The Battle of Ye

[Norion]

You all have a copy of your troops in your sent box, and I have a copy to cross-reference. You all know what battle you signed up for, and I'm trusting Yuan shao officers to know where they're going. Let's get 'er done, guys. After everyone posts we'll establish a posting order.

[Norion]

From all across China, the finest warriors had gathered in the land of Wei, preparing themselves for a battle to the death against the forces of Yuan Shao. The self-proclaimed Emperor of China… how so many kingdoms despised him. They relished the thought of bringing his head, on a pike, back to their land. The sun was high in the sky, yet the temperature proved to be quite mild. However, the lack of rain in the past few weeks had caused much of the grass to grow brown outside of the city. Brown with the look of death and decay… yet in the middle of the countless acres of death stood the city of Ye. Gleaming in all its glory, the city was the symbol of Yuan Shao’s strength. Naturally, the city would be the first of his to fall.

From the southeast region of Ba Shu cam the demon army of Liu Yan. Lead by Kazi, Xiang, and Magashi Shimazu, they came from the forested region home to the Demon of Ba Shu, currently one of the most well-known men in the land. Word was slowly spreading about his exploits on and off the field… and Kazi intended to make sure that by the end of the day they would know who he was. He would bring fame and glory to Liu Yan as the interim ruler of his kingdom. Liu Yan provided him a home… provided him shelter when nobody else would. The least Kazi could do was spill blood in his name.

With Kazi came 1,500 of the lands finest swordsmen. His 1,500 troops were split into 5 units of 300, each with a small section of their gauntlet painted; red, black, white, purple, and gold. Each unit trained within their unit, promoting teamwork, unity, and strength. However, each unit was just as capable fighting alongside any of the other units within Kazi’s force; they were all brothers, fighting towards the same goal. They were a family fighting for the glory of their nation, and in Kazi they trusted. Each unit was comprised of 200 standard warriors, and 50 dual swordsmen. They were the shock troops of these units, and were able to fight within themselves, and were able to split off and form their own smaller units if necessary. ((Because apparently 1 in every 5 Shu swordsman has dual swords.))

With Magashi came 1,000 Shu archers and 1,000 Shu crossbowmen, who were undeniably the finest quality marksmen within all of China. Within Magashi’s 2,000 troops, there were 5 units of 200 Shu archers with the same color coding as the swordsman, and 5 units of crossbowmen, again with the same color coding as the swordsmen. Trained the same way as the swordsmen, it would be near impossible to find better archers in the land. Magashi oversaw their training personally; he was like their father and the archers treated him as such. Their rate of fire and accuracy is a skill that not many warriors in China dared to trifle with.

Xiang led 1,500 Shu cavalry, comprised of 3 units of 500. They were split into those who rode black horses, those who rode white, and those who rode brown. Although he was technically their leader, he was one of them; he ate with them, slept in the same area as them, and learned most of their names. He cared about them, and in return his troops fought for him until their dying breath.

They arrived from the southwest, just behind two low-grade rolling hills. Kazi, Magashi, and Xiang decided it would be best to wait for their fellow commanders.

• Kazi's army has arrived in the southwestern corner of the map!
  
• With them, Kazi, Xiang and Magashi have brought 1,500 Shu Swordsmen, 1,000 Shu Archers, 1,000 Shu Crossbowmen, and 1,500 Shu Cavalry!
  
• Magashi has a big dick!
  

[Sun Fei]

Arriving on the field shorty after the warriors of Ba Shu was Sun Fei's army. Hearing of the famed Yuan Shao of the Yuan family declaring himself emperor made Fei sick. He thought that no one man could be more greedy then this scum, and further chaos was in store for the land with this man alive. Heeding the call of the true Son of Heaven, Fei gathered and trained the finest men of Jiang Dong, bringing them north to quell this scoundrel.

Directly in front of the van guard of the army was the shock troops for this battle; the 500 Jiang Axemen. Painted in all sorts of designs of black and purple, decorated to look as demons, these fierce warriors were lead by Sun Fei's left hand man, and most savage warrior, Pazuzu. Very little war paint was needed for this warrior, his body being covered in tattoos, to include his face. His hair now was worn in dread locks and easily went down to his ass. Sharp medal jewelery adorned his dreads, while over his shoulder he carried his Great Ax. Although during the march he rode his horse, upon arrival to the battlefield, he dismounted to lead on foot.

Leading the van guard was Sun Fei himself, consisting of 2,500 Jiang Swordsmen, some of the finest in the south. All adorned in black armor, baring purple banners with Fei's family crest in black. Broken up into units of 250 each, they were 4 units leading followed by another 4 units. At the rear was the remaining 2 units, set to guard the archers in case of an attack on the rear flank.

In the center was the muscle of the army; the Calvary. In command was Fei's life long friend Bei Liao, a native of the north, a true master of cavalry warfare. He personally oversaw the training of each of his 1,000 Jiang Calvary, training the men of the south to ride as the some of the finest in all of Jiang Dong. Adorned in the same armor as the swordsmen, these men were also broken into units of 250 each. They followed behind the swordsmen, preparing for the combat.

Finally between the Calvary and the rear guard were the archers. These men were some of the best Jiang Bowmen that could be found. There were 1,000 Jiang Bowmen present for this battle, although Fei had hoped to gather more. Adorned much like the rest of the army, they had trained weeks for this day. They were the support for the van guard.

As they formed up next to the men of Ba Shu, Fei looked at the great city of Ye and spoke out loud to himself. Hopefully this magnificent city won't have to burn.

Sun Fei's Troops:
2,500 Jiang Swordsmen
1,000 Jiang Calvary
1,000 Jiang Archers
500 Jiang Axemen

Summary:

• Sun Fei's army has arrived in the southwestern corner of the map!
  
• With Sun Fei, Bei Liao, and Pazuzu are 2,500 Jiang Swordsmen, 1,000 Jiang Calvary, 1,000 Jiang Archers, 500 Jiang Axemen!
  

[Jiang Wei]

With 2 famed warriors now present upon the field this day, it was time for one less so to step foot upon it. The forces of Ba Shu arriving in yet greater number, their purple banners fluttering ceaselessly in the wind. Each solider, no matter his rank was to care for his equipment, armor double checked too, their arrival was a true sight to behold. They gleamed occasionally until the motionless sun became obscured behind a wisp of cloud. The march was arduous, yet controlled and not too strenuous, the men would need every ounce of strength to secure total victory in the coming conflict. Leading the front of the column sat three individuals of distinctly different nature. At the front tip in the middle sat Jiang Wei himself, trident slung loosely over his defined back, helmet worn snug. He had gained favor with the Han for the victory over Liu Jue however he was unsure if there would be any here today who recognized him.

To Wei's left hand side sat a more scholarly looking figure riding a off white colored steed, sweat pouring from the heat. He carried a simple looking sword with only very basic protection under his lavish garments. Zhuge Ke, a man of growing wisdom and intellect had guided young Jiang Wei well thus far, choosing to offer servitude to Liu Yan. Wei could tell, even with a quick glance over that there was much being calculated inside the tacticians mind, for his eyes fell deep, entrancing to many.

Lastly to the right hand side of the warrior sat another more brutish and barbarian looking. His armor, made from rattan was something that bore stark contrast to ordinary soldiers and even some officers. He had long since been banished from the Nanman, spared even, from certain death through execution. Tu An his name, a man of quick response and with a fiery temper he carried a large two handed sword, his skill with the blade a marvel to behold. Where there was conflict Wei could be sure Tu An would be right at the epicenter. Each had a now deeper understanding since their fateful meeting in TIan Shui.

Wei's army moved in column, very orderly, he arrived like the others, from the south west, his view obscured from the hill directly ahead. He was surprised at being so early to arrive, there were very few banners currently present on the field, nevertheless he would be sure that they would come in number. With a quick raise of his right hand, the marching paced army pulled alongside that of his current lord Kazi..."My Lord." His prominent tone, retained some elements of his youth..."Your orders?" A quick bow followed, before turning to his left..

"Zhuge Ke, send forth the scouts, we need more eyes present on the field." He smiled momentarily with a flicker of one corner of his mouth, before Ke set about his duties. Wei watched briefly, with Ke organizing his scouts into small parties of 5-10 riders, with one group in particular heading up to a point just before the ridge of the hill in order to retain their as of yet unknown location.

Key Points

- Jiang Wei, Tu An and Zhuge Ke have arrived on the field with their army.
- Jiang Wei is awaiting orders from Kazi
- 5 scouts groups have been sent north, with one group being sent up the hill.

Troops

-1000 Shu Swords
-500 Shu Spears
-1000 Shu Bowmen
-500 Shu Axemen
-400 Shu Crossbows
-100 Shu Scout Cav
-500 Shu Cav

[Gryffin]

The battle of Ye was over. What was supposed to have been a display of the Han’s revitalized might had turned into a slaughter. Bodies clothed in the uniforms of the coalition littered the battlefield. It had been a glorious rout. Puyang Gan surveyed the carnage from atop his mount. On the grandest stage of his life, the mercenary had delivered his employers a stunning victory. Fame, prestige, women…life was truly going to go his way now. He let loose a whoop of laughter and turned his horse towards Ye. It was time to find a whorehouse to celebrate in. Hell, after this the women there would have to pay to sleep with him!

“I said wake up, you lethargic oaf!” Puyang’s eyes snapped open as he felt a hand make swift contact with his forehead. Guo Tu was standing over him, contempt lining his features.

“Did we beat ‘em yet?” Puyang mumbled groggily.

“What are you blathering about? The enemy is approaching and you’re napping? What am I paying you for? Get up and win this battle!” Guo sent his foot into Puyang’s ribs, causing the mercenary to curl up in pain.

“Ow ow ow…” He grimaced, then slowly rose to his feet. “Fine, fine, I win this rumble for ya. Just make sure you have plenty of wine and women waiting for me when I get back. Stupid dreams getting’ my hopes up …”

* * * * *
That was how Puyang Gan’s day had started. Now he sat on his horse in front of a division of the Yuan army by the southeastern corner of the city. Guo Tu was supposedly in command of the division, but he had no experience with military command, so he deferred to his “trusted lieutenant” to handle the giving of orders and whatnot. Puyang squinted into the distance. He couldn’t see any foes yet, but he didn’t feel like being surprised.

“You there!” he called over to one of his subordinates, “Have the scouts fan out and return once first contact has been made with the enemy.” He thought for a moment, then added, “Well, unless they outnumber ‘em. Then they can go wild.” Ye’s hilly terrain meant that any number of armies could be hiding behind the rises. The side that controlled the hills would have the upper hand, both literally and figuratively. Puyang looked to the hill to his left, then thought for a moment. It was a nice rise. Good place for some heroics. He leaned over to Guo Tu. “Hold the fort ‘round here, ok? I’m gonna snag me some prime real estate.” As Guo opened his mouth to reply, Puyang bellowed out.

“Cavalry, with me!” The southern mercenary took off towards the hill, cavalry unit right behind him. It would allow him to survey the battlefield, and would serve as an excellent place to charge from. Hopefully today would allow for Puyang to play the hero and rescue the Yuan army with a dashing sally into the enemy flanks. Who knows?

* * * * *
As Puyang Gan rode off, Guo Tu surveyed the army now under his direct command. He understood the basics of warfare. He just wasn’t much of a leader, to be honest. He muttered to himself. Really, this was to be expected. The moment Yuan Shao declared himself Emperor, Guo knew that those still nominally loyal to the Han would unite against them. It was too obvious. They were all rivals who had to be watched and undermined, but when one of them rose up to high, what ho! In the name of the Han, they must band together to defeat this common foe!

In the name of the Han. Pfft. Self-serving sycophants, every last one of them.

Now they were here to fight and destroy the kingdom that Guo had helped build. Guo was quite adept at dealing with enemies within the kingdom. This was something new. Ironic, actually. He had spent so much time trying to get Wen Chou killed, and here the man was a precious resource. Guo was almost happy he had failed. He looked at the men under his command, all watching him. He smiled weakly and raised his fist.

“Um, for the Yuan Empire!” he halfheartedly shouted, “Fight hard…” The men continued to watch him stoically, so he added, “…and try not to die.”

“Whooo!”

A lone cheer came up from somewhere in the sea of humanity. After a moment of silence, with the soldiers looking uncertainly at one another, they began shrugging and joining their voices together. Guo shrugged. Mindless sheep, yes, but mindless sheep that would save this empire.

Actions:
- 300 Bei Scouts sent to fan out and search for the enemy army. They are to return upon contacting the enemy and to kill any opposing scouts they encounter, unless outnumbered.
- Puyang Gan takes the 2000 Bei Cavalry onto the hill on the right of the map.
- Guo Tu has the main force at the city’s southeastern corner.

Troops:
Independent:
300 Bei Scout Cavalry

Puyang Gan:
2000 Bei Cavalry

Guo Tu:
3000 Bei Swordsmen
3000 Bei Axemen
6000 Bei Bowmen

[Yuan Shao]

(Sorry for taking so long. Muse died, and I've had to work really hard this past week. I don't see it letting up anytime soon, thanks for being patient with me)

Yuan Shao. The Golden Emperor. The Emperor of the Sun. Jianyuan Emperor. The first. Would he also be the last? Time would tell.

He rode at the head of his men, sallying back and forth across the lines, inspecting the troops. Thousands of men stood at his beck and call, all ready to die for their lord. They were fanatical; they were tasked with stopping an enemy that was just as numerous as they, and who were just as fanatical as they were. They would not fail their lord, and no quarter was to be given.

In a word, they were ruthless.

Two of his captains rode with him. One was Dravin, a general of the cavalry. The other was Geshtian, a captain of the archers. They both rode with him and spoke of the general mold of the battle. They were all very much ready for this to finally kick off.

The two peeled off soon, and Shao was joined by two new riders. One was his son, Yuan Tan, to Shao's right. He was estranged, his father hardy having spoken to him in the past few months. It was amazing that Yuan Shao had allowed him to ride with him at all. The other was Guan Shao, Yuan Shao's right hand man and leader of his Bene Gessiret security force. They had kept all the plans for this battle a secret from their enemy, and they would continue to defend Lord Shao until his dying breath...

The three men stopped at the front of his formation. All of Shao's archers stood poised, one arrow knocked and the rest in easy reach. They would open this battle with a terrible volley against the enemy, their enemies would be skewered.

Shao need only wait til Cao Cao's first charge. And then he would be undone.

Yuan Tan was in charge of the cavalry and spearmen. This made him the commander of the Yuan fighting force. He would not be stopped, he would not be slowed.

This battle would shatter the realm, and the Golden Empire would come out on top. There was no other recourse.

Battle Troops:
5,300 He Bei Bowmen
3,000 He Bei Swordsmen
3,000 He Bei Cavalry
3,000 He Bei Spearmen

Personal Troops:
3500 He Bei Bowmen
2500 He Bei Spearmen
2500 He Bei Swordsmen
2000 He Bei Cavalry
2000 He Bei Axemen
1200 Xianbei Cavalry

Total Troops:
8,800 He Bei Bowmen
5,500 He Bei Swordsmen
5,500 He Bei Spearmen
5,000 He Bei Cavalry
2,000 He Bei Axemen
1,200 Xianbei Cavalry

Troop Breakdown:

Yuan Shao and Guan Shao
8,800 He Bei Archers
2,500 He Bei Swordsmen
1,000 He Bei Spearmen

Yuan Tan
5,000 He Bei Cavalry
4,500 He Bei Spearmen
3,000 He Bei Swordsmen
2,000 He Bei Axemen
1,200 Xianbei Cavalry

[Wen Chou]

Wen Chou exited the gates on his stallion, as proud as ever. He was proud for his country, proud to fight for his lord. Despite the matter of the rate of his obvious deterioration, Yuan Shao still had to prove to the world that China was in his palms. The realm would be left to his eligible son - Yuan Tan, and Wen Chou would serve another generation of the Shao family.

Or so that was the plan.

But since Wen Chou returned to service five years ago there had always been obstacles in his place. It was a miracle for Chou to be granted the title "Marquess of He Bei", especially with Guo Tu playing the puppet master. The snake slithered around the court, planting his ideas, and alienating ministers - and even Emperor Yuan Shao. To Chou's infinite frustration only he saw through Guo Tu for what he really was - a coward, who even volunteered Wen Chou for Vanguard duty in Bei Ping.

But the Marquess had proven harder to kill than Guo Tu had suspected. And now, with the Han's collected armies facing them, Wen Chou had no plans for death - only victory.

He could sense the triumph and glory. Almost taste it on his tongue. The fight hadn't even started yet.

As usual Wen Chou took the vanguard - with more than enough encouragement from Guo Tu. Wen Chou was the sword and shield of the new Empire, he would remain to be so well after this battle. Wen Chou called over a nearby captain, and started to give out his orders.

As usual the Marquess was a beacon for hope, the soldiers looked towards him for leadership, strength, and even to absorb a sense of chivalry. The bright blue forget-me-nots glowed in the sunlight, Wen Chou was truly a knight to behold.

Wen Chou's army took their place at the apex of the hill, below them, the vast valley surrounded by hills and mountains. A massive slaughter corridor. It was for this reason that Wen Chou had requested for - mostly archers. He had never been partial to archers - they were a coward's weapon, for experience on the battlefield doesn't decide where an arrow lands.

Yet today, that was not the case, today was not a game where a coward's worries exist.

No. Only winning existed on this battlefield.

Troop Numbers
6000 Bei Bowmen
3000 Bei Axemen
2000 Bei Calvary
1500 Bei Swordsmen
1500 Bei Spearmen

Actions:

* Wen Chou appears in front of Ye's gates with a massive archer-force.