THE USURPER.
In less than two months, as Signenari had stated, Hieyas had made
himself dreaded; he had at his beck and call an army which public
report numbered at five hundred thousand. The provinces of Sagama,
Mikawa, and Sourouga, which belonged to him, had furnished large bodies
of soldiers. The lord of Owari, the most devoted of Hieyas' allies, had
commanded every able-bodied man in his principality to take up arms; so
that there was not a laborer left upon his lands. The Prince of Tosa
was powerfully entrenched in the large Island of Shikoku, lying to the
south of the kingdom, opposite Osaka Bay. From that point he threatened
the Shogun's capital.
The majority of the sovereign lords of Japan, confident of the success
of Hieyas, lent him their aid, and held their forces at his disposal.
Hieyas had established himself at Yeddo,--then a mere suburb, whose
fine strategic position tempted him. Situated about mid-distance of
the length of the great Island of Nipon, at the extreme end of a bay
which cut deeply into the land, and surrounded by high mountains,
it was easily fortified, and once fortified, impregnable. Moreover,
its position in the centre of Japan, in view of the small width of
the island, allowed communication by land to be readily cut off
between the large Island of Yezo, the northern part of Nipon, and its
southern portion, in which lay Kioto, Osaka, and the principalities of
Fide-Yori's partisans. In this way, one half of Japan was insulated,
and thus forced to remain neutral, or take sides with Hieyas.
The aged Regent displayed an unparalleled activity. In spite of his
advanced years and precarious health, he proceeded to every spot where
he thought his influence necessary. With those princes who were hostile
to him, he feigned that he still held the power no longer his, and
claimed from them the number of troops which they were bound to furnish
the Government in time of war. Then he hastily despatched those men to
distant points. In case his enemies learned the truth, they were thus
disabled from harming him.
But after realizing these daring schemes, and preparing for the violent
struggle necessary in order to usurp the supreme power, Hieyas felt so
weak, so enfeebled by fever and pain, that he imagined he was about to
die. He speedily summoned his son, who was then residing at the castle
of Mikawa.
Fide-Tadda, son of Hieyas, was at this time forty-five years old. He
was a man of no great personal valor, but patient, persevering, and
submissive to minds superior to his own. He professed a boundless
admiration for his father. He instantly hastened to the side of Hieyas,
taking with him his youngest daughter, a lovely girl of fifteen.
Hieyas lived in a stronghold which he had built years--before at Yeddo,
and which was not yet wholly finished. From the room in which he lay,
stretched on thick cushions, he saw through the large window the
beautiful Fusiyama, from whose snow-covered summit issued a column of
delicate white smoke.
"Is that your daughter?" said Hieyas, as Fide-Tadda approached him with
the girl.
"Yes, illustrious father; this is the younger sister of the Shogun's
wife."
"The Shogun's wife!" repeated Hieyas, shaking his head and sneering.
"The little thing is very pretty," he added, after inspecting the young
girl minutely, making her blush and drop her long black lashes on her
cheeks. "Take good care of her; I shall need her."
Then he made a sign to dismiss the child.
"I may die, my son," he said when he was alone with Fide-Tadda; "that
is why I sent for you. I wish to give you my last instructions,--to
trace out the line of conduct which you are to follow when I am no
more."
On hearing his father speak in this way, Fide-Tadda could not repress
his tears.
"Stop, stop!" cried Hieyas, smiling; "do not weep for me yet, I am not
dead; and you shall see that my mind, is not impaired, as that old
Mayada would have people think. Listen to me, and treasure my words in
your memory."
"Every word that falls from your mouth is to me what a fine pearl would
be to a miser."
"I will be brief," said Hieyas; "talking tires me. Know first, my son,
that the predecessor of Go-Mitzou-No, the present Mikado, once honored
me with the title of Shogun. It was after the death of Taiko. I made no
parade of the title, not wishing to offend the friends of Fide-Yori. I
allowed the princes and the people to fall into the habit of calling
me the Regent. What mattered the name by which the power was known, so
long as the power rested in my hands? But now the title of Shogun is of
the utmost importance to me, for it is hereditary, and I can abdicate
in your favor. You spoke just now of the Shogun. I am the Shogun.
Fide-Yori did indeed receive the same title, and I never reminded
his insolent councillors that it was really mine. I acted prudently.
I was in their hands; they might have slain me. But now I undertake
this war,--be well assured of it,--as sole representative of the legal
power. I have had embroidered off my banners the three chrysanthemum
leaves, the insignia given me by the former Mikado; and it is in the
name of his heir that I lead my armies on to battle. I act without his
authority, true; but as soon as I gain the victory he will approve my
acts."
Hieyas paused for an instant, and drank a little tea.
"Only," he soon resumed, "death may surprise me,--it threatens me
even now; and my work must be finished after I am gone. That is why I
now abdicate in your favor. You will remain at the castle of Mikawa,
sheltered from the hazards of war, watching over your daughter, who may
serve for one of my plans, until the day when victory shall proclaim
you master of Japan; then you will establish your residence at Yeddo,
the best-situated city in the kingdom. Now I will try to put clearly
before you the object for which you are to strive in your government
of the nation. Taiko-Sama, who was a man of genius, although he was
the son of a peasant, conceived the plan, as soon as he gained power,
of uniting the sixty-one petty kingdoms composing Japan into a single
kingdom, to be ruled by the Shogun. The life of one man was not long
enough to see this project realized. Taiko, nevertheless, undertook it
with great vigor, always carefully concealing his intentions. I alone
was the confidant of his hopes, and hitherto I have revealed them to
no one. When Taiko plunged the princes into the war with China, which
seemed to so many an act of madness, it was done to weaken the nobles
by a costly war, and to keep them away from their provinces for a time.
While he led them to the field, I carried out his orders at home. I
superintended the construction of the Tokaido,--that broad road which
impudently passes directly through regions formerly subject to their
own princes only; I summoned to Osaka the wives and children of the
absent lords, under pretext of protecting them from all danger, if
by any accident the Chinese army should invade the land. When the
princes returned, we refused to let the women go home. They were to
live permanently at Osaka; they are still there, precious hostages,
who answer for the fidelity of their husbands and fathers. As Taiko
was also a great warrior, victory crowned his dangerous enterprise and
strengthened his power.
"The Mikado had long paid little heed to the affairs of the empire.
Taiko thought it well that he should pay even less attention to them;
he made his power imaginary.... Listen!" continued Hieyas, lowering
his voice: "this power must be diminished still more; the Mikado must
retain merely the title of sovereign. Load him with honors, deify him
more and more, so that he may lift his eyes to heaven, and turn them
away from earth forever.
"Taiko was interrupted by death in the execution of his task, which was
but just begun; the princes are still powerful and rich. Continue this
work after me; parcel out the kingdoms, sow discord between the nobles.
If two friends hold neighboring principalities, forbid them to reside
within their domains at one and the same time; if they are foes, on the
contrary, let them dwell together. War will break out between them,
and one at least will be enfeebled. Always keep their wives at Yeddo.
Bring into fashion a ruinous luxury; the women will help you in this.
Empty the coffers of their husbands, that they may be forced to sell
their estates. But if one of them be rich enough to provide for all
these outlays, pay him a visit, and oblige him to spend his last bit of
gold to receive such an honor fitly. Be careful to close Japan strictly
against all strangers: the princes might make formidable alliances with
them. Therefore let no ship coming from distant countries enter our
ports. Seek out the Christians and massacre them remorselessly: they
are capable of fomenting revolt and insubordination. You understand
me fully, my son? You must strive to make of Japan a single empire,
subject to but one master. But this end will be long and difficult of
attainment, and man's life is brief; wherefore, when time has blanched
your hair, you must summon your son, as I summoned you to-day, and
transmit my words to him. I have finished."
"Father," said Fide-Tadda, kneeling before Hieyas, "I swear to fulfil
your wishes to the letter."
"Good, my child; but send for the doctor," said Hieyas, who breathed
laboriously, exhausted by his long discourse.
The doctor was brought.
"Illustrious scholar," said Hieyas, looking fixedly at him, "am I very
ill?"
"No, master," said the doctor, with some hesitation.
"I command you to speak nothing but the truth. Am I very ill?
"Yes," said the physician.
"In danger of death?"
"Not yet; but the life of fatigue which you lead may hasten your end."
"Could I live to see the end of the war which I am undertaking,
supposing that it should last six moons?"
"Oh, yes!" said the doctor; "you might oven prolong the war
considerably beyond that time."
"Well! then I am rich," cried Hieyas, laughing. "I need not be in
haste; I will take a few days of rest."