TW:S2 Story: Legion of Faith (Battle of Mihara)

[Maltz]

Hi,
This story is a sequel of Wanderer of Faith, covering an actual campaign battle (Battle of Mihara, Winter 1555).
Story-wise it is also a sequel of the Guide of Bait Tactics.
Hope you like it!
maltz

Settings
Campaign: Ikko-Ikki
Version: V5607
Difficulty: Legendary
MODS: None
DLC: Ikko-Ikki, Blood Pack

[Maltz]

Table of Content

To be updated.

[Maltz]

Preface. Amako the Reoffender

The autuman has passed and rain turns snow,
The pure land expands and our numbers grow.
Amako was once defeated three years ago,
Under Koriyama we delivered a heavy blow.



The first Amako-Ikko war ended with a treaty,
While Aamko still controlled powerful army.
Now Ikko fields Sword Ashigaru elite,
While our monks quietly infiltrated San'in.



Fanatic rebellion overturned Amako's provinces,
Amako Haruhisa the daimyo was killed in the chaos.
Angered and alarmed by Ikko's rapid advance,
Amako declares war again, hoping for a second chance.

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One. Everybody wants to be Hajikano

Hajikano became a household name two years ago.
That's when Hajikano Shigekuni, a common monk ashigaru, slayed the daimyo of Chosokabe clan,
Chosokabe Monochika, in the second battle of Iyo, Shigoku.

Rumor goes that Hajikano was so afraid on the battlefield
that he only knew to thrust his yari as hard as he could.
By sheer luck, his spear found the belly of Chosokabe daimyo's steed.

Hajikano was promoted to the rank of Shimozuma's house offier.
He can command more than a thousand ashigaru, even samurai and warrior monks.
People now use Hajikano to mean many things, such as:

"Stop daydreaming. You are not Hajikano."
"Could you Hajikano me in the front of the line?"
"Why do they hire this idiot? Oh, he must be a Hajikano."

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Yet Hajikano also became the idol of peasants,
who cannot afford the katana and armor.
Hajikano is their hope to leave poverty and contempt behind.

Then it came the great news that Ikko is recruiting ashigaru in Satsuma.
For two full years, the recruit line extended to the shore.
Everybody wants to be the next Hajikano Shigekuni.

Each ashigaru recruit receives not only a sharp Katana,
but also the most durable bamboo armor one can find in Japan.
They also receive rigorous training in the new castle of Satsuma.

With merely one frouth of samurai's wages,
Ikko's elite ashigaru fights as well as a Katana Ronin.
Shipped to all Ikko's armies around Japan, they mark the dawn of a new age.

The age of the Golden Legion.
For they are many, yet their mind pure as one.

[Maltz]

Two. The Replacement

(Suzuki Sadayu, 鈴木佐大夫) "Shinji, it is sad to see you go so soon."
(Suzuki Mitsuaki, 鈴木光昭) "Indeed, my lord. But the grandmaster's order must be obeyed. I shall take the ferry to Iyo tomorrow morning. Amako's navy could be patrolling the nearby water. The earlier I depart, the better."
"I hope you have some fun fishing in Awa. Does the grandmaster mention when you will be given an army to command?"
"Nope. We don't have the budget for the fourth army yet."
"Where did we spend all the money?"
"Must be Hajikano... I mean Project Golden Legion."
"Yeah. Who does not want to become an upstart general? The shipment of 1200 men has arrived at the port of Aki."
"What's my lord's plan for the replaced men?"
"You want them, don't you? I will ship them to you should Hatakeyama declare war. They are Amako's new ally, after all. But for now I need them to handle Amako."
"Thank you, my lord. What's the war plan against Amako?"
"Amako has two full-strength armies. One is in Bingo, just east from here. The other one is in Bizen. There are more units scattered around; together they may form the third full stack. The mission of the Second Army is to bring down Amako's army in Bungo as quickly as possible, but avoid taking any castle or we will be declared an enemy of the Shogunate."
"I see. Our agents reported that Amako has a lot of samurai in the army. What's our chance?"
"Bait Tactics? 100% "
"What if the enemy actively comes to us? I heard that happened in Fukuoka 8 years ago."
"True. Then we will just have to use our brains."
"I am sure my lord will figure something out. Good luck."
"Thank you, Shinji. A good samurai does not depend on luck - but skills and determination."
"Certainly!"