NationStates Jolt Archive

ooc: Those who are interested by this rp are free to follow this link (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=502697) where they can see the sign-up/ooc thread; hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I do.

IC:

Echigo Province, Oni Castle

The new dawn was bright over the mountain, its rays shining out over the large green fields and the city that they surrounded. The city was dominated by the castle that sat on the large hill side, the castle donjon’s (keep) seven levels sat squat on their stone base, the walls of the castle quietly patrolled by samurai retainers.

Lord Nagao Tamekage sat on his small seating futon on the top of the dais in his large audience room. Six of his bodyguards sat cross legged in neat rows along the walls on either side. Seated in front and bowing low before Tamekage was his 3rd son, Kagetora.

“My Lord, the last report I received from Omi-dono was that the last of the Uesugi clan members have been subdued. The battle did not take long, and we collected over 600 heads. Only Uesugi Norimasa is alive and has taken over the last of the clan. He wishes peace and asks with great humbleness to become your honored vassal,” said Kagetora. He kept himself bowed until his father roughly nodded, then he raised his head and sat still.

“Very good, very good,” Tamekage said. He smiled inwardly; glad to finally be rid of his old enemy, Uesugi. “Tell Norimasa-san that he is given the right to become my vassal. He is to come here to Oni Castle within a week to make his commitment, and once done he is to send messengers with his seal on the declaration throughout Echigo, so that it will be known that I now have full control.” He huffed and slapped his hand on his thigh. He smiled openly this time, and then brought a small cup of sake he had in his hand up to his lips and drank from it.

A small maid entered through a shoji door near the dais and came in bearing a tray with two sake bottles, a small bowl of rice, and a small plate of char-coaled eel. Tamekage smiled and then waved a dismissal to his son. “Kagetora-san, send the message before the mid-day and then see to it that my generals are brought here tonight, and my chief magistrate, I will be making some changes,” Tamekage said mysteriously. The maid set the tray down next to the dais and bowed low, first to Tamekage, then to Kagetora. She raised herself and then set the food tray before Tamekage who picked up his chop-sticks and began eating slowly. The maid poured him another cup of sake.

Dismissed, Kagetora bowed, then stood, he walked backwards for 6 yards, then turned and went to the far end shoji door. It opened and two guards there sat on either side. One offered up his long killing sword which, by custom, he was forced to leave here before entering the room of the Lord Nagao. He took it then moved on through the halls, going over in his head his father’s orders.

*-*-*-*-*

The long meeting hall was filled with about twenty men. All dressed in their best silk kimonos, their individual symbols of their clans were present, as well as the Nagao clan emblem, showing their loyalty to the House of Nagao and its hegemony over Echigo.

Each sat with their long killing sword, the katana, next to him and with their short sword neatly pushed into their sashes. Each was a general of Nagao Tamekage, and hatamoto, an honored and special retainer of the daimyo and each had special capabilities that went with the title.

Kagetora sat at the end, where a dais with an empty cushion was for his father, along with Souchiro Omi-san, one of Tamekage's most experienced and loyal retainers.

"Ah Kagetora-san, your father is never this late for a council meeting," Omi said. He scratched his chin and looked around the room. Several of the generals nodded their agreement.

"The Lord, my father, had pressing business earlier Omi-san. I am sorry if he is late, but then the Lord may come when he comes, but we will still be here and waiting patiently, neh?" asked Kagetora.

"Hai, your right of course, I meant no insult or meaning that he was late. It is simply that I wonder what he will do with Uesugi." Omi had left the san, a title of respect, off the name. Omi and several other of the generals in the room had only just gotten back to Oni Castle for the meeting, having finally crushed all opposition in the Echigo province on behalf of Nagao Tamekage.

Suddenly the shoji doors behind the dais opened, and Tamekage entered. All the generals immediately bowed. Tamekage walked onto the dais and sat down, he bowed back. The generals rose up and looked at him. A man wearing the robes of a magistrate entered as well behind and the shoji door slid shut. The man sat down to the left of Lord Tamekage and bowed to the assembled generals.

"Welcome old friend and comrades," said Tamekage. "I am glad that you all arrived swiftly. For this meeting is important. For I have decided a new course for our clan." All eyes instantly widened and every one of the generals concentrated.

"I Nagao Tamekage Noh Fujimoto, will become Shogun," he said simply without pretext. All the generals sat silent, some in slight shock, and others in determination. All of them knew that the last Ashikaga Shogun had died over 20 years previously, and since all the daimyo's of Japan had strived for the position. But as yet, not one had come close.

"And right now, I have brought Doshu-san here," he motioned to the magistrate. “So that we can record what I will say and for the adjustment of the army and its expansion. For to attain what I want, I need more men."

"Nagao-sama," said Omi-san. “I am proud and honored that you will seek the throne of Shogun, and I will fight and die for you until you have achieved that goal. However, how can we raise such an army to do this? Are there not other daimyo seeking the same?"

Tamekage smiled and nodded. "That is true old friend. There are others seeking the Shogunate. However, we have the resources and power to raise more troops and I have come up with a strategy that will win me the position of Shogun." Tamekage motioned to the magistrate. The man bowed again.

"At this time the province of Echigo provides my lord with some 375,000 koku each year. 187,500 of which can be used for military expenses," Doshu-san said. "These so far have the lord decreed:

"20,000 Archers are to be raised and trained, at a cost of 40,000 koku. 15,000 more samurai foot soldiers will be raised and trained at a cost of 60,000 koku. And a force of 500 mounted heavy cavalry samurai will be raised and trained for cost of 4,000 koku.

"Because the lord is interested in a Navy as well, our shipyards will construct 50 Seki-bune medium craft, and 100 Oadake-bune large craft, all for a cost of 35,000 koku.

"Thus the lord will have spent 135,000 koku to train and build, and in the years to come will cost 67,500 koku to maintain this force," said Doshu-san with finality.

The seated generals were awed by the massive amounts of spending and men. "My Lord, how soon will you order these things, and who will command them?" asked one general.

"Now. Within the year they will be trained, and the ships will take at most two years, maybe three. Is that not right Doshu-san?" asked Tamekage, he turned and looked at the scribe.

"Hai Nagao-sama that they will. This also leaves us with 52,500 koku in the treasury."

"Good, good. Now, I will explain my strategy!" said Tamekage. The generals sat in the council long into the night and did not finish the meeting until the dawn of the next day. All left satisfied and with wild dreams of battle and expectations at the coming campaigns.

Daiki Horiuchi sat with his father. The daimyo of the Kii province.

"son, Soon I will be gone and you will take over the title as daimyo, you have your entire life in front of you. There is only thing I want to ask you".

"Yes father, I will do whatever you ask of me".

"I want you to become the next shogun"

"what ever you order I will carry out. But how do you think I can become shogun? As far as I know there have been shogun for the last 20 years"

"My son, don't worry I have arranged some small changes in this province. It is time that the Horiuch family shows what they are worth. I have ordered great changes into this land. In one year you can expect to be the leader of
40 000 archers
60 000 spear men
20 000 foot samurais
2000 mounted warriors"

"But father. That is impossible! We don't have the founds to raise a army like that! And if we did where should we keep them? It is madness father"

"You disappoint me son, do you not have any faith in your old father? At the present state we make 325 000 koku every year. After all other expenses we possess 162 500 koku. The total amount will be no more then we can afford. the total project will cost a total of 1460 000 koku leaving us with 16500 koku. These money will also be spent. Don't you worry, son.

"Tell me father, what is your plans"?

"Nothing more then to ensure that you becomes shogun"

Kagetora sat on his horse waiting. He was on a low hill next to the castle overlooking a great clear plain where his father's army trained. Before him some 10,000 men drilled in formation using Yari spears, wielding their katanas, or shooting their long bows at targets some 200 meters away.

It was the second group of men being trained after the conscriptions his father had ordered. Four other such training areas were constructed within 40 ri (Japense mile) of the citedal. Thus far some 4,000 samurai had been recruited along with 8,000 archers. All young men in the province had been bred on war since birth, so Kagetora's father had great pool of man power to dip into.

The sound of horse hooves caused Kagetora to turn around in his saddle. He relaxed when he saw that it was Omi-san riding up next to him. The aged general and young heir bowed to each other.

"Good afternoon Kagetora-san, how are you?"

"I am well Omi-san, thank you. And how are you?"

"I am doing well. I see you are watching the training. These men have been drilling for two months. How do you find the program your father developed to do this?" asked Omi-san. He wiped his forhead, the sun overhead of the beginning summer months was heating up the day's air tremendously.

"I think it is impressive. I am wanting to see the army in the field however."

"You soon may. Your father wishes to see you at the Hour of the Hare."

Kagetora turned and looked at the aged councilor. "Is it war?"

"I do not pretend to know my Lords mind, but I would guess he has a plan of action in which to use. Our forces that we had against Usuegi have all be recalled to the north. Other than that, I know nothing," said Omi-san.

Kagetora nodded. "Very well, I shall see him in three hours." Omi-san nodded. They both sat quietly and watched as the training below them continued. A group of ashigaru, peasent spearmen, were below them. It was a one on one contest between this groups members.

Two men would step up and use staffs to fight each other. The winner was declared after his opponent was knocked to the ground 'dead.' Omi and Kagetora watched as one particular man swiftly defeated his first opponent and then another, and then another.

"That man is quite adroit with a spear," commented Omi-san. Kagetora nodded in agreement. It was sometimes unusual for a peasent soldier to be so skillful. It was when the strange man defeated his eigth opponent in a row that Kagetora's interest really grew.

"I think we should meet this skilled ashigaru." Kagetora clicked his heels to the flank of his horse and trotted forward. The samurai who was directing the competition noticed the sudden arrival of the lord and called out to his trainees to come to attention. All of them halted what they were doing and bowed. Lord Omi came up a moment later next to Kagetora.

"Ah, Captain Higara! I notice you've some skillful warriors here," said Omi-san The captian beamed with pleasure at the comment and bowed in acknowledgement. "Extremely skilled," commented Kagetora. He stared at the man who had won eight matches in a row.

"You, soldier, what is your name?"

Akira, for it was he at whom Kagetora had directed his question, replied promptly "Lord, i am Akira, adopted son of the sadly now deceased merchant Katsuo, originaly of the province of Yamashiro. it is my honer to serve you and your father."

Akira, for it was he at whom Kagetora had directed his question, replied promptly "Lord, i am Akira, adopted son of the sadly now deceased merchant Katsuo, originaly of the province of Yamashiro. it is my honer to serve you and your father."

"We'll be needing fine warriors like yourself before the end, that I can believe," said Kagetora. He looked the warrior over. Akira, for that is what he named himself, was tall and had a strong look about him.

"Where did you learn your skills from?" asked Omi-san.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Tamekage sat on the tatami matted floor of the tea house, enjoying the fresh air around him. He sat in a small tea house that was located outside the castle. Guards ringed it at fourty paces away, watching everywhere, always alert. Tamekage simply ignored them.

"There is nothing between Thou and It, all this is but an Illusion." He thought to himself. He felt like a blanket of eternal peacefullness had settled on him, then he breathed deeply, enjoying the sensation.

A small sound brought him out of his revelry. A man, clothed in black and kneeling several paces away hidden in the bush bowed low. "Tamekage-sama, I bring you urgent news," said the man. It was one of Tamekage's many spies, though not very often did he see one, when normally they communicated by pidgeon message.

"Nani des-ka?" What is it he asked. The man bowed again.

"My Lord, our spies report that the Lord Hojo has begun marching into the province of Suruga. They have been mobilized for some weeks. As far as we know, the Lord Hojo has been winning several skirmishes in Suruga."

Tamekage was rocked to his feet. For the Hojo clan to make such a move was indeed agressive, quite unlike them when in the past they had been content to sit behind their high castles.

"Very well, highten the watch on Suruga and watch the campaign. I want to know all that happens," Tamekage said.

"Yes Lord, I live and Obey," the shinobi said, then disapeared.

"Kagemon-san!" called Tamekage. His second son, who was sitting as part of his guard came forward. He kneeled and bowed.

"Hai Nagao-sama?" he asked.

"You are to go and mobilize your men for the invasion of Etchu. On your way out of the castle inform Omi-san that I wish to see him," said Tamekage.

"Hai my lord, arigato for this oppertunity to serve you," said Kagemon, he bowed low to his father. His father had, when the troops had been raised in the early spring, that 1,000 samurai footmen and 500 archers would be under Kagetora's command and as Kagetora's second, Kagemon. The honor bestowed upon him had been great. And now the honor of this was even more.

"Thank you Lord." Kagemon bowed again then left. Tamekage turned to a small tray beside him where his small cup was. He gentley took it and sipped on his cha, watching as his son road his horse down the path to the castle beyond.

"Lord, there was a man of some skill who was aquanted with my father, who taught me the beginings. then for some years i traveld with my father, and as is to be expected, sometimes bandits were inclined to attack a merchant in hopes of takeing his wares. i have spent a little time with a skilled man here and there, learning a little of this and that. just before my father died, i was part of a force sent to despatch bandits which had been plagueing Yamashiro at the time. i learnt a little from those around me, and those i fought. for my skills, the Lord Sameri in charge of the force placed me at the head of fifty men, and all of us were discharged with honer and some small rewards when the bandits were finaly put down compleatly.

so, Lord, i can not rightly say where, or who taught me. life, the Kami. who knows? i learnt, however. and now i work for the Daimyo, untill released or dead. I intented to continue learning."

Daiki Horiuchi was training with the men. Currently he was flying through the air on a black horse alongside fifty mounted warriors. He yelled orders and they followed him around the field. They were training on rapidly changing direction. They flanked out and speed up. At maximum speed they ordered the horses to jump, turned mid-air and continued the other way. Daiki was covered in sweat. The drilling were hard. His father had ordered him to lead the army and he needed to know the state of his troops. He had already trained with the spear men and shoot with the archers. Still he would need to fight with the samurai. They was separated from the rest, training on the other side of the citadel and sleeping and eating under better condition of the rest. He stopped his horse. Told the men to carry on and left the horse with one of the servants. Then he walked to the samurai camp.

Border of Echigo and Etchu Province, Northern Japan

The group of mounted samurai drove their horses hard and skillfully, watching for anyone around them, scouting the land. They came up over a high hill and were welcomed with a view of the surrounding countryside. Through the sparse trees that were on the hill one could see far into the province of Etchu.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/Upum/Samurai/kagemusha1.jpg

Kagetora smild as he looked down into the land he was soon going to conquer, the land his father had prepared to swallow for more than two years prior. He pushed his helmet back and let it hand by its straps behind him then wiped his brow, taking off the sweat. "I could use a bath," he said aloud.

One of the samurai nodded. "We could all use them, but all the more glory to us for seeing the battlefield first!"

"Yes thats true! And all the pickings we will gain from this! Oh ko!" said another samurai. The men all dismounted laughing and a few tethered the horses. They went to the southern slope of the hill to remain hidden from anyone looking. One samurai took out large bag off his pack-horse, it was rice. He then went about starting a fire. Peeling off his helmet and washing it out with water, he set it on a stand in the fire. Soon they had a helmet of rice cooking. Another samurai pulled out a sack of fruits and shared them around. They told each other stories and tales as they waited.

They ate and rested for some time until suddenly another mounted samurai appeared. All the men sprang up and drew their swords. When they saw the banner flying attached to the man's back and saw it was one of Kagetora's messengers they relaxed. The man jumped from his horse and bowed before Kagetora.

"My Lord, the army is less than an hours time from here marching quickly. Captain Omaru of the 1st company is the head spuring his men on quickly. By Nightfall the army will be camped upon the border," said the messenger.

"Good, go back and keep me posted on the army's movement," said Kagetora. The messenger bowed and jumped back onto his horse and rode off to the south. Kagetora turned to his other men.

"Has Inoa Matsu-san returned yet?" Kagetora asked, naming his best scout.

"No Lord, he has not, he should be back soon though Lord. His message said that he would be here," said one samurai.


After about another hour the samurai scout Inoa Matsu returned. He was clothed in a battle kimono made of greens and brown colors, and only his single killing sword in his sash; he also held a short bow, most common among hunters. He got down from his lathered horse and bowed before Kagetora.

"Well?" asked Kagetora, returning the mans bow with a nod, "What are the forces in Etchu up to?"

"The Ikko-ikki Clan have not mustered on the border, but they do have a small garrison at a village several ri north of here. We have the element of surprise!" Inao reported excitedly. All the samurai standing around smiled a few let out a cheer. Kagetora quited them with a wave.

"Very well, we'll await the army, and tommorow we attack," said Kagetora, most satisfied himself. "Send a message to my brother Kagemon in the main force that he is to march at the double."

"Hai, my lord."

Border of Hyuga and Satsuma

The large travelling party of samurai occupied most of the road. Peasents were obliged to step to the far sides and bow as the two banner bearers walked past followed by thirty samurai footmen. The proccesion was a large one, and decorative. More than twenty banners flew in the front and more in the rear of the party, all flying the crest of the Ito House. At the center, riding high atop his black charger was Ito Shinomori, eldest son of Ito Haguki the Lord of Hyuga.

Shinomori wore one of his most flamboyant travelling kimonos, his daisho, two swords, were in his sash at the proper angle. All in all he thought he looked very intimidating.

The captain of his travelling escort rode his horse from ahead down the line of samurai and other dignitaries that were with the party. He turned his horse and came up alongside Shinomori.

"Yes Captain?"

"My lord," he bowed, "The border is just ahead. You wished to be informed when we reached it."

"Very good," said Shinomori, "I want you to send ahead a herald and tell them that Lord Ito Shinomori has come to ask passage to speak with the lord of Satsuma."

"Hai, my lord." The Captain clicked his heels and sped his horse forward. Giving a cry for the men on foot to move aside, he rode forward with two other mounted men with banners to follow him.

Yamato, Fief of Lord Matsukura

Matsukura Douggen narrowed his eyes at the bowing man before him. The man bowing was one of his chief retainers with the responsiblity of gathering information outside and inside the lands of the Matsukura clan.

"Say that again," ordered Matsukura.

"Hai," the man lowered his head a bit lower, "our spies have reported that the Lord Horiuchi has begun marshalling a huge army in Kii around his capital and elsewhere. It numbers well into the tens of thousands."

Douggen waved the man away in dismissal. The man bowed and quickly manuevered backwards about four paces before rising to his feet. The man quickly, as fast as politeness allowed left the room, the shouji door snapping closed.

"Shibata," cursed Douggen. He was the ruler of Yamato it was true. But he did not have the strength to withstand the full might of Kii should the damned Horiuchi clan invade. Douggen calmed himself. Anger would not profit him anything but wasted time. He had to think clearly.

Suddenly it came to him. He smiled to himself and slapped the tatami floor with his hand, laughing. "Matsu-san," he called.

A side shouji door opened to reveal and bowing samurai. "Hai dono?"

"Have three messengers prepared within the hour. One is to go to Kii, the second to Ise, the third to Iga. I will prepare all the messages myself," said Douggen.

"Yes my lord." The samurai bowed and closed the door.

Douggen spent the next hour writing in his most skillful hand three letters. The one to Lord Horiuchi was a greeting, asking after his health and whether or not it would be prudent to ask for a meeting of friendship in these dark times.

The other two letters were to Lord Kitabatake and Lord Niki, the respective rulers of Ise and Iga, neighboring provinces that Douggen was positive he could get to ally with him in the face of a dangerous Kii. Yes, he thought, he could do it.

With the setting of the sun all three riders rode forth from the castle, one riding south and the other two north.

Daiki Horiuchi sat on a carpet inside his tent, watching over a great field. The hill marked the border between Ise and Kii. He was forming the landscape in a box of sand. The large hill where he now was present ended in dens, forest unable to walk through to the right. On the other side a deep wild river raged. On the other side of the field, behind the enemy soldiers there were hige tall trees. Not dens like on the right side but easy to walk through. In the middle of the field a smaller not weary deep river flooded. There would be no problem to pass the river on foot.

He was setting up the battle formations he would use the next day. He had slitted his army in two. He knew that this was a dangerous tacktick. With him he had brought 20 000 archers, 30 000 spear men 10 000 foot samurais and 1000 mounted warriors. Exactly the half of the army he had trained. The other half had turned to yamato with his father. He could not wait to hear the story of how the war had been for his father. However now he needed to focus on his goal. To fight Ise. He used rocks and other objects to mark where the troops where to be placed. first he would have 6 groups of spear men divided into blocks. each block consisting of 5000 men. Behind them came the archers, as the spear men they were divided into blocks. Each block, 8 in total consisted of 2500 men. The flanks were protected by the 10 000 samurais. And behind them all 1000 mounted warriors stood, prepared to step in wherever the lines became thin. Behind all this Daiki Horiuchi would stand with his most trusted men and generals always watching and analyzing the battle, prepared to make rapid changes in the formations.

Training Grounds, Echigo

Kagetora nodded to Omi-san and rode away from the group. The aged general however stayed behind and looked at the young warrior before him. He had a sharp look in his eye, an intelligent look. Omi-san nodded in approval. He hated it when he had to deal with arrow fodder. He smiled at the man.

"I need a good fighter and leader," Omi said. "And I think your up for the job. Report to Captain Sagara at the citadel main barracks. There you will take command of an archer company."

The captain bowed as Omi left and all the other men around Akira laughed and cheered for their fellow.

"Your so lucky!"

"Gods must have done something!"

"Karma! its Karma! Oh ko!"

They all laughed and patted Akira on the back. The group captain gave a rare smiled and waved him off to follow the general's orders.

A lone Samurai approached the Citadel of the Lords of Echigo, he was on a light brown horse, wearing a Black Kimono, it was certainly unusual for Northern Samurai to wear black kimonos and he immediately attracted suspicion from the guards, they held their spears to his chest and order him to stop.

He looked down at them, expressionless "Tell your Lord that the Dragon of Kyushu is here to see him, I hope my reputation will precede me"

Lord Tamekage was writing out a poem that had come to him during his afternoon meditation period when one of his retainers entered the room and bowed. Tamekage ignored him for a moment and finished his poem. Satisfied with what he wrote he set the ink brush aside and looked at the man. He waved with his hand to come forward. The man bowed again and shuffled forward.

"My lord, I am sorry to have disturbed you, but a rider has been met at our gates. He claims to be the 'Dragon of Kyushu' and wishes to speak with you my lord."

Tamekage's eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed. He had heard rumors once of that name in the far south, but nothing more. What would such a man wish with him...he knew better than to pass up the chance to gain new information or meet important men.

"Send him to me, and allow him to make himself known when he comes before me," ordered Lord Tamekage.

"Hai dono," said the samurai. He bowed and left the room.


Less than half an hour later the strange man who had arrived at the gates of Castle Oni appeared before Lord Tamekage. His long sword had been given into the care of the guards behind him. Tamekage was sipping on cha when he entered.

As he studied the man's walk and physic he emmediately recognized a warrior. Not just a simple samurai, but a real warrior. He looked strong but at the same time had a look of weariness in his eyes. The man bowed to Tamekage.

"What is your name?" asked Tamekage.

Ise Border, Fortified outpost

Captain Hagiri Saito lay on his stomach on the tall hill that was the farthest southern border of Lord Kitabatake's domain and fief of Ise. Below him was a large army. An army gathered by the Horiuchi clan to invade Ise.

"Shibata," Saito cursed to himself. It was a large army. Numbering well into the thousands. Saito turned his head to look behind him. There at the end of the large valley, a valley that was the frontier of Ise, was his small fort. The most forward outpost of Lord Kitabatake's army. The valley road leading to it was surrounded by high hills. Two villages were there, one just behind him a few dozen yards, and the second closer to the castle.

He had to come up with a plan to stall this huge army there.

Saito turned back to look at the army in its encampment and nodded to himself. He smiled even when his plan began to formulate in his head. Yes, this presented a huge oppertunity. He just had to wait until nightfall.

Akira, being a man in posesion of a functional brain, had followed his orders as swiftly as possible, and was now walking through the citadel. looking at the position of the sun, he figured he had about an hour before sunset. this was good.

'i am not ungreatful for this opertunity' he thought 'but why archers? anyone could have told them how hopeless i am with a bow. simply standing and watching, appart from the occasional order is really not my strength. still, i must do my best.' he smiled, just slightly, remembering the words of his adopted father: there are no problems, only opertunitys.

"Father, i may not be a merchant, but I shall make you proud!"

and with that, he arrived at the barraks.

he had to state the reason for his presance a few times, various sentrys and the like chalanged him at gates, or superiors asked. still, the sun had not yet set when he found the Captain.

"Lord Sagara, i am Akira. Lord General Omi instructed me to report to your respected self." Akira bowed as he spoke. it always payed to make a good impression when dealing with superiors.

Akira, being a man in posesion of a functional brain, had followed his orders as swiftly as possible, and was now walking through the citadel. looking at the position of the sun, he figured he had about an hour before sunset. this was good.

'i am not ungreatful for this opertunity' he thought 'but why archers? anyone could have told them how hopeless i am with a bow. simply standing and watching, appart from the occasional order is really not my strength. still, i must do my best.' he smiled, just slightly, remembering the words of his adopted father: there are no problems, only opertunitys.

"Father, i may not be a merchant, but I shall make you proud!"

and with that, he arrived at the barraks.

he had to state the reason for his presance a few times, various sentrys and the like chalanged him at gates, or superiors asked. still, the sun had not yet set when he found the Captain.

"Lord Sagara, i am Akira. Lord General Omi instructed me to report to your respected self." Akira bowed as he spoke. it always payed to make a good impression when dealing with superiors.

The squat and very broad Captain Sagara scoffed at the new comer. He held a wooden practise naginata in his hand and wore a simple kimono with only a blue sash around his waist to mark his rank. He had been given notice of General Omi-san's orders and of his placement of this new young pup.

He had watched as the man had walked up to the citadel and through the gates without giving anyone much of a hard time. And to the man's credit he had come directly to the barracks, unlike others who would often go to get a drink of hot sake before reporting by sunset. That was a good thing in this man's favour. However Sagara wanted to test him further. He needed to test the man's reflexes.

"I ain't no 'lord' you wind-bag!" roared Sagara. With a quick spin he lifted the naginata (a short pole-arm weapon) and brought it in a slashing cut at the man's shoulder.

Ise-Kii Border

Daiki Horiuchi sat and gave his orders to his second comander Miyamoto Musashi. They both would lead there half of the army on the top of the Vally. It was a riscy maneuver, but they would be safer up her where they could meet any threat in equal terms and not trying to defend themselves from down in the Vally.

Captain Saito watched the army before him split into two equal groups from his hidden position as night fell around him. The enemy commander was cautious, almost too cautious. Especially for an army as big as that one. Most commanders with such an army would advance with impunity and fear no major loss of life against a smaller foe.

But a cautious foe was not always a smart foe, and being cautious meant that such a commander could easily be fooled into thinking things were more dangerous than they really were for his men.

Saito had sent two messengers to Lord Kitabatake, urging him for the need to assemble the army and perhaps any allies that could be gained. It was not something widely known, but Hagiri Saito was a hatamoto of Lord Kitabatake's; the old warlord would he'd his captain's call. Saito only had to buy time for the old warrior.

He turned to his left where in the hallow of a small hill were two hundred hidden samurai, men from his outpost that he had assembled for their first task for upsetting the enemy. He made a serious of gestures to his lieutenant, Goju Kazuki, and pointed to the encampment. His lieutenant nodded and motioned his men forward. They all wore black garb, allowing them to be nearly invible in the gathering dark. They belly crawled to the top of the hill that overlooked the encampment. Each of them holding a bow and quiver.

Saito smiled and went down the back of the hill, walking quickly to where a group of his most trusted and experianced samurai waited. They all wore black, had put ashes on their faces to darken them, and even dyed their teeth black. Ninja would often go like thus, but not samurai normally; but Saito did not have one of those crafty fellows at his disposal. He nodded to the group as he came forward, similarlly dressed. They all knew what they had come to do.



As the sun fully fell beyond the horizon the group went off at a fast pace, running. They ran east for at least two miles, giving the enemy army a wide berthe. Then they shifted south-west, taking themselves to the rear of the enemy camp. Once there they slowly and as quietly as possible moved forward until before them they could see the baggage train of the army. Mules, horses, wagons carrying rice and mullet, the food of the army, and the camps of peasents who travelled with the army to take care of the baggage train.

They got into within thirty meters of the rear and were pleased that there were not many guards; not as many as there were at the front. Why would there be, for an army this big? Saito smiled and prepared his men to wait until the appointed time. The eleven men fell to the ground and hid in shadows, revealing nothing as they waited in absolute silence.


-*-*-*-


Goju Kazuki scratched his head for what seemed the hundredth time as he looked up at the stars. Night had fallen several hours before and the large camp before had slowly gone to sleep. Of course there were still hundreds of soldiers still awake, but it was all in a soft tone.

Lieutenant Kazuki turned to see his men all prepared. He looked over to his right where Lieutenant Fuwara sat with his 80 men, all on horseback and in full armor. They had ridden forward less than an hour earlier, the horse hooves covered with cloth to avoid any enemy sentries hearing their approach.

The plan was a simple one, yet had to be executed perfectly. Kazuki's 200 archers would rise up, being firing volley after volley into the camp. At the same time, yelling at full tilt would be the 80 cavalrymen under Lieutenant Fuwara who would charge into the encampment and cause as much damage and kill as many enemies as possible, bringing out as much chaos as possible. While the enemy was thus distracted and concentrated at the north end, Captain Saito and his men would attack the rear, the baggage train, and set fire to as much of the grain and wagons as possible. There was a northernly wind that night, which favoured them in this venture. But then things could still go wrong.


Kazuki looked once more up at the moon and judged it to be just about the Hour of the Hare. He gave a soft wistle and as one all his men raised to their feet. As one they fitted an arrow in their draw-strings. As one they pulled back and held it. Kazuki looked around once more and then shouted, "Utei!"

200 arrows rained down into the camp. At first it was not noticable, until the second, then third, and more arrow vollies fell in quick succesion. With the thundering of hooves and shouts like demons, the 80 horsemen charged down the hill and through the sentry line of the enemy samurai. They stabbed those men coming out of their tents and those that were half dressed or armed. They picked up flaming logs from the fires and threw them onto the enemy tents, causing them to catch fire. They raised hell.

The squat and very broad Captain Sagara scoffed at the new comer. He held a wooden practise naginata in his hand and wore a simple kimono with only a blue sash around his waist to mark his rank. He had been given notice of General Omi-san's orders and of his placement of this new young pup.

He had watched as the man had walked up to the citadel and through the gates without giving anyone much of a hard time. And to the man's credit he had come directly to the barracks, unlike others who would often go to get a drink of hot sake before reporting by sunset. That was a good thing in this man's favour. However Sagara wanted to test him further. He needed to test the man's reflexes.

"I ain't no 'lord' you wind-bag!" roared Sagara. With a quick spin he lifted the naginata (a short pole-arm weapon) and brought it in a slashing cut at the man's shoulder.

(le snip!)

Akira's relexes were very good. better still were his consious actions, once his mind kicked into 'threat' mode. as it was, Akira bowed at the waste as the naginata swung past. "I appologise sir. i generaly find it better to overestimate someone's rank than underestimate it. the later tends to result in one becoming rather dead, after all."

the convenient thing about bowing like this, Akira thought to himself, was that in the event that he had misspoken sufficiantly for a returning swing, he was in the position to diveroll forward and take the man's legs from under him rather than being hit by the weapon.

Tosa Province, Nakamura castle (citadel)


Ichijo Fusamichi looked over the ornate wood of hos castle balcony. Outside the castle his army was gathering, already thousands of pale tents were set up and more were being erected.

"Impressive, isn't it," he said to the man next to him.
Ikao Nobamaru was a short, pale man; with a long scar slanting over his left eye, it somehow gave him a fierce look despite his elegant features.
"Yes it is Fusamichi-san, it is indeed," Ikao replied.
"Twenty-five thousand retainers is quite a reasonable amount, for our purposes at least. How long before the Chosokabe retainers arrive?" Fusamichi asked.
Ikao thought for a moment "A week, maybe more. The Aki have already arrived, but they bring only five thousand men, not a small army but negligible," Ikao said with a dismissive gesture.

Fusamichi frowned lightly before speaking "Five thousand men makes the difference from thirty-five thousand men to forty thousand, and in the coming campaign every man counts. The Aki also bring half our total cavalry forces some five-hundred men, which are in already short supply. On a different note, are the supplies in place?"
Ikao nodded. "Hai my lord, they are. Peasants have been recruited to carry rice, water, cloth, arrows and other supplies as well, they are mustering north of Kochi, near the Iyo border."

Fusamichi tapped his fingers in thought before speaking again. "Tell me Ikao, do you think the Kono can stop us? I was planning to deal with the other powers first but I would hate to leave my home unguarded and those dogs on our heels."
Ikao tapped his fan against his wrist, if the sign of intimacy suggested by his name was registered it didn't faze him. "They will probably have the edge of maneuver, there's nothing to be done for that. I would say they will likely have more cavalry than us, and they'll know the terrain. However I think that with your presense the men will be even more inspired to fight harder. Also we have more men than they could hope to muster, combine that with four-thousand samurai infantry and I don't think they'll be able to knock us back. It will be a bloody day, no doubt, but if we procede with caution there is no reason for us to fall." Ikao finished with a nod.
Fusamichi smiled and picked up a cup of heated saki "Won't you join me for a drink Ikao, maybe a game of igo?" he asked
Ikao nodded "I'll accept your offer my lord" he said with a bow.

All around the province Ichijo agents spread rumours of a massive army of samurai gathering in Nakamura, with the way rumour spread it didn't matter if one man, or ten said it, the news spread like wildfire; a hundred thousand samurai warriors set to invade Awa province, no it was ten-thousand common bandits who were to raid Iyo, or wait was it an army set to invade both at once? and yet with the confusion no one seemed truly sure of what was going on, except the Ashigaru and Samurai who were involved.

As he studied the man's walk and physic he emmediately recognized a warrior. Not just a simple samurai, but a real warrior. He looked strong but at the same time had a look of weariness in his eyes. The man bowed to Tamekage.

"What is your name?" asked Tamekage.

Takeshi walked into the room, and bowed with the traditional respect, he knelt down and bowed his head slightly before talking. He was not a handsome man in the traditional sense of the word, he had an experienced face, young, but with the lines that showed a life had been lived on the edge.

His eyes were dark, but they had a fire in them that showed he had spilled blood and was not afraid of doing so again.

"Greetings Lord Tamekage, I am Takeshi Nakamura, a name that is feared across the south of Japan, the Dragon of Kyushu I believe Northern Samurai know me as. I do not believe that you have reason to fear such a reputation, but I do believe that your plans for war would be bolstered by my presence, even if it were just in name"

He sat up, hands on his thighs, looking Tamekage directly in the eye, he was not intimidated by any man, whether he was a lord or not

"I offer my services as a warrior, you will not find yourself dissapointed should you choose to accept my offer"

Northern Echigo, Etsu Castle

The host that marched forth from the great gates of Etsu Castle was great. In a great column, company by company, rank by rank marched one of the finest armies of Lord Nagao Tamekage. An army 8,000 strong made up of spearmen, archers, light cavalry, and even the occasional group of heavy samurai cavalry. They all wore different colors of armor and livery, each for their respective arms, but all held the crest of Nagao upon their banners which waved in the strong westerly wind of the early morning.

General Nimura Kagetsu sat on his warhorse to one side of the castle gate, watching as his men marched past. His chest swelled with pride as he did so, with thoughts of his grand task filling his mind.

As one of the most trusted of Lord Nagao Tamekage’s retainers and generals, Kagetsu had been charged with leading a new force to support Lord Kagemon and Lord Kagetora, Lord Nagao’s two eldest sons, in their attack on the province of Etchu. The army that he had been entrusted with was a mix of veterans, well trained soldiers, and new recruits. He had decided that the best training that the army could receive was by entering into combat, and to make sure they did not break easily in battle had scattered hardened veterans through their ranks to bolster their resolve.

One of Kagetsu’s aide-de-camps maneuvered his horse forward next to the great general. He bowed his head accordingly and handed Kagetsu a small scroll.

“A messenger just arrived from Lord Kagetora my lord general,” the man said. The horse he rode whined a bit as the loud crashing of marching feet reached a new crescendo before them. “He sends his regards and urges you to continue your march in all haste.”

Kagetsu opened the scroll, bowed to the Nagao seal on it, and then read the letter. Even for a hastily written letter the writing was superb. Lord Kagetora was known for being a master calligrapher, and it indeed did show.

The letter reported that Kagetora and Kagemon’s army of 3,000 had reached the border and were beginning their assault upon the western coast and would from there march north to the main castle at Daikon. Kagetora asked that he march with his own army up the eastern side of the middle mountains and cut off any retreating forces, securing the mountain passes, and by securing their own lines of communication with Echigo and Etsu Castle, the most northern castle of the Nagao clan.

Kagetsu nodded at the letter. It was indeed part of his plan, but only part. He smiled when he remembered the night before he left to join his army here at Etsu. Lord Nagao had sent him to not only help his son conquer Etchu, but also to prepare for a spring assault into Dewa, the only other neighboring province. With Etchu secured then Lord Nagao’s armies could strike into the heart of Dewa with impunity. For it was impossible to defend the hundreds of miles that made up the combined border of Etchu and Echigo upon Dewa, and from that border an attacker could invade at will in a dozen locations. It was a superb plan.

And all a part of Lord Nagao’s dream of becoming Shogun.

“Yes, that will become my dream as well,” Kagetsu said to him aloud. “To see my lord walking through the sakura trees in Kyoto to accept the Heavenly mandate to become Shogun for the benefit of the realm.”

He turned to his aide-de-camp. “Send a messenger to Lord Kagetora. Our army will march forthwith from Etsu Castle to support his own drive north.”

“Hai my lord!” shouted the man over the din, excited. He kicked his feet into action and his horse jumped forward, leading him down the column of companies and off into the distance.


-*-


Southern Border, Etchu Province

“For Nagao!”

The long line formation of spearmen and swordsmen rushed up the hilly incline to where their foe awaited, shouting war cries and the name of their lord. Arrows rained down upon them and many fell, never to get up again. But just as many more arrows fell from on high into the enemy, the archers of Kagetora’s army putting up a great hail of fire.

At the top of the hill the dug in forces of the Jinbo clan stood firm. A thin palisade of pointed spears had been planted firm towards the bottom of the hill. Archers continued to rain down arrows into the faces of Nagao clan samurai. Bodies from previous charges lay on the field, some of them still living, but the charging men had no time for the wounded and merely stepped over their fallen comrades and continued up the hill.

The army had successfully wiped out the border forces of the Jinbo clan early on within the first week of their progress. But after that success they had been harassed by rogue survivors who formed into bandit groups, waylaying Kagetora and Kagemon in their march north. It had not been until three days before that they met a significantly sized force, his scouts saying that it was at least 2,000 strong.

Their enemy had position himself on a series of hill tops that blocked the passage north, making it so Kagetora would have no choice but to dislodge them from the high ground in order to continue onward.

“That is the third charge to fail to take that second hill today brother,” said Kagemon. Kagemon stood beside his brother on top of the first hill that had been taken, watching as the newest assault on the second hill break and their men retreat to the bottom, followed all the way by insults from the enemy as well as arrows.

It had cost Kagetora more than 400 men to take the first hill and they still had three more hills to take. Thus far the ratio of losses had been 3-1 in their enemies favor. Something that Kagetora could not keep up with only 3,000 samurai. He was counting on General Nimura to reach him soon with reinforcements, having sent a message to him no more than a week prior to the present engagement before them.

“Come, let us retire to the command tent. We can figure out something there about what to do about the damned Jinbo,” advised Kagemon. Kagetora merely nodded to his brother and turned away from the battlefield. As they went back to their encampment he sent a messenger to the front to halt all attacks for the rest of the day.

They entered the large ornate tent with the Nagao crest emblazoned upon it and sat in small stools. Before them was a map of northern Nippon (Japan) and it had small well carved figures standing upon its surface, each representing a force of samurai under his father’s command.

“How soon will Kagetsu-san reach us?” Kagetora asked his brother. His brother shook his head, looking very much like their mother in most respects he amazingly retained most of their father’s manners; he looked up at Kagetora.

“The last scout that returned said he was two days march south-east of us. I sent a message urging him to hasten and to send any reinforcements possible on ahead. I’m not sure if we’ll get any before the next sunset, but there is hope,” he said. Kagetora nodded solemnly. They needed more men and fast. The enemy had quickly gathered the forces before them, and the more time they were stuck here before those hills the more time the enemy had to gather more forces.

“Well send another messenger with word from me to make forced marches until he arrives here,” said Kagetora. “The mountain pass is less than a day’s solid march from here and it should not take him long. We’ve already secured the pass ahead of him.”

It was Kagemon’s turn to look solemn. “Yes we did, and lost 200 men taking it too.”

The two brothers brooded over the map for many hours. Outside the sun set and then disappeared over the horizon, the moon taking the coveted position overhead of them and the encampment. The nights were getting slowly colder and colder as winter fast approached. They had less than two months to march north and capture Castle Daikon before winter’s chill and snow hit them hard, not to mention the heavy rains that would take place soon before the winter.

Lord Nagao Tamekage’s Conference Room, Oni Castle

The man’s name was familiar. Takeshi Nakamura. Lord Tamekage mentally smiled at this and looked the man over again, reassessing his previous thoughts of the man in light of his revealed identity.

“You have traveled far and wide to suddenly appear upon my door step,” said Tamekage, showing no emotion on his face or betraying his thoughts. “I had heard of your late lord’s demise and was grieved. I recall that he was a fair man.” Tamekage sipped his small cup of cha and held it out for the maid nearby to refill.

“You wish to enter my service? Tell me why.”



Oni Castle, Citadel Barracks

Captain Sagara mentally smiled when the man dodged his slash, but at the same time thought it silly for he was now in a prone position before an enemy. Not a good one either. As the naginata swung just past and over Akira’s head, Sagara’s foot came forward and connected solidly with the bowing man’s collar bone. The power of the kick drove Akira backwards and into the dirt a few paces behind where he previously been.

Sagara planted the end of the naginata into the earth and crossed his arms, smiling at the confused look on the new recruit’s face.

“You thought yourself clever by dodging that attack,” said Sagara. “But you forgot one thing: MOVE YOUR FEET!” He shouted.

“If you don’t move your feet you leave yourself vulnerable to being unbalanced, just as you were. If an enemy swings at you do not try ducking, but dodge it by jumping back, giving yourself room to maneuver. That’s lesson number one for you.” Sagara held out his hand to help the man up from the ground. “Now, no shame in learning a lesson, I should know since I’ve been in more battles than you have years to your age. Understand?”

Sagara pointed to a tall building that was set against the wall. “That is the quartermaster’s, go there and collect the gear that he will have waiting. Once you’ve done that go to the officers section of the barracks and settle yourself in. The baths are open for use around the hour of the Tiger. At the hour of the Hare, I expect to see you fully outfitted and dressed, ready to for your first duties as an officer.”

“Now get.”

'fast' was all that went through Akira's mind as he went over backwards. in battle, he would simply have stepped in and taken the shaft to his upper arm while attacking. however, it does not do to assult one's supperiors at the first meeting, or at all in the normal corse of events.

still, as soon as he had regained his feet, and Sagara had finished speaking, he moved in a way that could be interpreted easily as a nod or a bow.

"Hai. it shall be as you say." with that, he jogged off to do as he was told, givin he impression of haste without the impression of panic or fear.

having no other way to carry it, Akira was wearing his armor, so Sagara's 'lesson' had not even really been painful. collecting his spear, which he had since dubed, at least in his head, the 'black wind' for the colour if it's shaft and the speed with which others clamed he moved it (personaly, he didn't notice that much, but it sounded good) was the work of mear moments.

and so it was that Akira made himself knowen in the Quarter Master's (...storehouse? office? room? shed? chose your own word. it was a building full of nessisary stuff and the man responsible there for) already armed and armored, and, over all, in much the same state in which he had joined the army in the first place.

Lord Nagao Tamekage’s Conference Room, Oni Castle

The man’s name was familiar. Takeshi Nakamura. Lord Tamekage mentally smiled at this and looked the man over again, reassessing his previous thoughts of the man in light of his revealed identity.

“You have traveled far and wide to suddenly appear upon my door step,” said Tamekage, showing no emotion on his face or betraying his thoughts. “I had heard of your late lord’s demise and was grieved. I recall that he was a fair man.” Tamekage sipped his small cup of cha and held it out for the maid nearby to refill.

“You wish to enter my service? Tell me why.”

His face was equally emotionless, but inside he beamed with a silent pride as he explained.

"My Lord always told me that if I were ever found without a Lord to serve that I should head North and serve whomever I deemed worthy, That man, I believe, is you"

He paused for a moment to allow his words to sink in

"There are a great many Daimyo in Japan who have the same aims as you do, some more powerful than yourself, some not. None of these Lords have the same spirit as your family though. You are just, honourable and fair, you will not rule Japan by the sword, but rather with words and deeds. This is why I come to you, I will kill 10,000 of your enemies if it would help you achieve rule of Japan, This I pledge on the Honour of my Fathers name"

He nodded softly as he finished speaking.

Northern Tosa, somewhere north of Kochi

Fusamichi rode along the rolling hillside, an army moved more slowly in hilly terrain and his was no exception, with slightly over forty thousand men on the march the supplies alone were maintained by a virtual army of peasant folk carting basket after basket of rice and vegetables.

Fusamichi made a brave dsiplay, his large uma-jirushi was marked with a huge Ichijo family crest and he himself wore elegant lacquered dark blue armour with a large quarter-moon crest and his mask had large white eyebrows that fell to his shoulders.
In honesty is a tough more than he would have worn, but it made the soldiers feel better to instantly know where he was.

All around Fusamichi a sea of sashimono rippled, some marked with the Aki crest, others bearing the Chosokabe, but the majority breaing his own.
The Ashigaru were organised into solid blocks for marching, one thousand men equipped with yari marched next to one thousand archers. The samurai infantry moved in smaller, more mobile formations of about four hundred, others marched at the head of their own infantry formations, depending on how high they ranked.
the remaining five thousand ashigaru infantry acted as a rear guard and protected the valuable supply linesbut would be called to battle should the need arise.
The samurai cavalry alternated between conversing with their retainers and riding besides Fusamichi, but the mounted warriors were mainly spread out as scouts, mostly they moved a day or so ahead and around the main army itself.
Four hundred mounted warriors rode in two very long, thin columns on either side of Fusamichi.

The sun rode high in the sky and the army marched on.

Lord Tamekage’s Conference Room, Oni Castle

Tamekage looked carefully into the man’s eyes and read the man’s soul. There was no presence of either deceit or waywardness in Takeshi Nakamura’s eyes. Tamekage was glad in this and listened as the man continued speaking of why he had traveled north.

“That is a commendable of you, however I have fanatics enough to handle 10,000 of my enemies,” said Tamekage with a smile, revealing his pleasure at Nakamura’s presence. “However I do need good generals and administrators. I take it you have worked in positions similar to those functions?”

Quarter Master Office, Citadel Barracks

When the shoji door slid open and a tall warrior wearing dusty armor stepped in Tetsuma Aki raised an eyebrow. The aged supply officer looked the man over from head to toe. He had the look of a good soldier and warrior, but he was dirty and dusty. He had heard the scuffle outside and thought that that bull of a man, Sagara, must have been up to his tricks again.

”Well?” Aki asked bluntly. “What do you want?”

“I came to receive my clothes and armor for becoming an officer,” said the man hesitantly.

“Of course you did, why else would you be here?” The man wisely did not answer. He simply bowed.

“I am Akira. Captain Sagara said to report to the Quarter Master.”

“That would be me, and very well. Let us go and get you your things,” said Aki. He stood up from his short desk and put away his ink well and brush. His calculations could wait for later. He stomped past the man and walked through a series of back doors into a great store room.

Rows upon rows of spears, bows, swords and armor sat there in neat stacks. Each was meticulously labeled with small kanji characters declaring the date they were made or commissioned. Aki shuffled through a pile of scrolls and found the one he was looking for. “Ah, here we are.”

He walked over and shoved the scroll into Akira’s hand. He then took out a measuring rod and slapped it up against the man’s side. He hummed as he worked and wasn’t concerned with his charge being disgruntled or embarrassed. He remembered his measurements and went down to a rack of armor. He found the correct suit and checked the tag attached to it to make sure it was the same. Aki nodded to himself and picked it up.

The armor was more polished and was of higher quality than the armor Akira wore and covered more. Aki shoved them into Akira’s arms and then set the helmet over his head, its side dipping over the man’s eyes. Aki smirked at that then turned back to his lists.

Within a few minutes he had added two kimonos and officers swords to the pile of things in Akira’s arms.

“That should be everything you need. That scroll proclaims you an officer in the service of Lord Nagao, keep it with you always until you are recognized as being an officer by guards and other people; even then keep it with your possessions.

“The armor is well polished and lacquered so you shouldn’t need to clean them anytime soon. You can dispose of your old clothes and armor, you won’t be wearing them while you are here.” Aki looked at Akira as the man finally flipped the side of the helmet up over his head and could see.

“The bath and housing is at the south-east corner of this complex, you can bathe there and sleep or whatever you officers do. Any questions?”

Etchu Province

The enemy samurai had once again pushed back yet another charge from the Nagao army under Lord Kagetora and Kagemon. The two brothers had encouraged their men on and for a few brief moments they had claimed the height of the second hill before being dislodged by a severe counter attack pushed them back off.

Within the last day General Kagetsu had arrived with 3,000 more samurai. They were camped less than a half hours march to the south of the battle. Kagetora had ordered they stay there, keeping this information hidden from the enemy who thought themselves successful in holding the Nagao army. Kagetora had to grudgingly say that they were doing that, but it would soon come to an end.

“That is the fourth charge today,” said Kurogane, one of Kagetora’s aide-de-camps and retainers. “They’re becoming tired and won’t be able to hold the hill. We killed at least 300 of the bastards when he took the hill.”

“Yes but we lost nearly as many in the process,” said Kagetora. His men had begun constructing shields of wood from the nearby forest and had carried them in groups of twenty to move up the hill safely. They had worked to great affect, except that the Jinbo clan archers and samurai had begun using fire arrows, setting some of those wooden shields on fire.

“But we now have a major advantage in numbers, we should use them!” said Kurogane in earnest. The man turned to the south and looked into the distance where he knew General Kagetsu was.

“And we will use them. Order another attack up the hill. Press them and do not let them rest. Also send a messenger to General Kagetsu to bring up his entire force. Once the enemy is tired and sunset is come we will fully drive them off and kill all of them,” said Kagetora with confidence.

Quarter Master Office, Citadel Barracks

When the shoji door slid open and a tall warrior wearing dusty armor stepped in Tetsuma Aki raised an eyebrow. The aged supply officer looked the man over from head to toe. He had the look of a good soldier and warrior, but he was dirty and dusty. He had heard the scuffle outside and thought that that bull of a man, Sagara, must have been up to his tricks again.

”Well?” Aki asked bluntly. “What do you want?”

“I came to receive my clothes and armor for becoming an officer,” said the man hesitantly.

“Of course you did, why else would you be here?” The man wisely did not answer. He simply bowed.

“I am Akira. Captain Sagara said to report to the Quarter Master.”

“That would be me, and very well. Let us go and get you your things,” said Aki. He stood up from his short desk and put away his ink well and brush. His calculations could wait for later. He stomped past the man and walked through a series of back doors into a great store room.

Rows upon rows of spears, bows, swords and armor sat there in neat stacks. Each was meticulously labeled with small kanji characters declaring the date they were made or commissioned. Aki shuffled through a pile of scrolls and found the one he was looking for. “Ah, here we are.”

He walked over and shoved the scroll into Akira’s hand. He then took out a measuring rod and slapped it up against the man’s side. He hummed as he worked and wasn’t concerned with his charge being disgruntled or embarrassed. He remembered his measurements and went down to a rack of armor. He found the correct suit and checked the tag attached to it to make sure it was the same. Aki nodded to himself and picked it up.

The armor was more polished and was of higher quality than the armor Akira wore and covered more. Aki shoved them into Akira’s arms and then set the helmet over his head, its side dipping over the man’s eyes. Aki smirked at that then turned back to his lists.

Within a few minutes he had added two kimonos and officers swords to the pile of things in Akira’s arms.

“That should be everything you need. That scroll proclaims you an officer in the service of Lord Nagao, keep it with you always until you are recognized as being an officer by guards and other people; even then keep it with your possessions.

“The armor is well polished and lacquered so you shouldn’t need to clean them anytime soon. You can dispose of your old clothes and armor, you won’t be wearing them while you are here.” Aki looked at Akira as the man finally flipped the side of the helmet up over his head and could see.

“The bath and housing is at the south-east corner of this complex, you can bathe there and sleep or whatever you officers do. Any questions?”



"all too many. or, more to the point, the possibility of too many and not enough information to form them as yet. i thank you." once again Akira gave the half nod/half bow that it seemed would become the default acknowledgement of respect for those not sufficiantly supperior [or those who Were sufficiantly dangerous] to make a full bow nessisaray or safe, but not definably low enough or irrelivant enough to ignore.

with that he left. the first thing he did after getting out of the quatermaster's office was to remove the helmit all togeather. in his previous small leadership role, he had quickly discovered that carrying a flag on one's back, while supperior to carrying it in ones hands, still caused unnessisary and occasionaly strange restrictions to his fighting style. it was easyer to be recognized by his men in this way and if he were hit in the head in a melee, it was his own stupidity and he deserved it, by his logic. admitedly, there was the possibility of archer fire but the odds of his being hit in the head in such a way as to actually do him perminante damage, especially when commanding archers himself, were so low as to no longer be worth the disadvantages the helmet provided. the restricted view when wearing even the best was just one of the down sides.

with a little asking around, and (figerativly speaking) poking the system with sharp and pointy things, Akira found his quaters. he was in need of a bath, it was true, and taking one was high on his list. but first, he needed to orginize his new aquisitions. frankly, he found the swords mor than useless. there were several reasons he was a spearman and acknowledged as superior in that weapon's use. one was that he had never trained in the use of any other weapon, except for an abortive attempt at archery. still, they were a symbol of rank. actually going into a battle where he expected to find himself in melee combat, however, Akira was giving serious thoughts to simply dropping them. he was outright leathal with a spear, and more than compitant unarmed. the swords would get in the way of either, and if used, like as not, do more harm to himself and those around him than to any enemy.

the next trick was getting cleaned up, resting (who knows, possibly even breifly sleeping) , and so on, then reporting as ordered. he began by dumping his old and, thanks to Sagara, dusty armor, as well as the newer set, his spear, and both swords in his quaters. the spear, it should be noted, somewhat less haphazardly than the rest. wearing his old cloths taking with him one of his new and what he had dubbed, at least in his head, his 'yes, i know you don't recognize me yet, but i'm an officer, Really!' paper. it would, he admited as he arived, be good to be properly clean again. it had been a while, really, since he'd had a Proper bath.

so it was that at the appointed hour, Akira was to be found as required. admitedly he wasn't wearing his helmit, and still carried his spear as well as the swords. truth be told, he wouldn't be wearin them even Now if he thought he could get away with it. it was possible he could, or even should, have been wearing one of his kimonos, but this armor sat and weighed differently to his old, and the fastest way to become accustomed to wearing it was to wear it. if questoned, this was his answer, also.

Lord Tamekage’s Conference Room, Oni Castle

Tamekage looked carefully into the man’s eyes and read the man’s soul. There was no presence of either deceit or waywardness in Takeshi Nakamura’s eyes. Tamekage was glad in this and listened as the man continued speaking of why he had traveled north.

“That is a commendable of you, however I have fanatics enough to handle 10,000 of my enemies,” said Tamekage with a smile, revealing his pleasure at Nakamura’s presence. “However I do need good generals and administrators. I take it you have worked in positions similar to those functions?”

I was my Lords chief General, I have lead armies against the Lords of the Shimazu clan and the Mori, I have never been defeated at the head of an army. My banner flies from the first blow of the sword to the last.

My lord, I ask only one thing, and that is that you believe me when I say, I can bring you victory over your enemies. I am also a fine administrator, I held 70 Acres of land for my Lord before his death, I turned it from a 100 Koku a year domain to 2000 Koku, I hope this pleases you to hear my lord.

He took a scroll from his Kimono, it bore the Kanji symbol of the Dragon. He handed it to Tamekage.

As Tamekage read it he would see it was a report, proving what he had said about the land, there was also a report on the battles he had been it, it was signed at the bottom by his now decease Lord.

"As you can see my lord, I do not boast falsely"

Iyo Province, Ichijo Camp

Fusamichi doffed his helmet and rubbed his eyelids, so far there had been little more than skirmishes with the Kono.
The area had been well scouted, the camp was situated on a ridge with no forest for five ri in any direction.
The men would be sleeping by shifts, three thousand ashigaru and two-hundred samurai awake at any one time, enough to keep security tight and not too much to cause a drain on the army's morale.

"How long till we bring them to battle? I grow tired of the endless games these Kono play." He asked adressing his retinue of high-ranking samurai.
Once again Fusamichi had been forced to make camp without a significant battle, the sun was already hanging low in the sky and an army of the size of the Ichijo's had to move slow and make camp early to avoid being caught in a bad position.

It was Captain Hakata Aki that answered. "Hai my lord, I know the feeling well well but much of war is waiting for the enemy to show himself. We could be here for weeks or even months waiting for a major battle. The important thing is to keep on your toes, let your guard down, even for a moment, and you're dead."

Fusamichi nodded in agreement. "I know, I know. However I am merely irritated by this, by now we should be fortifying our newly gained province istead of creeping around waiting to do battle. The longer we wait here the morte likely it is one of our neighbors will make a move."

Time stretched out as the officers talked further on the matter and the sun began to fall low.

a day later, Akira was in the open fields outside the city with the two hundered archers who had been placed under his command. he'd been putting them through their paces so as to see what they could do. as archers, they were all fairly good, hitting targets nine shots out of ten and hitting the center of the targets about one time in five. that was, of course, averaged accross the whole unit. some of them couldnt' even hit the targets at all, though they came close, while a few hit bullseyes every shot.

as soldiers though, working as a unit, they were, well, horrific was the best word for it. there were obviously some veterans in the unit, but on the whole the men had no idea what they were doing. they could form a block properly spaced to fire vollys into an area, and do so reasonably well... if Akira and the four sergents he had appointed were willing to spend an hour personaly makeing sure each man was properly placed. they could form a line and fire vollys straight ahead... if you didn't mind the line bending significantly and the volly rippling out from where Akira stood rather than lossing all at once. as for forming a colomn to march and actually marching rather than simply strolling along... one may as well try to heard cats.

Katsu, Masaru, Naoki, and Nobu were both the best shots and the men with the most experiance in the entire unit, and as a result Akira placed them each incharge of a quater of the troops.


that evening, in Akira's tent, all was not joy and flowers. oh no, not at all.

"by any and every god you care to name, this lot are Pathetic!" Akira, after a full day's worth of sorry preformances, was coming close to loseing his temper.

the sergents, knowing this fact full well and not knowing much yet of their new commander, mearly glanced at each other and said nothing.

"i may not be an archer myself. when it comes to archery i am worse than the worst man in this unit. but when it comes to Soldiering... have any of these men had Any training?"

Masaru was the first to speak "sir, they are all but raw recruits, save ourselves and some sixteen others. they know to follow orders, and they know that if they don't show up to meals, they don't eat. but that's about it."

"oh, hell." Akira slumped onto his camp stool. "i'd hoped for a unit that at least had some idea so that any screw ups i might make would be ... cusioned." he sighed "ahh well. in that case, i'll just have to be sure not to screw up."

looking around at the bemused faces of his sergents, he grinned "i'm pretty new to this whole comand thing. i was a sergent, breifly, in a campagne against some bandits further south. but i've been an officer all of... two days, now."

the men visably relaxed. just a little. Akira relaxed, at least on the inside. apparantly he'd said the right thing.

"right then. split the veterans evenly between you. place them in charge of the squads within your units... not that i should need to tell you that, i guess, but i'm still working on this whole 'officer' bit. tommorow, i'll leave your units to you to orginize, but i expect every man to get at least a half day to relax."

he looked around the tent. Naoki and Nobu looked puzzled, while Katsu was simply impasive. Masaru spoke again, however "sir, do they realy deserve that after today's preformance?"

Akira's grin was... preditory "oh yes. definatly. because the day after, the first thing we're going to do, is get them used to marching. a lot. for several days. they'll learn to do it right, or they'll exhaust themselves and colapse. or they'll slack off, for which we shall devise some... interesting... rewards.

of course, we'll be marching too. on foot. wouldn't do to have them thinking we're tormenting them just for the fun of it, would it now? moral and disiplin are odd things that way.

at anyrate, the sun is setting, and i, personaly, am going to sleep. dismised."

OOC:I know Matsuyama Castle wasn't founded for about seventy years yet, but lets just alter history a little bit so I actually have a target.

Iyo Province, Ichijo army

Fusamichi sat in the saddle with arms crossed.
"How long till Matsuyama castle?" He asked of a nearby samurai officer in red armour.
The tall grey haired man unrolled a map and handed it to Fusamichi, it was a well made thing of fine paper made by a skilled craftsman.

"As you can see, my lord, we are about twenty ri from Matsuyama. I would say we will be upon them in a week," the man said with a bow.

"Ikao, why have we not encountered the enemy army yet?" Fusamichi asked.

The other map chewed his lip for a moment and rubbed his scar. "My lord, I would say they will have a very strong garrison on the Matsuyama castle and then have the rest of the troops hidden in a village somewhere. They might very well just have most of their army in the castle and all the rest in small raiding parties too." he said with a faraway tone in his voice.

"Matsuyama, that castle is a devil's work, it might take us a full year to starve it out, but if attacked it front-on then we risk losing too many of our men to defeat the Kono when they show themselves," he continued.

Fusamichi shuddered, "How many men can we expect to fight?" He asked Hakata.
"I would say between twenty and thirty thousand, if they've left the castle with a weak garrison it'll be closer to twenty. If they've stripped the garrison to a few hundred men then I would say we may be facing theirty thousand men." Hakata said cooly.

Fusamichi nodded, "lastly, how have the raiders been going?"

Ikao spoke up, "we caught twenty men last night, they were all questioned and executed, five of them bit through their tongues before we could stop them though," he said. "Not before they burned about a thousand pounds of rice though, they also killed six guardsmen."

The red dressed man spoke up next, "that brings the total up to about five hundred men killed over the campaign on their side, about four hundred on our side. And eight thousand pounds of rice, and about two hundred tents damaged, lastly about three thousand arrows have been burned."

Fusamichi shrugged and frowned, "I suppose that that isn't too bad losses, the men'll get used to soldiering over time."
Ikao agreed with a nod and spoke, "true, indeed these are not bad odds at all, considering most of our men have only had training; but not a few years of battle to harden them up. It will get better as they learn all the tricks of the trade."