They Couldn't Hit the Broadside of a Barn - Western Han Chinese vs. Goguryeo Korean

Korean pole armed armored halberdiers (Khurasan Miniatures)

In a masterful feat of speed painting, Brian managed to paint an entire 10,500 point Goguryeo Korean army in two months and eight days (or was it five days)?  This army was built in response to my recently completed Han Chinese army which took considerably longer to complete.  So with an open Saturday, we met to initiate the Korean army.  

Here's Brian's list:

And here are my Western Han:

Brian was ably assisted by Lance (he of the Mongol army fame) while I had Mark pushing lead and rolling non-skulls on my side. 

Synopsis of the Battle

Both sides lined up in the classic formation of cavalry on the wings and infantry in the middle. The Koreans lined up their armored horse on their left flank and their bow armed cavalry on their right. The Chinese split their cavalry with two conscript heavy cavalry and two dependent state cavalry on the right and half that number on the left flank. 

The Chinese pushed forward on their right against the armored cavalry but their shoot and charge ability was for naught as the bolts and arrows harmlessly plinked off the armor. The forces charged each other but the strength of the Korean cavalry wore down the Han and quickly the Chinese were down two TuGs.

On the other flank, a stalemate ensued as both sides kept out of missile range until finally they lined up and let loose. In a devastating volley, the Koreans managed five hits on five dice.  Yikes! The Han were soon down three TuGs. 

One unit of Conscript Heavy Cavalry broke off from the missile duel and slammed into the group of poor Korean militia coming to support the fight. Things were looking up for the Chinese who now scored to make it 3-1.

The infantry in the center finally engaged and a bloody scrum ensued. Soon both sides lost two TuGs and the Chinese were on the edge of destruction 5 - 3. 

The final turn saw the Koreans with many chances to break the Han and finally they did so when an armored cavalry TuG slammed into an unprotected, bow armed Dependent State Cavalry unit.

More pics below