Shogun (The Asian Saga Chronology) (100 page)

"I wouldn't.  I have to get a new crew, Mariko-san.  Eighty or ninety men, trained seamen and gunners.  I'll find them at Nagasaki on Portuguese ships."  Blackthorne pretended not to notice her intake of breath or the way her fan stopped.  "There've got to be a few Frenchies, an Englishman or two if I'm lucky, some Germans or Hollanders—they'll be renegades mostly, or pressed aboard.  I'd need a safe conduct to Nagasaki, some protection, and a little silver or gold.  There are always seamen in enemy fleets who'll sign on for ready cash and a share of prize money."

"My Master says anyone in command who'd trust such carrion in an attack would be mad."

Blackthorne said, "I agree.  But I have to have a crew to put to sea."

"He asks if it would be possible to train samurai and our seamen to be gunners and sailors?"

"Easily.  In time.  But that could take months.  They'd certainly be ready by next year.  There'd be no chance to go against this year's Black Ship."

"Lord Toranaga says, 'I don't plan to attack the Black Ship of the Portuguese, this year or next.  They're not my enemies and I am not at war with them.'"

"I know.  But I am at war with them.  Please excuse me.  Of course, this is only a discussion, but I'll have to get some men to put to sea, to be of service to Lord Toranaga if he wishes."

They were sitting in Toranaga's private quarters that overlooked the garden.  The fortress had hardly been touched by the quake.  The night was humid and airless and the smoke from the coils of incense rose lazily to banish the mosquitoes.

"My Master wants to know," Mariko was saying, "if you had your ship now, and the few crew members that arrived with you, would you sail it to Nagasaki to get these further men you require?"

"No.  That would be too dangerous.  I'd be so hopelessly undermanned that the Portuguese would capture me.  It would be much better to get the men first, bring them back to home waters, to Yedo,
neh?
  Once I'm full-crewed and armed, the enemy's got nothing in these seas to touch me."

"He does not think you and ninety men could take the Black Ship."

"I can outsail her and sink her with
Erasmus.
  Of course, Mariko-san, I know this is all conjecture, but if I was permitted to attack my enemy, the moment I was crewed I'd sail on the tide for Nagasaki.  If the Black Ship was already in port, I'd show my battle flags and stand out to sea to blockade her.  I'd let her finish trading and then, when the wind was ripe for her homeward voyage, I'd pretend to need supplies and let her slip out of port.  I'd catch her a few leagues out because we've the speed on her and my cannon would do the rest.  Once she's struck her colors I put a prize crew aboard and bring her back to Yedo.  She'll have upwards of three, almost four hundred tons of gold bullion aboard."

"But why won't her captain scuttle his ship once you've beaten him, if you beat him, before you can go aboard?"

"Usually . . ." Blackthorne was going to say, "Usually the crew mutiny if the captain's a fanatic, but I've never known one that mad.  Most times you make a deal with the captain—spare their lives, give them a small share and safe berth to the nearest port.  But this time I'll have Rodrigues to deal with and I know him and know what he'll do."  But he thought better about that, or about revealing his whole plan.  Best to leave barbarian ways to barbarians, he told himself.  "Usually the defeated ship gives up, Mariko-san," he said instead.  "It's a custom—one of our customs of war at sea—saving unnecessary loss of life."

"Lord Toranaga says, so sorry Anjin-san, that's a disgusting custom.  If he had ships there would be no surrender."  Mariko sipped some cha, then continued, "And if the ship is not yet in port?"

"Then I sweep the sea lanes to catch her a few leagues out in international waters.  She'll be easier to take heavy laden and wallowing, but harder to bring into Yedo.  When's she expected to dock?"

"My Lord does not know.  Perhaps within thirty days, he says.  The ship will be early this year."

Blackthorne knew he was so near the prize, so very near.  "Then it's blockade her and take her at the end of the season."  She translated and Blackthorne thought he saw disappointment momentarily cross Toranaga's face.  He paused, as though he were considering alternatives, then he said, "If this was Europe, there'd be another way.  You could sail in by night and take her by force.  A surprise attack."

Toranaga's grip tightened on his sword hilt.

"He says you'd dare to war on
our
land against
your
enemies?"

Blackthorne's lips were dry.  "No.  Of course this is still surmise, but if a state of war existed between him and the Portuguese, and Lord Toranaga wanted them hurt, this would be the way to do it.  If I had two or three hundred well-disciplined fighters, a good crew, and
Erasmus,
it would be easy to go alongside the Black Ship and board her, drag her out to sea.  He could choose the time of the surprise attack—if this was Europe."

There was a long silence.

"Lord Toranaga says, this is not Europe and no state of war exists or will ever exist between him and the Portuguese."

"Of course.  One last point, Mariko-san:  Nagasaki is not within Lord Toranaga's control, is it?"

"No, Anjin-san.  Lord Harima owns the port and the hinterland."

"But don't the Jesuits in practice control the port and all trade?"  Blackthorne marked her reluctance to translate but kept up the pressure.  "Isn't that the
honto,
Mariko-san?  And isn't Lord Harima Catholic?  Isn't most of Kyushu Catholic?  And therefore don't the Jesuits in some measure control the whole island?"

"Christianity's a religion.  The
daimyos
control their own lands, Anjin-san," Mariko said for herself.

"But I was told Nagasaki's really Portuguese soil.  I'm told they act as though it is.  Didn't Lord Harima's father sell the land to the Jesuits?"

Mariko's voice sharpened.  "Yes.  But the Taikō took the land back.  No foreigner's allowed to own land here now."

"But didn't the Taikō allow his Edicts to lapse, so today nothing happens there without Jesuit approval?  Don't Jesuits control all shipping in Nagasaki and all trade?  Don't Jesuits negotiate all trade for you and act as intermediaries?"

"You're very well informed about Nagasaki, Anjin-san," she said pointedly.

"Perhaps Lord Toranaga should take control of the port from the enemy.  Perhaps—"

"They're your enemy, Anjin-san, not ours," she said, taking the bait at last.  "The Jesuits are–"

"
Nan ja?
"

She turned apologetically to Toranaga and explained what had been said between them.  When she had finished he spoke severely, a clear reprimand.  "
Hai,
" she said several times and bowed, chastened.

Mariko said, "Lord Toranaga reminds me my opinions are valueless and that an interpreter should interpret only,
neh?
  Please excuse me."

Once Blackthorne would have apologized for trapping her.  Now it did not occur to him.  But since he had made his point, he laughed and said, "
Hai, kawaii Tsukkuko-sama!
"  Yes, pretty Lady Interpreter!

Mariko smiled wryly, furious at herself for being trapped, her mind in conflict over her divided loyalties.

"
Yoi,
Anjin-san," Toranaga said, once more genial.

"Mariko-san
kawaii desu yori
Tsukku-san
anamsu ka nori masen, neh?
"  And Mariko's much prettier than old Mr. Tsukku, isn't she, and so much more fragrant?

Toranaga laughed.  "
Hai.
"

Mariko blushed and poured tea, a little mollified.  Then Toranaga spoke.  Seriously.

"Our Master says, why were you asking so many questions—or making statements—about Lord Harima and Nagasaki?"

"Only to show that the port of Nagasaki is in fact controlled by
foreigners.
  By the
Portuguese.
  And by my law, I have the legal right to attack the enemy anywhere."

"But this is not 'anywhere,' he says.  This is the Land of the Gods and such an attack is unthinkable."

"I agree wholeheartedly.  But if ever Lord Harima became hostile, or the Jesuits who lead the Portuguese become hostile, this is the way to hunt them."

"Lord Toranaga says neither he nor any
daimyo
would ever permit an attack by one foreign nation on another on Japanese soil, or the killing by them of
any
of our people.  Against enemies of the Emperor, that is a different matter.  As to getting fighters and crew, it would be easy for a man to get any number if he spoke Japanese.  There are many
wako
in Kyushu."

"
Wako,
Mariko-san?"

"Oh, so sorry.  We call corsairs '
wako,
' Anjin-san.  They used to have many lairs around Kyushu but they were mostly stamped out by the Taikō.  Survivors can still be found, unfortunately. 
Wako
terrorized the coasts of China for centuries.  It was because of them that China closed her ports to us."  She explained to Toranaga what had been said.  He spoke again, more emphatically.  "He says he will never allow or plan or permit you to make a land attack, though it would be correct for you to harry your Queen's enemy on the high seas.  He repeats, this is not anywhere.  This is the Land of the Gods.  You should be patient as he told you before."

"Yes.  I intend to try to be patient in his fashion.  I only want to hit the enemy because they
are
the enemy.  I believe with all my heart they're his enemy too."

"Lord Toranaga says the Portuguese tell him
you
are his enemy, and Tsukku-san and the Visitor-General are absolutely sure of it."

"If I were able to capture the Black Ship at sea and bring her as a legal prize into Yedo, under the flag of England, would I be permitted to sell her and all she contains in Yedo, according to our custom?"

"Lord Toranaga says that depends."

"If war comes may I be allowed to attack the enemy, Lord Toranaga's enemy, in the best way that I can?"

"He says that is the duty of a hatamoto.  A hatamoto is, of course, under his personal orders at all times.  My Master wants me to make clear that things in Japan wall never be solved by any method other than by Japanese method."

"Yes.  I understand completely.  With due humility I'd like to point out the more I know about his problems, the more I might be able to help."

"He says a hatamoto's duty is always to help his lord, Anjin-san.  He says I am to answer any reasonable questions you have later."

"Thank you.  May I ask him, would he like to have a navy of his own?  As I suggested on the galley?"

"He has already said he would like a navy, a modern navy, Anjin-san, manned by his own men.  What
daimyo
wouldn't?"

"Then say this:  If I were lucky enough to take the enemy ship, I'd bring her to Yedo to refit and count the prize.  Then I'd transship my half of the bullion to
Erasmus
and sell the Black Ship back to the Portuguese, or offer her to Toranaga-sama as a gift, or burn her, whatever he wishes.  Then I'd sail home.  Within a year I'd turn around and bring back four warships, as a gift from the Queen of England to Lord Toranaga."

"He asks where would be your profit in this?"

"The
honto
is, there would be plenty left over for me, Mariko-san, after the ships were paid for by Her Majesty.  Further, I'd like to take one of his most trusted counselors with me as an Ambassador to my Queen.  A treaty of friendship between our countries might be of interest to him."

"Lord Toranaga says that would be much too generous of your Queen.  He adds, but if such a thing miraculously happened and you came back with the new ships, who would train his sailors and samurai and captains to man them?"

"I will, initially, if that pleases him.  I'd be honored, then others could follow."

"He says what is 'initially'?"

"Two years."

Toranaga smiled fleetingly.

"Our Master says two years would not be enough 'initially.'  However, he adds, it's all an illusion.  He's not at war with the Portuguese or Lord Harima of Nagasaki.  He repeats, what you do outside Japanese waters in your own ship with your own crew is your own
karma.
"  Mariko seemed disturbed.  "Outside our waters you are foreigner, he says.  But here you are samurai."

"Yes.  I know the honor he has done to me.  May I ask how a samurai borrows money, Mariko-san?"

"From a moneylender, Anjin-san.  Where else?  From a filthy merchant moneylender."  She translated for Toranaga.  "Why should you need money?"

"Are there moneylenders in Yedo?"

"Oh yes.  Moneylenders are everywhere,
neh?
  Isn't it the same in your country?  Ask your consort, Anjin-san, perhaps she would be able to help you.  That is part of her duty."

"You said we're leaving for Yedo tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow."

"Unfortunately Fujiko-san won't be able to travel then."

Mariko talked with Toranaga.

"Lord Toranaga says he will send her by galley, when it leaves.  He says what do you need to borrow money for?"

"I'll have to get a new crew, Mariko-san—to sail anywhere, to serve Lord Toranaga, however he'd wish it.  Is that permitted?"

"A crew from Nagasaki?"

"Yes."

"He will give you an answer when you reach Yedo."

"
Domo,
Toranaga-sama.  Mariko-san, when I get to Yedo where do I go?  Will there be someone to guide me?"

"Oh, you must never worry about things like that, Anjin-san.  You are one of Lord Toranaga's hatamoto."  There was a knock on the inner door.

"Come in."

Naga opened the shoji and bowed.  "Excuse me, Father, but you wanted to be told when all your officers were present."

"Thank you, I'll be there shortly."  Toranaga thought a moment, then motioned to Blackthorne, his manner friendly.  "Anjin-san, go with Naga-san.  He will show you to your place.  Thank you for your views."