FROM SHOSURO KOJUNO, SHOSURO SCHOOL SENSEI, TO THE FAMILY OF SHOSURO KENJO
With this letter, I send to you my deepest regrets. Your son has fallen prey to the newly returned children of Shinjo, the Ki•Rin who now choose to call themselves “the Unicorn.” Kenjo did not die as a result of some poor reaction to a foreign food. Nor did he suffer a fatal accident beneath the hooves of their freakish beasts. No such subtle excuse was even offered. He was hung by the neck with a loose knot from an archway while his feet were drawn westward and the rest of him, unable to follow, rapidly expired.
Kenjo's objective was of the simplest kind, suitable to a Journeyman of his age, under any other circumstance. No one expected that he would come to such a barbaric end.
Some months ago, our historians came across information in a set of old military treatises indicating less than wholly honorable behaviour on the part of an Ide commander in a minor skirmish during their initial battles with the Lion. As that commander had a descendant in a position of some little authority in the current Ide court the find seemed to present an auspicious opportunity.
Shosuro Kenjo was already scheduled to visit in the court for a period of some weeks. Along with reporting his own astute observations, he now had the leverage to arrange a protracted source of intelligence from within the court on a long term basis. In short he was to approach the commander's descendant, inform him of our knowledge, and use it to bargain for future favors from the man in question. A simple exchange.
I cannot be entirely certain of what transpired next I can only estimate those things that went terribly wrong. That Kenjo approached the man is certain. That he revealed the knowledge he held, and further, that others also knew what he did goes without question. He was a good student and would never have been so foolish as to let the other party think that the information wou1d die with the messenger. But somewhere afterward, events become vague.
The message that returned to us along with Kenjo's remains was written in the hand and with the seal of the Ide daimyo. It was brief, saying only that our agent had exceeded his hospitality, overestimating the importance of history, while underestimating the bonds of blood. Kenjo’s belongings were all returned with immaculate care, including his private correspondences. These last were arranged in our traditional manner, sealed with a fine line of Kumo gum. They were not opened. As best I can reconstruct, the Ide whom Kenjo approached reported his plight directly to his lord. Sometime afterward, there was a public execution of our kinsman.
I can only conclude from this that the Unicorn have no care as a clan for the dishonor of their own ancestors. What's more, they do not feel the need to make us an excuse for the death of our man. Although I will mourn the loss of my pupil as I know you will mourn your son. I know that of primary concern to us both is this revelation as to the nature of our potential rivals. If they will not be swayed by family honor, and flout even the most cursory courtesies of image, I am not certain what hold we can have on them. The matter requires further research to be sure. I am already preparing three more of my pupils to begin a more covert observation. I will keep you appraised of their progress.
Again, my regrets for your loss,
Shosuro Kojuno
FROM SHOSURO KOJUNO, SHOSURO SCHOOL SENSI, TO BAYUSHI TANJARO, SCORPION CLAN DAIMYO
My Lord,
I do not think that I have ever known a greater threat to what we are. I received letters this morning from Shosuro Daie informing me that her cousin, Kenjo, was dead, and that his death came about as a direct result of his most recent post, representative to the Ide clan.
Details are few, my lord, but they are also vivid. You are familiar, I am certain. with our discussion to send Kenjo to the "Unicorn" to gather information on these impostors. Apparently, they found themselves offended by his manner, tied a rope about his neck and hung him on the gales of Ide castle. Then, they tied his feet to two of their misshapen beasts and tore him to pieces.
The manner of his body is significant, my lord. It tells us "We in not afraid of your retribution." This provides us with both leverage and a hindrance.
To begin with, it is obvious these barbarians do not know us. They do not know the delicacy of our methods. They also do not know themselves. Such an act could be easily and openly manipulated to our advantage in the court. Either they do not recognize this ... or they do not care. This last statement brings us to the hindrance.
My lord, if these gaijin do not recognize their position, they will be easy to direct and guide. But, if they do recognize it, and they do not care, they are more dangerous than even the Crab or the Phoenix. They are a mighty military power who have demonstrated the ability to thwart the Lion, and they do not recognize our own power. We cannot simply shame them as we do the Lion or tempt them as we do the Crane. Unlike the Crab, they have no obligations to keep them from our borders. Unlike the Phoenix, they may very well have designs on our land. And, unlike the Dragon, they are only a few days ride from our provinces.
If these gaijin are truly unconvinced of our power, it is my advice to you, my lord, that we demonstrate it to them with merciless speed. If our weapons are truly ineffectual, we lose nothing, and gain understanding of a foreign enemy. However, if we find our wiles and wits effective, we may also find an ally who has a quality that is unique among our allies:
He will be willing.