The newly built road between Mount Yukiichi and the main camp at Nakao was about four yards wide and meandered along for over two leagues, along the ridgeline of the mountains. The spring greenery of the mountains filled the warriors' eyes, and as as Genba whipped his horse along, even he was overcome by a poetic sentiment.

The main camp at Mount Nakao was surrounded by several palisades. Each time Genba approached a gate, he would simply give his name and ride through, looking down at the guards from his saddle.

But just as he was about to ride through the gate to the main citadel, the commander of the guards called out abruptly and challenged him. "Wait! Where are you going?"

Genba turned around and stared at the man.

"Ah, is that you, Menju? I've come to see my uncle. Is he in his quarters or at staff headquarters?"

Menju frowned, walked around in front of Genba, and said angrily, "Dismount first please."

"What?"

"This gate is very close to Lord Katsuie's headquarters. It doesn't make any difference who you are or how much of a hurry you're in, it is not permitted to ride in on horseback."

"You dare say that to me, Menju?" Genba said angrily, but according to military discipline he could not really refuse. Instead he dismounted as Menju had required him tc do and barked, "Where's my uncle?"

"He's in the middle of a military conference."

"Who's attending?"

"Lord Haigo, Lord Osa, Lord Hara, Lord Asami, and Lord Katsutoshi."

"If that's so, it'll be all right if I join them."

"No, I'll announce you."

"That won't be necessary."

Genba pushed his way through. Menju watched him as he walked off. A look of misery clouded his face. The challenge he had thrown out just now, at the risk of his own reputation, was not simply for the sake of military law. He had been secretly trying to get Genba to reflect on his attitude for some time.

The attitude shown in the proud manner Genba usually displayed was connected with his uncle's favoritism. When he observed how the lord of Kitanosho acted with bi­ased blind love toward his nephew, Menju could not help feeling uneasy about the future. At the very least, he felt that it was not right for Genba to be calling the commander-in-chief "uncle."

But Genba paid no attention to such matters as Menju's unhappy thoughts. He now walked directly into his uncle's headquarters, ignoring the other retainers there, and whispered to his uncle, "When you're finished, I have a private matter to discuss with you."

Katsuie quickly ended the conference. After the generals had all withdrawn, he leaned from his camp stool and spoke excitedly with his nephew. After giving a self-satisfied laugh, Genba silently showed Shogen's answer as though he knew it would give Katsuie great pleasure.

Katsuie was immensely pleased. The plot that he had conceived and asked Genba to put into effect was working. On that account alone, the happiness of having seen everything go according to plan was greater for him than for anyone. He, in particular, had the reputation for loving intrigue, and as he read Shogen's reply he was so happy that he was almost drooling.

The aim of the plot was to weaken the enemy from within. From Katsuie's point of view, the presence of men like Shogen and Ogane in Hideyoshi's army provided opportunities for hatching plot after plot.

As for Shogen, he believed that the victory would go to the Shibata. That belief was surprisingly blind. It is true that at a later date he, too, would be anguished and undoubtedly questioned by his own conscience. But the letter of consent had already been sent, and it was no longer a matter for deliberation. For better or worse, Shogen's betrayal was definitely set for the following morning, and he waited to invite the Shibata army into his fortress.

*  *  *

The twelfth day of the month, midnight. The bonfires were smoldering, and the only sound to be heard in the mist-shrouded mountain camp was the soughing of the pine trees.

“Open the gate!" someone called out in a hushed voice, knocking repeatedly on the wooden gate of the palisade.

The small fort on Motoyama had formerly been Shogen's headquarters, but Hideyoshi had replaced him with Kimura Hayato.

“Who is it?" the sentry asked, peering through the palisade.

A solitary figure was standing outside in the dark. "Call Commander Osaki," the figure said.

“First tell me who you are and where you've come from."

The man outside did not reply for a moment. A misty rain was falling, and the sky was the color of India ink. "That's something I can't tell you. I must speak with Osaki Uemon, here at the palisade. Just tell him that."

“Friend or foe?"

“Friend, of course! Do you think an enemy could have come up this far so easily? Are your guards that careless? If this were some enemy plot, would I be knocking at the gate?"

The man's explanation seemed reasonable. The guard nodded and went to fetch Osaki.

“What is it?" Osaki asked.

“Aree you Commander Osaki?"

“Yes, I am. What do you want?"

“My name is Nomura Shojiro, and I am a retainer of Lord Katsutoyo, presently in the service of Lord Shogen."

“What business do you have here in the middle of the night?"

“I have to speak to Lord Hayato at once. I know this must sound suspicious, but I have something of great importance that I must tell him immediately."

“Can't you tell me and let me relay the message?"

“No, I must speak with him in person. As a sign of my good faith, I'll entrust these to you,” Nomura said, removing his swords and handing them through the palisade to Osaki.

Osaki realized Nomura was genuine and opened the gate, then led him to Hayato's quarters. It was a wartime camp, and there was really no difference in the security measures, night or day.

The place Nomura was led to was called the main citadel, but it was really just a hut, and Hayato's living quarters were little more than a board fence.

Hayato came in and quietly sat down. "What do you have to say?" he asked, looking directly at Nomura. Possibly because of the lamplight shining from the side, Hayato's face looked extremely pale.

"I believe you have been invited to attend a tea ceremony tomorrow morning at Lord Shogen's camp on Mount Shinmei."

A questioning look burned in Nomura's eyes, and the weird quiet of the night gave a faint shiver to the man's voice. Both Hayato and Osaki experienced an uncanny sensation.

"That's right," Hayato answered.

"Have you already agreed to attend, my lord?"

"Yes. Since he went to the trouble of sending me an invitation, I sent a messenger back with my acceptance."

"When did you send the messenger, my lord?"

"About noon today."

"Then that must be exactly the trick I thought it was!"

"Trick?"

"You must on no account go tomorrow morning. The tea ceremony is a ploy. Shogen is planning to murder you. He has already met with a secret messenger from the Shibata and sent a written pledge to them. Make no mistake, his plan is first to kill you and then to raise the banner of rebellion."

"How did you find this out?"

"The day before yesterday, Shogen summoned three Buddhist priests from the nearby Shufuku Temple to perform a memorial service for his ancestors. I had seen one of those men before, and he was without doubt a Shibata samurai. I was surprised, and sure enough, after the service, he complained of stomach pains and remained at the camp after the other two had left. He left the next morning, saying that he was returning to the Shufuku Temple, but just to make sure I had one of my retainers follow him. Just as I had thought, he did not return to the Shufuku Temple at all, but instead ran straight to Sakuma Genba's camp."

Hayato nodded as though he did not need to hear any more. "I appreciate your warning. Lord Hideyoshi did not trust Shogen nor Ogane, and said that we should be wary of them. Their treachery has become clear. What do you think we should do, Osaki?"