The samurai stared at him. ‘Almost one would suppose this law permits a honin to leave one fief and go to another, in search of better reward,’ Shimadzu said mildly.
‘That is exactly what the law intends, my Lord Shimadzu.’
‘That goes against the age-old authority of the daimyo,’ Saigo said.
‘His Majesty would have the daimyo remember that they are no longer absolute rulers in their own fiefs,’ Nicholas said, aware that he was close to facing an explosion. ‘That they voluntarily relinquished such absolute powers in Tokyo, but a few years hence. Indeed, my lord, it is His Majesty’s fourth decree that the term fief, and the ancient meaning of that word, be now abolished forever.’
The samurai gasped. It was the first time Nicholas had ever heard such a collective sound of surprise from these normally impassive throats. ‘The areas formerly known as fiefs will now be called ken,’ he continued. ‘They will correspond to what in barbarian countries are called prefectures. Henceforth the daimyo, while they may retain their ancient titles for as long as they live, will be known as prefects, that is, agents for carrying out the will of the Mikado, and will remember at all times that it is the imperial word that is law. Thus will we take another step towards realising His Majesty’s determination that all Japan will become one country, instead of remaining a patchwork quilt of almost independent princedoms, with movement between the various boundaries restricted by guards and local tariffs.’
‘You will be telling us next that the Lord of Cho-Shu will lose his rights to collect dues from ships using the Straits of Shimonoseki,’ Saigo remarked.
‘Lord Yoshimune has already surrendered that right, General Saigo, at the imperial command.’
Once again he had silenced them as their brains tried desperately to grasp the full import of what was happening. Only Saigo seemed capable of speech. ‘On that same day in Tokyo which you have just recalled for us, Barrett san, His Majesty repeated several times that it was his intention to drive away the barbarians and all of their pernicious influence upon our affairs. Yet he now appears intent upon turning us into a copy of all the barbarian nations lumped together.’
‘His Majesty seeks the strength to carry out those intentions,’ Nicholas said. ‘While achieving that strength, it is necessary for us to learn from our enemies.’ He looked over their faces. ‘I shall be pleased to convey to His Majesty that the Lord Shimadzu and all of his samurai, hail his new decrees with acclamation.’
Chapter Eight – The Last Stand
Saigo walked with Nicholas in the garden within Kagoshima Castle. ‘Much of what you said today was guarded,’ he remarked. ‘And therefore, difficult to understand. We are old friends, Barrett san. I think I may claim to have saved your life. Certainly I sponsored you as a samurai. I have a right to ask for complete honesty from you.’
‘You shall have it, Saigo san. But I in turn claim the right to ask for understanding from you.’
‘And you shall have that, if I am able. You see, Barrett, everything you said today, taken individually, is reasonable and understandable. Certainly Lord Shimadzu considers it so, and as he is now a very old man, he seeks only to see his people prosper. However, if one takes everything you said, and lumps it together, there are aspects of the situation which I find disturbing. I wish to be more certain of what His Majesty has in mind before I can recommend full acceptance to my people. Most importantly, I would know the planned composition of this Imperial army of which you speak, and which is going to be overseeing the Satsuma from the fortress of Kumamoto.’
‘His Majesty merely seeks an end to the strife between the clans, Saigo san, by where possible combining them in a single force.’
‘A laudable aim. However, you also told us that it was to include all men from all clans, and that Satsuma samurai would be as welcome as any in its ranks.’
‘That is correct, Saigo san.’ Nicholas mentally braced himself for what was to follow; Saigo was too shrewd to be confused for long by mere words.
‘This is very proper,’ Saigo said. ‘The samurai, being the only members of our society allowed to bear arms, are the natural components of an Imperial army. But then you went on to say that this ancient and respected privilege is to be abandoned, and that farmers and artisans will also be allowed to bear arms.’
‘When necessary.’
Saigo gave a grim smile. ‘Is it not necessary for a soldier to bear arms? It would seem to me, that what you were really saying was that the Imperial army may be recruited from these lower classes as well as from the samurai.’
‘It is possible,’ Nicholas said carefully, ‘that His Majesty requires an army larger than can be provided by recruiting only samurai.’
‘And then you went on to say that the restrictions placed by years of tradition upon the movement and employment of honin and eta are also to be removed. Do you mean by this that a honin or an eta may also bear arms?’
‘If required to do so, yes.’
‘You are saying that these lowest castes will also be recruited into the Imperial army?’
‘If they can measure up to the very rigorous training and discipline required, yes. His Majesty seeks an army which will represent all of Japan.’
‘Does he not see this is a recipe for disaster? Does he suppose any samurai would fight beside a farmer, much less a honin? Does he suppose my people can sit here and watch their castle of Kumamoto occupied by such creatures? But there is more. Throughout all history the samurai have been the only citizens able to bear arms. That is the sole reason for their existence. Our existence, Barrett san. Is it His Majesty’s intention that the samurai shall cease to exist?’
Once again Nicholas knew he had to choose his words with care. Although Mutsuhito had never said so, Nicholas believed that was the Emperor’s ultimate intention; it was only the samurai who could ever threaten his power. ‘I would rather say that it is His Majesty’s intention that all Japan, as he has said, should step forward into the Nineteenth Century.’
‘So, we shall have the honin wearing two swords in their belts. What of the laws of bushido? How can such low creatures understand something as ancient and sublime?’
Ancient and sublime, Nicholas thought. As barbaric as anything practised in the European Middle Ages. ‘I suspect that bushido also will have to be revised. But as for wearing swords, Saigo san, I do not think the honin will adopt that usage. As you saw on that day outside Tokyo, when you and I fought shoulder to shoulder, the day of the sword is past.’
‘I had never thought to hear a samurai say that.’
‘It is necessary to advance, Saigo san. Let us suppose that you challenged me to a duel, each with his own choice of weapons, and you drew your sword, but I drew my revolver, and remained at a distance. Who do you suppose would win?’
‘You would be dishonoured amongst all men, Barrett.’
Nicholas gave a brief bow. ‘Then perhaps it is true to say that the age of honour is also coming to an end. It may be necessary to accept that also, if there is no alternative.’
Saigo stopped walking, and turned to face him. ‘There is always an alternative, Barrett, if one is an honourable man.’
Nicholas looked into his eyes. ‘I would say that such a duel, between men such as you and I, is impossible. It is impossible even to contemplate. Together we may accomplish great things. We have already accomplished great things. Should we not continue to stand shoulder to shoulder, and see if we cannot overcome the future, rather than merely reject it?’
Saigo held his gaze for some seconds. ‘I do not think even you, Barrett, who has lived with us now for more than fifteen years, truly understands. That we have accomplished anything is because we have been honourable men. Lacking that, we would have accomplished nothing. Lacking that, we can accomplish nothing. The most surprising thing of all is that His Majesty cannot understand this.’ He held out his hand, and when Nicholas looked at it in surprise, gave one of his grim smiles. ‘You taught me once that this is how Barbar
ians greet each other. But is it not also how they say farewell?’
*
‘We would say your mission has been a success, Barrett,’ Mutsuhito said. ‘But you do not look pleased. If Lord Shimadzu has accepted our proposals . . .’
‘Lord Shimadzu is an old man, Your Majesty.’
‘His successor is a sensible man.’
‘I do not think his successor will count for much. The Satsuma samurai will follow Saigo-no-Takamori.’
‘And Saigo opposes us?’ Nicholas repeated his conversation, and Mutsuhito stroked his chin. ‘What do you suppose he intends?’ the Emperor asked when he was finished. ‘Seppuku, or rebellion? For that is how a refusal of our proposals on the part of any clan will be considered.’
‘I cannot say, Your Majesty.’
‘He should be disposed of,’ growled General Oyama.
‘He is my friend,’ Nicholas said.
Mutsuhito looked from one to the other. ‘We will not have General Saigo assassinated,’ he said. ‘If he can be brought to a proper understanding of his duty, he will be one of our leading soldiers. In any event, that would be to declare war on the Satsuma, and our army is not yet ready to confront such a powerful clan. What we must do is preserve patience, hope that Lord Shimadzu lives beyond his allotted span and can persuade his people to be sensible, and work. We must recruit, and train, as quickly as possible.’
‘If we recruit only samurai, Your Majesty,’ Oyama said. ‘We will never have a sufficiently large force. If we commence recruiting, and training and arming the honin, before such a measure is agreed by all the clans, it may well be regarded as a challenge.’
‘They can regard it as whatever they wish, General. But that is what we are going to do, immediately. The samurai and their traditions represent the past of this country. The honin and their ambitions represent the future.’
The general bowed, glancing right and left as he did so. No one present could doubt where the Emperor’s policy was leading.
‘And Kumamoto, Your Majesty?’ asked General von Rintelen, the head of the German mission.
‘Lord Shimadzu has agreed that we should occupy the fortress, General. We shall do so.’
*
‘Did you see my father?’ Sumiko was eager.
‘I did.’ Nicholas had stopped by the inn on his way home. ‘He sends you his felicitations.’
‘Tell me of Kagoshima.’
‘It is unchanged. The city.’
‘And the people?’
‘They are unchanged too. Unfortunately. They wish to resist change.’
‘You mean they will not wear barbarian clothes, and insult other men’s wives by holding them in their arms.’
‘There is more involved than that. But they must change, Sumiko. The Emperor will have it so.’
When he stooped to kiss her, she turned her face away.
*
‘While you were away, I sometimes thought it was all a dream,’ Elizabeth said, reclining on the mattress.
‘I think it is a dream. But not one from which I ever wish to awake.’
‘We will have to, eventually. Rashnikov’s tour of duty is for three years, only, and we have already been in Tokyo more than one.’
‘Two years is a long time.’
She made a moue. ‘Supposing we can go on like this, and not be found out.’ She shuddered.
‘Would it be that terrible? Could you not leave him?’
‘And go where?’
Nicholas held her hand. ‘Would you leave him, if you could?’
Her fingers twitched. ‘Would you leave your wife, if you could?’
‘To be with you, always? Yes.’
‘Even at the cost of your children?’
‘I would hope they would understand.’
‘That is easier for a man than a woman. I would lose my Paul. Rashnikov would see to that.’
‘And I would replace him.’
‘Again, easy to say.’ She rested her hand on his arm. ‘But we are only dreaming, in any event.’
*
It was a dream which took on an increasing intensity over the next year, as Sumiko became stiffer than ever. On discovering the amount of pressure that was being brought to bear on the Satsuma to conform to the Emperor’s wishes, she had been shocked to hear that Kumamoto had been occupied by Imperial troops recruited from artisans and even honin, armed and uniformed so as to be indistinguishable from the samurai who had also been conscripted. She realised that Nicholas had played a leading role in bringing about this apparent catastrophe. Now her submission was not merely an act of duty, it was penance as well, so much so that he soon moved out of their bedroom altogether.
The temptation to go to the Emperor and seek a divorce was enormous. But the difficulties were more enormous yet. Divorce, as seen through western eyes, was not a possibility in Japan: the woman could never gain her freedom. A man might repudiate his wife, but it was a very serious matter, and when she had been returned to her family, she had to face perpetual disgrace. He could not inflict that on Sumiko. And even had he been that brutal, what would he have achieved? Rashnikov would never release Elizabeth, at least here in Japan.
It seemed absurd to be living in the midst of so much plenitude, working at what he loved best, creating a navy, and enjoying the favour of the most powerful man in the land, and yet to be so utterly miserable. Yet there it was; he had got himself into a situation from which he had no idea how to extricate himself, knowing only that a crisis was looming. He was taken entirely by surprise when it did, in a totally unexpected fashion.
In the early summer of 1877 Nicholas was summoned to the palace, where again he found both army and navy commanders assembled.
‘Lord Shimadzu is dead,’ Mutsuhito told them. ‘And I have received official notification from both the men of Satsuma and the men of Cho-Shu that they are unable to accept the reforms I have proposed to them. What is more, there has been a clash of arms; a patrol from Kumamoto was fired upon by Satsuma samurai when they crossed what the men of Satsuma regard as the boundary of their fief. Now there is a message from General Kodama that Saigo-no-Takamori has demanded the return of Kumamoto Castle to the Satsuma. This is open defiance.’ He looked from face to face. ‘General von Rintelen?’
‘The army is ready to mobilise, Your Majesty.’
‘Good. We will take personal command, with General von Rintelen as our Chief of Staff. General Oyama, you will remain in command here. But you will immediately issue orders to General Kodama that Kumamoto is to be defended pending our arrival. Admiral Ito?’
‘Our ships are ready to sail, Your Majesty.’
‘Captain Barrett, you will sail as flag-captain to the admiral.’
‘May I ask your intentions, Your Majesty?’
‘Our decrees have been accepted by the entire rest of the Empire, Captain. They cannot be rejected by two of the daimyos, or in this case, one suspects, a group of dissident samurai. It is our intention to send detachments of the army to occupy the lands of the Satsuma and the Cho-Shu and disarm their samurai until they agree to comply with our wishes. The naval squadron will blockade the ports of Kagoshima and Shimonoseki to make sure these people realise their situation.’
‘With respect, Your Majesty, the men of Satsuma will fight before they will surrender their ancient privileges, much less their arms. And I believe that if they do so, the men of Cho-Shu will support them.’
‘Then the bloodshed will be on their own heads, Captain Barrett.’
‘Nevertheless, it will be a serious business, Your Majesty. I helped to train the Satsuma army, and I know its worth. Before you commence hostilities, I would beg your permission to travel to Kagoshima once more, and try to persuade General Saigo, who I am certain is now in command, to reconsider.’
‘Are we supposed to beg our subjects to obey us?’ Mutsuhito demanded.
‘I would travel as a private citizen, Your Majesty. All you need do is delay your mobilisation by a few days.’
Nicholas bowed. Given the unflinching resolution of his young master, he had obtained all the respite for Saigo that he could have hoped. But he knew the odds on his succeeding were small. He needed more. ‘May I ask that your instructions be given in writing, Your Majesty?’
‘Of course.’
‘And that in them you give me the authority to take command of the troops on the spot when I parley with General Saigo? Including General Kodama and the Kumamoto garrison.’
Mutsuhito studied him for several seconds. ‘Almost it would sound as if you were planning a coup-de-main, Captain.’
‘Such authority would give Captain Barrett the right to surrender Kumamoto to the Satsuma,’ Oyama growled.
Nicholas’s head came up, and Mutsuhito hastily quashed the impending quarrel. ‘I have complete confidence in you, Captain Barrett, but my officers cannot help but remember that you are a Satsuma samurai, and virtually a godson of General Saigo.’
‘That is why I am anxious to avoid a conflict, Your Majesty. But Your Majesty may rest assured that my loyalty will remain always to you, and only you, and if, by any means, I may be able to end this war before it begins, that I would like the opportunity to do so.’
Bloody Sunrise Page 21
