Read Online L5r - scroll 05 - The Crab by Stan Brown, Stan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stan Brown, Stan
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another Scorpion assassination, but Kisada knew Toturi too well to believe that. He was too strong-willed and vigilant to be taken in by a Scorpion plot.
"Better a city of ash than a city of Scorpions," Kisada grumbled.
Most everyone agreed. Even Shinjo Yokatsu, daimyo of the Unicorn Clan, concurred that it was most important to pry the Scorpion forces out of their hiding place before they managed to escape.
The daimyo might not all be in complete accord, but it was agreed. The next morning they would storm the Forbidden City.
xxxxxxxx
No plan ever survives contact with the enemy, but Kisada was used to plans remaining fixed until the armies were on the battlefield. Still, he found himself back in the same pavilion two hours before the attack because something had changed— something key.
Akodo Toturi had returned!
The Great Bear marveled at how the other daimyo responded to Toturi. If anyone should lay claim to the Emerald Throne when this brutality was done, clearly it was Toturi.
Still, the Lion Champion's plan did not sit well with Kisada. He called for them to use the same tactics the Scorpion favored— divert the enemy's attention with a fruitless attack while another force crept up and took the Scorpion by surprise. He would have the Crab begin a frontal assault of the Forbidden City's Fudotaki
Gate, then break off the attack in order to sneak through the River Gate in the dead of night. The very thought made Kisada's skin crawl.
"Acting like the Scorpion would bring dishonor to my clan!" he said and glared at Toturi meaningfully.
The Lion leaned toward him and casually said, "Then you can stay and storm Fudotaki Gate until we sneak in and open it for you."
"Yosh!" Kisada nodded with approval. "Just do not take too long, or we might break the gate down on your heads!"
xxxxxxxx
"This is what we came here for!" Yakamo shouted. "There is only one way into the Forbidden City, and it is through these gates!"
At the head of the first wave of samurai, Yakamo looked at the Fudotaki Gate towering above him. The barrier surrounding the Forbidden City wasn't nearly as tall as the Kaiu Wall, but it was impressive. This was the first time Crab bushi had ever laid siege to such a structure—they usually defended one. It was a daunting prospect.
"We know the advantage of standing on a wall. We know the power that comes from high ground and a home to defend. But we know one thing more. We know that no wall is equal to our fury, and no army—particularly the cowardly Scorpion army— can stand against our ancient duty to defend the empire. No Crab army ever has failed in this sacred task, and we will not today! To defend the empire we must free the Forbidden City. To free the city we must take this gate!"
With a sound that caused the very earth to tremble, the Crab army surged forward. Yakamo and his samurai hefted a great battering ram and ran at full speed toward the gate.
Above them, Scorpion officers gave the order for archers to "skewer the dogs!" A rain of arrows poured around them.
A second regiment ran alongside Yakamo's, holding large wooden hoardings above their brothers carrying the battering iam. Arrows sank deep into the wood, some getting through unblocked. One bearer bit back a howl of pain as a Scorpion missile pierced his hoarding and the arm he used to support it. Still he siood his ground. Three of the bushi in his regiment fell, but the rest of Yakamo's warriors continued on.
Howling like a typhoon up the coasdine, the warriors reached the gate. The ram struck hard, harder than anything had struck this gate in living memory. It shook the structure from the ramparts to the foundation—but left no real measurable effect.
"Again!" shouted Yakamo.
In one fluid motion they rocked back and leaned into their larget again, striking even harder than before. Though small chips of ancient wood flew through the air, the Fudotaki Gate did not groan or give.
Yakamo stood there at the very head of the
"Better a city of ash than a city of Scorpions," Kisada grumbled.
Most everyone agreed. Even Shinjo Yokatsu, daimyo of the Unicorn Clan, concurred that it was most important to pry the Scorpion forces out of their hiding place before they managed to escape.
The daimyo might not all be in complete accord, but it was agreed. The next morning they would storm the Forbidden City.
xxxxxxxx
No plan ever survives contact with the enemy, but Kisada was used to plans remaining fixed until the armies were on the battlefield. Still, he found himself back in the same pavilion two hours before the attack because something had changed— something key.
Akodo Toturi had returned!
The Great Bear marveled at how the other daimyo responded to Toturi. If anyone should lay claim to the Emerald Throne when this brutality was done, clearly it was Toturi.
Still, the Lion Champion's plan did not sit well with Kisada. He called for them to use the same tactics the Scorpion favored— divert the enemy's attention with a fruitless attack while another force crept up and took the Scorpion by surprise. He would have the Crab begin a frontal assault of the Forbidden City's Fudotaki
Gate, then break off the attack in order to sneak through the River Gate in the dead of night. The very thought made Kisada's skin crawl.
"Acting like the Scorpion would bring dishonor to my clan!" he said and glared at Toturi meaningfully.
The Lion leaned toward him and casually said, "Then you can stay and storm Fudotaki Gate until we sneak in and open it for you."
"Yosh!" Kisada nodded with approval. "Just do not take too long, or we might break the gate down on your heads!"
xxxxxxxx
"This is what we came here for!" Yakamo shouted. "There is only one way into the Forbidden City, and it is through these gates!"
At the head of the first wave of samurai, Yakamo looked at the Fudotaki Gate towering above him. The barrier surrounding the Forbidden City wasn't nearly as tall as the Kaiu Wall, but it was impressive. This was the first time Crab bushi had ever laid siege to such a structure—they usually defended one. It was a daunting prospect.
"We know the advantage of standing on a wall. We know the power that comes from high ground and a home to defend. But we know one thing more. We know that no wall is equal to our fury, and no army—particularly the cowardly Scorpion army— can stand against our ancient duty to defend the empire. No Crab army ever has failed in this sacred task, and we will not today! To defend the empire we must free the Forbidden City. To free the city we must take this gate!"
With a sound that caused the very earth to tremble, the Crab army surged forward. Yakamo and his samurai hefted a great battering ram and ran at full speed toward the gate.
Above them, Scorpion officers gave the order for archers to "skewer the dogs!" A rain of arrows poured around them.
A second regiment ran alongside Yakamo's, holding large wooden hoardings above their brothers carrying the battering iam. Arrows sank deep into the wood, some getting through unblocked. One bearer bit back a howl of pain as a Scorpion missile pierced his hoarding and the arm he used to support it. Still he siood his ground. Three of the bushi in his regiment fell, but the rest of Yakamo's warriors continued on.
Howling like a typhoon up the coasdine, the warriors reached the gate. The ram struck hard, harder than anything had struck this gate in living memory. It shook the structure from the ramparts to the foundation—but left no real measurable effect.
"Again!" shouted Yakamo.
In one fluid motion they rocked back and leaned into their larget again, striking even harder than before. Though small chips of ancient wood flew through the air, the Fudotaki Gate did not groan or give.
Yakamo stood there at the very head of the
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