Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/448

362 many times warned him of the approaching danger; but the Emperor not only refused to listen to his advice, but flew into such a terrible rage, that he deprived his faithful minister of his rank and office, and finally banished him from the Empire.

There was at that time attached to the Court a knavish flatterer named Ri Tōten. After the banishment of Tei Shiryō, the Emperor treated this rogue with such favour that he was promoted to the rank of Prime Minister. But this Ri Tōten had been treacherously holding secret communication with the Tartar King, and had been plotting to guide the Tartar army into the Imperial Castle, when a favourable opportunity should occur, in order that the Ming dynasty might be destroyed.

General Go Sankei soon saw through this hideous plot, and several times advised the Emperor to rid himself of the traitor. But the Emperor was completely deceived by Ri Tōten's oily and flattering speeches, and entrusted to him the management of all public affairs, both great and small.

One day an envoy of the Tartar King arrived, with many valuable gifts, and brought forth a request from his master that the Emperor's favourite concubine, Madame Kwasei, should be given to