Another month came and went. My war on my northern neighbors was successful. Soon I would have control of most of their lands. From there who knows? Maybe a new empire next, with my children part of a new dynasty. Fist I had to overcome this first challenge and I had quite a few ideas of how to do this.
Zhan Ying had been forced into surrender from my rapid moving army, along with 500 men at Ru Nan. And I had personally defeated Biao Fan, although it was close. Because it couldve been me dead Zhou Yu pleads that I not come so close to death again, the empire was springing forth faster than many others, and such a blow could ruin it all. But such things were the way of life, and the Gods had protected me, although it didnt mean they always would, more a man tests the Gods, the more often he tempts them to fail him.
But I had more need of luck before it was all over. First I called forth 500 men, and Zhou called on another 200, for a full new 700 men hired this month, bringing the total army to 6,000 men. Sadly they were not all adequately armed, for which I had the solution: buy more. 300 Arbelists, 700 arms, I felt would satisfy our need. Every man in the army would have a real weapon, and we would have a large army, granted it was mainly a distance one, but later I could change that, hiring more men, and then weapons to supply them. Gold would not be to much of a problem until late in this year
food might run out soon, but I would pray to the Gods that our supply could see us through these terrible wars until harvest, where we would reap a great reward.
Now that I had prepared myself for war, it was time to wage it. I called Zhan Ying to me for chitchat.
I have kept you from the sword, despite the advice of some of my Captains, you owe your life to me. With that in mind I ask you to do serve me to the full extent of your abilities. You go to (dont know citys name, one furthest from shore, next obvious in line to be captured) and await my army there. When the time is right, you will take command of the men I send with you and attack the gates from within, allowing my men to enter the city. Then you will turn on your old comrades fighting for my cause, winning the city for me. When this is accomplished then I will think on you and decide what to do with you. Can you do this?
With which he responded Yes, my Emperor.
Good then go to Zhou and plan this together. And he left. I told Zhou a broad strategy for that and he left to plan the details. I then make preparations for my own departure from Ru Nan, my newly acquired city, sending messages to where they were needed to do my bidding.
Zhou Yu and Zhan Ying
My emperor commanded me to make a master strategy to capture the next city, I would do it for him, and I could do no less. I planned to take the 3,000 men he had given me and make ready to capture the next city. I told Zhan Ying my ideas on the plan. He would take command of 100 men and make his way towards the city. Baihou Fan with 500 men would follow him, and they would engage in mock skirmishes, so as to make people believe that Zhan was being chased. When they drew within sight of the city, Baihou would veer away to the north, and disappear into the distance.
Zhan would tell his story there, he had been accepted by us, and then seeing his chance grabbed about 100, that was all he could get, of the men that had been captured, seized some weapons and ran for the city to help fortify it and give warning. He will warn them that Sun Ce is going to invade from the North to capture this very city, Baihou going that way will lend to this theory. The attack will come at noon, 3 days after your arrival you will say.
The reality of the situation is that the attack will come from the east at midnight, the night before. You and your men must be ready to open the city to us. It is imperative that happens, else we will settle into a long siege. Good luck comrade! And so Zhan Ying did as he was bid, and was chased by Baihou, deceivingly fought each other, and Baihou went North with his own mission. Zhou Yu gathered 3,000 men for the assault, he felt sure that he could take the city with little fight capturing much gold, food, arms, and men for his master
Zhou Yu was marching and when night approached, before they were seen, they clothed all their metal in cloth to make sure it did not shine, no warning would come of their advance. He reached the city at midnight and hoped the gates would be ready for him to enter through
else things could go awry
Baihou Fan
Zhou Yu the apparent right hand man of Sun Ce had a mission for him, his lord Sun Ce freed him to do it. He was to take 500-armed men and falsely give chase to Zhan Ying, and then go north. He did the best he could to make the chase look realistic, he felt he did a fair job. Then he went north, to appear to be an invasion force gathering in that area. He was to do a few things here.
1) Seize any lands that he could without a fight and wait
2) Watch south for an attack force of Liu Yong, and do two things if it happened
a) avoid a direct battle, since it would be a superior force
b) set traps for the force that would take it apart piece meal.
3) Watch north for an attack from Liu Bei and
a) determine if it was meant to fight Sun Ce
b) determine who was at its head
c) avoid a direct fight, since it would probably be a stronger force
He had his orders, he was to watch the northern roads essentially, and not be defeated, he would succeed in this task, for failure was not an option to such an honorable man.
Cheng Pu
Cheng Pu was given a relatively simple task, take 500 men and train them to the next level.
Sun Ce
I made ready for my departure, I was removing myself slightly from the front to see to the defensive side of my Empire. Wouldnt do for it to be taken whilst I was away at another war.
Money:
Hire 700 men (7 Gold)
Buy 300 Arbelists (9 Gold)
Buy 700 Arms (7 gold)
Military:
Send Zhan Ying with 100 men to trick the city (regular arms)
Zhan Ying
L=3 W=4 I=3 P=3 C=3
Send Baihou Fan to chase him and then watch the north w/ 500 (regular arms)
Baihou Fan
L=4 W=2 I=5 P=4 C=2
Zhou Yu with 3,000 men (2,000 arms; 1,000 bows)
Zhou Yu
L=5 W=4 I=5 P=4 C=5
Cheng Pu train 500 men to level 3
Cheng Pu
L=5 W=3 I=4 P=4 C=4
Sun Ce defend land with 300 Arbelists; 1100 Arms; 500 Bows
Sun Ce
L=5 W=5 I=4 P=4 C=5
Diplomacy
To: Liu Bei
We are sure you will not concern yourself with this war to the south. It is but a little thing, and no bother of someone such as you. In fact I offer my own hand in brother-hood in these times of strife.
ing Dong
