September 206 Battle at Xuyi!

[Wolfsheart]

Yi Guang realizing the cost of continueing decides to pull back and fight another day. However Ma Dieu sends out a force to pursue them. Realizing their plight Lil Chi Xi and Zheng Mingshun attempt to delay their pursuers giving their comrades time to escape. They as well as the men under them fought bravely giving Yi Guang the time he needed to get the maority of the army back to safety. However cut off with no way to escape the pair were captured!
Lil Chi Xi has been captured!
Zheng Mingshun has suffered a minor injury and been captured!

End results:
Ma Dieu has defended Xuyi!
Spoils on the field! 842 Pi Spears, 966 Halberds, 2359 Leather Armor, 6713 Bronze Armor, 244 Crossbows, 4251 Horses, and 1271 Seige Engines
Released Captives: 6146 (10)
Captives: 4766 (10)

Officers Captured:
Chief Aide Pan Shaozu 44-105*-21-78*-68 Challenge II, Diplomat I, Intimidate II, Politician II, Qiangshu I, Smith I, Yueshu III | +4 Mgt Billhook, +2 Mgt Axe, +7 Mgt Armour, +7 Mgt Helmet, +3 Jud Book, +2 Jud Book, +1 Spd Horse, Throwing Knives 33% INJURY!
Chief Aide Lil Chi Xi 65-97*-17-71-52 Charge II, Entrench II, Instructor I, Raid II, Smith II, Sortie II | +4 Mgt Billhook
Chief Aide Zheng Mingshun 43-103*-21-69-66 Challenge II, Intimidate II, Politician II, Smith I, Yueshu II | +4 Mgt Axe, +1 Mgt Billhook, +7 Mgt Armour, +7 Mgt Helm, +1 Spd Horse 5% Injury!

Please decide the fate of the spoils, captive troops, and officers.



Hawk Invaders is running away.
Yi Guang's is in Danger of being Captured. 95 chance of escape.
Yi Guang has escaped capture cleanly.
Angdun Huan's is in Danger of being Captured. 89 chance of escape.
Angdun Huan has escaped capture cleanly.
Huang Ning's is in Danger of being Captured. 77 chance of escape.
Huang Ning has escaped capture cleanly.
Lil Chi Xi's is in Danger of being Captured. 76 chance of escape.
Lil Chi Xi has been captured!
Zheng Mingshun's is in Danger of being Captured. 88 chance of escape.
Zheng Mingshun has suffered a minor injury and been captured!
Li Zongren's is in Danger of being Captured. 102 chance of escape.
Li Zongren has escaped capture cleanly.
Lei Tian's is in Danger of being Captured. 77 chance of escape.
Lei Tian has escaped capture cleanly.
Mi Num's is in Danger of being Captured. 101 chance of escape.
Mi Num has escaped capture cleanly.
Xun Yin's is in Danger of being Captured. 81 chance of escape.
Xun Yin has escaped capture cleanly.

[Li Dao Wen]

After his personal victory, Xun Jiang rode back to the lines to man the front, brandishing his bloodied halberd for the onset of the charge. However, much like Marshal Yi Guang over at the other end of the field, he had expected the armies to come thundering down the grass immediately. The skirmishes were somewhat unsatisfying for him to participate on; he went out and caught a few dozen men himself, but aside from that he simply waited for the carnage to ensue.

The expected onslaught of Yi Guang came with a fury he had not known before, but with the rest of Xuyi's defenders he stood his ground and mowed down anyone who dared cross his path. The clash sent shockwaves all across the field, as men were thrown from their horses and bodies were pierced and skewered upon the thick ends of bristling spears. After awhile. the charge was blunted, and after that it was a glorious slaughter for the victorious forces of Ma Dieu.

They had lost all of Jiaoxi to Zhefu's traitorous ilk, and deep inside the soldiers were seething in fury at the masked man of Qi. But they had inflicted a sound beating upon Li Jiacheng's supposedly 'invincible' armies that day, and it was more than enough cause for them to pause and celebrate.

When the enemy had been routed from the field, the Black Ogre returned to Ma Dieu's tent where the generals of the army and the captured all rested. Pan Shaozu, Zheng Mingsun and Lil Chi Xi were all bound tightly with both rope and chains and made to bow before Ma Dieu and his men, ensuring that they wouldn't be able to escape or do anything drastic. For the moment, they were treated as lightly as bound, condemned men could be.

Xun Jiang came forward to look upon his captive, the Chief Aide Pan, and gave him a nod of respect. "You are a worthy warrior, Pan Shaozu. It is a shame that you had to serve Li Jiacheng; you probably won't live beyond this day, as is the case with the two of of you." He glowered at the two other captives, trying to discern how they would respond to him without the ability to strike. "Because you have all fought like men, you will all die like men. To show my respect, I will not do your killing."

Looking over at the back row of the tent, where the shadowy linings blocked the glow of the sun, he knew who he was going to call out. "Shan Dian, they're yours if their lives are to be ended this day. General Ma will be the one with the final say."

After that he fell into silence, awaiting his employer's orders.

[Phailak]

Lai entered the tent where he assumed most of the officers present in the battle would gather. Despite the efforts of running numerous attempts to confuse their enemies' movements, Lai was not tired and even seemed energetic. They had managed to meet their opposition and won. From a cold numbers base, the Wu Rebel could counter the losses more easily with his vast available resources, especially since reports were flooding in at the lost of all of Jiaoxi. They had expected that just as they had expected the obvious attack upon Xuyi, but their resources did not permit a battle on two fronts, so Jiaoxi was handed over to the other rebel in Qi.
Now it seemed Lord Hin was reading reports of his own city in the province was being burned to the ground.

Lai nodded to his old friend, the one whose name was called in fear, soon to become terror. Dieu would be entering soon, but Lai wished to look upon the prisoners.

"Make sure to seize all their belongings. I am unsure what Lord Ma will do with their lives, but we can't let the Rebel's treasures he bought go to waste. As soon as my brother deals with them, we have a lot of planning to do."

OOC: All three captives are to be stripped of their possessions and given to Ma Dieu for future distribution. Mardagg should be able to post by tomorrow night to know troop losses and how captives and spoils are to be distributed between the three allies...

[BJR]

Shaozu laid there bound, only able to take shallow breaths, and coughing from time to time… blood spraying each time he did so. As the man that bested him, no decimated him, entered the tent and spoke, he looked into his eyes once again… He knew his own talent and strength, and for a man to have defeated him was… astonishing… Shaozu tried to respond, but each time he did so, a fresh wave of coughing and blood would commence. He gave up, only returning the nod… resigned to his fate as he was stripped of his belongings. He suddenly looked up, back to the warrior, gathering all of his strength he spoke…

“Wait! You soundly defeated me…” a few moments of coughing passed… “The only one to ever do so… I wish to die by your hands.”

[Li Dao Wen]

Upon being addressed, Xun Jiang looked once more upon the Chief Aide Pan, his gaze again more serious than harsh or cruel. He knew deep inside that he had gotten somehow lucky that he had survived their fight without injury; Pan had almost connected with several of those deadly blows of his. And deep inside that heart of his, which was often callous and conceited, there blossomed a real, genuine respect for the man.

Nodding once more, the Black Ogre mulled over the request for a moment. There was no doubt in everyone's mind how he would respond, though. "Chief Aide Pan, you are an honorable man, one who I will not forget. If the General Ma does intend to kill you today, and if this is what you believe is fair and worthy of your courage, then I shall grant your request. A swift death befitting a brave warrior."

[Mardagg]

I will do a RP for the prisonner soon, but here are the troops number for each Imperial army:

Hin Wu: 14,8% of the troops (72% melee, 28% in the support) so 7257 soldiers (5194(76) and 2063(71)), 1615(10) captive, 4357 Halberds, 7752 Leather Armor, 994 Bronze Armor, 630 Horses, and 188 Siege Engines

Ma Su: 18,1% of the troops (100% support) 8875(71)) soldiers, 1975(10) captive + 2193 Pi Spears, 265 Leather Armor, 1215 Bronze Armor, 769 Horses, and 230 Siege Engines, +544(84) troops is left behind due to District Manager Dingzang Ya capacity to bring troops into the fight

Ma Dieu: 67,1% of the troops 32903 soldiers (87% melee 28594(76)+ 13% support 4309(71)) 770 Crossbows, 470 Pi Spears, 947 Leather Armor, 4504 Bronze Armor, 2852 Horses, and 853 Siege Engines and 7322 captive

[GreenFabre]

The kijo listened ever so quietly as the two great men spoke with each other. The skirmish battle was nothing, nothing compared to the deadly exchange of blows between Pan Saozhu and Xun Jiang. She was the Ogre's number one fan. The kijo remembered, was even shocked to watch as Pan kept the ogre at bay not desperately, but because he actually can. It was the first time she actually seen someone who did it and here he was, still alive. "For now." she mumbled disappointedly

The Xiamo grumbled in the distance, yet the kijo chose to ignore it, still trying to listen amids the rainy cloud of her own thoughts. "It was... beautiful." the kijo whispered, oblivious to the soldiers around them, as if in a daze, dreaming.

"Xun Jiang, wait!" the kijo shouted, a hand outstretched for his arm, yet just as soon she was already regretting having to open her mouth at this time. She admired the Ogre for his impressive might, yet also feared him in return, much more than Quian Yen, in more ways that she could possibly explain. That witch, where in the bloody heavens is she?

"Why do you have to kill him? This guy...whoever he is, he's not like the others." she began with a soft mumble, looking at the Chief Aid with a glance that clearly spoke something else. Respect?

"You know what I mean...right? He's not a coward, he didn't tried to escape. He fought you, fair and square. This man... he is just like us." she said to him, her voice finding courage in her own anger. Anger at not understanding what is even happening right now and the death crap they were talking about.

"Or maybe is it something else?" she glared at the Ogre, like a hungry wolf catching on to a scent from a mile away. To her eyes, Xun Jiang was the greatest warrior in all of China, but if he have a weakness..

"Is it fear? That if he lives to fight you again, he might..." she did not continue.

"Are you afraid to face him again, Captain?" the kijo asked the Ogre quietly, with all deadly seriousness ringing into it like a an angry shout echoing from her throat. Pan Shaozu fought bravely, fought ferociously, like a tiger, tooth and nail.

To kill such a wonderful beast, is like a taboo in the Kijo's mind. The very same thing that keeps her from trying to kill Xun Jiang. She doesn't truly care if any of Ma Dieu's men hear her or even Ma Dieu himself was present. The Shadow guild helped in winning this battle, they already got what they wanted, that's their contract.

[Li Dao Wen]

The Shadows [暗兵] - The response

He stopped as the red-clad woman reached out for his arm, even though he was already preparing it for a clean strike to the neck. For his part, Xun Jiang respected the much younger and smaller Xiamo for her incredible skills and her deadly, unpredictable demeanor. As a matter of fact he probably held her in higher regard as a warrior than any man. Yet she couldn't have been more wrong in her assumption, and he was sorely disappointed. They have known each other since the Kijo was but a mere child and he a new initiate to the Shadows, and they had grown up witnessing each other's exploits.

Xian Long Rui has killed so many men before, but never has he killed a man because he was a threat, or because he was stricken with fear. At the least, he has never met a man who could instill it in him. One has managed to make him seethe in blood rage and vendetta: that would be Xiang Yu. Even though he was a bandit and a vigilante for hire, he had a strict and unusual code of honor which dictated his every action. He viewed the situation as falling under such circumstances. For him, to be defeated by a stronger man would lead to only two consequences: either one would desire to grow stronger and live on for the purpose of revenge, or one would be broken or serene and wish to die honorably. It didn't require him to think at the moment; Pan Shaozu had made the decision for him.

He glared briefly and hard at the Kijo for implying fear as the reason for the pending execution. The halberd stayed away from delivering the crushing force of his falling arm for the moment as he considered and digested what she said. "If I could spare this man, I would. I respect him, but I do not fear him. I fear no one, you know that very well."

He looked at Pan Shaozu again and deliberated on what he wanted to do. Even though he definitely had a say in who he could spare or not, the contract which they had signed no doubt included the deferring of death sentences to the General Ma. Addressing Pan Shaozu, he spoke in a solemn tone to the man who had given him the closest fight he had ever had.

"What says you, Chief Aide? Is it truly your desire for your story to end here? Though the final say still lies with our leaders." A straight question without flashes or thrills instead of a vouching for his survival. The Black Ogre knew that speaking for Pan Shaozu's behalf would be akin to creating a pitiful creature out of a proud warrior. Perhaps the Kijo is too young to understand it at the moment.

A sideways glance to Fei Lai signified that he awaited his opinion on the matter too. He knew that war was a cruel thing which required for harsh decisions to be made. Fei Lai, for his part is a practical man who holds only the best interests of the war at heart. The decision was theirs to make.

[Mardagg]

It was a great victory that Ma Dieu, Ma Su and Hin Wu had today. They coordinate together a massive army of 75000 men coming off road from Jiaoxy, form Liang and assemble in Xuyi to counter the rebel of the south that dare challenge the Emperor authority over the province of Huainan.

Hin Wu Elite army of Halberdiers made a strong entrenchment against the advance of Marshal Yi Guang and a lot of them die trying to pierce his defense. Ma Su Elite troops took position in the support layer and District Manager Dingzang Ya manages to support the attack offering a good cover to the troops. Despite the numerous lost of men on both side, Fei Lai attack on the support layer was too important for Marshal Yi Guang to ignore and he had to order a general retreat leaving behind many prisoners of war...

Ma Dieu road to Hin Wu and District Manager Dingzang Ya: '' We had a great victory against Li Jiacheng today!!!! This steep back will most likely remind him that he is in the Emperor territory and that he should leave if he want to remain at peace with us!!'' The peace he wish to make with Li Jiacheng was not accepted and many men die because of this, if the rebel stay in Huainan he will have no other choice, but to attack him. ''I will go meet you soon in your respective city to celebrate and will go in person to the King of Chu to announce our Great Victory, none of this would have been possible without your help!!''

After he gave his command to his troops he went to the tent where all officers was gather to decide the faith of the captives. As he enter he saw that most of his officers where there in front of three general. He moves slowly as he enter and saw a pile of finely craft armor and weapon, turning his attention to the prisonner: ''As you know, Li Jiacheng decide to wage war against the Emperor, but I am sure now that he realize that it was a great mistake! He is a rebel and will be punish for his action unless he move back in Yue and give Huaiyin back to us! If your master cares for his officers he will pay a ransom to have you back on his side. If he refuses you will then know his true nature''. He didn't let them time to speak and other the soldiers to take them prisoner and tell the scribe to write a letter of ransom to Li Jiacheng....

OFFICERS ARE TAKING PRISONNER: A LETTER WILL BE SEND TO LI JIACHENG FOR THEIR REALEASE

[GreenFabre]

The Xiamo only continued to stare at the Ogre with a low growl. There was no confirmation whether it even heard him. Heavy breathing was its only response, as its body convulsed with the intake of air, almost as if it was feeding off from it. It suddenly snapped off a low snarl, a snake's hiss, when it heard something to its left, hands fingering the fine blades on its hip. Almost as if it was being cornered, it looked everywhere and at once, almost as if it did not even know where it was. The air felt like leaden, heavy to the shoulders as tension threatened to snap like thunder.

Confusion reigned free in its eyes, narrowing a gaze towards the massive Ogre before it. Yet little by little, recognition came forward in its glaring eyes and slowly dropped its stance, but not that angry hand. It held on that on that hilt like it held on for life. A man suddenly entered and began speaking to people in the tent. Who is he? Maybe he was important, maybe not, the Xiamo didn't care. Instead, it contented itself resting its eyes on the proud creature, bound among the three.

As the important man began to order the soldiers around, it followed, taking it for a dismissal, its patience running out. "You heard the man!" it barked with a snarl, unable to bear the closed air in the tent. It wanted to get out, it felt like prison, choking the vileness wanting to get free. But not before looking back at the Ogre as it went out. It was a glimpse of the kijo's sorrowful look, only for a pause, blending in with the soldiers and it was gone.