Years after Qin secured the lands of Sanyou, its armies once again turned their eyes toward the east.
Beyond Sanyou lay a region whose importance surpassed even its modest size.
Choyou.
A land of winding rivers, fortified hills, and narrow valleys that formed a natural barrier against any army seeking to advance deeper into China. Whoever controlled Choyou possessed the gateway between Qin and the Central Plains.
As long as Wei held Choyou, Qin's dream of eastern expansion would remain little more than an illusion.
The royal court reached its decision.
The campaign to seize Choyou would begin.
Within Choyou Wei's headquarters.
The supreme commander of Wei's military, Gohoumei, stood before an enormous map as messenger after messenger entered the command hall.
"General, another twenty thousand men have reached Choyou."
"Our western garrisons have also been reinforced."
"The engineers have completed another line of fortifications."
Gohoumei silently nodded.
"Good."
He gently placed another marker upon the map.
"Choyou cannot fall."
A general beside him asked,
"Do you believe Qin will truly commit that much strength?"
Gohoumei smiled.
"They have no choice."
"If Qin wishes to continue expanding eastward, they must first remove this obstacle."
His finger tapped the map of the region.
"And if they come..."
"...they shall meet me."
The commander's eyes sharpened.
"This battlefield will become Qin's grave."
At the headquarters of the Qin expeditionary army.
General Tou quietly studied the same battlefield from the opposite side.
Unlike Gohoumei, there was no smile on his face.
Only calm concentration.
Reports continued to arrive.
"General Tou."
"Wei has reinforced Choyou again."
"Enemy numbers continue to rise."
Another officer stepped forward.
"Gohoumei himself has assumed command."
Tou slowly closed his eyes.
"So..."
"...Wei has chosen their strongest sword."
He looked toward his officers.
"Then Qin shall answer with ours."
The room became silent.
Tou calmly gave his orders.
"Increase the size of our army."
"Send summons to every Qin force operating around Sanyou."
"No matter whose army they belong to..."
"...all capable commanders are to gather at Choyou."
The messengers immediately departed in every direction.
A great army was beginning to assemble.
Several days later.
Dust rose across the western roads.
Marching beneath the banner bearing the character Hi was six thousand elite soldiers.
The Hi Shin Unit.
Leading them rode a young commander whose confidence had only grown after years of war.
Shin.
Now a 4,000-man Army Commander.
Beside him marched two trusted commanders.
Kyou Kai, commander of one thousand.
Ka Ryo Ten, commander of one thousand.
As they approached the enormous Qin encampment, Shin stretched his arms behind his head.
"Hahaha!"
"So even General Tou personally requested us."
He grinned proudly.
"Looks like he finally understands just how amazing the Hi Shin Unit truly is."
The soldiers behind him laughed.
"That's our captain!"
"We're finally getting the recognition we deserve!"
Ka Ryo Ten rolled her eyes.
"Or maybe we're just the closest unit available."
Shin immediately protested.
"Oi! Ten! Can't you support me for once?"
Kyou Kai quietly sighed.
"His ego is getting bigger again."
Before anyone could continue the conversation…
Another cloud of dust appeared.
A disciplined army of five thousand soldiers advanced with perfect formation.
At their front rode a young nobleman carrying a long spear.
Ou Hon.
Commander of the Gyoku Hou Unit.
The two units stopped only several dozen paces apart.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Ou Hon glanced toward Shin before speaking coldly.
"The only reason you were summoned..."
"...was to make up the numbers."
Shin's smile immediately disappeared.
"What did you say?"
Ou Hon continued without even looking directly at him.
"Do not misunderstand."
"The real fighting will be handled by capable officers."
He pointed his spear toward the side of the road.
"So..."
"Step aside."
Shin's eyebrow twitched.
"I don't think so."
Silence.
Then…
Shin suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"I'm joking with ya!"
The surrounding soldiers sighed in relief.
Only for the next instant…
WHOOSH!!
Ou Hon disappeared.
His spear shot forward like lightning.
CLANG!!
Shin instinctively drew Ouki's glaive, intercepting the thrust mere inches from his chest.
The impact echoed across the valley.
Without exchanging another word…
The two charged.
CLANG!
CLANG!!
CLANG!!!
Spear and glaive collided repeatedly.
Each strike sent shockwaves through the air.
The surrounding soldiers quickly backed away.
"They're actually fighting!"
"Commander!"
"Stop them!"
Neither listened.
Years of rivalry had only sharpened their desire to surpass one another.
Shin swung with overwhelming strength.
Ou Hon answered with flawless technique.
Neither gave an inch.
Nearby...
Kyou Kai slowly rested her hand upon the hilt of her sword.
Her normally expressionless eyes narrowed.
An overwhelming killing intent quietly spread around her.
"If he tries to kill Shin..."
"...I'll kill him first."
Beside her...
Ka Ryo Ten's cheerful expression had completely vanished.
Her hand slowly reached for the bow hanging across her back.
She calmly nocked an arrow.
Her eyes locked onto Ou Hon's head.
"If this doesn't stop..."
"...I'll shoot."
Several nearby Gyoku Hou soldiers immediately felt cold sweat run down their backs.
The killing intent coming from the two women was genuine.
One wrong move...
...and this gathering would descend into complete chaos.
Before either side could make another move…
A familiar voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Faru, Faru, Faru..."
General Tou calmly stepped between the two young commanders.
Neither Shin nor Ou Hon had even noticed his approach.
With effortless precision, Tou's sword deflected both weapons away.
The duel came to an immediate halt.
Tou looked toward them with his usual unreadable smile.
"I expected enthusiasm..."
"...but perhaps not this much."
Shin scratched his head awkwardly.
"He started it."
Ou Hon calmly returned his spear.
"He was standing in the way."
Tou simply ignored both excuses.
Instead...
He turned his gaze toward the distant horizon.
"The main reinforcement..."
"...has arrived."
Every soldier looked in the same direction.
At first…
Only dust.
Then...
The earth began trembling.
BOOM...
BOOM...
BOOM...
The rhythmic thunder of countless marching feet rolled across the plains.
Soon, black and crimson banners appeared beyond the horizon.
One...
Ten...
Hundreds...
Thousands.
The banners stretched so far that they seemed to cover the entire landscape.
A sea of soldiers.
One hundred thousand strong.
At their center flew the banner bearing the mighty character of the Duke of the Northeast.
Leading the colossal host at the very front rode a towering figure clad in black armor.
Upon his right waist rested the ceremonial dagger of his house, while across his Left waist rested the sword that had claimed countless enemy generals.
Duke Hyou Ren.
Beside him rode his wife, Ri Yue, adorned in crimson and black armor, her calm yet commanding gaze sweeping over the battlefield.
The soldiers of Duke Hyou Ren marched with unmatched discipline, their banners snapping proudly in the wind.
The arrival of the Duke Hyou Ren Army transformed the atmosphere entirely.
The Hi Shin Unit stood in stunned silence.
Even the Gyoku Hou soldiers unconsciously straightened their backs.
Shin folded his arms with a wide grin.
"Took the old man long enough."
Karyo Ten let out a small sigh.
"You cannot call the Duke of the Northeast 'the old man'..."
Kyou Kai merely smiled faintly as she watched the familiar black banners approach.
"It looks like Father and Mother came personally."
Across the field, the soldiers of the Gyoku Hou Unit watched in silence as the seemingly endless columns continued marching into camp.
Ou Hon narrowed his eyes.
"One hundred thousand..."
Even he could not deny the overwhelming presence of the Duke Hyou Ren Army. Their formations remained perfectly ordered despite their immense numbers, each column moving as though it were a single body.
General Tou smiled.
"The stage is finally set."
From atop his horse, Duke Hyou Ren surveyed the battlefield before his gaze settled upon Shin.
A faint smile appeared on the Duke's face.
"So you've arrived before us."
Shin grinned back.
"Wouldn't miss it."
Across the plains of Choyou, the greatest concentration of Qin's military might since the Coalition War had assembled.
And somewhere beyond the fortified passes, Gohoumei waited patiently.
The battle for the gateway to China was about to begin.