In the meantime Ieyasu had concluded it wise to listen to the proposals
of Nobukatsu, his nearest neighbor at the west and the eldest living son
of Nobunaga: pretender to the father's estates and brother to Nobutaka,
a recently defeated ally of Shibata.
This young man's prospects had been effectively shattered, in
consequence of the fall of the latter and the removal of Ishida, his
supporter, to Mino; still he searched everywhere in the hope of finding
some daimyo minded and able to espouse his cause against the now only
too patently determined usurper, Hideyoshi. Ieyasu based small reliance
upon any strength or power to be gained by as doubtful an arrangement,
but wanted more some plausible excuse for the making of so unequal a
stand; as had been prematurely forced.
Nobukatsu was generally looked upon as the rightful successor to his
father's rank and place, hence any friendship shown to him should in one
way or another develop some greater claim to popularity. It had also
come to be considered by neighboring daimyos as little less than heroic
even to dare attempt any sort of armed defense against the
up-to-that-time invincible Hideyoshi. All these reasons were wholly
patent to Ieyasu--young, able, and perhaps ambitious. True he had not
given any especial thought to the future, save only the immediate
relations growing out of an endowed situation, and--Yodogima. Love, with
all its soothingly absorbent benefactions, remained uppermost in his
mind: was the goad that directly spurred him to undreamed energies and
unlikely undertakings, would risk his life and fortune for the pleasures
of a single, transcendent joy.
Yet underneath this younger development there may have lurked the
ecstacy of a sub-conscious determination to loom large in the more
sordid events then subtlely approaching. Ieyasu bore the blood of the
Minamoto; those giants of old, whose daring alone had curbed and clipped
the Taira: with such a prestige, and so potent a cross, the temporarily
humbled prince of Mikawa, Ieyasu, may have inwardly harbored, without
any apparent conviction or consciousness, the possibilities of a
posterity acknowledging none other for father than Ieyasu and for
mother Yodogima.
And along with forced opportunity came the determination. Nobukatsu once
in his power would also serve a ready means of compromise, in case of
necessity. The two armies were therefore consolidated, and Ieyasu
commanding assumed adroitly the defensive.
Never for a moment underestimating Ieyasu's strength of purpose and
force of character, Hideyoshi made no less careful preparations, nor
lost any time in hurling his combined strength against him. Hidenaga,
his half-brother, forthwith recalled from Tamba, was placed at the head,
outranking both Kuroda, the Shintoist, and Takiyama, the Christian,
respectively at the head of the two main divisions of the army and
between whom vital differences had arisen; one of the reasons ostensibly
for the introduction of a new leader and centralized authority--not, in
fact, because Hideyoshi himself at all times and in every instance
assumed absolute control and personal direction: also anticipating as
punctiliously the possibilities of defeat, he would have someone upon
whose shoulders to shift the blame and the odium, hence the second
reason, for calling in Hidenaga, at this particular time.
"Do not, under any circumstances, allow some temporary success to induce
you to follow up the enemy," enjoined Hideyoshi, against his departing
generals, as they marched off to war Ieyasu into submission, or
death--perhaps, in truth, if possible, the latter.
For the first time in his life, Hideyoshi remained behind. No doubt he,
too, had, in his way, conceived the idea of a direct line, based also
upon the progeny of none other than Yodogima--and himself. To do this he
should not only crush Ieyasu in the East, but must insure Yodogima
against the dangers of intrigue at home.
He could trust Oyea; she had never failed him when treated fairly, and
he believed her by this time fully cognizant of the motive and utterly
disdainful of the effect that any such laudable undertaking might wreak
upon their sole relations; amicably settled, hence reasonably sure of
lasting countenance.
It was Esyo more than any other who caused him uneasiness. True he had
read the correspondence and listened to her declarations without so much
as a doubt about the consequences or a suggestion that could in any
manner enlighten her, but what effect would these, to him seemingly
childish hazards have upon Yodogima, a sister; and how would she demean
herself in the face of overburdening contingencies, looming in all
directions?
Without doubting in the least Hidenaga's ability or faithfulness, he
would have personally gone to the front, immediately and without
reserve: yet not alone Yodogima's safety held him back; he must know
more of the natural workings of her heart, assure himself first that
some hope of reciprocal regard might bless his innermost desire, for
Hideyoshi would not risk the breaking of an unalterable law: would
rather attune expediency to the demands of necessity, so threw himself
headlong into the merciless throes of a self-willed, if far fetched,
coquetry.
"I am interested to know more of your good self, and of your delights
and aspirations, Yodogima," avowed Hideyoshi, frankly, and almost
pathetically, as the two met, accidentally--it may have been
intentionally--while strolling in the gardens, outside the castle
buildings, and overlooking the broad, transparent waters of lake Biwa,
in the distance.
Yodogima's heart fairly stopped, then beat ragingly, though her face and
manner indicated no perceptible change or concern. She only looked the
farther over an unbroken surface, save now and then a ripple that
yellowed and ruffled in the mellowed sun's rays of a cloudlessly
departing mid-summer day.
"You, too, seem bewitched of a prospect that always gladdens, never
denies me. Let us go there, you and I, where we may have the world to
ourselves, leaving the castle, with its bickerings and battles and their
equations, away and behind."
Nearly crying out, the now fast discerning princess, almost overcome
with eagerness, held fast hold upon the face-chords; yet no longer
vainly shying, permitted a somewhat closer approach than before--if none
the less dignified or becoming, at that.
For the first time, though slight the occasion, Hideyoshi's heart
bounded with relief. The exactions of war or the involutions of deceit
no longer commanded first attention; the faintest relaxation of a
hard-held and safely-guarded privilege had transfixed his whole energy,
wrought a new being; though the destiny of a nation and the trend of
government, henceforth and always, might evolve therefrom.
"You shall not condescend to answer by word, however pleasing that might
be; goddesses have only to will it thus or that, and mere man must break
his neck to do it so. Shall we go?"
"Toward Hiyeisan?" queried Yodogima, innocently, yet significantly.
"No; in the opposite direction; across the lake. I know a temple there,
close down at the water's edge, better rid of a kind and more select
about its visitations, where we can drink deeply and no mortal shall
question. Hence, Yodogima?"
"On one condition--but will not to-morrow do; I cannot make answer so
soon?" promised she, thoughtful to gain as much time as possible; having
measured accurately the probabilities of Hidenaga's advance.
"Granted, my lady: what is it?"
"The condition is that my sister Esyo accompany us--Jokoin nor Oyea
would be either serviceable or agreeable, as I believe, considering the
purpose that you have in mind and the rebellion that pours from my
heart. In as much, I have to ask you and you to grant only this: that
you heed nor hold me any other or for more."
"What? Have you not heard of the hostilities?"
"Yes; my sister told me about it."
"Esyo?"
"Yes."
"And--you have confidence in her?"
The answer already on her lips, did not escape him, though Yodogima
hesitated; she had read him in time to save herself--surmised that he
knew more than she would express or deny--and cogitating a happier
conclusion endeavored to leave him standing as near the brink of
certainty as it had been his pleasure to assume.
"You would have me disown a sister?"
"I would know you better."
"Then judge me with less compassion and more of wit; I take the
responsibility--"
"Not of war?"
"No; but of its cause and consequence."
"I admire you all the more for that, though you leave me without a peg
to stand on. Nor shall I surrender one whit the ground I've gained, no
less an opinion formed. Take the whole family along, if you like: their
gadding, a virtue stands you none the less in hand; to-morrow Hideyoshi
shall know--"
"How it is to be tricked."
"Ha, ha--you think me easily done."
They sat upon the beach, in the afternoon of the following day,
Hideyoshi listening with rising anticipation and Yodogima straining
every wit she had, prolonging and intensifying the illusion. She did not
know that Esyo had deliberately, if falsely, precipitated the conflict,
nor was she aware of Hideyoshi's perusal of her own correspondence with
Ieyasu--all of it, excepting only the last letter, in which she had
advised him to make peace at any price, save honor. Yet she was
conscious that a conflict raged, was perhaps at that moment fighting to
the death, between two unequal forces, in which no quarter should be
asked or given, and that her own lover was desperately pitted in that
struggle against the very man who held her captive, grovelled at her
feet a weakling and a beggar.
"Why should I not surrender, if needs be, this frail body of mine to
save him?" again and again rose in her mind, as often to be discarded
and smothered as a thing utterly impossible.
"No; I'll yet win for him by subtler means an equal chance; and when
I've done that--a woman cannot do less: should do no more."
A heron stalked by, disdaining a small crab that backed and snapped
among the slime-washed rocks: Hideyoshi strained his eyes, meditating
momentarily the legend of a bygone day.
"A Heike?" queried he, half aloud, rising to examine more closely the
supposed Taira symbol.
Yodogima's throat filled, and failed of utterance.
"It's only a common sort," observed he, returning with the obstreperous
little thing clinging tightly to the stick's end.
Reseating himself, the conversation for once began somewhat to lag. It
was too soon yet to boat round shady points or tempt strange
communications from the deep, so the two remained in the shade. Esyo
studied with unconcern the deeper mysteries of early dragon-fly catching
and the strange cupidity with which the stupid long-bodied creatures
permitted themselves to be ensnared and haled to bay. Only Oyea clung to
the old temple, near by, farther up the long, sloping incline; two lions
carved in stone stood sentinel there, and these she contemplated in
prayer to the good god who as earnestly watched over them. Yodogima
leaned forward, and for the first time induced Hideyoshi to return her
look without avoidance, asking him:
"Do you believe in these tales of old?" conscious more of the temple
than of crabs.
"Perhaps--only, I might say, as occasion serves or convenience
requires."
"Did anybody ever deem them differently?"
Hideyoshi had neither the opportunity nor any inclination to answer; a
courier dashed up, breathless and expectant, presenting him with a
message from the front.
"Ha, ha--the fight is on," chuckled he, clapping his hands and dancing
about hilariously.
The intelligence roused added interest, as it only could, but Yodogima
continued in the full command of her presence. She would have gladly
surrendered her life for a moment's encouragement to the man she loved,
yet as circumstanced would not lose her hold upon him whom she loathed.
Hideyoshi approached closer: silence alone repulsed him, the wisdom she
displayed made ready the pyre, and the dignity of her conduct set the
torch that lighted within a conflagration that conserved no bounds. Only
such as she could appease the appetite of a true god. He must have her,
let the heavens fall.
"Tell them," commanded he, "that Hideyoshi fights more fiercely,
confronts a larger host, holds a vitaler purpose, augurs--is just now
engaged at the battle of self. Go hence."
The sun had set, and their little party, four in all, sat round a
repast; spread and served with hands unsoiled, neither knowing an art
nor upholding a truth other than as willed them.
Oyea looked her sole lord in the face; she saw no trace of chagrin or
sorrow there; all her life had been devoted to the smoothing of his
pillow, the making of a god, and to the serving of some purpose--just
what, she had never stopped to consider. Yodogima sat near at hand,
supremely reserved, withal grandly inviting. Hideyoshi, the husband,
too, was there; and should Oyea be forgiven, perhaps, in that she
conceived him a little more godly for the taste and the judgment of that
selection? No other God condescended to answer. She believed him more
than incarnate--
Another courier arrived, more anxious than the first.
Hideyoshi grinned, this time; saying, calmly, without any exultation:
"The enemy wavers, and is--"
Neither had this sentence been finished, when--Yodogima said not a word
nor did she show any change of color, yet the blood seemed freezing in
her veins--Hideyoshi threw down the message, exclaiming:
"Tell them they know not what they say; an enemy is never 'defeated'
till captured, decapitated, and discredited. Go."
Evening wore away, and none remained to render the night's artfuller
subtleties but Yodogomi and her now slaving protegé; servants and others
less welcome, or more discerning, had found it convenient or expedient
to busy themselves in more directions than one.
Esyo, paling at the significance of that last message, no longer bandied
discretion or consulted verity in the making up of her mind just what
she should or would do. Ieyasu had been deceived and a sister
betrayed--what mattered; she would set things right, at the cost of
double-dealing--another?
Still a third courier bounded into the open room in which they sat or
lounged at will.
Hideyoshi grew apprehensive as he read; and gripping the message,
snarled:
"Ieyasu retreats--"
Without concluding also this sentence or changing his attitude, the
puzzled daimyo, still blindly unconscious of his own predicament, but
bitterly alive to the probability of Hidenaga's speedy annihilation,
turned to Yodogima, shamefully betraying, as he had never done before,
the inner hopelessness of a hotly contested, fiercely grinding will
determination. Her head reeled--it seemed as if all were lost--but the
body responded, revealing no trace of the terrible battle she fought: on
higher grounds than he had conceived or Ieyasu felt--in consequence of
dreaming, no less endangered by waiting. Forced and beaten, Hideyoshi
could bear the suspense no longer.
"Is it possible--are you--in fact--a stoic? You appear to be
unmoved--unresolved--yet--Ieyasu by retreating has won--has proven
himself--to be--a greater man than--no, no; I understand; know how it is
to be tricked'! Yodogima, I have no fine speech to make or promises to
render; to you, Ieyasu owes it that he lives: an humbler admirer, only
that he can better respect.--Stay, you, courier; Hideyoshi goes."