Fictional work. Any similarity to real names or events is coincidental.
Underage smoking is prohibited.
Year 60 of the Yamato era. Spring.
Aoteru Misumi, Auditor of the Borderland General Corps,
delivered a powerful and decisive rebuttal
that crushed the plan of Denki Taira, Lord of Home Affairs,
to strip Borderland General Mitsuhide Ryumon of his command.
Meanwhile, Ohga Wajima, Commander-in-Chief of the Seii army, launched an assault
on Nagamine's isolated Yamato army unit at Daishoji
as part of the Winter General Strategy.
She further dispatched 12,000 troops toward Fukui Reihoku Castle,
where Mitsuhide Ryumon was holding out.
With time running out,
Ryumon steeled himself for a decisive battle against the advancing Seii forces.
- All right, then. - Wait!
An imperial decree from His Majesty
the Emperor of Yamato to Borderland General Ryumon!
"Ryumon and all soldiers at Fukui Reihoku Castle!"
"Abandon the castle and withdraw at once!"
"This is my imperial command!"
YAMATO
Withdraw?
And no reinforcements?
EPISODE 12: THE FALL OF SEII
With the Seii closing in, abandon the people and the castle and run?
"There are occasions when the commands of the sovereign need not be obeyed!"
If no reinforcements are coming, then we should fight!
Hey, wait!
Misumi, your prediction was way off.
"Misfortune and fortune stand side by side."
"Yet none know the gate that leads to either."
I heard the Seii even executed their own strategist to uphold the law.
If that's true, then even if we retreat,
the people should come to no harm.
That settles it.
- Prepare to leave the castle at once! - Yes, sir!
- Kaku, you stay here and rest. - No.
Even with the imperial edict, if I stay behind,
the enemy will be on their guard.
I'm coming with you.
That won't do. If you push yourself now, you'll--
"What we should truly--"
"What we should truly fear is not death,
but failing to live up to the life we have been given."
Isn't that right, General Ryumon?
I feel bad for Dr. Kata, who tried to heal me.
But he needs to save the people here and the wounded soldiers.
Besides, if I remain here as things stand,
all the tremendous efforts Misumi and Asama have made
will come to nothing.
For years now, I have repeatedly advised
that we should compromise on the Toryumon.
It seems I have finally found someone worthy of taking my place.
Are you saying you have had your illness since then?
Even you, who understands me better than anyone in this world, were deceived.
That bodes well for this plan.
The storm has passed, and the ground is firm.
General Ryumon,
now is the time to decide.
- Asama! - What?
- Yes, sir! - You're the rearguard!
You heard the plan from Misumi, right?
Then only you, Kaku, and I know it.
CLICK CLACK
Draw the enemy in, then fall back. Do your duty.
Yes, sir!
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes!
Relay the order to all units.
We are retreating!
Yes, sir!
WAJIMA ARMY HEADQUARTERS 9:35, 10 DEGREES CELSIUS
Retreating?
SEII COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OHGA WAJIMA
YASUKE KONOURA
Based on their line of march...
FUKUI REIHOKU CASTLE
...Mitsuhide Ryumon likely intends to retreat via Ota,
then follow the coast to Kanegasaki in Reinan District.
A southern withdrawal would force him across the Kinome Pass.
If we catch them here, we could wipe them out.
That's why I expect he'll take the Ota route.
But...
could it be a feigned retreat?
Your concern is well-founded.
The current Emperor of Yamato is little more than Denki Taira's puppet,
and I doubt Taira would willingly let go of this chance to seize military control.
A man like him wouldn't retreat.
He would push for all-out war.
JIEN HIBI MITSUHIDE RYUMON
I believe the real intent behind the imperial edict
is meant to drive Ryumon's forces, an obstacle to Taira, back to Kanegasaki.
And, thus, allow Taira to turn the tables
with the vast Yamato army under his command.
DENKI TAIRA
So Taira is having the Emperor issue an imperial edict ordering a withdrawal,
not only to deceive us but Ryumon as well?
Nothing else makes sense.
Who could possibly persuade the Emperor
when Denki Taira is the one pulling the strings?
Such a feat would be inconceivable.
MARUOKA CASTLE FUKUI REIHOKU CASTLE
At present, the Hibi army has requested reinforcements to pursue Ryumon.
If we let him reach Kanegasaki,
we may never get another chance to finish him.
But if we pursue them now, we can take down Ryumon and Kaku,
draw out the Yamato forces lying in wait at Kanegasaki,
and force them into the Winter General Strategy.
Letting Ryumon escape won't help the people.
Here, you must strike down Ryumon with your own hands
and demonstrate that authority.
Our main force
will now join the Hibi army and pursue Ryumon's forces.
Everyone, follow me.
WAJIMA - KONOURA
HIBI - TABUCHI RYUMON - KAKU - ASAMA
BANG
HIBI - TABUCHI RYUMON - KAKU - ASAMA
WAJIMA - KONOURA
GALLOP GALLOP
BORDERLAND GENERAL CORPS DEPUTY MASTER OF ARMS
SURNAME: ASAMA GIVEN NAME: YOSHITSUNE
WHOOSH
ADVANCE
CRASH CRASH CRASH
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WAJIMA
Good work.
Year 60 of the Yamato era. Spring.
The Seii Western Expedition, in which the northern nation committed 70,000 troops,
was shattered by the stratagems of Yamato's military adviser, Yasuaki Kaku.
More than 10,000 Seii soldiers,
along with Commander Jien Hibi,
Staff Officer Hakuyaku Tabuchi,
and Yasuke Konoura,
fell at Ota while shielding their commander.
The battle would later be known as "The Ota Scrapped Car Ambush."
Seii Commander-in-Chief Ohga Wajima, captured by the Ryumon army,
approved an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal.
As the Kura army and more than 50,000 Seii soldiers devoted to Wajima
complied and retreated to their homeland,
Second Division Commander Daikichi Konoura and over 100 Seii soldiers refused.
They continued to resist and were put down by the Nagamine army.
This brought about a truce between Yamato and Seii.
A peace conference was set for the following month.
Mr. Ryumon, I wonder if any good candidates will come today.
Mr. Ryumon, you are really strict, you know.
You haven't hired a single person this month or last month.
You should compromise a little.
I cannot compromise.
For the sake of this country's future.
The future of this country, you say?
They might just make this country,
this "Nippon,"
into a peaceful world
without war.
One I could never bring about.
I'm sure of it...
Year 60 of the Yamato era. Spring.
Strategist Yasuaki Kaku died on his journey home.
He was 32.
PLUM TREE AND WHITE-EYED BIRD
YEAR 42 OF THE BUO ERA YEAR 60 OF THE YAMATO ERA - BUO
9:25, 16 DEGREES CELSIUS
Yamato Calendar Year 60, spring.
ODAWARA (FORMERLY KANAGAWA)
Buo, Odawara.
FIRST EMPEROR OF BUO MOMOKUNI HOJO
What? Yamato predicted our move?
PRIME MINISTER AND STRATEGIST OF BUO JURO MUSASHIKAMI
Your Majesty,
Lord Musashikami reports that a young man from the Ryumon faction
apparently persuaded the Yamato Emperor.
Wow, seriously?
I thought when Lord Taira mobilized his massive army, that would be our chance.
How boring.
Lord Musashikami asks,
"What shall we do about the surprise attack on Osaka, Yamato's capital?"
Let's just call it off.
Recall all the warships.
Oh, and make sure Yamato doesn't find out.
All right, that's enough of that.
Everyone, dismissed!
Yes, sir!
Oh, right.
Himehito?
I heard you and the Yamato Emperor share the same Japan-era ancestor.
So I thought, "Wait, are those two related?"
But apparently you're not.
Anyway, I doubt you will, but just in case...
Don't think about joining forces with Yamato
to found a nation called "Nippon."
Um, Your Majesty,
I'm sorry,
but I don't quite follow what you're saying.
LMFAO!
Well, the fact you're even here
just shows how magnanimous I am.
Keep that in mind.
The young man who persuaded the puppet emperor...
DIRECT DESCENDANT OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY HIMEHITO OHKIMI
Well, quite the interesting kid.
YAMATO OSAKA
Yamato, Osaka.
The Imperial Palace.
A solemn funeral was held for all members of the Borderland General Corps
who fell in the Seii Western Expedition.
ONE MONTH LATER
One month after the Seii Western Expedition,
delegations from Yamato and Seii gathered in Osaka's Naniwa District
for the so-called "Naniwa Peace Conference"
to set postwar policy.
SEII - BUO - YAMATO
In that conference, it was agreed
that the Seii-held Kaga Province would be demilitarized,
and a new territory would be created from part of Kaga.
The Yamato-Seii international peace organization, the "Nippon Federation,"
would administer the territory, and the two nations would jointly govern.
This marked the first attempt
at a peaceful resolution since the Three Nations Period.
A decision on the fate of Seii Commander-in-Chief Ohga Wajima
was postponed to a future session of the assembly.
Well, I guess that about wraps things up.
All thanks to me, the rightful heir of the Asama clan, serving as the rearguard.
DEPUTY MASTER OF ARMS YOSHITSUNE ASAMA
No, I guess it's thanks to Strategist Kaku and all the others.
AUDITOR AOTERU MISUMI
Given the history between Yamato and Seii,
building a true alliance will be a long, difficult road.
But I believe walking that road
is the surest path to realizing peace across the land.
Well, the one who's gonna make that world happen isn't you. It's me.
If you put your knowledge to use, it might be possible
to secure the borderlands and end the Sangoku period.
The reunification of Japan wouldn't just be a dream!
Saki, because you believed in me,
I found the courage to keep going.
But we're still only halfway there.
Saki, I swear I'll make this world--
Auditor Misumi! Deputy Master of Arms Asama!
By order of Borderland General Ryumon, report to headquarters immediately!
Oh, what's this?
Don't tell me my promotion finally came through.
Speak. What happened?
We have received word
that Seii Commander-in-Chief Ohga Wajima was attacked and assassinated
on her way back from the peace conference!
What?
- Assassinated?
The dozen Yamato soldiers and two Taira ministers with her were killed too.
According to witnesses in Shiga, where the attack took place,
the assailants were wearing Seii military uniforms!
What? You've got to be kidding me!
Just when we were about to work together with Seii...
I mean, wasn't the Seii Commander-in-Chief
well-regarded by her people and her troops?
However well-regarded she may have been, she seized power through a coup.
It's only natural that some would hold a grudge against her.
Yeah, but something's not right about this!
Exactly!
YAMATO
Why were Seii soldiers in Shiga, which is Yamato territory?
And how did they know Ohga Wajima's escort route?
Then there's the fact that two of those traveling with her were Taira ministers...
TAIRA
What is it? What's wrong?
It can't be!
Right.
Good work on the Shiga matter.
The Seii men we hired under the pretext of assassinating Ryumon
have all been disposed of.
Right.
They probably never imagined the one they killed
was the very Commander-in-Chief they worshipped.
Indeed.
The look on their faces when I told them the truth...
It was quite the sight.
Yukihanecchi. Within two seconds.
What?
From here on, it's our turn.
BORDERLAND GENERAL HQ
That same day, Lord of Home Affairs Denki Taira
arrested and imprisoned Mitsuhide Ryumon, accusing him of causing the incident
through negligence in border security and of worsening relations with Seii,
a nation that could have become an ally.
OUTSIDE THE IMPERIAL PALACE
Borderland General Corps members denounced it as an unjust arrest
and demanded that the Emperor pardon Ryumon.
But Taira sealed off the Imperial Palace
and imprisoned 34 members, including Aoteru Misumi, on the same charges.
MAIN HALL
Furthermore, Denki Taira placed the blame for the nation-shaking incident
on Yamato's third emperor, Fuji III, for having trusted Mitsuhide Ryumon.
With Taira assuming full authority,
Fuji III was redefined not as the head of state,
but as a symbolic figure.
SEII
Meanwhile, Taira issued an ultimatum to northern Seii,
using as his pretext the claim
that Seii soldiers had killed Yamato soldiers and their families.
Seii denied any involvement,
and since the incident also involved Wajima's assassination,
they withheld a final response.
Dissatisfied, Denki Taira
nullified every agreement reached at the Naniwa Peace Conference
and declared war on Seii.
NEWSPAPER
"Seiro, the capital, fell with little resistance."
"Wherever the Yamato army led by the Lord of Home Affairs passed,
not even a child's cry could be heard
and the corpses of countless Seii people blocked the flow of the river."
THE EVENING SUN NEWSPAPER
Just like I promised you, I'll climb my way to the top from here.
I'm pretty amazing, after all.
No matter where you end up,
you are the kind of man who never gives up.
Right, Aoteru Misumi?
No matter how much we join hands with other nations
and strive for peace...
if we don't change this country, rotten to its core, none of it matters.
Someone has to start.
Whether others help or not is beside the point.
I'll be the one to start.
Denki Taira, the day will come.
TAIRA - PEACE
Just you wait!
END OF THE SEII WESTERN EXPEDITION ARC
Creative Supervisor : Hideo Kimura