(click on the pictures to enlarge)

Shimazu Campaign - Summer 1530

 

Hello everyone. This is Shoni Sukemoto, reporting what I have heard about the great assault commanded by our daimyo, Shimazu-EuroSan Takahisa.

As planned, 217 men of Shimazu marched into Imagawa's Chikugo, including the fresh victorious general Ijuin Shigenobu's 26 yari samurai from Chikuzen. At the same time, a distract ional attack was commenced to Hizen by 16 brave yari ashigaru previously commanded by Akizuki Toshisue, who honorably gave up his life in the Chikuzen battle.

Battle of Chikugo

The enemy  was consisted of 180 soldiers, 2 yari samurai (H1, including their taisho) and 1 samurai archers (H3). 

Lord Shimazu ordered all archers to get close to the river, preparing to shoot for the enemy who dared march forward to stop our men crossing the river. The river crossing was led by the two 60-men yari samurai.

The enemy stayed back! Lord Shimazu quickly sensed this perfect opportunity to cross the bridge. He ordered the archers and general Ijuin to cross the bridge as soon as possible, while at the same time divided the two groups of yari samurai, marching steadily towards the archers both sides, while himself charging into the enemy archers!

The enemy archers lost their chance to disengage, while their left and right both attacked by Shimazu yari samurai.

Seeing their archers losing badly, the enemy taisho ordered one group of his yari samurai to charge down, while himself staying on the hill as the reserve. However, the enemy's timing was poor. When their yari samurai arrived their archers had been fleeing for a while, and now this yari samurai unit is subject to the 3-way attack of Shimazu. This time, our left flank was composed of the fresh archers of Shimazu!

The first group of Imagawa yari samurai lost badly in a few minutes. While their taisho now decides to rush down and back attack our archers, but they were too late again, their first group of YS already routed and now they were yet AGAIN 3-way attacked by Shimazu. This time the right flank is general Ijuin-Vanya, completely back stabbing the enemy taisho.

Only 2 of the 60 in the enemy taisho unit left the battlefield with their heads attached. The rest of Imagawa soldiers, although rallied and marched away, could not escape their final destiny of annihilation. 

Chikugo was seized by our hero, lord Shimazu Takahisa with only 60 men dead from the battle field, while 159 out of 180 Imagawa soldiers were dead (154 killed by us).

Yes, it was 159 dead again, the magic number of Imagawa's defeat, destroying Imagawa Yoshimoto's hope of keeping their lands on Kyushu!

360 elite of the nation, now only 42 left in Hizen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aftermath
 

As planned, the attack of Hizen was called off. Our 16 ashigaru returned with useful information that Imagawa only had 21 soldiers guarding the province.

Although Chikugo is conquered, our hold in Honshu, the mainland of Japan was invaded by Mori's 240 men! We had no choice but to abandon the province of Nagato. Now our border on the east is greatly threatened!

The good news is, in the battle of Chikugo one of our warriors (please refer to the log file to guess who he is) have reached the legendary swordsman status!

We will be able to build a sword dojo now! Yeah!