“Are we living through such a cataclysm?"

“In fact a very dramatic event has just occurred. Word was just sent to me, but—"

“What kind of dramatic event?"

“Well! This has still not leaked out to the world, but since it was heard by the keen ears of my agent Watanabe Tenzo, I think that it can perhaps be believed."

“What is it?"

“It's incredible, but the guiding star of Kai may have finally set."

“What! Shingen?"

'During the Second Month, he attacked Mikawa, and one night while he was laying siege to Noda Castle, he was shot. This is what Tenzo heard."

For a moment, Nobunaga's eyes widened and he looked straight at Hideyoshi's face. If it was true that Shingen was dead, the course of the nation was going to change very quickly. Nobunaga felt as though the tiger at his back had suddenly disappeared, and he was shocked. He wanted to believe this story, but at the same time he could not. As soon as heard the news, he felt an incredible surge of relief, and an indescribable joy welled up inside of him.

"If this is true, a very gifted general has left this world," Nobunaga said. "And from now on history has been entrusted into our hands." His expression was not nearly as complex as Hideyoshi's. In fact, he looked as though he had just been served the main course at a meal.

"He was shot, but I still have no idea whether he died immediately, what were the extent of his wounds, or where he was hit. But I've heard that when they suddenly lifted the siege of Noda Castle and withdrew into Kai, they did not display the usual Takeda fighting spirit."

"I suspect not. But it doesn't matter how fierce the Kai samurai are, if they have lost Shingen."

"I received this report secretly from Tenzo on my way here, so I immediately sent him back to Kai to get confirmation."

"Has no one heard this yet in the other provinces?"

"There are no indications that anyone has. The Takeda clan will probably keep it a secret, and will make it appear that Shingen is in good health. So if some policy is promulgated in Shingen's name, the chances are nine out of ten that Shingen is dead, or at least in a serious condition."

Nobunaga nodded thoughtfully. He seemed to want to confirm this story. Suddenly he took the cup of cold sake, and sighed. To think that a man has but fifty years…. But he did not feel like dancing. Reflecting on another man's death moved him far more than reflecting on his own.

"When will Tenzo return?"

"He should be back within three days."

"To Yokoyama Castle?"

"No, I told him to come straight here."

"Well then, stay here until then."

"I had planned on doing that, but if I could, I'd like to wait for your orders at an inn in the castle town."

"Why?"

"No particular reason."

"Well, how about staying in the castle? Keep me company for a while."

"Well…"

"What a dullard! Do you feel constrained to be at my side?"

"No, the truth is…"

"The truth is what?"

"I left a… companion in that inn in the castle town, and since I imagined it would be lonely there, I promised I would go back tonight."

"Is this companion a woman?" Nobunaga was dumbfounded. The emotions that the report of Shingen's death aroused in him were so far removed from Hideyoshi's worries.

"Go to the inn tonight, but come back to the castle tomorrow. You can bring your 'companion' with you." These were Nobunaga's last words to him as he turned to go.

He had hit the nail right on the head, Hideyoshi thought on his way back to the inn. He felt as though he had been reprimanded, but this was, again, Nobunaga's grace. He was wrapping the head of the nail in an artistic decoration without the nail even notic­ing. The following day he went up to the castle with Oyu, but it did not cause him any embarrassment.

Nobunaga had moved to a different room and, unlike the day before, was not surrounded by the smell of sake. Sitting in front of Hideyoshi and Oyu, he looked down at them from a dais.

"Aren't you Takenaka Hanbei's sister?" he asked familiarly.

This was the first time Oyu had met Nobunaga, and here she was with Hideyoshi. She hid her face and would have liked to have sunk through the floor, but she answered with a faint voice that was a thing of beauty.

"I am honored to make your acquaintance, my lord. You have also favored my other brother, Shigeharu."

Nobunaga gazed at her, impressed. He had felt like teasing Hideyoshi a little, but now he felt guilty and became serious.

"Has Hanbei's health improved?"

"I haven't seen my brother for some time, my lord. He's busy with his military duties, but I do receive letters from time to time."

"Where are you living now?"

"At Choteiken Castle in Fuwa, where I have a slight connection."

“I wonder if Watanabe Tenzo has returned yet," Hideyoshi said, trying to change the subject, but Nobunaga was an old fox and was not going to be taken in.

"What are you saying? You're getting confused. Didn't you yourself just tell me that Tenzo wouldn't return for another three days?"

Hideyoshi's face turned bright red. Nobunaga seemed to be satisfied with this. He had wanted to see him look self-conscious and troubled for a while.

Nobunaga invited Oyu to the evening's drinking party, and commented, "You haven't seen my dancing, although Hideyoshi has seen it on several occasions."

When Oyu asked to take her leave later that evening, Nobunaga did not insist on her staying, but he said bluntly to Hideyoshi, "Well then, you go too."

The couple left the castle. Soon, however, Hideyoshi returned alone somewhat flustered.

'Where is Lord Nobunaga?" he asked a page.

“He has just now retired to his bedroom."

Hearing this, Hideyoshi hurried to the private apartments with an unusual lack of composure and asked the samurai attendant to convey a message.

'I must have an audience with His Lordship this evening."

Nobunaga had not yet gone to sleep, and as soon as Hideyoshi was ushered into his presence, he asked for everyone to leave the room, but although the men on night watch withdrew, Hideyoshi still looked around the room nervously.

"What is it, Hideyoshi?"

"Well, it seems there's still someone in the next room."

"It's no one to be worried about. It's just Ranmaru. He should be no problem."

"He is also a problem. I'm sorry to ask, but…"

"He should go too?"

"Yes."

"Ranmaru, you leave too." Nobunaga turned and spoke toward the next room.

Ranmaru bowed silently, got up, and left.

"It should be all right now. What is this?"

"The fact is that when I took my leave and went back to town just now, I ran into Tenzo."

"What! Tenzo's back?"

"He said that he hurried across the mountains to get here, hardly knowing day from night. Shingen's death is a certainty."

"So…after all."

"I can't give you many details, but the inner circle in Kai seems to have put on a faзade of normality, beneath which a melancholy air can clearly be detected."

"Their mourning is being kept a strict secret, I'll bet."

"Of course."

"And the other provinces know nothing?"

"So far."

"So, now's the time. I assume you forbade Tenzo to speak about this."

"That's not something you have to worry about."

"But there are some unscrupulous men among the ninja. Are you sure about him?"

"He's Hikoemon's nephew, and he is loyal."

"Well, we should be extremely cautious. Give him a reward, but keep him inside the castle. It would probably be better to imprison him until this is all over."

"No, my lord."

"Why not?"

"Because if we treat a man like that, the next time the opportunity comes up, he won't feel like jeopardizing his life as he did this time. And if you cannot trust a man, but give him a reward, he might be tempted with a lot of money by the enemy someday."