August 5, 1838—The Tenpo Convention
The night was dark and still, only broken by the pacing of house guards. Even the guards felt the oppressive heat, pausing for a time, to stand by the famous Tenpo pond. Some even wet their foreheads with the cool water, but those who did received frowns from the veterans. To take water was a sign of weakness, whereas standing watch through the sweltering heat was honorable.
The clouds parted revealing the moon and stars. A slight breeze rolled in from the northwest. The moonbeams illuminated the Tenpo gardens, bouncing off mirrors and the pond, creating brilliant images. The sudden light combined with the breeze fastened the guards’ attention to the center of the garden. In so doing, their eyes were not on the cloaked figure who darted from building to building, keeping to the shadows.
Hakodate noticed a ladder behind one of the huts, cast aside by laborers when their day had ended. Peasants, he sneered to himself. They needed a firm hand, or anarchy would reign. He had heard wild tales of peoples across the ocean who had no strong rulers. Supposedly they ruled themselves. Ha! That was pure fantasy. His reverie was interrupted by the challenge of Date’s house guards.
“Hold, and Identify!”
“I am the Daimyo Hakodate. The Daimyo Date summoned me to his presence.”
One of the veterans nodded to the rest. “He’s expected.”
Hakodate passed through the ring of guards, stepping into the lighted building. The guards made the mistake of looking after Hakodate, and destroying their night vision on the Date’s lanterns. The cloaked form exploded into their midst, twin blades flashing in the lantern light. The soldiers struggled to bare steel, but to no avail. Steel connected with flesh, severing tendons and jugular veins. A few cries of alarm went up, followed by screams of pain and terror. Guards from other buildings ran towards the chaos, with weapons at the ready.
The cloaked man dashed off to the right, out of the light. As the garden emptied of soldiers, another man jumped onto the top of Date’s structure. He quietly pulled a knife from his cloak, opening a hole in the thatched roof. The hole was just big enough for a human head. Takase judged the hole. It wasn’t quite big enough. Enlarging it, however, would make noise; something he could ill afford. He tucked the knife back in his cloak.
Takase tested the strength of the thatch. To his relief, the structure flexed, indicating the work had been done properly. Using his hands, he slowly pulled the thatch away from the opening. He could not rip the thatch, but it gave him another couple inches. Lowering himself down, Takase was at his most vulnerable. Anyone coming along outside would see his torso against the moon. Anyone from the inside would see a man’s legs where they should not be. Luck was with him, and Takase landed softly on his feet inside the building.
He crept to the partition in front of him. He could hear Date’s voice.
“…I’ve thought of that, Hakodate, my friend. Ieyoshi has support amongst the peasants, but few daimyo want him to succeed in his radical plans. The lesser daimyo support him, but only as a counterweight to the Clans.”
“I’m telling you, Date, this scheme is dangerous. If Ieyoshi finds out…”
“He won’t find out. He may have a strong espionage net, but we are surrounded by hundreds of our own House Guards. All servants have been sent home for the duration, and I trust my guardsmen with my life.”
“The real question is, do you trust them with your conspiracy? This isn’t just your life, Date.”
“My friend, Ieyoshi believes me to be a friend. He wouldn’t know where to start in unraveling this conspiracy. I spoke with him, man to man, last month, and I believe I convinced him that I have a simple disagreement on the issue of the peasants. I am not capable of subterfuge, you see.”
“Ha! Did he really believe you?”
“Yes, he did. I don’t know how a man that naïve beat Takeda.”
Laughter emanated from behind the partition, as Takase turned, and left.