CHAPTER XV.
THE USURPER.
In less than two months, as Signenari had stated, Hieyas had madehimself dreaded; he had at his beck and call an army which publicreport numbered at five hundred thousand. The provinces of Sagama,Mikawa, and Sourouga, which belonged to him, had furnished large bodiesof soldiers. The lord of Owari, the most devoted of Hieyas' allies, hadcommanded every able-bodied man in his principality to take up arms; sothat there was not a laborer left upon his lands. The Prince of Tosawas powerfully entrenched in the large Island of Shikoku, lying to thesouth of the kingdom, opposite Osaka Bay. From that point he threatenedthe Shogun's capital.
The majority of the sovereign lords of Japan, confident of the successof Hieyas, lent him their aid, and held their forces at his disposal.
Hieyas had established himself at Yeddo,--then a mere suburb, whosefine strategic position tempted him. Situated about mid-distance ofthe length of the great Island of Nipon, at the extreme end of a baywhich cut deeply into the land, and surrounded by high mountains,it was easily fortified, and once fortified, impregnable. Moreover,its position in the centre of Japan, in view of the small width ofthe island, allowed communication by land to be readily cut offbetween the large Island of Yezo, the northern part of Nipon, and itssouthern portion, in which lay Kioto, Osaka, and the principalities ofFide-Yori's partisans. In this way, one half of Japan was insulated,and thus forced to remain neutral, or take sides with Hieyas.
The aged Regent displayed an unparalleled activity. In spite of hisadvanced years and precarious health, he proceeded to every spot wherehe thought his influence necessary. With those princes who were hostileto him, he feigned that he still held the power no longer his, andclaimed from them the number of troops which they were bound to furnishthe Government in time of war. Then he hastily despatched those men todistant points. In case his enemies learned the truth, they were thusdisabled from harming him.
But after realizing these daring schemes, and preparing for the violentstruggle necessary in order to usurp the supreme power, Hieyas felt soweak, so enfeebled by fever and pain, that he imagined he was about todie. He speedily summoned his son, who was then residing at the castleof Mikawa.
Fide-Tadda, son of Hieyas, was at this time forty-five years old. Hewas a man of no great personal valor, but patient, persevering, andsubmissive to minds superior to his own. He professed a boundlessadmiration for his father. He instantly hastened to the side of Hieyas,taking with him his youngest daughter, a lovely girl of fifteen.
Hieyas lived in a stronghold which he had built years--before at Yeddo,and which was not yet wholly finished. From the room in which he lay,stretched on thick cushions, he saw through the large window thebeautiful Fusiyama, from whose snow-covered summit issued a column ofdelicate white smoke.
"Is that your daughter?" said Hieyas, as Fide-Tadda approached him withthe girl.
"Yes, illustrious father; this is the younger sister of the Shogun'swife."
"The Shogun's wife!" repeated Hieyas, shaking his head and sneering."The little thing is very pretty," he added, after inspecting the younggirl minutely, making her blush and drop her long black lashes on hercheeks. "Take good care of her; I shall need her."
Then he made a sign to dismiss the child.
"I may die, my son," he said when he was alone with Fide-Tadda; "thatis why I sent for you. I wish to give you my last instructions,--totrace out the line of conduct which you are to follow when I am nomore."
On hearing his father speak in this way, Fide-Tadda could not represshis tears.
"Stop, stop!" cried Hieyas, smiling; "do not weep for me yet, I am notdead; and you shall see that my mind, is not impaired, as that oldMayada would have people think. Listen to me, and treasure my words inyour memory."
"Every word that falls from your mouth is to me what a fine pearl wouldbe to a miser."
"I will be brief," said Hieyas; "talking tires me. Know first, my son,that the predecessor of Go-Mitzou-No, the present Mikado, once honoredme with the title of Shogun. It was after the death of Taiko. I made noparade of the title, not wishing to offend the friends of Fide-Yori. Iallowed the princes and the people to fall into the habit of callingme the Regent. What mattered the name by which the power was known, solong as the power rested in my hands? But now the title of Shogun is ofthe utmost importance to me, for it is hereditary, and I can abdicatein your favor. You spoke just now of the Shogun. I am the Shogun.Fide-Yori did indeed receive the same title, and I never remindedhis insolent councillors that it was really mine. I acted prudently.I was in their hands; they might have slain me. But now I undertakethis war,--be well assured of it,--as sole representative of the legalpower. I have had embroidered off my banners the three chrysanthemumleaves, the insignia given me by the former Mikado; and it is in thename of his heir that I lead my armies on to battle. I act without hisauthority, true; but as soon as I gain the victory he will approve myacts."
Hieyas paused for an instant, and drank a little tea.
"Only," he soon resumed, "death may surprise me,--it threatens meeven now; and my work must be finished after I am gone. That is why Inow abdicate in your favor. You will remain at the castle of Mikawa,sheltered from the hazards of war, watching over your daughter, who mayserve for one of my plans, until the day when victory shall proclaimyou master of Japan; then you will establish your residence at Yeddo,the best-situated city in the kingdom. Now I will try to put clearlybefore you the object for which you are to strive in your governmentof the nation. Taiko-Sama, who was a man of genius, although he wasthe son of a peasant, conceived the plan, as soon as he gained power,of uniting the sixty-one petty kingdoms composing Japan into a singlekingdom, to be ruled by the Shogun. The life of one man was not longenough to see this project realized. Taiko, nevertheless, undertook itwith great vigor, always carefully concealing his intentions. I alonewas the confidant of his hopes, and hitherto I have revealed them tono one. When Taiko plunged the princes into the war with China, whichseemed to so many an act of madness, it was done to weaken the noblesby a costly war, and to keep them away from their provinces for a time.While he led them to the field, I carried out his orders at home. Isuperintended the construction of the Tokaido,--that broad road whichimpudently passes directly through regions formerly subject to theirown princes only; I summoned to Osaka the wives and children of theabsent lords, under pretext of protecting them from all danger, ifby any accident the Chinese army should invade the land. When theprinces returned, we refused to let the women go home. They were tolive permanently at Osaka; they are still there, precious hostages,who answer for the fidelity of their husbands and fathers. As Taikowas also a great warrior, victory crowned his dangerous enterprise andstrengthened his power.
"The Mikado had long paid little heed to the affairs of the empire.Taiko thought it well that he should pay even less attention to them;he made his power imaginary.... Listen!" continued Hieyas, loweringhis voice: "this power must be diminished still more; the Mikado mustretain merely the title of sovereign. Load him with honors, deify himmore and more, so that he may lift his eyes to heaven, and turn themaway from earth forever.
"Taiko was interrupted by death in the execution of his task, which wasbut just begun; the princes are still powerful and rich. Continue thiswork after me; parcel out the kingdoms, sow discord between the nobles.If two friends hold neighboring principalities, forbid them to residewithin their domains at one and the same time; if they are foes, on thecontrary, let them dwell together. War will break out between them,and one at least will be enfeebled. Always keep their wives at Yeddo.Bring into fashion a ruinous luxury; the women will help you in this.Empty the coffers of their husbands, that they may be forced to selltheir estates. But if one of them be rich enough to provide for allthese outlays, pay him a visit, and oblige him to spend his last bit ofgold to receive such an honor fitly. Be careful to close Japan strictlyagainst all strangers: the princes might make formidable alliances withthem. Therefore let no ship coming from distant countrie
s enter ourports. Seek out the Christians and massacre them remorselessly: theyare capable of fomenting revolt and insubordination. You understandme fully, my son? You must strive to make of Japan a single empire,subject to but one master. But this end will be long and difficult ofattainment, and man's life is brief; wherefore, when time has blanchedyour hair, you must summon your son, as I summoned you to-day, andtransmit my words to him. I have finished."
"Father," said Fide-Tadda, kneeling before Hieyas, "I swear to fulfilyour wishes to the letter."
"Good, my child; but send for the doctor," said Hieyas, who breathedlaboriously, exhausted by his long discourse.
The doctor was brought.
"Illustrious scholar," said Hieyas, looking fixedly at him, "am I veryill?"
"No, master," said the doctor, with some hesitation.
"I command you to speak nothing but the truth. Am I very ill?
"Yes," said the physician.
"In danger of death?"
"Not yet; but the life of fatigue which you lead may hasten your end."
"Could I live to see the end of the war which I am undertaking,supposing that it should last six moons?"
"Oh, yes!" said the doctor; "you might oven prolong the warconsiderably beyond that time."
"Well! then I am rich," cried Hieyas, laughing. "I need not be inhaste; I will take a few days of rest."