At the extreme front, toward the center, lay Maeda, with his perhaps forty thousand Kaga bloods, including their allies, ready to do when bid. To his, Maeda’s, right and to his left, spanning the distance from Hirano river, the eastern field border, to the sea at the west, stretched, together with his own—an intended battering ram—minor forces of the doubtful daimyos who had been placed to form the famed semicircle, as well as such others as had been brought up to strengthen the contemplated charge. Still in front of all, near by, lay the small hill Sasayama, coveted by Maeda, but held as an outpost by Sanada—apparently sleeping, farther on, at the gate post.

“We have the foe, safe enough, in front of us: our rear is free from molestation,” chuckled Ieyasu, to Hidetada, his son, who had come over, in the evening, to consult about the proposed early morning attack. “With the enemy before them and the Tokugawa behind, what chance have these dilatory daimyos of ours? Why, they’ll be chowdered before the sun is risen.”

“Then Hidetada shall pounce upon the foe with the freshness of morning,” replied he, elated, if over-anxious, “and before the dew is fairly dried they shall have gone, to their happy hunting-ground.”

“Well said, my son,” ejaculated the forgetful hero of Sekigahara, “and Ieyasu shall dine in Ozaka.”

“Alone, father?”

“Why do you ask; have I ever denied you, my boy?”

“Oh; I had another thought in mind.”

“It had been better, were it a view.”

“I don’t just like, so very much, fighting in the dark; but, as it may take the enemy some time to obliterate Maeda—and the rest of them, the sneaking daimyos’ lines—I may not have to expose myself, till daylight, at best,” surmised Hidetada, the Taira-wed branch of the family, descended Minamoto.

Ieyasu made no answer; he could not, had he tried; Yodogima rose to mind, and he thought only of what might have been, had he but taken advantage of Hideyoshi’s bluffing, long ago, at Fuchu, the elder Maeda’s once upon a time seat of true chivalry. Esyo had in fact, as observed, exercised an influence over her husband: what might not the sister have done, had she been the mother.