-XVIII-
"Bridge to Destiny"
Near Yagi Castle (八木城), Tanba Province, April 20, 1301
Mouri Tokichika shook his head as pyres were lit.
We suffered far too many losses here. He saw atop the nearest pyre the body of a monk, recognising it as one of the enemy's warrior monks, those who proved the most dangerous foe. Turning back to the quarters of the commanders, he noticed Burilgitei himself observing the pyres.
"We share the same recognition, Lord Mouri," the Mongol leader said. "The enemy proved a powerful foe. I have fought many fools under the banner of those three triangles, but even a fool might always surprise."
"Had I issued different orders to our scouts, then--"
"There was nothing you could have done," Burilgitei said. "The enemy knew the terrain better than any of our men, the rain dampened our powder and bombs, and our foe knows well not to pursue us too far. We must take heed, especially when dealing with those monks."
"Perhaps we can deal with those monks the same way we always have," Tokichika advised. "We can destroy their monasteries and ensure they don't hinder our army as we advance toward Kyoto."
"I have considered that, but I lack the resources," he said. "They say those are vast temples who command warrior monks from across your entire country. We would draw away too few of them to make it worth the effort."
"All we need is a single
mingghan per monastery," Tokichika suggested. "I can send--"
"No," Burilgitei said. "I do not trust your Japanese warriors when dealing with these monks. Your men prove unreliable in battle, and will prove unreliable if told to attack even a single monastery. Nor do I trust my own men, for just like at Itsukushima, they will bring needless devastation and cause unnecessary offense."
Burilgitei's explanation was strange, but understandable. Tokichika recalled how many of his own men complained about the great destruction at Itsukushima. Even three years later, Shinto priests still were trying to purify the island.
"Itsukushima is a place all of our people mourned for," Tokichika said. "But few will mourn for those temples as their greed and corruption are legendary. The capital we are attacking now only exists for the wickedness of those temples [1]."
"It is not as if I was planning on sparing them punishment," Burilgitei said. "My soldiers would never permit their wealth to go unplundered. Yet there is a time and place for all deeds. They will meet destruction on the day fate demands it."
"Then I will redouble my efforts to make sure my men might follow fate's decrees," Tokichika said. "My scouts will know every path and my warriors will not take a single step back. Thank you for this conversation, Lord Burilgitei." As he walked away from his commander, thoughts gnawed at his mind.
I must keep those warriors trained and motivated. We Japanese must not be the weak point in the army of the Great Yuan, for if we are, then our nation shall surely perish in this chaotic age.
---
Gantoku-ji, Yamashiro Province, July 1, 1301
Yamana Toshiyuki looked carefully at his co-conspirators in the tent in the sweltering summer heat, discerning their motives for joining him. Surrounded by this many potential foes, the mission had to be carried out carefully. The fate of all Japan--and his clan--lay in the balance.
"Do you actually stand a chance of gaining control of this army, Lord Yamana?" a warrior from nearby Mino Province named Hatakeyama Tokikuni asked. "If you kill a leader, you don't win his follower's allegiance."
"Each and every warrior in this force understands the issues we face. We're led by incompetent fools who extort our income and give nothing back. We fall into debt, and they do not aid us. And now these leaders have fallen totally under the thumb of the Imperial Court, who benefits from our debt to those corrupt temples and merchants who serve them. Not a single warrior of Japan is unaffected by the issues we face. They will understand me well."
The other men in the tent nodded at Toshiyuki's words, but Hatakeyama seemed unconvinced. Toshiyuki eyed him carefully--Hatakeyama was an Ashikaga after all, one who left the side of his master only because of supposed wounds he suffered at Ki Castle.
The Ashikaga and Houjou are too close, and this man will serve their interests over our own. But there are people from any family who might betray their kin to gain an advantage--I pray he is one of them.
"There are warrior monks from as far away as the Kantou encamped alongside us. Those damnable court nobles have made sure we can't carry out this plot," Hatakeyama protested.
"We won't be fighting them, for as I told you, I am ordering a general retreat away from the frontlines. We'll be sending thousands of men to both Kamakura and Kyoto and tell those effete court nobles and that bastard Houjou Sadatoki that we must be properly compensated for our service. Are we clear now?"
Hatakeyama nodded, as did the other men.
"Perfect," Toshiyuki said with a smile. "The half of you sitting on the right of this tent are to accompany me to deal with Houjou Munenobu. The other half of you shall spread word of our righteous cause in the camp once the signal is given and slay those leaders who refuse to join us. Stay vigilant, and do not falter. The warriors of our nation are depending on us."
---
Yodo Castle (淀城), Yamashiro Province, July 14, 1301
"If he won so dramatically, then that means Burilgitei will be attacking Kyoto soon, my lord," Khayishan's strategist Bayan said, intepreting the envoy's message. Khayishan took a deep breath, continuing to drink from his sweet bowl of
kumis, a much-needed respite from the strategic planning and battles. His body still ached from the recent battle. Yet Khayishan understood what Burilgitei's arrival meant--another challenger in seizing Kyoto.
"Hmm...Burilgitei's forces will be exhausted from all their fighting, and I doubt he commands more than 10,000 men at this point. He will rely on us for assistance...no, in fact he must rely on us. I'll make sure Nanghiyadai tells the other commanders to be stingy with their troops."
"Are you seeking a confrontation with him, my lord?" Bayan asked.
"No, no, not at all. But it is good to remind one's future subordinates that you are the source of their success, rather than the other way around."
"Be careful with those words around the Great Khan," Bayan warned. "Prince Daishu will surely become crown prince and then the Great Khan himself."
"If he lives long enough," Khayishan said.
When I arrived in this country, that whelp hadn't even been born yet. How ridiculous some already think of him as the heir! "So many infants his age return to the heavens every year. Or perhaps he himself will never have an heir and be forced to rely on his victorious cousin. Fate might have any number of things in store for us."
"You speak quite openly, my prince."
"The Great Khan sits far away from this place and busies himself with all manner of things. Now Bayan, I believe there is a guest at the door."
A soldier standing guard opened the door, and a young woman walked through. Her clearly Japanese appearance contrasted with the jacket and robes of a Mongol noblewoman, to say nothing of her tall
gugu headdress. Bayan looked at Khayishan with worried eyes.
"The Secretary of Zhengdong practically paraded his daughter in front of me," Khayishan explained. "I believe his name is Miura Yorimori? He is a useful dog, keeps our armies full of men, and quells the ambitions of the more foolish Japanese." The woman lay next to him, pouring more kumis into his cup.
"Be wary of taking a concubine from subject peoples, my lord," Bayan warned. "Even if her family is powerful, there are women from other families who will benefit you further. It is also unwise to bring her to this battlefield."
"We have practically won this campaign," Khayishan said. "Soon the autumn rains will begin and then winter follows. The enemy's capital will have fallen by then. Speaking of which..." Khayishan pondered the challenge. "Let's send those men from Goryeo south. They are doing nothing here besides taking up our supplies."
"A reasonable proposal for Nanghiyadai to hear," Bayan said.
"And then we'll send Zhang Gui toward the enemy capital itself so he can begin the siege. If Shi Bi ever decides to do something besides smash insignificant enemy fortifications, he should go north of Kyoto and destroy the citadel of those monks, I believe it is called Mount Hiei," Khayishan explained.
"What will Burilgitei--and our army--be doing?"
"We will claim twice the glory. First we use Burilgitei's help to crush that last Japanese army for good, and then we ride into Kyoto as soon as Zhang opens the doors. Victory will be ours."
His concubine offered him more kumis, but Khayishan refused her.
"No more. Save this for my next success." He smiled--first it would be his victory over that Japanese army, and then it would be the conquest of their capital.
---
Near Kyoto, Yamashiro Province, July 15, 1301
Houjou Munenobu watched his tattered army set up camp near an old temple. Warriors stood around supervising the peasant recruits carrying supplies, while monks sat on the ground meditating even in the fierce sun. Even if they won the battle two days prior, their morale was non-existant and they still had been forced to retreat.
Another battle like that, and I will surely have lost. A messenger walked up to him, bowing.
"My lord, I bring you news of Lord Houjou Hirotoki's army," the messenger, a warrior he dealt with several times in the past by the name of Sasaki Muneuji said. Munenobu sighed, resigning himself to more bad news.
"Please tell me," he spoke, straight and direct.
"We face difficulty. The enemy has broken through at Kameoka, and Lord Hirotoki is severely injured."
Munenobu bowed his head in distress at hearing the news.
"Shall we aid their escape, my lord?" Sasaki asked. Munenobu sighed, pondering his options. If he split his army even further, then he'd surely be destroyed, yet if his entire army went at once, it would be easier for the enemy to surround him.
The invader excels at making us fight on his terms. I must reject that, no matter the cost.
"No," Munenobu answered. "The enemy wants us to do that. Ensure Lord Hirotoki finds his way back. We will defend Kyoto together."
Sasaki looked distraught, but seemingly resigned to his fate.
"If we aid them soon, we can stop that force of Mongols from entering Yamashiro Province. That invader army is most dangerous, for it is led by a general whose ancestors conquered not just China, but the rest of the world." Munenobu knew exactly who Sasaki spoke of, and why. The head of the Takeda clan, that obnoxious Tokitsuna, blamed his great retreat on the strength of that general. And when his kinsman Tokiatsu lost at Hayashino two years ago, he blamed that same general, even going as far to capture invader soldiers in hopes of learning more.
Are those just wild rumours, or is that man truly that powerful?
"Strong as he is, he conquered only a few of our provinces, not half the world," Munenobu said, trying to dismiss his concerns. "Our ancestors seized far more provinces at the side of Minamoto no Yoritomo and his brothers. And that is all that matters--how well our enemy performs against the warriors of Japan, protected by our ancestors and the gods of this country. Let him enter Yamashiro if he dares."
"Isn't one less enemy army to deal with beneficial?" Sasaki asked.
"Correct," Munenobu replied. "But even if we aid those defending the Oeyama Gate at the entrance of Yamashiro, we expose our flanks to attack by the last enemy we dealt with. Their cavalry are numerous and powerful, even with the long spears I ordered every man carry.'
"I-I see. Where shall we defend?"
"The bridge over the Uji River," Munenobu answered. "The enemy will have to attack our army, for if they do not, we can attack them sequentially as they lay siege to the capital."
"Every force defending the Uji River has lost," Sasaki said. "Do you wish to join Minamoto no Yorimasa, Minamoto no Yoshinaka, and those foolish court nobles of Go-Toba in the annals of those defeated there?"
"I've already considered that," Munenobu said. "Recall we are facing many of our own countrymen who have betrayed their emperor to join the invader. They will inform the invader what to expect and how to fight, and we can predict their actions from that."
Sasaki still looked worried, but once again accepted his fate.
"Very well. I will ensure all gather at the bridge over the Uji."
"Good. Let it be the beginning of our counterattack that drives the invader from this country."
---
Near the Uji River, Yamashiro Province, July 29, 1301
Mouri Tokichika limped into the tent, kneeling before that invader general Burilgitei as he sat on a fine rug surrounded by his warriors. He was painfully aware of his failure, and hoped the Mongol lord would forgive his mistake.
"My lord, the enemy continues to resist with everything he has. Twice I tried to cross that bridge, and twice I failed," he explained. "My most sincere apologies that my warriors could not succeed at this task."
"So even in tandem with Adachi Tochika and Sugimoto Tokiaki you cannot drive back the enemy," Burilgitei muttered.
A wounded Japanese warrior, his face covered in a bloody bandage and his arm and leg clearly broken, cleared his throat.
At the very least Sugimoto survived.
"Lord Burilgitei, please do not punish Lord Mouri too harshly for our failure. I paid with these injuries and the loss of hundreds of warriors, and Lord Adachi and his lieutenant who proposed this, that Lord Hatakeyama, paid a far worse price. Mouri relied on us, and we failed him."
"You Japanese warriors are fighting quite poorly today," Burilgitei said. "No matter, we face an enemy backed into a corner. He is giving us his strongest resistance."
"He knows well not to make the mistakes others did at this crossing," Tokichika said. "Adachi followed the strategy followed by others who once stood in our position, but the enemy countered it perfectly."
"Yet the enemy cannot hold long," Burilgitei said. "If Sugimoto told the truth, then he has lost much of his strength and momentum from those attacks. A few more and I am certain he shall fall."
"Lord Gao is doing all he can out there to stop the enemy from mounting a counterattack," Tokichika pointed out. "Had I not fought my strongest in my retreat, surely the enemy would have used the momentum from repelling my men to cross that bridge and break our ranks."
"All too presumptious, Lord Mouri," Burilgitei cautioned.
A wounded soldier walked into the tent, carried by guards. Cracks tore the warrior's armor in several places, and he wore no helmet. In his hands he held a human head by its hair, blood still dripping from the neck, mouth, and nose of what had been an elderly man. The warrior tried kneeling before Burilgitei, but at once he collapsed, the trophy rolling on the floor toward Tokichika.
"Who is this man to interrupt our strategy meeting?" Burilgitei demanded.
"K-Kuge Mitsunao of Tanba Province, v-vice captain o-of L-Lord Adachi," he sputtered. "D-damn you, Kumagai! [2]"
"Ensure he receives the finest treatment," Mouri ordered the guards. He inspected the head carefully, his eyes growing wide as he recognised the armour.
They say Kuge despises that enemy general Kumagai Naomitsu, and if Kumagai is here, this man must be...
"He risked much to bring us a fine gift, Lord Burilgitei. This is the head of Wakasa Nobutsuna, a veteran general of the enemy and uncle of that Takeda lord who fought so well against us."
Burilgitei cracked a smile. "See to it he receives not just treatment, but a fine reward. And if he does not survive to claim the reward, ensure his kin receive it in his stead." Burilgitei stood up, inspecting the head as if checking for familial resemblances of his most bitter foe. "The impass we face shall end. Bring up Lord Kikuchi's soldiers and our other gunnery troops. We shall assail the enemy once again, and demonstrate their heads shall join Wakasa's on our spears."
---
Near the Uji River, Yamashiro Province, July 29, 1301
Houjou Munenobu sat on horseback, directing his warriors as needed. He was fortunate he had so many skilled officers to aid him, from his kinsman Houjou Tokiatsu to his vassal Nanjou Yorikazu to those warriors who once aided that Takeda Tokitsuna. Without them, his force would have collapsed ages ago.
"The main Yuan army continues pushing us back in the south," Tokiatsu noted from his horse. "How much longer can we keep this up?"
"As if I don't already know that," Munenobu growled at his kinsman. He looked toward Komai Nobumura, who patiently observed the fighting that drew ever nearer. "What are our chances of success now?"
"Zero," Komai answered. "We would do best to withdraw into Kyoto and conduct our final stand there."
"You
know I can't do that!" Munenobu said. "The Court will never permit such rash actions." He recalled those more senior members of his clan discussing the influence that courtier Saionji Sanekane had over everyone--Saionji was just as much an enemy as the Mongols.
"Then as much as it pains me to say it, the capital is lost. Our options are letting the capital burn as we defend it, or letting the capital burn as the invader despoils it. I see no other choice."
Munenobu knew that Komai spoke sense--one did not achieve as much success against this enemy as he had without an intimate understanding of the battlefield. But he could not accept it--if Komai knew everything, then the invader would not be at the gates of the capital. It was now time to gamble on his last and finest strategy--killing the enemy prince.
"Tokiatsu, have our soldiers sighted that Yuan prince in the army attacking from the south?"
"As a matter of fact, there have been. Our vassal Ogushi Noriyuki saw him, distinctive in his armour."
"Perfect. Komai, hold off the enemy here. Tokiatsu, let us seek out Lord Nanjou and prepare our countercharge. That prince thinks us occupied with his chief general, but once we break his lines, he will die and the enemy shall rout."
"Just one moment, Lord Houjou," Komai said. "If your men and Lord Nanjou's cavalry leave this sector of the battle, our lines will collapse. We have not a warrior to spare against that prince."
Munenobu grit his teeth, aware once more that Komai told the truth. His mind scrambled itself trying to answer Komai and prove to himself his plan held merit, yet he could not find a single reason why he might succeed, or at least not one that Komai might find convincing.
If he were in my position, he would not act so confident. Even his master Takeda Tokitsuna could do no better if faced with this strong of an opponent.
"Then we shall lose this battle, but win the war...and save the Capital." With a motion of his hand, he ordered his cavalry into action, dozens of Houjou clan vassals following him. We will form the spearhead of this attack, and then Lord Nanjou shall follow.
Once that enemy prince dies, this nightmare shall end.
---
Near the Uji River, Yamashiro Province, July 29, 1301
Shell trumpets sounded as Khayishan aimed his bow with precision, losing an arrow that shot clean through the enemy's helmet and knocked his lifeless body from his horse.
A cavalry charge this intense? What is Burilgitei doing? He fired several more arrows, trying to keep his distance as the enemy poured through their ranks, casting it aside as he drew his sword. They held high banners of the three triangles of the Houjou clan, those rulers of the Japanese, dismounting from their horses as they fired all their arrows.
"This is it, your majesty! The enemy's last gasp!" shouted his strategist Bayan. Khayishan smirked, knowing it true. Burilgitei would never give the enemy the slightest opportunity to mount a thrust like this. To withdraw so many men from their lines ensured their defeat.
On horseback in front of him rushed the mounted warriors of the Russian Guard with their distinctive European chainmail and furred helmets, ready to intercept the enemy. At their head Khayishan recognised Aleksandr Zakharievich, his uniquely angular sword with its inscription glinting in the sin [3]. The kheshig formed a barrier in front of Khayishan, their spears and swords halting the enemy in their tracks.
They will never even reach me, let alone our commander Nanghiyadai in the rear-guard.
A few enemies, seeing their doom near, charged toward Khayishan. Bayan struck one down, and with his own blade, Khayishan slew two more. The last enemy proved stronger, rushing in on a dying horse before leaping in front of Khayishan. He knocked Bayan to the ground with the butt of his spear before thrusting it right into Khayishan's horse. Khayishan himself leaped from his horse as the beast died and parried another blow.
"Oh invader prince, recall the name Nanjou Yorikazu!" the furious enemy shrieked in Chinese. "Glory to the sacred Lotus Sutra!"
His fierce charge ended as soon as it began. Two warriors of the kheshig cut him down, and Khayishan finished the fight by beheading the enemy warrior as he muttered "namu myouhou renge kyou". No doubt he was a general by his fine armour.
"Bayan, give me your horse!" Khayishan shouted at his strategist. Bayan immediately acquiesced to his lord's request, and holding the head high, Khayishan hopped into the saddle and raised the enemy's head, ensuring the horse reared back to gain the attention of all. Distant gunshots sounded, no doubt from Burilgitei's firearm soldiers.
"We are winning the fight, the enemy now exhausted, and their general slain! Onwards!" Khayishan shouted. As his warriors slew the final enemies and forced back a few stragglers, his men let out a loud cheer. Kyoto would soon be there's.
---
Near the Uji River, Yamashiro Province, July 29, 1301
Thick, almost choking smoke filled the air, smoke Kikuchi Takamori knew well by now. Around him stood gunners both Japanese and Mongol, loud pops signifying the stones their hand cannons fired shooting into the ranks of his enemy on the opposite shore. He counted the rhythm taught to him by that barbarian general Li Ting, content his men were shooting at a reasonable pace and lit the powder in his own gun. Even if he could barely see, his bullet struck at least one soldier.
"Forward!" Takamori shouted, putting his cannon on his back and raising a sword. His men took three steps forward, standing on either side of the Uji River bridge as their warriors flowed across it.
A battle in the field and a battle at a fortress are little different, and the tactics of the latter can just as much apply to the former. These noisy weapons are truly useful.
A sudden gust of wind blew, clearing the smoke for a brief moment. The enemy was in retreat, driven back by those brave retainers of the the Mouri clan who took the lead on the bridge. Takamori smiled--based on what that invader general Burilgitei told him, once the bridge was seized, the battle had ended.
They don't have nearly enough men to resist now that their cavalry retreated. An arrow struck a hair's breadth from Takamori's foot, an omen as good as any for their success.
Soon enough, trumpets blew as even other the din of battle the furious cavalry charge began. An endless wave of horses rushed past, and for a brief moment Takamori saw the invader general himself, his focus immaculate as he fired his bow into the distance, completely ignoring the smoke.
The wind continued to blow, spreading the smoke once more. The invader general's work was done--the forces of the Houjou clan and Shogunate were fleeing ever faster as more and more men crossed the Uji River. They fled in every direction, now nothing more than a panicked mob. It struck Kikuchi with awe to see the battle changed so thoroughly in minutes, as if the invader general simply decreed it end in his favour.
Some fled in the direction of Kyoto, which brought a sudden realisation to Takamori's mind--the capital would soon fall. It seemed like an incomprehensible thought to him, that soon he might enter Kyoto and truly begin the renovation of Japan. But as his men shot those last warriors of the Shogunate who conducted their doomed final stand, a sudden worry gripped him--would there even be a Kyoto to enter? Surely the city would fall, but the partisans of the Shogunate would fight for every street. Should they do that, there would not be a Kyoto left.
---
Near Kyoto, Yamashiro Province, July 30, 1301
Komai Nobumura rushed away from the battle on horseback, a few hundred men following behind him. Retreat was the only thing he might do in this terrible situation, yet he knew not
where to retreat. They halted and dismounted in a rice paddy not far from Kyoto, yet far enough for the enemy to not reach them immediately. Men surrounded him, wondering what might become of them--and their nation.
"Where do we even go now, father?" his son Nobuyasu asked. "Shall we join those laymen defending Mt. Hiei? Lord Takeda is still impri--"
"No," Nobumura said, cutting him off. "No matter what, we must not make an enemy of the Shogunate. Besides, Lord Takeda seeks to remain in contemplation rather than return to worldly politics. If we were wise, we would follow his example."
A wounded warrior Nobumura recognised as Kodama Shigeyuki stepped forward, bandages covering his head.
"I don't care where you go, but I am going no further," he said. "I've fled from my land, but I will not flee from Kyoto where my Emperor sits. I invite all to join me."
"Lord Kodama, did not Lord Takeda tell us to survive at all costs so we might unite to receive the rewards he promised us, not least of all the privilege of standing by his side?" Ichijou Nobuhisa said.
"He did, but look how many are dead now. Ouchi, Kikkawa, and Amano never made it back, and I'm sure Akiyama is dead as well with how this war is going. All of their hundreds of soldiers are gone too," Kodama countered. "I'm not like you, Lord Ichijou. The Takeda are not among my ancestors, nor any among the illustrious Genji or even Taira. [4]"
Nobumura looked at the warriors and sighed, understanding Kodama's point. They may all of been the trusted subordinates of Takeda Tokitsuna, but they followed him only out of self-interest. Half of them were vassals of Tokitsuna in his role as head of the Takeda clan, the other half assorted warriors of Aki Province and nearby areas who followed Takeda in admiration for his steadfast defense of their land. Now that those lands looked perpetually out of reach thanks to the invader's success, the choice to die fighting for it looked more and more appealing.
"Very well, Lord Kodama. I wish you the best success," he said, pausing. Nobumura turned to the other men, glancing especially at those unrelated to his clan like the elderly--but still vibrant--Kaneko Moritada, the ardent Shishido Tomotoki, and the crafty Nawa Yukitaka. "But keep this in mind. To defend Kyoto now is to throw aside your present life, for this battle is lost. If you wish to end your life in defeat, that is your decision, but if you wish to join the winning army, then come with me. Survival is victory, for every day we survive is another day in which the invader has not subjugated the people of this nation."
The warriors looked at each other, pondering Nobumura's words. From their whispers and glances, it seemed none wished to follow Kodama, who now sighed when he realised none would follow them. Kodama knelt before Komai in forgiveness.
"I apologise greatly for my presumptiousness. Your clan has treated me far too graciously, and I feel I betray that hospitality by selfishly choosing my own place of death."
"Never mind that. You did well in placing the Emperor above the whims of his servant the Takeda," Nobumura said. "I grant you special permission to go to Kyoto with your retainers and defend the Imperial Palace. Do not leave Kyoto unless you are by his imperial majesty's side."
"Yes, Lord Komai!" Kodama said, overjoyed his mission was approved. At Nobumura's gesture, Kodama left on horseback, returning to the Capital.
Farewell, Lord Kodama. If only each and every one of us might abdicate our responsibilities so readily to embrace such a worthy death.
---
At the end of 1300, the Kamakura Shogunate suffered repeated defeats on all fronts, driven back against both the numbers and tactical brilliance of the Mongol armies. Panic rose as the frontlines shifted closer and closer toward the vicinity of Kyoto. With army after army destroyed, retired grand chancellor and monk Saionji Sanekane ensured 15,000 warrior monks formed a new Shogunate army, joined by tens of thousands of other soldiers raised through conscription and sending warriors barely older than boys to the front. This new force represented the last hope for Japan, and was to be commanded by Houjou Munenobu, senior Rokuhara Tandai leader.
A warrior monk represented a fierce and disciplined soldier. Although their numbers and influence had declined with the imperial court [5], the great violence of the Mongol Invasions swelled their numbers. They participated as individuals or small units in previous invasions, but the advance of the Mongols into the Kinki region, that heartland of Japanese Buddhism, brought about what could be called a general mobilisation of the warrior monks.
Their initial appearance on the battlefield at the Siege of Yagi Castle (八木城) on April 20, 1301 brought about victory. Taking the advice of several of his generals (including Komai Nobumura and others who served under Takeda Tokitsuna), Houjou Munenobu nearly baited the Mongol commander Burilgitei into a fatal trap by concealing his true numbers--Burilgitei lost 20% of his army as warrior monks ambushed his forces. He retreated, managing to successfully pull off a feigned retreat, but Houjou refused to take the bait. He used the opportunity to relocate his army to the south and practically abandoned Yagi Castle, using most of the few hundred defenders to reinforce his own unit.
Soon after on May 1, Houjou moved to attack Zhang Gui, whose force moved along the western bank of the Uji River as Nanghiyadai scoured its eastern bank. Houjou positioned his forces at Yamazaki, using the river and hilly topography so neither general might reinforce the other without taking severe losses and attacked Zhang's army force, hoping to bait Nanghiyadai into making a disadvantageous crossing. However, Nanghiyadai did not aid Zhang as Houjou planned. While Zhang lost over 5,000 men due to the tenacity of the warrior monks, Nanghiyadai now was besieging the inner ring of fortifications surrounding Kyoto.
Although this kept the frontlines static for several months as only skirmishes occurred, dissent began spreading within the Shogunate's army, evidently as a result of arguments between Nichiren monks and those of Mount Hiei. Nanjou Yorikazu tried to calm his co-religionists, but this tension still greatly hindered morale and led to the whole army being on edge. Desertions increased as the stage was set for a most notorious betrayal.
A Rokuhara Tandai commander named Yamana Toshiyuki (山名俊行) viewed the prevelence of warrior monks, as well as the recruitment of armed court nobles, as proof the Houjou no longer favoured the interests of Shogunate vassals. On July 7, 1301, Yamana, his retainers, and his warriors mutinied as the army camped near the temple of Gantoku-ji (願徳寺). In what became called the Gantoku-ji Incident (願徳寺の変), Yamana's warriors attacked and wounded Houjou Munenobu in an assassination attempt and the entire army began fighting amongst each other in the chaos. Although less than 1,000 warriors mutinied, at least 3,000 Shogunate loyalists perished in the fighting, including Ichijou Nobutoki (一条信時), uncle of the talented cavalry commander Ichijou Nobuhisa.
Yamana himself failed at his aims of gaining control of the army and defected to Burilgitei's army alongside 100 survivors of his force [6]. He provided crucial information, for Yamana knew many of the plans Houjou planned to use to defend Kyoto. Additionally, Yamana secured Terado Castle (寺戸城) on the approach to Kyoto--it seems the poor state of communications ensured its castellan, a certain Lord Taketa, did not know Yamana had betrayed the Shogunate [7]. Taketa would later commit suicide upon learning he let the enemy occupy his castle.
With only 26,000 warriors remaining, Houjou Munenobu, still recovering from his wounds, made the choice to divide his forces. Around 10,000 men under the deputy Rokuhara Tandai leader Houjou Hirotoki marched to fight Burilgitei, while the remaining forces opted to contain Nanghiyadai. The latter bypassed Houjou's key (albeit hurriedly fortified) defensive point at Yodo Castle (淀城) [8], forcing Munenobu to abandon this strategic site.
Just as he did so, Nanghiyadai's chief generals Prince Khayishan and Bayan of the Merkid ordered a swift attack on July 13, crossing the rivers surrounding it and attacking the Shogunate within a few leagues of the castle. The aggressive cavalry charges led by Khayishan and his
kheshig failed to totally destroy Shogunate lines. It appears the Shogunate by this time had adopted larger, longer spears which proved enough to halt Khayishan's momentum. However, the determined attack combined with the Mongols storming the castle forced Munenobu to retreat under cover of darkness.
As for Hirotoki, his foe Burilgitei divided his forces in a retreat. The Mongol general sent 600 men commanded by Sugimoto Tokiaki through the Hozu Gorge as a feint. This daring infiltration over steep mountain trails raised immediate panic, for Sugimoto attacked the temple of Daikaku-ji, where retired Emperor Go-Uda resided and still exercised great influence. The warrior monks who guarded him helped him escape, but in the chaos Daikaku-ji was burnt to the ground and Sugimoto's men stole much treasure, including a copy of the Heart Sutra written centuries earlier by Emperor Go-Saga at the behest of the monk Kuukai that supposedly ended a plague.
As the main body of the Shogunate forces pursued Burilgitei, one of his units under Zhang Ding seized the Oeyama Gate (大枝山関), the key pass between Kyoto and Tanba Province, from its garrison that largely consisted of Imperial Police and reserve troops. Zhang cut off the ears, nose, and hand of the commander, a cowardly noble named Sasaki Sukenobu (祐信), ordering him to report to Houjou Hirotoki the gate had fallen.
Hirotoki heard this news along with reports on the Daikaku-ji raid and immediately broke off pursuit to secure his eastern and northern flank, but it was too late. Burilgitei attacked them near the village of Kameoka on July 14. Outnumbered and beset on all sides, the Shogunate managed to fight off the initial thrust due to the brave Nichiren warrior monks putting up a tenacious defense. Hirotoki used this chance to organise a retreat when he was struck by an arrow. The orderly retreated turned into an absolute rout, and the Mongol forces cut down thousands of fleeing Japanese. The remnants of Hirotoki's army barely had time to evade the Mongols that soon poured through the Oeyama Gate.
With Kyoto in view and the enemy army badly damaged, on July 15, Nanghiyadai ordered Kim Heun's army to proceed south to capture Nara. Zhang Gui was to advance north and lay siege to Kyoto while Burilgitei and his own force would eliminate the last remaining Shogunate force in the area and complete the encirclement of Kyoto.
Houjou Munenobu barely had 15,000 warriors left. As a result, he chose to make his final stand at the crossing of the Uji River, the location where the Shogunate had won a key victory over a century ago and 80 years prior had crushed the Imperial court's rebels. It is claimed that the Imperial Court refused to allow Houjou to retreat into Kyoto, lest the city itself be destroyed in street-by-street fighting. Although not the most direct route to Kyoto from the west, it appears the Mongols attacked Uji due to the need to encircle the city and eliminate the Houjou army on their flank.
Bolstering Houjou were 1,000 warrior monks ensconced within the temple Byoudou-in (平等院). Reportedly Munenobu and his kinsman Tokiatsu wished to use Byoudou-in as the center of their defense (ensuring Prince Khayishan was forced to cross the river), as their ancestors had at the Battle of Uji during the Joukyuu War of 1221, but his advisor Nanjou Yorikazu dissuaded him on the grounds they would suffer less casualties if they attacked Khayishan's army first. Nonetheless, the monks of Byoudou-in played a role in Houjou's strategy, for they would harass Burilgitei's force and keep them deceived as to the size of the Shogunate's army.
Troop arrangement at Battle of Uji in 1301. The Shogunate force of Houjou Munenobu is surrounded from two sides by the Mongols of Burilgitei and Khayishan/Nanghiyadai, but has the river and nearby hills for defense
The odds were long--on July 29, 1301, Nanghiyadai and Khayishan approached from the north, and Burilgitei charged in from the west. Combined, the Mongol army numbered 24,000 soldiers. Houjou could not attack Khayishan's force due to the speedy arrival of Burilgitei who struck first. Yet the narrow bridge at Uji, which Houjou deliberately left standing as part of his strategy to force the enemy to attack a predictable point, helped contain Burilgitei's warriors--his lieutenant Mouri Tokichika was thrown back on two separate occasions with heavy losses.
Burilgitei did not take Houjou's bait regarding Byoudou-in. Although the warrior monks charged and retreated on several occasions, Burilgitei believed them to be small and insignificant in number. He sent 2,000 men under mingghan commanders Kobayakawa Kagemune and Yi Haeng-ni to eliminate them. With vigour, the men set the temple aflame and ensured the monks either fought in scattered units easily destroyed or died a burning death.
At the urging of Hatakeyama Tokikuni (畠山時国), an ally of Yamana Toshiyuki who reluctantly defected to the Mongols, Adachi Tochika tried fording the river and attacking the Japanese flank. Hatakeyama accomplished the feat his adoptive ancestor Shigenori did at Uji in 1184, reaching the opposite shore before any other warrior (perhaps out of the need to prove his loyalty to the Mongols), but immediately was slain [9]. Adachi and his entire force performed little better, defeated by cavalry and skirmishers led by Kumagai Naomitsu and Wakasa Nobutsuna (uncle of Takeda Tokitsuna). Only a small number of men under the Tanba samurai Kuge Mitsunao (久下光直) survived, but they managed to slay the elderly Wakasa and bring his head to Burilgitei.
Houjou's preoccupation with Burilgitei prevented him being able to contain Khayishan and Nanghiyadai. To avoid exhausting his main body of soldiers in the humid July heat, Khayishan and his cavalry rode ahead of the main body and flanked the Shogunate army. In a panic, Houjou sent Nanjou Yorikazu's cavalry to counterattack and rally morale, but this failed and Nanjou perished. Nanjou's absence allowed Burilgitei to cross the river thanks to Kikuchi Takamori's gunpowder troops laying down constant fire and smoke. Against orders from Houjou Sadatoki and the Imperial Court, the Houjou army disintegrated and retreated to Kyoto. The rearguard of Khayishan's army under Guo Bingyi (郭秉义) drove off the remnants, spending much time looting the manors and wealthy temples in the outskirts of Kyoto.
Great panic spread in Kyoto, for it became clear the city would soon be under siege. Thousands of merchants and wealthy residents of the city fled and sporadic riots broke out, harshly suppressed by the Rokuhara Tandai, Imperial Police Agency, and armed court nobles. Every male citizen was ordered to aid in the defense of the city and the Emperor, yet morale was low. Most of the actual soldiers defending Kyoto melted away--most warrior monks returned to defend their temples at Nara or Mount Hiei, while the Sasaki clan warriors retreated to Omi Province to protect against Chonghur's pillaging expeditions.
By July 25, the Mongol armies finished encircling Kyoto and blocked every single path of escape. Much of this was due to the arrival of Zhang Gui's army, which methodically eliminated what little opposition remained. Additionally, Shi Bi's army at last arrived in the area and began the siege of Mount Hiei--the monks of Mount Hiei, battered from the fierce fighting, would be unable to withstand the siege for long.
The Shogunate had nothing with which to respond. Besides the remnants of Houjou Munenobu's army, the only active armies Japan possessed was the weakened force in the Hokuriku region, which was rapidly losing castles and manpower, the combined force of
akutou and peasants in Kawachi Province, and the force under the
chinjufu-shogun in Mutsu--combined this was no more than 35,000 warriors. To move the latter two armies to reinforce the former meant opening the way for attacks on Kamakura itself.
The Eastern Envoy Saionji Kinhira escaped Kyoto before the siege began, bringing an urgent request for aid. Notoriously, Houjou Sadatoki supposedly replied "Someone who gives everything cannot give still more", a statement which became a Japanese proverb for indifference to suffering. No relief force was forthcoming--the siege of Kyoto would continue until the city fell.
Author's notes
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This entry contains the battles in Yamashiro Province. Clearly the situation is quite desperate for the Shogunate at this point. I have little to say other than I wanted to make it dramatic and give a suitable "last stand" battle for the Rokuhara Tandai, one that TTL's history books would often discuss in the context of the Mongol Empire's many victories. I picked Uji because it was the site of no less than three major battles (two in the Genpei War, one the decisive battle of the Joukyuu War)--it also has good strategic position given it is near a mountain pass to Omi Province (modern Shiga Prefecture) and an army could encamp and easily supply itself and prove a thorn in the side of any siege of Kyoto.
This entry took a while to release because I was on vacation and needed a break from writing all this. I also was unsure whether to include a map of the campaign in Yamashiro Province--I will save that for a few entries from now and have it include all central Japan. I did include the Battle of Uji however.
Next entry is the Siege of Kyoto, including the fate of the reigning Emperor and many prominent court nobles. I already have it written and just need to include more of the dialogue so it should be out in 1-2 weeks. After that I'll probably return to other theaters of the war. Thanks for reading!
[1] - Kyoto/Heian-kyo became the capital in part due to challenges with Nara's Buddhist institutions--this is why only two temples (Tou-ji and Sai-ji) were permitted within its walls. Unfortunately for those who sought constraints on the power of Buddhism, numerous other temples sprang up around the city and became every bit as powerful as the temples of Nara.
[2] - The Kuge clan and Kumagai clan held a longstanding rivalry over land rights that dated back to an argument before Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192. OTL it was resolved in the early 14th century--TTL the Kuge choose to have the Mongols intervene in their dispute
[3] - An arming sword, somewhat uncommon but known in medieval Russian lands, especially in the regions of Kiev and Galicia where Aleksandr Zakharievich's ancestors originated before their move to Kostroma. A younger Mongol prince like Khayishan would find it quite distinctive. Admittedly I am uncertain of the sorts of arms and armour the Russian Guard of the kheshig used, but it appears little about them is known besides several references to their existence and service
[4] - The ancestors of the Kodama clan are unclear--one tradition, possibly a later one, holds they are descended from late 10th century politician Fujiwara no Korechika (藤原伊周), but another more likely one claims instead they are descended from one of Korechika's private secretaries named Arimichi no Koreyasu (有道惟能). Neither represents a particularly illustrious lineage given Korechika's circumstances (as he lost a power struggle).
[5] - As noted before, the peace of the Kamakura era and weakening of their patrons in the imperial court brought a decline in the numbers and readiness of warrior monks, something which TTL would see a reversal of as courtiers (i.e. the Saionji) regain influence and Japan ends up in a life-or-death war
[6] - Yamana Toshiyuki, a lesser son of the Yamana clan, planned a revolt OTL in 1300 although it never occurred, for he was arrested and executed by the Rokuhara Tandai. I cannot find what issues motivated him, although it was likely related to the typical challenges plaguing the gokenin (shogunal vassal) class in regards to the Houjou. So I don't think his actions here are too out of character
[7] - Although this clan's surname "竹田" is usually read "Takeda", I'm using a less common reading to avoid confusion since the other Takeda come up quite a bit TTL. As a side note, Terado Castle was not built until 1336 IOTL, but TTL would probably be built earlier due to its strategic position, and likely still given to this clan since they were locally important. I left this lord unnamed, although he's probably the father of Taketa Narinobu (竹田成忍), Ashikaga Takeuji's ally and builder of the castle IOTL
[8] - IOTL Yodo Castle, also called Yodoko (淀古城) to distinguish it from the nearby later castle, was not built until the 15th century. TTL it would be a point hastily fortified as the Mongols approach as it is a spit of land surrounded by rivers.
[9] - Famously Hatakeyama Shigenori (畠山重忠) raced several other warriors across the Uji River in 1184. Hatakeyama Tokikuni is technically not his descendent--an Ashikaga married Shigenori's daughter and when the Hatakeyama lost a power struggle in 1205 and were wiped out, this branch of the Ashikaga were permitted to assume their name
