Hiro-matsu wrote: "Sire, your half brother, Zataki, Lord of Shinano, arrived here today from Osaka asking for safe conduct to see you at Anjiro. He travels formally with a hundred samurai and bearers, under the cipher of the 'new' Council of Regents. I regret to tell you the Lady Kiritsubo's news is correct. Zataki's turned traitor and is openly flaunting his allegiance to Ishido. What she did not know is that Zataki is now a Regent in place of Lord Sugiyama. He showed me his official appointment, correctly signed by Ishido, Kiyama, Onoshi, and Ito. It was all I could do to restrain my men at his arrogance and obey your orders to let any messenger from Ishido pass. I wanted to kill this dung eater myself. Traveling with him is the barbarian priest, Tsukku-san, who arrived by sea at the port of Numazu, coming from Nagasaki. He asked permission to visit you so I sent him with the same party. I've sent two hundred of my men to escort them. They'll arrive within two days at Anjiro. When do you return to Yedo? Spies say Jikkyu's mobilizing secretly and news comes from Yedo that the northern clans are ready to throw in with Ishido now that Zataki's Shinano is against you. I beg you to leave Anjiro at once - retreat by sea. Let Zataki follow you to Yedo, where we can deal with him properly."
Toranaga slammed his fist against the floor.
"Naga-san. Fetch Buntaro-san, Yabu-san, and Omi-san here at once."
They arrived very quickly. Toranaga read them the message. "We'd better cancel all training. Send the Musket Regiment, every man, into the mountains. We don't want any security leaks now."
Omi said, "Please excuse me, Sire, but you might consider intercepting the party over the mountains. Say at Yokose. Invite Lord Zataki" -he chose the title carefully- "to take the waters at one of the nearby spas, but have the meeting at Yokose. Then, after he's delivered his message, he and all his men can be turned back, escorted to the frontier, or destroyed, just as you wish."
"I don't know Yokose."
Yabu said importantly, "It's beautiful, almost in the center of Izu, Sire, over the mountains in a valley cleft. It's beside the river Kano. The Kano flows north, eventually through Mishima and Numazo to the sea, neh? Yokose's at a crossroads - the roads go north-south and east-west. Yes, Yokose'd be a good place to meet, Sire. Shuzenji Spa's nearby - very hot, very good - one of our best. You should visit it, Sire. I think Omi-san's made a good suggestion."
"Could we defend it easily?"
Omi said quickly, "Yes, Sire. There's a bridge. The land falls steeply from the mountains. Any attackers would have to fight up a snaking road. Both passes can be held with few men. You could never be ambushed. We have more than enough men to defend you and butcher ten times their number - if need be."
"We butcher them whatever happens, neh?" Buntaro said with contempt. "But better there than here. Sire, please let me make the place safe. Five hundred archers, no musketeers - all horsemen. Added to the men my father sent, we'll have more than enough."
Toranaga checked the date on the dispatch. "They'll reach the crossroads when?"
Yabu looked at Omi for confirmation. "Tonight at the earliest?"
"Yes. Perhaps not until dawn tomorrow."
"Buntaro-san, leave at once," Toranaga said. "Contain them at Yokese but keep them the other side of the river. I'll leave at dawn tomorrow with another hundred men. We should be there by noon. Yabu-san, you take charge of our Musket Regiment for the moment and guard our retreat. Put it in ambush across the Heikawa Road, on the skyline, so we can fall back through you if necessary."
Buntaro started to leave but stopped as Yabu said uneasily, "How can there be treachery, Sire? They've only a hundred men."
"I expect treachery. Lord Zataki wouldn't put his head into my hands without a plan, for, of course, I'll take his head if I can," Toranaga said. "Without him to lead his fanatics we'll have a far better chance to get through his mountains. But why's he risking everything? Why?"
Omi said tentatively, "Could he be ready to turn ally again?"
They all knew the long-standing rivalry that had existed between the half brothers. A friendly rivalry up till now.
"No, not him. I never trusted him before. Would any of you trust him now?"
They shook their heads.
Yabu said, "Surely there's nothing to disturb you, Sire. Lord Zataki's a Regent, yes, but he's only a messenger, neh?"
Fool, Toranaga wanted to shout, don't you understand anything? "We'll soon know. Buntaro-san, go at once."
"Yes, Sire. I'll choose the meeting place carefully, but don't let him within ten paces. I was with him in Korea. He's too quick with his sword."
"Yes.
Buntaro hurried away. Yabu said, "Perhaps Zataki can be tempted to betray Ishido - some prize perhaps? What's his bait? Even without his leadership the Shinano mountains are cruel."
