Battle of the Crossroads

The Battle of the Crossroads was a significant battle during Emperor Itami’s reign in Hashin, fighting against the rebellious nobles that were situated in the North.

## Background

In **507PR** Emperor Arima Nakahiko died, leaving his heir Itami to take the Hashin throne, crowned on Marcu 10.

As one of his first public acts, he would create a large festival, paying for the expenses out of his own pocket, increasing his popularity with the people and boosting the economy a small amount.

During the festivals, Itami sent out death squads to go and ransack the houses of his political opponents, forcing the families to either flee or be executed. Whatever remained was seized, allowing him to make back everything and more that he sprint on the festival. The message he sent was clear, stand in his way and they meet the same fate.

After escaping the slaughter, Matsu Naouji and Houjou Arifusa would rally many of the escaped nobles, rebelling in the North. As their army slowly growed, Itami made a series of speeches to entice the populace to fight for him, reaching a bigger number when he added the nation’s military amongst his troops.

With the funds he had seized, Itami made sure to buy good equipment for the civilians, giving them time to get comfortable and train with his professional soldiers before marching out.

Hearing the enemy movements and their own troops ready, Naouji and Arifusa marched to meet them near the crossroads.

## Battle

The battle began with a series of horns being called from both sides with flags waved to give appropriate commands.

As the two armies came close, arrows were fired. On the Jeonsa (Heavily-Armoured infantry at the time) this had little effect, the same was not for the peasant infantry. For the rebels, this was more impactful, since Itami had equipped his troops with at least light armour, the rebels having none. Exploiting the weakness, Itami retrieved some of his cavalry (a mix of melee and ranged) and fired more volleys into the rebel centre.

By the time the two clashed, the rebels' centre broke, leaving only the Jeonsa. Unfortunately for the rebels, their two commanders were two distracted by their own fighting to give any commands.

On the flank, the two cavalry hit each other, similar in skill and equipment. They would be in a stalemate for the rest of the battle, despite both sides requiring them for maneuvers.

The wings were a different story, despite the new numbers advantage for Itami, his troops were unable to break through anywhere. Even after walking through the centre and hitting the enemies on the side, nothing improved for them.

With the day raging on, so did the battle. Both sides exhausted by this point but still fighting for what they believed was right. Eventually a duel broke out between Arifusa and Itami, but just as the Emperor was losing, Arifusa was struck with a stray arrow (ironically from his own soldier) causing him to perish. Itami was rushed out of the battle and back to camp to heal from his wounds, being on death’s door.

Eventually the battle came to a close, the rebels no longer able to hold against the superior number of Itami’s troops and retreated. The Hashino tried to make a chase but were too exhausted, leaving only the cavalry.

## Aftermath

When Naouji returned to his camp he announced his loss, killing himself a ritualised suicide. Many of the other nobles would later do the same. Now lacking a commander, the rebel cause vanished, the Jeonsa either joining Itami or being persecuted, ending up either committing suicide or imprisoned.

Itami would survive his wounds, giving a rousing speech the next day to his soldiers and claiming a new Hashino Era was about to commence.