Btw, one follow up on my rant, I did in fact win this campaign on VH, despite the fact that I played it against the grain and took over just about everything west of my starting position before heading east. At the point of realm divide everyone in the game turned on me, just as you expect, I do find it a bit disappointing that even the clans of your own allegiance turn on you. I got completely decimated on the ocean, lost all trade nodes (good job AI actually attacking and taking all of those out) and I was then forced under the gun to march east and conquer all the victory provinces I complained about above all on land, on foot. And I started this march in 1201. With about 150k, and I was bleeding 3-4k per turn. I left vassals in my wake and burned every star off my daiymo looting high value provinces along the way and took the last province for the victory in 1209.

Didn't want anyone reading the above rant and think it was just a crank who is complaining because he can't win. ;) But instead someone merely pointing out the illogical random select process that appears to of gone into deciding which provinces you needed to carry the day.