Read Online The Ronin's Mistress by Laura Joh Rowland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Joh Rowland
Tags: Suspense
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the estates. Tokugawa law prohibited all wheeled vehicles except for oxcarts owned by the government; this prevented troop movements and rebellions, at least in theory. The porters stared at Hirata’s group of bloodstained r ō nin . Soldiers from the estates came out to watch the peculiar parade.
Hirata led his group to the estate that belonged to the Hosokawa daimyo clan. The Hosokawa was an ancient family that controlled the fief of Higo Province. Higo was a top rice-producing domain and the Hosokawa clan one of Japan’s largest, wealthiest landholders. Their estate was the grandest in the area, with a gate made of wide, iron-studded planks. When Hirata and his companions approached it, two sentries stepped out of an ornate guardhouse.
Hirata introduced himself. “I’ve got sixteen prisoners. I want you to keep them under house arrest here.”
The sentries looked nonplussed. One said, “That’s never been done before. We’ll have to get permission.”
“Go ahead.” Hirata glanced at the sixteen r ō nin. They gazed straight ahead, their faces impassive. None showed any sign of wanting to bolt. “We’ll wait.”
A sentry went inside the estate. After a long while he came out with the daimyo himself. Lord Hosokawa was in his sixties, with gray hair tied in a neat topknot on his shaved crown. He wore robes patterned in neutral colors, instead of the gaudy, fashionable garb that other rich daimyo sported. He had an intelligent, worried face and a reputation for managing his domain with excruciating attention to detail. After he and Hirata exchanged formal greetings, he said, “You want me to do what?”
Hirata repeated his request. He explained who the r ō nin were and what they’d done.
Lord Hosokawa’s worried expression deepened. “Why do they have to be here? Why not at one of the other estates?”
“The other estates are getting prisoners, too,” Hirata said. “There are forty-seven in all.”
“I see. But why can’t you take them to town and find someplace for them there?”
“Do you want them wandering around in the open that long?” Hirata said.
“… No.” Lord Hosokawa gazed at the sixteen r ō nin as if afraid they would suddenly go berserk. “But who’s responsible for feeding them and keeping them under control?”
“You are.” Hirata knew Lord Hosokawa could afford the expense and had plenty of guards with nothing better to do.
“Well, I don’t like it,” Lord Hosokawa said. “There’s sure to be a scandal. I would rather not be dragged into it.”
“Don’t worry; your honor won’t be tarnished by association with them,” Hirata said. Under Tokugawa law, guilt by association was a punishable crime. “I’ll make it clear to the shogun that you did him a favor by taking in these prisoners.”
Lord Hosokawa pursed his mouth. “And if I refuse?”
“I’ll make it clear to the shogun that you were derelict in your duty to him,” Hirata said.
That was a capital offense. “Oh. Well, in that case…” Lord Hosokawa reluctantly moved away from the gate. “If anything bad happens, I will hold your master responsible.”
Hirata hoped nothing would go wrong. Lord Hosokawa hadn’t yet taken sides in the conflict between Sano and Yanagisawa. He liked the peace that came with neutrality, but if he took offense at Sano, he might change his mind. And Hirata knew that similar scenes were going on at the other estates, where the two other daimyo surely wouldn’t want to provide a makeshift jail any more than Lord Hosokawa did. Sano couldn’t afford to strain their goodwill, either. But if Sano didn’t secure the forty-seven r ō nin at once and they caused problems, that would worsen his position far more.
Lord Hosokawa called his troops to take charge of the prisoners. Hirata glanced at the faces of the men who led the prisoners away. Some regarded the r ō nin with disgust, others with awe at these men who had followed Bushido to the ultimate degree. Hirata saw
Hirata led his group to the estate that belonged to the Hosokawa daimyo clan. The Hosokawa was an ancient family that controlled the fief of Higo Province. Higo was a top rice-producing domain and the Hosokawa clan one of Japan’s largest, wealthiest landholders. Their estate was the grandest in the area, with a gate made of wide, iron-studded planks. When Hirata and his companions approached it, two sentries stepped out of an ornate guardhouse.
Hirata introduced himself. “I’ve got sixteen prisoners. I want you to keep them under house arrest here.”
The sentries looked nonplussed. One said, “That’s never been done before. We’ll have to get permission.”
“Go ahead.” Hirata glanced at the sixteen r ō nin. They gazed straight ahead, their faces impassive. None showed any sign of wanting to bolt. “We’ll wait.”
A sentry went inside the estate. After a long while he came out with the daimyo himself. Lord Hosokawa was in his sixties, with gray hair tied in a neat topknot on his shaved crown. He wore robes patterned in neutral colors, instead of the gaudy, fashionable garb that other rich daimyo sported. He had an intelligent, worried face and a reputation for managing his domain with excruciating attention to detail. After he and Hirata exchanged formal greetings, he said, “You want me to do what?”
Hirata repeated his request. He explained who the r ō nin were and what they’d done.
Lord Hosokawa’s worried expression deepened. “Why do they have to be here? Why not at one of the other estates?”
“The other estates are getting prisoners, too,” Hirata said. “There are forty-seven in all.”
“I see. But why can’t you take them to town and find someplace for them there?”
“Do you want them wandering around in the open that long?” Hirata said.
“… No.” Lord Hosokawa gazed at the sixteen r ō nin as if afraid they would suddenly go berserk. “But who’s responsible for feeding them and keeping them under control?”
“You are.” Hirata knew Lord Hosokawa could afford the expense and had plenty of guards with nothing better to do.
“Well, I don’t like it,” Lord Hosokawa said. “There’s sure to be a scandal. I would rather not be dragged into it.”
“Don’t worry; your honor won’t be tarnished by association with them,” Hirata said. Under Tokugawa law, guilt by association was a punishable crime. “I’ll make it clear to the shogun that you did him a favor by taking in these prisoners.”
Lord Hosokawa pursed his mouth. “And if I refuse?”
“I’ll make it clear to the shogun that you were derelict in your duty to him,” Hirata said.
That was a capital offense. “Oh. Well, in that case…” Lord Hosokawa reluctantly moved away from the gate. “If anything bad happens, I will hold your master responsible.”
Hirata hoped nothing would go wrong. Lord Hosokawa hadn’t yet taken sides in the conflict between Sano and Yanagisawa. He liked the peace that came with neutrality, but if he took offense at Sano, he might change his mind. And Hirata knew that similar scenes were going on at the other estates, where the two other daimyo surely wouldn’t want to provide a makeshift jail any more than Lord Hosokawa did. Sano couldn’t afford to strain their goodwill, either. But if Sano didn’t secure the forty-seven r ō nin at once and they caused problems, that would worsen his position far more.
Lord Hosokawa called his troops to take charge of the prisoners. Hirata glanced at the faces of the men who led the prisoners away. Some regarded the r ō nin with disgust, others with awe at these men who had followed Bushido to the ultimate degree. Hirata saw
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