THE ENEMY IS IN THE HONNO-JI!

The struggle for the Oda legacy

Murphy Mania Megagame
26 September 1999

Each of the competing clans (heir, general or daimyo), will consist of 2 or more players: the clan leader, a heir and some generals. Each commands a part of the clan's army. Using the resources of their lands they can raise armies or fortify towns and strategic locations. The resources are represented by the cards each player and team receive once every few turns. These resources represent control of arms manufactures, the goodwill (or non-intervention) of non-aligned daimyo, strategic opportunities (force marches) and reputation. All these serve to strengthen the clan's position.

In battle, the generals choose tactical options depending on the ground and the quality of their troops. Particularly brilliant generals or well-trained armies will receive special manouvres, unavailable to others. Winning battles and sieges will earn the victors new strategic resources to represent the strategical initiative.

If clans choose to take up the pen as well as the sword they can ally themselves to other clans. Alliances will also bring new strategic resources. Alliances are no mean commitment though and breaking them will cause great loss of face. A victor in battle may also choose not to conquer his enemy but accept him as a new vassal. This will also gain strategic resources.

The story of the unification of Japan starts in 1568 when a relatively unknown nobleman from Owari province marched into Kyoto to support his candidate for the most important political position in the country. Within thirty-five years the country was conquered by that nobleman and his successors and turned in to a centralised bureaucratic state that was to last for more than 250 years.

The unification of Japan occurred at what proved to be the end of the so-called Sengoku period, or the age of the country at war. In this period Japan underwent sweeping changes in every field, and it was therefor possible for ambitious men from any background to acquire power which had long been restricted to a small circle of big landlords and the court circles of Kyoto. In the middle of the 16^th century certain of the more successful ambitious men were turning their eyes on the capital with the idea of making a bid for control of all Japan. The first one able to do so was that relatively unknown nobleman from Owari province: Oda Nobunaga.

The Oda family were longtime retainers of other powerful clans in Owari province. In the dynamic free for all of the Sengoku period Nobunaga's father was able to attain some form of independence. The Oda lands were under constant attack from local rivals, but under Nobunaga, who took the helm of the clan in the 1550's, these were defeated one by one. By the end of the 1560's Oda Nobunaga was the undisputed lord of Owari province. He then intervened in the power struggles of Kyoto, supporting one of the contending candidates for the Shogunate, the military dictatorship of Japan. The Shogun had lost much of his former power and Nobunaga controlled him to his own ends.

From 1568 Nobunaga had to defend his position against many great clans, but he always came out victorious. By 1582 his domains had increased to encompass all of central Japan, or one third of the country. The shogun had gone into quiet `retirement' so Nobunaga was the most powerful political and military factor in Japan.

For his many conquests Nobunaga was able to draw on an exceptionally talented pool of generals. Niwa Nagahide, Shibate Katsuie, Ikeda Nobuteru and Hashiba Hideyoshi were the most important of these in the 1570's, but the group also includes Tokugawa Ieyasu and Maeda Toshiie of later fame. These fought under Oda command or independently, conquering many provinces that Nobunaga allowed them to govern in his name, so that by 1582 all of them had obtained their own powerbases.

Katsuie is one of Oda's longest serving generals. Famed for his vigour in attack he is known as one of the four pillars of Nobunaga's success and sees himself as the obvious candidate for succession. A few years ago Shibata was invested with the rule over Echizen and Kaga to wage war against the Uesugi in Ettchu, which is governed by Sasa Narimasa. After initial setbacks, Katsuie and Narismasa have been able to gain some fortresses from the still formidable Uesugi clan. They have just succesfully concluded a siege against one of the Uesugi castles in Ettchu province.

Ikeda Nobuteru is another one of the four great commanders of Oda Nobunaga. Always fighting on Oda's many campaigns he has proven himself most skillful in retreat, but should not be trusted to make mistakes on the offensive either. For his loyal service, he has been rewarded with the governorship of Ettsu province.

Niwa Nagahide is well known for his good advice but also for his skills as a general he was an indispensable bolt in the Oda war machine. Fighting close to Nobunaga he is always entrusted with the most difficult tasks which he carries out with great experience. His governorship of the strategic Omi province indicates the great trust Nobunaga must have placed in this man.

Hashiba Hideyoshi started out as a simple foot soldier in Oda Nobunaga's army, but has made an amazing career over the years. After taking a prominent part in the defeat of the Asai and Asakura in the early 1570's he ran into difficulties with Nobunaga, but managed to claim the command over the troops fighting the Mori clan that held most of the western part of the Japanese mainland. From 1578 he conquered the provinces presently under his control. Hideyoshi is probably the most politically talented of the four main commanders of Nobunaga.

In 1581 Hideyoshi's army invaded Bittchu and laid siege to Takamatsu castle. A huge Mori army has moved to its relief this year, but has been unable to affect the outcome. By damming the nearby river Hideyoshi is flooding the garrisson, and surrender seems unavoidable. The Mori have already sent an envoy with a peace offer. Also, Oda Nobunaga has ordered the raising of new troops to support Hideyoshi. These troops were supposed to be led by Akechi Mitsuhide who has treacherously marched upon Nobunaga's undefended castle in Kyoto.

In June 1582 Japan is shocked by the attack of Akechi Mitsuhide on his defenseless master. Mitsuhide was one of Oda Nobunaga's old and trusted generals, known for his sharp analysis and tough fighting. In recent years he has been mostly involved in the conquest of Tamba province and advising Oda Nobunaga.

Mitsuhide's murder of Nobunaga has been inspired by revenge and ambition. Although Akechi was one of Oda's most able generals, at several times Nobunaga humiliated him in public, while there is also the story of the hostages Akeachi took from a subjected clan who were killed by Nobunaga. In return the clan murdered Mitsuhide's mother.

The plan for the murder of Nobunaga has been well thought through. Most of the other generals are far away fighting the enemies of their lord. Nobunaga also sent most of his bodyguard to support Hashiba Hideyoshi against the Mori. By perfect coincidence Oda also asked Akechi to raise an army, to support Hideyoshi, but instead of marching to Bittchu, Mitsuhide has taken the `wrong' turn to Kyoto where Nobunaga had been taking a holiday, meanwhile also entertaining Tokugawa Ieyasu who has just returned from the final defeat of the Takeda clan. In two days Akechi has been able to kill Nobunaga and his sole natural heir and to lay hands on the treasury. Furthermore he now holds Kyoto and with it a central position in Japan.

Nobunaga's legal heir has been killed by Mitsuhide's men, but there are still two bastard sons left: Nobutaka and Nobuo. Also, Samboshi, Oda's only legal grandson has escaped Akechi's troops.

Tokugawa Ieyasu, ruler of Mikawa, Totomi, Suruga and part of Shinano province

Maeda Toshiie, ruler of Noto province

Sasa Narimasa, ruler of Ettchu province

Takigawa Kazumasa, ruler of Kozuke province and the northern part of Ise

Hori Hidemasa, ruler of Wakasa province

Tsutsui Junkei, ruler of Yamato province

Kawajiri Hidetake, ruler of Kai province

The Mori family has controlled most of the western part of mainland Japan for a century now and is one of the most powerful clans of the island. Lately however Hashiba Hideyoshi has conquered many of its provinces at lightning speed in the name of Oda Nobunaga. Inaba, Tajima, Mimasaka, Bizen Harima and Tango have all fallen and now Hideyoshi's troops are in Bittchu besieging Takamatsu castle. Despite the presence of a large Mori army he has managed to bring the garrisson close to surrender by flooding it. It is quite difficult to tell what is going to stop this man, especially since Oda Nobunaga has promised to sent support to his general. Already envoys have been sent to Hideyoshi to ask for peace terms between Mori and Hideyoshi/Nobunaga.

After the death of Uesugi Kenshin, the famous arch rival of Takeda Shingen, who was giving the generals of Oda Nobunaga a hard time in Kaga and Echizen, the Uesugi clan was ripped apart by the succession struggle. In the end Kagekatsu was able to defeat his contender, but the Uesugi clan is not as strong as it was before Kenshin's death and much work needs to be done to set things straight. Kagekatsu has resumed the war with Oda in Ettchu, but so far this has not been very succesful. The defeat of the Takeda has eased the pressure from Shinano and Kozuke, although the Hojo are not to be trusted.

The house of Hojo is one of the most powerful of Japan and has kept the Takeda and Uesugi at bay for decades. The rise of Oda Nobunaga has now caused the demise of the Takeda, which is just as well. On the other hand it has caused the growth of the power of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who would be a formidable opponent had he not been connected to the Hojo by marriage. This does not exclude the possibility of armed conflict however. At present an army is active in Kozuke against Takigawa Kazumasu.

The Chosokabe have recently increased their hold over the island of Shikoku. Their level of ambition has not been tested against serious opponents though, and it is difficult to predict which side they would support in the struggle for Nobunaga's succession.

An ancient and powerful family on the island of Kyushu and presently at war with the Otomo clan. Although the battle for supremacy on the island is not decided yet, the Shimazu seem to be gainig the upper hand. The various rulers on Kyushu seem to prefer to stay outside the mainland struggles.

Not a clan but a religious movement composed of monks and peasants. These fierce warrior monks and their disciplined arquebussiers have been longtime opponents of Oda Nobunaga. Their main temple was besieged for ten years by Oda troops before surrendering and still there are temples in Kii, Wakasa and Ettchu that defy the rule of the Oda clan.