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2016/02/12 20:25:49
Subject: Samurai Siege: The Defence of Butsu Butsu Jo
Japan 1560, the Sengoku Jidai, the "age of the country at war".
With all central authority broken down, the Emperor is a mere figurehead in his palace at Kyoto. The provinces are ruled by local warlords constantly fighting battles against each other on the borders of their realms.
One such "Daimyo" is Lord Hidoi of Touhou Province. Hidoi has built a castle, named Butsu Butsu Jo, in the main pass to Chibi Province, and garrisoned it with 1,000 fierce samurai under command of General Monku. His strategic aim is to control trade in and out of Chibi Province.
Mazui, Lord of Chibi will not stand for this. Mazui despatches his veteran General Iyadaa with 3,000 elite troops to crush the defenders and occupy the castle for himself.
But when Iyadaa arrives, after some reconnaissance and a few skirmishes it becomes clear that 3,000 men are not enough to capture Butsu Butsu Jo. However, 1,000 men are not enough garrison to sortie and drive off the attacking army. The scene is set for a siege.
Both commanders must husband their stores, while expending enough of them to delay the inevitable decline in morale caused by the boredom and stress of siege warfare. Whoever runs out of rations or fighting spirit first will lose!
The attackers, at the mercy of the elements in the high mountains, not to mention vengeful ghosts such as "Yuki-onna" may envy the castle's fine accommodations and warmth. But within the walls, the rats scurry in the rice stores, and the dread spectre of starvation will eventually raise its ghastly face to the trapped garrison.
The attackers busied themselves to paint and set up wooden shields from behind which to shoot at the walls.
Meanwhile, the defenders erected numerous banners on the battlements, and sniped with arquebuses.
A flight of cranes was seen to pass from north to south in the evening. This may have been an important omen.
Quartermaster General Sushiya caused a large paviliion to be raised, out of range of the castle walls.
The generals and senior officers of the besieging army went to the newly set up shooting range to try out the arquebuses. However, due to the inclement weather, the guns were difficult to fire off properly. Seeing this, samurai on both sides said it proved that the arquebuses are worth not as much a firework for summer festivals if they could not make a proper bang. But others said that a bowstring also loses its power in the damp, and hand held steel was the best.
Somewhat subdued, the company went to Sushiya's new pavilion to revive their spirits with a grand tea ceremony.
Within the castle, the defenders, their bright helmets glinting in the dim light, manned their walls in strength, possibly suspicious that the new pavilion was erected for a visiting general to observe the siege. They tried many shots by arquebus and bow, and a few lucky ones managed to reach as far as the canvas, however the only casualty was a canister of valuable tea, that was overset by an arrow.
Both armies hope for better weather tomorrow.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2016/02/16 11:40:00
Kilkrazy wrote: They tried many shots by arquebus and bow, and a few lucky ones managed to reach as far as the canvas, however the only casualty was a canister of valuable tea, that was overset by an arrow.
The tea will be avenged.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2016/02/18 05:01:57
2016/02/18 11:46:43
Subject: Re:Samurai Siege: The Defence of Butsu Butsu Jo
In the morning a storm threatens, but it passes over the mountain and the sun comes out.
The attack force begins to set up canvas shelters for the shooting positions of their missile troops. a wise precaution given the weather exposure in this mountain height. For today at least, the kami of weather oblige with sun and light breezes.
Inside the castle the defenders are doing mysterious activities. At noon, they rush to the walls. Helmets shining brightly, the arquebusiers man all the arrow slits to fire several rapid volleys at the hard working attack troops. The prelude to a sortie!
But no, it is merely a display of high spirits on a festival day. Old General Tonkatsu can be heard admonishing the troops for spending powder to create such a dense, smelly cloud. Once it is fully dispersed, a sweeter smell arises -- the defenders are regaling themselves with incense.
This continues into a grand poetry composition contest that lasts half the evening. One of the gunners, irrepressibly inspired by the day’s spectacle, carries off a prize for the following haiku, which is ordered to be displayed on a banner atop the castle gate:
Polish purple helmets
Proud standing in every slit
Hard, fast, balls banging
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/02/18 14:03:51
The attacking army carries on regular siege activities. They push listening posts close to the walls, and attempt to observe activity within the castle by the noise of the garrison.
The defenders have only a few sentries and snipers on the walls. Clearly it is a rest day for them. However, mysterious activity continues within the castle. Shouting, loud noises of wood being hammered, ropes being hauled and casks being rolled, etc, seem to indicate the defenders are moving a lot of large items and may be building something.
The samurai speculate among themselves, possibly it is a stage for noh theatre, or a giant model horse.
In the night, the gibbous moon shines on a ghostly scene. Mountain tengu are seen rising and dropping among the nearby peaks.
Both sides carry out normal siege activities, sniping, repairing shields, setting up new banners and so on.
There is some excitement when a family of wild boars comes close to the besiegers' camp, and might threaten to get into the food supplies. Soldiers give chase with spears and bows, but the animals get away without any being caught.
Apart from this excitement, the more experienced samurai detect some signs of boredom among the youngsters.
