Part One: The Beginning
Chapter Two: The Invaders
The next few years were very peaceful in the nation of Nihon. But things were very busy in the courts of China, Korea, and Manchuria. The Manchu's improved relaltions with Korea to an outstanding level. They also became friendly with China, and established Royal Marriages with both of those nations.
Manchu was clearly planning to take over Korea. The Manchu Empire had no navy at all; only a well trained, fierce, massive army, led by ingenious commanders, often the empire's monarchs. The Empire of China realized the potential threat, and built an alliance with several nations of Southeast Asia, Tibet, and Korea. The Manchu's knew they would have to be an in alliance with Korea if a peaceful annexation was to be carried out.
The Tokugawa Shogunate, at about this time, became involved in the political matters of the mainland. The Tokugawa's seeing the power of the Manchu's, attempted to ally with the country, but were rejected. Tokugawa Iemitsu had made a plan to invade Ming China, which was becoming torn apart by civil war. Manchu was the obvious ally in such an effort.
The Manchu's, after rejecting an alliance with Nihon, joined the alliance that China had founded. The Chinese finally accepted, as they were fooled by the Manchu's overkindness. Now, Tokugawa Iemitsu, not yet hearing of the Manchu Empire's entrance into the alliance of the Ming Empire, and Korea, declared war on China. Thousands of Kyushu samurai sailed across the sea to China, and began their invasion.
China, called upon her allies to help in this time of need. Manchu accepted the plea, expecting Korea to do the same. However, the Koreans denied to help China, and went so far as to leave the alliance. The Manchu leaders would have done the same, had they known Korea would have denied. They could have made an alliance of only them and Korea, allowing them to take that country for themselves, through peaceful annexation.
Now, the Manchu's decided not to worry about what happened, but try to make the best of their new war. First, as an Empire without a navy, they would need to construct a fleet with which they could cross the sea to Nihon. All of the coastal provinces of the Empire began to build warships and transports ships. However, Kansai samurai sailed across to Manchuria, and began invading the land. They could only get so far: The Manchu armies won quick, decisive victories over the samurai, and sent them back to Nihon.
The Tokugawa's saw that Manchu could not cross the sea to fight them, and so hastily declared war on Korea, to gain a foothold on the mainland of Asia, and try to slay the "Threat of the North", the name that many surrounding countries now began to refer to the Manchu as. About twenty-three thousand samurai from Kyushu, Kanto, and Kansai invaded Korea. The Koreans were beaten out at first, and were chased out into Manchuria.
They pled for help from the Manchu's, who quickly joined up arms with them. The combined Manchu and Korean forces heavily outnumbered the samurai, and chased them back to their ships. The Korean King greatly thanked the Manchu, and relations improved enourmously. The Manchu armies now marched back into Manchuria; the navy was now complete.
About thirteen thousand men could get onto the navy at once. The ships were crowded with troops, and sailed across the spring waters to Ezochi, the large island of northern Nihon. There were only one thousand defenders, of which just finished their training and so were highly inexperienced. This force quickly fell to the Manchu's, and Hakodate was besieged.
While the siege commenced, the navy sailed back to the Manchurian coastline, where it picked up another thirteen thousand soldiers. Now, about twenty-six thousand men would be overseas, fighting, and the other thirty-six thousand remained at home, defending Manchu territory. By the time the fleet arrived off the coast of northern Nihon, the city of Hakodate had just about fallen to the Manchu troops. So, it was planned for the new troops to start an invasion of the mainland of Nihon. The target: Tohoku.
On the way towards the coast, the powerful fleet of Nihon met with the Manchu navy. Now, a great naval battle began. There was fierce fighting in those stormy waters off the coast of Tohoku. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the Manchu's. This was a great accomplishment for it indeed, as it had won its very first battle, and against a powerful, well-trained opponent.
The troops landed on the shores of Tohoku, and set up camp. The fleet headed north, towards Ezochi. Shortly before it arrived at the shores, Hakodate had fallen. The army there boarded the ships, which sailed south to Tohoku, and the men met with their allies at the camp, which was set up in deep woods, in the mountains.
Now, we shall return to that small village of Tohoku in the mountains, in which our story began. In that village of Lord Akitomo. Akitomo was not called upon for any of the invasions of the mainland, and was only ordered to prepare himself, his son, and his peasants for a possible defence of Manchu invasion.
Akitomo Fuyuto was now twenty-three years old, and the village remained much the same annually for the last six years. This year, however, was to be different. A messenger came to Akitomo from the Shogun himself, telling him and his son to prepare for a battle in defence of Tohoku. All of the peasants were to stay home in case the village was attacked, Taro's old grandfather being the commander-in-chief for the force.
Akitomo father and son mounted their horses, and traveled southwest, where the army was being assembled. The ride was silent, and they spoke little to eachother on the whole trip. Finally, they had met with the rest of the defence force, now complete upon their arrival. It consisted of about thirty thousand men. The army now marched north towards the plain that would become the battlefield against the enemy.
Both sides set up their ranks, and marched forward. There was fierce and loud battle cries, and screams of those being cut down. Lord Akitomo and his son, Fuyoto, bravely charged forward on their horses through enemy lines. They cut down many men. The battle seemed to be going well for the Tohoku samurai!
However, then the Manchu warriors began to gain the upperhand. The Manchu's displayed ingenious cavalry tactics, and fought in ways which the samurai could not match. Soon, most of the samurai were killed, and the survivors, many of which wounded, were falling back. Now, from the left flank, a force of Manchu infantry marched forward.
In desparation, Akitomo yelled to Fuyuto, "Quick! You lead them! All of you, run! I will hold them off!"
Akitomo Fuyoto gasped, and chased his father, "But, but.. You can't do it! We should all run!"
Lord Akitomo threw him back, and demanded that they all run immediately. Fuyuto opened his mouth to protest, but his father's glare, forced him to turn back. He led the men in a retreat. Looking back, he saw his father kill many many of the enemy Manchu warriors. However, he was soon surrounded, and killed. Fuyuto turned his head forward, and whiped a tear off of his cheek.
After a few days of travel, all of the samurai split up, all ashamed of their defeat. Many went home in deep despair, while others committed seppuku. Akitomo Fuyuto returned to his village. He was shocked and despaired at what he found when he returned...
The whole village was burnt to the ground, some buildings surviving, but on fire and with terrible damage already. There was nothing living in the whole village. Everyone, all of the farmers, elders, craftsmen -- even poor Taro and his grandfather -- were killed. Their bodies were strewn about the dirt roads of the village, of which had became flowing rivers of blood. The Manchu's had reached the town before him, and did all of this. Now they had left. Akitomo Fuyuto was the only survivor.
He now prepared for hari-kiri, but was stopped. Several men grabbed him and stopped him. Akitomo looked up. Some Manchu warriors had grabbed him! Akitomo struggled to break free, but was unsuccessful. He felt a blow on his head, and then everything turned black.
Hours later, he woke up. It was dark, and Akitomo looked at his surroundings, finding he was in a small tent. There was a fire outside. Fuyuto got up and peered out the tent's flap -- right into the eyes of a Manchu soldier!
"Ah!" the warrior called out, bringing silence upon the camp, "Our captive has awakened!"
Murmurs broke out around the crowd. The soldier reached in and pulled Akitomo out. Young Akitomo was dragged to the area near the fire. Akitomo looked up, and saw a man lavishly dressed. A soldier next to this man called out to Akitomo in broken Nihongo "Bow before our glorious monarch, Nurhachi!"
Akitomo quickly pressed his forhead to the ground, afraid that these barbarians would torture him to death, and started rattling off formalities to Nurhachi, who could only laugh at the young samurai. Finally, Nurhachi told Akitomo to stop and listen, through his interpreter.
"Now," Nurhachi began, the Manchu interpreter translating to Akitomo was the wise Manchu Emperor was saying, "We fought against you and your father in that great battle, a mere few days ago. Your father was a very brave man indeed. In fact, he killed thirty-nine of my finest men" Nurhachi stopped, and smiled, seeming to take in joy remembering the thought of the bloodshed, "Now, I have that brave warrior's head," Nurhachi's teeth flashed, and he displayed the severed, bloody head of Akitomo's father. Akitomo flinched, and then tried to keep his eyes away.
Nurhachi laughed, "Now, I would have wished for this man to be among my men. He was so brave. So valorous. So powerful" Nurhachi looked off into the distance, as in a dream, then abruptly looked back at Akitomo, "I believe that you" he pointed at Akitomo, "will one day be as great a man as he. I would be honored for you to be among my men."
Akitomo was shocked. "So, they want me to be one of them?" he thought, relieved they would not torture him.
"So," Nurhachi concluded, "Will you join my armies? If you don't, I am afraid you will meet a horrible death before sunrise."
Akitomo laughed to himself, half in fear, and half in pleasure at this strange man, "I believe I have no choice" he said at last.
Nurhachi smiled broadly, "Ah! I am happy you see it my way! Now, you will sleep. As soon as our invasion of this land is complete, we shall return home to Manchuria, and you shall be taught the ways of the Manchu, and taught our language as well. I believe you have made the right choice". And Nurhachi waved Akitomo off.
