Chapter 2: From Humble Beginings .......
Now that the clan had a future, Harusada's eyes turned to the outside. Thought to be a rebellion against the Emperor himself, every samurai was at war with the Ikko-Ikki, which meant no chance for the peace that the rebellion was for. The Ikko-Ikki were powerful, but small, and Harusada decided to expand the revolution. Harusada's first choice was the last stronghold of the Osaki clan in the province of Akumi, who's dishonour and failure caused Harusada to rise and the Ikko-Ikki to begin. The conquest was short and painful, the one day siege of a town who's 250 man garrison fled in the face of the Ikko-Ikki horde.
The quick success against the Osaki clan led Harusada to new ambition, and in 1510, led his own retinue from the north and Chickatoshi's from the south and led a campaign against Kasai's 2 undefended, unattached holdings in the kumi of Uzen. Taking them quickly as well, for no Kasai samurai were left by the time the Ikko-Ikki reached the jublient populace. This ease of taking the southern holdings of the Kasai gave Harusada the final push to realize his first major dream. To unite ALL of northern Japan under the Ikko-Ikki.
November 5th, 1510, Harusada's plan (nicknamed "Slight Jade") started. Ikko-Ikki fighters poured into the Kasai clan's southern holdings of Yamamoto and Waga. However, a messager came to Fuyuyasu's camp one morning crying and yelling. "The Uesugi have invaded, the Uesugi have invaded, the demon samurai are back!", so taking his to his fine white horse, Fuyuyasu's forces marched on the Uesugi, who were beseiging the castle at Murayama until they heard rumour of the returning army, and fled.
At the battle of Iwate, the Ikko-Ikki were fighting the Kasai when a samurai appeared near Harusada's position. The samurai (who was a veteren of many past battles) recognised Harusada as the leader and charged him. One on one Harusada was no match to the samurai's deadly skill and was quickly cut down. Falling heavily, Harusada contemplated a nearby blossom as his sight start to darken, finally turning to the samurai who was coming for the kill. Harusada later woke up, horribly maimed but alive, being told by his retainers that the day was won. Harusada was said to have been found lying near a cherry tree, the samurai dead at his feet with nothing but a near by Shinto shrine for company.
The last Kasai castle fell on the 16th of October 1511, but the north was not yet fully under the sway of the rebellion, and the Uesugi bear was finally wakening to the danger of the Ikko-Ikki, sending it's northern levys to scout out the Ikko-Ikki territory. Harusada took his and Chickatoshi's forces north to the realm of the Ando, a mysterious and dangerous tribe. Originally a small clan, they dominated the northern tip of Japan for many years as a result of the overarching of the older, larger Nanbu tribe.
The war during this time was filled with misdeeds, ninja clans grew in strength and size, while other small rebellions were launched and failed. But the dedication of the Ikko-Ikki pulled through, and on January 25th, 1513. The last Ando samurai was cut down like a dog. The Ikko-Ikki had united a realm that stood divided for centuries in 13 years, from the first rebellion to the end of the Ando.
However, Harusada was growing old, and the Uesugi were fully aware, and fully afraid, of the might of the Ikko-Ikki rebellion, and marshalled it's forces to destroy it's living slander to the Emperor. The Ikko-Ikki were now in as much danger as before, but will they have to do what Harusada vowed never to do, to rose the levies to fight for their master?
To be Continued