Because I know an idea my brain will not let go of when I smell one,

[camwyn]

I have added "Imperial Japanese Mounted Police" to my LJ interest list.

*sigh*

Now I have to figure out what to do with the bastards. olna_jenn, penguinzero, heeeeeelp....

Comments

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

Well, do you want help with the historical version, or the postmodern one?

Sadly, the most likely scenerio my brain can supply after a force of ARMED, TRAINED COMMONERS was presented to the Emperor, is that said upstart commoners were executed, and proper warriors stuck in uniform and mounted on horse.

i don't LIKE the scenario, but.

[camwyn]

I think we should wait on penguinzero-kun's note checking first, just to be on the safe side.

But a possible counter to your scenario: the Emperor's advisors, and quite possibly the Emperor himself, strongly wanted to have the commoners executed. It was only some extremely fast talking on the part of the would-be-framed lord that prevented that from happening- talk to the effect of "excuse me, your Majesty? Have a look around at all the noble warriors in Japan who've got family honour to uphold. Have a look at the ones who put their daimyo first, the shogun next, and you third in their loyalties. Have a look at every noble you know who's ever favoured one son over the other, and what happened the instant one of them resented the way his father treated his brother. These men have none of that.

"These men have no agendas of their own, no vendettas to see through, no great names to uphold. They wish only to serve their country, their throne, without the interference that comes of petty human politicking and hate. A samurai is a samurai from the moment he is born to the moment he dies, with all of the obligation that implies; these men. . . these men are nothing more and nothing less than their oaths. They are the most devoted servants this country will ever have, because they serve it all, with all their hearts. You are their only lord, and whatever you choose to call them will be their only name. Everything they have- everything- they will owe to you, and no other.

"Search your heart, your Majesty. In the end, can you truly afford to cast such dedication aside?"