Stories of the Japanese 01257 [Muromachi Period/Yoshimitsu Era] The Oei Rebellion: The Defeat and Death of Yoshihiro

The final decisive battle at Sakai Castle took place on December 21, in the 6th year of Oei (1399). Taking advantage of the raging gale, the shogunate army fired flaming arrows one after another from the surrounding watchtowers, and the castle was engulfed in flames.
In the midst of the chaotic fighting, Yoshihiro's retainer, Sue Hironaga, recommended,
"Many of our allies have already been killed, and defeat is imminent. Let us escape by boat and plan for a comeback."
However, Yoshihiro rejected this, saying,
"I will fight to the end and leave my name as a warrior for posterity,"
and charged into the enemy army.
Yoshihiro slashed at the army of Shiba Yoshimasa and Yoshitane, running through from north to south. Despite being wounded, he struck down his enemies one after another.
The next force he encountered after passing through the Shiba army was that of Hatakeyama Mitsuie. As soon as Mitsuie realized his opponent was the commander, Yoshihiro, he attempted to take his head with 200 cavalrymen, but only succeeded in building a mountain of corpses. At this moment, the local warriors of Izumi who were on Yoshihiro's side suddenly defected and tried to strike at Yoshihiro, but an enraged Yoshihiro swung his long sword, shouting,
"You worthless cowards of Japan, I will not let a single one of you escape!"
and they all became terrified and began to flee.
Yoshihiro continued to slash his way toward Mitsuie, but gradually the soldiers around him were killed, and he was finally left alone. As he stood there, he shouted,
"Take the head of the peerless Ouchi Sakyo-no-Daibu and show it to the Shogun!"
and as he lunged at Mitsuie, he was finally killed.
Upon hearing the news of Yoshihiro's death in battle, his younger brother, Ouchi Hiromochi, attempted to commit seppuku, but was persuaded by Hirai Michisuke to stop and surrendered instead.
On December 23, Yoshimitsu made a triumphant return to Kyoto, and the Oei Rebellion came to an end. Ashikaga Mitsukane, who had been heading toward Kyoto from Kamakura, heard the news of Yoshihiro's defeat and death, returned to Kamakura, and remained in confinement at Yugyo-ji Temple (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture) to apologize to the shogunate.
In place of Ouchi Yoshihiro, his younger brother Hiromochi was appointed as the constable of Suo and Nagato. As for the two provinces of Kii and Izumi that were taken from Yoshihiro, Kii was given to Hatakeyama Motokuni, and Izumi was given to Niki Yoshikazu. With this, the Kanrei (shogunal deputy) Hatakeyama Motokuni had acquired four provinces: Etchu, Kawachi, Noto, and Kii.
It is truly surprising that Hiromochi, who had participated in the siege at Sakai Castle, was appointed as the constable of Suo and Nagato. Perhaps this was because Yoshihiro's younger brother, Morimi, was still holed up in Suo and Nagato continuing his resistance (described later), and they had no choice but to rely on the power of the Ouchi family to suppress him. Thus, although Yoshihiro was defeated, the Ouchi family itself was able to survive, albeit with its power reduced by half.