Apologies for the awful image but the scribes created no drawings to record this encounter.
theminiaturespage.com
"TMP link
Early in the reign of my lord and master, the glorious and undying Pharoah Ptolemaios IV Philopater, a strange and barbaric people appeared on our borders with hostile intent. In his Supreme and infinite wisdom, my Lord sent a trusted lieutenant to secure the border. The details of this minor border scuffle are lost as the scribes were sadly killed by the barbarians, but despite this setback the border was secured for the time being.
(I narrowly lost a previous game a few weeks ago but didn't have a record of that one.)
However, these uncouth and tasteless barbarians commenced to flood the markets of Alexandria with cheap toy pyramids and sphinxes, even small replicas of some of the previous native Pharoahs. The great Pharoah Ptolemaios, ever loving peace and harmony, even with the most irritating of intruders, reluctantly set off to explain to these crass and consumerist barbarians that Egypt does not want their mass produced toy knock-offs of our ancient and noble culture, so they can pack up their merchandise, get on their carts and return from whence they came.
We met the Chinese hordes on a plain on the western border of their wild and far flung lands. Some few signs of cultivation appeared before us to our left and to our front was the only terrain feature of any significance, a low gently sloping hill, which my much esteemed Lord and Pharoah immediately ordered the phalanx to push forward and seize. To the right, he positioned himself with the xystophoroi, a few Greek and Tarentine mercenary cavalry. Between them and the phalanx were some Galatian warriors and some elephants. On our left were the thureophoroi, more elephants, and a few Bedouin camel riders.
Facing our glorious Pharoah were a number of the antiquated chariots they so love, supported by a few horse archers and cavalry with crossbows. In front of the phalanx were multitudinous dagger-axe wielding heavy foot. On the Chinese right were more such foot, and a few lighter dagger-axemen and crossbowmen.
The horns sounded and the phalanx moved onto and over the hill, where the elite of the soldiers of Qin Shi Huangdi, upstart chieftain of these people, quaked in fear at our approach. Our thureophoroi surged forward and quickly dispatched the medium dagger axemen from the fields in which they cowered. The phalanx, awaiting the opportune moment, surged down from the heights and wreaked havoc amongst the pride of this Chinese horde.
Unfortunately, while this glorious demonstration of our most estimable Pharaoh's genius was taking place, the xystophoroi and pernicious mercenary cavalry mocked the presence of their great and good Pharoah by allowing themselves to be trampled under the hooves of the Chinese chariots and cavalry, who then regrouped to attack our Galatian warriors and elephants. Despite every divine and gallant exhortation to stand and fight for the glory of the Pharoah, these cleruch cavalry failed us in our hour of need. A note has been made to cancel the order for basic sarcophagi. These people will not receive even the most simple of mummification prior to their journeys to the next life. They will be left to rot where they lie.
Faced by the might of the phalanx and the rapid attack of the thureophoroi however, the Chinese wavered. Only the heroic resistance of their crossbowmen could save the Chinese army from ignominious defeat. And yet, inconceivable, resist they did. Thureophoroi fell and the attack on the left faltered.
The damage however was done and the Chinese army gave up its resistance. Our Pharoah, in his boundless generosity of spirit, decided to withdraw from the field of battle also, considering his message to have been delivered. The army commenced its long march home to the sunnier climes of beautiful Egypt.
(Drawn game.)
