Hello, Moredohc here but first Disclaimer:
I Do not own anything here or am i doing a accurate historical representation. The game is owned by Koei and the story is inspired by the Romance of the three Kingdoms.
Anyways, this'll be one of the shorter ones but not like... the others aren't short themselves... yknow. To see my thoughts or notes, it'll be at the bottom.
Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 4 Ambition:
The young emperor saw how quickly the following few weeks passed. The supply cart that Brendan and Taylah were carrying was a present for Tongquetai after the siblings announced that they were supporting Han Jin's cause in the hopes that it would aid in preserving the town and its security. Those who weren't in the know of the emperor's identity was informed that Han Jin will be the new successor to Tong Li as he had no heir, thus keeping Han Jin in a position of power in preparation for his return in the future. Naturally many of the original inhabitants of the cities didn't like their town was suddenly handed new ownership of a young stranger lord but they realised they didn't have anything else to lose in the end.
Organising the resources from the cart, the siblings realised that neither the supplies and weaponry they provided nor the number of soldiers/ex-bandits they brought to assist protect the town would be sufficient. The people that Brendan and Taylah brought were settling in empty houses.
"By the way, how did you get these guys?" Hayden asked, tilting his head at the working bandits in the crop field.
Thanks to the extra manpower, many of the bandits had returned to their original jobs such as farmers, cooks or engineers.
"That's a long story." Brendan smiled as he helped lift up some clay and concrete from the cart then heaved his way to the wall being rebuilt.
During the siblings travels their cart was ambushed by a patrol of them, however they couldn't defeat the trio of warriors. Brendan asked the captured bandits where they were camping and proceeded to challenge the leader of the bandit camp and slayed him, effectively making him the de facto leader of the ex-bandits here. Most of them lacked discipline and structure so during these few weeks, Hayden, Igris and Brendan would spend time training them with spears, bows, swords, and shields. Taylah meanwhile helped with soothing the people's fears and anxiety about this change happening in town. Tong Li also came along to help as well. When the declaration was made, Han Jin and the siblings talked to Tong Li and pitched the idea of running a garrison here for the soldiers. Naturally, Tong Li was hesitant allowing cut-throat bandits here in his town but eventually relented for the long-term benefit of seeing this town flourished.
In the past few weeks, Han Jin worked in the fields alongside other women, children, and occasionally even a few ex-bandits, tilling the ground and sowing seeds in the mornings and afternoons. Over time, Han Jin started to develop relationships with the other residents of Tongquetai such as the children, who he told stories about the world outside this town and the bigger cities. Haoji seeing the change happening to her town, couldn't help but remain to herself while she worked in the fields. Whenever Han Jin returned home, he and Hayden always slept in the same room and sometimes discussed what they did. This became routine for Han Jin meanwhile Taylah and Brendan, along with Igris, returned to their old house and lived there. Han Jin asked if Hayden and him should sleep there as well but Hayden said there was no more space now since his old home had three bedrooms.
A month has passed since Han Jin and Hayden started living in Tongquetai. Where there had previously been only a small number of women and children labouring in the fields, more people were now doing so, and there was now a respectable force of about a thousand troops stationed here. It was morning when Hayden had called people who knew of the emperor's identity for a meeting regarding what they should do next. The meeting was held in the town lord's living room, where Tong Li had already prepared rice and tea along with incense protruding around the house.
Everyone was sitting down besides Igris who was only standing as the chair most likely could not support his armour's weight. A map of the Chinese provinces lay on the table, with various labels and markings indicating which warlords oversaw which areas. Tongquetai was in the middle of Yu province where it currently was being ruled by Yuan Shu's forces, the east showcasing Yang province, was being ruled by Liu Yong at Wudun and in the north of Yu province was Yan, and it was being ruled by Cao Cao at Xuchang who also controls portions of Sili province as well. Further north was Ji, You, Bing and Qing province which was occupied by Yuan Shao. To the north-east, was Xu province being led by Tao Qian, however, the name was crossed out and replaced with Liu Bei's name instead. Jing Province was occupied by Liu Biao, Yi was being ruled by Liu Zhang and Liang, Bing and the other portion of Sili province was controlled by Ma Teng and Zhang lu.
"Before we proceed on doing this, Han Jin I must ask, are you prepared? Once we start there's no stopping." Hayden warned. Prior to this, Han Jin and the Xiongs discussed the best course of action and concluded that the only way for Han Jin to solve China's issues was to battle for it.
Now though, Hayden is giving him a choice. Han Jin looked at everyone at the table, their focus solely upon him, knowing that the path he will choose will determine the outcome of China itself and those around him. He faced towards Hayden with resolute conviction.
"I don't know." Han Jin honestly stated surprising everyone in the room.
"I don't know if I'm entirely prepared to continue walking down this bloody path, but I know that the more I hesitate, the more people will suffer because of my inability to act. And as the emperor of China, it falls to me to carry its burdens and restore the order my family had created generations ago." Han Jin's clear and expressive voice washed over them, filling their being with motivation and anticipation.
"I know I failed many times in the past and I might not be known as a great emperor for future generations to come, however I will continue to move forward. To right the wrongs of this world and redeem myself, so that I can face my ancestors with pride in heaven and to ensure that those I leave behind can continue without me. I swear to achieve this vague ambition of mine and turn it to a reality." Han Jin declaration had increased the faith that the Xiong family and Tong Li had on the young emperor and right now, they see their lord as a person having the potential to unite the people of this land together.
Hayden and the rest just smiled and nodded at him, acknowledging his ambition, and vowed to make it a reality.
"An amazing speech, my lord. The Xiong family shall see that your ambition be achieved so that this land can once regain the peace it lost." Hayden complimented.
After Han Jin's declaration, Hayden began laying the plan he had set to help with Tongquetai's situation.
"Alright. We have many problems with the situation here in Tongquetai. Firstly, there's not enough food to feed everyone or enough seeds to grow enough." Hayden explained before he brought a merchant wood figure and placed it on the table where Tongquetai is.
"Number two, Merchants. There haven't been any merchants circulating around these areas at all. Not unless they were making their trip from east to Shouchun, to the west. Thus barring us from making trade deals or connections to help advance our town." He then pointed to the city ruled by Yuan Shu.
"Three: Medicine. Simply put, we need it and some doctors too. Some people here know some simple knowledge for when you get the cold or fever, but for the more serious symptoms we need medicine and doctors." Tong Li nodded his head while fiddling with his goatee in his hand.
"Four; materials or specifically, clay and steel. We need more to help rebuild the wall and the houses for the people's comfort. Personally? I don't want to die from the cold." Taylah scrunched her face.
"Wait, why not stone? We need that too, don't we?" Hayden simply smiled but before he could answer, someone beat him to the punch.
"We have the quarries in the mountains south and west of us. I'm guessing this where we will be getting the stones?" Han Jin added, before turning his head to Hayden.
"That's right. Nicely done Emperor." Hayden praised, causing Han Jin to blush slightly.
"That's correct, we have two quarries that can provide enough stone to turn Tongquetai into a city rivalling Luoyang and Chang' An in terms of scale. Which leaves us to the final and the most difficult problem." Hayden said cryptically before putting his hands on the table and looking at everyone with a serious look.
"The warlords vying for complete domination of China." Han Jin gulped and let out a shaky breath at the last information. He was still uneasy about this entire thing and knew where he was headed.
"So, five problems we need to deal with." Brendan pondered as his hands rested on his hips.
"What's the plan then? I'm assuming you have a plan?" Taylah asked.
"Yep. Unfortunately, war is inevitable regardless of my plan." Hayden said with a grim tone. Han Jin winced at the mention of war and couldn't help but sigh.
Everyone turned to the young emperor with an expectant and empathetic look. Brendan grasped his Han Jin shoulder.
"We understand your sentiment, your majesty. But we are in times of chaos. This couldn't- no cannot be avoided if we are to return peace to the land." Brendan explained.
"I know… I just wanted to lie to myself that all of this could be avoided but… seeing the reality of the situation, I must face it head on." Everyone nodded in the room.
"Han Jin… then are you prepared what you have to do? the choices you have to make to secure the peace China once had?" Taylah voice was filled with concern.
"…I… I don't know." Han Jin head fell as his shoulders slumped. Just like before, they all couldn't help but feel empathetic, but the moment of empathy and compassion was only temporary. Han Jin raises his head, and, in his eyes, a spark was ignited.
"What I do know is that… if I continue hesitating, second guessing myself, I won't be able to achieve the peace I want. Not for me, but… for others. For the people here and those who are suffering." Han Jin vocalised, his inflection gradually raising and entrancing everyone in the room.
"That's why… I'm willing to see where this path will lead me, and I hope that you all will help me in our journey together." Hayden couldn't help a smile creeping up his face along with everyone else.
Before, they felt understanding of the young emperor's plight of war. Now they feel invigorated and inspired to help this future leader of China. Brendan gave a cheerful laughter while Taylah nodded her head with a radiant smile.
"Well said, your Highness." Tong Li lauded, smiling at the Han Jin's growth. Igris meanwhile tilted his head before bowing before his highness in show of respect and reverence.
Hayden watched and listened to everyone praising and complimenting the blushing emperor on his surprise inspiring speech. He felt his shoulders loosened slightly from a tension he never knew he had. Maybe he was worried about Han Jin's development as a leader and emperor. Sure there were signs of a great leader in the making, but nothing was solid yet to suggest that. But just then, he saw a glimpse of what Han Jin can become. A dauntless figure for his people with a strong backing of powerful warriors from across China.
"Then I'll explain the plan." Hayden regathered everyone's attention. Placing cart figures on Shouchun.
Han Jin couldn't help but be embarrassed about what he just said and the praised he received from around him. Shaking his head and looking at the table, maps and figures he would try his best to understand what Hayden had in mind.
"Ok, to reiterate, we need more supplies and the amount we can produce, and the manpower needed isn't sufficient or sustainable right now. The plan is to begin raiding." Hayden explained which caused Han Jin and Tong Li to be taken aback. Chuckling and seeing their expressions, he continued.
"No, we're not going to be bandits… not entirely." Hayden slightly placated their worries.
"What do you plan on having us doing Hayden. We're not raiding innocent villagers of their crops and turn them into slaves." Han Jin grunted with a narrow look causing Hayden to raise his hands in defence.
"Han Jin, its fine. Hayden isn't cold hearted to do something like that. In fact, what we're doing won't involve innocent villagers." Taylah reassured, causing Han Jin to calm down before waiting for Hayden to finish.
"Thanks, Taylah. Yep, no raiding villagers. What we'll be raiding are Yuan Shu's supply carts." Hayden propped the cart figures onto the roads of the maps. Han Jin and Tong Li slowly contemplated the action.
"You see, I had this plan a few weeks ago when we arrived in Tongquetai a few days after. But I didn't have the time or resources to do any reconnaissance. But after my family arrived with a surprising but welcoming entourage. It allowed me to send some people to blend their way into Shouchun and gather information." Hayden then gestured to Taylah.
"Thanks to miss sneaky here and a few others. We were able to identify the intervals, what contents all the supplies carts held, when it will be shipped, where they will stop for breaks and where they depositing." Taylah grinned happily at the recognition.
"Wow. That's amazing Taylah. Is that why, I didn't see in some days?" Han Jin asked quizzically.
"Yep, it was painstaking to do these recon missions but hey, whatever gives us the edge to return peace to the land." Taylah smiled before shrugging nonchalantly.
"So, how will you conduct these raids on Yuan Shu's supply carts?" Tong Li inquired, stroking his goatee as he listened on.
"Simple. We ambush them here." Hayden pointed to a forest that the supply ran through.
"Currently, Yuan Shu is supplying his front-line army to the north against Yuan Shao's and Cao Cao's army while also preparing to assault Liu Bei at Xu province. But the trek is long from Shouchun that usually takes an entire day. This forest in one of the first resting spots they use before moving on." Hayden then grabbed some assassin looking figures with daggers and placed them in the forest around the supply cart.
"From there, we kill whoever resist before taking the supplies and prisoners." Han Jin grimace at Hayden's casual mention at killing. Granted they were warriors and soldier so it must be more natural to them as they constantly fight to the death.
"Wait prisoners?" Han Jin tilted his head as his previous discomfort was now replaced by curiosity. Hayden smiled at the emperor's and Town lord's inquisitive faces.
"Yeah, prisoners. But I'll explain that after we succeed in taking them." Hayden said.
"If we just keep raiding Yuan Shu's supply carts, wouldn't he just change routes to avoid losing resources and men?" Han Jin asked. Hayden nodded at him in agreement.
"Naturally, so to lower the chance of that happening we will be attacking at different intervals as to prevent Yuan Shu from changing supply routes. To even lower the chances again would be to take a portion of the resources we need at the bare minimum and then leaving." Hayden explained.
"And even if he does change supply routes, it wouldn't matter since me, Hayden and Taylah already determined two different pathways that Yuan Shu can only use to effectively provide the same result as the original route." Brendan added and pointed at the markings protruding from Shouchun to the camp. Han Jin felt a little out of place given that he couldn't help being impressed by the amount of attention to detail that had gone into this initial mission of his campaign.
"What if Yuan Shu just returns his army back home and stop attacking Cao Cao all together because of your supply raids?" Tong Li, this time, asked about the precarious situation.
'This is true, what was stopping him from just retreating and holding up Shouchun where he could focus on his defences against enemy warlords.' Han Jin thought, however, Taylah shook her head denying this.
"At this time, he won't or can't afford to. I can confidently predict that Yuan Shu will continue to battle Cao Cao and Yuan Shao to establish his authority after many recent losses against them. As of now many are doubting Yuan Shu's rule." Taylah countered with her own evaluation.
the Xiong family nodded in agreement to this evaluation while Han Jin and Tong Li understood her assessment on the situation. Both were also impressed by the amount of details and planning went behind this.
"Bearing that in mind, I suggest that we start our raid on the supply cart in the next few days. Any objections?" Hayden put out. No one spoke up against the idea, so Hayden nodded his head and began telling them how to execute the raid.
The next day, a supply cart was being guarded by Yuan Shu's forces as they were travelling north of Yu province. There they could provide the supplies to maintain the upkeep of Yuan Shu's main army against Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. The guards and supply carts were now passing through a dense green forest, where they could relax before continuing their journey to Nanyang. There was a small, wide spot in the lush forest where they frequently stopped to rest in between supply runs to and from. The carts were always being guarded by over a hundred soldiers, and they took breaks in the forest because of how well it protected them from approaching enemies.
"A break, at last." With a ragged breath, a guard remarked. Two of his buddies joined him sitting next to him on the log, each holding a spear and a sword. He sat down using his spear as support.
"Better make sure it last because we'll only be staying for half an hour before heading off again." His friend stated, handing the other two some bread and started munching on it to regain their stamina.
"Yeah, yeah. I know, but seriously I thought that I would be fighting on the front lines with high-ranking officers, not guarding some stupid supplies then returning home." The person complained.
His two comrades just looked at him and shook their heads.
"Better than being used as sacrificial pawns for those high-ranking officers." One of them snarked.
Nothing was said for the next few seconds and all three guards just took time to enjoy their meal.
"Crap, going to go take a piss. Be right back." One the guards stated.
"Mind if I eat your seconds then?" His friend jokingly asked, and his response was to flip him off.
The guard went to the outskirts of the forest, away from prying eyes of his guardsmen and started to release himself. After he finished, he pulled his pants back up and turned his back behind the dense forest which proved to be a fatal mistake as a red gauntlet hand covered his mouth, snapping his neck to the side with a blur. Igris caught his body and softly laid it on the ground.
"Hey, Qu Nin, they're serving some wine over at the camp was wonderi-!" Qu Nin's friend came to find him lying on the ground unmoving. Instantly the soldier tries to turn and warn the guards but he didn't get far as a Longsword came without warning and decapitated him. Blood spewed everywhere, now staining the green forest into a murky red colour.
"Good job Igris. Let's begin." Hayden emerged from behind, flicking the blood of his Nodachi.
As everyone of Yuan Shu's supply guards were drinking to their heart's content, a whistle was heard throughout the entire forest startling them. What happened next, came instantly. Arrows were suddenly shot out of the surrounding trees and bushes, hailing Yuan Shu's soldiers and piercing their armour. Arrows continued to stream down on them meanwhile, many of the more experienced soldiers used their shields to block incoming fire with few others following their example. After the rain of arrows stopped, only less than a half of Yuan Shu's forces remained.
Using this opportunity of stillness one of the remaining commanders tried to regroup his remaining troops, however, he was stabbed in the back by two spears in different colours and size. The soldiers around saw that their last remaining commander stabbed through his torso and had fell to the ground.
Standing behind his dead corpse was a woman with a ponytail, holding two spears in each hand. Small-shafted and made of black metal, the spear on her left was so dark that it represented the night. and on her right hand was a long white spear and opposite to its black counterpart, looking like a shining star. Taylah raised her white spear, Liuxing or falling star, to the remaining Yuan Shu forces.
"Behind you." Taylah stated with a nonchalant tone.
The guards, frightened and surprised, turned around as quickly as they could and saw a hundred soldiers appearing out of the trees and bushes. Hayden's small militia rose from their hiding spots and started charging towards the last remnants of Yuan Shu's forces as they raised their weapons, readying themselves to fight against the enemy. Clashing of steel came seconds later after their reveal and the guards were fighting a losing battle. Hayden, Brendan and Taylah only fought to save their own troops as to prevent any casualties on their side.
Hayden wielded his Nodachi in its sheathe and saved his troops, pummelling the enemies to unconsciousness. Brendan and Igris, using their respective longswords, killing every soldier that came their way where Taylah actively sought out the enemy, slaying them where they stood.
The battle didn't last long and all of Yuan Shu's forces died or were knocked out by Hayden's small militia. Following the battle, Hayden and Brendan had assigned Darkmore, his own horse with dark brown skin and a mane with red eyes, and Silk, Brendan's horse with a white body and a mane with blue eyes, to transport the two supply carts to Tongquetai. The trip would be a day's worth of walking, arriving at early next morning the latest. After Darkmore and Silk was set and ready, a soldier holding a spear reported to Hayden and Branden.
"My lords, we counted no casualties among our ranks after the battle, only a few minor injuries. A dozen of Yuan Shu's forces are also bounded up and the supplies that the carts were carrying are the building materials as predicted." The soldier reported.
"Good. Tell the soldiers that we are to leave in five minutes." Brendan ordered.
The soldier nodded, relaying the orders he received to the rest. Hayden meanwhile turned his head to Taylah and Igris and saw them piling bodies into a hole they dug up the last half hour.
"There almost finished." Taylah said, wiping her brow with her hand as she pulled the last of the bodies into the hole where a few soldiers were ordered to clean it back up with the earth they dug up.
Igris and Taylah also helped by grabbing some shovels in the back of the supply carts, passing them to Igris and a few extra soldiers. With all the help they finished filling this hole up in less than a minute.
"Alright we're done here Hayden. Brendan." Taylah exclaimed as she waved at us smiling while covered in dirt and blood.
"We really need her to be more caring about her looks, don't we?" Hayden exasperatedly said while looking at Taylah's dirty form. Brendan only smiles and shakes his head.
"Well, the people still love her without all that makeup and dressing Hayden, so I don't see the need to worry about her looks." Brendan replied cheerfully.
Hayden only sighed and gave a reluctant smile at her then turned towards the soldiers who had just finished checking the supplies as to ensure that no damage was harmed or ropes out of place for material to fall off.
"If everything is ready then let's move. The sooner we're done here, the sooner we can go home everyone!" Hayden yelled out.
The soldiers nodded and were now preparing to leave. Hayden and Brendan gotten on the cart and held onto the reigns of their respective horses meanwhile Taylah and Igris got on their horses.
"All right, move out." Hayden ordered. This first small victory would be the beginning of many fights to be won for the emperor and the Xiong family as they worked to unify the land.
Hello! This'll be where I'll put anything note worthy or my thoughts into creating this chapter.
Ambition was... hard to write when you consider how'd i showed Han Jin to be like. He is very meek and shy and bashful and naive but in there i wanted there to be a proper sense of a leader. A teaser of what he will become in the future, but as to how to go about it was a problem. Should he realise what he wants or just be going with whatever Hayden and the others suggested before adding in some random conflict between them. As you have read, i went with ambiguity for his drive and ambition but giving enough i god hope, to see where he'll be walking in this new path.
As for the interactions with the warlords and other characters, finally. I was thinking about fleshing these OC's a bit more but figured i'll be dragging it on too long if i continued. Especially in Tongquetai where nothing big happens in the beginning. So, i figured a few timeskips and expositions (I think that's the correct term) to speed things along with context.
How do i feel about this chapter? its a good set up for me. I've already written like ten chapters for this originally before posting these as my first fanfic so I know where this is heading and how it'll interact with the characters in the story. The only complaint or issue i had in this chapter was the pacing. i know i said i had too, but i feel like i could've- no, known i could have done better but what's done is done as they say.
Overall, this chapter was one of my better ones to me and i hope you feel so too. The next chapter will be the introducing some tigers too so get ready for that :D