The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

raised in protest: "Surely you jest!"
    The Empress ignored them. "In their place, I hereby appoint Sei Shin, former commander of the Baku Provincial Army of the Left, regimental commander of the Palace Guard of the Left. Kantai."
    "Yes!" The general deeply bowed his head.
    "As for the generals of the Center and Right, I will act upon Kantai's recommendations. Kantai, please put the Imperial Guard in order."
    "By your command, Your Majesty."
    "Koukan."
    "Yes."
    The voice of the man who spoke was young. He was a bright and sagacious man of around thirty. Everyone there thought incredulously: This is the Province Lord of Baku?
    "I hereby appoint you Chousai. Please put the Imperial Court in order."
    "You can't be serious!" rose many voices in objection.
    Again, she ignored them. "I hereby appoint Saibou, the former Baku Minister-in-Chief, Province Lord of Wa. Furthermore, I have summoned Count Shou to the Imperial Court, and hereby appoint him Lord Privy Seal. Together with these appointments, you may expect that a goodly number of ministerial positions will be shuffled accordingly."
    The Empress looked over her audience. "Those of you with clear consciences have no cause for dismay. Having been ministers of the Late Empress Yo does not mean you will be treated poorly, just as having graduated from the Evergreen Seminary does not mean you will be accorded unwarranted favor either."
    Poised on the throne, the Empress said, "Everyone stand!" The room buzzed with confusion, the ministers glancing at each other as they timidly got to their feet. The Empress scanned the assembly. She nodded and turned to the Saiho at her side. "This is something I wish Keiki to make note of as well."
    She said, "I do not care to be worshiped in the customary manner."
    "Your Majesty!"
    The Empress had to smile at the sound of the Saiho's scolding voice. "It is certainly pleasing to hear respect paid and gratitude expressed, but I do not like the ranking and ordering of human beings. I cannot abide greeting someone and not even being able to see his face. I understand the need for a society's rules of decorum and propriety, but being kowtowed to and watching people kowtow to others leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
    "Your Majesty, please hold on a moment!"
    She shushed him and addressed the ministers. "Henceforth, with the exception of established rituals and ceremonies, and receptions for guests of honor from other kingdoms, kowtowing is abolished. It will be sufficient to bow while either standing or kneeling."
    "Your Majesty!"
    To the Saiho's attempts to restrain her, the Empress curtly responded, "The matter is settled."
    "There are people who may feel they are being disrespected and become enraged."
    "And what of them?"
    "Your Majesty!"
    "I do not understand people who cannot feel secure in their positions without forcing others to grovel before them."
    The Saiho was speechless. The ministers simply gaped with open mouths.
    "I do not understand what pride means to people like that. What's worse, whenever a man's made to scrape and bow, it eats away at his self-esteem. That's a problem just waiting to happen."
    "But--"
    "You know, Keiki," the Empress said to the Taiho, "when you're really grateful to somebody, when you feel real respect for them, you bow your head naturally. You bow your head to show what's in your heart. But simply going through the motions provides no measure of a man's soul. Turning such a bow into obeisance seems like placing your foot on the back a man's head and grinding his face into the dirt."
    "But people must be taught by example."
    "I do not intend to encourage insolence. We should treat others with respect. That should be obvious. What I'm saying is, when it comes to those who lack the character to do so, there's nothing more that can be done by means of coercion."
    "That is true, but--"
    "I wish to be Empress to all the people of Kei." Her voice was loud and clear. "You need only look to Shoukou to see the fate of those who use their position to force their subjects to respect them and trample the rest under their feet. And the road taken by those who allow themselves to be so trampled should be clear as well. No man is anyone's slave. No man is born to be a slave. Those who are oppressed yet do not yield; who face disasters yet do not break; who suffer injustice yet do not fear to answer injustice with justice; who are ruled by beasts yet do not fawn at their feet--these are the kinds of free people I wish the