The war for Sanyou had begun.
After the preparations in Qin's capital were completed, the massive invasion force finally began its march toward Wei.
At the head of this enormous army stood one of Qin's Great Generals.
Great General Mou Gu.
Unlike commanders who relied on overwhelming force or reckless charges, Mou Gu's method of warfare was simple, steady, and proven.
He did not seek unnecessary risks.
He did not chase glory.
He simply created the most reliable textbook path toward victory.
As always, Mou Gu followed his usual method of invasion.
The massive Qin army was divided into three separate forces.
The right northern force.
The left southern force.
And the central force.
Each army would advance into the Sanyou region separately while maintaining the same pace.
By doing this, Wei would be forced to divide their attention and would be unable to gather their full strength against a single Qin army.
And within the central invasion force...
One army stood out.
The army of General Hyou Ren.
The central army advanced like a great wave.
At its front marched the banner of the Hyou Army.
A force that had already gained recognition across Qin due to its victories and battlefield achievements.
Now, during the Sanyou campaign, they had been assigned the most important position.
The vanguard.
Mou Gu personally called Hyou Ren forward.
"General Hyou Ren."
"The central army will advance toward the first city blocking our path."
"Kourou."
"You will take the vanguard and break through their defenses."
Hyou Ren calmly nodded.
"Understood."
Mou Gu smiled.
"The rest of the army will follow after your breakthrough."
Behind the Hyou Army marched three smaller but important forces.
The Hi Shin Unit.
The Gyoku Hou Unit.
And the Gaku Ka Unit.
Mou Gu assigned them as Hyou Ren's reserve force.
Although their numbers were far smaller compared to the main armies, their commanders were already showing great potential.
Shin looked toward the distant walls of Kourou.
"So we're supporting General Hyou Ren?"
Mou Ten smiled.
"Seems like it."
He glanced toward the Hyou Army.
"Although..."
"I have a feeling we won't get much action."
Ou Hon frowned.
"Don't underestimate the enemy."
But even he could not deny it.
The Hyou Army was moving with complete confidence.
Inside the command tent of the Hyou army, Hyou Ren studied the map of Kourou.
A heavily fortified Wei city.
Strong walls.
Large gates.
A defensive position designed to delay any invading army.
The officers waited for their orders.
Hyou Ren looked at the city.
"A siege."
"The simplest type of battlefield."
The commanders looked toward him.
Hyou Ren continued.
"Unlike open battlefields, a siege limits the enemy's options."
"The enemy is trapped inside."
"Their movements are restricted."
"Their choices become predictable."
He pointed toward the walls.
"We only need to reach the wall."
"Break through."
"Open the gates."
"And allow the main army to enter."
His eyes shifted toward one commander.
"Lu Shen."
A man stepped forward.
"Yes, General."
"This battlefield belongs to you."
The Wei soldiers watched from the walls as the Qin army approached.
They expected the usual method.
Large siege weapons.
Slow preparation.
A prolonged battle.
But what appeared before them was completely different.
Thousands of soldiers carrying ladders.
Large wooden structures being assembled rapidly.
And strange siege wagons moving toward the front.
The Wei commander narrowed his eyes.
"What are those?"
Then suddenly...
BOOOOOM!
A massive stone crashed into the inner city.
The walls shook.
Another followed.
Then another.
Panic spread among the defenders.
"Enemy bombardment?!"
"Our families….?!"
At the rear of the Qin formation stood Lu Shen.
His expression remained calm.
His greatest passion had always been construction.
Now, that passion had become a weapon.
"Three attacks at once."
"The walls."
"The inside of the city."
"And their morale."
He raised his hand.
"Begin."
The first wave advanced.
Thousands of Qin soldiers carrying ladders rushed forward.
The Wei defenders fired arrows from above.
But the Qin advance did not stop.
A ladder fell.
Another immediately replaced it.
Then another.
The Wei soldiers struggled to keep up.
They had prepared for a normal siege.
Not an endless flood of attackers.
Then came the siege towers.
Unlike traditional siege equipment that required days of preparation, Lu Shen's siege wagons carried the materials and components needed for rapid construction.
His army could create what they needed directly on the battlefield.
A moving construction force.
The Wei soldiers stared in disbelief.
"They built those..."
"During the march?"
Then the bombardment continued.
The inner city was struck repeatedly.
The Wei army was forced to divide their attention.
Defend the walls.
Stop the siege towers.
Deal with the destruction inside the city.
Three different attacks.
One narrow battlefield.
Defenders realized that they could not handle all three.
The defense began collapsing.
While the main assault continued, Hyou Ren's commanders waited.
At the eastern gate.
Ri Yue.
At the western gate.
Bao Jun.
At the southern gate.
Tian Hao.
At the northern gate.
Mo Yun.
Their orders were simple.
Wait.
The moment the defenses broke...
…. the gates will open.
Strike.
One Day Later
The impossible happened.
Kourou fell.
Not after months.
Not after weeks.
One day.
The Qin army entered the city.
The Wei defenders were overwhelmed.
The Hyou Army banner was raised above Kourou.
Inside the Mou Gu Army Camp….
Silence filled the command tent.
Mou Gu looked at the report.
"...One day?"
The messenger bowed.
"Yes, Great General."
"Kourou has completely fallen."
"The Hyou Army suffered minimal casualties."
"The reserve forces were never deployed."
For a moment, Mou Gu stared at the map.
Then...
"HAHAHAHA!"
His laughter echoed throughout the tent.
"A siege that should have taken weeks..."
"Finished in a single day."
Mou Gu looked toward Kourou.
"General Hyou Ren..."
"Your army continues to exceed expectations."
The assault had not been based on brute force.
It was precision.
Every attack had a purpose.
The walls.
The city.
The enemy's morale.
Everything collapsed together.
When the news reached the reserve forces, Shin stared in disbelief.
"You're telling me the city already fell?"
"And we weren't even needed?"
Mou Ten smiled.
"It seems General Hyou Ren's army handled everything themselves."
He looked toward Kourou.
"Breaking a fortified city in one day..."
"That requires more than strength."
Ou Hon remained silent.
His eyes focused on the Hyou Army banner.
"A siege is normally a battle of patience."
His expression became serious.
"Commander Lu Shen's construction methods huh..."
Inside the conquered city, Hyou Ren stood upon the walls.
Below him, Qin soldiers reorganized their positions.
The battlefield was already finished.
A city that should have delayed the invasion had fallen almost instantly.
Lu Shen approached.
"General."
"The siege equipment has been recovered."
"We can continue using them for future battles."
Hyou Ren nodded.
"Good."
He looked toward the horizon.
"Kourou was only the first obstacle."
"The real battle for Sanyou has yet to begin."
The Hyou Army banner waved above the captured city.
And across the Wei front lines...
The news began spreading.
The central Qin army had not been slowed.
The first fortress had fallen.