“Their disposition cannot be ascertained.  Why should we remain for a long time in one place?  By so doing we could not have control over emergencies!” So he removed his camp to another place.

Eleventh month, 7th day.  The imperial army proceeded in great force to attack the Hiko of Shiki.  First of all the emperor sent a messenger to summon Shiki the elder, but he refused to obey.  Again the Yata-garasu was sent to bring him.  When the crow reached his camp it cried to him, saying:  “The child of the heavenly deity sends for thee.  Haste! haste!” Shiki the elder was enraged at this and said:  “Just when I heard that the conquering deity of heaven was coming I was indignant at this; why shouldst thou, a bird of the crow tribe, utter such an abominable cry?” So he drew his bow and aimed at it.  The crow forthwith fled away, and next proceeded to the house of Shiki the younger, where it cried, saying:  “The child of the heavenly deity summons thee.  Haste! haste!” Then Shiki the younger was afraid, and changing countenance, said:  “Thy servant, hearing of the approach of the conquering deity of heaven, is full of dread morning and evening.  Well hast thou cried to me, O crow!”

He straightway made eight leaf-platters, on which he disposed food, and entertained the crow.  Accordingly, in obedience to the crow, he proceeded to the emperor and informed him, saying:  “My elder brother, Shiki the elder, hearing of the approach of the child of the heavenly deity, forthwith assembled eighty bandits and provided arms, with which he is about to do battle with thee.  It will be well to take measures against 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: