Autumn, 1541, and now was the time to beat the Shimazu to the middle of Japan, Shinobi offered there services in Ninjitsu and soon there training began...on real targets, enemy embassies, my skilled shinobi proved to be successful assassins in there sudden change of occupation.
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One of my most trusted agents tells me of his first act of subterfuge
'After travelling across the larger part of Japan my target had been located. An exquisitely dressed eccentric, with bright blue bolsterous robes for attire clearly from the Imagawa residence. The time was late and the streets were slient, perfect timing for an embassy to deliver messages, and a perfect time for people to stop this happening.... Upon arrival to his bed, I had followed the man as close to his quarters as possible which were embedded into a little village just outside of Nagato.
The scene at night being menacing even though a man of my status, howling onomatopoeia and guardsmen prowled there prescence from varied distances. The Embassy was important and was so defended by two samurai spearmen, and so my interception began. I spread my nimble legs across the cracked ground in a light and flowing posture, leaping with the wind to my destination, using dark apperal and the night sky to conceal my existence against the numerous, but rather drowsy Guardsmen. Eventually his quarters emerged from some heavy plant-life, a sliding door appeared and upon opening with the most delicate hand the guards were standing patiently without a visible movement. Still as statues. Silent as serpents. As vulnerable as could be as my throwing knifes were digged out of my inner pockets, and at the moment of throwing I knew precision was all that would ensure instantaneous death without arousing suspicion. Thankfully I through amiably and so the guards were dead and the tired Embassy was never to wake again'
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Against intial idea, the capture of Kazusa was too tempting to resist, after securing it would require so little a garrison, and yet while in enemy hands remained garrisoned by a small spear squadron, or so my reliable shinobi reported, soon my journey to Kozusa was underway but this involved weakening Musashi substantially, a terrible mistake as I was soon to realize....
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My newly claimed land could not be stolen, it would ruin my border of defense and while at a numerical advantage, I was sure that my enemy would fall, and I was sure if we were to lose, I would die with the region, a fight to the death and a price to pay if my peoples are captured because of my stupidity.
The day was relatively clear, made all the worse for the Uesugi archery obsession! Skirmishs crossed the bridge of death as arrows hailed down from both sides, but in the knowledge of my oppositions missile advantage close combat was hurried forward, and Uesugi's force was bold enough to initiate the attack. No holding back was necessary, there small Infantry supply were facing monks I has trained personally, and I had no doubts they would destroy my foes infantry, even if not there archery.
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The battle was fierce and the rather arrogant Uesugi, by this stage, were cramming there archers onto the bridge to fight instead of fire! I was severely outnumbered in close combat now, but we would win, no other result could be achieved or I was to let my whole legacy down. The disorganized enemy were frantically ploughing through each other knocking a good few into the river with the fate of drowning, bravery they did not lack however as the battle was tense and challenging. My bodyguard had been depleted almost entirely as I cut through my foe frenzied on destruction. I unleashed my power, totally unaware that my army around me has dwindled so badly that they had resorted to fleeing, and soon even my own archers had to fight in close quarters, on there own order it would seem, as I was in no fit state to know what was happening and if I even had any archery left by this point.
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Things were dire, outnumbered and disheartened we were, but I never relented, the samarai archers were cut down like rag dolls but they were never ending, or so it seemed until something triggered, I don't know what happened but there men scattered. I was on the assumption there was a trap, a farce in this action, but none were existant.
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A win, I kept to my word and the imbalance was restored, with but a few poor battered souls alive, we had made it through the fight against all odds, accept my own belief.
Soon after having some of my battle wounds tended too, shaolin monks inhabited musashi once more, reinforcement was vital for law as well as keeping the settlement, matters returned to Kozusa barely a minute after returning to Musashi castle, I would have took the province myself but my son insisted I rest, and a reliable captain was sent to battle with his troops instead. Here was the report on the days outcome....
'My force strolled for a long time, no wonder my enemy was so hard to find, they were some mere spearmen hiding in a forest of trees, I cannot blame them, no means of retreat with a force a fraction of my own, but it really wasn't as easy as we thought initially. The day became heavy with rain as the sky filled my bow reliant army with nerves, and so the battle with the bow was differcult at best, this battle could not avoid large casualties on my part, at least not with my skills.
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After my bowmen exceeded there limits, there arrows depleted, I sacrificed my brave cavalry to help my spearmen in victory and a flanking movement was achieved, even though it resulted in the loss of highly able horse archers, the impact of the clash was of a terrifyingly high efficiency.'
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I was happy with the result, but now expansion into the centre of Japan was essential, at least I believed so In a rapidly growing Japan, my alliance would have to end with Oda, there control blocks off my hope for freedom and the dream of becoming the Shogunate of all of Japan. I could only hope my repeated betrayals won't ruin my reputation, Mikawa would be useful as it would ease the amount of troops required at Totomi, not to mention boost income and create a stepping stone to claim before the Shimazu expand too potently. May due years of Deliberation while slowly building my armies finally lead me into attacking Mikawa, My armies vast, just like Oda's, my information on the province is vague however, I know not who I'm facing and have lead my men blindly. But, with no clear outcome, on we must go, I write this before invading Mikawa, and we border soon to be my very own territory, hopefully. Me and my vast army of warriors, the risk was high, maybe...maybe this could be my last battle.
