# Tales from Old Japanese Dramas/The Battles of Kokusenya

The Battles of Kokusenya
From
The Kokusenya Kassen
By
Chikamatau Monzayemon
The Battles of Kokusenya
I
HE Emperor Shisō of the Ming dynasty of China was a feeble-minded and luxurious man. He kept a number of beautiful women in his palaces at Nanking, with whom he indulged in all kinds of sensual pleasures, both by day and night. The King of Tartary, taking advantage of the Emperor's weakness, made up his mind to undermine the Ming dynasty, and to take possession of the Empire. Therefore, with this end in view, he strenuously drilled his troops. But the imbecile Emperor was quite ignorant of the dark schemes of the Northern Chieftain; and he spent all his time enjoying himself in the harem with his concubines. Consequently the government of the Empire was entirely neglected, and it was an easy matter for the Tartar troops to march, at any moment, upon the castle.
Tei Shiryō, a trusted minister of the Emperor, ​many times warned him of the approaching danger; but the Emperor not only refused to listen to his advice, but flew into such a terrible rage, that he deprived his faithful minister of his rank and office, and finally banished him from the Empire.
There was at that time attached to the Court a knavish flatterer named Ri Tōten. After the banishment of Tei Shiryō, the Emperor treated this rogue with such favour that he was promoted to the rank of Prime Minister. But this Ri Tōten had been treacherously holding secret communication with the Tartar King, and had been plotting to guide the Tartar army into the Imperial Castle, when a favourable opportunity should occur, in order that the Ming dynasty might be destroyed.
General Go Sankei soon saw through this hideous plot, and several times advised the Emperor to rid himself of the traitor. But the Emperor was completely deceived by Ri Tōten's oily and flattering speeches, and entrusted to him the management of all public affairs, both great and small.
One day an envoy of the Tartar King arrived, with many valuable gifts, and brought forth a request from his master that the Emperor's favourite concubine, Madame Kwasei, should be given to ​him, for he wished to make her his queen, and thus ensure a firm friendship between the two powers. The Emperor and his Court were greatly amazed at this demand, as Kwasei was at that time hoping to give birth to a son and heir to the Ming throne. Ri Tōten tried to persuade the Emperor to agree to the request; but Go Sankei protested against it with great indignation, and ordered the Tartar King's gifts to be removed. The Tartar envoy, who was very enraged, replied: "If you refuse, I shall be obliged to use force, and carry off Madame Kwasei and the Emperor as prisoners." With these words, he was on the point of striding angrily from the presence of the Emperor, but Ri Tōten made an effort to pacify him. To make his appeal more forcible, he took a dagger in his hand and with it gouged out his own left eye, and placing it on a slab of ivory, handed it to the envoy, saying: "I, Prime Minister of China, respectfully present this to His Majesty, the King of Tartary, as a token of apology for the insult which General Go Sankei has offered to His Majesty, and to Your Excellency."
The envoy received it with great respect and departed.
​Ri Tōten had done this painful deed by way of making a vow of allegiance to the King of Tartary. But the Emperor took it to be an act of noble self-sacrifice for his own sake, and bestowed greater favours than ever on this traitorous minister, until he thought he would give his younger sister, Princess Sendan, to him in marriage.
A "battle of flowers" was to be fought
​with loud cries. A brilliant spectacle was provided by the gay clothes of the young ladies fluttering in the air, and the beautiful petals of the flowers scattering around. Go Sankei heard the sound of the battle, and dressed from head to foot in a suit of mail, rushed in and was astonished at the sight. He seized the plum and cherry branches from the hands of the combatants, broke them to pieces, and drove off both squadrons. Then he knelt before the Emperor and fearlessly remonstrated, with him: "This is not the time for Your Majesty to fight a 'battle of flowers.' The Northern barbarians are, even at this moment, eagerly watching for an opportunity to invade our country."
The Emperor flew into a violent and unreasonable rage, and raising his foot, he dealt the General a kick on the forehead.
Suddenly a confused sound of conches, drums, and deafening battle-shouts was heard from all sides. Go Sankei sprang to his feet, and rushing up the tower, looked eagerly about him. To his horror, he saw that the fields, mountains, and forests were covered with soldiers. Swarms of Tartars had arrived and were surrounding the palaces. ​The Tartar General cried aloud: "Think you that the love of our King for Madame Kwasei is genuine? Nay, it is all a pretence. His real object in asking for her, was that he might destroy the unborn heir to the Ming throne. Lord Ri Tōten gouged out his eye as a sign of allegiance to our King, and we have hastened therefore to attack you. Say! General Go Sankei! Will you take the Emperor and Madame Kwasei prisoners and surrender yourself to us with them?"
"Pshaw!" retorted Go Sankei angrily, "so you barbarians wish to destroy the 'Great Light' dynasty which has ruled over this country for at least two centuries. You might as easily try to destroy a huge whale! Your best course is to turn and flee for your lives."
But his troops numbered scarcely more than one hundred men. It was impossible to fight against such tremendous odds. He gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists in mortification.
His wife Ryūka now appeared, bearing their infant on one arm, and leading Madame Kwasei by the other hand.
"Alas! Madame," she said, bursting into tears. "The Court nobles and ministers of state, down to ​the officers and soldiers, have all taken the side of Ri Tōten, and only a few of us remain to support you!"
"It is useless to indulge in mere regrets," said Go Sankei, "now that matters have come to this pass. As Madame will shortly become the mother of an Imperial heir, we must take special care of Her Highness. I will therefore protect her myself, and fight my way to find some place of safety for her. Give the baby to me, and I will take care of it myself. As to you, my wife, you will attend to Her Highness Princess Sendan, and flee with her to the sea-shore."
He then went out, and cried aloud:
"Behold General Go Sankei, a loyal warrior of the Ming dynasty!" and gathering together his small band of soldiers, he plunged into the enemy's lines, and cut and hewed around him, as if he possessed supernatural powers.
Whilst Go Sankei was absent, the traitor Ri Tōten and his younger brother Ri Kaihō, forced their way into the inner apartments of the palaces. They seized the Emperor, and with great cruelty struck off his head. Ordering his brother to capture Madame Kwasei, Ri Tōten departed, taking ​with him the head of the dead Emperor. When Ri Kaihō found Madame Kwasei, he bound her with ropes, and was about to take her a prisoner to the Tartar army, when Go Sankei returned to the palace.
When he caught sight of the Emperor's headless body, he was filled with consternation and sorrow. But mustering up his courage he seized his sword, and with a single blow, cleft Kaihō in two. He then released Kwasei, and beating off the pursuing troops, made his way with great difficulty to a sea-port, accompanied by her, and carrying his infant in his bosom.
As he intended to cross over to a place of safety he looked about the harbour, but could not see a single boat. While he stood there, not knowing what to do or where to turn, bullets were falling as thick as hailstones. Suddenly to his horror, a bullet struck Kwasei in the breast, and she immediately fell to the ground, dead and covered with blood.
The brave warrior burst into tears of grief and despair, and for a time was at a loss what to do.
However, he pulled himself together, and said: "Her Highness is now no more but I think there ​still remains some hope with her unborn babe. Oh, dear lady, for the sake of the Ming dynasty, I am compelled to cruelly desecrate your body! Pardon me!" So saying, he drew his sword and with its blade opened her body. The blood immediately gushed forth, but in the midst of it there appeared a beautiful boy, uttering his first cry of infancy. Go Sankei was overjoyed at seeing this, and he tore off the sleeve of the dead lady's dress and wrapped the baby in it. "Stay!" he reflected. "If the enemy discover the Royal mother's dead body, and find that the child is missing, they will search till they find it."
So drawing his dagger, he plunged it into his own child's heart, and put the tiny corpse into the dead lady's body. Then he said to himself: "All is well." After that he went away with the baby Prince in his bosom, hot tears of grief fast rolling down his cheek. It was a tragedy so terrible as to be almost inconceivable.
In the meantime. Go Sankei's wife Ryūka and Princess Sendan had also come to a place of safety. But, as they were hotly pursued by the enemy's troops, they hid among a thicket of reeds by the sea-shore. A Tartar officer named Godatsu took ​a small boat and searched thoroughly all the creeks near them, until at last he discovered them. Quick as thought Ryūka seized his oar and struck him with all her strength. Losing his balance he went head foremost to the bottom of the sea, and when he rose again to the surface he was dead. Ryūka was delighted at her skill, and then, leading the Princess to the boat, was on the point of embarking with her, when about twenty soldiers appeared on the scene.
A severe struggle immediately took place, in which Ryūka succeeded in driving off the soldiers. But during the fight she unfortunately received a mortal wound. "Alas! Your Highness," said she, with groans. "I can accompany you no longer. You had better trust to the tide, and make your hiding-place wherever the boat carries you. May the God of the sea protect the sister of the Emperor."
With these words the dying woman exerted all her strength and pushed off the boat in which the Princess was seated. The boat, carried by the wind and ebb-tide, went farther and farther out into the open sea. Thus the two women weeping bitterly were separated for ever.
II
We have seen that Tei Shiryō, the loyal minister of the Ming dynasty, had been banished by the Emperor Shisō. Afterwards he went over to Japan, and settled in a fishing village at Hirado, Kyūshū. Whilst there, he married a Japanese woman who bore him a son called Seikō, which name was afterwards changed to Kokusenya.
Kokusenya was brought up among ignorant fishermen, and his occupation was also fishing. He was distinguished alike for sagacity and energy. From childhood he was always a voracious reader of biographies of heroes; and when he became a young man he devoted his leisure time to a careful study of Chinese and Japanese classics, and of tactics and military arts, in which he attained wonderful proficiency. He afterwards wedded a Japanese woman named Komutsu, with whom he lived a happy married life.
One day, the young couple were wandering on the sea-shore collecting shell-fish. Suddenly they saw an enormous clam, which opened its shells ​and spouted forth a column of water; Almost immediately afterwards, a snipe flew down, intending to make the shell-fish its prey. The eager bird hopped on to the clam, and thrust its sharp beak between its shells. The clam instantly shut its shells and the bird's beak was held fast. The snipe, disappointed to find that its antagonist was so brave, flapped its wings vigorously, shook its head, and struggled hard to break the clam on a rock. But it was not to be so easily vanquished. It tried its utmost to drag the snipe into the water.
The bird was irritated at this, and spreading its wings, it flew up about ten feet into the air; but the struggling clam was too heavy, so it fell to the earth again. Then it flew up, and fell down again several times. It seemed impossible to foretell which would be the victor, and when their combat would end.
Kokusenya looked intently at the scene for some minutes. Then he thought to himself: "I can see here a great secret in tactics. I have studied tactics under my father's tuition for many years, but the lesson I have learned to-day from the battle between the snipe and the clam is the greatest of all. The clam, relying on its hard ​shells, did not expect an attack from a snipe. On the other hand, the snipe, proud of its sharp beak, was quite ignorant of the seizing powers of the clam. The snipe struggled to shake the clam off, but the clam would not loosen its hold. Both are now much too intent on their own respective purposes to pay any attention to anything else. So I can easily catch them both without the least effort. Hard shells or a sharp beak would be of no avail against me. A great tactical secret lies in this. One can easily conquer two heroes who are fighting each other. Well, I hear that in China, my father's country, the Ming dynasty and the King of Tartary are now at war with each other, and the Chinese Empire is in a state of great turmoil. I will take this opportunity to cross over to China and conquer the two powers that are fighting each other. It would be an easy task and I have made up my mind to try it."
Reflecting thus, Kokusenya continued to watch the fight between the clam and the snipe. His wife, Komutsu, was quite unaware of her husband's heroic determination. Taking compassion on the frightened animals, she pulled out a hairpin, and with it opened the shells of the clam. The snipe ​was delighted to find itself free and immediately flew away to some reeds which were growing at a little distance from that spot; while the clam sank to the bottom of the water.
The sun was setting and the rain was beginning to patter down. Kokusenya and his wife were just preparing to go home, when they were surprised to see a curious-shaped boat approaching. To their astonishment, a beautiful and noble-looking maiden was sitting in it. She seemed to be exhausted like "a kaidō blossom tortured by rain."
"Oh!" whispered Komutsu, "she looks like a Chinese beauty, such as one often sees in pictures. I suppose she has been exiled to some island on account of an intrigue."
"I thought she must be the ghost of the beautiful Empress Yōki."
"If you were in China, you could have taken such a beautiful girl to be your wife. What a pity it is that you were born in Japan, and have married a woman like myself. Ha! Ha!"
As they laughed and talked in this manner, the beautiful damsel came ashore, and stepping out of the boat, said something eagerly to them. ​But Komutsu did not understand her language which afterwards proved to be Chinese. Kokusenya, who had learned that language from his father, listened attentively to the maiden, and was astonished to hear that she was Princess Sendan, the younger sister of the Chinese Emperor, and that she had drifted over from China. He was filled with grief and indignation when she told him, with fast falling tears, of all the terrible things that had happened in her country. So he made up his mind to do his best to restore the Ming dynasty. His wife had no knowledge of what was passing in his mind, and was filled with intense jealousy when she saw Kokusenya talking familiarly with the beautiful girl. At last her feelings got the better of her, and she burst into tears. "You hussy!" she cried, "you have come from China to steal the affections of my husband from me! See with what kindness and gentleness you treat him! Thus I will reward your wantonness!"
So saying, she seized a hoe, and was about to strike the maiden with it, when Kokusenya caught her uplifted arm, saying: "Do not be so rash, wife! This lady is Her Highness Princess Sendan, the ​younger sister of the Chinese Emperor of whom my father has so often told us. A horrible thing has happened. China has been invaded by barbarians, the Emperor has been cruelly murdered, and Her Highness has come over to Japan in that wretched boat, to seek shelter. I should very much like to conduct Her Highness at once to our home; but if I did so, the Governor of the county and the village headman would send policemen to capture her. I must see my father, and ask his advice about the matter. So you must hasten home, and bring him here immediately."
Komutsu was greatly ashamed at her hastiness, and made a most respectful obeisance to the Princess, and after apologizing very profusely, hurried home.
Kokusenya's father and mother, who had been on a visit to the shrine of the tutelary god, happened to pass along the sea-shore on their way home. Kokusenya was delighted to see them, and calling them to him, gave them a brief account of what the Princess had told him.
Afterwards he presented his parents to her. When Tei Shiryō heard of the death of the Emperor, he burst into tears.
​"I am greatly honoured, and pleased to see Your Highness," said he, making a low obeisance to her. "You may have heard of me. I am Tei Shiryō, formerly a minister of the late most lamented Emperor. It is true that my wife and son are Japanese, but we should be monsters of ingratitude if we did not do our best to repay the Emperor for all his favours. I am old, but my son is young and brave, and well-skilled in tactics and military arts. So he can be of some service to you. I assure you that we shall not rest a moment until we have restored the Ming dynasty, and calmed the unrestful soul of the deceased Emperor. Have no doubts on that point, dear lady!"
"Are you indeed Tei Shiryō," asked the Princess, "of whom I have so often heard? Many thanks for your loyal and grateful intentions. May Heaven help you in your gallant undertaking—"; with these words speech failed her, and she was overcome with emotion.
Then Kokusenya and his parents consulted together, and decided that he should immediately cross over to China, and search for General Go Sankei, and with his assistance undertake the ​restoration of the Ming dynasty. His parents arranged to sail there after his departure, and agreed to meet him at Senri-ga-Také, a famous bamboo forest in China. It was planned that the Princess should accompany Kokusenya on a part of his voyage, and take shelter on some suitable isle, and he should send for her as soon as a favourable opportunity should occur.
After the discussion was over, Kokusenya bade his parents farewell, and taking the Princess by the hand proceeded to go on board the boat with her. At this moment his wife returned, and when she saw what was taking place, she was filled with amazement. She concluded that all three of them had agreed to cross over to China, and leave her behind. When they were in China, she was convinced, her husband would make the Princess his wife. Her jealousy then got the better of her, and she wept and stormed like a virago. Kokusenya tried to explain matters to her, but she would not listen. He was so perplexed that he did not know what to do; so he raised an oar to defend himself against her attacks. Suddenly she threw herself on her face and cried out: "Kill me! Kill me! My only desire is to die by my ​dear husband's hand—but it is impossible for you to kill me with an oar. I must kill myself, for I cannot live another minute."
With these words she was about to throw herself into the sea, when Kokusenya seized her by the arm. "Dearest wife," he said kindly, "my admiration and love for you is beyond expression. This is a proof of your faithfulness. I will leave Her Highness in your charge. You will serve her with your utmost care while I am away. When I send a ship for her, you will accompany her to China. Always trust me, my dearest."
"Forgive me!" begged Komutsu, quite pacified by his reassuring words. "I will take Her Highness under my care, and will treat her with every respect. Don't trouble your mind about us. I hope you will have a successful voyage, and I shall await news of you. Farewell, dear husband!"
III
When Kokusenya and his parents arrived in China, they found that the Tartars had completely taken possession of the Empire. They were unable to find out what had become of the old friends of Tei Shiryō, and no one could tell them whether General Go Sankei was living or dead. They were therefore greatly at a loss how to begin their undertaking, and how and from where they could gather together the few remaining adherents to the Ming dynasty. After a great deal of delay and consultation, they made up their minds to ask Kanki, a Chinese potentate, to help them. In former days, when Tei Shiryō had lived in China, he had had a Chinese wife who had died, leaving him an infant daughter. When he had crossed over to Japan, he had left the baby in charge of a nurse. He was intensely delighted to hear that his daughter had grown up safely, and was now the wife of General Kanki, who was the lord of a province, and owned a large castle. Kanki had formerly been one of the Emperor Shisō's retainers, but he ​was now a powerful officer of the King of Tartary. Tei Shiryō and Kokusenya thought the best thing they could do would be to try and persuade him to espouse their cause. So they set out for his abode, called the "Castle of the Lion," which lay about three hundred miles away.
But they came to the conclusion that if they all three went together, they would arouse the suspicion of the people; so they agreed to go separately, by different routes, and to meet at the foot of Mount Sekiheki, near the "Castle of the Lion." Tei Shiryō was to journey by himself, and Kokusenya with his mother was to go by way of the famous Senri-ga-Také. Thus they set out on their respective ways.
Whilst they were travelling through the vast bamboo forest, Kokusenya and his mother lost their way, and were uncertain in which direction to turn. Suddenly to their dismay, they heard a confused sound of cries, and the beating of drums, and sounds of trumpets. They listened to these sounds with considerable alarm. Soon after a gust of wind arose, which made the sand fly, and the leaves were shaken off the trees. The next moment a large tiger sprang out of the thicket. ​Kokusenya was not at all frightened, and putting his mother in a safe place behind him, he prepared to fight the beast with open hands; for he would not use his sword against it. The tiger, glaring and roaring, sprang at him. Kokusenya encountered it with great skill, at one moment striking it with a clenched fist, at the next seizing its tail. Then he leaped on to its back and brought it down to the ground. After fighting for a little while, the animal drew back exhausted, and crouching on the ground, gasped for breath. Then the heroes mother ran up to him saying: "We are both Japanese, and though we are far away from Japan, there is no reason why the gods of Japan should not protect us!" With these words she handed him an amulet which she always carried about her person. Kokusenya received it reverently, and held it up before the tiger, which suddenly dropped its tail, drew in its paws, and trembled with fear.
At that moment a large band of Chinese soldiers appeared on the scene, and their captain cried out: "Stay! That tiger is our property! We have hunted it, in order to make an offering of it to His Majesty the King of Tartary from our ​lord His Excellency Ri Tōten. I order you to deliver the animal to us at once. If you refuse, you shall die."
Kokusenya laughed. "Well," he said, "if you are so eager to have this tiger, bring your master Ri Tōten to this spot. I wish to see him and to speak to him. If you refuse my request, I will not surrender the animal to you."
The soldiers were enraged at this bold challenge, and rapidly drawing their swords, they approached Kokusenya, and furiously cut at him. Before this happened, he had tied the amulet around the tiger's neck, and drawing his great sword from its scabbard, he waited their attack.
One of the Chinese officers, availing himself of the chance given him by a slight delay, rushed forward to attack the old woman, who stood calmly in the background. Then a miracle took place. The amulet, which was around the tiger's neck, inspired the beast, and roaring furiously, it sprang at the officer. Paralysed with fright he immediately took to his heels. Then the tiger rushed at the other soldiers who had suffered severe wounds from the mighty strokes dealt them by Kokusenya. They were frightened out ​of their wits and found it impossible to withstand the attacks of the hero and the tiger. So the helpless wretches flung themselves on the ground before Kokusenya and implored his mercy.
Kokusenya then told them why he had come over from Japan, and commanded them to embrace his cause and fight to the best of their ability for the restoration of the Ming dynasty. They could have no reason fo refusing to obey him; so all of them, numbering some thousands, at once surrendered themselves to him, and announced their intention of regarding him as their leader. With them Kokusenya formed the foundation of a mighty army which was afterwards to conquer the Tartar invaders. With these newly recruited troops and his mother, Kokusenya passed out of the forest. Then he stationed his soldiers at a certain place, and with his mother, hastened to meet his father.
IV
Kokusenya and Tei Shiryō met at the foot of Mount Sekiheki, and they immediately set out for General Kanki's castle, where they arrived at nightfall. The fort was stronger than any they had ever seen or heard of. The stone ramparts were of a great height, and the moat was so deep that the water was of a dark-blue colour. Here and there within the parapet, catapults had been placed ready to shoot stones and arrows at a moment's notice. Kokusenya walked up to the gate and cried aloud: "Ho there! Here is one who wishes to speak with His Excellency General Kanki. Open the gate!"
The sentries replied: "His Excellency General Kanki has been away since yesterday at the Court of His Majesty the great King of Tartary. We do not know when he will be back. But let us tell you, that even if he were at home, it would be unpardonable presumption for a stranger to demand an interview with him,—especially at night. Let us hear your business, and we will ​deliver your message to His Excellency. You must give up all hope of being received by him in audience."
"Well!" broke in Tei Shiryō, "if His Excellency General Kanki is absent, we must see Lady Kanki. Kindly tell her that we have come over from Japan. She will then understand who we are."
Hardly had he spoken these words, when a great uproar arose within the castle.
"They are Japanese! We must beware of them! They must be here for some suspicious purpose, if they insist upon seeing our lady!"
With these words several soldiers appeared at the parapet, ready to fire on them with their muskets.
The noise of the tumult reached the ears of Kinshō, Kanki's wife. Running up the tower, she bade the soldiers cease, and looking down outside the gate, she said: "Visitors, I am Kanki's wife. My name is Kinshō. What do you want with my husband? The name of Japan has a pleasant sound to my ear! Kindly tell me who you are."—She was wondering if her father, by any chance, was amongst the visitors.—"Soldiers, do not fire your muskets! Do not be so rash!"
​Tei Shiryō looked up to his daughter's face through the hazy light of the spring moon. "Oh!" said he, "are you indeed Kinshō? I am your father, Tei Shiryō. I parted from you when you were a mere baby two years old. Nevertheless, you must have heard of me from your nurse. I crossed over to Japan, and settled in a part called Hirado. I married a Japanese woman, who has since borne me a son. Both of them are here with me. We have come to have a private consultation with your husband, and to ask for his assistance in a matter of great importance. Please order the gates to be opened, and allow us to come in."
Kinshō rejoiced greatly to hear Tei Shiryō's words, and she longed to rush down and embrace him. But she was the wife of General Kanki, the lord of the castle; so it was impossible for her to act with such lack of dignity in the presence of the soldiers.
"All those matters are well known to me," returned Kinshō, overcome with emotion. "But unless you will give me some proof, I cannot believe that you are my father. Give me some proof, if you can!"
​Hereupon the soldiers thoughtlessly cried out with one voice: "Give us some proof!"
"My dearest daughter," replied the old man, holding up his hands. "If any proof is wanted, it is in your own possession. Before I departed for Japan, I painted a portrait of myself, and left it with your nurse, to be given to you as a memento of me. I have changed since then, but my features are still much the same. May I ask you to compare the picture with me? Then I am sure your doubts will be removed."
"Yes," said Kinshō, "I have that picture."
She took out the portrait which she always carried about her person. She then held up a mirror, in such a way that the moonlight cast a reflection of the old man's face upon it; and she looked intently from one to the other for a considerable time. The jet-black hair and vivacious expression in the portrait contrasted strongly with the wrinkled face and snowy locks reflected in the mirror. But the eyes, mouth, and nose of both were so similar, that it was impossible to doubt his identity.
She then held up a mirror
​for my discourteous words. I have longed for this moment for many years. I was left a motherless orphan here in China, and was filled with grief when I heard that you had gone to Japan. When I heard that Japan was far away in the East, I used to worship the rising sun, as symbolical of you, every morning. How often have I unrolled my map of the world, and have examined the countries of China and Japan! Japan seemed on the map to be very near, but I was astonished to hear that it was three thousand miles away. Thus I despaired of ever meeting you in this life, so you can imagine how delighted I am to see you, after an interval of more than twenty years. My heart is filled with joy and gratitude, my dearest father!"
So saying, Kinshō burst into tears of joy, and Tei Shiryō was also filled with emotion. The tears of the father and daughter seemed to mingle with the moonbeams, which became dim, as with a shower of rain.
Now Kinshō greatly wished to admit the three visitors immediately. But this was impossible, because, as the war was not yet quite over, General Kanki had been strictly ordered by the King of ​Tartary on no account to admit foreigners into the castle; even if they were his own kith and kin. She told them of the order, and added that she was at a loss what to do.
"It is impossible to disobey the King's order," said the old mother, "But I do not think you need fear an old woman like myself. I am very desirous of seeing you, so surely you can let me in, even if you refuse to admit the others."
"That is quite impossible," cried the sentinels. "Women are not excepted from the Imperial order. But if you will allow yourself to be bound with cords like a prisoner, our lord and master will not incur the wrath of the Majesty, should he hear of it. So if you insist on entering the castle you must be securely bound, old woman."
"Pshaw! What insolence!" cried Kokusenya, wrathfully. "You ask us to bind your lady's stepmother? It is unreasonable beyond belief! We Japanese will not endure such a gross insult! We will not meet or consult with your master if those are his conditions."
With these words Kokusenya took his aged mother by the arm, and was about to depart. ​But she shook him off saying: "Have patience, my son! If we wish to seek the assistance of another in a matter of great moment, we must put up with affronts and hardships. If our request is granted, I am willing to be bound with cords, nay, even to be fettered and handcuffed. Pray bind me securely, at once, my husband, without another moment's hesitation."
Tei Shiryō was moved by her words, and he bound her, very reluctantly, hand and foot. The sentinels then opened the gate, and permitted her to enter. Kinshō burst into tears again when she saw this.
"O dear father, and brother!" she cried. "Forgive the apparent unkindness of the soldiers. They may not disobey the decree. I shall take my mother in my charge, so you need not be anxious about her safety. She will tell me about your request, and I will inform my husband, and do my best to gain his consent."
She added that, in the event of her husband consenting, she would pour a solution of face powder into the moat. If he refused, she would pour a solution of rouge. If the river should turn white the visitors would know that the answer ​was in the affirmative. If it should turn red, they would know that he had refused.
It must be mentioned that the water which Lady Kinshō used for her toilet flowed down into an artificial pond, which led to the moat, and from there it ran into the Hoang Ho.
Kokusenya and his father therefore had to watch the current of the Hoang Ho, in order to know the result of his mother's interview with Kinshō.
V
When the old lady had been received into the castle, Lady Kinshō took her into an inner apartment, where she welcomed her as warmly, and treated her as kindly, as if she had been her real mother.
Presently General Kanki returned in high spirits. He had that day been promoted to the rank of commander of a regiment of 100,000 cavalry; been made a councillor of state, and raised to the peerage. Kinshō met him at the porch with great reverence, and, after greeting him, told him of all that had happened. She gave an account of how her father, stepmother, and stepbrother had come from Japan to ask a favour of him, but how, according to the royal command, she had bade her father and brother go away and only admitted her mother bound with cords.
Kanki praised her for her thoughtfulness, and said that he would see his mother-in-law immediately. The old woman came in. After expressing his great joy at meeting her, he told her that ​he deeply regretted having to receive her bound in that manner.
"What do you want with me?" he asked in mild, kind tones. "Please tell me everything, without reserve. I will do anything in my power to help you."
On hearing this, the old woman heartily thanked him for his kindness. She then told him how Princess Sendan had drifted over to Japan the previous winter, and how Kokusenya and Tei Shiryō had determined to strike for the restoration of the Ming dynasty. After her narration, she earnestly begged Kanki to espouse their cause.
"Then," said Kanki with surprise, "is Kokusenya of Japan my wife's brother? He is famous all over this country for his bravery. I was formerly in the service of the Ming Emperor; but after his death I became a retainer of the King of Tartary. I am now the lord of a province and a castle under his sovereignty. I quite understand and fully sympathize with your request, but I cannot give you an immediate reply. You must give me time to think the matter over."
"You are a coward!" said the old woman excitedly. "When one first gives utterance to a ​matter like this, there is danger of it becoming known abroad, if an immediate answer is not given. Whether you grant our request or refuse it, you must give us a reply at once. Please do this for us."
"Certainly, madame, I will immediately take Kokusenya's side."
No sooner had he spoken, than Kanki seized his wife with one hand, and drawing his sword with the other, attempted to plunge it into her breast. The old woman, almost overcome with horror and amazement, sprang to her feet, and rushed between them in order to shield her stepdaughter with her own person. Then she demanded in sharp tones: "Are you mad to commit such a wanton outrage? Why do you wish to kill Kinshō before her mother? Don't be afraid, daughter, you shall not die as long as I am here!"
Overwhelmed with her stepmother's kindness, the terror-stricken Kinshō cried, with sobs: "Mother, your kind words touch me to the heart; but you must not be wounded for my sake!"
Kanki sprang back, and, bowing to the old woman, replied: "Pardon me for my mad act, but ​the truth is, the King of Tartary summoned me to him yesterday, and gave me the following commands: 'News have reached me that a warrior named Kokusenya has come over from Japan with the intention of restoring the Ming dynasty. So I order you to gather together 100,000 cavalry, and to march against him in order to subjugate him.' I did not know that Kokusenya was my brother-in-law, so I vowed to kill him, and thus rid the King of his anxiety and trouble. But if I now suddenly join Kokusenya, and hoist a banner of revolt, everyone will say that my wife has influenced me, and I should go down to posterity as the laughing-stock of all the nation. Thus I should forfeit all my honour as a warrior. Therefore I have determined, even though it is a cruel deed, to kill my wife. Then all grounds for such censure will be removed. After I have done that, I shall espouse Kokusenya's cause. Dearest wife, it is my loyalty to the late Emperor that makes me wish to kill you, but it is your mother's kindness which dissuades me from doing so"—at this point he burst into hot and passionate tears.—"It cuts me to the heart to make such a terrible request, but, my dearest wife, are you willing to sacrifice ​yourself and to lay down your life for the sake of my loyalty?"
It gradually dawned upon Kinshō what her husband intended to do. "Well," she said with a resigned look, "I understand your reason, my husband. I am willing to be put to death, if by doing so I can be of service to the Imperial House. You may take my life."
She gently pushed the old woman to one side, and bared her breast to receive Kanki's sword. The mother, who was unable to use her hands owing to the cords, took Kinshō's sleeve between her teeth, and forced her away. Kanki then approached his wife with his naked sword; but the old lady, quick as thought, ran behind him and pulled him off with her teeth. Kinshō then again prepared to meet her fate, but the mother, almost choked with grief, cried out: "Stop! Stop! If I allow you to kill Kinshō, everyone will say that a Japanese stepmother has allowed a Chinese stepdaughter to be killed on account of her hatred of the latter! I should not only be shamed, but it would be an everlasting disgrace to Japan. I could never endure it. Kanki, if you are determined to kill Kinshō, you must kill me also."
​With this utterance she burst into bitter tears. Kanki stood for some minutes, buried in thought, his reasoning powers struggling with his emotion. But reason was victorious.
"Mother," he said, "if you will not allow me to kill my wife, I shall be obliged to fight with Kokusenya in compliance with the Tartar King's commands. Now that I must fight with your son, I will not detain you any longer in the castle, lest people should think I have kept you as a hostage. Wife, order a palanquin in which to send our mother from the castle."
"There is no need to send her away, my lord," answered Kinshō. "As I promised my father, I will pour a solution of rouge into the moat as a sign of your refusal." As she spoke, she ascended to her toilet chamber, and taking a small dagger she thrust it into her breast. She then let a quantity of her blood flow into a basin, and poured it into the pond below her apartment.
Mr. Kōshirō as Kokusenya
​of entering the courtyard. In one of the apartments there, to his great joy, he found his mother safe and sound. He sprang up, and cutting her free from the cords, presented himself before Kanki.
"You are General Kanki, I believe," he said in angry tones. "I sent my mother into the castle to ask for your assistance. When you bear in mind that your wife is my sister, you should willingly and gladly support me. Give me an immediate answer!"
"Humph!" replied Kanki, disdainfully. "If you appeal to me through my affection for my wife, I am still more determined to refuse your request. I am not so poor-spirited that I allow a woman to influence me! Leave me! I wish to have no further communication with you!"
Then both heroes hurled expressions of defiance at each other, and prepared to fight, when Kinsho staggered into the room, holding a blood-stained dagger in her hand. "Stop! Stop!" she cried. "See from where I obtained the rouge which I poured into the water. Let that settle your quarrel."
After saying those words, she bared her breast from which the blood was flowing freely.
​Kokusenya and Kanki looked with amazement at the horrible sight, and the old woman fell swooning to the ground.
"My husband!" the dying woman gasped. "I have killed myself! No one now can say that you have been influenced by a woman! Pray support my brother, and grant my parents' earnest request!"
"What a noble death!" exclaimed Kanki, turning aside to hide his fast falling tears. "Your death shall not be in vain, dear wife!" He then fell on his knees before Kokusenya. "Brother, I will gladly join you in your noble undertaking. Allow me to become an officer under your command. May I suggest that you assume the title of Kokusenya, Commander-in-chief, and King of Yempei."
So saying, Kanki crossed the room to a chest, from which he produced a complete suit of commander-in-chief's armour. This he presented to Kokusenya, who wore it thankfully. His mother looked at him with admiration. "My heart is filled with joy!" she said. "Now that General Kanki has joined you, you will doubtless succeed in your task. But if I live on after the death of ​my stepdaughter my words would prove false. It will not only be my own shame, but also a disgrace to Japan. I can't bear the thought of it." She had scarcely uttered these words, when she snatched Kinshō's dagger, and plunged it into her own throat. Kanki and Kokusenya sprang up with horror. "Don't either of you be surprised!" said the old woman with dying gasps. "Don't grieve at our deaths! Regard the King of Tartary as the enemy of your mother and of your wife, and be sure to take revenge upon him. You will thus do your best for the restoration of the Ming dynasty. Farewell!"
Almost at the same moment, the old woman and Kinshō breathed their last.
VI
Kokusenya, with the assistance of General Kanki, was able to organize a mighty army as powerful as "a tiger furnished with wings"—to quote a Chinese saying. He fought many battles against the Tartars, and captured over fifty of their castles. Wherever he led his banner he was crowned with victory, and the name of Kokusenya, King of Yempei, speedily became known throughout the length and breadth of the country.
In the meantime, General Go Sankei had been hiding for seven dreary years, with the young heir to the Ming throne, in a secluded place in Mount Kyūsen.
When he heard the news of Kokusenya's victories, he came down with the young Prince, and joined the army.
Kokusenya's wife Komutsu, with Princess Sendan, came over from Japan.
Then Kokusenya in conjunction with Generals Go Sankei and Kanki, marched upon Nanking, now the Tartar King's stronghold, and quickly ​and easily captured it. The Tartar King was punished by being beaten with five hundred blows of a bamboo, and was afterwards sent back as a prisoner to Tartary. The traitor Ri Tōten was put to death, and Kokusenya made the young Prince ascend the throne, naming him Emperor Eiryaku, to the extreme joy of all the nation.