alright, another thought... does anyone have ideas/knowledge on how the armies were supported throughout the year... foods, money, clothing, etc...

The reason I ask this is that throughout the Sengoku Jidai, campaigns were waged in all months, but obviously armies would have different needs in different parts of the year. Since much of Japan is hilly and much of the land was covered with brigands at the time, how easy was it to move a decent sized force and keep them supplied? Was it a "survive off the land"???

army size...
obviously this varied from place to place depending on many things, but anyone know what a decent sized army would number and how such a force was assembled. (since it probably would not always be a standing army as that would put too heavy a burden on the land) Or, might it have been that the samurai and such were always standing, but the ashigaru (gunners and spearmen) would work their farms and in times of need would go join their local lord's force?

well, hopefully this will spark some talk and such in the forum.

-Zen Blade

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Zen Blade Asai
Red Devil
Last of the RSG