“Now what can I do for you?” inquired the officer, more affably.
“You think you treat with the Emperor?” inquired Mori, his face flushed by the other’s lack of courtesy.
“Certainly.”
“You do not.”
“What?”
The officer started, regarding Mori sceptically.
“No, you do not. You but treat with his war lord—the Shogun.”
“What’s the Shogun?”
“There are two emperors in Japan; one the rightful emperor, the Mikado; the other his vassal, his war lord, who is without authority to deal with you. He makes seeming submission to the Emperor.”
“Is this true?”