[Gan Ning selected.....Battle of Jiangxia]
[The Battle of Jiangxia was fought around the year 208AD, between the forces of the Warlord Sun Quan and Liu Biao, who had been fighting for many years. The Wu forces were led by the young Strategist and General Zhou Yu, whilst they fought against the General Huang Zu of Jing's forces. This was a key battle for the future of Wu, which with a Win would make them the most powerful force in their area.
The Battle wasn't just a battle for growth though, Sun Quan's father had died at the hands of Huang Zu, and his older Brother had always passed away through Liu Biao's machinations. The Battle was triggered when Jing General Gan Ning switched sides, and persuaded both Sun Quan and his lead General Zhou Yu to attack Jiangxia Commandery.
In history, the Wu Forces won the battle, killing or capturing the Enemy Generals, as well as massacring the entire City due to not being able to hold it themselves because of wider situations taking place across China at the time.]
"The Battle of Jiangxia." Dom said out loud, which caused Gan Ning and the Qiao family to all look up. Gan Ning seemed to be in thought, whilst Sun Ce seemed to be wanting to hear more about it.
[Please choose which force to join, Sun Quan or Liu Biao.]
[You have five minutes to decide, or a choice will be made for you.]
"Sun Quan." Dom replied straight away, there was no way he could choose Liu Biao when so many of his forces were associated with Sun Quan's side. Zhou Yu was married to Xiao Qiao, and Sun Ce was Sun Quan's older brother. The others in the room all heard what Dom said, some excitement in Sun Ce's eyes, where as their was nerves in Gan Ning's. The others sat patiently, but Dom could see some tension in the eyes of the Qiao sisters.
[Sun Quan had been chosen....
You will be joining his forces as an unexpected Ally. Due to the ownership of related Heroes, available units to take has increased. You can take two ships and their crew, as well as two hundred land companions. You have fifteen minutes to select.]
"Gan Ning, we will need your memory for this quest." Dom declared to the group who all sat around impatiently. "The quest is the Battle of Jiangxia, it is a battle where.."
"Where Huang Zu is defeated and the beginning of the fall of Liu Biao." Gan Ning interrupted, "Without this battle, the Three Kingdoms wouldn't have come to be. It is significant and brings back many memories."
The group all sat up as Gan Ning stated that, his mind trying to think back to the battle and how it took place. Whilst Gan Ning was in thought, Dom continued.
"We can take two ships with us and their crews, as well as two hundred land forces." Dom explained, "Ideally we will split the Heroes we take across Naval and Land forces, with Gan Ning's expertise we can hopefully achieve some significant goals."
"I am the partially to blame for this battle." Gan Ning explained. "I had been planning to leave Liu Biao and Huang Zu for a long time, my friend Su Fei finally arranged the switch for me. Once I joined with Sun Ce's brother Sun Quan, I proposed we attacked Jiangxia as the enemy forces were badly equipped and lazy. The Battle was originally split in to four sections. There was the initial clashes between the two scouting forces, we won those and even defeated some enemy commanders. Then there was the main battle between the two navies, we were pushed back by enemies on the cliffs who threw rocks down below."
"What about the other two parts?" Subutai asked as he listened, whilst Xun You beside him began drawing some plans.
"After we began to be pushed back, we launched a daring raid that captured the enemy capitol ships, whilst this happened our land forces hit the back of the town and captured it. The final part was when Huang Zu and his fellow officers tried to flee and we had to hunt them down." Gan Ning concluded.
"What were the numbers of warriors on each side?" Xun You asked as he tried to draw some plans.
"The numbers were quite similar, overall our side had around thirty thousand troops with the majority being naval, whilst the enemy had around thirty five thousand across the land and their ships." Gan Ning explained. "They did however have the geographical advantage as the defenders."
"Was there anyone of note that was is involved in the battle?" Lucius asked from the other side as he looked around.
"My husband Zhou Yu was there, with Sun Quan." Xiao Qiao commented from the side, which caused Sun Ce's eyes to widen in excitement.
"There was also Generals Ling Tong, Dong Xi and Lu Meng on our side." Gan Ning added, "Where as the Enemies had Huang Zu as the overall commander, with my friend Su Fei also involved. They also had generals such as Deng Long, Chen Jiu and Zhang Shuo. All capable officers, especially Su Fei and Dong Xi."
"We don't have long left before we need to choose our units and depart." Dom interceded, "We will need to agree tactics when we are there, for now we need to agree the units and prepare."
"The Trireme will struggle having a huge impact, but they are much more manoeuvrable." Sun Ce commented, "I would propose we take the Enyo and the Calypso, they are both two of Himilco's test ships with longer and more dangerous rams that will have the reach we need."
"I haven't seen the Calypso, but does everyone agree?" Dom asked, noticing that Gan Ning was nodding his head.
"I'll send half of the Sibylla's crew to the Calypso as they are better trained. There should also be space on each ship for two Titanaconda, but it will reduce the number of Warriors we can take onboard." Gan Ning explained. "Our biggest impact will be the cliff battle on the land."
"Then we will take Cavalry." Subutai declared, "One hundred Horse Archers, forty Lancers and fifty Sabre Tooth Tigers. The other slots will be for Batavi Guards. Any numbers we reduce for us will be taken from the Archer numbers."
"What we need to be aware off, is any particular quests that appear on the Battle Map." Shang Yang added, "So be prepared for that, I would advice taking some Forbidden Guard Archers on to the ships."
"Already been taken care off, I agree with taking the Titanaconda's, we can take four with us as water scouts." Subutai replied with a nod of acknowledgement. "Who are we taking?"
"I am proposing Tomoe and Liao Hua for the Cavalry." Xun You read out loud from his notes, before turning to Subutai, "I assume you will also be with them."
"I will, and I expect Lord Lazarus will probably join us there." Subutai laughed as he turned to Dom.
"That is a given." Dom replied, "Then we take Gan Ning and Tomyris for the ships?"
"Sun Ce and I will also go, with Xiao Qiao as my attaché." Xun You added, "We will be the central command that links up with the Wu forces."
"Any objections?" Dom asked, realising he was taking all of his Senior Military Heroes on this expedition, as well as over eight hundred Warriors either in the Navy or the Land forces. When there was no objections, Dom quickly dismissed everyone so that they could pass on the necessary orders.
He soon headed outside, strapping the Zhan Lu to his waist as his Civil Heroes walked with him, the Military Heroes having ran from the Hall to quickly pass on the orders as time was counting down. Meritamen gave Dom a gentle kiss on the cheek, where as Da Qiao asked him to make sure that Sun Ce didn't get carried away and put himself in danger.
"System, we are ready." Dom declared as the group headed towards the Docks where the majority of the forces had been gathered in advance. A temporary staging area had been built in preparation for any force dispatches. All of the new units had been informed of what would happen with the golden gates that would appear, where as those that had been in Riverside for a long time were prepared for it. Gregorios brought his Red Hare to him whilst he prepared to depart, a slight look of disappointment on his face that he wouldn't be joining them.
[Units selected - Riverside's Allied Reinforcements are ready to depart. Please see following optional quests, there are also potential hidden quests.]
[Quest One - Win the Battle of Jiangxia whilst claiming the highest merits
The Battle of Jiangxia was originally won by the Sun Clan, as you have chosen to join them for this battle, claim more merits in the Victory than them.
[Quest Two - Save the Citizens of Jiangxia
The Citizens of Jiangxia were massacred during the battle by the Sun Clan, save them from their impending doom for unexpected rewards]
The large rings of light suddenly appeared in front of the related units and the excitement kicked in to be heading on a quest again. Dom turned and saw that Shang Yang had separated from the group and was currently talking quietly with Sun Ce and Xun You, who both were nodding in response to what ever he was saying, the two were both on Red Hares that were held by stable hands, whilst Shang Yang was stood below them. A Portal appeared there as well, and Xun You directed Sun Ce and the nearby Xiao Qiao through it, leaving Shang Yang alone with a satisfied smile. Shang Yang turned to Dom and smiled at him encouragingly as Dom also headed through a portal.
....
Dom appeared on the other side of the portal as his Warriors appeared beside him. They were on the edge of a river with a large amount of flatland around them. Before him, two large portals appeared on the waters edge as the two large Trireme appeared, the Enyo and the Calypso. Beside Dom, two hundred riders appeared, serious look on all of their faces as they appeared in a different location. The sun was high in the sky, but not quite at it's zenith yet.
"Spread out and create a perimeter!" Dom heard the familiar voice of Centurion Banas shout to her Horse Archers.
"Any idea where we are?" Dom then heard Subutai shout across the water towards the two Trireme that had appeared.
"We are on the Yangtze River!" Gan Ning's voice echoed across the water in excitement, "If my memory is correct, we should come across Allied forces slightly further down the River."
"What is that on your face?" Subutai asked back with a laugh, as Dom looked at what he was talking about. Gan Ning was wearing a black mask, with red swirls on it.
"It was a gift from Meritamen, in case there was any confusing situations were there are two Gan Ning's." He shouted back, "It's nice isn't it, the Red is from my flag, I'm sure we all have one somewhere!"
"We had something similar for the Auctions!" Dom laughed in response.
"Let's depart and head up the river then!" Xun You shouted over both of them. "Keep the ships in pace with the Cavalry! Also keep the Titanaconda's onboard for now, we will keep them as a surprise."
"Will do!" Gan Ning shouted back excitedly as he led the Enyo ahead of the Calypso, where Tomyris stood at the front, waving at the Cavalry as they started getting some movement with their oars. Dom could see the sun reflected off the armour of the Forbidden Guard that were based on both decks, with most of the crews on these ships being a combination of Sailors and trained Hoplite who were taking on two tasks.
The set up had been agreed in advance of the upcoming World Conquest Battle Map if they decided to go with the Battle of Mycale, and this was a great opportunity to try out those tactics that had been planned.
"Tomoe, take the lead with half of the Lancers." Subutai ordered as he headed towards Dom, "Liao Hua please take the rear with the other half of the Lancers."
Both Generals raised their weapons in acknowledgement, before heading to the different areas with the Lancers. Both groups of Lancers were from their own personal units and were used to their Generals fighting styles.