GYOU'UN VERSUS SHOU HEI KUN
"Let's get these bastards!" The Chou Bu unit under Gyou'un surged forward, and the cavalry smashed hard into the Qin infantry who were caught unawares. With spears, glaives and swords, they cut down the Qin soldiers.
"Don't you dare falter!" Kou Ryuu, a commander under Shou Hei Kun, shouted, his actions mirroring those of the Chou Bu unit prior. The Qin cavalry battered the Zhao infantry, which was helpless against their mounted opponents.
Across the left flank of the battlefield, where Gyou'un and Shou Hei Kun faced off, a fierce stalemate slowly became the flow of the battle. From Gyou'un's dominance showed earlier in the battle to Shou Hei Kun taking command, and evening the score. The soldiers of the Qin army, who were victorious over their enemies in their short but ferocious fighting, were able to sense the change and likewise so did the Zhao.
GYOU'UN HEADQUARTERS
"Report from the Sekikou unit that was sent out just recently!" A messenger announced.
"Oh, how quick, they've already decimated their target?"
"Haha, Sekikou never does things half-measured!"
With each small victory that Gyou'un had gained, his army grew more confident and prideful. They knew their fellow comrades well and remarked at how well they were doing, even going as far as to predict victory.
Yet that will all begin to change…
"N-no, sir! They were met with stern resistance as they launched their attack; they were flanked and smashed." Hearing the words of the messenger, Gyou'uns' ear twitched ever so slightly as he frowned.
"Seikikou managed to escape, but only half of his men were able to return…"
"What?!"
"How can that be, and to lose half of his troops…"
Another messenger arrived, and the men initially thought he would be bringing better news, but still, it was even more dire than the last.
"The… the whole unit whipped out to a man?!"
Then another messenger came, and when his words were just as dire as the previous two, the men of Gyou'un's personal army were in shock. Deep frowns marred their faces, but their frowns could not compete with the one Gyou'un was sporting.
"Three losses back to back…"
"And good units at that… these were not green troops… To all be wiped out like this."
Gyou'un moved forward, not saying a word, narrowing his eyes to watch the movements of the troops and the response of the Qin. He could feel it in his bones as he saw the flags move to and fro and the cohesiveness that the Qin displayed. It all felt different to him; the change was too sudden for him to miss it, and his eyes went directly to where the majority of the Qin flags were arrayed.
After a long pause, Gyou'un spoke, "... That's why it feels so different. They've changed commanders." He paused once more, at first he had thought the person to be the same as him, but he thought that was false. They were not driven by instinct; he could somewhat see the strategic planning behind their moves, for he had been taught by none other than Rin Shou Jo of the Zhao Three Great Heavens.
"A strategic type is matching me every step of the way… How interesting, now then can you keep up?"
SHOU HEI KUN HEADQUARTERS
The Headquarters of Shou Hei Kun were different to Gyou'un's; the mood was upbeat as more and more reports of small battles were being won, but still it was a give-and-take situation.
"This is only his first battle, he says, this youngster is certainly no ordinary person!" One of the Qin commanders exclaimed, he'd been pissed that command was to be passed to a nobody dandy whose only seal of approval was that of Ko Shou, but after seeing the talent of Shou Hei Kun, it was much easier to stomach.
"Send two units to the left side, the first to hit and run and the second to clean up once the Zhao gives chase there." Shou Hei Kun calmly said his orders to a messenger who nodded and headed off.
"Commander Shou Hei Kun, another success, with little casualties, with most of the Zhao troops killed." A messenger returned with good news, only to receive a nod from Shou Hei Kun before he issued more orders.
"Kai Oku, have your unit hit them hard. If they flee, do not press but instead curve around and hit the next Zhao troop. Once they follow, retreat and signal for others to flank them." Shou Hei Kun's right-hand man, Kai Oku, nodded before heading out. He followed Shou Hei Kun's command perfectly, and it was devastating. The Zhao soldiers, caught unprepared, could scarcely mount an attack, and once they fled, he smashed right into the next unit before retreating to headquarters.
The little wins boosted morale for the Qin, who had more men, and now that they saw their side was winning, they gained a second wind.
"Commander, surely if we're winning as much as we are… Then, we should commit our full force and just destroy the Gyou'un army in front of us. If we do, then we'll be right at the throat of that Sei Chou?" A Qin general asked tentatively.
"Speed is vital in war." Another nodded in agreement.
"No, that's what Gyou'un wants. I can see the trap coming, and if we are to move too hastily, then it wouldn't be to our benefit, but there we have more troops, and they wouldn't last in such a battle of attrition." Shou Hei Kun replied easily before looking back at the strategic map that was being updated rapidly.
His eyes traced the men and where they were heading, the openings in his lines and the openings in Gyou'un's, and he could see it all. With a finger, he started dragging it down, and then he saw it… the trap that Gyou'un's instinctual mind had set for him.
….
Gyou'un watched on quietly; the warriors in Gyou'un's army did not speak further as they allowed their leaders' instinctual mind work. Intently, Gyou'un watched as the battle started to unfold before him, then just fractionally, his eyes widened.
"Let's go, I've seen enough. Have the majority of our men that are in reserve move to the front and send out the signal that all of the larger units are to converge onto the centre."
"YES, SIR!"
From the opposite flank, Chou Garyuu saw the flags of Gyou'un moving inwards even as he killed a Qin soldier who tried to rush him, seeing that his attention was elsewhere.
"So, Gyou'un has started as well. It seems you have come to the same conclusion as I." The two former subordinates of Rin Shou Jou had dissected the plan of Qin Great General Ko Shou, and instead of fighting to stop it, they allowed the plan to go ahead.
"They want to isolate Sei Chou, then so be it," Chou Garyuu said before swinging his glaive downwards ferociously, cutting through two more Qin soldiers.
"How can they believe he would be caught unaware by this simple plan? Was it not I and Lord Rin Shou Jo who taught him all there was to strategy?" Chou Garyuu asked, and he felt a smile on his lips as he turned in the direction of Gyou'un's standards that were heading into the Qin frontlines.
"And was it not you, Gyou'un, who taught him all there is to martial might!" Chou Garyuu's blood was pumping as he started to savagely carve and cleave through the oncoming Qin soldiers.
"It was I, brother." Gyou'un suddenly said as if he were replying to Chou Garyuu. Startling a few of the men who accompanied him, they didn't know who or why Gyou'un had said that, but saw their leader's smile and smiled also.
"Oukotsu is only a stumbling block for our Lord," Gyou'un stated.
….
Shou Hei Kun mounted his horse and grabbed onto his glaive. He'd sent Kai Oku along with Kyou Ryuu into the centre, where the majority of Gyou'un's army were pushing in to fight. Their orders were to push the Gyou'un army back and thoroughly crush it before punching into the headquarters and taking down the flags there.
He knew it would be a hard task, and one they most likely would not fulfil given the number of troops in their way, but still, Shou Hei Kun gave them extra motivation to see to it that their task was complete.
With only Hyou Shiga and his personal cavalry with him, the talented strategist made a beeline heading without stopping. Cutting a direct path to where both he and his opponent had declared their battling ground, it was a narrow path.
And on that narrow path, he met who he knew would be there, and what would await him should he get there on time.
Either down to his instincts on Gyou'un's part or Shou Hei Kun's tactical brilliance. Since the two of them started to face off against one another, since their very first commands against one another, they'd both created their duelling circle.
As the two sides raced to where it was, they met at the halfway point.
"!!!!"
The soldiers on both sides frowned as they looked at each other. On one side was Shou Hei Kun and the Kyou Shiga army. On the other side was Gyou'un and the Rai'un army. Dressed in all black, Kyou Shiga stared at his opposite, who was Den Pou dressed in armour of the Rai'Un.
"Is this what Lord Shou Hei Kun had planned?" One of Kyou Shiga asked.
"He just continues to exceed expectations." Another replied.
"To think a youngster would be able to keep up with Lord Gyou'un?" a member of the Rai'un asked.
As the two commanders stared at one another, a tension started to build and build until it became near suffocating, even as the cheers and dying screams of men from the nearby battlefield reached their ears, neither man moved an inch.
The tension grew so thick that it could be cut with a knife…
There was no starter gun; instead, a stamp of a hoof before Gyou'un's horse galloped forward, and the man reared back his glaive. Shou Hei Kun was only a half a heartbeat behind Gyou'un in speed as he tried to make up the ground. Both of them put their all into the opening swing and clashed with the might and fury of warriors.
As their glaives met, it made a terrible sound akin to screeching and crying. Their glaives locked, as both men were face to face with one another, staring into the eyes of the other, only to see determination and fire.
"Hmph," Gyou'un applied more strength to his swing and knocked Shou Hei Kun back, sending his horse skittering with him. Only for Shou Hei Kun to quickly stabilise himself and charge back at Gyou'un with a swing of his own glaive, once again they locked with one another, but the result was different.
"Hmm," Gyou'un said before being sent back a few paces, a similar distance as Shou Hei Kun previously. However, Gyou'un didn't charge back at Shou Hei Kun instead, as he calmed his horse.
He looked to the man opposite him and spoke, "Your name."
"Shou Hei Kun of Qin."
"Gyou'un of Sei Chou."
Shou Hei Kun's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, committing the way Gyou'un had announced himself to memory.
"I had heard about you once before, they said you are the Prince of Chu who's a hostage in Qin," Gyou'un replied, staring at Shou Hei Kun, gauging his reaction to having his identity exposed.
Shou Hei Kun's facial expression didn't shift an inch as Gyou'un continued, "Yet, seeing you now. I do not believe that you are merely a hostage of Qin; you fight well, and it seems you value Qin, but to what extent I wonder."
"The lands of Qin are now my home, and shall be forever more. Since my teacher set a task for me, it's only right that I see it completed." Shou Hei Kun replied as composed as ever. It seemed not to bother him in the slightest that he was up against a well-renowned warrior like Gyou'un.
"To think I would meet someone so similar… But perhaps this was how my young Lord wanted it to be. For I was the one who had found him that day, and he started his life anew, and for his life and goals, I continue to wage war." Gyou'un said, as if he'd gained a sense of clarity.
Those of the Rai'un inclined their heads slightly, feeling a sense of calm wash over them as they remembered who they used to fight for and who they fought for now. "It was my Lord Rin Shou Jo who set the path for Sei Chou, and it is now we men of Zhao who will pave the way for him."
Gyou'un raised his hand at the same time that Shou Hei Kun did; the Rai'Un of Gyou'un and the Hyou Shiga of Shou Hei Kun started to move forward. "I have my path, same as you have yours, but ever since I was called upon, your kin were only fated… To die." Shou Hei Kun's raised hand fell, and the Hyou Shiga raced forwards.
At the same time, Gyou'un's Rai'Un raced forwards, and ferocious melee broke out between the warriors as they contested in battles of strength, guile and cunning. Their two leaders were not far behind, their two horses racing to meet each other before clashing against this time, the sound and impact were harrowing.
….
CENTRE BATTLEFIELD SEI CHOU VERSUS OUKOTSU
Whilst Gyou'un and Shou Hei Kun fought to the death towards his right and with Chou Garyuu fighting to his left… Sei Chou sat atop his horse, watching the centre battlefield unfold with an air of serenity.
"Both Lords Chou Garyuu and Gyou'un have left their headquarters and are committing to the offensive." A messenger said while saluting Sei Chou, who nodded before replying, "Have Chou Sou and his troops reinforce Gyou'un on the left."
"YES, SIR!" The messenger answered with zeal before telling Chou Sou his orders.
"Sei Chou, I've begun to notice that you have only been sending more and more troops to our flanks. All the while, our centre is fighting desperately to keep hold of the Qin here." Fu Jin voiced his thoughts.
"Do you think I'm over-committing to flanking attacks?" Sei Chou asked.
"From my point of view, it cannot be anything else, and with the Qin readying up more, another wave and possibly the final wave at that. It looks like you are gambling on our strength in the flanks. Should both Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu win there, there would be little to stop them from taking Qin's headquarters." Fu Jin said, looking at Sei Chou, who continued to focus on the scene in front of him.
In the distance, Sei Chou could see the flags of Oukotsu gathering…
With the sun shining in the sky, Oukotsu of the Qin Six Great Generals made his decision.
"I advise you to wait a little longer, Oukotsu." Ko Shou tried to hold Oukotsu back, but it was a losing battle. Oukotsu saw that his army was slowly overpowering the Zhao with numbers, and as the Supreme Commander, the weight of the final decision fell on his shoulders.
And Oukotsu wanted to act, NOW!
"This is a plan you carefully crafted, Ko Shou. I cannot let it fade into dust. We have the numbers, and we are winning on the centre field, with both Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu being drawn away. The plan is working!" Oukotsu said before moving towards the frontlines.
Watching his fellow Great Generals back, Ko Shou sighed to himself. 'I placed too much of a burden on your shoulders, friend…' He thought to himself before looking towards where the Zhao Headquarters was and where he knew Sei Chou was.
'The strategy I came up with, and the strength that you have would've downed countless foes and yet… It feels that the new foe has evolved to something else entirely.' Ko Shou felt uneasy; the way the battle was going was almost too good, but not good enough. They'd drawn the attention of the right and left commanders of the Sei Chou army, and made it so they could not go to aid their leader.
However, instead of feeling success, all Ko Shou was cautious. Wary that Sei Chou had seen through his plan and more bizarrely wanted the plan to continue on.
'If he'd seen through it, why not stop it… It would be simple to call both of his flanks towards him and have them wedge the centre, but no, he instead sends more soldiers to the outside and keeps the centre stagnant.' Ko Shou clicked his tongue at the thoughts running through his mind.
'Does he back himself in killing Oukotu? Is that the arrogance of a boy who does not know he's in a well, or the confidence of War God who has seen the vast sea?' Ko Shou wondered to himself as he watched Oukotsu raise his Yue Axe, only catching the end of his speech.
"ALL OF IT WAS FOR THE SAKE OF THIS MOMENT!!!"
"ALL TROOPS ADVANCE!!"
The earth began to shake and tremble under the charge of the Oukotsu's final wave. The Great General was front and centre, leading his men into the battlefield, cutting a straight line directly to where Sei Chou was awaiting him.
A small cavalry force was led out to slow the advance. Their only orders were to leave Oukotsu be and to take his soldiers down; it was a similar tactic that Sei Chou had used on Duke Hyou in one of his previous battles. However, this time the results did not go as well.
The Oukotsu army thoroughly smashed through them, painting a gory and gruesome sight as blood and guts flew high before crashing back down. Some were bisected, others were pummeled. Though it was not all bad for Sei Chou, as the momentum of Oukotsu was slowed before he could truly reach the intense fighting.
"STOP THEM!!!" A Zhao spearman shouted. Throwing himself in harm's way, he was not alone in his bravery; many others followed him, slowing the horses, even as their comrades died, the Zhao continued to fight on.
But soon enough, those who accompanied Oukotsu managed to reach the Headquarters of Sei Chou.
"FINALLY IT IS IN SIGHT!!!" A Qin soldier, his face covered in wounds leaking with blood, his hands were mangled by a Zhao spearman, and his armour showed cracks that had been pierced by spears. Even with all the open wounds, he could not hide his relief as they'd now come face to face with the main enemy commander.
"Look, it's Sei Chou!"
"So that's the Zhao commander!"
"KILL HIM, GREAT GENERAL OUKOTSU!!"
"TAKE HIS HEAD, LORD SEI CHOU!!"
Ouktosu's horse galloped forward as his men parted, opening a path for him. He narrowed his eyes at Sei Chou.
"How can you call yourself the strongest man in China, when you lost so decisively in Chu?" Behind Sei Chou was his personal army, they all lined stoically in armour similar to their Lord, but not as ornate and grand.
"...Finally… He's finally come out…" The Qin soldiers who had toiled and fought for this very moment, with sweat and blood dripping down their faces, smiled as they felt their goal achieved.
"A single loss has not shaken my foundation. Even when you were in your father's balls, I was proving myself and carving my name in stone. My might has never been questionable." Oukotsu replied, tensing his arms around his axe.
"Here and now, with the gaze of all of China on me, I will prove myself once again. That it is I, Oukotsu, who is the strongest man in all of China." The Qin Great General declared heroically, his head raised just that little bit higher as he looked down at Sei Chou.
"I guess that's just the arrogance of someone who's not seen that their time has passed them by, as the saying goes, the new waves overtake the old." Sei Chou confidently replied, paraphrasing an old quote. "Now come, I didn't get to take the head of Hyou, so I guess Oukotsu is a suitable replacement."
"I'll be sure to change that arrogant tone of yours," Oukotsu replied, a vein appearing over his scarred face, as he started to get pissed off by the little respect Sei Chou was showing him. In Oukotsu's mind, Sei Chou should've been bowing low, begging Oukotsu not to send his head flying.
"Haha, it's only arrogance if I have nothing to back it up." Sei Chou replied.
CHAPTER: DONE