Coup is the sixth scenario of the Yamato, Empire of the Rising Sun campaign in Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, replacing Oppression.
Scenario instructions[]
Description[]
| “ | Asuka 645 CE The Soga must be stopped! Since the days of Prince Shōtoku, the clan has had its thumb on the Imperial family, but now, they have gone too far. They plan to depose your mother, the Empress, and put a more compliant puppet on the imperial throne. Prince Naka no Ōe, you must defeat the Soga and finally drive them from power, but exercise caution. They control the imperial capital, and you are not yet in a strong position to confront them. You may need to hide your intentions by offering the Soga gifts of peace until you are powerful enough to defeat them. |
” |
| —In-game section | ||
Starting conditions[]
- Starting Age:
Tool Age - Starting resources: 200 food, 200 wood, 100 stone
- Population limit: 50
- Starting units:
- Gaia units and buildings:
- 4
Houses - 4 Town Centers
- 1 Granary
- 4
Objectives[]
- Destroy Soga Government Center.
Hints[]
- Tribute is not the only answer, but it might be the best until you have built up your strength.
- Do not forget that trade brings gold. The Fujiwara seek a trading partner.
- It may be necessary to relocate. Your Fujiwara allies are kind to their guests.
Players[]
Player[]
- Player ( Yamato): The player starts with some buildings and villagers, inside of the Soga town.
Ally[]
- Fujiwara ( Yamato): Fujiwara controls a small town in the east bank.
Ally → Enemy[]
- Soga ( Yamato): The Soga starts having a large town in the west bank of the river, with an important army featuring Composite Bowmen and Stone Throwers. They will threaten the player to pay tribute or be declared enemy.
Strategy[]
To ensure safety early on, continue contributing gold to the Soga whenever requested — at least until the player reaches the Bronze Age. Start by assigning two Villagers to gather gold and two to gather food. Then, train four more Villagers and put them all on gold collection. Send one Villager to the southeastern shore to build a Dock, and then train a Light Transport. Use it to ferry a Villager across to the nearest shore in the southeast, then move him as far east as possible. This will uncover a second Town Center, a Granary, and several Houses. Begin producing more Villagers, assigning some to mine gold south of the new Town Center, and others to gather from the Berry Bushes near the new Granary. The player can also allocate workers to the Gold Mine in Fujiwara's town.
Build around six Fishing Boats and put them to work. On the southernmost island, the player will find more Berry Bushes — send a few Villagers there to collect food. Next, load three or four new Villagers onto a Light Transport and send them to the southwestern edge of the map. Land them on the northwestern shore and have them mine the Gold mine there.
Advance to the Bronze Age as soon as possible. Once there, build a Stable in Soga's town and train at least five Cavalry. Then, construct an Archery Range and a Siege Workshop within Soga's territory. Position the Cavalry near the two Guard Towers in the Government Center’s courtyard. Produce at least two Stone Throwers and move them into the courtyard. Switch the diplomatic stance toward the Soga to "Enemy" and immediately command the Stone Throwers to destroy the Government Center.
Alternatively, the player can train several upgraded Axemen and block the Government Center’s entrance with layers of Stone Walls. After changing diplomacy, use one or two Axemen to lure enemy archers and dodge their fire while the rest of the player's troops bring down the Government Center.
History[]
| “ | After defeating the Mononobe, the Soga clan heads were the powers behind the throne for the next few Emperors and Empresses. By 645 CE, Soga no Emishi and his son Soga no Iruka had begun to assert themselves more overtly in imperial affairs. In response, a courtier named Nakatomi no Kamatari conspired with a junior member of the Soga clan and Prince Naka no Ōe, son of the reigning Empress Kōgyoku, to assassinate the Soga clan heads. Known as the Isshi Incident, the assassination of Soga no Iruka took place during a court ceremony at which memorials were being read to the Empress. Prince Naka no Ōe had ordered four assassins to kill the Soga leader, but when they became too frightened to carry out the order, the prince himself rushed Iruka, killing him in front of the Empress. Shocked by the violence, Empress Kōgyoku abdicated and her brother ascended the throne as Emperor Kōtoku. Having heard of his son's death, Soga no Emishi committed suicide by self-immolation and the Soga clan passed into history. Although he only ruled for ten years, Emperor Kōtoku established significant reforms in Japanese political culture, with the support of his nephew Prince Naka no Ōe. Known as the Taika Reforms, these policies implemented in 645 CE centralized Imperial power, in imitation of Chinese political systems. Confucian ideas were introduced, and Japanese envoys and scholars were sent to China to learn and adopt many aspects of Chinese culture and religion. Ten years after ascending the throne, Kōtoku died and his sister returned to rule Japan. On her death in 661 CE, Prince Naka no Ōe ascended the throne and took the name Emperor Tenji. |
” |
| —In-game section | ||
Victory[]
| “ | Prince Naka no Ōe, you have returned the Imperial family to glory by your victory over the Soga. Though it will be many years before you ascend the throne as Emperor Tenji, your victory has assured that your uncle and mother will be secure in their reigns. Your uncle has already begun to institute reforms to increase Imperial power and reduce the influence of the clan heads. It is your hope that the Emperor of Japan will never again be a pawn of the clans. | ” |
| —In-game section | ||
Loss[]
| “ | The Soga find your attempt at keeping your mother in power cute. They call you "mama's boy." | ” |
| —In-game section | ||
