December 14, 1840—Edo
“Well, My Lord Shogun, the population is becoming restless. Though Date’s rebellion is no longer a significant threat to the control of the nation, we cannot easily crush it. He is entrenched heavily in the mountains of Hokkaido. We believe that his main force is in the vicinity of Asahikawa.”
Ieyoshi grimaced. It was not as though it surprised him. Date was not a fool. This kind of war was one that Ieyoshi had never dreamt would happen. Fighting a foe on the battlefield was easy to deal with. The courage and determination of soldiers would not waver, regardless of odds. This, however, was completely different. Constant ambushes had taken a toll on the soldiers.
“Very well, Hiroshi. We must strike, and strike quickly, else I shall be forced to retire to Edo to secure the rest of the country. There are far too many seditious elements in the rest of the Empire for me to turn my back for long. By the way, have the Imperial Guard finished off the rebels in Kanagawa yet?”
“No, My Lord Shogun. The rebels are reeling, but they still hold a couple villages north of the city.”
The new commander of the Guard was not very efficient, promoted based on connections to the Imperial House more than competence. His predecessor, though…
Ieyoshi stopped that train of thought. Osahito, regardless of his faults and political delusions, was extremely competent. He, like Mizuno, was very good at their jobs. Why had they both left? Mizuno disappeared shortly after resigning from Ieyoshi’s service. Osahito fled the country on a Dutch freighter. Tanaka was somewhere in the mountains, and had been last seen four months previous.
If Ieyoshi were complacent, he would not think much of the three men disappearing. However, Ieyoshi was not complacent. “Hiroshi, I want you to find Tanaka, Mizuno, and Osahito. I don’t care how long it takes, but I will have them. Are you able, spymaster?”
Hiroshi bowed deeply from his six feet of height. “My Lord Shogun, they will be found. I will see to the search myself.”
Ieyoshi looked up at him. “Very well. Send General Watanabe in when you leave.”
Hiroshi stood slowly, and strode out of the tent, eagerness showing in his stride. Watanabe stepped in several minutes later. After bowing to Ieyoshi, he sat on the mat before Ieyoshi’s desk.
“How may the Imperial General serve the Lord Shogun?” Watanabe was one of the minor nobility. He was a member of the class whose blood permitted limited promotion in the army, but needed competence to compete with the sons of the daimyo. A product of this was excessive deference to the daimyo and the Shogun.
“General, it is good to see you well. I have a task for you. You are to split the army in two. One detachment will possess the best regiments of the army, not to exceed 35,000 men. It will push to Asahikawa, and destroy the rebel troop concentrations there. The rest of the army is to intensify anti-banditry operations near our current positions. I intend to press Date.”
“My Lord Shogun, it is likely that Date will retreat northward, into the Kamikawa-shicho. As the Lord Shogun is aware, that is the worst terrain on this island for warfare. If, however, by use of subterfuge, the strike detachment moves up the coast from Sapporo to Rumoi, the Rumoi-shicho can be crossed easily. The detachment will press Date southwards to the Hidaki-shicho and the coastline. He will have no avenue of retreat there, and the terrain is rather mild near Hidaki.”
“It is a good plan. Will it work?”
“It may, My Lord Shogun. It will require luck, but it is quite possible to execute.”
“Then General Watanabe, I charge you with executing this plan for the glory of the Emperor. May Fortune smile upon you and your men.”