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I do wonder if the result of the naval battle will render Ieyoshi's trip obselete, if either side can gain a decisive advantage Japan may be in no position to play any games at all.
 
“Good morning, sir. Where might I find the Governor?” His English was excellent by Japanese standards, but the Englishman pretended not to understand him. Ieyoshi considered for a moment drawing his sword to teach the man respect. But only for a moment. His mission was more important than his honor.

Ieyoshi drew Osahito's letter from his coat, and handed it to the Englishman, who was clearly a lower-level functionary, by his behavior. The man read it, nodded.

“Follow me, please. The Governor will see you in a few days. In the meanwhile, you will stay in the Governor's palace.”

Ieyoshi nodded in thanks. “Please convey my thanks to the Governor for his hospitality.” The Shogun had spent much of the trip practicing what he would say, and Osahito had said this was a good, polite remark for the Governor. Instead, the Englishman frowned at him, and said nothing. As he was escorted to the Palace, Ieyoshi wondered at his predicament. Things were not going according to plan. He hoped Osahito's luck was with him. Japan would need it.

This is a neat bunch of text. With just one man's perspective, you're conveying nicely not just European chauvinism, but its Japanese counterpart as well. It also fun to see Ieyoshi proceeding with his efforts with nary a Plan B outside of luck, which is juxtaposed nicely with the assassin in the first snaphot and the captain in the third; even the captain has a Plan B, insofar as his pistol may be applied. If not luck, then Ieyoshi's Plan B is iaijutsu, which is significantly less diplomatic. Anyway, I dig passages like this that remain so fixed within one man's mind, but which tell so much nonetheless.
 
Well, it looks like I'm getting pretty close to finishing rebuilding the Victoria mod to the point it was before. Hopefully updates will come soon.

phargle: Every once in a while something I try in my writing works as intended. I'm glad this is one of them. :)
 
My apologies, Stephen -- I must have seen the naval battle in that last scene (from 2 weeks ago!) and thought it was the same scene I'd read previously. Now, having read it, I'm up to speed!

Interesting developments. Nice to have Ieyoshi and Osahito cooperating for a greater purpose. What's Suzuki up to? Not going to kill, so....

Glad you've got the game working as you want. Waiting for the next installment!

Rensslaer
 
“Admiral?” The brown-haired captain stuck his head in the door. Captain Fleisingen was young for his position, but Bieldeers had liked what he had seen so far. Opdorf had sponsored the young man's captaincy. Another plus for Fleisingen, at least in Bieldeers' estimation.

“Well, how goes the landing, Captain?” Bieldeers carefully placed his pen to the side, so as not to smear the ink, and regarded Fleisingen calmly. “Any resistance?”

“Admiral, there is little opposition near the docks. I left orders with Major Colijn to halt after securing the dockside, to allow the Emperor time for a favorable response.”

“Well, I suppose that is promising, Captain, but the Japanese response is somewhat puzzling.”

“How so, Admiral, if I may?” Fleisingen was checking his enthusiasm, at least. Bieldeers hid a smile.

“Captain, any reasonable ruler would decide quickly how to deal with us. The Japanese should either try to repulse our landing or accede to our demands. That this Osahito has decided to do neither worries me. He is acting as if he knows something we do not.”

“A bluff, sir?”

“Perhaps. Likely. It is a miscalculation on his part. It is not my intention for his people to suffer, but they will. Even an army with the best of men and intentions cannot be completely blameless in this respect. No. He has just not realized that I hold all the cards. At least for now.”

“Sir?”

Bieldeers sighed deeply. “Captain, in case you haven't been paying attention in your briefings, there is a British force to the south of us.” Fleisingen winced at the reproach. “They are not in a position to intervene yet, but they will. I need this settled by the time they are.”

“Yes, sir!” Fleisingen saluted the Admiral, turned, and left the Admiral staring southward at his British adversaries, wondering what their commander was up to.


Dutch marines filtered through the cobbled streets of the Edo waterfront district. Though it was the middle of the day, the streets were quiet. The whole city was quiet. Within a house, an old woman began crying, softly. Her son heard it, and ground his teeth, knowing his mother's frustration and sadness. Could the traditionalists be right? Had Osahito abandoned the guidance of his ancestors?

He turned to his mother. “I will fight them.” Her tears splashed on the floor in answer. He bowed deeply to her. “Think on me fondly, mother. I hope to acquit myself honorably.” With that, he was gone.


The lantern light of the tavern flickered wildly in the night's wind. The marine was quite drunk. His sergeant would surely punish him in the morning, but this was the first land he had set foot on in months. He was entitled to a little fun. He yelled, “More Drinks!” to the elderly Japanese man behind the counter. Though not understanding Dutch, the tavernkeeper knew what the marine wanted.

He poured another cup of sake, and placed it on an old wooden tray. A hand closed on his. Two Japanese men stood before him. The shorter one who had touched him grabbed the tray. The other bowed to him.

“Remember Honor”. The tavernkeeper thought it odd, but acquiesced. The man with the tray walked over to the marine's table, and bowed deeply.

“What is this?” The marine shouted at his server, who removed the cup of rice wine from the tray, and placed it before him, spilling a little bit.

“Why...What...How?” The marine spluttered in indignation. The Japanese merely looked back serenely. The marine's face began growing very red, and then deposited the contents of his stomach on his server's feet, before falling to the ground, unconscious.

The server bowed once more, and addressed the marine. “You have soiled my shoes. You are an honorless dog, lacking in the most fundamental of courtesy, and I will find others who will act to help me remove your stain from our honor.” The servant walked back to his companions at the counter. He looked at them calmly. “Remember Honor.”
 
Hmm.... The blindness of the Dutch, the resistance is beginning, and we have a nameless hero, who I hope we will get to know.

Fascinating scene, FJ! Looking forward to more!

Rensslaer
 
The Dutch may be about to discover something they should not have forgotten.

A people can fight and be successful, even against an overwhelming power. They were after all.
 
Rensslaer & stnylan: In my youth, I never quite understood how the Dutch rebellion against Spain developed and prospered. Over the past few weeks, I've been learning a good deal, which, even though it won't be terribly relevant to this story, was quite educational.

As an aside, I've done a good deal of thinking, and I am planning to enter education as a physics teacher at the high school level. I have returned to school to obtain certification, so I'm glad my devoted readers are willing to bear with me during this time of transition. Hopefully, I will end up with more time to work on the AAR, but we will see.

When I get home tonight, I will post the next installment.
 
I WAS thinking of getting out my Haiku pen, but the ink is kind of dry...


A fizzicks teacher, eh? Sounds very good! Congratulations.

Looking forward to hearing more about the Dutch, English & Japanese!

Good to have you back!

Rensslaer
 
“This struggle began with an unprovoked attack on the Emperor, comrades.” A chorus of agreement surged up from the room, assaulting the speaker's ears. He waited for it to die down. “Our Emperor and Shogun's honored ancestors' policy towards foreigners was very simple—isolation. If we do not bother them, they do not bother us. The extent of our involvement in the West was twofold. First, we allowed the Dutch an enclave to trade with us. Second, we sent our Emperor to Europe to learn how the foreigners think, to better enable him to protect us.”

The speaker cleared his throat loudly. He sipped some more wine from the small wooden cup resting near his elbow, and continued. “Does this constitute a breach with our ancestral policy toward foreigners? No, it does not. How long have we conducted a small trade with Korea? We have always supported trade on a small scale with neighbors who can provide commodities we lack. Why then, the change in our status with the Dutch? Why would they attack where we had done nothing?”

He made as if to step down from his place at the head of the table, then stopped. His voice was much lower now, a rasp barely intelligible over the sound of boots on cobblestones outside the house. “Comrades, we must fight. Just as the flood will eventually humble a mountain, we must explain why it was a mistake to bombard our cities, to invade our lands, and to insult our Emperor. If blood is all the Dutch understand, we will ensure they learn.”

The speaker stepped down, and sat among his listeners. As the sound of footsteps receded, many of the men sitting around him began speaking to their neighbors of the speaker's eloquence, and pledged themselves to the Emperor's cause. The speaker smiled.


Captain Fleisingen sat in his cabin, pondering the meaning of the reports on his desk. His losses during the occupation had risen drastically over the past ten days. Better than one of five marines had not returned to barracks after last night's patrols of the Koto district. They had been officially listed by their officers as deserters, but Fliesingen didn't believe there had ever been a situation not involving a pitched battle where twenty percent of a force deserted overnight. It troubled him, the kind of problem which caused him a tremendous headache.

Fliesingen leaned back, and flexed his back. No, it was not desertion. But what could it be?


Osahito walked into the house which had become his temporary residence ever since Bieldeers had a frigate drop a shell on his palace. The court was not happy with the new arrangements, but they would learn to accept them. Remarkably, most of them phrased their complaints as 'degrading' the honor of the Emperor. Osahito shook his head slightly, and chuckled. He had lived better than a third of his life outside the palace. Most of his courtiers had been born, raised, and lived within the palace grounds.

He opened the door to his study, and found the frail figure of Tanaka sitting in an armchair by the fireplace. “Well, my friend, what is the mood in the city?”

Tanaka responded without turning. “It is an auspicious breeze, should the Emperor harness the wind properly. Resistance, though spontaneous in some districts, is not widespread enough or violent enough to be used as a weapon against the Dutch. It is like a burning ember—insufficient to light a fire by itself, but should one blow on it, a most merry fire develops.”

Osahito tried not to start laughing at Tanaka's paired metaphors, and responded in a wry tone, “I trust the same breath used so often to chastise your Emperor's decisions has fashioned an inferno in my city?”

“Emperor, my breath will always be used in the service of Japan and your house.”
 
The rumble of an approaching conflict, indistinct but growing in intensity...

Looking forward to how it's going to turn out!

Rensslaer
 
The rumble of an approaching conflict, indistinct but growing in intensity...

Looking forward to how it's going to turn out!

Rensslaer

Absolutely. If only RL would cooperate, and let me get some quality writing time in. :(

This AAR is certainly a monstrosity. I think my writing style has changed a good deal since the beginning, hopefully for the better!

All: Thanks for reading. You'll see an update tomorrow or next week, depending on how the landslide hits.
 
Absolutely. If only RL would cooperate, and let me get some quality writing time in. :(

This AAR is certainly a monstrosity. I think my writing style has changed a good deal since the beginning, hopefully for the better!

All: Thanks for reading. You'll see an update tomorrow or next week, depending on how the landslide hits.

It has changed, and definitely for the better...

It may fall to me to break this to you, though... Writing does not necessarily improve, like wine, if it's allowed to age... :p :D

Looking forward to the next update!

Renss
 
Rensslaer said:
It has changed, and definitely for the better...It may fall to me to break this to you, though... Writing does not necessarily improve, like wine, if it's allowed to age... :p :D
:D

I've been putting the finishing touches on the update, and it should go up tonight.
 
Suzuki bowed deeply to the Emperor, short black hair glistening under the torchlight. The room was silent, apart from the quiet, wary breathing of the Imperial Guards. Suzuki could barely see the outline of the highbacked, western-style throne behind his sovereign through the gloom. He raised his head.

"Well, my agent, what have you learned?"

Suzuki marveled at the quiet, commanding voice emerging from his Emperor. Osahito was already sounding like one of the Emperors of old. Or, Suzuki thought wryly, at least my impression of them. Keeping every hint of smile from his face, he spoke.

"My Emperor, I have returned from the Usamu fortress, partially successful."

The Emperor leaned forward, and waved his hand, indicating the guards should exit.

"Partially? It is said that a messenger should always begin with bad news. After that, his head is safe."

Suzuki couldn't help but smile, covering it with a hand. He looked up and found the small smile of a lord towards his trusted servant. Suzuki bowed his head deeply. This was his new place in the world.

"Yes, my Emperor. I was unable to determine which daimyo Usamu is meeting with. There are four of them, apart from Usamu himself. His brother has been coordinating meeting, though I have been unable to interdict any of his messages. This has been a frustrating assignment, my Emperor. Seemingly everything has gone wrong, and I can only blame my own frailties for it."

Suzuki bowed his head, waiting for the Emperor's judgment.

Osahito sighed. Suzuki was very formal, considering his previous line of work. Perhaps failure was punishable by death in the Brotherhood? Perhaps. It would explain some of the city prefectorate reports.

"Man attributes many more failures to himself than is just. Don't forget that you do not control all circumstances, and that you returned from peril to give me this report. It cannot be as bad as you say."

"My Emper-"

"--I will not hear any more of your alleged failures. Should you wish to serve some form of penance, I am sure Tanaka-san is somewhere around the palace."

Suzuki winced as much at Tanaka's name as the scolding tone in his Emperor's voice. He bowed shakily.

"Now, Suzuki, you said you were partially successful did you not? What did you learn?"

"One of Usamu's servants indicated he, and by extension, his master, would be journeying to the north, near Sendai. This was to happen within the next few weeks, before the onset of the snows and winter."

Suzuki paused, but Osahito remained expressionless.

"My Emperor, should I attempt to follow the daimyo to the conspirators' meeting place?"

Osahito leaned back in his throne, and sighed, He shook his head almost invisibly.

"No. We do not know enough yet, and the risk of discovery outweighs the possible benefits. We will wait for Usamu to return from his journey. As troubling as daimyo conspiracies can be, a greater hazard lies by the docks. We will address this one first."

Suzuki bowed.

"My Emperor, should one of your agents be sent to gather more information on the conspirators? Even if my Emperor does not plan to act, more information on their identities and plans surely would be helpful?"

Osahito smiled.

"Yes, Suzuki, that would be helpful. However, I do not need to send one of my best agents to accomplish that. Tanaka will convey your task to you in the morning. Sleep well, Suzuki."

As Suzuki withdrew, he could only speculate at what mission could be more important. None of it made any sense, and Suzuki could only hope the Emperor knew what he was doing.
 
An intriguing scene! Hmm...

I commend the Emperor's patience -- I'd be chomping at the bit to see who he's meeting with. Plus it's a missed opportunity, it seems, but he may be right in the end.

Being suspicious like I am, I would have to wonder whether Suzuki's association is suspect, and whether the information was planted to lead the agent into danger. But he probably got the information in a way that would not allow such a plant.

I apologize, Stephen! I saw you had posted, but kept thinking it was the feedback you posted that same day. Took me a while to realize you'd posted the scene.

Looking forward to seeing what else will happen soon, and what Suzuki's assignment is!

The line about Tanaka was great!

Rensslaer
 
Plans within plans within plans. I hope the Dutch have something else up their sleeve not yet revealed too, or else the initiative will rest solely with the Japanese. This despite the Dutch being on the offensive militarily speaking.
 
FJ44,

Do you realise this AAR is quickly closing in on two Victoria classics in terms of viewcount???!!!

Diario de Mexico and The Pharoah and the Prophet were both once considered to have an astounding number of views, but you're closing in on these towering works! :D

Renss
 
Ack! Finals!

Folks, finals start tomorrow and run through next Wednesday, so hopefully next week I'll have the time to get another update up.

Rensslaer: :eek:
Did not know the viewcount had gone so high. It helps that I began this thing something like 3-4 years ago.

I appreciate the comments, it provides extra motivation to find time to write.
 
How did finals go?

Where'd you go? :p

Rensslaer