THE BATTLE OF ICHI-NO-TANI
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battle. It was impossible for Yoshitsuné openly to give the order to Naozané, because Atsumori was one of the enemy. But Naozané readily took his hint, and made up his mind to spare the young nobleman's life. He had served the ex-Emperor sixteen years before. His wife, Sagami, had served Fuji-no-Kata as maid-of-honour, while the latter was still in Go-Shirakawa's harem, and both had received favours from Fuji-no-Kata. Therefore Noazané determined to save Atsumori, at any cost, to requite his former master's kindness.
