The Samurai's Tale

As the army moves through a territory owned by Lord Oda Nobunaga, Kansuke warns his men not to lag behind, telling them that bandits might kill a rice carrier for his cargo. He later tells Harutomo that he was mainly trying to deter members of the supply chain from pretending to let their horses rest and then deserting with the rice they carry. Harutomo notes that the supply chain would be a good target for Lord Nobunaga and that the army with them should be protecting the rear. Katsuke lightheartedly teases Harutomo about his strategic genius and tells him that Lord Akiyama has thought of these possibilities and that the mountains protect him. He orders Harutomo to watch for stragglers. Harutomo finds a pack horse next to a masterless samurai, or ronin, who killed the horse’s rider. Even though the ronin has a helmet and armor, Harutomo charges him. He uses his knowledge of horses to gain an advantage over the more experienced fighter and wins by slicing the samurai’s shoulder. When Harutomo offers to help bandage the wound so he can serve Akiyama, the ronin—Hanagata Minbu—refuses. He says he should have died with his late master, Lord Obu, who was one of the leaders of the failed rebellion against Takeda. When Kansuke arrives, Minbu asks him for a favor—which the reader can infer is to help him die by ritual suicide. Minbu asks Katsuke to send Harutomo away but promises that the young man can send his head to Takeda for a reward. Harutomo says he doesn’t want Minbu’s head as he is not his enemy. He later wonders if this gesture disappointed the samurai.

Harutomo receives Minbu’s helmet from Kansuke, who tells him the samurai believed he knew his father and wanted him to have it. When Harutomo balks at this, Kansuke helps him understand that a samurai is expected to be loyal to his master no matter what his master does. While this samurai’s master rebelled against Takeda and was executed for it, Takeda would still respect the samurai for following his master. Harutomo is troubled even though he still says that he wasn’t afraid of dying in the fight against the ronin. It wasn’t the same as the victorious feeling of winning a fight with a bamboo sword as a stable hand, he says. Later, Akiyama discusses his strategy as they approach Iwamura Castle. He wants the members of the supply train to ride horses and light fires to trick the castle defenders into thinking there are more soldiers than there really are.

Harutomo learns from Kansuke that part of Akiyama’s strategy for taking the castle involves burning villages so the villagers will take refuge in the castle. These villagers will drain the castle’s food stores. Harutomo is upset about the burning of the villages, especially by an old woman crying near her destroyed home. He is somewhat mollified by the idea that it was done for a reason. He shares saki with some of the young samurai, brags about his knowledge of Akiyama’s strategy, and then becomes angry about a warrior who made fun of the old woman he saw crying. While he achieved his dream of becoming a samurai, he remains unsatisfied because he feels the shame of his former poverty: “I said to myself, your dream has come true; the gods have heard you and given you what you asked for. Yet you are not satisfied. Why is that […] because I was poor once […] Part of me still belongs in the cookhouse with Togan” (129). He composes a poem but is unsatisfied with his effort.

During the siege of the Iwamura Castle siege, Harutomo and Kansuke keep busy distributing meager rations to the soldiers. Harutomo explains that he likes being an officer of the supply train rather than a regular samurai as he is more respected and unique. He says that he learns about “men and how to handle them” from Kansuke (132). He describes Kansuke as a good, patient teacher who defends his men. Harutomo also shows care for his men, sometimes secretly giving a soldier extra rice when his rations are stolen. One day, when Kansuke, Harutomo, and Yoshitoki are drinking sake together in the middle of the night, a ninja joins them. While drinking with the group, the ninja explains that the lord of the castle, Lord Toyama, died of a fever a week before the army arrived. Lady Toyama is in charge behind the scenes. When the ninja leaves, Kansuke expresses distrust of such spies, as they don’t live by the samurai code of loyalty and serve different masters for money.

As the siege continues, Akiyama plans to trick the castle defenders into coming out to fight. Most of the army will retreat, leaving a small number of soldiers to draw the enemy to attack. They will lead the castle’s defenders toward the rest of the army, which will be hidden. Akiyama puts Harutomo in command of a small group of supply train members whose presence is designed to make the defenders think he is leaving rice behind. He tells Harutomo, “Since you have taken to fighting and wish to be a soldier, I shall leave you in charge” (141). Kansuke offers to stay with Harutomo, but Akiyama refuses the request because he says he needs Kansuke’s wisdom. Harutomo is so proud of his command that he has trouble listening when Kansuke gives him fighting tips. Before leaving, Akiyama tells Harutomo to stay with his men and keep them in order.

Akiyama’s army withdraws from Castle Iwamura to trick the castle’s defenders into coming out. By morning, only a few hundred of his troops remained near the castle, including Harutomo and his supply train troops. The rest of Akiyama’s army is hidden in the nearby hills. A young samurai encourages Harutomo to retreat with the cavalry when the enemy attacks rather than participate in the suicidal task of fighting them before they reach Akiyama’s main force. The samurai disregards the lives of Harutomo’s men, saying, “They can fight or run, it does not matter […] their duty is to die!” (146-47). Irritated by the samurai’s callous attitude, Harutomo decides to stay with his men and develop a plan that might save them. He tells the archers to position themselves on a nearby hill. When the castle defenders approach his men, the archers fire on them, causing them to chase Akiyama’s horsemen instead of Harutomo’s men. At this point, Akiyama’s army comes out of hiding and kills most of the enemy soldiers. Harutomo notes that some escaped back to the castle, and those taken prisoner are treated well. While he worries he would be criticized for his independent thinking, Harutomo’s actions earn him congratulations from Katsuke and Akiyama, who rewards him with a suit of armor captured in the battle.

After the successful battle, Lord Akiyama turns his efforts to diplomacy, sending letters and gifts—but no food—to the castle’s defenders. Rumors spread that Akiyama offered to marry Lady Toyama, who is allegedly in control of the castle. Kansuke is confident the castle will surrender. He says Takeda, who has a reputation for keeping his word, promised none of the castle occupants would be harmed if they surrender, and samurai would keep their status and honor. During an archery competition organized to occupy the restless troops, Yoshitoki and Harutomo spot Akiyama’s adopted son. Though Akiyama’s son is sickly, Harutomo thinks he has been foolish to wish that the general would adopt him. Then, Akiyama learns the castle defenders surrendered and says he wants everyone in the castle to be well fed that night: “This is the agreement: no one within the castle is to be treated as vanquished; all are to be treated as loyal retainers of Lord Takeda and myself,” Akiyama says (160).