262 BCE
ZHAO CAMP
RIN SHOU JO POV
Lin Xiangru or Rin Shou Jo coughed into his hand as he inhaled the midday air. He admired the central plains and all that it had to offer in times of peace. But he knew that peace was soon to be shattered once more, like many a time previously, when they had set up camp at the border, he would adventure out alongside his Ten spears.
Some days he would drill them in tactics and make them engage in a mock battle other times they would patrol the borders, though this time it was mainly patrols and Rin Shou Jo wanted to see the borders of Wei possibly for one last time. Even though he knew his life was coming to a close, Rin Shou Jo accepted it. The Zhao doctors had tried their hardest to find a remedy for his condition, the King and prime minister had asked for doctors from Qi, Chu, Wei and Han.
Doctors and physicians from all over had come to see if they could heal his sickly body but none of it worked, so Rin Shou Jo could only accept that he was fated to die at a young age. "Life is short, death is only a matter of time." He'd say to himself when his mind would sink into dark places. Rin Shou Jo worried like most warriors and scholars in the current ravaged era that was the central plains.
It was one of the reasons he had risen so quickly in the ranks of Zhao's military and became one of three Great Heavens for Zhao. Him, his brother Ren Pa and Chou Sha the elderly one out of the three of them. They formed a team that was unbreakable under the previous King of Zhao. And now, 'Chou Sha has passed on and I am soon to follow him.' If it were that Rin Shou Jo could help his homeland one more time he would do so.
A horse could no longer carry his sickly body but there was still much work to do, that is why Rin Shou Jo sat in his war tent, with his lead strategist and the left hand of his family of ten heroes. A name that the previous Zhao King in his grace bestowed upon his army, they had all trained together from an early age. Slept under the same night sky, planned in the cold and fought under the same sun and moon.
It was an army, a brotherhood that had been forged in the chaotic scenery of war. Rin Shou Jo truly loved his army and with that familial love came the worry that once his body finally fails him and he could no longer rise they would do something that may very well lead to their destruction. For he had no successor, no heir to take up the mantle that would inevitably be left behind by him.
He knew he could not dissuade them from throwing themselves into war after war once he had passed, his soldiers held a higher sort of loyalty and reverence for him. They wouldn't accept another Lord, sometimes Rin Shou Jo chuckled at the thought.
'Like birds standing atop a precarious branch, but stubbornly refusing to take flight.' The thought brought a wry smile to his face. As he swiped the ink brush against the last bamboo slip before putting it aside. Looking up he saw that ChouGaryuu was focused on the recent deployment of the Wei army on the opposite side of the border.
Wei had their own set of Great Generals, to which they called the Fire Dragons of Wei. Only three of them had been called to the border by the reports of the scouts, Ba Tou, Tai Ro Ji and Shou Sen. There was only light probing by the Wei and nothing more, according to some spies there had been some trouble in the Wei royal court.
"My Lord," Chougaryuu spoke, interrupting any further thoughts he had regarding Wei's political troubles. "Hmm, we sent out Gyou'un quiet some time ago and he has yet to return."
"You believe he has run into some trouble?"
"A possibility, but knowing Gyou'un's capabilities well, I would favour him in any problem that he has found himself in." It was one of the reasons as to why Gyou'un was the strongest out of the ten heroes. His martial might was nothing to laugh or snicker at, many had fallen to his glaive and many more would do so.
Chougaryuu had a look of realisation in his eyes before he spoke "...My Lord, I know I can not stop you. However, the royal physicians have said that you must rest and build your constitution."
As Rin Shoujo was about to respond, the tent flap opened and in walked Den Pou who upon entering clasped his hand in a military salute and bowed. "My Lord, General Gyou'un has returned." Rin ShouJo nodded for the man to continue since he could see that the first of the ten spears under Gyou'un had more to say.
Taking the invitation the man said something that made both his and Chou Garyuu's ears perk up, "General Gyou'un was patrolling the border as instructed but in doing so he came across a wandering boy and decided to bring him back to camp."
"What?!" Chou Garyuu was the first to break the silence that followed the recent development. "Has Gyou'un forgotten that this is a military camp in his gallavanting on the border?" Chou Garyuu continued. Rin ShouJo waved a hand silencing his left hand man, "Now, now Gyou'un is not one to do things without taking the proper measures." He then turned back to Den Pou, "Tell me, why has Gyou'un brought this child to the main camp, whilst Chou Garyuu's words may be heated there is truth in them."
Den Pou still ever so slightly before bowing once more, "My Lord, General Gyou'un said you would want to see this child for yourself. I can not say I know the General's mind but he has been in constant conversation with the boy." Hearing all Den Pou had to say, Rin Shoujo nodded, and told Den Pou to bring both the boy and Gyou'un to him.
As he sat and waited, Rin ShouJo thought back on fate and the lines of thought he previously had. He knew it was all too soon for him to think that this was fate granting him one last task but… 'A man can only dream, can't he?'
With a smirk he drummed a finger on the table.
….
262 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: Rin Shoujo HQ
GYOU'UN POV
As he entered his Lords tent alongside the young boy, Sei Chou, who he had found wandering, Gyou'un reflected on the chance encounter that had brought him to where the boy was. The scouts had sent word that there was movement coming from the Tai Ro Ji army which was stationed on the border, in response Gyou'un personally had his own troops move closer and set out himself to see with his own eyes.
He only took just one hundred men along with him, and headed to the place he knew instinctively would be the staging ground. However, he saw no Tai Ro Ji or Wei army, only scouts in the region. That was when he saw the single lone boy called Sei Chou, following the rules of the military Gyou'un had questioned him and the boy answered each of his questions.
Deciding against leaving the boy to wander and possibly die, Gyou'un thought it better to bring Sei Chou to Lord Rin Shoujo and have him decide on what action should be taken. Truly, in the conversation Gyou'un had with Sei Chou he could see that the boy was smart and had a noble bearing about him.
Even his name, the direction he came from and the fact that the boy was born in the Wei capital Dairyou. Just putting these pieces together painted a picture that could have landed him in serious trouble should he have executed Sei Chou. Even the execution of a child would have been enough for Lord Rin Shoujo to be very displeased with him, as his lord though ruthless in politics and at war often spared children that raised no blade towards him.
Entering the tent, Gyou'un bowed to Lord Rin Shou Jo and Sei Chou followed his action not a beat after. In the tent was only the high command of the Rin Shoujo army, the ten heroes of Rin Shouj Jo were all present and awaited their leader's words.
"Gyou'un, I see you have returned and not alone." His lord had a curious look in his eyes as he scrutinised Sei Chou, "Yes, my Lord. The child I brought with me is Sei Chou. A young child who has been wandering the border said his family and retainers were all slaughtered." Gyou'un said.
There was a beat of silence, "Hmm, is this true Sei Chou?"
"Indeed, Lord Rin Shou Jo. I have nothing left to my name and was only wandering the border when I encountered General Gyou'un and his troops. They offered me food and water, as I told them my story before being brought here." Sei Chou spoke the complete truth and Gyou'un was happy that the boy did so.
"You know we are an army correct and everyone here has to earn their way?" Rin Shou Jo replied.
"I do and I expect no less, Lord Rin Shou Jo."
"Then, I do not see why we cannot take in a stray child." And just like that the interrogation came to a close, though by looking at the face of some of his comrades they also had words to say but kept their mouths closed. Not a single one of them dared to speak in opposition of their Lord whilst in the company of an outsider.
"Den Pou," The tent flap opened and in walked the man, "Take Sei Chou, make sure he is well fed and treated nicely. The boy is now officially a guest of mine."
As Sei Chou left he gave a military salute to Rin Shoujo which from the place Gyou'un stood he could spot the slight smile his lord had watching the child go. Before their leader once more turned to Gyou'un and said. "Tell the full story of Sei Chou, leave no details unsaid."
"So you saw the resemblance as well?" Gyou'un replied quickly.
"...Only the similar look."
Gyou'un went on to recount the story that Sei Chou had told him in its entirety not leaving a single detail out, all the while his lord seemed to be in deep thought as he heard it and only interrupted to question some details others also interrupted such as Chou Garyuu to also ask questions.
After the story was done and everything was known Rin Shoujo spoke once more, "I do not doubt Gyou'un's word or the sincerity and truth in Sei Chou's words. Therefore I want to bring the child into the army and have him study with us." Rin Shou Jo took a pause and looked at each one of the Ten heroes with a hard look.
Gyou'un wondered and would always go on to wonder if it was just his mind that was conjuring the image but his lord seemed to shine with brilliant motes of light as he spoke his next words.
"I believe that Sei Chou is a possible gift that the Wei have spurned and that the boy may very well do something incredible for Zhao in the future!"
CHAPTER DONE