Chapter 27

Summary

• The chapter's main characters find themselves in a political quandary, needing to avoid open conflict while dealing with demands from powerful warlord Toranaga.
• Overt actions could unintentionally align them with Toranaga against his rival Ishido, which could be detrimental if Ishido emerges victorious.
• Toranaga, through his translator Father Alvito, asks the Captain-General to use their cannon against what he claims are pirates in the harbor mouth.
• Toranaga attempts to deflect any suggestion of war with Ishido, claiming that their skirmishes are minor and not a declaration of war.
• Toranaga directly questions the European's allegiances, demanding action against the so-called pirates and implicitly requesting their support against his enemies.
• Father Alvito intentionally mistranslates the Captain-General's words, prompting Mariko to intervene and correct the translation to Toranaga.
• There is a negotiation where the Europeans offer to support Toranaga's interests and in return, he promises to expand trade opportunities.
• Toranaga offers to allow the construction of a large Christian temple in Yedo, which represents a significant concession and win for dell’Aqua's agenda.
• After various requests and conditions are agreed upon, including the Europeans' promise to attempt to persuade Lords Onoshi and Kiyama to ally with Toranaga, the warlord agrees not to demand a formal written agreement.
• The Europeans also promise to address the issue of the "pirates" privately, without it seeming like an act of war.
• While the Europeans believed they had a plan to provide Toranaga with cannon, they are stunned to learn that their cannon are useless on the galley that Toranaga wishes to arm.
• Ferriera negotiates for personal gains in exchange for assisting Toranaga, including a percentage of cargo and future control of the Black Ship, as well as other assurances.
• Blackthorne, a significant character, is poisoned or drugged to the point of incoherence, raising concerns among those present.
• Attempts to translate and settle misunderstandings between cultures lead to offense, with the samurai Kana almost coming to blows with a Portuguese crewman after a disrespect aimed at Mariko.
• Mariko is subjected to coarse propositions by the Portuguese bosun Pesaro and is met with further insults and disrespect regarding her and Blackthorne's nationalities.
• Blackthorne is thrown overboard to sober him, then instructed by Rodrigues, who harbors a debt to him, to commandeer the galley and to part ways with the main frigate.
• Toranaga ultimately decides not to intervene with Blackthorne's fate, deeming it karma and leaving him on the course set by his actions.
• The Europeans depart to negotiate with Ishido, while Toranaga's group prepares to travel to Yedo, accepting the political shifts resulting from the evening's events.
• The frigate sails for Yedo on the orders of the Captain-General, despite the surrounding dangers of their situation following Blackthorne's actions on the galley.