Tokugawa Ieyasu
Episode 34: The Man in The Whirl
May, 1593.
Just as the first emissaries from China left for Japan
with Konishi Yukinaga's party,
Ieyasu was summoned by Hideyoshi
to state his opinion on the conditions for peace talks.
There are only three of us here.
State your opinion freely.
While we pursue our peace talks, we have to give orders to our army there,
and entertain the emissaries.
Yodogimi's pregnancy worries me, too. What a headache!
Excuse me...
That's my proposal for the peace conditions.
Let me look at it.
Yes, sir.
There are 7 conditions.
First, I'll marry the daughter of the Chinese Emperor.
Second, to allow free trade between the two countries.
I see.
Third...
To exchange an oath promising an amicable relationship.
Fourth, to give us 4 provinces in Korea,
and we'll return the other 4 and Keiji Castle to Korea.
Hideyoshi wanted to settle the matter for the moment
by gaining control of the southern half of Korea.
In the midst of the tense negotiations with China,
a child was born on August 3rd at Osaka Castle.
It was the future Toyotomi Hideyori.
The news reached Hideyoshi
soon after the emissaries left Nagoya
with the conditions for peace.
Hideyoshi was ecstatic.
Hideyoshi's son was named 'Hiroi'.
How cute. Is there a way to send this to Hiroi in Osaka?
Though the birth of your son is happy news,
we must be cautious with the peace negotiations.
I know that.
I haven't told you earlier.
But the adviser, Hidetsugu worries me.
Did he do something?
He's been nicknamed 'The Killer Adviser'.
Killer Adviser?
On Jan. 5th, the ex-emperor passed away.
During the mourning period of a month, the Adviser went hunting.
He went hunting and killed animals?
That's not all.
He took many escorts with him,
and they hunted for deer with guns.
Where at?
At the sacred mountain, Mt. Hiei.
That's a mistake.
Someone's trying to trap him...
Sire! According to my reports,
it's related to the birth of your son.
Related to Hiroi?
Hidetsugu, the target of Hideyoshi's concern,
was the lord of Jurakudai mansion.
He was spending restless days, distrusting everyone.
Why do you cry?
Excuse yourself.
Your forgiveness, please.
The melody was so sad it brought tears.
No! You leave, too!
We'll handle him. Hurry!
You excused the women so you could scold me.
Exactly! What if Lord Jibu's spy is among them?
I'll tear her to pieces!
That's just what Jibu wants.
Enough! Why should I humor that Ishida Mitsunari?
Wait. If you carry out your daily responsibilities,
Jibu cannot criticize you.
Shut up!
That Jibu is calling me 'Killer Adviser'.
I'd rather kill myself than submit to him!
Calm down!
The best solution to expel the Regent's suspicions
is to greet him at Himeji
when he comes to set up camp at Nagoya.
I won't welcome him.
He believes the false rumors.
Someday, he'll kill me.
I won't fall into that trap!
Because Hideyoshi's son was born,
Hidetsugu thought he would be ousted.
The peace talks were not progressing.
That Autumn, he left Nagoya and returned to Osaka.
Ieyasu had also come to Osaka.
What? The Adviser didn't greet the Regent
but went to the hot springs?
The Adviser's retainers
must've thought that was the best way to avoid a confrontation.
What shallow retainers.
The Regent expected Hidetsugu to be at Himeji.
I worry about what may result from this.
This is frustrating.
That's exactly how Hideyoshi felt.
Congratulations on your safe return.
There's nothing to congratulate me about.
The peace talks aren't going well.
Why don't you see your son immediately?
- Nene! - Yes?
The Adviser pretends to be ill and didn't greet me.
If it's serious, why didn't he tell me?
Why don't you answer me?
People will laugh at you for screaming and shouting.
What?!
You offend me as soon as I return?
What's all this commotion?
You're responsible for all this.
What a frightening woman!
Why am I responsible?
Take Hidetsugu. You're the one who made him our heir
and gave him the Adviser's post.
Is that what you thought?
You treat him as if he's incompetent and don't let him handle military and political matters.
Something's wrong with you
if you don't expect him to feel uneasy when a son was born to you.
I pity the Adviser
who is burdened with great expectations.
We can't assign a man to a job that he can't handle.
That may lead him to destruction.
'Befitting one's status' is a phrase with a deep significance.
'Befitting one's status'...
Nene...
Do you understand?
You must have an idea.
What shall I do about Hidetsugu?
Why don't you write a letter to him inquiring about his health?
What shall I write?
Hiroi was born, though we don't know about his future,
we must make certain things clear.
All right. And?
Consider Hiroi to be Hidetsugu's son.
Make Hiroi marry Hidetsugu's daughter to unify our clan.
I'm sure this will dispel his suspicions.
All right.
I'll do as you say.
I consider him to be my son. I can't cut ties with him.
Thank you, Nene, for bringing that to my attention.
I'll eat here tonight.
No, I can't let you eat here.
Nene...
Lady Nun?
Go to the west wing and tell them
that the Regent will meet Hiroi there tonight.
Understood.
Please don't talk in a loud voice
or you will surprise Hiroi.
I shouldn't laugh too loudly...
I won't laugh loudly.
Hideyoshi was grateful to Nene,
and remembered his late mother.
Omandokoro was also fond of Nene.
Announcing the Regent!
Congratulations on your return.
Thank you for your hard work.
Here.
Let me hold him.
Will he cry?
There's a resemblance...
Everyone says he looks like you when you were a baby.
He does...
His words held numerous meanings.
The baby reminded him of Chacha, the late Tsurumatsu,
and his mother, Omandokoro.
Sire?
Chacha?
Yes?
Can you write a letter to the Advisor, too?
It's difficult to live together in this world.
I won't!
Chacha!
The Adviser is praying that this baby won't survive!
I refuse to write to him!
What?!
Who's praying for Hiroi to die?
The Adviser, of course.
He set up an alter in the temple at Mt. Hiei,
and prayed that I'd have a miscarriage!
Such rumors were naturally untrue.
Yet Hidetsugu, who regretted not having greeted Hideyoshi,
became even more violent and suffered.
Two guests visited Ieyasu in Kyoto toward the end of the year.
Fancy meeting you again. A woman looks better dressed as a woman.
I don't care.
Lord Tokugawa?
Peace will not be established with China.
This is a problem.
Lord Tokugawa?
Let me serve you once again.
What?
If the Regent finds the enemy's true intentions,
he'll send our troops out again.
Then I'm sure he'll insist on going abroad himself.
Will you let him go?
Or offer to go yourself?
I don't know until the time comes.
No. You can't let him go.
There is a woman who can prevent that.
A woman who can control the Regent?
It's his wife.
Should you cross the seas,
and trouble brews in the country in your absence,
there is nobody to assist the Regent.
Therefore, the Sakai merchants don't want you to go abroad.
I wonder what the Regent's wife thinks.
Don't worry.
We have enough information to persuade her.
If you approve, I'd like you to use my daughter, Kinomi
to serve as the messenger between you and Nene.
I see.
Later, I'll show you the information we gathered.
First, look at this.
Shoan disclosed to Ieyasu
that the Adviser was loaning funds to lords
who needed funding for war.
- This! - Indeed.
Hidetsugu's men did this so that the lords
will defend Hidetsugu against the Regent.
Should Ishida Mitsunari see this,
he could use this information
to prove Hidetsugu is plotting against the Regent.
I see.
If anything should happen between the Regent and the Adviser
while I'm overseas, nobody can mediate...
Therefore, I have asked you.
Lord Jibu is keeping a watchful eye on him.
Ishida Mitsunari is?
All right, I'll hire you.
You'll serve me as an aide.
That may be what she wants.
Hidetsugu was driven to despair.
...what do you want me to do?
This is your last resort.
Mitsunari is plotting to oust you.
We must ask Lord Tokugawa for his help.
Lord Tokugawa?
The Regent thinks highly of Lord Tokugawa.
If he defends you, he will be of great help to you.
Then that Mitsunari...
Don't ever mention his name again!
What can I do if I'm afraid of him?
To prevent Hidetsugu from being used by Mitsunari,
Kinomi reported to the Regent's wife.
Lord Tokugawa is worried about the future of our country.
Yes.
We must not let intrigue sprout in our country.
I'm struck with awe.
I'd like to help Lord Hidetsugu.
After the flower-viewing at Yoshino,
I'll let them both visit the grave of the late Omandokoro
to confirm the deep bond they have as family.
So please tell Lord Tokugawa to help my husband and
let the earnest wish of the man who brought peace to the lands,
last for generations to come.
I understand.
My husband is like a child.
He has come this far with a sincere heart.
But now he is tormented by problems.
The war...the Adviser... his son, Hiroi...
I pity the Regent.
First, a woman relies on her husband.
Then, she fights with him,
and finally, she must become like his mother.
I'll remember that.
As a mother, I am determined. I am concerned about my child.
I want to see him through this...somehow.
Please tell Lord Tokugawa to take care of the Regent.
Aren't you Shoan's daughter?
Are you serving the lady's chamber?
No. I came to visit the Regent's wife.
Excuse me.
Wait!
Do you see her often?
You know that we have a court and a prison here.
Do you suspect me for
delivering secret information to the Regent's wife?
It's written all over your face.
She's defending the Adviser.
You must have reported to her about the situation in Edo.
I wonder...
I'll tell you.
What if the Regent decided on the fate of the Adviser?
Then...?
His wife can't influence him now.
If you believe me, and help me, I'll let you go.
You won't let me go. I give up.
What?
I'm just a merchant's daughter.
I know nothing of the Toyotomi clan
or the affairs of the state, and I don't care.
Shoan's daughter? You've misunderstood.
We're exercising caution upon the Regent's orders
because some retainers are siding with Nene.
It will do us no good for them to side with the Adviser.
What's so funny?
No. I didn't expect a man of your caliber
to disclose such information to a woman like me.
What?
I heard that you said a man who can't handle the job,
will bring misfortune to the country.
Isn't it your intention to oust the Adviser
by falsely accusing him of causing rebellion?
Kinomi heard what she shouldn't've heard,
and said what she shouldn't've said.
...what Kinomi?!
Yes. Someone killed her in front of our gate.
Kinomi...
It's just one blow, from her back.
Tell the women to change her clothes.
We found out that Kinomi was last seen
talking with Lord Jibu by the west wing gate.
Can we let this be?
It's useless. He wouldn't have killed her himself.
It's too cruel... I pity Kinomi.
Don't mention it.
Kinomi volunteered to serve Lord Tokugawa.
That Jibu...!
His ambitions are clear:
he'll support Yodogimi's son as the successor
so he could be the pillar of the Toyotomi clan.
Kinomi was a victim of that ambition.
Spring came. Hideyoshi and Hidetsugu went flower-viewing.
This event which was intended to show
Hideyoshi and Hidetsugu's reconciliation,
was not satisfactory.
It was around this time when Hideyoshi lost his appetite
and began complaining of piercing headaches.
Though he doesn't show it,
many problems must be affecting his health.
I heard the Adviser is very friendly towards you.
Yes...it's because many have lost hope in him.
He may be plotting to take you hostage
to make our lord side with him.
Please be cautious.
I see. Do you have a plan to prevent it?
If the Adviser should invite our heir,
I'd like you to send your regrets.
Fall ill?
No, just have a prior commitment.
- Prior commitment? - Yes.
The Regent is the only one the Adviser cannot oppose.
So, tell him you're about to have tea with the Regent,
and will see him after you return.
Go straight to Fushimi and see your father.
I believe that's the best way
to hide yourself from their aides.
You mean, Ishida Mitsunari?
Yes.
Don't let your guard down.
I understand.
I'll return to Edo for a while.
At a time like this?
I'd like to stay outside of the whirl of events.
I can't see well when I'm in the whirlwind.
This isn't a matter of siding with the Regent or the Adviser.
We mustn't help either of them
to stop the problem from becoming bigger.
Understand?
We'll eventually become involved.
I can see it happening. I'll watch from Edo.
Yes.
Be careful and confront the pending problems.
If we make a mistake,
the Regent may let the country sink into utter despair.
Yes.
Late that night, news of Honda Sakuzaemon's death reached him.
So...
Sakuza's dead.
I have a deep affection for a man called Ieyasu.
A man does everything for the man he's attached to.
Sakuza!
Your pride still torments me.
For the sake of the country,
Ieyasu wanted to preserve the Tokugawa clan.
As he left for Edo,
he contemplated the new path the country must follow...