260 BCE
After two years of studying and reading everything I could get my hands on, my father once again called me for another lesson.
"When is the best time to catch your enemy off guard?"
"As soon as the enemy has lowered his guard,"
"And why is that?"
"There are many reasons but the best is because the enemy commander can see the finish line in sight," I took a pause, and saw my father give me a look to continue. "Some would miss the small steps, once the leaf blocks an eye. Mt. Tai is no longer visible." I finished my answer, and only received a firm nod.
"Good, now come and look at this." My father pointed to a large map placed on the ground, depicting the regions around Chou Hei. Both Zhao and Qin sides, shown on the map and the defensive and offensive formations set up by both Ren Pa and Haku Ki.
Even though Dai was far from Chou Hei, we still managed to get regular, precise and fast updates of the battlefield. I knew that even though my father was in no shape to wear his armour once more, he still held a vested interest in the warring states. Looking at the map, I could see that Ren Pa had a solid defence that would not be broken so easily.
Qin had deployed over 400,000 soldiers in their army, and still with both Ou Ki and Haku Ki could not break down the stalwart defence of Ren Pa. Truly, it was marvelous… 'If only I could see it.'
"Tell me your prediction, as you can see Lian Po has held Bai Qi and Wang Qi from besieging the capital, will the stalemate continue?" My father turned teacher asked, his face unreadable so as to not give me an easy answer. I nodded in turn, and studied the board once more… Even though I knew how the battle would end, the result was not the answer my father wanted from me.
"Lian Po defence is too strong for Bai Qi and Wang Qi to break through, they have been trying multiple times but have been thwarted at each turn. Even if they still believe, morale will sap and the reputation of Lian Po of the Great Heavens will continue to soar." I replied, and my father gave a subtle nod following my reasoning.
"So, you believe Zhao will continue to hold?"
I shook my head, and saw curiosity and intrigue in the eyes of fabled Military God. A hand went to his long handlebar moustache then to his beard, "Hmmm, why do you think so? Lian Po has not shown any chinks in his shield."
"Simple, as I said before, morale. The Zhao army morale must've reached the heavens, and Bai Qi can see this being so experienced the man will no doubt play a hand that he has kept hidden. However, the Zhao court can not see this nor can they experience just how harsh the fighting is. A single blade of grass for Qin, has cost them countless lies.
No King wants war so close to their capital, and the pressure of Bai Qi will be too telling in the end. They will have to make the tough decision, stay on the defence and continue the battle of attrition or go on the offence and attack." I said pausing before resuming once more.
"Zhao will replace Lian Po, and the King will choose someone close to him. A blood tie to ensure that the Zhao clan remain in the eyes of everyone, Lord Zhao She is no longer of this world anymore so the only other option is Zhao Kuo(Chou Katsu)." I looked at my father, his face was unreadable so I pushed on and said the last piece.
"The rain will come in, Zhao Kuo is not Lian Po and he will go out to engage instead of fighting defensively. The cost will be immeasurable…" My father heard enough and said "That's enough for today." I nodded and left the room, knowing my words were controversial but they were the truth and my father would see that my prediction was correct.
Over the past 2 years, I have learned everything there is about Dai and the surrounding area. Truth be told, this far north was not the best nor greatest region to become Lord of. There was not much to grow, and regular incursions from the Xiongnu, Yan army and even the rare occasion Qi tried something.
However, being so far allowed breathing room from the Zhao court. That was nothing but a snake pit barely managed by King Xiaocheng, and would most likely devolve into hell once King Tou Jou ascended to the throne. Even though Zhao from what I remember were bullshit and annoying, I was now a part of Zhao and my father had come to call the state his home after what happened in Yan.
The Yue or Gaku clan were small, well those in Zhao that was. My father had a younger brother in Yan who had betrayed him, and tried to hunt him down after Tian Dan slandered my father by saying he wanted to grab the throne after the King of Yan died. The newly crowned King of Yan believed in Tian Dan, and so my father had to flee Yan and start over in Zhao.
Zhao helped him, and named him Lord of Dai, whilst giving a warning to both Yan and Qi that he was now a vassal of Zhao and would be protected as such.
As I walked towards the training yard, I thought more about the butterfly effect I would bring to this world. Even, the butterfly effect I will cause in history alone, with all the gifts I was given there was no way I would think about running and hiding. Qin were mighty, and they had the ability to steamroll everyone else without much of a thought.
Haku Ki, Ou Ki, Ou Kotsu and with Kyou soon coming into play as well. Qin had 4 Great Generals that would build the most solid foundation for Ei Sei to take the world, Haku Ki had already done one massacre in Han and will do another in Zhao on a much larger scale. Honestly, Qin were both the best and worst people to bring an end to the warring states, their PR was terrible.
They were a militaristic state through and through, and by my fathers words it was more so than the Qi were previously. Yue Yi had once said if he could he would've raised another coalition and ripped Qin apart but he simply could not.
Both his reputation and name had fallen since he called the first coalition, and with Yan and Qi hating his guts the chances were even slimmer.
I sighed, "Well, I still have a year until I make my first step." Entering the training yard, I saw old man Cai Jian. My personal trainer for the past 2 years, he cupped a fist into a palm and lowered his head slightly. "Young master, let's begin your training." He said as always, throwing me a sheathed sword.
"Let us begin indeed," I caught it smoothly and got into stance.
A horse galloped into the Yue clan manner, and a scout knelt his left fist clasped by his right palm as two strategists looked at the man with slight shock in their expression. The both of them turned to see their Lord, who sat in his chair. Yue Yi's beard had now turned white and his once muscular physique was nowhere to be seen.
At the moment he looked more like a sage than a warrior, still even in his elderly state his eyes and mind was sharp as ever.
"Lian Po of the 3 Great Heavens was replaced by Zhao Kuo, Qin did not retreat and Zhao Kuo ordered an attack. The rainy season slowed the march, and Ou Ki took the head of Zhao Kuo in a duel. All 15 rounds of warfare are correct… A new record has just been set. Finally, after searching for more than half of my own lifetime." Yue Yi had a grin as he stared at the kneeling messenger.
"A worthy child to carry the Yue name has been born."
Records of the Grand Historian:
At the end of 260 BCE, the Military God. The man who brought about the first coalition would pass away in the city of Dai. His son and heir, Yue Si/Gaku Shi, would become the new Lord of Dai.