CHAPTER 9: HIDEYOSHI’S REVENGE

 

    The entire land was shocked to hear about the death of Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful warlord in Japan. This sudden loss immediately affected all of the Oda Clan, tearing it apart from the inside. Meanwhile, Akechi Mitsuhide and his forces temporarily occupied the capital of Kyoto. He was not safe to linger around at the center of Oda’s forces.

 

    After several days, the devastating news reached Hashiba Hideyoshi, who fell into a maddened rage. It was his lord Nobunaga that brought him up, all the way from a sandal-bearer, to a military commander. Sadness and grief took over him, but the very next day, he arranged for a truce with the Mori Clan he was battling, and the Mori agreed (not knowing that Nobunaga was no longer around. With all of his best soldiers and generals, Hideyoshi made an extremely swift move to intercept the traitor Mitsuhide, so he could avenge Oda Nobunaga. His army astonishingly reached Kyoto in thirteen days, ready to ambush the Akechi. Realizing he was not safe at all at Kyoto, Mitsuhide attempted to lead the Akechi forces north, but was intercepted by Hideyoshi at Yamazaki.

 

The Battle of Yamazaki (1582 AD) (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Mount Tenno) saw the clash between the two former comrades, Akechi Mitsuhide and Hashiba Hideyoshi at the foot of Mount Tenno, Yamazaki. Hideyoshi’s forces outnumber Mitsuhide’s, so the latter takes control of the southern choke points, giving him the ability to see Hideyoshi’s battle formations from afar. With the help of his scouts, Hideyoshi figured that the nearby Mount Tenno would be able to provide them with a good advantage. He ordered some of his men to occupy Mount Tenno, providing cover fire as Hideyoshi’s main force charges Akechi Mitsuhide’s camp straight on. Kuroda Yoshitaka, Hideyoshi’s strategist, was also a great warrior, and with his skill, he tore the Akechi forces apart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    In the aftermath of the battle, Akechi Mitsuhide was captured, and all of his forces were routed. Staring face to face with each other, they exchanged their final conversation about the reasoning behind the betrayal. After they are done, Hideyoshi, with tears in his eyes, ordered for Mitsuhide’s execution. And thus falls the White Hawk of Oda.

 

CHAPTER 10: FORMER COMRADES AT SHIZUGATAKE   

 

After defeating Akechi Mitsuhide at Yamazaki, Hideyoshi and his forces negotiated with the remainders of the Oda Clan, which was broken into several regional factions. Nobunaga’s heir entrusted Hideyoshi with complete control of the clan, merging the Oda Clan with the Hashiba Clan. Takigawa Kazumasu, who controlled the western forces of Oda, initially declined, but after being persuaded by Hideyoshi, agreed to join Hideyoshi’s conquest as well. Essentially all of the Oda Clan’s greatest general joined Hideyoshi, with the exception of Shibata Katsuie, who led the northeast military campaign before.

 

Katsuie disagreed with the Oda Clan’s decision to give commanding power to Hideyoshi, and immediately had his forces split from the Oda Clan, stationing the Shibata Clan northeast. Katsuie supported another one of Nobunaga’s heir, Nobutaka. Hideyoshi negotiated with Katsuie, pleading for his surrender. Katsuie however, remained steadfast on his actions, and was prepared to face Hideyoshi and his forces in battle. Several times he kept on trying, but after failing so many times, Hideyoshi mobilized his forces and marched northwest, heading for Shibata Katsuie.

 

In May, 1583 AD, Hideyoshi and his forces clashed against the Shibata army at Shizugatake. Prior to reaching the northeastern castles of the Shibata army, Hideyoshi was greeted with an assault unit led by Sakuma Morimasa. Receiving news that the enemy forces are rapidly approaching, Katsuie ordered Sakuma to retreat, with the latter not heeding his lord’s orders. As a result, Sakuma was killed by the forces of Hideyoshi, who ordered his men to force march, reaching Katsuie’s main force within one day.

 

Hideyoshi and his army surrounded Kitanosho Castle in Echizen, where Katsuie and  his men put up a brave last stand. After losing legions of soldiers and officers, Katsuie retreated into the castle, asking Ichi (Nobunaga’s sister, and Azai Nagamasa’s former wife), his wife to leave with the children. Ichi, in turn, sent his three daughter to Hideyoshi’s generals, and stood fast in the main keep with her husband. The castle was set aflame, and both Katsuie, and the beautiful Ichi, burned to death in the burning keep.

   

 

CHAPTER 11: HIDEYOSHI’S CONQUEST FOR UNIFICATION

 

    With Katsuie’s forces subjugated, Hideyoshi unites the remainder of the Oda Clan and amassed a powerful military force. Taking control of the entire Oda Clan, including the powerful Maeda Clan led by Maeda Toshiie, he established a new clan of his own, changing his name to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Daimyo of the Toyotomi Clan.

 

    The Toyotomi forces marched both west and east, fighting various factions across Japan. With Hideyoshi’s charismatic persona, many powerful and intelligent samurai joined his side. Even a monk that once served him tea became a great leader, going by the name Ishida Mitsunari.

 

    Hideyoshi sought to get Tokugawa Ieyasu’s assistance, but the latter declared war on him, reflecting on how he took power from the rightful heir of Oda Nobunaga. They clashed at Komaki and Nagakute, with the Tokugawa Clan defeated. Tokugawa Ieyasu then pledged his allegiance to Hideyoshi.

 

    Most of the forces that fought Hideyoshi at the time would either surrender (because of the Toyotomi’s massive military power) or get conquered. The Mori Clan fought against Hideyoshi’s conquest for years, before finally surrendering. Within years, many other clans fell, subjugated by the elite Toyotomi forces. By 1584 AD, the only other forces that opposes Hideyoshi’s rule are the Date Clan, Hojo Clan, Chosokabe Clan, and the Shimazu Clan.

 

    With most provinces in the main land under his control, Hideyoshi and his army invaded Shikoku, the southwestern island of Japan, completely conquered by the great conqueror Chosokabe Motochika, who refused to surrender. Hideyoshi employed his best generals to fight the Chosokabe Clan, and the two opposing factions clashed against one another at the island of Shikoku.

 

    The entire island was surrounded and invaded by Hideyoshi’s best generals. They branched off and cut off the Chosokabe’s supply lines, forcing them to retreat back to Tosa. The two army fought fiercely at the Battle of Ichinomiyama Castle, where Hideyoshi claimed a massive victory over Motochika’s forces. Conquering the entire island of Shikoku, Hideyoshi set his sights to the west, towards the western island of Kyushu, dominated by the powerful clan Shimazu.

 

With his massive force arriving on Kyushu Island, Hideyoshi planned his conquest of the western island. To march against the Shimazu in a head on battle would be suicide, as the Shimazu Clan has powerful warriors on their side, mainly Shimazu Yoshihiro, the warrior they call the “Shimazu Devil”.

 

After strategizing the march of his forces, Hideyoshi commenced his conquest of Kyushu. The Shimazu responded aggressively, sending their best officers and generals to face the Toyotomi forces, who greatly outnumbered them. Using sinister strategies, the Toyotomi army had to rethink their plans as they got pushed back by the strong, fearless Shimazu army. With the rest of the Toyotomi forces arriving, with the likes of Chosokabe Motochika and the remnants of the Mori Clan like Kobayakawa Takakage, the Toyotomi advanced once more, pushing through the powerful defenses of the Shimazu Clan. Ultimately, despite giving Hideyoshi a really hard time, the Shimazu surrendered after their castle at Kagoshima was surrounded. Shimazu Yoshihiro and his brothers were freed, and joined Hideyoshi in his conquest for complete unification of Japan.

 

CHAPTER 12: SIEGE OF ODAWARA

 

    In 1590 AD, Hideyoshi’s massive, powerful army is unstoppable. Having subjugated the Shimazu Clan, Chosokabe Clan, Mori Clan and many others, the only one standing in the way of Hideyoshi’s vision of unification is Date Masamune and his forces, and also the Hojo Clan.

 

    Hideyoshi sent a letter, summoning Date Masamune to march his forces to join up with the Toyotomi army. Masamune replied, agreeing to fight the Hojo Clan together.

   

Date Masamune was the young Daimyo of the Date Clan of the north. Under his leadership, the entire northern region was conquered by the Date Clan. Known as the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu, Masamune was a master swordsman and strategist, known for his bravery and courage on the battlefield.    

 

    At the meeting to discuss the Siege of Odawara, every single one of Hideyoshi’s generals and finest warriors were assembled. One man was missing, and that was Date Masamune. He was very late for the meeting, and Hideyoshi was getting impatient.

 

    At the last moment, Date Masamune showed up, walking calmly towards Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The rest of Hideyoshi’s generals, including Tokugawa Ieyasu, were expecting Hideyoshi to execute Masamune for being so late.

 

    The One-Eyed Dragon however, shows no sign of fear, and calmly apologized to Hideyoshi for being late. Astonished by Masamune’s fearless nature, Hideyoshi was overjoyed, and with several last-minute input, they were ready to strike the Hojo Clan down at their main castle Odawara. The combined forces of the Shimazu, Chosokabe, Mori, Toyotomi, Tokugawa and the Date marched against the Hojo Clan.

 

    Odawara Castle was one of the most powerful military fortifications that ever existed in Japan. Its walls were high, imposing as a mountain, and was heavily protected and fortified. Even when Hideyoshi’s forces number hundreds of thousands, they struggled against the Hojo’s powerful castle. Hojo Ujimasa, the Daimyo of the Hojo Clan, was determined to fight the Toyotomi to the death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    And thus, began the long siege of Odawara Castle. The massive army of the Toyotomi marched against the defenders of the Hojo Clan. They fought for the reason they believed in, with their loyalties put forth to the test.

 

    Eventually, during the third siege, Odawara Castle, despite being a powerful defense, fell to Hideyoshi’s allied army. And thus, no more clans opposes Hideyoshi’s rule. Date Masamune went back to his homeland Oshu, and the former lands of the deceased Hojo Clan were given to Tokugawa Ieyasu, amassing massive wealth and power.

   

CHAPTER 13: JAPAN UNIFIED…

 

    Feudal Japan was unified under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the land undergoes a short period of peace. Hideyoshi, unfortunately, died on September 18, 1598, thrusting Japan into chaos once again. His death was the bane of the Toyotomi Clan, as it fell into decline, leaving Tokugawa Ieyasu’s ambition unchallenged.

 

    Ishida Mitsunari rose to power, firmly believing in the Toyotomi Clan’s right to rule. Tokugawa Ieyasu on the other hand, rallied all of the forces under his influence to his side, forming the Eastern Army. Mitsunari did the same, forming the Western Army.

 

    The Tokugawa army marched towards Ueda Castle, hoping to have the Sanada Clan surrender. However, the Sanada refused, and fought back with brilliant strategy, winning the fight against the Tokugawa despite being outnumbered ten-to-one. On the front lines of the Sanada Clan was Sanada Yukimura, one of the greatest warrior in all of Japan. His fighting skills with a spear and also his courageous heart becomes the reason the Tokugawa lost the Siege of Ueda. After winning the battle, Sanada Masayuki, Daimyo of the Sanada Clan, moved his forces towards the Western Army.

   

    The Sanada were split into two. Masayuki and Nobushige (Yukimura) joined the Western Army, while Masayuki’s eldest, Nobuyuki, sides with the Eastern Army. They were theorized to plan this out beforehand, as to whichever side wins, the Sanada Clan will survive (Tucker).