Tokugawa Ieyasu
Episode 28: Kazumasa Absconds
October, 1584
Hideyoshi's proposal to adopt Ieyasu's son, Ogimaru,
Caused an uproar among Ieyasu's retainers.
Whose side is Ishikawa on anyway?
Why didn't he refuse flatly
before Hideyoshi made such proposals for adoption?
What would our lord say?
It's obvious.
Ogimaru is now his successor. No way will he approve.
If our lord agrees, should we let him?
I'll oppose him.
Why don't we ask Ishikawa to explain the details to us?
Do you think he's one to tell us honestly?
It's clear that lord Hideyoshi trusts him completely.
Honda Masanobu greeted Hideyoshi's emissary.
During the riots of Mikawa,
Masanobu opposed Ieyasu and escaped.
However, he was pardoned and was now Ieyasu's close aide.
How is the emissary?
He sensed the troubling atmosphere here.
He wants an answer immediately, so I treated him to a meal...
New Years is approaching.
I suggest we tell him we'll answer him early next year.
No! Our lord knows Hideyoshi's character.
We don't have to give them a date yet.
It would be best to answer him immediately
and let Ogimaru spend the New Year at his Osaka Castle.
Can't we wait for New Year's?
Can't you see that after New Years,
our men would resent it only half as much?
One advantage of sending Omimaru to Osaka now is that
it would cause a resentment among our men.
This could further unite the Tokugawa clan.
This isn't all that Hideyoshi wants.
He'll arrange a marriage for Ogimaru
so that you'll have to come to Osaka.
His intention is to make you bow down to him
in front of all the lords assembled at Osaka Castle.
If we should complicate things now,
the second emissary would have a harsher message.
I see!
Kazumasa is quite a strategist!
You're trying to fool our lord?
What!
Decide, my lord.
Will you do as I say and refuse, and go to war,
or do as Kazumasa says, and send Ogimaru to Osaka?
Understood.
I'll listen to Kazumasa.
I have a boil at the base of my neck.
It's swollen, and I can't travel.
I'll send Kazumasa in my place.
Ogimaru's page will be Sakuza's son, Senchiyo
and Kazumasa's 2nd son, Katsuchiyo.
This is an order!
If the great hall is available receive the emissary there.
Yes, lord.
I appreciate that.
He listened to you this time,
but don't forget that some of our Tokugawa men
are shaking their fists at you!
Kazumasa appreciated Sakuza's intention.
He was pretending to oppose the plan
so that he may lessen some of the discontentment
directed toward Kazumasa.
After having escorted Ogimaru to Osaka,
Kazumasa welcomed the new year, 1585, at Osaka.
That year, Hideyoshi was granted the title of
the Second Minister, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal.
He was the country's ruler,
with a dignity which he had lacked only half a year earlier.
Kazumasa saw a bigger man than his lord, Ieyasu.
Hideyoshi possessed a certain charm
much like the brightness of the rising sun.
What do you think of Osaka Castle?
I'm a Minister now, and
I'll be the Generalissimo by summer.
Congratulations.
Then, I'll be the country's shogun.
Did you think of something to make Ieyasu come here?
I'm afraid not.
Then what if Ieyasu and I became brothers-in-law?
Brother's-in-law?
Ieyasu doesn't have a legal wife.
If my sister marries him, we'll brother's-in-law.
Your younger sister?
Asahi.
But she's Lord Saji's wife.
Just let them get a divorce.
Don't let Ieyasu refuse or war would be inevitable.
If you think Ieyasu will win this war, refuse me and go.
Man must be able to seize the right opportunity.
Even if your colleagues oppose and make it hard for you,
this is one thing you must accomplish.
This is for the country!
I will sacrifice everything even my family
for the sake of my country.
I won't be satisfied just by subjugating Japan.
I'll hand it over to politically skilled Ieyasu, and go abroad.
Don't try to comfort me, I'd like to leave.
I'm not comforting you. I'm being broad-minded.
If Ieyasu should fight me, he'll lose.
His clan will prosper only if he joins hands with me.
Work for this great cause, Kazumasa.
I'll let Ogimaru fight his first war in Kishu.
Come as the overseer for that war.
Kazumasa...
I'll be waiting for the results.
I wish you good health...
What would Ieyasu say
if he told him exactly what Hideyoshi said?
Is it painful?
Go on.
It's rare that your shoulders get so stiff...
It's because I have a boil in my chest.
I shouldn't give you a massage!
It's not serious.
Let me see that boil?
Reporting!
Lord Ishikawa Kazumasa has returned from Osaka!
Bring him in.
How is Hideyoshi? Any comments about my illness?
He has become the Second Minister, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal.
It seems this Keeper of the Seal
assigned another difficult task to you.
Hideyoshi has to have you come to Osaka, and is troubled...
He isn't one to be troubled by anything!
What did he say?
He said he'll become the Generalissimo by summer.
Generalissimo?
Then all the lords of Japan will have to obey him.
Therefore, he wants to become your brother-in-law.
Brother-in-law?
He has a younger sister, Asahi. She is married,
but Hideyoshi would even make her get a divorce
in order to avoid going to war with you.
Kazumasa...
This Asahi... How old is she?
Well...43, I heard.
43?
She's married to Lord Saji Hyuga.
People will see that Hideyoshi was really troubled,
and was driven to that extreme.
This will not affect your reputation.
You accept this proposal?
Though he may be put to shame, you will not be.
Close your eyes, please!
I feel sick, Kazumasa,
as if you're shoving something I dislike down my throat!
Lord Hideyoshi is older than you, my lord.
As long as you remain friends with him,
and win the hearts of the other lords,
the fruit will fall into your hands when it ripens.
Your advantage is that you are 6 years younger!
I deeply regret your words.
Since you're being frank, I will be too.
Ieyasu is upset!
I can't answer immediately!
My lord!
I have a cold.
Just then, Asahi's husband, Saji, Lord of Hyuga,
was being summoned by Hideyoshi...
I have a favor to ask you.
If it's anything I can do, I'll risk my life on it.
Can you give Asahi back to me?
What?!
Don't make me say it twice.
I have to give Asahi to Ieyasu so give her back to me.
His only merit was his sincerity.
Though they had no children,
they had truly loved each other in their marriage of 20 years.
I'm back.
Why didn't you say something?
Rice cakes?
No! If you're crude, people laugh at me!
They'll say you're ill-bred, you know.
I have something important to discuss. Excuse me.
If it's important, I'll sit and listen later.
Wait 'til the cakes are done.
Alright! Later, then.
'A Letter of Divorce'
They're done.
Let's enjoy them while they're hot. Call my lord.
This is my lord's favorite...
My lady!
Dear!
Why did you do this?
Dear!
This loving couple was suddenly separated...
Mother!
Omandokoro!
Don't you have any feelings?!
Success isn't the only goal in man's life.
Happiness lies in leading a life together
with family even though one may not be wealthy.
Alright, alright, stop it, will you?
Fool!
We live in such a big castle with so many servants.
What more do you want?
That's not it, Mother.
We're in a big castle so I must be careful.
What? You killed the husband that Asahi truly loved!
Forgive me, Mother. I never ordered Hyuga to die.
I asked him to endure it for the country's sake. Right, Nene?
Didn't you realize you're making him commit seppuku?
I apologize, forgive me.
If you take Asahi's side, she may be driven to die.
Asahi...?
Leave it to me, and please be with Asahi.
Right, watch her.
Everything would go to waste if she dies.
Right, I can't let Asahi die.
Nene.
I'll be appointed Shogun soon.
Then the country's mine.
I want Asahi to marry Ieyasu so I can use his strength.
Can you talk to Asahi and my mother about this?
You know that I don't want to fight Ieyasu.
Please...
I understand.
At Hamamatsu, Sakuza was meeting secretly wit Kazumasa,
who was suspected of colluding with Hideyoshi.
You think if our lord marries that old hag,
then when Hideyoshi dies, the power will be passed on to him?
Exactly.
There's something missing.
Why do you think the lords wagged their tails to Hideyoshi
so soon after Nobunaga's death?
Hideyoshi's ability. Therefore, we should team up with him.
Shut up!
Because Hideyoshi has ability, we can't team up so soon.
All the lords in Japan are like cats
whereas Hideyoshi is a tiger.
After Hideyoshi's death, the cats will fight again.
So, while al the cats are catering to Hideyoshi,
we must show them, that though Ieyasu isn't a tiger,
Ieyasu is a dragon...
That's how we avoid wars after the tiger's death.
I'm not firm enough in my negotiations?
Exactly.
We can't cause wars, but be firm with Hideyoshi,
and show the lords that Tokugawa is different.
Alright.
Because I don't want our lord to be like a cat,
I've changed the hostage's status to an adopted son,
and proposed that our lord become Hideyoshi's in-law.
But I can't do much more.
I'll resign...
I can't reason with Hideyoshi any more
or make you and our lord agree...
Are you going to do it?
Do what?
Trick Hideyoshi?
We'll accept the marriage proposal,
and hold that woman hostage.
Who cares if our lord goes to Osaka or not.
If we go to war, the better off we are.
And our lord?
We'll trick him, too.
We'll tell him Hideyoshi withdrew
the request for him to come to Osaka.
Therefore, we should accept this marriage offer.
I'll trick our lord and our men,
but you are the only one who can trick Hideyoshi.
We'll accept his sister, avoid war and take our time.
We'll start surprising the cats of this country.
What if they're not satisfied?
Neither Hideyoshi nor our lord knows of this.
We'll take responsibility.
Sakuza...
You're a terrible man.
Why don't you write to Osaka
and tell Hideyoshi the marriage is accepted?
Sure thing.
Kanbei.
Ieyasu wasn't a fool.
He accepted the marriage?
Kazumasa wrote.
Ieyasu understood me.
This is how the country should be...!
Hideyoshi's emissary reported that
the wedding preparations were complete
when Hideyoshi left with an army of 100,000
to conquer the Kishu provinces.
I must ask for your advice on two matters.
First, to send Ogimaru with greetings to Hideyoshi
and fight his first war.
Exactly, and the second is about your marriage to Asahi..
It's too early yet.
They're ready for the wedding.
Sakuza mentioned it, but I have a plan. Leave it.
But it may trigger a war!
No!
Unless Hideyoshi finishes his war at Kishu,
and takes care of Shikoku, he is not ready to fight me.
I decided to irritate Hideyoshi as much as I can.
Return to Okazaki and take care of Ogimaru.
Left in a predicament,
Kazumasa returned to escort Omimaru to his first battle.
Hideyoshi set up camp in Saiga for his wars in Kishu.
Kazaumasa.
There's something I want to discuss.
Ieyasu has decided.
He thinks it's to his advantage to trouble me.
It's useless to proceed with the marriage proposal, so forget it.
But be prepared for the Tokugawa clan to disappear
when I'm finished with the Shikoku territories!
I take you in, though.
Once war is inevitable, come to me.
That Ieyasu was a bigger fool than I thought.
Please reconsider!
I have worked hard to this point to avoid war
because war would do no good for our country!
But Ieyasu used that against me!
There's a limit to my patience!
The entire country wants peace!
Please respect that and be patient!
I'll work for this cause with my life!
Don't worry.
I tried to alleviate your predicament.
I'll leave Asahi's marriage up to you.
That Ieyasu has a fine retainer.
Isn't it, Kazumasa?
On July 11th, 1585,
though he expected to become the generalissimo,
he was granted the title of Advisor to the Emperor.
This was the best time of Hideyoshi's life.
Meanwhile, Ieyasu was suffering from
the first and last serious illness of his life.
He has a terrible fever.
His life is in danger.
Don't act so helpless. Man's life is beyond our control.
Shall we take a chance?
Wait, if anything should happen to him,
Ogimaru is in Osaka and Chomatsumaru is young.
Shut up! We should always be prepared for his death.
Then...you insist...
He's saying something!
I'll test my luck.
Bring Chokan here.
Call him, Sakuza!
Kazumasa.
You made me suffer so...
My lord.
They were talking about the moxa treatment.
Ieyasu's boil had grown in his chest since spring.
The doctor, Chokan, burned the skin with moxa,
and made an opening for the pus to emerge.
Quiet!
4 hours had passed since they started this treatment.
Shouldn't we call Chomatsumaru here?
He's sleeping well.
Sleeping?
His pulse is regular now and his fever is going down.
Is that true?
Quiet, let me examine the moxa scar.
He's a lucky man after all.
The moxa treatment helped,
and Ieyasu had survived the worst.
I'm thirsty.
I feel better.
I'll accept a legal wife.
Ieyasu's intention was relayed to Osaka by Kazumasa.
For the sake of the country,
Lord Saji did everything and even sacrificed his life.
As a woman, you can't waste his death.
Sister...
What is it?
I don't want to live in shame at my age.
But if my marriage will save lives, I'll give in...
Asahi...
...so she decided!
I pitied her, she thought so hard about it...
I'll take a hostage...
What did you say?
I've decided to take hostages from every lord in Japan
until I subjugate the entire country.
Ieyasu has too, also.
Then Asahi will be safe.
This became another problem for Ieyasu.
Refuse, my lord. You don't have to please Hideyoshi!
He's not satisfied with Omimaru?
Sakuza?
Tell him not to take it too far!
Be prepared to go to war and refuse!
Yasumasa?
This determines whether you become his retainer, or fight him.
Naomasa?
I agree with everyone. We can go to war anytime!
Everyone wants me to refuse.
What about you, Kazumasa?
I have told you my opinion. I don't need to repeat it.
You're the only one who tells me not to fight.
Kazumasa?
You want to send a hostage?
Yes, but if none of the others agree with me,
it can't be helped.
You coward!
I can't dismiss that!
A real man would stick to his conviction
no matter what the others may say!
You're disloyal to say 'it can't be helped'.
I must talk if you accuse me of being disloyal.
What good would fighting Hideyoshi do us now?
No matter who wins, the country will be in chaos.
Chances are nine out of ten that we will lose.
You coward!
Fighting a war now is mere foolhardiness!
Why can't we be patient and help Hideyoshi?
Help Hideyoshi?!
Right, and aim to control the country once it is subjugated.
Quiet! Calm down!
Don't listen to Kazumasa!
How stupid to say we'll lose!
Quiet!
Kazumasa.
It may be your opinion, but don't say things which affect our spirit.
I'm afraid you're right.
Please excuse what I said.
Kazumasa?
Won't you stop by?
Not today.
Is this it, then?
It seems to be...
I won't force you if you don't want to stop by...
Sakuza!
This game of matching wits was necessary for the other clansmen.
If the hostage was rejected, war was inevitable.
Farewell, my lord.
I shall abscond tonight.
I couldn't think of a strategy to placate our retainers.
This may serve as an alternate strategy...
I've fallen for the lord...
That Kazumasa...!
News of Kazumasa's disappearance reached Hamamatsu Castle.
I see...he finally left.
Friends and foe will be shocked.
Hideyoshi probably didn't expect Kazumasa to disappear
instead of receiving our hostage...
This will be a warning to all my older retainers.
When I think of how he felt...
Before you cry for him, there's something you must do!
He knows your deepest intentions!
Hideyoshi may make him talk!
Ishikawa Kazumasa has disappeared with all our secrets!
You should do everything to join hands with the Hojo's,
and welcome Hideyoshi's sister in marriage.
Sakuza?
You discussed this with Kazumasa, didn't you?
My lord!
Do you think he's one to discuss such things?
If he did, I'd have thought of a better way for him!
I see.
There was no other way.
Hurry to Jingo. Gather the generals!
Kazumasa's escape...
has developed into another new situation of Tokugawa's clan.