TAIKO: AN EPIC NOVEL OF WAR AND GLORY IN FEUDAL JAPAN

behavior to either Nobunaga or Nobutada.

Murashige looked down on Hideyoshi as a warrior who was more soft-hearted than he, and yet he figured Hideyoshi a hard man to handle precisely because of this. At any rate, the people who really understood his attitude while he was in the field were his ene­mies, the Mori. To them it appeared that Murashige held some grievances, and that if they could talk to him, there was a good possibility they could get him to change sides.

The fact that the secret messengers from both the Mori and the Honganji were able to avoid detection and repeatedly slip in and out of his camp, and even Itami Castle, would indicate that they were not unwelcomed guests. The enemy had already been en­couraged by Murashige, and his actions had been a wordless invitation to them.

When a man without real substance or resourcefulness begins to play at being clever, he is playing with fire. His advisers cautioned their lord any number of times that such a plot could never succeed, but Murashige turned a deaf ear.

'Don't talk foolishness! Especially when the Mori clan has sent me a written pledge.'

Having such absolute faith in a written pledge, he very quickly and clearly demonstrated his spirit of rebellion toward Nobunaga. How highly could a written pledge from the Mori—who had been enemies until yesterday—be regarded in these chaotic times, when men tossed aside a pledge between lord and retainer like a pair of worn-out san­dals? Murashige neither thought that far ahead nor felt such a large contradiction to be a contradiction at all.

'He's a fool—an honest man with whom it isn't worth getting angry,' Hideyoshi had said to Nobunaga to calm him down, and it was probably the best thing he could have said at the time.

Nobunaga, however, could not look at the situation lightly, and cautioned, 'But he's a strong man.'

Added to this were the important questions of how the revolt would affect the other generals under his command and what its psychological influence might be. For these reasons, Nobunaga had tried everything, including sending Akechi Mitsuhide to pacify Murashige.

In the end, however, Murashige responded with all the more suspicion, and in the meanwhile strengthened his preparations for war, saying, 'I've already demonstrated my hostility, so if I were to fall for Nobunaga's sweet words and respond to Azuchi's sum­mons, I have no doubt that I would be murdered or thrown into prison.'

Nobunaga was outraged. Finally, the decision to fight Murashige was announced, and on the ninth day of the Eleventh Month, Nobunaga himself led a force as far as Yamazaki. The army of Azuchi was divided into three parts. The first army, composed of the forces of Takigawa Kazumasu, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Niwa Nagahide, surrounded Ibaragi Cas­tle; the second, made up of the forces under Fuwa, Maeda, Sassa, and Kanamori, besieged Takatsuki Castle.

Nobunaga's headquarters was at Mount Amano. And, while his resplendent line-up was unfolding itself, he still had a faint hope of subjugating the rebellious army without bloodshed. That hope was tied to Hideyoshi, who had now returned to Harima and from whom a message had just arrived.

'I have one more idea,' Hideyoshi had written. Behind his words was Hideyoshi's friendship for the man as well as his feeling that Murashige's valor was too valuable to waste, and he appealed earnestly to Nobunaga to wait just a little longer. Hideyoshi's right-hand man, Kuroda Kanbei, had suddenly left the camp at Mount Hirai one night.

The following day, Kanbei hurried to Gochaku Castle, where he met with Odera Masamoto.

There is a rumor that you are supporting Lord Murashige's revolt, and that this castle has turned it back on the Oda clan.' He spoke simply and directly, and first appealed to the man heart-to-heart.

A thin smile floated to Masamoto's lips as he listened. In terms of years, Kanbei was the age of his own son; and even in status, he was nothing more than the son of a senior retainer. Thus, his answer was, not surprisingly, extremely arrogant.

'Kanbei, you appear to be serious, but think for a moment. Since this clan became Nobunaga's ally, what have we gotten in return? Nothing.'

'I don't think it's just a problem of profit and loss anymore.'

'Well then, what is it?'

'It's a matter of loyalty. You are the head of a well-known clan, and have been an ally of the Oda in Harima. Suddenly to join Araki Murashige's revolt and betray your former allies would be a blow to the ideal of loyalty.'

'What are you saying?' Masamoto asked. He treated Kanbei as an inexperienced negotiator, and the more fervent Kanbei became, the more coolly Masamoto behaved toward him.

'My reliance on Nobunaga was never a matter of loyalty,' he said. 'You and your father seem to think that the future of this country is in Nobunaga's hands; and when he took the capital, it was expedient to collude with him. At least that's the way the situation was presented to me, and even I was persuaded. But the truth is that there are many dan­gers facing Nobunaga from now on. Think of it as looking at a large ship out at sea. From the shore it looks safe; you think that if you boarded it, you would have no fear of sailing through turbulent seas. But then you actually get on board and tie your own fate to that of the ship. Now that you've put yourself into its keeping, instead of peace of mind, you find yourself without confidence. Every time you're battered by the waves, you feel uneasy and have doubts about the boat's endurance. This is human nature.'

Kanbei unconsciously slapped his knee. 'And once you've gotten on board, you can't disembark halfway through the trip.'

'Why not? If you see that the boat's not going to make it through the crush of the waves, there may be no other way to save your life than to abandon ship and swim for shore before the ship wrecks. Sometimes you have to close your eyes to your feelings.'

'That's shameful thinking, my lord. When the weather clears and the boat that seemed so much in danger raises its sails and finally arrives in port, it is exactly the man who shuddered during a gale, doubted the boat he'd entrusted himself to, betrayed his fellow travelers, and jumped overboard in confusion into the sea, who will be seen as a laughable fool.'

'I'm no match for you when it comes to words,' Masamoto laughed. 'The truth is that you're eloquent beyond eloquence. First you said that when Nobunaga turned his hand to the west, he would quickly sweep over it. But the forces sent with Hideyoshi number a mere five or six thousand. And even though Lord Nobutada and other generals have frequently come to his aid, there's uneasiness in the capital, and it appears as though the army may not be here for very long. Then I am simply used as Hideyoshi's vanguard and am requisitioned for soldiers, horses, and provisions, but it will amount to nothing more than positioning me as a barrier between the Oda and their enemies. Consider the Oda clan's prospects judging simply by the way Araki Murashige—who was promoted to such a responsible post by Nobunaga—completely turned around the situation in the capital when he allied himself with the Mori clan! The reason I left the Oda clan with Murashige should be clear.'

'What I've been listening to is a truly wretched plan. I suspect you're going to regret it soon.'

'You're still young. You're strong in battle, but not in worldly affairs.'

'My lord, I'm begging you to change your mind.'

'That's not going to happen. I've made it clear to my retainers that I've made promise to Murashige and taken a stand to ally myself with the Mori.'

'But if you considered your decision once more…'

'Before you say any more, talk to Araki Murashige. If he rethinks his defection, I will too.'

Adult and child. The difference between the two was not just sophistry. It might be said that even a man like Kanbei, who was considered unique in the west for his talents and progressive ideas, could not have held his own against an opponent like Odera Masamoto, regardless of right or wrong.

Masamoto spoke once more to emphasize his point. 'At any rate, take this with you and go to Itami. Then bring me an answer quickly. When I've heard Lord Murashige’s thoughts, I'll give you a definite answer.'

Masamoto wrote a note to Araki Murashige. Kanbei put it in his kimono and hurried off to Itami. The situation was pressing, and his own actions could have great consequences. As he approached Itami Castle, he saw that the soldiers were digging trenches and building a palisade.

Seemingly oblivious of the fact that he was quickly surrounded by a ring of spears, said, as if he had nothing to fear, 'I'm Kuroda Kanbei from Himeji Castle. I'm an ally neither of Lord Nobunaga nor of Lord Murashige. I've come alone for an urgent private talk with Lord Murashige.' And he pushed his way through.

He passed through several fortified gates, finally entered the castle, and quickly met Murashige. His first