1401 - Beyond Shikoku
As he sits evaluating his domain, Yukihito realises that it is no better off than before... just a little bigger. Expanding the military is difficult when finances are tight, especially when all the surplus goes into diplomatic ceremony and gifts of novelty sushi (the Awa clan has a very imaginative chef). Something must be done; fortunately Yukihito is still seething over the insult from So, and sees this as an opportunity to kill two... well more than two but never mind.
It quickly becomes apparent that the people of Nagasaki also have a dislike of So... or perhaps they simply wish the company of merchants and seek to bring more into their domain (Yukihito has to clench his muscles to stop himself shuddering at the thought).
Preparations are quickly made and the first thousand men dispatched to So... by the time the next thousand arrive, the battle is almost over, but they ensure victory. Yukihito himself receives a nasty wound from an arrow early in the battle, but continues anyway; he would not dishonour himself by failing to take part in the fight.
The siege of the city is surprisingly short lived, and the So possessions are quickly annexed to the Awa domain. Yukihito celebrates by violently expelling a number of merchants from the island. Sadly they are replaced, but at least this time they are from the Awa clan.
Other clans take a surprisingly dim view of these actions, despite his undoubtedly just cause. It is clearly jealousy that the Awa should now posses such an important trading station; Nagasaki are particularly vocal in condemning the events.
The ruler of Echizen however finds the whole thing rather amusing and offers an alliance to the Awa. This seems to be an advantageous arrangement, and so is accepted with the customary ceremony. A few lesser clans offer alliances, however Yukihito feels insulted by these and the equally customary ceremony of separations takes place...
Around this time Yukihito discovers his ally, Sadatake of the Musashi is at war with the Kii and another clan who... (his face looks even more expressionless than usual as he tries to think who they are). upon inspection it becomes clear that the entire Kii army is currently besieging their neighbours...
Thus war is declared, their land ravaged and strongholds besieged. It is discovered that the Awa now have enough able bodied men to recruit more into the army. Yukihito is surprised to find money in his treasury before remembering his acquisition of the former So lands... he promptly asks for a basic, uncomplicated statement of the Awa finances... and finds it to his liking.
The Kii have finally managed to take control of their neighbours, and our allies Echizen have marched south to attack them...
and unsuspectingly flee home to find the Awa armies waiting. Yukihito, feeling in a good mood decides to spare the men of Kii if they swear fealty to him... which they promptly do. however the city people need some further persuasion.
First they simply beg the Awa to leave... however Yukihito's counter offer is flung over their walls attached to the emissaries head. The Kii leader is a peaceful (weak in Yukihito's word) man and decides to bow before the Awa.
He then turns his attention to dealing with Kii's enemies as their new protector. However he finds that he has a conflict of interest... the first is his good friend Sadatake (supposedly on who's behalf he went to war in the first place), and the second is the Mutsu clan in the north whom Yukihito himself has close ties with as his mother came from that clan... indeed Mutsu Momozono has willed that Yukihito should inherit after his death
The following year is peaceful, a small revolt breaks out amongst the merchants, but is put down quickly. Echizen requests marriage ties later in the year, and the Awa elders agree that this is a good idea.
Eight months later, Sadatake finally gets around to invading Kii, however the rebuilt armies of Kii (with subsidies from Yukihito of corse) manage to defeat him. A few months after that Echizen make a sneak attack on Mikawa. After a bit of debate Yukihito decides to support them.
However Yukihito failed to notice that Nagasaki had intervened on Mikawa's behalf... until they landed men in Awa's trade outpost and reports came in that the Nagasaki fleet was headed for Awa's 1 galley and 2 transports. After stowing the Awa ships safely in Port Nagasaki sends their fleet north where Echizen engages them... we loose track of both fleets however.
Then "devastating" news arrives from the north: Yukihito's uncle, Momozono has died and he is now recognised as head of the Mutso clan.
Our ships, again out of port, are surprised by the remainder of Mikawa's fleet, but no major damage is done and they are shortly incorporated into the Echizen domain.
We manage to land troops in Nagasaki and relieve our own fort, however the Nagasaki fleet makes a suden reapearance... naturaly we loose, but miraculously the two cogs escape back to port unscathed. Yukihito looks forward to another vassal in Nagasaki
Yukihito is then incredibly surprised when Nagasaki troops appear off the coast of Shikoku... he manages to dispatch the first lot with vengeance, but still recovering from that fight another contingent lands under the fairly gifted Kunimichi. It appears that Nagasaki have annexed Ryukyu... Damn
Yukihito now controls Nagasaki itself, but with the enemy fleet controlling the sea and the Awa army separated he decides he is unable to get any further in the war and so settles for the maximum he can.
The young Kosho listens to stories of the Awa battles with glee and redoubles his diligence at weapons training. Yukihito is proud to find that his child has inherited his hatred of merchants, regularly beating the merchants children bloody, reminding Yukihito of his youth... however unlike Yukihito, Kosho doesn't bother to find some excuse before the beating which causes a few problems which need to be smoothed over with gifts of sushi...
The Awa clan in general agree that more ships are needed and Yukihito ensures that their building is overseen by warriors, not merchants.
