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The mountain was one pillar which pierces through from the ground to the sky. The peaks which rises to the sky almost right angle, each looks like a tip of a writing brush, and they are tied together are made a huge massif. The summit of the mountain actually pierced through clouds. Under clouds the sharpened peaks stood close together, which painted a shape of small waves and fell toward the base rapidly. The foot was a vast slope. The city spread out in the shape of stairs there. -- The east in the world, it is Gyoten(堯天), the capital of Kei(慶国).
The mountain itself was one royal palace. In the summit of it, Encho(燕朝) in which only a O(王) and high officials lived spread. There was a fall like the ground and the sky between Encho(燕朝) and Gyoten(堯天) truly. And both were completely separated in the transparent sea. Even if you look up from the ground, you couldn't know that the sea is there. You only saw white clinging clouds which were rolled waves in to the summit. Under clouds, Jicho(治朝) in which lower class officials lived spread among peaks. The faded rock ledges clung to the huge massif, and a countless public office and a countless official residence were built and located in a line there.
Kakan-fu(夏官府) spread in the southwest. The buildings surrounded the courtyard squarely, and changing height, they were connected in all directions and they formed the vast public office. There was the Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏)'s office in a corner of them. Hisho(丕緒) was called by Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) who was newly appointed and visited the Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏)'s office from his residence, at the end of July, Yosei(予青) 7 by the Kei(慶国) calendar. The lower official who was an usher took Hisho(丕緒) to the room sat far back. The room faced the large balcony jutted out in midair. The other side of the balustrade which carved the stone was an abysmal cliff. The old willow located on the corner of a balcony, and the branches which hung down like disheveled hair rested over the balustrade. The bird similar to an egret crouched down under the tree. It perched on the balustrade and turned a spindly neck to the bottom of a valley, and was immobile as if it considered the thing.
--Hisho(丕緒) thought what it was looking at. It did not seem to sleep. Did it watch in the lower world? Although it is not visible from the place at which he stood idly, the scene of the lower world should have spread in the view of the bird. The flagging city by the heat and the blockage and the exhausted fields and mountains which surround for the city.
--Probably, it only saw desolation.
He did not understand why he would consider so, but he thought the bird was gazing at just the desolation. Was it because the bird seemed to be anxious about something? It made him recollect a woman strangely. Although she did not have resembled the egret closely, she had always looked at the scene of the valley like that. However, she had had no signs that she had been anxious about something. She did not have had mind of seeing the lower world at all.
--It is worthless you look at the desolate lower world, isn't it?
She had said so, laughed and threw a pear. she had said briefly "I'm indifferent about the desolate and the lower world and don't want to see the cruel things."
Why did he think she and the bird resemble each other?--While he thought and looked at the bird, he heard someone's restless footsteps. The sound probably surprised the bird and it flew away. When he turned round, a poor-looking man was just coming into the room. Although he had never met the man till this day, this would be Suiryo(遂良), a new Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏). Hisho(丕緒) was judging so and kneeling down, losing no time in making a bow to the man.
"You seems keep waiting. -- It was pleasure of you to come."
The man extended both hands and showed the welcome. He looked over 50 and had a unnatural big grin on his blue-black thin face.
"I guess you are Hisho(丕緒) of Ra-shi(羅氏)? You need not do that, please stand up -- there." He showed the table in the side of the room by a hand. While he also sat on the chair, he pointed to a chair signaling for Hisho(丕緒) to sit. This, Hisho(丕緒) thought, was unusual. Fundamentally, two chairs put on both sides of the table were the seats of the host and a guest. Of course, Hisho(丕緒) was not a guest.
"You shouldn't hesitate, have a seat. -- I would want to see you first, but I was busy running errands these days. Today I have a little bit time, so I think I would call at your place, but there is no enough time to do. Then, I sent for you, I'm glad you to come in spite of the sudden thing. I'm sorry."
Suiryo(遂良) was polite as if it flattered. Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) manages Ra-shi(羅氏). If Suiryo(遂良) had business, it's natural to summon Hisho(丕緒) to his office and Hisho hadn't the right of refusal. Since it called must have been said, and it must have apologized, it must have said that it came, and there must have been no necessity of appreciating etc. There was no need to apologize about his being summoned and to appreciate about his coming.
"Have a seat. -- you,"
Suiryo(遂良) looked back at the lower official. He lifted up a vessel of alcohol. He was called by Suiryo(遂良) and arranged it on the table. This was also impossible treatment for him according to custom.
Suiryo(遂良) told him to have a seat again and pushed out a cup for him drinking alcohol, and leaned forward.
"I heard you have been filling a Ra-shi(羅氏) for a long long time, right? Is it true you are a Ra-shi(羅氏) since the Ri-O(悧王)'s era?"
Hisho(丕緒) replied to this only a nod. Suiryo(遂良) groaned "uh-huh" and gazed at him.
"You look younger than me, but you are very old really. -- Actually, I became a official and gained a senseki(仙籍) the year before last. I know a person after gaining a senseki(仙籍) doesn't get older any more, but I can't understand that. How old are you really?"
"Well -- I can't remind me of that."
This was completely true. When Hisho(丕緒) were assigned and given a senseki(仙籍), it was the Ri-O(悧王)'s era, after ten years or so Ri-O(悧王)'s enthronement by his memory. Then, had it already exceeded 100 and years since his becoming a official?
"It's long enough for you to memorize. That's great. Therefore, people call you the Ra-shi(羅氏) in Ra-shi(羅氏). I hear you have left many anecdotes. When Yo-O(予王), the zen-O(前王), came to the throne, you obtained words from the O(王) personally." Hisho(丕緒) gave a slight smile. A rumor had a polite distorted face and spread.
Probably, Suiryo(遂良) might misunderstand Hisho(丕緒)'s smile, giving nods and breaking into a broad smile with clapping his hands .
"You must use your skill again."
He said and he brought his face close to Hisho's one, lowened his voice.
" -- New monarch will accede to the throne in the near future."
Hisho(丕緒) looked back Suiryo(遂良)'eye. Suiryo(遂良) nodded.
"I hear the O(王) has finally brought down the Gi-O(偽王)."
"... it was the fake? -- I suspected."
Hisho(丕緒) asked for.
This period, Kei(慶) - the country where Hisho(丕緒) was born and grew up, had no O(王). The previos O(王) abdicated after her short throne, then her younger sister named Joei(舒栄) acceded immediately, but in the palace, their opinion was this seemed a fake one.
Originally, saiho(宰輔), the prime minister of a country, chose a O(王). All saiho are Kirin(麒麟), and Kirin(麒麟) makes the person take the throne according to the will of God. To be attached without Kirin(麒麟)'s selection to the throne is never allowed and the O(王) without Kirin(麒麟)'s selection is called Gi-O(偽王).
Joei(舒栄) was the true one or not. -- Only saiho(宰輔) knew truth. But he was not here at the moment. His health was bad since before Yo-O(予王)'s death, and he returned to Ho-zan(蓬山) which could be called the mother country of Kirin(麒麟) after she passed away. While saiho was absent, Joei(舒栄) rose up and requested to get in the palace, but they had no way to check whether she was the true or not. Officials resisted the request after the argument.
Actually, Hisho(丕緒) did not know particularly about those circumstances. Although Hisho(丕緒) was one of the officials who lived in the palace, his status was not so high as he was involved in affairs of state. To begin with, Ra-shi(羅氏) did not have any power over affairs of state. Though the division Ra-shi(羅氏) belonged to was Kakan(夏官), it took charge of the shooting-arrow ceremony which was completely unrelated to an army and a battle. As the shooting-arrow ceremony was held when the state had important guests or celebratory occasions, Ra-shi(羅氏) which received Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏)'s instruction made ceramic birds for it. Therefore it should not go into his ears, such as big problems of state, based on his status and job. It was all high-level decision. -- quite literally a talk on clouds, so he could heard only a rumor leaked and consented to circumstances.
It is said that if the legitimate O(王) with Kirin(麒麟)'s selection gets the throne, he/she would bring happy and wonderful events in the depths of the palace. But nothing happened like that. -- so, high-level officials would have judged she is not the true O(王). Though Joei(舒栄) requested to get herself in the palace, she was refused and locked out. Angry Joei(舒栄) pitched the camp to the north of Kei(慶), and she raised the voice of impeachment that officials appropriated the palace and did not get her who was the O(王) in there.
"But, I heard the rumor that saiho(宰輔) was close the O(王)."
Saiho(宰輔) seemed in Joei(舒栄)'s camp. -- Such rumor flowed and the officials lapsed into panic for a short time. If Joei(舒栄) was a true new O(王), responsibility was imposed on the officials who shut her out. When Joei(舒栄) as a new O(王) came into the palace formally, there were no doubt that they had severe punishment. Some of officials who lost their confidence escaped the palace, and gathered for Joei(舒栄)'s camp. Suiryo(遂良)'s predecessor also did so and left the palace.
"I also knew about it. It made most of state governors slide into Joei(舒栄)'s faction, but, probably, it was a mistake. Because they say she was the fake one. We believed in the god and stayed here, and now have the time when our difficulties are rewarded."
Suiryo(遂良) said with deep emotion, but did he really have such a deep preparedness at the time? There were rumors that she seemed Gi-O(偽王) and the legitimate O(王) was fighting with her. Since the officials shut Joei(舒栄) from the palace, it was very trouble if she was the true O(王). -- This must be the real intension of the high official who had stayed here.
"-- But I heard a new O(王) is a female."
Suiryo(遂良) curled his lip.
"A female one is it....? Again?"
"Yeah." Suiryo(遂良) showed displeasure. It is reasonable. Kei(慶) did not get along with a female O(王). These three generation, they had incompetent female O(王).
"Well, the legitimate O(王) who was selected by god is the O(王) whether it is a female or not. -- Soon, the new O(王) will come into the palace with Saiho(宰輔). Then, Formal enthronement immediately. Make urgently the preparations of Taisha(大射)."
Taisha(大射) is a very special shooting-arrow ceremony which is held at the national big festival. The shooting-arrow ceremony is that they throw ceramic targets which liken to birds and are hit at all. Targets called Toshaku(陶鵲) are ceramic birds. When the Ensha(燕射) is performed at the party, they compete and simply please with the number of the arrow hit, but, Taisha(大射) is completely different both on the scale and on the purpose. At Taisha(大射), missing the target is very ominous, so the archers must be sure to hit. Of course, skill is required of archers though, Toshaku(陶鵲) is also made to hit easily. Toshaku(陶鵲) was crafted with great skill, itself having worthy of admiration, flying beautiful and complicated, and making exquisite sounds when it was broken with an arrow. It even needs playing sweet music by its breaking sounds. He had also made Toshaku(陶鵲) plays music in the past. Bird-throwing machine like a hill was made for Toshaku(陶鵲) to be thrown correctly, and only the famous skilled archers were selected. The archer shot down the bird in order, its breaking sound made a tone, then it became music by linking. For sounding like ancient music by the band of large organization, he arranged 300 archers in lines. Various Toshaku(陶鵲) flew in the royal yard. The flight Toshaku(陶鵲) was hit, which was extended radially like a large flower's open, and sounded like Kei(磬) -a stone percussion instrument, a rich Music spun. If he arranged a pitch, he wasn't be able to give perfume, so he prepared the trifoliate orange of 6000 bowls to an insufficient scent being compensated. -- It was a long time ago.
"Do it again. It will be an anecdote and remain. -- Huh?"
Suiryo(遂良) said and looked up at Hisho(丕緒)'s face as if licking.
"You can hardly wait for the chance to put your skill to the test again, can't you?"
"I don't know about that."
"You need not to say modestly to me. -- This shooting-arrow ceremony will be very first time for new O(王). If we show the excellent ceremony, Her Majesty will surely be very glad. If Her Majesty is delighted at it, we Kakan(夏官) will preserve our honor. She might give us not only praising words but a certain prize. If it comes true, all Kakan(夏官) will appreciate it and be proud of you."
At the moment he got it and the giggles in his heart. If like at Yo-O(予王)'s ceremony he were given some praise words by The new O(王) directly, all Kakan(夏官) who engaged in it would have the bright future. -- He understood that this treatment for him expected to it.
"Well, do you have some plan for obtaining the praise, sir?"
As Hisho(丕緒) asked, Suiryo(遂良) suddenly buttoned his lips. He knitted his brow dubiously and tried to see Hisho(丕緒)'s face.
"-- some plan?"
"I need directions what kind of Toshaku(陶鵲) we should make. Actually, you know that Tokan(冬官) make Toshaku(陶鵲), of course."
Normally, Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) plans the next shooting-arrow ceremony. Sekicho-shi (射鳥氏) thinks about what kind of ceremony it is made and orders Ra-shi(羅氏) to prepare Toshaku(陶鵲). Ra-shi(羅氏) let artisans who belonged in the Tokan-fu(冬官府) make them. Especially, Ra-shi(羅氏) uses expart artisans called Ra-jin(羅人) who make Toshaku(陶鵲).
"I heard you would have done all things by yourself."
"Never, sir!"
"It's impossible. Because they say my predecessor couldn't distinguish between Taisha(大射) and Ensha(燕射)."
It is true. It was not only his predecessor. ALL Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) except first one Hisho(丕緒) served knew nothing about the ceremony. 'The Ra-shi(羅氏) in Ra-shi(羅氏)' do everything, so you needn't to do anything. This is an easy duty although not juicy. -- He thought Suiryo(遂良) was also said so.
There are two types among the officials, one is self-made man by his own efforts, and another is appointed by orders from above. Suiryo(遂良) was the latter certainly.
"If Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) were too incapable, I would have no choice but to help him. I think such a thing could be found, though, sir."
Bare bitterness gave Suiryo(遂良) an unpleasant expression, but, he regained immediately a smiling on his face.
"I was just nominated as Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏). Of course, I understand my duty and I am going to learn urgently, but not enough for this Taisha(大射). I'm sorry if there is failure for forcing things. It's safer to leave this to you."
"I would have been delighted to do so, but unfortunately I feel short on ideas. As a matter of fact, I would have had a duty changed or asked for leave soon."
"No way. What..."
Suiryo(遂良) to be confused murmured and shortly leaned out striking his knee.
"How about the Toshaku(陶鵲) which was praised by Yo-O(予王)? Is it enough to add a hand and make showier?"
"You can't be serious."
Hisho(丕緒) had a wry smile. Suiryo(遂良) seemed to be pleased with the Toshaku(陶鵲), but he might lose his official rank which he had just got, if he has the praise word from New-O like as Yo-O(予王)'s. It's the happy person who never knew the truth.
"Why? Increasing the number of birds or changing the color --."
Hisho(丕緒) bluntly refused by waggling his head.
"Toshaku(陶鵲) is made by Tosho(冬匠). Tosho(冬匠), who had made the Toshaku(陶鵲), already left from us."
"You can let someone make the same style one. The notes or the plan about it still remained, didn't it?"
"I don't know we could or not. If we have them, I mightn't tell Tosho(冬匠) we have now could make the same one, and, we have little time, sir."
After receiving Tenchoku(天勅) at Mt.Ho(蓬山) and acceding to the throne formally, the Taisha(大射) would be held during one month or so as the past showing.
"We have to hold a good shooting-arrow ceremony in front of the new-O. You must show the splendid Toshaku(陶鵲) that make new-O please."
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