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1536 and 1537: Back to the Future
The southern island of Kyushu (south of the Mori provinces) were not only the base for the Shimazu clan but also a number of rebel provinces as well. We did not have an emissary in that region but it was supposed that Shimazu and the Rebels had been engaging in a series of battle over the many provinces, we saw when Shimazu captured Sanuki. However, this probably had stretched Shimazu too thin and therefore, saw them abandoned the valuable Sanuki province soon after they captured it.
With only a couple of Rebel units re-taking Sanuki when Shimazu left, it proved to be too enticing not to have that province under Mori control. With the Mori Daimyo’s army holding the Oda forces at bay in Harima, we took six units under our new Heir and invaded Sanuki. Fortunately, the Rebel forces fled to the south into Awa, allowing us to grab Sanuki. That province, with an improved farm, added 456 koku to our annual revenues while we maintained a small force of 180-men there to keep the peace. However, this potentially opened up another front in which we could be attacked, not from the Rebels, but by Oda coming out Kawachi through Awaji. But the value of Sanuki was too good to pass up.
With an average harvest and over 2700 koku in the treasury (we did not build any units in 1536), we started building a Large Castle in Harima. The goal is to build a Sword Dojo to complement the Warrior Monks that will begin generating in 1538.
The year 1537 passed quietly with word that the Oda clan was the strongest in the land. Hopefully that will change soon. Another average harvest in 1537 saw our treasury increase to 3703 koku, which apart from starting a Castle in Bizen to protect our Eastern flanks, was saved for the production of the Monks and future building projects.
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