Hai! Welcome back to the Shimazu War Story. I am Shoni Sukemoto, a general in the Shimazu Clan.

Spring, 1532 A.D.

In the first two years, our lord Shimazu Takahisa has successfully driven the forces of Imagawa out of the island of Kyushu. The unification of Kyushu secured a large area of lands of Shimazu, leaving two choices to our expansion plan: Mori via Chugoku, or the ronins of Shikoku.

If you recall what happened, our Nagato was invaded by Mori. As a result, the clan meeting unanimously approved the attack plan of Mori.

We even could not wait for Lord Shimazu to arrive in Buzen. In Spring 1532, 300 men of Shimazu marched into Nagato to reclaim our land of Nagato, which has been lost to the rebels last spring. I was honored to be assigned this mission - we should spread the name of Falcon men throughout the nation!

 

Nagato Shimazu 300 (R2) Shoni Sukemoto
Rebel 186 (R1) Kurushima Yorisada

My first real battle, in command of the fine yari samurai of Shimazu plus some ashigaru. The enemy was the rebels of Nagato, who expelled the Mori clan but refused to return to the rule of Shimazu. We have to deal with them as the first step of expanding into Chukoku region.

The enemy archers were hiding in the woods along with the peasants. After a long march, I made the yari samurai to attack from two directions, while the ashigaru move to the side and prepare for a back assault.
Soon my men and the enemy clashed in the woods. The enemy taisho, the archers of rebel abandoned their fellow ashigaru and marched away...! Our men surrounded these helpless peasants, slain them one by one.

They were completely eliminated - nobody survived.
So we now turn to the enemy taisho. These archers stopped in a distance and started to shoot at us.

I asked my men to neglect the arrows and carry out the plan. The two group of yari samurai will flank the enemy from two sides, while the peasants will attack the center! 
The plan was carried out well. The enemy taisho were surrounded at the center! We killed them all!
Yes, we killed them all! 186 out of 186.

The name of Falcon Men has spread across Chukoku!

Summer, 1532 A.D.

The major victory in Nagato has granted Lord Shimazu the confidence of advancing into Suo. While himself taking over the defense of Nagato, the attack was left to me again! It is truly my honor to lead this attack! The Mori took Nagato from us, and we should revenge!

But the commander of Mori was the famous general Saito Toshimasa. (R3) This is going to be a much tougher fight...
Suo Shimazu 247 (R2) Shoni Sukemoto
Mori 156 (R3) Saito Toshimasa
Same as in Nagato, we couldn't see the enemy at the beginning under the light rain. Must be hiding in the forest on the mountain. I let my men to climb up from the left to gain a equal height first, and rest for quite a while there.
After my main had regained most of their strength, I led the army into the forest. We saw the Mori samurai archers and yari ashigaru!

The enemy's arrows were not so effective in the woods, but still very annoying to us. I quickly charged the yari samurai ahead to clash with the enemy ashigaru and archers, respectively, while the ashigaru quickly march to enemy's flank from above! 
Our ashigaru was doing great! They sneaked through the battle line and flanked the enemy ashigaru from their left! Now the enemy ashigaru are panicking!
Not long after, the enemy ashigaru broke into chaos and started to flee - but our ashigaru completely blocked their fleeing path!

Although Saito Toshimosa fought well in the forest, he now faced the three units of Shimazu men.
Saito Toshimasa really made a lot of struggle fighting all of us at once. But finally his men were depleted, and they also started to flee... but do they have the chance?
Another complete elimination of the enemy! 156 out of 156!

Two successive total victory in Nagato and Suo - the falcon men of Satsuma, Shimazu did not leave any enemy from the battlefield breathing. I also acquired the nickname of "no-mercy". Personally I don't like this compliment that much, but the good thing is I got promoted within the clan! (R3)

Autumn, 1532 A.D.

Lord Shimazu decided to take a further move - attacking Mori's Iwami. Leaving my 60 men in Suo, Lord Shimazu only took 229 men in Iwami. I was thinking is this too much for our army size now...
Iwami Shimazu 229 (R4) Shimazu Takahisa
Mori 219 (R0) Miyoshi Tsunehisa

The Mori army was camped in the forest... ignoring the taller hill just adjacent to it. 

(Maltz: Why does the AI always choose the forest?)

Well, so here goes the Shimazu army. Lord Shimazu soon made the yari samurai and ashigaru into position, while the archers on their way to the front, shooting the enemies from above!

After a short shootout, the Mori army decided to challenge us head-on! Their yari samurai was the first group to climb up - and lord Shimazu ordered both groups of yari samurai to charge down, from two different directions.
That was not enough - the yari ashigaru also rushed down to assist the attack! Lord Shimazu wants to finish the Mori yari samurai at once!
The enemy yari samurai held for quite a long time, while their yari ashigaru taisho emerged from the forest.

Lord Shimazu ordered one group of yari ashigaru to attack the enemy taisho with him!
As soon as the enemy yari samurai routed, the enemy taisho ashigaru could not hold any longer in front of the daimyo of falcon men.

The Mori soldiers all turned around...!
A very short engagement it was.

One hundred and fifty of Mori's men retreated into the castle of Iwami. Shimazu would like to siege the castle, but then we will not have enough men to carry on the defense...

 

 

 

The two glorious victory of Shimazu, the complete elimination of enemies, have surely made itself well-known throughout the nation.

The harvest was good! A tea house was started in Hizen, and the Satsuma castle is upgrading to a large one now.

Although three territories were gained this year, Shimazu was stretched a little too thin. With less than 400 men in Chukoku, can we successfully defend the newly acquired lands, while Satsuma was still our only recruiting province?