Bingo

Another couple of weeks has gone by and there is much to report from the battle's front.  First off the main army was slightly delayed due to the fact that I recruited a new general to help govern the newly captured land on the main island.  Kira Norikane was immediately made the new Finance Commissioner.  He joined the main army and they sailed to the main island and took Bessho clan by complete surprise.  There was some attrition due to the winter time being in full force there, but the first castle was taken by overwhelming force.  The castle was called Bingo and that's what the invading armies shouted when they took the castle (they didn't, but that's what I imagine they did). There were minimal losses and my forces decided to wait out the winter and rest up before they set out again to conquer.

                                                              (My armies in position)

My spies have reported that the next region over has been completely abandoned by the enemy so my newest general Kira is sent to take the province of Soja.  He does it without losing a single man.  So then he goes straight over to the enemy's home castle and quickly takes it without their main army being aware of what had happened.  So within a few days of this capture, the main army arrives to find out that their home castle has been taken by my armies.

With nowhere else to go the enemy general Amano Kazutoyo tries to take the castle by force, but fails miserably.  My missile units were stationed on the walls while my swordsmen and spear men stood at the base of the fort.  While the enemy was engaged with my forces on the ground my archers and matchlock gunners were able to pick off his troops without mercy.  When the battle was over in a few minutes the enemy lost 600 men while my own forces only suffered 60 losses.  A tremendous victory for Kira Norikane.  The Bessho clan was wiped out and the victorious Chosokabe clan took over management of those regions.  My own young son of 14 years, Chosokabe Motochika, is inspired by this victory and decides it is time for him to take up the sword and help lead my armies to victory in Japan.

Week 2.5: Spying

Well another week has gone by and it has been a while since the last time I posted.  We had some technical difficulties last week but everything is fine now.  So without further ado, here's week 3 for your reading pleasure.

Some time has passed on by and I've made some really good friends with the other clan on the small island that I am on.  I have a trained spy/ninja that I will send to the main island to scout out what will be the best place to invade and in what manner to do so.  So far there is one clan that looks like it can become prey to my attacks.  That is the Bessho clan, and they look weak in comparison to the other clans on the mainland that I have heard about.

I build a small fleet in order to carry my armies on to victory on the main island.  Soon there are trade ships of foreigners at my docks wishing to trade.  I allow them to trade and as reward for opening my ports to these foreigners I get some imported matchlocks to carry into battle.  These will be very important since if I am under siege and they decide to storm the castle, I can more easily defend it.

So anyway my adopted son boards the small fleet with his army to declare war on the Bessho clan and destroy their army in the field before they can retreat into their castle.  but as soon as the army boards the boats whispers of an amazing victory from the Shimazu clan (my brother) reaches our ears.  They are gaining ground and we cannot afford to lose time.  Onward to victory!

Week 1: Beginning the conquest of Shikoku

This blog is meant to be a week by week sort of journal that I write about in my experiences playing against my brother in the Total War: Shogun 2 multiplayer campaign. As time goes on I will get better pictures and video of the battles I have against him. For a large part of the journal I will be writing it as if I were actually leading my armies in battle. We set up some rules of the game so we could have a more fun time playing. The first is that we cannot go to war against each other until one of our territories touches each other on land, another is auto-resolving battles that do not h ave to do with the two of us. So without further ado, here is week one.

I am leading the Chosokabe clan to victory in becoming the shogun of Japan.  I am playing against my brother who is leading the Shimazu clan on the other island south of Shikoku that is called Kyushu.  My plan is to conquer my island of Shikoku and then work my way onto the main island of Honshu getting as much trade allies as I can for the assault against my brother.  My Daimyo’s name is Chosokabe Kunichika and he has a son who is still not of age yet and a daughter named Chosokabe Nana.  He sent his only general and friend Kira Masayo to block the way into the castle town of Kochi.  

The hated Kono clan is at war with the Chosokabe and as soon as enough troops are recruited an attack is made on the Kono army.  The enemy army is led by Kono Michinao and his son and heir Kono Yoritaka.  There was battle and Yoritaka is killed and his father is routed with only a few men left at his side.  My general Kira Masayo pushes on to the castle and takes it with minimal losses.  He destroys the clan and the castle and its people are now a part of the Chosokabe.  My Daimyo is so impressed with this great general and the great victories that he has accomplished that he gives his daughter Nana to Kira and they are wedded, further cementing Kira’s loyalty and his friendship to Kunichika.  

With the spoils of war and greater riches the capital castle of Kochi is now has an extra ring around it, further fortifying it against attack.  Some time goes by and Kira produces a grandson named Chosokabe Sukechika, giving the Daimyo’s son of eight years a new nephew to play with.  Time passes and relations are uneasy with the Sogo clan to the north in the Sanuki Province, so Kunichika readies an army in secret to make a sneak attack on their small fort.  He enlists a friend of Kira’s named Emura Sadahiro and makes him the commissioner of supply in the new army that is made ready for war.  

After much preparation, 2400 men are sent into Sogo territory on a sneak attack on the fort, which turned out to be lightly defended with only 60 men.  Kira and Emura attack and do not lose a single man.  This is a great victory and now a fort is ours.  With this victory a great stone quarry was captured, further increasing our riches.  Not long after the fort was taken the enemy clan leader Sogo Nobumasa came upon the fort in a futile attack on the walls, all of his men were killed including himself.  While our clan, the Chosokabe only took minimal losses, all of which were able to be recovered within a few months.