Prologue:
""...""
Shun Shin Kun and Ri Boku stood speechless as they heard the screaming towards the right side of the coalition army battlefield.
"What is this abnormal cheering?" Shun Shin Kun asked, more to himself than the person next to him. Ri Boku did not answer, but his face grew more shocked as he heard the cheering continue. A thought wormed its way into his mind and he loathed to think it was true but the cheering…
'Could it be…' He dared not to finish that thought for it was so damning to his mind, to his plans, the plans he had carefully cultivated up to this point. With the singular goal of bringing the Qin to its knees and ending their unchecked reign of tyranny over the central plains.
CHU ARMY COMMANDER KAN MEI FALLS IN BATTLE!!!!
Mou Bu looked on at the crushed pulp that was once Kan Mei, the cheers of his soldiers did not reach him. As he basked in sweat and blood, this one fight had placed at the top of China's food chain as the strongest. The pain that once afflicted his wrist neither reached him, so consumed in the fight he had been. Over to the side his first born son, Mou Ten laid with a nasty gash that continued to pour out blood.
"YOUNG MASTER MOU TEN!!!" Cried one of the Mou Ten armies cavalry, the youth had made a daring dash to save his father from being speared in the back by Chu general Ka En. Such fighting determination was unseen from the young lord ever, but he had shown his will, determination and grit. Though in the end, he had paid for it all the same.
War… War does not discriminate.
"Please my Lord say your, final words to the young master." Members of the Gaku Ka cried out to General Mou Bu, who looked on with hard eyes and his perpetual stern visage.
"There is nothing I have to say to him." Mou Bu dashed away the hopes and pleas of those who had condemned his son to death's grasp.
"WHA-" "THATS-" "IT WAS FOR YOUR SAKE THAT THE YOUNG MASTER…" The Gaku Ka were incensed, and rightfully worthful that Mou Bu would not give at least final words to Mou Ten for Mou Ten had charged into the middle of a battle between the strongest to save his own father.
A battle he had no right to be near.
"Quit your blabberring. Why did he even abandon his post in the first place to come all the way over here?" Mou Bu admonished his foolish son who had forgotten the first rule of war.
"I'll give him a good lecture later." Mou Bu said, turning his back to the tear stricken soldiers. The Gaku Ka could scarcely believe their ears, to a man they looked back down to their young master and saw nothing but death.
"Young Lord Mou Ten is already…" One of the soldiers could barely find the words.
"Please… Just send him off with some final words…" Another asked.
"He will not die." Mou Bu countered.
"HE IS THE SON OF MOUBU! HE WILL NOT DIE TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS!" MOU BU shouted, even as blood flew out of his mouth. His resolve was clear, Mou Bu had always believed in his son and something so trivial as Kan Mei's sword would not be the end of his first born.
With both sleeves of his armour gone, and blood covering his body Mou Bu only looked forwards as he saw the Chu soldiers rallying and wanting blood. As always he led directly from the front, his mace arm ready to meet the Chu charge head on.
"I still… HAVE A JOB TO DO!!!" Mou Bu shouted as he swung his mace, pulversing and battering the oncoming charge.
…
Though there was a time lag, both sides managed to get their hands on the news and their reactions were as expected.
COALITION FRONT LINES:
Shun Shin Kun kicked the table and stool he had been sitting on, screaming curse words, his anger so palpable and brought to the fore that the messenger shook like a leaf in the wind watching him.
…
QIN CAPITAL: KANYOU
The cheers could not be contained, as the words of the messenger sunk in for everyone
who had been called for the sudden war council.
"Shou Hei Kun's plan for Mou Bu to strike out at the Chu instead of defending…" The man who had come up with the plan for Mou Bu stood in deep thought, his mind already racing with the many possibilities that could occur in the war.
'Mou Bu…' He allowed one thought to his oldest friend, but even that was fleeting for Shou Hei Kun who was already thinking of the many roads this war could go down and one road was something he did not want nor wish for.
'If that man is to come here… Or is he already there…?' He questioned, thinking about the Zhao legend that had come after the likes of Ren Pa, Rin Shou Jou and Chou Sha. 'No, his army was last seen on the Qi border… There's no way for them to move so quickly without anyone being notified.' It was one of the reasons Shou Hei Kun had missed the deployment of Ri Boku and this coalition.
Shou Hei Kun had been too focused on a certain Zhao Great Heaven, and missed the other one. 'That army would be a death sentence to Qin,' Shou Hei Kun looked towards the young King, who had yet to be officially crowned. Ei Sei, looked stunned by the news but still projected a kingly aura that he had once seen when he first met King Sho.
…
The 15th day of battle came to a close and Ri Boku's all out offense had utterly failed. The previously unthinkable defeat of the Chu army had given birth to strain that was irreparable in the coalition army.
Even the various commanders had now began to realise that to break through Kanyou would require something more than just Ri Boku.
…
STATE OF CHU: SHOUCHUN
"Following Rin Bun Kun now we've lost Kan Mei… Ultimately, the Chu army proves it's self a burden to the coalition, resulting in abysmal prospects in toppling Kanyou." King Kao Lie managed to keep his anger from boiling over but the walnuts in his hand shattered, as he clenched his fist.
"THIS IS NAUGHT BUT DISGRACE UPON CHU!" The various ministers in the war council of Chu flinched at the man's words, "Dice those who had brought us such shame to mincemeat!" He reprimanded thawing the discarded walnuts shells at his courtly ministers.
"That being said, does this mean… it was a foolish idea for me to be so stingy when choosing my military contribution?" The King of Chu's eyes went to a man who sat, with a smirk. His scarred face and wild hair, flared his battle aura. The legend that had been discarded by Zhao, who sat in the royal court of Chu.
"Ren Pa?" The former Great Heavens, eyes narrowed and stared at the Chu king before he gave his answer.
"The people of Chu are different from that of Wei, even if I wanted to I could not so easily take charge and wrangle them into gear. Not in this war." Ren Pa answered, he knew he had to talk up the Chu soldiers and give them so reputation after their commander had been taken off the board.
Though there was a second reason he had not taken charge of the Chu army, one that outweighed the previous. His best friend's/brother's best student had come to him when he left Zhao behind and told him, "We will call on you once more, Oh Great Heaven. Please allow us some time to control the pest." The golden eyes of the youth, seemed to gleam with something and Ren Pa though initially denied the man now saw the error in his judgement.
"...Then, should I have called for Kou En, and have him reform the Chu army?" Kaolie followed up.
With a bright grin Ren Pa answered, "That would be impossible."
"…What?"
"Qin have yet to call back their soldiers stationed at various cities and commanderies, Nuhaha, a wise decision by them by now they would have plugged all the holes and no army would be able to get through the defence without alerting Qin. To send reinforcements you will have to fight through all of them to get to Kanyou." Ren Pa answered, even though he had always been good at strategy and knew the ins and outs of all the military books from the eras past.
"But should we do nothing then Chu will be the guilty cause of this war." King Kaolie countered.
"This war has yet to reach its conclusion." Ren Pa replied, as he stood in the Chu court his arms folded.
"Everyone has seemed to overlook one thing, who is the most troublesome man to deal with the coalition army?" Ren Pa asked the gathered ministers, before his teeth clenched and a maniacal smile came to his face.
"No, who is the most dangerous man in all of China right now?" He asked.
"...Who?" King Kaolie asked,
"Riboku?" A minister questioned and Ren Pa chuckled, "Nuhaha,"
"In another time, yes most definitely but not now. Not him, no… The man who trained under my blood brother, the man who defeated 3 of the 7 Wei Fire Dragons with only a fraction of their numbers!" Looking around Ren Pa could see the minds working, the ministers understanding just who he was talking about but he continued…
"The man who swayed the Spear of Wei. And killed Geki Shin of Yan just last year, I'm sure none of you have forgotten who he is. For was it not his own father who brought the mighty Qi to it's knees!" Some of the lords of Chu fell to their own knees in pure shock, there was no way that man could be in the coalition army for then why would he not have taken charge of the Zhao army himself! It was another unthinkable but seeing the eyes of Ren Pa they understood, 'HE MUST BE THERE!!'
"YUE SI! The current leader of the 3 Great Heavens! That man has yet to make a single move!" The smirk on Ren Pa's face widened, in his mind's eye he still saw the young 13 year old prodigy that had swindled 3 wine jars away from him. "Your loss, legend." The brat was all smiles as he high tailed away with 3 of Ren Pa's best wine jars. Ren Pa's brother was also there smiling and laughing even though he grew paler, Rin Shou Jou could not stop laughing at him that day.
"You can be sure that man will move, and when he does…"
….
CHU MAIN CAMP: KA RIN TENT
"So, Kan Mei lost." Ka Rin leaned back into the warmth and touch with a sultry grin, she loved every bit of it but knew it would soon come to an end… As all things do.
"Mmmm, Mou Bu crushed his head to a pulp." She answered, as a manly hand snakes it way up from her waist to her voluminous chest, her grin growing with each squeeze and rub.
"I guess, it is time I act." The man said, tilting his head down and laying a trail of kisses on her neck, his long black hair shadowing his face from her view. A grievance to her but not one she minded, as he compensated it with the kisses and caresses.
Her core burned hot, liquid seeped out.
"Do you think you could do it?" She asked him, though she knew he was capable enough. If it was with his retinue he would be able to but this was the Chu army, they were not so easily wrangled and motivated to fight again. Especially Kan Mei's army.
The man pulled his head back and Ka Rin hmphed, his golden eyes looked directly into her with an amused smirk. "I told you once before, I believe I am a man who can change fate." There it was that supreme confidence, not the fake confidence that was all based on their position in the world but one forged through the blood & Steel of war.
He switched their positions and Ka Rin found herself on her back, she stared up into his mesmerising golden eyes, and got ready to moan his name to the heavens.
"Yueeeee Siiiii~!!!!" Long into the night she would carry on, and even though she should feel exhausted the next morning she would not.
….
COALITION HQ:
Ka Rin's towering frame stepped into the war council, one of the many guards opening the flap for her.
"Lady Ka Rin has arrived!" The man said in a shaky voice. The tension in the war tent was thick, palpable so much so one could see the tension and slice it with a knife.
The various Commanders in Chief were already seated, Ordo, Go Hou Mei, the new Han commander in Chief and Shun Shin Kun the last of the 4 Lords of the warring states, the man who had been appointed as Chief Controller.
"You're late Ka Rin." Shun Shin Kun was the first to speak.
"Maah Baaad." Ka Rin's reply was non-committal. "Well, y'know a girl has many things to do in the morning."
After that the war tent descended into bickering, as Ka Rin got to know the top brass of each army whilst also intimidating the new Han commander in chief, but it all came to an end when Go Hou Mei stepped in.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" The Wei Fire Dragon spoke up, he had grown tired of the charade and wanted to finally get on track with what the coalition will be doing now their plans had been foiled.
The tensions died down after Go Hou Mei restored some semblance of order, and just before Shun Shin Kun was to speak someone approached from outside of the war tent. A tall man the same size as Ka Rin, the guards looked on at him with wide eyes as they had not known the man who appeared here of all places.
"Zh-ZHAO GREAT HEAVEN YUE SI HAS ARRIVED!!!" The guard shouted in shock, and those in the war tent that were not Shun Shin Kun and Ka Rin froze wide eyed. Whatever they had wanted to say died in their throat as they turned to the entrace, and watched a lone man enter.
His long black hair was held in place by a golden jellewed band of rubies, he word fine black and red armour with hints of gold. Behind him fluttered a long general's cloak, the depictions of dragons inflight stitched into the fabric.
With a smile, his golden eyes raked over everyone present. He held Ka Rin's gaze for a beat longer, and she gave him a sultry look before he then settled on Shun Shin Kun.
Clasping his hands before his broad chest, the man spoke with a deep, commanding voice.
"Zhao Great Heaven, Duke Dai. Gaku Shi has answered your call. Honorable and esteemed Lord Shun Shin Kun."
After the shock had died down, there was a round of blinking Go Hou Mei nearly erupted in anger at the man who had entered. "What is the meaning of this?!" He shouted, the man who had just entered the war tent had a massive bounty on his head in the State of Wei. One for not only taking away one of the best prodigies Wei had ever seen in Shi Ei the son of Earl Shi, but also killing Ba Tou of the Wei Fire Dragons in the previous Zhao-Wei war.
A war that had seen the death of Tai Ro Ji and nearly the father of Go Hou Mei, Go Kei. Ordo was not far behind him, for Yan had their own grievances. As Gaku Shi had beaten and killed Yan Great General Yue Jiang, when the man had attacked Dai and wanted to push back the Zhao border.
"This is an affront!" Ordo added to Go Hou Mei's words.
Gaku Shi glanced over his shoulder before turning back to Shun Shin Kun, "I thank the Chu prime minister for his favour and knowing such a man of your standing would extend this olive branch, it made me joyous. For the sake of the world, I will do my best not to let you down." Gaku Shi dismissed the two behind him not caring for their words.
Shun Shin Kun nodded, "As you can see, I have called upon Great Heaven Yue Si to join this battle. And he will be placed as the Chu Commander in Chief." Shun Shin Kun's words were stern and to the point, he would not allow any opposition, not when the coalition was in such a situation.
Both Ordo and Go Hou Mei held whatever words they had, knowing Shun Shin Kun's clout was something they could not easily match, even their respective kings would listen to Shun Shin Kun's words. Such was the influence the man held in the current world.
"Now that is done, let's get on to planning." Gaku Shi took a seat next to Ka Rin.
Prologue: Done