Lean

VIII

WARNING: Graphic depictions of violence ahead

TAEHYUN

The night before his army is expected to meet the Chois on the battlefield, Taehyun is filled with anxiety. They traveled a lot over the past few weeks and in the spare time he got at camp, he strategized with his bannermen on routes to take in battle. Now, the time was finally here; his first battle. His father used to be considered one of the best commanders in Mirage. Taehyun strived to be just like him. He thought the many lessons he received from his father growing up would help him win his first battle.

He sent a few scouts out to discreetly spy on the Choi's campsite to see how many bannermen they had. His scouts came back with reassuring news; his army significantly outnumbered the Choi's forces. Taehyun knew that a single battle won wouldn't mean an entire war. Choi Minjun was likely testing his strength with bannermen he was prepared to lose. Many more would await him as he got closer to King's Coast.

"We have archers on the outside, infantry attacking with swords and steel shields in the front," Huening Kai murmurs, gazing down at the map spread out before them. "The infantry unit behind them should have pikes to hold the line."

"The Choi army acts much better in formation," Junhui chimes in, glancing down at the map. "A lot of them were trained with the Kims, they're known to be lethal in formation and armed with spears and high-quality steel armor."

Taehyun runs a hand through his dark hair as he contemplates their strategy. They were within the Lee's territory, planning to fight on an unoccupied valley that sloped into a flat plane. Taehyun, Huening Kai, and Junhui would be commanding the battle from their elevated view.

He heard of the Choi's dedication to providing their army with the most high-quality equipment. They trained with some of the best soldiers in lands south in Mirage with the Kims. Like his army, many of the Choi's bannermen were seasoned with multiple battles under their belt. Taehyun wanted to find the best way to conquer their tight formation.

"The way we beat them in battle is by separating their formation," Taehyun explained, "That means we need to add more infantrymen armed with long swords to the front lines. If we can create a division in their line of defense, we can force them to fight individually. They thrive on taking over the offensive pushes; we need to put them on defense quick before they can realize what's happening."

Junhui nods, adding another blue stone piece to the map, signifying their additional infantry forces on the frontlines. "The biggest issue that this has is that we're bound to have more casualties," he tells him. "We'd need two thousand men, not fifteen hundred. If we need extra assistance, one of us can gather some of the rest from camp."

Taehyun didn't enjoy the idea of adding more men to the battle. In his army of eighteen thousand, he designated fifteen hundred to fight in the battle tomorrow. Now, it seemed he would have to spare an additional five hundred to ensure their strategic plan worked. The thought of losing more of his bannermen weighed heavily on his mind. The men he had swore an oath to fight for his family. Taehyun only wished that he was making the right decision and that they would die with a purpose in mind.

"If that's what's necessary, then add the extra infantrymen to the line," Taehyun agreed with a nod.

"Yes, my lord," Junhui confirmed swiftly, "I'll inform them. It seems we have everything determined for tomorrow. You two should get some rest. We will meet again at dawn."