The plains of Choyou stretched endlessly beneath the morning sky.
Upon those vast fields stood two colossal armies.
To the west flew the black banners of Qin.
To the east stood the crimson standards of Wei.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers filled the horizon as drums echoed across the battlefield.
Today marked the opening battle for Choyou, the strategic fortress that barred Qin's path into the Central Plains.
Whoever claimed this land would seize the initiative for the wars to come.
Within the Qin Headquarters, an enormous map of Choyou lay spread across a command table.
Gathered around it were Tou the commanders of Hyou Ren Army.
At the head of the table stood Duke Hyou Ren.
Beside him was Ri Yue, quietly studying the disposition of the Wei forces.
The atmosphere inside the tent was calm.
Unlike the tension outside, not a single commander showed impatience.
After a long silence, Hyou Ren finally spoke.
"Our objective today is not victory."
The gathered officers raised their heads.
"Our objective..."
"...is information."
His finger traced the center of the battlefield.
"Gohomei is a man who values preparation above all else."
"He will not reveal every card in his hand on the first day."
"So we shall force him to."
Ri Yue continued.
"Every general."
"Every formation."
"Every reserve army."
"Every response."
"By sunset, I want all of it recorded."
Only then did Tou step forward.
"If that is today's objective..."
"...allow Tou Army to become the spear."
The room turned toward him.
Tou smiled calmly.
"If Gohomei intends to hide his pieces..."
"...then someone must force him to move."
"I volunteer."
Silence lingered inside the headquarters.
Finally...
Hyou Ren nodded.
"Very well."
"Tou Army shall lead today's assault."
"Hyou Ren Army will remain at the center."
"We will watch."
"We will learn."
"And on the third day..."
"...we will strike."
No one questioned the order.
Every commander understood.
The first day was merely the opening move of a far greater game.
The war drums thundered.
DOOM!!
DOOM!!
DOOM!!
The earth trembled beneath countless marching feet.
Tou slowly drew his sword.
"Advance."
A roar erupted from Qin's front line.
"OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Like a sharpened spear, Tou Army surged straight toward Wei's center.
High atop Qin's command hill...
Hyou Ren silently observed the battlefield.
The Wei army began to move.
One after another, large banners emerged from behind the front lines.
His eyes immediately settled upon one of them.
"...Reiou."
The banner of one of Wei's Seven Fire Dragons fluttered proudly above the center army.
Ri Yue narrowed her eyes.
"As expected."
"He has taken personal command of the center."
She pointed toward three more banners appearing nearby.
"Those serving under Reiou have also appeared."
"General Ranbihaku."
"General Ryuuhan."
"General Jun Ei."
Hyou Ren quietly memorized each commander's position.
"So..."
"These are the pieces Reiou has chosen to reveal."
The distance between the armies vanished.
BOOOOOOM!!
Tou Army crashed into Wei's front line with overwhelming force.
The clash shook the entire battlefield.
Steel collided.
Horses screamed.
Thousands of soldiers fought for every step of ground.
Tou rode calmly through the chaos.
His blade cut down every soldier standing before him.
Just as Qin began to gain momentum…
A fresh Wei army emerged.
Standing at its front was General Ryuuhan.
He raised his sword.
"Hold the center!"
Immediately, the Wei soldiers shifted into a disciplined defensive formation.
Their ranks closed like an iron wall.
Tou smiled.
"So..."
"You are Reiou's shield."
Without slowing his advance, Tou charged directly toward Ryuuhan.
The center battlefield erupted into fierce combat.
Then...
From Qin's right flank
A thunderous roar echoed across the plains.
Thousands of Wei cavalry burst forward.
Leading them was a gigantic warrior clad in heavy armor.
General Ranbihaku.
His glaive pointed directly toward Tou Army.
The cavalry smashed into Tou's exposed flank.
BOOOOOOM!!
The impact sent soldiers flying through the air.
Tou immediately turned his horse.
"So..."
"Ranbihaku."
The Wei general eyed Tou savagely.
Without another word…
The two generals charged.
CLANG!!
The shockwave from their clash echoed across the battlefield.
Again…
CLANG!!
Again…
CLANG!!
Neither warrior yielded even half a step.
Watching from afar, Hyou Ren remained expressionless.
"Ranbihaku..."
"He possesses enough strength to fight Tou evenly."
Ri Yue nodded.
"His martial might truly lives up to his reputation."
Without taking his eyes off the battlefield, Hyou Ren began issuing orders.
"Mo Yun."
"My lord."
"Strike Ryuuhan's flank."
"Do not seek victory."
"Only pressure."
Mo Yun immediately saluted.
"Understood."
His cavalry galloped toward the battlefield.
"Tian Hao."
"Bao Jun."
The two commanders stepped forward.
"Support Tou Army."
"Stabilize their right wing."
"Do not allow Ranbihaku's cavalry to break their formation."
"Yes!"
Both armies immediately advanced.
Finally...
Hyou Ren looked toward another veteran commander.
"Lu Shen."
"My lord."
"You require no specific orders."
Lu Shen smiled.
"As the battlefield demands?"
Hyou Ren nodded.
"You will remain behind Tou Army."
"Read the battle."
"When an opportunity appears..."
"Act."
Lu Shen laughed.
"A battlefield where I may move freely..."
"I shall not disappoint."
His army remained just behind Tou Army, shifting wherever the pressure was greatest, reinforcing weak points and exploiting fleeting opportunities as they appeared.
Hour after hour...
The battle raged.
Mo Yun repeatedly harassed Ryuuhan's flank, preventing the Wei general from fully supporting Ranbihaku.
Tian Hao and Bao Jun reinforced Tou Army whenever their lines began to buckle under the Wei cavalry assaults.
Meanwhile, Lu Shen maneuvered with remarkable freedom, plugging gaps in the Qin line before they could be exploited.
From the command hill...
Hyou Ren and Ri Yue watched every exchange.
Not a single movement escaped their notice.
Ri Yue quietly spoke.
"Ryuuhan specializes in layered defensive formations."
"Ranbihaku relies upon overwhelming offensive power."
She looked toward another untouched banner.
"Jun Ei has yet to move."
Hyou Ren nodded.
"Neither has Reiou committed his reserves."
"He is waiting."
Ri Yue smiled faintly.
"As are we."
For both commanders...
Today was not about winning.
Today was about understanding.
Within the Wei Headquarters...
Reiou observed the battlefield in silence.
Report after report arrived before him.
Yet his gaze never left the distant Qin command hill.
"So..."
"Duke Hyou Ren."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I finally understand."
"No reckless advance."
"Every reinforcement arrives exactly when needed."
He folded his arms.
"I searched for an opening..."
"...yet found none."
His adjutants remained silent.
Reiou continued.
"It is no wonder the other states have begun speaking of your name."
"Duke Hyou Ren..."
"...you are undoubtedly the most dangerous general Qin possesses today."
Far from another battlefield...
Another fierce battle unfolded.
"Forward!!"
Ouhon led the Gyoku Hou Unit in a relentless assault against Wei's defenses.
After fierce fighting...
The first defensive line collapsed.
"We're through!"
Without hesitation, Ouhon ordered another charge.
"Do not stop!"
The Gyoku Hou slammed into the second defensive layer.
Then…
The ground began to shake.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
An enormous army appeared beyond the Wei lines.
At its head rode a towering giant carrying an immense glaive.
The Wei soldiers erupted into cheers.
"Lord Gaimou!"
"The Wei Fire Dragon has arrived!"
Ouhon's expression hardened.
"...Gaimou."
The giant laughed loudly.
"So you're the young commander making all the noise."
"Come."
"Show me your strength."
Without another word…
Gaimou charged.
BOOOOOOM!!
Their weapons collided.
Ouhon gritted his teeth as the sheer weight behind Gaimou's glaive nearly shattered his spear.
Again…
CRAAASH!!
Blood burst from Ouhon's mouth.
Again…
BOOOOOOM!!
His horse stumbled beneath the overwhelming force.
Then…
With a single devastating swing…
CRAAAAASH!!
Ouhon was blasted from his horse, crashing heavily onto the battlefield.
"Commander Ouhon!!"
The Gyoku Hou soldiers immediately rushed forward, throwing themselves between Gaimou and their commander.
After a desperate struggle, they managed to rescue Ouhon and retreat before suffering even greater losses.
Watching them withdraw, Gaimou rested his glaive upon his shoulder.
"Hmph..."
"You're still too inexperienced."
As the setting sun bathed Choyou in crimson light...
The horns signaling the end of battle echoed across the plains.
The first day had come to an end.
Neither Qin nor Wei had gained the upper hand.
The opening move had been made.
The decisive battle for Choyou had only just begun.