Draconia Chronicles: Conquest
Chapter 2: Cry Thunder (Dragonforce)
(Battle of Zūn Yú)
A gentle sound of the flowing waters of the nearby creek are shattered by the cries of war. The arrows cut down Dragons like wheat to the harvest scythe, and fell like rain into the back ranks. The Dragons charge forward on the open field like a horde of locusts even as the arrows felled many losses. Though they are the enemy, I admire their resilience
After four volleys of arrows, it will be our time to do our part. I took my ten thousand cavalry, and left the field. I can hear the Dragons taunting us in their language. They think they have the battle won since we are leaving the field. Lieutenant Rushi unsheathed her Jian for battle, "Infantry!" she called out, the spears pointed forward, and swords ready.
Lieutenant Rushi pointed her Jian forward, leading the first attack. Soldiers armed with 'Guandao' and 'Zhanmadao' led the attack into the Dragon's ranks. With every slash, their blood painted the grass dark and red. The screams of pain and suffering echoed on the cool breeze. Skulls are split. limbs are hacked off. Intestines spilled out from their bellies.
"Advance!"
The battle cries of our soldiers roared out as the soldiers with spears advanced with the first detachment. Dragons were ran through with spears, and each soldier held their own in the battle. They did not back down, even when the enemy uses magick. We of the Tùzǐ will never retreat, and we never surrender. For land and Empress, we fight to the death
I watched from a nearby hill near the field as our plan was working against the Dragons. When the arrows went dry in their quivers, Lieutenant Xia unsheathed her sword as did her troops, and they advanced. A first slash from Lieutenant Xia's sword removed the head of a Dragon that tasted her blade. Lieutenant Rushi cut one in half from skull to groin
Despite some losses in our troops, the lines did not break. Lieutenant Xia and Lieutenant Rushi raised the tips of their swords skyward. I saw the signal from them, and readied my tasseled Jian for battle, "Alright ladies, let's show the Dragons our fury!" I cried out, and pointed my sword to the enemy, and the cavalry charged and attacked from the rear
The Dragons that are not slashed by the sword, or skewered by the lance are trampled by the hooves of ten thousand. There was chaos in the ranks of the Dragons. That is our strategy. We will not allow the Dragons the safety of retreat back to their lands. I slashed a path through the Dragon forces. One screamed as she was cut in half across the belly
I stabbed another through her mouth, and out the back of her skull. I used my strength to throw her corpse behind me where it was skewered by several lances from the cavalry advancing behind me, and her corpse was trampled under the hooves of our stallions charging at full gallop. Dragons were impaled through the chest or in the face by our lances
The crows will be well fed by this offering of flesh. I met with Lieutenant Xia and Lieutenant Rushi in the middle of the field, still on my stallion. My armor was splattered with the blood of slain Dragons. Our soldiers cheered, raising their weapons skyward to celebrate a victory. I dismounted my horse, and embraced my sisters-in-arms like they are family.
The enemy was annihilated to the last Dragon. We searched the field to collect our dead. Some had their throats cut by their claws, or had slashes across the face, "We counted twenty dead," said Lieutenant Xia, to lose a soldier in battle is a tragedy. Losses will happen in war. In battle, no victory in any war will be absolute, but a victory will be decisive.
"It is a victory, but they will return," I said to Xia and Rushi. They understood this well. Although we won this battle, the Dragons will not roll over on their backs and surrender. Lieutenant Rushi sent a messenger to ride from the field to the Capital City of Fènghuáng. I slashed blood off my sword, and cleaned the blade with a bit of a sash on my armor.
"No doubts there," said Lieutenant Xia, the fields were littered with the slain. Their white eyes staring at the sun. Many tears are shed, and there is weeping for our dead. Sister embraced sister after the battle in armor and comradeship. I know it is foolish to underestimate our enemy. When they return, the forces will be greater, and we will stand strong
"Stand your ground,"
The dead are to be returned to their families. I sheathed my sword, and walked my stallion back to the camp with the other warriors. To those that live, the taste of victory is sweet like honey. It is bittersweet to those that lost friends, and loved ones. By the campfires, a soldier from my cavalry unit, Chun Hua, is weeping quietly. I went to sit with her
In war, not everyone is going to return alive. Youthful, strong, and beautiful, Chun Hua looked to me, "Hu-Lin was my friend," she sobbed, her brown eyes were reddened from her crying. I placed a gentle hand on her armored shoulder. If did not have a heart, and not know the pain she feels, I would not be doing this for her. She is a young soldier too.
"A warrior can cry, from your tears, you will find strength, keep Hu-Lin in your heart and she will guide you," I said as a commander's wisdom. She hugged me, and I embraced her back. I touched her cheek. She sniffled, and wiped her nose and looked up to me. The most difficult part of being a commander is knowing you hold their lives in your hands.