"Respectful? God-cursed bloody impertinence by God..."

The tirade continued. When Sir William paused for breath, Johann said, "It's signed "Nori Anjo--Tairo." As I understand it, Sir William, that's almost like Dictator, he's gone up in the world."

KYOTO Thursday, 4th December

KYOTO Thursday, 4th December: Toranaga Yoshi was livid. "When was the tairo appointment confirmed?"

"The day before yesterday, Sire, by carrier pigeon to Lord Anjo at Yedo," Wakura, the Lord Chamberlain, head of the palace officials, said smoothly, untouched by his guest's open anger, and hiding his joy--he had been looking forward to this meeting that he had arranged in his quarters within the palace. "The formal scroll, signed by the Shogun at the request of the Son of Heaven, was sent, I believe, for urgent delivery to Lord Anjo Nori the same day."

This made Yoshi even angrier. His ancestor, Shogun Toranaga, had made carrier pigeons the exclusive property of the Shogunate. Over two and a half centuries this method of communication had gone into decline as unnecessary, and now was only used to announce such vital occurrences as the death of a Shogun or an Emperor. The Bakufu chose not to notice that for years certain Osaka zaibatsu moneylenders were surreptitiously using pigeons --leaving them open to punitive measures, extra taxes, or favors, if the Bakufu cared to enforce the law.

"And the fatuous ultimatum to the gai-jin? When is that to be delivered?" Yoshi asked.

"At once, Sire. The Imperial request was included in the same carrier pigeon message, Sire, confirmed by Shogun Nobusada, and marked, Deliver at once."

"The order is baka, the haste even more baka!" Yoshi pulled his padded overmantle closer around his shoulders. The light rain that patted the gardens outside added a dampness to the chill. "Send another pigeon cancelling the order."

"If it was up to me, Sire, I would do so at once, since you suggest it. As soon as you leave, Sire, I will seek permission but I imagine your wishes will be too late, the gai-jin leader will have already received the command, it may even have been given to him yesterday."

Wakura happily kept his face and manner penitent. This was a culmination of years of intriguing in support of the Emperor's wishes, the opinion of most daimyos, most court nobles, of Ogama who presently held power in Kyoto, though the Gates were ostensibly once again guarded by the loathed Shogunate--but only with the permission of Ogama--also of the Princess Yazu and, most important of all, in support of his own views.

His deft and sagacious timing a few days ago had delighted him. He had waylaid the Princess during her morning walk in the palace gardens and in one move had neutralized the Shogunate, Bakufu, and Yoshi, most dangerous of his enemies. "Imperial Princess, I hear some courtiers close to the Divine, with your interests in mind, whisper that the Lord, your husband, should appoint Lord Nori Anjo tairo, as soon as possible."

"Anjo?"' she had said in disbelief.

"People of wisdom believe, Princess, it should be done quietly and quickly. Plots in Yedo abound and this would avoid interference by... ambitious enemies," he had said delicately, "enemies who constantly try to undermine your revered husband, who must also have cursed shishi connections. Remember, Otsu!"

"As if I will ever forget! But Anjo--not that I have any influence to arrange such a matter--is a dullard and a fool. As tairo he will become even more arrogant."

"True, but raising him above the other Elders might be a small price to pay to make your Lord Shogun more secure during his minority, and gag his... his only rival, Lord Yoshi."

"Could a tairo remove his position of Guardian?"' "Probably, Princess. Another point in Anjo's favor, the wise whisper, is that he is the perfect instrument to use against gai-jin: simple-headed but obedient to Imperial requests. The Divine would notice such loyalty and no doubt reward such service. If it was done quietly and quickly, I've heard the wise say, the better it would be."

So easy to implant the seed that had blossomed like one of my hothouse orchids overfertilized-- how wise I was to maneuver her marriage. Her words in that dull-witted youth's ears, some dependent nobles co-opted, my own advice quickly sought and quickly given, and it was done.

And now for you, Toranaga Yoshi, he thought happily, Yoshi the handsome, the cunning, the strong, the highborn usurper waiting and snuffling in the wings of power, ready to start the civil war that I and all but a few radical nobles dread, the war that will crush the resurgence of Imperial power and once more put the Imperial court under the foot of whatever current brigand warlord bestrides the Gates, who thus can strangle our stipends and makes us beggars again.

He suppressed a shudder. Not so many generations ago, the then Emperor had to sell his signature on the Kyoto streets to raise money for food. Not so many generations ago court marriages were arranged to ambitious, upstart daimyos, hardly samurai class, their only qualification for higher rank being success in war, and money. Not so many years ago...

No, he thought, none of that is going to happen.

Once sonno-joi is a fact, our loyal shishi friends will disband and return to their fiefs, all daimyos will bow down to Him, we at Court will rule and our golden age will come again.

He coughed and settled the immense sleeves of his elaborate court dress more to his liking, watching Yoshi, his eyes narrowed in his heavy face that was made up according to court custom.

"Surely the order to expel the gai-jin is good, Sire. The Emperor's wise and long-known aversion to gai-jin and the Treaties will come to pass, and our Land of the Gods rid of them forever. This should please you too, Lord Yoshi."

"If the order was meaningful, yes. If it would be obeyed, yes. If we had the means to enforce it, yes. But none of that will happen. Why was I not consulted?"

"You, Sire?" Wakura's painted eyebrows soared.

"I'm Guardian of the Heir by Imperial appointment! The boy is under age and not responsible for his signature."

"Oh so sorry, Sire... had it been left to me of course your approval would have been sought first. Please, do not blame me, Sire, I can decide nothing, only make suggestions, I am just a servant of the Court, of the Emperor."

"I should have been consulted!"

"I agree, so sorry, these are strange times."

Yoshi's face was taut. The damage was done. He would have to extract the Shogunate from their own dung. Fools! How?

First Anjo--one way or another... My wife was correct.

Ah, Hosaki, I miss your counsel.

Thinking of his family, his eyes drifted outside and at once his fury seemed to dissolve. Beyond the shoji window he saw his guards waiting in the lee of the exquisite roof, the gardens behind them, the rain indulgent, sparkling the carefully orchestrated reds and golds and browns making it all such a pleasing picture to eye and soul--so different from Yedo, he thought beguiled. Hosaki would enjoy it here, a huge change from our Spartan life. She appreciates beauty, she would like it here.

So easy to be swallowed up, by the weather and gardens, kind skies and tender rain, best music, poetry, exotic foods, abundant silks and clothes makers, exquisite carp and singing birds, the alabaster-skinned beauties of the Court, and of Kyoto's Floating World, the Shimibara, the most sought-after in all Nippon, without a care in the world except to seek the next pleasure.

Since coming to Kyoto, apart from his temporary peace with Ogama, he had achieved little except pleasure times--so rare for him. Pleasure with Koiko, daily sword practice and the martial arts, marvelous massage--Kyoto famous for it--banquets at every meal, playing Go and chess, writing poetry.