Narrator:
Lao Tzu states those who understand people are wise.
....
STATE OF ZHAO: ROKAN
A flag with red, black and gold was hoisted up on the highest building in Rokan. The previous Qin one had been burned and lay in tatters. Gaku Shi stood on the walls of Rokan, watching and waiting for the Qin to approach.
Everything was following the guidelines he had set for his plan, and now he only hoped General Kou was not so cowardly that he would retreat to Zhao instead of staying to hear what Huo had to say.
'Well... if he did, he and I are both certainly dead.' Gaku Shi smirked at the morbid thought. The Zhao King Xiaocheng and Prime Minister Lord Pingyuan would hang General Kou from the walls of Kantan if the man returned to Zhao, especially if they were to hear that Gaku Shi had taken Rokan and was only awaiting a relief force.
Fixing on the last vambrace of his personal armour, Gaku Shi smiled. The previous Qin armour that was soaked in blood had not been comfortable on his skin. It felt wrong and revolting to wear Qin armour, but there was a need to do so. They had found a small force of 500 at the broken wall awaiting them, and they had managed to sneak up behind them.
Then, the slaughtering began. By the time half of the force was taken out, the real fighting began, but with only half their number, it was a steamroll. Every single one of the 500 was killed, and only a few of the Zhao soldiers who accompanied Gaku Shi had injuries. They were placed on archer duties, so they had something to do and did not become liabilities.
*RUMBLE* *RUMBLE* *RUMBLE*
"It seems we have guests." Gaku Shi spoke with a smile. In the distance and coming closer were an array of Qin flags. Qin soldiers and siege towers, however, one particular wooden tower caught his eye.
'Oho, so he uses a siege tower like Lord Genpou.' The might of the Qin army was something for sore eyes if you were not a Qin citizen or soldier; the earth continued to shake and rumble with each step of their orderly march.
As the Qin army closed in, the nerves of the men with Gaku Shi began to tense as they started to fathom just what they were up against. The Qin army came to a stop, and the single strategist tower came being pulled by four horses. A lone man sat perched like a king atop his throne; he wore fine courtly robes, though a flutter from the wind showed the man still used armour.
Great General Sima Geng of Qin sat tapping his armrest, a scowl on his face as he scrutinised Rokan and the soldiers standing on the walls. It was a Zhao army, but he recognised not a single one of them. This little tidbit made his scowl deepen a fraction more.
Looking towards the flag hoisted and seeing it read "YUE" alongside a second one that read "ZHAO" only seemed to add fuel to the fire that was kindling in his core.
"Who is in command of this army?!" Sima Geng outright demanded in the most neutral tone he possibly could.
Stepping forward was a young man; his face bore no scars. 'This boy had never experienced war before.' Sima Geng thought as he looked at the person who came forward, with long pitch black hair that went past his shoulders. Bright golden eyes stared at Sima Geng for half a beat before the boy clasped his left fist into his right palm and smiled.
"The commander of this army is the one who stands before you on the walls of Zhao's famed city, Rokan and that so happens to be me. Yue Si. Of the Yue Si Army. I must ask... what are you doing inside the Zhao lands? Oh, Great General of Qin?" The boy, because he was a boy in Sima Geng's eyes, then had the gall to smirk at Sima Geng.
More fuel was added to the kindling flame, but Sima Geng managed to keep a lid on it. Even as he felt his blood run hot with anger, "I thought we had slaughtered all of your kind back at Chou Hei. Even with so much blood, it seems it was not enough!" The last part of the sentence was spoken through gritted teeth.
The boy's smirk turned into a smile, "It seems not, though I must ask once again, this is Zhao. You are a Qin Great General, so my question is asked once more. What. Are. You. Doing. In. Zhao LAND?"
The flame erupted, "YOU DAMN ZHAO BASTARD! I TOOK THIS CASTLE THEREFORE IT IS QIN LAND YOU DAMNED FOOL!!" Sima Geng snapped, gesturing directly to the brat who should still be at his mother's teat.
"Hmm, I would say these are Zhao lands, since my and Zhao's flags fly above the highest point in Rokan?" Gaku Shi replied, gesturing to the surroundings of Rokan before pointing to the flags behind him. His tone mocking, "As you can see, these are Zhao men who currently occupy Rokan," he then pointed to the men beside him.
"These are Zhao's people," He said, and a massive cheer erupted from Rokan.
"OOOOUUUHHHHHH!!!!" Nearly every citizen who could raise their voice for Zhao, wanting nothing more than not to be under Qin's thumb, and Gaku Shi was loving every second of it.
Sima Geng clenched his fist so hard that blood started to leak from his hand. You're just a whelp, a brat in a well. Who wishes to step into this grand stage by taking Rokan from Qin's hands? Foolish, you are a fool, and I, Great General Sima Geng, Grandson of the Qin Six Great General Shiba Saku, will ensure you never see another sun rise." Pointed two fingers at the Gaku Shi brat. Almost imagining the blade he would use personally to cut down the boy.
"I have beaten your army once before." Gaku Shi replied, "Who's to say I will not do it again. And by the looks of it, your current army seems to be less than it initially was... I wonder where they scurried off to." Gaku Shi said before looking to his right and left.
"It matters little if we are the full 80,000 or not. Even with 40,000, I will crush you. With 20,000, I will crush you. The numbers can continue to decrease, but the result would always be the same. You will die!" Sima Geng argued.
"I see, then here are my condolences to those you had sent away, Sima Geng of Qin. Those men will not be returning to you. Nor will you get your hands back on Rokan or defeat me." Gaku Shi could see that Sima Geng was moments away from exploding into another tirade.
"YOU AND YOUR ILK WILL NOT. MUST NOT. SURVIVE THIS BATTLE. I PERSONALLY WILL WATCH AS YOU ARE TORT-" Gaku Shi tuned the man out halfway.
As he finished, Sima Geng felt a weight lift from his chest, and breathed, feeling elated. He would see the bastard die, all the men who followed him die. Qin will take no prisoners, not a chance. They will repeat Chou Hei.
"I tell you, son of Shiba Saku, there are rocky paths both left and right… One must watch his step lest he never finds his way back. I heard even armies have disappeared in those parts."
Sima Geng stared long and hard at the bastard before turning around. He immediately ordered the army to begin the siege. ''The brat's head will be on a spike before midday.'
….
Gaku Jou POV
In truth, Gaku Jou was never really a fighter like Gaku Shi was; he believed tactics and strategy would always win out, but one day, Gaku Shi had told him he should at least learn and dedicate himself to it. For it could save his life in a pinch.
Now, he spotted the dust cloud gathering in the distance and heard the thundering of hooves beating the earth. He smiled exasperatedly, "Another thing I have to thank you for, Shi." His words were a whisper to the wind, but he hoped they would be carried far enough that his brother could hear them.
His blood started to pump faster as the sound increased. He knew there was only one thing to do in this situation. 'Crush the Qin detachment Sima Geng had sent, and be on his way to support his clan head!'
A nod to the men around him signalled the attack; he and his men were already tearing through the Qin ranks. A man was charging out in front, creating distance from the other Wei cavalry that followed him. Gaku Jou decided to make a beeline for the man, knowing he was the commander.
A YOUNG PUP!" He could hear the man's shout as Gaku Jou looked into the eyes of his adversary. "A DEAD MAN!" Gaku Jou roared back. He was starting to understand why so many generals liked fighting. The Qin commander swung his sword, aiming to behead Gi Kin, but a quick move of his own sword halted the killing blow.
Then they clashed back and forth as a cacophony of screams, and death played in the background of their duel. There was no circle made for the two fighters, but still no one dared step any closer to their fight.
Back and forth. Chest. Shoulder. Arm. Arm. Arm. Neck. The man fought aggressively, and Gi Kin was heavily on the back foot. His inexperience was telling. He had hoped to cheat his way, but he could not do it so easily.
A deadlock came, the Qin commander shoved Gaku Jou back, "ARGHH!"
*Huff* *Huff* *Huff* His chest was hot and burned. The man looked so calm, even as though they had just been fighting. "You're a good fight for someone so young. What's your name?" The Qin general asked. Gaku Jou pointed his sword at the man, "Yue Cheng/Gaku Jou of the Yue Si/ Gaku Shi army." He proclaimed.
The man smiled, amused, "Well, Yue Cheng/ Gaku Jou of the Yue Si/ Gaku Shi army. I will allow you to know, it was Lieutenant Mi Bei of the Great General Sima Geng's army. Who ended your path... unless you wish to swear your loyalty to us?"
"Hmm, do not worry if you are a Yue. Our Qin accepts all talents, for talent is useful, and a talent like yours could be appreciated." The face of Gaku Jou scrunched up as if he had tasted the bitterest of lemon juice.
"Haha, do not be so quick to turn it down… This is a one-time offer, tell you something, should you side with us and take out your commander, Qin will give you a nice city and riches beyond your dreams."
"Hahaha," Gaku Jou began to laugh, "Your mind must have left you." Gaku Jou could not believe the words of the man before him. Surrender to Qin… QIN OF ALL PEOPLE! Those barbaric dogs that are still stuck in their old ways!
"You do know, your Lord is dead already? I am sure Master Sima Geng is parading his corpse already as the men cheer." Commander Mi Bei added on, trying to sway Gaku Jou, but the more Gaku Jou heard, the more he thought the man to be a fool.
So he laughed once more, "My brother would never die to the likes of Sima Geng. This is merely another step on his journey, one that I will accompany him on to the very end. I have no reason to tread another path in this life."
"This is why I always slaughter you, Zhao dogs. You're all mad. And never know when to take a good deal." Lieutenant Mi Bei said before stirring his horse to charge at Gaku Jou once more, a bloodthirsty grin at his lips.
Like a seesaw, the two went back and forth. The sounds of steel hitting steel rang aloud in the surroundings.
The earth began to be uprooted as their steeds moved with a fury, and then came a fortuitous moment. Mi Bei faltered, a wound opened up on his sword arm and as he tried to switch hands with the blade.
Gaku Jou did not miss the opportunity and pierced his sword directly through the chest of Mi Bei, hitting the man's heart.
*SPLGHHH*
The shock was written on the face of Mi Bei. He had thought he would have enough time to switch to his left hand, but in the end, a rookie mistake in the heat of battle cost him everything.
"LET'S GO! WE MUST REACH LORD SHI!" Gaku Jou shouted to his men, who were routing the Qin soldiers. Hurrying the speed of his cavalry, he saw a sight that almost made his heart stop; he was sure he heard one of his men nearly fall off his own horse.
There before them, Gaku Jou watched as he saw his brother not fighting on the walls... but instead of seeing Gaku Shi fighting atop the walls. He could see him on horseback, sword in hand, as he prepared to charge into the Qin frontlines.
"CHARGE!!!" He heard his brother in arms shout as 2,000 soldiers plunged directly into the Wei formation. Spears, swords, and glaives. Piercing, slicing and cleaving their way through the Wei front lines. Just 2,000 men at his back, with the others gathered atop the walls offering archer support or fighting to hold the walls. There were even normal civilians, shooting arrows and swinging their swords wildly at any Qin soldier they saw.
Gaku Jou looked in the other direction and saw the flags of Sei Kan in the distance. Even though Gi Kin wanted nothing more than to charge down and fight by his brother in arms, he had orders.
All he had to do now was to time it correctly. Come on... come on... NOW! He raised his sword high as his horse neighed and stood on its hind legs before pointing it at the exposed Qin flank. "CHARGEE!!!" He gave his war cry, and his men descended on the unsuspecting Qin.
CHAPTER DONE