My eyes bat open, I find myself slowly groaning up dragging myself out the futon. Today's the day I'll make my mark on the battlefield, those Miwa bastards will die for their master today. I get back down next to my futon, and start doing push ups to wake myself up, going through my thoughts as I start becoming more aware of my surroundings. So first I need to check up on how my horses and dummies are coming along. We need to need to use the unusual technique of blowing the war horn, and send the horses forward so they can attract the arrows and soak them up with the dummies. We have a short time limit to make our way through the forest and cut the supply line off. Then well attack the stronghold with a pincer attack dividing their attention. This plan has no choice but to work and of course we need to recruit Zexis. I'll have to offer him a chance he wont get anywhere else, a chance to be his own lord, if I can take it I'll grant him the fief of Miwa castle. I need to grant him the freedom he deserves, I remember when he told me about how much he hated his lords. It all stims from what they did, and because the poison the foreigners brought with the prejudice against his people. I promised him I would break that cycle in this land, his people would always have the same chances as anyone else in my land, this fires the fuel to my ambition even more. I'm almost happy I get a second chance at realizing my dreams. That's enough thinking back on that, I have a plan set now its time to flow it into motion. I push myself up one last time and get up cracking my neck and popping my knuckles, picking up my kimono sliding my arms into it and putting it on. Strapping my on my armor on, fitting the plated parts on my chest over my kimono. The metal is onyx on the armor making the armor a black color, and the part with wood was painted red, matching his flags colors. The wooden parts covered my arms and waist, while the metal protected my torso and chest, one of the wooden panels fit my shoulder. I pick up my blades wrapping them around my hip, letting them hang off my hip for quickdraw stance.
I walk outside my tent, looking at settling dusk, I keep my hand on my katana, as I make my way to my horse, running my hand through his mane. Petting his neck assuring him of the battle to come as I always do. I make my way guiding my horse over towards Fumikage, who has a bird on his arm taking a scroll from its beak. He skims the letter quickly before turning around to look at me. "Was that from Waibo, what did it have to say?" I ask him looking into his eyes. "It would seem the man your looking for is stationed at the stronghold right now, however it appears he is dissatisfied with his lords. He's been looking for ways out the country for months but he didn't have any luck in that regard." He informs me and I nod a bit and look at him. "Alright so they goal is to use this information to recruit him, we need to meet him on the battlefield, and speak to him. I'll offer him a better deal one that's never been offered before. Keep up the good work, did you get a chance to come up with a route through the forest?" I ask him and also inform of my plan and he just smirks which I assume means he agrees. Before he could even respond to me, I scratch the back of my head and start talking again. "Actually write Waibo one more time, I need him to speak to this Zexis and see if he'll agree on betraying his master, we could have him turn the tides from the inside. Its a risk I'm willing to take, don't tell him the plan but just tell him to be prepared to throw down arms. I'll fief him the castle and give him lordship along with the foundation of his own clan, if he reinforces us after we take the stronghold. He'll send his reinforcements to us against the Shinjitai." Fumikage nods and lets the bird sit on his shoulder as he walks back into his tent. "Right away Ishi, This is a good plan with plenty risks but if it pays off we wont have to do much fighting." He confirms his support for this plan.
I make my way over to Karu, who's currently instructing the soldier to place these man made straw dummies on the horses and strap them up and placing cloaks over them. I look around as I make my way to him with my horse next to me, the soldiers not working on the plan are taking down tents. All the men seem well rested and ready to battle, a energetic spirit in their steps. I notice some men polishing their weapons, and some of them doing maintenance on their armors. My men are indeed ready for battle, they put complete trust in their lord as it should be, I shall not let you down. Karu turns around and notices me walking towards him, and I nod at him before arriving in front of him. "Things look good here Karu, now I think its time I inform you on the plan, I've thought it through and were gonna recruit a retainer from the enemy. These horses that you've set up will make them use up their arrows, while we take the village behind the stronghold we'll have the leverage. If things go as plan they'll surrender but I had you set this up as contingency just in case we have to battle." I inform Karu of the plan, the pains of being a daimyo having to repeat to everyone. "Yes young master that sounds like a excellent plan and I assume you plan to fief something to this retainer that's usually how it works." He says and I nod in return confirming his suspicions. "Seeing as you understand Karu if things go past the contingency, I'll leave it up to your discretion, do as you see fit." I say as I nod and keep my hand on my horse. "Fumikage will be out here shortly, he had to take care of one last precaution." I inform him and look at the camp glancing over it, almost nothing is left everyone is pretty much packed up and ready to go. Its as if no one were even camped here. Just as everyone finishes preparing, Fumikage makes his way towards us, placing the scroll into the birds beak and sending him off to Waibo. "It is done Ishi, Now is it time for us to get a move on?" Fumikage asks after he completes his task. "Yeah its time to head out-" I was quickly cut off by Fumikage. "My apologies Ishi, I dont mean to interject but earlier you asked me and I never answered, I did secure a route through the forest well not exactly me its one my brother has used many times doing missions for your father should decrease travel time by half." He quickly says and mounts Akio as he looks down at me. "Well then lets go, Fumikage we have a army to lead. Also Karu when your sending the calvary blow the war horn, it will attract the enemies attention and signal us at the same time two bodies one blade." I nod informing him before whipping the reigns to make my horse gallop ahead at full speed. A small group of soldiers move with us on horseback with us down the path with Fumikage at the head. I move right behind him, we quicky turn into the forest. The leaves fly past our faces as we speed through them, the horses hooves kicking the dirt up. One tree branch glances over my head as I duck and were navigating this forest at the whim of Fumikage.
My hands grip the reign as we hear the war horn far off in the distance the siege has begun and we now have a race against time. Fumikage yells back at me "Were about halfway there we will make it in time!!!" I keep up with him nodding my head trusting him. I have to put my faith in him all these trees and landmarks look the same to me, every piece plays its role and Fumikage is doing his job as ninja. We storm through the forest, the feeling of time getting longer and longer but I know that its just my mind playing with me its only been a few minutes. I trust Karu but a fight without the commander at the helm is a uneasy feeling for both the soldiers and the leader. However I have to have faith in my comrades, We push forward and within sight puts all my nerves to rest. You see a village with a gate and guards at the front, they however could not react in time to closing the gate, as we popped from the forests slicing the two guards neck as we rode past them. "Capture the villagers and kill are the guards, with the exception of the ones who lay down arms, we do not kill those who are not warriors!!!" I scream to my soldiers as we ride through the village. Its your regular fishing village, a blacksmith who makes blades and supports the soldiers with the supply lines. Fisherman on the docks cowering in fear, when all they wanted was a peaceful life and a hardworking labor to support their families. We burn down the storages with arrows and blades as we pass them we vastly out number the guards here even with our small force, this village must be used to peaceful times. Before even a hour we manage to occupy this village made of straw and dirt, a poor village only used for ammunition and fish not very thriving because they don't have much to offer. If I was born into a different life this would be the life I would've wanted a peaceful village and smiles and happiness everyday. Of course there's always the chance it will get ripped away suddenly. Just like how I ripped it away from these people and I continuously tell myself it will all be worth it in the end. It will all be worth it in the end, how empty these words ring when I see this image of soldiers who promise to deliver peace, deliver chaos instead humans are vile indeed, I would know because I am. We have all the villagers grouped up into a small circle, and I look at them. "Do any of you know a Zexis he frequents his time here I'm sure, seeing as he stationed in the stronghold protecting this village. Your not dead because I've determined not to kill you, well for right now. so tell me a little about him." I Look down at them from the top of my horse with a gigantic smile. One of the children are the first to speak up hiding behind who looks like his father "The d-dark skin one, He's pretty nice he brings fruit but all the guards make fun of him and bully him just for being different." I chuckle a bit at the child after he says that and I scratch my head. "You've got guts kid, but thanks for speaking up you'll be a great samurai one day." The kids face lights up as I say that. Thinking to myself if that kid can say something like that this village isn't too bad and maybe its just the lords themselves and those they employ who treat him like that. "Next time you see him around thank him with all you've got all your spirit, because the next time you do see him he'll be your lord." I say pulling the reigns of my horse making him turn around, I'm sure they have a flabbergasted look on their face's.
"Alright soldiers lets move out we have a stronghold to take over!!" I yell and I look behind at my soldiers. The peasants, fishermen and the blacksmith bow their heads before raising them and scream "Lord Samurai please allow us to join you, My son was right that man is nice to use and if he is our lord, we have to help him! Lord Chitsu has treated us badly but it was peaceful as long as we keep our head down, But we don't want that anymore! We want to thrive while living in peace!!" They exclaim at the top of their lungs and as I hear it a smirk comes across my face. "Then get ready there's horses, you have pitchforks and left over katanas and spears. You are correct to want to live in peace while thriving, However sometimes you have to fight to obtain that peace like now you must fight to make a place for your lord to live." I draw my katana and lift it with all the air in my lungs I scream "Now with all your might fight for your lord, make your story to pass down to your children's children, make a home for them and your lord right here today!!" I aim my katana forward, sheathing it again on my hip and grabbing my reigns looking into the distance, looking at the stronghold. The future I want the story I want to make all starts with that stronghold whether he surrenders it, or he we take it from him and all the other retainers it will be ours! If he doesn't hand it over, he'll have to slaughter all the people who support him. If those retainers don't allow him to hand it over, I'll send their heads back to their Daimyo, after I send them the head of that Shinjitai dog they are trying to protect! If I have to paint myself a villain to unite this land, then I will and in this story the demon king will conquer all, a living nightmare in this land!