STW War Story Part V
Furinkazan - The Ambition of Takeda
Fire (2)
Chapter 8 Cavalry of Kai
Spring 1539
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Spring 1539, a critically
important season
for Takeda and Oda. The Takeda daimyo had made his total success in
Kawachi, killing the heir of Oda. At the same time, Takeda Shingen wiped
clean the guardians of the emperor.
The last battle of the season is taking place - could Takeda defend Yamato against probably Oda Nobuhide's last attack? |
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Yamato
: The Takeda taisho of Yamato defense was Akiyama Masakatsu - the commander of the second wave of loyalist retreat from the west. With five straight victory (3 on the battlefield), the ashigaru general should be experienced enough to command. Massive ashigaru of Oda soon charged uphill, and Takeda soldiers tried their best to rain arrows on the peasants. The peasants were killed ruthlessly, and soon they routed - no return. But Akiyama finally discovered this mean tactics of Oda Nobuhide - Oda depleted Takeda's arrows! Now only Oda archers had arrows...! |
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The longer they wait, the more casualties
they get - general Akiyama Masakatsu ordered all his men to charge down -
surrounding the Oda daimyo!
Oda Nobuhide was trapped within the 300 soldiers of Takeda! The critical moment has come. If Takeda could rout the enemy daimyo, or even kill him before the rest of enemy arrive, then Takeda would for sure win the battle... But Oda Nobuhide was truly the bravest of the braves - he did not turn around! p.s. for Oda Nobuhide's bravery you can refer to my war story part 1 :) |
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To everybody's surprise, Oda
Nobuhide (H7) killed Akiyama Masakatsu (H3) !!
Takeda's winning men suddenly collapsed - without any will to fight... A seemed-to-be-won battle suddenly turned around... |
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Killing more than half of Oda's
men and losing only a little of their own, the Takeda army was defeated. General
Akiyama Masakatsu (R3), who once commanded the major defeat of Imagawa on the
field of Totomi, honorably gave his life.
It was an lucky kill from the sword of Oda Nobuhide, who were surrounded by 300 men of Takeda... Now the loyalists of Takeda had taken their oath to revenge! |
Summer 1539
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Takeda Shingen gladly accepted
the request from Takeda loyalists.
Right in the next season, Shingen attacked Yamato. The numerical difference will be sufficient to crush Oda into pieces. |
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However, Oda Nobuhide made his left attempt to survive. He attacked Kii with a small number of army - and Takeda was forced to retreat. By the time Shingen stepped in Yamato, Oda Nobuhide had moved to Kii in advance. |
Autumn 1539
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Takeda won't let Oda get away so easily. Shingen immediately attacked Kii! |
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Kii
: Now Oda Nobuhide was outnumbered. All he could do was to hide his entire army in the wood. But Shingen already anticipated this. He removed cavalry from his army even before he attacked the forest province Yamato - and now the Takeda army was consisted of almost entirely fine yari samurai and samurai archers! |
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The attack was straightforward!
With the large scale archer duel, the yari samurai of Takeda rushed into
the forests from three directions. Although Oda had the
numerical advantage, they were flanked in many small regions.
In order to make sure the morale of Takeda soldiers were not affected - Takeda Shingen himself entered the forest to encourage his fighters. The cavalry warriors were not very good in the woods --- so does the heavy cavalry of Oda Nobuhide! |
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Carrying the rage of the loyalists, Takeda Shingen took the head of Oda Nobuhide in the woods! |
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Killing three-fourth of Oda's
men, Takeda revenged for general Akiyama
Masakatsu.
The second victory of Takeda Shingen - this time he destroyed the Oda daimyo! |
Harvest of 1539: Poor (25% down), Tax rate = 100%. Budget = 6430 koku
Winter 1539
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Takeda spread through Kinki like
fire - all were conquered except Ise.
The job again falls to Takeda Shingen. With all available army nearby, Takeda Shingen launched the total assault in Ise. Also, the leader of the third western loyalist group, Yokota Yoshinobu (R3, who won the bitter victory for Takeda in Echizen), volunteered to join the attack! |
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Ise
: The ronins were purely monks and archers, sitting on the hill at the center. Because of their limited mobility, Takeda Shingen decided to take the safer and longer route. He ordered his men to climb up the hill from the left - reaching the same height as the enemy. |
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The enemy soon left the hill,
while one group of warrior monk rushed forward - they barely made half
way.
Takeda Shingen ordered his men to rest first till they all regained partially their strength. |
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The total assault began. With the
large numbers of archers shooting, the charging enemy warrior monks were
finally expelled. However, the Takeda archers also suffered significantly.
The enemy had scattered over a few places. To make sure the enemy could be defeated before the end of day, Takeda Shingen had to split his army. With the sacrifice of some men, finally the monks were outnumbered and flanked to death! Takeda Shingen himself played an important rule coordinating the back attack between the localized battles. |
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The ronins were defeated just
before the end of day.
580 out of 600 (97%) enemy were killed, another record in Takeda war history - Takeda Shingen himself killed 12! His fast cavalry was the key to maintain the soldiers' morale in such a long battle. However, Shingen received a sad news during the celebration party. General Yokota Yoshinobu (R3) was shot dead by the enemy arrows... Another great loss to Takeda. |
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So far, all of the three
loyalists leaders that made their way from the west were dead. Obata
Genshin died in Echigo, Akiyama Masakatsu was killed by Oda Nobuhide in
Yamato, and Yokota
Yoshinobu sacrificed his life in Ise.
Unfortunately, they didn't live to see Takeda take back Bitchu, Bingo, and Aki from Mori. However, their contribution to Takeda and their great loyalty would be remembered. Takeda is now ready to go west - with the furious, ultimate destruction brought by Takeda Shingen! |
