関ヶ原の戦い Battle of Sekigahara

   Terumoto Mori’s followers were divided between Hiroie Kikkawa of the Ieyasu group and Ekei Ankokuji of the Mitsunari group and affiliations became complicated. Ekei Ankokuji supported Terumoto Mori to become the commander in chief of the Western Army.

   At the battle of Sekigahara Hiroie Kikkawa, Hidemoto Mori and Ekei Ankokuji took up their position at the foot of Mt.Nangu. But before the battle Hiroie Kikkawa set a message to Ieyasu via Nagamasa Kuroda, that pledged battle nonparticipation of Mori. Hiroie begged for the pardon of Terumoto Mori and relief for Mori’s territory. So Yoshikawa’s forces were spread out in front of Mori’s forces, therefore Mori’s forces, Ankokuji’s forces and Natuka’s forces were not able to move.

  However, the promise was broken, Ieyasu decided that the Mori clan should be punished by being deprived of its fief after the war. He gave Suo’s territory and Nagato’s territory to Kikkawa. However due to Kikkawa’s effort, Mori clan was able to have Suo’s territory and Nagato’s territory. Kikkawa was given 30,000 koku of those.