A Dire Strategy(Motochika)

[Zhuge Liang]

Within Tosa, the Chosokabe homebase, Zhuge Liang was given a room within his new lords fiefdom. The very same room that Zhuge had proposed his stratagems to Motochika before and had taught Nobuchika a few so far. Zhuge Liang sat in his chair at the table with a map of Japan on it. As his hand motioned the fan within it signaled one of the guards to fetch Chosokabe Motochika.

Word had came that the Oda, who Zhuge had first encountered coming to Japan, had began grasping the mainland of Japan within their grip. Zhuge knew that something must be done to impede their march. For now, no one could contend with them and the Chosokabe were surely not prepared for a full scale war against the Oda. So, Zhuge came up with a plan to slow the Oda's march down.

[Simon]

It was one thing to go down the road that leads to your goals, but it was another when other roads cross the road you were going down, and it was essential to make sure you still kept on going the right way, and not adopt another, as who would continue your own?

The Chosokabe now held the provinces of Tosa and Sanuki, and now preparations were underway for unifying Shikoku with the taking of Awa and Iyo provinces from the weak Kono and Miyoshi clans. With the strong Sogo threat eliminated, the name of the Chosokabe stretched far and wide, but so did another, and not long after, a call came to him that Zhuge Liang wished to meet with him.

As soon as the guards reached Motochika, informing him of Zhuge Liang's desire to meet with him, he nodded, and immediately followed until they came into his quarters, in which he turned to him and smiled, "You called?", walking closer to see him.

(OOC: Will also point out this thread that I set up for us so all Chosokabe are together and arrange the next battles, but this thread can still go on since the Oda threat would be known)

[Zhuge Liang]

Zhuge nodded as Motochika came into his quarters. His fan waving as pre-usual he spoke softly. "As you are well aware of, the Oda threat is growing larger and larger. I have devised a series of plans to slow down the Oda's conquest of the mainland." Zhuge's arm now extended to a seat next to him. To offer Motochika, his lord, a seat out of respect.

He waved his fan again before speaking. "If you so wish, I can gather up some of the Chosokabe's strength and resources and launch an expedition into the mainland in the name of the Chosokabe. With that being said, my aim would not be to unify the mainland for the Chosokabe. Merely to hinder the advancements of the Oda." Zhuge's plan was a lot more in-depth then what he had mentioned to Motochika, but he was reassured that his lord already knew that. Likewise, his plan was to strike the Oda in multiple areas at once, to slow down the Oda and merely distract his forces.

[Simon]

"As you are well aware of, the Oda threat is growing larger and larger. I have devised a series of plans to slow down the Oda's conquest of the mainland", Zhuge Liang began as he extended his arm to offer him a seat which he took.

It was true that the Oda were growing at an immense pace, and if they did not do something, then the quest of unification would be even more difficult. Then again, a thought in his mind wondered about how it would be to rise against the growing tide, though being one step ahead and bringing his goal, his destiny, his fate, much closer to reality was more ideal.

Zhuge Liang then offered a solution, offering to launch a campaign onto the mainland to prevent Oda from gaining too much power, in which he responded, "And when would this expedition begin? and other than our men and resources, is there anything else you need?", wondering if he would request Nobuchika's assistance, since he had spent much time with Zhuge Liang. Asking just so he knew where he stood and where and what it would leave him, since he had his own campaign to unite Shikoku first.

[Zhuge Liang]

Zhuge would smile to Motochika's next comment. "And when would this expedition begin? and other than our men and resources, is there anything else you need?" His mind was focus at hand, but well at ease.

"I will need your son, Nobuchika, as well...As for the expedition itself, within the week Motochika." This of course would leave Motochika undermanned within Shikoku, but he had his family here. Chikayasu was a valuable general and capable of assisting in Shikoku. His next words would be ones that he had already per-arranged. "While you and your family secure Shikoku, Your son and I shall take mainly engineers towards the mainland." One of Zhuge's capabilities would use these engineers very wisely.

"I do have a question however, shall I claim provinces in the name of the Chosokabe or stick to nagging at the heals of the Oda?" If Zhuge could claim territories within the mainland then when the Chosokabe decided to move their efforts there they would have a foothold. Although his main ideas were to prevent the Oda from growing even more powerful uncontested.

[Simon]

"I will need your son, Nobuchika". To hear his name brought a smile on Motochika's face, both as a leader to see his General rise, aswell as his son rise to great heights. Afterall, he was his eldest and his heir, and the Chosokabe would need a strong leader to continue his work or maintain the united land he would leave behind. That was the thing about Motochika, he accepted the facts, but was rebellious in a way, which is why he found going against a rising tide interesting, but ever since Zhuge Liang arrived on his shores, his goal was now determined by the Heavens it seemed.

In the last battle, Nobuchika had performed exceedingly well with luring the enemy then beating the enemy back, while he himself wrapped things up. Motochika was determined not to leave his island until his island was united and under his control, but was safe in the knowledge that Zhuge Liang, as he had in the last battle, would also perform exceptionally well with his timely reinforcements and weakening the troops inside the castle.

"While you and your family secure Shikoku, your son and I shall take mainly engineers towards the mainland", he explained, which cleared up what he would have and what he himself would have. Either way, it was essential that they move quickly, especially with the rising tide in the East, as they too needed a strong tide in the West to prevent the tide in the East from taking over theirs as they done with others on the mainland.

Zhuge Liang had warned him of the ambitions of those on the mainland which wished to oppose fate, and it seemed there was a rising star who wished to compete with fate. Regardless, they had to be ready, and one question that he had to think about was the question Zhuge Liang enquired about, whether to claim provinces while he worked on the mainland, or solely work on preventing Oda's movement.

He raised his hand to his chin. If Zhuge Liang did claim provinces then a foothold would be achieved, but if Zhuge Liang focused on preventing Oda's expansion, then soon as Shikoku was united, he then had an option to move onto the mainland since Zhuge Liang's work would prevent the mainland from being overcome by the Oda, "What would be the best course of action in your view?". Afterall, he was his advisor.

[Zhuge Liang]

Zhuge lifted a peace of paper which had troop counts and the approximate costs to train them. In which he handed to Motochika to muster up. He then waved his fan before speaking. "Hit and Run tactics Motochika. Strike the Oda hard and fast and then leave...open conflict is one thing to avoid with them."

[Simon]

Motochika took the paper Zhuge Liang passed to him and overlooked it, as he listened to his advice, which was to solely focus on slowing down the Oda, "Hit and Run tactics", and Zhuge Liang definitely spoke the truth about "open conflict" not being the best option, especially with the specifications he had requested. Afterall, taking more land so quickly, means they'd be overextending themselves too much.

He nodded in response, before looking back up to him, "Your request is granted and your wise advice taken Zhuge Liang.", before a smile crept up his face, probably more like a smirk, "Though...I shall indeed miss your company and your counsel Zhuge Liang", but what has to be done, must be done, while Nobuchika got wiser the more he was taught by him.

[Zhuge Liang]

Zhuge would smile softly and rise from his chair to proceed to bow. As his head was lowered he spoke to Motochika. "If I get in over my head I will surely not waste the lives of our men and return with haste." Zhuge's head rose to look at Motochika. He had just as quickly arrived here some way of heaven and now he was fighting for a very honorable lord. One who reminded him very much of his former lord, Master Liu Bei. Surely Motochika was different in his own ways, but at heart they seemed identical.

"I shall take my leave my lord." He said waving his hand so the guard would make preparations for his leave. Word had came that Motochika had already rallied up significant forces for Zhuge Liang's Expedition.