[center][h3]T H E R E P U B L I C [/h3][/center] [center][h3]Siege of Kaifeng [/h3][/center] [center][b]Zengravian Democratic Front [/b][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/G68ty68.png[/img][/center] The [b]Siege of Kaifeng[/b] began not with a direct attack on the city itself but Republican air raids on Northern railway lines and bridges that would cut Kaifeng off from the outside world. The low howl of dive bombers filled the air as Lieutenant Chen guided his bomber down at a steep angle. He could feel his breakfast threatening to secede from his stomach but he brought it under control – as he did with his aircraft. The JL – 88 suddenly felt lighter as the five hundred pound bomb released from its underbelly went hurtling down towards the bridge. Chen saw little ant figures scrambling to get away but his real focus was on the trajectory of his bomb. The massive boom that followed and the sight of the bridge beginning to disintegrate as he pulled his aircraft up and away into the sky filled him with joy. Six more JL – 88’s followed, pounding distant rail lines and strafing targets. Another round of sorties would follow in a few hours to insure that no food or reinforcements got in or out of Kaifeng. For Lieutenant Chen, one of the few ethnic Zengravian pilots flying in the Volunteer Wing, the sight of the Republicans finally beginning to advance was thrilling. Chen tipped his wings to his squadron mates and then banked south for friendly territory to re-arm, re-fuel, and then continue the attack. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Republican planes pounded Royalist targets to the North, thousands of Republican troops had begun to stream towards Kaifeng. The rail lines were used to bring men, equipment, and supplies forward. Massive lumbering artillery guns had been brought up from factories in Haidan. The blue banners of the Taiyang movement flapped in the breeze hanging from the trains. Colonel Cai Xi stepped off the rail car and took stock of the controlled chaos that was going on around him. He received the haphazard salutes of a half dozen officers that had been assembled to greet him. The troops of the 10th Infantry Division under the self-declared General Ma-Auroit after being sweetened by bribes and additional promises that Xi didn’t want to know of would be assisting in the advance. Nevertheless, Xi found the man detestable. Fat and slovenly with equal poor taste in women and curiously ice cream. ‘’ Colonel Xi, welcome to the front. ‘’ Auroit said with a wide sweep of his fat hands. ‘’ You’ll find that it is quite different from the restive south. Nothing but fighting men here! ‘’ The General boasted, his voice like nails on a chalkboard. ‘’ General Shao has ordered me to make an inspection of your men and report on your general state of readiness to advance. ‘’ Xi said, a subordinate stepping forward to light a cigarette for him. He blew the resulting smoke in Auroit’s face if only to silence him for a moment. After the fat man’s hacking cough had subsided, the pair began their tour. Much to his shock, Xi was pleasantly surprised. The troops were dirty as their commander but their rifles were clean, the bayonets contained no hint of rust, and the men behind the rifle knew how to use them. Ma had made these soldiers grand promises and despite the General’s blubbering, Shao had probably come along at the right time to save this pencil pusher from a mutiny. [b]‘’ We start at once. ‘’ [/b] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The roar of heavy machine guns was enough to make Cai Xi’s ears bleed. Troops advanced, rifles cracking as they cleared buildings and houses. Smoke drifted in the breeze as the Royalists retreated back towards Kaifeng with the Republicans launching a slow pursuit. Xi observed the advance from an overlooking hill. It wasn’t just troops fleeing but civilians, some armed with little more than the clothes on their back. As cruel as it was, it was part of the Colonel’s plan to put as much pressure on the Duke as possible. He wanted Kaifeng hungry and cruelty was the only way to accomplish that goal. The initial skirmishes had been a back and forth affair but when the Royalists had stiffened their resolved and fought, the Volunteer Air Wing appeared to strafe and hammer the formations on the ground. ‘’ They’re on the run. ‘’ Major Wei said smugly, raising a pair of field glasses. ‘’ For now. ‘’ Xi murmured. The storming of Kaifeng would be much worse than these pin pricks they were inflicting on the enemy.