Up to this point, we have paid little attention to resource constraints. Instead, we explored the range of possibilities to obtain the most optimal prediction models and outcomes. Yet, as the time to make a decision rapidly approaches, we must pay heed to the practical limitations of the Shu army. When considered within the context of our predictive models, logistical constraints will reveal our realistic set of available opportunities. From these, we can determine the risks and rewards of our potential actions with increased confidence. Taking our resources into account will lead us towards a sound and relevant decision.
The following sections outline the specific resource allotments available to the Shu army and the costs associated with the current campaign. Since we will use this information throughout the chapter, you may want to bookmark this segment for future reference. We will use four resources to determine the viability of our battle plans. These are gold, provisions, equipment, and soldiers.
Gold is our form of currency. Most actions have some kind of monetary cost associated with them. The emperor has allotted the army 1,000,000 gold. This can be used however you wish in devising a strategy for the Shu forces.
Provisions are needed to sustain the human component of the Shu army. You have 1,000,000 in provisions available. The amount required per month (30 days) depends on the number of soldiers that you take into battle. Therefore, more soldiers equates to a faster rate of consumption. Since each soldier needs one unit of provisions per 30 days to survive, the daily consumption rate for the Shu army is equal to the number of soldiers engaged in battle divided by 30 and the cost of purchasing new provisions is one gold per unit. Thus, an army of 100,000 soldiers would require 100,000 provisions to sustain itself for 30 days (100,000 soldiers * (30 / 30) = 100,000 provisions).
Equipment refers to the manufactured component of the Shu army. This includes items such as weapons, armor, chariots, tents, and so on. The army's equipment depreciates at a rate of 0.1 (10%) per month (30 days). You need to pay one gold per soldier engaged in battle to keep your equipment in prime condition. For instance, the equipment upkeep for an army of 100,000 would cost 100,000 gold per 30 days. Without maintained equipment, the Shu forces stand no chance against the Wei, who have greater human and manufactured resources.
Soldiers are the human resource of the Shu army. The number of soldiers that you take into battle has a tremendous impact on the expenses incurred, as well as the outcome of the conflict. Therefore, it is a matter of delicate balance. Hanzhong, the site from which you will launch your upcoming attack, currently has 100,000 soldiers. You have the option to relocate soldiers to different cities within your kingdom. All things considered, the cost to move soldiers between cities is one gold per soldier per 100 miles. Keep in mind that strengthening one location is equivalent to weakening another. It is best to make sure that all critical cities within your kingdom are sufficiently staffed to protect against invasion. The resource map (see the Resource map section of this chapter) depicts the current distribution of soldiers in various cities within the Shu and Wei kingdoms. From this, we can see that moving 1,000 soldiers from Baxi to Hanzhong, a distance of 100 miles, would cost 1,000 gold.
The following table summarizes the logistical considerations that you will need to attend to while devising a strategy for the Shu forces:
|
Resource |
Quantity |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Gold |
1,000,000 | |
|
Provisions |
1,000,000 |
1 gold per soldier per 30 days to sustain |
|
Equipment |
1.0 |
1 gold per soldier per 30 days to maintain |
|
Soldiers |
100,000 |
1 gold per soldier per 100 miles to relocate |
With these resources and costs in mind, you can predict the outcomes and assess the feasibility of potential battle plans.
