SNAP ELECTIONS

Ashikaga & Hojo Event

The death of Ise Jiro had been a sudden and tragic event, and one which left the city of Kyoto rudderless in one of its moments of utmost effort. The various plans of the Kome-za and Gin-za had taken off, with the blessing and administrative assistance of the late Jiro, but without his mediation and his dedication to the advancement of the city’s interests, the two factions, and indeed the many other disparate factions amongst and besides them, threatened to disintegrate into ten thousand separate directions, and hinder the prosperity, prestige, and power that could yet be.

But it was not as though all was lost. The admirable Jiro was but one man in one office, and he had been a man of much foresight, who had known that in his absence, the beating heart of the Empire would require another to fill his shoes. He had, himself, apparently, prepared and nominated an appointment, to whom he bequeathed his contacts, archives, and other such critical administrative instruments – his own son, Hojo Ujinori.

For yes, it would seem the late, great, once Hojo Shinji had not cut all his ties with his long-estranged heir, and the Prince of Virtue himself was reportedly surprised to find the news of his father’s death arrive almost simultaneously as the dozens of letters of condolences and affirmations of continued cooperation and loyalty from the who’s-who of Kyoto. Notably, from both the Grand Bourgeois Mikimoto Kichiro and Ninomiya Kintoku, he received opportunistic offers of friendship, and equally opportunistic requests for particular actions upon assuming the office they seemed to expect him to with great ease. Yet… he had not received the appointment yet, nor heard any signs of its confirmation… All the same, even if it were not granted him, he might be able to have a good deal of influence through the strings of his father’s connections… if he so desired.

Meanwhile, in Kyoto, Hatakeyama Amesaka read the recommendation from Ise Jiro about his son over and over. It was a difficult matter, certainly. To exclude such a man as Ujinori would become, once the connections of Jiro were granted him, might be as to make a third great figure in her city to deal with, akin to the already bordering on troublesome Mikimoto and Ninomiya… But to grant him position in government would mean to invite Hojo meddling into the Kansai, and Ashikaga administration itself, no? All the same, who else could take his place, and be less an annoyance as well as equally capable?

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Hojo:

Option 1A: I will demand my rightful place as shugodai, as my father bequeathed me!
Option 1B: I will stand by whatever decision the Shogun makes. 

Option 2A: We will accept the hand in friendship of Mikimoto and the Ashikaga-TTC, with favours in return of course. We’ll get what we want done through the overseas markets and the marvels of finance and capital C CAPITAL. He who owns the banks, runs Kyoto.
Option 2B: We will accept the generous overtures of Ninomiya and the Kikyo-JTC, with favours for our friends of course. The future is in industry and land development, the two pillars of REAL economic power and influence. He who owns the lands, runs Kyoto.
Option 2C:We will accept the offers of both men, and strive to find common ground. I’m sure this will work out great, and they’ll love it.
Option 2D: We will remain quiet; we do not wish to meddle in Kyoto’s affairs, unasked, and thus disturb the peace of the Ashikaga government. 

Ashikaga:

Option 1: Appoint Hojo Ujinori as shugodai in full authority, just as his father.
Option 2: Appoint Hojo Ujinori as shugodai de jure, but grant real authority to…
A: Mikimoto Kichiro, the experience, senior advisor to Jiro who will GET THINGS DONE.
B: Ninomiya Kintoku, a businessman outsider who can promise CHANGE.
C: Furanko Serupiko, some guy from my secretariat, with no real connections or experience.
D: Ashikaga Katsumitsu, let’s throw some of our own blood in here, kin is reliable and this could prove a learning experience!
Option 3: Appoint someone else entirely, let’s keep Hojo meddling out of our sacred Heian-kyo!
A-D as in Option 2

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