The Fall of Bingzhou [Closed]

[baikun]

The day was overcast, a sky of seemingly every shade of grey available for comprehension of the human mind. There was no neither rain, nor sun. Neither warm, nor cold. It was just right. And today is my day. The day of a conqueror. He let the light breeze catch his face, as he stood, his hand on his sword belt. It is time.

"Now friends, is the time." Before him stood his five top subordinates, his Demon Riders and Generals, Liang Suo and Xin Feng, and the leaders of his main army from the wall, Lieutenant Rong Li, Major Shui Xie and Captain Yan Jiao. "Now is the time, we take back the lands that belong to the people. Captain Yan."

The man stepped out from the line, removed his helmet and bowed with a crunch of armour to the ground before the king, allowing his short black hair the freedom of the air around them, "My king, what do you command of me?" "Take two-thousand of your men and seize Xiang to the south-west. Surprise, no bloodshed. Kill only who needs to be killed." The man bowed his head, "It will be done." The King placed his right hand on Yan's brow and intoned, "Ancestors guide you, brother."

The King turned to another, as Captain Yan raised and was away. "Major Shui." The man stepped forward and laying his spear before him, bowed onto one knee, "What to you wish of me, sire?" "Take four-thousand men and follow Captain Yan south-west, seize both Yang and Pingyang in turn. Surprise, no bloodshed. Kill only who needs to be killed." Shui bowed in acceptance, "They shall fall." The King moved his right hand to Shui's brow and said, "Ancestors guide you, brother." Shui rose and departed with his orders.

"Lieutenant Rong." The scholar-warrior stepped forward, unsheathing his sword he laid it before him. "I am yours to command, your grace." "Take three-thousand men and seize the city of Xihe. Surprise, no bloodshed. Kill only who needs to be killed." Rong bowed deeply, "They will submit before my battle drums roll." The King nodded, and placed his right hand on the man's brow, "Ancestors guide you, brother." Rong rose, "And you too, brother," he bowed deeply again, and departed.

The only ones who remained now were his two generals, "Liang, Xin." The two stepped forward and bowed to the noise of their charcoal armour. "Lead six-thousand men south and seize Shangdang and Gu Pass, they are essential to holding Bingzhou. You know my words by now." The two spoke in chorus, "Surprise, no bloodshed. Kill only who needs to be killed." The King stepped forward and placed his right hand on the brow of Liang, his left hand on Xin and intoned one last time, "Ancestors guide you, brothers." The two raised and each palced an gloved hand on one of their King's shoulders, "Ancestors guide you too, our King and brother." The King smiled gladly, and just like that, they were on their way.

The King sighed into the wind. And so it begins. He stepped up further onto the hill in which this meeting had taken place and looked out on the landscape. The wind caught him and snagged gently at his cloak and plume. Off in the distance the outlines of a castle wall could be seen, he looked upon it with a determination that he also felt, a determination of the likes he didn't feel so often, it excited him. Jinyang...you are mine. He turned abruptly and strode down the hill, shouting for his mount and army.

That was three days past.

[baikun]

The attack on Jinyang had came as a shock to the locals, no one saw it coming, at the height of the day, noon, the black armoured riders of Bai Kun had approached the city without forewarning, and simply rode in to the provincial office. Sure a few guards had tried to resist, but by the time they realised what was going on it was too late. The black knights of the King in the North choked the streets and took control of the four gates.

The King had strode into the government office with a retinue and announced himself, the officials in court had trembled, the governor was produced and brought before King Bai. "Whom do you serve? Cao or Yuan?" King Bai had drawn his sword at that and held it to the governor's neck, the man replied trembling and stuttering in fear "Y-Y-Y-Y-" The governor's head hit the ground, his limp body in tow with a thud and the slash across his open neck drowned the ground red.

Bai Kun bellowed at the crowd of officials remaining in attendance, "You will all remember the King you swore fealty to! This city is now mine! Bingzhou is now mine!" The officials crowded forward in bows of obediance, they only want to save themselves the cowards. But it will serve. "Rise. You bow now to the King in the North, and the King of Wei, your rightful king. Continue your duties to the laws of Wei and we'll get along fine." The officials acknowledged thecommand with a bow and mummers of "Yes, m'lords"

By the end of the following day, King Bai's main army had set itself in and around the city. The former garrison was removed to the camps outside, to join the northern army, and replaced by Bai Kun's own men. Life went on as usual. Within the next two days, the King's officers had returned.

Bai Kun sat in the provincial office as evening was coming upon the world, the new governor to his right and the city commander to his right, both had sworn fealty. His officers stood before him, and each recounted their tales to the court.

Captain Yan had overrun Xiang the moment he arrived and slew the magistrate. Major Shi had taken Yang by surprise and overwhelmed Pingyang's garrison in battle, seizing both with little effort and slaying both magistrates in charge. Lieutenant Rong like his King, had subdued Xihe without bloodying a single set of armour, he didn't even have to slay the prefect.

Liang Suo had assaulted Shangdang with his demon riders and the forces within had meekly surrendered at the site of them, only the prefect was killed. The fame of my riders is phenominal. Xin Feng had stormed the gate of Gu Pass and slew the commander, taking control of the garrison there.

Within four days, Bai Kun had seized the bulk of land in Bing province, with casualties only numbering double figures. He congratulated his officers, "You have performed admirably, have been dutiful and followed my orders to the letter. I am lucky to have such loyal and capable retainers." His five vassals bowed togather, "Basking in the reflected glory of our lord and King, we achieve what we may." "You're all being humble, brothers, truly, you have done great work." The five bowed their heads.

Bai Kun moved on, "Yuan Shao's influence has spread over Bingzhou, who knows how many other provicnes he has infected with his treason? This is but the first of many steps to ridding the north of the Yuan vermin, and returning it to it's rightful owner - the people." His officers rose and took positions to the left and right. "I mean to consolidate these new holdings and secure their loyalty to me and my purpose, while gathering more power, for a strike on the Hebei mainland in Jizhou. I will need the support of all of you to achieve this." The council clasped their hands and said, "We are forever yours to command. To serve as our King see's fit."

Bai Kun nodded, he pushed himself to his feet, "You may all retire. It has been an eventful four days and there has been much travel involved. We will speak on the morrow."

[baikun]

"A messenger came from the wall last night," Bai Kun said softly, gazing out upon the lands beyond the city walls, the dull gloom of the clouds was finally parting and patches of sunlight could be seen all over, splitting the darkness of the clouds. Liang Suo stood beside him, leaning against the wall, looking out with him, both were fully decked out in their armour. "What news?" Bai Kun sighed, "More Xianbei. They were driven back again, yet I wonder what wills them? Why attack the same section of the wall, when they have already broken into Youzhou?"

A long silence followed the words, Liang broke the silence, "So? I find find myself asking once again, what next?" Bai Kun replied with his plan, "We wait. I want Yuan Shao to hear of Bing's fall, and I want him to know I killed his treacherous accomplices. I want to rush his little rebellion. To rise in open arms against King Cao Cao, I want him to make the mistake of rushing his plans."

"And then what, brother?" Bai Kun's answer was simple and filled with fierce determination, "I will kill him." Liang looked at his liege questioningly, "Just like that?" His king nodded, "Just like that." Liang looked away, reverted his eyes back to the peaceful landscape, "Cao Cao will be furious." Bai Kun answered, "At me or Yuan Shao?" Liang answer was simple, "The pair of you."

"I swore the man no oaths of fealty, we are men of the Wall, we are our own men, men of the north; we serve the realm, and the realm alone. Yuan Shao has conspired against the man he swore in as King, will rise in arms against him. For that he forsakes the country, failing to protect it against the foreign barbarians." Bai Kun took a pause, and then continued, "The man will pay for that, noble or not, I will stain my blade with his life's blood. Nor will I have his spawn succeeding him."

"The north deserves a leader who will remember it's purpose and vigilantly protect it's people." Liang's hand raised to his shoulder, "And you are that man, my king." King Bai's hand raised to Liang Suo's shoulder also, "I would do my utmost, but I can't do it without you, brother." The two men smiled at each other, they broke their embrace and drew away from the overwatch, walking towards the stair.

"It is about time you openly declared your intentions, m'lord," Liang pointed out. "I agree. I do plan on getting around to it." Liang offered his view on the matter, "Once you do proclaim yourself, the north will join you, I have no doubt. They'd rather follow you than that senile old man, Yuan Shao." As the two reached the base of the stair Bai Kun answered, "I will not have a ceremony, I will not wear a crown, I am no man for that sort of empty gesture, I am at home on the battlefield, not on a high seat."

"Of course, brother, what I meant was," Liang added. "Oh I know what you meant, I was just getting that off my chest. I am only a King in name, I do not plan on flaunting it like others do. It was a title given me by our people on the Wall, and I shall do them proud as a leader." That satisfied Liang Suo.