AVP5:As ever, your review is much appreciated, and much enjoyed. I certainly look forward to the same. Thanks again!
Cossacks250: Thanks once again! I'm planning better battle scenes next chapter, and I bet you can guess what that payment is! I'm really pumped for the next chapter, although it might take a little time to write it. I deeply appreciate the support, and I'll try to make the next chapter even better! ;)
Chapter 15
It had begun like any other day for the Emperor. He signed a few laws, settled disputes, and dispatched orders to his armies, focusing on most important army, which was in the northern mountains.
He had no intention of letting his best General fight without any help. From what his scouts had just told him, he would need all the help he could get.
Moving into the mountains was an interesting tactic, coming from General Shang, but he guessed that he did not come to that decision alone.
"The mountains. So, your lad's avoiding open warfare, which improves his chances." Arthur said, looking over the Emperor's shoulder, as the elder read the latest dispatch.
They had been together for three weeks, and the Emperor was grateful for the assistance, especially since the Master Assassin had been hard at work protecting his nephew's new liege lord.
"I hardly think it was Shang's idea. It is not in his nature."
Arthur thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "Phaedra! The girl persuaded him to fight according to different tactics. That girl is a tactical genius, just like her father! Alaric can barely hold her back from anything, let alone a good fight."
The Emperor smiled up at his Assassin friend. He was a friendly sort, if a little blunt and brutish, just like his nephew. "Shang does seem to care for her, doesn't he, and she for him?"
Arthur fidgeted. "Indeed, indeed."
The Emperor raised his eyebrows at him. "You seem agitated by this."
Arthur sighed. "If things are going the way they are headed, the Order will be without two Assassins, not just one."
The Emperor shrugged. "I have no hold over the girl, but I will endeavor to persuade your nephew to remain the Mentor of the East. That is, should you wish it so."
Arthur grimaced. "I would not hasten his decision, and it is his to make."
The Emperor didn't agree. "He is a valuable asset to my kingdom, and I would be remiss if I let him go gently."
Arthur snorted. "I'd wait until the boy was in a good mood before doing anything rash."
The Emperor nodded. "That is true." With that, he reached for his tea, intending to take a drink from it.
"Wait," Arthur said, taking the cup from his hand.
"Checking for poison?" The Emperor asked, and Arthur shrugged. "It's my job: to keep you around longer than others would want."
With that, He downed the cup. "See, nothing to worry about." Arthur said, after a short pause. "Now, we need to send an army to help General Shang."
The Emperor looked at him. "I've all ready commissioned an army of five thousand to attack the enemy from the rear, as well as sent a messenger ahead of them. They should be there in a day, at most."
Arthur looked impressed. "Well, bravo! It's not often I see such initiative being executed so acutely, especially with someone of your...experience."
The Emperor suppressed the urge to sigh. It was rare that someone under his command would be so blunt and disrespectful, but after what Arthur had done for him over the past few weeks, the least the Emperor could do was stomach it.
Besides, the Emperor found it amusing and intriguing at the same time.
"What about you, my foreign friend? I would have assumed that you would want to join your nephew."
Arthur shook his head. "Nay, Emperor. I would, but I do not want to leave you unattended."
The elder man frowned. "That is what my palace guards are for. Surely you have rooted out almost every Templar plot?"
Arthur snorted, resisting the urge to laugh outright. "Will all due respect to your guards and your servants, they are not my men. I do not doubt their devotion, though. They were quite helpful when I needed them to be. Yes, I will go, and soon. After all, if my nephew is in danger, then I am going to his aid."
The Emperor nodded.
A diplomatic answer, as always. The man was a natural who knew what to say, when to say it.
It was a rare quality, especially for a man whose sole means of living was committing murder.
The Emperor never understood such a living, but he didn't need to do so. They were useful to him, and so that was that.
"So now all that is left to me is to listen and wait."
Arthur nodded, seeming completely confident in his nephew's prowess and skill, as confident as the Emperor was in his favorite General. Neither had ever been disappointed in their young charges yet.
Things were beginning to look up.
The Templars were still under the delusion that they would crush the puny Chinese army.
They outnumbered their enemy by almost five to one, such numbers coming from the various Western Empires who, like most of the Crusaders would be in time, were mostly greedy and bloodthirsty thugs who wanted adventure and easy victories.
They were all too glad to have an excuse to pillage and murder, but this time, that was not going to happen, but they didn't know that.
Completely sure of victory, they committed the full force of their army into the fight, never once expecting their doom coming behind them.
"They come, almost ten thousand men..." Shang said from his vantage point on top of a cliff, not far from where his soldiers were being positioned, in a mountain pass that was compressed between two unclimbable cliffs.
Similar to the Greeks at Thermopylae, the enemy would have to attack head on, their numbers counting for nothing.
Shang was ready and waiting, letting loose with bows and arrows. The enemy unleashed their armored cavalry, but that did nothing except kill said cavalry.
"Come on, you pieces of shite! Give it your best shot!" Phaedra roared, her face splashed with the blood of her enemies.
The enemy sent archers in to create havoc, and caused a few casualties. "Cowards! fecking Templars! Is that the best you've got?" Phaedra screamed.
Evidently, some Templar commander heard her, and her words had a quick effect. A few minutes later, the archers retreated, and the infantry moved in.
"Have I told you lately that you are insane and a genius at the same time?" Shang said to Phaedra, as their own archers poured their arrows onto the enemy.
"I always do the stylish thing, General!" She called back.
When they ran out of arrows, Shang ordered the cannoneers to open fire. Each caused many casualties, leaving much chaos and destruction behind. However, the cannons also ran out of ammunition as well.
As the enemy regrouped, Shang mounted his horse, and began to rally his anxious, tired men: "Soldiers and allies of China, today you will face the greatest fight of your lives. Look at the enemy: they did not come here to protect their families and their lands.
They came here to kill our people, to take what is not theirs, to cause hell for people they did not know anything about. Today, they will know us very well! They will learn that this is our land, our futures that they mean to take and destroy.
They will learn who they are fighting: people who fight for everything they hold dear, people of honor and duty, and people who will never stop fighting until we remove the enemy from land which is not theirs!
Stand with me, brothers and sisters of China! Stand with me, my allies! Today, we will write history with our enemies' blood!
These are not men of honor, so let us go show them who we are! With this victory, we will send a message to all who wish us harm: the people of the East are always ready to send you back from whence you came! For China, and our Assassin allies!"
This was followed by a roar from the Chinese army that seemed to shake the very ground itself.
"Don't just stand there, you fools! Kill them, kill them all!" The Templar commander roared, waving his arms angrily. Nothing was going as planned, nothing!
The Emperor was still alive, his mercenary army hadn't done anything except mess things up royally, and he didn't have any Assassins begging at his feet for mercy!
If he had any luck, he would have an Apple to use, but his fellow Templars had insisted that it wouldn't be necessary.
These Eastern savages could not possibly stand up to the Templars and their mercenaries, or so they had said repeatedly.
The commander, a descendant of Roman aristocracy, who had been so confident of victory, now had a sick feeling in his gut.
That was why he was sending all of his troops forward, intending to overwhelm his enemy by sheer force of numbers. He would not, could not, fail!
"Having a tough day, mate?" The commander have time to turn, as an Assassin's blade sank into his back.
"Just like your ancestors, you Roman git, you underestimated the Assassins!" Arthur Rose snarled into the dying man's face as he stabbed the blade into his enemy's heart.
"What...how?"
Arthur grinned. "Doesn't matter, Templar scum. You tried to kill my family, and nobody threatens a Rose and gets away with it!" With that, Arthur Rose left the General in the tent, rubbing his hands together gleefully.
He wasn't going into the fight, but he was still going to cause hell.
He was going to have so much fun!
Back at the front, the battle was heavy.
Shang was causing havoc with his new mace, Phaedra beside him, screaming her glee at being in the thick of battle. Each time Shang swung, the metal ball crushed and cracked armor, bone, and flesh.
Phaedra only needed her sword, and she cut down Templar after Templar with shocking ease. It felt so good to be in battle again, She thought, as she used her shield to fling one of her enemies into the air, finishing him with her sword before he hit the ground.
Mulan and Alaric were also causing a considerable amount of casualties. Alaric, like Phaedra, loved being in the fight. He fought like a lion, using his sword in place of teeth and claws.
In fact, they were competing with each other!
"Ten men! I already have fifteen!" Alaric called to Mulan, who glared back.
"You mean, you killed five with a cannon before we ran out of ammunition. I remember we agreed-" she paused, decapitating a Templar, "-that our contest was only for hand-to-hand combat!"
I grumbled at the correction, but she was right.
Unlike Alaric, Mulan excelled in acrobatics and quick strikes, having an almost systematic style of fighting.
Alaric preferred hammering away at the enemy, using the enemy's fear against them.
War was hell, but Alaric still enjoyed the mayhem!
As the battle wore on, our contest got more serious.
We were losing men, and the Templars continued to bring in fresh troops.
Shang, pulling himself from the fight long enough to encourage his men, met Mulan, who seemed to be doing the same thing.
"Stand up to the enemy, fellow men of China! Hold your ground!" She called, raising her bloodied sword.
She had a few small wounds, but nothing too serious.
Shang also rallied his men with brave words, before turning to Mulan. "Where is Alaric?"
Mulan smiled, and pointed to where Alaric and Phaedra were fighting back to back, appearing to flow with an almost godlike rythym. "I think they have things sorted out!"
Shang nodded, looking out over the chaos and confusion that was in front of him. His men were exhausted, and were slowly being pushed back, despite their Assassin allies. Soon, they would need a miracle.
"Shang, we need to fall back. We can't hold them for much longer." Mulan said, but Shang shook his head.
"No, Mulan! There is no better ground than this. If we fall back, we'll have nothing in our favor."
Mulan was about to argue, but stopped as a messenger galloped up to Shang, wearing the Emperor's colors and expensive clothing. Mulan could not believe the messenger had somehow avoided the enemy's notice.
"General Shang, I have news from the Emperor: he is sending reinforcements to strike the enemy from the rear, and they will come to your aid shortly. Until then, fend them off at all costs!"
Shang and Mulan shared grins. The Emperor always had a trick up his sleeve, and it came at a time when they needed it the most!
"How did you manage to avoid the enemy's notice?" Shang asked, and the youth smiled. "I was born and bred in these very mountains, so I know them better than even you do!" With that, he galloped away.
Alaric and Phaedra, shortly afterward, took some much needed time to rest, as the Templars were regrouping after losing almost half of their men in their reckless all-out charge of the Chinese lines.
"Just like old times, eh?" Phaedra asked, grinning. She was covered in the blood of her enemies and her own sweat, but she showed no signs of exhaustion.
Alaric nodded, breathing heavily. "Aye, luv, except better!"
They were interrupted by Shang, who informed them of the news.
Alaric sighed with relief, leaning upon his sword pommel. "Bloody hell, that is what we needed."
Suddenly, without warning, one of the many dead Templars leaped up from behind Shang, the man having faked his own death, and sank his dagger into Shang's lower back.
"Shang!" Phaedra screamed, as Shang staggered, catching him as he fell forward.
The Templar died by Mulan's vengeful hand, smiling as she cut him down. Seeing their enemy weakened suddenly, the Templars surged forward, but Shang was helped back to his line before they could reach them.
Stunned, the Chinese reformed, holding off the onslaught as Phaedra tended to Shang.
As she fought to stop the gushing blood, his right hand touched her cheek. "Phaedra, I am sorry."
She shook her head wildly. "Shut up! Yer going to be fine. It isn't that bad, anyway. Just rest easy, and the medics will come. MEDICS!" She finished, her voice a roar of anger and fear.
But the medics were all ready rushing forward, taking Shang from Phaedra. A few men helped them bear Shang back to a medical tent, which was only now being rapidly erected by the three sergeants, Ling, Chien Po, and Yao.
As he was being carried back from the raging battle, Shang called: "Mulan and Alaric, take command, and hold the line at all costs!"
Mulan and Alaric exchanged a look. Mulan's eyes were filled with tears, but her gaze was hard. Mulan was in command, and she fought to regain her composure.
Mulan looked into Alaric's angry eyes, the animal rage burning in his blazing gaze. At that moment, Mulan realized that Shang held a special place in her Assassin's heart. But the time to investigate this would come later.
It was time to head back to the fight.
Mulan positioned herself in Shang's usual spot: at the back of the line, in the center. "Courage, soldiers of China. Help is on the way, and you have only to hold on until then. Fight with me, and stand your ground! Will you fight with me today?" The reply was an affirmative roar.
I grinned at her. She was bloodstained, battered, and her gaze was hard and focused. My warrior woman, my Goddess of War.
China's chosen hero was constantly living up to all expectations, and she was, once again, China's best hope for victory.
Mushu poked his head up just long enough to see the multitude of enemies, went deathly pale, and promptly disappeared.
Phaedra did not join them, too worried for Shang, whose wound was serious enough to require extensive stitches.
"It isn't mortal, is it?" She asked one of the medics, who patted her reassuringly on the shoulder. "No, but he will not be able to return to combat for some time."
He was interrupted by Shang, who called Phaedra to his side. She knelt by his side, as he rested on a make-shift bed. He was pale and weak, but when she took his hand in hers, she found that his grip was strong.
"Phaedra, I know that you are worried, but you are needed at the fight. It will do our army good to see you at the fight."
Phaedra bit her lip. "I can't fight until I know that yeh-" She was interrupted by a long kiss from Shang. "I will be fine. Just go."
Phaedra paused. "What if something happens to you? I can't live without you!"
A gentle hand rested in the small of her back. "Up you get, lass. I'll handle this." Stunned at the sudden appearance of Alaric's uncle, she stared up at the man in shock.
Shang frowned at the elderly Assassin, who had just entered the tent. "You are not supposed to be here! What about the Emperor?"
Arthur Rose grinned at the young General. "It's good to see you too, General. The Emperor is safe, much safer than you are, as a matter of fact. I just thought I might pop in, and see what I can do to help. Besides, I have some news that might interest you." He finished, as he gently pushed Phaedra out of the tent.
"But the battle..." Shang began, but the veteran waved his hands. "Details! I've taken out several of their commanders, and you've only to hold on for another hour or two before your reinforcements arrive. The battle's pretty much in the bag at this point."
And he was right. Just as it looked like the momentum had swung in favor of the enemy, the reinforcements came storming into the enemy's rear less than three hours later. The Templars, in their arrogance, never saw them coming.
Although not as experienced as Shang's army, the five-thousand strong reinforcements caused enough havoc to rout the Templar army for good. It was no longer a fight, but a massacre. Only a few hundred Templars escaped the battle-field alive.
China had it's victory, but not without cost. Almost a third of Shang's force were dead or incapacitated, Shang among the latter. But it was a victory nonetheless.
Three days later, the triumphant army returned to the Imperial City, and received a tumultuous welcome from their fellow Chinese citizens.
Shang rode at the front, still somewhat weak, Mulan following closely behind. Both were almost deities in the people's eyes. Following up were the three Assassins.
Alaric, never one for crowds, kept his eyes on his future wife, managed a smile, and a few weak unenthusiastic waves.
Phaedra basked in the cheers, blowing kisses and waving around at the cheering throngs, all the while keeping an eye on Shang.
Arthur, used to the Imperial City by now, just smiled and waved languidly.
Behind them, the tired but proud troops, heroes in the eyes of their people, and well deservedly.
The Emperor waited for them, similarly to when Shang had entered triumphantly after the Tung Shao Pass, at the top of the multitude of stairs that led to the somewhat rebuilt Palace. Except, this time, Arthur had made sure that there would be no surprise unwanted guests.
"People of China, today we celebrate the heroic victory against the foreign invaders, welcoming the return of the heroic soldiers!" The Emperor intoned, as Shang, Mulan, and the Assassins climbed the steps, the soldiers standing at the bottom of the staircase.
The Emperor gestured to Shang and Mulan, who bowed before their lord after ascending the steps. "General Shang and Fa Mulan once again have proven their loyalty and bravery to us, both leading China's soldiers to complete victory, despite sustaining wounds doing so." They were each given medals for their service shortly afterward, the Emperor's Red Dragon seal embossed on both of the medals.
The three Assassins were next, also bowing. "Standing with our brave soldiers, three brave Assassins from lands far away, providing vital support to our victory and our country." The three Assassins were given medals, as well as white capes with the Emperor's seal embossed upon them.
First came Arthur, who nodded to the old man. "You are full of surprises, my friend. I hope you shall do more such service in the future." The Emperor said to him, and Arthur bowed. "Of course, your highness."
When he came to me, the Emperor smiled. "I assume you will continue your valued service as Mentor of the East?"
I nodded, not about to say no to my employer. "I am at your service, as ever, my Lord."
Beside him, Arthur grimaced. Well, that was easier than I expected!
The emperor nodded, highly pleased and somewhat relieved. "Excellent, and I assume that I am invited to your wedding as well?" \
I reddened, having not thought about the details of the coming wedding. "You are the first of our honored guests, Emperor." He patted my shoulder, and then turned to Phaedra.
"And you, my dear! A clever, even ingenious plan to take the enemy to the mountains. I shall hope we shall have more of your help, especially considering your...vested interest in my best General?"
Phaedra blushed with pride and embarrassment. "It would be my pleasure, your majesty!"
With that, the Emperor turned to his people, and declared: "And now, let us salute these heroic men, and honor the memories of the brave departed!"
The accompanying roar from the cheering throngs was quite impressive, but nothing compared to the cheer that was made after Shang's speech by his soldiers on the mountain before the battle.
And so there you have it. It was a long, difficult chapter to write, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy it!
The battle scenes were not the best, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. The next chapter is going to be the last, and will include an Epilogue, so I will get to work on that soon.
While the Chinese reinforcements and the stupidity of the Templars might smack of making it too easy for the heroes to succeed (Deus ex Machina), please be assuaged from being to put out. Said reinforcements should be expected, because it wouldn't be too hard to gather an army of citizens in a short amount of time. The Templars have always seemed so arrogant to me in Assassin's Creed, so I just wanted to highlight what I found to be obvious.
As ever, read and review, my faithful and beloved readers!