5,204
edits
Daxia: Difference between revisions
m
no edit summary
mNo edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 131: | Line 131: | ||
[[File:Degei siege.jpg|thumb|Iron Legion-Degei coalition lay siege to Taizhou]] | [[File:Degei siege.jpg|thumb|Iron Legion-Degei coalition lay siege to Taizhou]] | ||
The Zhong for their part had the emperor's own battle tested personal army of around forty five thousand men, at least three provincial armies of uncertain loyalties and fifteen thousand levies sent by the Lakdu and Ghanim tributaries. Rather than meet the invasion head on, the Zhong adopted a strategy of playing for time by fortifying strongpoints, avoiding large scale battles against its more mobile foes and employing diplomatic overtures and bribery to try to degrade Darukh Khan's coalition. Darukh Khan resumed his campaign with a two pronged attack , Darukh himself laying siege to the walled city Taizhou and sending half of his force under his brother Orgai to bypass the city and continue moving south to stop any relief force that might be sent. The siege lasted for seven months and saw some of the first use of military sappers to undermine the city walls, with the Zhong using rudimentary rockets against the Iron Legion siege towers. The Zhong defense was tenacious and they carried out multiple sallies, with one night raid reaching dangerously close to the Khan's royal pavillion. However with no relief coming, by the winter of 920 the walls of Taizhou were finally breached and after a few hours of resistance in the streets the remains of the garrison surrendered. The city was sacked and the remaining Zhong soldiers conscripted into the invading army. Orgai for his part continued riding south, engaged and defeated a blocking force near [[Pianqu]], the city surrendering without a fight. | The Zhong for their part had the emperor's own battle tested personal army of around forty five thousand men, at least three provincial armies of uncertain loyalties and fifteen thousand levies sent by the Lakdu and Ghanim tributaries. Rather than meet the invasion head on, the Zhong adopted a strategy of playing for time by fortifying strongpoints, avoiding large scale battles against its more mobile foes and employing diplomatic overtures and bribery to try to degrade Darukh Khan's coalition. Darukh Khan resumed his campaign with a two pronged attack , Darukh himself laying siege to the walled city Taizhou and sending half of his force under his brother Orgai to bypass the city and continue moving south to stop any relief force that might be sent. The siege lasted for seven months and saw some of the first use of military sappers to undermine the city walls, with the Zhong using rudimentary rockets against the Iron Legion siege towers. The Zhong defense was tenacious and they carried out multiple sallies, with one night raid reaching dangerously close to the Khan's royal pavillion. However with no relief coming, by the winter of 920 the walls of Taizhou were finally breached and after a few hours of resistance in the streets the remains of the garrison surrendered. The city was sacked and the remaining Zhong soldiers conscripted into the invading army. Orgai for his part continued riding south, engaged and defeated a blocking force near [[Pianqu]], the city surrendering without a fight. | ||
Orgai's march south was met with little organized resistance and many cities simply expelled their imperial garrisons and opened their gates to him, so as to avoid the terror of a siege or sack. Meanwhile Zhong spies had made contact with the [[Virtuous Worms|Grand Company of the Virtuous Worms]] who were serving as mercenaries and handled the rear and scouting for Orgai's army. In secret communications with Kai Kiu, they were bribed into switching sides and setting up a trap for Orgai. The scouts led the army into the Krong Pass were Kai Kiu's army was waiting in ambush. Trapped in from both sides by the sudden betrayal of his mercenaries, Orgai's army was cut down from all sides. Orgai himself tried to charge through the traitors but his panicked horse was killed by arrowfire and crushed its rider. Only a few dozen riders survived the battle to inform Darukh Khan of his brothers defeat. The defeat forced Darukh Khan to begin force recruiting more locals from cities he had conquered whereas before he had avoided this, seeing non Degei as poor warriors and unreliable. The [[United Cities]] sent another seven thousand men to reinforce him and Warmaster Shing. | |||
====Wars against the [[United Cities]]==== | ====Wars against the [[United Cities]]==== | ||
''Main Article: [[United Cities]]'' | ''Main Article: [[United Cities]]'' | ||