Mori Spring, 1560

Kuchiba Uchihiro, a metsuke, reports from Sanuki.

Chokosabe army commanded by Daimyo Chokosabe Kunichika located in Sanuki. 18 units in all. 1 Yari Samurai, 1 Chokosabe bow, 1 Yari Ashigaru, 1 bomb Ashigaru unit spotted. Castle in Sanuki. Stone in Sanuki.

Michihide, our monk, reports from Tosa:

Sawmills in Tosa. Stronghold poorly defended. 1587 koku.

Pirates have always been a problem. The Mori reserve fleet was attacked along the Annamese trading route. The Mori won a narrow victory. In the future, we will have to expand the reserve fleet to provide adequate protection for our trade routes.



Pirates appear errily through the fog



Mori Autumn, 1558

As Daimyo Takamoto is meditating upon the Book of Five Rings one afternoon, he is surprised by a pigeon flying down to his room and perching on his window sill. He sees a little parchment tied to its leg. It is a message from a metsuke, Shishido Tamesada. He reads:

Report from Iyo, Imabari Castle poorly defended. Two ships, unknown type, at port. Nothing special in Iyo. Province wealth 1237. Foreign metsuke detected.

Tamesada was never hear of again.

Council of Aki, 1558, Day 4

At the conclusion of the great council of Aki, Daimyo Takamoto concluded with this speech:

"The great master of war exhorts us to know ourselves and to know the enemy, in this lies our security. What we have heard here today has help us to know ourselves and our enemies better. In knowing ourselves and our enemies, we can see more clearly, and in seeing more clearly, we can step more surely into our common future. I thank you all for your great efforts. Arigato!"

"Now, regarding the matter of succession, I have given this great consideration, and I determine... that my eldest son Mori Sanemune will inherit after me, unless he proves unworthy."

Council of Aki, 1558, Day 3

Specialisations

Mori Motoharu, Commissioner of Finance - 4% lower army upkeep costs, + 1 morale land defence.

Mori Takakage, Commissioner of Warfare - +1 Ashigaru morale, + 5% army upkeep, +1 morale overall, quicker special ability cooldown time. - 4% cost of recruiting.

In view of this, it is proposed that Motoharu have command of the army in peace time. Command will be transferred to Takakage or the Daimyo for offensive military operations in wartime. Takakage will be in charge of all recruiting.

Shishido Akinaga, Commissioner of Development - 2% lower building costs. Akinaga will be in charge of all building.

Province specialisations

Hyuga - Bow cavalry, +1 exp light cavalry

Buzen - Bow cavalry, +1 exp light cavalry, +5 accuracy bow units. (Buzen must be developed as a center of archery excellence).

Osumi - fire bombers

Aki - + 3 morale for all land units, +1 exp nagingata, +1 exp bow warrior monks, +2 ranks monks, +1 exp LC and ashigaru. (Aki will be the main source of land units. Develop monastery for monks)

Bungo - +1 ship crew recruits (Bungo will be developed as a naval center and the main source of naval units)

Iwami - +2 exp bows, k samurai, wako raiders

Council of Aki, 1558, Day 2

The Commissioner of Warfare presented the military report.

Regular army

Our regular standing army consists of the following units:

2 Light cavalry   200
1 Yari cavalry    180
1 Bow cavalry    180
3 Nagingata        420
3 Yari                 420
2 Bows              280
1 Katana             135
1 Ashi Aquebus   90
1 Ashi Bombers   135

15 units in all, costing 2040. This will be maintained. In time of war the regular army will be supplemented by ashigaru levies.

Navy

The Navy consists of

2 Wako Bunes                   200
3 Mori Medium Bunes       210
1 Sengoku Bune                71
5 Bow Kobayas                250
2 Bomb Kobayas              100

Total cost of 831

It is recommended that the inferior and costly Wako Bunes be scrapped and replaced with superior MMBs and SBs.

The primary mission of navy is to protect the transport route between our Honshu provinces and our Kyushu provinces especially in time of war. Its secondary mission is to guard the trading nodes. The navy will also provide support for sea invasions.

For this purpose it is proposed that the navy be organised into two fleets:

Main fleet: 3 MMBs, 1 SB, 3 BKs, 1 Bmb Ks

Reserve fleet: 2 MMBs, 2 BKs, 1 Bmb K

Non-allied neighbours

The Yamana are a major clan with which we have very friendly relations. We also have a lucrative trade agreement with them. It appears the former Daimyo showed foresight in neutralizing the Yamana through trade, rather than challenging them.

The Yamana are, however, at war with several other powerful clans and are not expected to survive in the long run. It is extremely unlikely that the Yamana will take hostile action against us.

The Chokosabe are indifferent towards us even though we have had trade relations for many seasons. They are at war with the Miyoshi for dominance in Shikkoku.

The Miyoshi are a small clan in Shikkoku at war on two fronts with Chokosabe and Hatakeyama (with whom we have friendly relations). They are not expected to survive long.

Threats

As you can see most clans are generally well disposed towards us. In the near term we do not expect to be attacked.

In the medium term, the Chokosabe are our greatest threat. There is a possibility that, after they have vanquished the Miyoshi and dominate Shikkoku, they will begin to turn avaricious eyes towards our provinces. From Shikkoku they can strike anywhere, at our Honshu provinces or our Kyushu provinces.

If an attack were to come from one of the Honshu clans, it is likely that that attack will fall upon Aki, Iwami or Izumi. Aki and Iwami are our two richest provinces.

Therefore, it is proposed that we station the regular army permanently in Aki or Iwami.

Espionage

We know next to nothing about the Shikkoku clans, it is proposed that we invest our limited spying resources in Shikkoku.

We ought also to develop ninja capabilities where possible.



 

Council of Aki, 1558, Day 1

The Council of Aki commenced with the presentation of the economic report by the Commissioner of Finance.

The Budget

The current budget is as follows:

Military costs exceed half of total income. We have 1900 koku excess funds for development. It is recommended that military costs should be maintained at about 60% of total income.

Province wealth

The wealth of the our provinces are as follows:

Iwami with its gold mine, and Aki, are, by far, our richest provinces. The Kyushu provinces

Kyushu garrison costs

In order to maintain minimum order in Kyushu, these are the garrison costs:

Osumi  160
Hyuga  140
Bungo  490
Buzen   420

The high costs in Bungo and Buzen arise from the need to suppress the restive Christian population. As Christianity diminishes in these provinces, we will be able to reduce these costs.

Kyushu development

The Commissioner of development reports that the construction of a trading port (cost 1800) in Bungo and a paper mill (cost 1400) in Buzen are envisaged in the next two seasons. The paper mill will break even within 5 seasons. The current budget will meet these costs.

Trade

This is the value of our trade:

We are losing 600 koku in lost trade due to the blockade on the Bessho. This should be addressed.

The Yamana, Ouchi and Bessho are our most valued trading partners.

Korean cotton trade is worth 1080 koku and costs 350 in trade fleet maintenance. Cotton is worth 34 koku each.
Annamese incense trade is worth 400 koku and costs us 50 in trade fleet maintenance. Incense is worth 50 koku each.

Trade fleets should be redeployed to the more profitable incense trade.

STW2 AAR - Mori Spring 1558

The Daimyo Motonari is dead!

Mori Takamoto takesover the leadership of the clan.

Daimyo Takamoto

It has been 3 years since Mori Takamoto had last seen his native province of Aki. He now returns to it as Daimyo Takamoto at the conclusion of a successful campaign of conquest.  He and his army of battle scarred, veteran samurai, create a powerful impression on the population as they march through the streets of Aki. His prestige has never been higher. He sensed a mood of divine providence in the timing of his father's death.

Before his assembled kinsmen and retainers, Daimyo Takamoto declares:

"When my father was a boy, may he rest in peace, the Mori clan was no more than this single province of Aki. Today, within a short span of years, we have grown into seven provinces. Our ancestors never dreamed that we could become so great. But changed circumstances requires a change of strategy. Therefore, I have decided that we will conduct a full strategic review into all the affairs of the clan. You must mobilise your most talented scholars, accounts men, and strategists towards this task. I will hold a great council at Aki in one months time, at which, you must give your report. At this time we will decide the future direction of our clan."

He gave a brief sideward glance to his two brothers, sitting stoney faced on his left. He knew what was on their minds.

"As for the matter of the succession ... I will decide after the meeting of our great council."