Nine Chapters, Taiping Record
However, the seemingly easy conquest of the small Akasaka Castle was firmly secured under Masanari's excellent arrangements. Inside the castle, deceptive troops were stationed, while outside, mobile forces harassed the enemy. The shogunate's army besieged for over twenty days, exhausting all strategies, yet they could not capture it. Ultimately, due to a shortage of provisions within the castle, Masanari feigned a collective self-immolation, seizing the opportunity when the shogunate forces were lax to break out of the encirclement. He then engaged in guerrilla warfare in the well-supported Kongō Mountain. The shogunate troops were repeatedly attacked in the mountains and forests, spending many days without finding the main force of the Nanmoku army. They had no choice but to leave a portion of Tōguchi's troops stationed at Akasaka Castle for an extended period to conduct the siege, while the remaining forces retreated in disarray back to Rokuhara.
Nanmu Zhengcheng's foolish loyalty to the Jianwu regime was exploited by later rulers, who revered him as the "God of War." In terms of his abilities and character, he is indeed worthy of being called a great general. However, despite knowing that the new policies of Jianwu were a complete regression in history and that "the world had already turned away from the monarch," he still fought valiantly until his death. It must be said that he was greatly influenced by the harmful teachings of Zhu Xi, which were fervently promoted by Emperor Daigo, and this was of no benefit to the country or the people.
It should be noted that due to the baptism and tempering of the Anti-Mongol War, the power of the clans in Kyushu and Shikoku became generally substantial, yet it was extremely arduous. This was because when the Mongol army arrived, the clans in Kyushu and Shikoku were the first to bear the brunt, being forced to conscript soldiers and laborers, and to resist fiercely. However, after the war, they rarely received rewards from the shogunate, and their clans could not disperse to return to farming, leaving everyone filled with resentment. After much anticipation, the fall of the shogunate finally came, yet the so-called "Kenmu Restoration" could not provide them with tangible benefits or compensation, leading to deep-seated hatred towards the court, with all hoping to establish a warrior government that would be advantageous to themselves. The arrival of Yoshisada finally allowed them to see a glimmer of hope
Although the attack by the Akamatsu army on Kyoto ended in failure, it had already instilled great fear in Hojo Taketoki, the former shikken who held real power in the shogunate. At this time, the troops besieging Chihaya Castle had not yet withdrawn, and the situation at Rokuhara was extremely precarious. Therefore, Taketoki urgently ordered the Takeda clan and Ashikaga Takauji to each lead 7,600 and 3,000 men westward to attack Mount Onosaka. At this moment, Ashikaga Takauji was still recovering from an illness and was on leave at home. Suddenly, one order after another arrived, and he was left with no choice but to set out on the expedition on March 27, despite his illness, accompanied by his brother Naoyoshi and other members of the Minamoto clan, including Hosokawa, Imagawa, and Kira.
On the 25th, when Yoshitsune arrived at Ashiya Port in Chikuzen, the Kyushu warlord Shōni Sadakane first dispatched five hundred cavalry to welcome him. However, Kikuchi Takeru, the leader of the Kikuchi clan from Higo, was with the Nitta army at the time, and his brother Kikuchi Taketoshi was certainly unwilling to betray Yoshitsune. Upon hearing that Yoshitsune had arrived in Kyushu, without a second thought, he killed Shōni Sadakane, who was close to Yoshitsune, causing chaos among the horses and men.
In the fourth month of the first year of the En'gen era (1336), Ashikaga Takauji indeed made a comeback. By May 10, the forces of Nitta Yoshisada, who were attacking Fukuyama Castle in Bichu, were unexpectedly struck by an assault from Ashikaga Naoyoshi's army, resulting in the complete annihilation of their troops. Meanwhile, Wakiya Yoshisuke, who was besieging Sanishi Castle in Bichu, also faced an attack from Naoyoshi's forces and was compelled to lift the siege. When Nitta Yoshisada learned of this news, the banners on either side of his "Dai-chu Kuro" family crest were already adorned with white flags depicting the "Ni-hiki-ryō" (the family crest of the Ashikaga clan)...
On the 25th day of the 5th month in the first year of the En'yu era (1336), the famous "Battle of Minagawa" commenced. On the side of the court, 5,000 troops led by Wakiya Yoshisuke guarded Kinoshima, while 3,000 soldiers from the Otogawa clan held the southern shore. Five hundred cavalry under the command of Kusunoki Masashige and Masatsune were stationed at the western encampment, with the overall commander Nitta Yoshisada stationed at the main camp on Wada Cape, coordinating the various units. The Ashikaga forces, led by Takauji commanding the navy and Nariyoshi leading the army, advanced together towards Kyoto.
After receiving the edict for the campaign, Kitabatake Chikafusa and his son Akihira took swift action. As the main forces of Yoshitsune departed from Kamakura to engage in a decisive battle against Yoshizane's troops at Hakone and Takenoshita, the Kitabatake army began their westward movement. Led by the young general Kitabatake Akihira, who was not yet twenty, they swiftly broke through the numerous defenses of Kamakura, closely following behind Yoshitsune. At this moment, when the banner of the Kitabatake clan appeared outside the city of Kyoto, Yoshitsune realized that the situation had turned against him.
The "Jōkyū War" and the rebellion of Takauji Ashikaga thus commenced.
Just as everything was in place for the respected lord, the final favorable wind finally arrived—back in the third year of the Genkō era (1333), the unyielding remnants of the Hōjō clan supported the second son of the former shikken Hōjō Takatoki, Hōjō Tokiyori, as the supreme commander, raising the banner of rebellion in Suwa, Shinano. By the beginning of July in the second year of the Kenmu era (1335), this rebel army achieved consecutive victories, ultimately breaching Kamakura. Ashikaga Nariyoshi killed the imprisoned Prince Daidō, and then protected Prince Naritaka as they fled to Suruga. In Suwa, Shinano, the banner of rebellion was raised, and by the beginning of July in the second year of the Kenmu era (1335), this rebel army achieved consecutive victories, ultimately breaching Kamakura. Ashikaga Nariyoshi killed the imprisoned Prince Daidō, and then protected Prince Naritaka as they fled to Suruga.
On the sixteenth day of the first month, the troops of Zhengcheng, Yizhen, and Xianjia launched an assault on the Mitokusan Temple, where Hosokawa Takamitsu was stationed. Under the attack of the superior forces of the government army, the Hosokawa troops at Mitokusan Temple were completely routed. From the twenty-seventh to the thirtieth, the government army launched a four-day general offensive against the exhausted rebel forces of Yoshisada in the capital. By the evening of the thirtieth, Kyoto was recaptured, and Yoshisada along with tens of thousands of his remaining soldiers fled to Tamba Shino Village, which had once been the place of his rise. On February third, Yoshisada continued his westward flight to the Hyogo region of Settsu. On the tenth, the rear guard of Ashikaga Naoyoshi was defeated by the troops of Yizhen and Xianjia. On the eleventh, in the Battle of Toyoshima Kawahara, aimed at intercepting the troops of Yizhen and Xianjia, Yoshisada's forces were defeated once again—this time, the defeat was devastating; when he escaped by boat to Biko, only two thousand of his subordinates remained.
The Fall of Kyoto and Kamakura
As the defeat of Lord Yoshisada seemed inevitable, the officials of the Jianwu era joyfully held a banquet to celebrate their victory, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the enemy's head to discuss rewards and merits. Taking this opportunity, Nanmoku Masanari advised Emperor Taiho, warning that "the new policies have lost the people's support, leading the samurai to side with Yoshisada," and that "at this time, a policy of conciliation should be adopted, pardoning all of Yoshisada's crimes and proactively summoning him to return to court," adding, "if the Hojoin clan were to rise again, the nation would be in peril"
The Ashikaga clan is a prestigious family of the Minamoto lineage. This Ashikaga Takauji is the grandson of the Ashikaga family member who committed suicide after the Shimotsuki Disturbance mentioned earlier. Although he was the second son, he became the head of the family due to the early death of his elder brother. While the Ashikaga family was not part of the imperial court, their relationship with the regent Hojo clan was very close, with multiple generations intermarrying. Takauji's own name was also granted the character "Taka" by the regent Hojo Taketoki.
Compared to the full armor and the great armor, there are the following differences: First, the armor plates have increased in size, and the connection method has become simpler, thus making the manufacturing process more straightforward and shortening the production timeline; Second, many impractical metal components have been removed and replaced with practical parts, resulting in tighter protection; Third, there is a wide variety of styles and types, including a plethora of decorative items on the helmets, and the great armor features components such as "yokitate" on the sides of the helmet, "topitate" on the top, and "ushitate" at the back.
Masakane Kusunoki organized a loyalist force to enter Kyoto and began to arrange defensive measures. When the forces of Yoshisada launched an offensive against Kyoto on New Year's Day in the following year (1336), the optimal situation that had existed before December 30 was no longer present. A triangular defense system had been established, spanning the areas of Seto (defensive commanders Chikusa Tadayoshi, Naomitsu Nagatane, and Yuki Chikimitsu), Yodo and Yamazaki (defensive commanders Nitta Yoshisada and Wakiya Yoshisuke), and Uji (defensive commanders Masakane Kusunoki and Masatsune Kusunoki). Yoshisada was inevitably drawn into a grueling siege.
However, all of this was actually within Nanmu Zhengcheng's expectations. After the failure of the defense of Kyoto, Zhengcheng implemented a scorched earth policy, stationed heavy troops at critical passes, and dispatched forces to cut off the supply line of food to Yoshitomo—Kyoto became a vast prison
In March of that year, upon receiving orders to attack Mount Funabashi, Takashi was once again reluctantly drawn into the shogunate's campaign. As his troops reached the village of Sasamura in Tanba, he heard that the renowned Nagoe Takakami had already been defeated by Akamatsu Norimura. Takashi, who had been seething with anger due to being sent to the front lines by the shogunate during his father's funeral and while ill, found himself with no way to retreat or advance. Resolutely, he decided to take a stand and on April 27, announced a rebellion in front of Hachiman Shrine, issuing a proclamation to the Genji across the nation, calling for a united effort to overthrow the shogunate.
The main body of the Japanese armor, namely the cuirass, is mostly made of metal or leather plates sewn together, resembling a vest, with straps connecting at the shoulders. By the Nara period, due to the extensive adoption of Chinese culture, the originally knotted four straps at the shoulders gradually transformed into two straps extending from the back to the front chest, with the knot tied at the chest, similar to the two-tang armor that was popular in China from the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Five Dynasties period
As the situation deteriorated, Hojo Taketoki, the regent of the shogunate, in a state of despair surrounded by enemies, burned down his residence. He then led the Hojo clan, consisting of 870 members, to commit collective suicide at Tōshō-ji. Many samurai who had greatly benefited from the Hojo family also chose to take their own lives in loyalty to their lord—Taketoki was only thirty-one years old at that time
Taking advantage of the momentum from victory, Ashikaga Takauji, leaving behind a small contingent of troops to garrison Kamakura, disregarded the fact that his ally Prince Yoshiyasu and Kitabatake Chikafusa had already mobilized forces from Mutsu. He personally led nearly all of his military strength westward, preparing to seize Kyoto in one fell swoop while the court was newly weakened and unable to effectively deploy its troops. Along the way, dissatisfied samurai from various regions with the Kenmu Restoration eagerly joined Takauji's army, which was said to number in the hundreds of thousands.
On the same day that the Hojo clan was annihilated, specifically on the 22nd, the Kanto army led by Nitta Yoshisada entered Kamakura. The last shogun, Prince Moritomo, was deposed, marking the end of the Kamakura shogunate, which had endured 142 years of trials and tribulations since its establishment by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
Thus, the so-called "Jianwu New Policy" quickly led to the exposure of various suppressed issues, all of which became apparent within a year. The utterly disappointed samurai gathered around the renowned figure Ashikaga Takauji, urging him to eliminate the "maladministration" and to reestablish an era of samurai rule
At the moment when Ashikaga Takauji found himself at a loss, Akamatsu Norimura from Harima and Hosokawa Shichizen from Sanuki sent envoys, expressing their willingness to assist in besieging Kyoto. On the 10th, Norimura's son Akitsugu and Hosokawa Shichizen led a large army from China and Shikoku to launch a sudden attack on the Yamazaki position, resulting in the defeat and flight of Wakiyama Yoshisuke. With the fall of Yamazaki, the triangular defense system of Kusunoki Masashige collapsed instantly, leading to a complete rout of the imperial forces. Yoshizane led the remnants of his troops to the palace overnight to escort Emperor Go-Daigo to safety in Mount Hiei, while Kusunoki Masashige, Nagawa Nagatane, and others also led their remaining forces to break through in that direction. On the 11th, Takauji's army entered the city, and Kyoto was declared to have fallen.
Since the only one in the court who could rival the Zenji in both official position and military strength was Nitta Yoshisada, in order to create the prerequisite conditions for a decisive military advantage, Zenji had to first eliminate Ashikaga Naoyoshi, who was stationed in Kanto and monitoring Kamakura. The first step of his plan was to spread the rumor that "Yoshisada commanded the various lords to attack Kamakura due to the reputation of Zenji's son, Prince Chinjū." This sparked a heated discussion in the court about who should be recognized as the "Second Contributor to the Restoration." Emperor Go-Daigo, who had long sought to win over Zenji, conveniently conferred the honor of "Second Contributor to the Restoration" upon Prince Chinjū. Seeing Zenji's growing power and the emperor's favoritism, the various Genji clans across the country began to break away from Yoshisada's control and align themselves with Zenji. Yoshisada, being an emotional individual, in a fit of anger decided to move his clan to Kyoto—thereafter, the Kanto region was completely transformed into the domain of the Ashikaga clan.
On March 2, the Kikuchi faction engaged in a fierce battle against the army of Takauji Ashikaga at Dadorahama. Although the Kikuchi faction had a numerical advantage, they were largely a disorganized mob. Initially, they held some advantage, but later they suffered a series of defeats. When their allied Matsura faction turned against them, they ultimately faced a complete rout—Takauji's good fortune had arrived.
The second period of the development of ancient Japanese armor is known as the period of the Ō-yoroi. The Ō-yoroi emerged during the mid-Heian period and reached its peak during the Kamakura period. It was primarily made from bamboo and wood, with metal or leather plates added at critical points. The armor plates were often layered, with the lower layer covering the upper layer's base, fundamentally still belonging to the category of hanging armor. The Ō-yoroi possesses several unique characteristics that are quite rare among the armor styles of ancient civilizations worldwide
The Jianwu era was the era name changed in the year following the restoration of Emperor Go-Daigo (1334), but in reality, various reform measures began as soon as he entered Kyoto that year. He first reopened the Record Office and established the "Reward Department" to issue reward measures, published the "Law of Average Security for All Provinces," and subsequently abolished the positions of regent and chief minister, completely centralizing administrative power in his own hands
During the mid-Kamakura period, Zhu Xi's philosophy from the Song Dynasty was introduced to Japan by studying monks. This doctrine advocates the "Three Principles and Five Constants" and the "Great Righteousness and Named Positions," promoting the idea that it is just for the "Sovereign" who holds royal power to defeat the powerful "Hegemon." Emperor Go-Daigo held Zhu Xi's philosophy in high regard and specifically summoned the Zen monk Xuanhui to the palace to explain the "New Commentary." Notable disciples of Xuanhui included Kitabatake Chikafusa, Hino Yoshitomo, and Hino Yoshinori. Under the guidance of Zhu Xi's philosophy, it seemed that only the emperor was the true ruler of Japan, while the court nobles and officials served as his advisors, and the samurai were merely the watchdogs raised by the court nobles. However, can history revert back to the Heian period before the shogunate? The answer is certainly negative
On Mount Kumgang
In the third year of the Genkō era (1333), in early March, the shogunate's army was still besieging Chihayajō on Mount Kongō. Suddenly, a fire broke out in the rear, and Emperor Go-Daigo appeared on the road in the mountains. Soon, tens of thousands of troops gathered, and Chikuzō Tadayoshi was appointed as the commander, advancing directly towards Kyoto. The Harima warlord Akamatsu Norimura voluntarily led his troops as the vanguard. He was a renowned warrior across the land, and his forces advanced like a hot knife through butter, successfully breaking through the shogunate's numerous defenses, even managing to enter Kyoto on March 12. However, due to his limited forces, Akamatsu Norimura ultimately suffered defeat in street fighting and retreated to Yamazaki and Hachiman to regroup, awaiting the arrival of Chikuzō Tadayoshi's main forces.
The Prince of Horyo, who has just returned from Mount Chikui in Hanoi, has been appointed as the Shogun to assist in reforms. At this time, this position has already transformed into an honorary title. Ashikaga Takauji, due to his defection in battle and incitement of the Genji uprisings across various provinces, has been declared the foremost in merit. He is commanded to abandon the character "Taka" granted by Hojo Taketoki and is instead bestowed the character "Taka" to become Ashikaga Takauji. He is appointed as a Senior Councilor of the Third Rank and granted the territories of Musashi, Hitachi, and Shimosa, serving as the general of the defense office. Nitta Yoshisada is promoted to the Fourth Rank and granted the territories of Echigo, Kanto, and Harima. Kusunoki Masashige is promoted to the Fifth Rank and granted the territories of Settsu and Kawachi. Others, such as Nagawa Nagatane and Chikusa Tadaakira, are rewarded according to their merits.
As soon as the main force of the shogunate army withdrew, Kusunoki Masashige led his five hundred loyal soldiers out of the mountains and forests, disguising themselves as common laborers. They employed clever tactics to once again seize Akasaka Castle. Subsequently, they defeated the 5,000 shogunate troops led by Utsunomiya Kiyoshi at the Shitenno-ji Temple in the vicinity of Settsu Sumiyoshi near Kyoto, feigning an advance towards the capital. The disoriented Rokuhara Tandai had no choice but to summon tens of thousands of Kanto troops for another campaign. Masashige fought while retreating, luring the enemy forces to Akasaka Castle, then voluntarily abandoned the castle and stealthily moved to the enemy's rear to cut off their supply lines. The disoriented Rokuhara Tandai had no choice but to summon tens of thousands of Kanto troops for another campaign. Masashige fought while retreating, luring the enemy forces to Akasaka Castle, then voluntarily abandoned the castle and stealthily moved to the enemy's rear to cut off their supply lines. The shogunate army was forced to retreat once more, and after Masashige reclaimed Akasaka Castle for the third time, he left a general to defend it while the main force relocated to the more strategically advantageous Chihaya Castle.
Due to the valiant efforts of Nanmoku Masanari, the main force of the shogunate army was restrained, revealing the incompetence of the shogunate to the local lords and landowners. Consequently, with the efforts of Masanari and Otakagami, flames of rebellion ignited in all directions: in Harima, Akamatsu Norimura (also known as Nyudo Enshin) and his son Yoshiyuki rose up at the strategic Taisho Castle, severing the connection between the Kansai shogunate forces and the Rokuhara forces, and at Funasaka Mountain, they incorporated the troops sent by the Chūgoku shogunate to support the Rokuhara forces in Kyoto; the Kono clan of Iyo decisively defeated the 300 naval forces of the Nagato shogunate; ... flames of rebellion ignited in all directions: in Harima, Akamatsu Norimura (also known as Nyudo Enshin) and his son Yoshiyuki rose up at the strategic Taisho Castle, severing the connection between the Kansai shogunate forces and the Rokuhara forces, and at Funasaka Mountain, they incorporated the troops sent by the Chūgoku shogunate to support the Rokuhara forces in Kyoto; the Kono clan of Iyo decisively defeated the 300 naval forces of the Nagato shogunate; ... In Higo, Kikuchi Taketoki and the chief priest of Aso led the Shimazu, Otomo, and other powerful clans to attack the Chūgoku shogunate ... . The anti-shogunate tide spread like a plague, forming a nationwide anti-shogunate situation.
The Armor of Ancient Japan and Its Evolution
Taking advantage of the official army's arrogance due to their victory and their lack of pursuit, Ashikaga Takauji spent merely a month wandering in Kyushu before raising a massive army, claiming to number 500,000. On April 3, in the first year of the Engen era (1336), he set out, embarking on the eastern expedition via both land and water routes in grand fashion
On May 10, under the command of the shogunate generals Kanazawa Sadamasa and Sakurada Sadakuni, the shogunate forces engaged the troops of Nitta Yoshisada at the Iruma River in Musashi. Due to the unfavorable national situation for the Hojo clan, the morale of the shogunate troops was low, and they collapsed upon the slightest contact. On the 15th, at the Bubaigawara in Musashi, the two armies clashed again, and the shogunate forces suffered another defeat, losing most of their main force. Consequently, Nitta Yoshisada divided his troops into three groups: the right wing led by Otake Sadamitsu advanced towards Gokurakuji, the left wing led by Horiguchi Sadamitsu moved towards Suzaki and Kyofukuzaka, while Yoshisada himself and his brother Yoshisuke formed the central army advancing towards Kazamatsuzaka, encircling Kamakura. On the morning of the 18th, the final decisive battle with the Hojo clan finally commenced.
Due to the loss of public support for the Jianwu New Policy, particularly among the warriors across various regions, it is said that even the formidable Nanmu Masakatsu faced difficulties in conscripting troops within his own domain. Masakatsu understood that the government forces were already weak, their morale low, and they lacked sufficient naval power to counter the enemy, making any attempt akin to striking a stone with an egg, with no chance of survival. Therefore, he left the main forces behind to preserve the strength for a counterattack, taking only his younger brother Masaki and five hundred trusted warriors to the front lines. Masakatsu understood that the government forces were already weak, their morale low, and they lacked sufficient naval power to counter the enemy, making any attempt akin to striking a stone with an egg, with no chance of survival. Therefore, he left the main forces behind to preserve the strength for a counterattack, taking only his younger brother Masaki and five hundred trusted warriors to the front lines
At Sakurai Station, located to the west of Kyoto, Masanari and his eleven-year-old son, Masayuki, performed the historically significant "Sakurai Farewell." The renowned poet from Japan's Edo period, Rai San'you, once composed a poem titled "On Passing the Site of Sakurai Station" in memory of Kuniki Masanari
On May 22, in the third year of the Genkō era (1333), the generals Chikusa, Akamatsu, and Ashikaga jointly petitioned Emperor Go-Daigo to return to Kyoto to oversee state affairs. On the 25th, while en route to the capital, Emperor Go-Daigo issued an edict to depose Emperor Kōgen. On the 30th, Akamatsu Norimura and his son led five hundred retainers to welcome the imperial entourage at the Hyōgo in Settsu. On June 2, Masashige Kusunoki, active in the Settsu region, led seven thousand of his subordinates to pay their respects along the road. Emperor Go-Daigo summoned Masashige before him and expressed his deep emotions, saying: "Today's success is entirely due to your family's loyalty and ability to fight!"
At this time, the military strength of the Zen clan had far surpassed that of Yoshitada, and the local nobles such as Hosokawa Sadazane from Sanuki, Bōra Nobutaka from Bichū, and Fumon Rikiya from Etchū were also rising in response. Yoshitada, facing overwhelming odds, was suddenly betrayed by the forces of Sasaki Dōyū, who had defected from the shogunate at a critical moment, leaving him besieged from both sides. Ultimately, he was defeated and retreated to the provincial government of Izu after suffering significant losses. Soon after, Yoshitada was again defeated in a defensive battle at the provincial government and led his troops back to Kyoto.
On May 7, a coalition of forces led by Chizō Tōken, Akamatsu Sōmura, and Ashikaga Takauji, reportedly numbering nearly 100,000 troops, launched a fierce attack on Kyoto from three directions. The Rokuhara Tandai dispatched 60,000 troops to confront them, but the entire army was annihilated. Hōjō Nakatoshi and Toki Masayoshi, along with Emperor Kōgen and the imperial family, fled towards Kamakura, only to be pursued and caught in Ōmi Province. Hōjō Toki Masayoshi was killed at Shōzan, while Hōjō Nakatoshi committed suicide at Banba. The unfortunate Emperor Kōgen and others were all captured. Upon learning of the fall of the Rokuhara Tandai, the shogunate forces besieging Chihayajō retreated, and the troops of Kusunoki Masashige finally descended from Kongōzan, launching a full-scale counterattack.
Emperor Go-Daigo commanded the Kusunoki clan to line up before the imperial carriage to clear the way for the grand procession. Shortly thereafter, a messenger from the Nitta army, hastily arriving from Kamakura, reported to the emperor the fall of the shogunate and the suicide of the Hojo clan, which brought great joy to all the lords and subjects. On the 5th, a grand entry ceremony was held in Kyoto, where Chikusa Tadayoshi led five hundred armed samurai, arranged in two lines, to patrol the streets on foot. Ashikaga Takauji and Naoyoshi led five thousand mounted samurai as the vanguard, while Kusunoki Masashige, Akamatsu Norimura, Nagawa Nagatane, and various officials donned armor to surround the imperial carriage, with flags fluttering as they slowly entered the imperial palace. The streets along the route were filled with citizens and loyal troops from various regions who came to witness the ceremony.
Ashikaga Takauji was well aware that Kusunoki Masashige's military strategies surpassed his own and those of Nitta Yoshisada. Moreover, the area near Kyoto was where Masashige had conducted guerrilla warfare for many years, making him familiar with the terrain and deeply rooted in the region. To capture Kyoto, it was essential to secure the assistance of Kusunoki Masashige. Therefore, he wrote a letter to Masashige, promising him land in the Kinai region and eleven provinces of Nankai upon success. However, Masashige flatly rejected the offer.
In this way, the lord's control over the manor weakened further, and the manor gradually transformed into their fief rather than a tax collection area. Conversely, the manor officials and local landholders became more closely connected with the shugo dispatched by the shogunate, and the manor economy gradually transitioned into an economy controlled by the shugo in the medieval territorial states.
The Defeat of Ashikaga Takauji
At that time, the samurai class in Japanese society possessed the most extensive economic foundation and held the strongest military power. The court nobles had no social basis for a resurgence. The successful overthrow of the Kamakura shogunate by Emperor Go-Daigo was primarily due to the resentment of the samurai class and the common people towards the corruption of the Kamakura shogunate and the Hojo clan. Therefore, after the unification of the realm, it was expected to establish a transparent political system and ensure a stable and prosperous life for both the samurai class and the common people. However, initially, Emperor Go-Daigo relied on Confucianism to establish his autocracy, but later, he also faced significant misfortunes due to Confucianism.
The local anti-shogunate nobleman Naganao Chōkō arrived to meet and suggested that Emperor Go-Daigo relocate to the more strategically advantageous Mount Funayama to hold his position and wait for the right moment. The shogunate's general Sasaki Kiyotaka led 3,000 troops to attack, but was completely annihilated by the loyalist forces from neighboring provinces that had come to assist. Kiyotaka barely escaped with his life. After the Battle of Mount Funayama, Emperor Go-Daigo rewarded Naganao Chōkō for his contributions, granting him the title of Bōki no Kami, a lower fourth rank, and renamed him Naganao Chōnen.
However, the shortsighted nobles vehemently opposed this correct strategy, as it seemed to them that the true enemy of the court was not Ashikaga Takauji, who was eager to usurp the imperial throne, but rather Nanboku Masakatsu, who sought to deprive them of their hard-won affluent lifestyle. Emperor Go-Daigo shared the same sentiment; he rejected Masakatsu's memorial and ordered him to lead troops out of the capital to assist Nitta Yoshisada in resisting the Ashikaga rebel forces
Ashikaga Takauji, upon seeing this situation from afar, immediately dispatched 6,000 troops under the command of Takashi to provide reinforcements, replacing Nariyoshi in the command of the battle. After launching as many as 16 charges, Kusunoki Masashige's momentum finally began to wane. At this point, the battle had been ongoing for six hours. He looked around and found that only 73 cavalry remained by his side. With a long sigh, he entered a civilian house next to the Minokawa Shrine with Masatsune, where they took their own lives with their blades, at the age of 43. It is said that before his death, Kusunoki Masashige asked Masatsune, "Do you have any last wishes?" Masatsune replied, "I wish to serve the country with my brother for seven lifetimes and eliminate the enemy from the朝!"
It was only three days since Lord Zun entered the capital, and he was already troubled by the defensive strategy of Namu Zhengcheng, when he suddenly discovered a large number of warships appearing in Lake Biwa, flying the banners of the Kitabatake clan of Mutsu.
The news of the Emperor's escape from Ingi Island quickly spread throughout the nation, prompting various guardians, local leaders, and noble families from different countries to send envoys expressing their willingness to accept restraint. As a result, the military forces of various nations began to unify under a single command, thereby avoiding the common occurrence of warlord fragmentation in times of chaos
Faced with such a formidable enemy force, the Kyoto court was once again at a loss. Only Masanari Nanuki remained composed; he had already begun to consider the future situation and corresponding defensive strategies after Yoshisada's westward crossing. When Emperor Go-Daigo sought his counsel, he confidently presented the long-prepared "Nanuki Memorial." In this memorial, it was stated: "Yoshisada leads the forces of the nine provinces of Chikuzen to invade Kyoto, their momentum akin to a raging flood or a ferocious beast. If we engage them with our weary troops and employ conventional tactics, defeat is inevitable. We should recall Yoshisada, the king should retreat to the mountain gates, and Masanari should defend Kawachi, luring the enemy into Kyoto. We will then seal off the mouth of the Yodo River with our troops, severing the connections to the capital and cutting off their supply lines, while dispatching troops to harass them, causing the enemy to become utterly exhausted. At this point, with Yoshisada attacking from Mount Hiei and Masanari from Kawachi, we can strike the enemy from both flanks and annihilate them in one decisive blow."
In the first year of the Jianwu era (1334), in November, due to the Da Tower Palace secretly recruiting troops in anticipation of a change in the situation, Yoshimitsu saw an opportunity and reported a false accusation of rebellion against it. The foolish Emperor Go-Daigo, acting decisively, arrested the Da Tower Palace and seemingly appeased the situation by sending it to Kamakura for detention
On August 30, Emperor Go-Daigo awarded Takauji for his achievements in quelling the rebellion by promoting him to the rank of Junior Second Court Rank and ordered him to return to the capital immediately. Takauji hesitated and refused to set off right away, instead submitting a request to fill the vacancy of the shogunate. In October, Uesugi Noritomo of the Fujiwara clan seized the territory of Nitta Yoshisada in Kanto and, at Noritomo's instigation, Takauji declared himself shogun, gathering followers under the pretext of punishing the treacherous Nitta Yoshisada, and began to openly oppose the Kenmu government. In October, Uesugi Noritomo of the Fujiwara clan seized the territory of Nitta Yoshisada in Kanto and, at Noritomo's instigation, Takauji declared himself shogun, gathering followers under the pretext of punishing the treacherous Nitta Yoshisada, and began to openly oppose the Kenmu government.
On the other hand, after the mid-period of the Kamakura Shogunate, due to the development of the commodity economy, many emerging warrior classes gradually integrated with the "za" (a type of commercial guild). They not only obtained resources from the land but also infiltrated the circulation sector, hoping to break the old manor economy and develop a national economy more conducive to commercial activities. After Emperor Go-Daigo took power, in order to expand his sources of income, he implemented a series of strategies to promote the development of the commodity economy, such as abolishing numerous checkpoints in the Kinki region. This was inevitably welcomed by these emerging warrior classes. Furthermore, Emperor Go-Daigo seized this opportunity to actively recruit the local bandits of the Kinki region for his own use. Perhaps as early as the first year of the Shōchū era (1324), when Kusunoki Masashige, Hino Yoshimasa, and Hino Toshiki disguised themselves as traveling monks and infiltrated various provinces in the Kinki region, they had already established contact with Emperor Go-Daigo.
The estate officials and local leaders certainly would not work for free; they also needed to claim a portion of the annual tribute. This was due to the increasingly weakened control of the estate owners over the land, as the appetites of the estate officials and local leaders grew larger. The distribution ratio of the annual tribute was always difficult to negotiate, and ultimately many estate officials and local leaders even completely seized the tribute for themselves. The estate owners filed lawsuits with the shogunate, and under the intervention of the shogunate, both parties agreed to divide the "lower land" (the territory from which the annual tribute could be collected) into two parts. One part of the output would be submitted to the estate owners, while the other part would be entirely controlled by the estate officials and local leaders—this was known as "lower land division," which formed in the mid-Kamakura period.
Caochuan Battle
It should be noted that this feudal structure is still conducive to centralization; however, the swift victory of the anti-shogunate war did not eliminate the long-standing conflicts among various social classes that had accumulated over decades or even centuries. These conflicts were only temporarily alleviated, and it is only through slow yet persistent reform that a complete resolution may be possible. So how should we evaluate the reforms of Emperor Go-Daigo? Perhaps the phrase "only heaven knows" is the most fitting description. These conflicts were only temporarily alleviated, and it is only through slow yet persistent reform that a complete resolution may be possible. So how should we evaluate the reforms of Emperor Go-Daigo? Perhaps the phrase "only heaven knows" is the most fitting description
In the first month of the third year of the Genkō era (1333), the shogunate once again assembled a large army, claiming to number one hundred thousand, and launched a three-pronged attack on Akasaka, Chihaya, and Yoshino Castle, which was under the control of Prince Motohira at Daida Palace: Azumashige led eighty thousand troops to attack Akasaka Castle; Nikaidō Michiyuki commanded sixty thousand troops to assault Yoshino Castle; the remaining several hundred thousand troops were led by Daibutsu Takashi to attack Chihaya Castle. After more than ten days, both Akasaka and Yoshino castles were captured. The commander Hirano Shōken, stationed at Akasaka Castle, was captured, while Prince Motohira of Yoshino Castle managed to break through and escape to Mount Yoshino. Only Chihaya Castle, due to its advantageous terrain, stood firm; it was surrounded on three sides by cliffs, and the narrow mountain paths could only accommodate a thousand troops at a time. With Taketoshi employing various clever strategies, after three months of siege, it remained intact atop Mount Kongō.
On November 25, Shinoda Yoshizane achieved a significant victory over Takauji Ashikaga's general, Takamori, at the Yabikigawa in Mikawa. On December 5, he again defeated Ashikaga Naoyoshi's forces at the Teigokuhara in Suruga, breaching the natural defenses of Hakone and advancing directly towards Kamakura. Seeing the situation in the eastern sea route becoming critical, Takauji urgently ordered Naoyoshi to hold his ground firmly under the bamboo, while he personally led a large army to provide support. From the 11th to the 12th, Takauji first defeated the relatively weaker Prince Zenyō, and then concentrated his elite troops from the eastern mountain route to engage in a decisive battle with Yoshizane. Seeing the situation in the eastern sea route becoming critical, Takauji urgently ordered Naoyoshi to hold his ground firmly under the bamboo, while he personally led a large army to provide support. From the 11th to the 12th, Takauji first defeated the relatively weaker Prince Zenyō, and then concentrated his elite troops from the eastern mountain route to engage in a decisive battle with Yoshizane.
It is said that the Great Tower Palace and Nanmu Masanari had been in constant correspondence with Emperor Go-Daigo, who was exiled to the Oki Islands. Therefore, although Emperor Go-Daigo was in a remote location, he had a very clear understanding of the national situation. When he saw that the time was ripe, he escaped from Oki by boat on the 24th day of the second month of the leap year in the third year of Genko (1333), under the protection of his trusted aides, including Chikusa Tadayoshi. To evade pursuers, he ultimately landed in the region of Nawa in the province of Hōki.
The land area of Japan is limited, and there have been few instances of long-distance expeditions in the wars prior to Kamakura. Therefore, military supply was not emphasized. Wherever the large army went, they often plundered and gathered provisions on their own. Troops that managed to invade the capital without a solid foundation often quickly weakened due to their large numbers but insufficient supplies, and when faced with an attack, they would collapse entirely—this was the case with Kiso Yoshinaka in the past, and it is the same with Ashikaga Takauji now.
It is worth mentioning that, under the visionary suggestion of the Great Tower Palace, the special appointment of Kitabatake Akihira as the Governor of Mutsu was made, commanding him to assist Prince Yoshiyoshi alongside his father Kitabatake Chikubo in guarding the Oshu region. Furthermore, Takauji Ashikaga was appointed as the Governor of Sagami to assist Prince Naritomo in defending the Kanto region. In the future, these two individuals, due to their significant positions, will become pivotal figures in history
The samurai from various regions in the Kanto area converged, and the forces under Minamoto no Yoritomo quickly grew to over 30,000 men. After joining forces with Hojo Tokiyori, the imperial army advanced eastward, defeating the Hashimoto rebels in Toyama, and subsequently annihilating the main rebel forces in Suruga and Musashi. On the 19th, they completely recaptured Kamakura, forcing Hojo Tokiyori to flee. Since Tokiyori was the last scion of the already fallen Kamakura shogunate, and the siege of Kamakura failed merely twenty days later, this rebellion is referred to by later generations as the "Twenty-Day Rebellion of the Former Shogunate" or the "Rebellion of the Middle Former Shogunate"
The political landscape in the Kinai region is ever-changing, with power shifting in an instant. On May 8, the brothers Nitta Yoshisada and Wakiya Yoshisuke, both of the Ashikaga clan, raised their banners in front of the Shinmei Shrine in Ueno. With Yoshisada leading the charge under the banner of the four-year-old Prince Senju (later known as Ashikaga Yoshikazu), the Minamoto clans from Kai, Shinano, Ueno, Shimotsuke, Kazusa, Hitachi, and Musashi successively gathered their forces, marching grandly towards Kamakura. With Yoshisada leading the charge under the banner of the four-year-old Prince Senju (later known as Ashikaga Yoshikazu), the Minamoto clans from Kai, Shinano, Ueno, Shimotsuke, Kazusa, Hitachi, and Musashi successively gathered their forces, marching grandly towards Kamakura.
The Rebellion of Ashikaga Takauji
Emperor Go-Daigo was determined to restore the former glory of the imperial throne, wielding power without being constrained by the court nobles or the samurai. However, he was not the only member of the imperial family; while he could think this way from his lofty position, those from the lower ranks of the Jimyoin lineage had their own ambitions. It is said that the exiled Takauji, forced to distance himself from his base in Kanto and retreat to a corner, suddenly received a proclamation from the deposed Jimyoin Emperor Go-Kōgon. The proclamation ordered Takauji to gather troops to attack the false emperor Go-Daigo and the rebel general Nitta Yoshisada, aiming to restore Go-Kōgon to the throne. In a moment of desperation, the Takauji faction was overjoyed and immediately raised the banner of Go-Kōgon, declaring their campaign against the traitor Nitta Yoshisada, and began conscripting soldiers across the provinces with the proclamation in hand. On the fifteenth, responding to the pleas of the powerful clans of Kyushu, the Takauji army, proudly flying the banner of Go-Kōgon, marched westward.
Ashikaga Takauji seized this fortuitous opportunity and hastily petitioned Emperor Go-Daigo, requesting to demonstrate utmost loyalty and personally lead the campaign against the Hojo rebels. Without having received a formal imperial decree, he proclaimed himself the General of the Eastern Expedition and departed from Kyoto to join forces with Ashikaga Nariyoshi. On August 1, Takauji made an unreasonable request to be granted the title of Shogun of the Eastern Expedition during his campaign. Emperor Go-Daigo refused to comply, and a compromise was reached by appointing Prince Naritake as the Shogun of the Eastern Expedition, who would command the troops of Takauji, Nariyoshi, and others.
By the Edo period, large-scale wars had ceased, and decorative armor re-emerged, incorporating many scattered components from obsolete large armor. This type of armor is referred to as "contemporary armor".
The original land system in Japan was characterized by a feudal manor system, where manor lords controlled a vast amount of land and collected annual tributes from the peasants who cultivated the manor lands, thereby sustaining the existence and vitality of their class. This situation began to change with the Kamakura Shogunate, primarily because a large number of shogunate vassals became the actual controllers of the manor lands, known as manor officials and local leaders. As a result, they did not reside in the manors themselves but lived far away in Kyoto and Nara. Consequently, those manor lords had to rely on these officials and local leaders to collect the annual tributes, a practice referred to as "local leader collection." This situation began to change with the Kamakura Shogunate, primarily because a large number of shogunate vassals became the actual controllers of the manor lands, known as manor officials and local leaders. As a result, they did not reside in the manors themselves but lived far away in Kyoto and Nara. Consequently, those manor lords had to rely on these officials and local leaders to collect the annual tributes, a practice referred to as "local leader collection."
The regime of Kisarayama was suppressed shortly after it became lively, and Emperor Go-Daigo was exiled. The anti-shogunate factions across the country gradually fell silent, with only Kusunoki Masashige continuing to fight at Akasaka Castle. Perhaps to demonstrate their power to the world, the shogunate dispatched tens of thousands of troops, led by various generals including Ashikaga Takauji, to attack this small castle, which was only two cho in size and defended by five hundred men (reportedly three hundred thousand).
At this moment, Emperor Go-Daigo reached the pinnacle of his political career. With the fall of the shogunate in sight, nobles, warriors, and commoners alike bowed before him, and one can only imagine the pride swelling in his heart. Had he passed away at this point, he might have become a rare and illustrious ruler in Japanese history. Unfortunately, the so-called "Kenmu Restoration" that he subsequently initiated completely obliterated all of this.
Prince Takamatsu had foreseen the potential rebellion of Ashikaga Takauji as early as the initial period of the restoration. Therefore, he deliberately placed a new figure, Nitta Yoshisada, in the Kanto region, which was Takauji's fief, and behind him, he installed Kitabatake Chikafusa in Oshu. Meanwhile, the loyal and resourceful Nanmoku Masashige was appointed in the capital region, with his fiefs of Settsu and Kawachi resembling the giant arms that protect Kyoto, where the Emperor resides. Additionally, although Takauji was granted land in Kanto, he only stationed Ashikaga Naoyoshi in Kamakura for defense, while he himself was left in Kyoto, ostensibly in a position of regency, but effectively sidelined. Takauji found it extremely difficult to act in Kyoto, leaving him with no opportunity for rebellion, which naturally led to his deep resentment towards Prince Takamatsu. After forcing Yoshisada out, his hostility was immediately directed at Prince Takamatsu.
The Restoration of Jianwu
During the Muromachi period, warfare became increasingly frequent and expanded in scale, with the mode of combat gradually evolving from cavalry skirmishes among mounted samurai to infantry formations. In this context, the simple do-maru originally worn by lower-ranking samurai, as well as the rudimentary haramaki and tatami (with the armor opening at the back rather than the side), gradually gained popularity and merged, evolving into the complete armor known as gusoku.
First, the forces of Yoshitsune, in coordination with the troops of Chiyo, launched a grand landing operation along the coastline stretching over ten miles. The garrison of the island, supported by Yasuya, abandoned their positions after a fierce resistance. Consequently, the army of Chiyo surged towards Nishinosuke, defended by Nanmoku Masanari, overwhelming the five hundred Nanmoku warriors in an instant. However, the Nanmoku warriors had long since abandoned the thought of survival; their fierce and courageous fighting exceeded the enemy's expectations. The "Kikusui" (Nanmoku family crest) flag pierced through the enemy lines like a fierce tiger, and the Ashikaga forces were scattered like waves breaking upon the shore. Even Ashikaga Yoshitsune himself was struck in the horse's leg by a stray arrow, nearly perishing amidst the chaos of battle.
On New Year's Day, Zunshi first concentrated his forces to launch an attack on Uji. However, due to the exceptionally tight defense put up by the brothers Zhengcheng and Zhengji, Zunshi's army was unable to make any progress after a full day of assault. From the 9th to the 10th, Zunshi shifted his breakthrough point to Yodo, but Yizhen's troops fought desperately to resist, and Zunshi still could not succeed.
Therefore, Hojo Taketoki held Ashikaga Takauji in considerable esteem. However, despite this esteem, under the centralized authority of the shogunate, it was exceedingly difficult for those outside the inner circle to penetrate the power center of the shogunate, which undoubtedly would provoke various discontent, including that of Ashikaga Takauji himself. In the first year of Genko, the shogunate mobilized a large army to attack Mount Kasagiyama. An order was issued on September 2, requiring departure by the 5th, which forced Ashikaga Takauji, whose father had just passed away and who had not yet had the opportunity to perform the funeral rites, to go into battle in mourning. The resentment he felt in his heart can only be imagined.
Baiqi City, a crucial stronghold on the route from China to Kyushu, is of great significance to both the government forces and the rebel army. Before leaving, Ashikaga Takauji specifically assigned the renowned general Akamatsu Norimura and five hundred soldiers to defend the city. Indeed, shortly after his departure, Nitta Yoshisada arrived with an army of sixty thousand to attack Baiqi City. However, during the three-month siege, despite employing various strategies, Yoshisada was unable to capture the city. The valiant defense by Akamatsu Norimura provided Ashikaga Takauji with precious time to regroup. Ultimately, Nitta Yoshisada had no choice but to leave a contingent to continue the siege while he and his brother Wakiya Yoshisuke turned their attention to capturing other fortresses.
Firstly, the armor is secured with shoulder straps and is not a "pullover"; instead, it has an opening on one side (usually the left), covered by "side shields" (a set of independent armor plates extending from the side to the thigh). Secondly, there are two hanging armor plates at the chest: the one on the right is long and wide, called the "sandalwood plate," while the one on the left is shorter and narrower, known as the "dove tail plate." When the warrior extends the left arm and draws the bow sideways, the dove tail plate perfectly covers the heart; and when wielding the katana with the right hand while on horseback, the sandalwood plate can also protect the largest vulnerability—the right chest or right side. Thirdly, the helmets of renowned warriors typically feature purely decorative metal ornaments, mostly placed at the front of the helmet, referred to as "mae-tate," with the main shape being "shovel-shaped."
It is said that the samurai of the Hojo fought valiantly at the last moment—though it was of no avail to the overall situation—especially the resistance from the Suzaki direction, which was the most intense. Horiguchi Sadamitsu launched sixty-five arduous assaults, and ultimately, with the situation hopeless, the shogunate regent Hojo Moritoki committed collective suicide with all his soldiers, leading to the fall of Suzaki. In the direction of Gokuraku-ji, Otogawa Ujiyoshi was even wounded by the enemy general Daibutsu Sadanao, causing the right wing to nearly collapse. Upon learning of this news, Nitta Yoshisada personally led the main force to attack the retreating Daibutsu Sadanao in the Katase and Koshigoe directions, defeating him. Ultimately, with the situation hopeless, the shogunate regent Hojo Moritoki committed collective suicide with all his soldiers, leading to the fall of Suzaki. In the direction of Gokuraku-ji, Otogawa Ujiyoshi was even wounded by the enemy general Daibutsu Sadanao, causing the right wing to nearly collapse. Upon learning of this news, Nitta Yoshisada personally led the main force to attack the retreating Daibutsu Sadanao in the Katase and Koshigoe directions, defeating him.
After Emperor Go-Daigo was restored to the throne, he immediately reclaimed the lands lost by the imperial family and the nobles, restoring their control over the estates. In contrast, he imposed numerous restrictions on the samurai who had assisted him in overthrowing the shogunate, rarely granting them any tangible benefits. The common people, who had originally been oppressed to the brink of suffocation by the shogunate and local lords, did not benefit from the new policies either. In fact, in order to enrich the national treasury and expand the palace, Emperor Go-Daigo implemented even more complex and burdensome taxes.
The armor styles of ancient Japan are quite unique, having undergone three main developmental stages: the do-maru, the o-yoroi, and the sode. The earliest known formed armor discovered in Japan roughly corresponds to the Kofun period and primarily belongs to the do-maru category. The so-called do-maru refers to armor plates that are layered, with each subsequent plate necessarily covering the bottom of the plate above it. In our country, during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, do-maru was also widely used, which later gradually evolved into the padded armor—where armor plates are attached to a lining without overlapping, or where the upper plates cover the tops of the lower plates, which is exactly the opposite of do-maru.
Because Zhengcheng is very clear that the disappointment of the samurai in various countries towards the Kenmu Restoration will not dissipate simply due to the demise of Takauji Ashikaga or the Ashikaga clan. If Emperor Go-Daigo does not change his attitude of favoring the nobility and belittling the samurai, then Nitta Yoshisada could also become like Takauji Ashikaga, and Naganao could also become like Takauji Ashikaga, and even he himself might one day experience a transformation born of disappointment. The prevailing situation is such that it does not shift according to people's subjective consciousness. Of course, Emperor Go-Daigo is completely unwilling to listen to this.
From Yamazaki West to Sakurai Station, it is said to be the place of Nankō's farewell. To the east of the forest points Mount Kongō, with trees along the embankment faintly lining the road to the river. I imagine the alarm bells ringing as the horses gallop, hastening the weak sheep into the jaws of the fierce tiger. Asking the farmers to refuse the slaves and the weavers to reject the maids, the national discourse is turned upside down while the ruler remains oblivious. At the post station, horses stand by the fork in the road, with the legacy of teachings lingering for the young ones. From the riders, all listen with tears in their eyes, while the children lie down, unable to rise at the call. Looking westward at the armory, the atmosphere is filled with the presence of thieves, and turning back, I catch sight of the departing flags several times. Having annihilated the entire body, I offer you another piece of meat. The butchering is in vain, merely sharpening the thieves' blades, quite reminiscent of Qishan and Mianzhu. The blood flows warmly, spilling over the national calamity, as the wild grass grows green in the fields of Ōyodo to the east and west. The lofty ambitions are difficult to sustain, like water slipping away, as the great and small ghosts gaze at each other and weep.
The news of Ashikaga Takauji's rebellion reached Kyoto, infuriating Emperor Go-Daigo, who immediately issued the "Imperial Edict for the Pursuit of Takauji" to the entire nation. He appointed Prince Yoshiyasu as the General and Nitta Yoshisada as the Grand General, directing them to attack Kamakura from the two routes of the Higashiyama and Tōkaidō. At the same time, he sent a proclamation to Ōshū, ordering Kitabatake Akiyoshi to launch an attack from behind Takauji.