Ode to a Naval Base (Task)

[Fa Zheng]

Several days after the successful occupation of Jiang Xia, the dust was just beginning to settle. The citizens were starting to become accustomed to the Shu soldiers and officers wandering amongst them rather than their previous Wu masters, and the city was starting to become somewhat balanced. The prefect, Fa Zheng, had been taken ill shortly after entering the city, but he had still managed to pass on instructions given to him by Liu Bei, and had iterated them to his colleagues- Zhang Song, Huang Zhong, and Shao Jiang. The latter of these was now stood upon the riverbank, looking across to the other bank wistfully. The waters were so smooth flowing and serene, and sometimes, Jiang wished that he might someday be able to live in some peace. But in times of uncertainty, tranquility was so often far away- and he had no choice but to simply soldier on, and complete the tasks that were given to him. Every one represented a small step towards the eventual unification of the land, after all.

Jiang turned to his men. Fa Zheng had given him the use of his own personal troops to complete the mighty construction task that faced him, and though he felt far more vulnerable without his superior issuing him orders, he realised that this was his time to shine. Though he might not have the intelligence and innovation of Fa Zheng, he could still do an excellent and solid job, and this is what he would endeavour to do. The hundred men that stood behind him in a large group were alternatively nervous, and excited. Excited, because they had recently occupied a city, without bloodshed, and were still pumped up and fully ready to throw themselves into any task necessary. Nervous, because it was Shao Jiang in front of them, rather than their usual commander- but that couldn't be helped, until Fa Zheng recovered, and the soldiers knew this.

"We have been issued a task, one of construction. We must build a sturdy naval base, across from Wu's, just across the bank here, along with a wall to accompany it. I expect full cooperation, and the harder we work, the more we shall be rewarded. So...the first thing we need is wood. There's a small forest around a quarter of a mile over there."

He was slightly stiff, and very general-like, but that didn't take particularly well to the soldiers, who were used to the more sardonic and assured Fa Zheng. But even so, they moved off without question, axes at the ready, and headed off to find some sturdy wood from the forest. Jiang knew that they would be some time, and he hoped that either Zhang Song or Huang Zhong would arrive sooner rather than later, or Fa Zheng.

(Just to get the thread up, nothing special. Ryan and Erik, feel free to post here whenever you want. Task is to construct a naval base and wall, on the bank.)

[Huang Zhong]

*Slowly Huang Zhong, accompanied by his personal soldiers, approached the construction site that was decided to be here by Fa Zheng. As Huang Zhong gets closer to the site, he looks around, trying to find a banner or something of that sort from prefect Fa Zheng. But no, he was not here. It seems the man was still too ill to be outside. Understandable, as when Huang Zhong saw the man not too long ago, he looked miserably. It would be a miracle if the man was going to be here within the next week. But while Fa Zheng was in the palace, recovering from his illness, Huang Zhong and the others were certainly not expected to sit still and hang around for nothing. Work has to be done here and the building of this naval base is to be the first task that's on the agenda.*

*Arrived at the construction site, Huang Zhong dismounts from his horse and his soldiers behind him halt their march and stay on their positions, perfectly in order. Not with too much haste, Huang Zhong approaches the man who seems to be in charge of the men who have already gathered at the site. As a formality, Huang Zhong bows slightly and very fast for Shao Jiang.*

"Golden Tiger General Huang Zhong reporting. We are here to build a naval base, are we not? Then why are you standing here doing nothing, officer?"

*His old voice surely was to make impression to the man standing in front of him, who certainly wouldn't have been expecting such an unfriendly tone. But he couldn't help it. If work had to be done, Huang Zhong was very serious, not wanting to waste a moment of time before the job was done. Very logical, if you understand the fact Huang Zhong is old and every new day could be his last.*

[Zhang Fei]

With his troops following close behind him, Zhang Fei sat atop his steed drinking from a wine carrier containing his own personal Halcyon concoction.

"Nothing like a good drink on a nice day like this," he grunted to himself.

His brother had only recently transferred Zhang Fei to Jiang Xia, and his first task was to join the other generals in assembling a new naval base in order to keep Wu in check. Zhang Fei's thoughts were interrupted by the murmers of his men, he looked up and realized that they were finally approaching the construction site.

"Ahh, looks like we're finally here, about time..."

Off in the distance, Zhang Fei could make out the shapes of two men, one of which he recognized instantly as Huang Zhong and the other looked familar somehow, but he couldn't remember his name. He had worked with Huang Zhong in the past, so he knew him fairly well. He was something of a grump, but Zhang Fei figured that he was old and entitled to it. Zhang Fei dismounted his horse and walked over to the two men, still carrying his wine.

"Lord Huang Zhong, my men and I are here to help."

(ooc- Sorry for the delay, I know I said that I'd post this yesterday but I got hung up.. heh, but at least you can post now Huang and not have to wait for Fa Zheng to reply.)

[Huang Zhong]

(Finally! I thought Huang Zhong was going to have his muscles frozen here I'm happy someone finally replied. Ryan/Fa Zheng, we NEED YOU!!)

*Before the officer in front of him could find a way to answer, another man appeared. And as Huang Zhong turns to the fairly large and intimidating man, he immediately recognizes it's Zhang Fei. And when words were spoken from the man, it only made the case even more clearer.*

"Ah! Finally some decent men around here. Zhang Fei, were have a little of a problem. The prefect of Jiang Xia, Fa Zheng, has fallen ill since we moved in and now I have to work with an officer of the prefect, who doesn't even seem to know why he's here. I am glad you are here to assist us."

*Huang Zhong then turns his attention to the river. As he examines the bank of the river and imagines the size of the whole project, his personal troops begin to set up a camp not too far away from the banks of the river. They set up plenty of tents, both for supplies and all the men that are scheduled to meet up here to help with the project. As Huang Zhong strokes his beard with one hand, he points at the center of the river bank, in between the two woods.*

"There! Can you see it, Zhang Fei? That is the place to build the command center of the docks. From a tower on that location, you can see the river stretching from Lu Jiang to Xiang Yang. If anyone dares to attack via the river, they are sure to be spotted and we'll have our forces ready for them. However, there is no tower placed there yet..."

*He then turns to Zhang Fei, now completely ignoring the poor Shao Jiang.*

"I say we let this officer of Fa Zheng stay on guard on the river. He's no use to us here on the building site. Let him hang around one some ships on the river. And if we get attacked by either Wu, Zen or Wei, he can show us he is capable of even being in our presence. Do you not agree with me?"

[Zhang Fei]

Haa Ha Haaa Ha[/i], Zhang Fei's laugh sounded more like a wild animal bellowing than an actual laugh, "Yeah let'em guard the boat, between the two us we could destroy anyone who'd be foolish to attack this place, all by ourselves."

Zhang Fei took another sip of wine from his carrier and looked out at the horizon just above the riverbed, his beady eyes trying to get a feel for the surrounding area. When he turned around he noticed that his troops were still standing around at the entrance waiting for orders.

"Hey! What're you bums just standing around for?! Start helping the others, and put your backs into it," he barked!

"Alright, Lord Huang Zhong, I'm ready to get started whenever you are," he said, motioning to the spot where Huang Zhong had proposed the tower be installed.

(ooc- That was a crap post, I'm exhausted. I'll do a better job tomorrow when I've had some sleep.)

[Huang Zhong]

*Huang Zhong nods. The decision has been taken. He turns around to Shao Jiang again, after having completely ignored him while talking to the other Tiger General. He walks closer to the officer of Fa Zheng and points to the center of the river.*

"You see that spot on the river there? I want you to take several ships, man them with your finest men and then guard our position. It might be wise to have some scouts send to the east and north-west, so you won't be surprised by an enemy assault. Move out!"

*Huang Zhong then walks over to the camp his men, now with the help of Zhang Fei's men, are setting up. He oversees the construction of the camp and positions the supply depot for the material to build the naval base close to the river bank. The men should have to walk too much if they were busy with building the immense base. As the final tent is finally up, Huang Zhong walks over to his comrade Zhang Fei, while in the meantime, Huang Zhong's men line up in front of him, outside the camp, near the river bank.*

"Alright, security is going to be taken care off by Fa Zheng's officer. We can put all our effort in constructing this naval base..."

*Just on that moment, Shao Jiang's men return with the wood they had gathered in the woods. Huang Zhong smiles and walks over to them.*

"Put the wood in there! On the double!"

*The men, though not too happy on the way it is said to them, immediately carry out their orders and begin to place the wood found in the supply depot.*

"And when you're done with this, go report to your commanding officer. He has a job to do."

*Seeing the men place the wood in the supply depot carefully and placing it so that it can easily be removed again, Huang Zhong nods and walks back to Zhang Fei. He had made a list of materials they needed while traveling to this position. The wood could be scrapped from the list now. He looks at Zhang Fei and pats him on the back.*

"You, my friend, will have to go and find us metal. Nails, metal plates and, if it is possible, strong metal piles, so we will have a foundation to build upon. If metal piles are not available though, we will have to do it with wooden ones. Let me here it if you can't find strong piles, so I can get my men here to cut down trees and use those as foundation. Also, remember we are in a state of war with Wu. So this naval base has a high priority. Speed is of the essence. But I know you will get the job done in time."

(Sorry to be RPing Fa Zheng's men, but otherwise the task might take too long. Like years