A summary of "Flower with Three Leaves" by Viktor Dashkevich

This book is a historical novel set in feudal Japan in 1595, written by the author in 2017. The plot revolves around the uncompromising political struggle for power following the failed Korean campaign of the aging dictator Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The author skillfully interweaves the destinies of real-life samurai, focusing on the coming-of-age of young Tokugawa Hidetada and the stern character of the renowned general Kato Kiyomasa. Both warriors find themselves at the epicenter of brutal palace intrigues, desperately trying to maintain honor and loyalty to their noble ideals against the backdrop of an inexorably changing era.

Returning from a lost war

The novel’s events unfold against a backdrop of widespread despondency following the hasty retreat of Japanese troops from Korea. In a fit of impotent rage, the young samurai Asano Yukinaga destroys magnificent rose bushes in his garden with a sharp sword. The young warrior is desperately indignant at the humiliating house arrest of his beloved commander, Kato Kiyomasa.

The young man’s father, the world-wise politician Asano Nagamasa, strictly forbids his son from visiting the disgraced general. Nagamasa rightly fears false accusations and imminent accusations of rebellion. Instead of dangerous, impulsive actions, the old samurai suggests his son invite his childhood friend, the level-headed young Tokugawa Hidetada, to visit. Yukinaga asks his trusted friend to secretly convey sincere words of support and an encouraging letter to his beloved general.

At this very moment, Japan’s aging ruler, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, is leisurely boating on the river with Hidetada. The old dictator is deeply depressed by the military defeat on the mainland. He is mortally offended by Kiyomasa’s strange, silent admission of guilt at the recent war council.

Hideyoshi bitterly complains that all the courtiers tearfully beg for mercy for the general, completely oblivious to the ruler’s own heartache. Hidetada skillfully and skillfully persuades Hideyoshi to send a secret envoy to the general for a frank conversation. Predictably, the choice falls on the most resourceful and diplomatic young man.

Arriving at Kiyomasa’s, Hidetada hands the prisoner letters from trusted friends and sweet gifts from the ruler’s caring wife, Lady Nene. The stern commander suddenly subjects his uninvited guest to an extremely brutal training session with heavy wooden swords. Flushed by the glorious battle, the warriors drink strong sake and converse with the utmost frankness. Kiyomasa openly shares his thoughts on the thwarted war. He openly expresses his deep contempt for the calculating staff officer Ishida Mitsunari, directly accusing him of unacceptable cowardice and intrigue.

Conspiracies and natural disasters

The observant Mitsunari hastily reports to Hideyoshi about Hidetada’s suspicious secret visits. The vigilant official seriously suspects the Tokugawa family of plotting a military conspiracy against the legitimate supreme authority. The weary ruler dismisses these obsessive paranoid fears with a loud laugh.

During a trip to Fushimi City by Hideyoshi, Hidetada, and the young three-year-old heir, Hiroimaru, the government convoy is suddenly attacked by ruthless assassins. Hidetada bravely defends the crying child, pinning him to the damp ground under a hail of deadly blows.

Immediately after a brief and brutal skirmish, a powerful earthquake strikes. Tall trees fall, wide roads crack dangerously, and wooden buildings collapse with a roar.

Kiyomasa, whose home was also severely damaged by the devastating tremors, steals a terrified horse and gallops to his master’s aid. Reaching the completely destroyed country residence, the surviving travelers witness a massive rescue effort. The mighty Kiyomasa, at great personal risk, pulls Lady Chatya and her young sister Ogo from beneath the heavy, collapsed beams. Hideyoshi weeps with overwhelming joy and, overjoyed, completely forgives the fearless general for all his past misdeeds.

Reprisals and secret plans

Despite the family’s apparent well-being, the miraculously rescued Mrs. Tyatya fiercely hates Hideyoshi for the long-ago tragic death of her biological parents. The embittered beauty secretly dreams of imminent supreme power exclusively for her own son.

Soon, Hideyoshi coldly and mercilessly executes his adult nephew, Hidetsugu, along with his entire extended family, on the harsh charge of rebellion. Asano Nagamasa watches with bated breath and despair as the public, bloody massacre of innocent, weeping women and small children is unfolding.

The pedantic Mitsunari suddenly discovers Hidetsugu’s final suicide note. The document unequivocally proves the absolute political innocence of the brutally murdered man. In a fit of sincere, agonizing remorse, the white-robed official prepares to commit ritual seppuku. Hideyoshi catches his loyal servant just in time and forcibly stops him. The old ruler cynically admits that he knew all along of his nephew’s innocence. The experienced dictator deliberately eliminated the young man as a worthless, weak-willed heir and a direct potential threat to the reign of little Hiroimaru. The incriminating letter burns forever in the bright flame of a night lamp.

Nagamasa gives Hideyoshi a most cunning piece of state advice. He insistently proposes to firmly bind the powerful Tokugawa clan to himself by officially adopting the young Hidetada. The young man accidentally discovers these terrifying, grandiose plans.

On a dark, moonless night, he secretly sets out to visit his biological father, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Mitsunari’s nimble hired spies are hot on the fugitive’s heels. Noticing their dangerous pursuit, Hidetada abruptly turns toward the resting Kiyomasa’s house, intending to completely confuse the inexperienced spies. The fearless general safely hides the young man. Drawing his long, gleaming sword, Kiyomasa, with a loud, shameful savagery, drives the terrified spies out into the dark street.

Early in the morning, the calculating Ieyasu meets with Hideyoshi. The cunning politician politely but firmly rejects his insistent offer of adoption. Instead, the powerful ruler forces the blushing Hidetada and the calm Kiyomasu to sign an absurd, humorous pact of male love and unconditional loyalty in blood. This unusual document formalizes the personal union of the two glorious warriors and firmly nip dirty palace rumors in the bud.

Lessons of military valor

Mitsunari visits the vacationing Kiyomasu at his new, opulent estate by a pristine lake. Their longtime mutual friend, Otani Yoshitsugu, is quietly hiding there. He is dying slowly and painfully from incurable leprosy, hiding his disfigured face under a layer of thick white bandages. Yoshitsugu calmly and calculatingly explains to his comrades the true, far-reaching political motives of the aging Hideyoshi. The dying, intelligent warrior sternly warns Mitsunari to maintain a safe distance from the cunning and dangerous Ieyasu.

Returning from a remote mountain monastery, the hot-tempered Yukinaga accidentally overhears absurd, sordid rumors about Hidetada and Kiyomasa’s affair. The hot-blooded youth immediately loses his temper, rudely insults Hidetada, and without a second thought, challenges his friend to a fight to the death. The experienced and strong Yukinaga easily pushes the young adversary against a high stone wall. At the last critical moment, he deliberately holds back the sharp blade, inflicting only a very slight scratch on his shoulder. The observant Hidetada realizes that his loyal friend had never intended to kill him in the first place.

The wise Ieyasu patiently reconciles the ardent quarreling youths. The experienced commander clearly and intelligibly explains to them the true, sacred meaning of samurai service. A truly devoted warrior must always think of the good of his glorious family, not of his own fleeting youthful pride.

To teach Hidetada a harsh lesson in real, bloody combat, Yukinaga takes his friend to a grim city prison. There, the young man duels to the death with heavy wooden swords against an experienced ronin sentenced to public execution. The enemy attacks ferociously and quickly, desperately trying to disarm him. Hidetada kills the powerful, agile opponent with a single, precise, killing blow. Young Tokugawa takes a life with his own hands for the first time and clearly experiences the bitter, chilling taste of real, brutal combat.

Secrets of Mrs. Ogo

The beautiful Lady Ogo is meticulously and anxiously preparing for her impending wedding to Hidetada. One dark night, the girl secretly meets the leprous Yoshitsugu in a deserted garden. The experienced samurai urges her to become a model, faithful wife and faithfully bear healthy, strong sons for the prosperity of the powerful Tokugawa clan.

A little later, the perceptive Ieyasu catches Ogo in the act of making a single careless remark. The seasoned, unrivaled schemer quickly forces his future daughter-in-law to frankly confess a terrible state secret. It turns out that she personally masterfully forged the ill-fated letters falsely accusing the unfortunate Hidetsugu of plotting an armed rebellion. The brave girl knowingly committed the most heinous, unthinkable crime in order to reliably protect her young nephew from the potential merciless cruelty of the foolish regent.

Ieyasu sincerely and openly admires her cunning and devious mind. He willingly takes Ogo under his personal, unwavering protection, strictly forbidding her from ever harming the political and family interests of the Tokugawa.

Soon, the lavish, well-attended wedding of Hidetada and the happy Lady Ogo took place. A satisfied Hideyoshi and Ieyasu exchanged polite, formal pleasantries, skillfully concealing the deep political tensions and bitter struggle for influence. A cheerful Kiyomasa got heavily drunk on delicious sake and loudly told old, bloody war stories.

Waiting for a new battle

At the end of the book, the energetic Hideyoshi delivers a mock, angry dressing-down to the intoxicated Kiyomasa. The ruler sternly reprimands the general for his careless, disrespectful remarks about little Hiroimaru’s marksmanship with a toy bow.

At this tense moment, a breathless, pale messenger suddenly arrives with disturbing diplomatic news. The haughty Chinese ambassadors have arrived. The mighty Emperor Ming has sent a deeply offensive official letter. The foreign ruler arrogantly and condescendingly appoints Hideyoshi as a mere local ruler of Japan, completely and outrageously ignoring the proud dictator’s vast military conquests.

The protracted, tedious peace negotiations have finally and irrevocably broken down. The stern Kiyomasa and the young, ambitious Yukinaga sincerely rejoice at their imminent return to the bloody Korean battlefield. In joyful anticipation of a new, merciless war, they quickly discard their beautiful ceremonial attire. With undisguised childish delight, the happy samurai leap into the icy waters of a deep autumn lake.