Disclaimer: I do not own GATE, nor any reference in this story. It belongs to its respective owner.
June, 22nd 1630, Azuchi Castle, Azuchi Jokamachi
Oda Hidenori, current Shogun of the Oda Shogunate, was having a fine morning.
Despite the loads of paperwork being shoved at him on a daily basis regarding about the Ronin, Religion, and other political affairs. It soon became a daily reminder of his job as Shogun since his father, Oda Nobutada, had died in 1618 due to health complications.
Despite having his residence here, the Azuchi Jokamachi was on the road between Kyoto and the Kanto plain. His grandfather, Oda Nobunaga, had made this town as his center of power and would quickly become the inspirations for future castle towns known as the Jokamachis.
In these towns, his grandfather created the Samurai-machi, quarters for the samurai separating them from the common folk, such as the Ashigaru, merchants, and farmers back in 1586. Establishing the garrisons of an ever-present military should the need to mobilize in a short time.
He also instituted the "Rakuichi Rakuza", policies which stimulated business and the overall economy through the use of free markets. These reforms broke down the monopolies previously held by an elite few.
Under his grandfather's rule, large scale road projects were developed, the Jokamachis became became centers of commerce and production. Hidenori mused at the effort his grandfather had made since Azuchi was made.
The Rakuichi Rakuza that he instituted provided a major boost and stabilization to the economy. He also made great efforts to facilitate the payment and hand out of loans, this was proven crucial since the merchants classes grew in power ever since.
And that was before the Imjin War.
The Imjin War was a period of conflict between Japan against the Ming and Joseon Dynasty in 1595-1600. A conflict which Japan technically won but due to loss of interest in continuing the conflict but still continued to raid the Chinese coastline in the previous years even today. And during that conflict his grandfather died and Hidenori's father, Nobutada, had succeeded on becoming Shogun and his hold over both the military and the government, along with having established trade relations with the Norhaci the Jurchen warlord now-proclaimed Khan of the Late Jin, and Gwanghae, the new King of Joseon which the nation was now a tributary state of the Japanese which was agreed upon a negotiated Treaty of Pyongyang in which Nobutada, Norhaci, and Gwanghae had all signed.
Ever since the treaty took effect, King Gwanghae had sent thousands of artisans and craftsmen to Japan leading to a major rise in the quality of Japanese goods, porcelain and silk in particular, as well as cede the Island of Jeju and the port of Busan to Japan.
Hidenori sighed at that particular period of history he recalled back then. He then immediately went back to his musings to that loyal vassal, King Gwanghae, who depended on Japanese Support to retain power in Hanseong.
However, the concussions of the aftermath of the war had cost a lot, and despite a rise in revenue from trade, tribute, and plunder from the war, the previous Shogun was forced to increase taxation in order to cover the massive expenses incurred by the Imjin War.
There were several peasant uprisings and a revolt by some of the less than cooperative Daimyos here and there, but they were brutally put down by Nobutada's Ashigaru forces. And there were also some sour relations between Tokugawa Ieyasu and his father adding in the mix which resulted the Oda-Tokugawa war in 1605 that lasted until 1611. The aftermath showed the effects of the war, devastating much of Central and Eastern Japan. This also shatters the power of the eastern Daimyos held.
During the conflict, Oda Hidenobu, Hidenori's older brother and Nobutada's heir, was killed by Tokugawa.
Damn you, Tokugawa... Hidenori thought in disdain at that painful memory when news of his brother's death at the hands of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Furthermore, the aftereffects includes many of the loyal retainers of the defeated Daimyos became Ronin (Lordless Samurais) many of whom would go on to form the first bulk of a large wave of Japanese mercenaries, and communities that would flood East and South East Asia.
To prevent any further unrest, Hidenori's father greatly expanded the Jokamachi, including the construction of Osaka Castle to protect the approach to Kyoto, and placed Edo under the control of Hashiba Yoshio as a reward for his exceptional services, and to keep the northern Daimyos in line as well as keep the Kanto region from becoming a threat to Kyoto's power again.
In 1616 he, Oda Hidenori, was proclaimed Shogun by the Emperor while his father assumed the role of Ogosho (Retired Shogun), which allowed for a smooth and uncontested succession while allowing him to retain almost complete control over the government.
In the end, father died after two years since I was proclaimed as Shogun. Hidenori thought as he remembered his father at his deathbed. In the early days, it was hard without your support. But I've managed to do the job quite well.
It's all thanks to you grandfather, you had unified Japan and opened up the doors to the outside world but it was your son, whom is also my father, who had managed to weed out dissidence to bring about an end to the large scale fighting although I, Hidenori, like my father before me, have also employed brutal methods to do so.
Throughout the previous decade, Japan enjoyed relative peace and its economy grow a great deal of grow. The number of Kirishitan (Christian) communities expanded greatly during this period on the Island of Kyushu in particular, and these self-sufficient communities became increasingly rich and with the Kyushun communities engaging more and more with is one of these cities that gains a new influx of trade with Joseon, the Jiangzhou Jurchen, and with the Europeans.
On a side note, while I don't trust those Kirishitan missionaries, I was apprehensive to those Kirishitan Daimyos in Kyushu and Western Honshu. Maybe I should opt to try and control those communities instead of outright stamp them out...
As he was musing about what to do about them. Hidenori heard someone calling him outside his quarters.
"Oda-sama!" A voice called, "There's a messenger bearing the message of Hashiba Yoshio-sama. Should we let him enter?"
A message from Hashiba? The Shogun thought as he looked at the wall clock, recently brought by the Dutch merchants, and saw the time was nearing at 10.
Considering the distance between Edo and here, it would take three to four days to arrive here on foot. On horseback, eight to ten hours... It must be urgent.
"Very well, bring him here. I would like to hear from him personally."
"Yes, Oda-sama! But I beg of your pardon. I've brought along with him here due to the message he brings is urgent."
So it is urgent. "I understand, he may enter." Hidenori ordered, hearing "Hai!" as he let the messenger in without any delay.
As the messenger went in, Hidenori could clearly tell he was exhausted and must've rushed here in Azuchi in quick haste.
"Cut off the formalities, and tell me quick. What brings you here bearing the message of Hashiba Yoshio?"
Hidenori wondered, What could it be so important?
The messenger looked at him in surprise, but quickly composed himself as he immediately uttered:
"An unknown army has attacked Edo, Shogun-sama! They numbered around sixty thousand, wielding armor not of this continent, riding flying beasts,and monsters of unknown origin! Hashiba-sama have managed to repel them yesterday but has taken heavy casualties as a result! Please, I beg of you, Shogun-sama! Send reinforcements at haste!"
For a moment, he had no idea what he had just said. But, after the words slowly filtered in his mind, his reaction was undignified.
"...Hah?"
Hello Everyone, gabrielchiong11, and I've brought you another chapter.
Replies:
CapVietnam: Maybe... But I could consider that.
Also CapVietnam: Dunno about that. It should be interesting, but for now, I'll leave that aside.
So, that's it, my first chapter and properly titled as "Prologue of a New War"
I hope you enjoy this chapter, be sure to fave and follow if you like it or find it interesting. Be sure to leave a review so I could read your thoughts or suggestions.
That is all, gabrielchiong11, out!