Religious Debate Part Two: King and Law, Nation and People

"Let us continue then. I understand well that your Jewish people place God's law at the center of your faith. However, your country must have had kings as well. Kings must establish various laws to govern their land and people. I too establish various laws daily to govern my territory. How did the kings of your country—no, you are now wanderers without a homeland. Your former country, was it called Israel? How did kings there establish laws and command their people to obey? If God's law and the king's law were mixed together, wouldn't the people be confused?"

Here it comes, as expected. A flash runs through Rachel's eyes. How should she answer? She does not wish to speak much of what Nobunaga would likely find displeasing. However, in the end, she cannot speak falsehoods before this man.

"I shall answer you, Lord Nobunaga. Among our people, even kings are merely slaves of God. Superior intellect, physical strength, leadership to unite people, virtue—even those who were called rulers or kings for such qualities merely carved the mark of covenant upon their spears and followed God's commandments. For a king to establish laws himself would be the greatest blasphemy against God. Such a person would immediately be driven from their throne."

"I do not understand. As Ryōsai has also said, the flow of changing times transforms the world daily. Laws must be established accordingly, or one will fall behind the times. How do you lead your people with only the commandments written on those stone tablets that your ancestors supposedly received from God thousands of years ago?"

"Our society has rabbis who, while keeping the immutable law as their core, interpret it according to daily problems and establish more specific laws. These rabbis interpret God's law daily and debate the application of religious law according to social changes. Even kings must follow their conclusions."

Upon hearing this, Nobunaga's expression shows clear disappointment, different from before.

"What is this? So your country too was ultimately controlled by priests? The interpretation of law can be manipulated however suits the priests' convenience, can it not? Moreover, you say kings would be exiled if they decided laws arbitrarily, but who would exile them? You mean to say God would exile the king? But you said God is invisible and formless. Then God can hold no sword nor shoot arrows. How would God exile a king? Would the rabbis take up swords themselves to attack the king? Then they would meet a fate similar to the damn priests of Mount Hiei. No matter how weak a king might be, he would not be so weak as to lose to priests, would he?"

Rachel hesitates momentarily at Nobunaga's words, contemplating. However, she soon responds resolutely.

"Those who exile kings—if there is anyone other than God who could do so, it would be the people. The people, while observing religious law themselves, carefully watch their king. Does this king observe God's law? The people will not follow a king who does not observe religious law. If the people abandon the king and refuse to pay taxes, the king cannot maintain his military power. He cannot fortify defenses against foreign attacks. Most importantly, the people will not think to fight and die for the king. Certainly, the king can use his power to kill people who do not obey him and refuse to pay taxes. But if a king without the people's trust were to slaughter all the rebellious people, or if the people, fearing this, were all to leave the country, what would remain for the king? What would the king rule then? Neither a nation without people nor a king without people can exist."

"Indeed. You speak truly. I raise the banner of 'Unification Under Military Rule' and seek to unify this nation of Japan. Sometimes I must command even farmers to be mobilized and die for the great cause. However, this is all to realize a peaceful Japan that lies beyond national unification. This is for the people. Not for Nobunaga. The peaceful world that lies beyond 'Unification Under Military Rule'—namely, 'Universal Tranquility'—this is my great cause."

"I believe Lord Nobunaga's great cause is precisely why the people follow you. People will not follow those who, while claiming to act for the people and for God, are steeped in selfish desires. In ancient times, our country had King David, considered the greatest in history. However, even King David sometimes drowned in lust, violated religious law, and committed adultery with a retainer's wife. God did not forgive such corruption of kings, and thereafter our homeland was no longer blessed with great kings. Gradually, it weakened itself. The rabbis also frequently came into conflict with kings. The people became confused and divided between God's law and the king's law. Northern Israel soon perished. Eventually Southern Israel too was defeated by the king of a neighboring great power. It was destroyed by a pagan king called Nebuchadnezzar."

"Hmm. I understand what you wish to say. In other words, the king who did not protect religious law and drowned in lust was abandoned by his people, divided them, and was destroyed by neighboring countries. And you mean to say this was ultimately God's punishment for the king's failure to observe religious law?"

"Your astute perception, Lord Nobunaga, fills me with nothing but awe."

"I understand that without the people's trust, no king can stand. However, your homeland's defeat by Nebuchadnezzar was not divine punishment. It was because your ancestors divided their country and weakened themselves. At the depths of your faith lies a strong centripetal force that unites people through religious law. On the other hand, the stronger that force becomes, the more centrifugal force also works to cast off people who cannot keep up with it. Unless you discern this and find the means to unite your people, even if you reclaim your homeland in the future, the country may divide again. Ultimately, that division occurred because neither kings, nor rabbis, nor people listened carefully to the people's true voice. I will unify the realm through military might and give power to my laws. If God serves this purpose, I will gladly use Him, whether Buddha, Deus, or otherwise. However, this is all to govern the people, for Universal Tranquility. If my eyes grow clouded and the people's true voice no longer reaches these ears, Heaven will not allow me to bear the responsibility of Unification Under Military Rule. However, such a thing will never occur."

Having said this much, Nobunaga again closes his fan and continues speaking while lightly tapping his shoulder with it.

"Like your former homeland, this country too has long been in the midst of warfare. Originally, it is because the Ashikaga family, steeped in selfish desires through succession disputes and such, neglected the people, hesitated to wield military force for righteous causes, and gradually weakened themselves. The weak cannot create a peaceful world."

"Is this Ashikaga family the royal house that has long ruled Japan since ancient times?"

The instant he hears Rachel's words, Nobunaga's expression suddenly stiffens. Then, the sixth demonic king's aspect appears on his face. However, this lasts only a moment. Nobunaga moves only his eyeballs for an instant that almost no one would notice, glancing at the retainers around him. Then, in the next moment, Nobunaga puts an artificial calm on his face.

"The Ashikaga family is not a royal house. They are called shogun—the head of the warrior class. This seems to be where your country and Japan differ somewhat in form. I have long since destroyed the Ashikaga."

(Then, is Lord Nobunaga a new shogun? Or a new king?)

Rachel swallows this question that nearly escaped her throat at the last moment. Her powerful survival instinct warns her in her head that this question should not be asked. Seeing this, Nobunaga nods slowly and slightly.

"Wise. You are truly intelligent. This is the first time I have met an intellect that I can be certain stands at the same heights as myself, other than myself."

Saying this, Nobunaga glances at the retainers around him.

"Now then. This has been a long religious debate, but well done. Finally, let me say this to Lady Rachel. Your people have lost their country, lost their territory, yet for over a thousand years have survived as a people under what you call God's law. A people without a king protecting a law without a country, even while in foreign lands. Such hardship is beyond imagination.

At least while you are in this Japan, I, Nobunaga, guarantee your safety—let me convey this once more. I hope you will open a medical practice in my domain and heal the Japanese people with your superior skills. And occasionally tell this Nobunaga stories of foreign lands. If you wish to return to Hirado, I will not forcibly stop you, but I am opposed. Kyushu is still beyond my sight. There is no telling what the Christians might do."

Saying this, Nobunaga raises his fan high and brings it down onto his palm.

"Snap!"

The dry sound of the closing fan echoes through the audience chamber. Everyone present realizes that this long religious debate has ended. At this moment, three men stare intently ahead with deeply troubled expressions, each from their own perspective.

Two of them are Japanese: Akechi Mitsuhide and Hashiba Hideyoshi. And another, Luis Frois. He too remains prostrate, continuing to stare alone at the tatami mat patterns. However, among the other retainers who were immersed in the sense of liberation from the long religious debate, no one noticed the troubled expressions of these three men.