2nd round, to Winter 1552.
Spring 1551.
Two alliances have been concluded between :
- Hojo and Uesugi ;
- Oda and Imagawa.
Imagawa also happens to be at war with Takeda. The Takeda clan could then be a valuable ally for Mori, ensuring a balance of power in the east. The Emissary will therefore head to the port of Sagami.
Troop movements :
The Daymio and his army attempt to take Bizen's castle.
The emissary is shipped.
Summer 1551.
Bitchu is invaded by 180 men, so the YA unit retreats to Bizen.
The castle there is taken with moderate losses : The daymio unit drew the ennemy fire, then Mori archers depleted an ennemy unit. In the end, casualties were mostly suffered by the YS unit (23).
Imagawa sends an emissary, proposing an alliance, but since the plan is to help Takeda against him, his offer is politely refused.
With only two provinces, taxes are set to punitive.
Troop movements :
The emissary in Sagami heads for Kai, hoping to find the Takeda clan leader.
Now... Summer is the best time for invasions... With 180 men in Bitchu, better be cautious, though. The Port in Aki will be completed next season, meaning reinforcements will come in Bizen.
A castle has been built in Suo, west of Aki, but I don't think it is possible to pillage some kokus there, not yet.
- A YA from Aki invades Bingo (not to be kept, but will yield some kokus and may "protect" Bizen from an invasion) ;
- 3stars SA and the Naginata invade Harima ;
- 4stars Horse Archers and YS invade Sanuki ;
- The Daymio remains in Bizen with a unit of YA and the Naginata Cavalry.
Autumn 1551.
Badly managed battle in Sanuki cost the lives of 42 Horse archers... eek.. Fortunately, the battle for Harima was easier.
Our emissary in Kai found lord Takeda, good news !
The Port in Aki was completed : reinforcements !
With those new provinces and little garrison capability, taxes are back to very low.
Build orders and trainings :
We have 600 kokus left from last winter's budget. That could be a mine in Harima but the rebels hold 6 provinces next to it... High risk of invasion. Instead, we start a Tea house in Bizen to help with the loyalty issues.
Mori also decides the clan does not need an Archery dojo in Bizen. Destroying it allows to start a farm in Sanuki.
With 300 kokus left, a YA is ordered in Bizen (written but... forgot :P) and a SA in Aki (replaces YA).
--> 1400/1421 kokus.
Troop movements :
The Emissary proposes an alliance to Takeda.
YA in Bitchu retreats to Aki.
Lord Mori and the two units accompanying him head for Sanuki.
3YA and the 3stars SA heir are shipped from Aki to Bizen.
Winter 1551 :
Takeda accepts our alliance, yeah ! He holds Kai and Shinano for all I know.
Peasant revolt in Bitchu.
No major invasion.
New treasury : 1374 kokus.
So... some of the questions left unanswered last round have met their end :
- Takeda is our ally. He still is at war with Imagawa. Oda (allied to Imagawa) has signed an alliance with Uesugi. And Shimazu has signed alliances with Takeda, Oda and Uesugi (allied with Hojo). Plenty of alliances, little wars.
Maybe an alliance with Oda or Shimazu could work, next. There is a Port in Hizen.
- Expansion-wise : I moved the Daymio into Sanuki with the idea to lock that island for myself first. It is rich, easily defensible and Tosa is great for YA production, not to mention it helps keep Shimazu in check. All in all, it makes a good base to invade Kawachi-Yamashiro.
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