Katsutoya, in whom Shibata was personally most deeply interested, had
not put in an appearance: yet no pressing duties at Nagahama or
elsewhere could possibly have kept him away.
Though of no particular consequence, this young prince was generally
conceded to be the clandestine son of Yoshiaki, the then de jure shogun,
who had been, a number of years theretofore, deposed and exiled by
Nobunaga, as was customary, to one of the many monasteries in the hills
of Hiyeisan to the rear of Kyoto. Shibata, Nobunaga's chief captain, no
doubt with an eye to the future, had early taken in the friendless youth
and by adopting him as a son--with the rank and title of a captain--had
given him respectable standing: perhaps intending him to be the possible
means of later on obtaining a commission from the shogun, himself; thus
legalizing his warfare against his neighbors--a thing every daimyo of
consequence aspired above all else.
Shibata, chafed at Katsutoya's omission or disobedience and Hideyoshi's
keen eye, readily discerned the possibilities of so potent a failure.
"Junkei?" commanded he, as he and his train approached, on the way to
Kyoto, the recently surrendered castle of Nagahama.
"Yes, my lord."
"Tell Takiyama Hideyoshi would pay Katsutoya a visit, en route."
"What!"
"Fool! Control yourself; do as bid; and with a good face."
"But Katsutoya is an enemy's favorite, and we have only a small guard."
"Hence worth our while; and do you comprehend? Cease conjecturing;
Hideyoshi knows. Nobunaga is dead: Yodogima, mine."
They three met in council at the narrow pass leading to Katsutoya's new
charge. It was dark, and Takiyama conjured new dangers. Hideyoshi bade
him disarm and lead the way.
"It is madness," whispered Takiyama, more thoughtful of himself than of
his duty.
"You, a Christian, would bear arms, visiting upon a neighbor? Is that
your religion?"
Takiyama faltered, and Hideyoshi proceeded. His own sword had not been
cast aside; courtesy forbade it; but upon their arrival and presentation
the fearless daimyo of the new school unsheathed his master weapon and
reversing it tendered the hilt to Katsutoya; who was so bewildered with
respect for his visitor's confidence that no time was lost in the
forming of a friendship that for once set a new example and again sent
Hideyoshi on his way the wiser for his daring.
Hideyoshi had gained an important advantage by a newly tried agency,
diplomacy--a thing his compeers, and even Nobunaga his superior, had
deigned despise. Triumphant at Kitanoshi and successful in Nagahama, a
double prize at stake and a soldier like Kuroda to enforce the decree,
why not proclaim himself at once?
Nobunaga's corpse lie in state at the capital, and who were there to
dispute Hideyoshi, now that Shibata remained absent, nursing the
vexations of sore defeat?
"Junkei?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Call Kuroda."
"I think he sleeps; you know, we just arrived--it is only a trice since
we left--and Kyoto is miles distant--"
"Babbler! Does Hideyoshi sleep? Bring Kuroda, before your neck and my
scimitar have tried their want."
"Kuroda, are you Hideyoshi's captain?" asked Hideyoshi, presently.
"Yes, most honorable master."
"Then why sleep?"
"It is nature's call."
"Away with nature; the gods are omnipotent. Would you, Kuroda, serve
less? No? Then listen. Hideyoshi defies both God and man. Marshal your
troops. I proclaim myself."
"They sleep."
"Give then gold, and they shall awaken."
"But how use them--my instructions--I have nothing--"
"What? Kuroda, my captain, a beggar? Have I not confidence in you? A
better age dawns."
"Command me."
"That is more like it. Listen. Nobunaga lies unburied. Let all Japan
witness the ceremony. The gods proclaim their precedence; Hideyoshi
shall do reverence first: then the barons, widows, and pretenders may
wrangle out their proper rank."
"But our ancestors?"
"Bosh! With Kuroda and Shintoism on the one hand and Takiyama and
Christianity on the other, Hideyoshi shall wrought anew. Reverence might
better rot; manhood waxes original."
The shogun forthwith appointed Hideyoshi major general of all the
mikado's forces--gold had brought him, too, from his hiding: a ready
request afforded the occasion--and all the daimyos were commanded to
appear and do homage. The wealth and the fashion of the nation were
invited. The whole populace was instructed to come. Such a gathering,
and so bold a venture, marked a new era. All the best and the most
vigorous, the intellectual and the ambitious, the strong and the brave,
rallied to the call of a thirsty leader, chose to lay their lives at the
altar of endeavor, and to grapple for the first time with an
individualism that bade fair to spring from the very roots of society,
and to thrive--only one man stood silently but resolutely in the way.
Shibata responded to the call, and all the daimyos recently subservient
to the dead chief were there. Others came in person, or sent suitable
representatives; the common people under Hideyoshi's immediate sway
rallied in numbers; samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants alike
responded: such a gathering of wealth and power, rags and poverty, never
before had assembled to do reverence.
Daitokige temple had been designated by Hideyoshi as the most suitable
place for the ceremonies and workmen rendered it into a veritable
dreamland. Flowers and bunting and gold and purple contrasted
significantly with the white gowns and mourning hoods worn by the rich
and the poor alike.
Shibata and his suite had been purposely assigned to the place of honor.
Nowhere were Hideyoshi and his followers to be seen--they had apparently
vanished as if of the past or in the spirit world, along with Nobunaga,
their fallen chief. Yodogima sat in the center, surrounded by her maids
and friends, with their costumes of white or regalias of gold, banked
against a background of wealth and refinement. Far up the hillsides and
all round in front and to the rear, sat or trod, mingled and stared,
solid masses of straggling groups of knighted chevaliers or gaping
underlings, fair maidens and rosy-cheeked damsels. Presently the huge
gong sounded and everybody there bowed reverently: the bonzes (priests),
kneeling round the sepulchre said their prayers, and Shintoism,
Buddhism, and Christianity alike awaited God, conjured a Spirit, bade
the Overman speak.
Hideyoshi, with the infant heir, Samboshi, Nobunaga's grandson, in his
arms, stood forth; whence, no one knew. A voice, amid silence, read from
the tomb the order of the day.
Calmly facing the shrine and beckoning the multitude, Hideyoshi then
spoke:
"I, Hideyoshi, protector of the throne and conservator of the peace,
command that you and each of you, loyal subjects, give heed unto
Nobunaga's will; here and thence to you voiced by the good and great
Yamato-Dake (god of war). Let be what I proclaim."
Thereat two white falcons spread their wings and flapped away into
space. A loud roar and din as of horses trampling and speeding issued
from the temple. Armed guards sprang forward everywhere--out of the
temples, behind the gates, into the streets, around the palace, amid the
hills--and Kuroda stood ready to strike down the lowliest and the
highest who dared raise a hand or voice.
Shibata slunk back, and amid the confusion an old woman seemingly, clad
in black with drawn hood, carrying a strange bundle, whispered in
Yodogima's ear. In a twinkling the knowing princess had donned the
disguise and with no other apparent escort made her way toward
Kitanoshi, safely tucked away behind the mountain range in the distance.