UESUGI - Way of the Sword and Bow

**Thermal** · 02-01-2009, 03:28

Originally Posted by Wishazu

I`m not worried about losing my Daimyo mate, I have an heir and spare

well it may do you a favor if he dies come to think of it, doesn't your next leader have a 6 command

**Wishazu** · 02-01-2009, 04:21

Yeah, Uesugi Kenshin is the current heir. However, it looks like my current Daimyo will be Shogun at the age of 72! I`ll let you know tomorrow

**Adam99** · 02-01-2009, 16:49

Great stuff. Just keep him pinned in Owari and go raiding, see if they try to break out, if not steam in there.

**Wishazu** · 02-01-2009, 17:34

UESUGI ~ Battle of Owari Summer 1584

Spring, 1584 I have been forced to abandon Omi province in the face of a truly massive Shimazu incursion. I couldn`t risk being isolated so far from reinforcements and so I moved to Mino to link up with Kenshin.

Summer,1584 With the Shimazu forces building in Omi, Owari was left weakened and we sensed the time was right for an attack. Kenshin and Masamune led most of our forces in the invasion whilst I remained behind to defend Mino against a possible attack from Omi. After a little persuasion I was able to gain assistance in this endeavour from Lord Imagawa, who promised to personally lead a force of his most elite Samurai to support us. I granted overall command for this particular campaign to Masamune.

Owari is always a tricky proposition when attacking. There is a river which no would-be conquerer can avoid crossing if they wish to gain access to the heart of the province. Masamune moved along the north bank looking for somewhere his army could cross, all the while being shadowed by the Shimazu defenders on the opposite bank. After a weeks march a suitable location was found where two major bridges cross the river only a couple of hundred metres apart. Crossing here would make it more difficult for the Shimazu as they would have to secure both bridges and so be forced to react to our moves. Masamune waited a day for the Imagawa force to arrive then began his attack with a an attack across the lefthand bridge with Cavalry Archers. Moving quicker than the enemy could respond they were able to cross unhindered. Almost immediately things began to go wrong. The cavalry were ordered to move out on the extreme left of the Shimazu line, through the trees along that flank and make a long loop around to the rear of the enemy, unfortunately Lord Shimazu must have suspected a move like this and had hidden his most elite skirmishers in the very same woods - the cavalry rode into an ambush.

Seeing the cavalry in trouble, Masamune ordered an immediate assault with his infantry and they hurled themselves across the bridge. By now Lord Shimazu had placed a sizeable force of his own infantry to block any such move. Our Warrior Monks and No-Dachi impacted upon the Shimazu Naginata blocking the bridge exit. Masamune made the mistake of committing almost all the infantry at his disposal to this attack leaving only a single unit of Naginata to provide a covering force if the attack foundered. Fairly soon it was obvious that the attack had failed. Lord Imagawa saw this and tried to rescue the situation, he crossed the bridge behind our men and tried to organise a withdrawal but he was struck from his saddle by an arrow and killed instantly. This caused our men to panic and they all fled back across to our side.

Seeing their Lord cut down the Imagawa Samurai went berserk, flying across the bridge through our fleeing troops, they made contact with the enemy and stopped them counter-attacking our position.

However, they fared little better than our own troops serving only to now draw Lord Shimazu into an attack, and into range of our own archers who began to take a large tally of enemy warriors. Masamune had been able to rally our infantry and now had them positioned ready to receive the charge. Masamune himself had to move swiftly to the bridge on his right flank with a force of archers to repel a second Shimazu crossing there.

Both of the Shimazu attacks on the bridges were repulsed and the enemy suffered greatly for it. With our army now in tatters, and with a fresh wave of enemy reinforcements coming over the horizon, Kenshin advised Masamune to order the retreat. This was done, though Masamune took all remaing Cavalry Archers back across the bridge to disrupt the approaching enemy for as long as possible so our troops could leave unhindered.

Masamune stayed untill all their arrows were used up then rejoined the army heading back to Mino. Though we were defeated we had destroyed a large chunk of the Shimazu`s most powerful army, the enemy certainly would not be strong enough to mount any attacks of their own for some time now. A short time after the battle I received a message from Nobuyasu, the Imagawa Daimyo, informing me that he was now the new master of the clan and that he would continue to offer his clan`s support in our ongoing struggle.

Overview
Huge battle tonnes of casualties, more than I was expecting, and the Shimazu Daimyo slipped through my fingers. Anyways, I`ll attack again as soon as I have reinforcements. But the rest of the campaign looks pretty straight forward - keep attacking untill he has no one left then squish Imagawa.

**Adam99** · 02-01-2009, 17:59

Unlucky with the CA getting ambushed, but thats a chunk of Shimazu's army gone, guess it depends how easily he can get replacements in. Maybe try hitting him in Owari every couple of seasons.

**Wishazu** · 02-06-2009, 23:47

UESUGI ~ Battle of Mino

Winter, 1584 I did not believe the Shimazu had the strength to launch an attack upon us so soon after the mauling in Owari during the summer, but attacked us they have.

The speed of the enemy`s attack took me off guard. I just managed to get the army into position to block the Shimazu advance in time to meet the first elements of my opponents army, led by Lord Shimazu himself.

After some vicous fighting all along my front line, Lord Shimazu was able to push me off of the defendable position but in doing so he drove himself further and further into my own ranks. I had suffered massive casualties by this point but I had my enemy surrounded and he had not realised his own supporting infantry had fled the field. With death rapidly approaching, the Shimazu Daimyo fought like a wild beast and was eventually able to hack his way free, his remaining bodyguards staying behind to delay my own troops with nearby archers covering his escape.

In the distance I could see Shimazu reinforcemenys emerging through the snow. Encouraged by the sight of my own reinforcements moving up behind our line, my men forgot their weariness and wounds and retook their previous position blocking the Shimazu army. What followed was a long drawn out slaughter as two immovable objects ground each other into dust. In the end the weather began to worsen and night slowly crept over the horizon. The Shimazu commanders still on the field decided to disengage and head home, we lacked the strength or inclination to follow.

The days was ours but my men had paid a heavy price and Lord Shimazu had slipped through my grasp once again. His good fortune cannot last forever.

Overview
It`s been a little while since the last update, sorry about that - I`ve been busy at work

Sorry again for this being such a short one too. Anyways, another big battle with tonnes of carnage and another close shave for the Shimazu. I still have plenty of forces in the area so I`m going to hit Owari again with everything I have next season, hopefully Shimazu will not survive.