The horrors of war crowded in and around: also its exigencies.
Self-preservation enforced some kind of participation: the same
elemental voice bade her keep hands off. A fight to the death, perhaps
the victor stamping his imprint indelibly and unalterably, awaited her:
Yodogima sniffed the enamour of contest, of powers gained and a will
unhampered, and the gods could not have swerved her in the test a Taira,
of ages gone, had fought for the pleasure.
"I will rule, and men shall bow to a force subtler, fiercer, and
mightier than any man has got," shouted she, at her shadow, in the open,
at Ozaka, and the echo, from the hills at Sawayama, as well of Yedo,
burst back upon her their hitherto unchallenged answer.
"It is false," cried she, this time, and the reply then pleased her; it
sounded more like the voice of a man.
But she must not thus hurl defiance in his ears; had she not been taught
for centuries that woman's strength lay in meekness, arose from
humbleness, grew with submission, abided the household, and sweltered
with servility?
"Ha, ha--fie on them!" laughed she now, ashamed of her own foolish
recollections, so feeble-minded and asinine withal. "I'll invoke his
tactics, but with a turn he little comprehends."
Both of these men, Ishida and Ieyasu, must be got rid of. How to do it,
were a problem. Ishida, it seemed imperative, should be attended first;
his force had grown the stronger, and with Ieyasu out of the way he
himself would stand little in awe of her alone, concerned not at all, as
he was, about scruples or the bushido. Still more, if needs use it
Yodogima reckoned her hold upon the heart of Ieyasu, whereas Ishida in
authority had been a colder, altogether listless lover.
The clash of arms already sounded from distant Aidzu, where Uyesuga,
Ishida's main ally, had purposely inaugurated a ruse to entice the enemy
as far from the capital as possible. Ieyasu fell into the trap; went
there pell mell, deploying but a small contingent to guard the gates at
Fushima: took with him those captains of the old guard who had fairly
joined themselves to him, leaving their wives and families behind,
outside the ramparts at Ozaka. Ishida struck first at Fushima: it fell,
and the next move encompassed the capture and imprisonment of these same
wives and families left at Ozaka, believing that their ransom would
insure to him the disaffection and rejoinder of some of Ieyasu's
leading generals and supporters. Esyo, however, had gone; but Yodogima,
for good reasons, best known to herself, remained as silent as the tomb
of Hideyoshi had become.
Grace of Tango, the wife of Hosokawa, now one of Ieyasu's foremost
leaders, served at once as a first and most likely victim. She, good
Christian that she was, scorned the distinction, and extending her
neck--as became a dutiful, loyal, loving wife--for the stroke of a
servant (prearranged by the thoughtful husband, upon taking his leave),
paid the penalty as became her station, regardless of feeling or
profession. Made it possible for Ishida thus to blunder, and Yodogima to
endear the whole Christian fraternity, of whatsoever camp or degree, by
sympathizing with them in the loss of one so good and true at heart, if
not of conviction. Nor did she stop at that alone, but secretly
dispatching her own sister, Jokoin, the sooner to inform the hitherto
somewhat wavering captains as she herself had better designed,
incidentally informing them that no further bloodshed should take place
in the vicinity of Ozaka, upon the whole induced them, one and all
alike, to swear fresher, if more susceptible, allegiance to Ieyasu--for
the sole purpose, if none other, of avenging the one death that had
resulted so pathetically, yet none the less opportunely.
Two definite accomplishments Yodogima had wrought into the indiscretions
of a foe--her seemingly most dangerous one, Ishida; she had weakened his
position by uniting the men he had coveted the more certainly to
Ieyasu, and gained the everlasting good will of all the Christians
whatever the colors they bore.
Ishida now concentrated upon Sekigahara, anticipating the hot-headed
return of Ieyasu and the sorely tried captains now in his advance. Mori
remained behind at Ozaka, ostensibly to watch the remainder of those
wives and families, finally fenced in and abandoned to a gentler fate
than at first contemplated. Neither would he withdraw from the castle,
save as directed or encouraged by Yodogima; her company had become,
strangely to him, no less delectable than the inkling of her plans (that
she let slip, occasionally) seemed inviting, or threateningly wholesome.
Hideki had followed, sulkily, to the contemplated battlefield, though
his conduct at Fushima might have signified, to one more observant or
less pressed than Ishida, that Esyo or someone as anxious had called,
not without success, and gone her way, elsewhere to reap the advantage.
Hideki, nevertheless, was assigned to an important post on the right.
Shimadzu half-heartedly manned the left, Mori's brother--knowingly, of
course--maintained the advance (well off, at one side, however, and in
such position easily to "slide" in any direction), while Konishi, master
strategist and faithful adherent, bore the brunt, in the center, where
Ieyasu must fight to pass.
And they came on, the veteran Ieyasu in the lead, a hundred thousand of
them, with Hideyasu, his main reliance and intended successor, in the
rear, commanding a reserve, something like half as strong.
But these failed to arrive, this flower in repose and the favorite of
his father; Esyo had discreetly inveigled him into an encounter at one
side, with Sanada, the fiery youth whom she had unknowingly and as
witlessly inveigled into the taking of sides against her own
father-in-law.
The battle thus began and raged, at Sekigahara, without the aid or
prospect of Hideyasu. Ieyasu, angered at the failure of his trusted
progeny, charged in person, took every risk of defeat, and Yodogima,
threatened with the consequence, invoking a last resource, sent
forthwith for Mori, saying:
"Advise your brother to hasten here; I can better serve him with Ieyasu
than with Ishida."
No further encouragement need she use, for these were not fighting men;
Hideyoshi had previously taught them the greater potency of diplomacy.
But Hideki!
"Jokoin?" commanded Yodogima.
"I am here, sister."
"Can you reach Ieyasu?"
"Certainly," replied she, as confident as in the days of Kamakiyama.
"Then tell Ieyasu to fire upon Hideki. He will inquire the reason, but
you are to reply that Yodogima commands it."
Jokoin did as bid, and Ieyasu pondered why; Esyo had advised him of a
different understanding, but somehow he could not resist the lure of
Yodogima. Time were precious, just now, too much so to waste it
parleying with self, so the order was given: Hideki, stunned and driven,
rallied his men and wheeling joined his would-be confederate, Ieyasu,
and the battle was won.
None but Yodogima knew how it had been done or the disaffection brought
about, but there was one who down in his heart bled at the failure of a
son and would hearken only the savior of Sekigahara. Ishida routed and
butchered, Ieyasu turned as hastily toward Ozaka.