253 BCE
3RD PERSON POV
The eyes of the world were peeled, and much attention was paid to the border between Qin and Zhao. It was as if the central plains had collectively held their breath; everyone with an interest in the politicking or military movements of the Seven Warring States ensured they were kept well aware of what was about to occur at Bayou.
Qin had sent out two of their Great Generals, their last two Great Generals, a symbol that they still lived up to the prestige they once held in the past. A monstrous bird whose wings flapped all over the central plains and a ferocious warrior who struck deep fear and terror in the hearts of many experienced veterans: Ouki and Kyou. Zhao answered the Qin challenge, and not wanting to be outdone, they sent out two of their famed Great Heavens, the Legend Ren Pa and the one people had started to call the God of War, Sei Chou. One was old and vastly experienced, alongside a younger man who seemed to exceed expectations every time he entered a new arena.
This was definitely set up to be the clash of the ages…
…
253 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: HANDAN/KANTAN
"Look! Look! It's Great Heaven Ren Pa! I heard from my father that he is the commander in chief of the Zhao army!!" A young child around the age of ten pointed frantically towards the Legendary Great Heaven Ren Pa as the procession passed through Kantan. Lining the streets of Kantan were the many citizens of Zhao; they'd come out in their hundreds to wish the symbols of their military might good luck and fortune in the battles to come.
Following closely behind Great Heaven Ren Pa were his four Heavenly Kings, Rin Ko, Kai Shi Bo, Kyou En and Gen Pou. It was rare for such a procession to happen in the state of Zhao, but possibly feeling the pressure from the invading Qin force and fearing the morale of his people dropping, King Xiaocheng of Zhao had decided to put on a ceremony to put the hearts of the masses at ease.
"Great Heaven Ren Pa!"
"Great Heaven Ren Pa!"
Ren Pa rode forward, his head held high, as many shouted and screamed for his attention. In the eyes of everyone who watched the Great Heaven, they could see that he held a constant smile on his face, and the only time his eyes ever drifted to anyone was when he looked at the person who rode beside him, a younger man with long black hair and dark black eyes. The young boy his brother had fostered and brought up, Sei Chou.
"Look, it's Great Heaven Sei Chou! Great Heaven Sei Chou!" A young child sat on his father's shoulders, frantically pointing and shouting his head off, hoping Sei Chou would hear him. Unlike Ren Pa, Sei Chou smiled at the boy, causing the child's eyes to widen like saucers before he started to scream his head off in excitement.
After some time, Ren Pa turned to Sei Chou and spoke, "Sei Chou, I cannot describe the joy I feel at the moment. To know that I am more than grateful that you were given the position of Vice General. As planned, you will be our vanguard for the battle." For many days in Kantan since the start of Kyou's mobilisation, Ren Pa, Gen Pou, Sei Chou, Chou Garyuu, Chou Sou, and the many strategists and advisers in both armies had been planning every aspect of the army, from the location of the battle to logistics and travel.
In the meetings, it was decided that Sei Chou would be the vanguard. "There's no way I would've turned down being your Vice General, and for it to be the first battle that we can fight in as well." Sei Chou replied with a smile; even though they had not left Kantan, he could feel his excitement growing at the prospect of being able to fight alongside his uncle.
"Nuhahaha" The signature laugh of Ren Pa was as boisterous as ever. "You know the eyes of the Central Plains will be fixed on this battle, right. As Ouki and Kyou, two very formidable foes, will be there, now my presence and yours there wouldn't be a single person who would miss out on hearing the conclusion."
"I know, and yet I feel happier for it." Sei Chou replied.
Watching the procession from the balcony of the Royal Palace, Crown Prince Tou Jou and an excessively overweight man stood beside him.
"He still refuses to accept our offer, Your Highness." Kakukai, the advisor of the Crown Prince, spoke with a measure of disdain as he looked in the direction of where Sei Choua and Ren Pa led the procession of Zhao soldiers. "Was it really a good decision to not have someone else appointed to the role of Vice General?"
Tou Jou licked his painted lips languidly before he spoke, "It is no problem, he is only a warrior after all, and since the Prime Minister shields him, he feels a sense of security… But should that shield fall, he will come crawling to me, open-palmed." Tou Jo said before continuing, "I am next in line for the throne; my father's other sons all had mishaps… It is only a matter of time till I have him under my control."
For Tou Jou, even though he cared little for war, ruling or politics as the next in line for the royal throne, he wanted to have everything in place so he could live his life in constant pleasure and peace. Nothing else mattered to him but his own satisfaction, and it was the fat man who stood beside him who did his bidding.
"Your Majesty is wise; forgive this one for not seeing the big picture," Kakukai said, bowing his head. Those close by who had overheard the conversation couldn't help but clench a fist behind their back and smile through gritted teeth.
In their eyes, Crown Prince Tou Jou was going to be the State of Zhao's doom if he was ever allowed to truly ascend the steps and sit atop the royal throne.
3RD PERSON POV END
….
253 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: BAYOU
SHOU BUN KUN POV
Arms folded, Shou Bun Kun stood on a hill in the distance; he could see Bayou, the objective of their army and the 100th city for Great General Kyou to have conquered. However, in front of that castle was an entire Zhao army, and two of their Great Heavens.
The initial plan had been to avoid fighting on the open plains, but the Zhao held the advantage as their vanguard had managed to beat them to Bayou City and set up camp first. They'd arrived second and seen the banners of Sei Chou fluttering already, before a battle had begun. Zhao had managed to secure an advantage, as their cavalry were a nuisance to deal with.
"Tch," Shou Bun Kun clicked his tongue. They had to take Sei Chou's challenge if they even wanted to besiege and conquer Bayou. Ren Pa had joined just after, and the numbers looked relatively even for both sides. With Kyou and Ouki combined, our troop number was 180,000, while the Zhao brought 175,00 but that was only a rough estimation from the scouts and some spies who had snuck into Bayou prior to the war.
Shou Bun Kun was no stranger to war; he'd been fighting nonstop and then he gained the attention of Ouki and was fighting even more, and then he was assigned to Kyou's army. He was sure he'd spent more days on the battlefield than away from it. This allowed him to gain experience, and experience was one of the most valuable assets to a warrior such as himself.
He was not as talented as the Qin Six Great Generals; he could not match the likes of Ko Shou and Haku Ki in strategy, nor could he match the martial might of Oukotsu Shiba Saku, Ouki or Kyou, but he had enough experience that allowed him to lean heavily on his instincts and right now…
"It sure feels off…" Shou Bun Kun didn't know what it was but he had an ominous feeling about this battle; something just felt not right about it all. He knew it was not fear, as he'd felt fear before long in the past. He was not afraid to die if it meant he died in service to the State of Qin. So, as Shou Bun Kun stood with his arms crossed, staring out to the horizon he wondered to himself just what the ominous feeling he had was.
"Kokokoko." The sound of footsteps and a unique laugh reached his ears, and he didn't need to turn around to know just who it was. "It's not like you to be so deep in thought Shou Bun Kun." Ouki teased, coming to a stop beside him.
"... What is it? Why have you come to search for me?"
"Hmm, remember what we discussed all those years ago, back when we had lost General Kiriku, and I was first appointed as Commander in Chief," Ouki replied, staring out to the Zhao encampment on the horizon.
"Indeed, you said you will be leaving Kyou to me. Why bring it up?" Shou Bun Kun replied.
"The reason is it seems this will be the last time you will need to protect Kyou for a while, your services will not be needed after Bayou falls," Ouki replied with a tone too light and breezy for Shou Bun Kun who sharply turned to Ouki.
"What do you mean?" Shou Bun Kun asked.
"It is Kyou's wish that after this conquest she retires for some time, as you know she has kept her identity hidden, but even with so much time passing, in the back of her mind she worries about what would happen should it ever be exposed. Kyou wants to step out of the light, but she has left the door open." Ouki replied.
Shou Bun Kun gulped, his eyes as wide as they could be. He'd given Ouki his full attention and listened to each word the Great General had said but still he couldn't believe them.
"...I…I see." Shou Bun Kun replied.
Ouki left him to ponder alone after that; Shou Bun Kun still stood and paced back and forth in the same area even as the sun lowered and the moon began its rise. The unease in his chest only grew more and more, a feeling that something pivotal might happen, but he was getting tired, and even though he knew his troops could manage without him he wanted to see them.
The battle was going to be major, and all 2,000 of his men had to be ready to set out at a moment's notice. It was usual that they would be Kyou's elite guard, but there were other times she sent him and his men to go and do more riskier tasks that she only relied on him to complete.
Sighing as he entered his bed and rested his head, Shou Bun Kun couldn't shake the feeling off no matter what he did. When Shou Bun Kun woke up the next day, the first day of the Battle of Bayou would begin.
And it would be The Clash of Titans.
SHOU BUN KUN POV END
CHAPTER: DONE