July 19th, 1570
Yoshida Koriyama Castle, Aki Province
It was the third straight night of ambushes, the Ouchi and Imagawa took to fighting at night with both sides engaged in a series of attacks and counter-attacks. Both sides made use of arquebus with measured string to maintain firing angles. Yet the Ouchi where no closer to being able to relieve Yoshida-Koriyama and were forced to pull back. The Ouchi withdrew to the Gonokawa River with the Imagawa in hot pursuit. [1]
July 20th, 1570
Gonokawa River, Aki Province
The Ouchi found themselves forced to cross the Gonokawa River. The Imagawa had sent their arquebusiers as a screen against the Ouchi forces, the Ouchi in response sent their own forces to try and cover the retreat. Both sides exchanged several volleys of gunfire, ultimately forcing the Ouchi to retreat towards western Aki.
August 6th, 1570
Yamabuki Castle, Iwami Province
Yamabuki Castle stood guard over the Iwami Silver Mine. The Imagawa forces were led by Takeharu Shigeharu of the Saito, with Kitabatake Tomonori, Jinbo Nagamoto, Ema Tokimori lead their respective clans. [2]
"Hmm the castle seems to be not as fortified as one would think," remarked a curious Tomonori
"The forts we had to take seemed formidable enough, besides the castle is on a hill so it would be quite the march to take it. replied Tokimori
"Perhaps, however, we have already seized the silver mine, and Aki has a more direct path to Yamaguchi. Taking this fortress will make only make our control secure and defend the border with Izumo Province if the worse happens."
The sieges of Yamabuki and Yoshida-Koriyama would continue into the next year.
December 3rd, 1570
Shozui Castle, Awa Province
Michinobu Kono and his entourage of retainers were the last to arrive to arrive, the occasion was the first Shikoku council, the various region of Japan where to form councils, as a way to co-operate on development and settle disputes. However, as an implicit way to check the power of the clans even further, each daimyo of their respective province would have to bring in their local lords, in the case of the Kono, the Iyo-Utsunomiya and Saionji clans, whose castles were reduced to fortified residences.
Michinobu and his retainers were greeted by Atagi Fuyuyasu, in the center and Sogo Kasumasa to on his right side and Chosokabe Motochika on the left.
"Welcome Lord Michinobu," said Atagi Fuyuyasu. "Now that you are here we can begin our first council, but before we begin I would like for everyone to feast and drink. Afterall, I am the host, it would be terrible to have my guests commit suicide over the shame over a dull visit. The remark caused laughter among the guests.
Several hours had passed after the guests had engaged in just not eating but contests of skill, marksmanship with gun or bow, and the occasional renga verse. The four Daimyo of Shikoku had reconvened for a quick meeting before retiring.
"I feel it would be prudent to work what to do with our armed forces considering the Shogun had deemed our forces not necessary for future campaigns and must be reduced, or at the very least put to more productive use if your nephew's idea has any merit," suggested Michinobu cautiously.
"I would give him a chance, the first thing we need to do is survey our lands to ensure we have a steady supply of troops, and to prevent problems from cropping up, such as bandits," said Kazumasa defensively.
"If we are going to be dealing with criminal scum, why not do something about pirates, or at least prevent them from operating out of our lands," Motochika added.
The small meeting would set the stage, for greater plans of cooperation between the clans of Shikoku, and would be considered a model for Shogun Yoshimoto's ambitious plans for the country when peace would finally come.
[1] One of the innovations the Japanese used with firearms, even for fighting at night
[2] Takeharu Shigeharu, better know as Hanbei Takenaka. Noted strategist for the Toyotomi in OTL, but served the Saito, first. The Iwami Silver Mine, which translates literally into Iwami Ginzan, was a very valuable mine in Japan, being the largest silver mine in the country at the time.
I made an error with Kyushu, Chikugo province belonged the Otomo and I made that change to reflect it. Chikugo is the lower Otomo province near Hizen which is the gray westernmost province on the island.
Yoshida Koriyama Castle, Aki Province
It was the third straight night of ambushes, the Ouchi and Imagawa took to fighting at night with both sides engaged in a series of attacks and counter-attacks. Both sides made use of arquebus with measured string to maintain firing angles. Yet the Ouchi where no closer to being able to relieve Yoshida-Koriyama and were forced to pull back. The Ouchi withdrew to the Gonokawa River with the Imagawa in hot pursuit. [1]
July 20th, 1570
Gonokawa River, Aki Province
The Ouchi found themselves forced to cross the Gonokawa River. The Imagawa had sent their arquebusiers as a screen against the Ouchi forces, the Ouchi in response sent their own forces to try and cover the retreat. Both sides exchanged several volleys of gunfire, ultimately forcing the Ouchi to retreat towards western Aki.
August 6th, 1570
Yamabuki Castle, Iwami Province
Yamabuki Castle stood guard over the Iwami Silver Mine. The Imagawa forces were led by Takeharu Shigeharu of the Saito, with Kitabatake Tomonori, Jinbo Nagamoto, Ema Tokimori lead their respective clans. [2]
"Hmm the castle seems to be not as fortified as one would think," remarked a curious Tomonori
"The forts we had to take seemed formidable enough, besides the castle is on a hill so it would be quite the march to take it. replied Tokimori
"Perhaps, however, we have already seized the silver mine, and Aki has a more direct path to Yamaguchi. Taking this fortress will make only make our control secure and defend the border with Izumo Province if the worse happens."
The sieges of Yamabuki and Yoshida-Koriyama would continue into the next year.
December 3rd, 1570
Shozui Castle, Awa Province
Michinobu Kono and his entourage of retainers were the last to arrive to arrive, the occasion was the first Shikoku council, the various region of Japan where to form councils, as a way to co-operate on development and settle disputes. However, as an implicit way to check the power of the clans even further, each daimyo of their respective province would have to bring in their local lords, in the case of the Kono, the Iyo-Utsunomiya and Saionji clans, whose castles were reduced to fortified residences.
Michinobu and his retainers were greeted by Atagi Fuyuyasu, in the center and Sogo Kasumasa to on his right side and Chosokabe Motochika on the left.
"Welcome Lord Michinobu," said Atagi Fuyuyasu. "Now that you are here we can begin our first council, but before we begin I would like for everyone to feast and drink. Afterall, I am the host, it would be terrible to have my guests commit suicide over the shame over a dull visit. The remark caused laughter among the guests.
Several hours had passed after the guests had engaged in just not eating but contests of skill, marksmanship with gun or bow, and the occasional renga verse. The four Daimyo of Shikoku had reconvened for a quick meeting before retiring.
"I feel it would be prudent to work what to do with our armed forces considering the Shogun had deemed our forces not necessary for future campaigns and must be reduced, or at the very least put to more productive use if your nephew's idea has any merit," suggested Michinobu cautiously.
"I would give him a chance, the first thing we need to do is survey our lands to ensure we have a steady supply of troops, and to prevent problems from cropping up, such as bandits," said Kazumasa defensively.
"If we are going to be dealing with criminal scum, why not do something about pirates, or at least prevent them from operating out of our lands," Motochika added.
The small meeting would set the stage, for greater plans of cooperation between the clans of Shikoku, and would be considered a model for Shogun Yoshimoto's ambitious plans for the country when peace would finally come.
[1] One of the innovations the Japanese used with firearms, even for fighting at night
[2] Takeharu Shigeharu, better know as Hanbei Takenaka. Noted strategist for the Toyotomi in OTL, but served the Saito, first. The Iwami Silver Mine, which translates literally into Iwami Ginzan, was a very valuable mine in Japan, being the largest silver mine in the country at the time.
I made an error with Kyushu, Chikugo province belonged the Otomo and I made that change to reflect it. Chikugo is the lower Otomo province near Hizen which is the gray westernmost province on the island.
Last edited:

