254 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: ???
The silence was deafening as Riboku saluted his teacher with a bow at the entrance to the war council room. A messenger knelt, his sweat-soaked hair touching the wooden flooring; helpers paused their movements as if frozen in time. The old headmaster who'd journeyed all those years ago up the mountains with not a true goal or desire in mind, now felt an emotion he'd long forgotten.
Sitting down across from Riboku, he closed his eyes and looked towards the heavens outside; his unknown desire, the thing he had been looking for without knowing, had shown itself to him.
The messenger had relayed the outcome of the battle at Rien, and the conclusion to the war between Zhao and Wei. The result ended in a victory for Great Heaven Sei Chou, defeat for Wei Fire Dragons Gokei and Earl Shi. However, the result was not what had descended the room into pure silence, but the fact that someone had been able to predict each step of the war.
"The disappearance of Earl Shi from his camp led to Gokei being attacked and caused the Wei Fire Dragon to completely retreat. Sixteen rounds, all flawless - An unprecedented record has been set." As the headmaster spoke, he opened his eyes and looked in the direction that Riboku had just left with newfound clarity and clearness. "After nearly a lifetime of teaching… I've finally found what I was looking for. A Military God beyond reach is before me!"
As for Riboku, who'd just been proclaimed a military God by his teacher, he decided his time in the mountains was nearing its end. However, before he left, there was a task he had to do, and that was to impart some of his knowledge to the younger students and people who would one day leave the mountains and go down into Zhao.
…..
254 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: RIEN CITY
The battle of Rien had ended in another victory for Great Heaven Sei Chou. Yet, the war between Wei and Zhao was not over, as the area around Rien City had not been fully subjugated, and in some places there were still active troops waiting for their chance for a counterattack.
"Now the time to recover from all the fighting has come. Everything else should be put on hold." Cautioned Chou Garyuu.
"We have the funds we need; if we push further, we could take this whole region. Yet it seems I'm the only one who has this ambition…" Replied Sei Chou, crossing his arms.
"Sei Chou, human lives and money cannot be compared. Yet, more will die if we stop here." Said Fu Jin from behind the Great Heaven.
After the battle of Rien, Gokei and the Wei armies had retreated further into Wei territory and created a new defensive line, leaving Rien City free and open for the Sei Chou army to enter.
"Regarding the task I wanted you to do for me…?" Sei Chou asked Fu Jin, as this was the first time they'd seen each other since the Battle of Rien.
"All our secret supporters have grown in number. But… We have yet to secure the support of the one you wanted." Bound round and dragged into the courtyard was a glassy-eyed Earl Shi, his narrowed eyes devoid of light; he looked lifelessly at everything.
Even as Sei Chou stood in front of him in a defenceless position, the Wei Fire Dragon only looked up at him with narrowed but hollow eyes. "Earl Shi, I heard what happened. Your father is gone, and with it goes your connection to the Kingdom of Wei. Do you want a new job?"
Earl Shi narrowed his eyes at Sei Chou. "You're in a hurry, so I will tell you not to waste your time on me."
"Why not? A man in his prime should not waste away his potential." Sei Chou replied.
"I have nothing left to give; since it is like this, why not grant me a quick death? Just kill me! Let me go and rest!" Earl Shi pleaded back.
Sei Chou crouched down and stared into the eyes of Earl Shi as if he was searching for something. "There's still hunger in your eyes." Sei Chou said, holding eye contact with his words, making Earl Shi close his eyes. "Is it enough, is it enough to have a life like this, Shi Ei?" Sei Chou asked.
"Are you truly content if you die right here and now…" For some reason, Earl Shi instinctively shut his eyes tighter, gritting his teeth. In his mind, he could see the faces of his stepsister and mother, both of them lost to him. 'What would they think of me should I see them now?' Earl Shi asked himself.
"I can see the war that is going on in your heart, the desire to be with your loved ones, but also the want for them to be proud of you when you see them next." Sei Chou said.
"Should you die now, do you think they will be happy to see you as you are now?"
"...No," Earl Shi answered instinctively. He felt pain in his heart but knew that his flesh had not been pierced. He knew what pain it was; it was the pain of not being able to see his loved ones again. Yet, there was a slowly growing feeling of contentment that came with it, as if the pain was starting to subside, and a new meaning was coming to him.
"...Is this heaven's will?" Earl Shi asked as he started to open his eyes, to find that Sei Chou was now standing with his arms behind his back a few paces from him with a sword in his hand.
In a swift motion, Sei Chou cut the ropes binding Earl Shi before sheathing the sword into the scabbard held out by Fu Jin.
"I cannot speak for the will of the heavens; is this path of war and bloodshed right or wrong? Am I forsaken or blessed? Only at the end of my life will I know what truly knows what my fate is, and even then it will be the people who come after us that will shape whether we are good or bad people." Sei Chou said.
Earl Shi wondered if it was right that he should follow this man; he asked himself if it was correct that a man who killed his father should be able to find a new Lord so quickly, a man who turned back on his Kingdom should turn to another and find a new home.
Earl Shi himself didn't actually know if it was right or wrong, but in his heart he believed what he was doing was correct. Placing both of his hands flat on the ground, Earl Shi lowered his head. "I don't understand why a man like you would accept a terrible person such as me… But I feel I can find myself once more." Earl Shi pleaded his allegiance to the Sei Chou army in front of all the Generals and high-ranking officers.
"I've made arrangements for your family. Your sister also thinks highly of me."
Earl Shi's head shot up at the mention of his sister thinking he had heard his new Lord wrong, but before he could ask Sei Chou to repeat what he had said. He spotted a blur of brown hair and found himself glomped by a familiar presence.
"Shi Ei!" The woman cried out as she held her lover tightly.
….
NARRATOR POV
At noon that day, Earl Shi of the Wei Fire Dragons surrendered to Great Heaven Sei Chou, and swore his loyalty to the Great Heaven. The remaining Wei forces under Gokei, not behind the newly created border between Wei and Zhao, all either surrendered or were killed.
….
254 BCE
STATE OF WEI: Go/Qu City
After their defeat to Zhao, the state of Wei fought a second war in quick succession. Qin's Great General Kyou, a formidable warrior and General, invaded the lands of Han using her right to wage war freely. With an army of 120,000 trained soldiers, hearing the news of her invasion. The Han court flew into a panic and quickly negotiated an alliance with the State of Wei; the negotiations resulted in Han ceding the Qu City, an impregnable fortress that bordered all three states.
Wei King An Xi accepted and sent out two of his Wei Fire Dragons to defend the newly acquired city. Tai Ro Ji and Ba Tou of the Wei Fire Dragons were dispatched to aid in the defence alongside 50,000 Han soldiers led by their 'King of Defence' General Na Kon.
The war was ferocious, as a brutal pace was set from the onset by Great General Kyou, who relentlessly attacked and attacked. Continuous attack formations were deployed by the Kyou army; not to be outdone by the ferocity of Kyou, Tai Ro Ji met her on the battlefield, and the two duelled, showcasing their martial brilliance for all to see. For 8 days the battle continued, with either side having opportunities to score victory.
In the end, it was Great General Kyou who would reign supreme over this battlefield, dealing a gruesome strike to the chest of Tai Ro Ji that caused him to retreat and the Wei morale to rock slightly. Kyou pressed on with her attack; her army, further invigorated by their Great General's prowess on the battlefield, charged and overpowered the Ba Tou army, who could do much but try to stem the momentum and fight a retreat to Qu City.
The open plain battle became a siege that only lasted for a month before the gate of Qu City was opened to Great General Kyou, and her army marched triumphantly. It was said by the citizens of Qu City who saw Kyou leading her army into the city that she was the visage of the conqueror.
The conquest of Qu City was the 99th city that Great General Kyou had taken. As she planned her 100th, the gaze of Great General Kyou turned to Zhao, her next target. In the year 253 BCE, Great General Kyou invaded the State of Zhao. At her side, named as her vice-general, was the monstrous bird of Qin, Great General Ouki, and her first target was the city of Bayou.
NARRATOR POV DONE