MIJ-02
John Jenkins Designs
The Mongols advanced as far as Mizuki, (water castle), an earthwork moat fort dating back to 664, and it was here that the fighting reached its climax. The Samurai defenders were under the command of Shoni Kagesuke. He was with two companions when they noticed Liu Fuxiang, a senior Mongol commander, who had come within bow range. Kagesuke took aim and shot the Mongol commander in the face.
It is believed because of the loss of this important leader the Mongol advance was stalled, and a withdrawal began back to the ships. With this tactical withdrawal the first invasion concluded, because the armies never again left their ships for Japanese soil. Instead, they set sail back to Korea.
A passage in a Japanese text describes the following
“The Mongols disembarked from their ships, mounted their horses, raised their banners and began the attack. The grandson of the Japanese commander in chief Shoni Nyudo Sukeyoshi, who was barely 12 or 13 years old, loosed a signalling arrow with a small head (to start the battle) but all the Mongols just burst out laughing. They beat large drums and banged gongs and sometimes fired bombs made from paper and iron. The Japanese horses were so frightened by these stupendous sounds that they could not be controlled. Because they could not handle their horses, none could face the enemy. The short Mongol arrows had their tips smeared with poison. Some were overcome by the effects of the poison. Ten thousand men in all were prepared with their arrows and fired them so that they fell like rain. Halberds and long shafted weapons were carried with no empty space between them….”
“The commander in chief of their army took up a position on high ground, and when they had to pull back he beat the drum of retreat. When they were to advance, he struck the attack gong.”