Guide of Bait Tactics

Fourteen: Bow Ashigaru Draws out Melee Samurai

"Hm... now Shimazu Yoshihisa insists to park at the very edge of his army. I wonder what we should call this formation..."
"There is actually a drawing in the Appendix!"
"Can't believe Mao-tzu even included the variants of each formation! But where is the missing Yari Samurai on the first line?"
"It has been drawn out by our bait. They started charging when our range almost cover their unit. This is almost as easy as drawing out Yari Ashigaru."



Note: I am not sure whether the "paranoid general" is a must for the hyper-alert melee samurai. My experience tells me it is very difficult to draw out melee samurai with bow ashigaru. But I have never attempted it when AI adapts the "Marginalized Bows" formation, which is induced by our cavalry parked at the flank of its army.

"Loan Sword Ashigaru! The Shimazu samurais are here! Do not be afraid - we have surrounded them, and we outnumber them 8 to 1! Charge!"

"No matter which way they turn, we will charge their back! Raise your swords! Let samurai crumble before ashigaru!"

"Know fear, for samurai are also men!"

"Ronins, stab them in the back!"

"Wahaha... Nobody survives the massacre!"
"My lord, Shimazu's formation remains unchanged. Please carry on and draw out their katana samurai!"
"Yes! Bow Ashigaru, bring back some Katana Samurai for us!"

"My lord, one of Shimazu's Katana samurai units is now running after our bait!"
"Katana samurai incoming! Time to show them the mob power of Ikko-ikki!"

Man Skewers

The ronins' spears finally found their victims,
piercing through the surrounded samurai's column.
So bloody, so grusome,
A rear charge makes the best man skewers blossom.

This man is an island

This man is an island, entire of itself.
The other men form a piece of the yellow continent.

If a clod be washed away by the melee,
Japan does not change, as well as if Mount Fuji was,
as well as if the Setto Inland Sea was:

Any man's death will be forgotten,
because the lost numbers regenerate.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls;
there was only the victors' cheer.

awesome!!! great tips and you stuck to the style of the hattori campaign. loving it, will have to try it eventually xD thanks a bunch!

The Victors' Cheer

Today is not your turn to die.
Raise your swords high;
Watch the blood sprays into the sky;
Say to each enemy who walks into the trap, goodbye.

A Loaned Sword

These monks cannot afford swords,
A loaned Katana they now wield.
Sharps blades with not much skills, still,
Carving flesh and bone like silk.

Fifteen: Refresh the Enemy's Formation

"My lord! We have completely destroyed Shimazu's second line! Now they only have one line left!"
"This is good! But how do we draw out the rest without being shot by Shimazu's Bow Samurai?"

21. Refresh the enemy's formation: March your Cavalry toward the side of the enemy's formation until it responds, and then comeback.

"Yes, my lord! Let's take a little walk out of the forest!"



"My lord, the Shimazu army has rearranged! There are two more Katana Samurai available!"
"Bow Ashigaru, let's go!"

So close, yet they tripped

Running down from the grassy hill,
Chasing the lowly ashigaru across the field;
Shimazu's samurai almost reach their foes,
while one guy steps into a ground hog's hole.
The entire row tumble,
The entire column fall.
They did not catch the enemy,
only to be engulfed by destiny.

Note: I was distracted with something else and forgot to switch the bait to running until it was almost too late. EDIT: From watching the replay, it seems that the Shimazu men started to charge and had a boost in speed, but due to my sudden acceleration, the boost in speed ran out and the men tripped as a result.

May the Best Man Lives

In the midst of the chaotic battle,
An ashigaru found his destined duel.
Two swords crossed at a sharp angle,
Beginning a life-and-death struggle.

The samurai wins the contest of might,
But loses the stability of mind.
Fearing all his comrades fleeing behind,
he was distracted for a fraction of a second...

When the enemy's blade severed his spine.

Note: Do not stand so close to a fighting couple! You may be collaterally hurt by sharp objects.

Blood spills from a wound so massive,
Clashes end from a outcome so decisive.
May the best man lives -
With lifelong regrets from killing, only Buddha forgives.

Sixteen. The Last Formation

"Hm, we again destroyed the Katana samurai on the first line. Maybe we can make them rearrange again?"
"On my way, my lord!"
"Let's see what The Art of Gore says here..."



22. If you get the rare opportunity to bait/take out the enemy Taisho, make it the top priority.

"Kagenaka, wait!~~"
"What did you say, my lord? I cannot hear you from 1 mile away!"
"Do not move!~ Wait for our Yari Ronin and Bow Ashigaru! to take out their taisho!"
"What?"



"My lord, Shimazu army has rearranged again! Their bows returned to the front line... and no matter what I do, Shimazu's formation does not change anymore."
" "Too late..."

23. When the enemy's army is largely reduced, upon their next rearrangement the bows will return to the first line, and the formation will no longer change.

"So... what do we do next?"
"... I guess we will prepare for the final clash. How come you can hear me now?"

Seventeen. The Last Prey

"The final clash?
"Yeah... it seems that all we can draw out are bow units now. But if we reduce Shimazu's bow units further, they will attack us."
"So we must be ready for it!"

24. To proceed with the Final Clash, draw out as many bow units as possible. Upon their destruction, the enemy will initiate the attack. Destroy them all!



"Drew out two Bow Ashigaru units! Ikko Bow Ashigaru, fire!"



"No one gets away from our naginata!"

"Shimazu is coming! Shimazu Yoshihisa will lead the charge!"
"Victory will be ours! All infantry, charge!"

"Watch out! Shimazu Yoshihisa is only a distraction! He now circles to our flank - right into our Bow Ashigaru! Our ashigaru takes heavy casaulty from their Bow Samurai!"
"It is now a race of who destroys whom first! Naginata Warrior Monk Cavalry, Bodyguards, follow me!"
"At once!"

The Banner Bearer

An ashigaru bears the ronin's banner,
No one doubts he could be any braver.
Raise the blood-stained banner one last time,
In the midst of the final clash and stay alive.
Responds to duty's call,
Never let the banner fall.
The land of Hyuga, let the martyrs' blood purify.
The spirit of man, let the bearer's spirit inspire.

Irresistible

The Taisho's bodyguard raised their Katana,
Merged with monk riders wielding Naginata.
Now they bring the climax of the opera,
In the field surrounded by blooming cherries, Sakura.

Drawn by the irresistable targets,
Shimazu samurais turned to jackpot ticket.
One volley of arrows made the little dent on the last digit,
The riders are already in their face, like muskets' bullet.

The Bow Samurai are demolished by the earthquake:

Like tofu crushed by a cup cake,
Like a cup cake smashed by a cup of sake,
Like a cup of sake knocked down by a glass of milkshake,
Like a glass of milkshake shattered by a wagon which fails to break.

"My Lord! The enemy taisho is running from defeat! But his dishonour and our swords will chase him to his grave!"
"I have heard this line many times. How about something new?"
"My Lord! A glorious victory will soon be yours!"

"Their ally has abandoned them! Now we have them!"
"Enough!~"

"We have completely wiped out Shimazu's army! My lord, Shimazu Yoshihisa has committed Seppuku with shame!"
"Good! Now send the emissary and proceed with the peace treaty."
"My lord, why don't we advance further? We can destroy Shimazu next season!"
"Because we have stretched as thin as we can... again. We need sometime to spread the gospel of pure lands."
"Indeed..."
"Plus Shimazu is willing to more than cover our cost! "




End of the Battle of Hyuga

Video: Guide of Bait Tactics (Battle of Hyuga)