The Shogun's Scroll. Stephen F. Kaufman

deliverable, but the people know they are incapable of taking control and will acquiesce accordingly. Of course, should there be serious complaint, the development of a faction can occur, causing further trouble where it tends to stir the people to revolt. That person or persons responsible for the unrest must be removed from office. This is not an act of cruelty. It is an act of maintaining control by intelligent means.

      This is not so in nonmilitary affairs where people can become quickly annoyed with anything the leader tries to develop. The shogun may inadvertently create a problem that he is unable to rectify without harsh action, whereas in the private domain the leader can revert back to the original idea of the enterprise with little difficulty, unless he commits a severe breach of conduct. In public matters a leader can be constantly assaulted and forced into compromising situations, which may bring an unwanted change in conditions unless he is ironfisted. If he is, the above problem will probably not develop.

      To remind you of this situation, please remember when Yoshikai Bento sought to favor his own family with court positions and overlooked the desires of the emperor’s family. He gave everyone of his bloodline positions of authority and entirely overlooked the consternation of others more closely aligned to the emperor. The incompetence of Bento’s family became legendary, and he was soon replaced himself when the emperor, who had been lenient, was constantly assailed by reports of ineptitude. To alleviate the condition and to put things back in order, the emperor removed Bento and replaced him with the empress’s brother. That her brother was also incapable did not matter as much as the tranquillity that was restored to the emperor’s household.

      The public domain is the entire realm inclusive of private matters. All matters public and private concern the shogunate. The entire country comprises the public domain because it is legislated by the overall rules of the entire society. It doesn’t matter who appears to own anything. It is only by the grace of the emperor that the people may have their own lands. Because of this, men will want to please those in control, regardless of the manner in which that control has been appropriated. The people will be happy in mind and spirit when they know they are governed by a benevolent leader.

      Because you and the emperor may have differences of opinion, it can become necessary for you to change policy at any given time. You should get an agreement from the emperor and advise your subjects that the change is due to divine intervention. In this manner you won’t be looked upon with disfavor by your own people. It will appear that you are only following the directives of the emperor, and you must never show any form of disdain when you are doing this. As a wise shogun, you will understand the powers expressed by the emperor, and you should permit your own actions to please him as well. Regardless, your own ideas will eventually be put into play, permitting yourself to control the entire domain without interference if you are astute. This includes using deception to maintain your position of authority.

      Deception is an art naturally developed as one of the most important qualities of leadership. It permits you to remain alert to sudden changes in the domain as to who may be silently creating dissension. Should you determine any distractions that can keep you from attaining your goals, remove them. Awareness of conditions makes it easier to root out those who would usurp the shogunate for any reason.

      The general population is easily maneuvered into thinking along the lines of those who are in power. Once the people are assuaged and under control, differences in policy can be easily implemented. There will be no confusion among the masses as to who is in charge. They will agree with the strongest, and they will do so out of fear— your benevolence notwithstanding.

      There can be no lack of growth in the future development of the domain. The people must be kept busy or their idleness will degrade into irreverence. If this is allowed to happen they will develop fantasies of power that they do not know how to use. This will permit others with designs upon your position to gather the discontented to their side, creating additional difficulty for you. This cannot be permitted to happen and should be stopped the moment it is detected, without regard for the consequences visited upon those who created the problem.

      Current and accurate information is essential in order to maintain control. If information cannot be determined to come from actual fact, then it is suggested that you consider the occurrence of the rumor to be reason enough for quelling any potential disturbance. There is always some truth behind any rumor. If someone shows a desire to wrest control from you they should not be lightly overlooked. Detractors must be removed from office by any means you deem appropriate.

      Sugiwara Michizane, a regent in the Fujiwara clan, was unjustly accused of having illicit relations with one of the emperor’s consorts, the exquisite Lady Chiba. Michizane was sent into exile even though no one could actually prove that he had disgraced the throne. The cause of his downfall was his overbearing attention towards Lady Chiba whenever she was in his presence. Rivals, jealous of his position at court, spread rumors that created great difficulty for Michizane. His wife committed suicide because of the disgrace that befell her family. The emperor, although unable to prove anything, had no choice but to remove Michizane from the court in order to maintain the dignity required for the proper conduct of state business. No one ever knew if any impropriety was committed.

      In a private endeavor a leader can withstand constant attack as long as the resolve to maintain control is evident. He is generally more respected and loved by his clan than the public official—who is constantly under scrutiny because of everyone’s belief that they can do a better job if only someone would give them the opportunity.

      Public endeavors represent completely different requirements for being governed. People are fickle and do not maintain loyalty if they see any variation in their leader’s conduct that can be construed as personally detrimental to them, whether true or not. Very few members of society have any idea about what governing a society entails. If people have specific rules of conduct and regulations for their general freedom, then they will think they are free. They will not feel free, however, if they are actually controlled by external sources that do not give them guidance. The true free society is governed by the laws and rules developed for the specific purpose of the people not having to be concerned about government controls. This condition has never occurred in history and probably never will, but the concept is worth considering.

      Public domains must be ruled firmly or chaos will result, orders will go unheeded, and there will be no controls. The entire domain will fall into disrepair even if it maintains an appearance of functionality. If the leader is weak the citizens will be wrought with fear. A new leader taking control during these times will possibly be a tyrant. This usually goes against the nature of the original environment and can lead to a dictatorship, which in itself can either be good or bad depending on the behavior and consciousness of the people.

      Public domains are constantly under scrutiny by every member of that society, and there will never seem to be unity or accord anywhere within the realm. For this reason the population of the majority of public domains never cease to be amazed that inefficiency rules the day. The iron fist of a wise shogun is essential.

      CHAPTER THREE

       Combining Domains Creates Natural Dissension

      There are many reasons why two or more groups may join forces. It can be owing to the demise of a clan leader, the conceptions of all groups involved of expanded growth and prosperity, or anything else that man is capable of thinking about to his advantage. When there is change in the structure of leadership ther-e must naturally be dissension among the participants. Someone must take charge, and that authority cannot be challenged. The leader of the domain being taken over must be removed from office once the agreement is accomplished, and he can never be made a partner. That being established, the following must be considered.

      People will do whatever they think is necessary for their own safety and convenience, without regard for the rest of the population. Understand this. You will inevitably make enemies of the leaders you have usurped even if the newly established conditions first seemed agreeable to all parties. People dislike change unless they institute it themselves. Actions can include overthrowing their own leaders in hopes of attaining a better life for themselves. When more than one person assumes control of a situation, neither can readily come to terms with