"Governor!" They called out worriedly, seeing him being marched toward the gates with Gengyo by his side. He did not even look up at them as he walked, overcome by a feeling of hopelessness.
It was only when they arrived outside the gates did he begin to address them. "Open the gates."
As per his command, they were opened just enough to allow him through.
"Open them wider!" He commanded.
"But governor that will-"
"OPEN THEM WIDER!" He barked. It was not a decision that he made lightly, and having to say it twice was cause enough to irritate him.
One guard nodded to the other, and together they began to draw the heavy wooden gates open, until they were pulled back, with enough room to fit two large wagons side by side.
Gengyo nodded with approval, and let out a small satisfied smile. "FORWARD MARCH!" He gave orders of his own, and contrary to the guardsmen of this rundown old fortress, his men did not show the slightest hint of obedience. Already formed up in solid ranks, with the most perfect of spacing, they began forward, their feet hitting the floor as one.
Such unison was terrifying to beyond. A disciplined army was a dangerous one.
Slowly but surely, the Red Feather men approached, and the guards were overcome by a hopeless anxiety, looking to their governor for reassurance, but all he could do was shake his head, as this mass of men began down his streets, further into this town that he had cared for so deeply.
Gengyo patted him on the shoulder. "Don’t look so disheartened governor. No one’s died. Yet."
He left him with that slightly morbid joke, and began to walk ahead, alone, smiling at each of the civilians that looked his way, their hopeless curiosity written across their faces.
Deeper and deeper they went, the full force of the army brought inside. The streets were lined with the citizens as they all stopped their work in order to witness this rather unexpected event. They were unsure whether they were being invaded or not.
Into the town square they went, where numerous forges and anvils were stacked outside of wooden buildings. A few stubborn blacksmiths continued their work, not wishing to give the metal time to cool down, else they make it difficult to work with. Though, they made a point to keep one eye on this rather unusual procession that had begun storming their streets.
There were stalls and merchants of many kinds. Despite its shabby appearance, it was reasonably prosperous. Had the taxes not been so oppressive, then not only would it not been so rundown, it would have also been doubled in size, as the governing forces were able to expand their walls.
Gengyo continued to smile, as he walked his way up onto a wooden platform. It had been set there purposefully, for a good time. From its height, its reason for being was clear. It was made for an orator to address the crowd. More often than not, that would be the governor.
But now it was Gengyo that ascended those varnished wooden stairs, gracefully enough, ever higher, and soon all present in the square could see him, and would not dare to even take their eyes off him. To call his presence commanding would be an understatement.
The governor dragged his feet, as he moved up the steps to join him, looking ashamed. Seeing the depressive look on his face, Gengyo shrugged. He thought that the man was overreacting, but he did not blame him.
"People of Honkaido." Gengyo began, as his men filed their way into the square, pounding a regular rhythm with their feet. "We are the Red Feather." His words were timed perfectly with the completion of their march, and in time with his announcement, the final pulse of slamming feet rocked the air around them, accenting his words, and lending them power.
The effect it had on the people was significant, as the name washed through their conscious, and they rushed to identify it, wondering where they had heard it before. But they all came up blank, as they began to look towards each other, not the slightest bit of recognition on their faces.
"Your governor and I have come to an agreement. We will be staying in your fine town for a week or two, and in return, we will offer you trade. We particularly have need of your smiths, though your food and clothing services will be useful too."
He reached inside his kimono to accent his words. "This here coin pouch contains a thousand gold. In return for assisting with the making of five cannons, and numerous cannon balls, it will be yours. What say you?"
He glanced over the crowd, his eyes searching for someone who would dare to speak up.
"I’ll do it!" A man called out, sticking his hammer into the air to be seen. In truth, he was surprised that the others hadn’t spoken. Trade was drying up as of late, and if he had the chance to make that sort of money, he would certainly not look down on. The man was no fool.
"Excellent. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves. This is a time to fill both of our pockets. Of course, such an opportunity does not come without its drawbacks." He began to speak slightly quieter as he began on talk of the siege. "We stand against the Daimyo Imagawa. Here is where we will hold siege against him."
"WHAT!?" An old woman cried out in outrage, and soon the rest of the town followed, clamouring for an explanation. To stand against the Daimyo was to ensure certain death.
"SIEGE, HERE? F.U.C.K! COIN ISN’T WORTH DYING FOR!" A man roared.
"TAKE YOUR BUISNESS ELSEWHERE!"
Gengyo held up a hand, and his men slammed their feet, pointing their rifles forward, silencing the crowd through fear. "Do not misunderstand. We do not intend to get you killed. My men will improve this here fortress, and after we are gone, you will have something worth protecting."
With the positioning of the rifles against them, the villagers did not dare to speak out. He smiled lightly in an attempt to demonstrate some degree of sincerity, but in truth, he held complete power and sway here, the only way he could show integrity was for to do as he said he would, and allow no harm to come to them.
He turned to the ashamed governor, and patted his shoulder. "Do you have any words to reassure them, governor? Or do you also think we are incapable of standing up against the might of the Daimyo?"
"...I’m sorry, my people. They hold the power here. It is this, or they could simply kill us all." He spoke whilst looking down at the floor, in something approximating a mumble.
"Haha, you make us out to be the villains here." Gengyo chuckled. "You have what, 100 guards? That should be enough to defend a fortress against my men. Or it would have been, had the Daimyo not let Honkaido fall into such disrepair. It is through his heavy taxes that you are all living like this. You should not feel fear with the coming of his forces. If we lose, then you will live – you can claim to be our hostages. But if we win, the weight of the load you bare will be lessened."
It is human nature to fear chaos, and the crowd was liable to do just that. It was aggressive, it was forceful, and it was completely domineering, but in the end, Gengyo’s actions would lead to their benefit. They were at odds now, and saw him to be their captor – their enslaver. Someone who was thrusting their family into the danger of war.
But living as they had been, they were just waiting for such an occurrence to happen. They were not strong in their little holding here. Even a force half their size would have been able to take command. They were forced into a position of weakness by the greed of the highest ruling body in the province. A man who did not care for his own people.
"People of Honkaido, you may not see the sense in my words, but know that I will do right by you. I am no Imagawa. My name is Miura Tadakata, and I do not intend to lose. If even a single one of your friends of family meets death because of my actions, then I will take my life, on these here steps, in front of you all."
He was able to smile even as he spoke of taking his own life, because of his utmost assurance in his success.
"You can’t commit seppuku if you’re already dead!" One courageous old man called out, not caring whether he was killed for his words.
"No, you’re quite right. But old man, I do not act with the intent to lose."
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