Hagi is well defended by samurai archers. The Mori saw what damage massed archers can do in the storming of Imabari, so attacking a well built defensive structure defended my large numbers of samurai archers will not be easy. Conventional wisdom would counsel the Mori to settle into a prolonged siege, starve out the defenders or provoke them to sortie, while building up a larger force to storm the castle. However, Takamoto is impatient to avenge the loss of Buzen to the Ouchi in the previous spring. He considers that, with relatively large numbers of armoured samurai and his Kikkawa allies close behind, the Mori can defeat the defending garrison. The loss of Hagi would be a serious blow to the Ouchi.
The Mori army approach from the north marching through a narrow valley. Although the east gate is less well defended, in order to get there the army would have to pass within range of the archers on the northern walls. So Takamoto gambles that attacking the north gate, although it is better defended, would be a less costly option.
The Mori archers move up to the walls in open formation to provide covering fire for the assault force. They get a first taste of the withering fire from the defending archers. Rows of samurai archers pour accurate volleys down upon the attackers from the galleries.
The lightly armoured ashigeru fare the worst. They lose almost half their strength before they fire their first volleys.
Under the cover of their archers the Mori N samurai move up to attack the north gate. An attacking force attacking the north gate is exposed to fire from the front, rear and enfilading fire from the left. The veteran N samurai in their heavy armour are stuck with arrows like straw targets while they set fire to the gate.
Once the north gate is destroyed, the Mori samurai pour through the burning gates.
The Ouchi defenders behind the gates surround and attack the Mori savagely. The first waves are decimated quickly. But these veteran samurai stand their ground and fight to the bitter end.
As he saw the Mori banners fall one by one, and his beloved samurai massacred behind the gates, for the first time the Tiger of Kyushu was dismayed. Mori Sanemune, his son and heir, furious that the attack was losing momentum and that the Ouchi appear to be getting the upperhand, impetuously gallops up to the gates with his bodyguard to inspire and rally the troops, braving the Ouchi arrows. As Takamoto watches his son with pride and concern, he knows that it is too late to turn the tide. The Mori's samurai core is virtually annihilated. Its archer units are totally destroyed. All that are left are the warrior monk and cavalry reserves and wako pirate auxiliaries. Too inadequate for the task at hand. He glances back at the forest in which the Kikkawa army is encamped.
The Kikkawa had brought a big army to Hagi and Takamoto had sent riders to the Kikkawa all morning requesting, begging that they join the assault, but all the Kikkawa have been doing till now is dither, ceaselessly organizing themselves in the forest. Takamoto is not naive as to what the Kikkawa are up to. They are deliberately delaying, hoping that the Mori would would be defeated and retreat, and so they would grab Hagi Castle for themselves. The Kikkawa will not move. The battle is lost. As he is about the give the order to retreat a herald in Kikkawa blue gallops up to him and pulls up his horse before him.
"My compliments to you, sir, and the brave warriors of the Mori!" he says. "We have been watching from the forest. Truly, in valour, the Mori samurai are unmatched in all of Japan!"
Takamoto would like to whip him off his horse, but just barely controls himself. "My compliments to your generals. I was hoping that the Kikkawa would do more than watch."
"We will!" the herald says with confidence. He cocks his head in the direction of the fortress. The sound of cheers, singing and victory chants is heard coming from within the fortress. The herald laughs and says,"Those fools. They think its over! But the day is still early."
"Look!" he says pointing at the north. A wave of blue Kikkawa banners appear from the shadows of the forest. The Kikkawa are on the move!
The Kikkawa ranks - archers, yari and cavalry - reach the Mori lines and pass through them in good order. One by one, the Kikkawa generals ride up to Mori Takamoto with their greetings as they pass by.
"Pull your forces back and rest," Says the Kikkawa herald. "The Kikkawa are faithful. We will finish the job. By nightfall Hagi Castle will belong to the Mori." Takamoto is speechless.
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