Odawara, 1594
It's been 2 years after the battle of Mayabashi. In the east the Satake got conquered by Hōjō Ujinori and were left as a vassal state in Hitachi province, in the north skirmishes led by Hōjō Ujiteru were used to slowly subjugate the Uesugi clan of Echigo. In the south the 3rd battle of Kōnodai took place against the Satomi and it was another Hōjō victory. Altough the Uesugi and Satomi weren't conquered, they were weakened and will soon submit to the Hōjō rule. Now, the next target was the Tokugawa clan.
"So, any ideas how to destroy the Tokugawa?" Ujinobu asked all his retainers at the war council.
"We have Ueda, we can use it to attack Shinshū." Nobushige said.
"No, after the Tenshōjingo conflict, the Tokugawa reinforced Shinshū and Kai." Sanada Masayuki said.
"We could besiege Iwadono, the Tokugawa were weakened after Honda Tadakatsu's and Li Naomasa's death." Ujimasa said.
"There is still Sakai Tadatsugu and Sakakibara Yasumasa." Yorihide said.
"The strengh of the Tokugawa was based on strategy, shemes and psychological warfare through their Akazone cavalry. But I took Honda Tadakatsu and Ujiteru, Li Naomasa from them so what do they still have?" Ujinobu asked.
"An alliance with the Toyotomi, Maeda and Ikeda clans." Ujikuni said.
"I don't want to be a enemy of the state if Toyotomi Hidetsugu drags the imperial court into this mess.
"Who is even still loyal to the Toyotomi regime?" Ujinori asked.
"Hm...Good question, the Maeda, Ōtani, Hosokawa, Tsutsui, Mōri, Ukita, Ōtomo, Ikeda and Uesugi clans." Ujiteru explained.
"It would be best to trap them in a three front war." Ujimasa said.
"How is the subjugation of Uesugi Kegakatsu coming along?" Ujinobu asked.
"He is willimg to submit, if we offer protection against the Date." Ujiteru explained.
"I see no problem with that." Ujinobu said.
"The Date are the masters of Tohoku as we are of Kantō." Ujiteru answered.
"Maybe we could arrange a marriage." Ujinobu said.
"With whose daughter?" Yukimura asked.
"I could adopt your daughter, Yukimura, so it becomes a ligitimate marriage alliance." Ujinobu suggested.
"I don't know, I will consider it, my lord." Yukimura said.
"Oh right, I also have news. My wife is pregnant." Ujinobu announced.
"What? This is great!" Ujiteru cheered.
"Finally, an heir to the clan." Yorihide said relieved.
"Don't worry Yorihide, I wont die so quickly." Ujinobu said.
"Ok, last point of business. Ujiteru, send an envoy to Kasugayama and order Uesugi Kagekatsu to submit. Yukimura, if you accept my proposal send an envoy to the Date to propose an marriage alliance. Nobushige, you will attack Iwadono castle. Yorihide, you will attack Suruga. And I will attack Shinshū from Ueda." Ujinobu commanded.
Ujinobu then dissolved the war council and went towards his private chambers.
"I'm back, Fumiko." Ujinobu said.
"Finally, I'm sorry that our baby suprised you and your re-conquest." Fumiko said.
"It's ok, how about you? How are you doing?" Ujinobu asked.
"I am very thankful that you left my father and brother alive." Fumiko answered.
"No problem, Hitachi is better off in the hands of a vassal state." Ujinobu said and pulled of his Eboshi.
"So, what did you all decide?" Fumiko asked.
"We will march on Tōkaido with 200.000 men devided into 3 armys, attacking Kai, Shinano and Suruga." Ujinobu explained.
"Interresting, I will pray for your success." Fumiko said.
"I know you will." Ujinobu said.
Komoro castle, 1595.
The invasion of Tōkai was a full success, Iwadono, Tsutsujigasaki, north Shinshū and Suruga have fallen to the Hōjō. Tokugawa Ieyasu made his last stand in Shinshū at Komoro castle, he sended Tokugawa Hidetada and Tokugawa Hideyasu to defend Komoro. In the north, the Date accepted the proposal to a marriage alliance and sended 5.000 troops to reinforce the battle, this battle may decide the future of Ujinobu's ambition to get revenge against the Toyotomi.
"It appears the Tokugawa have taken camp at Okubo hill." Yukimura said.
"We would have to fight uphill, I have to say, Hidetada isn't a bad strategist, but he's still an amateur." Ujinobu said.
"How do we plan on taking the hill?" Yorihide asked.
"I would say we lure them down and then do a pincer attack." Ujinobu suggested.
"It's a high risk, high reward. But remember, this costed Yamamoto Kansuke and Takeda Nobushige their lives at Kawanakajima." Nobushige said.
"We have sadly no other choice, we have to rely on a glory seeking son and hope he makes a fatal mistake." Yukimura said.
"Let us devide our troops and plan our strategy." Ujinobu said and went inside his tent.
The Hōjō had 80.000 troops including Date reinforcements, the main army who will lure the Tokugawa down, is 30.000 men strong and led by Hōjō Ujikatsu, the Date reinforcements are 5.000 men strong and are led by Date Shigezane, Ujinobu's force will stay at the camp with 10.000 men, the right cavalry wing is 8.000 men strong and is led by Sanada Yukimura, the left support unit is 7.000 men strong and led by Shichijo Nobushige and lastly there is a hidden 20.000 men army led by Adachi Shigesato, their objective is to suprise Tokugawa Hideyasu's army.
"Lord Shigezane, your objective is to support Ujikatsu's unit, then Yukimura and Nobushige will proceed with the pincer attack, Tokugawa Hideyasu will most likely storm down to support Tokugawa Hidetada, this is where Shigesato's unit will suprise him, my unit will interfere if things go bad." Ujinobu explained.
The generals accepted this plan and prayed for the next battle, after this, all retainers and generals left the tent to go to bed, this battle will decide to future of either side.
"Good night, my lord." Yukimura said.
"Yukimura, how about you drink a bottle of sake with me?" Ujinobu suggested.
"Of course, my lord." Yukimura said.
"Are you satisfied with your clans fate?" Ujinobu asked while pouring in 2 cups of sake.
"Yes, I could attend my brothers funeral, my father lives safely and retired in Ueda and I feel honored to serve you." Yukimura said.
"No, I am honored, honored that all the Sanada soldiers decided to loyally serve me." Ujinobu said.
"It's no problem, I will give my life for victory tomorrow, good night, lord Ujinobu." Yukimura said and left the tent.
"Oh Hachiman, great god of war, give me strength in the following battle." Ujinobu prayed.
The next day
Ujinobu sat uneasy in his chair overlooking the battlefield, his armies assembled and he was relieved that Shigesato's unit wasn't discovered. But he was still nervous because the Tokugawa had 20.000 more soldiers.
"My lord all units are in position, shall we begin the attack?" Yorihide asked.
"Yes, give Ujikatsu the signal." Ujinobu said and put on helmet.
A soldier ignited a big fire and Ujikatsu's unit advanced up the hill, taking heavy casulties due to musket fire.
POV change, current POV: Tokugawa Hidetada
"They seem to be taking heavy losses, I guess this Ujinobu isn't a competent as he's praised to be." Tokugawa Hidetada said.
"My lord, the Hōjō armies seem to be retreating." A Tokugawa retainer said.
"Perfect! Pursue to Hōjō army!" Hidetada commanded.
Current POV: Hōjō Ujinobu
"Yes! The enemy has taken the bait!" Ujinobu said cheerful.
"Should we send the signal to the pincer units?" Yorihide asked.
"No, send the signal to Date Shigezane, Ujikatsu's unit has taken quite the hit." Ujinobu said.
The Tokugawa army continued down the hill.
"Now! Send the signal to the pincer units!" Ujinobu commanded.
When the armies saw the signal, shoots came from the right and a large cavalry charge from the left, the Tokugawa army was trapped and taking heavy casulties. When Tokugawa Hideyasu's unit came down the hill, Shigesato's unit stopped them in their tracks.
"Very good, the Tokugawa will crumble under our might." Ujinobu said.
"My lord! Tokugawa Ieyasu's army banners have been spotted on the horizon!" A messanger said.
"Fine then, Yorihide, get every man ready, we will fight Tokugawa Ieyasu!" Ujinobu commanded.
The 10.000 men strong army rushed down the hill confront Tokugawa Ieyasu, to Ujinobu's suprise, Sanada Yukimura followed him to confront Ieyasu because Tokugawa Hidetada's unit was decimated. Ujinobu's army clashed with Ieyasu's, the unexpecting army was suprised by Hōjō's Sanada cavalry attacking them.
"Kill them all! Leave Ieyasu to me!" Ujinobu cried and got off his horse.
The battle would've been horrifying to a new commander, death and screams of agony everywhere, but not for Ujinobu, he enjoyed the killing and this battle was his opportunity for glory.
"Death or glory! Men!" Ujinobu cried.
"Hōjō Ujinobu! I am Honda Heihachirō Tadamasa! I will avenge my father!" Honda Tadamasa cried.
A circle formed, by Ujinobu's guard, around the two for privacy in their duel.
"I am Hōjō Saburō Ujinobu, I will make sure that you will join your father in hell!" Ujinobu said.
Honda Tadamasa charged at him barely mussing his throat because Ujinobu blocked.
"You're weak, just like your father." Ujinobu taunted.
"Die!" Tadamasa screamed and attacked him.
Tadamasa fought fiercely but Ujinobu continued to block, until Ujinobu got disarmed.
"Alright, if you want to fight like this, then it will be a fight history shall remember." Ujinobu said and drew his Katana.
Ujinobu launched himself at Tadamasa, Tadamasa cut his cheek but Ujinobu hit his forehead causing blood to blind Tadamasa at the moment.
"As I said, you're weak, didn't even secure your helmet." Ujinobu taunted.
"You little-" Tadamasa said but was cut off with a sword hit to his neck.
Ujinobu cut off Tadamasa's head and held it high for the Tokugawa to see.
"Honda Tadakatsu's legacy is dead! Death to the Tokugawa!" Ujinobu cried.
The battle continued for hours but outcome was clear, a total annihilation of the Tokugawa army.
"My lord, it appears that Tokugawa Ieyasu is fleeing." Nobushige said.
"No." Ujinobu answered.
"What? Why?" Nobushige asked.
"If we would kill him, Tokugawa Hidetada would want revenge, but if we let him live we may have a chance that he decides to submit." Ujinobu explained.
"Good, what now, brother?" Ujikatsu asked.
"We do diplomacy." Ujinobu stated.
Kiso-Fukushima castle, 1595 (Winter)
"Ugh, still stuck in this sorry excuse of a castle." Ujinobu said.
"I hate winter too." Ujikatsu said.
"It's annoying." Ujiteru added.
"And it delays wars." Ujikuni said.
The Hōjō brothers were having dinner as usual to celebrate the deal they struck with the Tokugawa, in return for Suruga and Kai they will help the Hōjō in the conquest of Kinki and Hokuriku (Shinshū was annexed by the Hōjō).
"My lords, a messanger from the Toyotomi clan has arrived and asked for an audience with lord Ujinobu." Yorihide explained.
"Damn Toyotomi, can't even let me enjoy a meal." Ujinobu complained and went into the meeting room.
"Ishida Mitsunari?" Ujinobu asked suprised.
"Yes, suprised?" Mitsunari asked.
"Indeed, now, what did the Kampaku send you here for." Ujinobu asked.
"An meeting at Gifu." Mitsunari said.
"Gifu? Why?" Ujinobu asked.
"As a way to clear the air between our clans." Mitsunari answered.
"Ok, I will come." Ujinobu said.
"I am very pleased to hear that." Mitsunari said and stood up.