STATE OF QIN: KANYOU/XIANGYANG
255 BCE
3RD PERSON POV
Everyone in Qin knew who their absolute ruler was, and the sheer weight of his influence was enough to cower and send warriors trembling at the knees. King Shou the War God, the man who'd waged war in the name of ending all wars. Such rhetoric from one point of view or another could be seen in a negative light, but the citizens of Qin believed in him wholeheartedly. This was how King Shou was able to contradict his own message with his actions and have the masses follow him to the bitter end.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I've failed in my task of holding back Lord Oukotsu." Ryofui said, bowing his head slightly. The King of Qin had given him a task, but the task was not fulfilled.
"To provide guidance… sure is a headache. Especially to one as stubborn as Oukotsu, his defeat in Chu has grown his hunger. Looking for a next target to earn back his reputation, no doubt that was why he turned down returning to the capital and seeing me… But then I did give him the freedom to wage war as he pleased." King Shou replied.
Ryoufui stayed silent, as did the many ministers, even those who had swayed to his side and backed him both openly and silently. There was an invisible noose already tied to the neck of Ryoufui, one King Shou had placed there personally.
"I heard there was a recent birth in the Ryou clan, your son, I presume?" King Shou questioned.
"My King, the little one is only a newborn… To be held hostage would be…" Those who backed Ryoufui instantly protested the tightening of the noose.
"My, my, look at the lot of them. It's amazing, they're all in your pocket." King Shou's eyes noted all those who had spoken in disapproval of his words before continuing, "To win both the heart and mind is key to a successful undertaking." How could King Shou not know of Ryoufui's ambition? He was the King and was fed all kinds of information, especially about the close relationship between one of his sons and Ryoufui.
"Still, I was going to congratulate Ryoufui on being a father; it is no easy task."
"Yes, sacrifices are always harder when blood is added to it," Ryofui answered.
"So, you understand that I am fated to one day lose at least one of my sons." King Shou replied.
"So many talents among them… All I want to know now is which one has caught your eye? Should it be Anko Kukun or Sou Jou?" The words of King Shou stunned everyone who heard them, cold sweat running down their backs as they remembered the man they followed's ruthlessness.
"Apologies, I haven't the right to answer such a question, your majesty," Ryofui replied tactfully.
"I've amassed a great amount of land, treasure and a reputation to back it all up. The more I gain, the more people will covet it; with every day, the more people are added. I'm sure a day will come when my sons join the fray; every powerful kingdom has experienced this." King Shou's reply was straight to the point and cutting.
"Indeed, throughout history, siblings have fought each other. Your sons are all talented and intelligent. I'm sure that they're fated to follow the same path." Ryou Fui gave his thoughts on the matter.
"Haha, truly, you're a businessman. A wise businessman, indeed. I knew this was the path you would take, since it's the only path open for you." King Shou said, slightly amused with the merchant's answer.
"Sou Jou's a good investment, he's not like me. Not as headstrong, some would say he's easier to control. However, Anko Kukun is not a pushover; it will be a difficult path, Ryoufui."
"It's a path I walk willingly, your majesty," Ryoufui answered. He'd long since resolved himself to throw his backing behind Prince Sou Jou and begin his own undertaking. He converted the best Kingdom of them all, and that was the seat of Qin. A place that offered those of low and high birth to climb to the ladder, a land that coveted talents.
Ryou Fui wanted to become the King of Qin.
"Then I shall grant you this: I allow you to use your darkest methods of payback against me, a father. May the very best win, and that shall be your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of Qin." King Shou replied tersely before dismissing Ryou Fui.
….
255 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: NANAN
"Hyohyo, then I shall be off. Since King Shou has called for my return, Lord Oukostu. The distinctive laugh could only come from one man, though he was short and elderly, the shadow of Saitaku was great, and his influence as one of King Shou's most trusted members of court only added to his stature.
"Hmph," The Great General, who had recovered from his defeat against Chu, did not reply to the man, even though he respected the elderly man.
"Hyohyo, as gracious as ever, Great General Ouktosu." Saitaku smiled, running a hand through his beard before he paused and opened his eyes to stare at the Great General with a sudden seriousness.
"Do not underestimate, Sei Chou. If you are to do so, I believe you will pay for it dearly, more than previously." Saitaku's words were cutting and spoken with the utmost seriousness.
"... How could I? Sei Chou… he won both Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu's trust even after losing their previous Lord, when most thought the two would throw their lives away into battle. They decided to save themselves, to keep fighting on under a different banner. Though I never faced Sei Chou in battle, I clashed many times with Lord Rin Shou Jo." Oukotsu had also been one of the Great Generals who had forged one of the greatest eras of warfare that China had ever seen.
"...Hmmm," Saitaku hummed to himself as he started getting into the carriage.
"It's been a long time since I've ever felt myself to be the challenger in a war; my title as the strongest in all China was called into question in my last battle, but… I know it and feel that my reign as the strongest man in China has not come to an end." The physicians had cleared him to fight once again, and Oukotsu wanted to prove his might once more.
"Hyohyohyo, I see your will to fight has grown even stronger. I'm sure King Shou will be happy to hear this." Saitaku said as the carriage started to move forward.
"Master Saitaku, inform his majesty of this," Great General Oukotsu narrowed as his face hardened before he spoke his next words.
"I shall present to you the heads of Sei Chou, Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu. They say Nanan is impregnable, but I Oukotsu shall present him the city along with those three heads." There was a beat of silence after Oukotsu's words. Both men looked at the other with judgment in their eyes, one an official of diplomacy and the other a Great General of Qin.
It was Saitaku who broke the silence, "I shall see to it that his majesty prepares for your victory, Great General. Hyohyohyo."
Oukotsu watched the convoy head towards the direction of Qin before continuing his own march towards where he would do battle against Zhao's Sei Chou.
He felt the path behind him crumble as he continued to march at the front of his army.
"I've embarked on the path of no return."
...
255 BCE
At the Wei border…
"Nuhahaha, Sei Chou was correct. There is an interesting one among the bunch." The legendary warrior Great Heaven Ren Pa, smiled widely as he looked towards his opponent. The man across him was a complete polar opposite, whilst Ren Pa smiled with joy, Shi Ei's eyes narrowed, his face hardened, devoid of emotion.
Ren Pa's smile only widened, seeing that his opponent's response was raising his spear, as if asking the Great Heaven to come at him. Over the years since his last duel with Sei Chou, Shi Ei's reputation and name have continued to grow alongside his strength. Many regard him as the best spear in all of China; he's become even more deadly than before.
Though to the eyes of Ren Pa, Shi Ei showed no emotion on his face. If his sister Shikika could see him, she would be able to spot the slight twitching of his right eye as he heard the name Sei Chou once again, 'I rue the day I met that Sei Chou.' Shi Ei couldn't help but inwardly lament.
"The other two of you, Wei Fire Dragons, did not interest me enough. Let's see if you have become more interesting!" Great Heaven Ren Pa charged at Shi Ei, his mighty glaive ready and poised to cut the man down with a single swing. His eyes whitened as he put all of his strength into a welcoming strike.
Shi Ei felt himself frown as he was only half a beat slower than the Great Heaven, even though he readied his own spear to meet Ren Pa. As spear and glaive met in the dead centre of the circle, their weapons screamed and screeched.
CHAPTER DONE