A few days later, at the Imperial Palace in Yamaguchi.
Late at night, the Emperor was having a private audience with Konoe Taro.
“So, the patriots have decided to rise up?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Whew~.”
At Konoe Taro’s answer, the Emperor let out a long sigh. After taking several deep breaths to calm his inner fire, the Emperor spoke.
“It has truly been a long time. That wretched period when the Shogunate, established by a mere retainer, stood above the Emperor… Whew~.”
The Emperor sighed heavily again to suppress the resentment that was flaring up once more.
***
Originally, the Shogun, the head of the Shogunate, could not establish the Shogunate in Kyoto, the capital.
However, the Muromachi Shogunate, which ended the Nanboku-chō period, established the Shogunate in Kyoto and reigned over the Emperor.
Ouchi, who ended the Muromachi Shogunate, went a step further.
They pulled the Emperor out of Kyoto and brought him to Yamaguchi, their sphere of influence.
The Imperial Palace that Ouchi built and presented was quite magnificent, in a much more pleasant environment than Kyoto, which had become a mess due to the war. However, it paled in comparison to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto.
The biggest problem was that now the Emperor had become completely separated from the people.
Emperor Go-Daigo, who initiated the Nanboku-chō period, had staged a coup with his imperial guards, abolished the Kamakura Shogunate, and established direct rule.
This was possible because his control over the nobles and the people was strong.
However, as time passed, the Muromachi Shogunate was established again, and the Emperor was once again hidden behind the curtain made by the Shogunate.
There was the court led by the Emperor and the noble houses (kuge) who operated the court, but they could only exert power in Kyoto and the Kanto region.
Because of this, the distance between the Emperor and the people inevitably widened again.
With Ouchi establishing a new Shogunate regime, the distance between the Emperor and the people widened even further.
This was because the Ouchi Shogunate, which had completely restructured the noble houses, brought the Emperor to Yamaguchi.
In Kyoto and the Kanto region, which had been controlled by the noble houses, there were still many people who remembered the Emperor. However, to the people of Kansai, the Emperor was merely a character in stories told to children.
The people of the Kansai region were traditionally accustomed to being ruled by the domains of the Shogunate and lords, known as kuni.
Because of this, the Emperor could understand why Ouchi had brought him here to Yamaguchi.
-Complete severing of the relationship between the Emperor and the people.
This was the goal Ouchi wanted.
***
“Whew~.”
Calming his complex feelings with another long sigh, the Emperor continued.
“Now the time has come to resolve this resentment. So, when will the uprising begin?”
To the Emperor’s question, Konoe Taro, flat on the floor, answered.
“We are doing our best to carry out the uprising as soon as possible. However, we are struggling because we lack resources.”
“Lack resources? Didn’t you say before that the people of Kyoto and Kanto were responding?”
“The people and samurai families of Kyoto and Kanto are doing their best, but we are struggling because we have lost too much in the losing civil war.”
“Oh my. That is indeed a problem.”
Upon hearing this, the Emperor could not hide his disappointment, and Konoe Taro brought up the main point.
“Therefore, the patriots earnestly desire Your Majesty’s help. If Your Majesty bestows grace upon them, their morale will soar to the heavens.”
“Hmm.”
At Konoe Taro’s request, the Emperor’s face became troubled.
***
Though less than previous emperors, the Emperor possessed considerable wealth.
This was because Ouchi, out of respect, had not touched the rice fields owned by the imperial family. Additionally, since the Emperor also served as a priest of Shinto, the shoguns of Ouchi offered many tributes whenever there was a ceremony.
Compared to the emperors who had to live through Japan’s Sengoku period in the history before Hyang’s intervention, it was an enormously abundant situation.
The problem was that while the Emperor wanted to reap the fruits of the patriots’ efforts, he didn’t want to open his own pockets—that was his inner thought.
***
Perhaps sensing the Emperor’s feelings, Konoe Taro bowed his head and said:
“The traitor Ouchi faction still holds powerful strength. In contrast, the patriots are shedding tears of blood, acutely aware of their inadequacies. Your Majesty! If this uprising fails, there will be no loyal subjects left to fulfill Your Majesty’s deepest wish!”
“Whew~.”
After letting out a long sigh at Taro’s words, the Emperor finally made a decision.
“I will issue an order. Discuss with him and proceed.”
With the Emperor’s permission, Konoe Taro prostrated himself and raised his voice.
“Your Imperial grace is boundless!”
***
“Be careful, then.”
“I will.”
Taro cautiously exited through a side door used by the palace servants, looked around, and quickly hid himself in the darkness.
Avoiding possible trackers, Taro wandered through back alleys and returned to his lodging. As soon as he entered his room, he threw off the conical hat he had been wearing, tossed it far away, and slumped down.
“Heeyoo~.”
Exhaling a long breath, Taro lay flat on his back and stared at the ceiling.
“The Emperor, restoration of imperial rule… Pfft!”
Letting out a scoff, Taro continued with a face full of cynicism.
“May they all perish! Whether it’s the Emperor, the patriots, or Ouchi, may they all perish!”
***
Taro was indeed from the direct lineage of the Konoe family, but he was an illegitimate son. Moreover, he was the child of a maid who had been raped by his father.
-If you’re a man, you should take responsibility for what you’ve done!
At that time, according to the decision of Taro’s grandfather, he received the Konoe surname, but his situation was not good.
In the case of other illegitimate sons similar to him, their mothers, the concubines, were women from families with some status. Therefore, even as illegitimate sons, they could be treated as family members.
However, Taro’s mother was a maid working in the mansion.
-The family head gave you the family name by his command, but how do we know if you really inherited the master’s blood?
Taro had to spend his childhood hearing such words thrown directly at his face. Because of this, Taro was treated similarly to the servants working in the mansion.
It was the same with education. He had to learn letters by watching the legitimate sons and other illegitimate sons gathered in one place to study.
This situation remained the same during the civil war that occurred after Taro grew up.
While his other grown brothers wore splendid armor and became commanders leading armies, Taro became someone who led 50 spearmen and charged at the forefront.
And in the ensuing battle, the army of the noble houses suffered a devastating defeat by Ouchi.
His half-brothers and the legitimate family members who had gone to the front line with splendid armor became targets for the Ouchi army seeking merits. Those who barely survived the battle were all caught and killed in the subsequent pursuit by Ouchi. The family too was completely annihilated by the Ouchi army that stormed in, regardless of direct or collateral branches.
Taro survived this process by inflicting a wound on his own face and using an identification tag stolen from a dead soldier’s corpse.
What Taro saw when he returned home after barely surviving was terribly burned mansions and a large mound. Seeing the mound where the Ouchi army that annihilated the family had gathered the bodies and buried them in one place, Taro developed a strong hostility toward Ouchi.
No, he also harbored resentment against the conservatives who had started the war that caused his mother’s death.
“This cursed world! May everything perish!”
***
Becoming a vengeful spirit wandering in Japan, Taro came into contact with the maintenance faction and became a member.
But even within the organization, his treatment was not good.
“Oh! You said you’re from the Konoe family?”
Because those who brightened at hearing Taro’s family name became displeased when they saw his status. No, some even openly looked down on him.
“You all are the same kind of bastards! Grrr!”
Gritting his teeth, Taro did his best to create opportunities.
First, he joined the extremist faction, which was enthusiastic about recruiting talent, and built his own network. Then, he used that network to secure funds.
“What do you need funds for?”
“I want to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Is that possible?”
“I think it might be.”
Having secured funds, Taro, after desperate efforts, arranged a meeting with the Emperor through a servant of the Imperial Palace.
After setting up the appointment and returning, Taro smiled bitterly.
“This damned family name has been helpful this time.”
Taro was able to meet the Emperor along with one executive of the extremist faction.
“To think there was a survivor of the Konoe family! This is truly divine providence!”
The Emperor was moved after confirming that Taro was indeed from the Konoe family by asking various questions. And through the accompanying executive, this incident spread within the extremist faction, and Taro was able to become a core member of the extremist faction.
As time passed, Taro became an important link between the Emperor and the extremist faction, and finally, this time, he obtained the Emperor’s assistance.
However, Taro’s goal was different from what the Emperor and the maintenance faction thought.
Taro’s goal was the chaos and destruction of Japan.
***
Imperial Year 17 (1465). March.
Omi Railway Station (in the old name of Shiga).
The railway station built in Omi was very large compared to Omi’s population.
This was to supply water drawn from nearby Lake Biwa to the iron horses and to maintain the iron horses that had returned after operating long distances.
A large contingent of Ouchi’s army was stationed here.
This was because core national facilities related to the railway were gathered here, and because of nearby Kyoto.
In case of disruptive movements in Kyoto, it was the mission of the unit stationed in Omi to immediately deploy and suppress them.
On a March night that was still chilly.
A group of people was moving silently between the shadows of the railway facilities at Omi Station.
After moving by relying on the shadows of buildings and iron horses, the people gathered in one place and whispered softly.
“Has everyone come in?”
“Yes!”
“The supplies?”
At the commander’s question, several men showed thick bundles.
“Good! Today is the beginning! Don’t forget that we must succeed!”
“Yes!”
“Then disperse!”
As soon as the commander’s words ended, the people divided into small groups and disappeared into the darkness.
A little while later.
“Who goes there! Stop!”
“Move and I’ll shoot!”
Bang! Rata-tat! Boom!
Loud gunshots were followed by loud explosions.
Boom! Kaboom!
Not long after, a large pillar of fire rose from where the water reservoir and iron horse maintenance facilities were located.
“Fire!”
“Put out the fire! Get the equipment out!”
The railway station workers made desperate efforts to extinguish the fire and save the valuable equipment.
“What madman did this!”
It was the signal flare announcing the maintenance faction’s full-scale armed resistance.