In the stable courtyard a personal guard of twenty men, was assembled at the heads of their ponies. Amongst them was Misamoto, the fisherman, the make-believe samurai and Elder. Now he was poorly clad as a common foot soldier, unarmed, and frightened.
Two small enclosed palanquins, especially light and designed for rapid transport were there.
Each was slotted on to two shafts that fitted into harness for two saddle ponies ahead and behind.
All hooves were muffled and all this part of a plan he had devised with Hosaki days ago.
The spy window of one palanquin slid aside. He saw Koiko peer out. She smiled, nodding a greeting. The window closed.
His hand tightened on his sword. Ready, he slid her door open enough to ensure she was who he thought she was and that she was alone. When he was very young his father had beaten the first law of survival into him, word by word: "If you are caught unawares, betrayed unawares, killed unawares, you failed in your duty to me and to yourself. The fault will be yours alone because you failed to check personally and to plan against any eventuality. There is no excuse for failure except karma--and gods do not exist!"
A quick reassuring smile to her. He slid the door home and checked that the other palanquin was unoccupied and available for his use if he needed it. Satisfied, he gave the signal to mount.
This was done in almost complete silence which again pleased him--he had ordered all armor and harness to be muffled. A last silent check but he could sense no danger. The new rifle was in a saddle holster, the ammunition pouch full, the other four guns slung over the shoulders of his most trusted marksmen. Noiselessly he swung into his saddle. Another signal. His advance guard and banner man carrying his personal standard led off.
He followed, then the two palanquins and the rest fell into place as rear guard.
Their progress was quick and almost soundless. Up the passageway into the next fortification, directly away from the main gate and main thoroughfares. At each checkpoint they were motioned through without challenge. Instead of turning into the maze of the castle proper, they made for a large building on the north side set against one of the major fortifications. Outside it was heavily guarded.
The moment Yoshi was recognized, tall doors swung open to let them ride through. Inside was a large, enclosed and packed-earth practice riding ring with a high vaulted ceiling and a second tier for viewing. A few torches, here and there. The doors closed behind them.
Yoshi cantered to the head and led briskly through the far archway, past stables and harness rooms.
All were empty. This area was cobbled, the air heavy with the smell of dung and urine and sweat.
Beyond, the hard-packed earth began again and another arch let out to an inner, smaller ring. Across it was an archway, dimly lit. Yoshi heeled his surefooted pony faster, then reined in suddenly.
The surrounding upper tier was packed with silent bowmen. None had arrows in their bows but all those in the ring knew they were dead men--if the order was given.
"Ah, Yoshi-sama." Nori Anjo's harsh voice came out of the semi-darkness above and Yoshi had difficulty for a moment picking him out. Then he saw him. Armorless, he was sitting at the back of the tier beside the staircase. "At this afternoon's meeting you didn't tell us you were going to leave the castle with armed men like... like what? Like ninja?"
A rustle of anger spread through Yoshi's men but he laughed and this broke the tension, below and above.
"Not ninja, Anjo-sama, though certainly as quietly as possible. It's a good idea to test defenses, without warning. I'm Guardian of the castle, as well as Guardian of the Shogun.
And you? To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"You are just testing our defenses?"
"I am killing three doves with one arrow yes." The humor had left Yoshi's voice and all were chilled, wondering why three and what did he mean. "And you? Why so many bowmen? For an ambush perhaps?"
The coarse laugh pealed among the rafters, edging everyone further. Hands tightened on weapons though no one made an overt move. "Ambush?
Oh no, not an ambush--an honor guard. The moment I heard you planned a patrol with muffled hooves... these men are just to honor you, and to show you not all of us are sleeping, that the castle is in good hands and a Guardian not needed." He barked a command. At once all bowmen hurried down the stairs and formed two lines the length of the ring, Yoshi and his men between them. They bowed formally.
Yoshi and his men bowed back, formally. But nothing had changed, the trap was still ready to be sprung.
"You need guns to test defenses?"
"Our Council advised all daimyos to arm with modern weapons," Yoshi said, his voice outwardly calm, inwardly furious that his plan had been betrayed and that he had not foreseen an ambush. "These are the first of my new rifles. I wish to accustom my men to carry them."
"Wise, yes, very wise. I see you carry one too. Lord Yoshi has to carry a gun himself?"
Seething at the jeer, Yoshi glanced down at the rifle in its holster, hating all guns and blessing the wisdom of his namesake in outlawing their manufacture or importation the day he became Shogun. Hasn't that more than anything ensured our peace for two and a half centuries, he thought grimly. Guns are vile, cowardly weapons, worthy only of stinking gai-jin, weapons that can kill at a thousand paces so you may never see who you kill or who has killed you, weapons that any simpleton, low person, maniac, filthy robber, man or woman can use against anyone, even the highest lord with impunity, or most perfectly schooled swordsman. Yes, and now even I have to carry a gun--the gai-jin have forced us into it.
With Anjo's sneering jibe ringing in his ears, he jerked the rifle out of the holster, pushed the safety off as Misamoto had shown him, pointed it, pulled the trigger, immediately pumped shells into the breech, blasting five bullets deafeningly into the rafters, the rifle almost twisting out of his hands with unexpected force. Everyone scattered, even his own men, a few unseated by frightened rearing ponies, Anjo and his guards dived for the floor anticipating more firing, lethal this time, every man in the room unnerved by the rapidity of firing.
In utter silence all waited breathlessly and then, because there was no follow-up and they realized Yoshi was just demonstrating the rifle, the two ranks of archers hastily but warily reformed around his own men who were sorting themselves into order. Anjo and his guards scrambled to their feet. "What was the meaning of that?" he shouted.
As nonchalantly as he could, his own heart pounding, Yoshi continued to gentle his pony and quietly pushed the safety catch on and laid the gun across his lap, concealing his delight with the success of his action and that he was as impressed as anyone with the rifle's power--he had fired muzzle loaders before and some old-fashioned duelling pistols at targets, but never a breech-loader with cartridges. "I wanted to show you the value of one of these. In certain circumstances they're better than a sword, particularly for daimyos." He was glad to hear that his voice sounded calm. "For instance, when you were ambushed a few weeks ago, you could have used one, neh?"
Shakily Anjo was controlling his wrath, quite sure that now he was in great danger, his life under immediate threat, and equally certain if he ordered Toranaga's arrest as he had planned bullets would pepper him--in the name of all gods where and how did that dog learn to shoot and why was I not informed he had become an expert?
And being reminded of the shishi incident was an added public insult for it was well known he had not been brave but had had to scramble to safety, never duelling once with his assailants and then, after the wounded were captured, had ordered them to be killed in a dishonorable fashion. "Under some circumstances, Yoshi-sama, some, but I doubt if your gun or any others have value tonight. I doubt that. May I ask your purpose tonight? Is it to visit our outside defenses and return?