Post by Cao Ren on Aug 9, 2011 9:03:20 GMT
Cao Ren returned to Yu Jin without having accomplished anything. The scene at the northern village was most unexpected and in some way humiliating. He even lost 5 of his men to some mere peasants and it was his fault.
On the other hand, what else could he have done? How could he be aware of the fact that Liu Bei apparently was a saint? There was no other way in Cao Ren's opinion, how Liu Bei could've turned a village occupied by peasants who had served Wei for more than 10 years into extremely loyal followers within just a few months. He failed to understand this, heaven seemed to have forsaken him for this moment. Still, time was running out slowly and he had to act now. One mistake was more than enough and he had to make sure everything would go swiftly now.
"General, what happened to you?" Yu Jin asked, surprised by the looks of Cao Ren.
"The peasants don't seem to like any kind of company... those used to serve us a few months ago and now they're not blenching from driving us back. We lost five men... I am ashamed. This does not seem to be the year of our Kingdom. Everything... went wrong this year. If it wasn't for Master Zhang Liao, we could've pack our bags and go to Hebei. I hope he still does well in Shouchun", Cao Ren answered, not even daring to look at his subordinate.
"That is indeed not good news. We should punish these disloyal bastards..."
"No. Everyone would have acted like this in such a situation. They have to save their families after all. They should not be punished for defended their lives.
Anyway, there is no use in sitting here and doing nothing. We must make a move at last. Master Yu Jin, I want you to lead the ambush on the fort. We are sure to have been spotted, I have seen 5 men on horseback storming towards Wangji. "
"Yes my lord. What will you do?"
"I'll take the main force and attack their gate. We have to rely on Niu Jin. If he fails, we will not be able to take the fort."
Yu Jin nodded. Ren layed his hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"Master Yu Jin, the time has come to draw your name out of the mud again. Split some Shu blood for our king, we'll take revenge for Fan and Dingjun."
Yu Jin returned the smile but did not say anything. Ren left the detachment and went to the main army in the north.
Yu Jin watched as Ren disappeared in the forest. Then he turned around to his men in order to give instructions.
"Alright then. We shall slowly continue to move towards the camp. Stay in the cover of the forest, this is important. The crossbowmen will line up in a distance to the camp so that they have free sight on the walls. Each of you shall target one of the defenders on this wall. As you shoot them, 5 of our spearmen will advance with 5 ladders and set them up at the walls. The crossbowmen are the first to climb them, after this I and the swordsmen will climb the walls, followed by the spearmen, while being covered by the crossbowmen. We have the troop advantage, we have the surprise effect. Understood? Then let's go!"
Yu Jin and the small force of now 95 men started to advance on the Shu camp, willing to slay the defenders for good.
Cao Ren had reached the main army in the forest. Most of the soldiers were loitering and doing nothing. Ren was sure that they would be happy to finally have some action.
"Alright men! The time has finally come to attack this lousy fortress of Shu. We shall clear the way to Xinye and take these dick-heads out once and for all. Here's the plan.
The horsebowmen are the first to advance. You shall charge at the city gate and release volleys of arrows on the defenders. After that, move to west in order to escape their arrows and not lose your lives. As you'll reach the forest west of the road, turn around again and do the same thing. This should keep them busy. The remaining men shall assault the fortress.
The bowmen and crossbowmen shall move to the forests south of the northern village and use them as some kind of cover. Swordsmen and spearmen shall all stay behind a bit. As Yu Jin takes the fortress, we'll take the ladders from him and finally attack the fortress. However, don't be too greedy. This attack will only serve as a distraction for them. So watch out and make sure that you don't get some arrows into your butts. We must make it look as it's a full scale attack on their main gate, while Niu Jin will attack the fortress from the west. He should be covered by these clouds... hm... these clouds... anyway.
The light cavalry shall stay at the camp. It will watch out and make sure that no soldiers get out of the city. Should they try to attack us on open field, you shall charge and take their lives."
Ren clapped in his hands.
"Good. You!"
He pointed at one of the soldiers.
"Go to the forests in the west and tell Niu Jin that he shall move south-wards along the road. After that, he must turn to the east and assault the fortress. The fate of this battle lays in his hands."
The soldier nodded and ran away. Cao Ren sighed.
"Why do I have to lead a surprise attack... oh Xiahou Yuan, this task would've been perfectly suited for you. Please, lend us your strength", he thought for a moment.
"Good, let's go!"
Cao Ren's forces finally started to move. They left the forests and entered the road. After a short march at the attacked camp, the fort came in sight and they charged.
Yu Jin's men arrived at the camp. Jin gave a sign to stop and ordered the crossbowmen to come forth. 10 of them lined up and targeted various defenders at the wall. Afterwards, the spearmen with the ladders arrived, staying behind the 10 crossbowmen.
Yu Jin took a deep breath. He knew that Cao Cao had said he is forgiven, but what one person says does not have to be the same thing the person actually feels. It was clear that Cao Cao was still disappointed with his vassal for his surrender. Jin admitted that Pang De took the right way. If he had taken the same route, he would not have brought shame upon him and he wouldn't have died either. But how could he have told at that time? He wanted his men to live, wanted to save their lives. Now, it had been the wrong move and he had to whitewash his reputation.
Yu Jin raised his hand, looked left and right and then gave the sign to attack. The crossbowmen shot their bolts at the defenders, while the spearmen charged at the walls, setting up the ladders. Afterwards, the remaining men attacked, trying to climb the ladders as quick as they could.
Cao Ren's soldier arrived at Niu Jin's force and told him the orders. Niu Jin, who leaned against one of the trees, started to laugh.
"Hahahaha! Very well. Then let's do what Lord Cao Ren commands us to do, shall we?"
As the instructions said, Niu Jin's forces left the forest to south, being covered by the clouds, and traveled along the road near the river.
--------------------
Cao Ren
Personal army:
750 Levy Spearmen
700 Light Swordsmen
600 Peasant Bowmen
200 Light Cavalry
Lieutenants:
Yu Jin
Niu Jin
Kingdom army:
200 Light Swordsmen
98 Retinue Spearmen
200 Retinue Swordsmen
97 Crossbowmen
200 Horsebowmen
20 Ladders
___________
- Yu Jin takes over the detachment of 95 troops and assaults the camp.
- Cao Ren leads the forces of the forest east of the road to assault the main gate via the main road.
- Niu Jin travels with the forces of the forest west of the road 4 hexes to the south.
(should you need any more information, tell me and I'll edit it here)
On the other hand, what else could he have done? How could he be aware of the fact that Liu Bei apparently was a saint? There was no other way in Cao Ren's opinion, how Liu Bei could've turned a village occupied by peasants who had served Wei for more than 10 years into extremely loyal followers within just a few months. He failed to understand this, heaven seemed to have forsaken him for this moment. Still, time was running out slowly and he had to act now. One mistake was more than enough and he had to make sure everything would go swiftly now.
"General, what happened to you?" Yu Jin asked, surprised by the looks of Cao Ren.
"The peasants don't seem to like any kind of company... those used to serve us a few months ago and now they're not blenching from driving us back. We lost five men... I am ashamed. This does not seem to be the year of our Kingdom. Everything... went wrong this year. If it wasn't for Master Zhang Liao, we could've pack our bags and go to Hebei. I hope he still does well in Shouchun", Cao Ren answered, not even daring to look at his subordinate.
"That is indeed not good news. We should punish these disloyal bastards..."
"No. Everyone would have acted like this in such a situation. They have to save their families after all. They should not be punished for defended their lives.
Anyway, there is no use in sitting here and doing nothing. We must make a move at last. Master Yu Jin, I want you to lead the ambush on the fort. We are sure to have been spotted, I have seen 5 men on horseback storming towards Wangji. "
"Yes my lord. What will you do?"
"I'll take the main force and attack their gate. We have to rely on Niu Jin. If he fails, we will not be able to take the fort."
Yu Jin nodded. Ren layed his hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"Master Yu Jin, the time has come to draw your name out of the mud again. Split some Shu blood for our king, we'll take revenge for Fan and Dingjun."
Yu Jin returned the smile but did not say anything. Ren left the detachment and went to the main army in the north.
Yu Jin watched as Ren disappeared in the forest. Then he turned around to his men in order to give instructions.
"Alright then. We shall slowly continue to move towards the camp. Stay in the cover of the forest, this is important. The crossbowmen will line up in a distance to the camp so that they have free sight on the walls. Each of you shall target one of the defenders on this wall. As you shoot them, 5 of our spearmen will advance with 5 ladders and set them up at the walls. The crossbowmen are the first to climb them, after this I and the swordsmen will climb the walls, followed by the spearmen, while being covered by the crossbowmen. We have the troop advantage, we have the surprise effect. Understood? Then let's go!"
Yu Jin and the small force of now 95 men started to advance on the Shu camp, willing to slay the defenders for good.
Cao Ren had reached the main army in the forest. Most of the soldiers were loitering and doing nothing. Ren was sure that they would be happy to finally have some action.
"Alright men! The time has finally come to attack this lousy fortress of Shu. We shall clear the way to Xinye and take these dick-heads out once and for all. Here's the plan.
The horsebowmen are the first to advance. You shall charge at the city gate and release volleys of arrows on the defenders. After that, move to west in order to escape their arrows and not lose your lives. As you'll reach the forest west of the road, turn around again and do the same thing. This should keep them busy. The remaining men shall assault the fortress.
The bowmen and crossbowmen shall move to the forests south of the northern village and use them as some kind of cover. Swordsmen and spearmen shall all stay behind a bit. As Yu Jin takes the fortress, we'll take the ladders from him and finally attack the fortress. However, don't be too greedy. This attack will only serve as a distraction for them. So watch out and make sure that you don't get some arrows into your butts. We must make it look as it's a full scale attack on their main gate, while Niu Jin will attack the fortress from the west. He should be covered by these clouds... hm... these clouds... anyway.
The light cavalry shall stay at the camp. It will watch out and make sure that no soldiers get out of the city. Should they try to attack us on open field, you shall charge and take their lives."
Ren clapped in his hands.
"Good. You!"
He pointed at one of the soldiers.
"Go to the forests in the west and tell Niu Jin that he shall move south-wards along the road. After that, he must turn to the east and assault the fortress. The fate of this battle lays in his hands."
The soldier nodded and ran away. Cao Ren sighed.
"Why do I have to lead a surprise attack... oh Xiahou Yuan, this task would've been perfectly suited for you. Please, lend us your strength", he thought for a moment.
"Good, let's go!"
Cao Ren's forces finally started to move. They left the forests and entered the road. After a short march at the attacked camp, the fort came in sight and they charged.
Yu Jin's men arrived at the camp. Jin gave a sign to stop and ordered the crossbowmen to come forth. 10 of them lined up and targeted various defenders at the wall. Afterwards, the spearmen with the ladders arrived, staying behind the 10 crossbowmen.
Yu Jin took a deep breath. He knew that Cao Cao had said he is forgiven, but what one person says does not have to be the same thing the person actually feels. It was clear that Cao Cao was still disappointed with his vassal for his surrender. Jin admitted that Pang De took the right way. If he had taken the same route, he would not have brought shame upon him and he wouldn't have died either. But how could he have told at that time? He wanted his men to live, wanted to save their lives. Now, it had been the wrong move and he had to whitewash his reputation.
Yu Jin raised his hand, looked left and right and then gave the sign to attack. The crossbowmen shot their bolts at the defenders, while the spearmen charged at the walls, setting up the ladders. Afterwards, the remaining men attacked, trying to climb the ladders as quick as they could.
Cao Ren's soldier arrived at Niu Jin's force and told him the orders. Niu Jin, who leaned against one of the trees, started to laugh.
"Hahahaha! Very well. Then let's do what Lord Cao Ren commands us to do, shall we?"
As the instructions said, Niu Jin's forces left the forest to south, being covered by the clouds, and traveled along the road near the river.
--------------------
Cao Ren
Personal army:
750 Levy Spearmen
700 Light Swordsmen
600 Peasant Bowmen
200 Light Cavalry
Lieutenants:
Yu Jin
Niu Jin
Kingdom army:
200 Light Swordsmen
98 Retinue Spearmen
200 Retinue Swordsmen
97 Crossbowmen
200 Horsebowmen
20 Ladders
___________
- Yu Jin takes over the detachment of 95 troops and assaults the camp.
- Cao Ren leads the forces of the forest east of the road to assault the main gate via the main road.
- Niu Jin travels with the forces of the forest west of the road 4 hexes to the south.
(should you need any more information, tell me and I'll edit it here)