Oda, Struggle for Power
Setting, STW Warlords edition, Hard, huge units, victory condition conquer all provinces
Summer 1550
Armies: Oda Nobuhiro, 1331 men, 492 samurai, 840 Ashigaru
This is the tale of the Oda Clan. I am Oda Nobuhiro a Daimyo of Owari. I have seen 32 years, most of it war. Under my father Nobuhide i have fought the Imagawa of Suruga and Totomi, The Saito of Mino and the Matsudaira of Mikawa so many times i have lost the count of battles. Besides all this i have fought my own relatives several times. A tragedy i hope will happen never again.
We are surrounded by several Clans. To the east Imagawa has secured their control over Mikawa and currently Koriki Kiyonaga has an army of 360 samurai in the province. To the North Saito Mazakazu is reigning over Mino province. To the West Asai Tadauji is controlling Omi province with his small army of 120 samurai and same amount of ashigaru. To the South West Kitabatake Ujinao hosts a strong army of 240 Sohei warrior monks and same amount of Samurai.
A year a go my father fought the Imagawa at Anjo castle Mikawa and was able to defeat this large Clan we have been fighting this whole century. This victory secured us peace with Imagawa atleast for a while.
The cost of the victory was still too big for our Clan. My beloved father´s health has failed and he had to retire and is now mortally sick, so now it is my time to take the reigns.
At the start of this season our Clan council gathered once again with impotant decisions to make. Our strategy for this summer will be two folded. We will send emissaries to Imagawa, not to submit, but to ally with them. In the light of our reacent victory over them, it could be so that Imagawa Yoshimoto will now not take us lightly, but that remains to be seen.
My best general Shibata Katsuie, is to raid the borders of Mino in order to draw out the entire Saito army to field, so we can better understand their strength. He should not give battle but withdraw if the Saito are willing to give battle. We will also start construction for tea house in Owari, in order to train special officials to use for matters of more secretive nature.
From here it begins...
Autumn 1550
Armies: Oda Nobuhiro, 1331 men, 492 samurai, 840 Ashigaru
During the summer we werent the only active Clan. messages from the distance told us that in the East the mighty Takeda Clan have taken control of the Shinano province. Meanwhile the Uesugi have invaded Kozuke province successfully. In the West Mori has taken Iwami province and in Kyushu the Shimazu have conquered the Higo province. Another good news is that Imagawa and Takeda are now at war against each other. This should give us more leverage in alliance negotiations.
Our emissary reached Mikawa and is on his way towards Totomi. Shibata Katsuie was successfull in his probe to Mino. Meanwhile Saito Mazakazu took our bait, gathered his troops and prepared to give battle. Shibata reports that the Saito army consisted mostly of mounted samurai, which presents a problem to our larger, but infantry heavy army.
While some of our top retainers suggested that we should either instead invade Omi and defeat the smaller army of Asai Tadauji or confront the Saito army head on. My decision was different. After fighting a long time together and against Mazakazu i have learned that he is a capable leader but has a crucial weakness compared to us. His province Mino is far more poor the our Owari and now that the Takeda are masters of Shinano. He must be feeling threatened from many sides.
For this reason i decided to send emissary to him and demand him to submit to our Clan, while making the offer more sweet with some gold from our treasury.
Winter 1550
Armies: Oda Nobuhiro, 1331 men, 492 samurai, 840 Ashigaru
During the Autumn it would seem lord Hojo lost Shimosa province to some coalition of minor daimyos, or maybe to an rebellion. We dont have enough information to know what happened. Also in the West Mori Clan took another province. This time the Ouchi Clan´s province of Suo fell to forces of Mori Motonari. It would seem that man might be someone not to take lightly.
Saito Mazakazu did not accept out first offer, so it would seem we have to negotiate some more before he understands the failure in his ways. Our emissary reported that he has reached Totomi and in fact Imagawa Yoshimoto is in the province. This couldnt have happened in better time as reports from Mikawa told us that the Imagawa heir, Ujizane has taken control of their army there and that their numbers are now 600 samurai. It would be most disturbing if Imagawa would now start a foolish war against our Clan. I have given strict orders to our emissary to ask for audience from Yoshimoto with all possible speed.
Another important event is that following spring my brother Nobunaga will become of age. I hope we can celebrate that while good news will arrive both from Totomi and Mino. It may be that i must teach my younger brother some humility by not assigning him any troops during his first year of manhood, but i have to consider that again before Spring will be upon us.
Spring 1551
Armies: Oda Nobuhiro, 1331 men, 492 samurai, 840 Ashigaru
The season started with the celebrations for my brothers coming of age ceremony and in that sentimental state of mind i promised him his own samurai retainer band, so the young tiger can show his claws. Great news also arrived from Totomi. Imagawa Yoshimoto had accepted our offer of alliance. This should somewhat secure our eastern border. From North the news werent such pleasant ones. Saito Mazakazu still refused our offers of submission. He is starting to stretch my patience and i really do hope he will come to his senses before more drastic measures have to be taken.
Another turn of events worth mentioning was that the Takeda and Imagawa had made peace. Using this opportunity i ordered my emissary to travel to Shinano in order to propose and alliance to Takeda Shingen also. Further East Lord Hojo´s problems seem to mount up. Last season also Hitachi province was lost. Possibly to local lords like Satake, but we cant be sure.
In the West it would seem that Lord Mori had over extended his forces as most likely Lord Ouchi or Amako had taken Iwami back from the Mori. I am exited to see how the events will unfold in the Chugoku region.
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