Chapter 9: Guan Suo invades Wei

"Prince Guan Suo, I want you to have this." Zhuge Liang bowed as he presented the Blue Dragon. "It was your father's, he'll want you to have it."

"Thank you, Kong Ming!" smiled the prince as he gripped its handle, the edge of the blade not dulled by almost decades of use.

"Your father in law wants you to lead the eastern campaign against Wei yourself. He is too occupied with defending our northern borders to meet you personally."

"I understand completely, tell me the plans and we'll set off right away! Ha!" shouted Guan Suo as he practiced with the Blue Dragon. "It's very heavy. Father must be very strong indeed."

"Well, he is the god of War." chuckled the strategist. "Here's our current situation, Guan Suo." Zhuge Liang unfurled a dusty map and begin briefing.

"Aside from Zi Tong northern border defense led by our King, the Wei has not made much offensive push against us ever since we've beaten them back at Xiang Yang. So now it's time to seize the offensive and take Xin Ye."

"Wei's port city across the river? Nice! When do we start, Kong Ming?"

"Once the snow melts. Probably in January, we'll spare no personnel, this is an all out attack. I won't inform the Wu of our decision, but currently I'm sending Jiang Wan over to secure an alliance so we can use their port facilities at Hu Yang as our landing spot"


"Why not? More men is always good!"

"Wu is busy elsewhere. I don't want to pressure them for assistance if I can help it. They've got enough on their hands as it is." Zhuge Liang sighed.

"Elsewhere, on the eastern river Wei is attacking their town of Lu Jiang. We are too far away from them to assist. But we can help alleviate the pressure by attacking Wei on their western front where they suffered major losses so far. And hopefully this will give the opening your father needs to push the northern front and go on the offensive as well." he elaborated.

"You've thought things through, Kong Ming. So am I leading a Cavalry unit?"

"No, I need you to protect Huang Ying's Flame Tower unit. I know you're good at naval combat as well. We've not enough horses to form a Cavalry unit. So it'll be pikes, spears, bows and towers. Slow but steady."

"Don't worry, I won't let any harm come to your wife!"

"And that's why I picked you. Let's wait for Jiang Wan to return before marching out."

Jiang Wan brought good news

We won't have to renew our cease fire pacts any more. Friendship must still be maintained the odd tribute or two, but overall we've secured our southeastern front and can focus on the Wei offensive.

The snow melted and our scouts reported seeing smokes rising from port Hu Yang, Wei is attacking. We must move quickly.

Zhang Bao will lead the Spear unit, Wei Yan the Pike, Wu Tugu and Guan Suo will take the Towers. Wu Yi will provide archer support at the back.
Lu Xun has arrived to help out in the defense of Hu Yang. We need to clear a path from the port and directly into the city before more reinforcements arrive.

Zhang Bao mopped the defenders as Wu Yi's archer unit, deputized by Zhuge Liang causes confusion everywhere. Wu Tugu and Guan Sou's towers started a blaze in Xin Ye moments after landing on Hu Yang. Xin Ye fell in less than two months.

And Shu-Nanman made took their first city from Wei

However, something far larger is happening off the port of Jiang Duo, many months away from Xin Ye....

It seems a massive naval battle is taking place between Wu and Wei. Jiang Duo belongs to Wei. While just a little south from there is the port of Qu A, belonging to Wu where Wei is attempting a landing.








I counted at least a dozen vessels in the water. If Wei can land their massive task force on Qu A, Wu's eastern territories might be in danger, and eventually Wei will expand to the west.
A quick glance at troop concentration map confirms my fears.

Our system has been quite simple. Choke point on two towns. Namely Xiang Yang and Zi Tong, with minimal troop count in the centre. A simple strat of maximizing economical gain from within and military output on the outside. Wei and Wu adopts similar tactic, with the internal cities continually supplying the frontlines with supplies and the front line gradually changes as choke points become obsolete and literally unguarded. The weakness of this general defense plan is if one line is penetrated, mustering a second wall would be very, very difficult since the deeper you go, the less military facilty and war resources would be available to you. Attempting to build up a solid defensive layer within the inner cities would only slow down our offense, since less food would reach the front lines. No food, no attack.

Wu's defensive line on the river has always been solid, but I have never seen a huge naval warfare before. Should Wei forces land on Qu A, things might get interesting because of Wu's low troop count on the eastern cities.

But notice Wei territories around our newly acquired city of Xin Ye? Light Blues and Whites. We might adopt a no-hold strategy of rampaging barbarians razing resources and executing officers along the way. I have to make my decision tomorrow.

-End of Chapter 9-