ADLG - Game Report 267

Song Chinese (225) vs Classical Indians (79)

For our second game I wanted to try out my new Song Chinese Army. This was very much a suck-it-and-see order of battle, as I had no idea what would work and what wouldn't. Hopefully this battle would give me some pointers for what I would choose for Beachhead. I won the initiative for the second time and decided defend in the mountains – a rare choice for me. We deployed initially with a mixed cavalry and medium infantry command on the left. In the centre and on the right were two identical infantry commands of Medum and heavy units with polearms and crossbows and mixed crossbows and swordsmen. Of note was that only two Indian commands were deployed and hence we would be expecting a flank march; the logical expectation being on the left. Therefore, and fortunately my last command deployed with the infantry in column to the left ready to deploy.

To further complicate the Indian plan their left flank command became hesitant and we endeavoured to advance and close the distance, before it could activate; and of course maintaining the reasonable separation to prevent activating it. Elsewhere the left command orientated itself to the left, while the central command moved forward through the brush.

Before the flank march arrived and before the hesitant command activated the Chinese had established a coherent position by which we could engage the Indians.

On the right the heavy unit with polearms timed their move forward through the crossbows to perfection and were in place to receive the charge of the elephants. The crossbows having done their bit by causing some attrition on the enemy. In the centre rather than continue with the crossbows fronting the polearms the missile troops have extend to the right of the polearms. While the left awaits the flank march.

In the centre the Tribal warriors have caught an elephant in front and flank, while the elephant on the Chinese right is also in peril. To the left of the brush the elephants seem to have the upper hand, or at least by the casualties they are inflicting, However, on the plus side for the Chinese side their cavalry is behind the elephants' flank as are infantry on the left. The arrival of the flank march has not caused any panic and the Chinese troops calmly wait to see what its intentions are; honourable or otherwise.

Two of the four elephants have met their end. Although there has been some success from the flank march, in terms of destroyed Chinese units there has not been the breakthrough that was expected. Elsewhere the Indians have been severely depleted and their flanks are now exposed in multiple places along the line.

Outcome

A first victory in their first battle for the Song Chinese, in which they lost 18 of 24 units. Of which there is a story to tell which I discovered after their next battle.

Lessons Learnt

A flank march can telegraph what one's plan is. Moreover, it doesn't bode well when a further command becomes hesitant.

The Song army has a lot of moving parts and differing troop types, it is going to be a challenge to decide what works best with what and against what enemy.