Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

temper, began fighting less carefully, so that Tsunéhei found an opportunity
of cutting the shaft of his spear. Zempachi then drew his sword,
and two of his retainers came up to assist him; but Tsunéhei killed one of
them, and wounded Zempachi in the forehead. The second retainer fled
affrighted at the youth's valour, and Zempachi was blinded by the blood
which flowed from the wound on his forehead. Then Tsunéhei said—
"To kill one who is as a blind man were unworthy a soldier. Wipe the
blood from your eyes, Sir Zempachi, and let us fight it out fairly."
So Zempachi, wiping away his blood, bound a kerchief round his
head, and fought again desperately. But at last the pain of his wound
and the loss of blood overcame him, and Tsunéhei cut him down with a
wound in the shoulder and easily dispatched him.
Then Tsunéhei went and reported the whole matter to the Governor of
Yedo, and was put in prison until an inquiry could be made. But the
Chief Priest of Bandzuin, who had heard of the affair, went and told the
governor all the bad deeds of Zempachi, and having procured
Tsunéhei's pardon, took him home and employed him as porter in the
temple. So Tsunéhei changed his name to Chôbei, and earned much respect
in the neighbourhood, both for his talents and for his many good
works. If any man were in distress, he would help him, heedless of his
own advantage or danger, until men came to look up to him as to a father,
and many youths joined him and became his apprentices. So he built
a house at Hanakawado, in Asakusa, and lived there with his apprentices,
whom he farmed out as spearsmen and footmen to the Daimios
and Hatamotos, taking for himself the tithe of their earnings. But if any
of them were sick or in trouble, Chôbei would nurse and support them,
and provide physicians and medicine. And the fame of his goodness
went abroad until his apprentices were more than two thousand men,
and were employed in every part of the city. But as for Chôbei, the more
he prospered, the more he gave in charity, and all men praised his good
and generous heart.
This was the time when the Hatamotos had formed themselves into
bands of Otokodaté, 33 of which Midzuno Jiurozayémon, Kondô Noborinosuké,
and Abé Shirogorô were the chiefs. And the leagues of the
nobles despised the leagues of the wardsmen, and treated them with
scorn, and tried to put to shame Chôbei and his brave men; but the
nobles' weapons recoiled upon themselves, and, whenever they tried to
bring contempt upon Chôbei, they themselves were brought to ridicule.
So there was great hatred on both sides.
33.See the story of Kazuma's Revenge.
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