Knightly Advice Page #5

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To tell Jinjuro.

Okubo is a stubborn fellow.

He might very well fire into our mansion.

We have an important mission.

For now, rearrange the procession.

This is a separate issue.

It's a bluff. There's no way he will fire

a cannon right in front of the castle.

Boss!

If this guy confesses, the old man's

actions will make sense.

There's no time.

We'll have to make it look

like he committed seppuku.

We'll sign his name

on a confession we write.

Oh no!

Fire!

Don't. Boss. Please don't.

Boss. Don't do it.

Sanjuro. Fire the cannon.

Oh no. He really did it!

Hanzo. Take this confession to Lord Mito.

Aye!

You, don't let the old man commit seppuku.

Aye!

Okubo is finished.

Which means the knights' arrogance

will end as well.

Seppuku. I order Okubo to commit seppuku.

Lord Izu. You make the arrangements.

Are you opposed?

As a lowly 2,000 koku-a-year retainer,

he used his renown as the Shogun's Advisor

to commit such an unspeakable act.

Do you think I can let it go?

Sire!

Uncle. You're opposed, too?

How could I oppose

the decision of the Shogun?

But you said,

a lowly 2,000 koku-a-year retainer.

That reminded me...

I'll hear it.

In April of 1616...

the first shogun was ill.

When I went to see him, he said,

"This is the reason I consider...

Okubo to be the pillar of our Shogunate".

He said he offered Okubo 20,000

and a castle for his bravery in battle.

Okubo laughed and said the other

knights were much braver than him.

If you give me 20,000, you will

have to give them more...

Then the Shogunate worth 8,000,000 koku

will go broke.

And the Shogun himself

will not even be able to eat.

Okubo said his current 2,000 koku

was enough.

And he declined the promotion.

Okubo does not wish for any more.

That's why he's the cornerstone.

That's why the first Shogun gave him

the honor of the Shogun's Advisor.

That is what the first Shogun told me.

I didn't know about this.

Okubo is indeed... "the cornerstone

of the Tokugawa clan".

Cherry blossoms in full bloom...

your glory lasts but just a day.

For you My Lord, My Liege...

your knights will gladly give their lives...

You've all come to prepare camp stew...

for me because I'm still

confined to my house.

I'll never forget it, even if I die.

We prefer you remember when you're alive.

There's a man called Takecho to see you.

Takecho?

Oh, hello. I was just passing

and I heard the song

Hiko... er,

Sir Okubo used to sing to me.

So I barged in.

I wonder if I can join in.

Ye...Ye...Yes... please, please.

- What's this?

- You don't know?

How can you be a knight

and not know camp stew.

Oh, camp stew?

Right. To remember the hardships

of battle, my boss invented it.

Hush.

I see. So let's have a bite.

Oh, you had noodles in camp?

Those are hay shoelaces.

Hay shoelaces?

I've heard of eating hay

when besieged in a castle.

Um, this is pretty good.

There's tree roots, pine leaves,

frogs and snakes.

This moonshine will make it bearable.

Isn't it good?

Yes, it is.

I've never tasted it before.

You're never had moonshine...?

That means you're pretty high ranked

among the knights.

Do you make 5,000 koku a year?

Er... about that.

But you're part of the dum-dum group.

Dum-dum?

In Osaka children call fools "dum-dum".

Then all those here are fools?

All knights are dum-dums.

The Shogun is a bigger dum-dum.

The shogun is a fool?

Yes, he is. I came here

to be Sir Okubo's wife.

Of course he wouldn't have me.

But I'm fine with that.

I don't want to be a knight's wife.

It's not because they're poor.

It's because their lives

are not meaningful.

We don't pay our servants all that well.

But they all work hard without complaint.

That's because their boss

knows how hard they work.

My Dad knows everything about them.

Even down to how many cats they have.

But what does a knight have to live for?

What does the Shogun

know about his knights?

Do you think the Shogun

would recognize you?

Does the Shogun know these people?

No... I don't think so.

Why do they have to be loyal

to someone like that?

It's natural they form a group

like the 6th Law.

And make trouble.

So that's why Sir Okubo wanted

the Shogun to recognize them...

So that they would want to work

for the Shogun.

And finally he decided...

to sacrifice himself.

He also acted rashly with them

and did a very terrible thing,

and made the Shogun angry... so that he must

commit seppuku. But making sure first...

that the Shogun wouldn't blame himself and

die in order to appease their desperate lives.

And you don't think He's a dum-dum?

Hikoza.

Sire...

Hikoza.

How lonely you must have felt.

Forgive me.

Please forgive me.

Cherry blossoms in full bloom...

your glory lasts but just a day.

For you My Lord, My Liege...

your knights will gladly give their lives.

It is an honor to fight in battle...

and become but dew on the grass.

I will not care how and when I die.

Now is the time, comrades, let's attack...

On the 15th, all non-liege lords

and knights were ordered to the castle.

Non-liege lords:

The first and second Shoguns...

were of equal rank to you

under Toyotomi rule.

Thus, they treated you with respect

during their rule.

I was born as the third Shogun and

I believe things should be different now.

From now, I will treat you as my liege.

Those of you who disagree, go back to your

fiefs and do whatever you feel is appropriate.

If you want a battle...

I will not ask other lords,

but will fight you with my 80,000 knights.

Lord Kato?

Lord Terazawa?

Lord Horio?

I hear that you three

might have some other ideas.

You are free to leave.

What about it?

If there are no objections, from today

I will treat all of you as my retainers.

Thank you for coming.

HONDA:

Lord Izu has come alone.

He probably has something up his sleeve.

But this is the time for action.

We should take him hostage.

I came here alone

because my father and yours...

served together under the first Shogun.

We also serve in the same council.

And your clan

has always served the Tokugawas.

It is your destiny

to serve the Tokugawas.

To that end...

I advise you to take proper measures.

Lord, do not fall for his words.

He wants to bring you down, take the credit,

then take control of the council himself.

Takeuchi. I would have expected you

to have committed seppuku by now.

Farewell, Lord Honda.

In March, the Shogun travels to Nikko

to the shrine of the first Shogun.

The Chief Trip Attendant, a prestigious position

was given not to noble lords but to Okubo.

I came to Edo hoping to be a bride

but ended being a go-between.

How vexing.

The Shogun Iemitsu Procession Departs!

He really is... in his prime!

THE END:

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