Heaven often cries as it sees the end of a true Great General. In the year 260 BCE Lin Xiangru passed away. ~ Taken from the Shiji written by Sima Qian.
…
After writing a letter to the Zhao King admonishing the decision to remove Great Heaven Ren Pa from command, the Great Heaven Rin Shou Jo's health sharply declined. Though today as if the world had flipped onto its head the Great Heaven wore his armour once more and stood side by side with his two most loyal family members, Chou Garyuu to his left and Gyou'un to his right.
The three of them overlooked a pitch battle, one that would decide the past two years of conflict between Zhao and Wei; however, for one man this battle was not his main focus for his thoughts seemed to always go back to the future of the plains he stood on. What would come of things after time called him as it had done for many before? He had agonised over that single question but now he saw hope, a hope that he would bet everything he had on.
"Gyou'un, ChouGaryuu, let us speak of these lands we call home." Rin Shou Jo said. "These lands that we call home?" Gyou'un replied, unsure of his Lord's meaning, "You refer to the Warring Kingdoms, My Lord?"
*Cough* "Indeed." *Cough* The Great Heaven managed to rasp out between coughs, his confirmation alerting Gyou'un and ChouGaryuu. Rin Shou Jo continued to look forwards at the battlefield, watching a particular flag begin to push back the Wei right Wing of Ba Tou.
"Do the two still remember?" Rin Shou Jo asked before continuing, a memory had recently turned into a dream and he could no longer stop seeing it, even when he was awake the memory played in his mind's eye. "When I spoke of this same subject, with a foe of ours in the midst of battle."
In unison the memory flashed in front of both ChouGaryuu and Gyou'un's eyes, "The battle of Ba hills." They said at the same time.
A wry grin made its way to the Great Heaven's face, "And who else would it be… But Ouki."
That day two foes met on the battlefield and one of them came to a conclusion and the other listened because he respected his foe.
"These lands…" *Cough* *Cough* "These lands have long grown tired of war. They yearn for nothing more than to become one great whole." This was Rin Shou Jo's conclusion from all that he had seen throughout his life. "But achieving that is easier said than done… Exceedingly so."
"Still one day, when the time is ripe that chance will come…"The eyes of Rin Shou Jo zeroed in and focused on the flag and the person making a direct charge on the Wei Fire Dragon Ba Tou's HQ.
"And if that opportunity were to end in failure… Then perhaps these Kingdoms of ours will remain fragmented for eternity. Never knowing true peace, with only constant warfare and bloodshed as its bedfellow." As one of the Great Heavens of Zhao he had been in constant warfare, seeing soldiers come and go. Seen bright smiles be drowned in rivers of blood. "I see it now before me. A united land…" Rin Shou Jo still held hope, still saw the hope of this land being united and true peace being ushered in for all of the masses.
"Kuh…" Some blood trickled out of the mouth of Rin Shou Jo as his internal organs violently afflicted with pain.
Chou Garyuu and Gyou'un stayed silent behind their Lord, even as the words continued to send cold chills down their backs. "I will only pass these two matters down to you two, should you encounter someone of our Zhao land holding the sword of unification in their grasp… No matter the price you must serve them loyally." Rin Shou Jo knew his words were cruel, denying the two longest serving members of his ten heroes the chance to follow him to death.
Yet, he had to do it. To give his hope a solid enough foundation. Both ChouGaryuu and Gyou'un understood what Rin Shou Jo was asking of the two of them, they were to serve a new Lord and build another army under him helping him each step of the way.
"Kuh…" Rin Shou Jo coughed blood his time was slipping out of his grasp but he continued to watch on as the youth he had taken in took down the camp of Ba Tou only to rally more of the soldiers and make a push towards Shou Sen the Wei Commander in Chief.
Seeing the progress of Sei Chou, Rin Shou Jo's face became melancholic even as he smiled. 'I wish I had more time to teach you, Sei Chou.'
…..
260 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: Kanrin
The city of Kanrin was a city that sat directly on the borders with Wei, it was a rich city known for its delicacies and favourably treatment of all peoples. A city where children were allowed to run freely with bright smiles, where adults greeted one another with cheer instead of skepticism. A beautiful city that had welcomed the Rin Shou Jo army and their Lord for the entirety of two full years.
Word had reached the city from the frontlines that the war had come to an end and with it a great victory was secured. Rin Shou Jo of the Zhao three Great Heavens, had proven once again that the might of Zhao still held strong even in these trying times. There was more news of the rising star in the Rin Shou Jo army, a youngster by the name of Sei Chou who had led the Zhao victory beside his Lord and claimed victory by taking all three of Wei Fire Dragons main headquarters and forcing them to a full retreat.
Where there should've been celebrations and joy, it was replaced by melancholy and sadness. The rain pounded and lightning streaked through the skies many stayed in their homes, the weather could often be a mirror of a human's emotions.
Inside an opulent mansion the retainers and army of Rin Shou Jo sat before their leader, the Lord they had followed and forged many memories with. Rin Shou Jo could no longer rise from his bed. They all knew what was coming, and there was a bitter acceptance to the circumstances that fate had handed them.
"Sei Chou," Rin Shou Jo called, turning his head to have one last look at the youngster he had taken in and saw grow into a man now, "Become a hero and continue to climb up to the highest of heights. Life is short, so make sure to leave no regrets… The journey is long…" Sei Chou looked up and met the eyes of his mentor and master.
He saw the light fading in his eyes, "Teacher." He whispered, but it seemed Rin Shou Jo had not heard him as he continued to speak. "How short is life… for me it has been both spectacular and gloomy…" Rin Shou Jo continued, "Yes, Spectacular and yet… Gloomy." The room faded into silence and everyone in the room noticed that one less person was breathing.
Lin Xiangru/Rin Shou Jo passed away peacefully.
Gyou'un could not breathe, he could not think as he stood up and walked out into the pouring rain with a stern face. The emotion roaring and bubbling in his vessel was too much to keep a lid on.
The rain pelted his armour as he stepped out into the courtyard and dropped to his knees.
"AHHH!!" He screamed out to the night sky, to the moon, to the rain.
…
Narrator POV:
It was said that Gyou'un cries that night in Kanrin were so loud they could be heard in the royal capital of Zhao. Katan/Handan.
Rin Shou Jo who would in a few years be known as the phantasmal General due to his passing away in his prime years, because of illness. The news would go on to shock many only to be overshadowed by the massacre of Chou Hei.
Eight of the Rin Shou Jo ten heroes would throw themselves into combat against the Qin, taking up arms and fighting in the most disadvantaged wars only for them and those in their armies to pass away no long after their lord.