Dynasty Warriors: To End the Chaos
Chapter 3 of my Dynasty Warriors story, enjoy :)
Reviews
Diao Lover: Well, here it is, enjoy :
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Dynasty Warriors belongs to Koei.
Chapter 3: Nanman Campaign
The Shu Army soon arrived at the borders of Nanzhong and saw that already the Barbarians were waiting for them. Zhuge Liang arrayed his forces and called his officers to his tent.
"They are strong warriors and we are on their home turf." He declared, "Therefore we must outsmart them; Guan Suo, you will lead the vanguard of this attack, take Zhao Yun with you."
They both bowed and Zhuge Liang gave them and Wei Yan specific instructions. Then, along with Yueying and Jiang Wei he led the main body of the troops, just behind the vanguard. Jiang Bin and Fei Guan guarded the camp while Ma Su and Gao Xiang brought up the rear guard. They also received word that Ma Dai, who had taken a different route would join them soon too, bolstering their forces. However before battle even began a messenger arrived to warn them that Ma Dai had been delayed by an outpost being held by Yong Kai, Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. Zhuge Liang however had anticipated such an event and put everyone's concerns at ease.
"If anyone can break through that outpost, it's Ma Dai." He explained calmly, "Now, we must focus on the battle at hand."
They headed out to meet the Nanman force waiting for them. Meng Huo's led a large group of his army, sided by two lieutenants who held the wings; Ahuinan and Dalaidongzhu. Meng Huo laughed when he saw the Shu forces that came out to meet him.
"Ha, look at this; I've heard rumours that Zhuge Liang was smart." Meng Huo declared, "But he sends only a token force to fight the King of Nanzhong. Fool!"
His gloating however was the signal that the Shu forces had been waiting for and they divided, so as to create a corridor through their ranks. Through that corridor Zhao Yun rode forth like a hurricane, directly at Meng Huo. Taken by surprise Meng Huo barely had time to react and only just blocked the strike with his gauntlets. Before either Ahuinan or Dalaidongzhu could react Guan Suo ordered a charge. At this point the main body joined the fray and the damage was immense. Ahuinan managed to escape but Dalaidongzhu was captured and their forces were scattered. Meng Huo fled and managed to escape down a narrow valley where Zhao Yun's horse could not follow. Once he felt he was safe Meng Huo turned and smirked.
"Hah, close but you never caught me!" He bellowed to the Shu soldiers, taunting them.
"I...Did."
Meng Huo turned around and was knocked to the ground by Wei Yan and swiftly bound by his men who were waiting in ambush. Zhuge Liang's plot had been to lure Meng Huo into that valley and capture him, the plan succeeded. However, Meng Huo refused to yield and, giving him another chance, Zhuge Liang released him and gathered his army, ready for the next stage.
While Meng Huo gathered his forces back together and crossed the river, setting up fortifications, Zhuge Liang and his army waited, protected from the sun and well supplied. At that moment Ma Dai arrived, his army larger than before. He revealed that he had slain Yong Kai and Zhu Bao and now Gao Ding and his officers, E Huan, Li Hui and Yang Feng had joined the Shu army. They regrouped and then prepared for the next stage of their attack, crossing the river. Zhuge Liang was prepared to advance when E Huan, who was a native to the area, stopped him with a warning.
"Advancing now would mean throwing away our lives. The various juices secreted from the plants in the jungle upriver during the day, get into this river and make it so acidic it's poisonous." He warned. "The crossing is best attempted at night, on a full stomach and in the safety of boats or rafts."
Zhuge Liang thanked him for the warning and, after discovering a weak spot in the fortifications waited for nightfall. That night Ma Dai's men ate a full meal, got boats and rafts and crossed the river, attacking the camp of Jinhuan Sanjie. They captured him quickly and lowered a drawbridge which allowed the whole army to cross, realizing the danger Ahuinan and his ally Dongtuna defected, captured Meng Huo and presented him to Zhuge Liang. They were rewarded and allowed to aid the Shu soldiers; Meng Huo again refused to yield so Zhuge Liang gave him a tour of the camp and let him go. He had already formed his next plan.
Confident he could defeat Zhuge Liang now that he knew the camp's layout he called his brother Meng You with him and together they attacked. The night raid failed however as both brothers blundered into a trap, with his brother being kept captive Meng Huo was released again and this time he was angry, calling up as many troops as he could. He was able to get the support of several officers, Cuan Xi, Mang Yan, Liu Wei, Tu An and Xi Ni. This gave him an army of 100,000. Acting on rage he led the attack on the Shu camp, the Shu army retreated back across the river, liaising with the rest of their forces. The Nanman army however fell into the pit traps which had been dug in the camp and were all captured. Meng Huo still refused to yield and claimed he had not yet called his strongest allies to battle.
Zhuge Liang smirked. "Then I shall give you three more chances, if you fail at them and still refuse to yield, well I could play this game forever if I wanted."
With that Meng Huo was released and the Shu army formed a new camp back on the now occupied side of the river.
Meng Huo returned to Sanjaing Castle, his main base of operations. Waiting for him to return was his wife Zhurong. She observed him critically.
"Well, what happened to the enemy heads you promised to bring home?" She questioned.
Meng Huo lowered his head. "Well, you so, dear, I...there was a bit of a snag and..."
Zhu Rong rolled her eyes. "Typical, I can't let you do anything without me, can I?"
So, on her instruction messages were sent out to the three Ravine Chief's to the south. They each came with their army and joined up with Meng Huo. These three, Dousi, Mulu and Wutugu were all granted the title of King; however they still declared loyalty and subservience to Meng Huo, whom they called King of Kings. They each vied with each other on who should be sent to attack; Meng Huo calmed them and decided to send King Dousi to attack first. King Dousi went out with his men to the next place the Shu army would attack. This was Dousi's home turf and he already had a trap in mind for the invaders. While marching Zhuge Liang's army met up with an aged local who approached them, smiling kindly. Zhuge Liang enquired as to who this man was.
The man smiled wider and replied. "I am the eldest of three brothers, my youngest brother you hold captive while the middle brother has been caught four times already." The man revealed himself to be Meng Jie and then warned Zhuge Liang of the trap ahead. "King Dousi has sent his men in wait in the poison marshes, his men have developed immunity but yours are in danger."
Zhuge Liang thanked him and prepared for the dangers ahead.
King Dousi therefore was shocked when the Shu army arrived by another route, bypassing the marshes altogether and taking him and his men captive, along with Meng Huo, who was released again. When Zhurong and King Mulu heard of this they both charged out to meet the Shu army with their animal army, mounted elephants, wild tigers all coming to attack the Shu army, Meng Huo liaised with them and turned back to fight. But Zhuge Liang had spoken to his wife and Yueying had prepared the perfect counter. Her juggernaughts were now perfected and soon chased the animals off and Zhurong and King Mulu were captured. Meng Huo was caught for the sixth time and released for the sixth time. Deeply distressed Meng Huo decided to personally oversee King Wutugu's attempt, he agreed and they left together. King Wutugu's men were clad in rattan army which made them impervious to swords and arrows. Zhuge Liang heard this and spent a long time thinking before developing the counter. He made Wei Yan lure the men into a trap and set explosive devices which set the armour on fire. Dismayed King Wutugu called his men back and surrendered to Zhuge Liang and Meng Huo was captured for a seventh time. Zhuge Liang released him but Meng Huo had no fight left in him and finally surrendered.
Following the surrender, Zhuge Liang put things back in order and allowed Meng Huo and his captured men to continue ruling Nanman, so long as they never attacked Shu again. They agreed and so Zhuge Liang took his journey him, the south now secure.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.