“No,” said Catzu, almost humbly, “I am come to offer you the submission of the Prince of Mito.”
“Ah!” Mori veiled his satisfaction.
“Under my counsel,” continued Catzu, “his highness the Prince of Mito has seen his error. Never again will he take up arms against his sovereign lord the Mikado. I but beseech you now to spare the city of Yedo.”
“My business here is done,” was Mori’s reply.
“Stay, my lord.” Catzu entwined his fingers in an effort to conceal a strange nervousness.
“I await your words, my lord.”
“Thy wife—” began Catzu.
The brain of the leader became clouded and dark with passion.
“Another word, my lord,” he replied, haughtily, “and thou and Yedo shall both be put to the sword. Having found my armor invulnerable to the darts of your spears and arrows, you think to advantage yourself by an ancient weakness of mine. Be assured that I am as invincible in that regard, my lord, as in the matter of warfare.”
At the end of twelve days Mori was again in Kioto. The surrender of the late Shogun had not carried with it the submission of Aidzu, who had fled to his province. The Prince despatched Oguri into the highlands of Aidzu to complete the unification of the country. Eventually Oguri fulfilled his mission, bringing complete victory to the Imperial cause.