Stories of the Japanese 01431 [Three Mountains] The Fall of the Hokuzan Kingdom

The capital of the Chuzan Kingdom had been Urasoe Castle until then, but Sho Hashi moved the capital to Shuri Castle (some theories suggest this happened even earlier) and promoted trade with the Ming Dynasty more actively through the port city of Naha. Furthermore, he appointed Chinese immigrants such as Wang Mao and Huai Ji to the post of Koksho, the second-highest position in the Chuzan Kingdom, and strengthened the country by adopting the latest political systems of the Ming Dynasty.
Then, in the 14th year of the Yongle era (1416), the conquest of the Hokuzan Kingdom was carried out.
As mentioned earlier, Hananchi, the King of Hokuzan, was a foolish ruler and had lost the support of the Aji (local lords). The Aji of Hokuzan let their long-held frustrations explode and approached Sho Hashi, saying,
"If you attack Nakijin Castle, we will side with you."
Sho Hashi joined forces with those Aji and attacked Nakijin Castle.
However, Nakijin Castle was sturdy and did not fall easily. Therefore, Sho Hashi sent a bribe to a warrior named Motobu Teibara, who was famous for his bravery even within the Hokuzan Kingdom, and secured a promise that he would defect. Motobu Teibara was a warrior based in what is now Motobu Town, Okinawa Prefecture.
The next day, Motobu Teibara suggested to Hananchi, "I will defeat the enemy at the rear, so I would like the King to rout the enemy at the front." Hearing this, Hananchi sallied out from the front gate and began the battle. However, when he looked back, flames were rising from inside the castle. He hurried back to the castle, only to find Motobu Teibara emerging from the castle gate with a sword in hand, attacking him.
Enraged by the betrayal of a trusted ally, Hananchi struck down Motobu Teibara with his ancestral treasure sword, 'Chiyoganemaru'. Then, prepared for death, he slashed at the sacred stone of Kanahiyabu, the guardian deity of the castle. This was likely because he did not want to hand over the family treasure to the enemy.
However, even the treasure sword 'Chiyoganemaru' could not cut the sacred stone. Hananchi threw the treasure sword into the Shijimagawa River flowing outside the castle and took his own life with another sword.
Afterward, the treasure sword 'Chiyoganemaru' was recovered from the river and became the property of Sho Hashi, and it has been preserved to this day as a treasure of the Sho family. It is currently designated as a National Treasure and is housed in the Naha City Museum of History.
To govern the Hokuzan region, Sho Hashi placed his second son, Shochu (1391–1444), at Nakijin Castle as a warden, but that position was discontinued in the Edo period, and Nakijin Castle was left abandoned. However, the stone walls and castle ruins have been preserved to this day and are designated as a World Heritage site along with the Shuri Castle ruins.
Although the Hokuzan Kingdom fell in this battle, it is said that Hananchi's child escaped to Okinoerabu Island.
In the historical record 'Kyuyo', Hananchi is depicted as an arrogant and foolish king, but in another historical record, 'Chuzan Seikan', he is portrayed as a person of great bravery who met a tragic end. It seems difficult to know the true character of Hananchi now.