Winter, 1580. Yosh! I had gambled on the Oda to be careless, but am pleased to learn that they were instead, foolhardy. Asano and his ninja arrived in Owari to find that the Yari Samurai and Teppo Ashigaru reported to be garrisoned there had been ordered elsewhere, leaving Owari protected by a single unit of Samurai Archers. Upon discovering that their opponents were ninja, they fled the field without a fight and retreated to Inuyama castle. Asano Tadatoshi-san has been promoted to Second Rank, and the honor of his ninja forces has increased. As planned, Honda Tadakatsu's army now occupies Owari in addition to Asano and his men, and the castle is under siege. Mikawa is now defended by only a small garrison (60 archers and 60 Yari Samurai), but I am comfortable with this. Katsuyori has agreed to the alliance. While I trust him about as far as I could throw him fully armored, I am confident that he will not attack for at least a few seasons. If my guess is right, he will capitalize on Oda confusion and attack Mino. This will serve us well ... in the short run, at least.

Our troops immediately occupied the Border Forts in Owari, allowing us to observe the Oda troops in Ise, Omi, and Mino. It was Hideyoshi who had been in Mino, but he has since moved to Hida. Oda Nobukane, Rank 2, currently commands 360 Yari Ashigaru and 120 Teppo Ashigaru in Mino. Though they are mere ashigaru, I will not underestimate them as they have excellent weapons (W3) and are honorable (H4 and H2, respectively)--but they are still ashigaru. The commander likely to lead the Oda counterattack is in Ise: Ishida Mitsunari, Rank 4. I find myself wishing I was in Owari instead of Honda, as it would give me great pleasure to capture that sushihead, and bury him up to his neck in spoiled natto, so that passersby could saw at his nape little by little until he was dead. His cries would be more pleasant to my ears than the best shakuhachis in Kyoto. His forces are small: 120 Yari Cavalry, 60 teppo, and 60 archers. 60 Yari Samurai and 60 teppo garrison Omi under a Rank 1 general of little consequence. All-in-all, I think Honda's 60 Yari Cavalry, 420 archers, and 60 Yari samurai, along with Asano's 108 ninja, should have no problems repulsing a counterattack, even if all of these troops were to storm the province.

The harvest was poor. Though I am tempted to raise taxes to punitive levels as a consequence of such blatant peasant laziness, I will refrain, as the loyalty level in Owari is low (60%), and an uprising, while not likely to cost us the province, could cost valuable samurai lives putting it down. Our treasury currently stands at 4050, but with the capture of Owari our projected profits for this season are 1077 koku. Cash flow looks to improve immensely.

The Tea House in Mikawa has been completed, as have the Border Watch Towers in Totomi. I have ordered the construction of our citadel in Totomi to begin. In Mikawa, I will build the necessary prerequisites for an eventual Battlefield Ninja Dojo to replace the one we sacrificed in Hizen. This will avoid having to interupt the training of regular troops in order to produce more ninja, which take so much longer to train. Also, in the interim, it will allow us to train No Dachi samurai when the required Sword Dojo has been completed, and strategic ninja when the required Ninja and Infamous Ninja Dojos are complete.

Totomi continues to train Yari Samurai, as Honda's army is still precariously archer-heavy. The port in Owari was destroyed in our attack, but we can shift Yari samurai and archers from Mikawa into Owari, and from Totomi to Mikawa, as more complete their training. When Owari falls we will be able to produce even better troops there.

The emissary in Harima has sent a message by pigeon, that only a small force of rebels could be found there. I suspect Lord Mori moves against Tajima, so I have ordered the emissary to proceed there. The honorable emissary who convinced Katsuyori to ally with us now moves to ally with Lord Uesugi and Lord Hojo as well. Koku will ever be a concern until we are able to expand, and the alliances will bring income. It will also create political consequences for any lord that breaks the alliance.

Now Honda and Asano must bring Owari under our full control. After a hot bath and some rice, tea and pickles, I will retire to my private quarters to ponder strategic options, to follow the assimilation of Japan's finest province. And then, some celebratory pillowing! Yosh!!

"Chacha-chan! Hayaku desho!!"