The Sword of Kaigen

“He said, ‘there are a million ways to tell the same story. Our job as jaseliwu is to find the one the listener needs to hear. Not necessarily the one that makes them the happiest or the one that gives them the most information, but the one they need to hear to do what they need to do.’”

Misaki recounts a conversation that she had with a jaseli who argues that truth is not objective and should be tailored to the needs of the listener. This statement ties directly into the theme of Distinguishing True Stories from Propaganda. This moment is particularly significant because it is immediately followed by Chul-hee’s claims that Mamoru’s history teacher is spreading propaganda and lies.

“‘You realize that at least half the stuff he tells you isn’t even true.’ Kwang looked around at the three Takayubi boys. ‘It’s propaganda.’

‘Propaganda?’ Mamoru had only heard the word used a few times before. People said that propaganda was what the Ranganese Union used to trick its uneducated citizens into fighting its battles. It was a distinctly Ranganese tactic. Kaigen didn’t use propaganda. Everyone knew that.”

In this passage, Chul-hee reveals to Mamoru that almost everything they’ve learned is lies and propaganda intended to keep the warrior families of Shirojima under control and loyal to the Emperor. He goes on to call the warrior families tools and “cannon fodder” (45). This revelation shocks Mamoru to his core, calling into question everything he knows about truth, the reality of the world, and his purpose in it. Additionally, when he asserts that “everyone” knows that “Kaigen didn’t use propaganda,” Wang injects a heavy note of irony into the narrative, for this very assertion stands as evidence of the empire’s manipulative tactics of misinformation.