Mountain Tribes

239 BC

Meng and the young Mei after traveling for many months eventually found themselves in a small village bordering a mountain range. With the weather having gotten cold Meng and Mei couldn't stand wandering anymore and decided to stay in the village.

The villagers were a mix of various Mountain Tribe members and Qin citizens, Meng managed to secure himself a position amongst the village security force, doing odd jobs patrolling and hunting down criminals.

Having spent the whole day chasing a thief, he finally returned home to his run-down little hut and started preparing dinner for Mei. The little girl was out playing with the other children in the village. Soon it began to get dark and it wasn't long that a simple soup that Meng had cooked was finished, sitting down to eat he opened a bottle of wine, Mei having just returned burst through the door, hungry she quickly got herself a bowl of soup and sat down to eat.

Meng having already finished half the wine, eventually asked Mei how her day was. Mei told him how she played with other children and the adventures they went on. Eventually, Meng was too drunk and laid down to sleep. Upon waking up with a hangover, he splashed water on his face and made a simple breakfast for himself and Mei who was still sleeping.

Meng was slowly learning the mountain tribe language after having spent a few weeks in the village, he was now able to speak with some of them and he learned that Yo Tan Wa was leading her tribe in the conquest of the other tribes, those that fled from mountains ended up here in this village.

The village Meng currently found himself in was located between the borders of Qin and the mountain tribe people, with neither side having claimed the area, until now. The village was constantly getting new refugees from various defeated tribes and Qin citizens seeking safer territory from the front lines.

The village was now large enough to call itself a town and was quickly growing. It was now large enough that Yo Tan Wa herself had led a small force to claim it before Qin could.

It was a quiet day for Meng, having joined the security forces he now took it upon himself to train with a halberd instead of a bow! now with only one eye, his depth perception was gone making it difficult to judge how far away his target was.

For the last few weeks he has been training hours each day practicing with it, having taken the halberd off a dead bandit he was shocked to discover how valuable it was. Someone had spent a lot of money crafting it using high-quality materials and had a lion image engraved into the blade! the weapon was heavy and very sturdy.

It was while he was practicing with his weapon when suddenly he noticed a lot of commotion! soon the security force was summoned to assemble! less than a hundred men had gathered together and soon Meng found himself marching towards the edge of the town alongside the rest of the men.

Meng and the group eventually arrived outside the village and were shocked to discover a small army of mountain tribesmen led by Yo Tan Wa herself waiting for them. Soon the leader of the security force rode out to meet with them.

Meng watched as they discussed, eventually it seemed that the security force leader was upset and soon a mountain tribe warrior and security force leader engaged in a dual! sadly it wasn't long before the head of the security force leader went flying! his horse now riderless found its way back toward Meng and his group.

The mountain tribe warrior having killed their leader now rode up to the group and taunted group! daring anyone to come out and face him! Meng looking around noticed that no one dared to go out and face the warrior. Meng having enough of taunts quickly ran to the old leader's horse and mounted it! Riding out to face the enemy, he was surprised at how young the mountain tribe warrior was!

The young mountain tribe warrior was thrilled! he had managed to look powerful in front of his idol Yo Tan Wa! getting cocky after having defeated his opponent he rode out in front of the enemy and challenge them!

Soon a soldier mounted a horse and rode out to face him! he was confident in his victory at first but as the soldier neared him the young mountain tribe warriors' confidence started to waver! the enemy was missing one eye and covered in battle scars all over his body!

Meng rode out to face the mountain tribe warrior, wanting to end the fight quickly he unleashed a barrage of blows upon his enemy! the young warrior parried the blows and launched a counterattack! Meng ignored the blow and swung his halberd at his enemy's neck!

The young mountain tribe warriors' head! went flying! Meng managed to kill his opponent but he suffered a deep cut across his left chest and shoulder! he had to ignore the wound as soon as three riders from the mountain tribe warriors rode out to him.

Leading the group was Yo Tan Wa! upon arriving she demanded the town to surrender! Meng looking past her and seeing the hundreds of tough-looking warriors hesitated! thinking of Mei he asked Yo Tan Wa what she planned to do with the people of the town.

Meng had finished talking with the mountain tribe people and rode back to the security forces, upon arriving he informed them that he had surrendered the town and that all men inside were expected to join the Yo Tan Wa war band! the men were relieved that they didn't need to fight the hundreds of warriors outside and moved aside for Yo Tan Wa and her troops to ride into the town.

The town has grown and now had thousands of citizens, all of who were frightened at first as hundreds of mountain tribesmen rode in! Meng to help calm the people kept ensuring them that everything would be fine and informed the people that Yo Tan Wa was now the owner of the town.

(A few months later)

Yo Tan Wa having conquered the town, drafted a small force of 500 men from it. Meng has shown his skill and being able to speak the mountain tribe language and Qins, was tasked with leading and training these men. For twelve weeks Meng put the men through tough training! With the soldiers now have received some training, they joined Yo Tan Wa as she conquered one tribe after another!

Meng having accompanied Yo Tan Wa for a while now, once again found himself alongside his troops watching as Yo Tan Wa demanded the surrender of yet another mountain tribe. Having witnessed this many times, he knew the prideful mountain tribe people wouldn't surrender without a fight!

It wasn't long before Yo Tan Wa rode back towards the army and then ordered the army to attack! the brave mountain tribe warriors fought gallantly against Yo Tan Wa troops but being hopelessly outnumbered they were eventually routed and the survivors fled, surrendered, or were captured!

238 BC

Meng swung down his halberd as he rode past a group of fighting soldiers! severing the head off of one of his enemies as he rode past! urging his horse forward he charged deeper into the village! with troops too busy battling all around him, none attempted to stop him as he rode at the enemy commander!

Meng upon reaching the old Mountain Tribe warrior attempted to sever the head from the old man's neck! the old fighter managed to block several of Meng's blows! until eventually Meng suddenly urged his horse to turn rapidly! the old Mountain Tribe warrior was momentarily confused as Meng and his horse-faced away from him! he was suddenly taken off guard as the war horse kicked its rear hoofs suddenly and sent him flying! before the old warrior could rise Meng had urged his mount forward and rode over the enemy!

Meng having trampled over his enemy, turned his horse around and wielding his halberd he swung down upon his fallen foe and severed his head from his broken body as he lay helpless on the ground! raising the head high! Meng's war cry could be heard across the battlefield!

A few days later Meng was once again traveling with his troops as Yo Tan Wa led her army to subjugate another tribe, suddenly Meng could see a messenger ride up to Yo Tan Wa, Yo Tan Wa upon reading the message suddenly ordered the army to march in a different direction!

The army had marched many days, Meng could see that Yo Tan Wa had sent out many scouts ahead of the army and occasionally those scouts would come back carrying an enemy's head with them! Meng soon realized that Yo Tan Wa was leading the army through Qin lands and the army was heading towards Wei! The army scouts were doing a good job of killing any enemy scouts before they could discover the army, it wasn't until the Army had crossed the Wei border that the enemy scouts became too numerous and their army was discovered.

Yo Tan Wa having been discovered now no longer needed to be cautious having been discovered and ordered the army to increase their pace! rushing deep into Wei's lands her army managed to reach the city of Enshi! Enshi was a strong Wei city, it was usually defended by thousands of troops but thanks to Qin the Wei armies had been drawn away leaving Enshi lightly defended! Meng's halberd was now covered in blood as he led his troops atop the city's wall! Mountain tribe warriors were surging all over atop the wall, breaching through the Wei defenses in numerous locations!

Yo Tan Wa having caught Wei city by surprise managed to conquer the city in less than a day! with the city fallen, it didn't take long before Qin troops arrived and secure the city! it seemed while the Qin forces distracted Wei, Qin had requested for Yo Tan Wa to lead her army in secret and take the city!