Lost Legends of the Takeda: Brothers at War AAR

[Frezzin]

Hi all, thanks for reading!

This is my first AAR and I haven't written fiction in years, so apologies for the rusty writing and such. The main driver behind this story is that I wanted to create a character-focused AAR since Sengoku is a character-focused game while keeping the other expansion and tactics elements there. I've keep strictly to what's happened in the game and haven't manipulated any of the game files to suit the story. Essentially I'm playing the game and then filling in the gaps for the AAR

I hope you all enjoy and feedback is very much appreciate!

Thanks,

Frezz

​

The Takeda, the Myths, and the Legends…

Legend has it that Takeda Shingen, one of Japan’s most famous generals, became almost invincible in battle simply by reading Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. It is also said that the book gave him the inspiration for his famous battle standard; the Fūrinkazan. The four diamond pattern represented the infamous “fast as the Wind, silent as a Forest, ferocious as Fire and immovable as a Mountain” principle of Sun Tzu’s treatise. Shingen was said to have had such an excellent grasp of the book that he was able crush his enemies without relying on firearms, which so many of his rival generals had turned to using. Tales abound recounting his deadly and fearsome cavalry charges. Samurai were left dumbstruck as his cavalry decimated their ranks and cut through their comrades like a hot knife through butter, leaving nothing in their wake but death and destruction. So feared were his tactics that even an army led by both Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu could not defeat him. Eventually though, not even the legendary “Tiger of Kai” could escape his fate. He was eventually assassinated while his army recovered from their battle with the Oda and Tokugawa.

But few know the true history behind how the Takeda clan came into possession of The Art of War and how Shingen himself was able to glean so much from it. History, they say, is written by the victors. And in the case of the Takeda clan, the Tokugawa Shoguns were the victors. Myth says that Tokugawa Ieyasu feared the power of the book and vowed to keep it from ever getting into the hands of his future enemies. Regardless, history records that once he became the first Tokugawa Shogun after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he made it his top priority to find and destroy the Takeda clan historical records, including the infamous book.

And so this story—the real story—was lost forever to the dark corners of history; hidden by the envious and power-hungry Tokugawa to consolidate his rule and ensure that no clan was ever able to challenge them ever again.

 

[Frezzin]

The Reign of Nobumasa & the Three Brothers

The Takeda clan, lead by the young Takeda Nobumasa, had fought bravely during the Ōnin War. The traitorous Onyu-Takeda were brought swiftly to justice, but the lost daimyo of Wakasa was left unclaimed due to Rokkoku’s interference.

While to the north, Takeda had secured new lands by helping the Toki stamp out the Hatakeyama and their Imizu-Htakeyama rebellion. He also gained lands from the Hosogawa.

Takeda acquisitions during the Onin War​

During the war, Nobumasa’s wife Hoju gave birth to three sons, Haruyasu, Chikanaga, and Akihisa.

Not surprisingly, the three couldn’t have been more different. Haruyasu was a cruel, ruthless little boy, while Chikanaga was brave and generous. Akihisa, the youngest, was babied by his mother and became most trusting of the three. Throughout their lives the two eldest boys were sent to other clans as hostages to keep the peace. Chikanaga often found himself in the court of the Yamana while Haruyasu ended up with the Toki and Uesugi clans. Akihisa, so doted on by his mother, was rarely sent away.

While his father fought to consolidate Takeda lands, Chikanaga grew up with the Yamana. Early during his stay he met the daughter of the clan leader. She was a cute, proud little girl named Kai. Befitting of her high status, Kai never slouched, always wore very clean clothes, and always looked down on Chikanaga.

The Yamana were religious about bathing, and Kai was a stereotypical Yamana. Chikanaga found her pride and cleanliness an affront to his boyhood muckiness and made it his mission to thoroughly trounce her in the mud. So of course, they became fast friends and usually could be found spending every waking moment together. Chikanaga was always very protective of Kai and she was equally a fierce defender of his, often challenging other children in the court if they spoke ill of him. Eventually, once the Ōnin War ended, Nobumasa stopped needing to maintain an alliance with Yamana and so Chikanaga was sent home. He was 11 at the time and the separation from Kai was nearly unbearable for him.

Haruyasu, on the other hand, lived up to his ruthless nature. Other little boys in the Toki and Uesugi courts feared him and he quickly became the local bully. He lead a gang of equally as violent lads who, like him, were ambitious and deceitful. Numerous times he found himself at odds with the clan leaders and once was sent back to Nobumasa with a letter demanding another hostage as he was too violent and unpredictable.

It was while Chikanaga and Haruyasu were living as hostages that their mother died, shortly after giving birth to their last sibling and only sister, Katsu.

Chikanaga and Akihisa, who were 11 and 8 at the time, cried for weeks for their mother. Haruyasu though. never cried. In fact, many in the clan thought the boy was unusually calm during the whole affair. They were taken aback by how he seemed completely unaffected by his mother's passing. When asked about it, he would only shrug and say it was her time. Nobumasa, however, was devastated by the loss of his wife. He had been devoted to Hoju since they were young and had never taken another wife. He mourned for passing for months until war broke out once again. Nobumasa knew this was his chance to die honorably and hopefully meet Hoju in the afterlife. He threw himself into the struggle, hoping another samurai might find an opening and strike him through the heart. However, the Gods were not kind to Nobumasa and he lived through all his battles. Eventually he took a Kashima wife in an effort to strengthen relations with his neighbor, but he would never love her. She was merely a political pawn and Nobumasa scorned her, never allowing her into his bed. Due to her being older as well, she would never bear any children.

After the death of Hoju, Nobumasa became more and more cold towards his sons. He began to care only for the future of the clan and his decisions were always prefaced with the question, “How will this benefit our clan?” Unbeknown to either of them, Kai and Chikanaga would eventually become a linchpin of Nobumasa’s scheming. Seeking to build an unbreakable alliance with the Yamana, he suggested the two become betrothed and Kai’s father accepted the proposal. When Kai came of age, she would marry Chikanaga and become the head of his household, cementing the bonds with the much larger Yamana.

Neither child had hit puberty and could not have appreciated the gravity of the decision that had now framed their lives. In addition, Chikanaga’s father sought to strengthen relations within the clan and forced the young Chikanaga take two more wives. They were older women of the clan who had obtained no husbands and had no other means of support. Only just a young man, Chikanaga could not argue with his father and so took them as his wives.

As the years passed, Nobumasa acquired more and more land and honor for the Takeda which he eventually passed those onto his sons. Chikanaga was given the lands in the former daimyo of Wakasa while Haruyasu was granted the northern titles gained while helping the Toki. Akihisa, still too young to govern, would have to wait. However, it would not be very long. In 1486 Nobumasa was insulted by the Imagawa’s refusal to exchange hostages and feared they were plotting with the Ikksuki to attack the Takeda and invaded their lands. Nobumasa knew the best defense was a good offense, and so declared war on the Imagawa and began a campaign of submission.

However, during a battle with the main Imagawa force in the summer of 1488, Takeda Nobumasa was separated from his men and surrounded by a flanking cavalry force. Outnumbered and with little will to live, Nobumasa was quickly dispatched and left this world to meet his ancestors and reunite with his beloved Hoju.

Haruyasu, his designated heir, immediately took control of the Takeda Clan and granted his former titles to his youngest brother. However, dark whispers grew as rumors flew throughout the clan that Nobumasa had not died a natural death and that Haruyasu had actually collaborated with the enemy to have his father assassinated so he could take control of the clan. The conditions, whispered the rumors, were that Haruyasu would end the war. However he betray the Imagawa and crushed them shortly afterwards.

Chikanaga, the closest of the three boys to their father took his death particularly hard. Not long afterwards, he disappeared and left the running of his lands to his wives. Kai, young and heartbroken from abandonment, was left to vie for control of her husband’s land with her two rivals. Kai, however, would always be the dominant figure in the household, even though she was the youngest. This went against normal Japanese customs, and caused many problems between Kai and the other two.Chikanaga, the closest of the three boys to their father took his death particularly hard. Not long afterwards, he disappeared and left the running of his lands to Kai. Young and heartbroken from abandonment, she was left to run her husband’s land and deal with her two older rivals who had already bore her husband sons. The struggle would define her adult life and cause a rift between her and Chikanaga that would last for the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, with the Imagawa lands brought into Takeda territory, Haruyasu grew even more powerful and embolden than before his father’s death. He worked to consolidated his power over the clan and ensure everyone stepped to his tune. A dark storm was brewing over the Takeda clan and Haruyasu was at it’s center...

 

[Frezzin]

The Rise of Haruyasu



Grief-stricken and confused, Chikanaga wandered throughout Japan. While had had not officially renounced service to his brother, who was now his clan leader, he was see by others as rōnin and often found himself at odds with local lords and samurai. He continually moved from village to village and town to town, until finally he boarded a Chinese ship and sailed for the mainland. The journey was long and gave Chikanaga time to reflect on his life and the loss of his father. It also gave him time to befriend the ship’s captain. The Yamana had always had a close relationship with Chinese merchants and so growing up Chikanaga had learned a good bit of Chinese. In fact, he was seen as something of a prodigy since he picked it up so quickly. The captain told Chikanaga many things, but specifically about Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. Chikanaga was intrigued by this book that seemingly turned ordinary men into great generals and vowed to search for a copy once they laided. On the advice of the captain, he would start his search in Jīngshī.

Jīngshī was the name for Beijing during this time.​

Through his travels he had learned that only the wealthy classes would carry the book. He sought out noble families in financial hardship, hoping to barter coin for the book. The search took him 5 years, but he finally found a copy of the book near the Imperial City.

The book as it would have looked during Chikanaga’s time…​

After obtaining the book, he immediately sought passage back to Japan. However, when he returned, he could scarcely recognize his clan. Haruyasu’s ruthless and deceitful policies had transformed his father’s honorable and respected clan into a gang of thugs and bandits. Chikanaga vowed then and there he would remove Haruyasu, no matter the cost, and regain the respect and honor of the Takeda clan.

First though, he would have to regain control of his lands and regain the influence he lost when he disappeared. However, Kai’s pride would not allow her to let others think her husband had abandoned his duties and lord, so she had setup the pretence that Chikanaga had been ill for the past few years and was issues order through her alone. As such, she had enjoyed great power and influence and had even expanded their lands. Chikanaga was suitably impressed by his wife’s abilities and leadership.
However, Kai had deeply loved Chikanaga and his abandonment had turned those feelings into bitter resentment and loathing. Her pride would not allow her to forgive him, no matter how much he apologied, and having to relinquish her power to Chikanaga after all these years further deepened the scar. Chikanaga knew he could not strike at his brother until he had sorted out his own house.

Know Thy Enemy…

From studying the book, Chikanaga knew the only way he would be successful was if he was able to divide and conquer. He quickly began to build his relationship with his fellow vassals, especially the Daimyo of Aki who hated his brother. In each other they found a common enemy.

Haruyasu's ruthless policies had alienated vassals and clan leaders alike...​

It would take him some time, but he eventually gained the support of his brother’s vassals, who were all grateful to have Chikanaga as heir since as they all hated his brother. Haruyasu was furious at Chikanaga but could do nothing to stop him.
Chikanaga knew he could not openly confront his brother for risk of starting a civil war, which would only cause the clan to become a target of the larger and more aggressive rivals. Instead, he knew the best policy was to be fast as the Wind, silent as the Forest, but ferocious as Fire and immovable as a Mountain. So he bidded his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. He had a hunch Haruyasu’s ambition would eventually present an opportunity, and it wouldn’t be long before his suspicions were justified. In 1496, only a year after Chikanaga’s return from China, the Takeda Clan declared war on the Toki.

The Toki were at war with the Uesugi and Haruyasu could not pass up such a golden opportunity. Little did he know that with his declaration of war, Chikanaga’s own schemes were set in motion. As he set out to lay siege to the Toki kori of Ika, he sent out word that he needed ninjas for a dark purpose.

While besieging the castle in Ika, Chikanaga received word that the ninjas had succeeded and Haruyasu was dead. The ninjas had managed to kill him and escape unnoticed. Chikanaga’s scheming had succeeded. His brother, the man who had murdered his father and taken control of the clan, was finally dead and Chikanaga was the clan leader…

The end of the reign of Takeda Haruyasu...​

 

[unmerged(19621)]

Perfect Story!!

Thanks for writing! Was really interesting

 

[Frezzin]

Thanks to everyone whose read this AAR so far! Sorry for the delay in an update, I've been busy with family and work, but will be posting another tonight!

Now that Haruyasu is dead and Chikanaga controls the clan, what will be the destiny of the Takeda? How did Takeda Shingen get the Art of War and who taught him it's secrets? All will be revealed in the next updates!

 

[Frezzin]

The Toki War...

After the death of Haruyasu, the transition of power went quickly for Chikanaga. His army in Ika, bolstered by his superior military and tactical leadership, fast overcame the defenders and took the province. Due to his study of The Art of War, Chikanaga had become a brilliant strategist. Steadily, the Takeda forced the Toki to give way.

The primary concern for Chikanaga were the northern sections, where most of the Toki army was concentrated, as the were also fighting a brutal war against the Uesugi.. Chikanaga knew the best chance he had of winning the war was to take as many kuni as possible while they were occupied with the Uesugi. He set his armies in the north to keep the Toki busy while he laid siege to kuni in the south.

While Chikanaga lays seige to the southern kuni, his northern armies distract the Toki​

While his armies kept the Toki occupied, Chikanaga worked to set good relations with the other clan leaders and his vassals. The book had not only given him power on the battlefield, but had also taught him how to efficiently use his personal and how to manipulate his friends and enemies alike. He knew the Toki would eventually fall as their long war with the Uesugi had depleted their levies. It would just take time. However, he also knew he could not sit on his laurels. He had to act and act fast. The Ochi clan had territory smack dab in the middle of his, as did the Isshikki. These had to be curbed if he was to consolidate his power. However, he couldn't be seen to be weak, as the Rokkaku and Yamana to the south and the Uesugi to the west were poised to contest Takeda clan sovereignty.

His biggest and closest rivals in terms of power were the Uesugi and Yamana. However, as Kai was the Yamana clan leaders daughter, relations were going well and he knew his focused needed attention elsewhere. He knew the best bet was the declare war on the Isshikki or Uesugi. The Rokakku, while a delicious looking morsel, where a decent buffer between himself and the Yamana and Shimazu clans. And if he knew that if he went to war with them, he would end up stuck between three dangerous hungry animals with a wounded fourth at his doorstep.

Chikanaga also knew that the longer the Toki war dragged on, the more chance someone would strike him first. He had to end the war quickly. He knew the best way was to divide and conquer, so he split the Toki clan in half, in a north-south configuration, while also cutting off their escape route and keep the Uesugi at bay.

Chikanaga's plan in motion...​

However, Chikanaga underestimated the Toki resolve, and their armies launched counter offensives to try and drive the Takeda back. Chikanaga would have none of it, and pressed on, allowing the Toki to lay siege to kuni's that were well defended while he picked off their lands one-by-one with his vastly superior army. He had already consolidated his hold of the south and now could focus his efforts on finishing his enemies off.

Chikanaga positions his armies.​

At this point, Chikanaga's relations with the Isshikki had improved and they had exchanged hostages. This was helpful since he could then focus on the Uesugi. But first, he would pick off a smaller target in an effort to close the gap and gain himself another daimyo title. The Ochi clan would have to be consolidated into the Takeda. As his armies finished the Toki off in the north, he declared war on the unsuspecting Ochi and invaded their kuni's.

The Takeda position prior to declaring war on the Ochi.​

It wouldn't be long before the Toki collapsed and the Takeda were officially in control of 12% of Japan. Chikanaga was pleased, and his war on the Ochi was going well. Now, he would refocus his efforts to the west, on the Uesugi, as their ruthless policies had already caused them to fracture and their neighbors had already declared war.

End of Ochi and Toki wars​

At the same time, as he had gained so much land he began granting land titles to his sons. One of whom, Nobutora, was Chikanaga's favorite. Nobutora was particularly skilled diplomatically and in military affairs and Chikanaga knew Nobutora would be his heir. He taught Nobutora everything he knew, including The Art of War. His son's able mind quickly grasped the complex and difficult ideas contained within, and he even began to create his own strategies and tactics. Chikanaga was so impressed with Nobutora's progress that at the age of 6 he granted him his first daimyo and nominated the boy as his successor.

Little did Chikanaga know that Nobutora would have a son who would become famous throughout Japan, a man named Takeda Shingen. But, first, Chikanaga had to deal with a greater threat: the Shimazu...