Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 787

787. Internal Troubles (5)

A few days later, at the Yamaguchi Imperial Palace.

Late at night, the Emperor was in a private meeting with Konoe Taro.

“So, the patriots have decided to rise up?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hoo…”

At Konoe Taro’s answer, the Emperor let out a long sigh. He took several deep breaths to calm the agitation in his heart before speaking.

“It has truly been a long time. Those wretched days when the shogunate, established by a mere vassal, held power above the Emperor… Hoo…”

The Emperor sighed again, trying to quell the rising anger within.

* * *

Originally, the shogun, the head of the shogunate, was not permitted to establish the shogunate in Kyoto, the capital.

However, the Muromachi shogunate, which ended the Northern and Southern Courts period, established itself in Kyoto and reigned supreme, even over the Emperor.

Ouchi, who brought the Muromachi shogunate to an end, went even further.

He removed the Emperor from Kyoto and brought him to Yamaguchi, his own territory.

Compared to Kyoto, which had been ravaged by war, Yamaguchi offered a much more pleasant environment, and the Imperial Palace built and presented by Ouchi was quite magnificent. However, it still paled in comparison to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto.

The biggest problem was that the Emperor had become completely isolated from the people.

Emperor Go-Daigo, who initiated the Northern and Southern Courts period, staged a coup d’état, abolished the Kamakura shogunate, and established direct imperial rule.

This was possible because his control over the nobles and the people was exceptionally strong.

However, as time passed, the Muromachi shogunate was re-established, and the Emperor was once again relegated to a symbolic role behind the shogunate’s curtain.

There was the court led by the Emperor and the *Kuge* (公家) [court nobles] who ran the court, but their power was limited to Kyoto and the Kanto region.

As a result, the distance between the Emperor and the people inevitably grew again.

The distance between the Emperor and the people grew even further when Ouchi established a new shogunate regime.

This was because the Ouchi shogunate, having completely purged the *Kuge*, brought the Emperor to Yamaguchi.

In Kyoto and the Kanto region, which were still influenced by the *Kuge*, there were many people who remembered the Emperor. However, to the people of Kansai, the Emperor was just a figure in stories told to children.

These were the people of the Kansai region, who were traditionally accustomed to the rule of the shogunate and the lords of the domains (*Kuni*).

Therefore, the Emperor understood why Ouchi had brought him here to Yamaguchi.

A complete severance of the relationship between the Emperor and the people.

This was Ouchi’s true goal.

* * *

“Hoo…”

The Emperor, calming his complex emotions with another long sigh, continued.

“Now, I can finally give vent to my resentment. So, when will the uprising begin?”

At the Emperor’s question, Konoe Taro prostrated himself on the floor and answered.

“We are doing our best to launch the uprising as soon as possible. However, we are struggling due to a lack of resources.”

“Lack of resources? Didn’t you say before that the people of Kyoto and Kanto were responding?”

“The people and samurai of Kyoto and Kanto are doing their best, but they have suffered greatly due to the ongoing civil war and are struggling.”

“Hmm… That’s a problem.”

The Emperor couldn’t hide his disappointment, and Konoe Taro seized the opportunity to bring up the main point.

“Therefore, the patriots are desperately seeking Your Majesty’s help. If Your Majesty bestows grace upon them, their morale will soar.”

“Hmm.”

At Konoe Taro’s request, the Emperor looked troubled.

* * *

Although far less than previous Emperors, this Emperor possessed considerable wealth.

This was because Ouchi, out of respect, had not touched the imperial family’s rice fields. In addition, the Emperor also served as the chief priest of Shinto, so Ouchi’s shoguns offered many tributes whenever there were ceremonies.

Compared to the Emperors who had to live through the Warring States period in Japan in the history before Hyang intervened, it was an incredibly affluent situation.

The problem was that the Emperor wanted to reap the benefits of the patriots’ efforts, but he didn’t want to open his own purse.

* * *

As if sensing the Emperor’s reluctance, Konoe Taro bowed his head and said.

“The Ouchi faction, who are traitors, still wield great power. On the other hand, the patriots are shedding tears of blood, realizing their shortcomings. Your Majesty! If this uprising fails, there will be no loyal subjects left to fulfill Your Majesty’s wishes!”

“Hoo…”

The Emperor, letting out a long sigh at Taro’s words, finally made a decision.

“I will issue an order. Discuss the details with him and act accordingly.”

As the Emperor’s permission was granted, Konoe Taro prostrated himself and raised his voice.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

* * *

“Then be careful.”

“I understand.”

Taro, having carefully exited through the side door used by servants working in the Imperial Palace, checked his surroundings and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Avoiding possible pursuers, Taro wandered through the back alleys and returned to his lodgings. As soon as he entered the room, he threw off the bamboo hat he was wearing and collapsed.

“Whew…”

Taro, letting out a long breath, lay flat on his back and looked at the ceiling.

“His Majesty the Emperor, the restoration of imperial rule… Pfft!”

Taro, bursting into laughter, continued with a cynical expression.

“May they all perish! The Emperor, the patriots, and Ouchi, may they all perish!”

* * *

Taro was a direct descendant of the Konoe family, but he was illegitimate. He was the child of a maid who had been raped by the man who was supposed to be his father.

-If you’re a man, you have to take responsibility for what you’ve done!

At the decision of Taro’s grandfather at the time, he was given the Konoe name, but his situation remained difficult.

Other illegitimate children were often born to concubines from respectable families. Therefore, even if they were illegitimate, they could be treated as members of the family.

However, Taro’s mother was a maid working in the mansion.

-We gave him the family name by the head of the family’s order, but how do we know if he really inherited the blood of the real master?

Taro had to endure these words, often spoken openly in front of him, throughout his childhood. As a result, Taro was treated similarly to the servants working in the mansion.

His education suffered as well. He had to teach himself to read and write by watching the legitimate children and other bastards gather to learn.

This situation persisted even in the civil war that broke out after Taro grew up.

His older brothers, who had grown up, became commanders leading troops in splendid armor, while Taro was relegated to leading a mere 50 spearmen, charging at the forefront.

And in the ensuing battle, the *Kuge* army suffered devastating losses against Ouchi and was defeated.

His half-brothers and the family’s direct line, who had led the front lines in splendid armor, became prime targets for the Ouchi army seeking to gain merit. Those who barely survived the battle were all caught and killed in the ensuing Ouchi pursuit. The family was subjected to annihilation by the Ouchi army that rushed in, showing no mercy to direct or collateral lines.

Taro survived by scarring his own face and using a stolen identification tag from a dead soldier’s corpse.

When Taro, barely alive, returned home, he found only tragically burned mansions and large burial mounds. Seeing the burial mounds where the Ouchi army had gathered and buried the corpses in one place, Taro harbored a deep animosity towards Ouchi.

But his resentment extended beyond Ouchi to include the conservatives who had started the war that had killed his mother.

“This damn world! May it all perish!”

* * *

Taro, driven by vengeance, wandered around Japan and eventually came into contact with the pro-imperial faction, becoming a member.

However, even within the organization, his treatment was far from ideal.

“Oh! You said you’re from the Konoe family?”

As soon as they heard Taro’s name, those who had initially been delighted displayed unpleasant expressions upon seeing Taro’s low status. Some even openly looked down on him.

“You guys are all the same! Annoying!”

Taro, gritting his teeth, did his best to create opportunities for himself.

First, he joined the radical faction, which was actively recruiting talent, and built his own network. Then, he used that network to secure funds.

“Why do you need funds?”

“I want to meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Is that even possible?”

“I believe it is.”

Taro, having secured the funds, managed to arrange a meeting with the Emperor through a servant of the Imperial Palace after desperate efforts.

Taro smiled bitterly as he returned after making the appointment.

“This damn name has actually been helpful this time.”

Taro was able to meet the Emperor with one of the radical faction’s executives.

“To think there was a survivor of the Konoe family! This is truly divine providence!”

The Emperor, deeply moved after asking various questions and confirming Taro’s lineage, was overcome with emotion. And through the accompanying executive, this news spread within the radical faction, allowing Taro to become a central figure.

As time passed, Taro became an important link between the Emperor and the radical faction, and finally, he was able to obtain the Emperor’s assistance.

However, Taro’s true goal was different from what the Emperor and the pro-imperial faction believed.

Taro’s goal was the chaos and destruction of Japan.

* * *

Imperial Year 17 (1465), March.

The railway station in Omi (近江, the old name of Shiga Prefecture).

The railway station built in Omi was remarkably large compared to the population of the area.

This was to supply water drawn from Lake Biwa, located nearby, to the steam engines and to maintain the trains that had traveled long distances.

The Ouchi army was stationed here on a large scale.

This was because facilities related to the railway, one of the nation’s core infrastructures, were concentrated here, and because Kyoto was nearby.

Their mission was to immediately dispatch troops stationed in Omi to suppress any suspicious movements in Kyoto.

A group of people was moving silently through the shadows of the railway facilities at Omi Station on a March night when the chill of winter still lingered.

The people, relying on the shadows of the buildings and trains, gathered in one place after a while and whispered softly.

“Has everyone arrived?”

“Yes!”

“The luggage?”

At the leader’s question, some of the men held up thick bundles.

“Good! Today is the beginning! Don’t forget that we must succeed!”

“Yes!”

“Then disperse!”

As soon as the leader finished speaking, the people split into groups of three or five again and disappeared into the darkness.

After a while.

“Who is it! Stop there!”

“I’ll shoot if you move!”

Bang! Bang bang! Boom!

Loud gunshots were followed by a series of violent explosions.

Boom! Boom!

Before long, huge pillars of fire soared from the reservoir and the train maintenance facilities.

“Fire!”

“Put out the fire! Get the equipment out!”

The railway station workers made desperate efforts to extinguish the fire and save the valuable equipment.

“What a crazy bastard!”

It was a signal flare announcing the full-scale armed struggle of the pro-imperial faction.

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