Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Endgame - Mori no Nihon
The Mori conquest of Japan is complete! Except for two provinces belonging to my Anegokoji vassals (the only vassal and ally who stuck by me through to the end game!).
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Battle of Otsu, 1576
In 1576 a Hatekayama army led by Hatekayama Mitsunaga (AI controlled) walked into a Mori ambush laid by Mori Akinaga and Shishido Morikane (controlled by me) in Otsu.
Here is a montage of the same battle with soundtrack from "Conan the Barbarian" (Schwarzenneger version):
1650 Hatekayama samurai found themselves surrounded by 3430 Mori warriors and their Asai allies. The battle was unwinnable from the Hatekayama point of view. However, the way that the Hatakeyama AI fought was commendable and this battle showcases the tactical competence of the Shogun Total War tactical AI.
I deployed my cavalry in the rear of the enemy and the rest of my army facing the enemy front hoping to smash the Hatakeyama between the hammer and the anvil. As if that wasn't enough, I have heavy reinforcements arriving on the left flank of the enemy.
As you will see from the video below, the AI allocated sufficient units to pin down my cavalry in the rear preventing an early collapse of its rear. Also, it spotted a weakness on my right where I had deployed musketeers unprotected in my eagerness to bring direct musket fire on the enemy. The AI destroyed the mustketeers with its cavalry.
The battle ended predictably in victory for me but, as you will see from this video, the AI did nothing wrong tactically. Having said that, the campaign AI was stupid to walk into a concentration of Mori forces, without first scouting out the lay of the land.
You can see a video of the Battle of Otsu at this link:
Here is a montage of the same battle with soundtrack from "Conan the Barbarian" (Schwarzenneger version):
(P.S. I noticed that people are choosing to see the "Conan the Barbarian" soundtracked video of the battle but not first video. The first video is actually a much longer and complete video of the battle. The soundtracked video is just something I did for fun. Please look at the first video if you want to see what actually happened in the battle.)
Monday, 30 April 2012
Impressions of Shogun 2 Total War
I won the Mori short campaign in summer 1574 by occupying Kyoto for one year - only two turns shy of the time limit (1575). Since then, the Mori have moved on to unify sizable chunks of Japan (see map below; red bits are Mori).
The Mori have also resurrected a number of dead clans as vassals - loyal allies in the war with the remaining clans as well as reliable trading partners. This is the point where the game gets easier.
This is a good place, I think, to pause for a moment and reflect on how this campaign was conducted - what I did right and what I didn't do right; and to reflect on Shogun 2 Total War in general.
The Mori campaign
First, what I didn't do well.
I was slow in expanding my clan in the beginning phase leaving me not much time in the end game phase. This was because I was more interested in role playing than actually winning, therefore I took my time - too much it seams.
Another thing I didn't do well was preparing for 'Realm Divide'. In case you don't know, once you conquer a certain number of territories an event, 'Realm Divide', triggers, and the whole of Japan (including your allies) turns against you. There is a way to monitor how close you are to realm divide but I wasn't paying attention. So when it triggered I found my army scattered all over Shikkoku with newly annexed territories that I could not afford to garrison. What I should have done was to stop expanding just before realm divide, pacify the recently conquered territories, prepare myself economically and militarily, and get my armies in position to attack my potential enemies.
In the early battles, I underestimated the effect of archers in siege battles. The nemesis of archers are cavalry units and in siege battles, the effectiveness of cavalry are largely diminished or fully neutralized. Archers on the defensive are protected behind a powerful defensive structure - a castle. On the offensive archers are in no danger from cavalry unless they sally out and if they do archers should be well protected by other melee units. A castle defended by large numbers of archers is therefore a formidable challenge to any attacker. What I didn't fully appreciate was how effective archers also were on the offensive. Japanese castles offer little protection from arrows and the indirect fire of archers outside a castle is uncannily accurate. But I quickly learnt as the Battle of Kyoto video exemplifies.
(P.S. One other mistake I made - creating vassals after realm divide. They unreliable, and will eventually hate you and stab you in the back.)
What did I do well?
I invested in a strong navy from the start. I cannot over emphasise how important this is because the long coastlines of Japan make amphibious flanking manouvers a real threat (and opportunity). The geography of Japan makes it unfeasible to defend all provinces and carry out a concentrated offensive operation at the same time. As most provinces are exposed to the sea, this makes the navy supremely important and relevant in both defence and attack, more perhaps than in any other total war game. After realm divide there were no less than 4 attempts by the AI at large scale amphibious landings. By then I had strong advanced fleets protecting the Eastern and western sea flanks and the inland sea which effectively shut down any invasion attempts. If not for this, the campaign would certainly have been lost as all my armies were up north and I could not spare any troops in the rearward provinces. If the enemy had landed a substantial force in the rear the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Another thing I did well was converting tactical victory (victory in battles) into strategic gains (occupying enemy territories). It is not enough to win battles, but to win and exploit. After an enemy army is smashed, there is usually a window of opportunity in which the enemy's provinces lie exposed and undefended. An effective strategy I found for exploiting this is to peacefully occupy the provinces I conquered and set the tax rate to zero so my entire army is free to move on and carry out a concentrated attack on the next province without leaving any troops behind to garrison. A concentrated attack with heavy numerical superiority ensures victory with few casualties and that the army is preserved intact for the next offensive. This worked very well in the campaign and is still working for me in the end game.
Impressions of Shogun 2 Total War
When I first laid eyes on a total war game more than 10 years ago - a demo of the first Shogun total war - it was love at first sight. It was the wargame of my dreams and I have played every total war game since. STW2, while not being the most epic in scope, is easily the most enjoyable total war game.
I think what makes this game so fun to play is that there is a sense of balance overall. Every element in the game seems to fit nicely into the overall gameplay. All units have strengths and weaknesses and no particular unit feels overpowered or superfluous. I especially liked the naval battles. Admittedly, they are not as graphically impressive as the naval battles in NTW and ETW, but as I began to master the naval tactics I began to enjoy naval battles a lot more. Again, it comes down to balance, every naval unit has its use and there is a great sense of satisfaction in using them well. In comparison, naval tactics in NTW and ETW - which really boils down to having bigger ships and more guns - can be rather bland.
The AI in STW2 is very competent. In the tactical battles, in my experience the AI rarely made stupid mistakes and the mistakes which it did make are easily the kind of mistakes which a human being might make from oversight. In field battles, I noticed that the AI is careful to guard its flanks against my cavalry flanking manouvers and is quite good at exploiting any gaps and open flanks with its own cavalry. In another battle, the Battle of Otsu, a video of which I am going to upload when I have the time (difficult when you have a crying baby to take care of!), I had overwhelming numerical superiority and had the AI effectively surrounded in an ambush, but I was surprised by how the AI managed to delay my inevitable victory by distributing its forces to defend in all directions so that it prevented me from crushing its flanks or its rear. It even managed to exploit a couple of my mistake when I accidentally left units exposed. The AI, however, is slightly weaker at the strategic level, it always insists on storming castles regardless of how well defended they are. It almost never tries to starve out a garrison. I essentially won the game by holding and defending castles against the AI. I was able to inflict more than twice the number of casaulties doing this.
A controversial element of gameplay is the 'Realm divide' event. When I read about it in forums, admittedly I was not enthused. It felt like an arbitrary way to spice up the middle and endgame when there were other more interesting ways of doing this without trashing the diplomatic side of the game. However, when I experienced it in game, it wasn't so bad. As you can read from my AARs I managed to make it plausible and justifiable in terms of the overall story. Still I think there are better ways of making the endgame interesting - how about, for instance, introducing a powerful foreign invader (e.g. Chinese, Koreans) thus forcing the remaining clans to unite against that invader? This was done in MTW2 to very good effect through the Mongol and Timurid invasions.
Graphically, STW2 is, like past total war games, impressive. The 3D battles are very cinematic. But, I think there is still room for improvements such as longer draw distances. Given the continuous improvements in computer technology, I look forward to what CA can do in the next decade. My favourite games are Paradox strategy games (Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Victoria) which have very deep strategy elements, and Total war games with epic 3D battles integrated into the campaign. I dream of the day when the strengths of both are combined and when CA can introduce a level of gameplay depth equivalent to Paradox games into the total war series.
The Mori have also resurrected a number of dead clans as vassals - loyal allies in the war with the remaining clans as well as reliable trading partners. This is the point where the game gets easier.
This is a good place, I think, to pause for a moment and reflect on how this campaign was conducted - what I did right and what I didn't do right; and to reflect on Shogun 2 Total War in general.
The Mori campaign
First, what I didn't do well.
I was slow in expanding my clan in the beginning phase leaving me not much time in the end game phase. This was because I was more interested in role playing than actually winning, therefore I took my time - too much it seams.
Another thing I didn't do well was preparing for 'Realm Divide'. In case you don't know, once you conquer a certain number of territories an event, 'Realm Divide', triggers, and the whole of Japan (including your allies) turns against you. There is a way to monitor how close you are to realm divide but I wasn't paying attention. So when it triggered I found my army scattered all over Shikkoku with newly annexed territories that I could not afford to garrison. What I should have done was to stop expanding just before realm divide, pacify the recently conquered territories, prepare myself economically and militarily, and get my armies in position to attack my potential enemies.
In the early battles, I underestimated the effect of archers in siege battles. The nemesis of archers are cavalry units and in siege battles, the effectiveness of cavalry are largely diminished or fully neutralized. Archers on the defensive are protected behind a powerful defensive structure - a castle. On the offensive archers are in no danger from cavalry unless they sally out and if they do archers should be well protected by other melee units. A castle defended by large numbers of archers is therefore a formidable challenge to any attacker. What I didn't fully appreciate was how effective archers also were on the offensive. Japanese castles offer little protection from arrows and the indirect fire of archers outside a castle is uncannily accurate. But I quickly learnt as the Battle of Kyoto video exemplifies.
(P.S. One other mistake I made - creating vassals after realm divide. They unreliable, and will eventually hate you and stab you in the back.)
What did I do well?
I invested in a strong navy from the start. I cannot over emphasise how important this is because the long coastlines of Japan make amphibious flanking manouvers a real threat (and opportunity). The geography of Japan makes it unfeasible to defend all provinces and carry out a concentrated offensive operation at the same time. As most provinces are exposed to the sea, this makes the navy supremely important and relevant in both defence and attack, more perhaps than in any other total war game. After realm divide there were no less than 4 attempts by the AI at large scale amphibious landings. By then I had strong advanced fleets protecting the Eastern and western sea flanks and the inland sea which effectively shut down any invasion attempts. If not for this, the campaign would certainly have been lost as all my armies were up north and I could not spare any troops in the rearward provinces. If the enemy had landed a substantial force in the rear the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Another thing I did well was converting tactical victory (victory in battles) into strategic gains (occupying enemy territories). It is not enough to win battles, but to win and exploit. After an enemy army is smashed, there is usually a window of opportunity in which the enemy's provinces lie exposed and undefended. An effective strategy I found for exploiting this is to peacefully occupy the provinces I conquered and set the tax rate to zero so my entire army is free to move on and carry out a concentrated attack on the next province without leaving any troops behind to garrison. A concentrated attack with heavy numerical superiority ensures victory with few casualties and that the army is preserved intact for the next offensive. This worked very well in the campaign and is still working for me in the end game.
Impressions of Shogun 2 Total War
When I first laid eyes on a total war game more than 10 years ago - a demo of the first Shogun total war - it was love at first sight. It was the wargame of my dreams and I have played every total war game since. STW2, while not being the most epic in scope, is easily the most enjoyable total war game.
I think what makes this game so fun to play is that there is a sense of balance overall. Every element in the game seems to fit nicely into the overall gameplay. All units have strengths and weaknesses and no particular unit feels overpowered or superfluous. I especially liked the naval battles. Admittedly, they are not as graphically impressive as the naval battles in NTW and ETW, but as I began to master the naval tactics I began to enjoy naval battles a lot more. Again, it comes down to balance, every naval unit has its use and there is a great sense of satisfaction in using them well. In comparison, naval tactics in NTW and ETW - which really boils down to having bigger ships and more guns - can be rather bland.
The AI in STW2 is very competent. In the tactical battles, in my experience the AI rarely made stupid mistakes and the mistakes which it did make are easily the kind of mistakes which a human being might make from oversight. In field battles, I noticed that the AI is careful to guard its flanks against my cavalry flanking manouvers and is quite good at exploiting any gaps and open flanks with its own cavalry. In another battle, the Battle of Otsu, a video of which I am going to upload when I have the time (difficult when you have a crying baby to take care of!), I had overwhelming numerical superiority and had the AI effectively surrounded in an ambush, but I was surprised by how the AI managed to delay my inevitable victory by distributing its forces to defend in all directions so that it prevented me from crushing its flanks or its rear. It even managed to exploit a couple of my mistake when I accidentally left units exposed. The AI, however, is slightly weaker at the strategic level, it always insists on storming castles regardless of how well defended they are. It almost never tries to starve out a garrison. I essentially won the game by holding and defending castles against the AI. I was able to inflict more than twice the number of casaulties doing this.
A controversial element of gameplay is the 'Realm divide' event. When I read about it in forums, admittedly I was not enthused. It felt like an arbitrary way to spice up the middle and endgame when there were other more interesting ways of doing this without trashing the diplomatic side of the game. However, when I experienced it in game, it wasn't so bad. As you can read from my AARs I managed to make it plausible and justifiable in terms of the overall story. Still I think there are better ways of making the endgame interesting - how about, for instance, introducing a powerful foreign invader (e.g. Chinese, Koreans) thus forcing the remaining clans to unite against that invader? This was done in MTW2 to very good effect through the Mongol and Timurid invasions.
Graphically, STW2 is, like past total war games, impressive. The 3D battles are very cinematic. But, I think there is still room for improvements such as longer draw distances. Given the continuous improvements in computer technology, I look forward to what CA can do in the next decade. My favourite games are Paradox strategy games (Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Victoria) which have very deep strategy elements, and Total war games with epic 3D battles integrated into the campaign. I dream of the day when the strengths of both are combined and when CA can introduce a level of gameplay depth equivalent to Paradox games into the total war series.
Friday, 20 April 2012
A New Japan
By summer 1575, the Mori had held Kyoto for a year unchallenged. The remaining forces of the Anti-Mori Shogunate Alliance (AMSA) show no sign of wanting to retake Kyoto. However, there are rumors of a new grand army of the AMSA forming in the north, but details are sketchy.
From the time that the Mori had occupied Kyoto till now, the Emperor had kept himself in seclusion and rejected all requests for an audience from Daimyo Sanemune. Until now, Daimyo Sanemune had not seen the face of the Emperor. So it came as a surprise that, one morning, as Sanemune prepared to ride out hunting with his retainers, he received an imperial edict ordering him into the presence of the Emperor. Sanemune went to the Imperial Palace without bothering to change out of his hunting garb, followed by his retainers.
They waited for some time in the ante-chamber to the throne room before an officious old man eventually appeared and announced:
"The Emperor will see the Daimyo now."
His retainers watched as Sanemune disappeared behind the great sliding doors of the entrance to the throne room.
"You look younger than I imagined." the Emperor said.
"Likewise." said Sanemune.
"I regret that I had to reject your requests for an audience over the past year. I hope that you are not offended. But I had to consider my position, you see. Until I was sure about you I did not wish to send any wrong messages." the Emperor said.
"In case the AMSA return and kick me out of Kyoto," said Sanemune.
"Yes." said the Emperor after a pause. "My attitude is not honourable I know. We all do what we need to do to survive in this world of wolves. The Emperor is no exception. But now, I think the time is ripe to discuss whether I should give you the thing that only the Emperor can give - legitimacy." .
"There is nothing to consider. Our hold on Kyoto and southern Japan is secure. Soon northern Japan will fall to us." said Sanemune.
"Not quite," the Emperor said with a slight smile. "I hear rumours that another great army of the AMSA is gathering in the north. Some have cautioned me to wait."
"And the Mori will do to that army what we did to the last one!" Sanemune said with conviction. "You want to negotiate with me, but you still do not see, shut up here in your palace, that there is nothing left to negotiate. The old Shogun is finished, the AMSA is finished, there is only one power in Japan - the Mori! A new Japan is growing around you even as you sit here and ponder."
"Not a new Japan... an old Japan with a new Shogun," said the Emperor.
"It will be a new Japan! I will not govern as the old Shogun did, as first among equals. No, I will unify this country. There will be no more clans (not even Mori). No more daimyos. Japan will no more be carved up by artificial borders. Japan will become one nation - Nippon, with one Spirit under one government. This is an opportunity to reshape our country, and I will make the most of it. So you see, I really do not care whether you declare me Shogun or not. We will sweep away the Hojo, Yamana and Hatakeyama, and together with them, the old feudal order. Your highness, I will leave you to decide whether and how you will remain relevant in the new Japan."
Sanemune bowed, stood up and prepared to leave.
"I regret that while I find your vision inspiring, I doubt whether the Japanese people, even your retainers, are ready for your 'New Japan," the Emperor said. "I think that an order which has lasted for more than a thousand years cannot be so easily swept away even by one visionary young daimyo."
From the time that the Mori had occupied Kyoto till now, the Emperor had kept himself in seclusion and rejected all requests for an audience from Daimyo Sanemune. Until now, Daimyo Sanemune had not seen the face of the Emperor. So it came as a surprise that, one morning, as Sanemune prepared to ride out hunting with his retainers, he received an imperial edict ordering him into the presence of the Emperor. Sanemune went to the Imperial Palace without bothering to change out of his hunting garb, followed by his retainers.
They waited for some time in the ante-chamber to the throne room before an officious old man eventually appeared and announced:
"The Emperor will see the Daimyo now."
His retainers watched as Sanemune disappeared behind the great sliding doors of the entrance to the throne room.
~ ~ ~
This was the first time that Sanemune had ever seen the Emperor and he was surprised to find a tender faced young man just about his own age sitting on the Crysanthemum Throne.
"You look younger than I imagined." the Emperor said.
"Likewise." said Sanemune.
"I regret that I had to reject your requests for an audience over the past year. I hope that you are not offended. But I had to consider my position, you see. Until I was sure about you I did not wish to send any wrong messages." the Emperor said.
"In case the AMSA return and kick me out of Kyoto," said Sanemune.
"Yes." said the Emperor after a pause. "My attitude is not honourable I know. We all do what we need to do to survive in this world of wolves. The Emperor is no exception. But now, I think the time is ripe to discuss whether I should give you the thing that only the Emperor can give - legitimacy." .
"There is nothing to consider. Our hold on Kyoto and southern Japan is secure. Soon northern Japan will fall to us." said Sanemune.
"Not quite," the Emperor said with a slight smile. "I hear rumours that another great army of the AMSA is gathering in the north. Some have cautioned me to wait."
"And the Mori will do to that army what we did to the last one!" Sanemune said with conviction. "You want to negotiate with me, but you still do not see, shut up here in your palace, that there is nothing left to negotiate. The old Shogun is finished, the AMSA is finished, there is only one power in Japan - the Mori! A new Japan is growing around you even as you sit here and ponder."
"Not a new Japan... an old Japan with a new Shogun," said the Emperor.
"It will be a new Japan! I will not govern as the old Shogun did, as first among equals. No, I will unify this country. There will be no more clans (not even Mori). No more daimyos. Japan will no more be carved up by artificial borders. Japan will become one nation - Nippon, with one Spirit under one government. This is an opportunity to reshape our country, and I will make the most of it. So you see, I really do not care whether you declare me Shogun or not. We will sweep away the Hojo, Yamana and Hatakeyama, and together with them, the old feudal order. Your highness, I will leave you to decide whether and how you will remain relevant in the new Japan."
Sanemune bowed, stood up and prepared to leave.
"I regret that while I find your vision inspiring, I doubt whether the Japanese people, even your retainers, are ready for your 'New Japan," the Emperor said. "I think that an order which has lasted for more than a thousand years cannot be so easily swept away even by one visionary young daimyo."
Battle of Kyoto 1574
Men of Mori, we have walked many miles and fought many battles and now here we stand before the city of Kyoto - the heart of all Japan. The Emperor is there and the Shogun is there. He is shaking with fear, for today we will take his head from him! Men of Mori, this is the decisive battle that will determine the future of Japan. You know what you must do this day. You know your duty, so there is no need for more words. For your clan, for your daimyo, for Japan...go to it men!
The victory of the Mori army commanded by the newly promoted general, Shishido Morikane, over the forces of the Shogun in the fields of Kamo sent shockwaves throughout Japan. For the first time the Shogun was personally defeated in battle. In the following season, riding high on the prestige of that battle, Morikane defeated another smaller Yamana force blocking the road to Kyoto. Thus Morikane, in two victorious battles, swept the road to Kyoto clear of enemies. However, his army was depleted and so he was ordered by the Daimyo, against his will, to break off his advance on Kyoto. Morikane and his men, encamped beside the road so near to Kyoto, watched with an aggrieved feeling of disappointment the armies of Mori Akinaga and Mori Mototsura (both recently adopted into the Mori family) pass them by.
The mood of the troops marching on Kyoto was solemn for they were on their way to destroy a Shogunate that had lasted for more than two hundred years. On the one hand it felt as if they were about to do a sacrilegious thing, like cutting the head of a god. On the other hand, they were on they way to forge something new, something never seen before. So everyman, down to the merest ashigeru, felt the hand of destiny heavy upon them. When they finally stood before the walls of Kyoto, it was as if they were about to storm the gates of heaven.
The Shogunate forces defending Kyoto were significant, but they lacked sufficient numbers of archers. Akinaga and Mototsura decided to approach from two directions, to pin down the archers in one direction and attack from the other, making maximum use of their archers to whittle down the defenders before storming the city.
(you can view the battle on Youtube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci5wQlj-H7Q )
(Mori Mototsura's speech to his troops before the battle of Kyoto in 1574)
The victory of the Mori army commanded by the newly promoted general, Shishido Morikane, over the forces of the Shogun in the fields of Kamo sent shockwaves throughout Japan. For the first time the Shogun was personally defeated in battle. In the following season, riding high on the prestige of that battle, Morikane defeated another smaller Yamana force blocking the road to Kyoto. Thus Morikane, in two victorious battles, swept the road to Kyoto clear of enemies. However, his army was depleted and so he was ordered by the Daimyo, against his will, to break off his advance on Kyoto. Morikane and his men, encamped beside the road so near to Kyoto, watched with an aggrieved feeling of disappointment the armies of Mori Akinaga and Mori Mototsura (both recently adopted into the Mori family) pass them by.
The mood of the troops marching on Kyoto was solemn for they were on their way to destroy a Shogunate that had lasted for more than two hundred years. On the one hand it felt as if they were about to do a sacrilegious thing, like cutting the head of a god. On the other hand, they were on they way to forge something new, something never seen before. So everyman, down to the merest ashigeru, felt the hand of destiny heavy upon them. When they finally stood before the walls of Kyoto, it was as if they were about to storm the gates of heaven.
The Shogunate forces defending Kyoto were significant, but they lacked sufficient numbers of archers. Akinaga and Mototsura decided to approach from two directions, to pin down the archers in one direction and attack from the other, making maximum use of their archers to whittle down the defenders before storming the city.
(you can view the battle on Youtube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci5wQlj-H7Q )
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Battle of Kamo, 1574
"The advanced guard has engaged Shogunate light cavalry near a village in Kamo," an adjutant reported to General Morikane, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Light cavalry? In that case the main army will not be far behind. The Shogun has come out to fight. Orders to all standards: Battle formations! Prepare to advance!" ordered Morikane.
Thus begins the first battle between the forces of the Ashikaga Shogunate and the Mori on the plains of Kamo.
The video of this battle can be seen on Youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZDaibTLhhA&feature=youtu.be
Saturday, 14 April 2012
The Road to Kyoto, 1574
"Why have I not heard from the Hatakeyama and the Hojo? It has been months since the fall of Akashi!" The Shogun demanded angrily.
"The armies of the Hatakeyama and Yamana suffered heavy losses at Akashi. Based on most recent reports, after the fall of Akashi, the Hojo proceeded south to attack Okayama Castle at Bizen and the Hatakeyama proceeded south west to attack Tsuyama Castle in Mimasaka. Since then we have heard nothing. Our agents are completely silent. It is as if a great wall has risen up between the north and the south," an advisor reported somberly.
"Don't give me metaphors, I want facts!" The Shogun shouted.
Suddenly there was a sharp thwack by the window. Everyone in the room turned at the direction of the sound - there was an arrow sticking to the window frame. They rushed to the window. Far down below, beyond the castle walls, they could see a rider in red lacquered armour, waving at them with his bow. He spun his horse around, galloped swiftly across the plains and disappeared behind the hills even as the Shogun's cavalry rode out from the castle to give chase.
There was a little parchment tied to the arrow. The Shogun opened and read the parchment, and turned pale almost immediately. It read:
My father had a saying - "Mori dogs bite". The Hatakeyama, Yamana and Hojo, the fools who followed you, now know how we can bite. Even now the carrion crows feast on their corpses in the fields of Bizen and Mimasaka where their broken banners lie. And soon you will feel our teeth upon your neck! Watch for the red banners in the fields of Kamo - the Mori are coming for you, Ashikaga!
"Your name is Shishido Morikane?" Mori Motohira asked.
"Yes, sir." replied Morikane, a captain in Motohira's army.
"The Shishido family have a long history of service to the Mori. That is good. Many say that you showed personal courage and leadership in our counter attack on Akashi Castle."
"I was only doing my duty, sir." replied Morikane modestly.
"That is good. The Mori have lost many good leaders in these wars. The Mori are in need of good leaders. Consequently, I am going to promote you to field commander. You will lead the vanguard in our push on Kyoto. The vanguard was my former command. They are a good lot. Treat them well, use them well."
"I will serve the Mori with my life!" said Morikane, overwhelmed.
"The armies of the Hatakeyama and Yamana suffered heavy losses at Akashi. Based on most recent reports, after the fall of Akashi, the Hojo proceeded south to attack Okayama Castle at Bizen and the Hatakeyama proceeded south west to attack Tsuyama Castle in Mimasaka. Since then we have heard nothing. Our agents are completely silent. It is as if a great wall has risen up between the north and the south," an advisor reported somberly.
"Don't give me metaphors, I want facts!" The Shogun shouted.
Suddenly there was a sharp thwack by the window. Everyone in the room turned at the direction of the sound - there was an arrow sticking to the window frame. They rushed to the window. Far down below, beyond the castle walls, they could see a rider in red lacquered armour, waving at them with his bow. He spun his horse around, galloped swiftly across the plains and disappeared behind the hills even as the Shogun's cavalry rode out from the castle to give chase.
There was a little parchment tied to the arrow. The Shogun opened and read the parchment, and turned pale almost immediately. It read:
My father had a saying - "Mori dogs bite". The Hatakeyama, Yamana and Hojo, the fools who followed you, now know how we can bite. Even now the carrion crows feast on their corpses in the fields of Bizen and Mimasaka where their broken banners lie. And soon you will feel our teeth upon your neck! Watch for the red banners in the fields of Kamo - the Mori are coming for you, Ashikaga!
Daimyo Mori Sanemune
They learned later that the Hojo and Hatakeyama were completely annihilated in the attacks on Okayama and Tsuyama. The Mori now have a clear road to Kyoto.
~ ~ ~
"Yes, sir." replied Morikane, a captain in Motohira's army.
"The Shishido family have a long history of service to the Mori. That is good. Many say that you showed personal courage and leadership in our counter attack on Akashi Castle."
"I was only doing my duty, sir." replied Morikane modestly.
"That is good. The Mori have lost many good leaders in these wars. The Mori are in need of good leaders. Consequently, I am going to promote you to field commander. You will lead the vanguard in our push on Kyoto. The vanguard was my former command. They are a good lot. Treat them well, use them well."
"I will serve the Mori with my life!" said Morikane, overwhelmed.
~ ~ ~
News of the cavalry of the Mori vanguard under Shishido Morikane encamped on the plains of Kamo near Kyoto caused much panic in Kyoto. The Ashikaga generals believed that the best course of action was defense - to hold out in Kyoto, one of the strongest fortresses in Japan. But faced with daily pressure from the Shogun and the populace to do something. They had no choice but to do something, however ill judged. So, they mobilized the Shogunate army to fight the Mori on the plains of Kamo.
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