225 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: NANAN
Sei Chou POV
"No rest for the wicked… can't even pay a visit to my wife before being sent to another battlefield," I said, watching as the main camp was being put together by my army. Just over the horizon, I could see the multiple flags of Oukotsu and his army fluttering with the slight airy breeze that blew.
"My Lord, none of us were able to go back to Chuuzan…" Fu Jin replied, stating the obvious. After scoring a victory against the Quanrong, we were quick to move over towards the western border, but not quick enough in my eyes.
"Ohh, my lady love, forgive this unfortunate husband of yours…" I obviously avoided Fu Jin's answer and chose to wallow in the unfortunate situation I found myself in. I knew I was in for a very heart-racing punishment when I returned to Chuuzan, Chun Li would probably not let me go for a whole year.
"Hahaha, a woman's love sure is incomparable to anything else." The voice of Chou Garyuu brought me out of my musings, turning to him with a smile as he continued to speak. "The camp is almost set, Gyou'un has already set out and gotten into a few skirmishes."
"Already? Lord Gyou'un didn't even wait for a signal." One of the youngsters who'd shown considerable talent and growth in his strategic ability commented in shock, before he quickly slapped his hand over his mouth and looked from Fu Jin to Chou Garyuu and then to me with wide eyes.
"Haha, Chou Sou, there's no need to be so shocked. Look, Sei Chou doesn't seem to mind it one bit." Fu Jin said. Chou Sou was sent to me with a reinforcement of 5,000 from the capital. Since there were a few casualties in the previous war with the Quanrong, the King had decided to send a distant family relative to bolster our troop strength slightly.
"That's just how Gyou'un is. Don't worry, Chou Sou, should you survive this war, you would understand the way we operate ever so slightly. But still, for Gyou'un, this is too early." Chou Garyuu added.
"Speed is vital in war, and I don't like to micromanage my soldiers. Let the soldiers be soldiers, act on the field in the best way you see fit… But always make sure your decision is not negatively clouded." From a distance, I couldn't quite see what was going on, but I placed my trust in Gyou'un's judgement.
Turning back, I looked into the eyes of Chou Sou, who looked to have calmed down slightly but was still shocked. "Young Chou Sou, this is a lucky opportunity for you," I gestured towards Chou Garyuu, "Because now you will be able to see how a master deploys his troops. Learn well."
By the vigorous way that Chou Sou nodded his head, I couldn't help but smirk at Fu Jin and Chou Garyuu. The former shared my smirk while the latter puffed out his chest and stood just that little bit taller, his head raised. Chou Sou seemed to have stars in his eyes as Chou Garyuu started to discuss the deployment that we would use.
Though as the discussion continued, I made sure to glance at Chou Sou a few times. His presence here was telling; the King and the Prime Minister both believed and trusted the young strategist. However, there was the silent possibility that Chou Sou was sent here to spy on me and my army as a whole.
Well, whatever the reason may be. I would make sure to thoroughly use this strategist to the best of his abilities. There were over five strategists in my army, all of them were looking and searching for the fine margins that Chou Garyuu had missed. It was the same for Ren Pa's army as well, though old man Gen Pou had a whole strategy academy that was practically churning out politicians and warriors every other year.
It made me think about opening my own strategist school, but the timing was just not there. With the court always calling upon me to fight for Zhao, I barely had time to spend with Chun Li and Yuu Sui, and then there was the merchant class that needed a sharp eye to be kept on or else they'd start some sort of trouble.
My thoughts came to an end just as I heard Chou Garyuu finish explaining the deployment plan. From the looks of it, the troops will be spread out, with the majority of our soldiers being placed on the flanks, giving us the perfect opportunity to encircle the Qin army. Especially with the way Qin's Oukotsu usually leads the vanguard, if we blunt his charge, the encirclement was definitely on.
"Oukotsu likes to be in the vanguard; all of the previous battles I had fought against him were the same." Chou Garyuu voiced my thoughts.
"Sei Chou shall be at the centre, Gyou'un and I will be on the flanks. Once Gyou'un returns, we will delve further into detail, but that will be all for now." Chou Garyuu finished before looking towards me, and I gave him a slight incline of my head.
After everyone left, leaving only me, Chou Garyuu, Fu Jin and the Jo brothers. There was a short silence before it was broken by Chou Garyuu, "So, you think he's been sent here to spy?"
"Hmm, most definitely. Close enough connection to the King to keep the Chou name but distant enough to not be known as a prince or a Duke, it only points in one direction." I replied that the name of the person we were discussing didn't need to be said.
"Then why not kill him?" Jo Shou asked, and I shook my head because it was the wrong move to kill Chou Sou. If he has been sent to spy on us by the King, killing him would open a box that doesn't need to be opened.
I knew the current King would die in five years, and the next person to be crowned is Tou Jou, a revolting thing masquerading as a human being. Many who had met Tou Jou were not in the least bit impressed with him; it was only through the power the King and prime minister had that people still held their tongues.
"They trust Chou Sou enough to send him here, and we have seen his talent. It would be very suspicious if he died immediately, and it would open Sei Chou and all of us to slander dissenters who have been silently grumbling about our Lord's rapid rise." Chou Garyuu replied to Jo Shou.
"So, we have to watch over him and pray to the heavens that he survives this?" Fu Jin asked with an amused tone in his voice.
"Not so, I want to use Chou Sou to his full potential. Who knows what his past is like? With any luck, he favours us and becomes a key part of our army; if not, then he goes back and tells the King, prime minister or whoever sent him just how powerful we are." I answered Fu Jin before continuing, "Isn't it more convenient to lump all of our enemies together and deal with them?"
"Good, as we planned, deal with the Quarnong and then Oukotsu."
…
255 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: NANAN
QIN POV
"It's odd for you to leave that school of yours to come all the way here to the battlefield, Ko Shou." Sitting next to Oukotsu was an elderly man, dressed in courtly robes. Everyone in Qin knew this man as the master strategist, who headed Qin's strategist academy, one of Qin's Great Generals who was presumed to have retired, Great General Ko Shou.
"You've always been all brawn and no brains, Oukotsu." Ko Shou spoke evenly, "And I am all brains and no brawn, when you put the two together…" The tone of voice seemed to irritate OuKotsu, who looked at his fellow Great General with narrowed eyes, but he decided not to comment on the slightly scathing remark Ko Shou made. He was never a fan of strategy, and more often than not, he disregarded it altogether, often choosing to smash and cleave through the enemy vanguard.
"Do not forget Ko Shou, I could still crush your head into a bloody pulp." Oukotsu's threat was curt and to the point. Where it would've cowered many, Ko Shou seemed to welcome the threat. Running a hand through his long black beard, he replied, "And that strength is why I am here. Your might has been questioned, you underestimated the enemy too much, and I am here to make sure you only need to focus on the enemy."
"This Sei Chou is rapidly becoming a bigger problem, with every victory his army becomes more confident, their morale seems unshakable and now that adding both Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu to the mix, two famed Generals who are revered in Zhao. The soldiers can only think of another victory, but they have not accounted for me." Ko Shou said.
"So, what's this plan of yours?"
"Sei Chou is undefeated currently, with both a frightening mind for strategy and martial might. All of the Zhao soldiers follow him loyally, as they do not doubt for one second that he will lose. The weight on his shoulders is heavy, and his wanting to live up to their expectations will play on his mind. So, he will leave the strategic planning to Chou Garyuu and instead seek to face you." Ko Shou began. Oukotsu remained silent.
"Gyou'un has already started testing the strength of your army. With the information he takes back to Chou Garyuu, we will use that as bait. They will place more troops on their flanks than in the centre, with the hope of encircling you whenever you choose to charge it."
"You want me to charge directly into the trap?"
"Yes and no, instead of leading the vanguard. You will be saved for the last line that will charge; it will make you seem desperate and anxious, and so their troops on the flanks will follow their plan to move forward and encircle. Once that happens, the centre will be sparse of troops. And then you will be able to see it." Those in the war council hearing Ko Shou's plan were both shocked and slightly awed.
"There's only a single chance that we can pull this off, Oukotsu. Even with my abilities, this is as much as I can do for you. That Sei Chou is a fearsome talent who, if allowed to continue, will become another Ren Pa, and adding those two veterans who we clashed multiple times. The prospect is ever more dangerous." Ko Shou finished.
"That's all I need. A single path to Sei Chou is all I need, and from there I will show once again why it is I who is the strongest man in China!" Oukostu declared before standing up and walking out of the tent, leaving behind his generals, strategist and Ko Shou.
"Indeed, you're still the strongest. Oukostu." Ko Shou said, running a hand through his beard. Before turning to the maps and giving out orders for redeployments and manoeuvring of troops.
QIN SIDE POV END
NARRATOR POV
In the Year 255 BCE, a Qin army led by Oukotsu and Ko Shou invaded Zhao. The Qin army plunged deep into Zhao's land, conquering cities before being forced into a pitched battle against Zhao's Sei Chou.
NARRATOR POV END
CHAPTER DONE
AN: Last chapter was really short, I hope I managed to make up some goodwill with this chapter. Hope you guys enjoy the chapter, and continue to support.