The vast Mei plains were filled with tens of thousands of Qin soldiers. Campfires stretched to the horizon as banners bearing the crest of Duke Hyou Ren fluttered beneath the evening wind. Yet inside the command tent, there was no confidence, only grim silence.
A map of Tonryuu lay spread across the table.
Duke Hyou Ren stared at it with narrowed eyes while Ri Yue quietly pieced together the reports brought by scouts and spies over the past several days.
After a long silence, Ri Yue finally spoke.
"This... is no ordinary rebellion."
Hyou Ren nodded.
"Hokaku is merely a pawn."
Every officer inside the tent looked toward the two commanders.
Ri Yue pointed at the map.
"Think carefully. Hokaku first captured Lady Rui. Then he somehow knew Prince Seikyou would abandon Kanyou and personally march here. Once Seikyou entered Tonryuu, he was immediately imprisoned and used as the symbol of the rebellion."
He paused before continuing.
"Everything happened too perfectly."
"The timing..."
"The preparations..."
"And even the false accusations."
"No peasant revolt could accomplish something so precise."
One veteran commander frowned.
"Then someone guided Hokaku."
"Exactly."
Ri Yue crossed her arms.
"The real mastermind never intended for Hokaku to win."
"He merely needed Hokaku to lure Seikyou into Tonryuu."
"So that Seikyou could disappear."
The tent fell silent.
Hyou Ren slowly clenched his fist.
"Someone wants Prince Seikyou dead."
"...The Chancellor."
Ri Yue nodded.
"Ryo Fui."
The name alone caused the atmosphere to grow heavy.
Since the Coalition War, Seikyou had publicly reconciled with King Ei Sei.
He was no longer an enemy of the throne.
Instead, he had become another member of the King's growing faction.
Ri Yue spoke calmly.
"Removing Seikyou weakens His Majesty without directly confronting him."
"If Seikyou dies during a rebellion..."
"...everyone simply blames the rebels."
"No suspicion falls upon the Chancellor."
Hyou Ren's expression darkened.
"A clean sacrifice."
The Duke struck the table.
"This rebellion was planned from the very beginning."
Two days remained before the assault on Tonryuu.
Messengers quickly departed the headquarters.
Only one army was specifically summoned.
The Hi Shin Unit.
Soon afterward...
Shin, Kyou Kai, and Karyo Ten entered the command tent before Duke Hyou Ren and Ri Yue.
Hyou Ren looked directly at Shin.
"I have a mission only your unit can accomplish."
Ri Yue stepped forward.
"Prince Seikyou is not the enemy."
"The true victim of this entire affair is him."
"The rebels merely used him as their banner."
Karyo Ten frowned.
"So we're not attacking the Prince..."
"No."
Ri Yue shook her head.
"We're rescuing him."
Hyou Ren continued.
"Once the enemy realizes defeat is inevitable..."
"...they will cut off Seikyou's head."
"...and throw it over the walls."
"They'll claim justice has been served and surrender."
Shin's fists tightened.
"So we have to reach him before then."
Hyou Ren nodded.
"I will delay the full assault for one day."
The officers looked surprised.
"A one-day delay?"
Ri Yue explained.
"Tomorrow the Hyou Ren Army will begin a limited siege."
"We will pressure every gate."
"We will draw every defender onto the walls."
"While their attention is upon us..."
"...your unit will infiltrate Tonryuu."
Karyo Ten immediately understood.
"A diversion."
Ri Yue smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Hyou Ren stood.
"Your objectives are simple."
He raised one finger.
"Rescue Prince Seikyou…."
A second finger.
"Rescue Lady Rui…."
"…. initiate a surrender."
A third.
"If neither can be accomplished..."
"...bring me Hokaku's head."
Silence filled the tent.
Then Ri Yue's gentle expression completely disappeared.
Her voice became cold enough to freeze the room.
"Listen carefully."
"You have one day."
"Only one."
She looked directly at Shin.
"Once that day is over..."
"...regardless of success or failure..."
"...the Hyou Ren Army will begin its full assault."
Her words carried no hesitation.
"There will be no negotiations."
"There will be no mercy."
"I will not allow this rebellion to become a tale repeated by future generations."
"The city itself will disappear."
Duke Hyou Ren eyes were completely devoid of emotion before he spoke.
"Everyone..."
"From the youngest infant..."
"...to the oldest elder..."
"...will be put to the sword."
"The name Tonryuu will vanish from history."
The command tent fell into complete silence.
Even the veteran generals felt chills run down their spines.
Ri Yue continued.
"Understand this well."
"If the city still resists after tomorrow..."
"...I will personally ensure there are no survivors."
Her gaze shifted toward the three officers.
"Do you understand?"
Shin swallowed before answering firmly.
"...Yes."
Kyou Kai simply nodded.
"We understand."
Karyo Ten lowered her head.
"We will complete the mission."
Hyou Ren smiled.
"Good."
"Bring back the Prince and his lady wife."
At dawn the following day...
The thunder of war drums echoed across Tonryuu.
The banners of Duke Hyou Ren advanced toward the city in perfect formation.
Catapults launched boulders while archers darkened the sky with arrows.
Tower shields slowly pushed forward as ladders were raised.
The defenders rushed to the walls, believing the true assault had begun.
Exactly as Ri Yue had predicted.
Hidden beneath the chaos, the Hi Shin Unit slipped through a concealed passage revealed by Rui's loyal servants.
Not a single rebel noticed.
Inside the city, fierce battles erupted through the narrow streets.
Shin carved a bloody path toward the prison while Kyou Kai silently eliminated every guard who stood in their way.
Karyo Ten directed the unit through Tonryuu's maze-like alleys, avoiding the largest concentrations of enemy soldiers while sniping any unfortunate guards.
After a desperate struggle, they reached the prison.
Lady Rui was found alive, battered but unbroken.
She immediately revealed the location where Seikyou was being held.
The Hi Shin Unit charged without delay.
But they were too late.
The prison doors burst open.
Prince Seikyou had already fallen.
His body lay upon the stone floor, mortally wounded after refusing Hokaku's final demand to denounce King Ei Sei.
Rui rushed to his side, tears streaming down her face.
Seikyou smiled weakly.
"...Tell... my brother..."
"...I finally understood..."
"...what it means..."
"...to be a king..."
With those final words...
Prince Seikyou closed his eyes forever.
Shin lowered his head.
The room fell silent.
Then...
A deafening roar echoed throughout the prison.
Shin's rage exploded.
He charged through the corridors like a beast unleashed, finally confronting Hokaku in the castle's great hall.
The rebel leader laughed.
"So the King's dog finally arrived!"
Shin answered with nothing but his glaive.
Every ounce of Shin's fury crashed down upon Hokaku.
With a single earth-shaking swing.
Hokaku's head flew through the air.
The rebellion had lost its leader.
As evening approached, Rui gathered the remaining rebel officers within the city square.
Standing beside Shin, she revealed everything.
Hokaku had manipulated the people.
Prince Seikyou had never betrayed Qin.
The rebellion itself had been orchestrated through deception by forces seeking to eliminate the prince for political gain.
The rebels stared in stunned silence.
Many dropped their weapons.
Others fell to their knees in shame.
At last, the oldest among them stepped forward.
"We... were deceived."
One after another...
Swords struck the ground.
The city surrendered before sunset.
When the gates of Tonryuu slowly opened, Duke Hyou Ren's army marched inside without resistance.
The massacre Ri Yue had promised never came to pass.
Instead, the rebellion ended with the death of its true instigator, Hokaku.
Although Prince Seikyou had fallen, his final act had exposed the conspiracy against him.
As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, Shin looked toward the darkening sky and silently vowed that Seikyou's sacrifice would not be forgotten.