Battle of Kochi, Winter 1568

"Well, what are your intentions now?" Uechiro asked Mori Motoharu. "We are almost exactly halfway between Kochi and Imabari. Daimyo Tamehisa is in Kochi with a small army while Kira Kunihiro is in Imabari replenishing his field army. Our army is strong. Given our current strength, both objectives are achievable."

When Motoharu was done mourning the death of his brother the daimyo, he began to think: questions will no doubt be asked about his part in the daimyo's demise. He'd acted swiftly in decapitating the metsuke who gave the false report and sending his head to Mori Sanemune, but this was unlikely satisfy anyone. I will have to win some impressive victory in Shikkoku to shut people up, he thought.

"Which is better, to cut off the serpent's head or its tail?" he thought aloud. "We advance on Kochi!"

Battle of Kochi

"Their cavalry is sallying out," his adjutant reports. And indeed they are.

Kochi Castle is a narrow, bone shaped fortress sitting on the summit of a steep hill. It offers little protection from enemy archers and little space to manouver within. Most of the Chosokabe defenders consisted of cavalry including generals and their companion cavalry. Rather than sit inside the castle and be shot at, they have decided, wisely, to fight in the open.

Positioned at the base of the northern slopes, Motoharu sees the Chosokabe cavalry flanking the Mori footsoldiers laboriously climbing up the snow covered slopes. One cavalry unit charges straight at him. Motoharu and his cavalry turn to intercept them. Before long these isolated cavalry units are surrounded and routed by Mori cavalry and spearmen.

The gates of Kochi opens once more and out comes a company of horsemen bearing the commander's pennant - it is Daimyo Tamehisa and his bodyguard.

Motoharu stands up in his saddle and sees the Daimyo of the Chosokabe and his bodyguard charge into a cluster of spearmen and archers. He sees the cavalrymen hacking at the footsoldiers as they are gradually surrounded and brought down. It is a futile, suicidal charge, but glorious none the less.

After the Chosokabe cavalry is destroyed, the Mori samurai set fire to the gates and storm the fortress,  subduing the remaining defenders within. Mori Motoharu looks on with satisfaction as the Mori flag is raised in Kochi.