January 205 - Cowardly attack on the Great Xiang Yu!

[ann]

Strange things are afoot in Chu. Armies under Ma Dieu arrive from the south, men dispatched by Zhu Lizhi arrive from the north, and more forces under Hin Wu arrive from the east. In Chu itself, armies are moving, but it's no longer certain if all the men mobilized are obeying the call of their King Xiang Yu!

Ma Dieu with the Cowardly Tian Rong who has betrayed someone new:

Location: Jiujiang
Army Name: Vanguard
Commander: Ma Dieu 110*-91*-40-90-26 Discipline II, Instructor II, Rupture II, Sortie II, Wall II Sword (Melee, Mgt+4), Black Ogre's Dragon Head (Helmet, +3 Mgt), Armor of the Sun (Armor +7 Mgt), Purging Rebels from the land (Book +7 Com), Fire Stratagem (Book, +7 Com) Horse (Speed +3), Duke [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Tian Rong 84-89*-77-48-68* Challenge I, Charge II, Dash II, Delay II, Envelop I, Faze I, Jeer III, Military_Admin I, Politician I, Public_Planner I, Qiangshu II, Raid III, Sortie I Tiger's Fang (Spear, Mgt +2), Fury (Horse, Spd +1), Fancy Hat (Cha +1)
Subcommander: Guan Huang 20-111-21-93-59 Challenge I, Civil_Admin I, Faze I, Gongshu I, Instructor I, Jianshu II, Politician II, Qiangshu I, Raid I, Saboteur II, Yueshu II Ogre's Mask (Mgt +7 Helmet), Iron Cuirass (Mgt+3 Armor), Ogre's Axe (Mgt +6 Axe), Treatise on Smashing Heads (+7 Judgment, Book), Zhèn (?) (+2 Attack, +2 Defense, Horse), Crossbow (Ranged Weapon) Marshal [+3000 max troops, +15% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Niu Zuan 51-73-59-70-68/Charge I, Decoy I, Escort II, Jianshu I, Saboteur I, Wall I District Manager [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]

Soldiers: 25085 (79.507716)
Armaments: 1547 leather, 14248 bronze

and

Location: Jiujiang
Army Name: Imperial Army
Commander: Sun Chao 78-25*-98*-90*-41 Confuse II, Decoy I, Engineer I, Jeer II, Poison II Book of infinite wisdom(+7 Judgment), Book of celestial knowledge(+7 intel), Sword(+2 Might) Supreme Commander [+4000 max troops, +20% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Kong Ming 64-99*-18-69-31 Cover II, Maraud II, Pierce II, Qiangshu II, Smith II, Helmet (+3might), Spear (+2might) Magistrate [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Tai Ju Li 43-40-93*-54-91 Civil_Admin I, Confuse III, Diplomat II, Doctor I, Politician I, Propagandist I, Public_Planner II, Scribe II, Horse (+1 Speed), Int Book (+7 Int) District Manager [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Jing Yun [Magistrate] 68-93*-21-82-44 Faze II, Instructor II, Intimidate II, Propagandist II, Raid II Helmet (+3 Might) , Armor (+2 Might), Axe (+4 Might) Magistrate [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]

Soldiers: 22000(91.336894)
Armaments: 14145 spears, 770 crossbows, 853 siege, 2852 horses

and

Location: Jiujiang
Army Name: Huainan Rearguard
Commander: Huo Zhi Kai 48-93*-27-50-65 Faze III, Gongshu II, Jianshu III, Qiangshu I, Spy I, Yueshu I, Yingzi [Sword] (Melee, Mgt+7), Heiyè [Horse] (Spd+5, Atk+1), Black Armor (+3 Might , Armor) Magistrate [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]

Soldiers: 7000(58.489326)
Armaments:

and

Location: Jiujiang
Army Name: Skirmisher II
Commander: Fei Quqi 72-75-51-74-53 Entangle I, Faze I, Intimidate II, Propagandist I, Public_Planner I, Spy Lieutenant General [1500 max troops, +10% Recruitment]

Soldiers: 10000(20.555899)
Armaments:

Zhu Lizhi

- Army Name: Xiuwu Field armie
- where the invasion is coming from: Xiuwu
- Target: Chu

- Melee Commander: (EX!) Suo Yang;83-77-66-79-54/Deride II, Entrench II, Jeer I, Jianshu I, Military_Admin I, Smith II, Volley I
- Melee Subcommanders: Rang Lin;76-62-67-67-63/Artisan I, Delay I, Pierce I, Poison I, Saboteur II, Wall II
Rong Ying;78-49-72-66-57/Discipline II, Poison I, Scout II, Volley I
Taishi Shu;73-13-79-69-57/Confuse II, Diplomat I, Inspire II, Instructor I, Politician I
Ning Hong;59-66-66-58-66/Envelop II, Rally II, Saboteur I, Sortie I
- Melee Layer Soldiers: 32011
- Melee Layer Morale: 100
- Melee Layer Armaments: 7362 spears, 368 halberds, 883 leather, 643 bronze, 4838 horses

Please post the combined force!

Arriving to defend Chu, the Duke of Liang sends

Location: Liang
Army Name: Imperial Field Army
Commander: Supreme Commander Cao Can 89*-87-63-79-81 Aid I, Civil_Admin II, Deride II, Inspire I, Intimidate I, Military_Admin I, Politician I, Spy I, Wall II, Yueshu II Horse speed +1, Book +6 command
Subcommander: Chief Aide Guang Xiahuo 71-66-67-45-55 Dash I, Delay I, Diplomat I, Escort I, Intimidate I, Propagandist I, Sortie I
Soldiers: 16594(76.000000)
Armaments: 4357 halberds, 188 siege, 10994 bronze, 630 horses

Location: Liang
Army Name: Second Territorial
Commander: Duke Hin Wu 73-18-100*-78-48 Civil_Admin I, Confuse II, Decoy II, Entrench II, Poison II, Scribe I Horse speed +1, Books: +3 Int, +4 Int
Soldiers: 8708(100.000000)
Armaments: 54 spears, 7752 leather

Please post a combined offensive force, once that is done defensive forces will be posted. This battle will be run by Kymvir Raemiz! BTW - Ma Su did not send forces - if you've included any of his please back them out

[Mardagg]

Melee layer: 32011(100) + 13925(79.507716) + 6844(58.489326) = 52780(89) (52780=max)
Support layer: 22000(91.336894) + 11160(79.507716) = 33160(87) (33160=max)

156(58.489326) will stay behind


Melee Layer:
Commander: Ma Dieu 110*-91*-40-90-26 Discipline II, Instructor II, Rupture II, Sortie II, Wall II Sword (Melee, Mgt+4), Black Ogre's Dragon Head (Helmet, +3 Mgt), Armor of the Sun (Armor +7 Mgt), Purging Rebels from the land (Book +7 Com), Fire Stratagem (Book, +7 Com) Horse (Speed +3), Duke [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Guan Huang 20-111-21-93-60 Challenge I, Civil_Admin I, Faze I, Gongshu I, Instructor I, Jianshu II, Politician II, Qiangshu I, Raid I, Saboteur II, Yueshu II Ogre's Mask (Mgt +7 Helmet), Iron Cuirass (Mgt+3 Armor), Ogre's Axe (Mgt +6 Axe), Ogre's Claw (Mgt +1 Billhook), Treatise on Smashing Heads (+7 Judgment, Book), Zhèn (震) (+2 Attack, +2 Defense, Horse), Crossbow (Ranged Weapon) Marshal [+3000 max troops, +15% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Jing Yun [Magistrate] 68-93*-21-82-44 Faze II, Instructor II, Intimidate II, Propagandist II, Raid II Helmet (+3 Might) , Armor (+2 Might), Axe (+4 Might) Magistrate [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Tian Rong 84-89*-77-48-68* Challenge I, Charge II, Dash II, Delay II, Envelop I, Faze I, Jeer III, Military_Admin I, Politician I, Public_Planner I, Qiangshu II, Raid III, Sortie I Tiger's Fang (Spear, Mgt +2), Fury (Horse, Spd +1), Fancy Hat (Cha +1)
Subcommander: Huo Zhi Kai 48-93*-27-50-65 Faze III, Gongshu II, Jianshu III, Qiangshu I, Spy I, Yueshu I, Yǐngzi [Sword] (Melee, Mgt+7), Hēiyè [Horse] (Spd+5, Atk+1), Black Armor (+3 Might , Armor) Magistrate [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: (EX!) Suo Yang 83-77-66-79-54/Deride II, Entrench II, Jeer I, Jianshu I, Military Administrator I, Smith II, Volley I Magistrate [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]

Soldiers: 52780(89)
Armaments: 14891 Bronze Armor, 2430 Leather Armor, 7362 spears, 368 halberds, 4838 horses

Support Layer:
Support Commander: Sun Chao 78-25*-98*-90*-41 Confuse II, Decoy I, Engineer I, Jeer II, Poison II Book of infinite wisdom(+7 Judgment), Book of celestial knowledge(+7 intel), Sword(+2 Might) Supreme Commander [+4000 max troops, +20% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Kong Ming 64-99*-18-69-31 Cover II, Maraud II, Pierce II, Qiangshu II, Smith II, Helmet (+3might), Spear (+2might) Magistrate [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Niu Zuan 51-73-59-70-68/Charge I, Decoy I, Escort II, Jianshu I, Saboteur I, Wall I District Manager [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]
Subcommander: Tai Ju Li 43-40-93*-54-91 Civil_Admin I, Confuse III, Diplomat II, Doctor I, Politician I, Propagandist I, Public_Planner II, Scribe II, Horse (+1 Speed), Int Book (+7 Int) District Manager [+5000 max troops, +25% Civil Development, +25% Recruitment]

Soldiers: 33160(87)
Armaments: 14145 spears, 770 crossbows, 853 siege, 2852 horses


Supply Line:
Commander: Fei Quqi 72-75-51-74-53 Entangle I, Faze I, Intimidate II, Propagandist I, Public_Planner I, Spy [Lieutenant General]
Soldiers: 10000(20.555899)
Armaments: N.A.

[Kymvir Raemiz]

Xiang Yu receives the reports from his scouts about the invasions with disbelief. Messengers leave Chen before he strides from his camp, calling his men to war. If the traitors in Yin and Jiujiang wished to die, he would oblige them.

Messengers went to the cities around the mighty province, and more than 170,000 soldiers marched. Several of the Provincial garrisons, numbering more than 60,000 troops themselves, sent men to Hin Wu's approaching force, and once they found he was coming to support Xiang Yu, then reported in to the Hegemon King. Though he raged at them for their late replies, he went about ordering them to defend the south from the invading armies of Ma Dieu. It was a mighty host that eventually took the field.

Commander: Xiang Yu [King, +5000] 99-107-72-61-81 Assemble II, Challenge III, Charge III, Dash II, Envelop II, Gongshu III, Inspire II, Instructor II, Intimidate III, Jianshu III, Pierce II, Qiangshu III, Raid III, Rally II, Rupture III, Volley III Items: Dapple (Horse, Spd+8, Atk+1, Def+1), Sword ( Mgt+7), Billhook (Mgt+3), Crossbow
Sub-Commander: Ji Bu [Prefect, +5000] 85-86-67-77-81 Challenge I, Dash II, Entrench II, Instructor II, Jianshu II, Military_Admin II, Qiangshu II, Sortie II Kuangfeng (??, Mad Wind, Spd+5), Spear (Mgt+2), Bow
Sub-Commander: Peng Yue [Marquis, +5000] 93-87-82-73-64 Challenge I, Dash III, Envelop III, Faze I, Gongshu I, Instructor III, Jianshu II, Military_Admin I, Raid II, Rupture II, Scout II, Spy I
Sub-Commander: Ji Xin [General, +2000] 72-75-46-65-82 Inspire III, Pierce II, Qiangshu I, Raid I, Scout I
Sub-Commander Long Ju [Marshal, +3000] 85-91-55-60-57 Assemble II, Challenge I, Charge II, Inspire III, Instructor I, Jianshu II, Raid II, Rally I, Rupture I
Sub Commander: Ying Chou [Prefect, +5000] 80-42-60-60-63 Civil_Admin I, Discipline II, Diplomat I, Envelop II, Politician II
Sub-Commander: Xiang Zhuang [Lieutenant General, +1500] 68-98*-49-51-62 Challenge II, Instructor I, Jianshu III, Raid II Items: Sword(+4 Mig), Helmet(+3 Mig), Horse(+3 Speed, +1 Att)
Sub-Commander:
Soldiers: 78280(78)
MAX: 64980 + 13300(Extra)
Armaments: 33476 Pi Spears, 2284 Halberds, 15282 Leather, 27686 Bronze, 9141 Horses

Support Commander: Lu Chen [Prefect, +5000] 83-60-61-71-74 Diplomat I, Military_Admin II, Rally II, Volley I
Sub-Commander: (EX!) Xuan Xie [District Manager, +5000] 46-65-89-77-68 Deride I, Entangle II, Jianshu I, Military_Admin I, Qiangshu II, Raid I
Sub-Commander: Lun Kui [Marshal, +3000] 91-92-47-69-72 Entrench I, Jeer I, Propagandist II, Yueshu II
Support Soldiers: 36260(78)
MAX: 25200 + 11060(Extra)
Armaments: 12,166 Bows

Extra Officers:
Xiang Bo [Prefect, +5000] 67-73-69-77-78 Dash I, Decoy II, Diplomat I, Inspire I, Jianshu II, Saboteur II, Volley I
Yong Pen [No Rank] 72-67-71-44-61 Entangle I, Faze I, Intimidate I, Poison II, Rally I, Wall I
Ran Diao [Chief Aide, +1000] 77-59-43-61-61 Aid I, Jeer II, Scout II
Miao Qu [Chief Aide, +1000] 74-66-59-62-44 Assemble I, Charge I, Delay I, Engineer I, Haste I, Intimidate I, Volley I

Support Extra: 11060
Melee Extra: 13300

I'm hoping a combined force will come shortly.

[Phailak]

Peng Yue did not like this, did not like this one bit. Just when he thought perhaps he was making progress in his ambitions, this silly war hog Ma Diou or whatever his name was decided to make a mockery of Chu! To make things worse, his noble King was making a grand display of all his might...

Sure it was an impressive gathering yet Yue could not shake away the feeling something was terribly wrong. Men of war like this Diou bastard did not just go to battle on whims, they did so when it counted, when they knew they would win. Yue tried to catch a glance of Duke Hin's armies come from Liang, apparently with the speed he arrived, he anticipated this attack well enough to gamble bringing his armies here. He thought he had earned the Duke's confidence, but who could blame the man with the times they lived in.

We outnumber that traitor, yet Xiang Yu himself leads the men, what if the fool decides he thinks he can beat their champion? He should of let me lead...

Finally catching sight of the Duke of Liang, Peng Yue left his command and requested to meet with him, perhaps the Duke's sound mind could influence and keep the King calm. Perhaps, they could avoid Chu's downfall to a nobody bloodthirsty warlord.

[ann]

The Hegemon King was angry but he had spent too much time in battle to allow his rage to overcome his reason. He looked over the forces arrayed against him and reflected on what he knew about them. Ma Dieu had shown promise - it was this promise which had led Xiang Yu to give him assignments and favor him with an Imperial Army. The Hegemon had hoped that Ma Dieu would subdue Qi. A foolish hope it had been. It wasn't clear whether Qi had subdued Ma Dieu in the form of Tian Rong but it was clear that Ma Dieu had not been worthy of his consideration, his armies, or his trust.

Still he was a better General than many who had been trusted by the Hegemon and his Ministers. Tian Rong clearly thought so - if he'd felt at risk he would have arranged to hang back and arrive with a fresh force after the battle had raged and sapped the strength of his opponents. It was his signature. Xiang Yu sneered. His hand strayed to his weapon and he narrowed his eyes. He would spill the blood of the traitor and the coward this day. It had been a long time - too long - since he'd been on the battlefield. This was where he belonged. Already he could feel his mind quicken, strategies formed, and he could tell, looking at the enemies leadership structure, what to expect. It would be a fight - and one he must win in order to avoid disaster for the land especially for Chu.

He sent a runner to the Duke of Liang who had led his men here on the suspicion of such an attack. It would be necessary to merge their forces for battle and the King had an idea which would give t hem the upper hand.

((asking for permission to post the merge force))

[Belial]

With his large frame haphazardly settled upon the back of his horse, Guǎn​ Huáng could only grin as he rode before the assembling army of Ma Dieu. Oh, it was a glorious day. A day that left the normally impulsive and wrathful giant in a momentarily lull as the sound of shifting armies filled his ears. As the sounds of generals shouting and horses galloping echoed over the dull beat of marching men. It was a day that left the aging bandit to smile as he gazed upon his employer's army. It was a day that left the aging bandit to smile as he rode in the presence of friends. Alongside the giant of Chu rode a few men. Veterans who had rode across the lands of China and fought for both their own wealth and happiness as they plundered the lands. Alongside him rode those few men who once bore their axes with such pride and proclaimed to the land to what family they belonged. The Axe Gang.

Yet, that smile slowly faded from his lips as Guǎn​ Huáng shifted atop his horse. That smile faded as his eyes settled upon Niu Zuan, but one of many men who had once rode alongside that aging soldier. "From brotherhood to mere banditry and finally to this." Guǎn​ Huáng simply stated as he gazed upon the peacock which was Niu Zuan. Oh, rank and glory had gone to that once infamous bandit's head and seen Niu Zuan's head. "Watch yourself," Guǎn​ Huáng began as he motioned for one of his servants, "and remember your brothers. Ya ride out an' see my head ain' go rollin' 'bout if those &*$& come chasin' after me." Guǎn​ Huáng commented with a flippant glance at Niu Zuan. "Keep my head upon my shoulders and ya own head upon ya own." he cooed as the servant finally appeared with a platter in hand. Yet, upon that platter laid a simple fair. Small clay jugs filled to the brim with that sickeningly sweet huangjiu. "To old times, ey?" Guǎn​ Huáng laughingly began as he snatched up a jug and motioned for his fellow bandits to drink.

Time was slow to pass as those former bandits enjoyed a moment together. Time was slow to pass within their eyes as wine and old stories was given with a generous hand. But, time was ever flowing and soon those men parted. Once more Guǎn​ Huáng wore a grin upon those thick lips while those hatchet like features laid twisted into the darkest of expressions. Oh, with those words said, Guǎn​ Huáng had turned his attention to the task. With every intention to give the show that he had promised, the giant of Changsha silently rode from his own ranks and just out of bow shot from the enemy's archers. Yet, remaining within the seat of his horse, Guǎn​ Huáng settled his gaze upon the ranks of Chu. Oh, those lips laid split into the boldest of grins and with utter contempt Guǎn​ Huáng gazed upon his foes. With the slightest of coughs, the intoxicated bandit raised himself within the saddle. Standing upon his stir ups, the man elevated himself to his full height as his head drunkenly swam. "Oh, I've heard much of ya.. &*$&, how did it go?" Guǎn​ Huáng softly began as his brows scrunched together. But, within a moment's passing, those brows relaxed and those lips split into a flippant grin. "Ah yea.." the drunken man cooed to himself before he cleared his throat once more.

Only for Guǎn​ Huáng, in the most drunken of shouts, to begin quite the venomous little songs.

"Oh, I've heard much of ya men of Chu,
Of how they ain't no man like me or you.
They say those men are like damnable apes,
Who always cuss and shout and find themselves scrapes.
But this is a lie far too big,
You men of Chu are more like pigs!"

"Like a pig ya laze 'bout
Hoping thereby to spread your clout.
Yet, in this ya don't succeed,
Much like your attempts to breed!
But, I 'eard it's a bit of a small thing,
That keeps the ladies from enjoyin' ya thing."

"But, I ain' tryin to fight
Cause I know ya tend to fright.
Yet, those ya tend to fright
Don't have a bit of fight.
Like a lion ya shout and roar
But, like a pig ya'll squeal."

"In the end, ya'll run in fright
And run away from another fight.
You'll hide and cower in the dark
Because ya'll know ya are my mark.
By today ya men will fall
By tonight ya will fall.
In the end, ya'll run in fright
And run away from another fight."

"Remember tonight because ya are king
Remember tomorrow because ya will fling
Any hint of title or rank
As if it was vile and stank.
All the people will do a jig
As ends the reign of the Chu pig."

"Now unless ya think I'm a fool,
And that ya ain't some ape, pig, or fool,
Why don't ya ride on over,
And prove that the pig's reign ain' over.
But, if ya ain' got the balls to do it,
Ya are just diggin' ya self a pit.
Fight me now and die like a man,
Or run away for now and die like a pig."

Yet, with his little song done, Guǎn​ Huáng could only give the most mocking and unbalanced of bows before dropping into the saddle and riding back to his lips to the cheering and shouting of a certain lil' group of bandits.

[gravenimages]

Ann: Permission granted... Plz see my internal RP thread however. ;)

Peng Yue did not like this, did not like this one bit. Just when he thought perhaps he was making progress in his ambitions, this silly war hog Ma Diou or whatever his name was decided to make a mockery of Chu! To make things worse, his noble King was making a grand display of all his might...

Sure it was an impressive gathering yet Yue could not shake away the feeling something was terribly wrong. Men of war like this Diou bastard did not just go to battle on whims, they did so when it counted, when they knew they would win. Yue tried to catch a glance of Duke Hin's armies come from Liang, apparently with the speed he arrived, he anticipated this attack well enough to gamble bringing his armies here. He thought he had earned the Duke's confidence, but who could blame the man with the times they lived in.

We outnumber that traitor, yet Xiang Yu himself leads the men, what if the fool decides he thinks he can beat their champion? He should of let me lead...

Finally catching sight of the Duke of Liang, Peng Yue left his command and requested to meet with him, perhaps the Duke's sound mind could influence and keep the King calm. Perhaps, they could avoid Chu's downfall to a nobody bloodthirsty warlord.

Hin Wu was much relieved that his sources had been accurate with their information... Marching his armies into Chu without the emergence of the current situation might have been a bit difficult to explain. Looking over the banners of the enemy, he shook his head. They fairly spelled out the story of the men and women whom he had aided in the name of Chu... Now to see them all arrayed against the King... The Duke supposed that he had been naive to provide such assistance.

He received Peng Yue as his captians were supervising the establishment of camp. The Duke was bundled well against the bitter January cold. "Ahh, Lord Peng! I understand it is Marquis now? You seem to have done well for yourself since the campaign in Liang." Falling into step beside the man, Hin Wu walks a course towards the Chu command tent, and flicks another glance at the enemy lines, shaking his head. "What kind of idiot stages an invasion in January?" He asks in jest.

[Phailak]

Yue shrugged, against the cold, his promotion or Ma Dieu's insanity was unclear.

"I care little for the titles the King has seen fit to distribute in his haste to face this new threat. I have come to speak with you of this Ma Diou, you have dealt with him before, even supported him, tell me of his character. Something feels wrong right here!"

Yue stabbed his fist to his gut.

[gravenimages]

"Road rations don't agree with me either, the first few days." Hin Wu grimaces before flashing a self-depreciating grin at his jest. "I'm sorry, the situation has me nervous as well. To Ma Dieu, then... Hmmm... " The Duke takes a few moments to consider what he knows of the enemy. "He is surprisingly skilled at diplomacy, at the art of gaining cooperation by implying a mutual benefit, but feels no real loyalty towards those he calls ally once he has no more use for them."

Their conversation is briefly halted by the... Noise coming from the enemy camp. The Duke listens for a few lines before shaking his head and tuning out the rest of Guan Huang's... Whatever it was. "If he had any style at all, he would at least work the hiccups into his... I suppose we should kindly term it 'performance'."

"But back to the subject at hand. In short, Ma Dieu truly believes he can win, or he would not be here. I would imagine that he has used the spoils he gained from the campaigns in Wu to lure in men skilled with arms like that idiot Huang, and supply them with enough in the way of quality training, weapons, armor, and horseflesh so that they could pose a threat to our King in single combat. Apparently he has also supplied too much in the way of libation in that particular case. It is not a bad strategy. This..."

His sweeping gesture takes in the Chu camp. "The situation puts me in mind of the death of the First Emperor of the Qin. He was a man much like our King, and I fear that Chu might suffer the same sort of fate were Xiang Yu to fall in battle. I know our King is certainly a proud man, and I doubt he will back away from anyone that the rebels send forth... I'd not be surprised if he rode forth and challenged Ma Dieu to personal combat to settle all this. Not that I believe Dieu fool enough to accept such a challenge. Even now I go to our King, to attempt to reason with him, and make recommendations to limit the effect of such a tragedy on our homeland... Should it come to pass." The Duke betrays his low-born roots by making a hand sign believed by peasants to ward off evil.

[Taishi Ci]

Newly-made Prefect Na Ping had expected to pass his first month in office uneventfully. The action was supposed to all be in the west in Han, where King Baocen and Supreme Commander Lin had marched to put down the rebel King of Han. But almost as soon as their expeditionary force had disappeared over the horizon, messengers from Chu arrived with news of a shocking development: Ma Dieu had turned traitor and marched against the King of Chu himself with a vast horde. Though there was little time to prepare, Na Ping hastily assembled the remaining men of the province and ordered a forced march across the border to help meet this new threat.

Marching to reinforce Xiang Yu and Hin Wu.

Nanyang Second Field Army & Sixth Field Army

Commander: Prefect (EX!) Na Ping 82-71-61-65-64 Challenge I, Civil_Admin II, Discipline I, Doctor I, Haste I, Politician I, Sortie I
Subcommander: Bianguan Ning 63-51-68-69-71 Delay I, Entangle II, Scout I, Volley II
Subcommander: Wei Wei 80-58-46-70-44 Charge I, Gongshu II, Intimidate II
Subcommander: Jiangkan Tai 69-55-50-50-59 Dash I, Poison II, Saboteur I, Smith II, Sortie I
Subcommander: Mo Shen 59-59-73-48-61 Aid I, Artisan I, Cover I, Deride I, Envelop I, Rally I
Subcommander: Shusun Pan 62-72-73-31-71 Challenge I, Diplomat II, Instructor II, Yueshu I
Subcommander: General Zao Xuan 72-65-49-68-38 Dash II, Delay II, Deride I, Escort I, Rally I, Wall I
Subcommander: Lt. General Ye Xiong 76-76-24-66-56 Artisan I, Diplomat I, Engineer I, Trainer I, Volley I
Subcommander: Dong Xiong 66-69-57-49-65 Aid I, Diplomat I, Escort I, Propagandist II, Trainer II
Subcommander: Saofang Can 28-72-54-96-68 Civil_Admin III, Cover II, Doctor I, Entrench II, Escort II, Politician II, Trainer I, Yueshu I
Soldiers: 51618 (57)
Armaments: