Chapter 1677: Better a Minor Vassal of Great Han

Tokugawa Tadanaga had previously been confined by his elder brother Tokugawa Iemitsu in Takasaki Castle, where he suffered repeated humiliations and was on the verge of being persecuted to death. But just at that moment, Great Han launched its attack on Japan, and the shogunate itself came under heavy blows. For a time, it had no leisure to pay attention to this Dainagon, who had already become fish on the chopping board.

And as Great Han swiftly occupied Kyushu and advanced into Honshu, the shogunate plunged into an unprecedented crisis. Tokugawa Tadanaga, confined in Takasaki Castle, finally received this news. Unwilling to resign himself to death, he quickly made a decision. Before the shogunate's envoys could reach Takasaki Castle and kill him directly, he escaped from Takasaki and vanished among the common folk.

At the same time, Tokugawa Tadanaga was not content with the temporary freedom he had gained. He had no wish to live a desolate life in anonymity as a commoner. He wanted to seize the moment to secure greater advantages for himself.

And the developing situation was indeed creating room for him to act. After he fled Takasaki Castle, his access to information improved, and all the news was bad for the shogunate. The Mori clan had submitted to Great Han and was now assisting Great Han's advance toward the capital region. Their advance was remarkably smooth — one could say victory after victory. Not only were the daimyo along the route unable to resist, either dying in battle or fleeing at the mere rumor of their approach, but even the shogunate's own military forces could not withstand their onslaught.

After Himeji Castle fell and the shogunate's great army that had gone to meet Great Han in the western provinces collapsed, Tokugawa Tadanaga became certain that the shogunate had no way to expel the Great Han army and might even be defeated by them, falling into a state of utter ruin. Therefore, he believed he had to find a way to negotiate with Great Han, so that the Tokugawa house could escape this dire predicament.

The Great Han army's proclamation of war had made it very clear: they intended to punish the shogunate and to bring the chief culprit, Tokugawa Iemitsu, to justice. So Iemitsu, to preserve his own life, would surely resist to the death and ultimately drag the entire Tokugawa house down as his funeral sacrifice. Tokugawa Tadanaga believed it was his duty to step forward and preserve the blood and bone of the Tokugawa house, rather than fight to the bitter end under these circumstances.

And so, after a period of lying low and observing, Tokugawa Tadanaga resolved to step forward on his own initiative and make contact with Great Han.

However, he knew that he was now utterly alone, with no power base whatsoever to rely on. So he dared not go to the capital region in person, nor even dared to raise his own banner. He remained hidden in the mountain village where he had been sheltering all along, and instead dispatched one of his few remaining household retainers, Inaba Masatoshi, to seek contact with Great Han.

Inaba Masatoshi was also extremely cautious. After arriving in the capital region, he spent his time carefully probing for intelligence on the Great Han army, ascertaining their general movements and locations. Disguised and in secret, he took advantage of the chaos everywhere to enter the Great Han army's occupied zone, and then tried every means to establish contact with the Japanese domain troops serving under the Great Han army.

When the news was reported to the headquarters in Kobe and Zhou Pu personally learned of it, he immediately set aside the matters at hand and ordered that Inaba Masatoshi be brought before him.

Although Great Han was now locked in a decisive battle with the Tokugawa house, Zhou Pu knew that, as far as the Great Han army's own objectives were concerned, what they sought was not the eradication or destruction of the shogunate, but a situation in which the various Japanese factions would check and balance one another, inevitably forcing them to accept Great Han's transcendent position. Only such a situation would be most advantageous to Great Han, allowing it to continuously extract wealth from Japan, just as His Majesty had previously envisioned.

Under this guiding principle, the Tokugawa shogunate — and even Tokugawa Iemitsu himself — could not be considered Great Han's mortal enemies, but rather tools for Great Han to hammer and overawe. This war was first diplomatic and political, and only secondarily military. Each military victory served only to increase Great Han's bargaining chips in negotiations and its confidence in controlling Japan's political situation.

Therefore, Zhou Pu did not reject contact and negotiation with the Tokugawa house. And Tokugawa Tadanaga's status was so unique that he was all the more worth exploiting. Thus, Inaba Masatoshi was granted passage all the way and brought into Kobe, a city now tightly encircled by the great army.

Kobe had originally been a prosperous port city, but recently, because of the great war between the two nations, many people had already chosen to flee before the Great Han army entered the capital region. By the time the Great Han army reached the city walls, the inhabitants within had virtually emptied out. Thus, the city no longer showed any trace of its former prosperity.

However, after the occupation of Kobe, the great army was encamped here in force, and the commercial port was crammed full of Great Han transport ships and Japanese merchant vessels shuttling back and forth carrying grain and munitions — enough to give a hint of its usual bustle.

After Zhou Pu arrived in Kobe, he commandeered the most luxurious merchant mansion in the city for his own use and grandly took up residence there. And it was to this very place that Inaba Masatoshi was escorted under guard.

When Inaba Masatoshi was brought into the room where Zhou Pu was and saw this Great Han envoy, he hastily fell to his knees and prostrated himself in worship before this de facto ruler of the western provinces.

"I, Inaba Masatoshi, pay my respects to the Celestial Envoy!"

"Rise. No need for such ceremony." Zhou Pu waved his hand dismissively, indicating that the other need not be so obsequiously respectful. "You have come on behalf of Tokugawa Tadanaga. What message has Tokugawa Tadanaga sent for me?"

Although Zhou Pu seemed reasonably polite, Inaba Masatoshi did not dare raise his body and remained kneeling before Zhou Pu. "Reporting to Your Excellency, the Dainagon has sent me to explore how the Tokugawa house might make peace with Great Han. Because of Tokugawa Iemitsu's tyrannical rule and short-sightedness, these distressing events have occurred between our two sides, and our shogunate has fallen into such a plight. As the legitimate son of the former shogun of the Tokugawa house, he is deeply pained by the current situation and very much hopes to contribute his meager efforts for the Tokugawa house, so that our two houses may cease hostilities and restore good relations."

"Restore good relations? That does sound rather nice." Zhou Pu nodded slightly, as if quite pleased. Then his expression suddenly hardened. "However, I have heard that although your master is the legitimate son of the former shogun and Tokugawa Iemitsu's own younger brother, he has always been viewed with considerable suspicion within the shogunate and is particularly disfavored by Tokugawa Iemitsu. Tokugawa Iemitsu has been suppressing your master all these years... So now your master is utterly alone. Even if he wishes to do something for our two houses, how is he to go about it?"

This interrogation was extremely forceful and, one could say, utterly blunt. Inaba Masatoshi's face flushed with embarrassment, and he was almost unable to speak. At the same time, the detailed knowledge this Great Han envoy possessed of the shogunate's internal affairs astonished him.

Fortunately, as an envoy, he had naturally already prepared mental drafts for every possible situation. He quickly suppressed his displeasure and embarrassment and began to explain once more to this Great Han envoy.

"Your Excellency, you are quite right. Out of jealousy toward the Dainagon, Tokugawa Iemitsu has been seeking to suppress him ever since he inherited the position of shogun. This shows how narrow-minded, heartless, and unrighteous he is." As he spoke, his hatred for Tokugawa Iemitsu made him gnash his teeth. "His conduct, utterly devoid of familial affection and human ethics, this perverse and tyrannical behavior, already grieved the former shogun while he was still alive, and was even harder for the shogunate's retainers to endure. In the past, everyone merely refrained from speaking out because they feared Iemitsu's despotic might... Now, the situation is entirely different."

"Are you saying that there are many officials within the shogunate who are deeply dissatisfied with Tokugawa Iemitsu?" Hearing this, Zhou Pu finally showed a trace of interest. "Then roughly how many are these people? Do they maintain contact with one another? Can they follow the orders of your master?"

These questions struck right at the heart of the matter, leaving Inaba Masatoshi momentarily tongue-tied once again.

Given Tokugawa Iemitsu's years of tyranny and arrogance, and his treatment of Tokugawa Tadanaga, there were certainly many within the shogunate who harbored discontent. But those who held such discontent would certainly not reveal their true feelings too openly before others. So how could he possibly know exactly who they were? Let alone make them obey Tokugawa Tadanaga's orders.

Inaba Masatoshi had said this only to elevate his master's worth and increase his bargaining chips in negotiations with the Great Han envoy. But the Great Han envoy did not accept his words at face value, and a few pointed questions left him with little to say.

However, Inaba Masatoshi did possess some quick wit, and so he did not let that embarrassment show fully. "Your Excellency, those who harbor discontent toward Iemitsu are still within the shogunate. They cannot easily reveal their identities. Please forgive us for being temporarily unable to disclose them to Your Excellency. But please rest assured, Your Excellency: within the shogunate, Iemitsu does not enjoy popular support, and no one wishes for him to drag the shogunate and the Tokugawa house into utter ruin! So long as Your Excellency can grant the Dainagon your assistance, the Dainagon will certainly be able to bring our two houses to peace as quickly as possible."

Zhou Pu furrowed his brow slightly, carefully pondering the other man's words. Though vague, he had now seen through the other side's actual standing. The truth was that Tokugawa Tadanaga was now truly a man utterly alone, unable to provide Great Han with any significant help — he could not even directly instigate a disturbance within the shogunate to weaken its strength.

Even so, however, he had no intention of driving Inaba Masatoshi away. Although Tokugawa Tadanaga could not offer him much help now, his status as a direct-line descendant of the Tokugawa house could still be exploited. Especially now that Tokugawa Iemitsu had no heir — his own younger brother was the most direct and legitimate successor. If Tokugawa Tadanaga could be held in hand, it would deal a tremendous psychological blow to the shogunate.

"A man of your master's status, reduced to such straits — to be honest, we are deeply sympathetic. Tokugawa Iemitsu's conduct has been so outrageous. Not only has he bullied the Imperial Court and the great houses and daimyo across the land, he has not even spared his own younger brother. Truly the nature of a jackal. If we do not root out such a jackal, I fear Japan will suffer untold calamities." Zhou Pu looked at the other man with unhurried composure. "However, since your master cannot directly command the civil officials and military commanders within the shogunate and is now utterly alone, how can he speak of bringing our two houses to a swift peace?"

"So long as Your Excellency helps the Dainagon raise his banner, then... then my master can certainly, with the aid of the shogunate's senior ministers, replace Tokugawa Iemitsu as shogun." Inaba Masatoshi laid out his side's scheme. "Once the Dainagon becomes shogun, he will surely bring our two houses to cease hostilities, and allow Your Excellency to return home with glorious achievements."

Zhou Pu gave a faint, cold smile. Tokugawa Tadanaga was indeed, as expected, seeking Great Han's support. But his thinking seemed far too naive. Tokugawa Iemitsu had been shogun for nearly ten years. Even with the shogunate now tottering, how could his position be shaken by a few words from Tokugawa Tadanaga? And besides... he had forgotten an even more important issue.

"Does your master truly believe that after this war is over, there will still be a shogun?" Zhou Pu suddenly sneered, his tone bordering on mockery.

This mocking smile instantly chilled Inaba Masatoshi's heart. Did Great Han truly intend to exterminate the Tokugawa house entirely? Could they really not tolerate the Tokugawa house?

"Let me be frank with you. Tokugawa Iemitsu has already sent a special envoy to negotiate with us, and we have informed them of our terms for negotiation." Fortunately, Zhou Pu did not keep him in suspense and continued to explain. "The shogunate's oppression of the Imperial Court has caused the collapse of all order and discipline in Japan — it is truly the source of all calamity. Therefore, after the war, the Tokugawa house must dissolve the shogunate and return governance to your nation's Imperial Court, henceforth taking its place at court as an ordinary daimyo."

So they did not intend to destroy the Tokugawa house entirely... Inaba Masatoshi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Great Han had come under the banner of restoring order and discipline. Demanding that the Tokugawa house dissolve the shogunate was not an especially jarring demand — though it was indeed extremely harsh.

"Then... may I ask Your Excellency, what place does Great Han intend for the Tokugawa house after the war?"

"The Tokugawa house is, after all, a great clan of long standing, and it rendered meritorious service in destroying the Toyotomi clan. Therefore, we do not intend to let the Tokugawa house be annihilated. So the terms I proposed to Tokugawa Iemitsu were that he be restored to the old Kanto domain." Zhou Pu answered immediately. "The shogunate's rule has provoked the wrath of both heaven and the people. To be allowed to reach this point is already an act of boundless heavenly grace."

Restored to the old Kanto domain... At this, Inaba Masatoshi was thrown into the same shock as Takagi Kiyoshi, the envoy the shogunate had sent previously.

Since the Battle of Sekigahara, the Tokugawa house had established overwhelming dominance over all Japan and had redrawn the entire territorial map, incorporating the vast majority of the land into a structure of direct shogunal holdings, branch Tokugawa and Matsudaira house collateral domains, and the domains of fudai daimyo loyal to the shogunate. Great Han's terms meant the outright collapse of this entire structure. The Tokugawa house and its generations of hereditary vassal lords would be forced to retreat to the old Kanto domain alone.

No wonder Tokugawa Iemitsu had never agreed. Inaba Masatoshi now suddenly understood.

"Your Excellency... these terms are simply too harsh," he finally protested in a low voice.

"Harsh? I fail to see what is harsh about them!" Zhou Pu showed the other man not the slightest courtesy. "The Tokugawa house has fought battle after battle against our Great Han celestial troops and lost every single one. Now we have reached the capital region and are on the verge of entering Kyoto to restore your nation's Imperial Court to the realm. Anyone can see that the Tokugawa house and the shogunate have reached the end of their road. At a time like this, our willingness to still preserve the Tokugawa house is already an immense act of grace and mercy — and you dare call it harsh? If you cannot even accept this, then I see no difference between Tokugawa Tadanaga and Tokugawa Iemitsu. You may take your leave!"

With that, Zhou Pu flicked his robe sleeve, clearly unwilling to speak with him any further.

"Your Excellency, please quell your anger!" Seeing the situation turning dire, Inaba Masatoshi hurriedly kowtowed once more, finally managing to make Zhou Pu stay. "Your Excellency, it is not that we are unwilling to agree to Your Excellency's demands..."

"That's more like it." Zhou Pu's expression finally softened somewhat. "If you can agree, then we can talk. There would be no problem with making your master the head of the Tokugawa house. Although the Tokugawa house can no longer serve as shogun, the old Kanto domain is still vast enough. To have your master govern such a large territory — would that truly disgrace him? Please consider the stakes here carefully. If you agree, that would be best. If not... we don't particularly care. The Tokugawa house is large enough; we can always find someone willing to cooperate."

Under Zhou Pu's threats, alternating between coaxing and intimidation, Inaba Masatoshi now fully understood their situation. It was clear: once Great Han defeated the shogunate, the Tokugawa shogunate would never exist again. However, Great Han did not intend to destroy the Tokugawa house; they only wanted to eliminate Tokugawa Iemitsu alone. So the Tokugawa house would still retain its territory afterward — it was merely a question of who was willing to align with Great Han and take the position of family head.

Tokugawa Tadanaga was now utterly alone, without any outside support. He even bore grudges against many senior officials within the shogunate. Although he had the status of the former shogun's legitimate son, without Great Han's recognition and assistance, it was absolutely impossible for him to become the head of the Tokugawa house.

Therefore, even if the Tokugawa house's foundation would be greatly diminished, and even if Great Han acted so overbearingly, Tokugawa Tadanaga had no choice but to seek their help.

If he threw in his lot with Great Han, then should Great Han win, he could at least become a great daimyo and enjoy his fill of satisfaction. If Tokugawa Iemitsu won, or if he did not side with Great Han, then in the future he truly could only be a rustic commoner — or even struggle to merely stay alive.

It was not a difficult choice to make, at least not in Inaba Masatoshi's eyes.

"Tokugawa Iemitsu's past perverse and tyrannical conduct, the countless crimes he has committed, the calamities he has brought upon Japan — to suffer punishment for this is nothing less than divine retribution..." Finally, he said to Zhou Pu with the utmost deference, "Great Han is the Celestial Court, the sovereign state. If Great Han wishes to punish the Tokugawa house in this manner, we have nothing to say. The Dainagon will surely obey every command and will never again commit the crime of presumption."

"Your master, it seems, does understand the times after all!" Seeing that the other party had finally chosen to submit and become a pawn in his hand, Zhou Pu could not help but laugh heartily. "It seems that having the Dainagon as family head is indeed a hundred times better than having Iemitsu as family head! Very well, then go and inform your master as quickly as possible. We are determined to back him!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Inaba Masatoshi kowtowed once more.

Without a doubt, although Tokugawa Tadanaga would certainly tell himself that he was doing this not just for himself but to preserve the Tokugawa house, no matter how he comforted himself, this was an unequivocal betrayal of his house.

But now, there was no room left to worry about such things.