A game fought last night between myself (Tu Yu Hun) and Nic aka

lauhong (Han). 400 points. This was a follow on from running massed

LhS (Bulgars), then massed LhO (Lithuanians) and now massed LhF. Nic

decided a pseudo historical fight would be good - The Han defending

the NW borders against the proto huns.

The TuYu met the Han on an open plain at the edge of the steppes.

There was limited terrain, a small BUA in the TuYu left flank, long

deserted by its Han conscripts, a rough patch of land on the TuYu

right flank, and a difficult hill on the left (Tuyu) flank in the Han

deployment area.

The TuYu leader Nho-Ho-pur deployed his mounted hordes on the left

flank with some Chiang foot ready to pass through the deserted BUA,

more mounted hordes in the centre supported by TuYu nobles, and his

Chiang subject foot behind the rough ground with some horse in

support. NHo-Ho_pur had, at this disposal 60LhF, some CvO and all the

Chiang foot available. His baggage was stationed at the rear of the

army.

Across the plain stood the might of the Han. Skirmishers lurking in

the difficult hill, then a mighty array of crossbowmen, more than Nho-

Ho-Pur had ever seen before. Rank upon rank of shining crossbowmen

(Bw), supported by men with shield and spear (AxO and S), with

mounted archers (CvO). On the wing facing the subject Chiang foot

were more mounted Han. They seemed almost as innumerabel as Nho-Ho-

Purs innumerable hordes.

The action started with the TuYu demanding the light horse on the

right flank try to get behind the Han lines. They skirted right past

the rough and made a bee line for the Han baseline. Across the

centre, the remaining TuYu hordes pushed forward a little

tentatively. The Han responded with the ease of a well trained army

and a line of heavy cavalry (CvO) soon had the TuYu flanking light

horse in trouble. (1). Seeing his right wing light horse in trouble,

Nho-No-Pur ordered his hordes and Chiang forward - death or glory on

the serried ranks of nasty crossbowmen.

Who, as the Tu' yu horse approached suddenly didnt seem as

innumerable as before (2) and numbers of old and infirm were seen to

be pretending to be warriors. Nho-ho_Pur smiled (on one hand) as the

Han line now seemed brittle, but frowned (on the other hand) as there

was probably more Han lurking off table. He decided the battle needed

to be won quickly.

Spurred on by this knowledge, the Tu' yu horde rapidly advanced

hoping to minimise the pain from the shooting. The Han crossbowmen

loaded and unleashed a barrage of bolts. In the centre block of Tu'

Yu, 5 groups disappeared. In the left block, only 1 as there was only

a single line of crossbowmen now. The Tu' yu charged into contact. In

the centre, the line was now mainly one deep LhF with the odd 2 depe

paring still in place. On the left, the line was 2 deep LhF. In the

centre, the Tu' Yu horse met fierce resistance from the high quality

Han foot (BwO and AxS) but managed to kill some of them. On the left,

the Tu' Yu were delighted to see that the Han in front of them were

mere conscripts, many of whom fled in front of the Tu' Yu charge. (3)

Meanwhile, the small group of Tu' Yu horse (7 lhf) on the right flank

were being beaten up by Han Cavalry, with the odd horsemen escaping

wherever they could.

The battle on the left went well for the Tu' yu,the conscripts taking

substantial damage with little effect on the Tu' yu horse. In the

middle of the field it was different. The skillfulness of the

Han 'skilled' foot were a match for the large Tu' yu command, and

both battles traded losses. Nho-Ho-Pur called up his Chiang to

assist  and they passed through the rough ground.

Suddenly, a tribe of horsemen appeared on the Tu' yu left flank.

Allied of the Han had finally arrived and raced towards the Tu' yu

baggage. But it was all in vain. The losses on both sides mounted.

The Tu' yu central command broke (13 lhF dead) but it wasnt enough to

infect the neighbourng commands. The Han foot commands were

disheartened (4). The battle was on to see who could kill the 1-2

elements required to break the other army. In the end, it was the Tu'

yu who triumphed. A Chiang archer (BwI) , now feted forever, that

shot down a disheartened Han crossbowman to break the Han center and

thus the army.

The score 13-12 to the tu 'yu hun.

Notes

(1) I forgot about the marching towards skirmishers, and the Han CvO

smacked into a line of LhF.. Ouch.

(2) Nic had used the exagerate strategy, and as the TuYu horse

approached, the rear rank of one of his crossbow blocks disappeared.

(3) Nic's centre command contained the skilled Han foot (BwO). His

right command, which had used the exagerate strategy was of conscript

foot. (BwI) At LHF (3) v BwI (4 - 1 for facing LhF in 2 ranks), it

was pretty ugly for the conscripts.

(4) but were still shooting well at LhF

Comments

- How close was that. The Tu yu hun were on 50% losses when the Han

broke. I hope you have to be >50% to break or I ripped Nic off. When

we added up all of the losses and demoralisation it was a draw - a

bloody but enjoyable draw...

- minimal rules queries

- We reckon you have a few LHF or you have scads of them. If you have

8-10 they can become a real target for CvO or Bw. 16-18 in 2 ranks at

least have some staying power.

- LhF dont like being shot at.

- 1 rank of BwI against aggressive 2 deep LhF is not enough. 2 ranks

certainly is. 1 rank of BwO may have been enough. There were a number

of times where it was 3v3 and we rolled even, so the BwI died.

- Any progression of Chinese foot from BwI to BwO to BwX makes them

progressively tougher against steppe horse. If the Tu yu hun had been

fighting later in the period (say against Sui or Tang), I dont think

the LhF would have got through.

- The AxO and S didnt like the LhF in 2 ranks.

Now to look at LhS v (LhO or LhF)