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[BlackFalcon]

April 6, 1566

Ever since the attempt of the Yuki and Satomi to seize Ota Castle failed, Satake decided to launch a counterattack on Yuki Castle. After I took the castle, his army has continued to march now that the defenses are low.

We are rapidly repairing the walls and making fortifications. 12,600 men stand ready for an attack, while another 11,000 recooperate.

Yoshiake and his brother Yoshitsuna are leading 6,500 infantry each, which will be no problem for my men to handle.  That fool doesn't know what he's getting himself into.


August 9, 1566

Word is now the Hojo are trying to capitalize on Yuki Castle as well. They have a total of 12,500 infantry coming from Iwatsuki Castle and their newly acquired Kururi Castle, plus 6,000 bowmen from Kururi. Things are not looking good.

May 7, 1566

A glimmer of hope is shining through. The 12,000 I led out of the castle are holding strong against the Yuki, and the Tokugawa's attack on the Hojo's Shimoda Port has caused the infantry from Iwatsuki to change course.

My strategists back at the castle are doing an excellent job of tricking the Hojo troops from Kururi into retreating. They've always regrouped, but it's bought us some most valuable time.

We've managed to take out Yoshiaki's unit, so the Yuki aren't much of a threat any longer. We really just need to hold off the Hojo now.

Ujikuni!!! I shall have your head!!!!!

[BlackFalcon]

June 18, 1566

My men performed with as much honor and bravery a damiyo could hope for. The Yuki troops were obliterated, and we sent Ujikuni and the rest of the Hojo cowards limping back to Kururi. No one reached the castle walls.

From the short scuffle the Hojo and Takeda had with each other last year, the majority of the Takeda forces were still stationed at Tsutsujigasaki. I've received word that Shingen is currently leading a seemingly successful attack on the Tokugawa on Sunpu Castle. It does not bode well for Ieyasu.

For us however, things are looking up. The number of men in the Satake army are now under 10,000, and with all the action going on, only 5,000 men defend Iwatsuki Castle. The Hojo could likely send some reinforcements if we were to strike there, but not many.

One big problem faces us. We have run out of food, so we can not attack anyone at present. The harvest is just over 2 months away, though, so we shall see if the time is right once we've gathered supplies for a march. We're scheduled to also complete our research for a better means of moving our rams at that time, which would ease our siege efforts.

For now, I must see to it that the land around Yuki Castle gets back to satisfactory condition. There is no rest for the weary.

[BlackFalcon]

June 15, 1567

After the harvest last year we determined it was not enough to carry out an attack. We may have prevailed, but we would have been left with little or no food until the next season.

Our lack of action has given the Hojo ample time to execute their own attack, and they're sending almost everything they have at Yuki Castle now.

Toshifusa Sakai and Tameyori Toki are leading 13,000 infantry from Kururi Castle; Tokitada Masaki and Tokishige Masaki are commanding 12,500 infantry from Okamoto Port; and Ujimasa Hojo has 5,000 with Ujiyasu Hojo and 5,000 infantry behind him out of Iwatsuki Castle.

To be honest, I don't like the way things look. We have 30,000 men at the ready at Yuki Castle, but we must muster up everything we have to prevail. We must start preparations immediately.


July 10, 1567

Our two forces clashed violently alongside the 3 turrets we built last year, well within range of the castle's muskets. We are doing what we can to hold off everyone away from the walls, and so far so good, but the troops from Okamoto are not too far away now.

Nobusada Obata tried to lead a thrust on Ujimasa and his horses, but they proved to be a formiddable foe as they blocked the attack. Not long after, Ujimasa counterattacked with a rush on my unit. I repaid the favor with a pierce attack that brought Ujimasa's numbers low enough to retreat. One unit down, 4 to go.


July 27, 1567

The battle has still not shown to belong to either side yet. Tactics have been carried out on both sides, and we have managed to block a couple of theirs. Yesterday my men unleashed a most powerful pierce maneuver on Tokitada's unit that must have incapacitated over 1,600 men. A most fortunate event for us. Today I take my men back to the castle to regroup and join the fight with a full unit. I hope Nobusada can hold those Hojo  off for a couple days.


August 4, 1567

Going back to the castle for more men may have proven a costly move. The break in the line allowed the Hojo to reach the castle and they are surrounding it now. Ujiyasu even managed to break the will of my men and those within the walls, but fortunately Nobusada was able to quickly get our spirits up again. We must strike with grace and speed now.


September 2, 1567

The 5 units of Hojo infantry have continued to pound our castle walls, and Ujiyasu intimidates my men every chance he gets. The Nagano bravely battle on. They all know this battle means survival. We've managed to destroy Toshifusa Sakai's unit and send Tokitada running.


September 3, 1567

Ujiyasu and Tokishige have realized they're the only ones left and appear to be trying to cut back through my forces and escape. You're mine, Ujiyasu!!!!


September 26, 1567

That coward Ujiyasu doesn't know how to accept defeat valiantly. With only a couple hundred men remaining, he had the audacity to intimidate my men once more. Then he somehow manages to escape after his men fall. If I ever catch that man, he will not be even allowed to have a good death.

We did manage to capture 5 of the Hojo officers. One seems convincable to join our ranks, and the others I shall keep as collateral.

I can never state enough how proud I am of my men. They faced demons with boldness and obliterated them with vigor. We must rebuild as my father did many times at Minowa and press on.

[BlackFalcon]

October 28, 1567

The Ashina and Utsunomiya have made a fatal error. They've decided to attack the Date at Iwadeyama Castle with a good majority of their forces. My spies tell me that Kenshin is seizing this opportunity with 23,000 men to take over Kurokawa Castle, and I intend to take Utsunomiya for my own.

It will be good to expand our daimyo as well as strengthen the borders with our good ally. Not to mention that knowing Kenshin's ambitious nature, he wouldn't wait long to press onto Utsunomiya if I don't beat him to it.


December 25, 1567

As expected, Kenshin easily crumbled the walls of Kurokawa and the Ashina as a clan are no more. Today, I have 6,000 men with rams nearing the Utsunomiya gates, and 11,000 infantry and I are not far behind. That whimpering Utsunomiya tried to convince me to take a truce. HA! His bed shall be my place to rest before the winter ends!


February 5, 1568

Sweet tumbling tanuki! These monkeys won't stay off my back! Ujiyasu and Ujimasa Hojo are bringing 16,000 infantry from Iwatsuki and Shingen's men are marching 31,500 cavalry, 8,000 infantry and 10,000 bowmen to attack Minowa! There's no way the 24,000 men I have stationed there can defeat them.

I don't even think Kenshin's help there would do any good. However, if I were to have Kenshin attack the Takeda, that may draw their troops away. It's our only hope.

Regardless, I will send someone a day later to ask to defend Minowa if Kenshin will not attack the Takeda directly.

[2much]

Black Falcon, Clashing with the Takeda so early in the game was bold of you and has made for a very suspenseful aar. Looking forward to more.

[BlackFalcon]

February 24, 1568

I have slept only 12 hours in 5 days, which is when we took Utsunomiya. From the time we heard of the attack until, these are all the actions we have carried out in hopes of surviving this onslaught.

Kenshin would not agree to attack the Takeda directly, however, he did agree to help protect Minowa, and 12,000 cavalry and 6,500 infantry are on their way here, though still a good ways off.

Tanesada Hara set out from Minowa Castle with 3,000 cavalry in hopes of slowing Ujimasa down. I know he won't hold him off, though the plan is to buy time for the Yoshihiro Satomi and 8,500 infantry to reach him from Yuki Castle. If we can keep the Hojo away from the east side of Minowa Castle long enough (or better yet, make him retreat), then this will allow the Uesugi army to make their way through to the west side of the castle and block the Takeda.

Harutomo Yuki is currently leading 6,000 infantry to delay the 31,000 cavalry for as long as he can. I shall reach Minowa soon to assemble my own infantry unit and join the fight. It doesn't look good.

To make matters worse, the Date have decided to attack Utsunomiya while the walls are still down. I sent whatever men who weren't carrying out any orders to prepare the castle defenses there.


March 10, 1568

Everything that could go wrong has. Ujimasa broke through and is blocking the Uesugi from reaching the main battle. Takeda's men are surrounding the castle and we are powerless to stop them. We will soon run out of food.


March 24, 1568

Now Satake himself is marching towards Yuki Castle. Hojo is even sending some from Kururi, too. It seems everyone wants a mochi ball.


April 7, 1568

Minowa Castle has fallen to the blasted Takeda. 4 of my best men have been taken prisoner. My unit has no food to retreat to another castle. The men are starting to desert me and the morale of my other castles being seized is faltering. The gods have abandoned us. Father, I fear I may be joining you soon.


May 8, 1568

Stricken with hunger, the men of Yuki Castle have abandoned the fight, and the Hojo now control it. All my other officers and I have retreated to Utsunomiya, and only 18,000 men are here to defend it. My accountants tell me that we are to lose 1,000 gold each season due to the lack of income. Who knew it would come to this...

[BlackFalcon]

June 1, 1568

Oh, noowww a priest has decided to visit! Where was he 3 months ago!?!? I must be the laughing stock of the land.


October 19, 1568

Ujiyasu Hojo is leading an attack from Yuki to Utsunomiya. It appears they want to finish us off. I've asked Kenshin for reinforcements, but his resources are limited from all the previous attempts to protect us. I doubt he will be able to send help.

In total, almost 35,000 infantry and cavalry are headed here. We have almost 20,000. It will be a close battle, but honestly, the damage from an army this size will doom us even if we succeed this time.


February 12, 1568

A long battle ensued almost 4 months ago here at Utsunomiya. All my men have fought with such ferocity that I wish I could repay them in some way. I shall not be blessed with that privilege. Instead, the payment for serving their daimyo as every samurai should is at the end of a Hojo blade.

The walls of my quarters are echoing with the sound of soldiers screaming for the door to be opened. I shall heed their call once I pen this, the final entry of my diaries. Perhaps Ujiyasu will obtain these and learn from my mistakes.

I can't say whether or not I failed as a leader. Perhaps the task was too large for any man. Perhaps the Takeda and Hojo were just favored by the gods.

I will not ask for my life, for my purpose in this land has been served.

Father, I come to meet you.

[BlackFalcon]

Yes, the enemy was too powerful. I'm glad I was able to endure a tough challenge for so long and write it out for all of you. Thank you for reading!!

[bandekar]

good try falcon. it was a good read also. i think some clans are tough to play with.

[2much]

Nooooooooo... I was so looking forward to your victory over the Takeda and Hojo as they are my least favorite clans. With their numerous and talented officers, goldmines, ten district fiefs and starting off as allies... I just don't like them. It would have been a legendary feat had you withstood their onslaught and gone on to unify the land. Curious to know what you would do differently and/or if you even think it's possible to be successful given the parameters of your aar. Thank you very much Black Falcon, you've proven that a great aar does not always end in victory.

[BlackFalcon]

Heh, thanks. Honestly, there really wasn't any other option except to stay in the original Minowa Castle and build up a massive army. Whether I attack or the Takeda/Hojo attack me, make it so I cripple their forces, and wipe them out soon thereafter.

I just didn't have the patience for it that time, and the aar would have been very repetitive with defending Minowa castle at least a dozen times before going out on my own.

Another thing that could've helped was allying with a force that had the musket turret technology. The problem was no one was willing to become allies, and I must've checked at least 2 or 3 times every year. Plopping a good 8 of those on each end of the castles would've made the job of defense a lot easier.

Playing the way I did, I had one chance to come out of that last attack: I needed the priest to visit me as the Takeda and Hojo were coming. I took Utsunomiya in the middle of February, so there was a chance that a priest would visit in March. I saved my game once the armies started to march towards me, and I tried reloading 6 or 7 times just to see if I could get the priest, but no luck.

So the scenario I chose is not impossible. Just either need to be really lucky or really patient, and I was neither.

[bandekar]

I took Utsunomiya in the middle of February, so there was a chance that a priest would visit in March. I saved my game once the armies started to march towards me, and I tried reloading 6 or 7 times just to see if I could get the priest, but no luck.

so u needed the priest to get a truce and try to strengthen for 6 months i am supposing.

[BlackFalcon]

To get a truce, yes. But I wouldn't have just sat there and delayed the inevitable. I would have tried to shift all my forces from Minowa elsewhere. Either attack the Hojo and take out most of their army and hopefully finish them off before the Takeda advanced too much, or destroy the Satomi, Satake and Date, taking as many officers as I could. Getting fiefs and officers from those daimyo would allow me to research musket turrets. It would take time and I would probably lose Minowa once the truce was finished, but you'd be surprised how much a gauntlet of musket turrets can cripple an attacking army.

[Mitsurugi]

Dude i am sorry for your loss but man was that one awesome aar i hope mine could at least come close to yours. i hope you start another one but this time i want to read about your domination of Japan. Once again this was awesome

[scholar]

It was certainly a good try.