The Battle The Battle started with a flurry of signal flags from the Mongols communication tower and in a silence only broken by the sounds of thousands of riders urging their horses forward, the combat began. Opening Phase On the Mongol command hill two extremely accurate shots from the Chinese catapults hidden on the Serene Hill destroyed one third of the dismounted Käshik (Khan's bodyguard), causing them to fall back in disorder despite the presence of the Khan and the Battle Standard. {1}. The fire from the rocket battery was much more ineffective, as usual, and the missiles flew all over the place not effecting anyone on the battlefield. The Mongol's catapults fell well short of any enemy and if the range had been a fraction shorter would have caused serious damage to their own side. [A devious mind created the rules for artillery fire in Warhammer Ancient Battles (WAB) – as you will see]. The front ranks of the Mongol Centre and Right moved forward in fast moving skirmish formation towards the outposts manned by Chinese crossbow militia. The crossbowmen from behind their defences exchanged fire with the galloping horse archers, with honours being just about even, as far as casualties were concerned. From on their command hill the Mongol Left began to snake, in a fast moving column, down into the plain and then up into the Serene Hills with their objective being to capture them. An ineffectual shower of crossbow bolts flew in their general direction without scoring a single hit. However this move by the Mongols triggered the Chinese horse archers who had been screened by a large wood, to leave their place of concealment and swarm into the plain, most effectively masking a couple of their own outposts! The Chinese heavy cavalry (the Sons of the Wind) in the castle had begun to move out onto the plain to get rid of those irritating Mongol horse archers. Phase Two The Chinese mounted bowmen did extremely well against their opposite numbers from the Army of the Centre, assisted in part by the outposts that were not masked by them. Under the cover of this rain of missile fire the Chinese heavy horse moved into an offensive formation just outside the South Gate. The Mongol light horsemen began to give ground in the face of their increasing casualties and the Chinese light cavalry advanced after them. {2} Within a matter of minutes the victorious Chinese were under very accurate close range fire from three sides and the unit was effectively destroyed. While the contest between the horse archers had been going on both the Mongol and Chinese heavy cavalry had been moving towards each other across the plain. Spectacularly ineffective, the Chinese rockets were flying in truly erratic fashion going nowhere near their intended target! Their presence, however, caused the Khan some concern in that there was a chance they may actually hit something and the effect on a mounted unit being hit by a rocket would be disastrous. Accordingly he ordered his artillery to destroy the threat and with an opening volley, which was surprisingly accurate, the first rocket launcher was smashed and in the next volley, despite having a misfire on the lighter catapult, the second rocket launcher was reduced to kindling. Truly amazing shooting by the Mongol artillerymen! On Serene Hill, after their initial routing of the Käshik the Chinese artillerymen had had one disaster after another with misfires and then one of the machines went into self destruct mode! [The Chinese artillery was acting true to form, in what is my somewhat limited experience of using them in WAB rules] The skirmishing horse archers of the Army of the Centre and Right were starting to lose the battle with the crossbowmen whose confidence began to soar as they emptied more Mongol saddles. The Steppes warriors began to replace their front line units, who had taken a mauling, with fresh ones from the second line. In the initial clash between the heavy cavalrymen it was a bloody stalemate but the superior élan and training of the Mongols eventually paid off and the Chinese survivors rode for their lives, pursued by a unit of horse archers. Only a third of the original Sons of the Wind made it back to the safety of their outposts, where the missile fire drove off the pursuing Mongols. This reverse caused the second Chinese heavy cavalry to think better of venturing out into the plain and they retired into the safety of the castle. In the Serene Hills a bitter combat had began between the Army of the Left's, horse archers and the Chinese crossbowmen ensconced behind a thicket barrier across the road. Eventually the weight of numbers and their inability to hit the fast moving targets caused the crossbowmen to seek refuge behind their support unit of Halbardiers (the Flashing Blades). Around about this time on the plain two of the front line Mongol units had become totally ineffective due to the amount of casualties they had received and they withdrew to the rear. Phase Three Back on the Serene Hill the Chinese had repaired their one remaining catapult and with great accuracy emptied a third of the saddles of the heavy Mongol cavalry who had been forming up to charge the Halbardiers. At the bottom of the hills, a stray unit of Mongol horse archers was wiped out by the concentrated fire from two of the Chinese outposts. This disaster happened within sight of the Khan, who had been fuming over the apparent lack of progress and he gave the order to his Naccara drummer seated on his camel to beat the General Attack! All over the plain units of varying strengths surged forward screaming their war cries and the effect on the defenders was paralysing! Two good shots by the Mongol catapults destroyed most of a unit of crossbowmen manning an outpost and the horse archers finished them off. A somewhat wayward shot smashed into the main gates of the castle and destroyed the opening mechanisms. {3} The surviving horse archers and the fresh heavy cavalry (The Thunderers) were despatched by Colonel Loo Ping to Serene Hill to support the troops who were under pressure there. On the hill the remaining Mongol heavies charged the halbardier unit and were repulsed, with losses, which caused confusion in the limited space on either side of the roads amongst the milling units of Mongol horse archers. Phase Four – General Attack In rapid succession the outposts just outside the city were overrun and their garrisons massacred to a man. Around the Dragon Lake the charging hordes of screaming horsemen completely unnerved the Chinese crossbow units who dropped their weapons and fled to the rear, taking their supporting militia spearmen with them! A unit of guard spearmen had moved in to hold the South Gate and had a missile aimed at them from the Mongol catapult. The wayward projectile managed to destroy a unit of crossbowmen located on the battlements to the west of the gate! Behind the hail of missiles from horsemen and catapults, a unit of heavy Mongol cavalry charged the gate in a column two abreast and were stopped in their tracks by the steady spearmen, causing the cavalry to recoil back into the plain. On the hill things began to go the Mongols' way after the close range massed archery decimated the hapless halbardiers who fled to the rear, sweeping the crossbowmen along with them. The Chinese horse archers tried to engage but were drastically outnumbered and followed the fleeing foot. The tide was halted by the resolute Chinese heavy cavalry, who burning for revenge over what had happened to their comrades earlier in the battle, rode full tilt at the Mongol heavies who were still in some disorder. The Mongols stood no chance and soon were riding for their lives towards the rear and this was no feigned retreat. Seeing their heavies beaten, the Mongol lights also fell back but in good order, preventing the victorious Chinese from pursuing. The sole Chinese heavy cavalry (The Thunderers) held the Serene Hills, but with all their other units fleeing into the city, the victors decided that discretion was needed and forming up into a column proudly entered the city leaving the hills to the dead, dying and eventually the Mongols. Little has been said about the action around the paddy fields basically because the Chinese skirmishers had remained well hidden and the Mongols had no intention of moving through the water and mud of the paddy fields to face the steady spearmen waiting on the far back. However, the streaming units of retreating Mongols from the Serene Hills was too much for the inexperienced skirmishers who rose out of their hiding places and threw a very ineffectual volley of javelins at the horsemen. Too late they realized their error when the Mongols wheeled to a man and poured an accurate volley of arrows into the skirmishers at close range. The result was the instant retreat of the Chinese, not pursued or fired at by the Mongols who had remembered their main objective. Final Phase The Serene Hills had been abandoned by the Chinese and the Käshik had been ordered forward to take and hold it after the failure of the Army of the Left. The South Gate was under close and telling fire from mounted archers, while at the Dragon Gate mixed units of crazed Chinese militia were being herded by the Mongol cavalry who were containing their bloodlust. All the militia had attempted to enter the castle but the gates had been closed against them and they were between the walls and the Mongols, who with many a blow from the flat of their weapons drove them out on to the plain. At the West Gate there was complete panic and confusion, as the routing units poured along the road. Those inside attempted to close the gates but to no avail and the shattered units gained the sanctuary of the castle walls. End of the Battle The city was completely empty of human beings. Some lucky ones had escaped but the unfortunates who had been captured by the Mongols were being tethered together like animals by their captors. Within the fort only the regular spear unit (The Rocks of Lanlu), and the victorious Thunderers cavalry could be classed as effectives with the rest of the majority of the garrison so demoralised they were jumping at any and every sound. Chinese artillerymen in the pay of the Mongols crept close to the castle walls in the gathering gloom and shouted to the garrison that their lives would be spared if they surrendered. This brought much discussion amongst the frightened soldiers but the ferocity of the Mongols to their vanquished foes was well known and made the Chinese afraid to capitulate in case they were massacred. The Chinese/Mongol artillerymen pointed out that those regiments who had fled from the Dragon Gate had not been harmed but merely rounded up and escorted away from the city. All this was related to General Han Sang Bok, who decided that the rabble deserved their fate and he planned to vacate, desert being too strong a word, escorted by the heavy cavalry and to use The Rocks of Lanlu, in a diversionary ruse. However, the infantry learnt of their general's plan to save his own neck and after a quick conference with the heavy cavalry, lopped his head from his shoulders and offered it to the Mongol's as a sign of submission. A parley was arranged for dawn. Aftermath At dawn delegations from both sides met just outside the South Gate and the Chinese decided to surrender in accordance with the generous terms given them by the Mongols. Apart from the city and the castle the Mongols also acquired: Two catapults, which needed repairing, plus their crews. Units of cavalry, spearmen and crossbowmen plus a large work force. All the foodstuffs held in the city from the recent harvest. Arms and armour from the castle's armouries. The result was quite close in that the Mongols lost 5 units (in total, rounded up) out of 15. Two more units and they would have had to withdraw. Notes: {1}. They failed their morale tests twice, despite using the moral factors of the Khan who was well within command range, and the Army Standard. (WAB rules). {2}. Historically this was a Mongol tactic but in this instance it was caused completely due to the rules and die rolls. {3}. While aiming at an outpost the shot flew off course and hit the area of the main gate. A quick rule was created: 1 – 2. Bounced off with no effect. 3 – 4. Smashed the gate and blocked the entrance. 5 – 6 Smashed the windlass opening mechanism, causing the gate to be immovable. Question; was the gate open or closed when it was hit? Odd = Open, Even = Closed, with a D6. Threw a 5 then a 3 = Gate jammed open! Lucky Mongols! More Chinese Infantry Chinese Infantry Required: Introduction Chinese Infantry Required: Battle Recap Chinese Infantry Required: Wargaming Points Back to Table of Contents -- Lone Warrior #132 Back to Lone Warrior List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Solo Wargamers Association. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com