Bushido: An Adventure in Nippon

[unmerged(4007)]

Our alliance is renewed in April 1587--with one snag--before Myanmar can rejoin, our other vassal, Tuanga, declares war on it. China initially dishonors the alliance, but by july they are returned to the fold. On August 16th, in keeping with our defense of our unique culture from the prodding of the smelly Spanish and Portuguese, we proclaim an anti-Christian edict. It is never really put into force, but it panicks the Jesuits to no end (-1 innovate, +1 merc, -50 relations with a lot of European nations we don't know, -100 with Portugal).

On November 25th, we renew royal ties with Bangkok and the winter passes uneventfully until Febuary 28th, when our vassals reach a peace agreement and Myanmar reenters our alliance. No territoy changed hands. Our work in orchestrating this peace earns us favor in the eyes of other states as well (Great reputation on Aug 29th, +50 Malacca, +10 Manchu, +10 Bangkok).

In September we move to repair the damage to trade done by the edict against the smelly ones (step to free trade), and on May 6, 1590, furthering this, we sign a trade agreement with Champa., and on the 9th we sign export licenses to further trade as well (-50d).

But in December, to our surprise, the government in Bankok, which we have coddled and cared for, insults us politically, saying the Taiko looks like a monkey (now indeed, many in our realm say this as well, but it is much worse when foreign scum say this). We immediately move to defend our honor. Dai Vietwas allied with them, but they immediately ask for white peace.We lay seige to Bangkok, and with Tokugawa Ieyasu leading the troops, neither the short battle nor the seige are much in doubt.

The greater difficulty is yet another religious revolt in Chin during October. On the 24th of the same month, Bangkok falls and we annex them into our realm. We follow this up by sending gifts to our vassals in Febuary 1584. But on July 12th, we accomplish an even greater feat. Myanmar accepts an offer of annexation into our relam as well. Our hold on Southeast Asia grows stronger, along with our expanding colonial holdings in the north. In September Malacca joins our alliance, and on December 21st we renew royal ties with the Mughals.

The spring of 1595 is quiet, and the first event of the year is a renewal of our royal marriage with Champa on May 6th. The year ends with a peaceful settling of a boundary dispute with our allies in Malaccca (+25 relations, +1 stability).

 

[driftwood]

Another great post. I actually bought Shogun:TW, but it crashed to the desktop everytime I tried to start it (I hear it was a problem with nVidia drivers, because who uses those?)

If you own more than one CoT (say, I dunno, Malacca), will the Closing of Nippon event affect them too? I bet I have to just wait and see ...

driftwood

 

[unmerged(4007)]

driftwood,

Good question. To be honest, I really haven't seen a "closing of Nippon" event, and I'm far enough along to have seen it. Maybe I'm too "free trade" for it to trigger. Dunno.

 

[driftwood]

Event 3880 (Policy of Sakoku Implemented) appears to be the closing event, but it won't trigger if you own Yalu or Kyongju. Plus, as far as trade goes, it simply adds 7 to your mercantilism DP slider. I guess its up to the player, then, to issue a massive number of trade embargoes.

It also triggers after 1639, and can be avoided depending how you choose in the Christian Toleration events, but if it goes off, you only have one choice.

driftwood

 

[unmerged(4007)]

driftwood,

Well there's the answer. I own both Yalu and Kyongju, no way for the event to have happened.

To all,

I'll be posting the next chapter late Friday/early Saturday. It's quite lengthy, but I don't think I want to break it up. I hope I do justice to the magnitude of the events. Thank you all once again for your support. I'll be posting a screenie after the next chapter.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

Chapter 10

Chapter X- Ieyasu Ascendant (November 1596-1610)

In November of 1596 our allies in Champa declared war on Dai Viet. Predictably, our "allies" in Malacca proved faithless. But our diplomats should, after sufficient inducement (like us having already won the war) encourage Malacca to reenter the alliance and the war. As I sat in my castle in Bangkok, observing the events, an emissary of the Taiko came to me. He knelt and bowed, his face touching the floor, and slowly began to rise speaking from a position seated on his knees and hanuches.

"Tokugawa-sama, our liege lord, the Glorious Taiko wishes you to take your troops into Cambodia to fight the forces of Dai Viet in that province. He is confident under your personal leadership that they will obtain a glorious victory."

My hatamoto Okubo Tadachika had stepped behind and too the left of me when the emissary entered. I could feel his knuckles turning white as he clenched his blade. We have only 5000 troops in the province. If this is an immediate attack, it is a death sentence. No less than 5 times our number will meet us in Cambodia. But I refuse to give the emissary the satisfaction he seeks, of seeing me panic, I shove this knowledge into a corner of my mind, to consider later, and with all my strength I muster a calm and powerful answer.

"Very well, tell Toyotomi-sama that we will march at the moment he commands. When would that be?"

"Immediately, Tokugawa-sama."

"Very well. By the time you get back to the Land of the Gods, news will have arrived of our victory. Okubo-san, send the orders to every man that can carry arms, we march at daybreak."

"Hai, Tokugawa-sama." Okubo said, bowing respectfully and walking out, having recovered his composure. The emissary followed. Tokugawa Ieyasu mused on the meaning of this death sentence.

Ever since Hideoyori was born our alliance has been worth nothing. There is no way he will allow me to succeed instead of his son. But he knows that as long as I live I am a threat to Hideoyori and, in the eyes of most of the realm, the rightful successor. He cannot openly war on me, for that would be a sign of betrayal. He cannot assassinate me, there would be too many questions. But he can send me into battle and watch me die. Or I can lose to barbarians in battle and commit seppoku to cover my dishonor. Karma. What will be will be. If I die, I die in battle. I will not disobey and commit seppoku. I have always faced my enemies, and lost only once, to Takeda Shingen--and I revenged myself on him. I will not fail to face my enemy now. Taiko, if I live, you will not be long for this earth...

On January 4th, a gift is sent to our vassals in Taunga, and on the 12th, the diplomats return Malacca to the alliance. But by then we have marched into Cambodia, and the response is what I had foreseen. Our 5500 samurai are engaged by 29000 Cambodians. But our men are samurai. They do not lose heart, and I lead them from the front, not from the rear in a booth with a fan. We position ourselves on high ground on the far side of a marshy plain, and invite the Cambodians and Vietnamese to cross it. Foolishly, they do. Our archery is magnificent, the entire length of the marsh is strewn with the dead enemy, one could walk across bodies from one end to the other.

By the time they make contact with our troops, the odds are nearly even, and our troops are superior in training, leadership, and motivation. Samurai will not retreat. The battle is a slaughter, but not what we had expected. It seems karma willed my survival today, and the heads of 20000 Cambodians and Vietnamese are displayed for me after the battle. We lost less than a thousand samurai. The victory is complete, glorious, and makes it clear to me at last. I am marked by destiny, I will be Shogun. No one and nothing can stop it. Not the Taiko, not his boy, who will never see power, nothing.

In August 1599, we advance further in the art of making teppo (gunpowder) weapons. These coward weapons have no place in the Land of the Gods. But here in Asia, they can equalize battles...(lvl4 land). On October 2nd, Cambodia falls and we march on Hanoi. On July 26th, it falls and we gain Cambodia in the peace settlement.

But before the peace is signed, I have returned to Edo, my fortress in the Kanto. The Taiko dies shortly after I return home. Probably in embarrassment that I succeeded in the battle meant to mark my death. He names me Chief Regent of the Council to see Hideoyori into his majority. Honor demands I try, but only a fool--or one as demented as Hideoyoshi grew in his last years--would think that Nippon could go without a strong hand for 10 years without chaos.

Fortunately there are always overambitious fools to give one an excuse to do what must be done. Ishida Mitsunari continually usurps authority and corrupts the intent of the Taiko's will, trying to turn the rest of the Council against me. He is not however, as wise as he is ambitious. His plots are easily deflected. Many of the Western Daimyo outwardly support him now, trying to avoid a Shogun from the rich eastern Kanto which would tilt power back to where it belongs. But I have every reason to believe their loyalty with often not go much further than words...

 

[unmerged(4007)]

Patience always has its rewards. We have waited for the right moment, and with the movement of the fool Ishida, and the end of the war with Dai Viet, the time is now. We leave Osaka on business, obstensibly to put down a Uesugi revolt. Along the way, I stop and meet with another loyal retainer of old. Torii Mototada is ward of Fushimi castle, one of the chief bastions against attack via the Mountain passes into the Kanto. After dinner, we dismiss all others and talk as old friends and comrades-in-arms.

"Ieyasu, you know that the Western army, led by that peasant Ishida, is gathering strength. You have to strike it now."

"Yes I know of their activity, but I cannot initiate a war. He must be seen the rebel that he is."

"How do you plan to do that?"

"How would you, my old friend Mototada?"

"I'd lure him to attack someplace he had to have to win the war, I'd look weak when he did it, and I'd intentionally leave a weak detachment. By this I would gain the right to call Ishida a rebel, he would lose support, samurai loyal to the realm would flock to us, and those uncommitted would stay out."

I just looked at him. His eyes flashed in recognition. "You honor me, Tokugawa-sama." He said, bowing low. "How many men am I to keep?"

"Only enough to make Ishida think the castle is garrisoned properly. How many would you need?"

"Two hundred, no more."

"Good, keep two hundred, make them of your most loyal men, no family is to be completely left behind here. The rest are to be absorbed into my ranks, no more than 10 samurai a unit, we do not want an over-sized detachment to give this away to a spy."

"Very well, Tokugawa-sama. The Taiko was right about one thing. You are the wisest man in the realm. May those that stay behind make preparation?"

"Yes, but not so as to give away the weakness of your defense."

All of this passed exactly as I desired. Torii-san finally attacked the entire "Western Army" of Ishida with a mere 200 samurai, repeatedly charging 80000 men with his own. In the end, they all died of course. But their honor is eternal. Their loyalty stirs the Daimyo to action Mori Terumoto decides finally he will not march from Osaka castle. The Uesugi immediately reach a political solution to end their revolt. The loyalty of many in the West to the peasant Ishida is less than impressive. Meanwhile our strength grows daily.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

Ishida is deceived twice over. He thought I would be caught between two enemies. But I never had any intention of dealing with the Uesugi by any other means but politics. The movement of my troops was solely to deceive the traitor, and he responded.

Ishida Mitsunari is named a traitor to the realm. As a result, he has no choice but to raise his standard in revolt. He does this on September 8th. Interesting the Shimazu clan answers the call. But the Mori clan, due to Terumoto's refusal to take part in the war, is vastly reduced. Not only this, but Ishida, who is not nearly as wise or as skilled in generalship as the grandson of the famed Shogun Motonori, will be forced to try to lead the Western Army himself. All the while I wait in my fastness of Edo and gain allies and weave plots.

My own force is far more loyal. The fact that my annual income has been 2.5 million koku, and the nearest Daimyo of any other part of the realm the 1 million a year of Terumoto has something to do with this. But to put too much stake in this would confuse my loyal samurai for honorless ronin or money-starved gei-jin mercenaries. They know that their honor is all they need concern themselves with, as I will care well for their needs.

Finally, with the beginning of October, I move from Edo at the head of 138000 troops. This is 40000 more men than the Western Army has. I detach 38000 under my son and heir Hidetada to attempt to trap the Western Army in between two strong forces. But on October 20th, I find them entrenched on high ground outside Sekigahara. Their army in the field actually outnumbers the troops we have on hand (78000), and their ground is imposing. If their troops were all loyal, the battle would be most difficult. But there are surprises in store for Ishida.

(OOC- Turns out, I will split this up. I have a map of Sekigahara from Sansom's book I want to use to aid in placing troops for everyone. And it'll take a day to get it up. But I think you'll find it useful.)

 

[unmerged(4007)]

This is a map of the ground of Sekigahara, it should help keep things in your mind as the battle is discussed.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

In the early morning of October 20th, Fukishima's vanguard of my "Eastern" Army engages Ukita's rearguard in a blinding fog. The fog lifts during the day, but it is replaced by sleet, which makes the area more visible, but the ground is slippery and wet. However, the weather does not stop the general engagement that follows.Some of my generals are, in fact, less that pleased at going to battle today, attacking the enemy on high ground in bad weather. But I know three things that ensure this is not as desperate as it might sound.

1) Mori Kikkawa, who has no stomach for this fight, is at the front of the Mori clan. He hs promised to stay "neutral" in the conflict, and as a result none of the Mori clan will fight--despite the fact many in the back ranks want to.

2) The traitor Koboyakawa has been given a position of influence in the Western Army. He was to charge down into my rear. But he has been induced to fight for us instead. When his 8000 actually switch sides in the battle, they will poor into the flank of Ishida.

3) I have unified command, Ishida does not, and my vassals are loyal. This battle is won, as all my battles are, in fact, even before it is fought.

About noon, while watching the general engagement in the field, I get tired of Koboyakawa waiting on the fence. We order a couple of musket volleys fired into his position. He charges down the hills into the flank of Konishi and Ukita. Both break and the battle turns into a total rout. Of the 138000 of the "Western Army", 80000 fought at Sekigahara, of that 80000, nearly half have their heads taken by the end of the day. On November 6th, Ishida Mitsunari's head follows that of his army, captured and chained like a dog, he shows he didn't even have the honor to commit seppoku, but begs for mercy like the traitorous peasant he is.

(historical event-Sekigahara, revolt in Kanto x 3)

The Tokugawa Bakafu is established shortly after this battle. All challengers have been snuffed out, and the fastness at Edo is enlarged to become the capital from which our power radiates to all portions of the Empire.

On June 29th, 1601, we send a gift to our vassals in Taunga (+200), and folow this with another gift to Champa as well (friends). On January 1, 1602, Chin revolts again, the fortress is lost, the general offers to commit seppoku, but I orderr him to live in his shame until the fortress is retaken. On the 10th, the fortress is once again under seige. However, on the 15th we receive good news fro mthe Koreans (of all people). He comes to us with an advancement in teppo manufacture. We commission him to build his manufactuary in Yalu to examine this.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

By September we are entrenched enough to begin to think of centralizing the realm, and we take initial steps to do this. Finally on Febuary 1, 1603, after 13 months, Chin is retaken. The General commits seppoku, and we order his name forgotten. Also in Febuary, we deal with those who did not support our Bakafu in its rise to power. The Chagokohe and the Oda have their fiefs confiscated and distibuted to loyal vassals among the Dates and Hosokawas (historical Event-reduce- aristocracy -2 total, centralization +2, +300d). We use this money to build a better fortress in Mekng for the safety of our Asian holdings (lvl2).

On september 26th, Okari, an Izumi Shrine maid creates Kabuki, a form of theatre combined with dance. We decide to allow women to participate, within reason. No immodesty is allowed. (+1 aristocracy, +1 innovation, -1 stability, +100 infrastructure). In October and mArch Chin revolts, but both times it is quickly put down. But in December, China declares war on Dai Viet, and on January 6, 1607
Chin takes advantage of this to seize the fortress once again. On October 4th, China makes peace with Dai Viet for Lao Chi province. this leaves the once-mighty Dai viet with only Hanoi. Also, it seems that all that restrains China's avarice towards us is our alliance.

On Febuary 1, 1608, Khretset becomes a city with a fortress of its own, and on May 5th, Chin is retaken. But it revolts again in June and August, and in Febuary and September of 1610 as well. But despite this religious disturbance, the realm is secure with a Shogun at its head for the first time in 100 years. We are stable, strong, and firmly under the hand of a Bakafu that can lead it permamently. Tokugawa Ieyasu leaves 3 full lines by which to confirm the dynasty, sterility, the curse of the Taiko, will not be an issue for this Bakafu. Nippon is once again able to safely look beyond the shiores of the Land of the Gods for the opportunity to bring glory to its samurai.

 

[driftwood]

Great post!

Are the Sansom books good? I took a medieval Japanese civilization class (which focused almost entirely on cultural matters), and the professor indicated that the books were pretty out-of-date. But he couldn't suggest a better survey. Maybe I'll pick them up anyway. The Cambridge History of Japan (in many volumes, from the early 1980s) is unbelievably dry reading.

driftwood

 

[Lord Durham]

This keeps getting better and better. Wonderful research.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

Durham-sama, Thank you for your honor.

Driftwood,

Are they "good?" Hard to say, they are useful. Difficult as all get out to follow. Japanese history is (needless to say) not like Western history, and we have lot's of trouble following things that they would take for granted. What's worse is Sansom doesn't always simplify things when he could.

That said, I don't personally know how "out-of-date" history ever really gets, unless you're trying to keep up on debates over strange events and why things happened. Also, there is just so much useful information and depth to the work that it is hard to write it off.

I'd say if you are interested in Japanese history--not just mildly, but REALLY interested--then yes, it's useful enough to get, and deal with the difficulties. If you're not serious about learning it, don't spend the money, you'll never wade through it.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

Here's a diplomatic map of SE Asia, following Tokugawa's conquest of Cambodia. Next installment will probably be on Monday.

 

[driftwood]

I've found, in some areas of history, a world of difference in what you'll read just over the course of 20 years. Especially in areas that took a while to be studied in the West (such as Japan), it may have taken until the 1950s until people started studying things in quantity, until the 1970s until they questioned the received interpretations of events, and until the 1990s until they realized the work of the 1970s was maybe a bit out in left field.

So the basic chronology (obviously) doesn't change, the focus of the history and the conclusions drawn from its analysis can be painfully dated and invalid.

I was reading the Further Reading section of Marius Jansen's Making of Modern Japan (or a title to that effect), which was written in 2000 by a leading scholar in the field. He praised Sansom's work, although he clearly lumped it in with the handful of pre-WW2 studies (that's when Sansom did most of his research, as a British diplomat in the 1930s, although the history was published in the 1960s).

Of course, he also liked the Cambridge History of Japan (which is 6 volumes, apparently), but he edited vol. 5, The 19th Century, so that's not exactly unbiased.

So, this is just a roundabout way of saying that it sounds like Sansom is worthwhile, at least as a foundation, but if I read it I'll take it with a grain of salt until I see what further research has been done.

driftwood

 

[unmerged(4007)]

driftwood,

I take any single history with a grain of salt. But the basic events of Sekigahara and the rise of the Tokugawa clan are fairly well documented from other sources as well.

 

[Sorcerer]

One question: Have you chosen Nippon as an AAR because you already have studied it, or did you do your historical research because of your AAR choice?
It really is well-researched, which obviously enhances the quality of this AAR even further.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

Sorcerer,

I did some study before. But I also have done research for this as well. So "yes" would be the most appropriate answer.

 

[unmerged(4007)]

Chapter 11

Chapter XI- Unforseen Engagement (March 1611-1627)

On March 28, 1611, Go-Mi-ne-o receives the Imperial regalia that has been passed down for centuries through our people. Following the coronation, Tokugawa Ieyasu retires, of course, he maintains full power while doing so. His son Hidetada becomes Shogun, but under Ieyasu's authority.

On June 5th, we renew our royal marriage with Malacca. In June 1613, we step to aristocracy, but the important event comes on Febuary 14, 1614, we issue an edict of expulsion to all Christians (Revolt risk +10% in Kyushu for a LONG time, innovate -1, mercantilism +1, relations tanked with all Catholic nations, but up with England & Netherlands). Why does this happen? The events go back to just after Sekigahara, when a ship called the Liefde wrecks near the fishing villiage of Anjiro. It was piloted by a Barbarian from the land of "England," who came to us by the Eastern Sea. The Portuguese and Spanish had always come from the South. The English are allied with the "Dutch", who own this ship. appparently they have rebelled against the Spanish. The Pilot of the vessel said his name was "Will Adams." He brought us great knowledge of the political situation in Europe. He also tells us what Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors and that they have been promised all this part of the world for their own Empire.

We will not see our culture destroyed by these barbarians. Stinky, foul, poor-mannered, and most of them are stupid. The only benefits they brings us are that they are easily read and the benefits they bring to trade. But that benefit can now be achieved through the Dutch without the fear of conquistadors landing on our shore. we tell the priests to leave the realm at once, and allow trade to continue with the Dutch and English.

We continue our efforts to colonize the Siberian corridor through 1615. But we do so patiently, we are actually more concerned with building the infrastucture in the colonies we have. Especially those colonies along the Manchu border.

In August 1616, the first of many religious revolts occur among the Chritians in Kyushu in response to the edict. On October 14,1617, we renew our alliance with all partners, on the 17th, we renew our royal marriage with Tibet, but the best news comes on December 11th, a new gold deposit was discovered in Burnet, Siberia (+5 tax value).