Post by Wang Yangkun on Nov 8, 2009 6:01:39 GMT
Self given task.
Tags : Speaker, minor Commerce and General Strategy.
Wang Yangkun was a nobody and he was aware of it. He had left civilization as a peasant soldier and returned 6 years later as an one-armed cyclops. He had then spent 5 years as a wandering healer and scholar, devoting himself to his books. As learned as he was, however, the name of Wang Yangkun did not mean anything to the great lords of the lands nor to the mere peasants. Not even Boxin was known by anyone but himself, his horse, Wuwu, and an old hermit in a lost mountain of western Hei Bei.
He intended for it to change, however. He was sick of being a lordless servant who could not advise his superiors and assist them with their duties. He could not bear not having retainers and peasants under him, whom he could guide with his virtue and intellect ; people he could protect and care for with his benevolence and righteousness. He could fulfill all of his desires by entering into the service of the Prime Minister. He would have a stable home and income, could support his own family and raise his own sons to be virtuous men. He could finally work for the betterment of the world.
How could he go from lonely worthless worm to benevolent father-lord before the end of his prime, though? Lord Cao Cao was not the kind of man who refused to employ people based on their lack of title or achievement, but it would takes years, if not decades, before his talents was recognized for what is it worth. So many years would be wasted as a mere clerk for the stables before he could put his talents of strategist and administrator to good use. He had to come up a plan that would allow him to shine bright enough for the world to see his rich mind and heart.
How does one show their worth quickly and efficiently? How could a single man's actions speak loud enough for them to be heard by the lords atop their ivory towers? So many unanswered questions, he thought. He had to analyze the situation more carefully. He already knew about his own worth, he had to gather all the knowledge he had of his enemy and then elaborate a plan. Troubling himself with questions before he even understood the whole of the situation, he had been thinking without the help of his head ; A man could only accomplish so much with his heart alone.
Sun Quan, who had just scored a gigantic victory against Cao Cao was nearing the capital, Xu Chang. He recently secured Ru Nan and garrisoned men there The city is linked to the capital by a single road that goes through a mountain pass. On the other side, Cao Cao lost most of his army at Chi Bi and has caused the populace to mourn the death of their husbands and brothers. He is expanding in the south and west, leaving his eastern and northern flank weakened. The north is not a major concern and unrelated to the situation, so it leaves the east. Sun Quan is moving into eastern Zhongyuan with most of his forces and is facing the weakened forces of Cao Cao's weakened flank. This means that Cao Cao must strengthen his defenses to repel the invaders when they come. Until the western and southern campaigns are over, it is impossible to invade Wu's territory in the Central plains and northern Jiangdong.
Now, how does one repel an invader with limited resources? Intercepting them far from the city and meeting them face to face would be foolish. One must use the defenses of the city to make up for the fewer numbers. Ballistas, Walls and Catapults are their friends and enemy catapults and siege engines are their enemy. I know that Xu Chang already possesses many walls and defensive structures, but how could they get rid of the enemy siege machinery. A siege is a very unfavorable position for the attacker. They must carry supplies and weapons from their city to that of the enemy, then destroy the walls and outlast the defenders. Siege engines are also very hard to move around, that was their biggest weakness : their lack of mobility. It should be exploited to the fullest by creating hard terrain to move on between their city and the place where they can install their machines.
The scholar then realized that it was exactly what the workers he had seen moving about Xu Chang were doing. He had seen soldiers with shovels, pickaxes and carts move about outside the walls. Digging and shoveling earth. "High ends", he said to himself. They'll stop from from approaching the city walls efficiently, from setting up siege weaponry and from using siege ladders. A smart one was the one in charge. He could wear them out until they became unable to take the city. Past that point, the possible ploys were hard to predict without more knowledge of both forces... He had found his chance, though.
Wei was stuck on the defensive and with fewer numbers. What did they need? They needed men and more fortifications. How would he be noticed by the lords of Xu Chang? He would help them get what they needed.
From atop his horse, the scholar chuckled, then fanned himself slowly, a large grin painted on his face. "I have finally found an opportunity to shine as bright as the stars themselves!", he exclaimed on a joyful tone. The young stable keeper next to him raised an eyebrow at him before speaking on an annoyed tone. "Milord, that is great, but I have been waiting here for 5 minutes, would you be so kind as to dismount to let me lead your horse to the stable ; or maybe you wish to spend the night here, speaking to heavens know who?"
Dragged away from his thoughts, the scholar returned to his senses and remembered he had stopped at an inn for the night and was leading Wuwu to the stable. "Sorry, young man, my thoughts dragged me away from this world and I lost myself in the sky for a moment.", he said on a friendly tone as he dismounted. He left a few coins in the palm of the boy and whispered Wuwu a few words before they split up. He headed inside to his room, hung his clothes to dry and went to bed, losing himself in his thoughts again, until the night took him away.
The morning after, Wang Yangkun begun preparations for his plans. He needed the ears and eyes of Xu Chang for them to succeed. He went from inn to inn and from tavern to tavern, spreading word of a scholar who would help close the wounds of the defeat at Chi Bi 7 days from now, when the sun was at its highest. He would come to speak at the central marketplace and use his powers to tend to the grief and pain of the losses at the Red Cliffs. He continued spreading the word around the city for the whole week, but changed clothes often, so he would not be associated with the rumors.
Wang Yangkun had spent his days spreading the rumors and his nights thinking about the seventh day. What did the people want now, after losing their beloved at the hands of Wu by the fault of the Prime minister? They wanted security, vengeance and a renewed trust in their lords. It also was unlikely that he was the only person of skill in the city that could not find employment in the service of the great. Boxin was convinced that he knew what the people wanted to hear and it is with much confidence that he went to the central marketplace on the seventh day.
Many had gathered on that day. They were all waiting for the healer in the already busy marketplace, next to the shopkeepers who restlessly tried to grab the attention of as many people as possible. More guards had been posted there than usual, in case the gathering turned bad or in case the healer tried to incite a riot. Wang Yangkun was waiting close to the stage and pretended to simply be another man waiting for the healer. Noon passed and was soon behind, but people waited. Whispers of doubt began to spread across the crowd and their impatience grew. Many had given more business than usual to the nearby shopkeepers, much to their glee. That was why Boxin had chosen this place for his speech, he could hit two birds with one stone.
When the impatience of the crowd reached its peak and was at the point of starting a riot, Wang Yangkun ascended to the stage, the eyes of the many peasants fixed on him. "People of Xu Chang, servants of the Son of Heaven, I, Wang Yangkun, healer and scholar, have arrived.", he spoke calmly to the eager crowd. "You have come here in hope that I would heal the wounds of the battle of Chi Bi. The rumors you have heard were not lies. I have come here today to do so and will only leave when your tears have been dried and your clothes washed from the blood of your beloved." He paused for a moment and looked at the crowd slowly. "Your brothers and fathers died at Chi Bi, they died for the Prime Minister and the Son of Heaven. While serving them faithfully, they have lost their lives and left you alone and without a part of you! You now weep their loss and fear the war, you are afraid of losing more of your beloved, but I will ask you this!"
He pointed his fan to the sky in one swift movement. "Why do you fear them so? Have your brothers and fathers not died serving the Son of heaven, have they not died for a virtuous cause? Do you doubt the motives and dreams of the loved ones you have lost? Do you bring shame upon their memory by throwing your anger toward heavens and hiding in your holes?" He lowered his fan. "What of Sun Quan, the housecat of Wu and Liu Bei the unfilial man who spat and shat on his title of imperial uncle by opposing the will of the son of heaven? Are they not the ones who have forced the hand of the Prime Minister and caused the death of those you have cared for for years?"
Wang Yangkun paused for a moment, leaving the peasants time to think about it. "While you hide and weep, the Prime Minister and his servants are outside these walls, at the mercy of the hungry Sun Quan, they are risking their lives to protect this city from his ambitious claws! Have you heard them weep or do you see them cower before the enemy? No! They are outside, they are working hard everyday and every night to avenge the deaths of those who served them at Chi Bi."
He pointed his fan at the crowd. "Tell me, servants of the Han, do you want to bring shame to the memories of those you have loved, who died serving the Prime Minister, do you wish to let Sun Quan of Wu and the traitor Liu Bei take away those who are dear to you? Do you really want to let the loyal ministers and generals of the Son of heaven work restlessly on their own, knee deep in mud?" He lowered his fan. "Are there none here who wish to avenge the deaths of their brothers and sister and bring a sword to the throats of the traitors?", he shouted before adding on an even more passionate tone. "Have The monsters in the south taken away all that was left of the courage of the people of the Han?" He then waited for a reaction from the crowd.
Tags : Speaker, minor Commerce and General Strategy.
Wang Yangkun was a nobody and he was aware of it. He had left civilization as a peasant soldier and returned 6 years later as an one-armed cyclops. He had then spent 5 years as a wandering healer and scholar, devoting himself to his books. As learned as he was, however, the name of Wang Yangkun did not mean anything to the great lords of the lands nor to the mere peasants. Not even Boxin was known by anyone but himself, his horse, Wuwu, and an old hermit in a lost mountain of western Hei Bei.
He intended for it to change, however. He was sick of being a lordless servant who could not advise his superiors and assist them with their duties. He could not bear not having retainers and peasants under him, whom he could guide with his virtue and intellect ; people he could protect and care for with his benevolence and righteousness. He could fulfill all of his desires by entering into the service of the Prime Minister. He would have a stable home and income, could support his own family and raise his own sons to be virtuous men. He could finally work for the betterment of the world.
How could he go from lonely worthless worm to benevolent father-lord before the end of his prime, though? Lord Cao Cao was not the kind of man who refused to employ people based on their lack of title or achievement, but it would takes years, if not decades, before his talents was recognized for what is it worth. So many years would be wasted as a mere clerk for the stables before he could put his talents of strategist and administrator to good use. He had to come up a plan that would allow him to shine bright enough for the world to see his rich mind and heart.
How does one show their worth quickly and efficiently? How could a single man's actions speak loud enough for them to be heard by the lords atop their ivory towers? So many unanswered questions, he thought. He had to analyze the situation more carefully. He already knew about his own worth, he had to gather all the knowledge he had of his enemy and then elaborate a plan. Troubling himself with questions before he even understood the whole of the situation, he had been thinking without the help of his head ; A man could only accomplish so much with his heart alone.
Sun Quan, who had just scored a gigantic victory against Cao Cao was nearing the capital, Xu Chang. He recently secured Ru Nan and garrisoned men there The city is linked to the capital by a single road that goes through a mountain pass. On the other side, Cao Cao lost most of his army at Chi Bi and has caused the populace to mourn the death of their husbands and brothers. He is expanding in the south and west, leaving his eastern and northern flank weakened. The north is not a major concern and unrelated to the situation, so it leaves the east. Sun Quan is moving into eastern Zhongyuan with most of his forces and is facing the weakened forces of Cao Cao's weakened flank. This means that Cao Cao must strengthen his defenses to repel the invaders when they come. Until the western and southern campaigns are over, it is impossible to invade Wu's territory in the Central plains and northern Jiangdong.
Now, how does one repel an invader with limited resources? Intercepting them far from the city and meeting them face to face would be foolish. One must use the defenses of the city to make up for the fewer numbers. Ballistas, Walls and Catapults are their friends and enemy catapults and siege engines are their enemy. I know that Xu Chang already possesses many walls and defensive structures, but how could they get rid of the enemy siege machinery. A siege is a very unfavorable position for the attacker. They must carry supplies and weapons from their city to that of the enemy, then destroy the walls and outlast the defenders. Siege engines are also very hard to move around, that was their biggest weakness : their lack of mobility. It should be exploited to the fullest by creating hard terrain to move on between their city and the place where they can install their machines.
The scholar then realized that it was exactly what the workers he had seen moving about Xu Chang were doing. He had seen soldiers with shovels, pickaxes and carts move about outside the walls. Digging and shoveling earth. "High ends", he said to himself. They'll stop from from approaching the city walls efficiently, from setting up siege weaponry and from using siege ladders. A smart one was the one in charge. He could wear them out until they became unable to take the city. Past that point, the possible ploys were hard to predict without more knowledge of both forces... He had found his chance, though.
Wei was stuck on the defensive and with fewer numbers. What did they need? They needed men and more fortifications. How would he be noticed by the lords of Xu Chang? He would help them get what they needed.
From atop his horse, the scholar chuckled, then fanned himself slowly, a large grin painted on his face. "I have finally found an opportunity to shine as bright as the stars themselves!", he exclaimed on a joyful tone. The young stable keeper next to him raised an eyebrow at him before speaking on an annoyed tone. "Milord, that is great, but I have been waiting here for 5 minutes, would you be so kind as to dismount to let me lead your horse to the stable ; or maybe you wish to spend the night here, speaking to heavens know who?"
Dragged away from his thoughts, the scholar returned to his senses and remembered he had stopped at an inn for the night and was leading Wuwu to the stable. "Sorry, young man, my thoughts dragged me away from this world and I lost myself in the sky for a moment.", he said on a friendly tone as he dismounted. He left a few coins in the palm of the boy and whispered Wuwu a few words before they split up. He headed inside to his room, hung his clothes to dry and went to bed, losing himself in his thoughts again, until the night took him away.
The morning after, Wang Yangkun begun preparations for his plans. He needed the ears and eyes of Xu Chang for them to succeed. He went from inn to inn and from tavern to tavern, spreading word of a scholar who would help close the wounds of the defeat at Chi Bi 7 days from now, when the sun was at its highest. He would come to speak at the central marketplace and use his powers to tend to the grief and pain of the losses at the Red Cliffs. He continued spreading the word around the city for the whole week, but changed clothes often, so he would not be associated with the rumors.
Wang Yangkun had spent his days spreading the rumors and his nights thinking about the seventh day. What did the people want now, after losing their beloved at the hands of Wu by the fault of the Prime minister? They wanted security, vengeance and a renewed trust in their lords. It also was unlikely that he was the only person of skill in the city that could not find employment in the service of the great. Boxin was convinced that he knew what the people wanted to hear and it is with much confidence that he went to the central marketplace on the seventh day.
Many had gathered on that day. They were all waiting for the healer in the already busy marketplace, next to the shopkeepers who restlessly tried to grab the attention of as many people as possible. More guards had been posted there than usual, in case the gathering turned bad or in case the healer tried to incite a riot. Wang Yangkun was waiting close to the stage and pretended to simply be another man waiting for the healer. Noon passed and was soon behind, but people waited. Whispers of doubt began to spread across the crowd and their impatience grew. Many had given more business than usual to the nearby shopkeepers, much to their glee. That was why Boxin had chosen this place for his speech, he could hit two birds with one stone.
When the impatience of the crowd reached its peak and was at the point of starting a riot, Wang Yangkun ascended to the stage, the eyes of the many peasants fixed on him. "People of Xu Chang, servants of the Son of Heaven, I, Wang Yangkun, healer and scholar, have arrived.", he spoke calmly to the eager crowd. "You have come here in hope that I would heal the wounds of the battle of Chi Bi. The rumors you have heard were not lies. I have come here today to do so and will only leave when your tears have been dried and your clothes washed from the blood of your beloved." He paused for a moment and looked at the crowd slowly. "Your brothers and fathers died at Chi Bi, they died for the Prime Minister and the Son of Heaven. While serving them faithfully, they have lost their lives and left you alone and without a part of you! You now weep their loss and fear the war, you are afraid of losing more of your beloved, but I will ask you this!"
He pointed his fan to the sky in one swift movement. "Why do you fear them so? Have your brothers and fathers not died serving the Son of heaven, have they not died for a virtuous cause? Do you doubt the motives and dreams of the loved ones you have lost? Do you bring shame upon their memory by throwing your anger toward heavens and hiding in your holes?" He lowered his fan. "What of Sun Quan, the housecat of Wu and Liu Bei the unfilial man who spat and shat on his title of imperial uncle by opposing the will of the son of heaven? Are they not the ones who have forced the hand of the Prime Minister and caused the death of those you have cared for for years?"
Wang Yangkun paused for a moment, leaving the peasants time to think about it. "While you hide and weep, the Prime Minister and his servants are outside these walls, at the mercy of the hungry Sun Quan, they are risking their lives to protect this city from his ambitious claws! Have you heard them weep or do you see them cower before the enemy? No! They are outside, they are working hard everyday and every night to avenge the deaths of those who served them at Chi Bi."
He pointed his fan at the crowd. "Tell me, servants of the Han, do you want to bring shame to the memories of those you have loved, who died serving the Prime Minister, do you wish to let Sun Quan of Wu and the traitor Liu Bei take away those who are dear to you? Do you really want to let the loyal ministers and generals of the Son of heaven work restlessly on their own, knee deep in mud?" He lowered his fan. "Are there none here who wish to avenge the deaths of their brothers and sister and bring a sword to the throats of the traitors?", he shouted before adding on an even more passionate tone. "Have The monsters in the south taken away all that was left of the courage of the people of the Han?" He then waited for a reaction from the crowd.
