Gozoku

The Gozoku was originally a political alliance of the Scorpion, Crane, and Phoenix Clans during the late fourth and early fifth centuries. The triad essentially controlled the workings of the Empire for over 40 years, until their power was broken by the ascension of Hantei Yugozohime to the Imperial Throne.

In the 12th century, Bayushi Atsuki, returned through Oblivion's Gate, attempted to form a second Gozoku. They gained a fair amount of power for some time, but were broken after only a few years of operation.

The First Gozoku

Beginning of the Gozoku

In 391, the heir of Hantei Fujiwa, Hantei Kusada, was kidnapped by the forces of Bayushi Atsuki, Doji Raigu, and Shiba Gaijushiko, who held the heir until the Emperor granted them concessions in the form of political power. Shortly afterward, Fujiwa fell ill and died. Otomo Tohojatsu, the uncle of Fujiwa, acted as regent until Kusada could claim the throne. While acting as regent, Tohojatsu gave the Gozoku so much more power that when Kusada finally became Emperor he was nothing more than a figurehead.

Life was not all bad under the rule of the Gozoku. The triad developed a detailed system of roads as a new way of conducting trade. Under their rulership art and culture flourished. Unfortunately, so did crime and corruption.

Fall of the Gozoku

In 435, Emperor Kusada died of old age. His eldest son, who had been fostered to the Phoenix Clan, was brought to the courts to be coronated. Unfortunately for the Gozoku, Kusada's daughter, Hantei Yugozohime, who had been fostered to the Lion Clan, came to Otosan Uchi and challenged her brother to a duel for the throne. She easily defeated him, and with the support of the Lion and Dragon armies, she swiftly shattered the strength of the Gozoku.

To save himself, Shiba Gaijushiko decided to assist Yugozohime in dismantling the Gozoku in return for a pardon for his actions.

In the aftermath, the Otomo family was given much of the authority formerly held by the Gozoku. The family was tasked to use it to ensure that anyone trying to diminish the power of the Emperor would meet only failure. In addition, the family was secretly tasked to sow discord between the Great Clans, attempting to make their alliances shaky enough that another similar power bloc could never again form.

The Second Gozoku

During the reign of Toturi III in 1166, the Gozoku conspiracy was revived by the returned spirit of one of the original Gozoku leaders, Bayushi Atsuki. The new organization begin to undermine the authority of the Emperor, and with the rise of Iuchiban and the War of the Rich Frog, they were initially very successful. Even Shogun Kaneka reluctantly agreed to ally with them, as he was unsure wether his half-brother would be able to hold the throne.

Toturi III found his powers in the courts severely reduced, and all he could do was call upon those loyal to him. Scorpion Clan Champion Bayushi Sunetra stepped down from her position to secretly become Naseru's personal spy and saboteur, assigned to persecute the Gozoku. Her first successful mission was the murdering of Bayushi Kamnan at Mantis hands, and his replacement by a disguised spirit, Bayushi Baku, who retained Kamnan's memories and worked as insider spy.

While many of the higher ranking Seppun were allied with Seppun Toshiaki's Gozoku, the Otomo put their loyalties with Naseru, following Otomo Hoketuhime's desires.

Kaneka decided that the Gozoku was as much a threat to him as they were to the Emperor. The Shogun decided to attack the organization's strongholds as well. This campaign resulted in the death of many Gozoku members and leaders, including Bayushi Atsuki and Seppun Toshiaki.

Details

Members

See the list of members of the Gozoku for a listing of notable members of the conspiracy.

References

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