The Ishida family took their leave from the Toyotomi. Hanbei said they would not be mobilizing anytime soon—the men needed time to rest and recuperate before setting their sights on their next target. Besides, he remarked, he could go back to the Mouri problem now that he had time. Mitsunari worried that something might happen in their absence but Hanbei reassured him that all would be well and peaceful.
So at dawn, the family departed in a large, but plain carriage provided to them by the strategist, accompanied by an armed escort and some foremen. If any adjustments needed to be made to the castle, they could start planning for it right away.
"Onii-sama, have you been hiding something from us?" Mitsunari asked as the carriage rattled along the road.
"Hiding what?"
"Hanbei-sama mentioned yesterday that there was an incident with the treasury you took care of. How come Otou-sama and I never heard about that?"
Masazumi rubbed the back of his head. "I didn't want anyone to know. And for good reason. Some of the high-ranking generals were embezzling funds from the treasury. I found that the records contained some discrepancies, although small. I couldn't go about telling just everyone, because it would have alerted those generals and they could have disposed of the records—or their money."
Masazumi wasn't without connections in the army, although most of them were lower-ranked. He had always been a good judge of character, and due to helping resolve some of their minor disputes, they owed him a few favours.
So he gathered them all up and told them that he needed help investigating the generals, a task which they set about with great secrecy. They became his eyes and ears and squirreled their way into the generals' good graces. The investigation took some time, but soon they collected enough evidence that the records had been tampered with. After Masazumi decided they had enough ammunition, he went in for the kill—seeking a private audience with Hanbei and presenting everything they had.
"So that was why those generals were suddenly removed from the army!" Mitsunari exclaimed.
"I didn't want anyone to know who was involved in the investigation. It would make us targets, and everyone else in the army would be wary of us if they knew our identities. However, I've seen to it that my assistants were justly rewarded for their efforts."
Smiling, the younger Ishida shook his head. "You mean your henchmen."
Masazumi glared playfully and Masatsugu laughed. "You could have told us what was going on, though.
"Mitsunari would ruin my plans," came the retort. "You know how he is."
Mitsunari punched him.
Several days later, they reached the castle and the surrounding town, with the procession halting at the first series of bridges leading to the castle. The brothers jumped out and gawked at the lush, misty scenery before them. The castle occupied a steep mountainous area, surrounded by sloping forests, with some trees in full blossom. A waterfall roared past, the bridge offering a breathtaking view. Many watchtowers, some in need of repair, loomed in advantageous positions all around the perimeter of the castle.
"Strange," Masazumi said, gesturing. "The outer structures are floating, supported by pillars extending down into the cliffs. There aren't any walls surrounding the area."
"Walls are not needed here," Masatsugu said. "The terrain below is too treacherous to navigate by foot, and we are so high up."
"No wonder this place is covered in watchtowers," Mitsunari said.
His brother raised an eyebrow. "It would be difficult to escape from here if we went under siege, or if any sort of attack happened."
"It doesn't matter to me. I would fight to the death to defend this castle."
"Whatever you say, Mitsunari."
Walking along the bridges, they entered a sheltered walkway, which ended in what passed for a central courtyard. Before them towered a set of massive double doors, beautifully carved and covered in gold. The Toyotomi soldiers currently garrisoned there hurried to open the doors for the new lords of Sawayama.
It wasn't as grand or as large as the castle in Osaka, but the beauty and freshness of the wild mountainous landscape more than made up for it. Wandering inside the castle, they toured the interior thoroughly. Mitsunari was struggling with the thought of having an entire castle to himself—he and his family were the masters here.
At the very heart of the castle, past yet another set of the golden double doors, they examined the palace housing the living quarters and the barracks. Then they retraced their steps to the beginning, pointing out renovations to the foremen who accompanied them. The towers needed to be repaired and Masazumi wanted them and the rooftops of the main buildings crowned with the claw-like structural decorations he so fondly remembered from Ishida Castle. Mitsunari wanted their family crest displayed in as many locations as possible, and for the Toyotomi crest to be placed in prominent spots. Going through all the changes took hours, and the brothers were exhausted by the time they left to explore the surrounding town.
They passed by the citizens going about their daily routines, and it didn't take long for the people to notice them. Soon, the locals thronged the streets, whispering and watching the two imposing figures. The brothers paid them no heed, instead walking in a large circuit all around the entire town, scouting out shops and smithies and inspecting the goods. Night fell by the time they decided to stop their adventure. When they returned to the bridge, the whole area seemed different in the darkness. Leaning on the railing, they gazed skywards at the great sea of stars far above, accompanied by the muted roar of the waterfall.
"We have only been here a day, but I love this place," Mitsunari said quietly. "I'll make sure it never comes to harm."
"I thought you'd be happier about the fact that we'll have even more money now," his brother joked. "Think about it, Mitsunari! This, as well as the entire fief's taxes belong to us!"
"You're the one laughing about the money, not me!"
Masazumi grinned and elbowed him in the ribs.