Chapter 19 : Chaos in the Central Plains
Music :
Opening
Our advance in the Central Plains are limited by manpower and equipment. Yet we have a slight numerical advantage, provided if we are more willing to throw everything we've got.
As more and more territories are secured, the time taken to resupply the drained troops consume more time. The Brotherhood cavalry continues its march towards southwestern territories. It's army shrunk to a mere 30,000 from 45,000.
We must not give too much time for our enemies to resupply.
Elsewhere, Gan Ning leads an expedition to the west, once he has secured that city, he will have the opportunity to link up with Lord Zhang Xiu's army and finish off Cao Cao remaining two cities.
Our navy continues its skirmishes with Sun Ce's forces, the river thick with corpses and sunken ships. Yet the enemy continues its relentless advance. Our second rate officers refuse to yield.
Our forces from Xu Chang converges upon Sun Ce's city of Ru Nan. We attacked with a force of 13,000, hoping to score a quick smash and grab.
However, the presence of an army of 10,000 cavalry led by Zhao Yun complicates matters.
What is better than defending? Counter attack while defending!
Zhuge Liang slipped in with a force of 15,000 to assault Lu Jiang while the navy provides defensive cover.
Gan Ning's advance to the west was met with fierce resistance. The chokepoint is making it hard to breakthrough.
Chen Dao could not cope with Zhao Yun's cavalry. I refuse to call off the invasion. Instead, I throw another 14,000 archers from Xin Ye to assault from another route. Additional troops are sent from the north to rescue Chen Dao's forces from utter destruction.
The hastily formed attack force led by Zhuge Liang does not have enough willpower to fire another shot of the catapult. It's a good thing we managed to scrounge enough gold to construct a band platform!
The Brotherhood cavalry is victorious again!
The 20,000 cavalry force from Luo Yang scatters Zhao Yun's forces after a fierce battle and proceeds to siege Ru Nan.
Gan Ning's forces are still stuck. Xu Sheng, who was leading the battering ram batallion, has had enough.
They exchanged eleven strokes and Cao Ren seems to have the upper hand....
Until...
HA HA HA.
The loss of Cao Ren's deputy caused 3,000 of his men to desert his unit.
With renewed willpower, Zhuge Liang successfully captured Lu Jiang from Sun Ce's forces.
Zhang Yan completed the capture of Ru Nan.
The weakened force of Cao Ren could not withstand Gan Ning's repeated assault, and soon the walls of Yong An fell to Xu Sheng's battering ram squad.
Just a little more.....total domination...will be in our grasp....
Zhang Xiu's forces managed to fend off Sun Ce's forces and stage two successful counter-attacks.The large empire makes it hard to keep administration efficient, sacrifices had to be made. Some cities development lay neglected as thousands are drafted and thrown into battlefield with minimal preparations.
Cao Cao's final stronghold lies in Nanman territories. Famous for its poisonous swamps and long travel distances, we'll need to stock up more food and prepare for a long march.
Liu Bei still refuses to give up. Amazing.
why am I finding this out only now?!? Time to gimp me some Wu officers. 
for your update!
