Aisuke was pleased. His nation had taken the southern lands without any bloodshed, save the former lord of the south and his unfortunate minions. The new lord of the south, the prince who had met with him years before, was now his vassal, answering directly to the Shogun.
He was also happy because soon, all of Honshu would be his. The lord of the south had pledged his support to defeat the barbaric tribes there and take control of it for Japan. Then the dream of a unified island would be carried out, and Aisuke's ancestors would sleep in peace.
*****
Commander Toshibawa looked to the north, where the barbarian armies were assembled. His plan was so clever.
There were approximately 500 barbarians facing him. He would send out a force of 1100 macemen. Only 350 would engage the enemy, while the remaining 750 would be hidden in the woods nearby. The 350 would attack the barbarians, then feign a withdrawal. Once the infidels had "pushed" them back beyond the forest, 200 macemen would emerge from the forest, behind the barbarian force. They would head north and burn the villages which the barbarians were protecting.
Someone would see the smoke from the villages. The barbarians would face about and head back to see what was the matter. Then the third group, the 550, would pounce.
With what was left of the original 350, they would surround the enemy forces and attack from all sides. The result would, of course, be total victory, with a barbarian army wiped out and several camps destroyed. Japan would then occupy the land.
Toshibawa decided it was time. He gave the signal for the 350 macemen to advance.
OTHER ORDERS
-Found a city in the newly-acquired southern Honshu.