err....can we expect an update soon?
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err....can we expect an update soon?
Once we get answers from all the respective Clan leaders.:yes:
Waiting answers from Otomo and Urakami. I will have to take that GMM quit as Asai, which is very unfortunate and i will be taking over Asai for the following season, unless GiantMonkeyMan chances his mind before Otomo and Urakami have sent their decisions. Guys please hurry up,so i could write the chapter during this weekend.:yes:
Well if they do not send you decisions by tomorrow morning, you could always do the decisions for them.
I agree. I will get the next chapter up on Sunday. With or without their decisions.:yes:Quote:
Originally Posted by AggonyDuck
Yay!
Have Clan Date's messengers arrived?
Yes they have. A long time a go.:bow:Quote:
Originally Posted by IrishArmenian
Chapter 3. Autumn 1560.
The harvest season doesnt seem to make any halt on the ongoing wars across Japan. War rages on all main islands as intensive as before.
On the island of Kyushu,after many months of siege Shimazu Takahisa have had enough of the prolonged siege of Obi castle and after negotiations with Sagara. He decides to order an all out assault against the Ito capital.
On the morning of september 11th the combined Shimazu, Sagara force launch an ferocious assault against the walls and gates of Obi castle. the 18000 strong force pour against the walls supported by strong fire from teppos and Yumi ashigarus. But the 6000 strong Ito garrison fight of all attacks during the first day with ferocity rarely seen on the battlefields of Japan.
After hearing the casulties numbering almost 3000 men, Takahisa decides to lead the attacks on the second day personally. He decides to gather a elite force of most courageous Shimazu samurais to attack a certain side gate of Obi, while other parts of army will launch diversive attacks on other parts of defences.
Joining the battle personally Shimazu Takahisa plows off all enemies from his Satsuma Samurais path. After hours of heavy fighting the Shimazu force secures the Western gate of Obi and other parts of the army start pouring in from the gap.
Seeing the desperate situation, Ito Yoshisuke commands to abort the outer defences and the rest of the defenders,now numbering about 2000 withdraw to inner walls and are able to secure its defenses before the night fall.
After the second day of assault the casulties in Shimazu,Sagara army are already well over 7000 men,while Ito has lost about 3000 most in the confusion of the second day, when they were making a fighting withdrawal to the inner walls of Obi. During the night of september 13th,Shimazu forces secure the outer parts of defences, destroying pockets of resistance that remain still here and there. Ito Yoshisuke orders to play flute during the night and the combined sounds of flute, random musket shots and fighting sounds,create an ghostly atmosphere on the Obi castle.
At morning of 13th Takahisa continues his determined attack against the inner walls of Obi. He masses all possible teppo´s and bows against the main gate of the inner castle,creating a storm of flaming arrows and shots of muskets. Around noon the infantry starts an attack against the main gate, but in vain.The remaining Ito Samurai and Ahigaru,push back the attackers time and time again, creating huge casulties. At the evening of 13th its clear that the fortress havent been taken. Takahisa decides to give his troops few hours of rest and gives orders that at midnight the gates should be tryed to torch. So during the night,Shimazu troops carry bundles of hay and branches, to all gates under heavy fire from the castle. Few hours after dawn the besieger starts loosing flame arrows to those bundles and infantry run giant torched rams against the gates,setting the gates a blaze.
At the early hours of morning of 14th the gates and gate houses ar but charred remains and Takahisa orders an final assault against the castle. Ito Yoshisuke greets the attacker on the inner yard of the castle. The Ito warriors fight to the last man. Youshisuke himself among the last of them. Already wounded by yari spear, many arrows and katana slashes, he finally grumbles at the stairs of the main donjon of the castle after hit from numerous musket balls.
So the Obi castle and with it the Hyuaga province fall in hands of Shimazu. But with terrible prize. While Ito clan has ceased to exist along many of its retainer clans meaning all 6000 men at their disposal are dead, wounded or run away. The besieger suffered even more. During the four day assault against Obi Shimazu has lost about 7000 men while Sagara´s casulties are about 3000.
After counting the casulties, Sagara Yoshiaki explains to Shimazu Takahisa that with his few men he can hardly protect his own province and proposes to submit under Shimazu authority, if Shimazu can protect them and their province. The huge casulties of Shimazu will mean that it will take some time,before Shimazu can again start offensive operations against anyone.
At the northern Kyushu, The combined army of Ryozoji and Akizuki under leadership of Ryozoji Takanobu take complete control of Otomo province of Chikugo, becouse of the lack of activity from Otomos part,without reinforcements the local Otomo garrisons surrender one by one to larger Ryozoji army. Otomo leadership seems somehow paralyzed,but atleast there are indications that they are mobilizing their armies in Bungo and Buzen.
On the Western Honshu, peace deal is made between Mori and Amako. It seems that Mori has decided not to interfere on the Amakos campaign against Urakami. The province of Iwami and the large profits,from its silvermines are divided equally between Mori and Amako. Both sides effectively move most of their troops from the province.
Amako and Yamana troops take down the remaining Urakami forces in Mimasaka during autumn loosing about 2000 men,the casulties are about half and half for Amako and Yamana. Most of the casulties are spearmen. Yamana starts negotiations with Amako about the future of province by suggesting to split it half and half with Amako,so Amako would rule the eastern part and Yamana the western part.
Urakami,decides to withdraw its troops from Harima and concentrate on defense of Bizen.
On Shikoku, Chosokabe continues its shock tactics. With his new forces gained from conquering Ichijo. Chosokabe Kunichika launches an all out assault against Kono,numbering about 14000 men. As Kono has been carefully monitoring the situation they start immediately delaying action against the attacker,thus gaining time to prepare their defences and call their men to arms. At the end of September the army lead by Chosokabe Kunichika lays siege to Kono capital Kutsunashima, which is garrisoned by 7000 Kono warriors and have large storages of supplies. Miyoshi doesnt show any reaction yet to Chosokabes agressive campaign to conquer Shikoku. But in Honshu the situation is completely different.
The garrison of Kyoto is put on high alert and the warrior monks from Mount Hiei are refused to enter the city. Against the speculations,Tsutsui stays out from Yamashiro and it seems they are just securing Yamato.
In Kwatchi Miyoshi continues reinforcing its forces there and also continue sigeing Hatakeyama capital. Altough there are no indications that the castle is about to fall,its estimated to last atleast the next summer. There are rumours that the Hatakeyama daimyo might be sick,but that doesnt chance the situation. The Miysohi forces under Miyoshi Yoshikata prepare for a long siege and the hardships of winter siege carefully.
At Ise the combined Asai & Saito army decide to attack Kitabatake, but are defeated on a plain at Northern Ise. Kitabatake Harumoto with his larger force of about 8000 men defeats the Asai lead 6000 strong army easily as they are forced to attack prepared defences. After the attacker has tired trying to get pass the Kitabatake defences, Harumoto suddenly charges all of his cavalry against the left flank of the attacker causing mass rout. Kitabatake looses only about 500 men in the battle,while the combined Asai and Saito casulties number about 4000. The remnants of the army withdraw from Ise unharassed as Kitabatake decides not to follow them.
While their ally Asai has suffered defeat, Asakura sends 3000 men to protect the Asai lands after the defeat. In Kaga.Asakura concentrates on terminating all the rebellious elements during the autumn months and is succesfull in that annexing Kaga completely before winter. Also great purges of Christians are started in Asakura lands.Many missionaries and other christians are executed and rest flee from the provinces under Asakura rule. While in Kaga which has been long under buddhist extrimist the purges are wellcomed and population is very happy with the new lords of the province.
On the Tokaido coast war rips through the land as more and more troops march in to take part of the huge war.In early august Imagawa lays siege to Okazaki the Tokugawa capital with army of about 30000 men. The 10000 Tokugawa troops defend the castle with determination and Imagawa Yoshimoto decides to keep on sieging the castle without assaulting it. Simultaneously he deploys most of his cavalry to scout Mikawa in order to locate the Oda army, while waiting for reinforcements from Takeda and Hojo,numbering about 14000 men.
Oda runs early to Imagawa scouts with their own and few minor clashes happend between the forces with mixed results. Nevertheless Oda marches towards Okazaki and camps on a safe distance from the castle.
On september 2nd Imagawa receives information that long distance scouts have spotted an Hojo contingent marching towards Okazaki from the East.Also there are indications that the Oda is preparing to attack and has broken camp. Yoshimoto decides to send message to Hojo force to attack the Oda flank when they reach the battle. The Takeda force is also located,but they cant reach Okazaki before the next morning.
At the evening of 2nd the Tsukai Ban scouts of Imagawa come into contact with the Hojo forces, about hour or so of march from Okazaki, but as they reach the force.They are suddenly killed and none of them are able to run away to tell about the deception.
After about an hour or so the Hojo force marches in the vicinity of Imagawa,while Oda has only made little contact during the day. Imagawa thinks that his messengers have been guiding the Hojo force towards the main army and is not suspecting anything extraordinary, he just complains to his retainers that the Hojo force is miss located,as they should have striked the Odas right flank. As he sends messengers to the contingent they are met with hail of bullets and the contingent slams into rear of the Imagawa Takeda army. At the same time Tokugawa orders a full scale sally from the castle and the Oda attacks from the front. When Takeda Yoshinobu the commander of the Takeda contingent realizes the situation,he dispatches his best scouts to bring word to the 9000 strong Takeda reinforcements led by Yamamoto Kansuke to come as quickly as they possibly can to the rescue. Imitially the suprise works in the benefit of the Oda, but their main target Yoshimoto is not captured or killed thanks to the brave fight of Yoshimotos hatamoto. The Imagawa,Takeda army is pushed from three sides and it has no other option then to withdraw north where there is still open corridor to escape. After suffering large casulties they manage to withdraw and after few hours of nightly attacks Yamamoto Kansukes reinforcements end the Oda,Tokugawa assaults.
But the result is clear.Again Nobunaga has outsmarted his enemy. The devious plan clears up on the following day when the first scouts of the real Hojo contingent reach the allied army and are shot when seen. The second ones are able to make contact and the situation reveals itself. The first "Hojo" contingent was infact Oda troops dressed with Hojo heraldry.
The casulties of the allied side are about 9000,while Oda and Tokugawa have lost less then 2000 men. Okazaki is again free from Siege and the winter is coming which will make campaigning lot harder. The two armies camp,the allied one numbering now about 35000 in the Eastern Mikawa,while the Oda Tokugawa numbering about 21500 around Okazaki.
On Etchu,Takeda sends a small detachment to the province while Uesugi has strengthened the sieging army with sonsiderable reinforcements. Takeda sends messengers to all sides that they are coming in peace and offer to evacuate the women and children from Toyma castle. While Shiina and Uesugi accept the proposal,Jinbo answers that they rather die together if they have to and say to Takeda envoy that if they wont to save Jinbo clan from perishing they should next time send a force large enough to defeat Uesugi and Shiina army. The siege continues and it seems that the castle will be able to hold until the next spring.
At Kozuke,Uesugi withdraws from the province after they have made peace with Hojo,thus granting Hojo the full ownership of the province.
In the eastern Japan,Satomi banishes Yuki clan after its surrender.The Yuki leadership goes to Hojo and ask for Asylum there. Satake has been as ruthless as their allies and in face of the Satake terms,Utsinomiya Hirotsuna commits seppuku in the Satake hands.Many neighbours including Ashina,consider the ruthlesness of Satake to be repulsive.
In the North the Date clan and its allies decide to wait out the fall of Tendo capital.It seems that it will be miracle if it lasts the winter.
Options for the winter 1561
Shimazu
You have taken your objectives,but need to refill before advancing possibly further.Also with your new regions you have met new neighbours.
Plans for Otomo?
Plans for Ryozoji?
Otomo
You have lost Chikugo to Ryozoji.Also with conquering and annexing Hyaga and Higo, Shimazu has become you neighbour.
Plans on war against Ryozoji& Akizuki?
Plans for Shimazu?
Mori
You have made peace with Amako thus stabilizing your domain. In Kuyshu Otomo seems to be in trouble,maybe there is something to gain?
Plans for Amako?
Plans for Otomo?
Amako.
You have captured Mimasaka with Yamana.It seems that Yamana wants to negotiate about the province.Also winter is coming.What to do with the war with Urakami?
Plans for Yamana?
Plans for Urakami?
Plans for Mori?
Urakami
You have lost Mimasaka and seem to be surrounded by hostile powers.Plans to get out from this mess?
Plans for Amako?
Plans for Yamana?
Plans for Akamatsu?
Chosokabe
You are continuing your Blitzkrieg,but the winter is coming.Your plans for the winter?
Plans for Kono?
Plans for Miyoshi?
Miyoshi.
The situation seem to have stabilized a bit in Kinai,but Chosokabe is roaming around in Shikoku.
Your plans?
Asai.
You have been defeated at Ise,but your allies have brought more troops to defend your home province.
Plans for Kitabatake?
Any other plans?
Asakura
You have taken full control of Kaga.What to do next,or will you remain in place for the winter?
Your plans?
Oda
You have defeated your enemies again,but in the war of attrition you cant outsmart your enemies for ever.
Your plans?
Imagawa
You have been defeated now twiceand your army in Mikawa is mostly made from your allies,but still your home provinces are intact.
Your plans for the winter?
Takeda
It seems your chivalric offer to Jinbo has failed.What to do in north? Also will you continue your large commitment in Mikawa?
Your plans?
Hojo
You have gained control of Kozuke,thus increasing your power.Also the Yuki seeks refuge from you.Will you accept them.Also what to do with the Satomi, Satake alliance and what to do with situation in Mikawa?
Your plans?
Satomi
You have taken control of Kazusa. What next?
Your plans?
Satake
You have gained complete control of Shimotsuke after seppuku of Utsunomiya daimyo.What next?
Uesugi
You lost Kozuke in peace to Hojo,but gained little yet from other places.What to do next?
Your plans?
Date.The Tendo are about to fall.Your next plans?
Your plans?
From Takeda:
Takeda has, as you may know, kept a force to supervise the war between Jinbo and Shiina and to report of any atrocities committed by either side. It turns out that the men of the Jinbo clan are holding women and children from their home province hostage inside the Jinbo castle that the Shiina have put under siege, in order to make it impossible for the Shiina to attack without potentially by accident killing one or more of these women and children. If this course of action from the Jinbo clan is not an atrocity, then we don't know what is.
We promised earlier that we would coordinate our actions with Uesugi and Shiina if we found the Jinbo to be guilty of atrocities (just as we promised the opposite if Shiina were to do the same). Now we will fulfill that promise. Our forces outside the castle number 1,000 men. We have 6,500 more on their way to the castle. These forces will assist in the siege, and have been ordered to coordinate the military actions with Shiina and Uesugi as is best to overcome the Jinbo forces and save the women and children that they hold as hostages.
Additionally, we would like to discuss with Uesugi and Shiina how to diplomatically handle the situation in the province after Jinbo have been defeated. Takeda suggests an offer of clemency and freedom to all clan members expect those that are directly responsible for the hostage taking, who should be tried in a neutral court - perhaps the shogun's court, and punished or released as per the judgement of this legal council. Takeda also offers to garrison the western two thirds of Jinbo's province, while Shiina, under supervision from their official protector Uesugi, should take the responsibility to maintain order in the eastern third.
Finally, we would also like to plead Jinbo to surrender without unnecessary further bloodshed, and hand over the hostage women and children to safety. If you wish to fight to death for your right to commit atrocities, then go ahead, but have the decency to avoid dragging innocents into this battle. Women and children are not soldiers. We offered our help to escort them safely either to our own domains until the war was over, and would also have accepted to escort them to any of your own cities of choice, and if you had accepted while Shiina had not, we would have given you our full support. Let it be known in your home province that you are a man who has no respect for the lives of women and children, or any other innocent civilians living in it.
Takeda Shingen
A message to the daimyos of Japan,
regarding the fate of Utsonomiya, I did offer him another option in which he would become my vassal and be spared. He chose seppuku. also his family has been spared.
Satake Yosiaki
A brilliant update again. Will be interesting to see if the battles cools down for the winter. :2thumbsup:
Message from Jinbo Nagamoto to Takeda Shingen
We have received the announcement of Takeda and would like to ask why are we accused of taking hostages? Taking our own families as hostage? Jinbo Clan will live and die as together men,women and children. Also we would like to point the fact that any of our women can beat atleast two of Shiina or Uesugi samurais in battle,so why send away warriors more fierce then our enemies?
Jinbo Nagamoto
From Takeda:
Why should we trust the words of the hostage takers themselves? That these women would like to die to defend the dubious cause you represent, we doubt strongly. And that you claim that children too young to even hold a musket or katana in their hands are willing to "die in battle" - is something we are not foolish enough to believe in. This is by the way a meaningless battle for no other cause than your own personal pride as a man, and not your pride as a protector and leader of your clan.
From Jinbo
We dont understand the words of Takeda. Since for ever the wifes of Samurai have fought their enemies when needed,if enemy has attacked their home castles. There is not an single hostage in Toyma.
Also what is this talk about futile fighting.If our enemies attack us,we will fight them.This has been the way of Bushi always and always it will be the way also. Isnt it better to fight and die like men,then submit to others like cowards? What is this talk of Takeda,who are so well known of ther fighting spirit. If you act like you and your allies are fighting for the cause of Ashikaga Shogun. Why then you havent submitted to Uesugi Kenshin,who is the Ashikaga appointed Kanto Kanrei and should hold the authority of Shogun in Kanto region? We can honestly say that we will not bow to Ashikaga,becouse he is no true Shogun, merely a puppet of Miyoshi clan. Why are you trying to show up as other then you actually are?
From Takeda:
So, you claim all women and children are combattants and may be slain as such? Is that what you would do when conquering a province? Kill the children that are too young to lift a musket or katana? Would you kill Buddhist monks too? Takeda at least does not think women and children fight like men, because they are not men, but women and children. But perhaps your men fight like your women and children, so that there is no difference between them? Then this will be an easy fight.
We are fighting for the cause of peace and stability in our isles. We don't wish for a despotic shogun either, but for a shogun who looks to the best interests of us all, and coordinates his ruling with a council consisting of the wisest daimyo. A single daimyo trying to conquer all others will not establish peace in these isles: that daimyo will soon lose all his gains to an alliance consisting of all he tried to conquer, and the wars will start over from the beginning again. And truly, is it your sense of honorable death to die in a dirty struggle between peasant armies 50 times smaller than even the smallest armies put in the field by other nations, in a struggle between countrymen killing each other?
So the great Shingen still fails to see that without a powerful army behind him the Shogun is naught but a powerless puppet of the feuding daimyo, as the Ashikaga Shogunate has clearly shown during the recent century. Our country can only be united by the sword and it can only be ruled by the sword. But a strong sword itself is worthless without the wits to utilise it properly, so no doubt a wise and powerful Shogun will arise from this era of strife.Quote:
Originally Posted by LegioXXXUlpiaVictrix
From Jinbo
Our families will die by their own hand rather then submit to enemy. Maybe Takeda has spent too much time with the European missionaries, becouse they are talking like foreigners. You want to change Japan to something else then it is. Emperor rules with divine mandate. Shogun is the one who has the power over all others, Shogun places his key allies and retainers to govern provinces as Shugo´s. That is the way Japan is governed, for now and in the future. What divine mandate does Takeda and its allies hold to judge others? What puts Takeda in place above others?
Our country can and will be united by a strong army: the army of the righteous clans who seek unity and peace over own power, richess, humiliation of others, and raping and murdering women and children. All are allowed to join this cause, and they will surely in the end become more powerful than those who seek power first. There are greater battles to be fought outside these islands, against our true enemies. And with the Poor-Toy-Geese trying to invade, we must stand united for our own survival! Is your concept of honor so brutish that you would rather kill your neighbor - your countryman - over an acre and then be defeated by the Poor-Toy-Geese: odd and foreign monsters as they are?Quote:
Originally Posted by AggonyDuck
To stand up to this threat we do not only need a military leader, but also one who can make alliances and make sure there is food for the people, there are industries for weaponry, and vivid trade. We need merit to elect the offices: the best commander leads the military, the wisest daimyo lead a council to gather information and advice the shogun, and the divinely empowered shogun makes decisions based on the advice given by these councils.
You, Oda Nobunaga, are neither a skilled commander - for luck in the field of battle abandons men at the most inconvenient of times and you have shown to be foolish enough to go to battle with opposition stronger than yourself, risking to lose all instead of waiting for better times when victory is possible. You seek battle and bloodshed, not victory. And diplomacy and politics are things you know nothing of either. A Japan under your greedy rule would contain exterminations, rape, and you would lead our mighty nation to death.
You will have to try this defense again when you have been defeated and sent to a neutral court to be tried for the murder of women and children and your abuse of the mandate the shogun gave you to rule part of Etchu. I doubt it will help you much. You speak loud for a man who fights like a woman. Remember that you have a chance of not dishonoring yourself by never lifting the sword, that nobody may ever see how feebly you swing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kagemusha
Our great country will certainly not be ruled by anybody who is allied with traitors!Quote:
Originally Posted by AggonyDuck
Some points in general. Winter time will not be good for campaigning. Unless you have already planted a supply chain before hand to the target area of your campaign, there will be casulties coming from frost bites,starvation and desertion. Becouse many mountain passes will be blocked completely,in many regions, moving an large army specially in unknown terrain will be hazardious. About mercenaries.
Becouse of the feodal nature of Japan, there arent many mercenaries (ronin) for hire,specially at this stage. Most are just individuals and not large groups of men, becouse local lords didnt tolerate wondering groups inside their domains, becouse they couldnt have lived without ravaging the countryside.
So be carefull not to overstretch your armies. Casulties can be repaired, but it takes time to train more Ashigarus to fill in the places of the dead ones. Guys would Sunday 19th be a good deadline for your answers for the winter 1561?
The 19th should work fine. Also, another great chapter, Kagemusha-Sama.
The Mori hereby declare we do not wish for war with any other of the Daimyo of Japan. We wish for a peaceful solution to the current civil war that embroils the country and would like to form a large scale alliance with any willing Daimyo, near or far from our lands. We hold no ill will toward any Daimyo, and forgive all past wars with any and all we have fought.
---
And as for the deadline, the 19th is good.
From Takeda:
We would like to announce that many of our informers confirm that civilians in the province of Mikawa are facing starvation, due to the brigand Tokugawa Ieasy who, aided by the threacherous Oda Nobunaga, are blocking Takeda and Imagawa from sending aid to the civilians in this province, which rightfully belongs to Imagawa. They have already more than once tried to fool us that they would allow us to enter the province with supplies, only to treacherously ambush our men while wearing our own uniforms, and stealing the supplies aimed at the civilians for their own band of brigands. Therefore, any civilian refugees from the province (who are forced to flee because of this Oda and Tokugawa brutality) are welcome to settle in Takeda domains, or temporarily or permanently be recruited into Takeda's army to fight to liberate the province again. We extend the same offer to civilians in Oda's home domains in Owari, who must realize that with leaders so respectless of civilian lives, the same fate may soon strike Owari as well.
Any Oda or Tokugawa spies trying to abuse this hospitality will be summarily executed as the lowest of dogs for trying to ruin a service aimed to save the lives of innocent civilians.
We also encourage all civilians in Mikawa and Owari to wage an all out partisan guerilla war on the brigand forces to make sure their supplies are disrupted and their forces start deserting, so that the Takeda-Imagawa-Hojo liberation army will have an easier time liberating the province.
Finally, we announce a trade embargo on Oda and Tokugawa. Selling rice, meat or weaponry to either of these two is strictly forbidden. However, spices, dyes, jewelry and similar artifacts may still be sold freely to them, and merchants who manage to fool Oda and Tokugawa to pay overprice for such products, will be greatly rewarded.
We do not have any problems with you sending supplies to our peasants, in fact we would welcome it, but we do have a problem with the fact that it seems to be that all your supplies are used just to supply your 35,000 strong army in Mikawa. If you are truly interested in stopping a humanitarian crisis, then leave Mikawa with your army. Anything else is just an act of sheer hypocrisy from your part.
Oda Nobunaga
Who rules Asai now?
From Takeda:
Dear Oda Nobunaga, we are not fools enough to listen to your promises that we are allowed to bring food to the civilians again, only to be ambushed a third time. Instead we offer to now help the civilians in the way we can: by offering them shelter and settling in our provinces. In due time, our army will move into Mikawa and liberate it as well as Owari, and then be capable of bringing supplies to these province without risking to be ambushed by Oda and Tokugawa brigands and rapists.
I do currently.:smash:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Asen
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Here above in the spoiler tags is an map for helping to visualize the current holdings of the playable clans. Im planning to put it also to the first post of the interactive and update it as changes happen.Do you guys think,should i add the playable/ unplayable clan names to it,or does it already do its job,like it is?