Chapter 11: Let what happen, happen
Fifteen day of the fifth month of the fifth year of the Bunji era (June 30, 1189)
Somewhere near the town of Tōno , north-east of Hiraizumi ,Mutsu Province
After freeing Fujiwara no Tadahira (1) ,Minamoto no Yoshitsune(2) and his group of “rebels” fled to the northeast of Esashi to the town of Tōno. It was a quiet town with farmlands and famous horse breeding grounds. The surroundings were also rich in game, something which made the location a well-liked spot for the Northern Fujiwara (3) leaders and their hunting parties. Their choice for this location as base was proposed by Tadahira . The local game could provide them with food and since the town was important to the Northern Fujiwara clan, its occupation had symbolic value. Indeed, the rebels got hold of a town closely connected to the show of power of the Northern Fujiwara . But, it was agreed by Yoshitsune, Tadahira and Hachimatsu (4) that no harm should be done to its inhabitants. Instead they lived with their band outside the village, to the north, on the slopes of Kaburagi-yama.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune’s fame attracted villagers, curious to see the famous general of the Minamoto (5). Some even offered food. Although the cordial reception eased the men’s morale, Yoshitsune and Tadahira were worried about the reaction of Fujiwara no Yasuhira (6) to the incident they created in Esashi. Would Yasuhira send more men to hunt them down, or would he ask for negotiations, since his brother was in the hands of the rebels? Tadahira thought that the second scenario was the most probable. Family pressure as well as the close relationship between Yoshitsune and the Ōshu Fujiwara (7) would force him to seek a peaceful arrangement. But for Yoshitsune, who had barely escaped an ambush at the Koromo River and lost all his vassals, nothing good could be expected from Yasuhira. After all, he had been decreed an imperial enemy. Yasuhira, therefore, was bound to arrest him and give his head either to the court or to Minamoto no Yoritomo (8) .
The group had been in Tōno for more than week now and scout reports indicated that the number of patrols had decreased. Such a fact was not understood by Yoshitsune or Tadahira, who both expected a big search for them. But their perception of the situation all changed, when three days earlier, Hachimatsu heard from the locals that Fujiwara no Yasuhira had stepped down in favour of his son, Fujiwara no Tokihira (9). The news was quickly relayed to Yoshitsune, who began to see the wind turning in his favour. Maybe, maybe he still had chance in Ōshu.
Then, the afternoon of that day ….
A dozen of horsemen escorted by four scouts entered the camp. They did not seem aggressive, looking left to right , observing Hachimatsu’s camp and its surrounding. They were dressed in civilian clothes and none of them had armour, but carried bows and swords.
“My lord, my lord!!!”, exclaimed a member of the band
“What is it?”, asked Yoshitsune
“A group of people coming from Hiraizumi was met by our men, they claim to be messengers”
“Really?”
“Yes, sir, one of them claims to be Fujiwara no Kunihira (10) and request to speak with you”
For Yoshitsune, it was a surprise. Wasn’t Kunihira supposed to be in neighbouring Dewa province? How could he have come? For now, the Minamoto general had to follow an infantryman to a small gathering of men.
He immediately recognized Hachimatsu, the original leader of the band who was discussing with the strangers.
“Sir Yoshitsune !”, called Hachimastu, “Here are the men from Hiraizumi along with Fujiwara no Kunihira !”
At the same time, a tall man with a short beard stepped forward.
“Sir Yoshitsune, it’s been a long time”
Yoshitsune surprised, saw for the first time in 5 years on of his closest friend when he was in exile in Hiraizumi.
“Sir Kunihira, have you been well ?”, asked Minamoto no Yoshitsune
“I’ve kept myself well, despite the tragic news I’ve heard about you.”, replied Fujiwara no Kunihira
“Oi, Kunihira !”, it was Fujiwara no Tadahira who had been sent for by Hachimatsu.
“Tadahira ! Everyone was worried about you in Hiraizumi. Have you been harmed?”
“Not at all, in fact I have never met a better company in all my life. Those men are carefree and love their land more than anything else. They would not have harmed me in any way.” declared Tadahira while pointing at his comrades.
“Good, good, may I have a moment with Yoshitsune ?” requested Kunihira
Hachimatsu and Tadahira nodded and Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Fujiwara no Kunihira stepped aside a bit far from the group to the insistence of Kunihira.
This attitude of Kunihira made the whole thing suspicious to Hachimatsu, but Tadahira reassured him, telling him that after so much time it was natural for the two to catch up with each other.
A few minutes later, Kunihira and Yoshitsune came back from their stroll and Kunihira announced some big news to Hachimatsu’s band.
First, Fujiwara no Tokihira, the new head of the Northern Fujiwara had agreed to grant them an amnesty to forgive their actions at Esashi. For his part, Satō Motoharu (11) had agree to close his eyes on that seal forgery, something surprising giving the serious nature of that act. Secondly, Tokihira wanted to meet them all in an audience in Hiraizumi including Tadahira, but there was something which put much bewilderment in the men’s hearts. Yoshitsune was not allowed back with everyone in Hiraizumi, but would be put under the watch of Kunihira and a few retainers.
Tadahira and Hachimatsu protested, but Kunihira said that it was a condition of their amnesty and that Yoshitsune had agreed to it.
“Sir Yoshitsune, are you sure about this?” inquired Munesugi Hachimatsu
“Yes, Hachimatsu. I am afraid we must part ways. Follow sir Kunihira’s instructions and serve well your new lord in Hiraizumi. For my part, I will pray for the welfare of the Ōshu Fujiwara and the rest of my dead comrades.”
Yoshitsune then turned to the sky and proudly said:
“From this point on, let what happen, happen. But no matter what will occurs, I will not suffer the same fate as my father. No, you men have taught me something essential. The same words as my unfortunate wife and retainers . To remain strong despite unfavourable odds and to stay true to one’s ideals. Yes, truly that is the way of the warrior.”
Everyone was touched by these words and if it was not for Kunihira none would have gone to Hiraizumi. The Genji (12) general had decided the put his fate into the hands of Buddha and one could only admire such resolution.
In the following hours, the warband’s camp was emptied and Hachimatsu’s men went on their way to Hiraizumi by the end of the day.
As the men were leaving, Yoshitsune recited:
“Watching my comrades
disappear behind mountains
in the lush valleys
May you stay green like the pine
forever free lordly mounts”
Notes
(1) Fujiwara no Tadahira (born in 1167), third son of the late head of the Northern Fujiwara, Fujiwara no Hidehira, brother of Kunihira and Yasuhira, uncle of Tokihira
(2) Minamoto no Yoshitsune (born in 1159), the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, brother of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Noriyori. Hero of this timeline. The terms "Minamoto general" or "Genji general" refers to him.
(3) Northern Fujiwara , a branch of the Fujiwara clan which established itself in the Tōhoku region, in the 11th century,where they ruled semi-independently. Claimed descent from Fujiwara no Hidesato who served under emperor Suzaku. Not be confused with the Northern House of the Fujiwara (Hokke), located in the capital.
(4) Munesugi Hachimatsu, a local samurai and friend of Yoshitsune
(5) & (10) Minamoto (源氏) or Genji, one of the four "great clans" of the imperial court, the others being the Fujiwara, the Taira and the Tachibana. Like the Taira and Tachibana, they are offshoots of the Imperial family who were demoted to a subject status. Keep in mind that they are many branches of the Minamoto clan as several emperors gave to their progeny the name of "Minamoto". Each branch was identified by the emperor from whom it descended (ex : Saga Genji, Seiwa Genji,Murakami Genji). Genji is the Sino-Japanese pronunciation of the characters (源, gen + 氏, ji). The Japanese pronounciation would be Minamoto-uji (源, minamoto + 氏,uji), where 源 means source, origin and 氏, means clan. The case is the same for the Taira name which was bestowed for the same reasons and where there are two pronunciations : Taira (平氏) (平, taira + 氏,uji) or the Sino-Japanese Heike or Heishi (平, hei +氏, shi or ke). Just like the Minamoto, several branches exists named after their imperial progenitor (ex: Kammu Heishi, Montoku Heishi).
(6) Fujiwara no Yasuhira, now known as Shuuteki (born in 1155). Former head of the Northern Fujiwara clan, he gave the reins of the clan to his son Tokihira. Brother of Fujiwara no Kunihira and Fujiwara no Tadahira.
(7) Ōshu Fujiwara, another name for the Northern Fujiwara. Ōshu is another name for Mutsu province, where this clan is based
(8) Minamoto no Yoritomo (born in 1147), lord of Kamakura, half-brother of Yoshitsune.
(9) Fujiwara no Tokihira (born in 1170) , eldest son of Fujiwara no Yasuhira and current head of the Northern Fujiwara. Nephew of Kunihira, Yasuhira and Tadahira.
(10) Fujiwara no Kunihira (born before 1155), eldest son of the late Fujiwara no Hidehira. He didn't inherit the headship of the clan, since his mother was an Emishi concubine. After Lord Hidehira's death, he went to live in Dewa province.
(11) Satō Motoharu (born in 1113), a prominent vassal of the Northern Fujiwara, with close family ties to them. He married a cousin of Fujiwara no Hidehira. He is also the father-in-law of Fujiwara no Tadahira. Among his sons are two of Yoshitsune's most famous retainers Satō Tsugunobu and Satō Tadanobu.
(12) see (4)