TW:S2 Story: Legion of Faith (Battle of Mihara)

[Maltz]

Hi,
This story is a sequel of Wanderer of Faith, covering an actual campaign battle (Battle of Mihara, Winter 1555).
Story-wise it is also a sequel of the Guide of Bait Tactics.
Hope you like it!
maltz

Settings
Campaign: Ikko-Ikki
Version: V5607
Difficulty: Legendary
MODS: None
DLC: Ikko-Ikki, Blood Pack

[Maltz]

Table of Content

To be updated.

[Maltz]

Preface. Amako the Reoffender

The autuman has passed and rain turns snow,
The pure land expands and our numbers grow.
Amako was once defeated three years ago,
Under Koriyama we delivered a heavy blow.



The first Amako-Ikko war ended with a treaty,
While Aamko still controlled powerful army.
Now Ikko fields Sword Ashigaru elite,
While our monks quietly infiltrated San'in.



Fanatic rebellion overturned Amako's provinces,
Amako Haruhisa the daimyo was killed in the chaos.
Angered and alarmed by Ikko's rapid advance,
Amako declares war again, hoping for a second chance.

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One. Everybody wants to be Hajikano

Hajikano became a household name two years ago.
That's when Hajikano Shigekuni, a common monk ashigaru, slayed the daimyo of Chosokabe clan,
Chosokabe Monochika, in the second battle of Iyo, Shigoku.

Rumor goes that Hajikano was so afraid on the battlefield
that he only knew to thrust his yari as hard as he could.
By sheer luck, his spear found the belly of Chosokabe daimyo's steed.

Hajikano was promoted to the rank of Shimozuma's house offier.
He can command more than a thousand ashigaru, even samurai and warrior monks.
People now use Hajikano to mean many things, such as:

"Stop daydreaming. You are not Hajikano."
"Could you Hajikano me in the front of the line?"
"Why do they hire this idiot? Oh, he must be a Hajikano."

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Yet Hajikano also became the idol of peasants,
who cannot afford the katana and armor.
Hajikano is their hope to leave poverty and contempt behind.

Then it came the great news that Ikko is recruiting ashigaru in Satsuma.
For two full years, the recruit line extended to the shore.
Everybody wants to be the next Hajikano Shigekuni.

Each ashigaru recruit receives not only a sharp Katana,
but also the most durable bamboo armor one can find in Japan.
They also receive rigorous training in the new castle of Satsuma.

With merely one frouth of samurai's wages,
Ikko's elite ashigaru fights as well as a Katana Ronin.
Shipped to all Ikko's armies around Japan, they mark the dawn of a new age.

The age of the Golden Legion.
For they are many, yet their mind pure as one.

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Two. The Replacement

(Suzuki Sadayu, 鈴木佐大夫) "Shinji, it is sad to see you go so soon."
(Suzuki Mitsuaki, 鈴木光昭) "Indeed, my lord. But the grandmaster's order must be obeyed. I shall take the ferry to Iyo tomorrow morning. Amako's navy could be patrolling the nearby water. The earlier I depart, the better."
"I hope you have some fun fishing in Awa. Does the grandmaster mention when you will be given an army to command?"
"Nope. We don't have the budget for the fourth army yet."
"Where did we spend all the money?"
"Must be Hajikano... I mean Project Golden Legion."
"Yeah. Who does not want to become an upstart general? The shipment of 1200 men has arrived at the port of Aki."
"What's my lord's plan for the replaced men?"
"You want them, don't you? I will ship them to you should Hatakeyama declare war. They are Amako's new ally, after all. But for now I need them to handle Amako."
"Thank you, my lord. What's the war plan against Amako?"
"Amako has two full-strength armies. One is in Bingo, just east from here. The other one is in Bizen. There are more units scattered around; together they may form the third full stack. The mission of the Second Army is to bring down Amako's army in Bungo as quickly as possible, but avoid taking any castle or we will be declared an enemy of the Shogunate."
"I see. Our agents reported that Amako has a lot of samurai in the army. What's our chance?"
"Bait Tactics? 100% "
"What if the enemy actively comes to us? I heard that happened in Fukuoka 8 years ago."
"True. Then we will just have to use our brains."
"I am sure my lord will figure something out. Good luck."
"Thank you, Shinji. A good samurai does not depend on luck - but skills and determination."
"Certainly!"

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"Prepare for battle! Ninja?"
"Yes, my lord?"
"Go scout the battlefield and report!"
"On my way!"
"Monks?"
"What can we be of service?"
"Go preach at the Amako army!"
"About what?"
"About the life is precious..."
"Certainly!"
"Army of Jodo Shinsho, the Golden Legion! We march to battle!"

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Three. Attractive Feature

"My lord, we have preached peace to the Amako army. Now they are afraid they cannot see their parents, wives, and children again!"
"Good work!"
"My lord, I have scouted the battlefield!"
"What features did you see?"
"I see a large forest hill!"
"Is it very close to Amako's camp?"
"Not really. It is closer to our camp. If you turn to your left, it is right in front of you, my lord."
"Yeah, I can see it now... The enemy will certainly make a run for it. Hm... "

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"We can get to the hill before Amako's army!"
"What is my lord's plan?"
"We fight Amako head-on with the height and tree advantage. Our reinforcement will rush forward to attack Amako's flank. Our cavalry will attack Amako's back!"
"But Amako's infantry is largely melee samurai. Can we hold off Amako's frontal attack?"
"It is time to harvest Project Golden Legion! All infantry! Run for the hill!"

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Four. All Eyes on the Hill

(Row, row, row your boats)

Run, run, run you fools,
Quickly up the hill!
Wearily, wearily, wearily, wearily,
Safety is but a dream.

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(Rock-a-bye baby)

Run-a-bye soldiers, to the battle,
When the lines clash, their flank are exposed.
When we arrive, we charge into their flank,
And down go our enemies, samurai and all.

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Five. Charge of the Legion

There was a legion who wield swords,
In Bingo they fight on the snow.
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
And in Bingo they fight on the snow.

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(Oh The Grand Old Duke of York)

Oh, the grand Ikko of Japan,
They had ten thousand men;
They marched up to the top of the hill,
And they charged downhill again.

And when their enemies raised their spears,
Their legs both shake in fear;
And when the katana fall down,
Their enemy all shed tears.

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(Twinkle twinkle little star)

Twinkle, twinkle, legion of gold,
How we adore the power of the horde.
Up above your stats so high,
With cheap upkeep we all like,
Twinkle, twinkle, legion of gold,
Charge into your enemy and take control.

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(The more we are together)

The more men fight together, together, together,
The more men fight together, the bloodier they'll be.

For I will kill your friends, and you will kill my friends,
The more men fight together, the happier we'll be.

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(Jack and Jill went up the hill)

Jaku and Jilu went up the hill,
to see the enemies better,
Jaku fell down as he stepped on cow's brown,
and Jilu came tumbling after.

Up got Jaku, who grabbed his swords,
as the line must be moving forward.
The enemies are many, the comrades are plenty;
Let's all enjoy the slaughter.

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Six. Whistling Arrows

(The Wheels on the Bus)

The general on the hill he frowns and frowns,
frowns and frowns, frowns and frowns.
Because the trees now block his view,
He does not know what's going on.

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(The Wheels on the Bus, part II)

Yet the warrior monks can see through leaves,
see through leaves, see through leaves,
They find enemy ashigaru are about to flee,
So they say "Let us set you free".

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(The Wheels on the Bus, part III)

The battle down the hill is so brutal,
so brutal, so brutal.
And suddenly the men heard a loud whistle,
Whistling Arrows!

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(The Wheels on the Bus, part IV)

The yari samurai is afraid to die,
afraid to die, afraid to die.
The Amako yari abandoned the line,
We don't wonder why.

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Seven. Charge of the Ronin

(If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands)

If the unit is damaged they'll be afraid,
If the unit is afraid they'll run away,
After ashigaru rout,
Samurai turn around,
What a classic display of shame.

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(If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands, part II)

If people fight too long they will fall,
If many people fall they will leave a hole,
Now our line shows gaps,
Now we can't make wraps,
Yari Ronin charge to fill the role.

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Eight. Chrage of the Riders

(If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands, part III)

Amako's bowmen draw their bows,
Amako's bowmen shoot at us,
Reinforcement has arrived,
But they're too far to fight,
Who can charge the bowmen's fat arse?

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(If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands, part IV)

Behold Monk riders charge in unison,
Behold Monk riders charge with precision,
Listen the crying babies,
Watch the flying bodies,
Four units demolished by collision!

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(London Bridge is Falling Down)

Amako is falling down, falling down, up side down,
Amako is crushed to ground,
Decisive victory!

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(London Bridge if Falling Down, part II)

That's the third memorial, very real, made of steel,
Also the second memorial,
By general Suzuki.

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(London Bridge if Falling Down, part III)

Ikko's fame has soared too high, that looks sly, in Shogun's eyes,
We can't afford a Realm Divide,
We aren't ready.

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(London Bridge if Falling Down, part IV)

Amako is our training ground,
experience ground, level-up town,
Amako will stay face-down,
'til we finish it.

[Maltz]

Video for Battle of Mihara, Winter 1555.



The End