meals within the domain. However, our humble domain is crude and simple — please do not take offense." In excellent spirits, Mōri Hidenari's face was wreathed in smiles. "I beg you, my lord, to accompany me to the domain castle."

Yet Zhou Pu did not agree. Instead, he walked over to a person standing beside Mōri Hidenari.

"Lord Ufu, it has been many days since we parted. I trust you have been well?"

He had just now spotted Nijō Yasumichi among this group. Because he had dealt with Nijō Yasumichi before and had formed a fairly good impression of him, Zhou Pu decided to greet him first — or at the very least, to establish a connection with someone from the Japanese court.

When Nijō Yasumichi heard that the Mōri clan had accepted the Han's terms, decided to surrender as quickly as possible, and were preparing to welcome the Celestial Dynasty's envoy, he had volunteered to join the welcoming party. Because Mōri Hidenari felt somewhat guilty toward him, he had agreed directly and brought him along to Shimonoseki.

He had bowed to Zhou Pu along with Mōri Hidenari and the other domain officials, inconspicuous among the crowd. But inwardly he was quite anxious, wanting to exchange words with Zhou Pu. He had already been about to speak up on his own, so when he saw the Han envoy walk toward him of his own accord, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your outer vassal Nijō Yasumichi greets the Heavenly Envoy." Nijō Yasumichi, who had already risen to his feet, bowed deeply to Zhou Pu with hands clasped. "The Heavenly Envoy has kept his word — our humble country is endlessly grateful!"

Given the current circumstances, Nijō Yasumichi was exceptionally deferential toward Zhou Pu, already referring to himself in his speech as a minister of a tributary state.

"Dispatching troops to your country was the decision of our Son of Heaven. This official dares not claim credit." Zhou Pu merely nodded coolly at him, quite satisfied with his attitude. "This is not a convenient place for lengthy talk. We are about to march into the domain — Lord Ufu, would you travel with me?"

"Thank you, my lord!" Nijō Yasumichi was delighted once more and hastily agreed.

After Zhou Pu gave the order to depart, the Mōri clansmen and domain troops on the shore, along with the Han army, began their grand march into Chōshū domain. The domain troops lined both sides, while the Han landing force strode proudly down the center in marching column — far more imposing and gallant in bearing than the domain soldiers.

Because this was the first time a Han envoy had set foot on the soil of Honshū, the Mōri clan considered it deeply significant. Moreover, they hoped to curry favor with Zhou Pu and make amends for the impact of their earlier conduct, so they had deliberately arranged an exceptionally grand reception. Not only had the entire Mōri main family turned out in full force, but even the commanders under the Mōri — except those guarding the northern border against attacks from the Asano clan and shogunate forces — had all arrived.

Their painstaking arrangements had, it seemed, achieved the desired effect. At least from their perspective, the Han Heavenly Envoy had set aside past grievances, conversed amicably with their domain lord, and showed no intention of retracting the earlier promise to restore the Mōri clan's 1.2 million koku of old territory. As for the title of Grand Minister of State, presumably the Han would not care about that.

With that sense of relief, the Mōri clan's upper echelon rode on horseback, clustering around Zhou Pu as they accompanied him toward the domain castle. However, they wisely kept their distance, for the Han envoy was in conversation with the Udaijin Nijō Yasumichi.

Earlier, worried that Zhou Pu still harbored resentment over the court's actions, Nijō Yasumichi had been somewhat anxious. But after chatting and laughing with Zhou Pu for a while just now, he felt much more at ease. This Han envoy had no intention of pursuing the matter against them; on the contrary, he was deliberately reassuring him.

"When we parted in Kyoto, we pledged to meet again. Yet even then, I knew the road ahead was perilous and dared not count on luck — rather, I had steeled myself for death." Amid the rustling summer wind, Nijō Yasumichi let out a long sigh. "By Heaven's grace, everything has gone fairly smoothly. His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor and His Majesty the Emperor escaped safely, and I have preserved my own life as well... On behalf of His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor and our country's court, I must now also thank the Heavenly Envoy."

"Your country's national line has endured a thousand years, protected by its successive ancestors. Your country's sovereign is favored by fortune and naturally would not fall prey to a handful of petty villains." Zhou Pu's reply was quite courteous, yet seemed to carry a hidden thorn. "However... Lord Ufu, I presume you have already explained the terms we previously agreed upon to your country's sovereign? May I ask his thoughts on the matter?"

This question struck straight at the heart of the issue, and Nijō Yasumichi's earlier excitement gradually faded.

This Han envoy, with a question that was not particularly polite, was subtly reminding him that the titles "Cloistered Emperor" and "Emperor" he had just used were no longer appropriate.

To be so openly reproached to his face was, of course, like a bucket of cold water dashed over him. Disappointment and dejection were unavoidable, but he also knew that at this juncture, there was no turning back. A little humiliation meant nothing.

After a moment of stunned silence, he nodded gently and answered with considerable deference, "Reporting to my lord, our country's sovereign was previously informed of the agreement that Lord Sadaijin and I reached after discussions with you. He too is grateful for the Celestial Dynasty's grace in restoring the nation and feels that he should repay the Celestial Dynasty in this manner. He therefore raised no objections whatsoever. Thus, as soon as the court returns to Kyoto, from this day forward, Japan shall be a tributary state of the Great Han, unaltered for all eternity!"

He knew that using the character for 'imperial' was no longer appropriate, so he took the initiative to refer to the Cloistered Emperor as "the sovereign." As for "unaltered for all eternity," that was, of course, merely flattery to please the Han envoy. Neither he, nor the Sadaijin, nor His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor had any intention of letting their descendants bow and scrape before the Han as they did now. They planned to acquiesce to reality for the time being, build up their strength, and the moment the opportunity was ripe, reassert their own titles and once again rule the divine land directly under the name of the Emperor.

"That your country's sovereign is so mindful of the greater picture is truly a blessing for your nation!" Seeing how shrewd that "Cloistered Emperor" was, Zhou Pu's smile grew increasingly genial. "In this way, our two countries can clarify our relationship, and for generations to come we shall live in peace with one another. Your country's prosperity is just around the corner! Lord Ufu, please rest assured — our nation has always kept its word. Our previous promises to your country will absolutely not change. As long as your country's court continues to submit to our nation, your court will surely recover its former authority within its jurisdiction."

Though these words sounded highly encouraging, the qualifier "within its jurisdiction" still made clear that the Han's primary policy remained maintaining the status quo — allowing the various domain lords to continue ruling their own territories, rather than establishing direct court rule over the entire country. Nijō Yasumichi understood Han policy well and had not harbored great expectations, but he still felt a measure of disappointment.

Yet he cast aside this disappointment and once more probed the Han envoy. "I have heard from Lord Mōri that the Heavenly Envoy has already reached an agreement with the Mōri clan, to restore the Mōri to the territories they held in the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Is that correct?"

"That is indeed the case," Zhou Pu answered at once. "The Mōri clan is familiar with the situation in the western provinces. Moreover, theirs is a military house of many generations, with numerous commanders and soldiers under their banner. They can serve as a great asset to us, so granting them some reward is only proper. Surely Lord Ufu has no objection to this?"

"Of course not. I too find this arrangement most suitable. In fact, the court had originally intended to reward the Mōri clan in this very way," Nijō Yasumichi said hastily.

He had no objection to this in the first place. Since the western provinces were not under the court's direct rule anyway, it mattered little to them who ruled there. Besides, the court had intended to do this all along. What truly concerned him was another matter.

"Furthermore, in addition to confirming their territory, because of the Mōri clan's meritorious service, the court also plans to bestow an additional reward upon them — making Lord Mōri the Grand Minister of State... May I ask the Heavenly Envoy's opinion on this?"

The court had previously made this promise to the Mōri clan, but later the Han had seemed extremely displeased with them. Nijō Yasumichi therefore had no choice but to sound out the Han court's opinion now, lest he bring disaster upon himself by needlessly offending the Han.

Of course, he had no idea that he was inadvertently creating a precedent for the Han to intervene in the official ranks and honors of the Japanese court.

"The Mōri clan has rendered great service, and it is only right that your country's court wishes to reward them. Moreover, the official ranks of your country's court are bestowed by your court itself — if you wish to grant him some title, that is naturally your prerogative. However..." Zhou Pu first laid this groundwork, then voiced his own view. "If your country makes such an arrangement, I fear it would be an excessively high reward, would it not? It might chill the hearts of other domain lords... The Shimazu clan, for instance, might well feel indignant. After all, the Shimazu and the Mōri have accumulated grievances over generations."

Nijō Yasumichi was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting Zhou Pu to raise such an objection. He knew of the enmity between the two clans, but why should the Shimazu be entitled to meddle in the court's decisions and appointments?

"Ah, there is a matter I have not yet informed Lord Ufu of." Zhou Pu smiled faintly, then reined in his horse and drew close to Nijō Yasumichi. "When I first arrived in Kyūshū, the very first to answer my call and prepare to raise troops against the shogunate was the Shimazu clan. To richly reward the Shimazu, and to encourage the various daimyō to rise against the shogunate, the Great Han court has decided to grant them a substantial reward... Yes — after the war, the entire island of Kyūshū shall be enfeoffed to the Shimazu clan."

"What?!" Upon hearing that the Han had actually made such a decision, Nijō Yasumichi was, as expected, greatly alarmed. "This... this... You are actually granting the whole of Kyūshū to the Shimazu clan?"

"Yes, this is the court's decision, and it has already been proclaimed to the various daimyō of Kyūshū. I must say, the effect has been excellent. The daimyō of Kyūshū are now all rubbing their hands in eagerness, each wanting to earn merit in the coming campaigns and secure rewards for their own houses." Zhou Pu's face still bore that calm smile. "This matter is of great importance. I must ask Lord Ufu to promptly persuade your country's court to issue an edict confirming it, lest the Shimazu clan's hearts grow cold. That would not be good..."

Zhou Pu's tone was perfectly casual, as if this were a trifling matter mentioned merely in passing. But to Nijō Yasumichi's ears, it was no less than a thunderclap.

His blood seemed to freeze, and his hands trembled slightly. Inwardly, he was furious beyond measure. The Han's earlier promise to the Mōri clan to restore their old territories was already interference in Japan's territorial arrangements — though since it coincided with the court's own intentions, it could still be tolerated. But now, out of nowhere, they had suddenly declared they had reached an agreement with the Shimazu clan and had already handed over the entire island of Kyūshū!

The Han had given no prior notice whatsoever, and now they were directly informing him, clearly expecting the court to tacitly accept this deal and issue an edict confirming Shimazu rule over Kyūshū — without even allowing the slightest objection. Nothing could be more imperious and overbearing than this.

Because this news was so utterly sudden, Nijō Yasumichi was completely unprepared. Now his mouth was dry, and he had no idea what to do.

"Lord Ufu, are you perhaps finding this somewhat difficult?" Zhou Pu waited a moment, then asked. "If Lord Ufu feels this appointment is too weighty a matter to decide hastily, our Great Han court could first bestow a reward upon the Lord of Satsuma ourselves. That would also make things much easier for your country's court..."

"No, that will not be necessary!" Just as Zhou Pu had anticipated, Nijō Yasumichi immediately voiced his opposition.

Though his mind was in turmoil, he knew full well that under no circumstances could the current situation be confirmed by having the Han court directly enfeoff Kyūshū to the Shimazu clan. Otherwise, whether the Shimazu clan — and indeed Kyūshū itself — would still count as part of Japan in the future would be exceedingly difficult to predict.

"Then what is Lord Ufu's view?" Zhou Pu was perfectly composed and did not press the point. His original intent had merely been to frighten them into making a swift decision.

He knew his terms were extremely harsh, but he knew even better that, having already boarded the Han's ship, they had no chance of disembarking even if they wanted to. Harsher terms still lay ahead.

After a moment's hesitation, Nijō Yasumichi had recovered his composure from the initial shock, and regained a measure of rationality.

He could see clearly now: since the Han had already made such a promise, Kyūshū becoming Shimazu territory was a fait accompli. Even if he objected, it would be meaningless and would likely only earn him the enmity of both the Han and the Shimazu clan.

That being the case, it was better to simply acknowledge reality. Kyūshū was not the court's direct domain anyway. The key was to avoid the worst-case scenario and preserve the court's nominal suzerainty over all the domain lords of Japan.

"The Shimazu clan are loyal subjects of the court. They were at odds with the shogunate before, and only feigned compliance because the shogunate was too powerful. That they can now stand forth in rebellion is truly a blessing for the nation, and granting them a reward is only proper." He forced himself to rally his spirits, then, with an attitude of helpless resignation, confirmed Zhou Pu's demand. "For Kyūshū, the court will certainly issue a formal enfeoffment. There is no need to trouble the Heavenly Envoy."

"That would be for the best." Zhou Pu nodded, clearly very satisfied with this attitude. "Then I must ask Lord Ufu to inform your country's sovereign as soon as possible, so that this matter may be settled promptly."

After a brief pause, he smiled again. "Now does Lord Ufu understand why I said it would be difficult? The Shimazu and Mōri clans have never been on good terms. After the war, both houses will hold vast territories and can be said to be evenly matched. If your country's court were to directly bestow the title of Grand Minister of State upon Lord Mōri, how do you suppose the Shimazu clan would feel? I urge you, my lord, to think carefully."

This truly was a major problem.

Since both the Shimazu and Mōri houses would become powerful domains with vast territories after the war, how the court should treat and balance them required careful deliberation. They could not afford to offend them lightly; it would be best to make them balance each other and jointly honor the court. But Nijō Yasumichi's mind was now rather disordered, and he himself did not know how to resolve this problem, so he decided to stall for now and consult with the Left Chancellor as soon as possible.

"I understand everything you have said, my lord. Since that is the case, let us table this proposal for the time being." His face was extremely pale, and he was swaying slightly even on horseback. "The court will devise a strategy to properly reward these two domain lords."

"It will hardly be only two!" Zhou Pu shook his head again. "Lord Right Chancellor, do not forget that the other domain lords who have sided with us also need rewards! They rallied to the court's righteous cause; the court must not let these men's hearts turn cold…"

As Kyushu fell into the hands of the Shimazu house, those domain lords of other surnames on the island would lose their territories. They would need to obtain new territories on Honshu to resettle themselves, and Zhou Pu was now their spokesman — a position he was happy to exploit.

"Lord Right Chancellor, let us do it this way: in the postwar period, I shall serve as advisor for your nation's court on territorial confirmations and rewards. I will assess the rewards according to merit, and your nation's court will confirm them. Only thus can we soothe the hearts of the officers and soldiers and prevent unrest."

Writing and posting as I go — however much I write, that's how much I update.