until his father should address him. Ito, however, took some paper from
his sleeve, and placed it upon the woodwork of the grooves, motioning
Ekichi to put the head on it. The boy did so, and Kano told him to come
near and tell him what had happened.
“I have watched him several times, as you told me to, when he was
trying to listen, and once when he was looking over some of your
papers. Every time he made some excuse, but I did not answer him. A few
moments ago, I passed into that room, and saw his form crouching before
the sho ji. You had ordered me to silence him, and I did so.”
Kano said a few words in praise, and bade him go to sleep. Ekichi bowed
and withdrew.
Kano went out of the room and in a few moments returned with Fujii.
The old man looked grimly at the head as he took it up. The body was
removed, and the bloodspots cleaned. It was merely an incident in the
life of old Japan.
XVI
THE COURT AROUSED
The death of Ii Naosuke decided Kano to return to Kyoto with his
friends, Ito and Inouye, as he said grimly “to help pull the ground
from under the feet of the Court.” His acquaintance with Karassu Maru
was of material assistance to him. This kugé was of a very impulsive
temperament, with none of that self control, characteristic of the
samurai. Generous to a fault, he was implacable as a foe. While he
frightened some of the more timid kugé by the boldness of his speech,
he attracted others. The Court mustered the courage to summon the
Shogun to Kyoto, to answer the charge of misgovernment brought against
him by several clans. No Shogun had deigned doing homage to Tenshi Sama
since 1634. The humble reply from the Go rojiu was followed by another
command, in which it appeared plainly that Tenshi Sama’s advisers would
not entertain a thought of his assuming the government. It said:--
“Since the barbarian vessels commenced to visit this country, the
barbarians have conducted themselves in an insolent manner, without any
interference on the part of the Yedo officials. The consequence has
been that the peace of the empire has been disturbed and the people
have been plunged into misery. Tenshi Sama was profoundly distressed
at these things, and the Go rojiu on that occasion replied that
discord had arisen among the people, and it was therefore impossible
to raise an army for the expulsion of the barbarians, but that if His
Majesty would graciously give his sister in marriage to the Shogun
that then the court and camp would be reconciled, the samurai would
exert themselves, and the barbarians would be swept away. Thereupon His
Majesty good-naturedly granted the request and permitted the Princess
Kazu to go down to Yedo. Contrary to all expectations, however,
traitorous officials became more and more intimate with the barbarians
and treated the imperial family as if they were nobody; in order to
steal a day of tranquillity they forgot the long years of trouble to
follow, and were close upon the point of asking the barbarians to take
them under their jurisdiction. The nation has become more and more
turbulent. Of late, therefore, the rônin of the western provinces have
assembled in a body to urge the Tenshi Sama to ride to Hakone, and,
after punishing the traitorous officials, to drive out the barbarians.
The two clans of Satsuma and Choshiu have pacified these men and are
willing to lend their assistance to the court and camp in order to
drive out the barbarians. The Shogun must proceed to Kyoto to take
counsel with the nobles of the court, and must put forth all his
strength, must despatch orders to the clans of the home provinces and
the seven circuits, and, speedily performing the exploit of expelling
the barbarians, restore tranquillity to the empire. On the one hand,
he must appease the sacred wrath of Tenshi Sama’s divine ancestors,
and, on the other, inaugurate the return of faithful servants to their
allegiance, and of peace and prosperity to the people, thus giving
to the empire the immovable security of Taisan.”[79] (Ta shan--Great
Mountain, the Sacred mountain of China.)
The effect of Kano’s visit to the Gosho is plainly visible in this
document. Iyemochi, the Shogun, paid homage to the Tenshi Sama in April
1863, and the same year released the Daimiyo from their compulsory
residence at Yedo. At the same time Kano at last secured the long
coveted imperial order to commence the expulsion of the barbarians, and
he returned to Nagato in high glee.
In the south-western part of the main island of Japan, known as Hondo,
a narrow strait separates it from the island of Kiusiu. This strait
is named after the city of Shimonoseki,[80] situated on the northern
shore, in Nagato. This shore is composed of bold bluffs, formed of
solid rock, covered, however, with abundant verdure owing to ample
moisture and the heat of the sun. These bluffs control the strait
which forms the western entrance to the Inland Sea, and is used by
all vessels plying between Japan and China as offering a safe and
quick route. It was here that the Choshiu clan had reconstructed its
fortifications, and supplied them with new cannon. The clan had also
purchased at great expense two sailing vessels and a steamer and was
thus, as the Council thought, well equipped to expel the handful of
barbarians.
[Illustration: “THE FRIENDS WERE STANDING IN A GARDEN OF A TEAHOUSE.”]
In the beginning of July, 1863, the friends were standing in the garden
of a teahouse, whose upper story overlooked the entrance to the strait,
when an attendant appeared and informed them that a barbarian vessel
was approaching. The party went up-stairs and watched the ship, as,
unable to stem the current, she came to anchor. “She is going to stay
there all night” said Kano grimly. “Well, we don’t want any more
foreigners nor their vessels, and we will give that one yonder a hint
not to come back again.” He went out around the batteries and ordered
the officers to open fire as soon as it should be light enough.
There was grim expectation among Choshiu’s samurai at the prospect of
an early battle. They had imbibed the dislike of Kano, and the cry of
Sonno Joï had excited them. Still, they retired to rest as usual, but
were up with the first dawn. The American bark, the _Pembroke_, was
not expecting any hostilities. When the tide turned in the morning,
the captain gave orders to hoist the anchor, when he was startled by
firing and a moment later a ball went through one of his sails. He had
the American flag hoisted, but it produced no effect, except that more
batteries opened upon her. The two sailing vessels and the steamer
appeared to be preparing to increase her danger, but the sailors worked
with a will, and soon had her under weigh. The marksmanship of the
Choshiu gunners, however, was very poor, and the _Pembroke_ escaped.
It is scarcely credible that Choshiu intended to destroy an unarmed
vessel; it is more likely that they meant the firing as a warning to
keep away. Kano was satisfied at the effect which he thought had been
produced. On the morning of the 16th, about ten days after firing upon
the _Pembroke_, he was called by one of his retainers, and informed
that a steamer was coming toward the Strait from the Inland Sea. After
dressing himself hastily, he went to one of the bluffs where he could
observe and at the same time issue orders. He soon perceived that it
was a war vessel, and sent Ekichi down to the ships at anchor under
the bluff to instruct them to clear for action. He then ordered Ito
and Inouye to take charge of two of the batteries, and to open fire as
soon as possible. The barbarian ship, however, did not remain in the
channel, but made at once for the bluff, where, since the guns could
not be sufficiently depressed, she was safe from the batteries. She
immediately engaged Choshiu’s vessels, and, although the samurai were
anxious to fight and to come to close quarters, they could scarcely
inflict any damage upon their opponents, because they had not been
drilled to this sort of warfare. Kano was furious when he saw his
expensive ships destroyed, and he was more angry still when Capt.
McDougal of the saucy U. S. Sloop-of-war _Wyoming_ by a few parting
shots destroyed one of the batteries, and then steamed away, apparently
none the worse for her late encounter. It did not improve his temper,
when the breeze carried the laughter of some of the barbarian sailors
to his ears.
After the _Wyoming_ had steamed away, Kano sent for his two friends,
and together they discussed the event of that morning.
“It is easy to understand,” he said, “why our ships suffered defeat.
Our samurai can scarcely be expected to learn to handle strange craft
in so short a time. What puzzles me is that we could not sink her with
our batteries.”
“Why,” said Ito, “that was plain enough. She steamed straight under us
and for the vessels. If we had been able to loosen the rock, we might
have sunk her by letting it fall, but if we had depressed our guns, the
shot would have fallen out of them.”
“Then they are cowards!” Kano cried, “they knew that we could not hit
them there, and so crept under shelter. I don’t call that honorable
warfare.”
“I don’t see that,” said Inouye smiling. “It is fair in war to take
every advantage over an enemy; besides, it was decidedly no coward who
would come with one small vessel and attack three, while facing the
guns of our batteries. No! We lack the skill. Suppose we put armor on
our peasants and arm them with our swords, would they be able to fight
as well as we, who are trained from our youth? The biggest and most
powerful peasant, in armor, would not be a match for Ekichi. It is the
same thing in this case. We have the weapons, but we do not know how to
use them.”
“We fired well enough when she was in the channel,” objected Ito.
“Yes, but you confessed yourself that you could not depress your guns,
while that fellow raised his cannon high enough to bring the whole
battery about my ears. I don’t call it unfair, but it was a very
one-sided affair.”
XVII
A CONFERENCE
A few days after the experience gained in the conflict, Kano decided
to go to Kyoto. He announced his decision to the Council, where no
opposition was made. Indeed, several members, Hattori among the number,
declared that they too would go. They felt that the Clan had thrown
down the gauntlet, and that there must be victory or annihilation.
There had been a steady emigration of the young samurai, and even
Ekichi had besought his father to let him go. It was decided that all
should be recalled and ordered to report at Choshiu’s yashiki at Kyoto.
When Kano, accompanied by his friends, and escorted by a corps of six
hundred well-armed samurai arrived at the Capital, he could scarcely
credit his senses. The quiet and almost solemn city had changed
apparently into a garrison town. Everywhere samurai were met. The
crests of Satsuma, Choshiu, Tosa, Hizen, and Kaga, jostled with those
of the Tokugawa, with the result that brawls and street fights were
common, and peaceable citizens scarcely dared leave their houses. The
shout of Sonno Joï was heard everywhere and at all hours. A revolution
was imminent.
It was not long after Kano was installed in his apartments of the
yashiki when an attendant announced a visitor, who declined giving his
name. Receiving directions to admit him, a samurai in rônin dress,
that is without crest and his face concealed by a cloth entered. After
saluting, the visitor discarded his disguise, and Kano recognized the
features of Karassu Maru.
“Well, Mr. Councillor,” said the Kuge after they were seated, “you
have indeed heeded my advice of pulling the ground from under the
court; you have produced chaos, my friend. What has struck Aidzu, I can
not conceive. Our chairs go in and out of the palace gates and, instead
of being stopped and turned back, we are politely saluted by the guard.
There must be more of this, and I believe Tenshi Sama will order the
Phoenix Car, and promenade in the city. But how do you propose to
restore order out of this chaos?”
Kano did not confide enough in his visitor to disclose his plans. He
replied: “Before building a new house, my lord, it is best to clear
away the debris, especially after a conflagration. But, as your
lordship knows, I have been at Nagato for some time, and am very
anxious to know what has happened. I shall feel much relieved if you
will inform me.”
“I do not know how it came to pass, but after Iyemochi’s visit it was
easier for the palace attendants to secure passports, and finally they
were no longer demanded. Sanjo, Iwakura, and myself, went in and out as
we pleased, and I met a great many rônin, all good fellows. Sometimes
we had a little bout, and swords were drawn. Taken altogether, there is
a very pleasant change in our condition, and I only hope it will last.”
Kano saw that Karassu Maru would not help him much in his scheme. When
his visitor departed, he called Inouye:
“Have you still the haori which Karassu Maru lent you?”
“I have, my lord.”
“Very well; I have mine. Let us see if they will carry us past the
gates of the Gosho.”
The two gentlemen went out. Although they met numerous parties of
boisterous samurai, they were not molested, since the crest they wore
was known as that of a kuge. When they came to the gate, Kano walked
boldly in, followed by Inouye.
“Your tablets, please, gentlemen,” said one of the guards, bowing.
“How now, fellow,” cried Kano haughtily, “who has dared instruct you to
address gentlemen of our quality? Take his name,” he said to Inouye,
but the man disappeared, and they passed in.
Kano remembered the way, and, arriving at the house where they had met
before, he inquired for Sanjo. He found, however, that this was the
residence of Iwakura, and requested to be announced. After waiting a
few moments, he found himself in the presence of the man who was one of
the chief instruments in the re-organization of the empire.
“I am glad to see you, Mr. Councillor,” said the kuge, “and you come
at an opportune time. Some of us who are interested in the present
movement, were going to meet later on. But I will request them to come
as soon as possible.” He clapped his hands, and gave some directions to
the kneeling attendant. Presently a handsome screen was brought in and
placed behind Kano; then he heard the opening of the sho ji behind the
screen, and surmised that the meeting would be attended by a person of
so exalted a rank as to be invisible to him.
Iwakura entertained his visitors in that charming manner, peculiar
to the highbred Japanese. It appeared only a few minutes to Kano,
when norimono began to arrive, and he and his friend were presented
to the possessors of names, familiar to every Japanese, high or low.
Ichijo, Nijo, Higashi Kuze,[81] all historic names, appeared. At last a
norimono arrived, and Iwakura himself hastened to receive this visitor,
who, with his attendants was ushered into the room behind. The other
kuge kept up their conversation, but Kano noticed from the terms of
self-debasement, and the frequent drawing of the breath, that the last
caller must be, indeed, near to the throne. At last Iwakura reappeared,
and took his seat.
“My lords,” he said, “we have the unexpected but very gratifying
pleasure of having as visitor the man who really started the movement
which led to such surprising results. Mr. Kano is the trusted
Councillor of our friend Mori of Nagato, and this gentleman, Mr.
Inouye, he tells me, is his right hand. He has also informed me,
while waiting for your lordships to arrive, that he has a thousand
brave and devoted samurai at hand, ready to do His Majesty’s bidding,
and declares himself ready to answer any question it may please your
lordships to ask.”
Five minutes passed in performing the prostrations incident to this
introduction, and Nijo, as the oldest of the kuge present, spoke:--
“I do not understand quite, Mr. Councillor, why the peace of the Gosho
should be interrupted. His Lordship Iwakura tells us that you are the
cause, and I doubt not that you have good reasons. At the same time, I
protest that all these proceedings are highly improper, and that there
is no precedent for them. I am told that the barbarians are at our
door. Well, so they were six hundred years ago;[82] but His Majesty, as
in duty bound, visited the shrine at Isé,[83] and implored the aid of
the divine ancestors. The result is well-known. But the Gosho was not
disturbed. To guard his country properly, His Majesty needs repose and
contemplation. We like it not, Mr. Councillor, that his sacred presence
should be disturbed.”
Kano and Inouye bowed low, and were silent. After some moments of
decorous silence, the kuge next in years spoke:--
“I agree with my lord Nijo. Why does not the Shogun expel the
barbarians, as is his duty? The Court has ordered him to do so, and he
has replied that he will do it as soon as the necessary preparations
are made. So that matter is settled, it seems to me. I do not see what
Mori, Shimadzu, and other captains have to do with it. His Majesty
issues his commands to the Shogun who executes them reverently. These
proceedings are highly improper, as my Lord Nijo said. If Mori desires
any favor from the Fount of All Honor, let him apply to Iyemochi, and
when his request, properly endorsed, reaches us through the proper
channel, it will be considered and answered in due time.”
It was now Sanjo’s turn. “I have listened, my lords, with profound
satisfaction to the lessons drawn from the ripe experience of my
seniors. But I submit that our visitors be heard, since, having the
misfortune to be mere soldiers, they may not be able to appreciate to
the full extent the wisdom concentrated within the Council of Kuge.”
At this appeal to their forbearance, the kuge bowed, and Kano, seizing
his fan, began in a low but distinct voice:--
“I feel deeply, my lords, my own unworthiness, and appreciate the
honor of being admitted to this august assembly.” Here he prostrated
himself, and remained fully three minutes, his head resting upon his
outstretched hands. He then recovered his position, and continued:--
“Only a few years ago the country of the gods was at peace, thanks
to Tenshi Sama and his intercession with the divine ancestors, and
the repose of the Son of Heaven was undisturbed. Suddenly black ships
appeared near the capital of the Tokugawa, and, being ordered to
withdraw, refused to obey this reasonable behest. What did Tokugawa
do? Smite the disobedient barbarians and hurl them back to their own
desolate country? No! _Tokugawa was afraid._ The strangers departed
but returned with reinforcements the next year. There had been ample
time to call upon the clans to prepare for their visit, but _Tokugawa
was afraid_. The Go rojiu pretended to be unprepared, and conceded all
that the barbarians saw fit to ask. It was not much, but it was only
the beginning of their demands. Four years later they asked more. They
wanted land and the Tokugawa sold what was not his to sell. It was
only a few tsubo,[84] in a poor fishing village, but it was soil of
the country of the gods, part of the inheritance of the Son of Heaven.
What did the divine ancestors say about this alienation of their sacred
soil? My lords, you lay the blame of the disturbance of the sacred
bosom upon me. I and my clan are ready to expiate our sin, if by doing
so we can restore peace to the Light of our Day, to Tenshi Sama. But
that peace can be restored only by placating His Majesty’s ancestors,
when they receive back their own.”
Unconsciously, for Kano was not acting but meant every word he said, he
stopped and allowed time for his words to sink into their breasts. No
one lost his decorum, still, a movement of the fan, or a readjustment
of the haori, betrayed the uneasiness of the kuge.
Kano resumed suddenly, with a slightly elevated voice:
“Aye, the divine ancestors must be placated, peace must be restored
within the sacred walls of the Gosho, but the barbarians must be
expelled before it can be accomplished. Hark ye! my lords. Myriads
of samurai have come to this capital, and there is but one shout:
Sonno-Joï! Revere the Emperor! Expel the foreigners! The breeze from
the ocean gently fans our cheeks, so long as the gods look placidly
down, while we, their humble servants, pay them our dues in respectful
homage. But sometimes we fail in our duty. The breeze turns into a
wind, the wind into a tai-fu,[85] and it sweeps all before it, the
hovel of the laborer and the roof of the temple. What mortal can bid
it refrain? The Yamato Damashii is the lovable zephyr of our country,
but the presence of these insolent barbarians has converted it into a
mighty wind. Hark ye, my lords, do you hear it swell? Sonno Joï! It is
turning into a tai-fu now!”
Assuming the plaintive and appealing voice to which the language lends
itself so well, Kano continued as if in self-commune:--
“We heed it not. The storm centres in our beloved land where the sun
rises, but there is no rift in the clouded sky. The sun smiles upon
the myriads of ships, cleaving the blue waters, and hurrying to the
shores of our land. It is one long procession. Their spies have told
the barbarians in their inhospitable regions of the one country where
the gods love to dwell. From tens of rude, insolent men, they have
increased to hundreds; they are now thousands and will soon be myriads.
Tokugawa is no longer a vassal of Tenshi Sama, he is a servant to men
scarce better than brutes. Hyogo and Osaka, are in their possession.
The two roads to the sacred capital are crowded with them. Ye gods!
will ye not at least preserve the Gosho and your child? They press
against the wall, it gives way. Where is the peace and contemplation of
the sacred enclosure now!”
His sighing voice melted into the silence, when in a strident tone that
made them start, he concluded:--
“No! Sonno Joï roars out of a myriad throats. Myriads of brawny
hands clasp the swords of Japan. Tenshi Sama has spoken through his
brave miya and kuge. Clan after clan marches on, sun of victory for
Yamato Damashii has come forth from behind the clouds and inspired
Dai Nippon’s sons. The Tokugawa has paid the penalty of treason; the
barbarians have fled before the edge of the Soul of Samurai. Peace is
restored and flowers innumerable and of brilliant colors delight the
eye. After the tempest calm. Not that treacherous, oppressive air,
forerunner of disaster. But the bright atmosphere which succeeds the
storm as surely as prosperous peace will follow the tempest raging now,
and which is the punishment for our neglect of duty.”
XVIII
FLIGHT
Solemn was the scene, after Kano had concluded his address. He himself
was prostrate once more, and remained in that position for more than
five minutes, while not even the rustling of a silk hakama disturbed
the silence. They sat like men of wax, immovable and serene. There was
a rustling of silk behind the screen, it was removed, and a gentleman
on whose haori appeared the imperial crest entered. All prostrated
themselves, and he answered with a dignified bow. One of his attendants
brought a cushion, and when he had squatted down, he said:
“Rise, Mr. Councillor.”
Kano and Inouye obeyed.
“We have heard your statement and we approve of Mori’s loyalty as
expressed by you. Your report will receive our early attention and will
be submitted to the proper authority. Fear not, son of Nagato, Tenshi
Sama and our ancestors are keeping guard. Now go! You will receive our
orders. Tomomi,[86] see to it that these gentlemen are refreshed.” He
bowed slightly and left the room. The other kuge followed as if they
were glad to get away, and only Sanjo and Iwakura remained.
The latter ordered refreshments, and when they were brought, said: “Mr.
Kano, I, and I suppose my lord Sanjo, are highly pleased. We have been
in the minority, and have been in grave danger of our lives. But you
have converted the miya nearest to the throne, and whatever happens,
he is beyond danger, and a most powerful ally. Still, our council is
large; and if Tokugawa replaces the present commandant by one who will
make his authority felt, we shall be just where we were before.”