Post by dongyan on Feb 4, 2011 16:54:07 GMT
Preparation
Chen Gong had got his written orders, to prepare for the siege of Bei Hai by building the siege weapons. Chen Gong was not an engineer and felt slightly annoyed at doing such a task but he recognised the importance of it. First things first, ensuring they had the men and the materials!
Chen Gong knew he had to first ensure there was enough wood. In his offices, he gathered around his small staff and summoned those local administrators he knew he needed. Once they were all gathered, Chen Gong stood in the middle of them, his seal of office on his belt, written orders from Lu Bu in his hand.
"Our lord wishes to build siege engines for a future camapign, he wants ladders, rams and a catapult. I will work with my staff to help design them but first, we need to gather wood and other necessary equipment while hiring craftsman. I want you most of you to find what wood and leather we can spare from our own supplies but if you can't, see what can be bought from the markets and the gentry. The rest, I want to find any with engineering experience in the army and to hire local craftsman to help build this, ensure you buy and hire at fair rates as we need local support."
Chen Gong quickly divided those around him for the three tasks: supplies, helping him plan and hiring craftsman. As he dismissed them to do their jobs, Chen Gong sighed. The city lacked real engineers, capable of creating great weapons but if they could rebuild battered walls and homes, if they could build field camps then they could build siege equipment... he hoped.
Chen Gong quickly rode around town, hiring a warehouse on the edge of the city to store the soon to be created weapons, a workshop for the more complicated crafting and at the barracks to borrow a few soldiers. Then he made other arrangements for the testing before returning to his office. As he started drawing up plans for the siege engines, he could only hope it would not prove too expensive.
4 Siege Ladders
Chen Gong had arranged with the guards to allow them to try the ladders on the walls of Xia Pi. If they could reach to the top of the city walls then chances are, they would work for Bei Hai. The first ladder had been simple enough to make and he had barely needed to supervise the work as the local craftsman quickly made one, assuring the strategist that it would carry the necessary load.
"Sir, if we make three more of these now, that is job done. Let's just make three more, it will be easy enough, you don't need to worry here."
Chen Gong, to the evident exasperation of the workers, shook his head.
"No, let's see we have the right size and that it can support the weight of a few soldiers before we make the rest."
Two soldiers came over and grabbed the bottom of the ladder, charging at the walls to a great cheer. Unfortunately, the cheers died down as it soon became clear that the ladder was short by two inches.
"Looks like we need it a little taller. Let's try again people!"
The craftsman got busy again and it didn't take them too long to create a taller ladder. Again, the soldiers charged the walls but this time, it was tall enough. After five soldiers had clambered to the top of the wall, Chen Gong finally punched the air.
"Good work. Make three more of those, summon me before you test each one, then I will reassign you."
Each time a ladder was finished, Chen Gong was indeed summoned back and, despite one or two failures where the ladder had not been strong enough, they soon had 4 worthwhile siege ladders.
2 Rams and a catapult
It had been easy to find two thick tree trunks in the forests outside of Xia Pi. It had been easy to cut them down, trim off all the twigs and get soldiers to carry them back to the workshop. As expected, the gathering of the rams themselves was easy, soon also came the other pieces of wood and ropes needed for the tasks ahead. It was an intimidatingly large collection of wood that Chen Gong stood in front of as he explained in detail what he wanted. The ability to move the twos rams using wheels and cover for those operating it from the likely arrows of the Bei Hai defenders, then the complicated issue of a catapult.
"I know this will be a strain but you will get the materials you need and you can trust the government to pay as promised. This will be a test of your abilities but I am sure you will pass them and make yourselves proud. If we can make these then our lord becomes stronger and we can ensure your homes are safe for the future. No more worrying about an army coming into the city, looting your home and harming your families, instead you can concentrate on your own lives, starting with your pay."
The ensuing work was heavy going and even with the doors open, the workshop soon began to become hot and smelly each day. Chen Gong had to change out of his robes and wear a simple tunic and trousers, overseeing the constructions of these large weapons of war. He used soldiers to keep discipline and prevent fights breaking out amongst the workers, not always helped by Chen Gong's own prickly nature.
The two rams were the first to be completed and so, once they were de-constructed, he had the parts carried to an old farmhouse that had fallen into disrepair once it's owners had died. As a test, he ordered the rams assembled again and once that was done, had them wheeled up to the house.
"Batter it down, if it can destroy the walls then maybe it can destroy the gates."
There was a bit of grumbling at the choice of words but the rams were soon wheeled into position and began battering the walls down. The sound of the thumping and sight of the cracks reassured Chen Gong and he was a happy man when the walls came crumbling down.
The catapult proved more difficult. So many pieces, so many measurements, so much that could go wrong. More then once, he had to tinker with his plans to try and get it to work but finally, everything fitted. Slowly, the craftsman moved the catapult outside into a field where they had reasonable hopes of not hitting anybody.
In the cool air, Chen Gong took care to be several yards behind the catapult as it's arm was winched back and loaded with a suitable rock. The strategist bit his lip as the weapon was unleashed and watched the rock fly away into the sky. He rather hoped that it didn't hit anybody's home...
"That's it everyone. We have built the siege weapons needed and you have earnt your pay. Once We have got this big machine back into the warehouse, you may go home."
As Chen Gong made his way back into Xia Pi, he was already wondering how to make sure they got to Bei Hai. Perhaps he could stick Gao Shun to escorting them? Would be one way of ensuring Gao Shun got less merit.
Chen Gong had got his written orders, to prepare for the siege of Bei Hai by building the siege weapons. Chen Gong was not an engineer and felt slightly annoyed at doing such a task but he recognised the importance of it. First things first, ensuring they had the men and the materials!
Chen Gong knew he had to first ensure there was enough wood. In his offices, he gathered around his small staff and summoned those local administrators he knew he needed. Once they were all gathered, Chen Gong stood in the middle of them, his seal of office on his belt, written orders from Lu Bu in his hand.
"Our lord wishes to build siege engines for a future camapign, he wants ladders, rams and a catapult. I will work with my staff to help design them but first, we need to gather wood and other necessary equipment while hiring craftsman. I want you most of you to find what wood and leather we can spare from our own supplies but if you can't, see what can be bought from the markets and the gentry. The rest, I want to find any with engineering experience in the army and to hire local craftsman to help build this, ensure you buy and hire at fair rates as we need local support."
Chen Gong quickly divided those around him for the three tasks: supplies, helping him plan and hiring craftsman. As he dismissed them to do their jobs, Chen Gong sighed. The city lacked real engineers, capable of creating great weapons but if they could rebuild battered walls and homes, if they could build field camps then they could build siege equipment... he hoped.
Chen Gong quickly rode around town, hiring a warehouse on the edge of the city to store the soon to be created weapons, a workshop for the more complicated crafting and at the barracks to borrow a few soldiers. Then he made other arrangements for the testing before returning to his office. As he started drawing up plans for the siege engines, he could only hope it would not prove too expensive.
4 Siege Ladders
Chen Gong had arranged with the guards to allow them to try the ladders on the walls of Xia Pi. If they could reach to the top of the city walls then chances are, they would work for Bei Hai. The first ladder had been simple enough to make and he had barely needed to supervise the work as the local craftsman quickly made one, assuring the strategist that it would carry the necessary load.
"Sir, if we make three more of these now, that is job done. Let's just make three more, it will be easy enough, you don't need to worry here."
Chen Gong, to the evident exasperation of the workers, shook his head.
"No, let's see we have the right size and that it can support the weight of a few soldiers before we make the rest."
Two soldiers came over and grabbed the bottom of the ladder, charging at the walls to a great cheer. Unfortunately, the cheers died down as it soon became clear that the ladder was short by two inches.
"Looks like we need it a little taller. Let's try again people!"
The craftsman got busy again and it didn't take them too long to create a taller ladder. Again, the soldiers charged the walls but this time, it was tall enough. After five soldiers had clambered to the top of the wall, Chen Gong finally punched the air.
"Good work. Make three more of those, summon me before you test each one, then I will reassign you."
Each time a ladder was finished, Chen Gong was indeed summoned back and, despite one or two failures where the ladder had not been strong enough, they soon had 4 worthwhile siege ladders.
2 Rams and a catapult
It had been easy to find two thick tree trunks in the forests outside of Xia Pi. It had been easy to cut them down, trim off all the twigs and get soldiers to carry them back to the workshop. As expected, the gathering of the rams themselves was easy, soon also came the other pieces of wood and ropes needed for the tasks ahead. It was an intimidatingly large collection of wood that Chen Gong stood in front of as he explained in detail what he wanted. The ability to move the twos rams using wheels and cover for those operating it from the likely arrows of the Bei Hai defenders, then the complicated issue of a catapult.
"I know this will be a strain but you will get the materials you need and you can trust the government to pay as promised. This will be a test of your abilities but I am sure you will pass them and make yourselves proud. If we can make these then our lord becomes stronger and we can ensure your homes are safe for the future. No more worrying about an army coming into the city, looting your home and harming your families, instead you can concentrate on your own lives, starting with your pay."
The ensuing work was heavy going and even with the doors open, the workshop soon began to become hot and smelly each day. Chen Gong had to change out of his robes and wear a simple tunic and trousers, overseeing the constructions of these large weapons of war. He used soldiers to keep discipline and prevent fights breaking out amongst the workers, not always helped by Chen Gong's own prickly nature.
The two rams were the first to be completed and so, once they were de-constructed, he had the parts carried to an old farmhouse that had fallen into disrepair once it's owners had died. As a test, he ordered the rams assembled again and once that was done, had them wheeled up to the house.
"Batter it down, if it can destroy the walls then maybe it can destroy the gates."
There was a bit of grumbling at the choice of words but the rams were soon wheeled into position and began battering the walls down. The sound of the thumping and sight of the cracks reassured Chen Gong and he was a happy man when the walls came crumbling down.
The catapult proved more difficult. So many pieces, so many measurements, so much that could go wrong. More then once, he had to tinker with his plans to try and get it to work but finally, everything fitted. Slowly, the craftsman moved the catapult outside into a field where they had reasonable hopes of not hitting anybody.
In the cool air, Chen Gong took care to be several yards behind the catapult as it's arm was winched back and loaded with a suitable rock. The strategist bit his lip as the weapon was unleashed and watched the rock fly away into the sky. He rather hoped that it didn't hit anybody's home...
"That's it everyone. We have built the siege weapons needed and you have earnt your pay. Once We have got this big machine back into the warehouse, you may go home."
As Chen Gong made his way back into Xia Pi, he was already wondering how to make sure they got to Bei Hai. Perhaps he could stick Gao Shun to escorting them? Would be one way of ensuring Gao Shun got less merit.
