The morning after Riboku's army arrived before Sai, silence hung over the battlefield.
From atop the city walls, Shin, Kyoukai, Karyo Ten, Shoubunkun, and King Ei Sei gazed upon the endless sea of Zhao banners stretching to the horizon.
Within the Zhao headquarters, Kaine looked toward the distant city.
"Reports indicate that Sai had barely enough troops left to defend itself."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Did Kanyou send reinforcements here... or have the common folk truly taken up arms?"
Riboku remained calm as he observed the city.
"It can only be one of those two."
Without another word, he mounted his horse and slowly rode toward the front of the Zhao army.
Thousands of soldiers watched in silence.
Stopping just beyond arrow range, Riboku raised his voice so that it echoed across the walls.
"I am Riboku... one of Zhao's Three Great Heavens."
A murmur spread through the citizens gathered atop the battlements.
"The one who defeated General Ouki..."
"The strategist of the Coalition Army..."
Riboku continued.
"I have an announcement for the people of Sai."
He paused.
"Surrender."
"Surrender Sai."
"If you open your gates now, I, Riboku, personally guarantee that not a single person within this city shall be harmed."
"The soldiers will be spared."
"The civilians will be spared."
"The elderly, the women, and the children will all be allowed to live."
"You have fought bravely."
"There is no shame in laying down your arms."
"Do not throw your lives away for a battle that cannot be won."
For a brief moment...
The city fell silent.
Many of the newly armed civilians looked at one another with trembling eyes.
They had never held weapons before.
Many feared they would not survive even a single day.
Then…
"THAT'S ENOUGH OF YOUR STUPID PRATTLING, RIBOKU!!"
A thunderous roar shattered the silence.
Standing upon the wall with blazing eyes, Shin pointed his sword directly at Riboku.
"No one's gonna listen to your sweet talk!"
"You think we're stupid enough to hand over Sai because you made a promise?!"
"No matter what happens..."
"We will NEVER let Sai fall to the likes of you!!"
The Hi Shin Unit erupted in cheers.
"Captain Shin!!"
"That's right!"
"We'll fight to the end!"
Soon after...
The citizens of Sai also found their courage.
"We won't surrender!"
"This is our home!"
"Come and take it if you can!"
A faint smile appeared on Riboku's face.
"So be it."
He turned his horse around.
"The siege begins."
The horns of Zhao echoed across the plains.
Like a massive black tide, the Zhao army surged toward Sai's walls.
Thus...
The Siege of Sai began.
Yet Riboku had no intention of relying upon brute force alone.
Within his headquarters, he calmly explained his strategy.
"We possess an overwhelming numerical advantage."
"There is no need to exhaust every soldier at once."
"The army shall be divided into two equal forces."
"The first half will assault Sai throughout the day."
"The second half shall rest."
"When night falls..."
"The rested army will launch another assault."
"And the soldiers who fought during the day shall recover."
His officers immediately understood.
"The defenders..."
"They'll never have time to rest."
Riboku nodded.
"They have too few soldiers."
"They must defend both day and night."
"Every hour their exhaustion will deepen."
"Their morale will slowly collapse."
"The city will eventually fall on its own."
The officers bowed.
"A magnificent strategy!"
And so...
Morning attacks.
Night attacks.
Morning attacks.
Night attacks.
Without pause.
Without mercy.
Without end.
The First Day.
The walls of Sai became soaked in blood.
Every citizen who could still stand continued fighting.
Even elderly men fired arrows until their fingers bled.
Women carried stones and boiling water to the battlements.
Children rushed supplies between defenders.
When dawn finally arrived...
Another Zhao army was already advancing.
There was no time to sleep.
The Second Day.
Many defenders could barely keep their eyes open.
Yet whenever Zhao ladders reached the walls...
Shin and the Hi Shin Unit charged wherever the fighting was fiercest.
Again and again...
They threw the invaders back.
The Third Day.
The wounded increased.
Food became scarce.
The civilians were reaching their limits.
Still...
King Ei Sei continued walking among the defenders, speaking to every exhausted soldier and every frightened citizen.
His presence alone kept despair at bay.
The Fourth Day.
The cries of battle never ceased.
Every sunrise brought another assault.
Every sunset another.
The people of Sai no longer knew whether it was day or night.
Only that they had to keep fighting.
The Fifth Day.
The fifteenth day since the Battle of Kankoku Pass had begun.
The defenders had not enjoyed a single uninterrupted night's sleep.
Many collapsed from sheer exhaustion before being dragged back to their feet.
Yet Sai still stood.
Its gates remained closed.
Its banners continued to fly.
Riboku watched the city from afar.
"...Remarkable."
"They have endured far longer than expected."
Even so...
He knew exhaustion was a far deadlier weapon than any sword.
"If this continues..."
"Sai will eventually break."
On the Sixth Day.
Elsewhere...
Far from Sai...
A cavalry force rode across the mountains.
Leading them was Hyou Ren.
His army had finally reached the place where Duke Hyou had made his last stand.
The battlefield had long since fallen silent.
Scattered armor.
Broken weapons.
Countless bodies.
Among them...
Lay the remains of the Duke Hyou.
Hyou Ren slowly dismounted.
Without saying a word, he knelt before the fallen general.
The veterans accompanying him lowered their heads.
After several moments of silence...
Hyou Ren gently lifted Duke Hyou's body.
"...It's been a long journey, Father."
His voice was calm.
Yet every soldier could hear the grief hidden beneath it.
"I'll bring you home, I'll bring you back to the north east."
The Duke's body was entrusted to a detachment.
"Return my father to Ri Yue."
"See that my father receives the burial worthy of the greatest instinctual general of Qin."
The soldiers saluted.
"Yes, General!"
As they departed with the Duke's remains, Hyou Ren turned toward the south.
Toward Kanyou.
His eyes burned with murderous resolve.
"I swear it..."
"I will avenge you."
He mounted his horse.
Drawing his sword toward the capital, he gave a single command.
"Advance."
The Hyou Ren Army thundered forward.
Thirty-five thousand cavalry rode behind their commander, racing toward Qin's royal capital as another decisive battle drew ever closer.