The Battle of Hizen

Autumn 1530

            Following the victories in Chikugo and Chikuzen, Lord Shimazu now knew that the pitiful generals of Imagawa were no match for his might.  He marched into Hizen, the last stronghold of Imagawa on the island of Kyushu.  Arrayed for battle with his bodyguard of 10 Heavy Cavalry, and leading  General Tsuneyori So and his Yari Samurai, General Naomasa Akizuki with his unit of Samurai Archers, and General Yoshihiro Ryuzoji and his valiant Yari Samurai, he had already been informed of the forces arrayed against him.  General Soun Kanemori led the pathetic defense for his lord, who had not troubled himself to send help from his other provinces.  Leading  a depleted unit of Yari Samurai, he had only the 24 remnants of general Tyoujo Ii to support his defense.

            Details of the battle are sketchy, as the messenger bringing the reports to the capital lost some of them in the mud.  The careful charcoal sketches that Our Daimyo’s personal artist prepared in memory of the battle were ruined, as was the personal note from Lord Shimazu to his wife, detailing his victory.  He did manage to tell what he himself saw of the battle and the preparations to garrison the new province, however.

            “My Lords, though my knowledge of battle is small and unworthy, know that we follow a truly mighty daimyo in Lord Shimazu.  I personally saw him strike down two of the enemy in the heart of battle, and I am told that he did kill another which I was unable to see in the confusion.  Others of his guard also brought down 3 more of the enemy as they tried to strike our lord, and three of them paid the highest honor, with their lives.  Of the others, General So’s men killed 10 of the enemy, with the general himself striking on of them down as he ran like a dog, and they lost no men to the craven enemy.  General Akizuki’s archers slew 9 enemy, while the arrows of the foes killed tow of his valiant samurai.  General Ryuzoji, the dragon, led his men into the heart of the battle.  They slew 19 enemy, though six of his men fell in the combat.  In total, our Daimyo’s forces killed 44 of the Imagawa dogs, and another died on the spear of his comrades as he tried to flee.  Our forces lost  a total of eleven men, all killed by the enemy. Truly a great victory for our Lord.  For Myself, the shame of my failure to bring you the news properly is unbearable.  I bow my head to you, awaiting your command.”