User:Kamek98/Shogun 2/Choshu/Battle of Tawarayama

The Battle of Tawarayama, also known as the Ambush at Tawarayama, was fought between the armies of the Chōshū Domain and the Tsuwano Domain on May 19th, 1864 during the prelude to the Boshin war. The battle concluded with a decisive victory for the Chōshū Domain.

Background
After gaining victories at Akitakata and Yamaguchi Castle over the Iwakuni Domain, the Chōshū had secured the western coast of Honshu from Shogunate-loyal influence. At the same time, the Saga Domain and the Satsuma Domain were warring against the Shogun-loyal Oka Domain who at the time controlled the bulk of Kyushu covering the eastern half of the island. The southwest portion of Kyushu was controlled by the Satsuma and the northwestern portion of Kyushu was controlled by the Saga. The Saga and the Satsuma had allied themselves against the Oka, who had allied themselves with the Tsushima-Fuchū Domain, and had formed a plan for waging war against their enemy. The Saga Domain agreed to fight the Oka and primarily the Tsushima-Fuchū via their naval force and the Satsuma agreed to wage war against primarily the Oka and the Tsushima-Fuchū via land.

The Chōshū themselves had no allies at the time but they also had no enemies. Seeking to eliminate Shogun influence from Kyushu and the west completely, the Chōshū had begun investing into reestablishing a navy (which the Mōri clan had superiority in during the Sengoku period) in order to keep up with other daimyos in the near future and in order to further contribute to Imperial-loyal influence through Japan.

At the time the Iwakuni fell to the Chōshū, the Tsuwano Domain, another Shogun-loyal force, had been preparing for military action against the Imperial-loyal forces in the west and since the Chōshū were neighboring the Tsuwano to the southwest it was primarily directed for an invasion of Nagato Province.

Sometime around late April/early May of 1864, the Tsuwano had declared war on the Chōshū. Days later, the Matsuyama Domain (who had recently taken Bingo Province and Aki Province, had also declared war on the Chōshū. The provinces of Nagato and Suo were in danger of falling.

Although fighting a common enemy, however, the Tsuwano and the Matsuyama were not allies. Therefore, the Chōshū army did not prepare for any conflicts that would involve facing multiple belligerents.

The battle
Near the Nagato-Iwami border, at Tawarayama, Matsuda Yasutsune set up an ambush of 700 soldiers intended to annihilate the marching forces led by Kamei Korekata.

When the Tsuwano army passed by they were immediately surrounded and attacked in all directions by the Chōshū. Kamei Korekata withdrew and barely escaped alive.

Aftermath
Following the defeat of Tsuwano, the Tsuwano had agreed to change to Imperial-loyal views and they also agreed to become the Chōshū's vassals. This also led to the wars between the Chōshū and the Tsushima-Fuchū Domain.