#96
96. THE TAN-DAI'S CALLS UPON OKAMOTO SHIGEOKI TO ARMED
                                        SERVICE, 1348
             (Okamoto docs.; also KK, VII; Dai Ni-hon shi-ryo, VI, xi, 407, 765. )
THE prestige of the Southern Count received another blow from the fall in battle, in Kawachi, on
4 Februaly 1348, of Kusunoki Masatsura, the chief warrior on whom it had relied. Reporting this
event to Shimadzu Sadahisa, Ashikaga Tadayoshi wrote: "Now it will not be difficult to reduce
Yoshino. "1 The affairs in south Kyu-shu were, however, far from being favorable to the sho-gun.
By the following letters, the tan-dai of Kyu-shu, Isshiki Noriuji, urged Okamoto Shigeoki to go to
the rescue of the fortress of Ikebe heroically defended by Nikaido, (Cf. No. 92).

                                           A
     "IT is reported that the rebels of Satsuma kuni have [of late]2 been particularly
turbulent. You shall render loyal service in war in strict obedience, and succor the
fortress of Ikebe. Therefore, the order is conveyed thus.
  "Jo-wa 4 y. 2 m. 9 d. [19 March 1348].   Shami, (Isshiki Noriuji's monogram).
      "Shibuya Kuro3 dono. "
P252
                                         B
    "Since it was rumored that the rebels of Satsuma kuni would attack the fortress
of Ikebe, it has previously been ordered that you should give it your aid. It is re-
ported that this has not been done. What is the reason? You shall speedily hasten
thither and subdue [the enemy]. Therefore, the order is conveyed thus.
  "Jo-wa 4 y. 8 m. 17 d. [10 September 1348].
                                      Ku-nai sho-yu, (Isshiki Naouji's monogram).
      " Shibuya Kuro3 dono. "


1The letter dated 1 m. 12 d. ; SK, XVI, and Dai Ni-hon s.r., VI, xi, 352. 2Supplied from an almost identical letter of the same date by the same writer addressed to Shimadzu Munehisa: ibid. , VI, xi, 407. 3Okamoto Shigeoki.