Three months had passed since the suppression of the Ai Rebellion.
The wounds left upon Qin had slowly begun to heal.
The traitors who had sought to overthrow the royal court had all met their end, and throughout the kingdom, peace had finally returned.
Farmers once again tilled their fields, merchants filled the streets with life, and children played beneath skies no longer darkened by the smoke of war.
Yet everyone knew such peace was only temporary.
For the State of Qin, the dream of unifying China had not ceased.
War was inevitable.
In the northeastern territories of Qin...
Within the ducal residence of Hyou Ren, an unusually peaceful morning unfolded.
Sunlight streamed through the open windows as a gentle breeze carried the scent of spring across the gardens.
For perhaps the first time in many years, Duke Hyou Ren had no reports to read, no strategies to devise, and no battlefield awaiting him.
Beside him was his wife, General Ri Yue.
The weeks from the Ai rebellion campaign had kept the two apart, and the rare peace allowed them to enjoy one another's company without interruption.
Ri Yue rested against his shoulder with a smile.
"It has been a long time since we've had a day like this."
Hyou Ren let out a quiet chuckle.
"...Too long."
"Sometimes I forget what peace even feels like."
Ri Yue laughed softly.
"I could grow used to this."
"So could I."
Hyou Ren looked beyond the balcony toward the city below.
Soldiers trained in the courtyards.
Children ran through the streets.
The people smiled.
It was precisely this sight that reminded him why Qin continued to wage war.
"...Unfortunately..."
"The world will not allow it."
Almost as though the heaven itself had answered his words…
BANG!!
The chamber doors slid open.
A military messenger hurried inside before immediately dropping to one knee.
"My Lord Duke!"
Hyou Ren closed his eyes and sighed.
"...It seems peace has come to an end."
The messenger raised both hands above his head.
"A royal military dispatch from Kanyou!"
The bamboo scroll bore the unmistakable seal of the Qin Royal Court.
Hyou Ren accepted it.
With a single motion, he broke the seal.
His eyes moved across the contents.
Then...
A faint smile appeared.
Ri Yue noticed immediately.
"A campaign?"
Hyou Ren nodded.
"The court has finally made its move."
He handed her the scroll.
"I have been ordered to seize the Kokuyou Hills."
For a brief moment...
Silence filled the room.
The Kokuyou Hills.
A vast expanse of forests, ravines, steep cliffs and winding valleys stretching across Zhao's western frontier.
Natural fortresses layered upon one another.
Countless armies had bled within those hills.
Ri Yue carefully continued reading the royal decree.
"...This campaign will be undertaken jointly."
Hyou Ren looked toward her.
"Jointly?"
She nodded.
"The accompanying army has already been selected."
She lowered the scroll.
"It is General Kanki."
For a moment...
Neither spoke.
The infamous Kanki.
The former bandit whose name inspired as much fear within Qin as it did beyond its borders.
Hyou Ren folded his arms.
"...Kanki."
Ri Yue continued.
"The Kanki Army will march with fifty thousand soldiers."
Hyou Ren calmly walked toward the campaign map hanging upon the wall.
His hand rested upon the western frontier.
"My army numbers one hundred thousand."
"Kanki commands fifty thousand."
His finger stopped upon the region of Kakumin.
"Our combined strength..."
"...One hundred and fifty thousand."
He nodded.
"So the best place for us to rendezvous is here."
Ri Yue agreed.
"Kakumin will serve as the staging ground before the assault on Kokuyou."
Without another word, Hyou Ren turned toward the entrance.
"Guards."
Two attendants immediately entered and knelt.
"My Lord!"
Hyou Ren handed them the royal decree.
"Report to the communications office."
"Dispatch a messenger to General Kanki."
"Inform him that the Hyou Ren Army has accepted His Majesty's orders."
"We shall march immediately."
"Our armies will rendezvous at Kakumin."
The attendants struck their fists against the floor.
"At once, my Lord!"
They immediately hurried from the chamber.
Ri Yue looked toward her husband.
"I shall notify headquarters and begin preparations for the campaign."
Hyou Ren gave a firm nod.
"See to it."
She bowed before leaving the residence.
Moments later...
The massive parade grounds outside the city had begun to stir.
Veteran officers gathered one after another.
Bao Jun.
Lu Shen.
Mo Yun.
Tian Hao.
The generals and commanders of the Hyou Ren Army stood before their lord.
Tens of Thousands of soldiers gradually assembled beyond them.
The crimson black banners of House Hyou rippled violently beneath the wind.
Hyou Ren stepped onto the command platform overlooking the sea of warriors.
His cloak billowed behind him.
Every soldier fell silent.
He slowly drew his sword.
SHING!
The gleaming blade reflected the morning sun.
Raising it high above his head, his voice echoed across the entire camp.
"Men of the Hyou Ren Army!"
"Our three months of peace have come to an end!"
A thunderous silence followed.
"The Royal Court has entrusted us with a new campaign!"
"Our destination..."
He pointed his sword toward western Zhao.
"THE KOKUYOU HILLS!"
A ripple spread throughout the ranks.
Some veterans smiled.
Others tightened their grips upon their spears.
Everyone understood what Kokuyou meant.
Hyou Ren continued.
"The Zhao Army occupies those hills."
"They believe their mountains cannot be conquered."
"They believe Qin lacks the strength to uproot them."
A fierce smile appeared upon his face.
"Then let us prove them wrong."
Roars erupted throughout the army.
"OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!"
"Our allies in this campaign shall be the Kanki Army."
"Our combined force will number one hundred and fifty thousand men."
"This shall be no ordinary battle."
"It shall decide control of Zhao's western frontier."
He lowered his sword toward the horizon.
"Ready every soldier."
"One hundred thousand strong."
"We march immediately!"
For a heartbeat...
Silence.
Then…
"YES, MY LORD!!"
BOOOOOOM!!
War drums shook the city.
Bronze horns roared from the watchtowers.
Messenger riders thundered from the communications office toward Kanki's headquarters.
Blacksmiths reignited their forges.
Supply wagons rolled from the warehouses.
Stable masters prepared thousands of warhorses.
Across the city, the people watched as the crimson black banners rose into the sky once more.
The Hyou Ren Army...
Had begun its march.
Far to the west...
Another army was also on the move.
An army clad in black.
Fifty thousand ruthless men whose laughter echoed louder than the cries of the battlefield.
At their head rode a man wearing an arrogant grin.
General Kanki.
Soon...
At Kakumin...
Two of Qin's most formidable armies would stand side by side.
And before them awaited the blood-soaked hills of Kokuyou.