Mori Motonari stood in a room high in Koriyama Castle and looked out a window to the east.
There was a war out there. Motonari thought this quite impassively. There was always a war out there. Ever since he had assumed control of the Mori clan, first as guardian at the death of his brother fourteen years ago, and then as the true head of the clan seven years ago at the death of his nephew. There had been talk that he had been a part of those deaths, but Motonari refused to reply to such talk. Let them think what they will.
The war, as always, was between the Amako of Izumo and the Ouchi of Suo. The two never stopped fighting. At least the Takeda were gone now, fourteen years ago the Takeda (no relation to the clan in Kanto), the most powerful clan in Aki at the time, had made a bid for the lands of the Mori upon the death of Motonari's brother. Despite being outnumbered Motonari had defeated them, not far from where he now stood, gaining considerable face in the region. Since that time the Mori had grown stronger and the Takeda had faded from importance. That growing strength had been solidified eight years ago when Motonari had married the daughter of the leader of the Kikkawa clan, another powerful Aki clan and now a strong Mori ally. Aki province was now all but Mori's. The Amako could continue striving to conquer it, but he would defeat them.
Eight years ago he had been forced to submit. An Amako army marching towards the Ouchi lands in Suo had forced the Mori to join them. He had and he had defeated an Ouchi castle, but the Amako had been less fortunate and had been driven back. Since that time Motonari had returned to the Ouchi alliance.
The current phase of the endless war had begun two years ago. The former Ouchi Daimyo had passed away and his son, Ouchi Yoshitaka, had assumed power and the Amako had invaded, hoping to capitalize on the death. Meanwhile in Kyushu the Otomo and Shoni had invaded the Ouchi provinces of Buzen and Chikuzen. The Ouchi were in a weaker position than they had ever been, attempting to fight two wars at once.
At the current time the Ouchi effort was concentrated in Kyushu. The threat there was more serious, but Motonari had little interest in what happened there. For him it was always the same battle: Ouchi vs Amako. Events elsewhere might change the twos relative strength, but nothing would change the Mori's geographical position between these two powers. To the north, in Iwami, the Ouchi and Amako had effectively split the province and were fighting a slow war over the wealthy silver mines in the province. At the moment neither side was pressing the battle, the Ouchi too concerned with the battle in Kyushu and the Amako no doubt regrouping their forces for another assault.
To the east Ouchi and Amako forces battled over the province of Bingo. Well really it was Ouchi and Amako supporters that battled each other, but each were confident in their expectation of support from their respective lords. It was here that Motonari wanted to join the fray. He would send his armies to assist the Ouchi supporters in that province. He would support his allies and take some pressure off their eastern front allowing them to muster their forces elsewhere. Fighting in Bingo would also hopefully keep the Amako busy somewhere other than Aki. They were, after all, already busy in Iwami. But perhaps most importantly, he could make a few Bingo kokujin indebted to him... and perhaps Mori influence could, for the first time, spread outside of Aki. From a tiny kokujin family himself to a family powerful enough to think about events outside his own province! War held limitless possibilities for those willing to use it. The Amako and Ouchi gained little out of their endless fighting, their borders remained as they had for decades, but the Mori would rise!

Orders: To support Ouchi forces in Bingo a Mori army must be raised. To this end I will pay 20,000 koku to raise an army of 10,000 foot samurai. In addition 16,000 koku will raise a force of 4,000 mounted samurai, and 5,000 koku will raise a force of 5,000 archers.
All told 41,000 koku will be spent. The army will form here, in Koriyama Castle.