18 Civs; the Mongol Version

[Mercade]

Hi Mercade, yeah it's on Noble difficulty, I can play on higher difficulties but this makes a better story.
And it's on the Earth18Civs scenario that came with vanilla Civ IV (the original) but I'm playing it on BtS, if you have BtS they've redone all the vanilla scenarios to be compatible with it. If you want to play it yourself, just look through the scenarios, there's one that let's you play on the Earth map and gives you 18 choices of leader, that's the one

Thanks, Pacifist46. I've got as well, so that's the one I'll look for, then. I never played an earth map before (find them too large generally), but these stories make me want to try it out and it seems like a nice way to get into the game again before comes out.

 

[Pacifist46]

X - The Road to Persepolis

Part I​

1250AD

As the Mongol armies approached the first Persian cities, they came to see that they were not defended ever so heavily. The fortress of Susa had been assigned merely two units of Longbows to its defence, whilst the frontier fort of Ghulaman was garrisoned with a mixed battalion of archers, swordsmen and spearmen. The Khan was pleased to observe that neither city would expect to hold out for long.
As long as his main army managed to reach Susa, it should be fine.
But all was not fine, as the Khan saw it. In fact, quite a few things were going wrong with the advance to Susa, many more than would be expected for such a campaign. Genghis was troubled.
Firstly, the enemy seemed to know EXACTLY the route they were taking towards Susa, and even when Genghis changed his plans and then changed them again, zig-zagging towards the city, the Persians were still waiting for them. Sections of horse archers, lightly armoured, but armed with deadly recurve bows, kept ambushing the column on its way. They would suddenly leap out from the jungle, spray arrows at the Mongols, and then turn and race off before the Mongol cavalry could react. Worse still, the column had been travelling through a deep crevasse in the hills, picking their way through the stony terrain, when boulders had started to fall from above. A group of Persians had gathered rocks at the top of the cliffs, and were rolling them over the edge and onto the hapless Mongols, who took many casualties. Genghis had avoided such terrain ever since, but the constant ambushes cost him men every day.
Secondly, all scouts Genghis had tried to send out had not come back, almost certainly killed by Persian detachments strategically positioned amongst the hills. Usually it would be expected that a few would be killed. But every single one? There must be foul play.
Thirdly, supply trains had started disappearing as well. The men had been reduced to half-rations, and supplies ran lower ever day as the supply trains arrived less and less frequently.
All these pointed to one thing; there was a Persian agent in the Mongol army. Genghis had run through the list of candidates. Only his council, every member of which he trusted, and his senior military lieutenants were kept informed of campaign details. It followed it must be one of them. But who?
The Khan thought long and hard. He would have to root out the traitor. First, though, he just wanted to get to Susa and take the damn city.

 

[Pacifist46]

1260AD

As the army finally arrives at the gates of Susa, Mansa comes with a trade.

GENGHIS: Not now Mansa. Can’t you see I’m a trifle busy?
GRIZNAKH: Trifle? Where? Why was I not informed?
GENGHIS: Shut up you idiot. Now get on with it Mansa.
MANSA: How shall I play this? Hmm. Well, Genghis, how would you like to have the power of a god?
GENGHIS: A god? That’s a step down. You should go and ask the gods whether they’d like the power of the Khan.
MANSA: Fine, so you don’t want me to give you godly powers, then. I see.
GENGHIS: Wait! Erm … it might be a laugh I suppose, so what’s the deal?
MANSA: I will divulge to you the technology of Divine Right, if you give me Guilds and 105 Gold in return.
GENGHIS: Hmm. Ishak?
ISHAK: Like, I, like, like it, like.
GENGHIS: Ok. Kolai?
KOLAI: I dunno. May as well, it seems to me.
GENGHIS: Fine. Ialbuk?
IALBUK: It is a preposterously bad trade, in fact one of Mansa’s more optimistic offers, and we’d be mad to accept!
GENGHIS: Well it sounds pretty good to me.
IALBUK: Oh come on. You don’t seriously think that Divine Right will give you godly powers, do you?
GENGHIS: Well, won’t it? Mansa?
MANSA: There is, erm, every probability that it might hap…
IALBUK: Bollocks! If you’ve got godly powers, Mansa, then why isn’t Mali the strongest empire in the world? Why hasn’t it crushed everyone?
MANSA: Well, erm, because … because we are loyal servants of the mighty Mongols! Yeah!
GENGHIS: Exactly!
IALBUK: Rubbish! Don’t believe it for one second.
GENGHIS Why not?

Ialbuk picks up a stone and throws it at Mansa

MANSA: Ouch! That hurt!
IALBUK: If you have godly powers, then why didn’t you prevent that stone from hitting you?
MANSA: Erm … because you can’t just do stuff like that. It works in, erm, mysterious ways.
GENGHIS: Hmm. I’m beginning to doubt this godly powers story now, actually.
MANSA: No! I swear it! Divine Right makes you mighty.
GENGHIS: So mighty that you can’t even stop a stone from hitting you? To be honest, even if you were telling the truth, these godly powers don’t seem very good. So no deal, again!
MANSA: Damn you! OK, I admit; there were no godly powers.
GENGHIS: What a surprise. See you Mansa.

Mansa exits

GENGHIS: Nice work, Ialbuk. Of course, I knew all along he was bluffing. I’m not stupid.
ISHAK: In other news, like, you’re gonna find this one funny! Cyrus has proposed a resolution through the Apostolic Palace, to, like …

Ishak breaks off, sniggering, until Genghis smacks him over the head

GENGHIS: Pull yourself together, fool.
ISHAK: Like, the proposal proposes that the war between our two nations is called off. Just like that!
GENGHIS: Ha! So Cyrus wants to wimp out of a good fight, does he? I’m not surprised.
GRIZNAKH: Begging your pardon, Genghis, but unless we do something, it might actually happen.
GENGHIS: Nah, don’t think so. Tell this Apostolic Palace that, even if the proposal is passed, we ain’t gonna take note. What are they gonna do, send a plague of locusts or something? They haven’t got any real power.
KOLAI: Fair play sire! We ain’t scared of them.
IALBUK: I hope you realise the people won’t be too impressed when you deliberately flout Apostolic Palace edicts. Remember, they think we are seen as a moral power as well as a mighty one.
GENGHIS: Ha! Moral power!
ISHAK: Yeah, good one Ialbuk! Haha!
IALBUK: It’s true. But I guess you don’t give a crap.
GENGHIS: Genius. Right, what else?
KOLAI: After a long and bloody siege … ah, who am I kidding! We took Ghulaman really easily!
GENGHIS: Good stuff!
KOLAI: Yeah, just goes to prove that their so-called Immortals are named pretty badly. Only takes a pike thrust to bring ‘em down, so we found.

 

[Pacifist46]

GENGHIS: So now that city is ours, tell Kachiun and his lads to press forward and take some more.
KOLAI: Will do sire.

And so the Mongols took their first success of the campaign. Would more follow?
Undoubtedly. The real question was, how soon?
The answer; very soon, as the Khan’s army reached Susa very soon after.

 

[Pacifist46]

1270AD

With the Khan at the helm, Susa fell rapidly. Its mighty walls, which had stood for millennia, were undermanned and breached, after which the struggle was brought to a swift end. Half of the city’s inhabitants were put to the sword, mostly men of arms-bearing age. The Khan had wreaked a terrible fate upon the city.
But worse was still to come.
Genghis had assembled his senior lieutenants in the main square, along with his council. He had prepared a test, to try and root out the Persian agent in their ranks. In the centre of the square, a line of 100 Persian children, most between the ages of 5 and 10, had been bound and strapped to a temporary wooden wall, erected hastily on the Khan’s orders. The senior lieutenants were assembled in an area in front, from where they were able to make out every feature of the children’s faces, puzzled as to what would come next.
Then the Khan arrived. And the show of sorts began.

Genghis began by addressing his officers

GENGHIS: Men! It has not escaped my notice that there is a traitor in your ranks!

The crowd of 50 or so lieutenants, who had before been chatting idly, fell deathly silent.

GENGHIS: I am going to give this man a chance to come forward and identify himself! If you do so now, your life will be spared!

Beside the Khan, Kolai suppressed a smirk. The Khan had no intention of sparing the man’s life, except for a long and painful death. In the ranks, no-one moved.

GENGHIS: Very well. Begin the execution.

An archer stepped forward and notched an arrow to his bow. He was a short, stocky, bald-headed man, and his mouth was permanently twisted into a cruel sneer. Genghis had chosen this man for his lack of remorse and cold nature; the man had fewer morals than the most shameless of street whores. Which was, in the present situation, required.
The archer advanced until he was only ten paces from the first child in the line. He raised his bow, until it was pointing at the boy’s head. The boy shrank back, fear illuminating his young face.

GENGHIS: This debacle can only be stopped when the traitor comes forward. Then we will spare the rest of the children. If the traitor does not come forward, the killing will continue until all 100 children have died.

He paused a second. No-one moved.

GENGHIS: Alright. Have it your way.

The archer let fly his arrow, and its iron tip punched through the young boy’s skull at an incredible velocity, shattering it. The boy let loose an ear-splitting shriek. The officers looked ahead, not daring to flinch from the sight, trying to keep their faces as stony as possible. Genghis watched carefully, watching those he suspected the most. By the time the first few children had been slain, most of the officers were trying not to throw up. Still none gave way.
After the twenty-first killing, a particularly unpleasant one, two officers threw themselves forward simultaneously, crying “I am the traitor!” almost in unison.
The archer looked up at Genghis. Genghis shook his head grimly. Both men were almost certainly NOT the traitor. The archer shrugged, turned back round and continued the killing. But it was hopeless now. Genghis could see that most of the men were clearly badly affected, though a few kept their dignity. Many more self-professed traitors came forward before the killing was up, but Genghis rejected all their claims.
Eventually the killing was complete, and Genghis straightened himself up, as the men wearily tried to convince themselves it was over. Time for one last throw of the dice.

GENGHIS: Right! Time for the second round! The traitor may still come forward!

At this, another man collapsed and started weeping uncontrollably, banging the ground with his fist.
But this time, instead of being ignored, he was dragged away to be interrogated.
The rest of the officers were both puzzled and relieved that the killing was over. They had not understood the Khan, when he had pretended to announce a second round.

For the Khan had said it in Persian.

=====================================================================

GRIZNAKH: I don’t care! I maintain that that was an insanely cruel and frankly tyrannical thing to do! Just as I though you were getting better!
GENGHIS: I know. I apologise. But I couldn’t think of anything else to do. The traitor had to be worn down before he would expose himself.
GRIZNAKH: The devil take you! There were other ways!
GENGHIS: Probably. I admit, it wasn’t my finest hour. It worked though.
GRIZNAKH: What would you have done if the traitor, the REAL traitor, had come forward before the killing had ended?
GENGHIS: I don’t know. But, Griznakh, I had already pretty much ruled it down to three suspects, and none of them did come forward until the end, so there. The Persians were hardly likely to send their worst agent.
GRIZNAKH: What about the other two suspects? They could be traitors as well!
GENGHIS: Hmm. It’s possible I suppose. But they’d have to be exceptional actors.
IALBUK: Brilliant. Just brilliant. The Khan’s great tactics weed out another traitor in stunning style.
GENGHIS: Oh, well you’re still bitter from that time I nearly executed you, aren’t you?
IALBUK: Well, now that you mention it, yes!
GENGHIS: Baby. Look, I’m not going to apologise again. So you two, grow a pair and stop whinging like women.
KOLAI: Looking on the bright side, this city gives us an excellent base of operations from which to launch a strike at Persepolis itself.
IALBUK: The capital itself. We’re on the road to Persepolis!
GENGHIS: Hopefully traitor-free this time.

=====================================================================

That night, an officer in the Mongol camp stayed up past lights out to finish a letter.
It described the ordeal, the killing of the children, in remarkably arid and unemotional words. Then he described Genghis’ ploy to weed out the Persian agent, who was, by now, certainly dead. The man paused very briefly as a peculiar feeling overcame him for a second. Then he shook himself, annoyed.
The man sealed the letter and summoned one of his slaves, the one he always used to carry his messages, and told him to deliver it to the usual place. Once it was done, he extinguished his candle and lay awake on his bed for a few minutes, contemplating his next move.

The discovery of his comrade had made life a little more difficult for the second Persian agent. But, to be honest, thought the man, the only thing he regretted was that if his plots were to fail, he could not shift the blame; he alone was culpable. He was confident in his abilities, and the plan was a good one, but the fact still remained, an ugly chance, and the Persian left little to chance. In a perverse way, he was almost glad that his comrade had been discovered; it proved his superiority as a spy and a master of subterfuge. And his greatest asset was his complete detachment from reality; the ability to think coolly and logically under extreme pressure and to block out his emotions.

It also enabled him to sleep well that night.

To be continued …

 

[Pacifist46]

Not the longest of parts, and there may be some errors as I didn't check it through but hopefully it will get a pass. Next update will be a good one I hope, expect it in about two weeks time (say, the 6th June).

 

[MrBullterrier]

Now that sounds like it was written in a history book... I have to ask, did you take the whole Khan ordeal from a specific point in history, or did you simply use a similiar case as an inspiration? If so, which one?

 

[Pacifist46]

@Bullterrier,

I read about a similar case in some book or other, but I'm afraid I can't remember which.

 

[danjuno]

Awsome update! By the way, has anyone aquired optics yet?

Edit: Never mind. I saw the trade you did with Mansa.

 

[danjuno]

Err, I went back and looked, and that part with the kids, well, Ugh. That was kind of unpleasent.

 

[Pacifist46]

The Khan is an unpleasant man, but I may restrain him slightly from now on. May.

 

[Pacifist46]

X - The Road to Persepolis

Part II​

1290AD

Louis visits the Mongol court

LOUIS: Mon ami, it is ze greatest of pleasures to be back in Mongolia once again!
GENGHIS: Enough crap. What’s going down?
LOUIS: There is one thing missing in your court, my liege. Just one thing. Music!
You must ‘ave minstrels in your entourage, otherwise there is just silence.
GENGHIS: How thoughtful of you. Maybe I could hire you as a jester as well.
LOUIS: Well how about a trade Gengheese - Music+250 Gold for your Philsophy?
GENGHIS: Yep. That’d better be a jest.
LOUIS: Ah, but come on, my lord khan! Is it not true that music is ze food of … erm, actually you won’t care about that. Erm … well all the cool and mighty empires are making raps about themselves, you can’t do that without knowledge of music!
GRIZNAKH: Pfft. I beg to differ.
GENGHIS: Dude I know loads about rapping! Listen to the Mongol rap:

Genghis gets up and swaggers around, rapping

“This mighty Empire’s called Mongolia,
An’ it don’t rhyme with nothin’ but Mongolia,
An’ the ruler of this crib is me, Genghis,
So get out if your name don’t rhyme with Fenghis!
Cos that makes you a moron, yo
An’ all yo morons make crappy deals, yo,
An’ I don’t listen to them anyway,
MC Ishak, join the fray!

Ishak starts beatboxing

LOUIS: Hmm. It’s better than Greece’s rap actually.
GENGHIS: Well duh!

“An’ now I’m gonna do some free-sty-lin’
Damn straight, this rap is bangin’!
Dog-fightin’ is how we pass our times,
When we ain’t kicking butt’ or spittin’ rhymes
Now listen to me Lou, cos I’ll say this only once
Take your crappy deal, and go back to Fronce,
I’ll come to you, if I ever want a deal,
Yeah man, erm … jellied eel!”

Louis applauds sarcastically

LOUIS: I think I picked up your subtle message you sent me through the medium of rap. I’m off.
GENGHIS: Sad to see you go. Just kidding.

Louis exits the yurt

GENGHIS: So what else is going on around here?
KOLAI: We have a new Great General sire, his name is Sargon and he hails from Karakorum.
GENGHIS: Hmm. I have enough generals in the field at present. Is there any other use for him?
KOLAI: Erm, absolutely. It is possible to have him train new troops in the capital. They would be far better trained.
GENGHIS: Do that then. Right, I’m off to record my first album man. I’m calling it “International Gangstaz” cos we is the hardest men on the world scene right now.
GRIZNAKH: Right. Any reason why you’ve suddenly started talking like a cross between Alexander and Ishak when you talk about rapping?
GENGHIS: Yo man, it’s like all about image in this industry. You wouldn’t understand.
IALBUK: Neither do I.

=====================================================================

The Persian agent’s messenger returned late that evening with fresh orders from the Persian court.

The messenger handed his master the message, a roll of weathered parchment sealed with the Persian imperial seal, and bowed out of the yurt. The agent broke the seal, satisfied that his servant had not already done so, and scanned the document. A glance told him it was encoded, but he knew how to decipher it. He knew the keyword; Pasargardae, the name of the city where the Persian intelligence agency had its headquarters. The message took him the best part of an hour to decode.

Once he had the true message, the Persian agent read it carefully. And it had been carefully written, in a mysterious manner as always:

“Lieutenant of the II,
Whilst it can be effective to harrass and hinder, it might not always be prudent; if those who rank highest are unaware, it can let this advantage slip.”

This first part was clear enough, addressed to him, the second agent, it advised him to lie low and avoid making any minor plays that could be detected.

“In the event that a comrade falls, the tactic can, in fact, be discontinued. But it would be foolish to give in, surely?”

So he did have new orders. The agent scanned feverishly ahead.

“Mascara, when mixed with the elements, can, as you know, have widespread consequences.”

Mascara meant deadly nightstalk, the poisonous substance which was also used by Persian ladies as an eyeliner. Mixed with the elements, well, the only element that made sense was water. The agent leaned back. He was to poison the water supply.

“Not all know that. In addition, it would be shame not to use the Five, should the opportunity arise. And it will, when it is sought.”

So he was also to look out for an opportunity to use his throwing knives. He assumed the Khan was the target.

“If all else should fail, use your command truly before the ancient cliffs.”

The ancient cliffs were the walls of Persepolis, built over 5000 years ago. He was to display his true colours in the battle, if it got that far, and disobey the Khan’s orders.

“Should that prove not enough, return is the key to later success.”

Return to the key city, Pasargardae.

The Persian agent burnt the message in his fire, then put it out. And went to sleep, contemplating his orders.

Meanwhile, time trudged slowly on.

 

[Pacifist46]

1310AD

Before long, another council meeting is called to discuss recent events

IALBUK: Greetings, Genghis. My team and I had a little look into our education system, to see if any improvements could be made.
GENGHIS: And naturally, you concluded that the system was perfect, right?
IALBUK: Actually, no. It surprised me as well, but taxing people who stay on for education is actually a bad idea.
GENGHIS: What?!
IALBUK: I know, it’s just shocking. But according to our research, if more people go through education, they end up earning more money, and will pay more taxes later in life than they would cost to educate.
GENGHIS: So what are we going to do? Force everyone to stay at school until 18?
IALBUK: Nope, that’s going too far. Then we’d have no-one willing to do the worst jobs in society.
GENGHIS: Well, what then?
IALBUK: Just stop taxing people, and subsidise education a bit more. It’ll cost now, but you’ll gain in the future.
GENGHIS: Hmm. Sounds risky. I prefer the short term wins.
IALBUK: Well, you should stop being so myopic. Also, we need to provide places for people to carry on their education for a few years after 18. Basically, we need universities.
GENGHIS: But that costs hammers! You can’t get hammers back in the long run!
IALBUK: Hammers aren’t everything, although they are important.
KOLAI: I still don’t get it. Why build a university when you could build, like, a Trebuchet instead?
IALBUK: Because the guy building universities will counter your Trebuchets with Cannon. Or worse. We don’t want to be known as the empire that uses old weapons. Everyone would attack us. We’d get beat.
GENGHIS: Damn you Ialbuk. And damn you again! Fine, build some of your crappy universities, see if I give a crap anyway. I’ve still got enough troops to take down Persia right now.
KOLAI: Although not if they keep dying at this rate.
GENGHIS: I know! This sudden outbreak in illness is confusing me. What the hell is going on?
IALBUK: I … I still don’t know sire, we’re still running tests.

A scientist rushes into the room

SCIENTIST: Begging your pardons but … Master Ialbuk! The samples tested positive for persus mascaras embellum!
GENGHIS: Is that really Latin?
SCIENTIST: No, it’s pig Latin, you … Oh, sorry my lord, I didn’t …
IALBUK: Erm, AHA! So, what that means in Mongol, sire, is that we have identified the cause of these deaths!
GENGHIS: Spit it out, then, man!
IALBUK: It appears our most recent deliveries of water were somehow contaminated with a poisonous fern, native to Persia. The black-bow-leaf fern, to be precise.
GENGHIS: Never heard of it.
IALBUK: It is more commonly known as deadly nightstalk.
GENGHIS: Crap! Two drops of that stuff can kill a bear! That’s hardcore stuff!
IALBUK: Indeed. You might be interested to know actually, sire, that Persian women actually daub it on their faces to make them look more attractive …
GENGHIS: Some other bloody time, Ialbuk. So what now?
IALBUK: Obviously, it was put there by Persian agents. So we have another traitor.
GENGHIS: Bloody hell! Well, how am I supposed to root this one out, if he didn’t get caught by that children ploy?
GRIZNAKH: Just a moment, sire. Ialbuk, I really mist have your assurances that you are putting in place every security measure possible to avoid the spreading of this nightstalk plant to the food stores, I mean, that would be the worst …
GENGHIS: Griznakh, shut up, I’m TALKING!
GRIZNAKH: Right you are sire.
IALBUK: Well, sire, I’m at a dead loss. I can’t see any way to root this traitor out. We’re just going to have to take these hits.
GENGHIS: Well I want my security trebled. If I was that traitor, I’d probably have a crack at the ultimate prize, my life.
IALBUK: Right you are, my lord. I’ll make sure no-one can enter this yurt without …

A messenger hurtles through the yurt entrance on his pony at top speed and comes to a halt right in front of the Khan.

IALBUK: OK, apart from that guy. Messenger, hands on your head!

The messenger follows the order

IALBUK: Security is being increased around the Khan. Make your rep…
GENGHIS: Wait a minute, Ialbuk. I give the bloody orders around here!
IALBUK: Sorry sire.
GENGHIS: Scout, make your report.
MESSENGER: Great news from General William in the north. The trading post of Kassite has been taken for the Empire!

 

[Pacifist46]

GENGHIS: Yeah! See, we still rule, despite these setbacks. Well spoken, messenger. Now bugger off.

The messenger departs.

GENGHIS: Right. Let’s just get to Persepolis. I want this Persian defeated already.

The army continued to march along the road to Persepolis. The terrain had markedly changed as the Mongols left what was effectively the Naidni subcontinent and jungle changed to desert and cliffs. Rounding the side of a mountain one day, the city of Persepolis suddenly came into view, deep in a valley below the steep desert cliffs of the mountain plateau. The army worked its way down towards the Persian capital.
Had Genghis not known the city was there, he would have thought it a most unlikely place to find a city. Yet Persepolis straddled the junction between three important trade routes, leading off to the west, north, and east, which made commerce very lucrative in the city. The city itself was not large, certainly smaller than Delhi or Beijing, but its architecture was striking and its walls imposing as the Mongol army approached the ancient citadel.

The army finally reached the city and made camp. Genghis would have gone for a walk to survey the defences, but the thought of a traitor lurking in the shadows, armed with a dagger or a bow, made him send Kolai instead, whilst he stayed in the yurt. The Khan was not a coward, but neither was he reckless, all told.

 

[Pacifist46]

1330AD

KOLAI: My khan, I have reconnoitred the city. And it will not be easy.
GENGHIS: As long as it’s possible, I don’t give a damn how easy it is. What forces do they have?
KOLAI: A fair garrison, probably around 10,000 warriors all told.
GENGHIS: The equivalent of a tuman then. Not too bad.
KOLAI: Remember, they also have a bloody great stone wall between them and us, and we have to attack it. I’ve set the trebs going, but I can’t see us breaking through soon. Patience will be needed.
GENGHIS: Can’t we do a tunnel! You know, like at Kyoto?
KOLAI: No! I hate tunnels, they’re so dark and airless.
GENGHIS: Don’t be such a baby!
KOLAI: Well apart from my misgivings, no we can’t, the grounds too soft and sand-like. It would cave in.
GENGHIS: Damn! Fine. We’ll wait. Cities can’t move, it ain’t going anywhere.

Genghis waited many months, until the trebuchets had finally softened up the defences enough for him to risk an attack. He decided to lead it in person, despite the traitor.

GENGHIS: Ok ladies. MOVE OUT!

The infantry, with Genghis at it’s head, advanced towards the city. The Persian lines stood, ready to receive the force. The Mongol army by now numbered 40,000 - four tumans of men attacked.
The Persians were determined to repel the Mongols. The sky darkened as a volley of arrows blocked out the sun temporarily.

GENGHIS: Receive shafts!

The Mongol shields were well designed to counter bowshot, and the screams that told of successful shots were few indeed. Then Genghis saw a line of Persian infantry advancing, no, charging towards his pikes. They were Macemen, high quality melee infantry armed with a deadly spiked ball on a chain - the mace. They would surely have the best of it against the pikes, Genghis decided.

GENGHIS: Maces to my left! Move to intercept enemy.

A line of units peeled off to go and help out the pikes, who were already engaged. But Genghis was suddenly distracted as he saw enemy Horse Archers on his right, their bows discarded, quivers empty, shaping to charge into the flank of his swordsmen. He looked back, and thanked his luck as he saw a unit of Keshiks on that flank, within distance. He took out his horn, and blew three long flat notes; the signal for them to aid him. It was crucial they reacted, else his right flank would be severely damaged.

=====================================================================

From on top of his horse the officer commanding the Keshik unit saw the advance of the Persian horse archers. Then he heard the signal ordering his unit to intercept.
His men tensed restlessly, waiting for the order.
But the man did not give the order to intercept.
Instead he simply ordered them to stay there whilst we rode for reinforcements. Then he rode off towards the camp. His men stood bewildered. But their officer had spoken, and so they watched, horrified, as the cavalry charge smashed into the side of the Mongol infantry.

=====================================================================

From his position, Genghis watched in astonishment and growing rage as he saw a lone figure ride from the Keshiks in the opposite direction, whilst the unit stood still.
Why the hell didn’t they move? Then he turned slightly again, horrorstruck, to see his swordsmen charged from the flank. The impact of the charge was harsh and destructive. Some of the men completely lost it and routed, only to be cut down by the horse archers as they ran.
Some of the sharper-minded officers commanding the furthest Keshik units had seen the action, and now they rode to secure the flank. The Persian horses scattered in good order before them, retreating in triumph.
The Khan was furious. His orders had been disobeyed, costing him dear. Now the enemy would be confident. His gaze swung to the left, where his maces and pikes were overcoming the Persian maces and cutting them down by now. The battle was still won, but at cost. All because of one officer. He would be executed when the battle was over, Genghis decided.

=====================================================================

Riding back towards the camp, the officer turned to see the impact of his refusal of orders, and was pleased to see the horse archers charge hit home. He had done tolerably, then. The second Persian agent had been disappointed not to get a chance to use his throwing knives, but the Khan had become aware of the threat and hid, like the dog he was. Still, he should have cost the Mongols a sizeable number of men. The Persian agent hoped it would be enough for his masters as he altered course and rode west. Looking back once, late that evening, he saw Persepolis burning under the stars. He gnashed his teeth in irritation, although he had known it would come to pass. Turning west once more, he rode hard.

=====================================================================

GENGHIS: Bloody Cyrus. Escaped again, then, has he?
GRIZNAKH: It would seem so, my lord. He must have deserted the city before we got here.
GENGHIS: Well he’s going to run out of cities to run to soon.
GRIZNAKH: Until then though, my lord, he is bound to keep running.
GENGHIS: Just like that bloody Keshik commander.
IALBUK: I am almost sure he was the traitor, my lord. We searched his yurt and found nothing, so it was clearly pre-meditated, as he didn’t return to the camp after the battle had started. He had planned to leave.
GENGHIS: Hmm. So is this bloody army traitor-free yet?
KOLAI: I think so, sire. The rest of my officers are definitely solid, reliable men. I promoted the cast majority myself.
GENGHIS: Right then. No slacking. You’ve got tomorrow to finish looting this city, but don’t damage any of the wonders. Then we’re off again. One final push deeper into the Persian lands, and they’ll shatter. I can feel it.
GRIZNAKH: Then, will we finally be big enough? I mean, surely we have expanded our fair share by now.
GENGHIS: Shut up Griznakh, you can never have enough land.
GRIZNAKH: In that case, where’s the point in trying?
GENGHIS: Did I or did I not say SHUT UP GRIZNAKH!
GENGHIS: I did, by the way.

To be continued …

 

[Pacifist46]

My goodness. An update finished on time. What next?
Next update is not for another 3 weeks though I'm afraid, I'm going to be quite busy. Let's say the 27th June.

 

[emeralddude]

Excellent update! Persepolis is one awesome city, with all the wonders.

 

[Pacifist46]

Definitely! Statue of Zeus is one of my particular favourites.

 

[emeralddude]

University of Sankore can do wonders for your science rate if you've got a lot of religious buildings.

 

[Pacifist46]

It can, but I have hardly any religious buildings! However, I haven't forgotten the Hindu crusade against the Arabs that surely MUST come to pass ... maybe I can use that as an excuse to build some!