Harukami Jiro

Harukami Jiro

Harukami Jiro dragged his weary body back to the village. At the sight of his own courtyard, a smile appeared on his face. He forced himself to straighten his back, making himself look more spirited, as though he had merely spent the day strolling through the castle town and was not tired in the slightest.

"Junko, I'm back! Look what I bought for you and Gako!" Pushing open the rickety wooden gate of his yard, Harukami Jiro stood bright and energetic, like a warrior returning in triumph, awaiting his family's praise.

"You're back, and you even bought salted fish. You've worked so hard. I've already made dinner; we can eat right away." Harukami's wife, Junko, tossed aside the wet clothes in her hands and took the few salted fish from him.

Fusang women held a very low position in the household, but Harukami treated Junko well. He had never beaten or scolded her, and this moved Junko deeply. At home, Harukami was her sky and her earth.

Harukami sat on the floor while Junko set the food on the low table: a large bowl of rice and a dish of dried radish. Such simple fare was the finest delicacy imaginable to Harukami, who was ravenous after a day of heavy labor, yet he did not immediately pick up his chopsticks.

"Junko, you and Gako come eat with me too."

"We've already eaten. This was saved for you." Junko tried hard not to look at the white rice on the table. Her saliva slid soundlessly down her throat, only sharpening her hunger. There was only half a jar of grain left in the house. Harukami had to make a living at the docks every day; if his body gave out, she and her daughter would have no one to rely on.

"I can't finish it all myself. Matsushita treated me to two wheat cakes today! I was so stuffed just now that I kept burping." Matsushita Jiro was Harukami's best friend. They had once both served under a daimyo in Hizen Province.

But Matsushita was young and quick-witted. In one year at the docks, he had learned Great Xia's language, then found work as a clerk in a Great Xia shop in Chinese Quarter, earning a good wage every month. And since he was alone in the world, living for today with no thought for tomorrow, he often treated Harukami to food.

"Then thank you so much. Gako, come eat." Junko happily called over her daughter, Gako. The family of three shared that large bowl of white rice. Though they remained poor, the flavor of home filled the air, warm and harmonious.

"Harukami! Harukami! Are you home?" An anxious shout came from outside. Before Harukami could answer, the man had already pushed through the gate and barged in.

"Matsushita's here. Sit down and eat with us. Junko's dried radish tastes good." Harukami Jiro was a generous man. Whether three people or four shared one bowl of rice did not make much difference.

"Harukami, I've eaten already. Did you see that notice in Chinese Quarter today?"

"What notice? I came straight home after buying salted fish today. Are they hiring shop clerks?" Chinese Quarter was where Great Xia people gathered. The shops there all did good business, and their owners were generous, paying substantial wages. But Harukami did not understand Great Xia's language. After failing to find work on several visits, he had stopped going.

"They are hiring, but not shop clerks this time. They're recruiting ronin." Matsushita's face was full of excitement, like a country bumpkin spotting a mountain of treasure.

The light that had just appeared on Harukami's face immediately dimmed. Dejected, he said, "But I'm not a ronin. What does this have to do with me?" Ronin were warriors who had lost their lords, and warrior was not a title one could claim casually. It was a special class. Born a commoner, Harukami had no background and no money, making it difficult for him to become a warrior.

"But you're stronger than those warriors. Their birth is all they have over you. I asked the Great Xia people. They don't absolutely require ronin; what they care about most is martial skill. You'll definitely be chosen." Matsushita was frantic. He knew Harukami's predicament: Harukami's elder brother had inherited the family fields, and Junko was pregnant. Soon there would be another mouth to feed. Relying on Harukami to sell his labor at the docks simply could not support a family of four.

Harukami Jiro fell into deep thought. His elder brother had treated him harshly, sending him off at fourteen to become an ashigaru in Hizen Province—farming in peacetime and fighting in wartime. With his ferocity and resilience, he had fought dozens of battles, large and small, over more than ten years, honing a formidable set of skills.

But what use was that? His birth was too low for him to become a warrior. He had not saved much money over all those years. After the daimyo died, he returned to the countryside and used the little wealth he had accumulated from years of spoils to marry Junko and build this courtyard. Life was hard. That was one thing—but what about the future? Were his sons and grandsons to walk the same old road as him?

"Tomorrow... I'll go take a look." Harukami made up his mind. He knew that if Great Xia had come to recruit ronin warriors, it certainly was not to send them to Great Xia to enjoy a life of ease. It was for war. But fighting was the one thing Harukami did best.

The next morning, Harukami Jiro arrived at Chinese Quarter. From far away, he saw a huge crowd gathered around a guild hall run by Great Xia people. His heart jolted. He hurriedly squeezed his way forward, no longer able to spare time for careful questions, afraid that this chance would slip away before his eyes.

"His Highness, the Heir of Prince Heng of Great Xia, is recruiting three thousand mercenaries. Warriors and ronin are both welcome. Those with martial skill equal to a warrior's may also register. The best will be selected, and the pay is generous." A Fusang clerk stood on the guild hall steps, pointing at the notice on the wall and reading it aloud at intervals.

Hearing that those with martial skill equal to a warrior's could also register, Harukami's hanging heart finally settled. He had great confidence in his abilities. Back in Hizen Province, several veteran warriors had instructed him in martial arts; later, none of them had been his match. His comprehension on the path of martial arts was extraordinary.

"Look closely. This is a bolt of Great Xia Songjiang Cloth. Anyone selected will immediately receive one bolt as settling-in money. Once you arrive in Great Xia, food and lodging will be provided, and you will receive three zhang of Songjiang Cloth every month as pay. Spoils will be calculated separately."

The clerk brought out another bolt of cloth to display to the crowd. Its fine weave and intricate patterns dazzled the eyes of those Fusang country folk. This was Songjiang Cloth! Only true warrior lords could afford to wear it. Even daimyo often wore nothing more luxurious than Songjiang Cloth, for silk was reserved for nobles to make ceremonial robes for festivals and celebrations. Songjiang Cloth was already a luxury that ordinary people only dared dream of.

As for receiving three zhang of Songjiang Cloth every month as pay, that was even more unimaginable. One bolt was only ten zhang; in three months, one could earn an entire bolt. And in Fusang, one bolt of Songjiang Cloth could buy a beautiful wife. Exchanged for rice and grain, it could feed a family for at least half a year. Not to mention the separately calculated spoils.

Without waiting for anyone else to speak, Harukami shoved through the crowd and stepped onto the stairs, shouting, "I'll go first!"

At any time, the first subordinate to pledge himself would be viewed differently. Harukami had fought for more than ten years—how could he fail to understand such a truth? Seeing such generous pay, he immediately leaped out to be the first to eat the crab.

Sure enough, he saw a smiling Great Xia man inside the guild hall nod at him. Harukami was secretly delighted, knowing he had already left an impression on his future master.

A Great Xia man who looked like a warrior came over, holding a bamboo sword. He tossed Harukami another bamboo sword, then took up a stance in the guild hall's main chamber, signaling that Harukami could begin.

Harukami steadied his mind. He knew this match concerned his fate. Gathering his breath and strength, he charged forward. A direct chop, a sideways strike, a spinning slash—Harukami revealed every ounce of his skill. For a time, he and the Great Xia warrior fought to a standstill, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Harukami had not eaten breakfast. After the bitter struggle, his weakened body gradually ran out of strength, and he cried out in misery inwardly. Just as he was about to surrender rather than be beaten and make a fool of himself, the Great Xia man opposite him stepped back. He then nodded to the smiling Great Xia man.

"You can stay. Start as a squad leader and see how you do. If you perform well, you'll be promoted to brigade commander." The clerk translated the Great Xia man's words for Harukami, filling Harukami Jiro with overwhelming joy.