Kyushu, Japan.
The year is 1618 in the 15th year of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The previous Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, chose to distance Japan from European influence beginning with restrictive edicts issued in 1609 although the Shogunate still granted preferential trading rights to the Dutch East India Company.
By 1618, with the 1614 Christian Expulsion Edicts in place, only the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie - usually abbreviated to VOC) are allowed to trade in Japan and they are generally confined to the island of Hirado off the coast of Kyūshū and on an artificial island in the port of Nagasaki. The overlord of Kyushu is Yoshihiro Shimazu who has maintained close ties with the VOC since the departure of the Portuguese traders in the early part of the century.
Since the defeat and death of the Taiko's son at the Siege of Osaka in 1615 the Empire has largely been at peace under the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada and the nominal reign of Emperor Go-Mizunu-tennō. Despite this, there have been occasional raids across the Japan Sea by wako (pirates) from Korea and from displaced ronin on several smaller towns on the north-west coast of the Kyushu mainland.
Scenario
The village of Neshikocho near the Dutch Trading post on Hirado Island. A mixed group of Dutch traders, VOC soldiers and Japanese civilians are in the village when it is attacked by a boatful of wako and ronin from Yeosu Province in South East Korea.
Defenders:
3 Dutch sailors from the VOC trading vessel Trouwe (armed with muskets and swords)
4 VOC Soldiers (armed with muskets and swords)
5 Shimazu Samurai (armed with bows and swords)
1 Dutch merchant (armed with sword)
1 Dutch Interpreter/clerk (unarmed)
10 + Shimazu villagers (unarmed)
Objective - defend Villagers & (very valuable) clerk
Attackers:
Assorted Wako/Ronin variously armed.
Wako/ronin objectives - get loot/food/supplies and carry off any available women. Obviously, disposing of any soldiers/traders/samurai in the process will increase your prestige back home on Yeosu.
Soldiers/Sailors/Samurai objectives - defend villagers and loot and off any wako/ronin you can.
The year is 1618 in the 15th year of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The previous Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, chose to distance Japan from European influence beginning with restrictive edicts issued in 1609 although the Shogunate still granted preferential trading rights to the Dutch East India Company.
By 1618, with the 1614 Christian Expulsion Edicts in place, only the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie - usually abbreviated to VOC) are allowed to trade in Japan and they are generally confined to the island of Hirado off the coast of Kyūshū and on an artificial island in the port of Nagasaki. The overlord of Kyushu is Yoshihiro Shimazu who has maintained close ties with the VOC since the departure of the Portuguese traders in the early part of the century.
Since the defeat and death of the Taiko's son at the Siege of Osaka in 1615 the Empire has largely been at peace under the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada and the nominal reign of Emperor Go-Mizunu-tennō. Despite this, there have been occasional raids across the Japan Sea by wako (pirates) from Korea and from displaced ronin on several smaller towns on the north-west coast of the Kyushu mainland.
Scenario
The village of Neshikocho near the Dutch Trading post on Hirado Island. A mixed group of Dutch traders, VOC soldiers and Japanese civilians are in the village when it is attacked by a boatful of wako and ronin from Yeosu Province in South East Korea.
Defenders:
3 Dutch sailors from the VOC trading vessel Trouwe (armed with muskets and swords)
4 VOC Soldiers (armed with muskets and swords)
5 Shimazu Samurai (armed with bows and swords)
1 Dutch merchant (armed with sword)
1 Dutch Interpreter/clerk (unarmed)
10 + Shimazu villagers (unarmed)
Objective - defend Villagers & (very valuable) clerk
Attackers:
Assorted Wako/Ronin variously armed.
Wako/ronin objectives - get loot/food/supplies and carry off any available women. Obviously, disposing of any soldiers/traders/samurai in the process will increase your prestige back home on Yeosu.
Soldiers/Sailors/Samurai objectives - defend villagers and loot and off any wako/ronin you can.
Defenders:
Attackers:
Report to Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie - Zerkooftstraat, Rotterdam
27th of April 1618AD
Another Raid on Kyushu by Pirates.
Sir,
I am concerned to report a pirate attack close to our trading base on the island of Hirado on the north-west coast of the Japans. Although the raid was not aimed at our trading post - reliable sources close to the Shogunate state that the incursion was by exiled Nobunaga ronin presently resident in Korea - several of our VOC soldiers and sailors were killed and wounded in the attack.
The attack began with a shipload of ronin landing from a Korean 'turtle boat' in a secluded cove near the village of Neshikocho. Some villagers gave the alarm and a group of samurai loyal to Shimazu, the local daimyo, gave battle. Despite their heroic efforts the ronin broke through towards the village and our VOC soldiers, helped by some sailors from the Goodship Trouwe engaged them near the inn.
I myself was enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the inn when the attack started and I joined the defenders after ordering our clerk & interpreter Hieronymus Ten Caat to rush for help to the Shimazu fortress at the far end of the island.
However, such was the fury and savagery of the assault that we were overcome and obliged to flee along with the villagers leaving several of our number on the ground - including our good Captain Jaap Bakema and three of the crew of the Trouwe.
The fury of the attack was such that not only had we lost half of our number but the gallant defending samurai had only one stalwart remaining afterwards and by the time a relieving Shimazu cavalry force arrived at the village it had been thoroughly pillaged and the houses set ablaze.
A galley from the nearby naval base pursued the fleeing turtle boat after the raid but a storm from the north obliged it to turn back.
Your obt. servant
Jansenius Van Der Poel
Hirado
The Japans.
Postscript - In consultation with Lord Yoshihiro Shimazu - He has proposed a punitive expedition to Yeosu (lair of the miscreants) on the Korean coast if the VOC would be willing to pay at least a share of the cost. Given that the pirates attacked and seized our Goodship Blinde Bootschaap just last month I have tentatively agreed on our financial participation in the expedition to the extent of four hundred and fifty guilders. I hope that this proposal meets with your approval.
