Battle of Meikai

The Battle of Meikai [沒界の戦; めいかいのかこ] took place in 1178 in the region of modern-day Meikai in Shinkō Prefecture. It is known as the most important and influential battle in the history of the prefecture, as it allowed the Shin clan to gain the prefectural seat and topple the ruling Hatake clan from power. This resulted in Shin no Aruke becoming the prefectural konbūshin in 1181, acquiring supreme control over the entire region.
== Battle ==
In 1178, Hatake no Konji, a respected warlord and leader of the powerful ruling Hatake clan, amassed an army of around 4,000 men to march against the Shin forces to challenge the invasion headed by Shin no Aruke. The army took a stand in modern-day Meikai-shidan, the eastern ward of the city of Meikai. It was made up mostly of Hatake soldiers, along with other swordsmen and loyal members of smaller clans and families who lived and worked in the surrounding region.
The Shin forces numbered roughly 8,000 men. They advanced and quickly overran the fortifications set up by the Hatake and setting up camp in the village of Hagiyama which lay just outside of what is now the city centre. Although the Hatake forces had the advantage of knowing the terrain well, Shin no Aruke was intent on launching a highly aggressive attack without preamble or chance of negotiation. He planned to seige Meikai Castle and overwhelm its defences with a relentless offense. The area had also been scouted by Shin falconers months prior in preparation for the battle, which meant that the troops were not entirely unfamiliar with the region.
After days of intense fighting, one of the Shin's most honoured and prestigious sai, Shingata no Sakagane, took Hatake no Konji and his wife Shika hostage, along with a team of other warriors, while other Shin men worked to defeat Hatake's strongest warriors and deputies. Eventually the Hatake were forced to surrender, and Shin no Aruke personally executed Hatake no Konji in Meikai Castle, bringing an end to his line. As for Konji's young wife Shika, she and her two children were assimilated into the Shin clan, and she was later married to a sai named Shingata no Yonno.