Post by Huang Zhong on Jun 15, 2006 8:34:04 GMT -5
*Another day at the palace of Chang Sha, the capital of the mighty Shu Kingdom. Huang Zhong is walking on the palace square, overseeing the daily training of his soldiers. The men are sweating and giving it all they got, just the way Huang Zhong likes it. If there is something he learned during his time on this earth, it was that a good training was half the work for winning a battle. Offcourse, there were many other factors that would determine a fight, but if Huang Zhong and his men would get surrounded and the chance for survival would be slim to none, he and his men would have the strength and will to break out and escape a certain death.*
"You! You have to keep your guard up at ALL times! What if you cut down your opponent and another soldiers jumps out of nowhere and takes advantage of your open spot in your defense? That's right, you'll DIE! Now do it again!"
*The soldier nod and the other soldiers, though knowing Huang Zhong wasn't talking to them, also put more effort in their actions. For everyone in Huang Zhong's army knows what agony you will endure if you do not carry out Huang Zhong's orders perfectly. Discipline, the veteran general always calls it. Something that was vital for having an army. And history had given perfect examples of chaotic armies running through the land and being totally vanquished because of the lack of discipline.*
*As Huang Zhong is now standing in front of his soldiers, looking at every individual soldier, trying to find any flaws in their actions, a man in the colours of the Shu Kingdom comes running to Huang Zhong. When Huang Zhong notices the man, he immediately kneels down to the veteran general.*
Messenger:
"Are you General Huang Zhong, sir?"
"Yes I am. What is it that requires my attention?"
"I have a message from lord Liu Bei, sir."
"And what would that message be, my friend?"
"... Oh, uh... I have it here."
*The man reaches down in his pocket and reveals a letter, having the seal of Liu Bei on it, meaning no-one has been able to read it yet. Huang Zhong receives the letter from the man and immediately opens it. After several seconds of having read the letter, Huang Zhong turns to the man, who is still sitting on one knee and signals with his hand to the man to raise.*
"Thank you for bringing me this letter. You are dismissed."
*The man bows to Huang Zhong and leaves the palace square with as much speed as he entered it. Without looking at the man, Huang Zhong rolls the letter up again and closes it. He then puts it in his own pocket, making sure no-one else can get his hands on it. The message was to be kept in the dark and Huang Zhong was wise enough not to tell anyone, in case someone 'accidentally' heard what was in the letter. His attention turns back to his soldiers, who are all moving the same muscle at the same moment, exactly how Huang Zhong instructed them. Huang Zhong nods, finding today's training was good enough. He claps in his hands, the signal for his men to stop.*
"Attention, attention! Gentlemen, you have all worked very well today and I am proud to be your commander. Please return to your barracks, but do not leave them. You are to remain in the barracks until I will come to get you. Tonight will do a little hiking, just to get you back in the rhythm of being on the move. Dismissed!"
*Many sighs can be heard after the word 'dismissed' was pronounced. Slowly the troops move to their barracks, quite exhausted of another difficult training of their leader. Huang Zhong knew they didn't like it, but he didn't give them a too hard time, and he knew that in the end, they would thank him for giving them such an extraordinary good condition. Watching the last few men move to the barracks, Huang Zhong smiles and walks into the palace. It was time for some good thinking...*
That Evening
*His officers had opened their ears and eyes all day, having received their individual orders from Huang Zhong. Some information was gathered and some sort of meeting was arranged by one Cao Fan. One of Huang Zhong's officers was even invited, because he was telling Cao Fan exactly what he wanted to hear: how bad Shu was. Huang Zhong knew this man was the one his lord was looking for and he was determined to capture the fool. The officer, who's name is Wu Zheng, had already departed to the meeting, accompanied by three soldiers, who would pretend to be close friends of him. Meanwhile, Huang Zhong had rallied the rest of his forces for the 'hike' and was sitting on his steed in front of his men. To their surprise, no heavy equipment was to be taken with them. But as Huang Zhong predicted, his soldiers still didn't suspect a thing.*
"Alright my men, it is time to go! Follow me!"
*Huang Zhong turns his steed around and rides out of the palace gate with a marching speed. His soldiers follow his lead, the spearmen in the front, swordsmen in the centre and the bowmen in the rear. Offcourse, many reactions could be heard coming from his troops as Huang Zhong rides through the streets of Chang Sha, not really heading towards the city gates, but actually moving to a particular district in the city. To make sure he was not going to enter the wrong house, Huang Zhong reaches in his pocket and gets a small paper, on which an address is written. He looks on the paper and around him and knows immediately where to go.*
*After a short time, Huang Zhong and his men have reached their destination, with only Huang Zhong knowing they have done so. Without saying a word, Huang Zhong raises his hand and thus orders his army to halt their position. He turns his head around and makes a movement with his hands, signaling his soldiers to remain quiet. This done, Huang Zhong dismounts from his horse and unsheats his sword. With his open hand, Huang Zhong makes a circle around the house and quickly his swordsmen and spearmen mix and surround the building. The bowmen form up in front of the front door, behind the line of swordsmen and spearmen. Meanwhile, Huang Zhong picks a few good men from the swordsmen, twenty in total, who are to follow him into the building.*
*Feeling the incredible tension and excitement of this mission, Huang Zhong leads his twenty soldiers to the front door. For himself, he counts to three and then kicks the door open with all the strength he has. With the door opened and chaos entering the room, Huang Zhong's twenty soldiers rush into the building.*
"Everyone remain at your seats! We are the troops of Lord Liu Bei and are not here to create a massacre! Stay put and no harm will be done to you!"
*Inside the room Huang Zhong is, are sitting some fifty men, sitting around a round table. The man known as Cao Fan is already standing on his feet and has drawn his sword, an example many of his companions quickly follow, Wu Zheng and his bodyguards included. Cao Fan points his sword at Huang Zhong and the other soldiers of Shu and yells to the top of his voice.*
Cao Fan:
"Destroy that old fool! Kill all who he has brought with him!"
*Cao Fan's companions are now all armed and running to Huang Zhong and his twenty soldiers, determined to murder them all. But as the turmoil grows larger and larger in the room, Huang Zhong's men who were ordered to surround the building also start to get inside the building, via the windows and backdoor of the building. The odds look very unfavourably for Cao Fan and his men as Huang Zhong cuts down his first opponent with relative ease. Unfortunately for Huang Zhong and his troops, the favour doesn't last too long as all of a sudden many more men come rushing down into the room via the stairs. The room gets more and more chaotic and people can hardly see who they're fighting nor have space to actually attack an enemy. Seeing the perfect opportunity to escape is now, Cao Fan and five of his most trusted companions head to a window, not yet destroyed by Huang Zhong's men, and jump out of the building.*
"Wu Zheng! Take care of this, I will go after their leader! But remember, we need at least one of them alive!"
*Wu Zheng nods to his master, showing him he has heard the order and begins to pound down a rebel with his hand, so to knock him unconscious and thus making sure at least one of them survives this battle. As the crowd downstairs gets larger and larger, Huang Zhong fights his way through and jumps through the same window Cao Fan escaped through. Just in time, as he sees Cao Fan and his men escape the scene on horses. Knowing he can't lose any time, Huang Zhong runs to his own steed and jumps on it.*
"Men, enter the building and take everyone prisoner! Move!"
*The men still standing in front of the building rush to the entrance and join in the fight inside. Casualties will be unavoidable this way, but at least no important persons for the Kingdom of Shu would be harmed this way. Still with his Veteran Sword in his right hand, Huang Zhong now speeds after Cao Fan, hoping to still be able to catch him.*
"Luck is with me this day..."
*Huang Zhong mumbles to himself as he quickly catches up with Cao Fan and his men. While keeping up his speed, Huang Zhong sheats his sword and grabs his Bow. Being the experienced archer as he is, he grabs an arrow out of his quiver and places it on his bow, still riding at a great speed. He closes one eye and aims... Toing! An arrow flies through the sky and moves with incredible speed. Two seconds and the first victim of Huang Zhong's archery tonight is a fact. The unlucky man falls down from his horse with an arrow tightly stuck in his back. But Cao Fan certainly wasn't going to be impressed by this. Huang Zhong can see him yell something to the two riders in the rear. They unsheat their swords and turn around, moving directly towards Huang Zhong.*
"Fools! Do you not know who I am?!"
*Rage and fury fills his adrenaline as he speeds towards his next two opponents. The speed they are all riding with makes the space between them too short for Huang Zhong to get his Veteran Sword and block their attacks. Nor would he be able to pursue Cao Fan with those two pursuing him. Quick decisions are to be made and without hesitation Huang Zhong grabs two arrows out of his quiver and places them on his bow. He keeps both of them a bit crooked horizontally, so one tip of an arrow is aimed at one attack and the other tip is aimed at the second attacker. As he brings the string back, Huang Zhong closes his eyes for a short moment and as he opens them he lets go of the arrows. Two thuds can be heard and Huang Zhong can resume his pursuit.*
*Cao Fan was barely able to see his two men get killed by an incredible move of the old man. He increases his speed as he the turns another corner. Still accompanied by two henchmen, Cao Fan wonders if he can take the old general on. It would require a grand scheme at the least, and Cao Fan thinks he knows something...*
*Huang Zhong quickly turns the corner he saw Cao Fan take and all of a sudden someone jumps up out of nowhere and takes Huang Zhong with him on the ground. Huang Zhong's Bow lands on the ground and his steed Thunderstrike immediately stops moving. Laying on the ground, with one of Cao Fan's companions on top, Huang Zhong struggles for his life. The man holds Huang Zhong by the wrists, making sure he can not punch or knock him out. In the distance, Huang Zhong can see Cao Fan ride off, accompanied by another rider. But there's hardly any time for him to think about him, as his life is being in danger by this man.*
*Huang Zhong desperately tries to get the man off of him by kicking with his legs in the air, but the man is sitting tightly on his torso, making it almost impossible for Huang Zhong to get free. But then the old man thinks of something. He spits the man in the face, blocking his sight and almost with automation, the man wipes off the spit with his right sleeve, letting go of his grip on Huang Zhong's left wrist, who immediately takes the advantage of this. He punches the man right in the middle of his face, hitting the bone of his nose on the right place and making it fly through his head, penetrating his brains. The man remains seated on top of Huang Zhong, but Huang Zhong can see on his eyes the man is dead. No emotion is in it any longer and the grip of the man on Huang Zhong is gone. With a thud, the man falls to his left on the ground. Dead. Huang Zhong rises from the ground and feels some sore places on his body.*
"Damnit... AND the bastard escapes AND I will be in bandages the next couple of days. Let's hope Wu Zheng has had more luck in keeping those rebels alive."
*The veteran general picks up his bow and the few arrows that landed on the ground and puts it all away. He then mounts Thunderstrike and rides back to the building.*
*Arrived at the building, Huang Zhong can see Wu Zheng standing outside, with thirty or so prisoners. To his regret, he also sees several hampers, with dead bodies of his noble soldiers in it. Huang Zhong shakes his head and bows to them from top of his horse. He then rides over to Wu Zheng.*
Wu Zheng:
"We have been able to capture several rebels, sir. The ones you don't see standing here are all dead. I think we can say this operation has been a success."
"I wish I could agree with you, lieutenant. Cao Fan and one of his henchmen escaped me. I failed to capture any of the men he send against me."
"A pity indeed, sir. But at least we have captured there, so we can interrogate them thoroughly."
*Huang Zhong nods, knowing they have been very succesful today, something he didn't really expect to happen, seeing the incredible chaos that had been created inside the building. But luckily, Wu Zheng was an able commander and lead the men to a victory. Now all that remained was to move back to the palace and deliver these men to Lord Liu Bei's interogators.*
"Very well, there is nothing for us here anymore. Men, move back to the palace!"
*And thus the entire party of men march back to the palace. Arrived on the palace square, plenty of guards stand waiting for them and bring the prisoners down into the prisons of the palace. The hampers with the fallen soldiers on it bring them to the barracks, so they can be properly buried tomorrow. And before the soldiers and officers of Huang Zhong can go to bed, they are to stand on the palace square in front of Huang Zhong, who is still on top of his steed.*
"Men, you have fought well today. I am proud on every single one of you. Tomorrow will be a day of mourning for us all, as several of our comrades have died in this operation. But let us not forget why they have died. They have died to protect the freedom we receive by living in the Kingdom of Shu. The Kingdom of Lord Liu Bei and the Han!
Dismissed!"
*Satisfied by this speech of their leader, the troops head to their barracks, talking about the events that happened today and the way their leader was able to keep them in dark of this and still being able to lead them to a victory. Huang Zhong himself brings his steed Thunderstrike to the stables and then heads to his room inside the palace.*
"You! You have to keep your guard up at ALL times! What if you cut down your opponent and another soldiers jumps out of nowhere and takes advantage of your open spot in your defense? That's right, you'll DIE! Now do it again!"
*The soldier nod and the other soldiers, though knowing Huang Zhong wasn't talking to them, also put more effort in their actions. For everyone in Huang Zhong's army knows what agony you will endure if you do not carry out Huang Zhong's orders perfectly. Discipline, the veteran general always calls it. Something that was vital for having an army. And history had given perfect examples of chaotic armies running through the land and being totally vanquished because of the lack of discipline.*
*As Huang Zhong is now standing in front of his soldiers, looking at every individual soldier, trying to find any flaws in their actions, a man in the colours of the Shu Kingdom comes running to Huang Zhong. When Huang Zhong notices the man, he immediately kneels down to the veteran general.*
Messenger:
"Are you General Huang Zhong, sir?"
"Yes I am. What is it that requires my attention?"
"I have a message from lord Liu Bei, sir."
"And what would that message be, my friend?"
"... Oh, uh... I have it here."
*The man reaches down in his pocket and reveals a letter, having the seal of Liu Bei on it, meaning no-one has been able to read it yet. Huang Zhong receives the letter from the man and immediately opens it. After several seconds of having read the letter, Huang Zhong turns to the man, who is still sitting on one knee and signals with his hand to the man to raise.*
"Thank you for bringing me this letter. You are dismissed."
*The man bows to Huang Zhong and leaves the palace square with as much speed as he entered it. Without looking at the man, Huang Zhong rolls the letter up again and closes it. He then puts it in his own pocket, making sure no-one else can get his hands on it. The message was to be kept in the dark and Huang Zhong was wise enough not to tell anyone, in case someone 'accidentally' heard what was in the letter. His attention turns back to his soldiers, who are all moving the same muscle at the same moment, exactly how Huang Zhong instructed them. Huang Zhong nods, finding today's training was good enough. He claps in his hands, the signal for his men to stop.*
"Attention, attention! Gentlemen, you have all worked very well today and I am proud to be your commander. Please return to your barracks, but do not leave them. You are to remain in the barracks until I will come to get you. Tonight will do a little hiking, just to get you back in the rhythm of being on the move. Dismissed!"
*Many sighs can be heard after the word 'dismissed' was pronounced. Slowly the troops move to their barracks, quite exhausted of another difficult training of their leader. Huang Zhong knew they didn't like it, but he didn't give them a too hard time, and he knew that in the end, they would thank him for giving them such an extraordinary good condition. Watching the last few men move to the barracks, Huang Zhong smiles and walks into the palace. It was time for some good thinking...*
That Evening
*His officers had opened their ears and eyes all day, having received their individual orders from Huang Zhong. Some information was gathered and some sort of meeting was arranged by one Cao Fan. One of Huang Zhong's officers was even invited, because he was telling Cao Fan exactly what he wanted to hear: how bad Shu was. Huang Zhong knew this man was the one his lord was looking for and he was determined to capture the fool. The officer, who's name is Wu Zheng, had already departed to the meeting, accompanied by three soldiers, who would pretend to be close friends of him. Meanwhile, Huang Zhong had rallied the rest of his forces for the 'hike' and was sitting on his steed in front of his men. To their surprise, no heavy equipment was to be taken with them. But as Huang Zhong predicted, his soldiers still didn't suspect a thing.*
"Alright my men, it is time to go! Follow me!"
*Huang Zhong turns his steed around and rides out of the palace gate with a marching speed. His soldiers follow his lead, the spearmen in the front, swordsmen in the centre and the bowmen in the rear. Offcourse, many reactions could be heard coming from his troops as Huang Zhong rides through the streets of Chang Sha, not really heading towards the city gates, but actually moving to a particular district in the city. To make sure he was not going to enter the wrong house, Huang Zhong reaches in his pocket and gets a small paper, on which an address is written. He looks on the paper and around him and knows immediately where to go.*
*After a short time, Huang Zhong and his men have reached their destination, with only Huang Zhong knowing they have done so. Without saying a word, Huang Zhong raises his hand and thus orders his army to halt their position. He turns his head around and makes a movement with his hands, signaling his soldiers to remain quiet. This done, Huang Zhong dismounts from his horse and unsheats his sword. With his open hand, Huang Zhong makes a circle around the house and quickly his swordsmen and spearmen mix and surround the building. The bowmen form up in front of the front door, behind the line of swordsmen and spearmen. Meanwhile, Huang Zhong picks a few good men from the swordsmen, twenty in total, who are to follow him into the building.*
*Feeling the incredible tension and excitement of this mission, Huang Zhong leads his twenty soldiers to the front door. For himself, he counts to three and then kicks the door open with all the strength he has. With the door opened and chaos entering the room, Huang Zhong's twenty soldiers rush into the building.*
"Everyone remain at your seats! We are the troops of Lord Liu Bei and are not here to create a massacre! Stay put and no harm will be done to you!"
*Inside the room Huang Zhong is, are sitting some fifty men, sitting around a round table. The man known as Cao Fan is already standing on his feet and has drawn his sword, an example many of his companions quickly follow, Wu Zheng and his bodyguards included. Cao Fan points his sword at Huang Zhong and the other soldiers of Shu and yells to the top of his voice.*
Cao Fan:
"Destroy that old fool! Kill all who he has brought with him!"
*Cao Fan's companions are now all armed and running to Huang Zhong and his twenty soldiers, determined to murder them all. But as the turmoil grows larger and larger in the room, Huang Zhong's men who were ordered to surround the building also start to get inside the building, via the windows and backdoor of the building. The odds look very unfavourably for Cao Fan and his men as Huang Zhong cuts down his first opponent with relative ease. Unfortunately for Huang Zhong and his troops, the favour doesn't last too long as all of a sudden many more men come rushing down into the room via the stairs. The room gets more and more chaotic and people can hardly see who they're fighting nor have space to actually attack an enemy. Seeing the perfect opportunity to escape is now, Cao Fan and five of his most trusted companions head to a window, not yet destroyed by Huang Zhong's men, and jump out of the building.*
"Wu Zheng! Take care of this, I will go after their leader! But remember, we need at least one of them alive!"
*Wu Zheng nods to his master, showing him he has heard the order and begins to pound down a rebel with his hand, so to knock him unconscious and thus making sure at least one of them survives this battle. As the crowd downstairs gets larger and larger, Huang Zhong fights his way through and jumps through the same window Cao Fan escaped through. Just in time, as he sees Cao Fan and his men escape the scene on horses. Knowing he can't lose any time, Huang Zhong runs to his own steed and jumps on it.*
"Men, enter the building and take everyone prisoner! Move!"
*The men still standing in front of the building rush to the entrance and join in the fight inside. Casualties will be unavoidable this way, but at least no important persons for the Kingdom of Shu would be harmed this way. Still with his Veteran Sword in his right hand, Huang Zhong now speeds after Cao Fan, hoping to still be able to catch him.*
"Luck is with me this day..."
*Huang Zhong mumbles to himself as he quickly catches up with Cao Fan and his men. While keeping up his speed, Huang Zhong sheats his sword and grabs his Bow. Being the experienced archer as he is, he grabs an arrow out of his quiver and places it on his bow, still riding at a great speed. He closes one eye and aims... Toing! An arrow flies through the sky and moves with incredible speed. Two seconds and the first victim of Huang Zhong's archery tonight is a fact. The unlucky man falls down from his horse with an arrow tightly stuck in his back. But Cao Fan certainly wasn't going to be impressed by this. Huang Zhong can see him yell something to the two riders in the rear. They unsheat their swords and turn around, moving directly towards Huang Zhong.*
"Fools! Do you not know who I am?!"
*Rage and fury fills his adrenaline as he speeds towards his next two opponents. The speed they are all riding with makes the space between them too short for Huang Zhong to get his Veteran Sword and block their attacks. Nor would he be able to pursue Cao Fan with those two pursuing him. Quick decisions are to be made and without hesitation Huang Zhong grabs two arrows out of his quiver and places them on his bow. He keeps both of them a bit crooked horizontally, so one tip of an arrow is aimed at one attack and the other tip is aimed at the second attacker. As he brings the string back, Huang Zhong closes his eyes for a short moment and as he opens them he lets go of the arrows. Two thuds can be heard and Huang Zhong can resume his pursuit.*
*Cao Fan was barely able to see his two men get killed by an incredible move of the old man. He increases his speed as he the turns another corner. Still accompanied by two henchmen, Cao Fan wonders if he can take the old general on. It would require a grand scheme at the least, and Cao Fan thinks he knows something...*
*Huang Zhong quickly turns the corner he saw Cao Fan take and all of a sudden someone jumps up out of nowhere and takes Huang Zhong with him on the ground. Huang Zhong's Bow lands on the ground and his steed Thunderstrike immediately stops moving. Laying on the ground, with one of Cao Fan's companions on top, Huang Zhong struggles for his life. The man holds Huang Zhong by the wrists, making sure he can not punch or knock him out. In the distance, Huang Zhong can see Cao Fan ride off, accompanied by another rider. But there's hardly any time for him to think about him, as his life is being in danger by this man.*
*Huang Zhong desperately tries to get the man off of him by kicking with his legs in the air, but the man is sitting tightly on his torso, making it almost impossible for Huang Zhong to get free. But then the old man thinks of something. He spits the man in the face, blocking his sight and almost with automation, the man wipes off the spit with his right sleeve, letting go of his grip on Huang Zhong's left wrist, who immediately takes the advantage of this. He punches the man right in the middle of his face, hitting the bone of his nose on the right place and making it fly through his head, penetrating his brains. The man remains seated on top of Huang Zhong, but Huang Zhong can see on his eyes the man is dead. No emotion is in it any longer and the grip of the man on Huang Zhong is gone. With a thud, the man falls to his left on the ground. Dead. Huang Zhong rises from the ground and feels some sore places on his body.*
"Damnit... AND the bastard escapes AND I will be in bandages the next couple of days. Let's hope Wu Zheng has had more luck in keeping those rebels alive."
*The veteran general picks up his bow and the few arrows that landed on the ground and puts it all away. He then mounts Thunderstrike and rides back to the building.*
*Arrived at the building, Huang Zhong can see Wu Zheng standing outside, with thirty or so prisoners. To his regret, he also sees several hampers, with dead bodies of his noble soldiers in it. Huang Zhong shakes his head and bows to them from top of his horse. He then rides over to Wu Zheng.*
Wu Zheng:
"We have been able to capture several rebels, sir. The ones you don't see standing here are all dead. I think we can say this operation has been a success."
"I wish I could agree with you, lieutenant. Cao Fan and one of his henchmen escaped me. I failed to capture any of the men he send against me."
"A pity indeed, sir. But at least we have captured there, so we can interrogate them thoroughly."
*Huang Zhong nods, knowing they have been very succesful today, something he didn't really expect to happen, seeing the incredible chaos that had been created inside the building. But luckily, Wu Zheng was an able commander and lead the men to a victory. Now all that remained was to move back to the palace and deliver these men to Lord Liu Bei's interogators.*
"Very well, there is nothing for us here anymore. Men, move back to the palace!"
*And thus the entire party of men march back to the palace. Arrived on the palace square, plenty of guards stand waiting for them and bring the prisoners down into the prisons of the palace. The hampers with the fallen soldiers on it bring them to the barracks, so they can be properly buried tomorrow. And before the soldiers and officers of Huang Zhong can go to bed, they are to stand on the palace square in front of Huang Zhong, who is still on top of his steed.*
"Men, you have fought well today. I am proud on every single one of you. Tomorrow will be a day of mourning for us all, as several of our comrades have died in this operation. But let us not forget why they have died. They have died to protect the freedom we receive by living in the Kingdom of Shu. The Kingdom of Lord Liu Bei and the Han!
Dismissed!"
*Satisfied by this speech of their leader, the troops head to their barracks, talking about the events that happened today and the way their leader was able to keep them in dark of this and still being able to lead them to a victory. Huang Zhong himself brings his steed Thunderstrike to the stables and then heads to his room inside the palace.*
