Chapter 1683: A Tiny World

Under Nijō Yasumichi's command, his subordinates intensified their assault on Nijō Castle, and the flames within the castle grew fiercer and fiercer. The buildings that the Tokugawa family had spent vast sums to construct were gradually swallowed up by the spreading fire.

Nijō Yasumichi intended to utterly destroy Nijō Castle.

At this moment, the Kyoto Deputy Governor Itakura Shigemune sat calmly within the main hall of Nijō Castle. The sounds of slaughter outside drew closer and closer, roaring incessantly in his ears, yet his face remained utterly composed, as if nothing at all were happening.

He knew that not only had the outer castle been breached, but even the inner castle had been penetrated by the enemy. Nijō Castle could no longer be held.

However, this outcome had long been within his expectations.

By remaining here, he knew he would soon be swallowed up by the great armies of the Han bandits and the Imperial Court, so he had long since steeled his resolve — one could even say this was the outcome he had been awaiting all along.

As Kyoto Deputy Governor, it was his duty to guard Kyoto, assist the shogunate in defending the western provinces, and control the Imperial Court in Kyoto. Yet he had failed to accomplish these tasks. As a result, not only did the major incident of the Imperial Court and the Cloistered Emperor fleeing Kyoto occur, but when the Han bandits attacked, he also suffered successive defeats, losing troops and territory, and bringing shame upon the shogunate. With all these crimes added together, even he himself knew he was beyond forgiveness.

Therefore, he chose the most honorable way to die — to perish in battle against the Han bandits, thereby washing away these disgraces, so that the Itakura family name could be passed down unblemished.

The flames had already reached the main hall. The rising fire tinged his face red. The attacking enemies, seeing this, were clearly determined to reduce him and Nijō Castle to ashes together.

Itakura Shigemune raised his head to look outside the hall. He saw that under the shadows cast by the firelight, amidst the flickering silhouettes, sounds of slaughter were everywhere. Some shadows collapsed to the ground after a miserable scream, but even more shadows emerged from behind, charging and surging this way.

Woodenly, he picked up the sword at his side and drew it from its scabbard.

He now fully understood the state of mind of the Elder Naitō Tadashige in the moments before his death. After exhausting every effort yet still suffering crushing defeat after defeat, that kind of despair was enough to consume anyone, leaving only the choice to end this torment with one's own life.

However, he did not intend to die the same way as Naitō Tadashige. He wanted a more heroic end.

The fire had spread to the main hall. A faint scorched smell already hung in the air, and even the temperature had risen a few degrees.

Itakura Shigemune tossed aside the scabbard with a single motion, then took several deep breaths, as if trying to draw the heat from the air into himself. And with these breaths, his spirit abruptly rallied, a gleam returning to his eyes, and even the sword in his hand seemed to grow lighter.

He surveyed his surroundings and found that only a scant few people remained at his side.

Good. It seemed everyone else had already thrown themselves into the fight. These who had stayed behind had indeed not been misjudged; they were all men willing to fight to the death for the shogunate, to give their lives.

He took another deep breath, then raised his sword and pointed it forward.

"Follow me!" he shouted, then took the lead and charged out of the hall.

Naitō Tadashige was old and frail, and in the end could only prove his loyalty through ritual disembowelment. But Itakura Shigemune was different. He intended, even at the very end, to contribute his meager strength to the shogunate — even if it was just killing one or two more enemies, it would be worthwhile.

At his command, the last few remaining close attendants also drew their swords, then howled and charged out with him, rushing toward the oncoming enemy.

Because the enemy had already fought their way to the edge of the steps, they soon crashed into the enemy lines. By this time, the defending troops holding the front had been nearly wiped out. Some still lay on the ground wailing, but most were already silent.

Itakura Shigemune had no time to spare for them. His eyes were completely bloodshot, looking somewhat terrifying under the reflection of the firelight, but he paid no heed to this at all. Sword in hand, he charged toward where the crowd was thickest. Because the sky was very dark, their mere handful of men, amidst their war cries, created a considerable momentum, making the opposing side falter for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, they struck down several men and briefly pushed back the enemy troops.

However, the enemy numbers were too great. Even if temporarily repelled, another small unit soon surged forward, and then the others followed, charging in as well. Amidst the roars, Itakura Shigemune swung his weapon ceaselessly, fighting the enemy to the death.

In the melee, he personally cut down several enemies, but he also suffered multiple wounds. Even his right arm was slashed with a deep gash, blood streaming without cease.

Amidst the slaughter, he felt the strength gradually drain from his entire body. His body grew lighter and lighter, yet he could not control it at all. Every step felt as if he would collapse to the ground, utterly unable to maintain his balance. His close attendants beside him had all been killed, lying strewn haphazardly on the ground.

The fire had spread onto the great hall. Thick smoke billowed everywhere. From time to time, fragments burned beyond recognition fell from the ceiling to the floor, producing crisp sounds.

The final moment has come. A flash of clarity passed through Itakura Shigemune's mind.

He raised his head to look into the distance. Apart from the human silhouettes constantly roaring and surging toward him, only the solitary moon watched him. Behind the thick smoke, this full moon was like an eye gazing down at him from beyond the heavens.

When Lord Nobunaga died at Honnō-ji, his circumstances were probably much like this.

He turned his head back blankly, looking at the main hall behind him, now engulfed in flames.

It is time to depart this world, just as Lord Nobunaga did.

"Haah!"

Then, with a sudden thunderous roar, he mustered all his strength to swing his sword, driving back several enemies lunging at him simultaneously. Staggering, he took a few steps toward the main hall, and finally leaped forward, plunging into the sky-filling blaze.

The fire swiftly consumed him, and the thick smoke enveloped him, leaving not a single trace behind.

This was merely a final burst, yet it could still shine with brilliant radiance.

Nijō Castle had been taken. Itakura Shigemune threw himself into the flames and perished.

Around midnight, upon hearing this report from his subordinates, the Minister of the Right Nijō Yasumichi, outside Nijō Castle, was not surprised. In such a desperate situation, even suicide was not strange.

If Itakura Shigemune had not committed suicide, he would certainly have had the man beheaded and his head displayed publicly.

"Behead all the stubbornly resisting traitors and display their heads! Nijō Castle must be completely burned down; not a single trace may remain!" He issued his final order.

With the raging inferno that ignited Nijō Castle, the shogunate's last stronghold in Kyoto ceased to exist. For the first time in centuries, the Japanese Imperial Court stepped onto the stage of Japan with a powerful demeanor. In this way, it proclaimed its determination to break with the past.

However, after taking full control of Kyoto, Nijō Yasumichi was stunned to discover a somewhat unexpected situation — His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor Masahito's Empress Consort, Kazuko, was actually still within the Imperial Palace.

To protect Kyoto, and especially the Imperial Palace, from the ravages of war to the greatest extent possible, after leading troops into the city, Nijō Yasumichi and Hashimoto Sanemura had always been very strict in restraining their subordinates. The Imperial Palace, in particular, was absolutely off-limits for unauthorized approach, to prevent any damage.

Therefore, it was only after the entirety of Kyoto was under control that Nijō Yasumichi sent a group of court nobles, led by the Acting Grand Counselor Kazanin Sadayoshi, into the Imperial Palace to inventory its contents and prepare for His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor's return.

Kazuko, being the biological sister of the Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu and holding the esteemed position of Empress Consort, was assumed by everyone to have been sent away by Itakura Shigemune when the shogunate began relocating the imperial family. Even Kazanin Sadayoshi and the others, having been unable to enter the palace for an audience, thought the same. Yet upon arriving there, they discovered that Empress Dowager Kazuko was still in the Imperial Palace, which truly shocked them all.

After their shock, these court nobles fell into embarrassment, for Kazuko's status was simply too unique. They did not know how to deal with her — in theory, Kazuko was the Empress Dowager, and they ought to revere her, but at the same time, she was a daughter of the Tokugawa family. Now that the Imperial Court and the shogunate had broken decisively, it seemed they should not show her too much respect. Thus, this group felt at a loss.

However, perhaps due to Empress Dowager Kazuko personally holding the fort, the furnishings within the Imperial Palace had not suffered any damage and were almost as they had always been. So, after exchanging a few awkward words, these court nobles all withdrew from the Imperial Palace and came to request instructions from the Lord Minister of the Right.

Upon receiving this news, Nijō Yasumichi came directly to the Imperial Palace the next morning.

Unlike the other somewhat cowering court nobles, Nijō Yasumichi strode directly into the Imperial Palace with his head held high — just over three months ago, he had led men to forcibly break into the Imperial Palace, rescuing His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor, and leaving an indelible mark here. Now, three months later, everything felt like a lifetime ago.

From now on, the Imperial Court would truly be the Imperial Court.

Led by visibly frightened attendants, Nijō Yasumichi came directly to the Regular Palace where Empress Dowager Kazuko resided. By this time, Empress Dowager Kazuko, having long since received word, was already seated calmly behind a bamboo blind, quietly awaiting the arrival of this Lord Minister of the Right.

Although he did not believe any further mishaps would occur, as a precaution, he still had a group of soldiers guarding the doorway behind him, so he was not the least bit nervous, merely standing leisurely within the palace hall.

Without the slightest gesture of respect, Nijō Yasumichi walked directly to the center of the hall, then raised his head to look at Empress Dowager Kazuko, whose figure was faintly visible behind the bamboo blind. Though her silhouette was blurry and indistinct behind the blind, one could still tell she was dressed very formally, as if attending some ceremony.

Ever since His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor had fled Kyoto with Emperor Okiko, she had been waiting here for their return. As the situation deteriorated day by day, Itakura Shigemune had repeatedly and earnestly urged her to leave quickly, but she had always refused to consent. Hindered by her special status, Itakura Shigemune could ultimately do nothing but let her be.

By the final moments, Itakura Shigemune could not even look after himself, so how could he have the leisure to worry about her? He could only leave her to her fate.

Nijō Yasumichi neither bowed nor spoke the entire time. For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the palace hall.

After a moment, a "snap" came from behind the bamboo blind. Empress Dowager Kazuko slapped her folded fan heavily onto the imperial couch. "Lord Minister of the Right! Why do you not bow and perform the proper obeisance when presenting yourself?! Are you showing contempt for the laws and statutes of the Imperial Court?!"

Faced with such a stern rebuke, Nijō Yasumichi remained unhurried and unflustered. "As Minister of the Right, how could there be any reason for me to pay respects to a criminal?"

"What kind of talk is that!" Empress Dowager Kazuko grew even angrier. "I am the Empress Consort of His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor! To not perform the proper obeisance when meeting me is an act of outrageous presumption!"

"There is no longer a Tokugawa Chūgū in this realm." Nijō Yasumichi gave a cold laugh. "The Tokugawa house has shown no regard for the sovereign and committed countless evils — how could we allow you, who carry Tokugawa blood, to remain in the position of Chūgū?"

"…Utter nonsense!" Empress Dowager Kazuko's hands trembled faintly; she was clearly enraged to the extreme. "I am the Nyogo personally wedded by His Majesty, the Chūgū personally recognized by His Majesty. For all these years I have served His Majesty with utmost care — when have I ever committed the slightest fault? You say you will abolish my position as Chūgū — very well, where is His Majesty's edict?"

Under her rebuttal, Nijō Yasumichi faltered for a moment, and what followed was fury. "You still dare to speak with a glib tongue even at a time like this? His Majesty is beset by countless affairs of state and has not yet had time to deal with you, but when His Majesty returns, you shall receive the punishment you deserve."

"Which is to say, His Majesty has not yet abolished my position as Chūgū, is that correct? Then Nijō Yasumichi, you are now overstepping your bounds — conduct unbecoming of a subject!" Empress Dowager Kazuko said icily. "You keep saying the Tokugawa house held the court in contempt and offended against their superiors — then tell me, how are you now any different from the Tokugawa?"

"You—!" Nijō Yasumichi's eyes bulged with rage, and it took him great effort to rein in his fury. "A guilty person, and still so glib-tongued… You remain in the Imperial Palace — do you truly think we can do nothing about you?"

"Guilty? What crime have I committed? Have I ever failed His Majesty?" Though the situation seemed precarious, Empress Dowager Kazuko showed not the slightest sign of backing down. "Since I have never failed His Majesty, how can I, as Chūgū, leave His Majesty's side? I shall wait here for His Majesty's return. As for how I am to be dealt with, that is a matter only His Majesty can decide. You, as a subject, should say no more. Withdraw!"

"Do you still imagine, even now, that you can command the likes of us?"

Nijō Yasumichi's face was ice-cold as he stared at her. "The Bakufu is now a dying thing. It can no longer coerce us with threats."

In all fairness, though she had never had the slightest fondness for the Tokugawa, Empress Dowager Kazuko had, ever since arriving at the Imperial Palace, truly served the Cloistered Emperor with all her heart, and had striven to mend the rift between the court and the Bakufu. As far as she personally was concerned, finding any fault was truly difficult.

But… in this world, how often do things yield to reason?

At this juncture, the court had already branded the Bakufu the foremost evil in the realm. That being the case, they absolutely could not allow a daughter of the Tokugawa to remain as Chūgū — nor, indeed, could they allow a daughter of the Tokugawa to be the sovereign's consort.

These past days, the Cloistered Emperor had been sending him instructions from the south, covering nearly every matter great and small — yet there had been not a single word about Empress Dowager Kazuko.

Not a single word — that in itself already conveyed the Cloistered Emperor's attitude. And as a loyal subject, Nijō Yasumichi believed there were matters he must handle himself, rather than put his sovereign in a difficult position.

To be fair, that Empress Dowager Kazuko was willing to remain in Kyoto at such a perilous time, facing danger alone, was truly admirable. Yet sometimes, one's stance must never waver.

Nijō Yasumichi waved his hand, signaling the men behind him to come forward.

"Take this guilty person away! Place her under confinement!"

At his command, the several men walked silently toward the bamboo blind.

"What do you think you are doing?" A furious shout rang out from behind the bamboo blind at once. "You are the true rebels!"

But everyone turned a deaf ear and directly lifted the bamboo blind aside.

In that moment, Empress Dowager Kazuko's face went white with fury. She had once been the daughter of the Bakufu's Shōgun, and later the Chūgū — even when receiving foreign officials, everyone had always treated her with the utmost deference. When had she ever suffered such humiliation?

Now Empress Dowager Kazuko's countenance was exposed before them all. Though the blows of recent events had left her looking considerably haggard, one could still discern her original beauty. Set off by her sumptuous and magnificent attire, she appeared graceful and noble, richly dignified in bearing.

Only now that dignity was entirely eclipsed by rage.

Once the bamboo blind was lifted aside, she hurled the folding fan in her hand at Nijō Yasumichi in bitter hatred, and continued to shout, "Rebels! Rebels!" — utterly heedless of the danger such actions might bring.

And Nijō Yasumichi still turned a deaf ear, simply ordering his men to forcibly escort her out of the imperial hall and the Imperial Palace, and to confine her temporarily in the residence of a court noble.

That very same day, the Great Han envoy Zhou Pu also arrived within the walls of Kyoto. However, because the fighting was still intense and the sovereign had yet to return, Zhou Pu declined all grand ceremony and instead came directly into the city in plain attire. Moreover, at his request, Hashimoto Sanemura's residence was temporarily requisitioned for his lodging — though there were many far more luxurious mansions available, Zhou Pu still chose to stay in this place where he had once lived for a time.

And once he had settled in, he threw himself back into busy work.

Nijō Yasumichi first informed Zhou Pu of the matter concerning Empress Dowager Kazuko. Zhou Pu stated that such matters were the internal affairs of the Japanese court and he would not interfere, though he suggested it would be best to place Kazuko under house arrest for now, with treatment not too harsh, preserving some measure of dignity for her, and to decide how to deal with her at a later date.

After that, Zhou Pu and his staff officers began deliberating on their subsequent operations.

The Bakufu's main army voluntarily withdrawing from Kyoto had indeed caught them completely off guard, and had also thwarted their plan to annihilate this force within Kyoto. However, since it was an army in constant retreat and flight, there was no need to be overly concerned.

What worried Zhou Pu and the others most at present was Tachibana Muneshige's side — after all, he had to face the Bakufu main army's frontal assault. Zhou Pu and his men therefore decided to dispatch a light-armed force to pursue the defeated Kyoto army from behind, while the main force would advance toward Nara to prepare to reinforce Tachibana Muneshige.

At the same time, they also formally sent a letter to Kyushu, urging Zhao Song to carry out the original plan.