Haha. Conquering left and right while the others are too busy to really pay attention to him.
With three provinces, you're in good shape, however.
With three provinces, you're in good shape, however.
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dinofs - Nagato's pretty sweet province wise, and yeah those guarantees are annoying, but I have a clever way to get around them...
RGB - Haha yeah he's a cheeky chap for sure, and we're definitely climbing the ladder here
RGB - Haha yeah he's a cheeky chap for sure, and we're definitely climbing the ladder here
Part IV
The Iwami War 1484-1488
The province of Iwami had, before the Onin War, been a part of the lands of the Ouchi clan. Though not as prominent as it's neighbouring provinces, it had supported the Ouchi for many years who became one of the main trading clans. The Ouchi were descended from Korean Royalty, and until their defeat at the hands of the Shoni clan during the Onin War, had been one of the premier clans of Japan, and had well established relationships with their vassals. The defeat of the Ouchi displaced many of the Ouchi vassals and angered all of them. The Shoni hold on the area was precarious, only their alliance with the Toki Shogunate kept their claims in good stead.
Moriyake had long coveted the province of Iwami. Though not as wealthy as his other provinces, it had a great deal of mining potential, and it's capture would unite the southern peninsula of Honshu under Takehiko. After the victory in Nagato, it was hard for Takehiko to ignore the idea of taking Iwami for himself. Soon after announcing the future succession of Takeyoshi, Takehiko sent spies and emissaries to extract requests for Moriyake intervention from the Iwami landholders. Their willing response was received quickly, the invasion of Nagato stood as a good example of how the Moriyake operated. By promising non-intervention and support if he was successful, they would keep their lands. If they did not, all lands would be forfeit, and even if Moriyake lost, he had the numbers in the immediate area to do real damage.
But Takehiko knew that the Shogunate would not be so forgiving this time. The Toki clan had a long standing alliance, built before their rise to the Bakufu, and it was likely that Takehiko had used up his goodwill when he annexed the Nagato region. Though the invitation to invade remained, Takehiko did not move yet; frozen by indecision, he waited instead to see if there would be any change in the Toki's attitude towards the Shoni ownership of Iwami. A census was undertaken in late 1484, clerks were sent across the Moriyake domains to interview tenants and vassals. Information on agricultural income, market trade, retainers and goods production were taken alongside the more mundane population numbers.
The 1484 Census
But administration was not Takehiko's real interest. He had created the bureaucracy to deal with it, and the question of Iwami still loomed strong in his mind. By mid 1485, Moriyake had decided that waiting would only strengthen the Toki Shogunate, it became apparent that only by taking the burden of causing chaos in Japan, could he stop the Toki from complete domination. Takehiko could not hope to take on the Shoni, the Shogun, and their Hosokawa allies on all at once. The Moriyake had allies too, but he did not expect the Shimazu clan to lift a finger to help, neither did he expect the young Ashikaga Yoshihisa to be of any real assistance. Iwanaga would have to strike quickly and destroy the two Shoni armies before taking Iwami. It would then be a matter of defending against the Toki in the mountainous terrain of the Aki region. Moriyake would have to gain victory over the Shoni, and survive against the Toki Bakufu.
Resolved to war, Moriyake ordered the invasion on the 25th of August 1485, days later on the 2nd of September, Moriyake forces under Iwanaga massacred the garrison of Hamada castle and headed south to stop the oncoming Shoni army crossing the straits towards Nagato. Takehiko was surprised to receive a Shimazu emissary promising the Moriyake the support of their fleet, and unpleasantly surprised to receive no emissary from the Ashikaga clan. The Ashikaga clan were however under different leadership, the young Yoshihisa, once Shogun had been forced into monasticism by his ambitious cousin Ashikaga Yoshitane who now led the clan, and though Yoshitane had placidly kept the alliance for the past year, he was not the willing puppet that Takehiko desired.
Iwanaga pushed his army to their limits on the march south but still did not arrive soon enough to catch the Shoni army on the beaches. Iwanaga's army, a total of just under six thousand men would be forced to attack the seven thousand strong Shoni army, the Moriyake had to keep the initiative and destroy the Shoni army before the Shogun arrived. With this in mind Iwanaga powered forth, the army's resolution grew as they approached the stronger Shoni army.
The result was an wholly unexpected defeat for the Shoni. Complacent in their numbers and their achievement in crossing the strait unhindered they had been taken unprepared for the ferocity of the Moriyake army. The battle was hard fought for both sides. Shoni Sukemoto held the Moriyake army for hours before his lines broke through sheer bloodiness. Three and a half thousand Shoni soldiers were killed, just over a thousand Moriyake men lost their lives. It was a galling defeat for the Shoni, their morale shattered, Sukemoto broke off his invasion and retreated across the strait, Iwanaga followed in hot pursuit. It was said that as the Shoni reached the beaches of Hizen the Moriyake were midway across the small sea. Fearing the end of their Lord and Clan, several prominent Samurai escorted Shoni Sukemoto and broke away from the army retreating to Fukuoka Castle. The army, burdened by weariness was taken over and cut to pieces by Iwanaga's unstoppable army. By the beginning of October, the Shoni army was finished, and Iwanaga turned back to face the oncoming Toki retribution.
The army of the Shogun is defeated by Iwanaga
The Toki army had arrived in Aki some weeks before Iwanaga returned. Instead of expected retribution from the Shogun himself, the army was bizarrely led by a Samurai civil servant, and had simply demanded that Takehiko present himself to the Shogun and explain his crimes. The Samurai, to this day unknown, had with him an army of just under seven thousand men. Iwanaga came to Aki with five and a half thousand men. With ruthless devotion to the Moriyake he urged his weary soldiers against the Toki army. It was likely that the Toki Shogunate had not expected an all out attack such as this. Iwanaga had advanced on the superior army and ignored all entreaties. For the Toki, it was a disaster. Their army, though numerous were not expected a fight at all, let alone an attack of unimaginable ferocity, Iwanaga, mindful of the need to keep his men's morale high led the attack himself, and could be seen at the head of the Moriyake cavalry as it plunged into the Toki left flank. The battle was a disaster for the Toki, less than a third of the army survived the battle. It's reputation, so newly built had been smeared with blood. The Moriyake had not only defied the Shogunate, but also attacked and defeated it. But the war was far from won, the Toki war machine was still capable of grinding the Moriyake into the dirt, but the Toki seemed incapable of winning. A second army under Matsuda Nagaharu, a Toki retainer was soundly defeated outside the borders of Aki, this battle was as bad as the first, it was made worse by the fact that Iwanaga was now taking the war into neutral territory, displaying to everyone the inability of the Toki Shogunate to halt the war. On the 26th of March, 1486, the final battle of the year was fought against the Toki, an ignominious defeat for the Toki Shogunate, the destruction of their army closed the first chapter of the Iwami war.
While the Toki rebuilt their armies, Iwanaga moved into the Iwami province and began to pacify the region. Thanks to Takehiko's previous efforts, the region was fairly welcoming to the Moriyake armies, and the string of victories may have done their part in cowing the populace. But before the year was out, the Toki had returned and invaded the Aki province, this time, they were far less civil. And by January of 1487, the war was becoming a problem.
The invasions of the Moriyake within the area (Takehiko had taken Aki from the Hosokawa in 1478) and the near continual wars had reached a boiling point. The peasants had been subject to merciless attack and pillage if their Liege Lords were on the wrong side, now with the army of the Shogun causing havoc in Aki the peasants turned to rebellion. Under the flag of Pure Land Buddhism, a school preaching on the corruption of the modern world and the need for equality, an army of monks and peasant farmers revolted in arms, calling themselves, the Ikko-Ikki. They fought the Toki army, but were defeated by the larger and better equipped force. But the news of the rebellion spread, the lower classes, tired of the now prolonged war began to talk of revolution against the Samurai.
Sukemoto's offer - Victory for Takehiko
The war had to be brought to an end, Iwanaga redoubled his efforts and took Hamada castle in February of 1487, he then headed south to confront the Toki army. As the army marched, Takehiko received terms of surrender from Shoni Sukemoto, the Iwami region would be given to the Moriyake, along with payment of tribute. Takehiko accepted graciously, he now controlled all of the south peninsula, with this victory, he had eclipsed all other Samurai in the region. Weeks later, Iwanaga succeeded in ending the Toki siege of Koriyama, it seemed as though defeat was impossible, complaints about the long war continued, but were ignored, for while the Shimazu swept the sea of Toki ships and blocked their armies, Iwanaga led an invasion of Settsu, the province of the Hosokawa, the less energetic ally of the Shoni and the Shogun. The Hosokawa army, though slightly larger was defeated by Iwanaga. But it was not the stunning victory that he had known or hoped for. The Moriyake army, after so many victories was becoming exhausted, hopes of a conquest of Settsu were abandoned and Iwanaga pulled back.
The Settsu campaign - a close victory, but not enough.
The first of many Ikko-Ikki rebellions.
Iwanaga spent the next year fighting discontent at home, peasants, now under the banner of the Ikko-Ikki rebelled against the Samurai, and though they were no real threat to the Moriyake army, they were enough of a problem to stop any Moriyake plans of attack. Some of the Samurai landowners that had invited Takehiko to Iwami took advantage of the growing chaos to split off from Takehiko's rule. But like he had done in 1472, Takehiko crushed the Samurai and prevented his newly won domains from splitting apart. But just as the Moriyake were becoming weary, so were their opponents, in January of 1488, the Hosokawa agreed to a truce, ending the second war between them. But the Toki remained resolute, and when Takehiko met with Iwanaga and other advisors, it was decided that they had to bring the battle to the Toki and threaten them directly. Iwanaga should launch an invasion of Kyoto and finish the war there. Moriyake manpower had run out, and if they waited any longer, the Toki would regain their strength and put an end to the Moriyake clan.
Iwanaga took the Moriyake army, now with a strength of three and a half thousand men, and led his men through the Yamana lands where, ten miles from Totori, he met the Shogun Shigeyori and his army of equal size. Iwanaga won a bloody victory, though he lost almost one thousand of his own men, and killed only a little more of the enemy, he pushed onto Kyoto, there, with just over two thousand exhausted, battle weary men, he met the final Toki army. To his advantage, his opponent was an unknown, a provincial Samurai that the Toki seemed to take so much pleasure in employing. The Toki had placed five thousand men to protect Kyoto and Iwanaga threw his army at them. The battle was fought in late June, in hot temperatures outside Kyoto the two armies battled for access to the Imperial city. Iwanaga won his victory, forcing the Toki from the field, but with the majority of both armies intact. The campaign against Kyoto brought the Shogun to the negotiating table, ten days later, the war was over. The war had been three bloody years long, and both sides were grateful for the reprieve.
Peace is won with the Shogunate
The Moriyake had not only survived, but also won a victory of liberation for Asakura in Echizen against the Toki. The Shogunate had been deeply embarrassed, and the Moriyake were now held in great standing, whether grudgingly or otherwise. But it was Takehiko's great disappointment that he did not have the resources to back up his attack on Kyoto, had he more men, all power would have gone to him. He would have had the Emperor and the Shogunate in his grasp, after just over a decade of independence he would have risen to the top, instead, he would stare pale-faced at Kyoto, at what could have been. He had won, but there was no coup-de-grace.
Now that was a hard fought win...it looked for a bit like the Moriyake were going to fall before they even got to rise!
Well - I am sure he will try again. But first, his power must be increased and consolidated to be able to take advantage of the victory properly.
AP & RGB - I was apprehensive about the war, but then I figured I should be more ambitious about these sort of things. Things went far better than expected, Iwanaga kept pulling the victories out of the hat, and even with the endemic Ikko-Ikki and Toki invasions I pulled off the annexation of Iwami. The trouble was, by the time I invaded Settsu, I was pretty much out of manpower, and I was really starting to stretch things, the Toki were still building troops, and I could barely reinforce my own army. Thankfully the Shogun agreed to the peace, I was at breaking point by the end, had I lost that army, all would have been over. As it stands, I won! Let the Arms Race begin!
Thanks for reading guys!
Thanks for reading guys!
Hey, I'm a big fan of this! Always loved the Sengoku Jidai part of MMU, from the little I've played of EU3.
Would you mind giving us a map update? The names are familiar, but I'm having trouble putting visuals to the land you own, and I vaguely know the location of the Akamatsu, but a picture would be so much easier to handle!
Nice history-book style writing, though. :]
Would you mind giving us a map update? The names are familiar, but I'm having trouble putting visuals to the land you own, and I vaguely know the location of the Akamatsu, but a picture would be so much easier to handle!
Nice history-book style writing, though. :]
Good to see this clan rise to greatness and defy the Shoguns. All hail Iwanaga, slayer of anonymous commanders!
mayorqw - It is! Iwanaga is great, he's beaten anonymous and not so anonymous commanders! Even the Shogun has tasted the wrath of Iwanaga Katsurou!
Little Darkling - Thank you very much! Yes the Sengoku MMP experience is very enjoyable!
Well, I am planning to do a 1500 'let's have a look at the world' update after the next one, but I'll give you a nice quick & dirty map to have a look at
Little Darkling - Thank you very much! Yes the Sengoku MMP experience is very enjoyable!
Well, I am planning to do a 1500 'let's have a look at the world' update after the next one, but I'll give you a nice quick & dirty map to have a look at
Very nicely done!
Are there more provinces in MMP than I'm aware of? Or is that you taking creative liberty with the map? I recall that when I played it, the entirety of Kysuhu was just four provinces! But I never did get to play Heir to the Throne...enlighten me?
Are there more provinces in MMP than I'm aware of? Or is that you taking creative liberty with the map? I recall that when I played it, the entirety of Kysuhu was just four provinces! But I never did get to play Heir to the Throne...enlighten me?
Little Darkling - Thanks Yes, it is a map of creative liberty province wise, that is a map of the actual Japanese provinces, but the land controlled is much the same if a little simplified in MMU.
RGB - I love maps Yes I've been jealously staring across the sea at Shikoku for some time now, trouble is how to get round the ridiculous amount of guarantees the Miyoshi and the Chosokabe have, I'd end up fighting most of Japan, though part of me thinks I could pull it off
Yes, it is a map of creative liberty province wise, that is a map of the actual Japanese provinces, but the land controlled is much the same if a little simplified in MMU.RGB - I love maps
Yes I've been jealously staring across the sea at Shikoku for some time now, trouble is how to get round the ridiculous amount of guarantees the Miyoshi and the Chosokabe have, I'd end up fighting most of Japan, though part of me thinks I could pull it off 
Does MMP have more Japanese provinces than MEIOU or WWM?
Or what are their differences?
Or what are their differences?
Enewald - It has far less provinces than MMU, not sure about WWM though, I haven't played that in a long time.
dinofs & mayorqw - Yay maps!
Sorry about the delay chaps, had a busy bank holiday weekend, hopefully will have an update out later today!
dinofs & mayorqw - Yay maps!
Sorry about the delay chaps, had a busy bank holiday weekend, hopefully will have an update out later today!
Part V
Consolidation & Preparation 1488-1500
Since a total victory over the Toki Shogunate had not been achieved, Moriyake found it necessary to reconciliate with his neighbours in order to pre-empt any alliances against him. The marriage of his second son Takenobu to the daughter of Shoni Sukemoto and third son to the daughter of Lord Otomo helped to prevent any threat from arising in Kyushu. The Moriyake were now seen as the counterweight to the Shogun Toki Shigeyori. The many bitter defeats suffered had marred the reputation of the Shogunate, and everyone expected the Toki clan to do something to regain their lost face.
What followed was a rapid build up of armies between the two clans. The Moriyake expanded what they could of their army, but the Toki continued to recruit long after the Moriyake. By the time they were finished, the Toki army was bigger than it had been before the Iwami war, despite the loss of the Echizen region. A Toki invasion could be imminent, but the Moriyake would be ready.
However, in 1489, all fears of a retribution from Shigeyori were swept away with the news of his death. His young son, 22 year old Masafusa ascended to the Shogunate and head of the Toki Clan, all prominent Lords of Japan attended the ceremony and though there were awkward moments between Lord Takehiko and Masafusa, the atmosphere was generally cordial.
A strange peace settled over the land, a peace which only got stranger when the young Shogun announced his intention of naming Lord Takehiko as Kanrei. The position of Kanrei was one of great honour and responsibility. The fact that Takehiko had openly warred against the previous Shogun and plotted the return of the Ashikaga made Masafusa's intention incredibly ironic. Takehiko reputedly froze in confusion when the emissary arrived before stammering his acceptance of the position.
One of Masafusa's early acts was to appoint Takehiko as Kanrei, likely hoping to reconcile his greatest threat.
All agreed that Masafusa was either a genius or an utter fool. It was possible that the appointment would sufficiently bind the dangerous Takehiko into keeping the peace in Japan and following the Shogun's wishes, alternatively, given greater powers, Takehiko could cause chaos. The council of the Shogun were uneasy about the appointment, but thankfully for Masafusa, Takehiko simply did not have the resources to cause trouble, it would be years before his armies were ready once more, and it seemed like Takehiko could be moulded into a more agreeable Shugo.
Certainly things started to move in that direction, Moriyake took to meeting with neighbouring Daimyo with the intention of ending differences between them. With solid supporters, and as Kanrei, the Moriyake could go a long way. Takehiko even returned to Kyoto and befriended Toki Masafusa.
But the situation was not meant to last. The council of the Shogun, attended by many former retainers of the late Lord Shigeyori could not assent to the growing influence of the Moriyake clan, and in 1491, a mere two years after being appointed, Takehiko was publicly stripped of his position as Kanrei. Finding himself outside of the accepted circle of Daimyo once more, Takehiko returned to his estates in the West.
An ignoble end to his career at court, the loss of position upset both Takehiko and Masafusa, and only alienated the Moriyake further
Upon his return he found the country in much need of proper maintenance. During his time in Kyoto, the local landholders had taken the opportunity to expand their holdings at the expense of their neighbours, causing a multitude of problems within the Moriyake lands. Freed from other distractions, Moriyake applied himself to the organisation of his fief. Iwanaga set out on the first of many campaigns in the hopes of uniting the Moriyake domain. Takehiko and Sato Hideaki began a full-scale economic reorganisation of weights and scales in the hopes of putting off a stagnation in trade which had become a minor concern some years earlier. The measure was a minor success, and went some way to properly unifying the lands under Moriyake.
Moriyake trade had been flagging, it was hoped that a unified system of measurements would ease the economic and social problems afflicting the merchant classes.
Iwanaga's campaign in Aki made slower progress, alternating between minor skirmishes, sieges, and conflict arbitration. Iwanaga had been in the field for almost two years when the unexpected happened. While besieging a minor castle, Iwanaga was hit in the stomach by a stray arrow. Though alive and conscious for several hours, Iwanaga died that night at the age of 49. As one of Takehiko's oldest friends, and a faithful retainer of the Moriyake, the death of Iwanaga Katsurou heralded the end of an era. For almost twenty years Iwanaga had been the foremost Samurai of the Moriyake, and had battled through adversity and victory. Finding no-one suitable to replace him, Takehiko himself replaced Iwanaga as the campaign commander and extended the unification campaigns to the Iwami region.
Iwanaga had fought for almost twenty years under Takehiko, capturing three provinces, and invading Kyoto twice, his fate was unexpected and anti-climactic.
By the end of 1494, the disloyal vassals in the Aki region submitted to Takehiko. Land was confiscated and the Moriyake holdings were expanded at the expense of the disloyal. With Aki in better shape, Moriyake continued his campaign in Iwami, fighting both his less trustworthy retainers and sporadic Ikko-Ikki risings. By September of 1496, the Iwami campaign was brought to an end with the same result being meted out to the transgressors.
The following year Moriyake accepted the offer of marriage between Lord Hosokawa's daughter, and his third son, Takekatsu. Thus formally ending the rivalry between the clans that had run for twenty years. Over which the Hosokawa had seen themselves lose control over the Ashikaga Shogunate, and control over the majority of their lands. They were now outsized by both of their former vassals; the Miyoshi and the Moriyake.
But as the Moriyake attempted to change their image from wayward troublemaker to prestigious clan, so to did other clans. The Asakura, re-established by Takehiko after the Iwami war were meant to both deprive the Toki of precious land and manpower, and also to act as a second front agains the Shogunate, as the Ashikaga had once been. But as circumstances changed, Moriyake was once more taught the lesson of not relying on others good will; the alliance was cancelled by the Asakura. But a month later another alliance was offered by the Otomo clan. It was not known whether this alliance was proposed out of general friendship, for the Otomo and Moriyake clans had been on good terms for some time, or as a mechanism for keeping the Moriyake from aggressive actions in Kyushu. Irrespective of reason, Takehiko accepted the offer of alliance which gave him a solid base of support among the western Daimyo. This growing strength was compounded by a series of law and land reform, coupled with the construction of regular military bases which enabled Takehiko to expand the army by half again, thus closing the gap between the Moriyake and Toki armies, this was further aided by the creation of suitably tough roadways which connected major towns and forts.
Moriyake's military reforms enabled his army to grow to rival the Toki once more
In 1499, as Takehiko prepared for another campaign to expand his holdings in Iwami, Sato Hideaki, the close advisor to the Moriyake clan gave Takehiko a list of proposals, apparently supported by a number of Moriyake retainers. Among the suggestions were Sato's adoption into the ruling family, expansion of his own estates, and preference in the court of Kyoto. The demands were not totally unreasonable, for none of it threatened the clan itself or Takeyoshi's succession. But Takehiko was unwilling to accept any demand of that nature, and as a counter-proposal, forced Sato Hideaki into monasticism.
A long-standing ally to Moriyake, Sato's fate was a reminder that power was Takehiko's alone
Later that year, Takehiko fought the greatest threat to his power that decade when confronted with a seven thousand strong army made up of former Moriyake retainers from Iwami. The rebels, commanded by Hatakeyama Harufusa fought horrendously, killing only 337 of Moriyake's eleven thousand men, and losing their entire army in the process. Many commented on the interesting timing of this rebellion and Sato's entry into the monastries, but no questions were officially raised.
As the final months of the 15th century drew to a close, the last of the Moriyake triad of advisors, Tokushi Ichiro died, his final act, the supervision over the marriage between the Moriyake and Akamatsu clan, thus adding a Moriyake contender to the Akamatsu succession problems, something that Takehiko would follow up with vigour.
By 1500, the Moriyake had known over a decade of genuine peace. The military and infrastructure reforms had enabled the clan to reach new heights of power, and the addition of more western allies meant that the Moriyake remained a real challenge to the resurgent power of the Toki. The Moriyake marriage policies had gone a long way to reconciling old enemies and building new friendships, even the Shogun Masafusa held good relations with Takehiko. But the great question of the next years had been created in the last year of the 15th century, the Akamatsu clan had accepted one of the Moriyake clan as the heir, but would that be enough for Takehiko? Placing a claim outright would upset many clan leaders, and almost certainly lead to war with the Shogun once more, but the pay-off would certainly be worth fighting for.
