With two cities under Ming Jia Ying's control, doubling her production of supplies, the rest of the game went quickly. Ming Jia Ying and the teenage boy faced off for several rounds. As Ming Jia Ying predicted, the teenage boy's ability to adapt was excellent, but her ability to resupply her troops allowed them to overwhelm him.

Meanwhile the young lady was fending off a pincer attack from her neighbors. Seeing that the teenager was quickly losing out, she was hoping to hold out long enough for Ming Jia Ying to put some pressure on her attackers. In her attempt to hold off the young man and elderly gentleman's combined assault, she deployed several ice squads and a life squad to support them.

Ice squads are defensive units, with a movement of one, a range of three and a damage of one, but the squads they damage are prevented from moving or attacking on their owner's next turn. Life squads are utility units, they have a movement of two, but instead of an attack they can sacrifice two of their supplies to give one supply to each ally squad within a range of two. In addition, any squads that receive a supply from a life squad may sacrifice it to make an additional attack or movement that turn without using one of their owner's actions.

These two unit types together created a formidable line of defense for the young lady. She managed to survive long enough to see the teenager's city fall, but unfortunately hers followed suit the next round. The elderly gentleman out maneuvered the young man, securing the final hit on the young lady's city. When ownership of a city changes it can't be targeted until its new owner's next turn, given this the young man chose to withdraw and regroup.

Another of her mother's teachings ran through Ming Jia Ying's mind, -Rule 8: Act confidently, not recklessly.- It was obvious that the old man was a skilled player with a keen insight into his opponent's strategy, but that didn't mean Ming Jia Ying would back down. She began moving her squads into his territory while the majority of his forces were still in the territory previously controlled by the young lady. Ming Jia Ying was wary of the elderly gentleman, but she hadn't forgotten about the young man. Before ending her turn she placed a few ice squads around her original city in case the young man decided to make a move.

By this point in the game the old man had a good read on his opponents' personalities and strategies. He knew he could easily handle the young man, but Ming Jia Ying was a different story. He was unsure if he could beat her in an even match, much less when she currently held an advantage. Despite his loss being all but assured, he still felt like he could have plenty of fun with her until then.

It was clear to the young man that he was being treated like a third wheel. From the way Ming Jia Ying and the elderly gentleman were placing their squads the young man could tell that they didn't see him as a real threat. He honestly couldn't blame them, he was currently at a sever disadvantage. He decided to lightly harass their rear guard troops while waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback.

The young man's opportunity never came. Instead an opportunity for the old man to claim the young man's city arrived after a counter attack from Ming Jia Ying decimated the young man's forces. Now the old man and Ming Jia Ying each control three cities, but she still holds the advantage with more squads and a more extensive network of roads.

For the remainder of the game, to the casual observer it appeared as if Ming Jia Ying was pressuring the elderly gentleman, but from her perspective it was quite the opposite. The old man was wearing a knowing smile as he continued to move his squads into the best defensive positions possible, forcing Ming jia Ying to search for the new optimal angle of attack. Despite holding the advantage, Ming Jia Ying only made a small amount of progress each round, making her feel as if she were dancing in the palm of the old man's hand.

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As the last city fell to Ming Jia Ying's forces, signaling the end of the game, she didn't feel like she'd won. None of the elderly gentleman's counter attacks had been made with the intention of reversing the situation, instead he seemed to be intentionally dragging out the game as long as possible. He turned the game into an ever changing puzzle that threatened to drive his opponent mad. By the end Ming Jia Ying was exhausted. The old man on the other hand was as jovial as he'd been from the start, chuckling as he congratulated her, “Masterfully done, Little Ming.”

None of the players had been formally introduced and before Ming Jia Ying could process the fact the old man knew her name he'd already arrived beside her. As he offered her his hand he said, “You're as brilliant as your mother said. Honestly, I thought she'd exaggerated out of pride. You did well remembering her lessons and persevering to the end.”

Ming Jia Ying took his hand and as he helped her to her feet she asked, “Senior, how do you know my mother?”

“Ming Fang was under my command when she was in the military. In fact I'm the one that taught her how to play Siege and some of the lessons she's taught you come from the one's I taught her. My name is Shan Yang, I'm sure she's told you stories about me.”

Ming Jia Ying's mind was instantly filled with dozens of funny stories her mother told her about Shan the Old Goat[1]. From the character's mischievous behavior she'd always thought it was an actual goat, but now it seemed Old Goat was just a nickname her mother used. Her eye's brightening with recognition as she looked at Shan Yang and asked, “Old Goat, with your skill you should have been able to put up more of a fight, right? Why did you decide to toy with me instead?”

Shan Yang had long since gotten used to the nickname 'Goat,' but his eye twitched at having 'Old' thrown in front. Still he played the part of the wise senior and answered her question, “A direct frontal assault is not the only way to fight, even in a game. Rule 1...”

“The art of deception is the art of war,” Ming Jia Ying interjected.

“Indeed. I wanted you to think I wasn't trapped, that I was in control. If the pressure caused you to make a mistake or the frustration led you to over commit your forces I'd have pounced on the opportunity to make a come back. Dictating the flow of the battle can cause a weak willed opponent to crumble before you, even if they hold the upper hand.”

As they descended the stairs from the stage, Ming Jia Ying blurted out, “So, you're saying that I outplayed you and the moves you made were designed to distract me from the fact there was nothing you could do to win. Is that right, Old Goat?”

Shan Yang nearly missed the last step, his eye twitching several times as he sighed in defeat, “...Well... I wouldn't put it that way,” before regaining his composure. “You really are your mother's daughter, graceful under pressure, but tactless in conversation.”

At first Ming Jia Ying was beaming at being compared to her mother, but the last bit stung. Just as she was preparing an insult of her own she heard her mother's gentle laugh, “Don't tease her too much Old Goat. Otherwise I'll have to step in and I doubt you want to trade barbs with someone as tactless as me.”

As Shan Yang's gaze moved from Ming Jia Ying to Ming Fang, it was like he was looking at the young girl's future self. The two shared many features, from their dimpled cheeks with a button nose to their fair golden skin and eye catching auburn hair. A light pink, loose fitting shirt and pants held together with a small black vest coupled with her hair done up in two small buns made Ming Jia Ying look like a children's doll brought to life. Ming Fang on the other hand was wearing several layers of light fabric that were wrapped tightly around her body, leaving little of her skin visible, but her toned muscles and mature curves were on full display

Knowing that a duel of words with Ming Fang would only cause his wrinkles to grow, Shan Yang decided to concede, “She reminds me so much of you as a recruit that it brought back old habits. As an apology, how about I treat you both to a meal? There should be enough time before the next round of the tournament begins.”

Author's Notes:

[1]Shan Yang's name is similar to the word “Shanyang” meaning goat