Friday, July 22, 2005
Yoshitsune #24: The Chaotic Capital 動乱の都
On his way back after a disheartening meeting with Yoshinaka, Yoshitsune realises he is being followed. The person turns out to be Tomoe. She tries to attack him but Yoshinaka appears and stops her. He tells her Yoshitsune has been taking care of their boy, Yoshitaka in Kamakura. Tears well up in Tomoe's eyes and she leaves.
Yoshinaka's troops continue to wreck havoc in the capital, traumatising the people and even the bureaucrats. The bureaucrats complain to Go-Shirakawa and tell him that the masses are saying these Genji troops are no different from the previous Heike troops. Go-Shirakawa feels an arising rift between Yoshinaka and Yukiie and plots to make use of this to bring Yoshinaka down.
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka leads some of his troops out of the capital in pursue of the Heike clan. He is determined to get rid of the Heike once and for all, so that neither Yoritomo nor the ex-emperor will be able to lord over him.
The Heike clan, who has taken up camp at Kyushuu, has been receiving letters from Go-Shirakawa, urging them to return the Three Sacred Imperial Treasures to the rightful (new) Emperor. Munemori is furious and decides they will keep the treasures with them no matter what.
Saburo brings news to Yoshitsune that Yoshinaka had left in pursue of the Heike, leaving only Yukiie in the capital. Just then, a Taira no Yorimori visits them. He is a half-brother of Kiyomori and his mother was the one who persuaded Kiyomori many years ago to let Yoritomo live. As a result, the rest of the Heike blames him and his mother for their downfall and they are thus cut off from the rest of the clan. They are now on their way to Kamakura under Yoritomo's invitation. Yoshitsune invites them to stay for the night. Benkei asks about the situation in the capital and Yorimori reports that Go-Shirakawa has washed his hands of Yoshinaka (as in, he's no longer on the same side as the latter) and has been sending messengers to Kamakura to urge Yoritomo to go to the capital. He offers to help Yoshitsune pass any letters to Yoritomo.
Yoshitsune's kerai are surprised to find Tekona with Yorimori's party and learnt that she has been working for the Heike household since she left Kamakura.
Yoshitsune attempts to report the current situation in Kyoto to Yoritomo in his letter but hesitates. (Anoooo... how can you write in that light??? Someone on the lights!! No wonder your eyesight is getting worse!! *whacks*) If he tells of Yoshinaka's doings, the relationship between the latter and Yoritomo will be strained beyond repair. Yoshitsune does not want that to happen. (He is a family person alright.) Benkei sees this and suggests that it is best he forgets about his emotions now and reports factually. Either way, Yoritomo probably already heard of Yoshinaka's doings in the capital. If Yoshitsune does not report Yoshinaka, it will just reflect badly of himself, as if he is not carrying out his duties.
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka trashes the Heike factions at Seino and is feeling high about his winning streak. He plans to push on to Yajima where the Heike has escaped to (ok, one moment they are at Kyushu, now at Yajima in Shikoku? O_o) when he receives reports that Go-Shirakawa has been sending messengers to Kamakura. Fearing that Yoritomo may take over the capital in his absence, he decides to abandon his plans and return to Kyoto.
Go-Shirakawa summons Yukiie and together with Tsubone, puts up a show to make Yukiie thinks that they think highly of him, that he is the only one they can depend on to rid the Heike. Yukiie falls for the trick and leaves to Harima to fight Tomomori and Shigemori's troops, but suffers a humiliating defeat and runs away. (This Yukiie is such a STUPID fella full of himself... a disgrace to the Minamoto name. -__-;;;)
Yoshinaka arrives back in Kyoto and barges into Go-Shirakawa's residence. He is furious with the latter for belittling him and giving Yukiie preferential treatment in his absence, obviously ignoring the fact that he is the one who is supposed to call the shots. Go-Shirakawa and Tsubone manage to hide from him this time.
The Heike clan has since moved on to Ichinotani. They celebrate their easy triumph over Yukiie's attack. Tokiko looks forward to returning to the capital and rebuilding Fukuhara.
Worried that Yoshinaka has found out about his ploy to make use of Yukiie, Go-Shirakawa sends Tomoyasu to check out Yoshinaka's reactions.
Tomoyasu: "O-kami (Go-Shirakawa) will like you to control your troops in the capital. They have been terrorising the people with their behaviour."
Yoshinaka: "Oh me?"
Tomoyasu: "You are the general in the capital isn't it?"
Yoshinaka: "Oh really? I thought O-kami thinks Yukiie is the general?"
Tomoyasu: "What are you saying? Anyway, Yukiie is not even in the capital now."
Yoshinaka: "Then why don't you all ask Yoritomo? But when he comes and a battle breaks out between the two of us in O-kami's beloved capital, will he (Go-Shirakawa) be fine with it?"
Yoshinaka tries to put Tomoyasu down in every way he can and insults him openly.
Tomoyasu reports back to Go-Shirakawa. The latter thinks he can no longer trust Yoshinaka and tries to get Yoritomo on his side. (He just needs someone to protect him.) However, his repeat invitations to him have proven futile. Yoritomo is clever with words and claim that he cannot yet leave because that will leave Kamakura vulnerable to attacks from Heike factions. If that happens, the war might spread to the capital. Go-Shirakawa decides that he will enlist the help of armed monks for the moment to protect him from Yoshinaka.
Kamakura. Tokitada is impressed that Go-Shirakawa is actually inviting Yoritomo to go to the capital. He thinks it is an honour. Masako however warns that they shouldn't get too close with the imperial family, as that is the reason for Heike's fall. But at the same time, they want to make the imperial family dependable on them.
Yoshinaka hears news of Go-Shirakawa amassing monks to attack him. This confirms his betrayal and Yoshinaka storms the ex-emperor's residence. He captures the latter and confines him. He then strips the officials posts working under Go-Shirakawa of their positions and banishes them and massacre hundred of others. In addition, he forces the daughter of Fujihara Motofusa (some high ranking official i guess) into a marriage with him.
Go-Shirakawa however remains calm about Yoshinaka's doing because he is sure Yoritomo will not let him off for these.
Yoshitsune hears of Yoshinaka's violence and is disappointed with him. To him, he has become a Genji traitor. There is no need to protect him anymore because of family ties.
Soon enough, Yoritomo sends Noriyori with a troop of 100,000 to join Yoshitsune in Omi with orders to attack Yoshinaka. Yoshitsune, who has up until now been reluctant to engage in battle, surprisingly no longer objects to the attack.
~End of Episode 24~
Yoshinaka's troops continue to wreck havoc in the capital, traumatising the people and even the bureaucrats. The bureaucrats complain to Go-Shirakawa and tell him that the masses are saying these Genji troops are no different from the previous Heike troops. Go-Shirakawa feels an arising rift between Yoshinaka and Yukiie and plots to make use of this to bring Yoshinaka down.
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka leads some of his troops out of the capital in pursue of the Heike clan. He is determined to get rid of the Heike once and for all, so that neither Yoritomo nor the ex-emperor will be able to lord over him.
The Heike clan, who has taken up camp at Kyushuu, has been receiving letters from Go-Shirakawa, urging them to return the Three Sacred Imperial Treasures to the rightful (new) Emperor. Munemori is furious and decides they will keep the treasures with them no matter what.
Saburo brings news to Yoshitsune that Yoshinaka had left in pursue of the Heike, leaving only Yukiie in the capital. Just then, a Taira no Yorimori visits them. He is a half-brother of Kiyomori and his mother was the one who persuaded Kiyomori many years ago to let Yoritomo live. As a result, the rest of the Heike blames him and his mother for their downfall and they are thus cut off from the rest of the clan. They are now on their way to Kamakura under Yoritomo's invitation. Yoshitsune invites them to stay for the night. Benkei asks about the situation in the capital and Yorimori reports that Go-Shirakawa has washed his hands of Yoshinaka (as in, he's no longer on the same side as the latter) and has been sending messengers to Kamakura to urge Yoritomo to go to the capital. He offers to help Yoshitsune pass any letters to Yoritomo.
Yoshitsune's kerai are surprised to find Tekona with Yorimori's party and learnt that she has been working for the Heike household since she left Kamakura.
Yoshitsune attempts to report the current situation in Kyoto to Yoritomo in his letter but hesitates. (Anoooo... how can you write in that light??? Someone on the lights!! No wonder your eyesight is getting worse!! *whacks*) If he tells of Yoshinaka's doings, the relationship between the latter and Yoritomo will be strained beyond repair. Yoshitsune does not want that to happen. (He is a family person alright.) Benkei sees this and suggests that it is best he forgets about his emotions now and reports factually. Either way, Yoritomo probably already heard of Yoshinaka's doings in the capital. If Yoshitsune does not report Yoshinaka, it will just reflect badly of himself, as if he is not carrying out his duties.
Meanwhile, Yoshinaka trashes the Heike factions at Seino and is feeling high about his winning streak. He plans to push on to Yajima where the Heike has escaped to (ok, one moment they are at Kyushu, now at Yajima in Shikoku? O_o) when he receives reports that Go-Shirakawa has been sending messengers to Kamakura. Fearing that Yoritomo may take over the capital in his absence, he decides to abandon his plans and return to Kyoto.
Go-Shirakawa summons Yukiie and together with Tsubone, puts up a show to make Yukiie thinks that they think highly of him, that he is the only one they can depend on to rid the Heike. Yukiie falls for the trick and leaves to Harima to fight Tomomori and Shigemori's troops, but suffers a humiliating defeat and runs away. (This Yukiie is such a STUPID fella full of himself... a disgrace to the Minamoto name. -__-;;;)
Yoshinaka arrives back in Kyoto and barges into Go-Shirakawa's residence. He is furious with the latter for belittling him and giving Yukiie preferential treatment in his absence, obviously ignoring the fact that he is the one who is supposed to call the shots. Go-Shirakawa and Tsubone manage to hide from him this time.
The Heike clan has since moved on to Ichinotani. They celebrate their easy triumph over Yukiie's attack. Tokiko looks forward to returning to the capital and rebuilding Fukuhara.
Worried that Yoshinaka has found out about his ploy to make use of Yukiie, Go-Shirakawa sends Tomoyasu to check out Yoshinaka's reactions.
Tomoyasu: "O-kami (Go-Shirakawa) will like you to control your troops in the capital. They have been terrorising the people with their behaviour."
Yoshinaka: "Oh me?"
Tomoyasu: "You are the general in the capital isn't it?"
Yoshinaka: "Oh really? I thought O-kami thinks Yukiie is the general?"
Tomoyasu: "What are you saying? Anyway, Yukiie is not even in the capital now."
Yoshinaka: "Then why don't you all ask Yoritomo? But when he comes and a battle breaks out between the two of us in O-kami's beloved capital, will he (Go-Shirakawa) be fine with it?"
Yoshinaka tries to put Tomoyasu down in every way he can and insults him openly.
Tomoyasu reports back to Go-Shirakawa. The latter thinks he can no longer trust Yoshinaka and tries to get Yoritomo on his side. (He just needs someone to protect him.) However, his repeat invitations to him have proven futile. Yoritomo is clever with words and claim that he cannot yet leave because that will leave Kamakura vulnerable to attacks from Heike factions. If that happens, the war might spread to the capital. Go-Shirakawa decides that he will enlist the help of armed monks for the moment to protect him from Yoshinaka.
Kamakura. Tokitada is impressed that Go-Shirakawa is actually inviting Yoritomo to go to the capital. He thinks it is an honour. Masako however warns that they shouldn't get too close with the imperial family, as that is the reason for Heike's fall. But at the same time, they want to make the imperial family dependable on them.
Yoshinaka hears news of Go-Shirakawa amassing monks to attack him. This confirms his betrayal and Yoshinaka storms the ex-emperor's residence. He captures the latter and confines him. He then strips the officials posts working under Go-Shirakawa of their positions and banishes them and massacre hundred of others. In addition, he forces the daughter of Fujihara Motofusa (some high ranking official i guess) into a marriage with him.
Go-Shirakawa however remains calm about Yoshinaka's doing because he is sure Yoritomo will not let him off for these.
Yoshitsune hears of Yoshinaka's violence and is disappointed with him. To him, he has become a Genji traitor. There is no need to protect him anymore because of family ties.
Soon enough, Yoritomo sends Noriyori with a troop of 100,000 to join Yoshitsune in Omi with orders to attack Yoshinaka. Yoshitsune, who has up until now been reluctant to engage in battle, surprisingly no longer objects to the attack.
~End of Episode 24~
// posted by snuffles @ 3:15 AM 
