Ch 9

As the political war raged in Kanyou, Zhao was already preparing its next assault. Intelligence reports arrived of a massive army gathering at the northern borders, led by the infamous Zhao general, Shiba Kō, known for his brutal and efficient warfare.

Ei Sei summoned me to the war chamber. "We have no choice," he said. "Zhao is moving faster than we anticipated. You must lead our forces again."

I bowed. "I will not fail."

I spent the next weeks preparing, summoning my elite troops and reinforcing our supply lines. But I knew we needed more than just numbers. We needed strategy. I called upon Shin, Mou Ten, and Ou Hon, along with seasoned tacticians, to devise a plan that could counter Shiba Kō's ruthless efficiency.

On the eve of battle, I met with my commanders in our war tent. "Shiba Kō is not like Ji Yuan," I told them. "He does not rely on deception—he overwhelms his enemies with sheer force. If we meet him head-on, we will lose."

Mou Ten nodded. "Then we must control the battlefield itself. If we lure him into terrain that works against him, we can turn his strength into his weakness."

Ou Hon smirked. "A war of attrition. Make him bleed before he reaches us."

The plan was set. We would use a series of calculated retreats, forcing Zhao into a narrow valley where their numbers would be neutralized. There, we would strike.

The battle began with the thunderous march of Zhao's forces, 120,000 strong. My army, half their size, engaged in calculated skirmishes, drawing them deeper into our chosen battlefield. Shiba Kō, eager for bloodshed, took the bait.

As his forces poured into the valley, my archers rained hell upon them from the cliffs. Flaming arrows ignited the dry brush, creating a wall of fire that cut off their retreat. Then, with a mighty war cry, Shin and the Hi Shin Unit led the charge, striking deep into the heart of Zhao's formation.

The battle raged for hours, the valley becoming a graveyard of soldiers. Shiba Kō, realizing the trap, roared in fury and personally led his vanguard into the fray. I met him head-on, our weapons clashing in a storm of steel.

He was powerful, each strike heavy with the force of a battering ram. But I was faster. We exchanged blow after blow, neither giving an inch. Then, in a split-second opening, I drove my blade through his armor, piercing his heart.

Shiba Kō's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible..." he gasped, before collapsing.

With their general dead, the Zhao army fell into chaos. My troops pressed the attack, routing them completely. By nightfall, we had won.

The war with Zhao was far from over, but another great enemy had been vanquished. As I stood amidst the fallen, I knew that Qin had taken another step towards unification.

But in the shadows of Kanyou, Ryo Fui was already planning his next move.

With Zhao's forces in disarray, we turned our attention back to Kanyou, our capital. The war on the battlefield was momentarily won, but the battle in the court was just beginning. The victory had given us breathing room, but the political climate was shifting dangerously. Ryo Fui, ever the opportunist, had used our military campaigns as a means to consolidate his own power. He had started influencing trade, manipulating resource allocation, and even managed to worm his way into sections of the army, gaining supporters among the higher ranks. If left unchecked, his grip would become stronger than that of the king himself.

Ei Sei summoned an emergency council to discuss the situation. The tension in the air was palpable as we gathered in the royal chamber. "Ryo Fui's growing influence must be checked before he undermines the very foundation of this kingdom," Ei Sei stated firmly, his voice resolute, yet tinged with concern.

I nodded, aware that this new struggle would not be fought with swords, but with words, influence, and careful political maneuvering. The delicate balance between loyalty and power was the battlefield now. I wasted no time in reaching out to my allies—generals, courtiers, and political figures loyal to Ei Sei. Meanwhile, I kept my personal forces on high alert. Ryo Fui was not above using the dark arts of assassination to remove his enemies, and I knew well enough that I would be a target.

Over the next few weeks, the court became a battleground of whispers and shifting alliances. Ryo Fui had tightly grasped the reins of economic power, ensuring that all major trade routes flowed only through his loyalists. The kingdom's resources were under his control, and with that, his influence grew. In response, I leveraged my position as a general to secure vital resources through alternative means, cutting off his supply lines wherever possible. Each move I made was countered by him with his own political plays, and before long, it was clear that this struggle would shape the future of the kingdom.

One evening, an assassination attempt was made on one of Ei Sei's closest advisors. Though the assassin was quickly apprehended, it was evident that Ryo Fui was prepared to escalate matters if it meant gaining control. It was a clear message that the stakes had been raised.

I began to devise a long-term strategy to dismantle Ryo Fui's power from within. But the more I learned, the more I realized how deeply entrenched his influence had become. His alliances spread like a spider's web, reaching into every corner of the court. The fight would not be easy, and it would not be quick.