The Curse of Koshiu: A Chronicle of Old Japan

  CHAPTER VI.

  THE YOUNG MIKADO.

  Tomoye, the brawny but practical, proved herself more clear-sightedthan the statesman-warrior her husband. Hojo, the elder, certainlymade the most serious blunder of his life when he arranged thatmarriage for his heir. A gulf 'twixt a husband and a wife cannot butwiden daily, and the part of the latter, right or wrong, is sure to beespoused by her father. The admirable combinations that were to resultfrom an alliance of the houses of Hojo and Nara were conspicuous byabsence. As time went on, the haughty No-Kami, averse at all times toadvice, showed to his wife's parent his most aggressive side, lest heshould presume to lecture.

  Although the Daimio of Nara had seen but little of his child, he hadreceived from time to time such affectionate reports concerning themaiden, from the priests and priestesses who had supervised hereducation, that he was fully conscious of her worth. Between the twolords there was a show of courtesy, which masked on the one sidejealousy of interference, on the other, hate. The father of O'Tei,although he pretended to perceive nothing, resented bitterly thescornful neglect with which she was treated by her spouse. During therare visits of the young chatelaine to the capital, he could see howsad she was, and worn and listless, instead of vivacious and gay, asbecame her years; and in his heart, antipathy for the despot,implanted by cruelty to the Mikado, increased a hundredfold. He wastoo wary to quarrel yet with Hojo, but whenever he vouchsafed advice(as he did now and then, for the sake, as he said, of the departed),it was of a kind which rendered No-Kami more execrated still, moreunpopular with the people he oppressed. The return of Sampei, and thedemeanour of that warrior, produced fresh combinations in the subtlebrain of Nara. It was plain that he was shocked by the excesses of hisbrother. He came of ambitious stock, and the long bloody tale of thehistory of Japan is full of the rivalry of brothers. What if he couldbe cajoled or goaded to take arms against him? The unruly army whichhe had brought back from Corea, accustomed to plunder and lawlesslicence, would have to be employed somehow, for idleness begetsmischief. So long as Mikado and Daimios remained quiescent, theswash-bucklers could not be used against them, and, unemployed theywould soon be a source of trouble. What if, by waiting, the enemies ofthe Hojo could succeed in turning against him the very troops he hadsummoned for his defence; and what if, by crafty man[oe]uvring, thedisgust of Sampei could be raised to such a pitch as to induce him toresume their command?

  As the general who had led them from victory to victory, his soldiersadored Sampei. In time, they might probably be made useful as ascourge for Hojo, without their commander, by prospect of pillagingcastles, but if he whom they idolised were to summon them forth in thedirection of their inclinations, there was no doubt they would followin a mass. While his master was telling his beads before the greatbronze idol in the Nara temple, the thoughts of the lord of the soilwere engaged elsewhere, and he resolved on the first opportunity tosound Sampei, and to arrange his plans accordingly.

  It was a fortnight after the incident on the bridge of Uji that theimperial _cortege_ wound down the mountain, and returned to the palacein the capital. What a dreary spot this same palace, more like aprison than a free residence, well suited to the ghastly life of blankmonotony led by its miserable occupant.

  The chief abode of the Mikado occupies a vast space of ground inthe centre of the city of Ki[^y]oto, surrounded by a high whitewall, devoid of windows. Passing through a postern in a huge andhighly-decorated gate, crowned by an immense tiled roof, you findyourself in a labyrinth, where you would speedily be lost without aguide, for long low buildings meander in and out, and meet at angles,one exactly like another, forming a series of little courtyards,adorned with prim grey bushes. The walls of these are of one pattern,formed of white plaster in timber settings, with heavy roofs andeaves. None of the buildings boast of more than a single storey, whichis elevated on posts, a yard above the ground; this by reason ofearthquakes, and unclean insects, which have no respect for Emperors.The long outer passages are protected from the weather by verandahs,because persons below a certain rank may not venture to breathe underthe same roof as the Fountain of Honour, but must squat humbly in theair without. All the inner wood-work is of pine, smoothly planed, andleft unpolished, set at points of junction with sumptuously sculpturednails; while mats are of the finest kind, trimmed white and red withthe imperial braid. Within, the sliding screens which at will dividemost of the space into small or large chambers, are of drab silk,spotted with gold dots, in form of clouds. There is no furniture,except a few low red lacquer tables.

  The private suite of the Mikado saddens the soul, so small, anddismal, and uncomfortable are the rooms, or rather hutches, with noprospect or view outside, but three bare walls, a flag-pavement, andhalf-a-dozen bushes; and the mind turns involuntarily to the thoughtof Spanish Queens, whose drear existences must have been hilariouslygay when compared with those of the Mikados. Sure many of these musthave gone melancholy mad, or have sought relief from despondency bydrowning care in the sake-cup. For the better protection of theFountain of Honour, the two closets he inhabits are buried away in thecentre of the labyrinth. There is nothing for him to hear but low,respectful sibillation, and the tramp of guards; nothing to see butnobles sprawling on their faces, with a glum background of whitewash,and a few tortoises wandering over the stones.

  At the period which now concerns us, the Mikado usually sat upon achair, while the kuges, in court trousers (Uye no Bakama) many yardsunder their feet, wearing high black crape hats, and brocadedtrains--narrow and stiff, and of exceeding length--(kiy[=o]) reclinedaround him on the mat. When the potentate felt more bored than usual,he retired into a square tent (of the size of an old-fashionedEuropean bed) in the middle of the room; which tent was composed ofsnowy silk, embroidered with bamboo and storks, and garnished withlong streamers, red and black, decorated with butterflies. Inside thetent was placed a chair, and two low stools.

  A few yards off is a dark place surrounded by gilt folding screens, inwhich is another tent. This was for the Fountain of Honour whenboredom reached a climax, and he felt compelled to flee mankind. Onstate occasions he moved into a spacious hall at the back, whosesliding screens are painted with portraits, full length, of Chinesesages, and whose look-out is a shade more cheerful; for beyond thereis a garden, with a lake full of speckled fish, some groups of pines,and quaint stone bridges. In the centre of the hall is yet anothertent, precisely similar to the others--for the purpose of specialaudience, for the room is so large, that neither the elect, who kneltaround, or the unelect, who crouched in the verandah, could overhearwhat passed within the curtains.

  Into this hall, on the day after the return, trooped all who possessedthe privilege, while the yards and passages were full of hatamotos andretainers; for the Fountain of Honour, refreshed by prayer and changeof scene, declared he would attend to business.

  In the first place, audience must be vouchsafed to the victoriousGeneral, that he might relate his deeds of valour, and receive thanksfor faithful service; and then a consultation must be held, withclosed doors, on the subject of the peasant and his petition. Atmention of the audacious peasant, Nara smiled quietly, for he thoughthe saw his way to make a weapon of him wherewith to vex the enemy.

  Owing to the ruin and banishment of three Emperors, the presentreigning one was a cowed youth, a pale and depressed boy, with a lookof constant apprehension lurking in his eyes. So well drilled was hethat the sound of his tyrant's footfall caused him to tremble; soacutely did he feel his equivocal position, that many a time, after aperiod of reverie, he would start and wince, as if expecting thedescent of the blade that was suspended over his head. Poor Koshiu!Could he have looked on the liege lord--so timorous and helpless--whowas awful, because invisible, he would probably have thought twicebefore making that rash attempt.

  When Sampei, after prostration and the orthodox nine head-knockings ofhumility, was invited to occupy a stool within the tent, Nara wasbidden, by a wave of the
august fan, to take the other, and thuswithdrawn from inquisitive eyes and ears, the Daimio of Nara deemedthis to be a propitious moment for peering into the future. He drewout the modest General, and, as mouthpiece of his master, made prettyspeeches, while the Mikado was anxiously scanning his face, seekinghis brother's features.

  Presently the Emperor gave a sigh of relief. It was a good-naturedopen visage, considerably tanned, ornamented (from a military point ofview) by a deep scar across the brow, scored by a Corean spear.Although a Hojo, it was possible to feel comfortable in his presence,and the heart of the sad recluse quite warmed to him when Nara, withinsidious flattery, related an episode of his career. He told of howyoung Sampei, in camp one day, investing the Taira forces, beheld awarrior whose crimson armour and golden cognisance marked him for aTaira noble. "Come hither and fight!" he cried, and both chargedfiercely one at the other with gleaming blades. After a few passes,the Taira dropped his sword, and Sampei, chivalrous always, flung hisaway and rushed to clasp his foe. Close-locked they fell from theirsaddles on the sand, the Hojo uppermost. Tearing off the bedizenedhelm, with intent to strike, he was amazed to see not a hardy oldcampaigner but a delicate and lovely boy! Rising, and handing to thevanquished his headgear. "So young," he said, "thy mother yet lives,doubtless. To her I give thee--go!"

  Sampei looked down and blushed, not ill-pleased that his lord shouldlearn to like him; while the Mikado muttered behind his fan, "Can thisbe the brother of No-Kami?"

  After this jocund opening symphony, Nara changed his tune, and as hespoke of the suffering people, the General's face grew dark andsorrowful.

  "And all this is due," Nara concluded, with emphasis, "to the head ofthe house of Hojo, whom the gods have made pre-eminent. The greaterthe gift, the greater will be the punishment for opportunitiesmisused. Dare you deny that it is so?"

  Sampei shuffled on his seat, with lowered head.

  "My brother is unduly harsh," he stammered,--"perchance is ignorant--"

  "What of the elders, then, and their petition?" demanded Nara.

  "He has sent them home unhurt!" quickly responded Sampei.

  "Ay, but with wrongs unredressed."

  The young General was silent.

  "You are the senior in years," observed the Daimio, pursuing hisadvantage, "and should claim some authority; further, even, if needbe--"

  Sampei drew himself up with dignity.

  "You, the Daimio of Nara," he said proudly, "should know what is duefrom a vassal to his feudal chief. I am older in years, but not purein blood. On my mother's side I am a peasant. I may grieve over mybrother's follies, even chide with respectful gentleness, further thanthat I may not venture, as none should know better than yourself."

  Nara felt angry and disappointed, for this was not what he expected.Could this brilliant fellow be destitute of personal ambition?Perhaps, more cunning than he seemed, he was waiting for somethingmore explicit.

  "You, then, an honest man," sneered the Daimio, "are prepared to standby and see your flesh and blood perform the work of fiends? Perhaps Ihave made of your character a wrong estimate. Can it be that you enjoythe grievous plight of those to whose class, as you say, you partiallybelong? In crime an appreciative partner--perhaps even my lord Hojo'swilling executioner?"

  The Daimio laughed hoarsely, while the Mikado listened with pursedlips. Apparently the young soldier was not to be roused by taunts, forwith a sigh he replied sadly,--

  "You wrong me. If I cannot aid, I can perish with them, and so escapedishonour."

  "By hara-kiri?" retorted Nara, with impatience, "a vastly useful wayof helping the afflicted! When all is lost, death by the dirk is theonly appropriate end to a high-born gentleman; but an honest man and abrave may not declare that things are hopelessly wrong until he hastried to right them. That they are wrong at present you will admit,after perusing this memorial, humbly presented to our common lord byone of Hojo's vassals."

  Sampei took the paper, and, as he read, grew hot and cold with pityand indignation. And it was his own flesh and blood, as Nara said, whocould act thus! The indictment was terrible in its straightforwardsimplicity. No wonder that the gentle wife of the tyrant, knowingwhat she must know, was fading slowly. And there was more troublebrewing--even simple Sampei could foresee that. If No-Kami had been soincensed at the elders daring to present a petition to himself, whatwould his feeling be when he knew that another had been handed to theEmperor? The Mikado having publicly received, would be bound to takesome notice of it,--to make some attempt to check the excesses of thedespot. And, knowing his brother as he now learned to know him, Sampeilooked forward in dismay, for the wheel set rolling down a hill maynot be stopped, and it was but too probable that, goaded by passionuncontrolled, crime heaped upon crime would, as O'Tei had suggested,induce some dire catastrophe.

  A furtive glance at the dull weak face of the Emperor was notcomforting. There was vacillation in every line of it. A gleam fromNo-Kami's wrathful eyes and he would shrivel up. Was it indeed theduty of his elder brother to stand forward and attempt to stay hisjunior's downward course? 'Tis a terrible thing when two of the samekin hold swords at one another's throats. And languishing O'Tei, whatof her, whom he had secretly sworn to guard and cherish? Perhaps, byslaying her husband, he would be doing her a service as well asfreeing the oppressed; but that husband his brother! To slay hisbrother! As the picture appeared upon his mental retina, Sampeishuddered; and then the thought flashed on him with vivid clearnessthat the stroke which slew his brother would delve for aye animpassable chasm 'twixt himself and her he loved. The young man heaveda sigh of relief, and raised his head. He was rescued from temptationfor the time being, O'Tei the saving talisman. And then, his eyefalling on the petition, he grew sorely perplexed. Was the old manright? Was it his bounden duty to interfere between the tyrant and hisvictims? What good would come of interference? Had he not intervenedalready for the behoof of the unlucky elders? It was not likely thatthe head of his house would brook incessant meddling. Slow-witted atthe best, Sampei, the more he pondered, grew more wretched anduncertain. Nara marked with approving eye the extent of hisuncertainty, and cast a keen glance of intelligence at his master. Thepoison instilled would slowly work, or Nara had mistaken his man. Theseed was sown--must be left to swell and burst. Enough was done forthe present.

  Obedient to the signal of his most trusted counsellor, the Mikadograciously dismissed his General, with hope revived in the future. Butthe hope was short-lived. Scarcely had he emerged with lightened heartfrom out the tent, and, summoning the kuges together, had commandedthe shutters to be closed, that the petition might be privatelyconsidered, than the sound of the awful footstep was heard on thecreaking boards, and the soul of the hapless Emperor died within him.He writhed and turned scarlet under the insult, when, pushing back theshutter with a crash, No-Kami unannounced strode in.

  "What is this?" he cried, in a harsh voice, omitting the customaryobeisance. "I should not believe it, if I did not see you shiveringthere, red with conscious guilt. Leniency to the scum is worse than acrime--it is a fault. It was to please your daughter, Nara--that sheshould condescend to plead for such insolent vermin, says little forher rearing--that I forgave those villagers. And no sooner have Icommitted that insensate act, than I am most justly punished for it.Where is he--he who presumed to present to you a paper? He shall neverpresent another."

  The trembling Mikado looked piteously at Nara, who, stolid, andapparently both deaf and blind, moved no muscle.

  "My lord No-Kami--" began the Emperor, but was quickly silenced.

  "I ask no explanation," remarked the tyrant sternly, waving awayargument. "I demand the paper and the man. He is my vassal and mychattel: where is he?"

  "Here, under my protection. You forget yourself, my lord!" criedthe Emperor, who, deserted by Nara, was stung to a poor show ofself-assertion. "Under this roof he is safe."

  No-Kami raised his brows slightly, and with stiff politeness said,--

  "Since when may peasants enter whe
re knights and samurai may not?These be new manners that we can scarce approve. You, my lord Nara, Ibelieve took charge of the man. I thank you for your courtesy, andherewith reclaim my own."

  To the consternation of the Emperor, who expected that now, at least,the one to whom he pinned his faith would speak boldly, the Daimio ofNara gravely bowed, and said,--

  "If such is the pleasure of our master, be it so."

  Put to the test, then, Nara was a windbag that had burst! The Mikadogroaned in spirit.

  "You will promise that he shall not be injured," stammered he, as,wincing under the basilisk eye, and seeking support in vain, the poorboy grew sick and giddy.

  "You see, Lord Nara, that 'tis our master's wish," responded No-Kamibluntly. "I make no promises. My time is valuable, and my retinuewithout is waiting. See that the wretch is handed over instantly forimmediate transport to my _yashiki_." And with this the Hojo turnedand strode away, without deigning to await an answer.

  The cup was full. The Fountain of Honour overflowed in a torrent ofbrackish tears. To be insulted thus before all the court; to betreated like a child; to be bearded with such dour disdain! The fateof his three predecessors, in their tranquil monastery, was preferableto his, alone upon the rack in the midst of empty grandeur. When Naraattempted to instil words of comfort, he turned on him with the swift,unreasoning vituperation of the weak.

  "You on whom I leaned," he sobbed,--"who are ever prating of thewondrous things that you are going to do! Before him you tremble morethan all the rest, and sit mumchance! The man will be tormented, and Ithereby eternally disgraced, since I took him under my protection.When they hear of it, what will my people say, seeing me thatmonster's puppet?"

  "They, will pity you," replied Nara quietly, "as they pity the otherthree. I am not so craven as you think. What if the man be tortured?He is but a boor of little consequence, and will be none the worse formartyrdom. Let be, let be--a little patience only. The more scurvilythe man is treated, the better in the end; the deeper the universalexecration for him we all detest. A little time, a little time, andall will be well, believe me. We have but to sit with hands devoutlyfolded, and wait; for the Hojo is preparing his own undoing,--carvingout his own destruction!"