“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne

-

JavaScript is off/unavailable on your browser. You will not be able to experience this website as it was intended without JavaScript enabled.

“And I should retreat through the valley…?” Yu Jin guessed.
“Quite right, for I have someone ready there… Yue Jin, who has a contingent of archers, cavalry and infantry waiting on the high ground,” Xun Gongda continued. “Xiahou Dun, you will have your men make repeated strikes toward their left flank, while Yu Jin will attack the right until the proper moment is upon us. If Yufuluo charges through the centre, then we counter and chase them into the trap; if he holds on his front line, then Yu Jin’s actions will divide his forces and we’ll charge whoever doesn’t follow Yu Jin. It isn’t a classic stratagem, but it works well for these sorts.”
“We accord completely,” Cao Cao said. “Follow Gongda’s orders, gentlemen, and we will certainly win today.”
     The Xiongnu-Bandit coalition leaders finished arraying their forces in their usual disorderly fashion and urged chanting and heckling that drowned out the counter-chants of the Yan forces; Xun Gongda smiled and raised a small wooden fan that would now serve as a signalling device. Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin led their forces forward and struck at the lines of Xiongnu warriors; the response was savage, and both officers were genuinely forced to retreat before they lost too many of their infantry.
A poor start,” Cao Cao shouted over the din.
Yufuluo will now attack, for certain,” Xun Gongda replied.
     You should stay put until we know if they have a plan, Chanyu!” Fixed Gaze pleaded, but Yufuluo was too determined to bring an end to the battle to listen to him.
Wild Fox! Young Wolf! We will charge!” Yufuluo ordered, and the two lesser Xiongnu leaders responded eagerly. “A shame that my son is not here: he would take many enemy heads as trophies today - maybe he may have taken Cao’s head!
Aieecharge if you must, but be careful!” Fixed Gaze said.

Yufuluo scoffed and started his charge; Dian Wei rode forward with his horsemen and blocked the path to his lord as soon as the charge was confirmed. Yufuluo gasped as Dian Wei met every strike that Young Wolf made and unseated the talented Xiongnu warrior with a violent shove; Wild Fox advanced and tried to push Dian Wei back so that he might rescue his ally, but Dian’s horse trampled Young Wolf as Dian himself lunged at the Xiongnu warriors and felled two more with ease. Wild Fox sensed that he would die pointlessly and started to retreat; Yufuluo also abandoned the effort and returned to his line with less than half of his horsemen and two thirds of his infantry.
I will go back to Lord Cao!” Dian Wei said. “Others may follow them!
Cao Xiu led a small cavalry unit after Yufuluo’s retreat.
Well done, Dian Wei!” Cao Cao said as his grinning bodyguard returned with bloodied halberd in hand. “I wish that I could let you pursue!
Your safety comes first, Lord Cao Cao,” Dian Wei replied.
     Where is Fixed Gaze???” Yufuluo barked upon his return to the coalition front lines.
Fixed Gaze and Thin Wang went after an officer that tried to pincer you: they went west!” Big Eyes replied.
“…We must fight on!” Yufuluo decided. “I cannot lose here!
Wild Fox nodded angrily and said, “I want blood for blood!
We shall have it!” Yufuluo replied. “Next time we all charge!
Wait ‘til Fixed Gaze comes back!” a bandit insisted.

<< Main Product Page

<< Previous Page

Next Page >>