In all there were about eight hundred fighters, well equipped and fanatic samurai desperate to rush back to join the fight, still smarting from their defeat and being forced out of Kyoto a week ago. Ogama had staged a sudden night attack, ringing their barracks and setting fire to the buildings, abrogating the solemn agreements between them.
With many losses the Satsumas had fought their way out of the city to the village of Fushimi where Sanjiro angrily regrouped, Choshu detachments dogging them. "We are trapped."
One of his captains said, "Lord, I propose an immediate counterattack, towards Kyoto."
Katsumata said emphatically, "Too dangerous, too many troops against us, they will overwhelm us. Sire, you will alienate all daimyos and further frighten the Court. I propose you offer Ogama a truce--if he allows an orderly withdrawal."
"On what grounds?"' "As part of the truce you accept that his forces will be custodians of the Gates--his forces, not the Tosa, and that will sow further dissension between them."
"I cannot accept that," Sanjiro had said, shaking with rage that Ogama had duped him.
"Even if I did he will not consent, why should he? We are in his grasp. He can piss all over us. If I were him I would fall on us here before midday."
"Yes, Lord, he will--unless we forestall him. We can by this ruse, he's not a real fighter like you--his troops are not filled with zeal like ours, nor are they as well trained. He only succeeded against us because he fell on us by night in a filthy betrayal. Remember, his alliance with the Tosa is precarious. He must consolidate his hold of the Gates and has insufficient troops to meet every problem for the next few weeks. He has to organize and get reinforcements without provoking opposition. And soon the Bakufu must come back in force to take back the Gates as is their right."
By Toranaga Edict, all daimyos visiting Kyoto were limited to five hundred guards, all of whom had to live under severe restrictions in their own fief barracks, built by decree without defenses. The same Edict allowed Shogunate forces to number more than all the others together. Over the centuries of peace the Bakufu had allowed these laws to languish. In recent years, Tosa, Choshu and Satsumas daimyos--depending on personal strength--had twisted the bureaucracy to increase their numbers until forced to send the added warriors home.
"Ogama is not a fool, he will never let me escape," Sanjiro said. "I would spike him if I had him trapped."
"He is not a fool, but he can be manipulated." Then Katsumata dropped his voice. "Added to the Gates, you could agree that, if or when there is a Convention of Daimyos, you would support his claims to head the Council of Elders."
Sanjiro exploded, "Never! He has to know I would never agree to that. Why should he believe such nonsense?"' "Because he is Ogama. Because he has fortified his Shimonoseki Straits with dozens of cannon from his not-so-secret, Dutch-built weapons factory and believes therefore, rightly, he can stop gai-jin ships from using it at his whim, yet still be safe against them. That he alone, he thinks, can put into practice the Emperor's wish to expel the gai-jin, that he alone can restore the trapping of power to the Emperor--why shouldn't he claim the big prize, tairo--Dictator?"' "The Land will be torn apart before that."
"The last reason he would welcome a possible truce is because, Sire, never before, has he possessed the Gates--isn't he an upstart, a usurper, isn't his line ordinary,"
Katsumata said with a sneer, "not ancient or exalted like yours. A further reason: he will accept the truce you offer because you will offer it to be permanent."
In the rumble of astonished, angry opposition, Sanjiro had stared at his counselor, astounded at the vast range of concessions Katsumata proposed. Not understanding, but knowing Katsumata too well, he dismissed the others.
"What is behind all this?"' he asked impatiently. "Ogama must know any truce is only good until I am safe behind my mountains where I will mobilize all Satsuma and then march on Kyoto to repossess my rights, avenge the insult and take his head. Why such nonsense from you?"' "Because you are in mortal danger like never before, Sire. You are trapped. There are spies amongst us. I need time to organize boats in Osaka, and I have a battle plan."
At length Sanjiro had said, "Very well.
Negotiate."
The negotiations had so far lasted six days.
During this time Sanjiro placidly stayed at Fushimi, but with spies on all roads to and from Kyoto. As a measure of mutual trust, Sanjiro had agreed to move into a less defensible position, and Ogama had withdrawn all but a token force athwart the escape route. Then both waited for the other to make a mistake.
With supreme power in Kyoto, however tenuous, Ogama, supported by more than a thousand samurai, seemed to be content to tighten his grasp on the Gates, cultivating daimyos and, more particularly, courtiers who were sympathetic. These Ogama persuaded to approach the Emperor, asking Him to "request" the immediate resignation of Anjo and the Council of Elders, to convene a Convention of Daimyos who would be given the power to appoint a new Council of Elders-- with himself as tairo--who would rule until Shogun Nobusada became of age, and at one stroke replacing all Toranaga adherents in the Bakufu.
To Ogama's delight he was told the news his cannon had fired on gai-jin ships had greatly pleased the Emperor, and that, together with Sanjiro's proffered truce and extraordinary concessions, had further bolstered his influence at Court. "The truce is accepted," he had imperiously told Katsumata yesterday. "We will ratify the agreement, seven days from now, here in my headquarters. Then you can retire to Kagoshima."
But this morning had come the astonishing word of Shogun Nobusada's proposed visit. At once Sanjiro sent for Katsumata. "What could possess Anjo and Yoshi to agree? Are they mad? Whatever happens they lose."
"I agree, Sire, but this makes your position even more dangerous. With Ogama holding the Gates, therefore access to the Emperor, any enemy of Ogama is an enemy of the Emperor."
"Obvious! What can I do? What do you suggest?"' "Immediately send Ogama a letter suggesting a meeting in three days to discuss the ramifications of the visit--he must be as astonished as any daimyo. Meanwhile tonight, after dark we implement the battle plan."
"We can't escape without Ogama knowing, there are spies all around us, and his troops within easy distance. The moment he hears we're breaking camp he will fall on us."
"Yes, but we leave the camp exactly as it is, taking only our weapons--I can outmaneuver him, I know him."
Angrily Sanjiro had said, "If that is so why didn't you sniff out the surprise attack, eh?"' Oh but I did, Katsumata could have said, but it suited me better that Ogama temporarily holds the Gates. Didn't we escape his trap without much trouble? Ogama will never be able to deal with the Court, hostile daimyos, the Tosa, Shogun Nobusada's visit or the Princess Yazu--not that Nobusada will arrive, Ogama will be held responsible for his death also.
"So sorry, Sire," he had said pretending an apology, "I am finding out why your spies failed you. Heads will roll."
"Good."
Soon after dark Katsumata sent specially trained men who quietly decimated the unsuspecting Choshu troop spying on them.
Then, following Katsumata's battle plan, except for him and his hundred cavalry, Sanjiro and the regiment hurried south with orders to leave a hundred men every three ri to join up with him as he fell back, following them.
Confidently Katsumata settled into ambush across the Kyoto road. He was sure that if he could survive until dawn, enticing the Choshu into a running fight, when they would probably break off the fight and return to Kyoto to reinforce their position there, leaving only a token force in pursuit. Rumors were rife that Ogama's alliances were already falling apart, the rift widened by lies spread by Katsumata's covert allies.