Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [38]
“Now put your sword down and I’ll tell you something else.”
Deflated, the captain complied.
“Of course, you are familiar with General Sun-tzu’s Art of War—you know, the classic Chinese work on military strategy? I assume any warrior in your position would be intimately acquainted with such an important book. Anyway, the reason I mention it is that I’d like to give you a lesson illustrating one of the book’s main principles. I’d like to show you how to capture Takezō without losing any more of your own men or causing the villagers any more trouble than you have already. Now, this has to do with your official work, so you really should listen carefully.” He turned to the girl. “Otsū, pour the captain another cup of sake, will you?”
The captain was a man in his forties, ten years or so older than Takuan, but it was clear from their faces at this moment that strength of character is not a matter of age. Takuan’s tongue-lashing had humbled the older man and his bluster had evaporated.
Meekly he said, “No, I don’t want any more sake. I hope you’ll forgive me. I had no idea you were a friend of Lord Terumasa. I’m afraid I’ve been very rude.” He was abject to the point of being comical, but Takuan refrained from rubbing it in.
“Let’s just forget about that. What I want to discuss is how to capture Takezō. That is what you have to do to carry out your orders and maintain your honor as a samurai, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, I also know you don’t care how long it takes to catch the man. After all, the longer it takes, the longer you can stay on at the temple, eating, drinking and ogling Otsū.”
“Please, don’t bring that up anymore. Particularly before his lordship.” The soldier looked like a child ready to burst into tears.
“I’m prepared to consider the whole incident a secret. But if this running around in the mountains all day long keeps up, the farmers will be in serious trouble. Not only the farmers but all the rest of the people as well. Everyone in this village is too upset and frightened to settle down and get on with their normal work. Now, as I see it, your trouble is that you have not employed the proper strategy. Actually, I don’t think you’ve employed any strategy at all. I take it that you do not know The Art of War?”
“I’m ashamed to admit it, but I don’t.”
“Well, you should be ashamed! And you shouldn’t be surprised when I call you a dolt. You may be an official, but you are sadly uneducated and totally ineffectual. There’s no use in my beating you over the head with the obvious, however. I’ll simply make you a proposition. I personally offer to capture Takezō for you in three days.”
“You capture him?”
“Do you think I’m joking?”
“No, but …”
“But what?”
“But counting the reinforcements from Himeji and all the farmers and foot soldiers, we’ve had more than two hundred men combing the mountains for nearly three weeks.”
“I’m well aware of that fact.”
“And since it’s spring, Takezō has the advantage. There’s plenty to eat up there this time of year.”
“Are you planning on waiting till it snows, then? Another eight months or so?”
“No, uh, I don’t think we can afford to do that.”
“You certainly can’t. That’s precisely why I’m offering to catch him for you. I don’t need any help; I can do it alone. On second thoughts, though, maybe I should take Otsū along with me. Yes, the two of us would be enough.”
“You aren’t serious, are you?”
“Would you please be quiet! Are you implying that Takuan Sōhō spends all his time making up jokes?”
“Sorry.”
“As I said, you don’t know The Art of War, and as I see it, that is the most important reason for your abominable failure. I, on the other hand, may be a simple priest, but I believe I understand Sun-tzu. There’s only one stipulation, and if you won’t agree to it, I’ll just have to sit back and watch you bumble about until the snow falls, and maybe your