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Battle of Sekigahara in 1600
On September 15, 1600 at 2:00 pm, 300 troop led by Shimazu Yoshihiro, surrounded by about 70000 enemy troop, suddenly dashed to the enemy's front (30000 troop). Their goal was to charge straight through the enemy's troop to make an exit at the other side. By having his troop make a fighting retreat called Sutegamari where until certain number of men died holding a position and repelling an attack, the main body of army fought as well. Their tactic was almost suicidal. Even the bravest of the enemy troop were daunted. Yoshihiro's troop moved forward, advanced on the enemy's main unit at once and suddenly changed their course to a broadway. "Do not let them get away!" The enemy's chief commander, Tokugawa Ieyasu, ordered the pursuit of Shimazu. Ieyasu's elite troop gradually caught up with the Shimazu troop. Suddenly, however, some Shimazu soldiers stood up against the enemy. All of them were finally killed. But Shimazu soldiers dared to carry out the suicidal defense one after another. Yoshihiro's brother, Toyohisa, and the bulk of the troop were killed, but the charge and the retreat was a success and killed or fatally wounded some of their enemy commanders. Soon, Yoshihiro and his troop reached Sakai Port near Osaka. They finally reached their homeland, Satsuma, by sea. But the number of their troop who survived the battle was only 80. |