World Conquest Online

Dom’s detachment came to a halt, out of arrow range of Jiangxia’s walls. Subutai and Banas both kept their eyes open as they looked across the enemy wall in case their old Archer General appeared, assuming that his range would be longer than a regular archers. Subutai has tasked Banas with countering him with her Archers to keep the commanders safe, but Subutai did have a worry that some losses could be taken in this assault. Subutai much preferred an open battle than attacking a city, even if he did excel at both.

The swords and shield infantry took the front line, interlocking shields and creating a fearsome front wall, whilst the spearman stood behind them, their spears held straight. The formations were a new thing for a lot of them, but Subutai had been discussing with Cheng Pu on how to create a more intimidating front line. The Cavalry were now at the sides, with Zhao Yun’s group split across the two flanks with the others. The Cavalry had been split this way in case Zhao Yun decided to change his mind, Dom doubted it, but with him potentially reuniting with Guan Yu there was chance for anything. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Dom headed forwards, through the lines of his infantry and flanked by some Batavi Guards. The enemy knew that they were coming, the injured General had retreated around an hour earlier on fast horse with his cavalry, followed by the older archer General and their surviving army. The army within would still out number that of Dom’s, however he expected that the Navy would be arriving soon and that would easily split the forces.

"Open the gates and surrender." Dom bellowed loudly towards the wall, the response was silence but he could clearly see the heads above the walls that looked down on them.

"Liao Hua, I have changed my mind, take some of the Cavalry and head to the escape roads." Subutai ordered from beside Dom as the Commanders all stood together behind Dom and his guards. "They are waiting for us to attack, but once the Navy arrive they will flee."

"We’ll depart now." Liao Hua agreed, taking some of the Lancers and Sun Cavalry with him as he took a long route around the city of Jiangxia so that the enemy wouldn’t see where he had gone.

"Cheng Pu, prepare ladders, if the gates won’t be opened by them, then we’ll climb over and open them ourselves." Subutai ordered Cheng Pu, who quickly had his spearmen comply, with many of the materials having been carried with them on the campaign or gathered from the Palisade fort when they dismantled parts of the walls for additional wood.

"Infantry, you heard the General!" Cheng Pu ordered, having accepted that Dom and Subutai were in charge earlier in the campaign, however he now naturally accepted it and felt he was part of their circle. The Infantry began constructing the ladders, clearly in front of Jiangxia’s walls whilst the enemy watched on.

"I shall repeat, open the gates and surrender." Dom yelled again whilst the detachment began preparing themselves to siege the enemy walls.

Cheng Zi had been dispatched closer to the water’s side, watching as the Navy approached. He sent a runner to inform Dom that they would be attacking the Dock and the surrounding walls within the next ten to twenty minutes as they were still clashing with some enemy Navy that hadn’t yet surrendered beneath the city walls. The enemy would also see the oncoming Navy and Dom knew that it would be causing panic within the defenders ranks.

Dom looked up, seeing the sight of two older faces on the wall looking down at them. Subutai beside him instantly recognised the elderly General from earlier, whilst beside him was a man with a slightly red face with an extremely long beard that could be seen regardless of the distance.

"That is Generals Huang Zhong and Guan Yu." Cai Mao explained, "Both were requested by General Li Shang. Huang Zhong is talented and well experienced, where as Guan Yu is known as one of the strongest warriors in the land."

"Zhao Yun, it’s your turn now I believe." Dom stated after hearing what Cai Mao had said, looking towards the White Armoured General who still seemed unsure. He nodded his head in response and rode forwards on his own, within arrow range on his white horse.

"General Guan Yu, please open the gate!" Zhao Yun shouted up, exposed to the Arrows of Huang Zhong and those around him. "This Navy has lost and the City will soon be taken."

"I heard you had switched sides." Guan Yu shouted back down the wall, the first response since they had arrived. His voice powerful and challenging, however he wasn’t accusing in his tone. The other older General stood beside him, his eyes focused on Subutai who smiled in response.

"I have reason." Zhao Yun explained honestly, trying to prove that reason to himself. "If the city surrenders, all who reside inside will be spared."

"Is that before or after Sun Quan and his men arrive?" Guan Yu asked, not accusing Zhao Yun but asking an honest question. His tone was loud and Dom could understand the explanation that was given about him.

"I do not have the answer to that." Zhao Yun replied honestly, trying hard to persuade Guan Yu to open the gates. "But if the men behind me take the city, then I can guarantee it."

"You have surprised me Zhao Yun, I always felt you a trustworthy comrade." Guan Yu challenged, whilst the man beside him took over.

"Where is General Liu Pan?" Huang Zhong shouted down towards Zhao Yun, looking towards both Zhao Yun and the guarded Cai Mao.

"Unfortunately, he wouldn’t surrender and fought bravely to the end." Dom replied, taking over from Zhao Yun. "His body has been placed separately and will be handed over to you for a proper burial."

"He’s such an idiot!" Huang Zhong shouted in response, visible frustration on his face at the loss of his deputy, however he didn’t seem to blame the enemy forces for it. He turned away as a messenger approached them on the wall. Guan Yu however continued to stare at Zhao Yun, a complex look on his face as he seemed in deep thought, he stroked his beard repeatedly whilst those around him stood patiently watching below.

"If you do not surrender, we will unfortunately have to attack." Dom shouted again, his voice almost pleading for them to surrender so he could maximise his merits and his other goals. He had no intention of attempting to recruit Guan Yu, however there were other Generals like Huang Zhong who would be worth attempting.

"I have been ordered by my brother to protect these walls and the people of Jiangxia." Guan Yu replied as he stroked his beard, "Therefore, I must fight you and can not open the gates."

Zhao Yun grumbled as he stepped back in the line, but Dom knew that his opportunity to speak with Guan Yu in private would come once the assault started. Subutai whistled as the now eight hundred Archers walked forwards with the Cavalry behind them. Dom knew that a fight at the walls would be deadly, especially with just ladders, but it needed to be done.

"Prepare to attack!" Dom barked as he turned away from Guan Yu and headed in to his own lines. His spear was on the back of one of the Batavi Guards, whilst instead he held the now drawn Zhan Lu in his hand. Cai Mao cast his eyes over the blade a few times, whilst others around them also noticed how impressive the blade looked.

"You heard the Lord!" Subutai repeated with a tense grin, as the Swordsmen prepared to charge forwards, protecting the spearmen that were now all ready with quickly assembled ladders. Subutai’s Archers were all ready and aiming towards the walls, awaiting his order to let loose.

Cheng Pu stood with the front line of the Infantry, with the intention on being atop that wall before anyone else, whilst Tomoe handed her Cavalry to one of her Centurions and also prepared to charge with the Infantry, her goal to open the gate so the Cavalry could charge through. The two Enemy Generals still stood atop the wall, preparing to repel the invading forces and Dom had a sinking feeling that it was going to be a challenging battle.

As Dom prepared to shout the order to charge, another runner appeared from Cheng Zi’s force that were watching the Navies approach, informing him that the main force was now within range of the enemy crossbows and the battle for the Docks had just begun. Dom felt frustrated that the Navy had beaten them to Jiangxia.

"Attack!" Dom ordered loudly, his voice the loudest it had been. Sounds of the navy fighting could now be heard in the distance. Huang Zhong and Guan Yu above the walls also could hear the docks being attacked and shared a look of understanding between them. Huang Zhong quickly departed, whilst Guan Yu held his large glaive in his hands preparing to repel Tomoe and Cheng Pu’s attack.

Subutai ordered the archers to let loose their arrows, whilst Guan Yu ordered the same thing from his, however most had left with Huang Zhong to support the Docks which would fall easier as it wasn’t walled. The Archers exchanged arrows as people fell from both sides, whilst the Spearman ran forwards towards the wall with the Swordsmen protecting them with their shields. Tomoe and Cheng Pu also ran forwards with their own groups, being protected by Swordsmen as they hit the wall. The majority in the first few rows that charged with the ladders were those that had recently surrendered, giving them no chance to switch sides back to Huang Zu and Liu Biao.

"Can she do it?" Cai Mao asked as the ladders were lifted, with some enemies trying to dislodge them but being targeted by the expert Horse Archers that were specifically told to protect the ladders.

"Defeat him? Possibly. But she can definitely delay him." Subutai replied as he watched both Cheng Pu and Tomoe begin climbing the ladders, both of them not struggling even though they had heavier armour than the normal Warriors. Dom could see around twenty ladders that had been pushed against the wall and thousand of Infantry charged forwards to climb up them, whilst other Ladders were now being carried forwards as well.

"They just need to open the gates." Dom stated, as he watched Zhao Yun mounted at the front of the Cavalry, ready to charge in and capture the city he was supposed to defend.

They watched as Cheng Pu and Tomoe both made it to the top of the wall. Cheng Pu jumped over, using his powerful stature to push the enemy back so the climbing Swordsmen behind him could create an entry point. Tomoe however was slicing her Naginata in a wide arch, with Guan Yu powering towards her from atop the gate.

.....

"I need shields to block those crossbows!" Sun Ce bellowed loudly as they pushed past the last of the enemy ships that had either been sank, captured or surrendered. Enemy Warriors lined the docks as their Archers also shot towards them, the Vanguard ships taking a heavy brunt of the attack so the larger ships behind could unload the thousands of marines that were trained for this.

Sun Ce’s Mengchong was littered with arrows, this was the third Mengchong he had travelled on during the day, the first was abandoned after a severe amount of damage and the second had been tied to a Louchuan and couldn’t be freed or the Louchuan would sink. The crew listened to his orders with vigour and quickly pulled up shields to protect themselves from the enemy arrows.

After a few more seconds of pushing forwards the Mengchong heavily hit one of the wharf’s from the dock, allowing Sun Ce and his men to jump up and begin fighting the enemy Warriors. Swords fell and lifes were taken as other ships also now unloaded their crews in to the city of Jiangxia.

Sun Ce looked to the wall to his right, seeing that their was fighting on top of it, he knew that Dom was splitting the enemy forces as planned. Lots of the original plan had disappeared due to the unexpected changes, but now they were attacking the city, it felt like everything was back on track.

"We need to push towards the wall and support our allies!" Sun Ce barked, as Ling Tong appeared beside him from his own ship and followed his order. The two headed towards the right wall with a large number of Marines that landed with them, whilst the large Louchuan’s of Dong Xi and the Young Gan Ning arrived and began unloading their Marines to take the centre of the city.

"What is the plan?" Ling Tong asked as they ran, cutting through gaps in buildings as more and more warriors followed them. Enemies tried to stop them but they were all intercepted by Marines so that Sun Ce and Ling Tong could push on.

"We need to let Lord Lazarus in to the city, otherwise there will be a massacre. Only him and his men can take this city without that happening." Sun Ce replied honestly, as a Marine that went to overtake him was suddenly hit by an arrow and fell dead. Sun Ce looked and saw an older General with a large bow heading down stairs from the wall and shooting in their direction. Sun Ce shook his head and then looked at Ling Tong. "Gongji, I will deal with him take half of the men, get the gates open!"

Ling Tong nodded in reluctance as he charged forwards whilst Sun Ce headed towards the stairs that Huang Zhong was heading down with a force of Infantry and Archers. Sun Ce ordered his men to engage, whilst he slashed his sword wildly at Huang Zhong.