Was it because of the words of encouragement written by the Emperor’s own hand and Taro’s words? Or was it because they faced the reality that if not now, there would be no chance next time?
“We will join you all.”
“For the greater cause, there are times when one must act boldly.”
Finally, the moderates also concluded to join the extremists.
Of course, there were those who did not lose their caution until the very end.
Matsudaira Chikatada, who ruled Mikawa, was a representative of such people.
After the meeting ended and everyone had left, Chikatada continued his conversation with Takeda Nobushige, the central figure of the extremists.
“Is that person really certain?”
At Chikatada’s question, Nobushige expressed doubt.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Konoe Taro.”
“He is certain.”
“Really? Is there anyone who confirmed that he met with the Emperor?”
“There is someone who entered with him.”
“Hmm…”
At Nobushige’s answer, Chikatada crossed his arms and pondered deeply. Seeing this, Nobushige posed a question.
“What worries you?”
To Nobushige’s question, Chikatada answered with a serious expression.
“What bothers me most is that he claims to be from the Konoe family. After the noble houses were defeated in the last civil war, wasn’t the Konoe family the most thoroughly trampled upon?”
As Chikatada said, Ouchi, having won the civil war, thoroughly crushed the noble houses that had rebelled against them.
They tracked down not only the direct lineage but also the collateral branches, killing them regardless of gender. Those who survived in this process were only a tiny minority of collateral branches that did not participate in the civil war and a few lucky ones who changed their family names through marriage with other families.
Because of this, Chikatada was suspicious of Konoe Taro.
“Despite Ouchi’s persistent pursuit, does it seem possible that someone could have survived while keeping the Konoe name?”
To Chikatada’s point, Nobushige replied.
“According to him, he survived by stealing the identification tag of someone who died on the battlefield.”
“By stealing an identification tag? Ouchi’s identification tags were modeled after Joseon’s, was that possible?”
As Chikatada pointed out, the new identity tags of the Empire, created under Hyang’s influence, were famously difficult to forge. No, they were almost impossible to forge.
The Empire’s identity tags, after several revisions, were divided into two parts.
On one of the two parts, the bearer’s name, date of birth, and place of birth were recorded. On the other part, the bearer’s facial features, especially physical characteristics that could be easily recognized—such as facial moles—were recorded in detail.
These identity tags were placed in protective frames, which were tightly fastened with screws, and lead was poured over the holes where the screws were inserted. Finally, the official seal of the government office was stamped on the lead seal to prevent arbitrary forgery.
Citizens of the Empire had to create such identity tags as soon as they graduated from the civic school. The protective frames containing the identity tags were made in notebook form, so Empire citizens had to carry them at all times.
If caught without these identity tags during an inspection, one would be immediately imprisoned and subjected to an identity verification process notorious for draining people. This was because, in addition to repeatedly asking questions, not only the person in question but also everyone around them would be called to confirm their identity.
The same notorious procedure followed in case of loss, and the reissuance cost was about ten days’ wages for an ordinary worker.
Because of this, Empire citizens managed their identity tags with utmost care, as if they were ancestral tablets.
Perhaps because of this inconvenience, complaints occasionally arose.
- Why not tattoo our bodies like those who went to military service in the past? Isn’t it forgery-proof and convenient to carry?
Whenever such petitions were submitted, the court’s answer was always the same.
- How will we verify women’s identities? Will we ask them to undress in the middle of the street?
And, although it was said to be impossible to forge or alter, it was possible.
Therefore, replacing identity tags with tattoos was not permitted.
Hyang, who was the Emperor at that time, smirked and muttered to himself.
‘In the 21st century, it was biochips instead of tattoos, right? And what was the result of that?’
***
Having heard about the Empire’s identity tag system, Ouchi’s identity tag management was strict.
That’s why Chikatada pointed out this issue. To Chikatada’s point, Nobushige immediately answered.
“Did you see the scar on his face? It’s a deliberately inflicted wound. He selected someone with similar features, took their identity tag, and then used the scar as an excuse to get by.”
“So the conclusion is that we don’t know if he’s really Taro of the Konoe family.”
“When His Majesty asked about the direct lineage, especially the family head and the heir, he answered correctly. Especially things like appearance and speech habits. Isn’t that enough?”
Nobushige’s explanation made sense.
The family heads and heirs of the Gosekke (five regent houses), who took turns holding the position of Chief Advisor, were always close to the Emperor. Therefore, the Emperor knew well about the direct lineage of the Konoe family. If Konoe Taro had not answered correctly, the Emperor would certainly have been suspicious of him.
“Hmm.”
Despite the explanation, Chikatada could not hide his uneasiness, so Nobushige raised his voice.
“The matter has already begun! Riding a tiger, as they say! Now is not the time to weigh pros and cons, but to dash forward bravely and boldly!”
“Shh! Your voice is too loud!”
Seeing Chikatada looking around cautiously, Nobushige pounded his chest.
“This is truly frustrating! I’m well aware of your caution from past experiences, but this time you’ve gone too far!”
“Whew~.”
Chikatada, who let out a long sigh at Nobushige’s rebuke, nodded.
“You are right. The matter has already begun. Now is the time to run. I too will cooperate with all my might.”
“Isn’t issho-kenmei (giving one’s all) the ironclad rule of the samurai? Let’s do our best.”
At the word issho-kenmei, which means “a samurai gives his life to protect his domain,” Chikatada added:
“Are we protecting the Emperor instead of the domain?”
“That’s right.”
“Speaking of the Emperor, do you really think the Emperor will help us?”
To Chikatada’s point, Nobushige immediately replied.
“He too knows well that this is the last chance. Naturally, he has no choice but to stake everything.”
At Nobushige’s words, Chikatada nodded.
***
After returning from the meeting, Chikatada gazed out the window and pondered deeply.
“He only said ‘Emperor.’ No, in the end, he said ‘he’… The conclusion is that he simply wants to become the master of the Shogunate. And he’s certainly capable enough. Unlike me.”
Takeda Nobushige was a person who had inherited the powerful ‘Takeda’ family. Although he lost his domain due to Ouchi’s ‘abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures,’ he still had formidable influence.
Compared to him, Chikatada’s ‘Matsudaira’ family was a short-lived and obscure family. Because of this, they were able to endure without significant losses despite merely watching the situation during the civil war between the Muromachi Shogunate and Ouchi, and the civil war between Ouchi and the noble houses.
But Ouchi did not forget. After firmly securing Japan, Ouchi exacted political revenge during a series of reforms, including the abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures.
Therefore, Chikatada had joined the semi-anti-Ouchi group.
Having joined the group, Chikatada soon began to stand out. With caution and patience as his basics, waiting for opportunities to come and then surely succeeding, Chikatada attracted more and more followers, and somehow became the symbol of the moderate faction.
He had ambitions too. With the noble houses gone, the position of ‘the one below one, above all others’ was what he was aiming for.
However, his strongest competitor happened to be Nobushige of the Takeda family. He was superior in every aspect.
“More important than that is still the existence of Konoe Taro. I’m too uneasy…”
Chikatada still could not hide his uneasiness.
Finally, after days of deliberation, Chikatada made a decision.
Gathering his sons, Chikatada explained the situation.
“…Therefore, I will devote myself to the all-or-nothing battle for His Majesty the Emperor.”
“We will prepare.”
At Chikatada’s words, his sons nodded with composed expressions. They already knew that their father had joined the forces to overthrow the Shogunate. They too wanted revenge for the political retaliation carried out by Ouchi.
Nodding at his sons’ appearance, Chikatada continued.
“However, we cannot end the family line. Therefore, the youngest will not participate in this uprising.”
“Father!”
“It’s the family head’s order.”
“But it’s a samurai’s disgrace!”
“If the uprising succeeds, it’s a momentary disgrace, but if it fails, it’s the best move to continue the family line. You’ve just gotten married, and your first child will be born soon, won’t it?”
The eldest son, who had been listening silently, asked a question.
“Father, do you think this uprising will fail?”
“It’s fifty-fifty. We have the Emperor’s help, and patriotic men have joined forces. But given how powerful those Ouchi bastards are, we won’t know the outcome until it’s over. That’s why I’m excluding the youngest.”
At Chikatada’s words, the youngest son gritted his teeth and replied.
“I will obey. But please succeed in the uprising so that it ends as a momentary disgrace.”
“Thank you.”
Replying lightly to his youngest son’s words, Chikatada held out a heavy bundle.
“I’ve put in a new identity tag and some wealth. Just in case, yes, just in case. In the unlikely event that the uprising fails, you must live with the family name inside. The wealth inside should be enough to establish a stable position, though not abundantly.”
At Chikatada’s words, the youngest son opened the bundle and checked the identity tag.
“Tokugawa?”
“That’s right. If the uprising fails, you will have to live as a Tokugawa.”
“Please succeed in the uprising.”
“I will.”
Watching his youngest son pack the bundle again, the eldest son asked Chikatada.
“But how did you make a new identity tag?”
To his eldest son’s question, Chikatada smiled slightly and replied.
“Isn’t it already a well-known fact that Ouchi’s dogs love bribes? I slipped them a few coins, and they made it right away. I wonder if it’s because there’s no records office?”
“Ha!”
“Hahaha!”
At Chikatada’s unexpected joke, the room, which had been filled with solemnity, was filled with laughter.
***
Despite loudly proclaiming ‘reform’ and ‘the politics of the kingly way,’ ironically, the corruption among lower officials in the Ouchi Shogunate was considerable.
There was almost no corruption in the weapons and taxation sectors directly managed by the Shogunate’s leadership, but in the general administrative areas excluding those parts, it was a well-known fact that all kinds of bribes were exchanged.
This was possible because there were no people to replace them yet. Those who had studied in the Empire immediately started from middle management positions upon their return, and those who had completed national school and secondary school and entered lower administrative positions were still few.
Eventually, learning about this, the core of power, especially those who had studied abroad, raised their voices to advocate for the ‘establishment of a records office.’
“They openly take bribes because they know well that if they leave, there will be no one to work immediately! Rather than killing such insolent bastards, we should make them work to death!”
“The justification used for the Empire’s records office is sufficient!”
The overseas students’ arguments resonated with Yoshinori and other vassals, and finally, a records office was about to take shape in Japan as well.