Re: ODA ~ From Such Humble Beginnings
ODA ~ 3rd Battle of Kawachi
Autumn, 1584 Reports had been coming in for weeks before the battle, all describing the massive build up of troops in Yamashiro, Yamato and Kii. It was obvious that Lord Hojo was preparing an attack against Kawachi, it is the linchpin of my defence. Any assault upon my territories in Honshu will not succeed without Kawachi first pacified. I deliberately divided my forces along my frontier so as to make Kawachi appear soft. My intent was to make Kawachi the anvil upon which I would smash the Hojo clan. The attack finally came in the last week before Winter, one of Lord Hojo`s underlings commanding over 5000 men, more than double my own force.
The weather was surprisingly mild for this time of year. It was about midday by the time my army was fully deployed and the Hojo warriors came into view.
I positioned myself where I believed would be the critical position on the field, directly behind my Naginata holding the bridge crossing. I had with me at the front two units of Samurai Archers ready to rain death on any Hojo trying to cross. Behind these were some Warrior Monks ready to counter-attack if the front line began to waver. The Hojo commander ordered the attack and sent his No-Dachi into the fray.
My Archers took a murderous toll on the No-Dachi but still they kept on coming untill like a wave crashing against a cliff they hit my defensive line. My Naginata, in their heavier armour stood immovable like rocks, fixing the Hojo attackers in place whilst my Archers fired over their heads into the mass of purple armoured bodies. By this time though, the Hojo Archers had formed up on the other side of the river and began to support the attack with fire of their own. I found myself within range but dared not leave this important position, besides almost all the fire was directed at my Naginata. How many of their own troops they shot in the back was hard to tell but it must have been substantial. Eventually however, the pressure at the front began to grow as more and more Hojo warriors poured across the bridge, the enemy commander himself joining the attack to spur them on. My men slowly began to give ground.
As the casualties began to mount in my front line I judged it was time to launch the counter-attack with the Monks, they ran forward and made contact with the Hojo, the impetus of their charge throwing back the enemy advance allowing the Naginata to disengage and reform.
The fanatic Warrior Monks completely threw back the assault and cut down the enemy commander. In their attempts to escape many Hojo warriors were drowned as their comrades knocked them into the river.
Despite the stunning success so far I ordered the Monks to cease their attack, I didn`t want them isolated on the other bank in the event of the enemy rallying. We had slaughtered a big chunk of their army but they were not done yet, that was just the first wave. I ordered the Monks to the rear to rest them before the next attack. There followed a long pause in the fighting, the Hojo reinforcements moving into sight ready for their next push. Almost at the same time, runners from either flank of my army reported sightings of enemy cavalry on both the left and right flanks, they must of found other crossings we were unaware of and been attempting to strike us in the rear. Their timing however was poor, they were unable to support the initial surge across the bridge and now launched into a premature attack against my rear.
Both of these attacks were swiftly dealt with by Yari Spearmen supported by the Samurai Archers I had held in reserve. A few brave but deluded Hojo warriors attempted to attack the crossing whilst this was going on but were easily blocked off and sent running for their lives, their moment of bravery forgotten.
By now my Archers were all out of ammunition so I gave the order for them to withdraw. There was no sense risking any casualties amongst them when there was little they could add to the battle now, besides I had men in reserve ready to call to the front if they were required.
It was shortly after my Archers had quit the field that a few more small elements of the Hojo army began to appear in our rear, probably the infantry sent with the cavalry that attacked earlier. They probably realised too late that the warriors they were sent to assist were dead and they themselves had no escape. My Monks were now fully rested and I ordered them to deal with these interlopers. The melee was short and brutal.
It was now late in the day and with the light leaving us swiftly the Hojo launched a last desperate foray onto the bridge. My Yari Samurai were able to hold them long enough for the Naginata to regain their former positions defending the crossing.
With the day all but over the Hojo realised the hopelessness of their situation and began too withdraw. My men were too tired to pursue and besides, I liked effective cavalry to conduct an effective mopping up. The day was mine. Me and my retainers counted nearly 2,000 enemy slain at the head viewing and they reported to me the loss of 600 brave samurai. The only major loss to me was Nishio Naotaka, killed during the Hojo raid on my right flank.
Acceptable casualties as far as I`m concerned as I still had more than enough troops to hold two or even three more such attacks. My only hope is that Lord Hojo will come again. If I can destroy his major armies here in Kawachi then Shibata Katsuie will be able to launch an invasion into Hojo occupied lands further north from Tamba province which he was able to take unopposed as the garrison had left to join the attack against me in Kawachi.
Winter, 1584 Construction has began on the foreign trading post in Aki. The guns I will be able to acquire now will probably be too late to have much of an impact on the war but I am curious as to their usefulness. My spies have reported the possible location of the last of the woman assassins working for the Hojo clan. They believe her to have recently been in Awa province, I have dispatched my agents to pick up her trail, find her and kill her.
Summer, 1585 My men sent to kill the Hojo assassin have sent me her head. They tracked her down in Tosa and ambushed her in a small farmhouse, she did not go quietly and fourmy men were slain. I feel I can sleep a little easier at night knowing all those vicious bitches are now dead. I am also reliably informed that my armies now outnumber those of the Hojo. I feel one more decisive battle will settle this war.
Autumn, 1585 The trading post has been completed in Aki and I have placed my first order for Muskets. The traders inform me that the first consignment will arrive by ship in the Spring of next year.
Winter, 1585 Sad news has reached me today, Li Kurosawa, my fathers most trusted retainer and my teacher from childhood has passed away. I must confess to a tremendous sense of loss, the man was as close to me as my father. Kurosawa has been a fixture in my life since I was born and I did not really believe he would ever die despite his extreme age. I will honour him with a shrine in Iga when I control the province again. Afterall he was the greatest warrior I ever knew and Iga was the scene of his greatest glory in the service of our clan.
Katsuie has been forced to give up Tamba after a surprise attack, he has joined Hidetsugu in Tajima and will retake Tamba in the Spring.
Spring, 1586 As planned, Katsuie and Hidetsugu have joined forces and attacked Tamba. Once again the province fell without a sword being drawn. Another massive assault by Lord Hojo himself has taken place upon Kawachi. Strangely, the battle played out almost identically to the previous encounter though I was unable to take Lord Hojo`s head. A small enemy force consisting entirely of light Cavalry Archers was able to get across the border from Tamba into Harima and ambush most of the garrison whilst it was on patrol. I have ordered Hidetsugu to despatch some troops next season to deal with them.
Summer, 1586 Hidetsugu`s troops report success in Harima, Hidetsugu himself has remained in Tamba to cover Katsuie`s supply line Katsuie himself has defeated a Hojo garrison in Wakasa and taken the province. The Hojo appear to be entirely on the backfoot now.
Overview
Well my startegy to sit back and let the Hojo break himself upon me seems to have worked wonderfully. I am now getting a steady stream of cash aswel as reinforcements to the front. My Daimyo will remain in Kawachi whilst Katsuie and Hidetsugu launch attacks into his more lightly defended provinces.
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Originally Posted by Wishazu
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