Chapter 97: The Shogunate Council
The following day, Ryu made his way to Edo Castle alone.
As usual, he headed toward the main gate—
“You there… are you, by any chance, Ryu Arden?”
“Oh? Togo, isn’t it? It’s been a while.”
He found himself reunited with Admiral Togo Heihachiro.
(I only returned to Edo yesterday. It’s no surprise he hadn’t heard yet.)
The two passed beneath the towering gate.
The samurai beside him was as tall as ever, forcing Ryu to tilt his head slightly upward whenever they spoke.
“When did you get back to Edo?”
“Just yesterday.”
“That’s considerably earlier than planned. Did the negotiations succeed?”
“They did. The Tosa Domain has agreed to join the shogunate’s side.”
“To think you managed to persuade the Itagaki family—backed by that Sakamoto… As expected of the Imperial Ambassador. So you’re here early this morning to attend the shogunate council?”
“That’s right.”
With a faint sigh, Ryu added, “Though after completing such an important task and returning to Edo… I was poisoned in the guesthouse that very night.”
“…What?”
“I’m serious. You’ll understand once today’s meeting begins.”
“Th-That’s quite the misfortune… I’m glad you’re safe. Even so, the Tokugawa’s security is far too lax. To allow poison into the Imperial Ambassador’s meal of all things…”
“You’d better be careful too, Togo.”
“I will keep it firmly in mind. And you have my respect, Ambassador-dono, for attending the council the day after such an incident.”
“You’re awfully dutiful.”
“Unfortunately, that’s simply my nature.”
The admiral gave a wry smile.
By the time their casual conversation ended, they had arrived beneath the castle’s main keep.
After a brief wait—
“We have been expecting you, Ambassador-dono. Togo-dono.”
““You again…””
Sakai stood there to greet them.
“‘Again,’ you say—how rude as always…”
The three proceeded toward the council chamber.
Princess Kagura sat at the seat of honor. Along both sides of the chamber, Tokugawa retainers and military commanders lined the floor in orderly rows.
At the far end sat Ryu.
The meeting began with a detailed account of yesterday’s incident.
“We deeply regret this, Ambassador-dono… however, the culprit has yet to be apprehended. We believe the act was carried out by an assassin sent by the enemy. It may require considerable time to identify them.”
All eyes turned toward Ryu.
“I share that assessment. The culprit is likely no longer in Edo. Let us set that matter aside for now. We would do better to focus on the war.”
“We appreciate your understanding. As an apology for that incident, allow me to reveal one secret of the Tokugawa… My father, the Shogun, is no longer among the living. Therefore, this war shall be led by me—Tokugawa Kagura. Though perhaps you had already realized this, Ambassador-dono…”
“Of course.”
His concise reply caused a ripple of murmurs among the retainers.
“How does he know…?”
“Has someone leaked information?”
“Do not underestimate the Empire’s intelligence network.”
Looking faintly exasperated, Ryu replied, “Frankly, whether the Shogun is alive or not is of little importance to me. Let’s move things along. I realized it during our very first meeting.”
The princess murmured softly, “I thought as much…”
“A shogunate that falters simply because its Shogun is gone will never win a war. Everyone should adjust immediately. If this drags on, the Tosa Domain may grow disillusioned and leave before the fighting even begins.”
Togo let out a short laugh. “Merciless as ever.”
Several men looked as though they wished to object, but none dared. The council formally commenced.
They discussed tactics, logistics, terrain, the projected duration of the war, evacuation plans for Edo’s citizens, and the stance they would adopt toward the Grand Duchy.
(As expected, Princess Kagura, Sakai, Togo, and the senior commanders are competent. There’s little need for me to intervene. If they’d simply remove the occasional fool who spouts nonsense, this shogunate might actually be quite solid. They have mountains of problems, but… they’re managing impressively well.)
At that point, Togo glanced toward him.
“Ryu, do you have anything to add?”
“Nothing in particular. Though, if I must say something… there’s one individual here whose presence I don’t understand. I find him… irritating.”
“Still merciless, I see…”
Judging by his tone, Togo had likely been thinking the same.
Ryu continued calmly, “Yesterday, a retainer made a foolish remark toward the Imperial Ambassador. Removing such individuals would significantly raise your chances of victory. There’s even a saying in Hinomaru’s military texts: ‘The enemy you should truly fear is not a capable foe, but an incompetent ally.’”
One retainer abruptly rose to his feet.
The very man Ryu had been referring to.
“You! You’ve been sitting there in silence, acting so high and mighty!”
“I’m not acting high and mighty—I am high and mighty. The Imperial Ambassador represents the Emperor. If you serve the Shogun’s house, you should at least know that much.”
“Grr… Because of you, my son—!”
“Ah. Now that you mention it… You must be the father of that foolish retainer from yesterday.”
The man seated beside Sakai narrowed his eyes.
“Ishikawa-dono. You stand before the princess. Show restraint.”
“Tch… Just you wait.”
The retainer named Ishikawa spat out his parting threat and sat down.
But it did not end there.
“Ishikawa-dono. Your statement could be interpreted as a threat toward the Imperial Ambassador. Leave at once. You are not qualified to remain here. Is that acceptable, Princess?”
“Yes.”
“Damn it… Damn it…!”
Ishikawa stormed out of the chamber, face twisted in humiliation.
(Nice move. That man was… Ii Naomasa, if I recall?)
One of the shogunate’s most distinguished figures—ranked just below Togo and Sakai.
“Well then,” Ii said evenly, “now that the obstruction has been removed, let us resume the meeting.”
Incidentally, every member of the Ishikawa household disappeared from the castle that very day.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they were expelled.
For the next month, councils were held daily.
Princess Kagura, Togo, Sakai, and Ii formed the core of deliberations, with Ryu occasionally offering advice. With this lineup assembled, the foundation for war was steadily reinforced, and the shogunate grew increasingly stable.
One month later.
“That concludes today’s meeting. Thank you all for your efforts.”
As the retainers filed out—
“Princess. As planned, I shall return to Satsuma today.”
“I understand. It will be lonely without you… Let us meet again in three weeks, Togo.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will assemble the strongest fleet possible and bring it here.”
As he prepared to leave—
“Togo, heading out?”
“Yes. In truth, Edo’s navy is but a small fraction of the Satsuma forces. I will return to Satsuma, personally organize the fleet, and then come back with a large armada. Until then, I leave Edo in your hands, Ryu Arden.”
“Leave it to me. Show me something worth seeing in three weeks.”
“Count on it. Now then, I shall take my leave.”
Togo strode briskly toward the castle’s main gate.
Ryu followed at a leisurely pace.
(After coming here every day for a month… I suppose I’ve grown attached to this place.)
With that idle thought, he stepped beyond the gate—
A gentle breeze stirred his black hair.
“….”
He turned toward the direction from which the wind had blown—
“Ryu… it has been a long while.”
“It has. Ryoma.”
—At long last, he was reunited with his dearest friend.