Assualt On Ru Nan

[Sun Quan]

Wu's victorious forces seek out the city of Ru Nan, hoping to take the city in a peaceful manner.

[Battle will start tomorrow when Cao Cao posts the map]

Battle Mod:
Cao Cao

[THE Justin]

500 Swordsmen
500 Spearmen
100 Crossbowmen
200 Medium Cavalry
100 Scout Cavalry

Taishi Ci sat atop his horse, Guan Shao to his right holding both men's spears on his back. Taishi joked with the stalwart captain, who merely offered a few low guttural grunts. Deng Mao was off frolicking somewhere in the back of the army, or perhaps getting himself in trouble. Taishi had no idea... he didn't really care for the boy.

He was the Vanguard general as well as the Commander of the Siege of Ru Nan. He motioned to Guan Shao to follow him, as well as the 10 of the Medium Cavalry. Together they peeled off, the rest of the army setting up camp within the shadow of the mountain pass to their rear. Scouts were sent up the mountain to look for any traps, but they doubted any would be there; they were sent out in the dead of night and had just arrived that day, word of their movements kept in check by Wu Homeland Security.

Taishi and his following came upon the city, bearing white flags alongside the standards of Wu. Shao reached behind, grabbing Taishi's Spear and hurling it, planting it into the ground about 10 feet ahead of Taishi who kicked his horse, causing it to surge forwards. He grabbed with his right hand, twirling it, and setting it behind him, held against his forearm for support. All of his escort kicked in behind him, and they charged around the city, surveying it.

This tour took about 15 minutes, before Taishi returned to his former place, where his spear had been planted. He stopped and turned his horse towards the city, and called out to any there-in.

"Men of Ru Nan! You stand in the way of Wu! And yet, you also stand as a bulwark to Wei! Send me your governor, so that we may speak!"

Taishi motioned to Guan Shao to turn and head back to the army. The bodyguard nodded after a second of hesitation, not wanting Taishi left alone. Ci gave but a gentle nod. The man peeled off, to begin preparations for an attack. To the men inside the city, however, they would see only Taishi and his honor guard, and a single lone horsemen riding back to Wu.

[Pan Zhang]

Personal
Command Unit:
100 Medimum Cavalry
100 Cavalry Archers

Main Unit:
500 Veteran Swordmen
500 Pikemen
100 Crossbowmen
500 Veteran Bowmen

Kingdom
500 Swordsmen
500 Spearmen
300 Crossbowmen
150 Medium Cavalry

Pan Zhang had his colomn of troops following behind Taishi Ci's right flank. He trotted on horseback with his personal command unit at the fore of his troops. His formation from then back was the kingdom's cavalry, then his swordsmen and pikemen in rank and file. A section back where the crossbowmen just infront of his personal crossbowmen and bowmen. Lastly the Kingdom's spearmen and swordmen granted to his command were split and flanking his coloumn's left and right side.

He then heard Master Ci barking something with his intimedating and booming voice. He looked to one of his cavalry captians and nodded to him in a looking way. "Stay in postion as pertaining to general Taishi's troops." He then snapped the reigns of his horse and it began to gallop toward the head of the vanguard. His Halberds staff jostled a little in his hand with the pick up of speed.

"General Ci!" He called forth durning his approach, once he was alittle closer to his commanding officer and could talk normally he said. "Let us try to intimidate second and appeal to them to lay down there arms peacefully first and hope it dosen't come to the third option eh?" He personally felt that the second option was least favorable and the first was obviously best. If wu could get a peaceable solution here, it might lay the ground work for other cities to follow suit.

"Please don't find me out of turn sir." Zhang said breifly knowing stragety and politics weren't exactly his forte... but it espically wasn't his, or the young Ling Tong's and he felt a possible scolding from a Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao or even Sun Quan if they didn't at least try.

[Ling Tong]

Ling Tong's troops were positioned on the left flank of General Ci's army, with his command unit infront him and the kingdom nad main units behind him. As he sat on his horse, he awaits his orders for what to do. With the victory won in Chi Bi and with a grand army outside, he hoped that no more bloodshed was needed and that the city of Ru Nan would surrender.

Even if he was young, Ling Tong was prepared to go into battle if necessary, but if it could be avoided, that would be better. Next to him, was Lin Xao, who he had asked to join him and he obliged.

Gongji turned to him, "Lin Xao...I thank you for coming".

The officer turned his head after pondering over some thoughts of his, as if he was in a mind of his own, "No problem sir", Xao replied, "Mind you, I feel we will not be here long".
He nodded in response. The city was vulnerable to attacks and who better to surrender to then Wu.

--------------------------
Command Unit:
400 Heavy Calvary

Kingdom Troops:
500 Spearmen
400 Crossbowmen
150 Medium Cavalry

Main Unit:
200 Pikemen
200 Veteran Swordsmen
200 Repeating Crossbowmen
200 Raiding Cavalry
200 Armoured Lancers

[Cao Cao]

City Prefect Du Son

Troops
1,000 Levy Peasants
500 Swordsmen
800 Bowmen
400 Pikemen
500 Veteran Swordsmen
500 Veteran Bowmen
500 Medium Cavalry
500 Heavy Cavalry
150 Scout cavalry
250 Armoured Lancers

---

Du Son was reading a nice book on the political re-adjustment scale when the message arrived, indicating the invasion began by that of the Wu army. Steadily, and without conforming to the postures of national society – he raised from his chair and made his way to the outer walls of the palace, where great mounds erected from the floor to create mini forts and places of defence.

Among the cities gates, a vast ocean of red swarmed by the thousands, awaiting their commanders and preparing for a conquest of war.

The governor did not receive the message from Taichi Ci until a few hours after the scouts had confirmed their existence, and – being afraid of Wu’s wrath, send a political figure to go and meet with Taishi Ci, so that the arrangements of the city could be reasoned with in peace.


Hu Ling, who had recently adopted the name ‘Du Son’, set out of the palace walls accompanied by a small body of heavy cavalry, they rode confidently as they trekked across the open expanse, and settled just a few hundred yards from Taischi Ci’s unit on the outer rim.

“I am Du Son, prefect and governor – what brings your armies to my door general of Wu?” He spoke confidently, proudly – but beyond the facade and the scheme, the true prefect wept in the inner sanctum of the palace...

(yeah it sucks, blow me xD)

[Sarugaku Jouten]

Command Unit
Drum Corps - 10 drums and 20 drummers
Heavy Cavalry 115 Men
Scout Cavalry 50 Men

Main Unit
100 Gliders
500 Veteran Bowman
390 Veteran Swordsman
10 Commando's


"Send ahead a scout!" shouted Sarugaku to his one thousand men. The scout burst ahead of the pact like a bullet. In his hand a letter that said that he was coming with 1,000 more men as reinforcements. The scout went as fast as he could, heading toward Taishi Ci.

"Halt! We will arrive soon! Set up a camp and let up rest for the battle up ahead!"Slowly the men came to a halt. Each one looking a bit confused because they had not reached the destination yet. Some of them looked a bit tired, which is why he called them to rest. Sarugaku a waited Tashi Ci to send back a scout to tell him what to do. After about an hour or so the camp was set up. The men relaxed inside their tents while Sarugaku stood outside of his tent.

[THE Justin]

As the self claimed prefect of the city rode up, clad with bodyguards on either side, Taishi Ci was slightly impressed. The man had some men at his control if he could bring out heavy Cavalry as guardians.

The man stopped, polite words apparently thrown out the window as he asked plainly why Wu was here. Taishi liked this man, and he would let him know, mainly by not cutting him in half.

"Come now. We both know a man such as you would not take a position so lowly as prefect. You're too proud, too strong to have such a weak position. No, you're just one not quite there yet." A non committal compliment; he could very well be the prefect, and he would be emboldened by the idea that he was worth more, and if he wasn't it would place within him the idea of grandeur in his later life.

Taishi moved his horse forwards, coming closer to the man, presenting his horse's side, motioning for the man to ride with him. Upon the man understanding, Taishi would begin to speak again.

"So let us pretend that you are indeed the prefect here. What do we gain from confrontation between our forces? You gain... nothing, as we're the attacker. We'd gain a city from winning, and you'd gain an enemy from winning. We would be back. We would be back with a much larger force.

And I think that you know that." Taishi looked askance at the man. He let it sink in a little before speaking again. "Now, we can do this peacefully, which, let's be honest, is much better for both of us. We won't even require all of your men to continue working within the army. You can send home most of them to work in the fields, and your city's economy will boom. You yourself will be immediately looked upon favorably...

And you can retain your prefect status if you so choose... or you can reach higher, with a sponsorship from Lord Quan. I can set that up.

And your city! Let us not forget Ru Nan itself. It shall be developed heavily by Wu. We shall attempt to double its size; we have money set aside for it already. It will be used as a bastion against Wei in the north, which is already reeling. Your city would see prosperity.

Make the right choice, Du Son."

[Cao Cao]

Du Son followed the lead of Taishi Ci, and bid his head low when the man spoke so confidently on how the city would prosper, but undecided he remained – not out of spite or anger – but because there was more to it then what was being made out.

He halted his advance and turned to the general, “Submission shows we are favouring Wu, and let us not forget just where we are.”

He began to move again, walking now in large circles around the camp – merely so that he could observe the platoons and the soldiers equipment, after all – it were these sort of observations that would make all the difference when he made his final decision.

“Elaborate my lord, how you plan to save this county.” He paused finally at the feet of his small platoon and turned to address every man, “How can our submission benefit us. Cao Cao has offered us peace, but this is the land of Zhong Yuan, you will throw us into a war we cannot hide away from, where our men will die and where Cao Cao will punish, sack and destroy. We seek only a peaceful existence and at the moment we are offered that. But we cannot side with a nation – for if we do we go to war and war we cannot accept. Please.”

He bowed low to the general, “Tell me how this benefits my people, here in Zhong Yuan Cao Cao is a hero, a man who lives among chaos – we, the common-folk dare not tread on his lands. If you wish the support of our region, you need first prove yourselves – Chi Bi simply doesn’t cut it, here in Zhong Yuan you face their deadly cavalry, their spearmen and swordsmen; we need not be involved in such long-drawn out wars. You offer me war, death and destruction – and I feel I cannot let my people accept these terms.”

---

(Since History is being forced on Wei, I’m adding it to the region as well, Cao Cao is still the dominant nation in the north – Chi Bi inspired wu and shu, but those in the north were still flocking to Wei at this point in time because it offered benefits and tax reductions. Convince me and the city is yours without bloodshed, so I leave it up to you. )

[THE Justin]

Taishi smiled at the man, who was addressing his own men. Taishi took note of their numbers, and decided that a fight would not be in anyone's favor, especially his own. He continued the canter, allowing Du Son to ride next to him. He wanted to bring the man out of the warring world for but a moment, and doing so in front of his army would prove to be a lot harder.

The two men moved around the buildings, around the walls that were on the outside of Ru Nan, and began a slow trot towards the southern forests. Taishi didn't say much to the man, mostly only to his horse, giving it commands it followed perfectly. It wasn't until leaves started covering the ground that Taishi spoke again.

"You say that Cao Cao is a hero. And I do not readily doubt that. Unfortunately, that means that you're siding with him, as he is your hero. I know you've made no verbal claim, and for that I do not reproach you. However, think this through.

You may have peace with Cao Cao, as an independent. That may very well work for you. But what happens when he sets his sites southwards? Do you think he'll readily listen to states that claim they are allied with him, but send no men and no supplies and no tribute to him? Do you think the Hero of Chaos will be understanding when his army's begin their southern movements? Do you think he'll listen to you as I am now, or do you think he'll just silence you, with the flick of his wrist? Do you think he won't put Ru Nan to the torch if any semblance of resistance manifests itself within your walls?

No. He will. I know the man, I have held his life in my hands and have let it go. I have fought him, and I have fought his family. At Chi Bi I held his relative's life in my hands, and until the very moment where I stole it from him, he spat fury and war.

It is not in Cao Cao's blood to be 'understanding'. A man of his power and in his situation did not get to where he is by the strength of just alliances. He got to where he is by cold blooded murder, and war.

And that's Ru Nan's fate if you do not side with us. With Ru Nan, Wu can launch an offensive that'll solidify a foothold within the northern reaches. With Ru Nan, Wu banners will began to permeate the north, and will upset Cao Cao. His first strike would not be at Ru Nan, not if your army and our army stand here. He will go elsewhere, and you will be safe, under my banner.

Do not let my honeyed words convince you alone. Think of what would happen should you refuse us; we will strike. We are prepared to, should it come to it, though neither of us want that. I ache for Wei's blood on my spear, not Ru Nan's. I would mourn every life I took... But do not take this as an admission of weakness; I will take every life that presented itself in my way should we come to blows.

Think of your city, Du Son. Think of the men and women inside who's lives depend on the decision you're about to make; an extension of protection and life, or a quick end within the coming days.

Choose wisely."

[Pan Zhang]

Pan Zhang sat a little bit more comfortable on his horse when he heard his commanding officers tone more sway into terms of diplomacy. He knew then that they could at least say they had tried all possible options before.

For the moment however he sat back and let things devlop, he hoped he would not have to step in as typically when multiple people try to debate the same point on the fly like this they end up stepping on each other's toes and can seem to say things hypocrticial of each other, he hoped his fellows would follow suit.

It was then he heard a rather rapidly approching set of horses, a few men were guiding a lone scout forward. They seemed to notice Zhang first, or adressed him because was looking back at there arrival. They spoke of a reinforcement unit that wasn't in the plan originally, so Pan Zhang had to think a moment before saying on the side to them.

"Master Taishi Ci is currently negotiating with the city, with any luck they will lay down their arms peacefully, so... stick around and stay quite. Should they choose to follow his advice there will be no battle here and that should be all your general needs to know, if not you will have orders from here to undoubtly prepare for war."

[Sarugaku Jouten]

"Yes sir. Please, if their is anything you need, Lord Sarugaku will assist you in any way possible. Just send a scout toward him if it is war and we will come." The male bowed a bit, well as much as he could on a horse and shifted around. Quickly riding off toward the camp just outside of Taishi's camp.

A some what long while came before the scout came back out of breath. The scout was coated in sweat and looked very nasty. Scout quickly jumped down from his horse and ran toward the main tent. The scout presented his name and he was allowed to enter. "Sir, they are trying to make them surrender. If they do not surrender then it will be time for war. Meaning you can attack when the order is given."The male bowed quickly and ran out of the tent toward his own tent.

Sarugaku shifted around gently looking down toward the ground as he thought a bit. He decided to wait for them to send a scout of peace, or a scout of war. If it was war he had his own plan in mind for the attack and was ready to put it in play when the order was given.

[Cao Cao]

Du Son took on board the words of the Wu general as they patrolled the surroundings of their environment, when they had stationed before the army, he took a moment to gaze at his city, and then turned his face round to look at the man he would now submit to.

“Very well.” He said, “I shall leave the city in the capable hands of Wu. You have spoken true to me today, without care or lies – you have spoken with the heart of a warrior.”

He pushed his foot from the stirrup and dismounted from his steed, then he kowtowed to the general, “I shall submit to the forces of Wu, and I shall depart to relay the message to my followers. If you would be so kind as to follow suit once the sun has moved, I will appreciate it.”

He got back onto his horse and galloped away into the distance, upon his arrival to the cities gates – he explained the discussion he had had with General Taishi Ci. That evening, Wu came to the city with its vast army, and the citizens and soldiers of the army bowed to Wu’s loving embrace.

---

Facts

80% of the army was disbanded, making the people FUCKING LOVE YOU.
The city has submitted to the Kingdom of Wu (through Diplomacy)
1020 soldiers join Wu (I calculated it, it’s 20%)

Rewards

Taishi Ci
300 Gold.
200 swordsmen
200 spearmen
200 archers

Pan Zheng
150 Gold.
100 swordsmen
100 spearmen
100 archers

Sarugaku
100 Gold.
100 swordsmen
20 spearmen

---

Not bad considering all you did was talk. You didn’t lose a single soldier and you got to absorb 1020

[THE Justin]

I'm a baller, what can I say.