“I see, lady Myo. You think I should make a show of regaining the lost business, but actually attack somewhere else that will really hurt the Yamakai-gumi?” he asked.

  “Exactly, Goro. Now what is the Yamakai-gumi’s greatest business asset? What will hurt them the most to lose?”

  “That’s easy … the warehouses near Nihonbashi. The Yamakai-gumi makes a lot of money transporting, storing, and delivering goods to the merchants,” he said.

  “Then that should be your real target. If you happen to take back the lost taverns, so much the better. But I would bet that within a day of capturing their moneymaker, they will want to negotiate.”

  Goro broke out into another big smile. “Thank you Lady Myo. I know what to do now.”

  “Now, you can do something for me,” she said.

  “Anything,” he said.

  “I want you to try to get along with the new yojimbo.”

  Goro’s smile turned into a frown. “For you I will try.”

  “Thank you Goro,” she said as she rose, bowed, and moved toward the exit.

  Goro watched her go and then turned to see the new yojimbo staring after her. Not hating him would be very hard.

  The Gumsumgumi were going to war. Goro had marshaled his lieutenants and given them the plan. He had waited until the last minute to do so because he did not want any loose talk in a tavern to find its way to the Yamakai-gumi. The lieutenants would brief their troops en route.

  The plan was much as he and Myo had discussed. Goro’s first lieutenant would lead the diversion. They would attack the Yamakai-gumi directly in an attempt to recover the lost taverns and gambling hall. Goro had sweetened the pot for his first lieutenant by telling him that his family would inherit any winnings and income they recover. It was an opportunity that no one would pass up. The prize insured they would fight hard. Not only would the first lieutenant’s family gain money from the enterprises, but the brothels meant his men might find wives. Oh yes, they would fight hard.

  Goro would lead the main attack on the Yamakai-gumi warehouses. They were more than warehouses—they were also a small hotel and brothel. It was in the brothel that they would have trouble. A brothel meant a yojimbo. As rough and willing to fight as the Gumsumgumi were, no one was foolish enough to want to fight a samurai. The katana in a trained hand would make mincemeat of four or five Gumsumgumi very quickly. The key to Goro’s plan was neutralizing the yojimbo early.

  Goro had forty men, and despite the reports of few police about town, he would disperse his men into four ten-man teams to converge on Nihonbashi at the appointed time. Nihonbashi was an old section of Edo with the main bridge over the Sumida River. There were many avenues into and out of it. Goro would use them all to put his men in place without raising attention.

  They had all met as one and donned their headbands. It was the universal Japanese sign for hard work ahead. Each man received a sword from the armory, and then they drank sake and toasted each other. Finally, they smashed the delicate cups over the handles of their swords. They were ready for battle.

  This was the real difference between the Gumsumgumi and the general population of Edo. This is what separated them. The general population did not fight and die. They worried about the day-to-day strain to stay alive, but they seldom came into direct confrontation with anyone. With the Gumsumgumi, violence was always a close companion. This made them different. Goro had used this difference in his speech to his troops before they had downed their sake. In Goro’s mind, it was this difference and their oath to the greater group that set them apart and would make them successful in battle tonight. Goro thought he had done well. It was one part kabuki and two parts sumo.

  As Goro was making his way to the docks, his path converged with a large and unruly mob clamoring outside the Hatchobori, chanting, “Kill him!” “Kill him now!” and “No mercy!”

  Goro turned to one of his lieutenants. “This is our territory. Find out what is going on. Yohei and I will be at the tea station,” he said, pointing to the open-air bench and tea-making kiosk across the street from the Hatchobori.

  Goro took a seat on one bench, covering most of it. A middle-aged, somewhat ragged samurai took the adjacent bench. Goro ordered tea for both as a shop woman shuffled out, a small tray in hand. She bowed to the newcomers. When she had retreated with the order, Goro turned to the samurai.

  “It has been awhile since you wore the swords, Yohei.”

  “Yes,” Yohei replied. “I was hoping I’d seen the last of them.”

  “We needed someone familiar with samurai ways. We couldn’t have one of us challenge their yojimbo only to have him laugh at us,” Goro said. “Besides, if all goes according to plan, you will not have to draw your katana.”

  “I don’t mean to argue Goro-san, but it has been my experience that these things seldom go as planned.”

  “Do not worry, Yohei. In a few minutes it will be all over and you can return to your wife and child in that tavern you’ve managed for us so well.”

  “I sincerely hope so Goro-san. It is a humble business, but we have been happy.”

  “And you have enough to eat. More than you can say for your ronin days,” Goro said.

  “I owe the Gumsumgumi my happiness, Goro. I have taken the oath and drunk the sake. I will not let the group down,” Yohei said.

  Goro grunted approval.

  Goro’s man returned and whispered close to Goro’s ear.

  “The police have captured the Fox Gang’s leader. This crowd wants him executed now,” Goro said aloud to Yohei as he sipped his tea. Then turning back to his lieutenant, “That makes no sense. When do the chosin worry about a bandit gang who preys on the Tokugawa? Find out more. I want to know who is behind this. We are on a tight schedule, so break some bones if you have to, but find out fast.”

  The lieutenant bowed and ran back into the crowd.

  “Is knowing this information more important than our planned mission?” Yohei asked.

  “I don’t know yet. However, Nichi pays a lot of money to stay on top of all unusual occurrences; this is an unusual occurrence, and it is in our backyard. We need to get to the bottom of it and still carry out tonight’s mission,” Goro replied.

  The lieutenant returned. This time he did not whisper. “There are two fanning the flames. We have them in an alley. They say they were paid to gather a crowd, and the crowd has free drinks two streets over at the Blue Inn.”

  Goro carefully considered the news. “The Blue Inn is one of ours, so if trouble is stirred up tonight, blame will be laid at the Gumsumgumi’s door.”

  “Aniki, the men stirring up the crowd are common laborers, but the description of the person that put them up to this fits one of the Yamakai-gumi’s local bosses named Saburo,” the lieutenant reported. “He is said to be close to your counterpart in the Yamakai-gumi.”

  Goro thought a moment as he sipped the last of his tea. “Okay, give this information to one you trust and get it back to Nichi immediately.”

  “Does this mean we’ve got more trouble?” the lieutenant asked.

  “I don’t know, but if the Yamakai are behind this, it will impact us. Send your messenger and let us depart. Yohei has a date with destiny.”

  At the canal-side warehouse, Goro made sure his men were in place, then gave Yohei the nod. From across the street, hidden in an alley, Goro watched Yohei’s demeanor change. He puffed himself up and assumed the arms-crossed posture that so many ronin adopt by placing their hands in the opposite sleeves of their kimonos.

  At the entrance to the part of the warehouse that was now a tavern and brothel, Yohei loudly proclaimed his challenge to the yojimbo. After some discussion, a rough-looking samurai appeared at the entrance and sized up Yohei. He did not seem impressed with Yohei and waved him away. Yohei drew his sword, and that stopped the yojimbo. Once a sword is drawn, there was no backing down.

  Yohei motioned the yojimbo to the side of the warehouse away from police eyes. A few of the Yamakai-gumi followed their yojimbo, eager for some excitement.

  Once in the alley, the yojimbo drew his sword, announced his name and fencing school, and took up a defensive posture. That was as far as he got. A large rope net fell on him from above and four Gumsumgumi attacked. Four Yamakai-gumi and their yojimbo died in the alley.

  Then it was a frontal assault on the tavern, brothel, and the warehouse. More Yamakai-gumi died. The surprise was complete. No patrons died and no employees wounded. Goro’s team leaders began implementing his takeover. Nothing was to change for any employees. They were to continue as before, but now they reported to Goro. They were now partners with the Gumsumgumi.

  On the way back to Nichi’s, Goro and his men stopped at the two taverns and brothel that they had lost to the Yamakai-gumi while in jail. Goro’s first lieutenant had retaken both with the loss of three men. Nevertheless, Myo had been wrong. It did not take the Yamakai-gumi a day to negotiate. That evening, Goro’s counterpart was at Nichi’s headquarters. He was there to speak with Nichi.

  When Nichi received this message, he was in his office congratulating Goro and his lieutenants on an amazing night’s work. Goro arose from his sitting position to leave, but Nichi waved him back down. “I’m the Oyabun. You are first lieutenant. You meet with your counterpart. I’ll abide by whatever arrangements you negotiate,” he said, looking into the eyes of a befuddled Goro. Then Nichi arose and departed, leaving Goro and his lieutenants. Goro took the seat of honor at the head of the room and motioned for the Yamakai-gumi representative.

  He was a rough-looking man with a full head of hair tied behind his head, accentuating the scars near his mouth that gave him a permanent sneer. He was in a formal black kimono with a black outer jacket tied in front. The mon on each lapel of his haori was the Yamakai-gumi symbol of the umi plum blossom. He stepped to the center of the foot of the room and bowed at the waist. Then he stepped back with his left foot while bending slightly forward and extending his right hand forward with a palm up. This was the kiri cutting ceremony to demonstrate no weapons and no evil intent as well as an introduction.

  “I am called Komeya no Toku, wakagashira of the Yamakai-gumi. I have no weapons and come to show my respects to the Gumsumgumi and offer congratulations for their successful retaking of their business and acquisition of our warehouse,” he said formally.

  Goro nodded his head and pointed to a small desk laden with food and drink. “I know who you are Kome, and I know why you’ve come. So sit and eat and drink, and we’ll discuss the new turn of events.”

  The evening went as planned, except Kome was too agreeable. Even when Goro squeezed him, Kome kept his composure and agreed. As negotiations concluded, he asked for one concession.

  “We want the life of your yojimbo.”

  Goro controlled his initial desire to yell “Yes” at the top of his lungs. Instead, he responded in the way that Nichi would have wanted him to, simply asking, “Why?”

  “I do not know Goro-san. I believe he has upset some of our more favored clients once too often.”

  Goro grunted. He could understand that. They finally came to an understanding that no other Gumsumgumi would be hurt, and all Goro had to do was get word to Kome where the yojimbo would be during an appointed hour. Kome would take it from there. Two birds with one arrow, Goro thought. Not only had he negotiated tough demands on the Yamakai-gumi, with no retaliation, he had also managed to eliminate a thorn in his side. Nichi might be angry at first, but he would get over it. After all, it was for the betterment of the group. Besides, the yojimbo was not really a member the Gumsumgumi.

  Chapter 19: The Trial

  There were many places that Naga would rather be. It was the hour of the dog, somewhere between seven o’clock to nine o’clock in the evening. The closer they got to the Hatchobori, the louder the din became. The commander of the Yoshinobu household guards gave a verbal order and the guards formed into a “V” formation, moving the noisy and drunken rioters out of the way. They were not gentle. The guards used bokken. They cracked skulls, broke arms and pushed people out of the way with their wooden practice swords when the noisy mass failed to make way for Naga, Jii, and Yuki. They progressed slowly to the magistrate’s offices and the Hatchobori.

  Finally they arrived and the commander deployed his squad around the front of the entrance. The crowd continued their loud yelling and calling for the new magistrate to turn the Fox Gang leader over to them, but they kept their distance from the wooden swords wielded by the country samurai.

  “I can’t believe this. Where are the police?” Jii asked.

  “That’s what we’re here to find out,” Naga said.

  “If this lasts much longer, the castle will get wind of it and will have to take action. Many will die and you’ll be blamed, my lord,” Yuki said.

  “I know, Yuki. Our enemies in the Roju are up to something. I wish I knew who is financing the drinks for that mob.”

  As Jii and Naga entered the large day room, Kumogiri Denjiro, the yoriki on duty, was all smiles. He bowed to Naga. “Greetings magistrate; I see you braved our little disturbance.”

  “I want to know why we had to,” Jii said. “Why haven’t you put a stop to this?”

  “I’d love to Yoshinobu-sama, but I’m understaffed. Ever since your inspection, I’ve had police turn in their juttes and walk off,” Denjiro said.

  “How many do you have left Yoriki?” Naga asked.

  “I am down to half strength at thirty, and fifteen of those are on patrol. I do not have enough left to control this crowd,” Denjiro said.

  “You are a miserable whelp. If you had any courage at all you could bring this mob to its knees with five men!” Jii yelled.

  “Yoshinobu-sama,” Denjiro bowed, “it was not I, but your grandsons, who ran off most of our police force.”

  “They did not run off enough,” Jii said.

  “Do not be too hard on Denjiro,” Naga said. “I’m sure he has done his best.”

  “That is my point, Naga. His best is not good enough.”

  “We will discuss that later.” Then Naga turned to Denjiro. “What is the reason for this disturbance?” Naga asked.

  “The chosin,” Denjiro said, referring to the citizens of Edo by their neighborhood groupings called a cho, “are blowing off steam. We captured the leader of the Fox Gang, and they want us to turn him over for execution,” Denjiro explained.

  “Without a trial?” Naga asked.

  “Without anything,” Denjiro replied.

  “Unusual,” Yuki commented.

  “How so, Hanzo-sama?” Denjiro asked.

  “The chosin don’t usually concern themselves with the legal systems in Edo,” she said.

  “I guess they have been terrorized enough by the gang and want revenge,” Denjiro said.

  “I don’t know of any incident where the Fox Gang targeted the common people. Their targets have always been Tokugawa families,” Yuki said.

  “Then you are not well-informed my lady. We have had several robberies that we think the Fox Gang planned and executed,” Denjiro said.

  “Really?” Yuki replied. “Have you been withholding information from the Ometsuke?”

  Too late, Denjiro saw the trap. “Oh no, Hanzo-sama; I mean that we think the Fox Gang was involved. We have no definitive proof.”

  Jii continued to vent his annoyance. “You cannot control your streets. You make allegations without facts. It is amazing to me you caught anyone in the Fox Gang.” Denjiro flinched under the rebuke. Whatever he was thinking did not become words.

  “How did you come to arrest the Fox Gang leader, Denjiro?” Naga asked.

  “One of his fellow chosin turned him in, Magistrate,” Denjiro said.

  “Tell me about the arrest,” Naga said.

  “Not much to tell. One of my doshin received information that the Fox Gang leader was in Nihonbashi. We raided the place and caught the suspect with a fox mask. We brought him in. That was yesterday evening.” Denjiro said. “I’m hoping for a speedy trial and execution so we can placate that mob outside. If they get any larger, the castle will send out troops to suppress them. We don’t want that.”

  Naga suspected that was exactly what Denjiro wanted.

  “Take me to the prisoner,” Naga said.

  “You don’t want to go back there Magistrate. It is late and he is probably asleep by now,” Denjiro said.

  Jii could not take it anymore. He grasped his sword and drew it. He took one step towards Denjiro. “By the Buddha, if you question one more order you are given or make one more excuse tonight, I will cleave you in two. Never have I witnessed such impertinence.”

  Denjiro fell to his knees. “Gomen nasai,” he said and then just as quickly he backed up and stood. “Right this way Magistrate.”

  The walk down the narrow hallway to the main cells assaulted Naga’s senses. The closer they got to the cells, the greater the reek of human waste, blood, sweat, and fear. They passed a large cell and moved to the one adjacent to where Jubei had been housed. A man was hanging from the main beam, suspended by rough hemp rope encasing his shoulders and arms. He was naked except for his fundoshi. The ropes and loincloth hid the only parts of his body that did not appear broken, bruised or bleeding.

  “Open the door,” Naga ordered.

  “Magistrate, you do not want to go in there,” Denjiro said. Jii stepped forward and Denjiro jumped to unlock the wooden bars.

  Naga stepped into the cell and had to study the dangling man’s torso to ensure he was still breathing. “Cut him down, Yoriki, and be gentle about it.”

  Denjiro paused, saw Jii daring him to falter again, and moved into the cell. He extracted his short sword and cut the rope suspending the prisoner, catching him as he fell. He laid him on his side and began cutting the ropes from around his torso. Once done, he stood up and looked disgustedly at the blood and filth on his clothing.

  “Yoriki, send for a doctor. I want this man tended and ready to stand trial tomorrow morning. If he should die, you will take his place,” Naga said.