CHAPTER XXIV.
THE TREATY OF PEACE.
Hieyas consented to close the war; but, as Fide-Yori predicted, histerms were hard.
"I demand," he said, "the execution of one of the three followingalternatives: let Fide-Yori give up the fortress, and spend seven yearsat Yamato; let me receive Yodogimi as hostage; or let the walls ofOsaka be razed, and the moats filled up."
The last proposition only was received with favor by the assembledgenerals in council of war. But Yoke-Moura regarded the destruction ofthe ramparts as almost sacrilegious.
"This peace will not last long," said he; "and If the war is renewed,what will become of us with our dismantled castle?"
There was a question of letting Yodogimi go.
"My mother! How can you think of such a thing?" cried the Shogun. "Sucha hostage once in his hands, we should cease to be aught but the slavesof Hieyas."
"True," exclaimed General Harounaga; "it is impossible."
"Our walls once destroyed, we are left defenceless. War is preferableto such a peace," broke in Yoke-Moura. He would willingly havesurrendered Yodogimi; he cared but little for a woman.
"Hieyas specifies," said some one, "that the moats are to be filled upin such a way that children of three can run up and down into them atplay."
"Ten thousand laborers are to be set to work on the walls in allhaste," said another.
Yoke-Moura sighed.
"We must accept that condition," said the Shogun; "we are forced to doso. At the least suspicion of war, we can build up the walls and digout the moats again."
"As you insist," said Yoke-Moura, "I will follow your advice; let usdemolish the fortress."
"Let General Signenari proceed to Hieyas' camp to exchange treatiesof peace; he will represent me worthily; and, I am sure, will acquithimself nobly in this delicate affair."
"I will strive to deserve the trust with which you honor me," saidSignenari. "I await your orders to depart."
"You have scarcely sheathed the sword with which you punished theprovince of Tosa," said the Shogun; "if you require a day's rest, takeit."
"I will start this evening," said Signenari. That same day, in fact,the young General, accompanied by a large and splendid escort, set offfor the camp of Hieyas.
Hieyas, after the burning of the forest, in which a part of his menperished, had taken up his quarters on the neighboring plain. He wasunwilling to abandon a position so near Osaka. When reinforcementsreached him, he marched against Harounaga, who still occupiedSoumiossi. The General was beaten, and his army routed. Hieyas,however, left only an advance-guard in the conquered territory,and returned to his camp, where he received the decree of peaceemanating from the Mikado. He then summoned several of the lords ofhis council,--Owari, Dathe, Todo, Coroda. All agreed that it wasimpossible to resist the command of the Son of the Gods; that they mustfeign to yield, but create some obstacle to the signing of the treaty.
"Let us manage to make Fide-Yori refuse to sign the treaty of peace,"said Hieyas. "In that way the wrath of Heaven will fall on his head."
To his great surprise, he was informed of the arrival of an envoy fromOsaka; then Fide-Yori accepted the terms he offered.
"Whom has he sent?" asked Hieyas.
"General Signenari."
The young warrior, whose heroism was well known, inspired even hisenemies with profound esteem. When he rode through the camp in hismilitary dress, the sovereign princes saluted him; but Signenari paidno heed to their greetings.
"What is the meaning of this haughty bearing?" asked a nobleman.
"He represents the Shogun, Fide-Yori; he cannot return a salute."
He was conducted to the master's tent. Hieyas was seated at the back ona folding-stool; to right and left of him, mats were spread upon theground. The princes and generals were present. Signenari was invited totake his place with the princes; but he did not seem to understand, andsat down opposite Hieyas.
"That is right," said one of the lords, in a low voice; "that warrior,young as he is, has already acquired the dignity and prudence of aveteran."
Signenari unrolled a paper.
"These are the words of my master, the Shogun Fide-Yori, son of theShogun Taiko-Sama," said he. And he read the roll, which he held inboth hands:--
"I, Fide-Yori, general-in-chief of the armies of the Mikado, in order to put an end to the unjust war declared against me by Hieyas, which lays the kingdom waste, consent to accept one of the alternatives proposed by my opponent for the conclusion of peace: I will destroy the outer wall of the fortress of Osaka, and I will fill up the moats; therefore all hostilities are to cease, and arms to be laid down.
"I write this in all sincerity, on the fifteenth day of the second moon of the autumn, in the nineteenth year of the Nengo-Kai-Tio, and I sign with my blood. "FIDE-YORI."
"If this be so," said Hieyas, in his weak and trembling voice, "I agreeto the peace."
He ordered writing materials to be brought, and dictated to asecretary:--
"I, Minamoto Hieyas, proclaimed Shogun by the predecessor of Go-Mitzou-No, in the name of the Shogun Fide-Tadda, in whose favor I have abdicated, consent to put an end to the war, on condition that Fide-Yori has the walls of the castle of Osaka pulled down and the moats filled up in such fashion that children of three may run up and down into them at play."
A new brush and a long needle were then handed to Hieyas, with whichhe was to prick the tip of his finger and sign in his own blood. Hepricked himself slightly, and only obtained a small, pale drop; still,he signed, and the treaty was handed to Signenari.
"That will not do," said the General, glancing at the document; "thewriting is too pale. Your name is illegible; try again."
"But," said Hieyas, "I am old; I am weak and ill; to me a drop of bloodis very precious."
Signenari pretended not to hear. Hieyas, with a sigh, pricked himselfafresh, and retraced his signature; then only did the young Generalgive him the treaty signed by Fide-Yori.