Family Loyalty [Wei/Shu]

[Cao Tai]

Xinye

Cao Tai and his father, Cao Ren were returning from and outing. A bonding session between father and son had taken place. A horse ride which turned into a race between the two men was located on the outskirts of Xinye, Cao Ren and his horse were far to superior for Cao Tai and his horse.

"You're going to need to brush up your skills if you want to take me on again, son." Joked Cao Ren.

Tai let out a chuckle at his fathers joke and replied "Well, I didn't want to hurt your pride, father, but now I know you want some competition, I wont hold back next time, haha!"

Both men continued to laugh together as they returned to the city. It was a humid day in sunny Xinye and both men were rather tired and thirsty after the morning event, so they stopped off at one of the taverns to quench their thirst. The landlord was well composed when dealing with the two generals, he didn't say much to them which is just the way that the Cao's liked it. They finished their drinks but before they could leave they were mobbed like modern day celebrities, however they were mobbed mainly by drunks. Drunks wanting to know when the war will end and wanting to see if the tales about Ren's prowess were true.

He could not answer the first question and so told them that information but he outright denied all the tales about him, even those that were true. Ren was a modest man and he hated people making a fuss about him. The pair soon left the tavern and returned to the governing house. Upon arrival there stood an envoy requesting Cao Ren's presence in An Ding, as the Wei force prepared to move on the traitor Ma Teng.

"I cannot leave!" Cao Ren exclaimed. "Jing is worth more than the west, who sent you?!" Cao Ren demanded.

The envoy remained silent for a while but when pressed by Cao Ren, he told him that the governor of Chang'an sent him. He stroked his short black beard as he thought of what to do. Many of the other officers were busy with the northern issue of Yuan Shao and building the force in the east to combat Wu there. He looked towards his son and nodded, Tai acknowledged what he wanted of him and left immediately, leaving the defence of Jing to his father.

An Ding

After a long trek lasting a number of days Cao Tai finally arrived at the encampment south of An Ding. It was nearing midnight, so the first thing he did was sleep. He was awoken in the morning after a goodnight's sleep by a confused governor, Tai had not told anyone of his arrival, he simply went to the commanders tent and went to sleep.

"Uhh.. we weren't expecting you until this morning. How was the trip." The governor enquired.

"I rode through night so I could get a goodnight sleep here, the trip was fine." He got up out of bed and began to get dressed. Once he was dressed he continued his conversation. "What's the situation." He asked as the pair walked out of the tent.

"We are going through final preparations, we plan to strike tomorrow morning. You will command the troops.." The govenor hesitated to speak but was pressed by Tai to do so. "Uhh.. We have received word that the prefect of Han Zhong is Ma Chao, we are uncertain as to whether or not he will send aid to his father. It is likely but it isn't a full gone conclusion."

"No need to worry" Cao Tai replied confidently. "My father has taught me all I need to know." He paused as he began to have flashbacks of him and Cao Ren training. "However we must remain vigilant, especially here. Ma Chao may look to strike the camp whilst we are gone and then catch us in a vice. I need you to make defensive preparations ready for our leave tomorrow, understood?"

"Of course sir, we shall get that done right away." The governor replied as he hurried to begin preparations.

Cao Tai clicked his neck from side to side and stretched his arms and back. He mounted his horse and strolled around the camp to make sure everything was ready for his big moment tomorrow.

[Cao Tai]

Cao Tai, although inexperienced, he knew what he was doing. Correct preparations were being made, tactics were being demonstrated perfectly and each man was equipped with a weapon and armour. A unit had already been dispatched to cover up loose ends. Things were coming along perfectly in time for the liberation of An Ding, a liberation from those barbarians sat at the door step of the mighty Wei kingdom. Soon they shall be ridden but one man could topple their plans, that man was Ma Chao. He was undoubtedly the most fiercest warrior not in the Wei ranks, Guan Yu may still be talented but the youth of Ma Chao would now certainly defeat him.

Cao Tai pushed the thoughts of Ma Chao ruining his first battle from his mind and instead retired to the barracks where a feast was being held for the army. Meat and wine was a perfect meal before battle, the spirits were riding high within the banquet, it would truly be a glorious victory. After food the men retired to their beds. Cao Tai returned to the commanders tent but instead of sleeping he went over scenario's in his head and tried to combat all the possible formations and moves his enemies could pull. Realising it was getting late, he undressed and went to sleep.

Sunrise, the camp was alive with noise. Each man knew that today was the day. As Tai awoke and donned his battle armour he could almost taste the confidence in the air, this made him a very happy man as morale was a battle in its self, now all he had to do was press onto An Ding then WuWei. The army began its march to the plains just outside of An Ding, Tai didn't want a siege battle, he hoped that the men famous for their cavalry would take to the field and fight rather than hide behind their walls. However nothing was impregnable, even the Greeks managed to gain access to the seemingly unpenatrable fortress of troy, He was ready for a siege battle should it come to this. As they arrived on what Cao Tai was hoping to be the battlefield, he ordered the men into formations and rode to the front of the line to address his men.
"Today" He began. "Today we face the rebels that stand on our doorstep, the very same rebels that conspired to kill our Lord in coldblood. Today we shall vanquish these rebels and teach them about pride and honour in the process! Our war machine cannot be stopped, the hooves of their cavalry will run their last course when they face us today. Our wall of spears will pierce their horses and the hearts of their men, crushing them physically and mentally." He drew his sword and began to move his horse from side to side, he began to point the sword at the lines of men as he spoke. "These men tremble in fear when they look at your faces! They see a professionally army in front of them, knowing that their end is near. They say you see a white light when you are near death, that white they see wont be a light, but the whites of your eyes as you unleash hell upon them!"
The men raised their weapons to the air and began to cheer. War drums began to sound and the chanting of the army drowned out all stillness and calm that occupied the air before them, the fall of An Ding was near.

[Ma Teng]

It took Ma Xiu a few hours before he reached the bridge that crossed over to the city of An Ding. Xiu was Ma Teng's youngest son but wise beyond his years, not the greatest in the art of swordsmenship, but what he lacked in hand to hand combat he made up in intelligence. Growing up, while his older brother Ma Chao & Ma Tie was in the barracks training with his father Ma Teng. Xiu was in the books for the most part. Teng didn't fault Xiu for being in the books so much, because have four Hot heads in the family would be to much & pride would come into factor a lot. He's been in a few battles before this, nothing to big, the largest battles he's been apart of was the battle of Tong Pass against Cao Cao; but yet that was some time ago.

The army was slowly marching towards the bridge with Ma Xiu leading the men atop his white stead; the men at the flanks, the back and in front of the army was holding up the Guanxi Coalition flag to hopefully be seen by the citizens of An Ding. Hopefully the the people of An Ding don't see the flags of Guanxi and think its more of a forceful take over, the main purpose for this visit is to assist An Ding for the overall growth of their city, make trading routes with the Wu Wei and Tian Shui, and to also rid any signs of Wei's army hopefully this act will bring the three cities together under one rule, so the over army of The Guanxi Coalition could expand and get stronger.

As Ma Xiu and his army began crossing the long bridge, while crossing he felt a strong aura as they got closer to he outskirts of An Ding, he didn't quite know what it was since An Ding is usually a quite city with very less action, just the people of the town working, Xiu didn't know what could be on the other side of the city walls, perhaps another army of some sort & the closest to An Ding was the Forces of Wei, but Xiu could be wrong about the factor. Either way he knew Wei's army could be marching to capture An Ding & use it as a main base to assault Tian Shui & Wu Wei. As the army got closer the city walls Ma Xiu himself rode a bit ahead of the army towards the city walls near the guards with a few men accompany him golding up their Coalition Flag

[Cao Tai]

Troops: 35,000 (Commanded by Cao Tai)
5,000 Light Cavalry
2,000 Heavy Cavalry
3,000 Elite Crack Troops
10,000 Spearmen
7,500 Swordsmen
5,000 Archers
3,500 Halberds

Reserve Force based in Camp 15,000 (Commanded by Lieutenant General Bu Ying)
5.000 Crossbow men
5,000 Pikemen
2,500 Light Cavalry
2,500 Swordsmen

Cao Tai, dressed in his battle gear, mobilized his main force leaving 15,000 in reserve to protect against an attack from Shu. He rode out leading the army, spear gripped in his right hand. This was his first battle and he needed to live up to the "Cao" reputation. He had his cavalry on both flanks, spearmen placed in the front with archers positioned behind them. The middle of the was made up of unit was made up of all Swordsman and Halberds, with the elite crack troops bringing up the rear.

They were now a mere 500 yards from the town of An Ding. Cao Tai dismounted and grabbed a handful of earth. He examined it closely, the ground was rather hard, good conditions for the cavalry but would cause more fatigue if they advanced on the town now. Instead he had one of his envoys deliver a message to the prefect of An Ding. The message had been composed prior to leaving for the city by Cao Tai in his command tent, it read;

General Cao Tai, who subdues the west, son of famed general and Viceroy Cao Ren, relative of the Duke Of Wei, hereby commands the town of An Ding, along with its surrounding fiefs to issue their surrender and present me with the seal and accord of the town. Failure to do so will result in a show of strength through warfare, if the prefect or general does not adhere to either stipulation then he, along with the rest of the Ma clan will be branded traitors and cowards so long as the house of Ma stands, may the heavens take pity on the rebels and present them with the honourably and noble warriors death on the battlefield on the outskirts of An Ding

Cao Tai sent the messenger on his way. He commanded his army to keep strict disciple and made sure they did not become complacent or slack whilst they waited for the response. He fully expected war and thrived on the feeling.