“Grand Governor of New Nippon.”
“On behalf of the mighty shogun of Japan, Iemitsu-sama of the Tokugawa, the lord commissioners Matsudaira-sama, Sakai-sama and Hotta-sama, as faithful servants of the shogun, have reviewed your governance of New Nippon.
“Hark now to their words.” The herald bowed to the grand governor, and knelt gracefully in the formal seiza position, his buttocks resting on his heels.
Lord Matsudaira’s gaze swept the room. “According to the records provided to us, some six thousand Nihonjin, of whom five thousand were kirishitan, left Japan with the First or Second Fleet. Of these, perhaps nine in ten survived the journey. Of those, about eight in ten are still alive.
“Before leaving Nippon, we consulted with the Red Hairs as to what losses might reasonably be expected in establishing an overseas colony. Based on what we were told, you have done well in minimizing loss of life.”
Lord Matsudaira took a sip of tea from the cup placed beside him. “Questioning has revealed that there have been some religious disturbances, resulting in the internal exile of certain intransigent Christians. We expect you to remind the kirishitan that their religion was banned in the homeland because of such intransigence and that intolerance will not, ah, be tolerated. The treatment accorded to the kirishitan awaiting transport, and the continued support of this colony, depend on obedience to the Edict of Exile!
“We are pleased to note that besides extensive fishing, you have been able to plant and harvest several crops since the formation of the colony, thus reducing the amount of supplies that the colonists of the Third Fleet have had to bring with them.
“However, the failure to raise rice remains a concern.”
Masamune coughed.
“You have a comment, Governor?”
Masamune nodded. “Last year we explored the delta of the Sacramanto and San Joaquin Rivers. The ground appears suitable for rice cultivation, and according to the Indians there, the Karkin, the summers are warmer than here. My intent is to send some of the kirishitan of the Third Fleet there as soon as they fully recover from the rigors of the sea passage.”
“I will pray to Inari for your success,” said Lord Sakai.
“But will Inari care what happens to a pack of kirishitan?” Lord Hotta muttered. “In my—”
“I commend you,” said Lord Matsudaira. “This delta is far away, is it not?”
“It is some days’ journey by land. Once we have more horses—which of course we can breed, so we don’t have to keep bringing them across the sea much longer—the journey will be easier.”
Lord Matsudaira spread his hands. “I confess that until I sailed down the coast, I had no real conception of just how large this America is. Now I do.
“Masamune-san, while we may disagree with some of your decisions, we do not doubt your loyalty to the shogun, or that the colony of New Nippon has prospered under your leadership.
“But we do question whether so large a realm, with so few Nihonjin amidst many savages, can truly be governed by a single man. You are confirmed as grand governor of the province of New Nippon, but we must insist that the province itself be divided into two or more domains. We decree that the Monterey Bay area shall be one han, and we appoint your son, Date Munesane, as its daimyo. Since he is now a Christian we think this is logical.
“We leave it to your discretion to appoint a second daimyo, for the han of San Francisco Bay. This, I assume, will include the Indian’s cinnabar mine, your fishing village on the South Bay, the new Dutch settlement at San Francisco, the new copper mine near ‘Oakland,’ and the rice paddies you plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. And the gold fields of the American River, once they are definitively located.”
Date Masamune heard a faint sound from behind the screen.
“The third han would be ‘Thousand Islands’ and would include Vancouver Island, Texada Island, and any other nearby island or coastline worth taking. Please remember our understanding that Texada Island is to be occupied by Buddhists. We will make the arrangements for suitable colonists to be sent out with the Fourth Fleet.”
“And you better start sending us iron,” added Lord Hotta.
Lord Matsudaira held up his hand. “Our information is that the Indians of the region are of a warlike nature. We think that a military commander of your experience belongs there, not here in California. Unless, of course, there is an imminent threat from the Spanish in New Spain.”
“We expect you to develop a proposal for the administration of settlements between San Francisco and Vancouver,” Lord Sakai added. “But for the moment there aren’t enough Nihonjin there to matter.”