him without delay." The emperor accordingly assembled his
generals and inquired of them, saying: "It appears that Shiki the elder
has now rebellious intentions. I summoned him, but again he will not
come. What is to be done?" The generals said: "Shiki the elder is a
crafty knave. It will be well, first of all, to send Shiki the younger
to make matters clear to him, and at the same time to make explanations
to Kuraji the elder and Kuraji the younger. If after that they still
refuse submission, it will not be too late to take warlike measures
against them."

Shiki the younger was accordingly sent to explain to them their
interests. But Shiki the elder and the others adhered to their foolish
design, and would not consent to submit. Then Shiki-netsu-hiko advised
as follows: "Let us first send out our feebler troops by the Osaka road.
When the enemy sees them he will assuredly proceed thither with all his
best troops. We should then straightway urge forward our robust troops,
and make straight for Sumi-Zaka.

"Then with the water of the River Uda we should sprinkle the burning
charcoal, and suddenly take them unawares; when they cannot fail to be
routed." The emperor approved this plan, and sent out the feebler troops
toward the enemy, who, thinking that a powerful force was approaching,
awaited them with all their power. Now up to this time, whenever the
imperial army attacked, they invariably captured, and when they fought
they were invariably victorious, so that the fighting men were all
wearied out. Therefore the emperor, to comfort the hearts of his leaders
and men, struck off this verse:

"As we fight
Going forth and watching
From between the trees
Of Mount Inasa,
We are famished.
Ye keepers of cormorants
(Birds of the island)
Come now to our aid."

In the end he crossed Sumi-Zaka with the stronger troops, and, going
round by the rear, attacked them from two sides and put them to the
rout, killing their chieftains, Shiki the elder, and the others.

Third month, 7th day. The emperor made an order, saying: "During the six
years that our expedition against the East has lasted, owing to my
reliance on the majesty of Imperial Heaven, the wicked bands have met
death. It is true that the frontier lands are still unpurified, and that
a remnant of evil is still refractory. But in the region of the Central
Land there is no more wind and dust. Truly we should make a vast and
spacious capi