The Return of Glory

[Vash]

Waves of red and yellow clouds the sky. Sun setting low, ready to fall asleep after giving the world a bridge day. The moon did not rise. but it did glow brighter this night. Stars begin to sparkle in the nightly sky making this up coming night a romantic one. Yet could all of these signs mean something different? Could all of these signs be something much more different than it leads on to be?

These waves of clouds could be the waves of dead men, cover in blood, and seem with the rays of the sun. Could this setting of their sun mean the fall of a nation? The moon glowing bright could be the glow of Wei's victory. And those stars! Could it be the very sharp tips of an arrow raining down on whatever targets stand in the way of an Empire. The thoughts of such thing, crossing a man's mind like this. What is Ryou Kin thinking about? Could he have this all wrong?

His ride is sure long but with such a large force heading toward Xi Liang he must ride until his steed die, or get to the point where he could run/jog faster than this horse. The Empire is back on the move and allowing the people of Xi Liang to gather its people and prepare for the fight to come is the only thing he could do. Maybe the remaining Qiang Tribe in the area could rejoin the fight against Wei. They mostly don't even like the Empire.

There! Once again the sight of Xi Liang. The sun still shines on its mighty walls, and brings darkness on the inside with its shade. The gates are shutting, Ryou smacked the rear of his steed speeding it up just a bit before it got tired again. He just made it in the city. That horse rode hard and long, a great horse it is, All the guards did not do a single thing but nod their heads when they saw Kin's face. Something troubled him it seems, Ryou ran toward the palace and up those very stairs that he rallied some men.

Though these guards know Kin, they will not allow him to enter. One of the guards tried to place his hand on Ryou chest, only to find himself on the ground after a knee in his stomach. The other guard was thrown down the stairs after Kin grabbed his weapon and threw it along with him. Ryou pushed open the doors of Xi Liang and there Wu Wei Dian stood, turning around to see what all the noise was. Kin went forward only to have more guards come out from the side. Their weapons aim for his throat.

"Lord Wu Wei Dian! I have urgent news from my scouts!"

"It better be urgent, because if its not then your head will be mines. So speak!"

"My scouts report of a large army passing through into Tian Shui and heading to the north, to Xi Liang. My men are on their way back but as soon as they get here we will only have but maybe less than a day before the armies of Wei are presented on your doorsteps."

"This is urgent..."

"Please! Allow me to aid you. Call the Qiang Tribes to reunite so we can stop this threat. Maybe we can even join together and form a Kingdom!"

In just a few hours Ryou's men will be in the city, getting ready for the assault of Wei. Right now, at this moment, Ryou must know what the prefect is going to do about this attack on his city. If he dont know, he would most likely allow Kin to command his men in the city. Everything is on this man's shoulders. What he will say now is his choice of a loss or a chance to win.

Ryou and his men are back in Xi Liang

[Cao Pi]

Wu Wei Dian moved over to his throne as he heard the news of Wei’s attack. He had been expecting this to happen for such a long time now, that it seemed almost surreal to the young king’s mind. If, Wei were to invade his city – it was right to assume that he’d need some military power.

As he took his seat, he realised that Ryou was indeed the man to hire for the job, even if he couldn’t bring them victory – the young king wanted Wei to suffer for as long as possible before they too joined the ranks of the un-dead.

“Ryou. I have wanted a man to join me for such a long time, a man of power, renown, and strength.” He smiled. “I have wanted it all and now my age is creeping up on me. I fear I cannot lead these men as best as you could. So I give you authority over the military, but...don’t get me wrong.”

He rose sternly, eying the young general. “I rebelled to kill Wei, not join a man whose only renown is gained by slaying convoys of my enemies. If you want this city, this crown and the Qiang’s backing – then lead my garrison to victory and I shall grant you riches you’ll never believe.”

[Vash]

Now, the rising of a general, standing on his feet to go against the many odds that will soon be presented to him. No soldier pointed their weapons at this man, for it would go against their rank's code. To have a weapon pointing at the head of your general is your death warrant, but not today. These men bow down to such a man for the power he was granted to prove himself. What ideas he had, plans, tactics, thoughts? Many of these things roam in the mind of Ryou Kin.

Less than a day he has, and how to manage so much in such little time. The men around him rises up onto their feet. Awaiting new orders from their new general is going to be something they have to get use to. No thanks to Wu Wei, no orders to kill him either. Just a simple turn, walk out of the door, and the sight of the whole city in his eyes. No cheer. No talk. Just silent. Kin don't like to be a king, nor a leader, but these people need it for the moment.

The only reason that these people would be out here would be due to Kin's men coming in and waking them to meet at the palace steps once more. The palace guards follow Kin, knowing that the threat is coming and must be useful with anything they are told. Already, Ryou is walking down the steps, he would rather get on the people level, unlike Wu Wei. He did not know what to say, maybe it will just come to him when he gets to the bottom.

All eyes are locked on Kin, waiting for his words to speak to them. Is this hope they are looking for? Could this man very well beat such a force coming his way? How much time do they have until they come upon their mighty city? Things are different now. Things will change from this very second now. And the bottom of the steps are no more. Now what General Ryou Kin? This very questions hits the minds of every person in the city.

"People of Xi Liang. The Wei Empire will soon be here within a day. I love this city, even my father, who made the weapons we might all hold this very day and even died defending this city himself. And I do not want this city in the hands of Cao Pi."

"This is my home! Our home! No one can take it away from us. Came before you a few days ago as a Bandit, no more do I want to be that. No more do I want to be a thug! No more! I am here because I love this city and its people. And I will not, shall not, allow this city to be lost ever again!"

"We have lived free for a while now from Wei. Its most peaceful here and I do not want to lose that. Asking you to join me would be foolish now. I am asking you to stand to look around and imagine this city being attack, burned, and destroyed. The people, the books, and the city. All gone. All lost!"

"I could have ran away from such a assault but this is our country and homeland, and I will not lose it to Wei. Please! I am not forcing you, but as free men, would you stand together with me, NOT alone, against the hordes of the Wei Empire?"

Could this be the last night all of these people will have together before being lost in the blood and death that will soon surround them? Everyone no longer looks are Ryou, most men look down. Deep thoughts hitting them hard right now, squeezing tighter of anything they are holding. All women look around at the men standing before them. Children yawns but show the sweetest, puppy dog eyes their parents have ever saw.

Wu Wei steps out from the palace, walking down with a group of men behind him. The people start to talk of what to do. Those men who joined Ryou a few days ago have already made their choice and still are proud of it. These people had to make a choice at this very moment. Time is being wasted and all of it is needed. Wu Wei is behind Ryou now and talks to him alone.

"Excuse me Ryou."

"Yes?"

"These men behind me will set out and try to get reinforcements from the Qiang tribes. If they do come, it mostly will be late, hopefully not too late."

"Thank you Wu Wei. Really! If you were a different man, I wouldn't know what I could do."

"No problem brother. Don't let us down. All of us."

"I wont. I promise!"

Both men acknowledge each other and turned their separate ways. Ryou still awaits the reply of the people, and Wu Wei, well I guess he will get ready for the fight also, maybe a prey. A women was giving a tight hug to her husband and so did his child. He turned to Kin, locking eyes they are in. He steps through the crowd, appearing before Kin. The man started to kneel to Ryou, but Ryou pulled him back up.

"We are all equal brother. I never said anything about kneeling to me, and I am not your King, nor leader. All of us are here to protect those that we love. Like a friend told me, Love and Peace. Fight for those two things and you will not lose hope in anything. And man do I miss him."

More men come to the front of the crowd and it soon reached to all of the men. Kin can just shake his head, proud he is of all of these men. Weak and old men and children who could not even pull the string of a bow. These type of men and boys had to be picked out and put out. If only they were a few years younger or older, they would be perfect. Ryou walked to a kid and picked him up.

"I know that all of you want to help but you are needed for future teachings or warriors. For you children out here, including you in my arms, you will remember this day. And you will be grown into whatever you wish to be, maybe even a warrior like these very men in front of me. For the wise old men. These kids need your guidance and support. So if one of these fathers are lost, then you will have to give them the teachings of a father. Sorry but you must understand."

"We do."

Nothing to say back to the people. Some of these men look like born warriors, others look fresh meat. Some even have experience with whatever they were skillful in. These men, all banded together by one man. What would have happen if this man was not here? Could the city just be that easy to take and burn? No! Wei will have to earn this victory!

The men that Wu Wei had were now leaving on horseback, if they know of a enemy near by then they will dismount and run the rest of the route. One task was already done with the help of the prefect. Other things need to be done but other things can be done during the battle. Still, what of the women. Do they sit and do nothing for their husband head is presented to them? Any women who had experience of healing or taking care of the wounded, they were sent to a big house, just before the gate of the palace.

Everyone else, old, young, and some other kinds of people moves up the stairs for the first time and head into the palace. The safest place to be at, currently. Some women stayed outside, wanting to help anyway way they could. Kin could not think of much but making as much amour for the men would be most helpful. They set out to their houses, gather material and having others gather more material from other people houses. They went to another house just before the palace gate, beside the nurse home. This is the place they will make as much of padded leather they can for their men. Also, the men who were captured are in the palace court yard.

Those men who wanted to protect for Love and Peace followed a group of soldiers to the barracks. Their training begins ASAP but it wont be intense as a regular training. It will be a late night for these men and women. The front gate is still open and the southern one is also open. Ryou met with a group of axemen and dispatched them to the south, where a small patch of forest it. He tells them to harvest those trees and have ti Qiang ride them into the city. It should not take you that long.

All of Ryou Kin's Militia were sent all over the city, looking for big stick looking objects, if they had trouble then they would just make some out of the branches from the trees that will be harvested. Getting some more axemen, horsemen, and peasants, Kin told these groups of men to go get more trees down the hill and hurry and bring them into the city so they can be transformed. More men in the city run around looking for flat, planks.

Once they have found enough amount of planks they will form them together to make a cover shield. This will block arrows from hitting Ryou's men from above, but it will still leave some of his men open in the front. There are only enough to fit on most of the front wall, which faces the river. Crossbowmen and archers stand on top of the wall, firing a shot to see their maximum firing range. Once the range was found, the captain of the groups are made to remember that mark.

A crossbowmen and archer went outside the gate and fired their arrows and bolt until their shot hit the top of the wall. After a wooden plank was left out there to show where the enemy will have to shot to even hit the top of the wall, pretty close too. Back to the loggers, After they were all in the city, the axemen cut off the branches leaving the rest to the other axemen. These logs were almost smooth but it will have to do to roll down a hill. The other axemen were using the branches to make sharp sticks, once they did they handed it to Kin's men and all the men ran outside right after. What were they doing with these sticks?

For the dirt paths that were made from the logs were not covered up for any means. These people harvest trees almost everyday so it being out there is normal. No one was allowed outside after those sharp sticks were being placed. Kin watched closely on how they were placed and hope this plan work. The logs that Ryou have cut up are placed along the wall on top of it. So they will just have to pick it up and throw it over. Those planks that were being put together were put together and also placed on the wall. The only thing about it, it has to be held up by men to work. So the men attached poles to the corners of it and made feets for them so they can stand on their own.

The women made as many padded amour as they could and left them in the barracks for the men to throw on when ever they finish their training. They reported to Ryou again to see if he needed any more help. And yes he did. He requested oil to be put in bottles with rags attached to them. Simple and easy task, many to make. Once they finish this they will head to bed. The axemen and other garrison units are also resting. Those men who just finished their training also are resting. The only men that are not resting are the scouts and militia.

Ryou still watches as his men are places those sticks into the ground. There is really not much he can do against a force that double his. Yet there is still a chance to win here. The advantage of a hill almost even their numbers but with these other tactics it should make it equal. A tough fight would be fought in some hours now. Right now his men will rest but they have one more task to finish. Hay is one thing that farmers use around here a lot due to the horses. So hay is laid all over the battlefield in front of the walls but most of it is in the front wall. Most of the traffic goes there.

These hay hides the punji sticks and even if their enemy knows about them, its not much they can do about it since they cant really dig it up without being fired upon. Its just a wait now. Sleep, sleep, eat, shit, and more waiting. Ryou is ready for the fight but things could still turn away from his favor. How things will be later on in the day is up to Wei and the people. Slowly falling asleep...and if feels like he is sleeping in the lap of that women...again.

(( I am sooo tired! This is like 2,235 words!!!! ))

Tags:
Construction
Planning/General Strategy
Speaker
General Story Telling

[Zhen Luo]

Rewards

General Story Telling - 100 gold
Speaker - +1 Fame, 300 peasants and 100 militia
Construction – 40 gold
Planning/General Strategy - 10 Upgrade Points
Drilling Soldiers – 5 Upgrade Points

I have given you all the tags you put on yourself and I added one more. You were drilling soldiers, but since you didn’t go into much detail about it I’m not giving you the full amount. You have the full amount of everything else though. Nice job.