Ch.246Pacification (1)

# Yamato.

In modern times, it’s called Nara, and it was the capital before the capital moved to Kyoto.

Because of this history, palaces like the ancient imperial courts from Japan’s ritsuryo system era still remained.

In the center of such a palace sat the plum blossom throne.

It was the throne symbolizing the Emperor’s authority, which had become merely ceremonial after the shogunate was established.

But now with no shogunate or threatening powers remaining, it was fair to say that the Emperor’s era had returned.

A boy was trembling before the throne, prostrated like an aspen leaf.

This was Emperor Gotoba, ruler of the archipelago and called the ruler of the world.

There was a reason why this man, considered the most noble in Japan, was prostrated like this.

It was because Gurkhan was sitting on the plum blossom throne—the throne that was originally called the Emperor’s throne.

The Mongol Khagan, Emperor of China, Basileus of Rome, Shahanshah of Iran, and Lord of the Four Seas.

The many titles used to address him immediately revealed how magnificent his presence was.

Standing before such a being, the Emperor had no choice but to humble himself to survive.

“Raise your head.”

Hearing Gurkhan’s translated words, the Emperor carefully raised his head.

As he did so, he couldn’t help but be greatly surprised.

“H-how is that possible…”

“So these are the Three Sacred Treasures.”

Gurkhan smiled as he looked at the sword, bronze mirror, and curved jewel in his hand.

The Three Sacred Treasures held tremendous significance in Japan.

This was because the Emperor was considered a descendant of the gods.

It was believed that divine power was manifested through these treasures.

Therefore, Emperors had to inherit these sacred treasures from their predecessors to prove their legitimacy and influence.

But Emperor Gotoba couldn’t do this.

Having become Emperor during chaotic times due to the Heike clan’s schemes, he had ascended to the throne without receiving the Three Sacred Treasures.

For this reason, Emperor Gotoba’s legitimacy was difficult to respect.

Knowing this, various clans like the Minamoto and Oshu Fujiwara outwardly showed respect to the Emperor but didn’t actually follow him.

It was bewildering to see these significant treasures in the hands of none other than Gurkhan.

“False Emperor. How dare you, a false being without the Three Sacred Treasures, request help from me, Gurkhan, the true descendant of Heaven?”

Gurkhan was the Emperor of China.

The Emperor of China was originally the Son of Heaven, so his symbolic status could be considered higher than the Emperor of Japan.

Of course, within Japan, the Emperor was worshipped as a living god, but in terms of influence, it was difficult to surpass the Chinese Emperor.

“Th-that’s not true. Lord of the Four Seas. As the legitimate Emperor…”

“Then how did the Yata no Kagami, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, and Yasakani no Magatama end up in my hands?”

“Th-that’s…”

As the Emperor faltered, Minamoto no Noriyori, who was standing beside him, stepped forward.

“The Emperor possesses the Three Sacred Treasures.”

Gurkhan’s expression showed interest at Noriyori’s answer.

In contrast, the Minister and the Emperor looked at Noriyori with expressions that seemed to ask why he was saying such things.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then are you saying these are replicas?”

Gurkhan’s lips were smiling, but his voice was not.

Like the bitter cold of winter that cuts into flesh, Noriyori couldn’t help but stammer.

“Th-that’s not what I meant… Even replicas share some of the divine power… I-I wanted to explain…”

“Then bring the real treasures you possess.”

“The sacred treasures cannot be moved. This is solely by the power of the situation…”

“Then since Emperor Shirakawa has died, let’s ask someone of the same rank.”

Gurkhan raised his hand and made a gesture.

A Kheshig approached and handed over a wooden box.

Seeing this, Noriyori couldn’t help but swallow hard due to his ominous premonition.

“From what I understand, the Emperor, as a descendant of the gods, can communicate with the dead.”

This was something neither the Emperor nor Noriyori had heard before.

But they felt they couldn’t say anything for fear of losing their heads before Gurkhan.

Seeing this, Gurkhan smiled and instructed the Kheshig to open the box.

Then, the head of Emperor Sutoku was revealed.

“Ah, of course, that’s if the Emperor truly has the sacred treasures as you claim.”

“Hiiieek!”

The Emperor was startled to see his great-uncle’s head.

Similarly, Yorinori and the Minister couldn’t help but be greatly shocked.

This was because Emperor Sutoku had already died and been buried.

The presence of such a being before the Emperor meant only one thing.

It meant that the Ulus had desecrated the dead man’s body and brought his head.

“E-Emperor Sutoku…”

“Wh-what is this…”

“Now, go ahead and talk with the dead.”

At Gurkhan’s urging, the Emperor’s face turned pale.

Soon, unable to endure, he began to retch.

“Ugh… uuugh…”

Seeing this, Gurkhan raised his hand again to have the box closed.

Then he had water given to the Emperor to calm him down.

After the Emperor had calmed down somewhat, Yesugei murmured softly while looking at him.

“Before he died, this man said these treasures were real.”

“…”

“I don’t know if what you have really exists, but yours seems fake… what do you think?”

Gurkhan whispered softly as if offering a final chance at life.

At this, the Emperor immediately bowed his head and confessed the truth.

“I-I am not the Emperor. I do not possess the Three Sacred Treasures and I just… just… p-please spare me. If you spare me, I will enter the forest and live as if dead.”

“Your Majesty!”

“How can you tell such lies…!”

The Minister and Yorinori were greatly shocked.

The Emperor abandoning his divinity meant that their lives, having followed and believed in him, were in danger.

They tried to speak to persuade the Emperor.

But they couldn’t continue their words.

“Y-you…”

“It’s been a long time, brother.”

Temuge spoke to Yorinori with a calm expression.

Seeing this, the Minister and the Emperor looked at Temuge with expressions of great shock.

“H-how… y-you… gack!”

Temuge stabbed a knife into the Minister’s back with an expressionless face.

With the knife embedded in him, the Minister gasped for breath before meeting his death.

The Emperor witnessed death right beside him.

The young Emperor found it difficult to maintain his sanity at this sight.

“P-please spare me. Please spare me… my lord… I am neither a god nor a being worthy of respect. I am just a human. A humble human begging for life. Such a person begs for mercy from the Lord of the Four Seas.”

He looked as if he would lick Gurkhan’s shoes.

At this, Yesugei raised his hand to stop him.

“It is not your fault that you pretended to be a descendant of the gods.”

The Emperor blinked at Yesugei’s words.

Gurkhan pointed at Yorinori with his hand.

“A being blinded by power disguised you, Takanari, an ordinary human, as the Emperor to fulfill his own desire for power.”

“Don’t listen to the barbarian’s voice! Your Majesty! You are the Emperor! The only ruler of this land!”

“Look. That fellow is telling lies to save himself. Isn’t that so?”

Gurkhan spoke to the young Emperor with a smile.

Emperor Gotoba immediately realized that this was the only way he could survive.

So he had no choice but to choose the path that would save himself, not others.

“Th-the Lord of the Four Seas is right. I-I was deceived. I-I am innocent. I was just… just… manipulated by that man’s tongue…”

At Takanari’s words, Yorinori looked up at the sky as if in great shock.

Then, as if everything was over, he stretched out his neck.

“It’s all over. Kill me, brother.”

At Yorinori’s words, Temuge nodded.

And he beheaded Yorinori right there.

Thud.

The headless body tumbled to the floor.

It was a pitiful end for someone who had once tried to become a power beside the Emperor.

Seeing this, the Emperor silently trembled.

When he felt Gurkhan’s gaze, he prostrated himself tightly.

“If you let me go like this… I-I will go into the mountains…”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“Wh-what do you mean…”

“You will come with me to the continent. And there you will spend the rest of your life comfortably.”

As soon as Gurkhan finished speaking, Munglig and Elunka appeared beside Takanari.

These two people were looking at him with interested expressions, as if they had found a new toy.

The sight of them whispering in an unknown language while looking at him was nothing short of terror from Takanari’s perspective.

“Don’t worry. They are people who will help you live peacefully and healthily for a long time as a commoner.”

Takanari felt that the word “healthy” was strangely emphasized.

But since it could have been his imagination, Takanari only focused on the fact that he could live.

* * *

The archipelago was pacified.

There were still small fry remaining, but dealing with them was not my role but Temuge’s.

“From now on, you are the Sei Taishōgun of the shogunate.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Temuge paid his respects at my words.

This was not just because I was his father and the conquering ruler who had conquered the archipelago.

It was because the Three Sacred Treasures were in my left hand.

The bronze mirror, the sword, and the curved jewel.

These were not genuine but replicas.

As a modern person, I knew that Emperor Gotoba was an Emperor without the Three Sacred Treasures, lacking legitimacy.

However, even I didn’t know where the real Three Sacred Treasures were.

So I made fakes and pretended they were real.

This was possible because Gotoba didn’t have the Three Sacred Treasures, and even the Emperor rarely got to see them.

Anyway, I used the fake to intimidate the real Emperor and made him abandon his legitimacy.

With this, these fake treasures gained divinity, and whoever possessed them could sit on the Emperor’s throne.

Khasar was designated for the role of Emperor, and Temuge was to assist him.