Vengeance(Cao Cao)

[Zhang He]

{Cao Cao has lent me 100 Han Archers, 200 Han Swordsmen, 200 Han Spearsmen and 200 Han Calvary. That and my own personal forces, 200 Archers, 200 Swordsmen, and 100 Spearmen, gives a grand total of 1200 troops.}

Zhang He had not indulged the comfort of Cao Cao's estate once they had arrived to the city, instead setting himself to gathering the troops required to exact the revenge his new lord had promised him. The soldiers personally allotted to Zhang He had not been enough, but Cao Cao had seen fit to lend him enough men to make a force of fair stature.

Fong Du had not been a man inclined to war, preferring peace over death. That did not mean that there was no battle, Zhang He had led men and planned strategies, he had brought victories. Fong Du had been a charming man, and so it was not generally other factions that challenged him, but bandits and criminals. The Yellow Turbans were not much more than poorly organized peasants with numbers on their sides, elevated bandits, so to speak.

The terrain surrounding the Yellow Turban's encampment, one that possessed numbers not too dissimilar to Zhang He's group, was plain. Hills littered the otherwise open area, and Zhang He intended to make what use he could of them.

"Sir, the archers are in position."

Zhang He gave a nod, telling the man to wait until he received word before any action was taken. The Yellow Turban's camp provided a difficult position as far as flanking went. The area behind the camp was largely open, as was the front. The Yellow Turbans most likely knew of the force that resided only a small ways away, but that had little bearing on Zhang He's plan.

He turned to face the mounted soldier next to him. "Ride, give the archer's command to fire." Behind one of the larger hills near the Yellow Turban's camp the archers awaited the order that Zhang He had just given. Their assault would go on as long as it took for the Yellow Turban's force to be a threat to their position, and then Zhang He would take other measures.

The archers received their command to fire, and a hail of arrows was sent reining down on the camp.

[Xiang Yu]

(Sorry for the delay Zhang. It has been a busy day.)

There are 1,500 bandits. 700 peasants, 200 swordsmen, 200 archers, 200 spearmen, 100 militia and 100 cavalry.

Liang Xi had spent the day recuperating after the battle with Cao Cao and Fong Du. It had nearly ended with a victory, but before the sword could have swept its way the shields of the wei kingdom had emerged. Shielding their blows and preventing them from their goals to kill the wretched man who had fazed them in the assault.

It had been quick, only a few minutes of battle before all that stood before them was that one lone warrior, and as Liang settled down in his chair in his encampment he could not help but swear aloud at the man’s bravery and skill. He had never witnessed skills of that calibre before, and he had prayed silently of the man’s return. He wanted his revenge.

The prayer had finally come, exactly 12 hours after the assault, and it had come with the falling of the sky and the black hail that rained upon them, each piece slithered with metal designed to pierce and kill. It had come suddenly, almost too sudden for anyone to anticipate and act on the attack, but it had come – and although Liang had to clad back on his armour, he felt relieved and elevated with life. It was finally time.

He called to his soldiers who had lined up after the initial wave of arrows and ordered them to grab their weapons. Soon, the army of the bandits emerged, their armies large and strong, even if the vast majority of them were peasants and low end militiamen. It would be enough, he thought, and led them forth on his own black steed.

Zhang He. It had seemed the man commandeered the army before him, and he nodded as he watched as the enemies ranks lined up beyond the hill. They seemed smaller, by at least 3 or 4 platoons, but Liang was no fool – and knew that those men before him were trained members of the wei army. It would not be an easy fight.

“Come.” He eventually muttered, and his men cried their cries for blood. “Come and DIE!”

His armies charged, only the soldiers of skill staying back with their leader. Over 700 men with swords and small hatchets charged, their torsos revealed or their simple jerkins torn. It would do, he thought, for he was no inexperienced leader. He moved his cavalry behind him and followed the torn turf left by his charging fanatics.

((Poor but I’m also rushed. It should be enough to get you started. Casualties will commence after your next post. I will also include the losses I took this turn then as well.))

[Zhang He]

For men that were being harassed by a hail of arrows, the bandits managed to organize themselves quickly. Their leader must be experienced, but that did not daunt Zhang He. The Yellow Turban's numbers were greater, but their men were not as experienced in large battles. Indeed, the majority of their experience was most likely based in assaults like the one waged against Fong Du.

The bandits cried for blood, charging on foot and raising their weapons in anticipation. Zhang He would not falter, their blood lust was not enough to match his hunger for vengeance. His eyes flashed to the flank of the charging crowd, seeing that the Yellow Turban's calvary followed. Zhang He suspected that their commander would be in that group, the man responsible for leading the attack against Fong Du.

"Step into formation and meet their charge!"

The groups of swords and spearmen marched forward, calm against the storm that was racing towards them. The spearsmen stayed close behind their swords wielding comrades, so that their superior reach might be put to use while being protected.

"Gather the calvary and follow me."

While Zhang He's infantry moved to meet the rush of bandits the warrior led the calvary to a position that would allow them to directly charge against the bandit's own calvary. Once the infantry crashed against each other Zhang He gave the order to charge, joining the calvary in their rush against the bandits.

[Xiang Yu]

The battlefield had consisted of open plains for the most part, but with speckled trees and hill tops lying littered across the eastern border. It was not a battlefield suitable for concentrated formations, or at least that had been the general’s conclusion as his mount came to a stop just before the pass of open green grass.

“This will suffice.” He had said to the man beside him. “We will set it up here and pray they follow.”

His officer in command nodded to his statement, and two other men came from the distance to offer their aid. They were a small platoon, cavalry with borderline spearmen and swordsmen taking up the front whilst men worked in the rear. Ahead, Liang Xi watched the infantry charge and the retaliation of this Zhang He. It would suffice, he reassured himself, and moved back to the centre of his small position.

Zhang He had moved with the cavalry, turning their steeds and charging the supposed rear of the enemy. It would not do him much good…

The infantry clashed with the enemy, and for a while the momentum of the large infantry force seemed to cope well against professional soldiers. Their weight and body momentum forced them into shields and swords, forcing the formations to buckle beneath the charge. As his armies seemed to strike fear into the enemy moved back steadily, the Han swordsmen taking the front so that the shields could act as a sufficient repellent against this cursed army. It worked, and Liang was far enough back to watch the shields form the line in front of him.

“Now we go.”

He moved his cavalry sharp across the field, leaving the trained spearmen and swordsmen to turn their attentions to the charging cavalry. Spearmen and swordsmen linked one by one, and they made a roar as they too charged towards the cavalry. They knew they would die, but still they fought – still they endured.

Liang Xi rode away from the battle behind him, moving his cavalry across the rear of his entry and turning to face the now exposed flank of the enemy’s infantry. With the cavalry stopped by the spearmen he had a few seconds to initiate his charge. So he did.

---

Losses

Bandits:
175 peasants (arrow fire and charge)
75 miltiia (arrow fire and charge)

Zhang He:
30 Swordsmen
15 Han swordsmen
20 Spearmen
10 Han Spearmen

[Zhang He]

The bandit's calvary moved out of the way of Zhang He's charge, infantry men turning to face them instead. The general's eyes followed the Yellow Turban's horses for a moment, predicting that they would move to attack the flank of his men while the infantry were locked in combat. It had been a poor move, but Zhang He had been eager to enter the fray and draw enemy blood himself.

The calvary continued their charge, aiming to trample the men that stood in their way. Zhang He's lance pierced the flesh of men, deflecting attacks and proving to be a great defense as well as offense. They could do nothing but break through the infantry that faced them, and once that was accomplished perhaps they would be able to attack the calvary slicing at the flank of Zhang He's infantry.

Some infantry fell in the charge, not expecting enemies to already attack their flank. The men did their best to right themselves quickly, stabbing at the calvary with spears. The swordsmen aimed their blows against the horses' legs, planning to topple the riders to the ground so that their advantage would be lessened.