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Li Yingshi Joining as the above. My email is my user name at aol.com. Desirous always of harmony and justice, and seeking to bring the blessings of peace to the whole world, and in compliance with the wishes of the Emperor, may he live Ten Thousand Years, I wish to announce that the city of Dalian prospers, and that I hope that the peace we enjoy here soon spreads to the Korean peninsula.
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Jan 5, 2013 17:25
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 Yu Jong-gae, Commander of the Righteous Army of Jeolla I am here, and while it pains me to fight killers by killing, I believe its the only righteous measure available to us now... And I will use any measure.
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Jan 5, 2013 17:36
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 An official Proclamation of the Governate of the Spanish Philippines Word has reached me from the Spanish observers in the field of the great suffering of the civilians in the area under Japanese rule. What little food they have are allowed is often poisoned, and the cries of the people reach me even in Manilla. If neither conqueror nor conquered can provide for the people under their rule, then the Spanish shall! Proud ships, packed full of supplies and flying the Spanish flag, are even now making their way towards afflicted ports, where any civilian will be able to retrieve food for themselves and their family. May God protect those who cannot protect themselves! Governor General Gomez
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Jan 6, 2013 21:07
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   黒田 長政 Kuroda Nagamasa Leader of the Third Division Commander of the Eight Tigers and Twenty-Four Riders Conqueror of Seoul and Jeju-do A message to Fukushima Masanori posted:Fukushima, we have ignored your actions for far too long. Your army is quickly proving to be detrimental to our campaign and i hope having a third of your forces be killed by peasants will make you realize this. Stop this pointless massacre and fulfill your mission. Unless you fancy fighting monks instead more than marching towards Pyongyang. The prisoner is taken to Nagamasa's feet: So this is the great general Kim Chung-seon? You know, i have come to expect these brutal acts of savagery from our own General Fukushima, but never would i image the korean forces would be as dishonorable! You have posioned your own population in a vain attempt to stop my forces, and the reports from the north show that your prince can be even worse! If not for the fifth division, i would say our army has done more good for this land in three months than your petty "kingdom" ever did. Guards, take this man away from me and lock him in a dungeon. If he was not such a high ranking official i would have him hanged as a common criminal.
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Jan 7, 2013 11:48
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   Katou Kiyomasa Commander of the 2nd Division Conqueror of Gyeongju, Pohang, and Ulsan Men! You see how Heaven has vindicated us! Our bravery and forthrightness has carried Gyeongju and gained us much glory in the eyes of our peers. Our enemies surrender themselves to us, knowing us to be just and honest men, and so compliment us with their trust. We act as true samurai, as true knights and warriors, and good fortune follows. Across Korea, we see what happens when warriors carry themselves as thieves and pillagers. More than 7,000 of Fukushima Masanori's men lie dead with Korean blades in their hearts, because they were caught unawares, too concerned with drink and women and plunder. How they must miss those things in Hell! Such is the fate of the samurai who does not concern himself with honor. For us, a brighter path awaits. After the war, all this land shall be entrusted to us, and our families shall reign over the land as samurai for ten thousand years. Now, we shall prove ourselves again this month, in glorious combat! Forward! A five hundred-koku fief and a place as my retainer for the first man over the next city wall in our path!
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Jan 7, 2013 12:14
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Yu Jong-gae, Commander of the Righteous Army of Jeolla Coreans! You put your faith into our hands. Monks leads and trains you. But know this, by leading and training you to fight, they train and lead you spiritually! This is a righteous war. The barbarians in front of us means to kill us. They made it explicitly clear by words and by most importantly, actions. Right action is one of the facets of the eight-fold path. And be assured, that defending yourself, your land, your family and your faith is an right action. No, its a RIGHTEOUS action! To not defend yourself, your lands, your family and your faith against these barbarians will earn you nothing but death. Their armies are mighty, and their actions are indefensible. Any action against them is righteous. Ambush, destroy and taint their supplies and food. They rape and murder your daughters, they castrate and humiliate your sons. They come like locust to your fields, and burn what they cant eat. Fight them with any measure, with all zeal and conviction you have. Even if you aren't in a righteous army, do your all to confound and irritate these barbarians. Loathe all who work with them, they are no Buddhist, and they are effectively aiding the enemy to kill you and your families. If you are in a Righteous Army, know that you are doing Buddha's work. Fight and work with zeal, and follow your commander's orders diligantly, and know that you are blessed. The barbarians are foul, but strong. Have faith, in Buddha, in what we do and in yourself, and we shall smooth down mountains with a silk napkin. The southern Barbarians shall be defeated, and driven from our lands.
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Jan 7, 2013 14:07
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A Study On The Supply And Provisioning Of The Armies Of Iapam (Who Are Called In Their Own Tongue Nifon), Specifically In The War Against Chosun posted:...though the Niponese and the Iberian may seem totally distinct, a few careful commonalities can be observed, most notably the widespread use of the rice crop. Easily transported, requiring little in the way of preparation, and nutritious, the rice crop is a singularly excellent crop for the use of provisioning large bodies of armed men. The Niponese even go far as to pay their men in large quantities of rice - a unit they attribute the peculiar name of koku. However, the long years of such distribution have created an organizational structure with traits to be emulated, many of which are enclosed in this treatise.
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Jan 7, 2013 14:26
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 Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro tribe of Jurchens To the illustrious Prince Gwanghae: Esteemed foreign prince, it is with great surprise and no small bemusement that we the mighty people of the Aisin Goro hear word of the conflict ravaging your far land. Although the tribes of Jurchens are no strangers to your kingdom and your peoples, your familiarity with us and our customs is clearly lacking. Surely, you did not mean any disrespect for the skilled warriors and master riders of the steppe when you offered your tribute to the dog sodomisers and weak-kneed children of the Ula tribe, not when brave men among the Aisin Goro and others stand ready, armed, and ever thirsty for battle. Clearly one as wise and far-sighted as you would have gladly put forth much tribute and wealth to the greater tribes of the Jurchen, mighty tribes which will be happy enough to keep others from hounding your northern borders. Your very large, poorly defended, and vulnerable borders. Your friend in peace, Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro Hello, I'd like to join as the above please. My email is zuluninertango@yahoo.com and I'm interested in playing a steppe nomad who is
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Jan 7, 2013 14:57
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   毛利 輝元 Mōri Terumoto, Commander of 7th Division Much has been said by my peers on the topic of war, honor, righteousness, and victory. Indeed, these are topics that good and wise samurai should think about. Our marshal has even devoted time from managing the war effort, to write a text on honor and dishonor. Here is what I believe on the matter. Honor, glory, wealth, and prosperity are all important things. Indeed, they are all things which we wish to gain through this war effort. And now we ask ourselves, how important is it that we get these things? And which of these are more important? There are those who rush so quickly to capture the king that he eludes their grasp. There are those whose hands race for prizes of gold and silver after, or even before, the battle is over. And there are those who seek honor and virtuousness above all, and rush to condemn that type of plundering. Each of these types of people favors one value over all the rest. I, of course, have my own core value. That value is victory, and the honor that comes with it. This is something which I believe comes before all else. After all, military success is the key which opens up the doors to wealth and prestige. Nothing can be gained through failure. To achieve victory, we must do two simple things. We, as commanders of the Taikou's armies, must work together in harmony to kill the Joseon armies, capture their leaders, and take control of their cities. The enemy, of course, will not let us do that. Whenever they resist, we must demonstrate our superior martial prowess and strike down. We must also show no disunity, no sloth, and no cowardice. To bicker and argue is the style of the peasant. We must be as one -- we are like a katana wielded by the honorable Taikou as he decapitates the kingdom of Joseon. I would not tolerate any imperfection in my blade, and neither should our lord. Let us solely on the task of defeating the enemy in front of us. I know that some of us may feel strongly about virtuous and un-virtuous actions, particularly about how it affects the conquered populace. There is one more thing I will say about that. A man who is widely respected is better than a man who is widely feared. However, it is better to be widely feared than not respected at all.
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Jan 8, 2013 10:33
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Turn 4 - July 1592 -- Beginning in Late June and extending to the end of July, the stormy typhoon season descends upon the Korean peninsula. Great tropical storms from the south cover the lands in sheets of rain, and buffet the coasts with huge swells. Travel is slowed, and sea-going vessels must beware. Southern Barbarians -- In Nagasaki, Alessandro Valignano pays the price of his poor judgment. His attempt to explain his actions falls on deaf ears, and Fr. Velazquez has had enough. Valignano is packed away onto a Rome-bound vessel, with only 3 acolytes and an old man to accompany him. With the eccentric Visitor gone, many of the Jesuits heave a sigh of relief, and Fr. Velazquez promises to work to the bone for the propagation of the Faith, not only in Japan, but in Korea as well. -- A treatise arrives in Manila, titled “A Study On The Supply And Provisioning Of The Armies Of Iapam (Who Are Called In Their Own Tongue Nifon), Specifically In The War Against Chosun,” written by the leader of the Spanish observers in Korea, Captain Fernando O’Malley. It details many of the specific details and general principles that underly the provisioning and disciplining of the Japanese armies, and possible lessons to be learned from it by a European army. With the Governor-General’s strong approval, several copies are printed and sent as quickly as possible back to Iberia. -- In response to the crisis in Indochina, Gomez sends more observers to report back to him about the situation. The Portuguese explorers and the ambassador are saddened at the lack of decisive action on the Kampucheans behalf. -- With further reports from Korea disturbing his thoughts, Gomez asks the merchants of Iberia to aid the Korean peasantry as best as possible. Though the greatest are loath to ship mere grain, some captains are moved to charity by the plight of the non-combatants. -- Fr. Velazquez of the Jesuits authorizes further members of the Nagasaki mission to travel to Korea, and to begin preaching the Gospel in the native tongue there. Work begins on a Portuguese-Korean dictionary, the first of its kind. -- The Dutch flotilla continues its travel towards the Far East, though it is having trouble keeping itself supplied with necessary fruits. Some of the sailors are beginning to fall sick with scurvy. -- Out of the south a large flotilla of Portuguese ships arrive at Macau, and although fewer than started off from Europe, they bolster the wealthy outpost with African slaves and fine European weapons. -- A letter makes its way through lands, wending through different hands before making its way to Fr. Velazquez’s hands. Though he doesn’t say where it comes from, he is visibly frustrated as he writes his response. Several copies are sent with travelers to ensure one arrives. Great Ming -- In Dalian, Li Yingshi begins work. With the war so close to his jurisdiction, he must work quickly. His first act is to begin training and drilling his men to the best of his ability. The men come alive at the work, and the men take quick to the training. -- He also orders the beginning of work on a line of fortifications on the Yalu River, as well as enlarging the harbor and shipbuilding facilities in the city. By the end of the month, a line of watchtowers keeps an eye on the border, and the guard ships of the Ming can resupply at Dalian.  -- Admiral Chen Lin works with his artillery, and his native talent for the subject comes through in extensive practice. Chen writes some of his observations on their use in naval warfare, but while received politely by his colleague admirals, they are at a loss as to how to implement the ideas in their own fleets. -- Lin’s request for further reinforcements from the court is approved, and further ships are assigned to his command. -- Further events might show the court had misplaced its faith in the admiral. One of his ships, the Azure Dragon, mutinies during a patrol, and makes towards Korea to begin pillaging what the pirates think are easily-taken Japanese supplies. -- The court hears further entreaties from the Joseon court. An ambassador relates the harrowing experiences two refugees to Peking have dealt with, while still asking with humility for aid. “Should Joseon fall to the Nippon barbarians,” he says, “they will be able to march on the northern capital of Beijing, and from there there is no telling what depravity they may attempt in their quest to become the next Mongols.” -- The court listens respectfully to the men, but reports from the West and South occupy their minds more intently. -- In the West, Li Rusong has been struck down by a harsh fever, and his officers scramble to maintain a strong defense against the growing Mongol horde. Shan Yu has begun sending groups of warriors around Li’s army, and unless Li acts soon, he might be cut off from his supply chain. -- In the South, a massive army of 90,000 soldiers marches across the border into the Taungoo Empire, intent on ending this threat to the Ming. But the terrain is hellish, and days pass with only a scant few miles traversed. Hopefully these men will be enough. The Sons of the Sky -- North of Ming and Joseon, the Aisin Goro clan of Jurchens under their Beile Nurhaci are roused by tales of war among the cowards of the South. They speak excitedly about striking at the Ming or Koreans while they are preoccupied with other matters.  -- Eager to get something out of this conflict, several “diplomats” from the Aisin Goro travel to the border, cajoling and making thinly-veiled threats of force to extort treasure from northern leaders. They are unsuccessful for the most part, but the example of Prince Gwanghae in paying the barbarians makes them think long before deciding not to. -- The Aisin Goro also speak to their Ula cousins, but the Ula scorn the Aisin Goro, and tell them they should ready their warhost, for when the Ula are ready, they will strike the Aisin Goro down and take all they have for their own! Consolidation -- Throughout the North, Prince Gwanghae’s will is enforced. Recalcitrant castellans and mayors who failed to provide the full number of recruits are either executed or replaced by more willing underlings. But a huge swell of recruits joins the Prince’s forces, eager to attack the invaders, though the Prince’s extremely complex recruiting schedule has been overruled by the masses. -- Prince Gwanghae also makes it clear to his officers: failure to learn from their mistakes will not be tolerated. Again and again they recall the attack on Hungnam, looking for ways they could have done better. But it remains to be seen whether the lessons sink in. -- The Prince sends a large contingent of troops to the Marshal, and they arrive at Pyongyang to be trained further. -- Throughout Japanese-held territories the samurai Sanjuro is found, ensuring the protection of the Korean civilians as best he can, striking at evil wherever it may be found. It is something of a testament to him that attempts are made on his life both by Korean partisans and Japanese soldiery, including an ambush of 8 men against him alone, though without success. His skill with the blade is mighty indeed. -- Though no longer at the brink of death, Kuroda Nagamasa takes the month to recover from his brush with death. He spends time in calligraphy and spiritual training with his chaplain. By the end of the month, he is ready to take command of his division and lead again. -- Detachments from various Japanese divisions: Shimazu, Kuroda, and Katou, march across the countryside, extending the territory held by the invaders. Though not strong enough to take the fortresses or large towns, they are in enough strength to cow or destroy any small band who might wish to rise against them. -- Work is begun in earnest on repairing the defences of Seoul by the Kuroda daimyou. It is hard work, with many breaches having been made in the assault on the city, but at the end of the month the walls are somewhat patched up, though more work remains. -- Rumors fly across the peninsula. The Japanese engage in cannibalism! The Joseon generals laugh as they poison their own people! For many people, the acts of the Japanese they have seen themselves is enough to distrust the invader, but the rumors remind people of the ineffective and corrupt history of many of the Joseon officials, from village headmen to provincial governors. -- Rhetoric from the monk Yu Jong-Gae keeps the southwest in arms, though, and there many attacks are made against the Japanese by small bands of fighters and partisans. The Japanese, who rely on a thin land corridor from Busan to Yeosu to Seoul, find themselves forced to travel in large detachments to ensure their safety. -- General Kim Chung-Seon, captured by the Kurodan troops, is kept in a prison during this month, with few visitors except a Japanese physician to see that his leg heals. It does, but not well. Kim will most likely have a limp for the rest of his life. -- The Azure Dragon, the mutinying ship from China, lands near Mokpo on the Korean coast. It offloads weapons of Chinese manufacture to be given to the Koreans. They are met by several Chinese agents already there, who call themselves friends of Joseon, and have apparently been training the peasantry in the southwest. -- Shimazu Yoshihiro, hearing of the other daimyou’s plans to help the navy, begins his work as well, beginning work on a new port in Samcheok. Although the war at sea has kept mostly to the West coast, by the end of the month any warships that need to can resupply at Samcheok. -- In Pyongyang, Kim Myeong-Won works to strengthen the fortifications of the city, taking care to pack earthworks on the walls to protect them from cannon fire. Time will tell if the walls will hold, though.  -- Kim Myeong-Won begins training men to the best of his ability. He throws out the outdated and useless training manual and takes to training men personally, based on his experiences in Seoul. His example helps the men greatly. Skirmishes and Sieges -- As the rains pour on Korea, several armies begin to move.  -- Katou Kiyomasa, taking over Marshal Yukinaga’s role on the Nakdong, persuades Miryang to surrender to his men, but fights tough struggles when he reaches Sangju and Andong, including an arrow striking him in the shoulder. Undeterred, the Katou daimyou breaks the shaft as he orders his men over the walls at Andong. At the end of the month, much of the Nakdong has been captured, and all that remains between opening the trunk road between Busan and Seoul is Chungju.  1397x883 -- Rallying a large group of reinforcements to his division, mostly from the northern Date clan, Mashal Yukinaga marches west to meet with Masanori. He finds the man laid out with a terrible fever, and his officers in a mix of humility and excuse-making. Keeping a few men watching Fukushima, the Marshal attacks the city of Namwon, the garrison of which fights like men possessed. But they cannot overcome the Marshal’s force, and the Date troops are eager to prove their superiority to both the Koreans and the earlier arrivals. -- The marshal also attempts to bring Yu Jong-Gae’s army to a field battle, but the monk and his men utterly refuse to meet the Marshal. They continue attacks on smaller detachments, lightly-escorted supply caravans, and people accused of collaboration with the invader. The punishments are harsh and without mercy - everything is righteous in battle against the invader.  1989x2822 -- Mori Terumoto marches South from Seoul, muddy roads keeping his march slow. At Jeongju and Daejeon, he does what he can to keep the rains from keeping his men from top strength, and katana and spear mostly replace musket, though those that remain try out using lacquered boxes to keep the powder dry. -- After taking the cities, Terumoto tries to bring battle to Kim Si-Mim, who retreats to Chungju. But before Terumoto can attack the general, news from Seoul reaches him.  -- Yi Il marches south from Pyongyang, aiming for Kaesong. As he marches, men flock to his banner, and he sends them north to Kim Myeong-Won to be trained as soldiers. At Kaesong, the small Japanese garrison sends the swiftest rider they have to Seoul to warn the two division commanders. -- Yi Il is met by Kuroda Toshinori and Mori Terumoto’s vanguard before Kaesong. The Japanese are tired from the double-time marches they pulled, but Yi Il is still worried about being outnumbered. Both armies seem unwilling to press further, and after some small skirmishes, Yi Il retreats back to Pyongyang, and the Japanese to Seoul. -- Japanese spies are sent beyond Kaesong to find the location of the base for the Joseon fleet. They find it at Nampo. Though their orders are to steal a ship, they settle for burning a panok, a much more achievable goal. The Battle of Gunsan -- On the seas, the largest ship battle of the war begins when a large portion of the Joseon fleet decides it is time to bring battle. Admiral Yi, who has spent the months speaking to anyone who might hear of the magic of his tactics, is ready to strike a strong blow against the invader.  1184x1903 -- He might have picked a better time to do so than during the typhoon season, however. His ships are rocked by massive swells, tossing the heavy geoboks around. Several ships, keeping too close to the coast, are run aground or splinter on rocks or cliff faces. Many more fail to keep pace with the rest of the fleet, or fall off course. -- Much of the Japanese fleet has sailed to Tsushima to defend the supply ships there, but over 250 vessels remain near Gunsan to defend the nascent ports on the West coast. -- Over 80 vessels remain in Admiral Yi’s fleet when he is spotted by the Japanese after the storm, just past midday. Kuki Yoshitaka is there as well, in his personal atakebune, and he decides now is the perfect time to try out his new ships. -- The fleets move to position themselves against each other. The sea near Gunsan is good positioning for cannon fire, with few islands and long sight lines. -- When the panoks and geoboks begin firing, Yi is confident he will be able to smash aside any Japanese ships. When cannonballs begin coming toward his ships, however, his demeanor changes. -- Though not many in number, with crews still learning how best to accurately shoot on the shifting waters, the new atakebune are eager to prove their worth to the Admiral. Shot after shot flies out toward the Joseon fleet, the high decks of the bune allowing longer ranges than the panoks and geoboks. -- Cannonballs fly over the water as the smaller kobaya and bune rush forward. One part of the Joseon fleet is too slow to escape the nimble Japanese kobaya, and a confusing melee erupts on the seas.  750x600 -- Arrows and bombs fly between ships, chains are thrown to catch and board vessels, steel crashes on steel, and the waters begin to turn red with blood.  740x1024 -- In this environment, the Japanese have the advantage. Admiral Yi does what he can to try and support those ships in melee already, but if he doesn’t want more ships to be bogged down and boarded, they have to move as quickly as they can, preventing them from firing with impunity on the Japanese.  -- It is the arrival of a large Japanese detachment nearing his western flank, trying to pin his fleet against the coast, that convinces Admiral Yi it is time to retreat. He sends his ships with all haste back North, taking the rearguard to ensure as many return as possible. As dark clouds obscure the moon, he sees the burning vision of Japanese and Korean ships, locked together in the embrace of death. -- Unwilling to be caught in another storm, Admiral Yoshitaka finishes the fight at Gunsan. Many of the Joseon ships are beyond repair, but he has a few captured panoks, and even a geobok, in decent condition. -- Returning to Nampo, Admiral Yi counts his fleet. From the over 100 that set out, only about 60 remain, the rest missing either from the storm or the battle. Admiral Yoshitaka has more ships lost, having lost over 70 ships beyond repair, but he considers the losses acceptable. In the largest sea battle so far, he has come out on top. Disposition of forces, August 1 1592  Weather Report: Typhoon Season is over, but expect blistering heat as August goes on. Japan  872x1200 Konishi Yukinaga (Dom Agostinho) - 1st Division, Marshal of the Army, 21,896 troops, Red, Daegu. Taken - OscarDiggs/oscardiggssa@hotmail.co.uk  Katou Kiyomasa - 2nd Division, 18,547 troops, Blue, Gyeongju. Taken - Tatankatonk/tatankatonk22@gmail.com  670x658 Kuroda Nagamasa (Dom Damiao) - 3rd Division, 9,309 troops, Green, Seoul. Taken - Frionnel/phffernandes@gmail.com  Shimazu Yoshihiro - 4th Division, 12,034 troops, Light Blue, Gangneung. Taken - Gantolandon/gantolandonsa@gmail.com  517x658 Fukushima Masanori - 5th Division, 15,117 troops, Purple, Jeonju. Taken - A RICH WHITE MAN/moodinconsistency at google mail  Mori Terumoto - 7th Division, 17,335 troops, Pink, Seoul. Taken - Takanago/ktakanago@gmail.com  759x1368 Kuki Yoshitaka - Admiral of the Navies, 376 warships (with more in reserve), Umber. Taken - Proposition Joe/PropositionJoe.SA@gmail.com Joseon  Sin Rip - General of Hwanghae, 5,000 troops, Pyongyang  Jeong Bal- General of Gyeonsang,  CAPTURED! 1090x1602 Kim Si-Mim - General of Jeolla, 6,358 troops, Chungju. Taken - MadRhetoric/non_Ay_mous (at) yahoo (dot) com  Kim Myeong-Won - General of Pyongang, 14,000 troops, Pyongyang. Taken - Rogue0071/rogue0071sa@gmail.com  Prince Gwanghae - General of Hamgyong, 26,275 troops , Hyesan. Taken - Enjoy/sw_faulty@hotmail.com  Kim Chung-seon - General of Gangwon, CAPTURED!. Taken - Slaan/wlyle at indiana dot edu Yi Il - Marshal of Gyeonggi, 17,187 troops (+4000 Jurchen mercenaries for 4 months), Pyongyang. Taken - Ramba Ral/borisstukov at aim .com Yu Jong-Gae - Elder Monk, 9-13,000 troops in Righteous Army, Gwangju. Taken - Hutter/viklud at hotmail dot com  649x1063 Yi Soo Sin - Admiral of the Navies, 93 panokseon ships, 11 geobukseon (turtle ships), Yeosu. Taken - Gorgo Primus/messedupjoe @ hotmail Ming China  Li Rusong - Exceptional commander, currently en-route to deal with the Mongol rebellion. 2,000 personal troops, 27,000 garrison soldiers attached to deal with Mongols. Taken - Fall Sick and Die/ccferrara@gmail.com Li Yingshi - Current commander of Dalian, a large port on the Liaodong peninsula, very close to the border of the Yalu River. 1000 troops. Taken - Epicurius/epicurius at aol.com  Admiral Chen Lin - Defender of the Ming coast. Weihai, 88 ships. Taken - Maximo Roboto/maximo DOT roboto at gmail you know the rest Southern Barbarians Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas - 1200 troops, Manila. Taken - Sniper4625/Sniper4625@gmail.com  Dirck Gerritszoon Pomp - Unknown strength, en route to the Far East... Taken - a bad enough dude/ehoovestol@gmail.com Sons of the Steppes Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro - Large host of horsemen and steppe nomads in the north. Taken - Puppies are dicks/zuluninertango@yahoo.com
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Jan 8, 2013 11:59
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Prince Gwanghae, General of Hamgyong To my good friend, Beile Nurhaci: It is impossible to get good help these days! The idiot diplomats I sent to speak with you must have been dropped on their heads as children, to have settled for mewling at the feet of the Ula goatherds as they did. Even as I write, those old men on their lame mounts steal your glory by slaying the effeminate Nihon dwarves in your stead. I can see it now: the bewildered heads of the long-haired vegans spinning through the air, their silent lips twisted at the shame of dying to such a lowly enemy as the Ula tribe. "Where is Beile Nurhaci?" are their last thoughts, "Why am I denied the privilege of being trampled upon by his mighty steed?" This travesty should not stand! If it pleases you, it would be a great honour for me to personally escort south those tribesmen you deign to send to rectify this mistake. Prince Gwanghae
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Jan 8, 2013 12:44
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Frionnel posted:
    福島 正則 Fukushima Masanori Commander of the 5th Division, Jeonju The Scourge of Korea Kuroda Nagamasa, You are a woman and a worm, and have, through guile and treachery, succeeded in making a name for yourself only by stealing glory from the accomplishments of a more honorable and competent man. You are a snake, a coward, and an enemy to your country. You spit in the faces of your kinsmen while glorifying the foreign swine we make war on! quote:So this is the great general Kim Chung-seon? You know, i have come to expect these brutal acts of savagery from our own General Fukushima, but never would i image the korean forces would be as dishonorable! And through all this, you dare to give me orders? For your insults, I demand that you answer with steel, so that I might strike your treacherous head from your neck before more venom spews forth from your lips. You will face me one-on-one, Nagamasa, or you will be forever branded a coward, a scared woman, teeth chattering at the thought of Fukushima Masanori's wrath!
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Jan 9, 2013 21:04
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General Kim Chung-seon General Kuroda, I would not need to use such underhanded methods to drive back your forces if your forces had any honor. Using the weapons of Eastern Barbarians? Killing peasants in their fields like Fukushima? Trying to kill the King himself, rather than capture and ransom him? Invading another innocent land in a mad bid for power in the Ming dynasty? These are not the actions of an honorable people. Our people are a peaceful one, ill-used to the ways of war. We cannot fight you on the battlefield so the land itself will be used to defeat you. If you truly wish to act honorably then either ransom me or face me in combat. Good day, Sir.
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Jan 10, 2013 03:40
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Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro tribe of Jurchens To the wise Prince Gwanghae: The Aisin Goro are more than happy to accept your gracious invitation. In fact, so honored am I by your words that I personally am leading a contingent of the fastest riders and mightiest warriors of the steppes southward towards your city that we may present ourselves to your cause. Together we will show the stunted halfmen from across the seas that real war is not to be trifled with. Generations hence your farmers will whisper prayers to the many dead as they come across the broken bones and discarded remnants of our foes in their humble mud tilling. The rivers will choke with the dead, and the skies will stain black with the ashes of war. Seeing you in person soon, Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro A speech to the riders of the Aisin Goro and whatever other tribesmen cared to come along posted:
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Jan 10, 2013 15:25
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 Omedetou! Kobayakawa Takakage aka Ecco the Raven, username @ gmail!
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Jan 12, 2013 22:00
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    Kobayakawa Takakage Daimyo of the Kobayakawa, Son of Mori Motinari, Governor-Warlord of Busan, 森の侍. Smoke floats in the sky, Cicadas like temple bells-- Summer in the world.
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Jan 12, 2013 23:03
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Alright! Now that I have an idea of when I'll be done driving entire days, I can give you all a deadline. Turn 5 is due Wednesday 1/16 at 6 PM MST! Do not miss sending your turn, or terrible fates may befall your character!
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Jan 14, 2013 14:47
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 Admiral Chen Lin To the Honored Magistrates of the Court: In these tumultuous times, Great Ming must make every endeavor to strengthen ourselves. Therefore it is in the opinion of your humble servant that we perhaps make use of every asset, even those unharmonious elements who do not know the perfection of the Way. The southern barbarians are always so eager to trade, as it is in their avaricious nature. Their goods are mere curios, not governed by reason nor wisdom, yet worth a laugh or two. To you, my esteemed elders, I present to you this petition for a proposal: Let us codify our trade with these Nanban, specifically those who profess obeisance to the monarch of Iberia and worship of the Gran Poppa. This is my suggestion: 1. The Iberian Nanban shall henceforth pay tribute to the Son of Heaven in silver, the amount to be decided by you gentlemen sages [at the same level as other European countries, or perhaps Siam or Burma]. 2. The Iberians shall be allowed a secondary foothold in the north, at Sanshan Seaport [Dalian]. Much like Macau, they will be designated appropriate districts and areas with which to trade in. 3. They shall be allowed to purchase some of our exquisite wares of secondary and tertiary quality, so that more silver can flow into the coffers of our imperial treasury. 4. They may also sell their ridiculous firearms and other weaponry and other strange and ingenious objects, so that subjects of the Celestial Empire may laugh heartily at the shoddy workmanship and pitiful designs. My flotilla itself is willing to acquire some of these so-called weapons, so we may have great amusement at their over-glorified firecrackers. 5. The monks of their esoteric and arcane beliefs may be permitted to conduct their work in certain areas in Dalian, of course designated and decided upon by your august gentlemen. The Iberian Nanban have great zeal for their superstitions, and beg us greatly for the privilege of teaching it to the weak-minded of our Empire. I say, so long as they do not insult, belittle, reject, or in any way profane the honor of our great Emperor, allow them to pursue their pipe dreams, with due oversight, of course. These are my suggestions for a Tribute Pact with the Nanban. If they pay proper respect to the Son of Heaven, allow them some trade in the north, similar to Macau. With this, Great Ming will be able to amass all of the silver we need, as well as some great chortles at their feeble merchandise. Your obeisant servant, 萬歲! 萬歲! 萬歲!
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Jan 15, 2013 23:19
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Li Yingshi Ten Thousand Wishes from Heaven to the honored ministers, the great ministers, and the great and honored ministers from their unworthy servant. While one so insignificant as myself is unworthy of commenting on such things, still, I have heard of the request from the Great Admiral and feel that, first, it would only be right and proper if the Spanish, like the rest of the lands under the heavens, pays a tribute to His Imperial Majesty, and also that it might amuse the court if one of their priests be allowed to expound on their ludicrous foreign ideas, the better to show the rightness of Confucian values to the people by comparison.
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Jan 16, 2013 03:54
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Governor General Gomez To his Royal Highness Phillip II, King of Castile, Aragon and Portugal, Duke of Milan and Lord of the Netherlands ...we stand at the door of the trade markets of Cathay, that long sought goal of European traders from Portugal to Poland. Should we be permitted to trade with the vast masses of the East, I believe the importance of my humble post here in the Phillipines will increase correspondingly. To that end, I humbly petition for more men, ships and arms - we must be prepared to secure our gains against any foe. Your ever humble servant, Governor General Gomez
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Jan 16, 2013 12:59
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4 hours to get me your turns, I'm still missing a decent number!
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Jan 16, 2013 13:08
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Konishi Yukinaga, Commander of the First Division, Marshal. 400x549 Glory for us all, Willing to grasp in both hands, A true victory, A sea of blades comes for them, They who sleep with ships as shields.
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Jan 16, 2013 13:45
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.svg.png){kind=spacer} 220x220 島津 義弘 Shimazu Yoshihiro, Commander of the Fourth Division To the Korean rebels, I will be frank: you need us. Your state crumbles all around you, after we gave it just a light prod. Your king and his magistrates has left you. Who else can protect you? The Ming? They will not come. They have their own problems right now. You were a nice vassal when you paid tribute, but right now you are only a burden to them. Your protector has grown old and weak. His muscles, once powerful, now are frail and shaky. His eyes can no longer see as far as they could. Indecisiveness clouds his mind like a fog, obscuring his memories and skills. What is worst, he has lost his will to fight. Submitting to us is the best idea right now. As we were defeating your forces, we can protect you as well. If you lay down your weapons and return to your peaceful lives, you will be spared. We will even protect you from the sad remnant of Seonjo's forces if, in their rage, they want to punish you for surrendering. We will take care of you, because this is our duty as samurai. Your land is becoming a part of ours and we have no reason to pillage or depopulate it. I had already given that offer to one of the other Righteous Armies - they are alive and well in Samcheok, which prospers under our rule. If you oppose us, however, you will all die. I have never shown mercy to the defeated enemy, as this is foolish. If someone fought you once, he can do it again. That is why we will pursue and kill even those who run away or surrender. If you want to avoid this fate, do not fight us. It is that simple.
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Jan 16, 2013 15:23
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黒田 長政 Kuroda Nagamasa Leader of the Third Division Commander of the Eight Tigers and Twenty-Four Riders Conqueror of Seoul and Jeju-do You are a desperate fool, Kim Chung-Seon. If there was still any trace of honor left, you would ask for a knife and commit ritual suicide inside of your cell. But you choose your own destiny. As for Fukushima, i will bother with his tiresome rants when he has completed his duty and pacified the south.
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Jan 17, 2013 08:01
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Turn 5 - August 1592 -- August, the dog days of summer. Extreme humid heat blasts across the entire Korean peninsula, making even standing up an exhausting activity. Trade and Its Discontents  -- All the Iberian traders are abuzz with news as August begins: the Ming are contemplating opening a new trade port! The proposal, forwarded to the court by Admiral Chen Lin, would open up Dalian, and by extension, the whole North of China, to the traders, with many of the same privileges as in Macau. It is a tempting prize, and would be a great boon to the Westerners. -- The court receives the proposal augustly, but internal debates are fierce. If the curios the Westerners have are of so little value, as the Admiral says, why should they have more access to the fine craftsmanship of the Han? The thought of added silver flooding into state coffers is an appetizing prospect, thought, and some of the court begin to draft officials to overlook the barbarian’s district. -- It is the Korean ambassador who scuttles the plan, though. With fiery rhetoric, he denounces the Iberians as parasites, worthless, cultureless monsters who know no virtue and no harmony, and claims that they are allies of the merciless Japanese, perpetrating untold offences on the Koreans! -- The senior Jesuit in China, Matteo Ricci, responds to the accusations in a polite, but strongly-worded letter, ensuring there are no treaties of friendship or alliance between either his order, the Iberian monarch and his representatives in the Far East, or the Japanese lords. The Portuguese governor of Macau even points to the food shipments some of his traders have made to the Korean peasantry, at great cost to themselves, to try to refute the allegations. -- Whatever the truth of the matter, the confusion is enough to shelve the project. No one in the court wishes to be seen as aiding and abetting a possible enemy. The Korean ambassador is seen looking very pleased with himself afterwards as he pens his reply to King Seonjo’s order, but the Iberian traders (many of whom had already counted the possible profits as being in their hands) are furious at the loss. Their attitudes towards the Koreans have significantly deteriorated over this, with many now saying it would be better for everyone involved if the Japanese just took over the country: *they* at least deal with the Europeans decently. -- Even Governor Gomez seems perturbed. Learning the port won’t open anytime soon he burns the letter he had proposed to send to the King, and writes another, with the same message, but leaving out some of the now-obsolete details. -- Gomez’s letter to the Jesuits encouraging them to send missionaries to Busan and Masan is answered somewhat icily by Fr. Velazquez, who informs the man that he appreciates his information, but does not deign to inform him how to perform his duties, and would like the same respect in return. -- For the Jesuits have not been idle. A very basic Portuguese-Korean dictionary (with words mainly in phonetics or Chinese characters) is completed by the Fathers on Jeju. It is only a stop-gap, a resource mainly to prevent the Fathers from saying obscenities inadvertently while asking for some more rice, if you please, but it is enough for now. As soon as it reaches Nagasaki Fr. Velazquez has the Jesuit presses print many copies. A large cadre of acolytes and experienced Fathers are selected to begin their missionary work in Busan and the surrounding countryside, to minister to the Koreans first, but to the Japanese as well should individuals request it. -- Their arrival at Busan is uneventful. The town still shows some scars from the attack that captured it, but with Kobayakawa Takakage’s approval (a disinterested grunt and wave of his hand) the men convert a former mansion into a small chapel, rectory, and semi-cloister. At first only a few Japanese converts attend the Sacraments, but at the end of the month the men see one or two Koreans come in to see what the strange-looking men are doing. It is a small start, but it is something. -- All the while Fr. Alessandro Valignano continues on his course back to Europe. He teaches his acolytes the rudiments of Latin, and continues his own studies of Polish. Though many men in his situation would be despondent, the former Visitor is incredibly serene in his exile, and always has a knowing smile on his face. -- To alleviate his supply problems, Dirck Gerritszoon anchors off the coast of the Horn of Africa. Though it takes a little longer than he hoped to get back on the seas, his men are vastly healthier, and a large supply of fruits should help them get to India at least. Great Ming -- The collapse of the trade port proposition somewhat frustrates the two men who had pushed hardest for it, Li Yingshi and Admiral Chen, but they continue on with their work unabated. -- Li Yingshi continues his fortifications on the Yalu, expanding the watchtowers with a series of earthen dikes and trenches along the border. His request for further troops is granted, and he is sent 3,000 trained soldiers to help guard the province. -- Admiral Chen himself visits Macau, and is feted well by the powers-that-be in that little slice of Portugal. His request to see how the Portuguese make war is skillfully rebuffed, with the Portuguese governor reminding the Admiral with a smile that he himself has publicly called the Western arms worthless and mere toys: what would he gain by seeing them in action? Surely his own arms are strong enough on their own? -- Recovering from his fever, Li Rusong finds himself in a tough situation. His spies report that the Mongols outnumber his own men, and Shan Yu has spent the last month trying to cut his supply lines. He’ll need to act fast. -- Late at night, still ungodly hot this close to the Gobi desert, a contingent of cavalry are selected. Tough, brave men volunteer to launch an attack on the Mongol camp. Over 800 set out. -- The Mongol camp is a rough affair, with little organization. Massive bonfires dot the landscape, surrounded by yurts and tents of leather and wood. Many of the Mongols are busy congratulating themselves with drink, sure that with a little more work, they’ll cut down Rusong and his army, and be undisputed masters of the region. -- It is the thunder of hooves that wake some of the outlying Mongols from their stupor. The attack strikes! Hundreds of Mongols are run down and slaughtered, and the entire camp is thrown into chaos. Burning brands are flung onto yurts, and the tongues of flame begin to leap, aided by the wind. -- Shan Yu himself comes out of his harem-tent to see the bedlam. Cursing his men, he rallies his brother tribesmen and rushes to meet the Chinese in combat. -- The attackers peel off as fast as they can, and lead the massive host behind them on a breakneck chase. Arrows from behind claim many lives, but soon enough the cavalry have gotten into a steep-sided defile, over which Li Rusong has placed his extensive artillery battery. -- The ambush is deadly. Dozens of cannonballs burst down into the Mongols, each shot claiming many lives. But the press at the back fails to abate, the men unaware of the bloodbath developing in front of them. -- It is only Shan Yu’s slow realization that he’s been had that prevents his army from being massacred. He pulls back, to find a way to attack the cannons, but finds infantry detachments screening their flanks. Unwilling to be deterred by them, he and those behind him charge through the infantry, eager to murder the artillerymen.  -- The rest of Li’s cavalry charge into the defile to prevent the Mongols from pushing through the trap. It’s a hellish place, filled with the roar of gunpowder, horses whinnying, men crying out in fear and pain. -- Shan Yu is able to smash into one half of the artillery barrage, but by the time he drives off or kills the gunners, most of his horde is in disarray and rout. Yelling out his defiance at Li Rusong, Shan Yu plunges back into the battle. His body is never found. -- The horde has been utterly savaged, and Li Rusong has lost many fine troops. But Li has taken the victory for the Ming. The horde disperses to the north as quickly as each man can ride, and the gates of Ningxia are flung open to welcome him in (and hopefully earn the citizens of the town some mercy). The rebellion has been crushed! -- Far to the South, in the jungles and plateaus of Indochina, the great Ming host has its first real battle with the Taungoo forces, and the result is a debacle. Commanders mix up orders, subordinates run when they should have stood, and the much smaller Taungoo army is able to inflict a stinging blow on the Ming forces. Reports claim over 20,000 Chinese soldiers were either killed or disappeared into the hills. The humiliation spurs Yuanzi’s faction to greater influence, as the court believes Korea can survive until they destroy the Taungoo. Movements -- In the North of Korea, Prince Gwanghae begins a last round of conscription. His officers do their best, but the target of doubling the city garrisons seems utterly impossible without something changing.  -- Enter the Aisin Goro. Prince Gwanghae himself marches to meet Beile Nurhaci, who has rounded up over 6000 warriors from his tribe and others he can trust. The Prince, who has laid another round of taxation on the people, gives the Beile a great offer of gold and silver to aid him. Nurhaci accepts, and helps garrison the cities and towns of Hyesan, Hoeryong, Musan, Unggi, Najin, and Kilchu, among others. -- The Prince, satisfied he will no longer need to return to the North, marches south at a steady pace, reaching Wonsan at the end of the month. -- Beile Nurhaci and his men relish the opportunity, and are a frequent sight among the red light districts and drinking establishments of their charges. Nurhaci himself takes the role of guiding hand of his men, stopping them from being too raucous, but letting them have a good time. Those men who had refused to pay them before are publicly humiliated by the Jurchen, having horse dung flung in their faces among other indignities. But the Prince himself paid the mercenaries, and no administrator is willing to oust the riders without explicit orders from above. -- In Busan, Kobayakawa Takakage has spent his time in more esoteric pursuits. He has begun collecting local insects and composing haiku with them as subjects, as well as attempting to write an illustrated account of his life. His skills leave something to be desired, as the proportions of the figures and his strange claims of power levels tends to put off all but the most dedicated reader. -- In Pyongyang, King Seonjo is pleased to learn that the Ming refused to grant the Iberians any concessions. But he has more important duties. In order to prevent sedition and treachery, he peels off some of his royal guard to keep an eye on nearby governors and magistrates. They report directly to His Majesty what they learn. -- The King also begins trying to aid the refugees from the South as best as the bureaucracy can. Shantytowns and camps are canvassed to find what areas need food the most, with rewards promised for those who would take up arms. But considering the majority are old folks, women, and children, there are few takers. -- In Jeolla, a new figure has emerged: the White Tiger. It is unknown who it is, but the man is quickly proving to be a thorn in the side of the Japanese forces, attacking quickly and fading into the countryside without trace. The samurai Sanjuro, when told that the Seven Mansions of the White Tiger are being found carved on trees around Japanese camps, nods his head. Perhaps the swordsman has found a match for himself? -- Mori Terumoto pens a scathing letter to his castellans and seneschals in the Mori domain. He desires reinforcements, and he wants them now! The men, stung by the vehemence of the order, scramble to raise more troops, but the incredibly rich Mori domain (possibly the richest single domain in all of Japan) has plenty of soldiers, and plenty of coin to hire rounin. A reply reaches Terumoto at the end of the month, along with almost 9,000 troops: should the daimyou so require it, his servants will do all they can to get him more men. -- More reinforcements are pulled onto the peninsula as well, streaming into the various forces. The last 19,000 ship off from Tsushima, replaced by more forces from Kyushu to protect the vital base. In the absence of more specific orders, many of them reinforce the armies to the North, convinced there they’ll get to fight quickly. -- Dom Agostinho is seen writing several letters, which he gives to Portuguese traders to be taken to the Taungoo Empire. A sealed reply reaches him at the end of the month. -- Admiral Kuki Yoshitaka sends several of the captured Korean ships back to Kyushu for study. His top shipwrights examine every aspect of the captured panoks and geobok. Several interesting notes are made, including differences in how the Koreans attach the planks together to the keel and ribs. It’s fruitful work. Plans are drawn up for Kikosen, Japan’s answer to the Turtle ships, and being very similar in design to the original geoboks. The Atakebune as well are modified, and new ones should provide a more stable platform for cannonades. -- Marshal Yi Il and Kim Myeong-Won work hard in Pyongyang, training their troops together, strengthening the internal defences of the city with strategic towers and chokepoints, and gathering as much artillery as they can lay their hands on. Kim Myeong-Won sends engineers to Sariwon, to aid in the efforts to build up the defences. Both men work like whirlwinds together, and their dedication to their duties is well-remarked on by others.  550x804 -- On the seas, Yoshitaka bottles up the vast majority of Admiral Yi Soo Sin’s fleet at Nampo. Almost 300 ships patrol the mouth of the Taedong River, while the rest continue their escort efforts. Yi Soo Sin, still smarting from his loss last month, declines to put his forces at risk. The two fleets eye each other warily, expecting the other to attack, but the standoff continues. -- But even at port there may be dangers. Many of Yi’s sailors fall sick with some kind of poisoning. Investigations trace it to a fouled food supply, but there is no trace of who did it, the guards saying that the only men they’ve seen have been Koreans. A double guard is posted around the granaries to prevent a repeat.  -- Gunsan and Jeju have expanded enough to accommodate repairs of damaged vessels. Moreover, Gunsan’s sea cannons keep the Chinese pirates from considering them an easy target. Many of the pirates are beginning to wonder if they shouldn’t just take what they can from the Koreans, if the Japanese are this prepared. -- Admiral Yi requests a port in China to help build up his forces. The closest such port however, falls under the authority of Li Yingshi, and without his express approval no one wants to risk their necks. -- By month’s end, 18 Japanese ships are launched, and 4 panoks with 2 geoboks for the Koreans. -- At Kuroda Nagamasa’s orders, the restoration of the Seoul defences continues. By September, the outer defences are restored, and even a little expanded. The Duel -- Kim Chung-seon, prisoner of daimyou Kuroda Nagamasa in Seoul, demands satisfaction for his honor in a duel. Shocking his advisors, and over their objections that a lame man would give him no honor, Kuroda accepts the challenge. The men will duel until one cries mercy or is unable to, with true blades. -- Kim Chung-seon spends the night before the duel writing a poem in his mother tongue. Kuroda makes confession of his sins to God, and prays to St. Michael the Archangel that he might be victorious. -- At dawn, the two men face each other before the former palace of Seonjo, now Kuroda’s headquarters. The former samurai and the great daimyou each take hold of their long swords. Kim does what he can to minimize his limp, but the observers can see it in his gait.  -- The warriors approach each other, until they’re only a few feet away. Kuroda drops smoothly into a low stance, his hand on his hilt. Kim unsheathes his sword, and holds the blade over his head, ready to bring it down in a flash. The two stand there, eyes not locked on each other, but completely aware of the other man. Silence wraps the area. None of the observers even want to breathe, let alone speak. -- It is Kim’s leg that does him in. As the tension grows his leg protests at the strain, and eventually and involuntarily he has to move to change his stance. -- Kuroda’s sword flies from its scabbard, and cuts across Kim’s chest. Kim slowly sinks to his knees before closing his eyes, and falling face first into the dirt, his blood pooling around his body. Kuroda lets out a long breath, cleans his sword, and re-sheaths it. He orders his men to bury Kim as a general should. -- Kim’s poem is found in his cell: “To die for glory pales before a death made for a new home.” It is made his epitaph. Jeolla -- Fukushima Masanori, scourge of Korea, awakes from his fever with a clarity of vision and purpose. His former strategy of spreading unrestrained terror has failed, he admits, so he will focus solely on the battle. Let others worry about pacification and subjugation, Masanori shall only have victory. -- He orders his men to relinquish those goods that overburden them. The men grumble, but Fukushima’s personal execution of several malcontents brings the rest in line. It doesn’t mean much to be rich if you’re dead, and they’d rather not die in Korea. The goods are sent to Busan where they will be used to purchase more cannons from the Iberians. -- Fukushima’s planned execution of the captives he’s acquired is headed off by the Marshal, who sends the men and women to Busan to prevent them from aiding any fighting in Jeolla. -- Yu Jong-Gae has been hard at work with his men, training them and launching attack after attack on the Japanese supply train. -- The Japanese will not let this stand. Fukushima Masanori begins sending his army out on attacks to the Southwest to force the partisans into battle. But Yu knows the area well, and although there are skirmishes, there are no pitched battles.  -- Dom Agostinho works to change that. Embarking on a large flotilla, he is spotted by the Azure Dragon, which does its best to warn Yu Jong-Gae and anyone who will listen. The Marshal lands at Mokpo, taking the city before marching on Gwangju, which falls after two days of fighting. Almost 2000 Japanese are slain in these battles, but are replaced by newcomers by month’s end. -- Running out of places to withdraw to, Yu Jong-Gae finds himself trying everything he can to avoid battle with Fukushima. Near the end of the month, though, his luck runs out. -- Fukushima has caught Yu’s army near a steep hill. Yu takes the hill, and sets up his Chinese-made artillery on it. His force, nervous but ready, takes position on the slope. -- Fukushima sees the line and almost laughs. “A monk is no general,” he says, before laying out his plan to his officers. As his own forces approach the defenders, they are hit by shrieking rockets and exploding arrows. In reply iron cannon blast the hill from long range, smashing men and artillery alike.  -- When the Japanese are in range, their gunners begin unloading volley into the Koreans. That’s enough to get the Korean line to surge forward and charge the Japanese. The melee is brutal and bloody, but it seems as though the Koreans outnumber the Japanese, and just might overpower them! -- A mistaken assessment, however. A large group of samurai wielding huge no-dachi, swords almost as tall as their torsos, and naginata emerges from the woods on the left Korean flank, and charges into the engaged partisans. The shock of the attack is enough to convince many of the partisans that discretion is the better part of valor, and to begin retreating. Though not an outright rout, many men are still killed as they try to flee the battlefield. Yu Jong-Gae escapes, but many of his imported weapons have been either captured or destroyed. -- The butcher’s bill is steep. 3942 Korean partisans are slain, for 1321 Japanese. Yu’s army has survived, but he is running out of places to hide. -- All is not terrible, however. The head of the Chinese agents helping the army, one Yang, captures a Spaniard, Captain Fernando O’Malley. The Captain is furious at being kidnapped, being a neutral observer in this conflict, and promises that any violence done to his person will be punished. It remains to be seen if the Chinese and Koreans can agree on what to do with the man. To (and from) Pyongyang -- Mori Terumoto, now completely sick of Seoul, marches north, intent on battling anyone who gets in his way. His army seizes the road with vim, and the weakened garrisons at Yonan and Haeju are no match for the Mori forces. -- It is south of Sariwon that Marshal Yi Il and Mori Terumoto meet each other in battle again. The two have similar numbers of men: ~17300 for Mori, and ~21000 for Yi Il. As the sun beats down on both armies, the generals vie for advantages. The Ula Jurchens make a good show in keeping the Japanese cavalry occupied, but as in Jeolla the Japanese cannon outrange the Korean artillery, and massive shots tear through the Korean ranks, sending body parts flying.  472x691 -- The scrum is brutal, the humidity in the air seeming to muffle the sounds of battle, isolating each man in his own private hell. Gunpowder smoke rises lazily from the battlefield.  -- The Koreans do well, much better with their training, but it still isn’t enough to beat back the Mori soldiers. Unwilling to see his army pushed to rout, Yi Il orders a retreat to Sariwon, which goes better than expected. The Japanese are unwilling to pursue very far in the heat, and settle for setting up camp near Sariwon. The Japanese lost 2227 men, and the Koreans 3563. -- But inside Sariwon the Jurchens are discontent. “This is intolerable!” they tell Yi Il, “that the milk-drinker Aisin Goro are paid to sit and gorge themselves as we Ula tire our sword arms with war!” They demand more compensation for their efforts. The Citadel -- Kim Si-Mim, seeing his precarious position, begins furiously working to correct it. Thousands of refugees are armed with every weapon Kim can lay his hands on, and those without weapons work to shore up the defences of Chungju. It will be necessary, as three armies begin to approach the city. -- His attempt to buy some firearms goes less well. The Iberians, stung at the Koreans work in the Ming court, refuse to part with even the least matchlock. -- In the East, Shimazu Yoshihiro is denied another victory without battle, as the partisan army moves into Jecheon to hinder his advance. His entreaty of surrender is rejected, and it is with fire in his eyes, and fire arrows on his bows, the Shimazu daimyou forces his way into Jecheon, making good his threat to slay those who would not be peaceful. Almost 3000 Japanese are killed, but replacements continue to arrive. Yoshihiro begins marching to Chungju.  -- In the South, Katou Kiyomasa begins a slow and patient siege of Yeongju. His men relish the chance to sit down in what shade they can find or make for themselves. His assault, coming as it does near the end of the month, finds his men ready to prove themselves once more to their daimyou. Katou himself joins the assault, spurring his men to even greater acts of bravery. Yeongju falls, and Katou begins marching towards Chungju. -- From Seoul, Kuroda Nagamasa with 8000 soldiers marches to Chungju, only to find it an incredibly strong position, and himself outnumbered. Kim Si-Mim has fortified the mountain of Namsan, and its walls are filled with ready soldiers. -- Deciding that he should wait for the other daimyou, Kuroda waits and sieges Chungju. The arrival of Katou Kiyomasa and Shimazu Yoshihiro is greeted eagerly, as the men have spent many months apart. As September dawns, it remains to be seen if Kim can survive the next month. Disposition of forces, September 1 1592  Japan 872x1200 Konishi Yukinaga (Dom Agostinho) - 1st Division, Marshal of the Army, 21,961 troops, Red, Gwangju. Taken - OscarDiggs/oscardiggssa@hotmail.co.uk Katou Kiyomasa - 2nd Division, 21,547 troops, Blue, Sieging Chungju. Taken - Tatankatonk/tatankatonk22@gmail.com 670x658 Kuroda Nagamasa (Dom Damiao) - 3rd Division, 14,309 troops, Green, 8000 sieging Chungju, rest in Seoul. Taken - Frionnel/phffernandes@gmail.com Shimazu Yoshihiro - 4th Division, 18,034 troops, Light Blue, Sieging Chungju. Taken - Gantolandon/gantolandonsa@gmail.com 517x658 Fukushima Masanori - 5th Division, 13,796 troops, Purple, West of Namwon. Taken - A RICH WHITE MAN/moodinconsistency at google mail Mori Terumoto - 7th Division, 24,418 troops, Pink, Outside Sariwon. Taken - Takanago/ktakanago@gmail.com 759x1368 Kuki Yoshitaka - Admiral of the Navies, 391 warships (with more in reserve), Umber, Blockading Nampo. Taken - Proposition Joe/PropositionJoe.SA@gmail.com Joseon Sin Rip - General of Hwanghae, 5,000 troops, Pyongyang Jeong Bal- General of Gyeonsang, CAPTURED!1090x1602 Kim Si-Mim - General of Jeolla, 14,756 troops, Chungju. Taken - MadRhetoric/non_Ay_mous (at) yahoo (dot) com Kim Myeong-Won - General of Pyongang, 14,000 troops, Pyongyang. Taken - Rogue0071/rogue0071sa@gmail.com Prince Gwanghae - General of Hamgyong, 26,275 troops , Wonsan. Taken - Enjoy/sw_faulty@hotmail.com Kim Chung-seon - General of Gangwon, KILLED IN A DUEL!. Taken - Slaan/wlyle at indiana dot eduYi Il - Marshal of Gyeonggi, 14,124 troops (+3500 Jurchen mercenaries for 3 months), Pyongyang. Taken - Ramba Ral/borisstukov at aim .com Yu Jong-Gae - Elder Monk, 9058 troops in Righteous Army, North of Gwangju. Taken - Hutter/viklud at hotmail dot com 649x1063 Yi Soo Sin - Admiral of the Navies, 97 panokseon ships, 13 geobukseon (turtle ships), Blockaded at Nampo. Taken - Gorgo Primus/messedupjoe @ hotmail Ming China Li Rusong - Exceptional commander, in Ningxia. 1,487 personal troops, soldiers attached to deal with Mongols planning on returning home now that rebellion is done. Taken - Fall Sick and Die/ccferrara@gmail.com Li Yingshi - Current commander of Dalian, a large port on the Liaodong peninsula, very close to the border of the Yalu River. 4000 troops. Taken - Epicurius/epicurius at aol.com Admiral Chen Lin - Defender of the Ming coast. Weihai, 88 ships. Taken - Maximo Roboto/maximo DOT roboto at gmail you know the rest Southern Barbarians Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas - 1200 troops, Manila. Taken - Sniper4625/Sniper4625@gmail.com Dirck Gerritszoon Pomp - Unknown strength, en route to the Far East... Taken - a bad enough dude/ehoovestol@gmail.com Sons of the Steppes Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro - Large host of horsemen and steppe nomads in the north. 6000 Horsemen in Northern Korea. Taken - Puppies are dicks/zuluninertango@yahoo.com
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Jan 17, 2013 15:44
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Governor General Gomez To the Father Superior of the Jesuit Mission posted:I must beg your forgiveness for a misunderstanding caused by my actions. My recent missive re: activities on the Korean peninsula were intended purely as an informative message, given that the information about the recent opportunities was conveyed directly to me by representatives of the Japanese. I apologize for any slight upon your purpose, and beg your forgiveness. To the King of Korea posted:The twin insults of your Ambassador's slanders and your capture of a neutral observer are an outrage on the Spanish Crown. To avoid a further deterioration in relations, I must request you release Don Fernando with all due haste, and issue an apology for the lies of your so called "Ambassador". Failure to do so will result in appropriate measures being taken.
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Jan 17, 2013 18:01
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Turn 6 is due Sunday, 1/20 at 6 PM MST! Get those turns in, the earlier the better!
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Jan 18, 2013 09:19
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Governor General Gomez A Proclamation on the Recent Crisis in Korea and the Barbarians Thereof posted:The heathens of Korea have so far refused to answer for their dual crimes, and thus have shown their hostility towards the Spanish Crown. While the capture of Captain O'Malley is more than enough justification for a declaration of war, we shall refrain from such a final act in the hope that the Koreans may yet see reason. However, such grievous insults cannot go unanswered.
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Jan 18, 2013 12:36
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Konishi Yukinaga, Commander of the First Division, Marshal. 400x549 On the eve of the next months struggles, the Marshal holds his usual poetry contest. Instead of delivering many lines of fine poetry however, he instead begins telling uproarious jokes to his soldiers, to the absolute delight. Why did the Korean cross the road? Because only by fleeing does he have a chance of surviving the advancing Japanese Army. How is honour like an Iberian musket? The Koreans have neither. Knock Knock. Who's there? Fukushima, if you do not surrender immediately. What did the Korean Admiral say to the Japanese Admiral? “Oh god, please don't kill me!” Common saying among Korean soldiers. “They pretend I'm a real soldier, so I pretend to have honour when I am killed” A Korean man with a terrible memory finds himself in the street, with little courage or honour. He thinks to himself 'Hmm, have I been in battle with the Japanese or not?' Three Korean men walk into a bar. They then immediately leave and flee the city because they hear rumours that the Japanese will attack the city in a few weeks. Three Korean men are on a boat, when they encounter the Japanese Navy. They tried to resist. A Japanese soldier and a Korean soldier are talking to each other, trying to tell the best joke. After many jokes neither solider can agree on a winner. The Japanese soldier, bored with the battle, finishes with “So I hear the Korean Navy performs admirably in battle”. The Korean solider immediately gives in, saying “I've got no joke to beat that one”. What do they say about Korean skill at arms? You can not kill what is already dead.
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Jan 18, 2013 13:16
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Prince Gwanghae, General of Hamgyong To my esteemed Liege and Father: I must protest at the outrageous treatment of the noble Spanish people presently doing their up-most to aid the Kingdom of Joseon! Since arriving in civilised lands these upstanding and peaceful traders have righteously practised their beliefs of mercy and meekness in the face of even the most terrible of persecutions against them, and for this they deserve our sympathy. I certainly hope the Korean peoples are never put in the place of that race, so oppressed in their dealings with the unjust natives of the Philippines, who in their arrogance insist on literally dying in their tens of thousands in the middle of their tasks just to spite their kindly Iberian supervisors! When the officials and merchants of the better sort seek refuge from the hard job of correcting the behaviour of their spoilt servants by educating the sons and daughters of Chinese and Japanese peasants, they are accused of kidnapping them! Such libellous slander should never even enter the minds of the recipients of this largesse, yet so used are the peoples of Asia to trampling upon the dignity of the just and enlightened Spanish people that these peasants are often given attention and even believed! That the children later turn up as slaves in Spanish cities is utterly besides the point. In summation I am forced to request that your Majesty review the Kingdom's foreign policy with an eye to assisting the Spanish in the unjust burdens imposed upon them. Your son, Prince Gwanghae
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Jan 18, 2013 16:24
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Since me guy has finally died, I will be taking over Sin Rip, the poor man. He seems to be a bit cowardly thanks to sitting in Pyonyang for the entire war, but perhaps the spirit of Kim shall join him?
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Jan 19, 2013 03:31
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Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro tribe of Jurchens To the mighty Prince Gwanghae: Good Prince, as you are a man of your word so too is Nurhaci. I shall see to it that your northern lands are well defended, and personally ensure that no indignities are inflicted upon your loyal countrymen. Rest assured that while I draw breath no cowardly ambush or incursion from the south shall go unanswered. But, let it not be said that Nurhaci is content to merely sit by while there is blood to be shed. Fear not, for even now my forces ready themselves to ride heavily to war swifter than the wind and more fierce than the greatest of infernos. Acting even now to protect your territory, Beile Nurhaci of the Aisin Goro Nurchaci after pulling the same damn bastard off of some local woman for the fourth time posted:
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Jan 19, 2013 15:32
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Nevermind, I am dumb
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Jan 19, 2013 15:55
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1090x1602 Kim Si-Min A cornered beast fights twice as hard Our blades, our spears, our knees won't bend Though he may fall, his body scarred A righteous man's life shall never end "If the sun-born devils want this city, they can make their homes in the cold ground!"
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Jan 19, 2013 16:31
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黒田 長政 Kuroda Nagamasa Leader of the Third Division Commander of the Eight Tigers and Twenty-Four Riders Conqueror of Seoul and Jeju-do After the duel posted:And it's done. Can you shut up about this now, Toshitaka? Lame or not, choosing to die this way was perhaps the most honorable thing he did in his life. As the greatest samurai under the heavens, i am happy to make honor bloom in even the most inferior men.
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Jan 20, 2013 00:14
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Governor-General Sin Ripquote:To all of the Japanese Generals,
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Jan 20, 2013 01:55
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Listen, members of the Ula Jurchens, if you want to renegotiate your contract, that will be fine, but I will say this, what woman would prefer a man who is fat drinking milk and doing nothing when a group of men who had tired out their swords arms have proven themselves to defend their tribe's honor? I'm sure there will be lots of marriage proposals to cement tribal alliances with you when they heard of the many Japanese that fell by your blade. You have tested and proven yourself superior to the other Jurchen tribes and I am impressed by that and I am a man that is not easily impressed. Now, if you excuse me, I got to speak to my men in preparation for our next move. quote:Diary of Yi-il
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Jan 20, 2013 04:45
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Governor General Gomez A letter to the Ming Court posted:Despite the recent disputes, please note that we do not hold the Ming responsible for the recent refusal of Iberian trade privileges. The Koreans, not content in attempting to drag the great and noble Ming into their petty squabbles, seek to continue their parasitic interference on the actions of the great and sovereign Ming. The Iberian Union is not deterred, and hopes to work further with the Ming to enrich both our nations in the future.
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Jan 20, 2013 10:20
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OFFICIAL TURN PREVIEW Can we get to page 4 before I post turn 6? Whoever helps get us over gets my gratitude!
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Jan 21, 2013 09:32
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Konishi Yukinaga, Commander of the First Division, Marshal. 400x549 A new page dawns soon, Holding a glorious month Foretelling success.
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Jan 21, 2013 09:50
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