Six months had passed.
The scars left behind by the Battle of Kan Plains had begun to fade from the land...
...but not from the people.
Within those six months, the names of countless soldiers who had distinguished themselves spread throughout the nation.
One name in particular had risen faster than anyone expected.
Ri Yue.
She had already ascended to the rank of General, becoming one of the few female generals in Qin's history.
As for the Hyou Ren Army...
Their exploits at Kan Plains had shaken the military.
By royal decree, the Hyou Ren Army was permanently expanded.
75,000 soldiers.
No longer merely a powerful independent army...
It had become one of Qin's great military pillars.
Inside the Hyou Family headquarters...
Reports continued to pile upon Hyou Ren's desk.
Ri Yue stood beside him while several commanders quietly listened.
Hyou Ren opened the first report.
"...Shin."
A faint smile appeared.
"So the brat finally made another achievement."
He unfolded the document.
Promotion Report
Shin has officially been promoted to 1,000-Man Commander for his achievements during the Zhao campaign, particularly the slaying of General Fuuki.
"..."
"..."
The room became strangely quiet.
Ri Yue blinked.
"One thousand?"
One of the commanders scratched his head.
"Isn't...that a little too fast?"
Another commander laughed.
"He skipped right over five hundred."
Hyou Ren slowly lowered the report.
"...Duke Hyou."
"...Princess Ai You."
He sighed deeply.
"So those two really went through with it."
Ri Yue tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
Hyou Ren rubbed his forehead.
"They secretly pushed for Shin's promotion."
Silence.
Then Hyou Ren gave a helpless smile.
"...They're spoiling him far too much."
"...Look what he's become."
Several commanders burst into laughter.
One imagined Shin proudly puffing out his chest while introducing himself.
"'I am the great 1,000-Man Commander Shin!'"
The entire room erupted into laughter.
Ri Yue couldn't help but smile.
"...Somehow."
"I can actually picture him saying exactly that."
Another report arrived.
Hyou Ren opened it.
"...Hm?"
It described the newest generation of Qin officers.
One paragraph caught his eye.
Shin.
Mouten.
Ouhon.
The three names had become inseparable.
According to the report, both Mouten and Ouhon had only recently become 300-Man Commanders.
Neither of them was pleased.
"...A nobody from the countryside becomes a thousand-man commander before us?"
Ouhon reportedly scoffed.
"Ridiculous."
Mouten merely smiled...
Though his smile carried obvious annoyance.
"What incredible luck."
Meanwhile...
Shin's response had been faithfully recorded by the intelligence officers.
"I ain't lucky!"
"I killed a Zhao General!"
"If you two wanna become thousand-man commanders..."
"Go kill one yourselves!"
The report even noted Shin folding his arms with an unbearably smug grin.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Hyou Ren closed his eyes.
Ri Yue laughed openly.
"I almost feel sorry for Mouten and Ouhon."
The headquarters echoed with laughter once again.
Then...
A final scroll was delivered.
Unlike the others...
It bore the royal seal.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Hyou Ren broke the seal.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
"..."
Ri Yue noticed immediately.
"What happened?"
He quietly handed her the report.
Her expression changed almost instantly.
"...Zhao?"
The report read:
The Zhao Prime Minister, Riboku, will personally arrive in Qin.
His mission...
To negotiate with Qin over the return of a beloved Zhao official.
Shunpeikun.
Ryofui had secretly taken the gifted statesman from Zhao.
Now...
The King of Zhao demanded his return.
And to represent Zhao...
They had sent none other than Riboku himself.
The royal court had also issued another order.
Every major officer who had participated in the Battle of Kan Plains...
Would be summoned to Kanyou to witness the negotiations.
"...Interesting."
Hyou Ren slowly stood.
"The man who defeated Ouki..."
"The man who nearly crushed Qin on Kan Plains..."
"...He's coming here."
Ri Yue looked toward the capital far beyond the horizon.
"So..."
"We're finally going to meet him."
Hyou Ren nodded.
"Prepare three hundred guards."
"You'll accompany me."
Ri Yue smiled.
"As you command."
Outside...
The banners of the Hyou Army rose into the wind once more.
Behind them...
Seventy-four thousand soldiers remained behind to continue training under the army's commanders.
Ahead...
The road to Kanyou awaited.