The resolving in her own mind of a determination so vital to herself, to
her lover, and to others with whom she had to do, had driven Yodogima
well nigh unto the brink of distraction. She respected the rights of
all, loved as only in truth she could, and held self above the
unlettered reach of personal prowess alone; the community had dawned,
laid claim to its higher purpose, and held her like a moth lured thither
to the candle fire. She would not preach the latter, could not practice
the former, hence fell back upon impulse as an only guide.
"Let them fight," repeated she, when alone and reflecting, "the one
ambitious and the other uncertain; I would be neither, and justice will
be done--but, is not he my God? What other hope? Forgive me!"
Presently Oyea came to her.
"You did right, Yodogima, and he shall understand, if such be meet; and
who can better judge than he? What of the fathers, of tradition, of--"
"Hush-sh-sh--it seems to me I hear a voice--no, no; it is only he; my
God, my Due: I am mindful of--Obedience."
Upon receipt of her declaration, Ieyasu forthwith charged Yodogima with
unfaithfulness; he believed now that Hideyoshi had found it possible
only through her to checkmate his every move to reach and liberate her,
had moved upon him thus prematurely but to satisfy a wavering ambition
of hers. Esyo seemed not of sufficient consequence to arouse in him any
apprehension from that source; her last protestations appeared to be
reasonable enough in view of Jokoin's passive assent, and without
looking behind the scenes to discern any better reason further for
assuming individual risk, at once set himself about to exact the best
terms obtainable.
Love had been the one thing to swerve him, and to disturb the plan that
he had evolved earlier in life to build up and round out an existence
both useful and to the purpose: he would have no more of it. Hideyoshi,
on the other hand, had indulged only as convenience or policy dictated,
hence came to look upon virtue as a ruling passion: made it the goal and
not his guide.
"You are at liberty to name the terms," urged Hideyoshi, upon Ieyasu,
more in irony than of earnest; no longer doubtful about the latter's
attitude, toward Yodogima.
"I want neither women nor wealth; they are alike fatal to government,"
retorted Ieyasu, neither heedless nor unready.
"Oh, very well; we shall omit the latter, if you like, but the former
are indispensable, I take it; however, one or so more or less doesn't
matter much, to me; besides, you may change your mind: Hideyoshi can
then the better supply you: my collection is not a mean one--"
"And your mother a good enough security. What say you to that,
bickerer?"
"It is agreeable: you can have her, as hostage, of course."
"Hardly for another purpose, as a matter of choice; knowing her son, as
I do."
"There are worse mothers--you will not deny her the comfort of a
daughter, my sister Saji?"
"I can relieve you as well of her support, if that is any object."
"Thanks. She may not seem extravagant to Ieyasu. And, you might not
dislike, also, Jokoin, my recently adopted daughter?"
"Perhaps I had better take, instead, Esyo, and make an end of it."
"As you like; Hideyoshi is not over nice, or particular, or exacting."
"And Ieyasu wants nothing not bargained for, and takes no less."
"We shall see," replied Hideyoshi, satisfied with the deal, and anxious
to put it to the test without further parley or encumbrance.
Hideyoshi forthwith produced as hostage his mother, Naka, accompanied by
her daughter, Saji, apparently to keep her company, and by Esyo, whose
presence, already assured, served no better her purpose than Hideyoshi's
pleasurable riddance if not her sister Yodogima's more respectful quest.
In consideration of the security tendered, Ieyasu agreed henceforth
only to recognize Hideyoshi as supreme at Kyoto, the capital: Hideyoshi,
as usual, made no promises.
Returning to Azuchi, word forthwith spread of Hideyoshi's wonderful
success; he had demonstrated the potency of diplomacy as against the
cruelties of war--true no one knew quite the terms of their alliance,
except they themselves, and seemingly neither one had gained an
ostensible advantage, save, perhaps, Ieyasu; who, as was patent, held
the highest possible hostage, yet for what none surmised; or, as events
proved, really cared. Nobody's domain had been depleted or augmented,
and Ieyasu's prestige gained by the battle won remained unquestioned;
he had never disputed Hideyoshi's supremacy at Kyoto, hence could not be
charged with losing anything by recognizing that. On the other hand,
Hideyoshi carried with him the odium of defeat in battle, against which
the successes of so little known an agency as diplomacy would not have
counted for much had he not again looked ahead into the, to him, truly
inexhaustible unknown, there discerning still a newer and more effective
builder, publicity.
The money, therefore, that Ieyasu might have exacted as tribute was at
once put to a better use, and the women, whose influence he preferred to
despise, were not at all slow with experiencing some change of heart, if
not of grasping at real opportunity. Yodogima held steadfast to her
purpose. Oyea might have been pardoned for a growing conviction that her
lord ruled right in any circumstance and that, perhaps, Yodogima were,
after all, a bit ungrateful; but others less disappointing and with more
to gain eagerly outbid themselves to do his reverence honor--Grace of
Tango, daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide and wife to Hosokawa Tadaoki, cast
her jewels into the fund that was forming to bid Hideyoshi enter the
capital as a god no less than laurel crowned.
The monks of Negoro were crushed, the South subdued, and the exalted
office of Kwambaku (Regent) was conferred upon him, by no less an
authority than the mikado himself--Yoshiaki, the deposed shogun, refused
to adopt the lowly-born Hideyoshi, as requested, thus enabling him to be
declared shogun; Katsutoya still remained at large.
From a huge platform at Kyoto great treasure was distributed, and the
barons bended their knees: from far and near they came, women clamored
for admission to his court, but there was one who looked deeper than
affectation; either upheld or condemned, as inwardly judged; and
Hideyoshi, if none other, revered her for it, made her his goddess, and
worshipped thence at mercy's will.
"Tell me, Yodogima, what is it I can do to sever the heart-strings that
bind you to another? I am not deceived."
"Then you are not a god: I thought you invincible?"
Ieyasu had settled down to the rebuilding of his fortunes at home,
apparently content that he had not been shorn of his estate, had gained
the prestige of a victory won at arms--a thing hitherto wholly
unrenowned for--and that Yodogima no longer appeared to weigh in the
scales of duty or ambition; Esyo had doctored up his conscience on that
score as best she could, and results proved her no mean attendant; but
there was one thing that disturbed him: How could Hideyoshi make so much
capital out of so little gained?
After all, had he not underestimated the potency of money as shown in
the resolving of publicity, so new, save only to Hideyoshi, yet
apparently more vital in the attainment of power to do than was
character essential or determinate when once invoked or accepted?
It may have been some dawning eagerness on his part to recoup his loss
in that direction, or to take advantage in the future of Hideyoshi's now
more than ever patent initiative, or it may have been a growing distrust
of or resulting dislike for Esyo, and his vain though unstudied attempt
to rid himself of the one by leaning toward another: whatever the cause,
Ieyasu became more and more reconciled to the presence, if not the
advances, of Saji: she did make advances, though innocent enough and
wholly legitimate on her part. Hideyoshi knew. Nor was any opportunity
neglected to let those little surmisings reach and sear the trend of
another's confidence, yet Yodogima's love for Ieyasu flamed on; faith,
hope, and charity rounded out the dull monotony of neglected
opportunity, making life to her after all worth the living, the
striving, and the getting.
"He is mine," whispered she, to herself, repeatedly pillowing her head
upon an untouched but conscious rest.
"By heavens, I'll make him another's," vowed Hideyoshi, as often, yet
with no less respect.
All the home provinces and every conceivable approach to the capital now
rested securely within the keep of Hideyoshi. The mikado subservient or
cowed, and a supervisory authority exercised by himself. His will alone
the government, and the nation fired. The populace coerced, neighboring
daimyos whipped, and the South in his clutch, there remained only the
North as an excuse for putting Ieyasu further to test and laying
threadbare before her own eyes what he believed to be Yodogima's last
prospect there.
Hojo of Odawara had not yet paid his respects to Hideyoshi, nor had
Date, still farther to the northward, tendered submission. They were
powerful barons, the former fighting his way from insignificance--really
from a merchant with a pack on his back--to the lordship of five great
provinces, the Kwanto, with a fortified castle at Odawara, intrenched
behind mountain gorges at the west and the sea to the southward: a
position hitherto held as impregnable as it was desirable. Date fared
less well as to defenses, lying largely in the open and depending more
upon his neighbor Hojo for protection against the West, but he was none
the less rich and perhaps more judicious for that; hence, the greater
desired by Hideyoshi.
Realizing that a blow at Hojo meant an equal and a mutual response from
Date, Ieyasu had good reason under a strained or liberal construction
of the terms and conditions of their alliance to respond to Hideyoshi's
call for assistance. The two armies moved in concert upon
Odawara--Hideyoshi as aggressor and Ieyasu his support.
It was in the springtime, when roads were open and fain nature leaping
forth in heart or bud. They had fought their way over the summit and
driven in the nearest outpost: Hojo entrenched himself behind the walls
of that castle, seemingly safe without and provisioned within.
Hideyoshi reckoned differently; besides, had other ends to gain. Ieyasu
awaited the advance patiently, but a deeper hold hung dangerously over
him, grappled him and snarled him and swayed him, till in the end reason
had doubted his entity.
Hojo lay penned in. Date suspicioned his friend's inability to withstand
the siege. Ieyasu and others under Hideyoshi's command bore the delay
somewhat indifferently. Hideyoshi, of a sudden, in the face of war,
inaugurated the most unheard-of festivities and amid the revelries
pursued his own secret purpose.
From the castle to the sea spread the city, with its activities and its
apprehensions. To the north and west rose high hills, studded in their
lower slopes with the luxury and the content of higher living. Here, at
Ishigaki hill, well up on the side and overlooking the castle, in the
foreground, Hideyoshi pitched his tent: the army encamped here and there
throughout the city and his communications established there was no need
he knew or want devised that must not heed his will.
Wide banquet floors were laid end to end round one side the hill, roofed
over with alternating sky and bough: lined up in front of white paper
screens, serving as well to frighten the enemy below as to entertain the
guests assembling.
Large numbers of various classes, both of nobles and the samurai, were
invited--Date among the rest; who, for some reason, known best to
himself or to Hideyoshi, secretly came, humbly awaiting the host's still
stricter pleasure. Geishas, musicians, players, and favorites were
called in thousands; a one hundred days' feast planned; Ieyasu made an
honorary host, and Yodogima brought from Azuchi to do him service.
Other barons had been permitted to invite their wives and their
sweethearts--Ieyasu among them; Saji served in a polite way, if not as
a real love--but Hideyoshi, in his higher capacity, either defying
custom or succoring freedom, wrote to Oyea granting her only the
privilege of delegating Yodogima in her stead.
"As next to you," commanded he, "Yodogima is my favorite: send her
along. You shall have me at your side again when I return from the war."
Yodogima came; it was her last chance, and she Oyea's only hope.
Dancing and singing and feasting had waned, the stars shone bright
overhead, and entering Hideyoshi and Yodogima led the way, seating
themselves, he at the head with her at his right. Then came Ieyasu and
Saji; who arranged at the motion of Hideyoshi, the former facing
Yodogima and the latter himself. Others swarmed in, in like fashion,
till the half-moon of gay and happy nobles reached round on either side
the hill, properly ranked, beyond the sight or hearing of those honored
with higher favors. Low, weird strains issued from the half-hidden
platform in front where sat the players, grouped before rising ranks of
dancers--then posed and eager, now swaying and relieved--banked against
a background of green and shadow. The gods breathed sparingly.
Ieyasu dared not raise his eyes from the floor. Yodogima calmly awaited
some initiative on his part; etiquet bade her bide the pleasure of host
or suitor alike. Neither guilt nor remorse weighed at all upon her
conscience as it did heavily upon his. There, before him, within reach
of his every faculty, as innocent and true, as sweet, as fair, and as
appealing as upon the day when he had pledged himself to die for
her--the bare thought of having tolerated another, then sitting at his
side, deadened intellect and sickened the heart.
"How can I meet her look, return her confidence, knowing as I do now
that it is I and not she who is false?" asked he, of himself, till his
heart seemed breaking and his mind a mirage.
"Perhaps it is too much, the demand greater than a human can endure; I
should not have come here," reasoned she, equally as reserved, if more
unconcernedly.
"Beautiful beyond comparison," appeared to be the verdict of every man
or woman within sight of her, and the suspense but quickened their
judgment. Hideyoshi gorged satisfied. He had provided every conceivable
device, no expense had been spared; for he proved a lavish lover, and
Oyea, from motive or pride, had neglected neither art nor attention to
relieve and heighten either charm, or form; silks embroidered and
blended to a thread, laces representing the patience and the labor of an
exquisite design or appreciative hand, pearls priceless in cost and
emblematic of a disposition which at least the donor had fathomed, all
these worn with grace, softened in modesty, and inspired of eyes as keen
as confiding, Ieyasu well might suffer the torments of a troubled
conscience--may have asked himself earnestly and regretfully if he had
not wronged her.
In her mind no such thought had entered; she believed herself in some
way responsible for his apparent neglect. Had she waned in his
estimation? Were Saji really more beautiful, still worthier of his
admiration, less exacting in her appeal? The blood rushed to Yodogima's
face, momentarily tingeing the hitherto untroubled countenance that made
her queen. Hideyoshi as quickly came to her relief; he should not see
her overtried. Proud, and observant, he would stake his life, make some
sort of effort to hew the way that she might reign, resolve her proper
place and prove the man whose worth alone might justify his claim.
"A toast, Yodogima--I am sure that Ieyasu shall appreciate it--Saji
might the better serve Hideyoshi's dull wit," suggested he, by way of
relief.
Yodogima raised the cup. She would not disobey, nor would she neglect an
opportunity. She believed Ieyasu true, and held him ready as well.
Hideyoshi had granted her the privilege, and made it possible for Ieyasu
to place beyond all doubt the inviolability of their love.
Would he do it? Such a question never entered her mind. Could he? She
deemed him incapable of failure. Hideyoshi was as good as his word, had
to her proven himself beyond peradventure: perhaps it was something of
triumph which prompted the words, it might have been a dawning bit of
jealousy inspiring the thought, more likely it were a prospect of
truth's obtaining that urged the will to claim its mastery, but whatever
the cause, the motive proved none the less discernible. Yodogima faced
her lover, not exultantly, yet assuringly, saying:
"While climbing the hill of prosperity, I hope never to meet you."
Ieyasu's eyes for the first time rose to hers, fairly and
unflinchingly. The old love once again possessed him, for the moment
flared every torch, forced recognition, and the soul revealed its
innermost secret--Hideyoshi waited: possibly the mind waxed hot, but not
a hand trembled. Then the message itself began to claim attention, and
directly the puzzling significance of those words dulled and gathered
against a waning, startled consciousness till vanity bade Ieyasu
conjure no shameless thought:
"What does she mean?" queried he, of himself, looking from one to
another, the while his eyes falling bewildered and helpless before the
alternating gaze of Hideyoshi.
Yodogima changed to scarlet, then whitened; she had surrendered life
itself to recall the words, perhaps too thoughtlessly spoken.
Was it charity, or revenge, that prompted Hideyoshi?
"Coming down," suggested he, to Ieyasu, no doubt triumphantly, but none
the less mercifully--putting into his mouth the words that he had
floundered so bitterly to command or riddle.
Shame overcame any better impulse, and turning upon his adversary,
Ieyasu half whined, half scowled:
"Perhaps you yourself had best drink the toast."
"To-morrow, I may; or, perchance, it shall not be until the next day;
thank you," replied Hideyoshi, not the least perturbed.