Shogun_ A Novel of Japan - James Clavell [468]
Yabu could feel his pulse roaring in his ears. “Then we’re safe?”
“No, but we’re not lost. I believe it’s no surrender.” She hesitated. “But everyone was deceived. Oh, he’s so clever, neh? Everyone fooled like us. Until tonight. Omi gave me the clues. We all forgot Toranaga is a great Nōh actor who can wear his own face as a mask if need be. Neh?”
Yabu tried to marshal his thoughts but could not. “But Ishido still has all Japan against us!”
“Yes. Less Zataki. And there must be other secret alliances. Toranaga and you can hold the passes until the time.”
“Ishido has Osaka Castle and the Heir and the Taikō’s wealth.”
“Yes. But he’ll stay skulking inside. Someone will betray him.”
“What should I do?”
“The opposite to Toranaga. Let him do the waiting, you must force the pace.”
“How?”
“The first thing, Sire, is this: Toranaga’s forgotten the one thing you noticed this afternoon. The Tsukku-san’s total fury. Why? Because the Anjin-san threatens the Christian future, neh? So you’ve got to put the Anjin-san under your protection at once, because those priests or their puppets will murder him within hours. Next: The Anjin-san needs you to protect and guide him, to help him get his new crew at Nagasaki. Without you and your men he has to fail. Without him and his ship and his cannon and more barbarians, Nagasaki won’t burn, and that must happen or Kiyama, Onoshi, and Harima and the filthy priests won’t be distracted enough to temporarily withdraw their support from Ishido. Meanwhile, Toranaga, now miraculously supported by Zataki and his fanatics, with you leading the Musket Regiment, sweeps through the Shinano passes down to the Kyota plains.”
“Yes. Yes, you are right, Yuriko-chan! It has to be that way. Oh, you are so clever, so wise!”
“Wisdom and Luck are no good without the means to put a plan into effect, Sire. You alone can do that—you’re the leader, the fighter, the battle-general that Toranaga must have. You must see him tonight.”
“I can’t go to Toranaga and tell him I’ve seen through his ruse, neh?”
“No, but you’ll beg him to allow you to go with the Anjin-san, that you must leave at once. We can think of a plausible reason.”
“But if the Anjin-san attacks Nagasaki and the Black Ship, won’t they stop trading and sail away?”
“Yes. Possibly. But that’s next year. By next year Toranaga will be a Regent, President of the Regents. And you his commander-in-chief.”
Yabu came down from the clouds. “No,” he said firmly. “Once he has power he’ll order me to commit seppuku.”
“Long before that you will have the Kwanto.”
His eyes blinked. “How?”
“Toranaga will never actually give his half brother the Kwanto. Zataki’s a perpetual threat. Zataki’s a wild man, pride-filled, neh? It will be so easy for Toranaga to maneuver Zataki into begging for the foremost place in the battle. If Zataki doesn’t get killed … perhaps a stray bullet or arrow? Probably a bullet. You must lead the Musket Regiment in the battle, Sire.”
“Why shouldn’t I receive a stray bullet equally?”
“You may, Sire. But you’re not Toranaga’s kinsman and therefore no threat to his power. You will become his most devoted vassal. He needs fighting generals. You’ll earn the Kwanto, and that should be your only goal. He’ll give it to you when Ishido’s betrayed because he’ll take Osaka for himself.”
“Vassal? But you said to wait and soon I’d nev—”
“Now I counsel you to support him with all your strength. Not to follow his orders blindly like old Iron Fist, but cleverly. Don’t forget, Yabu-chan, during battle, as in any battle, soldiers make mistakes, stray bullets do happen. So long as you lead the Regiment, you can choose, too—any time, neh?”
“Yes,” he said, awed by her.
“Remember, Toranaga’s worth following. He’s Minowara, Ishido’s a peasant. Ishido’s the fool. I can see that