The night attack on bandits

For some time you entertained the idea of spreading rumours and luring the bandits into a trap, but the lack of supplies and slumping morale **** you to take action immediately. You decided that you would go with a night raid.

You decided to motivate your soldiers with a speech – which wen quite well. Not to mention that they were eager, for this was to be their first battle against the bandits in the name of Han government.

{Gao Xi's Volunteer Squad morale 23 + 5 (first battle) + {LEA [Gao Xi] (30 + D10)*2/10 = 7.8 } == 36}

The plan is simple. It's to wait until late into the night, take out the guards than successively try to subdue bandits.

Finally, it's time. You give a sign and your forces advance.

You quietly sneak on the guard – the man wasn't even suspecting your presence until you put your hand on his mouth and struck from behind.

You then advance further into the camp. Your companions subdued or killed the guards without a raising alarm.

{Will of Haven D10 = 9}

It's surprising really, you managed to subdue, kill or capture almost ninety percent of bandits before finally one of them noticed your soldier and raised the alarm. By this time only four bandits were free, including both leaders. You did have to admit that Kang Shun was truly an imposing man, while Jia Zhelan an attractive woman.

{Kang Shun's bandits morale 35+D10 - 20 (surprised) – 10 (numerical disadvantage) -9 (losses sustained) = 5}

The two remaining bandits immediately surrender (or rather fall on the ground scared out of their mind).

{Will of Haven D10 = 1

1-2 both escape

3-4 one escape one killed

5-6 both killed

7-8 one captured one killed

9-10 both captured}

Unfortunately, both of leaders managed to break through your men, cutting few of them and escape. You quickly lost them in darkness and had to forfeit the chase.

The summary of your trap was four of your troops killed and twenty-three bandits captured, including four females. You would think the such an attractive women were taken as prisoners to entertain camp, but they were indeed full-fledged bandits.

The loot included various robbed treasure that included an artefact from the end of the era of eighteen kingdoms and the beginning of the Han dynasty, the

[A1]King of Yan, Zang Tu's sword

[A2]Emperor Gaozu's consort, Lady Qi's necklace

[A*]write in

, 403 bags of food and surprisingly little gold - only 216 pieces. You also acquired 54 swords – enough for all of your men - 16 spears, 14 bows and 1220 arrows. Not to mention ten tents and four transport carts.

Also, one of man notices a banner in the middle of the camp.

“Xu?” One of your soldiers reads the sign on the banner.

“Could it be...” the other of your soldiers walks up to it with a torch, examining it carefully. “It's Sun Emperor's Banner!”

“Sun Emperor?” You ask as you walk up to the man.

“It's Xu Chang's banner. Thirteen years ago, he and his son, Xu Shao, rose in Rebellion. With over ten thousand supporters at his command, he declared himself a Sun Emperor... Eventually, he and his son were killed and their rebellion crushed by Sun Jian.” *

“These bandits are said to be operating for at least ten years... they must be remnants of that rebellion...” The first soldier says, then turns to prisoners. “To think that they lasted for so long.”

You turn to the prisoners, compleating what to do with them.

You could escort them back to the capital to be dealt by central government – considering the rebel banner, their execution would be surely bloody, but it would show to people that the government is dealing with the situation. That would also be most beneficial to you reputation-wise. You might even be bestowed an office for your services. Not to mention the gold reward...

You could recruit them, which would almost double your numbers... but your morale would take a hit and would create a division in your forces. That and considering their number, there is a real chance that the bandits would rebel and return to banditry. You would still receive the reward for delivering the rebel's banner to capital.

You could recruit some of them and kill the rest. That would still increase your numbers, but you could never be sure that the recruited soldiers would not one day rebel to avenge their comrades. With Sun Emperor's banner and some dead bandits, you could expect some rewards from capital.

You decide to

[B1]escort the bandit prisoners to capital and reap the rewards.

[B2]recruit the bandits

[B3]recruit some of bandits**

[B*]write in

[X*]additional decisions.

{Won the first battle! For almost flawless victory your reap the rewards

+300VP

Gao Xi +1LEA +1INT

Dynasty characters uppon creation +1LEA +1INT

Congratulations!}

{reached 500VP! Go to another thread to create a new Dynasty Member!}

AN

*Romance of Three Kingdoms, chapter 2 (also called Yangming Emperor).

**who and how many would be decided in next chapter.