Part 17: Update 15 (Pre-Realm Divide Summary)

Well, this ended up being a lot more work than I expected, although if that was because of the illness or from actual work required, I couldn't say. If anyone has any other information they want, now would be the time to ask, as I will gladly add it to this summary update.

If the Agent/General is above minimum rank, you can click their profile to see their skill tree. Provinces are in alphabetical order and their location is marked as white on the map.

The empire of the Taira




Town Name: Tokushima
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, School, Empty Slot(!), Dry Field Agriculture (Average Soil), Roads


Army Present: 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 0), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1)

Awa is our only province not located on the mainland and is one of the named victory provinces that we must hold in order to win the game. While it currently is surrounded by relatively friendly clans, Realm Divide will mean it is a province that is surrounded and difficult to reinforce. To ensure we are better suited to holding on to it, it contains a Stronghold and Town Watch, in addition to a small force bringing the strength up to a half stack. Sadly it is worth very little and so is a net drain on our economy that will only increase as the need for troops grows. It has Roads which allow for rapid replenishment of units damaged in combat, which will be essential as it is likely to face attacks from multiple fronts at a fairly regular rate, so ensuring that the defending forces are at full strength will be top priority. The empty building slot will need to be filled with something like a Barter Exchange to help extract some more koku out of the province to offset the garrison costs here. The economic growth in Awa is actually fairly respectable for such a poor province, although it will still only cover the cost of an additional levy unit upkeep every 15 turns (Assuming a Barter Exchange is built).




Town Name: Ueno
Buildings: Town, Town Watch, Food Stores, Dry Field Agriculture (Meagre Soil), Trails, Isolated Hamlet


Army Present: 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 2 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Monomi (Rank 1), Junsatsushi (Rank 1)

Iga is a low value central province with the Ninja Clans speciality, enabling the recruitment of an additional Monomi. Due to the dangerous nature of the surrounding provinces, it is designed as a form of honeypot to entice the computer to attack it when Realm Divide triggers instead of my higher value provinces like Kii and Kyoto. The province is designed to be easily retaken and as such does not have a Stronghold, consisting only of a Town, although a Town Watch is constructed. It also makes this province a large net producer of food, as combined with the Food Stores it generates 2 food above what it consumes. While the growth is respectable, the actual value of the province is mediocre and poorly positioned so any attack on it would leave the aggressor out of position to defend their more valuable home province, which would be counter-attacked from Settsu and Kyoto. It is unlikely to see much development as it is simply too poor to convert into a full economic province, while the position makes it terrible for military or logistical support. This leaves food production as the best option, but since we currently are running a large food surplus, further investment is unlikely.





Town Name: Tottori
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, Barter Exchange, Clan Estate, Dry Field Agriculture (Fertile Soil), Trails, Harbour, Pirate Cove


Army Present: Munemori (Rank 4), 1 x Naginata Attendants (Rank 4), 1 x Naginata Attendants (Rank 3), 1 x Naginata Attendants (Rank 2), 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 2), 3 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison, Sadatoki
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Shirabyoshi (Rank 1), Junsatsushi (Rank 1)

Inaba is our northwestern border province currently adjacent to our sister Taira clan, the Yashima Taira. Due to this the province is currently secure, but Realm Divide ensures that this is unlikely to continue for any length of time. Due to this it has been solidly fortified and defended with a Stronghold, Town Watch and Munemori's force. The force is designed to be see off any attacks made against Inaba, although it is still to small to fulfill it's primary role during Realm Divide, as a rapidly deployable force to retake provinces invaded by sea in the north. Expansion from this province is not a priority, although with the neighbouring provinces being converted to Taira (as they are now owned by the Yashima Taira), Sadatoki, the junsatsushi, is in a perfect position to simply purchase additional provinces to the west as a replacement for expansion through military force. It is a lynchpin province, as it would be difficult, if not impossible, for me to hold on to my northern provinces if it fell. The wealth of the province as well as the need to station many troops there means that it is a likely focus for further economic development.





Town Name: Wakayama
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, Barter Exchange, Shinden, Dry Field Agriculture (Very Fertile Soil), Trails, Isolated Hamlet


Army Present: 1x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 2x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison, Noriaki (Rank 2)
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Monomi (Rank 1), Shirabyoshi (Rank 1), Junsatsushi (Rank 1)

Kii is one of my most precarious provinces, as the combination of riches, logistical isolation and many nearby threats ensure it is unlikely to remain untouched. The province town is within marching distance of both our Minamoto trade partner and our vassal, making it a likely target when they declare war. Iga is, in part at least, designed to be a more tempting target and so hopefully draw troops away from Kii. With this in mind, Kii has been developed for defence with a Stronghold and Town Watch, but the army stationed here is still quite small when compared with the full stacks in the adjacent provinces, so further troop recruitment is required. With Realm Divide almost on top of us however, it's unlikely that many troops will be raised in time. The province is very wealthy and is likely to see further economic development, although the military needs of the province have top priority. The Junsatsushi provides a possible line of defence, as he may be able to bribe a portion of the incoming forces in a desperation move, if it should come to that. He also acts as a failsafe if the province should fall, as he would be able to immediately begin seeking the allegiance of the completely Taira province, as the income from the province would quickly cover any such expenses.




Town Name: Kyoto
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, Market, Shinden, Dry Field Agriculture (Fertile Soil), Trails, State Academy


Army Present: Shigehira (Rank 2), 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 2 x Bow Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison, Mitsukazu, Mimi
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Shirabyoshi (Rank 1), Junsatsushi (Rank 1)

Kyoto is the beating heart of my economy, producing more income than my next two richest provinces combined as well as an enormous research boost. It enjoys a relatively secure position, but suffers the same fate as Kii, it borders two clans that will turn on me in Realm Divide. Due to the wealth it provides and the risk it is under, it is defended by a Stronghold and Town Watch, as well as a force lead by Shigehira. The defensive force is only marginally larger than the one that defends Kii and suffers similar problems. Mitsukazu is located here and provides the same backup option that Sadatoki, the Kii junsatsushi, enables, namely, the ability to repurchase the province should it fall. Mimi, our only shirabyoshi, is also here, although she is providing no actual benefit until she ranks up due to the growth bonus being just enough to trip additional growth loss from tax. Kyoto is absolutely essential to my plan for victory and it is imperative that I eliminate both the nearby threats as soon as possible when Realm Divide begins. It is one of the named victory provinces.





Town Name: Okazaki
Buildings: Town, Town Watch, Food Stores, Dry Field Agriculture (Average Soil), Trails, Harbour, Small Iron Mine


Army Present: Tomomori (Rank 5), 2 x Foot Samurai (Rank 5), 1 x Naginata Attendants (Rank 2), 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 3), 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 2), 3 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 2), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 0), 2 x Bow Warrior Monks (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison, Nakamitsu
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Junsatsushi (Rank 1)

Mikawa is our most recently acquired province and is located on the south eastern border of our empire. As a recently conquered province, it has no support for the Taira, requiring a large garrison force to remain in order to ensure peace. While the discontent has not built up yet, it will steadily increase at 1 a turn until it reaches a penalty to happiness of around 8. Tomomori is currently acting as a garrison force, although his army is required to seize the victory province of Settsu and as such will not be around to garrison the location. It also suffers from only having a Town and not a Stronghold, so one will need to be constructed as soon as possible in order to keep the area secure. The Food Stores ensure that even with a Stronghold, the province will be food positive. It also has rich Iron deposits, giving us access to the Iron trade good and making units recruited here cheaper. This is good news, as it means that the units which we need to build in order to ensure peace will have a reduced economic impact. Nakamitsu is also here, as the appearance of enemy junsatsushi would be devastating with such high support for opposing clans. Despite the fact that junsatsushi are the counter unit to monomi, the risk is simply too great to not have every option available if one should arrive. Mikawa has respectable wealth and growth, making it a useful province in many ways, albeit in purely economic ways.




Town Name: Inokuchi
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, Shinden, Empty Slot, Dry Field Agriculture (Average Soil), Trails, Silk Workshop


Army Present: Ietoyo (Rank 0), 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 5 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Shirabyoshi (Rank 1)

Mino is a province that I am somewhat unsure what I want to do with it. It's a fantastic chokepoint with the Minamoto to our east, complete with a Stronghold, Town Watch and Ietoyo's force. The defences are hardly ideal for fighting samurai, but quality troop production facilities are all currently engaged on other tasks, leaving only the local levy production to continue the fortification. It may be possible to expand east into Minamoto land from Mino, but at the same time, it's just as likely to be fighting a desperate defence. As our only supplier of silk, it has moderate value, but the low value of silk combined with the poor town wealth means that Mino is of little use economically, unable to sustain even the troops currently defending it. While clan support is not high in the province, it is rising thanks to the existence of a Shinden and unrest is on the decline. I am giving serious consideration to demolishing the Shinden and creating a military reinforcement point, as it's located in a natural choke area, although it is not naturally accessible from the north as the map would suggest. Ietoyo is stationed here as I expect it to see some action and with a crew of levy a general is required. It also takes advantage of Ietoyo's Commissioner of Finance ability as he is the highest ranking general in this army (so upkeep is reduced in this stack by 2%).





Town Name: Otsu
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, Shinden, Barter Exchange, Dry Field Agriculture (Very Fertile Soil), Trails, Isolated Hamlet


Army Present: 4 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison, Yasunobu
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Monomi (Rank 1), Shirabyoshi (Rank 1), Junsatsushi (Rank 1)

Omi is a central economic province of high value, similar to Kyoto and Kii. Although the growth of this province is less than ideal, the wealth is very high considering the relatively low level of development of the buildings in it, with most of this drawing from the very fertile soil of the province. It is, however, vulnerable from attack from both the north and the south and so has the usual complement of defence for high value provinces with a Stronghold and Town Watch, as well as a small detachment of troops. Our second most skilled junsatsushi, Yasunobu, is located here and dramatically improves the tax take from this province, much like his mentor in Kyoto, Mitsukazu. It is also notable for the large array of agents it can produce, all are available for recruitment with the exception of the Sou. As a relatively undeveloped province, economic investment is likely to be channelled through Omi, as the lower level buildings tend to provide the fastest time until profit (although not the highest profit boost per turn).




Town Name: Inazawa
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, Bushi School, Empty Slot, Dry Field Agriculture (Very Fertile Soil), Roads, Harbour


Army Present: 1 x Mounted Naginata (Rank 1), 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Sword Attendants (Rank 2), Foot Samurai (Rank 0), Bow Attendants (Rank 2)

Owari is a province of average prosperity but relatively high military value. The province contains a Bushi School, making it the only place on the eastern border that can produce Foot Samurai or Sword Attendants, with a travel time of 4 turns being the next closest producing province. Unfortunately, it is far from secure as the clan support in this province is at a catastrophically low level and improving at a glacial pace. You will notice the faded out icon on the red bar in the summary screen indicating that unrest will increase next turn and indeed will likely increase for the next 6 or so turns. This means I must produce a unit in this province every turn or else face rebellion. As Non-Levy units take more than 1 turn to recruit, Owari is trapped in producing Levy for the foreseeable future as all the nearby provinces are either desperately bolstering their own meagre garrisons or also preventing unrest growth. Town growth is solid and all the wealth of the province is derived from the very fertile soils located here. While transforming this province into an economic powerhouse is certainly a solid course of action, with military logistical support so poor on our eastern flank, I may simply have to let that opportunity pass. The Harbour enables sea trade, although the utility of that will be questionable this close to Realm Divide.




Town Name: Fukuhara
Buildings: Stronghold, Tadokoro, Legendary Koryu Dojo, Buddhist Sanctuary, Pastures (Average Soil), Trails, Coastal Village


Army Present: Kiyomori (Rank 0), Norioki (Rank 0), Onna Bushi Heroine (Rank 2), Naginata Attendants (Rank 1), 4x Naginata Levy (rank 0), 4x Bow Levy (Rank 0), 2x Naginata Levy Garrison, 1x Bow Levy Garrison, 1 x Onna Bushi Garrison
Recruitable: Mounted Naginata (Rank 1), Onna Bushi Heroine (Rank 2), Naginata Attendants (Rank 4), Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Warrior Monks (Rank 4), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Sou (Rank 1)

Settsu is our capital and as such, a named victory province. It is also the iron fist from which all the might of our empire radiates, keeping not only the nearby clans in check, but the staging point for our inevitable expansion west during Realm Divide. Kiyomori guards it with his life, along with his wife and her retainers, all of whom are deadly in combat. It is also the location of Tomoe Gozen, the Onna Bushi Heroine, making Settsu the centre of Japan for the most dangerous women! As our clan capital, it can produce 2 units a turn by default instead of the 1 of all other provinces. Due to the quality and quantity of the defending forces, the province only contains a Stronghold and Tadokoro, as it would be a foolish or brave enemy who would dare attack it! With the Legendary Koryu Dojo being located here, the quality of the troops produced here is astronomical and rapid, with the Attendants and Monks being produced here coming out of the gate at rank 4, right on par with some of our most experienced veterans. It is also our only cavalry producing province, being the location of the only Pastures in our empire. With the quality of the troops produced here being so marked compared to our other provinces (and our enemies for that matter!), it would be foolish in the extreme to not invest further in the military capacity of the province to ensure even more rapid troop deployment and replenishment, as well as the expansion of the defensive fortifications. As the very heart and soul of the Taira empire, it must never be allowed to fall into enemy hands. As long as we hold Settsu, rapid and deadly counter-attacks can be launched to any corner of Japan.




Town Name: Zushi
Buildings: Town, Tadokoro, School (Damaged), Dry Field Agriculture (Barren Soil), Trails, Coastal Village


Army Present: 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 2 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 1 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1)

Tajima is a poor and unremarkable province, notable only for the fact it is a named victory province. Even with that distinction, it is so poor and in such a bad position that I have little care about if it falls or not. With only a Town and Tadokoro, not a single koku has been spent on defending it, which is about how much I earn from it! The two levy units stationed there consume the entire value of the province in upkeep, having it contribute absolutely nothing to our empire. It is close enough to Tomomori and his forces that I simply expect to retake the province with his army when it inevitably gets invaded and overtaken. Fortifications would simply get in the way of this lacklustre province. When it was overtaken, the enemy looted the province and burned down the school, which I have neglected to repair. The bonus from the school does not push me over any threshold to reduce time to master an art and so repairs are wasted koku which I can ill afford. It's also important to note that buildings repair themselves at 2% a turn, so it gets cheaper to repair the longer I leave it (Forever).




Town Name: Kameyaka
Buildings: Town, Muster Field, Bushi School, Dry Field Agriculture (Average Soil), Trails


Army Present: 3 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Bow Levy (Rank 0), 2 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 1 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Sword Attendants (Rank 2), Foot Samurai (Rank 0), Bow Attendants (Rank 2)

Tamba is a secure and central province that is also a named victory province. With the central location and the security this provides, it has been developed with a Bushi School, making it the Foot Samurai recruitment province for the western portion of our empire. To further enhance this position, it has been equipped with a Muster Field, enabling the recruitment of 2 units a turn. This military value is all the province has going for it, however, as economically it is exceptionally poor and doesn't even manage to upkeep it's (meagre) defensive force. It's unlikely to see any further improvements, since it achieves it's intended goal admirably, the production of Foot Samurai.




Town Name: Miyazu
Buildings: Town, Tadokoro, Koryu Training Grounds, Dry Field Agriculture (Meagre Soil), Trails, Coastal Village


Army Present: 3 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 2 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 1 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1), Naginata Attendants (Rank 1)

Tango continues the tradition of my northern provinces by being of little interest both economically or militarily. Unlike Tajima, it is not a named victory province and so is of even less interest for me to hold, hence the Town and Tadokoro. It is not completely useless, however. The Koryu Training School enables the recruitment of Naginata Attendants gives it some ability to bolster our northern forces, although the proximity to Settsu means that it is more effective to produce the super elite rank 4 Attendants in Settsu and move them up taking a total of 3 turns instead of recruiting the green Attendants here at the cost of 2 turns. The value remains in that a unit which is a turn away is of no use in combat, no matter how elite. Once again, upgrading the province is a very low priority, although I am considering a Town Watch at the very least. The force defending this province is equally prioritised, with only a token force to maintain order. It is not expected to hold up against even a token invasion force. As a northern province with a Coastal Village, it holds some use if I wish to expand into the northern sea through the construction of a military port to expand my sea power, but since northern seaborne invasions can only go through the 4 exposed provinces, 2 of which are heavily defended, this is unlikely to be a priority.




Town Name: Obama
Buildings: Stronghold, Town Watch, School, Free Space, Dry Field Agriculture (Meagre Soil), Trails, Coastal Village


Army Present: 2 x Naginata Levy (Rank 0), 1 x Naginata Levy (Rank 1), 2 x Bow Levy (Rank 1), 3 x Naginata Levy Garrison, 2 x Bow Levy Garrison
Recruitable: Naginata Levy (Rank 1), Bow Levy (Rank 1)

The last of the northern provinces, Wakasa acts as the defensive chokepoint from any eastern aggression. To this end it is furnished with a Stronghold and Town Watch, in addition to a much larger defensive force than the other northern provinces. The province directly to the east is exceptionally valuable and I would love to seize it, but the logistical issues of moving any sizeable force make it a pipe dream, at best. Simply holding this province will be challenge enough, especially since it lacks the capacity to project force in any meaningful manner.

Sneak Peak: An endless war