Chapter 1: Continued

The Siege of Ru Nan

Commander: Wen Lun | Sub-Officers: Wen Shao | Troops: 10,000 Cavalry | 

General: Meng Rui | Sub-Officers: Wen Xiang | Troops: 6000 Spears

Officer: Wen Qian | Sub-Officers: None | Troops: 6,000 Spears

Officer: Liao Hua | Sub-Officers: None | Troops: 5,000 Pikes

Officer: Hua Yu | Sub-Officers: Liu Jia | Troops: 6,000 Bows

Wen Lun rode ahead of his army, at the head of his cavalry, with his brother at his side, "This is where we make our first step dear brother.

Wen Shao nodded, "Yes, brother, my Lord Wen Lun. This will be only our first step."

Wen Lun's unit of cavalry was to be the vanguard of the army. The main army, consisting of Wen Qian's spearmen, Liao Hua's pikemen, and Hua Yu's archers, led the main bulk of their forces, while Meng Rui brought up the rearguard with more spearmen. The army made its way towards the mountains that lay in between Ru Nan and Xin Ye. It was a thin pass, and Wen knew that only one of their units could fit through at a time. 

He had hoped that the army could have gotten through fast enough, but Yuan Shu had excellent scouts, and a detachment from Ru Nan had already begun up the pass itself, led by Yue Jiu. 

As the battle in the pass began, Qian rushed ahead of his father to meet the enemy’s cavalry, but instead, met more spearmen in return.  Qian laughed loudly, “Is there anyone who will face me?” But Pei Yuanshao, the leader of Yuan Shu’s spearmen, shirked away scared. Wen Qian laughed hysterically, “Such a coward for a general! You shall all perish to his dishonor!” And the spearmen charged. Spies placed earlier by Wen Shao, who stood behind the spearmen with the cavalry, swept confusion with false orders through Pei’s ranks.

“Brother, we should send the rest of our forces around this pass; otherwise we waste too much time.” Wen Shao said to his brother. Wen Lun nodded his helmet under his arm and his hand resting on his blade, “Me and my son can easily deal with this rabble. Send word to Meng Rui, he shall lead them in the side attack.”

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The forces of Wen Lun fought eastward, but those who remained behind in Xin Ye were not idle. Wen Chun and Mu Mu went forward, looking for generals to join them, and found Gong Du and Zhou Cang, both ex-Yellow Turbans and warriors. They replenished the numbers of the men that went off to war, and began once again the production of weapons and such. They could not leave themselves without protection for too long. Li Jue was not the most honorable of men.

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Wen Qian had swept aside the Pei Yuanshao’s forces as if they were nothing. No causalities this time, but then he saw the pikemen that lay beyond. He knew he didn’t want to bring his spearmen face to face with those pikemen in this pass. He didn’t need too. His father’s cavalry rushed forward, pushing back Wen Qian’s forces, and Wen Lun’s cavalry charged head on into Chen Ji’s pikemen, crushing their numbers immediately. Despite the onslaught that Wen Lun was giving, half of his army marched unopposed north of Ru Nan, and made their way to the city.

Wen Lun easily dealt with the rest of Chen Ji’s pikemen, and once more Wen Qian charged forward to meet Yue Jie’s cavalry. But as the bulk of Ru Nan’s army was off in the pass, Meng Rui and his half of the army arrived at Run Nan’s walls. Pei Yuanshao, who had escaped earlier, pulled together a meek force of pikemen and sallied forth to bring the fight, but to no avail. He was swept aside by his a fellow ex-Yellow Turban Liao Hua, and Hua Yu and Meng Rui made their way to besiege the walls.

Wen Qian wiped out Yue Jie’s cavalry, and the main of Yuan Shu’s army was gone. Only a handful of archers and pikemen remained in Lun and Qian’s way, these were soon wiped out, and they soon joined the siege of Ru Nan. During the siege, however, Hua Yu took an arrow through the neck, killing her instantly. Liu Jia took up command and rushed forward, eager to avenge her dear friend. The siege lasted only a few weeks, for when Wen Lun joined the siege, the walls and the defenders could do nothing. No help came for them. And Ru Nan was lost to Wen Lun.