That's clever.
The Sú Swâŋ (Asian clicks lang's culture)
Re: The Phetsha Incident VI
One of the difficult horsemen to deal with was Baga (Pà Ká). While many places capitulated when Kʰɔ́ŋ Tʰàn fell - a city founded by idealism, where no tyrant ruled, rather a supposedly perfect culture - Baga simply steeled his convictions. "Fine," he was quoted as saying, "children fall before they run."
Riding rampantly through his quarter of the ever-troubled Northern Hinterlands, he tried to get everyone he could onto his side. There were several more major horsemen in the region, but he is a typical example of them all, so we discuss him in particular.
Tòŋ Ú-Jò had to deal with him before moving on to the Phetsha heartlands.
Dealing with the north, Baga was in his element. Dry and infertile but too close to not not belong to the Tu Sú Swâŋ, the place was perfect for animal husbandry, and was just the right terrain for calvary attacks. Baga moved his troops and roved from village to barren village, city to lakeside city, with the hope that he might overtake General Tòŋ.
Tòŋ Ú-Jò at first attempted to intercept Baga's travels, but Baga was too slippery.
Then Baga decided to make it easier, and attacked Tòŋ early in the morning, raiding once, then slipping away. And then a few days later, did that again. And then a few days later, again. General Tòŋ was used to this, though (it being a classic Phetsha tactic), and used this strategy to his advantage - he took one of the few horses he had, and sent a new recruit from the local lands as a spy, riding alongside Baga's army as they retreated. Baga, in turn, found out who the new defector was, and killed him immediately. He sent the General the bloody armour (the solider was buried) during the next attack, along with a message in Phetsha in written in Swang characters: "Bathe your soldiers."
After a couple skirmishes, Tòŋ Ú-Jò was disaffected by Baga. Either he'd come out and fight, or do nothing. Either way, the General hoped to eventually get to a town where Baga was hated.
Fortunately though, Baga finally decided to stage a proper battle - but Tòŋ was not surprised. He was expecting Baga, because he knew he looked to him like he didn't care anymore, even though he did. He knew how big the horseman's army was, as well. He knew the horseman hoped he'd eventually peter out and try looking for provisions. He'd been through this plenty of times before.
It was in the wee hours of the morning. On a small, slowly-inclining hill, Baga's horse was standing, among his other men - farmers with either a knack either for horses, the Phetsha way, or both, armed with war scythes and pikes. (Remember, the Swang Phetsha at one point had a community in the north, and as well, various nomads that would invade the hinterlands were Phetsha; in a sense, this was their heritage.)
Below them was the Tòŋ's camp. They were expecting an attack, but were just waking up. Immediately, the nightguards blew their horns; the soldiers rushed to get up, as an infantry charge came at them silhouetted against the dawn. The General commanded them to hold their ground - which they did. But Baga would not let up.
The general had them feign a retreat and split in two - then in the middle of the bluff, one group would suddenly turn and charge, while the other would stand by. As the discombobulated horsemen attempted to to form order, the other side attacked, with whatever archers there were taking aim at the rebel enemy.
Baga barely escaped with his life that day; three days later, he was caught and brought to Tòŋ Ú-Jò, and executed.
{Next post will be about the end of the war - no, for real this time. After that an epilogue.}
Riding rampantly through his quarter of the ever-troubled Northern Hinterlands, he tried to get everyone he could onto his side. There were several more major horsemen in the region, but he is a typical example of them all, so we discuss him in particular.
Tòŋ Ú-Jò had to deal with him before moving on to the Phetsha heartlands.
Dealing with the north, Baga was in his element. Dry and infertile but too close to not not belong to the Tu Sú Swâŋ, the place was perfect for animal husbandry, and was just the right terrain for calvary attacks. Baga moved his troops and roved from village to barren village, city to lakeside city, with the hope that he might overtake General Tòŋ.
Tòŋ Ú-Jò at first attempted to intercept Baga's travels, but Baga was too slippery.
Then Baga decided to make it easier, and attacked Tòŋ early in the morning, raiding once, then slipping away. And then a few days later, did that again. And then a few days later, again. General Tòŋ was used to this, though (it being a classic Phetsha tactic), and used this strategy to his advantage - he took one of the few horses he had, and sent a new recruit from the local lands as a spy, riding alongside Baga's army as they retreated. Baga, in turn, found out who the new defector was, and killed him immediately. He sent the General the bloody armour (the solider was buried) during the next attack, along with a message in Phetsha in written in Swang characters: "Bathe your soldiers."
After a couple skirmishes, Tòŋ Ú-Jò was disaffected by Baga. Either he'd come out and fight, or do nothing. Either way, the General hoped to eventually get to a town where Baga was hated.
Fortunately though, Baga finally decided to stage a proper battle - but Tòŋ was not surprised. He was expecting Baga, because he knew he looked to him like he didn't care anymore, even though he did. He knew how big the horseman's army was, as well. He knew the horseman hoped he'd eventually peter out and try looking for provisions. He'd been through this plenty of times before.
It was in the wee hours of the morning. On a small, slowly-inclining hill, Baga's horse was standing, among his other men - farmers with either a knack either for horses, the Phetsha way, or both, armed with war scythes and pikes. (Remember, the Swang Phetsha at one point had a community in the north, and as well, various nomads that would invade the hinterlands were Phetsha; in a sense, this was their heritage.)
Below them was the Tòŋ's camp. They were expecting an attack, but were just waking up. Immediately, the nightguards blew their horns; the soldiers rushed to get up, as an infantry charge came at them silhouetted against the dawn. The General commanded them to hold their ground - which they did. But Baga would not let up.
The general had them feign a retreat and split in two - then in the middle of the bluff, one group would suddenly turn and charge, while the other would stand by. As the discombobulated horsemen attempted to to form order, the other side attacked, with whatever archers there were taking aim at the rebel enemy.
Baga barely escaped with his life that day; three days later, he was caught and brought to Tòŋ Ú-Jò, and executed.
{Next post will be about the end of the war - no, for real this time. After that an epilogue.}