“Katsuie is gone now," the messenger began, "and you should hereafter think of Hideyoshi as taking his place. If you do, you will be free to return to your home province and castle."

Genba laughed. "Katsuie was Katsuie. It is impossible for Hideyoshi to replace him. Katsuie has already committed suicide, and I have no thoughts of remaining in this world.  I will never serve Hideyoshi, even if he gives me control of the entire nation."

Hikoemon had been the second messenger. He had left with the knowledge that it would be difficult. And sure enough, he had failed to change Genba's mind. >

“How did it go?" Hideyoshi asked. He sat enveloped in the mosquito smudge rising from a silver censer.

“He wasn't interested," Hikoemon replied. "He only implored me to cut his head off."

“If that was his only response, it would not be sympathetic to push the matter any further.”  Hideyoshi seemed to be giving up the idea of persuading Genba, and the lines on his face suddenly disappeared.

“I know what you were hoping for, my lord, but I'm afraid I wasn't a very competent messenger.”

“There's no need to apologize," Hideyoshi consoled him. "Even though Genba is a prisoner, he will not bow to me to save his life. His sense of honor is outstanding. I regret man with that kind of fortitude and determination. If he had been persuaded by you and had come to change his loyalty, that alone might have made me lose my respect for him." He added, "You're a samurai, and you knew that in the bottom of your heart, so it makes sense that you were unable to change his mind.

"Forgive me."

“I’m sorry to have troubled you with this. But didn't Genba say anything else?"

“I asked why he had not chosen to die on the battlefield, but had run away into the mountains and been captured by farmers instead. I also asked why he spent his days as a captive, waiting to be beheaded, rather than killing himself." hat did he say?"

“He asked me if I thought seppuku or being killed on the battlefield are the greatest courage for a samurai, then he said he was of a different opinion: he thought a must try his best to survive."

“What else?"

“When he escaped from the battle at Yanagase, he did not know whether Katsuie was alive or dead, so he was trying to get back to Kitanosho to help plan a counterattack. On the way, however, the pain from his wounds became unbearable, and he stopped at a farmhouse and asked for moxa ."

“ Sad…very sad."

“He also very calmly said that he had borne the shame of being taken alive and sent to prison so that if the guards had presented him with an opening he might have escaped, stalked you, and taken your life. Thus he might have been able to appease Katsuie's anger en able to beg forgiveness for the mistake he had made when he penetrated the enemy lines at Shizugatake."

“Ah, what a shame." Tears of sympathy welled up in Hideyoshi's eyes. "To have misused man like that and sent him to his death—that was Katsuie's fault. Well, we'll let him have what he wants, and allow him to die with grace. See to it, Hikoemon."

"I understand, my lord. Tomorrow, then?"

"The sooner the better."

"And the place?"

“Uji.

"Should he be led around and exhibited?"

Hideyoshi thought for a moment. "I suppose that would be Genba's wish. Execute him in a field at Uji after you've led him through the capital."

The next day Hideyoshi gave two silk kimonos to Hikoemon just before he left for Uji.

"I expect Genba's clothes are dirty. Give him these for his death clothes."

That day Hikoemon rode to Uji once more to meet with Genba, who was now in solitary confinement.

"Lord Hideyoshi has commanded that you be led through Kyoto and then beheaded on a field in Uji, as you have wished," he said.

Genba did not look the least bit unhappy. "I'm grateful," he replied politely.

"Lord Hideyoshi has also provided these clothes."

Genba looked at the kimonos and said, "I am truly grateful for Lord Hideyoshi's kindness. But I don't think the crest and tailoring would suit me. Please return them."

"Not suit you?"

"These are clothes that a foot soldier would wear. For me, Lord Katsuie's nephew, to be seen wearing them by the people of the capital would only shame my late uncle. The clothes I am wearing may be rags, but even though they are still grimy from battle, I would rather be led around in them. But if Lord Hideyoshi will allow me to wear one new kimono, I would like something a little more suitable."

"I'll ask him. What is your wish?"

"A red wide-sleeved coat with a bold pattern. Beneath that, a red silk kimono with silver embroidery." Genba did not mince his words. "It is no secret that I was captured by farmers, tied up, and sent here. I bore the shame of being captured alive. My aim was still to take Lord Hideyoshi's head, but that, too, was unfulfilled. When I am taken to my place of execution, I imagine that it will cause some excitement in the capital. I regret wearing a miserable silk garment like this, but if I am to wear a better one, I want it to be like the gaudy clothes I wore on the battlefield, with a banner flying from my back. Beyond that, and as proof that I have no bad feelings about being tied up, I would like to be tied up in front of everyone when I get into the cart."

Genba's frankness was truly one of his most likable traits. When Hikoemon related Genba's wishes to Hideyoshi, he immediately ordered the clothes to be sent.

The day of Genba's execution arrived. The prisoner took a bath and tied up his hair. He then put on the red kimono and, over that, the broad-sleeved coat with the large patterns. He held out his hands to be bound and then got up into the cart. That year he was a robust thirty years old, such a handsome man that everyone lamented his death.

The cart was taken along the streets of Kyoto, and then back to Uji, where an animal skin was spread out on the ground.

"You may cut your own stomach," Genba's executioner offered.

A short sword was presented to him, but Genba only laughed. "You don't need to make allowances for me."

The ropes were not untied, and he was beheaded.

*  *  *

The end of the Sixth Month approached.

“The construction of Osaka Castle should be moving right along," Hideyoshi said.  “Let’s go take a look."

When he arrived, the men in charge of the project explained what had been achieved that point. The marsh at Naniwa was being filled, and canals had already been dug through its length and breadth. The makeshift shops of merchants were beginning to appear on the site of the castle town. Looking out toward the sea at the harbor of Sakai and the mouth of the Yasuji River, one could see hundreds of boats carrying stones, their full sails almost touching. Hideyoshi stood on the spot where the main citadel would be constructed and, looking landward, saw the tens of thousands of laborers and artisans of all trades.. These men were working day and night in shifts so that the construction would never stop.

Workers were levied from every clan; when a lord was negligent in sending his quota, he was severely punished, regardless of his status. There was a line of command of sub-contractors, foremen, and sub-foremen for every trade at each work station. Responsibilities were clearly defined for those in charge. If anyone was found lacking, he was immediately beheaded. The samurai from each clan who served as inspectors did not wait for punishment but committed seppuku on the spot.

But what concerned Hideyoshi most right now was Ieyasu. Throughout Hideyoshi's life, he had secretly thought that the most formidable man of the times—other than Lord Nobunaga—was Ieyasu. Given his own conspicuous rise to power, he imagined that it would be almost impossible to avoid a confrontation with him.