"We'll have nine assault battalions?"
"Yes. They'll be one regiment. Buntaro will command."
"Perhaps it would be better if I did that. He'll be-"
"Oh, but you forget the Council meets in a few days. How can you command a regiment if you're going to Osaka? Haven't you prepared to leave?"
Yabu stopped. "We're allies. We agreed you're the leader and we pissed on the bargain. I've kept it, and I'm keeping it. Now I ask, what's your plan? Do we war or don't we?"
"No one's declared war on me. Yet."
Yabu craved to unsheath the Yoshitomo blade and splash Toranaga's blood on the dirt, once and for all, whatever the cost. He could feel the breath of the Toranaga guards all around him but he was beyond caring now. "Isn't the Council your death knell too? You said that yourself. Once they've met, you have to obey. Neh?"
"Of course." Toranaga waved his guards back, leaning easily on his sword, his stocky legs wide and firm.
"Then what's your decision? What do you propose?"
"First to see an attack."
"Then?"
"Then to go hunting."
"Are you going to Osaka?"
"Of course."
"When?"
"When it pleases me."
"You mean, not when it pleases Ishido."
"I mean when it pleases me."
"We'll be isolated," Yabu said. "We can't fight all Japan, even with an assault regiment, and we can't possibly train it in ten days."
"Yes."
"Then what's the plan?"
"What exactly happened with Jozen and Naga-san?"
Yabu told it truly, omitting only the fact that Naga had been manipulated by Omi.
"And my barbarian? How's the Anjin-san behaving?"
"Good. Very good." Yabu told him about the attempted seppuku on the first night, and how he had neatly bent the Anjin-san to their mutual advantage.
"That was clever," Toranaga said slowly. "I'd never have guessed he'd try seppuku. Interesting."
"It was fortunate I told Omi to be ready."
"Yes."
Impatiently Yabu waited for more but Toranaga remained silent.
"This news I sent about Lord Ito becoming a Regent," Yabu said at last. "Did you know about it before I sent word?"
Toranaga did not answer for a moment. "I'd heard rumors. Lord Ito's a perfect choice for Ishido. The poor fool's always enjoyed being shafted while he has his nose up another man's anus. They'll make good bedfellows."
"His vote will destroy you, even so."
"Providing there's a Council."
"Ah, then you do have a plan?"
"I always have a plan - or plans - didn't you know? But you, what's your plan, Ally? If you want to leave, leave. If you want to stay, stay. Choose!" He walked on.
Mariko handed Toranaga a scroll of closely written characters.
"Is this everything?" he asked.
"Yes, Sire," she replied, not liking the stuffiness of the cabin or being aboard the galley again, even moored at the dock. "A lot of what's in the War Manual will be repeated, but I made notes every night and wrote down everything as it happened - or tried to. It's almost like a diary of what was said and happened since you left."
"Good. Has anyone else read it?"
"Not to my knowledge." She used her fan to cool herself. "The Anjin-san's consort and servants have seen me writing it, but I've kept it locked away."
"What are your conclusions?"
Mariko hesitated. She glanced at the cabin door and at the closed porthole.
Toranaga said, "Only my men are aboard and no one's below decks. Except us."
"Yes, Sire. I just remembered the Anjin-san saying there are no secrets aboard a ship. So sorry." She thought a moment, then said confidently, "The Musket Regiment will win one battle. Barbarians could destroy us if they landed in force with guns and cannon. You must have a barbarian navy. Thus far, the Anjin-san's knowledge has been enormously valuable to you, so much so it should be kept secret, only for your ears. In the wrong hands his knowledge would be lethal to you. " "Who shares his knowledge now?"
"Yabu-san knows much but Omi-san more - he's the most intuitive. Igurashi-san, Naga-san, and the troops - the troops of course understand the strategy, not the finer details and none of the Anjin-san's political and general knowledge. Me, more than any. I've written down everything he's said, asked, or commented on, Sire. As best I can. Of course he has only told us about certain things, but his range is vast and his memory near perfect. With patience he can provide you with an accurate picture of the world, its customs and dangers. If he's telling the truth."
"Is he?"
"I believe so."
"What's your opinion of Yabu?"
"Yabu-san's a violent man with no scruples whatsoever. He honors nothing but his own interests. Duty, loyalty, tradition, mean nothing to him. His mind has flashes of great cunning, even brilliance. He's equally dangerous as ally or enemy."