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Seas of Fortune(186)



“Emphasize that finding the jade without Indian assistance would be like trying to find a needle at the bottom of a lake,” said Masamune. “And that we have already invested two years in gaining the trust of the local Indians, and if we are persistent they will eventually lead us to the jade. Do not volunteer that our local Indians are of the wrong tribe.”





Fall 1636,

Kodachi Machi, Santa Cruz





“My lord, a messenger has come from the pilot-major of the Third Fleet, informing us that the lord commissioners will disembark as soon as appropriate preparations are in place to receive them.”

Date Masamune raised his head. “Yes, yes, we will—what was that phrase the Dutch told us?”

“Roll out the red carpet,” said Shigetsuna. Coincidentally, red was an auspicious color in Japan, associated with protection against the demons of disease.

“Did the message inform us of the names of the lord commissioners?”

“Yes. The good news is, one’s a Sakai.” In other words, a relation of Sakai Tadakatsu, the senior councillor who had persuaded Iemitsu to issue the New Nippon Edict. “Sakai Tadayoshi, to be specific. I don’t know him personally, however.

“Then there’s a Hotta.” Shigetsuna made a face. Hotta Masamori was a leader of the anti-Christian faction. It was a foregone conclusion that any Lord Hotta was here to do mischief.

“Last but definitely not least, there’s Matsudaira Nobotsuna.” The first Tokugawa shogun had formerly been known as Matsudaira Motoyasu. The shogun’s heir received the surname Tokugawa; all of his other sons took Matsudaira. Unlike the other two men, Nobotsuna was himself a senior councillor. Masamune recalled hearing the Dutch speak warmly about him. But even if he weren’t hostile to Christians, he could be expected to be wary of the possibility that New Nippon could be a springboard for a challenge to the supremacy of the Tokugawa clan. In other words, while Masamune needed to impress Lord Sakai with the potential of California, he couldn’t afford to be too persuasive. At least not in Matsudaira’s hearing.

The Tokugawa were great believers in hammering down nails that stuck out too much.

* * *

Shigetsuna took the distinguished visitors to the shores of the Monterey Bay. Shigetsuna pointed out a particular stretch of water; there, several dozen sea otters floated on their backs, holding paws so they didn’t drift apart.

Japan had started exporting sea otter fur to China back in 1483. The sea otters didn’t live in Japanese waters; the Matsumae clan bought the skins from the Ainu of Ezochi (Hokkaido), to the north of Japan. Most of the skins came from still farther north, from the Ainu of the Kuril Islands.

“So many,” said Lord Sakai.

Shigetsuna shook his head. “I have seen a ‘raft’ of two hundred of the beasts.”

“I am surprised that you haven’t killed them off already.”

“We limit our hunting in this area, for the sake of good relations with the natives. We have wooden boats, and can go further afield, they can’t.”

“What do they use?”

“It’s like the tub boats of Sado Island, but made from tule reeds. It can only be paddled with the current.”

“Why haven’t you shipped these furs back home?”

Shigetsuna looked at him with amazement. “We have! A shipment went home with the Second Fleet.”

“Hmm. My clerk reviewed the manifests from all the ships of the Second Fleet. He said nothing about furs.”

“It would no doubt be interesting to compare our copies with those your clerk saw.”

Lord Sakai nodded. They both knew that the customs inspectors in Nagasaki could be persuaded to ignore errors or omissions in manifests, for a suitable inducement. “Have your man Takuma speak to mine.”

The show-and-tell continued. “Now, here we have a treat for you,” said Shigetsuna. He pointed out a small fishing boat, with one man on board. “Watch!”

Perhaps a minute later, the fisherman picked up a long bamboo pole and thrust it into water. A young woman, wearing just a loincloth, climbed up this impromptu ladder and pulled herself into the boat.

“Watching her is indeed a treat,” said Lord Sakai with a smirk, shading his eyes so he could see her better.

“I had a different treat in mind. Can you make out what she is carrying?”

“Why—abalone!” Abalone was a luxury food in Tokugawa Japan. Only a few privileged daimyo could buy fresh abalone.

“Do you have anyone who knows how to make hoshi-awabe?” Lord Sakai asked eagerly.

That was dried abalone, which was exported to China.

“We do.” He and Lord Matsudaira exchanged looks. Lord Hotta contrived to look bored.