Masamoto wrote a note to Araki Murashige. Kanbei put it in his kimono and hurried off to Itami. The situation was pressing, and his own actions could have great consequences. As he approached Itami Castle, he saw that the soldiers were digging trenches and building a palisade.
Seemingly oblivious of the fact that he was quickly surrounded by a ring of spears, said, as if he had nothing to fear, "I'm Kuroda Kanbei from Himeji Castle. I'm an ally neither of Lord Nobunaga nor of Lord Murashige. I've come alone for an urgent private talk with Lord Murashige." And he pushed his way through.
He passed through several fortified gates, finally entered the castle, and quickly met Murashige. His first impression upon looking at Murashige's face was that the man was not as strong-willed as he had expected. Murashige's countenance was not very impresssive. Kanbei perceived his opponent's lack of spirit and self-confidence and wondered why he had chosen to fight Nobunaga, who was considered the most outstanding man of his generation.
"Well, it's been a long time!" Murashige said desultorily. It sounded almost like flattery. Kanbei guessed that for a fierce general like Murashige to treat him in this way meant that he was still somewhat unsure of himself.
Kanbei responded with small talk, smiling fixedly at Murashige. For his part, Murashige was unable to conceal his innate honesty, and looked extraordinarily embarrassed under Kanbei's gaze.
Murashige felt his face turn red. "What is your business?" he asked.
"I've heard rumors."
"About my raising an army?"
"You've gotten yourself into a mess."
'What is everyone saying?"
"Some are saying good things, some bad."
"I suppose opinions are divided. But people should wait until the fighting's over to decide who was right and who was wrong. A man's reputation is never settled until after his death."
“Have you considered what will happen after you die?"
"Of course."
"If that's so, then I'm sure you know that the consequences of your decision are irrevocable."
"Why is that?"
"The bad name you'll get from turning against a lord from whom you've received so many favors won't die out for generations."
Murashige fell silent. The throbbing of his temples showed that he was full of emotion, but he did not have the eloquence for a refutation.
"The sake is ready," a retainer announced.
Murashige looked relieved. He stood up. "Kanbei, come inside. It has been a long time, everything else aside. Let's have a drink together," he suggested.
Murashige showed himself a generous host. A banquet had been prepared in the main citadel. The two men naturally avoided any argument as they drank sake, and Murashige's expression relaxed considerably. At some point, however, Kanbei broached the subject again.
"How about it, Murashige? Why don't you stop this thing before it goes too far?"
"Before what goes too far?"
"This petty show of strength."
"My resolution in this grave concern has nothing to do with a show of strength."
"That may be true, but the world is calling it treachery. How do you feel about that?"
"Come on, have some more sake!'
"I'm not going to deceive myself. You've gone to a lot of trouble for me today, but your sake tastes just a little bitter."
"You were sent here by Hideyoshi."
"Of course. Even Lord Hideyoshi is extraordinarily worried about you. Not only that, but he defends you absolutely, regardless of what other people say about you. He calls you ‘a valuable man' and 'a stalwart warrior.' He says that we should not make a mistake, and I can tell you that he'll never forget your friendship."
Murashige sobered up a little and, in some measure, spoke from his heart. "In fact, I received two or three letters from Hideyoshi admonishing me, and I'm moved by his friendship. But Akechi Mitsuhide and other Oda retainers came one after another as Lord Nobunaga's envoys and I rebuffed them all. Certainly I can't comply with Hideyoshi's request now."
"I don't think that's true. If you'll leave the matter to Lord Hideyoshi, he'll surely be able to manage some way of mediating with Lord Nobunaga."
"I don't think so," Murashige said sullenly. "They're saying that when Mitsuhide and Nobumori heard that I had rebelled, they clapped their hands and rejoiced. Mitsuhide came here to appease me. He soothed me with pretty words, but who knows what kind of report he made when he returned to Nobunaga. If I opened my castle and returned to kneel before Nobunaga, in the end he'd only order his men to grab me by the scruff of the neck and cut off my head. None of my retainers is of a mind to return to Nobunaga. They're at the point where they feel that fighting to the end would be best, so this is not just my own opinion. When you go back to Harima, please tell Hideyoshi not to think badly of me."
It seemed that Kanbei was not going to be able to persuade Murashige easily. After a few more cups of sake, he took out Odera Masamoto's letter and handed it to Murashige.
Kanbei had already looked over the gist of the contents. It was simple, but it censured Murashige's behavior earnestly. Murashige moved closer to the lamp and opened it, but just as he finished reading it, he excused himself and left the room.
As he went out, a group of soldiers crowded into the room. They surrounded Kanbei, forming a wall of armor and spears around him.
"Get up!" they shouted.
Kanbei put down his cup and looked at the agitated faces around him. "What happens if I do?" he asked.
"Lord Murashige's orders are to escort you to the castle jail," answered one of the soldiers.
"Jail?" he blurted out, and he wanted to laugh out loud. At the moment he thought it was all over for him, and he saw how funny he must look for having fallen into Murashige's trap.
He stood up, a smile on his face. "Let's go, then. There's nothing I can do but go meekly, if this is Lord Murashige's show of courtesy."
The warriors escorted Kanbei down the main corridor. The noisy clatter of their armor blended with their footsteps. They went down any number of dark corridors and stairways. Kanbei was made to walk in places that were so dark he could have been blindfolded, and he wondered if he might not be killed at any time. He was more or less prepared for such an event, but it did not seem to be forthcoming. At any rate, the lightless place he walked along seemed to be a complicated passageway weaving through the bowels of the castle. After a while, a heavy sliding door clattered open.
"Inside!" he was ordered, and after taking about ten paces forward, he found himself in the middle of a cell. The door slammed shut behind him. This time, Kanbei did laugh out loud into the darkness. Then he turned to the wall and spoke with self-scorn, almost as though he were reciting a poem.
"I myself have fallen into Murashige's trap. Well, well… public morals certainly have become complicated, haven't they?"
He guessed that he was beneath an armory. As far as he could tell by feeling with the soles of his feet, the floor was made of thick, knotted planks. Kanbei walked along calmly, following the four walls. He was able to judge that the area of the cell was about thirty square meters.
No, the way I see it is that Murashige is the man to be pitied. What does he think he's going to accomplish by imprisoning me?
He sat down cross-legged in what was evidently the center of the cell. His buttocks were cold, but there seemed to be nothing to sit on in the room.
He suddenly realized that he hadn't had to give up his short sword, and thought, That's something to be thankful for. If I just have this one weapon… at any time I could….
He silently told himself that even if his buttocks were numbed, his spirit would not be. The Zen meditation that he had practiced so hard in his youth would now perhaps be of use. Such things came to mind as time went by. I'm glad I came, was his next thought. If Hideyoshi had come himself, this small disaster would have been replaced by a great one. I'm grateful that it has turned out this way.