Wu Camp

[Cao Pi]

Officers beneath the Wu kingdom are to report here. The camp is located on the far south-western side of the battle map (in between the two mountains where the path runs north to the city of Xu Chang). Post here so that Sun Ce may assign you your troops for this battle.

All strategies regarding this battle are to be posted in your official Wu war camps/councils.

Lets have a good fight yeah.

[Sun Ce]

~It is War That Binds Us All~

The plains of Weidu were silent in the morning, but that silence had been erased hours ago. The distance rumbling of the wardrum had grew louder and louder, the pause between each beat shortened. The armies of Wu, led by Sun Ce the Conqueror, were coming. And now, they were close.

The brisk wind blew over the plains to the distance, where soldiers on the walls of Xu Chang could only begin to make out the red banners of Wu. Within the hour, the banners had grown to a large size, blowing magnificently in the breeze, flying over a grand army.

The Forces of Wu[/u]
10,000 Gong Jian Bing
8,000 Chu Ke Nu
9,000 Chang Jian Bing
8,000 Qiang Bing
2 Catapults
20 Ladders

(Upon arrival of Each commander, I will distribute troops. Ranks are as follows:

Sun Ce[/u]
Chen Zen
Lu Meng

Zhou Yu[/u]
Wei Yan
Taishi Ci

As soon as everyone has posted, I will assign troops.)

[Wei Yan]

The wind tugged and ripped at the cloths and hair of the two warriors as they made their way across the plains. The Wu camp was already put up and ready when they arrived. A sigh left the lips of Wei Yan as he smiled and patted the shoulder of his companion, Lu Rai.

"Rai it appears that we have returned home." whispered the warrior onto the breeze. Though his companion nodded his agreement before returning the pat to the shoulder. "Yes, Yan I believe we have."

The two entered into the camp and were greeted by men as any generals would be. Some of the men stopped to say hello, so were too busy, and some were... fan... girls? Err.. No!

Anyway! There was time to pass now, men to meet, and a battle to be fought. According to Sun Ce, in Jian An, Yan was to be the leader of the vanguard in this battle. That meant one thing and one thing only. The Frontline..., thought the warrior.

Seige equipment would be given, but the most important part would be doing one of two things, breaking down the walls or climbing up them. Honestly, Yan was so excited at the thought of climbing up the walls and standing alone over the gate throwing people over and wreaking chaos that he started to breathe heavy at random. His head was racing, his heart was pounding and Lu Rai was just laughing.

"Yan, calm down. We don't need our men thinking us Wild Boars for no reason. Atleast let them get onto the field before they realize your senseless." joked Rai as he smacked the back of Wei Yan.

The warrior just shook the thoughts from his head and nodded. The two men were too close for anything else. Some would have thougt that if you struck Yan while he was lost in dreams of battle he'd snap, but Lu Rai had always just said.

"If he swings out it's his funeral, so why worry?"

[Chen Zen]

As the large army with the red banners of Wu stood ready for the coming battle three brothers sat atop their large stallions. On the far left side of the three The youngest of the three yet largest in size, Chen Zang, was riding a pure black haired horse. On the far right sat the middle brother, Chen Zing, on his brown haired horse. In the center was the oldest, Chen Zen, on his stallion with hair as white as snow.

Zen took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly with a slight nervousness. This was the first time the three brothers have seen this large of a battle. Zang let out a large yawn and stuck out his arms to the side stretching himself. He was considered the brute of the three. He loved to get into whatever fight he could and being in a real war was a dream come true to him. Zing was holding his treasured bow in his hand and was sliding his fingers up and down the string. He was a near opposite of his younger brother. He enjoyed quiet and peacefull times. He knew fighting was necessary but he prefered to not get into the frontlines like others. This was the reason he decided long ago to train to be an archer.

The oldest of the three, Zen, finally after sitting in complete silence dismounted his white steed. He lead his horse over to a nearby post and tied the reins. He looked into the calm eyes of his stallion and a slight smile came across his face as his nervousness was replaced with a sense of relaxation. He placed his bare hand onto the horses mane and gently ran his fingers through its hair. Zing and Zang exchanged glances before dismounting and tieing the reins of their horses nearby to their older brother's horse. Zang grasped his large halberd which was tied to his back. He held it at his side then grinned and walked a few paces away from the others and began spinning his large weapon around in his hands. He grinned and pointed the tip of his weapon at the city in the distance. "They can't run, They can't hide, For Chen Zang is coming for their lives"

Zing looked over at his over confident brother and sighed "you are far to anxious for your own good" Zen completly ignored Zang's boasting and grabbed his swords and began walking towards the meeting place for the generals. His two brothers stood their for a moment before realizing they were being left behind again and turned and ran after Zen.

[Zhou Yu]

It had been a tense ride north again, or at least it had seemed that way for many of the soldiers marching with them. Gongjin could only speculate at the impact the prominent city would have on his friend. Sun Bofu was approaching the coming battle with his usual degree of energy, but there was a lack of the mirth that Gongjin had come to associate with his brother as well, and that troubled him. Perhaps once they had brought the land under the banner of Wu that would change, Gongjin could only hope.

He felt his Di Zi brush against his side as he rode, and the young strategist of Wu allowed himself a small smile as he recalled the pleasant poetry he mulled over and the pieces he had played to finish preparing himself for war. It was a habit of his, one he had found to be most effective at honing his focus for the coming trials. Of course, there was also the physicality of preparation to consider, and for every note he plucked, Gongjin wove himself through the air in an intricate martial dance of motion, the cuts and thrusts honing his mind as he honed his muscles in preparation for the coming days.

Up ahead, the brilliant crimson banners of Wu unfurled gloriously, fluttering in the wind as though trembling in anticipation of the conflict to come. All about the camp, the men busied themselves until it was time for formations and the march towards destiny that awaited them. He was not the first officer to arrive, but Gongjin had never intended to be. His focus now, as always, was to support his lord and friend. He claimed no special talents and boasted of no grand skill; Gongjin simply observed and acted.

Dismounting, he threw a quick salute to the lieutenants that approached him, Gongjin gestured to the larger tents that formed the core of the mock-settlement

“Has Lord Bofu arrived yet?”

When they answered in the negative, Gongjin thanked them for their time and proceeded through a series of stretches and martial motions, adjusting to the cooler weather of the Central Plains and unwinding after the ride. He would find a quiet place to play the Di Zi later, but first he would wait to affirm that all was well with his lord.

[Wei Yan]

Word travels fast when you stick out like a soar thumb. Needless to say when Zhou Yu arrived, famed strategist and friend of Sun Ce, Wei Yan new instantly. It had been rumored that Wei Yan would be under him in the upcoming battle, along with a new warrior Chen Zhen. Honestly, this might be bad.

"A priss. Di Zi. Really?" snorted Yan as he shook his head and then promptly was smacked by Lu Rai's shield in the chest. "Yan! The man is rumored to be a genius! You'll watch your tongue, just remember your talent his war. His talent is war, strategy, and the Di Zi. Who is the priss?"

Yan just shook his head, realizing his own folly but to proud to admit it. Either way, the two were already making their way to where Zhou Yu had rumored to arrived. In a matter of minutes the man, some called the most handsome man in china, was within sight. Honestly, Yan was more impressed than he had thought he would be. Though, there it was, that Di Zi. It went from being something the warrior thought less of, to something he resented. Zhou Yu had mastered something other than war, and still was good at war. Then it is time I learn something other than war, thought Yan as a smile crept over Rai's lips.

"Lord Zhou Yu, it's good to see you hear and in good health." started Lu Rai as the two came within speaking distance. Wei Yan waited till he got close enough and slammed a fist into an open palm and bowed a bit. "General, I've been told I'll be following your command in the battle. The Beast Wei Yan is at your disposal, but I warn you, I am no strategist."

[Zhou Yu]

"Master Lu Rai is it? A determined warrior of great potential and Lord Wenchang, a palpable whirlwind of devastation, or so the rumors persist. The honor is mine, master and general," Gongjin replied, gracefully wending his way out of his deep stance and into a salute that mirrored the one the larger man offered. Of course, rumors were not always kind, but in that regard all men suffered a common fate. If anything, Gongjin hoped the rumors were far more then idle musings; men of such prodigious strength could serve Wu well.

"The coming battle will be one of great meaning," he continued, appraising each of them in turn. It was, perhaps an obvious statement, but that did not take from the truth of it. "And while you make no such claims, Lord Wenchang, I would humbly remind you that strategy is discussed by men of words before the battle. Logistics, allowing men of action such as yourself to find the right place to put their prowess to use, is the determinant once battle has begun."

He spoke honestly and humbly, hoping that he would not offend the two warriors. Even when granted commands, Gongjin preferred to allow men of significant talent to put it to use while he adapted to the ebb and flow of the battle, not simply bark orders and engender resentment. If Lord Bofu saw in Wei Yan a warrior of Wu, Gongjin would do all he could to support and encourage that.

"Lord Bofu has place the two of us together for this endeavor and I have no doubt that he is as eager to unleash the Beast upon the enemies of Wu as I am."

[Wei Yan]

No man could deny the idea that they loved being talked up. Wei Yan was no different, but as much as he loved it, he still had a battle on the horizon. With a nod of respect, the warrior merely looked over the man he'd been put under. He wasn't what most would consider a man of great strength, but according to Lu Rai and the rumors he had something about him. And if the warrior lord Sun Ce befriended him, then Wei Yan would be no different.

"Well Commander, you run the numbers. You make the plan, I'm just here to make sure that at the end of the day Wei knows that Lord Sun Ce refuses to go quietly into the night." stated the barbaric looking Wei Yan a bit too bluntly, but it was trying to as respectful as possible. Lu Rai just nodded at the answer. He didn't expect much less of his friend. Everything was a batle to Yan. Everything...

A smile came across the face of the barbarian as he thought for a moment.

"My friend tells me you are a gifted poet and Di Zi player. I won't lie, at first I scoffed at the idea, but I do believe I to love music." Yan stepped back as he spread his arms, "Sadly my only song is war. For this reason I believe we will get along, and you will find a great use for me. They say Zhang Liao will be defending Xu Chang, and no doubt more men of great power, but you have no reason to worry a bit. Wei Yan, The Beast of Wu, is under your command."

Lu Rai just laughed a bit under his breath. He gave himself a title already? What an arrogant bastard, was all he could think.

[Zhou Yu]

As the larger man finished speaking his piece, Gongjing offered him a second salute, neither affirming nor denying the bold words of Wenchang. The true measure of his claims would be seen on the battlefield, and Gongjin had every confidence that both Wei Yan and Lu Rai would live up to them.

"To know that you are prepared to meet the enemies of Wu blade for blade is an easing of the burden carried by our forces, Lord Wenchang. I am counting upon your strength."

[Lu Meng]

Lu Meng entered the Wu camp with the last wave of kingdom troops. After ordering them to rest, he dismounted his black war horse.

"A fine day for battle" he thought, looking to the sky and not seeing a single cloud.

In the distance, to the north, the imposing city of Xu Chang could be seen. Hopefully Shu had arrived to the west or taking it would be much more difficult.

He took one more look and then turned to find the others. If they were going to win, they would need plans.

[Chen Zen]

The oldest of the three brothers, Chen Zen, walked briskly over to where the two generals, Wei Yan and Zhou Yu, were standing. He knew very little about the large brute named Wei Yan but the rumors that had flown across the land like wild fire spoke of the genious on and off the battle displayed by the sworn brother of Sun Ce, Lord Zhou Yu. Zen knew some strategy but he knew that he was nowhere near the skills of Zhou Yu. He believed it would take more than a life time to gain the skills necessary to best Zhou Yu in a battle of wits and intelligence. As he finally neared the two generals he lowered his head and bowed. As he raised his head he began to speak. "Lord Zhou Yu it is truely an honor to meet such a great man as yourself and even a greater honor to fight alongside you in this coming battle."

The two brothers brothers, Chen Zing and Chen Zang, slowly walked up behind their brother and noticed him bowing. Zang, because of his little knowledge of strategy and famous tacticians had never heard of the name Zhou Yu and didn't really care who he was unless he could handle a real weapon in his opinion. "brother who is this guy?"

The other brother, Chen Zing, rolled his eyes slightly at his younger brothers incompitence. He had also heard of Zhou Yu but decided he would keep his words to himself for the moment.

[Zhou Yu]

Turning, Gongjin appraised the newcomers with a welcoming smile. He had only recently heard of the trio, warriors that sought employ in the kingdom of Wu, but if Bofu had seen fit to trust them, he would certanly extend a similar courtesy.

"The brothers Chen, the honor is mine Master Zen," he said, saluting the three and appreciating the irony of it being the third salute he had given today. "This battle will be a test for all of us and it is my hope that I will meet the expectations of our lord, a sentiment I am sure we all share."

Though he made the concept sound grand, Gongjin omitted the fact that Lord Bofu, for all his strength, was a man of simple interests when it came to a fight. He sought to win, as any good leader did, and sought to prove himself the competant warrior that he was and as a result, he looked for similar traits in his followers. Just meeting them here today, Gongjin knew that each man in the Wu camp, based on that logic alone, deserved to be there. This battle would serve to help them all observe the limits of their experience and learn what they needed to invest the time in developing as a result. And at least in his own mind, Gongjin would be evaluating himself the hardest; he would need to in order to be worthy of the friendship shown to him by his lord.

[Taishi Ci]

With only his weapons and armor on his back and his men following Taishi Ci at last arrives at the camp. Making his way through he nods at the soldiers as he passes them by, until he at last reaches Zhou Yu. Taishi Ci dismounts and wipes the sweat from his brow as he comes face to face with Zhou Yu, and then pounds his hand against his chest.

"Lord Zhou Yu I have recieved news that I shall serve under you in this battle. What would you have me do?"

(Sorry for the crap post, I have to go)