Battle of Shang Dang

[Zhou Yu]

Update:

Summary: Wen Chou manages to avoid Zhang Yans trap b riding around the back of the hills to safety. Zhang Yan heads back to the city. Yan Liangs unit is wiped out in a suicidal attack on the city. The famous commander himself escapes but has to ride west away from the battle he will play no further part for a minimum of 10 turns.

Map:

Yan Liang unit is gone N2 is no Yuan Shao’s spearmen unit
Ying Bu unit is now in city and so off the map

Troop losses:
Yan Liang
130 Cavalry

Ying Bu
10 Spearmen
30 cavalry

Environment damage: N/A

[Cao Pi]

Wen Chou and his riders rode up the hillside, checking behind them as they went but no sign of Zhang Yan, he must have given up.
"Men, we ride round and meet the main army, lets go!"
Wen Chou and his men rode back around, meeting the army of spearmen on the way, the spearmen followed Wen Chou back to the pass opening, they weren't far from the main army, the halfway point between Chou and Shao was the hill where Zhang Yan first started, he and the spearmen marched upon the hill.

"Yan... Liang..." Yuan Shao glared at the floor, his right hand moved across his left side and drew his sword.
"They shall pay!" he shouted but as he did he was tapped on the soldier, who pointed towards the Yuan banners climbing the hill, it was Wen Chou.
"To the hill men!"
Yuan Shao and his forced hastily moved towards the hill, archers fired at all enemies in range whist they moved.

[Zhou Yu]

(will merge post and update, since this is going to be a boring turn)

Zhang Yan lead his riders back threw the mountain passes and soon the city was in sight better yet it was not under siege yet. Clearly his men had been successful in repelling the first assault by Yuan Shao. Weather this would continue they would have to see but he hoped so. On there way up he merged with the 200 riders left over from Ying Bu’s unit.

Mean while in the city Ying Bu ordered the archers to the East wall while the rest of the men took a break for a moment, best to relax themselves for the coming battle. The gates swung open again as the bandits taunted Yuan Shao to come down from his hill and fight like a real man.

Update
Map


Troop Losses: none

[Cao Pi]

"hmph.. what fools open their gates as a taunt, idiots. Men, lets give them a taste of their own medicine roll 3 boulders down at the castle but keep the rest, we'll use them to hit their cavalry, if they are man enough to attack us."
Some of the infantry began to roll boulders down and into the castle, Wen Chou had finally made it up the hill and the army merged back into one.
Spearmen made a spear wall at the front to prevent the cavalry getting any where near Yuan Shao. Shao rode out to the front.
"Come Zhang Yan, you wouldnt fight me when i was at the bottom of the fill, will you fight me now, or are you still scared of me?"
He turned to the archers
"You should be able to reach them from ontop of this hill, fire!"
He order and he watched as the arrows flew past his head.

[Zhou Yu]

(slow turn so gonna merge again)

Zhang Yan watched Yuan Shao firing arrows at his men. Of course even with some elevation advantage he was a long, long way out of arrow range down past even the city. He doubted an archer could fire from one side of the city to the other so Yuan was more than hopeful if he figured he could hit him from there. Frankly he saw no reason to attack Yuan Shao at all. He held the advantage up on top of the hill and the bandits had no need to commit suicide attacking him, they had the city after all.

“Head around the back of the city, we shall keep out of site and plan our next move.” Zhang Yan said whipping his horse around and riding away from the Yuan forces. Back in the city the defenders kept their men on the walls on top and behind. The enemy casts boulders at them and they would do a little damage to the city walls but it would be very minimal. From the angle the enemy was rolling them from they could not possible get one threw the gate.

Update

Summery: The rest of Yuan Shao’s troops re join his main army. They roll rocks toward the city which break against the city walls to little affect. Zhang Yan moves his army to the south.



Troop losses: N/A

Environment damage: 5% damage to city walls in places.

[Cao Pi]

"Hmm, cowards, they run away again. Ok men, we move for the city"
Yuan and his troops began to march towards the city, spearmen led the way.
Shao turned to Wen Chou
"Chou, maybe i should ask them to join our force, they are very skilled"
"I dont think they would submit sir."
Yuan Shao didnt reply and kept marching, the drums began to beat as the got closer to the city.
"Release a volley into the city let them no we are here."
The archers released a volley of arrows into the city.

[Zhou Yu]

Ying Bu watched from the city walls as Yuan Shao moved his army down on the city like an avalanche of metal and men. It seemed the assault proper had just began. He knew he would have to weather it himself Zhang Yan had yet to make his next move. No doubt he was resting his cavalry out of site after there long ride around the mountains. Well he would not let this city fall without a fight.

His archers massed along the top of the walls. They crouched down behind the parapet so as little of them was visible as possible. A line a swordsmen gathered behind there shields raised to protect the archers and themselves as they crouched down too. The gates still as a taunt remained open to tempt the enemy. Although that could change if they got any closer than this. An archer nodded at him to indicate the enemy had come into range.

"Alright, begin to fire on my command, target the enemy archers." Ying Bu said raising his arm then when he judged the time was right he gave the order. "Fire."

[Zhou Yu]

Update:

Summery: Yuan Shao's army moves down from the hill and fires on the city with arrows. The bandits return fire and a shooting war begins. Although Yuan has the numbers the bandits with there high defencive wall have the large tactical edge.

Map:


Troop losses:
Ying Bu
25 swordsmen
25 archers
15 spearmen

Yuan Shao
100 archers

[Xiang Yu]

'ilovekitties mewmew'

The battle loomed ahead. Armies clashing in feigned ignorance as the tides pursued their goals. On one side, standing among a pillar of yellow flags stood the proclaimed Yuan Shao, a man familiar to the man in black. Whilst the other corner, dripped in the blood of the deceased, and aching within its injustice stood Zhang Yan, a prefect and warrior - a man once trusted by the imperial court and all that it stood for.

The court was now a ruin, a monument no longer recognized as the soul of the land. It was a time for a new age, a new proclamation....a time for darkness.

The man in black sat upon his steady steed, his eyes fixated upon the broken land as the armies clashed again. He could see archers atop sturdy walls and a volley glistening like black hail before more screams emitted from the scene. Yuan Shao stood on a hill, watching no doubt as his own men died for his beliefs. It was a cowardice approach, but one all leaders of importance believed in. He, he was no such figure - he was no ruler, no elegant man to stand atop a throne. He was the coming darkness, the ending light.

"I have arrived."

he turned to his officer, a man clad in black armour, fitted neatly only by a cape that draped his strong shoulders.

"I have arrived in accordance to my former master, but to what end must I travel?"

He gazed again, though aiming his words at no one in particular. He could see the fighting, but to what end indeed? at what stage would the land calm itself, or would it never do such a thing? was war always destined to ravage - if so then surely he would never find rest, for his life to end all war, to end it beneath his power,r his dominance.

"Send the men." He retorted, turning himself to face his men. "Send them all, we will see what lies in stock for us. Send a messenger to both camps, I will see their resolve before ending their pitiful lives."

His men bowed to his order, and two men were sent swiftly to both areas. One addressed the cities wall, carrying a black and white flag, whilst the other addressed the camp on the hill.

Both men shared a similar message, both stated the obvious...

'A word or two...

The night has granted my liege safe passage, and his former master would have it that he stand and watch this ordeal, and yet as he watches he feels no compassion to either side. Present the case, and pray that one of you benefit from the wrath of the man in black - or be bewitched by his excellence, and submit yourself to the greater powers. Forfeit to return the messenger is a declaration of war and of ignorance, an ignorance that will be dutifully repaid by the destruction of the acting parties army, family and territory. benefit from the darkness, or cast aside your life for the idea that you hold sufficient power to quell the darkness within this world. The decision is yours.

the master, the man in black - awaits your response.'

[Cao Pi]

Shao's archers continued to fire arrows at the men lined up on the wall and their army continued to march forward towards the gate, the peasants led the way, absorbing the arrows, the spearmen behind them used them as meat shields, Yuan and the rest of the cavalry stayed to the rear out of real range.
The gates were open but Yuan's army would not charge in, they would wait until they were sure they could get all men into the city.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yuan noticed a man who approached from the distance, the man came baring a message for Shao, Yuan read the message and laughed.
"Go tell your master to use his name in letters until he is atleast known enough to be known by such a title, I will not fight your master, maybe he should pay me a visit and i will then decide if he is worthy enough to fight me. I will not waste more men against an animal. If he wants a fight he is more than welcome to attack Zhang Yan and prove himself. Goodbye"
Yuan Shao sent the messenger back on his way to return his message to his master.

[Zhou Yu]

(little shorter on time, so not going to style points with my post)

Ying Bu watched as lord Yuan moved his army forward to storm the gate. So that’s how he wanted it, they had finally moved him to commit himself fully. Before his forces could reach the gate it was pulled shut and locked by the men inside as the enemy were only several meters behind it. A close call or a subtle insult to Yuan Shao to show the bandits were not that concerned by the threat he posed. His archers continued to target Yuan Shao’s archers totally ignoring the peasants and spearmen. The city how flew a green flag, this would signal Zhang Yan to let him know what action Yuan Shao was taking without having to waste time sending a messenger.

Lord Zhang Yan received both messages flag and written around the same time. He needed to react to both and he would do so aggressively as was his style. There would be no half measures no messing around here. He had taken the measure of Yuan Shao and he thought he could beat him. This new man however was an enigma, a spanner in the works. He could undo him or he could save him. Zhang Yan needed to know more but he also needed to show the kind of man he was. As such he would make a bold stance. He gave a spare horse to the messenger to ride right next to Zhang Yan where he could keep an eye on him. Then they set off at full speed riding to meet this man. A direct confrontation or meeting was about to take place.

[Zhou Yu]

Battle update:

Summary: Yuan Shao steps up his attack on the city. Sensible the bandits close the gate. However a new force there leader shadowed in secrecy has appeared due south east. Yuan Shao returns there messenger and demands he appears before him. Zhang Yan taking the more personal approach goes to see him in person with most of his cavalry. What will happen next is hard to predict.

Map:


Casualties:

Ying Bu
25 archers
20 swordsmen

Yuan Shao
80 archers

[Xiang Yu]

The man in black watched as both messengers returned to his small encampment. His army had not moved, and yet a few scouts had erected small black tents for the man in black to walk through whilst planning his inevitable assault.

The first messenger that returned had been from Yuan Shao's encampment, and the words spoken had brought no joy to the masters mood. Yuan Shao was obviously a fool, and in doing what he had done the conflict had to end, once and for all.

The second messenger was delayed, but with him was an army of cavalry with a flag representing the leader at the front. The man in black watched with a steady gaze as it loomed into his firing range, yet no order was to be given. he would honour this meeting, whilst his army secretly prepared its move.

"Come."

he spoke to his commander, and the armies suddenly started to move, peasants moving forth as cavalry and infantry arranged themselves in specific looping formations. It was hard to discern the style of his plans, but as the leader of the city approached he would see what was to be done. The army would move, and it would move against everyone.

"I hope the journey was worth it."

he rode out to meet this prefect, though his army was still behind him as it shuffled through the tall grass that had spotted the landscape. he could see the prefect now, though he had wondered what the prefect would make of his own dark presence. No eyes could be seen, only a black cloak and armour that formed his living, breathing corpse. His voice was dark and eerie, and as he spoke a glitter of whitish hair sparked through his hood, showing a glimpse of his green and red eyes.

"I thank you for coming, though it is too late for diplomacy now. Yuan Shao has offered me nothing, and that I cannot allow."

he spoke firm to the prefect, staring through his soul as his men moved past him. They showed no aggression to the prefect, but the man in black did not need to order them to kill if they felt concerned by the mans chivalric presence.

"Though you have come, and for that i am indeed grateful, but alas the war will continue - for Yuan Shao failed to read the plea with intelligence, and now my deal is forfeit, and this war will only get uglier. leave these lands, and pray my armies do not meet with yours anytime soon, or propose a deal - and hope my ears are willing to listen. You have only two choices, leave and be safe, or talk and risk your cavalry falling before me as we stand."

He turned once to his commander, and spearmen came from the fore of the army, their spears high and pointed. The catapult was being erected inside the cities walls reach, a device suitable for ending this boring exchange. The city would fall - and all would know it was by his doing soon enough.

All that remained was this prefects move.

(free for all ftw)