The Shogun's Daughter

by Robert Ames Bennet

The man took the blotched writing and began to read, while all in the room bent to listen.

“‘Kwannon direct this safely into the hands of a loyal samurai! Evil traitors plot to poison the Shogun and the Prince of Owari, on the day that the Prince goes to the palace. They cannot endure that His Highness should favor a treaty with the barbarians. Gengo is their tool. All the daimios in the conspiracy are not known to the writer, but the names of the leaders are, first—’”

With a sudden clutch, Midzuano plucked the scroll out of the hand of the hatamoto and thrust it into his bosom.

“The Chief of the Elder Council commands at such a crisis,” he proclaimed with astounding effrontery. “It is not expedient to publish the names of the criminals until they have been apprehended. Let the Council be summoned to meet me at my yashiki.”

Even Satsuma was disconcerted by such consummate assurance and audacity. Before either of us could recover wit enough to utter a protest, the Counsellor passed through the midst of the hatamotos and out of the hall. But though he went unopposed, his going was none the less in effect a retreat. Freed from his malign influence, the hatamotos at once yielded to the spell of Satsuma’s magnetism and power. The great Daimio pointed to the body of Gengo, which no longer writhed on the mats.

“Tokugawa men,” he called in his deep and sonorous voice, “you have heard. There lies the tool of the traitors who seek the overthrow of the Shogunate. I charge the Chief Counsellor with complicity. Minamoto Iyeyoshi has gone from us without benefit of medicine. Let Minamoto Iyesada the Shogun be notified of his accession to the rulership. All men have faith in the loyalty and wisdom of Abe Ise-no-kami and Ii Kamon-no-kami. Send for them, that they may advise His Highness.”

“The loyalty of Satsuma is undoubted,” called one of the court officials. “He also should advise Iyesada Sama.”

“That is for Abe and Ii. My task is to check the plot of the traitors. Obey no orders from Midzuano and the Council of Elders unless approved by Iyesada Sama. Let all gates of the citadel and the inner moat be doubly guarded. Announce only that Iyeyoshi Sama has been wounded by a traitor. I go to watch the yashiki of the Chief Counsellor. Until I have received the commands of the Shogun, no man shall enter or leave the gate of Midzuano. There is need for utmost haste!” He turned to fling out his hand over the bloody corpse of Iyeyoshi—“Vengeance upon the traitors!”

“Vengeance!” shouted the hatamotos, and they rushed from the room in fierce eagerness to obey the Daimio’s directions.

Satsuma signed for me to accompany him, and as we hastened out, unattended, he gave me my orders with courteous indirectness: “Ii is with us; Abe at least neutral. Keiki and Midzuano are the hands of old Mito. Without them he cannot strike. I will seek to hold Midzuano.”