"Hachiman Great Bodhisattva! Stop! Warriors and fleet, stop! Form ranks and defend!..."
"A misunderstanding! This must be some kind of misunderstanding... Send an envoy. Explain our intentions. Show goodwill to the Sanda Great Chieftain!...!"
"The gifts? Shojiro, bring all three of those splendid robes! Yes, send them all, including my Dharma robe! Only precious silk finery is worthy of so powerful a Sanda chieftain!..."
The Sun rose to the middle of the sky, and the two armies, separated by the Shiribetsu River, laid out defensive formations right at the river mouth. A gold trade of such grave importance involved far too great a scale of goods and wealth. And since neither side had enough mutual trust or restraints, they had no choice but to draw out their military strength and put on the posture of going to war for every single transaction.
Five large Wajin ships were moored south of the river. On each ship were six or seven Tendai Sect warrior monks holding Wago, along with some short-clad sailors carrying Rattan Bows. More than two hundred Kakizaki warriors stood right beside the Wajin ships, forming a Pike Formation under the protection of the archers, tensely guarding against the far bank.
The army of the "Sanda Great Chieftain" formed up north of the river. Three galleys were arrayed in a line, also topped with rows of armored archers. The Samurai Spear Formation, Hunter Skirmish Formation, and Heavy Armor Vanguard had all adjusted direction, facing straight across the river toward the Wajin battle formation.
As for the most numerous Ainu tribal soldiers, because they had been in formation for too long, they gradually shifted from a circular formation into a scattered one, and the noise among them grew clamorous. A dozen or so Kingdom Warriors leading the troops scolded them and