“Wako, Mariko-san?”
“Oh, so sorry. We call corsairs ‘wako,’ Anjin-san. They used to have many lairs around Kyushu but they were mostly stamped out by the Taikō. Survivors can still be found, unfortunately. Wako terrorized the coasts of China for centuries. It was because of them that China closed her ports to us.” She explained to Toranaga what had been said. He spoke again, more emphatically. “He says he will never allow or plan or permit you to make a land attack, though it would be correct for you to harry your Queen’s enemy on the high seas. He repeats, this is not anywhere. This is the Land of the Gods. You should be patient as he told you before.”
“Yes. I intend to try to be patient in his fashion. I only want to hit the enemy because they are the enemy. I believe with all my heart they’re his enemy too.”
“Lord Toranaga says the Portuguese tell him you are his enemy, and Tsukku-san and the Visitor-General are absolutely sure of it.”
“If I were able to capture the Black Ship at sea and bring her as a legal prize into Yedo, under the flag of England, would I be permitted to sell her and all she contains in Yedo, according to our custom?”
“Lord Toranaga says that depends.”
“If war comes may I be allowed to attack the enemy, Lord Toranaga’s enemy, in the best way that I can?”
“He says that is the duty of a hatamoto. A hatamoto is, of course, under his personal orders at all times. My Master wants me to make clear that things in Japan will never be solved by any method other than by Japanese method.”
“Yes. I understand completely. With due humility I’d like to point out the more I know about his problems, the more I might be able to help.”
“He says a hatamoto’s duty is always to help his lord, Anjin-san. He says I am to answer any reasonable questions you have later.”
“Thank you. May I ask him, would he like to have a navy of his own? As I suggested on the galley?”
“He has already said he would like a navy, a modern navy, Anjin-san, manned by his own men. What daimyo wouldn’t?”
“Then say this: If I were lucky enough to take the enemy ship, I’d bring her to Yedo to refit and count the prize. Then I’d transship my half of the bullion to Erasmus and sell the Black Ship back to the Portuguese, or offer her to Toranaga-sama as a gift, or burn her, whatever he wishes. Then I’d sail home. Within a year I’d turn around and bring back four warships, as a gift from the Queen of England to Lord Toranaga.”
“He asks where would be your profit in this?”
“The honto is, there would be plenty left over for me, Mariko-san, after the ships were paid for by Her Majesty. Further, I’d like to take one of his most trusted counselors with me as an Ambassador to my Queen. A treaty of friendship between our countries might be of interest to him.”
“Lord Toranaga says that would be much too generous of your Queen. He adds, but if such a thing miraculously happened and you came back with the new ships, who would train his sailors and samurai and captains to man them?”
“I will, initially, if that pleases him. I’d be honored, then others could follow.”
“He says what is ‘initially’?”
“Two years.”
Toranaga smiled fleetingly.
“Our Master says two years would not be enough ‘initially.’ However, he adds, it’s all an illusion. He’s not at war with the Portuguese or Lord Harima of Nagasaki. He repeats, what you do outside Japanese waters in your own ship with your own crew is your own karma.” Mariko seemed disturbed. “Outside our waters you are foreigner, he says. But here you are samurai.”
“Yes. I know the honor he has done to me. May I ask how a samurai borrows money, Mariko-san?”
“From a moneylender, Anjin-san. Where else? From a filthy merchant moneylender.” She translated for Toranaga. “Why should you need money?”
“Are there moneylenders in Yedo?”
“Oh yes. Moneylenders are everywhere, neh? Isn’t it the same in your country? Ask your consort, Anjin-san, perhaps she would be able to help you. That is part of her duty.”
“You said we’re leaving for Yedo tomorrow?”
“Yes, tomorrow.”
“Unfortunately Fujiko-san won’t be able to travel then.”
Mariko talked with Toranaga.
“Lord Toranaga says he will send her by galley, when it leaves. He says what do you need to borrow money for?”
“I’ll have to get a new crew, Mariko-san—to sail anywhere, to serve Lord Toranaga, however he’d wish it. Is that permitted?”
“A crew from Nagasaki?”
“Yes.”
“He will give you an answer when you reach Yedo.”
“Domo, Toranaga-sama. Mariko-san, when I get to Yedo where do I go? Will there be someone to guide me?”
“Oh, you must never worry about things like that, Anjin-san. You are one of Lord Toranaga’s hatamoto.” There was a knock on the inner door.
“Come in.”
Naga opened the shoji and bowed. “Excuse me, Father, but you wanted to be told when all your officers were present.”
“Thank you, I’ll be there shortly.” Toranaga thought a moment, then motioned to Blackthorne, his manner friendly. “Anjin-san, go with Naga-san. He will show you to your place. Thank you for your views.”
“Yes, Sire. Thank you for listen. Thank you for your words. Yes. I try hard be patient and perfect.”
“Thank you, Anjin-san.” Toranaga watched him bow and go away. When they were alone, he turned to Mariko. “Well, what do you think?”
“Two things, Sire. First, his hatred of Jesuits is measureless, even surpassing his loathing of Portuguese, so he is a scourge for you to use against either or both, if you want a scourge. We know he is brave, so he would boldly press home any attack from the sea. Second, money is still his goal. In his defense, from what I’ve learned, money is the only real means the barbarians have to lasting power. They buy lands and position—even their Queen’s a merchant and ‘sells’ land to her lords, and buys ships and lands, probably. They’re not so different from us, Lord, except in that. And also in that they do not understand power, or that war is life and life is death.”
“Are the Jesuits my enemy?”
“I do not believe so.”
“The Portuguese?”
“I believe they’re concerned only with profits, land, and spreading the word of God.”
“Are Christians my enemy?”
“No, Sire. Though some of your enemies may be Christian—Catholic or Protestant.”
“Ah, you think the Anjin-san’s my enemy?”
“No, Sire. No, I believe he honors you and, in time, will become a real vassal.”
“What about our Christians? Who are enemy?”
“Lords Harima, Kiyama, Onoshi, and any other samurai who turns against you.”
Toranaga laughed. “Yes, but do the priests control them, as the Anjin-san implies?”
“I do not think so.”
“Will those three go against me?”
“I don’t know, Sire. In the past, they’ve all been both hostile and friendly to you. But if they side with Ishido it would be very bad.”
“I agree. Yes. You’re a valued counselor. It’s difficult for you being Catholic Christian, being friends with an enemy, listening to enemy ideas.”
“Yes, Sire.”
“He trapped you, neh?”
“Yes. But in truth he had the right. I was not doing what you had ordered. I was putting myself between his pure thoughts and you. Please accept my apologies.”