Yasushi Inoue - The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan

When Kansuke recited Harunobu’s message, Yorishige suddenly burst out laughing; it was a hysterical laughter devoid of humor. He then stopped laughing and said, “Please tell your lord that I will comply with all his wishes.”

It was as if the death sentence, which Yorishige had expected to be announced today or tomorrow, had suddenly been lifted from his shoulder.

Kansuke proceeded saying, “We would like to determine the boundaries of your territory now, so that we will not have any difficulties later.”

“We will make a boundary at the line of the ivy bush. We will not touch a single grain of rice east of it,” a pale Yorishige said in a business-like fashion.

“Fine, my lord. We would like you to reconcile now with your brother-in-law.”

“I agree. I must soon go and visit Kofuchu and meet your lord, as his brother-in-law.”

It was clear that Yorishige did not favor this battle either.

Negotiations on the smallest points were concluded without any problems.

After the sake 26and a feast, Kansuke retired from Yorishige’s presence and returned to his guest quarters.

Contrary to when Kansuke had arrived, his party was ushered out more courteously. Yorishige himself escorted the four of them to the main gate of the castle. Along with Yorishige stood his fourteen-year-old daughter attended by her ladies and maids.

Much like her father, she was extremely beautiful.

“Is she a princess?” Kansuke asked Yorishige and learned that she was his daughter. Of course, she was not a daughter by his consort, Nene, who had died two years earlier, she was his daughter by his concubine Omiji.

Out of all the people present, only this young princess looked at Kansuke with a clear expression of hostility. Every samurai under Yorishige’s rule appreciated the peaceful negotiation, but Kansuke felt that only this girl gave him her honest feeling that she did not agree with this settlement, and that gave him a refreshing sensation.

It was noon of the next day when Kansuke returned to the camp of Mount Misa and brought Yorishige’s response to Harunobu.

Harunobu was satisfied with the Suwa’s decision and met with their messengers who came along with Kansuke. That night sake was served to every warrior, and three days later he returned with the army to Kofuchu.

At the end of March, Yorishige came to Kofuchu and met Harunobu to reconsolidate the old relationship. Harunobu welcomed Yorishige and entertained him warmly while he stayed in Kofuchu.

Yorishige visited Harunobu for the second time in April.

This time, again, Harunobu treated him well and held a large banquet in his honor. He hired Noh 27actors for Yorishige and allowed all the major samurai to watch the play.

After Yorishige had left, Harunobu asked all the generals what they thought about Yorishige. Every one of Harunobu’s generals had a good impression of him. They found him refined, warm, and tactful.

“He seems to be extremely brave and audacious to come to Kofuchu with only a few retainers. Even though you are his relative, it is still a warring era.” Harunobu’s brother Nobushige said admiringly.

“He is a rare type of young lord.” Amari said, also holding a high opinion of him.

“What do you think of him, Nobukata?”

Asked by Harunobu, Nobukata answered, “I believe that in the future he could be your ideal ally.”

“Now, Kansuke, what do you think?” Kansuke was asked last.

“I will not be able to give you my thoughts unless you make everybody leave this room.”

Harunobu did not clear the room. Instead he said, “Kansuke, let us go out to the garden. We will discuss it there.” He stood up and started to descend the stone steps to the garden. Kansuke got up from his knees and quickly followed in his lord’s wake.

All around the mansion sweet chestnut trees were planted.

Reaching the line of trees, Harunobu broke the silence and said, “The cicadas are singing all over.” It was a rather hot day, but under the shade of the trees, it was cool. After taking the field at Mount Misa, there weren’t any battles for a change, and summer was just around the corner.

“Will you kill him?” said Kansuke suddenly.

“Whom?”

Shocked by the words, Harunobu turned around and looked at Kansuke.

“The Lord of Suwa.”

“Would you like to kill him?”

“It is better…” Kansuke said.

“But it was you who recommended the peaceful negotiations with him. If we kill him now…”

“We cannot help what people may say. But if we do not kill him now…”

“I guess there is no other way,” said Harunobu and added “Kill him!”

“My Lord, please leave everything to me,” Kansuke replied without changing his expression at all.

Harunobu did not understand how Kansuke had the exact thought as he himself did. Since the first time he was visited by Yorishige, he had been anxious to kill him. He somehow had a premonition that if he kept Yorishige alive, this man would cause some adversity later on.

Similar to his intervention at Mount Misa, Kansuke felt some uneasiness in Harunobu’s expression when he was asking for evaluations of Yorishige’s personality. Because of it, Kansuke himself also felt uneasy.

What could this be? At that time, when Harunobu called his name, he looked up at his Lord, and then totally unconsciously, the words “make everyone leave this room” came out. Then the idea of killing Yorishige, which had been concealed in the inner part of his mind, suddenly surfaced.

In mid-June, Yorishige visited Kofuchu for the third time. Again, a Noh play was held at the castle to entertain him. Halfway through the Noh play, a mid-ranking samurai Ogiwara Yaemonnojo walked calmly to Yorishige’s seat and said very quietly to Yorishige, “By the order of our lord, I shall take your life.” His words were polite, but a split second later, his sword was drawn and plunged directly into Lord Suwa’s heart. Yorishige tried to draw his wakizashi , 28but he was instantly killed by the second stroke aimed at his neck.

Everybody who was watching the Noh play stood up at this unexpected happening. Nobody knew whether Harunobu ordered this act by Ogiwara or not.

Kansuke, who was at the corner of the room, pushed his way through the people crowding around and reached the corpse. He stared at the corpse for a while, a slight smile on his face. Then he told Ogiwara, “Stab him in his neck once more.” Ogiwara did not realize that Kansuke’s eyes were focused on him; he stood there distractedly for a moment. Kansuke yelled at him again,

“Stab his neck once more!” With that Ogiwara bent over and charged Yorishige’s corpse.

About an hour later, Kansuke appeared in front of Harunobu.

“What made you think of killing Yorishige?” Harunobu asked Kansuke.

“Although peaceful negotiations were completed, he had to have definite reasons to visit us here twice in March and April.

He had to have some plot to put us off guard. As common courtesy dictates, you would have had to make a visit to Suwa at least once. I felt that danger awaited you there.”

Suddenly Harunobu burst into laughter. “It is a challenging charade to attempt to save his life on the one hand and to kill him on the other.”

“Yes, it seems that intense activity must commence and continue for a while, since at this point it is absolutely necessary to take Suwa by force.”

“Shall we pitch our camp at Mount Misa tonight?”

“I think it is too early. It is better to see how our enemy reacts. If we send the army to Suwa right after killing Yorishige, it will surely give them the impression of foul play. How about waiting until they come and attack us? We can leave it until then.”