Edge of the Ordos

To the west, in the great loop of the mighty Yellow River, the arid Ordos Desert serves as a less than secure buffer from the troublesome nomads of the Northern Waste. Our clever ruler, Xuan Wang, has devised a simple plan: outposts shall be established in the Ordos region. These shall serve both to warn of barbarian incursions and to exploit the area’s resources. Though the land is dry it is not barren. Deposits of salt and copper are present, if not plentiful. Smelt the copper to bronze and fashion weapons.
Wood is scarce, and must be imported, but that is understandable given the conditions. Using irrigation, your farmers should be able to grow enough millet, and hunters catch enough game to feed the population. Settlers venturing into the desert should watch for predators. Scouts report that fearsome bears have ventured south from their home in the Gobi. They are not to be trifled with!
One last thing: The King can spare one company of charioteers or one of infantry, but not both. Choose wisely!

City – Yulin
Starts Feb 823 BCE
10,400 starting cash on Very Hard

Requirements:

  • Population of 2000
  • 10 racks of weapons in one year
  • 1500 in Elegant Dwelling

To meet the goals of 2000 population and 1500 in Elegant Dwelling (the highest available in this mission) I built one common housing block. I positioned it close to the entrance to get workers in quickly. The well was the only building on grassland.

I received a gift of wheat from Hao in June 823 which I used as the first food to start my housing evolving. I also had hunters out getting game meat and by the time I could start to grow millet in July I had enough workers for the farms. Salt was the 3rd food type to make Appetising food, but I also did import some cabbage to supplement the game meat.

Anyang and Qufu are trading at the start of the mission and Hao allied within the first month. Requests to all the cities for them to trade saw Shu and Pingyang agreeing. This meant I could sell 36 bronze, 48 bronzeware and 24 weapons as well as salt and carved jade. So while I went into debt for a while at the end of the first year there was plenty of opportunity for profit, only I didn’t stay around long enough to take advantage of most of it.

To meet the goal of 10 weapons in a year requires a minimum of 2 weaponsmiths and 1 smelter but I built 3 smelters and 4 bronzewaremakers at the northern section of ore and another 3 smelters and 4 weaponsmiths further south.

The briefing mentioned building a fort and possible problems from the Nomads but while I produced weapons I never did get any indications of military threats and never did get around to building a fort.

In December of the 2nd year I met the housing and population goals and in January 822 the production goal was registered with 21 weapons produced in the year.

Trade

CityBuysSells
Anyang (open)Wood 12
*Game Meat 12
#Carved Jade 12
Bronzeware 12
Silk 24
Qufu (open)*Bronzeware 24
*Salt 12
*Millet 12
Stone 24
Jade 12
Clay 24
Hao (open Ally)Silk 12
*Salt 24
*Game Meat 12
Rice 12
Bronze 12
Wheat 12
Wood 12
Ceramics 12
Pingyang*Salt 12
*Weapons 24
Silk 12
Bronzeware 24
Cabbage 12
Jade 12
Shu*Bronze 36
*Bronzeware 24
*Salt 24
Rice 24
Fish 12
Silk 24
Anyi#Carved Jade
*Bronzeware
Rice
*Ceramics
Salt
Wood
WuSilk
Wheat
*Weapons
Rice
Fish
Salt
Nomad CampSilk
*Bronze
Wheat
Jade

*Can produce
#Can produce if raw materials are imported

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