ODA ~ From Such Humble Beginnings

[Wishazu]

ODA ~ Seii Tai Shogun Summer, 1587

Spring, 1587 A port has been completed in Kawachi. I can now transport reinforcements from Kyushu directly to the frontline here. Katsuie and Hidetsugu have attacked and taken Yamashiro, the Emperor has been liberated from his Hojo jailors and has once again declared his support for me. Lord Hojo launched an abortive attack upon Kawachi.

Summer, 1587 I have achieved the fate laid out for me when my father first placed his feet upon the path to the Shogunate. Hidetsugu was engaged by Lord Hojo who was attempting to retake Yamashiro.



Hidetsugu informed me that the battle was a confused and scrappy affair fought in thick fog. Hidetsugu was outnumbered but used the fog to his advantage by deploying half of his cavalry on the extreme right edge of the battlefield, screened by both the fog and dense woodland. Our troops deployed on the left of the Hojo advance where they could just make out the enemy troops in the myst.



The hidden element of Yari cavalry began to move forward through the trees so as to be in a position to hit the enemy from the rear. The rest of the Yari cavalry moved into the flat plain ahead of the enemy advance. That was when Hatano Yoshihiro, Hidetsugu`s cavalry Commander spotted his chance for glory. Lord Hojo had joined his scouting party ahead of the main force not realising he was blundering directly into the path of a huge formation of cavalry, Yoshihiro seized his chance and called a charge, all the cavalry with him heading directly for Lord Hojo`s personal banner.



The enemy scouting party had an elite unit of Yari infantry with them that took a vicious account of Yoshihiro`s men, however Yoshihiro was undaunted and pushed on. He fought his way through Lord Hojo`s personal guard and personally engaged him in combat. Both men were thrown from their horses and engaged each other on foot. Survivors tell me that both men exchanged blows and wounded one another but that Yoshihiro swiftly killed Lord Hojo with a thrust through the throat.



The fight here however was turning badly against Yoshihiro`s men who decided to withdraw leaving their commander behind. I do not blame them for leaving, Lord Hojo was dead and there was no reason for them to waste their lives. With their Lord and Master dead all order in the enemy army completely evaporated as they were now hit in the rear by the rest of the cavalry and my Muskets on their exposed flank opened up. The battle now became a series of mopping up exercises with isolated groups of enemy warriors being surrounded and destroyed.





A few Hojo Samurai managed to escape but it will make no difference. Lord Hojo is dead, he has no surviving heirs and all effective opposition to me has ceased. How fitting that the final battle for control of the islands was fought in the proximity of the Emperors Palace. I have accepted the Emperors invitation to become Shogun, I am now the dominant force in Japan and all the minor clans have been forced to subjugate themselves to me. The journey is over.



Victory Achieved
Well guys here it is, the end result. It looked like I was going to have a premature end early on but somehow managed to scrape through, probably more due to luck than strategic skill I think lol. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed playing it. Thankyou to Caravel and Patdj for their advice, it was very helpful, cheers guys