Inside Qin's military headquarters, an enormous map stretched across the center of the command tent. Wooden markers representing hundreds of thousands of soldiers covered every road leading toward Kankoku Pass.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Standing before the map, Great General Hyou Ren silently observed every formation. Beside him stood his wife and chief strategist, Ri Yue, whose calm eyes carefully traced each enemy movement.
"The Coalition Army has finally revealed its complete deployment," Ri Yue said as she placed another marker onto the map.
One by one, the enemy commanders appeared before them.
Ri Yue pointed toward Qin's western front.
"Yan."
A massive banner bearing the character Yan stood opposite another bearing the ousen banner.
"The Yan Army will be commanded by Commander-in-Chief Ordo."
She placed Ordo's marker directly before Ousen's.
"His objective is simple, defeat General Ousen and break through Qin's western defenses."
Hyou Ren nodded.
"Ousen is not someone who can be defeated through brute force. Ordo may possess overwhelming numbers, but on a battlefield of strategy... Ousen will make every mountain and every tree his soldier."
Ri Yue moved her hand toward the center of the battlefield.
"Kankoku Pass."
Several Qin banners were already positioned atop the mighty fortress.
"Great General Mougu."
"Great General Choutou."
"And General Kanki."
The three armies formed an unbreakable shield upon Qin's greatest fortress.
Facing them stood the banners of Wei.
"The Wei Army will be led by Commander-in-Chief Gohoumei."
Rows of siege weapons were illustrated behind his formation.
"He intends to crush Kankoku Pass through engineering and overwhelming firepower."
Hyou Ren crossed his arms.
"Gohoumei's greatest weapon isn't his soldiers."
"It is his machines."
"If Qin underestimates those siege weapons... even Kankoku Pass may begin to crumble."
Ri Yue nodded before shifting another collection of markers toward Qin's southern front.
"The largest army among the Coalition..."
"Chu."
The tent seemed to grow even heavier.
Three enormous banners appeared.
Commander-in-Chief Kanmei.
General Rinbukun.
Alongside them stood another mysterious Chu general whose identity remained concealed.
Far behind the frontline rested another command banner.
Shunshinkun.
Beside him...
Riboku.
Hyou Ren narrowed his eyes.
"So Riboku has chosen not to command Zhao directly..."
"Instead, he remains behind Chu's army."
"He intends to oversee the entire battlefield."
"If any front begins to collapse..."
"...he will be free to reinforce it immediately."
Ri Yue continued.
"Chu's invasion force will clash against the armies of General Tou and General Moubu."
Everyone inside the tent understood what that meant.
Kanmei.
Against.
Moubu.
A battle between the strongest warriors of two nations.
The mere thought was enough to make seasoned officers swallow nervously.
Finally...
Ri Yue placed the last collection of markers onto the northeastern battlefield.
"Zhao."
Unlike Chu, Zhao's formation was composed of numerous veteran armies.
"The Zhao Army will be commanded by General Keisha, one of Riboku's most trusted generals."
Around Keisha stood the banners of Zhao's experienced commanders.
Rihaku.
Sonsei.
Gakuei.
Kinmou.
Each commanded tens of thousands of elite soldiers.
Ri Yue slowly pushed two Qin banners opposite them.
One carried the name of the legendary instinctual Great General...
Duke Hyou.
The other...
Great General Hyou Ren.
Silence filled the command tent.
Hyou Ren quietly stared at the Zhao formation.
"So Riboku entrusted the Zhao battlefield to Keisha..."
Ri Yue nodded.
"He believes Keisha's instincts are enough to contain Duke Hyou."
She paused.
"But..."
"...he also knows you're here."
Hyou Ren smiled.
"Keisha..."
"A man who walks the path of instinct."
"But instinct alone cannot overcome experience."
His finger slowly traced the roads surrounding Zhao's formation.
"Unlike the other battlefields..."
"This one..."
"...will not be decided by strength."
"It will become a hunt."
His officers looked toward him.
Hyou Ren's eyes sharpened.
"Keisha will try to lure Duke Hyou."
"He will wait patiently for the moment our formation exposes even the smallest opening."
A faint smile appeared across his face.
"But..."
"What happens when the hunter discovers..."
"...he has become the prey?"
The officers around him felt a chill run down their spines.
Ri Yue smiled knowingly.
She had already understood her husband's thoughts.
Instead of chasing Keisha...
Hyou Ren intended to hunt the hunter himself.
Outside the command tent, war drums echoed across Qin.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers tightened their armor.
The greatest war in China's history was finally about to begin.