Free The 47 Ronin Story by John Allyn Page B

offhand, casual manner.
    "And what of Lord Kira? He's recovering from his wound, I imagine?"
    Kataoka looked at him quickly. He knew Oishi too well to think that any of his questions were idle.
    "Horibe reports that he is well on the road to recovery. We have a man posted day and night near the entrance to the castle and when Kira is able to travel we will be informed."
    Oishi's jaw set more firmly as he visualized Kira alive and well and behaving as though nothing had happened. A flash of fury went through him but he resolutely put it down. There would be time for Kira later. As long as he stayed within the Shogun's castle there was nothing they could do.
    Later, in the same lesson room where he had received Hara on that black night when their world began to crumble, Oishi went over the situation with Yoshida. He told the old man it relieved his mind to have written authority to give up the castle to the Shogun's men, but he was concerned about Daigaku and his uncle's attitude regarding the injury done to the name of Asano. They seemed to be unconcerned about such matters as justice or revenge and never once even mentioned Kira's name.
    Yoshida nodded. 'T share your concern, my son. But look at it from their standpoint. They feel themselves so close to the brink of a new disaster—such as losing their own lives or property—that they have no desire to look back on the tragedy that brought all

    Chapter Five
    this about. But, even though they are in the family, we here in Ako are most immediately affected. We are the ones who are about to lose our home, not they."
    Oishi agreed that he was probably right and resolved for their own sake not to involve either Daigaku or his uncle in any plan for revenge which might be formulated. In this way he could justify any call for violent action with the knowledge that they would remain blameless and Yoshida agreed that this was wise policy.
    The next order of business was to give his men their final orders. When they were all assembled in front of the castle again, Oishi read Daigaku's letter to them and was depressed to see so many crestfallen faces among his warriors. It was irrevocable now that they would have to surrender, barring a last minute miracle, and they were too practical minded to believe in miracles. Oishi advised them that even if the Shogun's representatives who came to Ako received the petition favorably, they would probably not have the authority to act on it and would have to refer the matter to Edo for a final decision. So there was nothing for them to do but prepare to evacuate. The time had come to tell their families to start packing, keeping in mind that they would only be allowed to take what they could personally carry. He stressed that they must obey the Shogun's order of confiscation to the letter and do nothing that would compromise Daigaku's eventual chances of inheritance.
    Now came the business of dividing the clan's monetary assets. First there were donations to the local temple to ensure that the graves of the ancestors would be well tended. Next, a sum representing Lady Asano's widow's dowry was set aside. After that

    the clan's paper money was redeemed at a fair rate for both retainers and townspeople alike. So far there were no complaints about the way the finances were being handled, but now, with a meaningful glance at Hara, Oishi proposed that the bulk of what was left be put aside for "the restoration of the house of Asano." As he had expected, there were mutterings from some of the men, including Ono, who had more seniority and therefore a larger share coming than most of them, but their objections became no stronger. In this company no one was bold enough to openly dispute such an allotment. What was left was then divided among the men according to rank and length of service. The amounts they received were not large and all realized that they were facing severe economic hardship if not outright destitution.
    As they stepped forward politely