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

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     The bandit Fixed Gaze was pursuing Yu Jin into the hills, as Cao Cao and Xun Gongda had planned: his forces were caught off-guard by the ambush team that waited there, and he was forced to retreat. Yu Jin and Yue Jin met in the valley and laughed at the small victory; Fized Gaze had lost a dozen horsemen, his ally Thin Wang, and almost forty of his trusted and valued men.
“We’ll chase him and finish him off!” Yue Jin suggested.
“You may lead!” Yu Jin replied. “Zhu Ling and I will support you!”
Yu Jin’s aide Zhu Ling smiled and said, “Victory is assured!”

“…We’re done!” Fixed Gaze cried as he stopped his wounded horse next to the irritated Yufuluo. “I lost a lot o’ friends just now! We have to-
Coward!” Yufuluo screamed. “If I had not waited for you, Cao would be ground bones! I will charge without you!
Fixed Gaze tried to protest, but it was in vain; Yufuluo charged, but the combined force of Cao Cao, Dian Wei and Xiahou Dun at the front, Yu Jin to the left and Yue Jin to the rear left the rebel coalition with no choice but to retreat and find a place to regroup.
AIEE! Is this Dian Wei???” Fized Gaze cried as Xiahou Dun rode alongside him and swung his sword back and forth.
No, but you’re still dead!” Xiahou Dun cackled maniacally; it was only due to the intervention of a Xiongnu warrior that Fixed Gaze was able to get away unscathed.
Their leader is getting away, Yuanrang!” Cao Xiu said.
Xiahou Dun ascertained Cao Xiu’s intent from his gestures and signalled to his men that they should pursue Fixed Gaze at once; he finally got the better of the Xiongnu horseman and charged after the leader of the Black Mountain Bandits.
I’m going to die here because of an old nag!” Fixed Gaze lamented. “Come on, you stupid horse!
Cao Xiu reached Fixed Gaze and tried to strike at him with his sword, but some fearless Xiongnu riders blocked his path.

I’m outmatched!” Cao Xiu realised; he turned his horse and retreated to join Xiahou Dun, and the veteran riders pursued him.
Together!” Xiahou Dun suggested. “Everyone fight together!
One rider in Cao Xiu’s unit sensed that there would soon be needless deaths, so he detached from the group and hurried toward Xun Gongda.
Barbarian scum!” Xiahou Dun screamed. “Today you all die!
I’m with you, Yuanrang!” Cao Xiu promised.
     Many minutes later, Xun Gongda ran to Cao Cao’s side and shouted, “Some are straying from the plan.
No one must pursue!” Cao Cao ordered. “Dian Wei, you will make it known! No one follows: let them flee!
DO NOT PURSUE!” Dian Wei bellowed as he rode around the battlefield and slashed at any stragglers that had failed to retreat with the main force. “LORD CAO CAO ORDERS IT!
Every man that heard Dian Wei felt a chill run down their spine.
I will not run next time, Cao, you cheating coward!” Yufuluo heckled as he fled the battlefield. “Next time, you die!
Cao Cao could not have heard the words, but he knew what Yufuluo was most likely thinking and smiled as he watched his enemies retreat.
“…Why must we let them go again…?” Xiahou Dun grumbled as he ended his pursuit and started toward his lord and cousin.
     We’ve minimised our own casualties,” Xun Gongda reported to his lord. “Theirs are- …I can barely hear myself think over our men’s chanting and hollering, let alone report, Lord Cao!

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