Sekigahara Novel Chapter 1 English

Sekigahara Novel English translation

 by Ryōtarō Shiba

Chapter 1

The monastery of Takamiya

I am trying to recall. I can remember when I was a child, I had gone to a temple in Ōminokuni. It was a hot summer day, and I was walking up a long stone staircase. I don’t remember which temple it was though.

            I can remember like it was yesterday all the green of the trees that would surround you as you sat on the veranda of the Temple. And just past the trees stretched the glistening surface of Lake Biwa.

“I’m gonna sit here for a bit…” the old man that had brought us there said as he tapped the wood of the veranda. He sat explaining various things about the temple to us kids. He used his hands a lot as he talked.

“So, the Taikō¹ was sitting there in his full falconry attire. It was the height of summer then too. Just like today, you’d have sweat running into your eyes,” he said as he wiped his own brow.

This old man was known around town by only his first name. The Adults called him “Mr. Kaiware”. I had no idea what his last name was at that time. He carried a parasol and a folding fan. He wore a starched shirt which was slightly too small, and a pair of thin pants.

He would tell us stories. “‘Could you bring me some tea?’ Hideyoshi called out through the temple. Soon after, the boy who lived here came over. It was Mitsunari Ishida.”

I digress a little, but a lot of the things he was saying, we knew already from various kids’ magazines and picture books.

Anyway, while struggling with where to begin when writing such an extraordinary human comedy, or perhaps a “tragedy”, as Sekigahara, I would sit and daydream about such days from my youth. Henry Miller had said to me “whatever you’re thinking about right now, just start from there.” So, that’s what I’ll do.

The stories the old man told us about the days when Mitsunari was a young apprentice, are also written about in things like the “Bushō Kanjō Ki²”. But, people would pass around these kinds of old stories verbally in the old man’s day.

At that time, as a military commander in Nobunaga, Hideyoshi was doing well and in control of two-hundred-thousand koku¹ in his territory, Ōmie-Nagahama, and from there, had just been made Daimyō.

He would practice falconry within his territory. At that time, falconry was something useful for surveying the land as well as for keeping an eye on the citizens. He had only just become Daimyō, but he needed to bring in some military men whose salaries he would pay with that 200,000 koku. So, while practicing his falconry, rather than searching for prey to send his bird after, he was much more focused on scouting potential people to join his army. Samurais like Kiyomasa Katō, Masanori Fukushima and Takatora Tōdō were mostly serving under him already, but they did think him a supporter of Tokugawa Ieyasu at that time.

So now, as for Mitsunari. His name then was Sakichi. The second son to the samurai Ishida Masatsugu from Ōmisakata-Gun, Ishida-Mura, and he had been taken in by the temple. Some sources say he went there to study, some say it was to work. Whatever the case, this was in his teenage years. He had a clean smart looking face, his eyes always looking around. He would always attract attention.

Hedeyoshi’s falconry had brought him up near the temple and he had become quite thirsty. So, he called into the temple. “I would like some tea.”

Sakichi was inside preparing the tea. Although his father Masatsugu had him living out in a rural area, he was a samurai and was quite wealthy. Sakichi soon quietly brought out the tea to Hideyoshi as he laid on the veranda amidst the chirping cicadas.

“Your tea sir,” said Mitsunari handing it over to Hideyoshi who drank it down immediately.

“One more,” ordered Hideyoshi.

According to the “Bushō Kanjō Ki” he brought the first to him “in a large cup in about seven or eight minutes” and when Hideyoshi drank it, feeling refreshed he said “that was good. I’ll have another.” Because he was parched he guzzled it down. It had a good amount of water added to it, and it was just the right temperature.

“As you wish” said Sakichi as he retreated, this time over heating it and only putting in about half the water of the first cup. He didn’t want Hideyoshi to like it and ask for yet another. But, Hideyoshi drank this one, and asked for more still.

It was around this time that he began observing the fact that this boy could be useful to him. The third tea Sakichi brought over was in a very small cup. Also, he did not use very much water at all, and it was hot enough to burn your tongue. Hideyoshi took interest in this boy’s wit.

            “What is your name?” he asked.

            “Born to Ishida Masatsugu in Ishida village, my name is Sakichi” he replied.

            “Such politeness,” thought Hideyoshi. “When he becomes and adult, he could become useful.” And, after asking two or three more questions he was sure of Sakichi’s intellect. So, Deciding Sakichi sat well with him, he asked the head of the temple to let him bring Sakichi up to the castle.

This temple where Hideyoshi and Mitsunari first met is said to be Kannon Temple outside the Nagahama castle. Though, it is also said that it could be at Ikago-Furuhashimura’s Matamain Temple. It doesn’t really matter which it was.

            There is also another story related to this. A true story from sometime around when Mitsunari was 20 years old.

His salary, a stipend in rice, was given to him directly from Hideyoshi, who acted as Mitsunari’s master.

Hideyoshi told him “I will take care of your salary,”

There were others like Mitsunari in a similar position under Hideyoshi. The before mentioned Toranosuke (Kiyomasa) Katō was bringing in 470 koku, and Ichimatsu (Masanori) Fukushima was making 500 koku around this time.

“Sakichi, you could be making 500 koku as well. You need to get to work. Have you found a location yet?” asked Hideyoshi.

            In the “Kokonbuke Seisuiki⁴” Mitsunari is bowed down in front of Hideyoshi and says, “Well then,” before raising his head. “At Jiosamu River and Yodo River there are grasses and reeds growing in abundance,” Mitsunari continued “these naturally growing plants are being harvested by those near the river and are being used to make various screens and other useful things. If I had the right to collect tax on these, I would not even need the 500 koku from you.”

 It was of course common practice throughout history that taxes were collected in such a way for the plants harvested around Biwa Lake where Mitsunari grew up. But, there was still no doubt that for Mitsunari to think of doing this, showed his proclivity for financial calculation.

            “How much tax would you be able to collect?” Hideyoshi asked, intrigued.

            Mitsunari stood, doing calculations on the spot. “Around 10,000 koku in taxes, and we could put that into the military.” This surprised Hideyoshi.

            Mitsunari’s colleagues Toranosuke and Ichimatsu however, did not possess such sensibility, and were still completely devoted to the battlefield. They did not understand why their master Hideyoshi liked Mitsunari so much. While Hideyoshi was a man who liked his military exploits, he loved in particular the talent of Mitsunari even more. At one point, he had said that Mitsunari reminded him of himself at that age.

            “I have never heard of collecting taxes in such a way,” said Hideyoshi “but it is quite interesting. I shall allow you to go down there on the premise of checking the state of things. You must not upset the commoners.”

So, Mitsunari immediately set out, up and down the Jiosamu and Yodo rivers, through dozens of villages, collecting taxes on the naturally growing reeds. He determined a certain amount to collect from the people which would then be taken and sold in the Kyoto/Osaka area. He made a large profit from doing this.

            One day on a particular battlefield Hideyoshi spotted some troops approaching. They held banners decorated with golden fans and streamers. The soldiers’ and horses’ armor was gorgeously adorned as well with golden accessories.

            “That is an unfamiliar banner they hold. Go and ask them if they are friend or enemy,” he commanded to his messenger officer. As it turns out, these were his own troops. Ishida Sakichi, the man who merely collected taxes from the weeds around rivers now had an army under his command.

Although this may have seemed unbelievable that he would suddenly be in charge of these troops, he wasn’t surprised. Hideyoshi had loved Mitsunari’s natural talent, and was always, when sending troops to Korea or any sea crossing excursion which required a more mathematical approach, having Mitsunari supervise it.

They had about 40 thousand ships, and 200 thousand men. What’s more they also had horses, provisions for themselves and also the horses, medicine, and weapons. So, when transporting all these things by sea, first it must all be divided properly between the ships. Then once they had reached their destination, it would have to all be removed and allocated appropriately. They would also want to try and arrive as quickly as possible, but in order to best maneuver the cargo ships and passenger ships, they could not be sent out too closely together, and so delicately balanced planning and calculation was neccessary. Mitsunari was able to do these things without a hitch, but it is safe to say that the ability to command such a large army is a rare achievement historically speaking.

So, the budding talent and cleverness of Mitsunari’s can be seen in those stories about the tea, and the tax collection.

From there he would become Daimyō, sometime around the age of 23 or 24. This was not young for someone who had been under Hideyoshi. Katō Toranosuke, who had come to Hideyoshi at age 15, having excelled as the commander of an attack squadron became the Daimyō of the Higo territory at age 25 or 26, controlling 250 thousand koku. Fukushima Ichimatsu also, via a similar route was in charge of 100 koku in Imabari. And these promotions where not just magically happening. Nobunaga had died, and Hideyoshi was now running the country.

When Mitsunari first became Daimyō the amount he controlled was a mere 40 thousand koku. Much less than that of his colleagues. However, his was not some distant land in Shikkoku or Kyūshū, but rather Ōmiya’s Minakuchi. Being the Daimyō of a neighboring territory was politically and economically undesirable. And no matter what, Hideyoshi wanted to keep Mitsunari close by.

Another thing to consider was the servants one would gain when one became Daimyō. Hideyoshi suddenly asked one day “Sakichi, how many servants did you take on once you became Daimyō?” Thinking about how he was the kind of man who had once collected taxes on weeds and grass, he assumed Mitsunari might have even more servants than what his social class would typically warrant.

“I have but one” replied Mitsunari. And Hideyoshi was very surprised by this. This episode was also recorded in the “Sekigahara Gunki Taisei⁵”.

“Just one!? Who is it?” the surprised Hideyoshi asked the servant’s name.

“He is from the Tsutsui clan, a rōnin⁶ named Sakon,” replied Mitsunari.

Hideyoshi was further surprised, but he took a breath and composed himself.

“Sakon was a very well-known person in his day. No Tsutsui would take such a menial position. Surely you are joking,” said Hideyoshi.

Sakon was a samurai general for the once Daimyō of Yamato, Tsutsui Junkei, and was said to be a genius of battle and strategy. Hideyoshi himself had memories of Junkei from the battle of Yamazaki where he was Junkei’s messenger. Junkei had controlled about 10 thousand koku, but once he died, the Tsutsui clan relocated to Iga, and Sakon became a rōnin. He was living a secluded life in the government township near the banks of the Inukami river. It was about 1 sato⁷ south of present day Hikoneshi city, where there is a beautiful forest and river.

So, Sakon had built a nice hermitage for himself in a country township.

Hearing this, the young Mitsunari who had only just become Daimyō, went with a couple people down to request his service. However, the once great Samurai commander of the Yamato region was of course not very happy to hear what Mitsunari had suggested to him.

“So, you wish for me to come work under you?” he said fixing his eyes upon Mitsunari. He was thinking, “he is too young to know anything of the world. He is getting carried away, just happy he’s been made Daimyō.” He was planning on sending him away after he finished his tea. But, they continued talking a little bit about fishing for ayu⁸ at the nearby Inukami river.

Sakichi had battle scars all over his body, and each one told a story about his career as a Sengoku⁹ warrior. He was part of the attack on Takigawa Kazumasu who was secluded in Ise-Kameyama castle in December 1584. He reopened old wounds there, which meant they would probably never completely heal now.

“Well, I must say that I am honored that you would come all the way out here to talk with me. Your servant huh? Ahaha, I’m afraid I have already given up on this world.” In this roundabout way, he turned Mitsunari down on his offer, while sounding even older than he really was in the process. But seeing Sakon’s appearance made Mitsunari want to hire him even more.

“Please. I know it is below you, what I ask. But, I bow to you now, asking you to come be my servant,” Mitsunari pleaded, “If you do not wish to come with me as my servant, then what about as my brother?”

“Your brother?” Sakon disregarded this. It was only rhetorical and he would still have to serve under Mitsunari.

Mitsunari pressed on harder. He told him about all that Hideyoshi was planning in order to gain control over all territories. And how he, Mitsunari, was lower in rank only to Katō and Fukushima who were “Shichihonyari¹⁰” of the battle of Shizugatake. But no matter how much he had fought, he could not say that his own tactics on the battlefield itself were what they should be. And so needed Sakon to help him in that regard. With the two of them together, there would be no one under the sun who could defeat Mitsunari and Sakon.

Whether these words were just to win Sakon over, or whether he was actually explaining himself to Sakon, it appeared that Sakon had indeed been won over.

“If you don’t like ‘brother’, then you can come as a friend.”

This was an unprecedented agreement.

“So, how did it go?” Hideyoshi asked. “Did you close the deal?”

“Yes” said Mitsunari wearing a slightly gloomy expression “But, not without a hitch. He wouldn’t come easily. It will cost us 15 thousand koku.”

“Hoho?”

No single servant should cost so much. Hideyoshi laughed loudly. Mitsunari was still young. He further reminded Hideyoshi of himself at his age, and his fondness of him grew deeper.

But Mitsunari although happy that he had acquired Sakon, was not one to be satisfied with minor victories. He had large dreams from an early age. Of course, even he could not at that time dream of the battles he would face in the years to come against Tokugawa Ieyasu, and against the opposite sex.

Although, he may have thought about it a little. After all, he wanted control of all the land under the son, but had no one to inherit it from him.

Of course, when Hideyoshi did die, there were riots, and it would be a lie to say that the intelligent Mitsunari did not expect such a thing would happen.

The proof can be seen in the castle that Mitsunari lived in with Sakon, as it proudly stretches up to the heavens above Ōminokuni.

Notes:

1: Taikō: Formally known as Taikō-Shita, was a regent or chief advisor who had relinquished their position over to their child or student.

2: Bushō Kanjō Ki: Published in 1716, it was a journal authored by Kumazawa Itarō about various military men from the Warring-States period through the first part of the Edō period. It is also known as the Saigyoku Stories.

3: Koku: An old Japanese unit for measuring volume. 1 koku would be enough rice to feed a person for a year.

4: Kokonbuke Seisuiki: or “The Rise and Fall of Samurai Through the Ages”. Is a document that accounts just that, information about various samurai in history.

5: Sekigahara Gunki Taisei: A document which detailed military achievements related to the battle of Sekigahara.

6: Rōnin: A wandering master-less samurai.

7: Sato: An old Japanese measurement equivalent to about 2.44 miles.

8: Ayu: called “sweetfish” in English. Found mostly in north-east Asia.

9: Sengoku: Another term for the Warring States period.

10: Shichihonyari: The Shichihonyari (7 spears) of the battle of Shizugatake is the name given to seven great warriors who fought in the battle.