Stories of the Japanese 00630 [Early Kamakura Period] The Jokyu War: The Imperial Decree to Hunt Down Yoshitoki

May 14, 1221 (the 3rd year of Jokyu). Retired Emperor Gotoba finally began his move. He started gathering warriors from the western provinces under the pretext of holding a yabusame (horseback archery) tournament. While yabusame is a competition of shooting arrows at targets while riding a horse, it was clear that the actual purpose was to launch an uprising.
The Retired Emperor further imprisoned Saionji Kintsune and his son Saneuji (1194–1269), who were likely to side with the shogunate.
Next, the force that could potentially hinder the uprising was the Kyoto Shugo, an agency established by the Kamakura Shogunate in Kyoto.
The Kyoto Shugo was served by two men: Oe no Chikahiro (?-1242) and Iga Mitsusue (?-1221). Retired Emperor Gotoba first brought Oe no Chikahiro over to his side, and then attempted to win over Iga Mitsusue, but was refused, so he ordered an attack on the Iga residence. Fujiwara no Hideyasu (?-1221), a close aide to the Retired Emperor, led the attack on the Iga residence, and Iga Mitsusue, cornered, took his own life.
The following day, Retired Emperor Gotoba ordered his close aide Hamuro Mitsuchika (1176–1221) to draft an imperial decree to hunt down Yoshitoki. Once the Retired Emperor gave his approval, the decree was immediately issued throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Miura Taneyoshi sent a messenger to his older brother Yoshimura, and this messenger arrived in Kamakura on May 19.
The letter carried by the messenger stated,
“I have received an order from the Retired Emperor to execute Yoshitoki. You shall have whatever rewards you desire.”
It was, in effect, a request for his brother Yoshimura to assassinate Yoshitoki.
However, Yoshimura immediately showed this letter to Yoshitoki and said,
“I will not participate in my younger brother's rebellion, and I will remain loyal to you as your ally.”
Taneyoshi had expected his brother to side with him, but Yoshimura had no such intention.
The Hojo family was in an uproar upon learning that the imperial decree to hunt down Yoshitoki had been issued. Yasutoki proposed surrender, saying,
“While the Imperial Court is in the wrong this time, as long as Japan is the land of the Emperor, we should obey the Court's orders. Let us first surrender and explain that we are being falsely accused.”
But Yoshitoki replied,
“That is only true when the sovereign's rule is just and the nation is at peace. Amaterasu Omikami will not blame us for punishing the evil deeds of close aides who lead the sovereign astray, or for placing another on the throne.”He insisted that they must resist to the end. His logic was that it was not Retired Emperor Gotoba himself, but his close aides who were at fault; regardless, the Hojo family decided on a policy of fighting against the Imperial Court.