Chapter 8: The Invasion of the Yuan Army and the Twilight of the Shogunate

In order to regain the increasingly distant hearts of the imperial family and to extricate themselves from their predicament, the shogunate was compelled to issue the "Decree of Good Governance" in the fifth year of Eien (1297). This decree allowed the imperial family to default on loans taken from merchants, which not only incited the anger of the merchants but also left the imperial family with no avenues for borrowing in the future. Furthermore, with the increased burdens on farmers, various local factions emerged, and transportation was disrupted. A multitude of issues arose, leading to the decline of the Kamakura shogunate and the Hojo regency system, making it difficult for them to recover.

However, since the Mongols had already made threats of war, Japan naturally could not afford to be unprepared. Thus, the shogunate ordered the vassals in Sanuki and other provinces to make battle preparations. On March 5 of that year, Hojo Masamura, believing himself to be too old and frail to face such a critical situation, simply relinquished the position of shikken to the regent, the eighteen-year-old Hojo Tokimune.

In February 1279, the Yuan Dynasty extinguished the Southern Song, achieving complete unification of China and becoming even more powerful. By 1281, Kublai Khan issued another decree for an eastern expedition, dispatching two large armies: one led by Xindu and Hongtuqiu, consisting of 40,000 combat troops and 900 warships, departing from Korea; the other led by Fan Wenhu, comprising 100,000 agricultural troops carrying farming tools and rice seeds, with 3,500 warships, departing from the Yangtze River estuary. The two armies agreed to rendezvous at Yiqi in mid-June, with the combat troops in charge of military operations and the agricultural troops establishing farms in the occupied areas as a long-term strategy.

On September 5th, upon receiving the news, the Hōjō clan was greatly alarmed. Hōjō Nakatoshi, who served as the commander of the Rokuhara police, along with generals such as Daibutsu Sadetoki, Kanazawa Sadatō, and Ashikaga Takauji, led an army of over 200,000 troops from Kamakura to launch an offensive. They set up heavy fortifications on the side of Mount Kasuga and prepared for battle. However, after the issuance of Emperor Go-Daigo's decree to overthrow the shogunate, it fell silent like a stone sinking into the sea. Aside from a minor noble named Kusunoki Masashige who rose to support the emperor, the provincial guardians, fearing the might of the shogunate, adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and not a single person responded.

After the rebellion of the retired emperor and the entry of the shogunate troops into the capital, the original royal territories were largely cut and confiscated. The meager income from these lands was utterly insufficient to support the large royal family, which, despite lacking capability, continued to procreate (Emperor Kameyama had seventeen consorts and twenty-eight children). The royal family could barely make ends meet, relying entirely on donations from the shogunate and the sale of official positions. Speaking of the sale of official positions, it was quite a lucrative business. Although the rural samurai were rough and unrefined, lacking in elegance, they all cherished the idea of receiving a title or position from the court to bring honor to their families. They did not need to give anything to the court; merely obtaining a sixth or seventh rank position could excite them immensely, prompting them to offer substantial amounts of money and provisions.

However, if the Hōjō clan can operate in this manner, other families might also adopt similar strategies, leading to an expansion of their influence, potentially growing strong enough to rival the Hōjō clan. This transition of the inheritance system from the division of property among sons to a centralized succession actually took nearly three hundred years to be fully realized. The turmoil generated by the alternation of new and old powers successively brought down two shogunates—the first being the Kamakura shogunate. This transition of the inheritance system from the division of property among sons to a centralized succession actually took nearly three hundred years to be fully realized. The turmoil generated by the alternation of new and old powers successively brought down two shogunates—the first being the Kamakura shogunate

The "Disturbance of Frosty November" further expanded the influence of Taira no Yoshikane. Yoshikane was originally a descendant of the Taira clan, which was affluent. His grandfather, Taira no Morikane, was a chief retainer of the former regent Hojo Yoshitoki, appointed as a steward, which means he was the chief officer of family affairs. Yoshitoki was originally the Hojo shikken, so the steward was responsible for managing the lands of the Hojo shikken and held an important position overseeing the inner court ladies. Additionally, in many aspects of the related shogunate politics, the steward also acted as the representative of the Hojo shikken.

What is even more critical is that since the battle has been won, there should be rewards for the valiant generals. According to the traditions of the shogunate, the vassals should wholeheartedly serve the public, while the shogunate must fairly bestow rewards, which typically consist of land and estates. For instance, during the "Jōkyū Disturbance," Hōjō Yoshitoki exiled a large number of court nobles and confiscated their estates and lands to reward the loyal vassals. However, this time it was a defensive battle, and no new lands were acquired; what then can be offered as rewards to the brave warriors from Kyushu who fought on the front lines?

The family crest, formally known as the family emblem, is also referred to as the family badge. It originally served as a symbol for feudal families, and in Western Europe and Japan, there exists a complex variety of family crests. Japanese family crests possess unique characteristics: firstly, the base is predominantly circular, unlike the shield shape typical in Western styles; secondly, in contrast to Western crests that emphasize animals, the majority of Japanese emblems are plant-based; thirdly, most Japanese family crests are independent entities, with very few composite crests appearing. Japanese family crests possess unique characteristics: firstly, the base is predominantly circular, unlike the shield shape typical in Western styles; secondly, in contrast to Western crests that emphasize animals, the majority of Japanese emblems are plant-based; thirdly, most Japanese family crests are independent entities, with very few composite crests appearing

The aforementioned factors, namely the "Bun'ei and Kōan periods, and the Mongol invasions," have caused significant instability in Japanese society. These factors had already existed, but the provocations of war began to proliferate and became increasingly severe. Furthermore, the changes in the Japanese family system also had a considerable impact on the governance of the shogunate

The war against the invasion of the Yuan dynasty depleted the shogunate's financial reserves. The shogunate was not only unable to reward the vassals who had contributed during the war, but it could not even reimburse the military expenses incurred by the vassals during the conflict, leading many of them to bankruptcy. While this was quite unfortunate, it was also somewhat understandable. However, in reality, a significant portion of the shogunate's financial reserves was not consumed by the war, but rather was deposited in various shrines and temples across the region for the purpose of praying for victory. This was what truly incensed the vassals.

The Family Crest of the Samurai

After the "Shuangyue Disturbance," Taira no Yoshitsuna became the de facto ruler of the shogunate, and he severely persecuted the powerful families associated with the Ando clan, such as the Kira, Miura, Ogasawara, and Nikaido families. By the first year of Einin (1293), the shikken Hojo Sadatoki was already nineteen years old and expressed strong dissatisfaction with Yoshitsuna's autocracy. In April of that year, Taira no Yoshitsuna's eldest son, Munekata, reported to the shogunate that Yoshitsuna was conspiring to establish his second son, Iinuma Munesuke, as the shogun. Taking advantage of the Kamakura earthquake, Sadatoki dispatched troops to eliminate the Yoshitsuna clan, resulting in the deaths of over ninety people (with Munekata being exiled), an event known in history as the "Heizenmon Disturbance."

The dual systems coexist, creating a muddled account. Relying solely on narration leaves everyone confused; it would be better for us to simply create a table.

The earliest family crests in Japan appeared among noble families. Later, in order to facilitate the distinction between friend and foe during warfare, they were gradually adopted and assimilated by samurai families. During the Genpei War, the division of power was relatively simple, and thus family crests had not yet become indispensable. The wild Genji used a white flag, while the Heike in the court used a red flag, and that was all. White symbolizes purity and innocence, and it is said that deities would attach themselves to it. Therefore, Minamoto no Yoritomo designated the white flag as the exclusive banner of his legitimate lineage.

During the month spent anchored at sea, the Yuan army's several attempts at forced landings ended in failure, and they were continuously harassed by a maritime death squad composed of figures such as Kono Michiyoshi and Kusano Shirō. Such naval combat relied entirely on individual swimming skills and physical strength, rendering the Yuan army's infantry cluster tactics ineffective. Consequently, both sides suffered losses, and neither could truly alter the course of the battle. The Yuan army was forced to retreat to Eagle Island in Hizen, awaiting the arrival of the Jiangnan army for reinforcements. Such naval combat relied entirely on individual swimming skills and physical strength, rendering the Yuan army's infantry cluster tactics ineffective. Consequently, both sides suffered losses, and neither could truly alter the course of the battle. The Yuan army was forced to retreat to Eagle Island in Hizen, awaiting the arrival of the Jiangnan army for reinforcements

Emperor Go-Saga reigned for four years before abdicating in favor of his son Prince Kunin, who became Emperor Go-Shirakawa. He continued to hold power in the court. Emperor Go-Shirakawa reigned for thirteen years, following his father's wishes to pass the throne to his younger brother Prince Tsunemichi, who became Emperor Go-Kameyama. For a long period thereafter, the imperial succession alternated between the descendants of Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Emperor Go-Kameyama. This was due to the fact that Emperor Go-Shirakawa's palace was called Jimmuin, while Emperor Go-Kameyama's son, Emperor Go-Uda, later became a monk at Daikaku-ji. Consequently, these two lineages came to be known as the Jimmuin line and the Daikaku-ji line.

In November 1271, Kublai Khan officially proclaimed himself emperor, establishing the Great Yuan Empire. On one hand, he launched a powerful offensive against the Southern Song, while on the other, he prepared for an invasion of Japan across the sea. By the eleventh year of the Bun'ei era (1274), Kublai Khan established the Eastern Expedition Province in Korea, conscripting 35,000 Korean shipbuilders and laborers, and constructing 900 large warships. In October of that year, he appointed Xindu as the Grand Marshal, with Hong Taqiu and Liu Fuheng as the left and right marshals, leading an army of 40,000, departing from Hepu in Korea for a grand expedition to Japan. By the eleventh year of the Bun'ei era (1274), Kublai Khan established the Eastern Expedition Province in Korea, conscripting 35,000 Korean shipbuilders and laborers, and constructing 900 large warships. In October of that year, he appointed Xindu as the Grand Marshal, with Hong Taqiu and Liu Fuheng as the left and right marshals, leading an army of 40,000, departing from Hepu in Korea for a grand expedition to Japan

Thus, Emperor Go-Daigo, under the pretense of wishing for the safety of the Empress, instructed the monks Enkan and Bunkan to pray to the deities for the destruction of the Hojo clan. At the same time, he secretly ordered Prince Moriyoshi, residing in the Great Pagoda of Mount Hiei, to contact the warrior monks of Enryaku-ji Temple, preparing to initiate a rebellion during his visit to Mount Hiei. However, on August 24, 1331, the plan was once again exposed. Those who had previously been pardoned by the shogunate, including Hino Toshitane, as well as Enkan, Bunkan, and others, were arrested. Emperor Go-Daigo and his high-ranking ministers, including the Grand Minister Fujiwara no Yoshizane, the Middle Minister Manrikōji Fujiwara no Tadao, and Kitabatake Akiyuki, disguised themselves as women and stealthily left Kyoto under the cover of night, heading towards Mount Hiei. On the 27th, with the assistance of the Great Pagoda, Emperor Go-Daigo moved to a more strategically advantageous location at Mount Chikasa, situated upstream of the Kizugawa River, where he officially issued a decree calling upon loyal troops from nearby provinces to rise against the shogunate—this event is known as the "Genko Incident."

As previously mentioned, this emerging warrior class, also known as the evil faction, was not part of the shogunate's retainers, and their relationship with the shogunate was one of enmity rather than friendship. Therefore, upon receiving the anti-shogunate edict from Emperor Go-Daigo, Kusunoki Masashige immediately raised the banner of rebellion, heading to Mount Kasagi to meet the emperor and accept the mission. It is said that Emperor Go-Daigo once had a prophetic dream in which he saw himself seated on the imperial throne facing south in the Seiryu Hall, issuing commands to his ministers, with a large tree full of leaves behind him—the southern branches of the tree were the most flourishing, casting shade over the entire hall. He then saw two young boys kneeling in worship, who subsequently rose and walked southward. A few days after waking from this dream, Kusunoki Masashige came to pay his respects. Emperor Go-Daigo believed that the prophetic dream was indeed related to this man with long nose hairs, and thus he held him in high regard.

By the mid-period of the Kamakura Shogunate, family crests had been widely adopted among the samurai class. However, family crests and family names do not correspond in a purely one-to-one manner. Not to mention the thousands of samurai families across Japan, it is inevitable that there are instances of overlapping crests. The concepts of variant crests and bestowed crests are also quite common. Variant crests refer to different family crests used by branches of a family, or slight modifications made to the original family crest to indicate distinction. Bestowed crests refer to the practice of granting one's family crest to meritorious subjects, allowing them to use it in certain circumstances.

The disparity in weaponry and military technology between the two sides is indeed vast. Over the course of more than 600 years, the continent's armament has evolved from purely cold weapons to a stage where both cold and hot weapons are used in conjunction, and tactics have made significant advancements. In contrast, Japan's military capabilities are almost on par with those during the Battle of Baichuan River. In terms of archery alone, the composite bows used by the Yuan army have a longer range and a shorter shooting cycle, while the Japanese's twisted vine bows are mostly single bows with a shorter range. The longer arrows also extend the shooting cycle, and additionally, the arrows of the Yuan army are dipped in poison, causing severe skin rot among the Japanese soldiers. The Yuan army, when engaging in battle, beats drums and sounds gongs, which causes the Japanese horses to panic and run uncontrollably. Furthermore, the Japanese samurai, accustomed to the 'one rider strikes' tactic, suffer even greater losses when engaging in close combat against the Yuan army, which employs advanced group tactics.

It is said that Hojo Tokimune died on April 4, 1284, in the seventh year of the Koan era, at the age of only thirty-four. Tokimune was fortunate; he was praised as a wise ruler primarily because he spent most of his time in power devising ways to resist the invasion of the Mongol army. By the time the war subsided, he had left behind a mess and passed away, thus leaving his life without blemish. He left this mess to his son, the fourteen-year-old Hojo Sadatoki. Sadatoki could also be considered a conventional ruler; however, while it is easier to unite people's hearts for external battles, it is much more difficult to unite them for internal governance. In the second year of his reign, the "Shimozuki Disturbance" broke out.

The origin of the ordinal emperor system can be traced back to the 89th emperor, Emperor Saga, who reigned for 13 years as the son of Emperor Go-Saga. The 90th emperor, Emperor Kameyama, reigned for 15 years as the son of Emperor Go-Saga. The 91st emperor, Emperor Go-Uda, reigned for 13 years as the son of Emperor Kameyama. The 92nd emperor, Emperor Fushimi, reigned for 12 years as the son of Emperor Go-Uda. The 93rd emperor, Emperor Fushimi, reigned for 3 years as the son of Emperor Fushimi. The 94th emperor, Emperor Nijō, reigned for 7 years as the son of Emperor Go-Uda. The 95th emperor, Emperor Kaō, reigned for 10 years as the son of Emperor Fushimi. The 96th emperor, Emperor Daigo, reigned for 21 years as the son of Emperor Go-Uda.

Unexpectedly, that evening a fierce typhoon suddenly swept across the sea, capsizing over 200 Yuan dynasty ships, with countless individuals drowning. When the Japanese forces arrived at the coast on the morning of the 21st, they found no trace of the enemy on the water, only some broken wooden pieces remaining. The samurai of the shogunate could hardly believe they had achieved victory, and it was only after capturing Yuan prisoners that they dispatched a swift horse to report the good news to the capital. In this battle, the Yuan forces suffered heavy casualties, with the majority either killed in battle or drowned, leaving only 13,500 men to return to the mainland—historically referred to as the "Battle of Bun'ei - Tō - Shuyō".

Despite this, a large number of warriors went bankrupt, while conversely, a considerable number of "commoners" rose to the samurai class due to profiting from the war. These new samurai differed from the old vassals; they did not have a strict master-servant relationship with the Kamakura shogunate. In order to protect their land and its products, they often obstructed the shogunate's collection of annual tributes, and even armed themselves to attack and seize the convoys transporting these tributes. At that time, these new samurai groups were referred to as "evil factions," which first appeared in the Kinki region and gradually spread throughout Japan. Many local lords and guardians dissatisfied with the shogunate's rule also began to secretly collude with these evil factions. The later renowned Masashige Kusunoki was originally the leader of the evil faction in Kawachi.

After receiving the report, the court was overjoyed, and the emperor toured various temples and shrines on Mount Kame, offering prayers for the "subjugation of foreign nations." However, the young Hojo Tokimune was not blinded by victory. After calmly analyzing the situation, he believed that the Yuan Dynasty was a great power far surpassing Japan and would not suffer significant losses from a single battle, thus halting military operations. He ordered the local guardians to return to their domains and conscript all men under the age of sixty-five nationwide to serve as reserve soldiers. The warrior monks from various temples were also mobilized to defend the nation and strengthen military preparations. At the same time, he organized laborers to construct a solid stone embankment around Hakata Bay. He also assigned detailed tasks to the warriors from different regions: the warriors from Shikoku and Kyushu were to strengthen local defenses; the warriors from the Chugoku region were to defend the crucial areas of Suo and Nagato, ready to support the resistance in Shikoku and Kyushu; the warriors from the Kanto and Kinki regions were to assist Kyoto; and the warriors from the Oshu region were to remain prepared for battle.

Therefore, to be well-fed and well-clothed, to indulge in luxury and extravagance, one must firmly grasp the vacant position of the Emperor. This is likely an important reason for the dual rule and the numerous conflicts among brothers and nephews. Of course, we cannot exclude the efforts made by the shogunate to weaken and control the imperial court. The division of the imperial authority into two has left the nobles at a loss, while the samurai are quite pleased—the conflicts between the inner court and the household signify the downfall of the Hojo shogunate; the separation of the Daikaku-ji and Jimyoin lines foreshadows the division of the nation.

During the era of Emperor Go-Daigo, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was originally Prince Muneyoshi, the son of Emperor Go-Nijo, who was also under the Daikaku-ji lineage. However, due to the "Emperor's Conspiracy" incident, the shogunate became wary of the Daikaku-ji lineage. Emperor Go-Fushimi of the Jimyoin lineage saw a glimmer of hope and went to Hase-dera to pray that his son Prince Munenori could replace Prince Muneyoshi as the Crown Prince. In the first year of the Karyaku era (1326), Prince Muneyoshi indeed fell gravely ill and passed away. The shogunate immediately requested that Prince Munenori be installed in the Eastern Palace. This action further enraged Emperor Go-Daigo and solidified his resolve to overthrow the shogunate.

The National Book of Mongolia

The shogunate was unable to grant rewards, and while the retainers might temporarily swallow their grievances, these retainers also had their own clans and families, as well as farmers from the lands they temporarily controlled. It was unreasonable to expect these individuals to remain loyal to the shogunate or their lord without rewards. Consequently, the retainers had no choice but to extensively encroach upon public lands to fulfill the purpose of rewarding their subordinates. These newly occupied lands and estates were not bestowed by the shogunate and could not be recognized by it; they existed independently of the shogunate's economic system. Thus, the shogunate's control over the retainers and over the various estates across the nation began to weaken.

In this context, in the second month of the second year of the Bunpo era (1318), Emperor Go-Daigo ascended to the throne. This Emperor Go-Daigo, on one hand, sought to firmly consolidate imperial power within his own system, refusing to allow any external influence; on the other hand, he was also resentful of the shogunate's manipulation and interference, desiring to rise in rebellion. His actions mirrored those of Emperor Go-Shirakawa during the Genpei War, as he sought to ally with some while attacking others, exacerbating conflicts and taking advantage of the chaos. However, the turmoil that ensued was even more severe than that of over a century prior.

The origin of the conflict lies with Emperor Go-Saga. It was previously mentioned that Hojo Yasutoki quelled the rebellion of the retired emperor and supported Emperor Go-Horikawa. In the first year of Jōei (1232), in October, Emperor Go-Horikawa fell gravely ill and, at the behest of the shogunate, abdicated in favor of Crown Prince Hidenori, who would become Emperor Shijō. When Emperor Shijō ascended the throne, he was merely two years old, still an ignorant little child. It is said that he was exceedingly mischievous; at the age of twelve, he scattered a large amount of powdered stone in the palace corridor, hoping to amuse himself by watching the court ladies and close attendants slip and fall. As a result, he himself slipped and fell, sustaining a head injury that ultimately proved fatal.

Kublai Khan was ambitious, not only intending to march south to destroy the already decaying Southern Song Dynasty, but also planning to cross the sea to annex Japan. However, Japan, being a small nation located in a remote area, made it impractical to send troops for an attack. Kublai Khan's initial thought was to send an envoy to persuade Japan to surrender voluntarily, similar to the story of Goryeo.

The Battle of Bun'ei

Thus, the envoy could not wait any longer and personally crossed the sea to Dazaifu in January of the following year (1268), presenting the Mongolian letter and requesting a prompt response. The local guardian, Shōni, urgently sent the letter to Kamakura. Upon receiving it, the shogunate saw that it stated: "Goryeo is my eastern vassal. Japan has maintained close ties with Goryeo since its founding and has periodically communicated with China. As for myself, I have not sent a single envoy to establish friendly relations. I fear that the king may not be fully aware of this, so I have specially dispatched an envoy with this letter to express my intentions, hoping that from now on, we may communicate and establish friendship to foster mutual harmony. Moreover, a sage considers the world as his home; is it not reasonable for us to establish friendly relations? If it comes to warfare, who would desire it? The king should contemplate this." Although it only mentioned "friendly relations" without demanding Japan's submission, it clearly issued a threat of "if it comes to warfare." The shogunate dared not act independently and immediately reported to the court.

At that time, the Hojo regents were at the height of their power, seemingly the sole rulers of Japan. It was not uncommon for people to bypass the Emperor and the shogunate, referring to the regents as the "Kings of Japan," a title they accepted with pleasure. While these Hojo "kings" were still deliberating over the issue of the puppet shogun, significant changes were already unfolding across the sea on the Chinese mainland. In March 1260, Kublai Khan proclaimed himself the Mongol Great Khan in Kaiping, and in September, he defeated his political rival Ariq Böke in Ganzhou. By December of that year, the Goryeo Kingdom had submitted to Mongol rule.

On October 4, the Yuan army appeared near Tsushima Island. The guardian agent, Sōsuke Kuni, and his son led eighty cavalry to intercept them and questioned the reasons for their landing, but they were ruthlessly annihilated. On the 15th, the Yuan army occupied Iki Island, where over a hundred men under the command of the guardian agent Hirakō Takashi were killed in battle. On the 20th, 40,000 Yuan troops landed in Hakata, Kyushu. In response, the Japanese shogunate gathered forces from various Kyushu domains, including Sōda Yoshikazu, Ōtomo Yoritaka, Kikuchi Takemasa, Shimazu Hisakuni, and Takasaki Kijō, along with temple warrior monks, totaling 102,000 men to confront them.

After suffering an initial defeat, Kublai Khan, filled with anger and humiliation, on one hand reorganized his forces to prepare for a second invasion of Japan, while on the other hand continued to send envoys in an attempt to persuade Japan to surrender. However, Hojo Tokimune's stance was even more resolute. In the first year of Kenchō (1275), in September, he executed the Yuan envoy Du Shizhong at Longz口, and in the second year of Kōan (1279), in July, he executed the Yuan envoys Zhou Fu and Luan Zhong at Hakata.

Dual governance and alternating leadership

According to legend, when Minamoto no Yoritomo was on his expedition against the Fujiwara clan in Oshu and passed through Utsunomiya in the province of Shimotsuke, his relative Satake Shirō Takayoshi hurried to join him. The Satake clan was not a direct descendant of the Minamoto, and at one point, Takayoshi had even aligned himself with the Taira clan. However, Shirō Takayoshi audaciously used a white military banner, which greatly angered Yoritomo. Nevertheless, since Takayoshi had rushed to show his loyalty, it would not be appropriate to reprimand him too harshly. After careful consideration, Yoritomo bestowed upon Satake Takayoshi a military fan adorned with a full moon, instructing him to paint it as a military flag—this is said to be the origin of the earliest samurai family crests.

In the face of war or submission, you must provide a response. The envoys from the Mongols, known as Heid, returned empty-handed, leaving them in a difficult position to report back to Kublai Khan. Thus, in March of the sixth year of the Wen Yong era (1269), Heid once again crossed the sea to Tsushima Island, the northwesternmost point of Japan, demanding a reply. After receiving no response for an extended period, they resorted to widespread plundering before returning home. The Mongols were barbaric, while the Koreans were relatively civilized, understanding that problems could not be resolved solely through military force. Therefore, in September of that year, Korea sent its own envoys to Japan, returning two Tsushima islanders who had been taken six months prior, along with a final ultimatum from the Mongolian Central Secretariat.

The Mongolian envoy was named Khede, but he did not actually reach Japan initially. Upon entering the Goryeo Kingdom, the king deemed the maritime conditions extremely perilous and questioned how he could allow the envoys from the upper state to endure such tumult. Therefore, he dispatched the court official Pan Fu to replace Khede and proceed to Japan. In the fourth year of the Bun'ei era (1267), Pan Fu arrived in Japan and presented the letter from the Goryeo Kingdom

After discussions between the shogunate general Ashikaga Takauji and the retired Emperor Go-Daigo of the Jimyoin lineage, Prince Kōgen was designated to inherit the imperial throne, becoming Emperor Go-Kōgon. However, the turmoil did not end there; two years later, in March 1333, Emperor Go-Daigo escaped from Oki Island and, surrounded by his supporters, advanced grandly towards Kyoto. Thus, Japan witnessed the simultaneous existence of two emperors, heralding the impending Nanboku-chō period.

Let us return to the celebration of victory by the shogunate. Although the war was won and the enemy has retreated, the shogunate has since borne a heavy burden. The Yuan Dynasty is so vast that launching one or two expeditions and sacrificing tens of thousands of troops would not significantly impact the livelihood of the people. However, in the face of such an enemy, the Kamakura shogunate, which had been actively preparing for war for years, found its warehouses empty and its finances strained.

For instance, the Matsudaira Tokugawa clan, which later established the Edo Shogunate, had the family crest of "Maru no Mitsuba Aoi". Branch families made alterations to the outer circle, changing it to "Kikurin no Mitsuba Aoi", "Orishiki no Mitsuba Aoi", "Fujiwa no Uchi Mitsuba Aoi", and "Sumikiri no Teppo no Kaku no Mitsuba Aoi". Some even underwent complete transformation, changing to "Hana Aoi". However, unlike the Western European knightly heraldry, which divides the shield into multiple equal parts and displays multiple family crests or bloodline origins side by side to form a new composite crest, such a style has never existed in Japan.

As a result, the territories of the royal family became increasingly fragmented over many generations. Even if there was no tendency towards separation among the branches of the family (after defeating the Yuan army, this tendency actually became more pronounced due to financial considerations), a hundred sheep gathered together could not compare to a single lion from the past. Consequently, many families gradually transitioned from a system of division among sons to a system of inheritance by a single leader, meaning that after the father retired or passed away, the family was not divided; all property was inherited by a single designated heir, and the other sons had to rely on this new leader for their livelihood.

At that time, the shogunate's council of high-ranking officials had become virtually ineffective, replaced by a council of high-ranking officials within the regent's inner circle. Hojo Tokimune frequently held secret meetings at his private residence, known as "Yorikata," which included not only Tokimune himself but also Taira no Yoritsuna, Ando Taisuke, and Ota Yasunari, the steward of the inquiry office, as well as Sato Naritoyo, a retainer of the regent (also an agent). Given their differing social standings, Yoritsuna and Taisuke undoubtedly clashed on various major policies, leading to frequent conflicts. Thus, it was perhaps inevitable that Yoritsuna, ultimately disregarding the life-saving grace, would take drastic measures against Ando Taisuke.

In the morning hours, fierce battles erupted in the Baihaiyuan region. Japanese cavalry samurai, led by their clan leaders, launched surprise attacks with numerous small squads of several hundred men against the tightly arranged infantry formations of the Yuan army. In response to this ancient tactic employed by the Mongols during their early days, the Yuan army deployed various firearms. According to Japanese records, a type of explosive known as "Thunderclap" continuously detonated within the Japanese ranks, producing a deafening sound akin to a hundred thunderclaps striking the ground, causing panic among the Japanese cavalry and their horses. Amidst the smoke, iron shards and porcelain fragments flew in all directions, inflicting severe casualties on the densely packed group of Japanese samurai.

Why was the position of the regent abolished instead of the position of the shikken? This is because Hojo Tokimune was the legitimate son of Tokiyori, inheriting the status of the shikken, while the two regents, Nagatoki and Masamura, were not from the same family line. Due to health reasons, Hojo Tokiyori abdicated and retired at the age of thirty, passing the regent position to his cousin Hojo (Akabashi) Nagatoki, yet he still controlled everything from behind the scenes. In November of the third year of Kōchō (1263), Hojo Tokiyori passed away at the age of thirty-seven, leaving a dying wish for his son Tokimune to be prepared for the regent position. The following year (1264), in August, regent Nagatoki also passed away, passing the position to his cousin Hojo Masamura, while the fourteen-year-old Tokimune officially took office as regent. It can be said that the era of Hojo Nagatoki was a continuation of the era of Hojo Tokiyori, while the era of Hojo Masamura marked the beginning of the era of Hojo Tokimune.

With the example of the Satake clan as a precedent, the Genji clan began to adorn their white flags with patterns to distinguish them from the banners of the imperial family. The earliest family crests derived from flag patterns include the Satake clan's "Five Bone Fans and Moon Circles" and the Uesugi clan's "Round Fans" from the Musashi Seven Clans, among others. Additionally, some curtain patterns gradually transformed into family crests for the samurai—these curtains refer to the fabric stretched outside the commander's headquarters during battles and encampments—most of which are circular, such as the Nitta clan's "Large Central Black," the Ashikaga clan's "Two Pulls of Two," and the Miura clan's "Three Pulls of Two," etc.

The relationship between Japan and the Southern Song Dynasty has always been good, with frequent trade exchanges between the two. Japan itself lacks metals and does not mint copper coins, relying entirely on imports from the Southern Song. Given this consideration, how could Japan bow to Mongolia, the enemy of the Southern Song? For a time, the court was in an uproar, all agreeing that it was unacceptable, and they even refused to write a reply, instead sending troops to "respectfully escort" the envoy back out of the country

During the more than twenty years of rule by Hojo Tokiyori, Nagatoki, and Masamura, the Kamakura shogunate reached its peak, and the shogunate's autocratic power gradually solidified. However, after the samurai seized power, they quickly descended into extravagance and corruption, showing signs of emulating the nobles in Kyoto. In response, the shogunate's regents, including Hojo Tokiyori, vigorously promoted diligence and frugality. It is said that Tokiyori's daily life was quite simple; even when his residence was dilapidated, he only made slight repairs. At banquets, he often replaced alcoholic beverages with a broth made from rice, and the "Tsurezuregusa" records an anecdote of his mother, Matsushita-ni, personally mending the damaged door curtains for her son.

In the first year of the Gen'ei era (1321), Emperor Go-Uda finally concluded the regency, and three years later, he passed away. From that point on, Emperor Go-Daigo was able to take on the reins of government. The young emperor, filled with ambition, selected capable individuals, reformed the political landscape, and established the Record Office as the main institution for his governance. It is said that many renowned scholars from Kyoto often gathered around him, while some pro-imperial and anti-shogunate nobles and shugo placed their hopes on him.

At the end of June, the vanguard of the Yuan army invaded Iki. By early July, the southern and northern forces finally completed their rendezvous. However, just as they were about to launch a full-scale attack on July 30, the Yuan army was once again struck by a violent typhoon, resulting in the sinking of most of their warships, with survivors numbering less than one-tenth. This failed expedition against Japan is historically referred to as the "Kōan Campaign"

In ancient Japan, the family system appeared to be one of hereditary succession, but in reality, it was characterized by the division of inheritance among sons. This means that the family head would pass down the lineage to the legitimate son (with different considerations in the absence of a legitimate son), and only one person would inherit. However, upon the retirement or death of the family head, the assets would be evenly distributed among all the sons. The family head held a nominal title of authority, yet his power might not surpass that of the branches of the family. The branches would only obey the family head under the premise of the family's integrity.

The unrest originated from the severe opposition between the "Inner People" and the "Outer People" due to the despotism of the Tokuso. The term "Inner People" refers to the retainers of the Hojo Tokuso, while the retainers of the shogunate are referred to as "Outer People." In the 8th year of Kōan (1285), in November, a conflict arose between Andō Taisuke, the maternal grandfather of Hojo Sadatoki and a representative of the Outer People's interests, and Hirayasunaga, the inner steward representing the interests of the Inner People. On the 17th, Hirayasunaga launched a surprise attack on Andō Taisuke's residence in Kamakura, and after a fierce battle, completely annihilated the Andō clan. November was historically known in Japan as the Frost Month, which is the origin of the term "Frost Month Unrest."

Rather than calling it a disturbance, it is more appropriate to refer to it as a war. The entire Kamakura was engulfed in flames of battle, and even the residence of Shogun Prince Yoshikatsu was reduced to ashes in the conflict. The downfall of the Ando clan dealt a heavy blow to external forces, leading to the deaths or suicides of a large number of retainers from the shogunate's ruling centers such as Ueno and Musashi, with reports suggesting the total exceeded 500. From the perspective of the Hojo clan's rule, the shogunate's autocracy was further strengthened by this incident, and its dictatorship became more solidified. However, looking at the broader picture within the entire feudal system, the power of the Kamakura shogunate was significantly weakened as a result.

The Battle of Kōan and the Decline of the Shogunate

The Struggles of Emperor Go-Daigo

However, the wealth obtained from selling official positions and titles, which also includes donations from the shogunate, is generally only accessible to the reigning emperor and his direct descendants. The collateral royal family members can only watch helplessly, finding it difficult to share in any of the benefits. Consider the time of Emperor Go-Saga, when thieves brazenly broke into the imperial palace in broad daylight, plundering the Inner Treasury and the Onmyōdō Bureau, stealing the emperor's garments, and even digging up the tombs of past emperors, turning the graves of Emperor Nintoku and Emperor Tenmu upside down. Yet, after his abdication, Emperor Go-Saga himself had the funds to construct a magnificent palace on Mount Kame in the western part of the capital. The stark contrast is indeed a profound irony.

In order to maintain the vitality of the ruling family, the Kamakura Shogunate encouraged this new transformation, while also strengthening the shogunate's autocracy within the Hojo clan. In fact, from Hojo Tokiyori until the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate, a total of twelve shikken (regents) emerged, but only four individuals held actual power: Tokiyori, Tokisada, Sadatoki, and Taketoki, all of whom were of the Hojo lineage.

By looking at the names of these unfortunate envoys who have lost their heads, it is evident that they are either Han Chinese or Koreans, and certainly not Mongolians. In fact, Kublai Khan dispatched large armies to attack Japan on two occasions, with the main forces consisting of defectors from the Southern Song and Koreans, while the actual Mongolian soldiers embedded among them were few and far between—one can imagine, for Mongolian soldiers to cross the sea would essentially be a matter of risking their lives.

The internal strife within the Kamakura Shogunate for power and influence can be understood to some extent; however, at the same time, the authority had significantly diminished, and the court, resembling a collection of local lords, also began to engage in conflicts, which is indeed a rather absurd situation. Nevertheless, this trivial struggle produced a butterfly effect, ultimately leading to the overthrow of the shogunate's rule, which was unexpected by the people of that era

However, the rise and fall of prosperity is a common principle in human affairs. The various crises of the ruling power were temporarily suppressed, but ultimately resurfaced through the "Bun'ei and Kōan Campaigns," brewing a general outbreak. Let us begin with the year 1266, the third year of Bun'ei. In June of that year, General Prince Zonzon, dissatisfied with the autocracy of the ruling Hōjō clan, conspired with his trusted samurai to launch a coup. After the news leaked, the regent Hōjō Tokimune deposed Prince Zonzon and instead appointed his son, Prince Yoshitaka, as the shōgun.

In contrast, the shogunate's politics had decayed to an extreme degree at this time. Taking the regent Hojo Taketoki as an example, this individual was unlearned and unskilled, spending his days indulging in pleasures and deriving amusement from dog fighting. He even commanded various regions to replace tax payments with fighting dogs, resulting in over a thousand dog fights within a short period. Not only did he allow these fighting dogs to live in luxury, but he also granted them stipends akin to those of the samurai, and when he went out, he traveled in a palanquin, with even mounted samurai dismounting to pay their respects—truly a natural-born ruler destined for ruin!

Under the leadership of the Ping family, the position of steward was inherited through three generations. By the time Ping Raigang held this position, it had been renamed to Internal Steward. With the strengthening of the de facto power of the Tokus, the authority of the Internal Steward also expanded significantly. In February of the 9th year of the Bun'ei era (1272), shortly before the invasion by the Mongol army, the brothers Nagoe Shichō and Kyōshi of the Hōjō clan were falsely accused of conspiring to overthrow the Tokus' rule and were subjected to a punitive campaign, led by the Internal Steward, who was concurrently serving as the head of the Shishō, Ping Raigang. However, not long after, this case was completely overturned, and five meritorious officials from the punitive side were executed. Without the assistance of Andō Taisuke, it is likely that even Ping Raigang himself would have faced dire consequences.

Frost Moon Disturbance

Since the defeat of the Japanese at the Battle of Baicun River by the Tang Dynasty, Japan has essentially not faced significant external pressure for over six hundred years. Both the court and the populace believed that the world consisted solely of Japan, the peaceful great power of China in the West, and vassal states like Goryeo. Internally, there was fierce infighting, but externally, there were no conflicts. Therefore, the Japanese court, lacking a clear understanding of the situation on the continent, was slow to respond to Goryeo's correspondence.

Despite the significant lag in weaponry, the Japanese displayed remarkable fighting spirit in their efforts to defend their homeland. Notably, figures such as Shō Eikō, Kikuchi Takefusa, and Takezaki Kijō led cavalry units armed with naginata and clad in light armor, persistently launching assaults against the Yuan army's positions, rendering the Yuan's long-range weapons ineffective. In the chaos of battle, Yuan's deputy commander Liu Fuheng was struck by an arrow and fell from his horse, leading to a severe decline in morale. Taking advantage of this, the heavily damaged Japanese forces retreated and regrouped at Suicheng, a massive dam constructed after the Baicun River battle. Fearing a night raid from the Japanese, the Yuan army refrained from camping on land and retreated to their ships for rest.

The Yuan army invaded twice, and both times they suffered devastating defeats due to sudden typhoons. This can only indicate that Kublai Khan's intelligence gathering and preparations for the expedition were insufficient, and that the commanders were ignorant of the weather conditions, displaying incompetence. However, from the perspective of Japan, the two sudden typhoons seemed to be divinely aided, thus they were reverently referred to as "kamikaze," believing that the deities of the islands were protecting them, ensuring they would never fall. It is this foolish and arrogant mindset that left them in tears six hundred years later.

Later, Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, the grandson of Ieyasu, indeed overthrew the Kamakura shogunate and established the Muromachi shogunate, but that is a story for another time. What we need to discuss is that Ieyasu's prayers were quite credible, while the document regarding Minamoto no Yoshiie’s "Seven Generations to Take the World" is merely a legend. Investigating Ieyasu's suicide, it is likely also due to the aftermath of the "Shimozuki Disturbance"; he bore the burden of persecution from the Hojo regents, thus he drank from the blade with resentment.

It is said that a warrior named Ashikaga Yoshimitsu committed suicide shortly thereafter. Yoshimitsu was the seventh descendant of Minamoto no Yoshiie, known as Hachiman Tarō. Yoshiie sought to extend the power of the Minamoto clan into Mutsu but ultimately failed. It is said that he left behind a document stating, "My descendants within seven generations must achieve dominion over the world for me." In the era of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, feeling ashamed for not fulfilling his ancestor's wishes, he committed seppuku. Before his death, he prayed to Hachiman Daibosatsu, saying, "My descendants within three generations will surely achieve dominion over the world."

The prestige of the Imperial Court is continuously rising, while the authority of the shogunate is declining. The previously unbalanced disparity between these two powers is gradually narrowing, making contradictions and conflicts inevitable. The first to take action was the Imperial side. In the first year of the Shōchū era (1324), Emperor Go-Daigo secretly dispatched his trusted courtiers Hino Yoshimasa and Hino Toshiki, disguised as ascetic monks, to infiltrate various provinces in the Kinai region, preparing to contact the powerful clans to raise an army and attack Rokuhara Tandai. However, the plan was exposed, and Yoshimasa, Toshiki, and the Mino feudal lord Toki Yoshikane, who had been summoned to the capital for discussions, were captured by the shogunate. Emperor Go-Daigo then swore oaths and wrote pledges to navigate through this crisis—this event is historically known as the "Shōchū Incident," while it is colloquially referred to as the "Emperor's Conspiracy."

Masakatsu Nanmoku, who claimed to be of the Tachibana clan, established his base in the foothills of the western part of Mount Kongō, east of Hanoi. It is estimated that since the time of his father, he had been a notorious leader of local bandits. According to legend, when his mother was pregnant with him, she prayed for one hundred days at the Bishamonten Hall on Mount Shinkei. Bishamonten is a protective deity in Buddhism, also known as the God of Wealth. Therefore, after Masakatsu was born, he was given the childhood name of Tamonmaru. It is said that as he grew up, he had very long nose hairs, which led his enemies to refer to him as "Nose Hair Tamon."

In early June, the Yuan Eastern Army responsible for the operations made rapid progress. Without waiting for the arrival of the Jiangnan Army, they first circumvented Tsushima and Iki, directly advancing south into Hakata Bay and capturing Shika Island. However, due to the Japanese shogunate's prior preparations, which were relatively thorough, they constructed a solid stone embankment near Hakata, preventing the Yuan fleet from finding a landing site upon reaching Japanese waters, forcing them to anchor on the sea and wait for an opportunity

Although Emperor Go-Daigo possessed considerable ambition and capability, he lacked strategic insight and had no understanding of military affairs. Furthermore, he had no talented generals under his command. Consequently, on September 6, after Masashige Kusunoki had departed, the shogunate forces captured Mount Hiei and advanced towards Mount Kasuga. The imperial troops, relying on wooden walls, held out for twenty days but ultimately collapsed completely on the twenty-seventh. Emperor Go-Daigo fled to Uji, was eventually captured, and the sacred treasures were discovered, leading to his exile to the island of Kinkai.

The court officials advocated for the enthronement of Prince Zongcheng, the son of Emperor Shunde, but faced staunch opposition from the shogunate's regent, Hojo Takatoki. Takatoki thought to himself, "Very well, I quelled the rebellions of the late Emperor Nijo and Emperor Shunde, and now they want to install the son of a traitor as the successor. Are they deliberately trying to embarrass me?" Thus, he instructed that Prince Kunihito, the son of Emperor Tokimune, who had not been involved in the rebellion, be made the successor, leading to the ascension of Emperor Go-Saga.

Although Masanari Nanmoku came from humble beginnings, he was well-versed in military strategy and possessed remarkable strategic insight. After meeting with Emperor Go-Tahō, where he assessed the state of the world, he immediately returned to his hometown of Kongōzan to construct Akasaka Castle and Chihayajō in preparation for the inevitable onslaught of the overwhelming shogunate forces.

In the second year, the Japanese court finally decided to formally draft a letter of refusal to the proposal for diplomatic relations. A draft was first prepared and sent to Kamakura, and only after receiving the nod from the regent Hojo Tokimune was an envoy dispatched to Goryeo. This resolute stance ultimately ignited Kublai Khan's ambition to conquer Japan by force