| (Click to enlarge image) | Shimazu Campaign - Autumn 1531 |
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After the victory at Nagato, Ijuin waited for
reinforcements to arrive from Kyushu before proceeding with his planned attack on Iwami,
which had been authorized by his Daiymo, Lord Shimazu, after he received the reports about
the Mori castle having been erected there. Thus, the summer of 1531 was quiet.
But in Autumn, Ijuin set out to seize Iwami with a larger force, which now included
a fresh yari samurai unit from Nagato. As Ijuin prepared to take to the battlefield once again, he learned that the opposing force was slightly larger than his invading army. Ijuin thus knew that he would face a determined enemy in the heights of Iwami.
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Battle of Iwami |
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Heavy rains drenched the rugged mountains of
Iwami. Ijuin had opted to attack in this harsh weather because he knew he lacked
enough archers to effectively oppose those he anticipated the enemy to field. Thus,
the heavy downpour would nullify the effectiveness of the garrison's archers. Ijuin marched his men up the steep inclines in central Iwami. As they approached the crest, Mori's archers openned fire on their position from the forest below. Ijuin laughed at the cowardice of his enemy, for they had resorted to hiding in forests to evade death in the recapture of Nagato as well. Ijuin ordered his meager archer contingent of 22 archers to return fire while in a loose formation. He started sending his 2 yari samurai units to attempt a flank manuever on the enemy archers when enemy formations of yari samurai and yari ashigaru were spotted emerging from the forest! Ijuin immediately called off his advance and had his fresh yari samurai unit clash with the enemy yari samurai, while he confronted the enemy ashigaru with his own. As Mori's men were fighting uphill, Ijuin knew that his men would prevail, as they enjoyed a considerable height advantage. The two-pronged counterattack left a large gap in the center of the Mori offensive line. Ijuin took the initiative and lead his 15-man yari samurai unit into the breach, after which he turned on the exposed rear of the enemy samurais. Once he cleared the gap, and was engaged with the enemy, Ijuin ordered his archers to close ranks and do the same: storm into the breach and turn on the rear of the Mori peasants. As the archers entered the breach, the enemy frontline units turned tail and ran for their worthless lives! The brave Shimazu warriors gave pursuit, and cut many of them down. Seeing his men flee in panic, the enemy taisho also turned tail and ran like a whipped dog. Ijuin and his men pursued the enemy through the forest, but they were fleeing fast. Victory was ours once again!
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Aftermath |
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With the victorious Shimazu army lead by general
Ijuin in Iwami, the remnants of Mori's garrison chose to hold up in their new castle in
hopes a relief force would save them from certain death. Ijuin's victory, against a
larger enemy force, proved to be decisive as well. 98 enemy soldiers lost their
heads, at a cost of only 35. As he settled in, Ijuin rejoiced, for the Mori stronghold in Iwami was now in their hands, and a great threat in Honshu had been removed. He also learned that the Mori Daimyo himself was close by, although he lacked a sizeable army. Furthermore, the Mori garrion in Suo was now cut off from the rest of their domain. And Bingo was in the hands of rebels! This leaves Aki as the sole province in Lord Takeda's hands in the vicinity of Iwami! With the start of winter, Ijuin learned of the exceptional harvest reaped this year. He knew more attacks would be launched through Honshu in the comming year. Soon, Suo and Aki would be flying the Shimazu banners throughout their lands!
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